TAMPER-PROOF PACKAGE AND METHOD

Abstract: Tamper-proof package (1) for an article. A first container (19) in which the article is placed has a sealed end flap (21) whose opening indicates tempering. The first container (19) iscellophane-wrapped with a tear strip (25) whose tearing open of which indicates tampering. The first container (19) is enclosed within a second container (9) having a sealed top cover (11), overlying band (17) and a vertical tear strip (13). Tearing off the top cover (11), tearing apart the band (17) and tearing open the second container (9) via its tear strip (13) provide three further indications of tampering. The second container (9) is enclosed in a pouch (3) having top and bottom sealed ends (5) and (7). Tearing across the sealed ends (5) and (7) provides two further indications of tampering.

Description: Description Tamper-Proof Package And Method Technical Field This invention relates to a tamper-proof package that provides multiple successive indications to thereby indi¬ cate to the purchaser whether or not the package has been tampered with and hence to warn the purchaser that the contents, such as medicine, may have been tampered with as well. Background Art The prior art, U.S. Patent No. 1,743,980, discloses a receptacle; U.S. Patent No. 2,006,705 discloses a con¬ tainer; U.S. Patent No. 2,131,774 discloses a container closure; U.S. Patent No. 2,268,970 discloses a tearing strip package; U.S. Patent No. 2,524,162 discloses desic- cant packaging; U.S. Patent No. 3,043,067 discloses a su- ture package; U.S. Patent No. 3,343,747 discloses packets; U.S. Patent No. 3,526,315 discloses a package and process; U.S. Patent No. 3,577,699 discloses a method of cartoning; U.S. Patent No. 3,620,439 discloses a severable carton with sterile edge; U.S. Patent No. 3,937,328 discloses a suspended carton within a carton; U.S. Patent No. 4,340,138 discloses a multiple compartment multiple seal container; U.S. Patent No. 4,377,234 discloses a multiple compartment banding sleeve; U.S. Patent No. 4,436,203 dis¬ closes a tamper resistant packaging device; U.S. Patent No. 4,449,632 discloses a tamper-proof package and method; U.S. Patent No. 4,465,185 discloses a cigarette case with detachable flap; U.S. Patent No. 4,484,681 discloses a package for carded merchandise; U.S. Patent No. 4,508,226 discloses a sealed carton with tamper indicating features; U.S. Patent No. 4,537,309 discloses tamper resistant and tamper evident sealed end cartons; U.S. Patent No. 4,558,794 discloses a container with vessel for retention of telltales; U.S. Patent No. 4,589,545 discloses a ciga¬ rette package; and British Patent No. 1,025,034 discloses improvements in and relating to tamper-proof seals. Disclosure of Invention A tamper-proof package comprises a first container that is end-flap sealed and in which the contents, such as medicine, is enclosed. The first container is sealed by a cellophane wrap that can be opened along its tear strip band. The cellophane-wrapped first container is en- closed within a second comntainer that has a heat sealed top cover, a horizontal advertising band and a vertical octopus leg tear strip. The second container is enclosed by a pouch whose ends are closed and heat and/or pressure sealed and may be opened by tearing same across the ends. Opening the pouch provides two initial indications of tam¬ pering; opening the heat-sealed top cover of the second container, tearing the horizontal advertising band and separating the second container by tearing the vertical tear strip provide three additional indications of tamper- ing; tearing apart the cellophane wrapper via its tear strip provides the sixth indication of tampering; and opening the closed end sealed end flap of the first con¬ tainer would provide the seventh indication of tampering. Brief Description of Drawings The invention should be discerned and appreciated from the drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the pouch enclos¬ ing a second container; Fig. 2 is a perspective view show- ing the second container; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the second container with its heat-sealed top cover removed; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the second con¬ tainer inverted and torn apart by its vertical octopus leg tear strip; Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the cellophane-wrapped first container partially inserted in the second container; and Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the first container. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention In Fig. 1 of the drawings, reference numeral 1 gener- ally refers to the invention of the tamper-proof package comprising a pouch 3 whose top and bottom ends 5 and 7 are closed and heat and/or pressure sealed. Pouch 3 is made of lightweight flexible material such as paper, regenerated cellulose, etc. Enclosed in pouch 3 is a second container 9 of suitable semi-rigid material such as lightweight plastic, paper and the like. Second container 9 has a heat-sealed top cover 11 which may be torn off and thereby indicate tampering. Second container 9 has a vertical octopus leg tear strip 13 which can be torn open by appropriate manipulative grasping of its tab 15. A horizontal advertising band 17 overlies tear strip 13. Grasping tab 15 and separating container 9 by means of its tear strip 13 will first tear apart the advertising band 17 to thereby indicate tampering; and then separating the second container 9, as shown in Fig. 4 to thereby in¬ dicate further tampering. The contents, article or medicine that is to be pro¬ tected against tampering is enclosed in a first container 19 that has its end flap 21 adhesively sealed. Container 19 is made of suitable material such as plastic or the like. Tearing open the end flap 21 would thereby indicate tampering. Container 19 is sealed by cellophane wrapping 23 that can be opened along its tear strip 25 by appropri- ate manipulative grasping of its tear tab 27. Tearing open the cellophane wrapping 23 would indicate tampering. The cellophane-wrapped first container 19 is enclosed within the second container 9. The tamper-proof packaging 1 provides seven separate and distinct prior indications to the purchaser that the contents, article or medicine, within the first container 19 may have been subjected to tampering. Two indications of tampering are provided when the top and bottom end 5 and 7 of the pouch 3 are torn across. Tearing off the top cover 11 of the second container 9, tearing apart the advertising band 17 and tearing open the second container 9 via its octopus leg tear strip 13 would provide three additional indications of tampering. Tearing open the cellophane wrap 23 via its tear strip 25 would provide an additional indication of tampering. Tearing open the adhesively sealed end flap 21 of the first container 19 would be an additional indication of package tampering. A person who intends to tamper with the contents, ar- ticle or medicine contained within the first container 19 would not provide and warn a prospective purchaser of seven successive positive indications of package tampering to gain access for purposes of tampering with the packaged contents, article or medicine. Any indications that the package 1 had been tampered with would warn the prospec¬ tive purchaser not to buy the package; and, if such pack¬ age were unsuspectingly bought, would warn such purchaser not to use the contents, article or medicine. Hence, the package 1 would be tamper-proof.

