Tamper-evident shrink band for containers

Abstract

A system for indicating that a container has been subjected to tampering includes a container having an outer surface with at least one central depressed region defined by opposed upstanding ledges extending sharply transverse to a plane of the depressed region and a continuous band of heat shrinkable material in general alignment with the central depressed region initially loosely encircles the container which, when heated, becomes shortened and congruently conforms to the outer surface of the container and is restrained against lateral movement beyond the upstanding ledges when removal from the container is attempted. The composition and dimensions of the band of heat shrinkable material are selected such that removal from the container cannot be accomplished without causing visibly apparent deformation or fracturing of either the band or of the container. The band of heat shrinkable material may be imprinted with unique indicia or may be formed with perforations to further aid in causing its visibly apparent deformation or fracturing when removal from the container is attempted. The opposed upstanding ledges may be parallel with the continuous band of heat shrinkable material being narrower than the space between the upstanding ledges. The opposed upstanding ledges may be non-parallel and have a width such that it at least partially overlies the upstanding ledges. Heat setting glue may be applied to the interfacing surfaces of the band and container to cause the continuous band of heat shrinkable material to even more firmly adhere to the container.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.