AU2009100625B4 - Tamper-evident containers - Google Patents

Description

P/00/0 Il Regulation 3.2 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 INNOVATION SPECIFICATION Invention Title: Tamper-evident containers The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: Title of Invention: Tamper-evident Containers 5 Field of Invention: This invention relates to thermoformed plastic packaging. In particular, it relates to tamper-evident containers. 10 Background of the Invention: Consumer goods, particularly foods, often are provided in lidded thermoformed containers. Such lidded containers often allow for reclosing of the lid for the convenience of the consumer during the consumption of the goods. 15 Whilst those containers are convenient, it is important (particularly with food products) for a consumer to be aware if the container has been opened prior to purchase. If it is not evident that the container has been opened and reclosed, then the consumer may not be aware that the goods have been subjected to the 20 possibility of tampering. Other packaging is in use with a small button lock tab that is placed over the centre of the cover and then has a label placed over this -to secure it in place. This system does not hold the corners of the cover in place and the corners of the cover can be 25 lifted to expose the product without tearing the label. That container has been used for alfalfa and similar products that continue to grow or swell after packing and, in this case, the contents are able to force the corners of the container open as the product expands. 30 Thus, there is a need for a convenient, lidded thermoformed container with a tamper-evident closure. The present invention seeks to meet that need. -2- Summary of the Invention: This invention accordingly provides a lidded container including: (i) a receptacle formed of front and rear walls opposite one another, left and 5 right sidewalls opposite one another and a bottom wall; and a flange formed along respective upper edges of the respective front, rear, left and right walls, the flange being substantially parallel to the bottom wall and defining an open top of the receptacle; 10 (ii) a lid having a cover substantially co-extensive with the open top and being attached to the flange adjacent the rear wall by a first hinge; (iii) a retaining flap attached to the flange adjacent the front wall by a second hinge and adapted to fold over the lid when closed; and 15 (iv) a securing sheet adapted to locate at least substantially at the overlap between the cover and the retaining flap such that the sheet must be torn or at least partly removed before the retaining flap can be opened; 20 in which the retaining flap extends along substantially the full length of the front wall and is of sufficient width to allow maximal adhesion of the securing sheet. 25 Preferred Aspects of the Invention: It is preferred that a first sealing rim is formed on the flange and projects upwardly therefrom and that the lid includes a second sealing rim oriented perpendicular to the cover and adapted to engage with the first sealing rim when the cover is in a closed position. 30 Preferably, the securing sheet includes a frangible area, such as a line of perforations, to more readily allow the opening of the retaining flap. -3- In a highly preferred embodiment, it is preferred that the first and second hinges each are duplicated by an adjacent hinge. More preferably, at least one pair of the adjacent hinges may be frangible, such as by perforations, so that a strip of flange between the adjacent hinges can be torn away to allow the lid to be opened at 5 that strip without the need to open the retaining flap. Preferably the strip includes a tab to serve as a finger-grip. Brief Description of the Views of the Drawings: 10 Specific embodiments in accordance with this invention will now be described by way of example thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a twin-hinge embodiment of a container according to the invention in an open configuration; 15 Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the container of Figure 1 in a closed configuration and with a tear-off strip removed; Figure 3 shows a plan view of the container of Figure 1; Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a detail of the container of Figure 1 in a closed configuration; 20 Figure 5 shows a sectional view (along A - A of Figure 5a) of the container of Figure 1 in a closed configuration; Figure 6 shows a perspective view of a single-hinge embodiment of a container according to the invention in an open configuration; and Figure 7 shows-a perspective view of the container of Figure 6 in a closed 25 configuration. Detailed Description with Respect to the Drawings: Integer list: 30 1. Receptacle / product storage area; 2. Lid; 3. Receptacle inner seal area; 4. Retaining flap; 5. Retaining flap locks; -4- 6. Lid locks; 7. Dual perforated hinge for retaining flap; 8. Lid seal; 9. Dual perforated lid hinge and tear off; 5 10. Label (cut away to reveal retaining flap); 11. Opening strip; and 12. Flange. An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figure 1 in an open configuration 10 and in figure 2 in a closed configuration. The container has a receptacle 1 for product storage and a surrounding flange 12. A lid 2 is attached to the flange by a pair of adjacent frangible hinges 9 comprised of perforations. Between the hinges is a removable opening strip 11, which can be 15 torn along the frangible hinges 11 to allow the container to be opened. The open top of the receptacle has an inner seal area 3 mounted on the flange 12 and extending around the open rim of the receptacle. The seal is configured to mate with a corresponding lid seal 8. 20 In use, the lid is folded along the hinge lines 9 so that the seal areas 3 and 8 engage. The retaining flap 4 is then folded along its hinge lines 7 so that it folds over the lid 2. This is illustrated in Figures 4, 5 and 5a. The retaining flap serves to retain the lid in place and, itself, is retained by an adhesive label 10 which is located above 25 the overlap of the retaining flap with the lid. There are only two ways to open the lid of the container. Either the label 10 must be torn or lifted to allow the retaining flap 4 to open or the opening strip 11 may be torn away. In either case, the opening or tampering will be evident. 30 To allow the container to be reclosed after opening, it is provided with retaining flap locks 5 and corresponding lid locks 6 (as are known in the art) which interact to allow reversible locking. -5- An embodiment of the invention having single hinges is illustrated in Figures 6 and 7. In this embodiment, the only means for opening the container is by tearing or removal of the securing sheet. 5 A container according to the invention has several advantages over the prior art including, but not limited to: a. The cover is held in place by the full length retaining flap. The retaining flap also holds the corners of the cover from being opened by hand or by the internal pressures of any product from within. 10 b. The retaining flap has a large flat surface area to allow maximum adhesion for the securing label. c. The container can be machine closed and labelled in a single process. d. The container can be easily opened by the perforated tear strip. e. The container can be closed after opening to keep the product in a fully 15 enclosed environment. f. The cover can be completely removed from the base for table presentation if required and at the same time be placed back on the container if desired. Finally it is to be understood that various alterations, modifications and or additions 20 may be incorporated into the various constructions and arrangements of parts without departing from the spirit and ambit of the invention. -6-

