Novel tamper evident containers
AssigneeLacerta Group, Inc
InventorsAli Lotfi, Lawrence E. Jewett
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Abstract
The present invention is directed to containers and packaging that incorporate novel tamper evident features. In particular, the containers of the present invention comprise newly designed tamper evident linkages, i.e., wedged fracture tabs. In addition, the present invention provides novel methods of improving tamper security of packages or containers by incorporating distinguishing printed graphics on the tamper evident component (e.g., frangible hinge, frangible tear strip, or wedged fracture tabs) of the present invention.
Claims20
A tamper evident container comprising:
- a) a cover portion comprising a peripheral locking flange assembly;
- b) a base portion comprising an upper peripheral sealing edge configured to substantially eliminate access to the peripheral locking flange assembly of the cover portion when the container is in the closed position;
- and
- c) a tamper evident linkage structure connecting the cover portion to the base portion comprising a wedged fracture tab (WFT) wherein the WFT is configured to produce access flaps upon full fracture and removal of the tab from the cover and base portions of the container.
A tamper evident container comprising:
- a) a cover portion comprising a peripheral locking flange assembly, wherein the peripheral locking flange assembly comprises a truncated recessed flange (TRF);
- b) a base portion comprising an upper peripheral sealing edge configured to substantially eliminate access to the peripheral locking flange assembly of the cover portion when the container is in the closed position;
- and
- c) a tamper evident linkage structure connecting the cover portion to the base portion comprising an asymmetrically frangible wedged fracture tab (WFT) with integrated non-frangible hinge with a contoured frangible score-line, wherein the WFT is configured to produce alternating access flaps upon full fracture and removal of the tab from the cover and base portions of the container, and wherein the alternating access flaps comprise one access flap centered on the cover portion between two access flaps located on the base portion.
A method of improving tamper security of a tamper evident container comprising the steps of
- incorporating an advanced tamper alert system which comprises a multi-color indication of tampering, wherein the tamper evident component of the tamper evident container includes printed graphics that are a different color than the container regions adjacent to the tamper evident component,
- such that the tamper security of the tamper evident container is improved.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.