Claims: Claims 1. A tamper-proof package for an article comprising: a first container into which the article is placed and said first container having a self-contained independ- means to indicate tampering with said first container; a cellophane wrapping entirely enclosing and sealing said first container and said wrapping having a self- contained independent means to indicate tampering with said wrapping; a second container entirely enclosing and sealing said cellophane wrapping and the said first container, said second container having self- contained independent means to indicate tampering with said second container, said means to indicate tamper¬ ing with said second container comprises an overlying band with the tearing apart of said band indicating tampering and a tear strip with the tearing open of said tear strip separating said second container and indicating tampering; a pouch entirely enclosing and sealing said second container; and the tearing open of said tear strip of said second container interact- ing with said overlying band of said second container and with said pouch by tearing apart said overlying band and by tearing open and separating said pouch to indicate tampering with said pouch. 2. A tamper-proof package in accordance with claim 1, wherein said pouch has self-contained independent means to indicate further tampering with said pouch. 3. A tamper-proof package in accordance with claim 2, wherein said means to indicate further tampering with said pouch comprise top and bottom sealed ends with the tearing across of either one of said sealed ends indicating such further tampering with said pouch. 4. A tamper-proof package for an article comprising: a first container into which the article is placed and said first container having an adhesively sealed end flap with the tearing open of said end flap indicating tampering; a cellophane wrapping entirely enclosing and sealing said first container, said cellophane wrapping having a horizontal tear strip with the tear- ing open of said tear strip indicating tampering and said horizontal tear strip being located immediately adjacent said adhesively sealed end flap of said first container; a second container entirely enclosing and sealing said cellophane wrapping and said first con¬ tainer, said second container having a sealed top cov¬ er with the tearing off of said top cover indicating tampering, said second container having a horizontally disposed overlying band with the tearing apart of said band indicating tampering, and said second container having a vertical tear strip with the tearing open of said vertical tear strip indicating tampering; a pouch entirely enclosing and sealing said second con¬ tainer, and said pouch having top and bottom ends with the tearing across of either one of said ends indicat¬ ing tampering. 5. A method for tamper-proofing a package containing an article comprising the steps of entirely enclosing and sealing a first container containing the article and providing said first container with self-contained independent means to indicate tampering of said first container; entirely wrapping and sealing said first container with cellophane and providing said wrapping with self-contained independent means to indicate tam- pering with said wrapping; entirely enclosing and sealing a second container containing said cellophane wrapping and said first container, entirely enclosing and sealing a pouch containing said second container and providing said pouch with self-contained independ- ent means to indicate tampering with said pouch, pro¬ viding said second container with an overlying band with the tearing apart of said overlying band indicat¬ ing tampering with said second container, providing said second container with a tear strip with the tear- ing open of said tear strip separating said second container and indicating tampering with said second container and interacting with said overlying band of said second container and with said pouch to tear apart said overlying band of said second container to separate said second container, and to tear open and separate said pouch. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein said overlying band of said second container is horizontally disposed and wherein said tear strip of said second container is vertically oriented.

Inventors: MOREIRA DE CASTRO ALVES DARIO, MOREIRA DE CASTRO ALVES, DARIO
Applicants: MOREIRA DE CASTRO ALVES DARIO, MOREIRA DE CASTRO ALVES, DARIO
Application year: 1987
Main classification: B65D73
IPC codes: B65D75, B65D77