Claims (5)

1. A lidded container including: 5 (i) a receptacle formed of front and rear walls opposite one another, left and right sidewalls opposite one another and a bottom wall; and a flange formed along respective upper edges of the respective front, rear, left and right walls, the flange being substantially parallel to the bottom wall and defining an open top of the receptacle; 10 (ii) a lid having a cover substantially co-extensive with the open top and being attached to the flange adjacent the rear wall by a first hinge; (iii) a retaining flap attached to the flange adjacent the front wall by a second 15 hinge and adapted to fold over the lid when closed; and (iv) a securing sheet adapted to locate at least substantially at the overlap between the cover and the retaining flap such that the sheet must be torn or at least partly removed before the retaining flap can be opened; 20 in which the retaining flap extends along substantially the full length of the front wall and is of sufficient width to allow maximal adhesion of the securing sheet. 25

2. A container according to claim 1, in which a first sealing rim is formed on the flange and projects upwardly therefrom and the lid includes a second sealing rim oriented perpendicular to the cover and adapted to engage with the first sealing rim when the cover is in a closed position. 30

3. A container according to any preceding claim, in which the securing sheet includes a frangible area to more readily allow the opening of the retaining flap. -7-

4. A container according to any preceding claim, in which the first and second hinges each are duplicated by an adjacent hinge and at least one pair of adjacent hinges are frangible so that a strip of flange between the adjacent hinges can be torn away to allow the lid to be opened at that strip without the need to open 5 the retaining flap.

5. A lidded container substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to the examples and/or the accompanying drawings. 10 Vacupack Pty Ltd By their Patent Attorneys MIDDLETONS Dated 24 June, 2009 -8-