Patent Publication Number: US-11655085-B2

Title: Tamper resistant storage systems for food and other items

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This patent application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/199,054 filed on Mar. 11, 2021 and entitled “Tamper Resistant Containers for Food and Other Items”, which was a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/073,969 filed on Oct. 19, 2020 and entitled “Tamper Resistant Containers for Food and Other Items”, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety and made part of the present U.S. utility patent application for all purposes. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The disclosed inventive subject matter relates in general to storage systems, containers, and packages used for food, perishable items, and other items, and more specifically to tamper-resistant storage systems for use with carry-out, pick-up, and delivery services used for food and other items. 
     Carry-out, pick-up, and delivery systems and services used for food and other items are commonplace in modern society. However, such systems and services necessarily involve multiple individuals handling, packaging, and in some circumstances delivering, the food or other items. Customers and consumers of such systems and services are often understandably concerned about the integrity of the packaging that the food or other items is stored in prior to pick-up or delivery and about the accuracy and contents of an order. A purchase receipt is often attached to or included with food packaging that is picked-up or delivered. However, this receipt may become lost, detached, or otherwise separated from the food packaging. Additionally, the food packaging may be opened, damaged, or otherwise tampered with prior to delivery, resulting in customer concern and/or dissatisfaction. Accordingly, a food packaging system that utilizes or includes tamper-resistant features is highly desirable. 
     SUMMARY 
     The following provides a summary of certain example implementations of the disclosed inventive subject matter. This summary is not an extensive overview and is not intended to identify key or critical aspects or elements of the disclosed inventive subject matter or to delineate its scope. However, it is to be understood that the use of indefinite articles in the language used to describe and claim the disclosed inventive subject matter is not intended in any way to limit the described inventive subject matter. Rather the use of “a” or “an” should be interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one or more”. 
     One implementation provides a first tamper-resistant, sealable container, comprising a container having a bottom portion, a top portion, and a plurality of sidewalls extending between the bottom portion and the top portion, wherein the bottom and top portions and sidewalls define an interior of the container and an exterior of the container; and a plurality of strips of self-sealing, pressure-sensitive adhesive disposed on surfaces of the container, wherein the strips of self-sealing, pressure-sensitive adhesive do not engage one another when the container is in an open configuration, wherein the strips of self-sealing, pressure-sensitive adhesive do engage one another when the container is in a closed configuration, and wherein the engagement of the strips of self-sealing pressure-sensitive adhesive with one another seals the container closed in a tamper-resistant manner. The container may further identifying indicia printed across the sealed portion of the container. The container may be a paper or plastic bag of the type used for storing and transporting food, groceries, and other items. The container may be a paper or plastic box of the type used for storing and transporting food, groceries, and other items. The adhesive may be a rubber-based or latex-based adhesive capable of adhering to itself. 
     Another implementation provides a second tamper-resistant, sealable container, comprising: a container having a closed bottom portion; a closeable top portion; two substantially flat side wall portions extending between the bottom portion and the top portion; and two pleated sidewall portions extending between the bottom portion and the top portion on either side of the flat sidewall portions, wherein each pleated sidewall portion includes a first section and a second section, and wherein the bottom portion, top portion, and sidewall portions define an interior of the container and an exterior of the container; two strips of adhesive disposed on the outer edges of the interior of each flat sidewall portion near the top portion of the container; a strip of adhesive disposed on the interior of the first section of each pleated sidewall portion and a strip of adhesive disposed on the interior of the second section of each pleated sidewall portion adjacent to the strip of adhesive disposed on the first section, wherein each strip of adhesive disposed on a pleated sidewall portion is positioned lower than the strips of adhesive disposed on the outer edges of each flat sidewall portion, wherein none of the adhesive strips engage one another when the container is in an open, unsealed configuration, wherein the adhesive strips on the outer edges of one flat sidewall portion engage the adhesive strips on the outer edges of the other flat sidewall portion when the container is in a closed, sealed configuration, wherein the adhesive strips on the first and second sections of each pleated sidewall portion engage one another when the container is in a closed, sealed configuration, and wherein the engagement of the strips of adhesive with one another seals the container closed in a tamper-resistant manner. The container may further identifying indicia printed across the sealed portion of the container. The container may be a paper or plastic bag of the type used for storing and transporting food, groceries, and other items. The adhesive may be a self-sealing, pressure-sensitive adhesive. The adhesive may be a rubber-based or latex-based adhesive capable of adhering to itself. 
     Still another implementation provides a third tamper-resistant storage system, comprising a tamper-resistant, sealable container, comprising a container having a closeable bottom portion; a closeable top portion; a first sidewall extending between the bottom portion and the top portion, wherein the first sidewall includes a bottom flap and a top flap; a second sidewall extending between the bottom portion and the top portion, wherein the second sidewall includes a bottom flap and a top flap; a third sidewall extending between the bottom portion and the top portion, wherein the third sidewall includes a bottom flap and a top flap; and a fourth sidewall extending between the bottom portion and the top portion, wherein the fourth sidewall includes a bottom flap and a top flap, wherein the bottom portion, the top portion, and the sidewall portions define an interior of the container and an exterior of the container; a strip of self-sealing, pressure-sensitive adhesive disposed on the outer surface of the top flap on the first sidewall, and a strip of self-sealing, pressure-sensitive adhesive disposed on the outer surface of the top flap on the third sidewall, which is located opposite the first sidewall; a strip of self-sealing, pressure-sensitive adhesive disposed on the inner surface of the top flap on the second sidewall, and a strip of self-sealing, pressure-sensitive adhesive disposed on the inner surface of the top flap on the fourth sidewall, which is located opposite the second sidewall, wherein the engagement of the strips of self-sealing, pressure-sensitive adhesive with one another seals the container closed in a tamper-resistant manner. The container may further identifying indicia printed across the sealed portion of the container. The container may further comprise a strip of self-sealing, pressure-sensitive adhesive disposed on the outer surface of the bottom flap on the first sidewall, and a strip of self-sealing, pressure-sensitive adhesive disposed on the outer surface of the bottom flap on the third sidewall, which is located opposite the first sidewall; and a strip of self-sealing, pressure-sensitive adhesive disposed on the inner surface of the bottom flap on the second sidewall, and a strip of self-sealing, pressure-sensitive adhesive disposed on the inner surface of the bottom flap on the fourth sidewall, which is located opposite the second sidewall. The container may be a paper or plastic box of the type used for storing and transporting food, groceries, and other items. The adhesive may be a rubber-based or latex-based adhesive capable of adhering to itself. 
     It should be appreciated that all combinations of the foregoing concepts and additional concepts discussed in greater detail below (provided such concepts are not mutually inconsistent) are contemplated as being part of the inventive subject matter disclosed herein and may be implemented to achieve the benefits as described herein. Additional features and aspects of the disclosed system, devices, and methods will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading and understanding the following detailed description of the example implementations. As will be appreciated by the skilled artisan, further implementations are possible without departing from the scope and spirit of what is disclosed herein. Accordingly, the drawings and associated descriptions are to be regarded as illustrative and not restrictive in nature. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated into and form a part of the specification, schematically illustrate one or more example implementations of the disclosed inventive subject matter and, together with the general description given above and detailed description given below, serve to explain the principles of the disclosed subject matter, and wherein: 
         FIG.  1 A  depicts a first example implementation of the disclosed tamper-resistant containers, wherein the container is an envelope shown in an unsealed configuration; 
         FIG.  1 B  depicts the example implementation of  FIG.  1 A  in a sealed configuration with a portion of the paper receipt component being visible on the exterior of the tamper-resistance container; 
         FIG.  2 A  depicts a second example implementation of the disclosed tamper-resistant containers, wherein the container is a paper bag shown in an open configuration; 
         FIG.  2 B  depicts the example implementation of  FIG.  2 A  shown in a closed or sealed configuration, wherein the paper receipt component has been used as a closure device; 
         FIG.  3 A  depicts a third example implementation of the disclosed tamper-resistant containers, wherein the container is a paper bag shown in an open configuration and an adhesive-bearing paper receipt component is shown prior to placement around the upper portion of the bag; 
         FIG.  3 B  depicts the example implementation of  FIG.  3 A  shown in a closed or sealed configuration, wherein the paper receipt component has been used as a closure device; 
         FIG.  3 C  depicts the example implementation of  FIG.  3 B , wherein the paper receipt component has been partially torn off the upper portion of the bag to unseal the container and allow access to the contents thereof; 
         FIG.  4 A  depicts a fourth example implementation of the disclosed tamper-resistant containers, wherein the container is a tamper resistant paper bag of the type used to store and transport food and other items, and wherein a receipt component is not used for sealing the container; 
         FIG.  4 B  depicts the container of  FIG.  4 A , wherein a plurality of adhesive strips have been deposited on the interior surfaces of the container in a manner that permits the strips of adhesive to not engage one another when the container is in an open configuration and to directly engage one another when the container is in a closed configuration, thereby sealing the container in a tamper-resistant manner; 
         FIG.  4 C  is an alternate view of the interior of the container of  FIG.  4 B  showing the positioning of the adhesive strips on the interior surfaces of the container; 
         FIG.  4 D  depicts the container of  FIG.  4 A  shown in a closed, sealed configuration; 
         FIG.  5 A  depicts a fifth example implementation of the disclosed tamper-resistant containers, wherein the container is a tamper resistant cardboard box of the type used to store and transport food and other items, wherein a receipt component is not used for sealing the container, and wherein a plurality of adhesive strips have been deposited on certain surfaces of the upper and lower flaps of the box for allowing the box to be closed and sealed in a tamper-resistant manner; and 
         FIG.  5 B  depicts the container of  FIG.  5 A  shown in a partially closed configuration. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Example implementations are now described with reference to the Figures. Reference numerals are used throughout the detailed description to refer to the various elements and structures. Although the following detailed description contains many specifics for the purposes of illustration, a person of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that many variations and alterations to the following details are within the scope of the disclosed inventive subject matter. Accordingly, the following implementations are set forth without any loss of generality to, and without imposing limitations upon, the claimed subject matter. 
       FIG.  1 A  depicts a first example implementation of the disclosed tamper-resistant containers, wherein the container is an envelope shown in an unsealed configuration and  FIG.  1 B  depicts the example implementation of  FIG.  1 A  in a sealed configuration with a portion of the paper receipt component being visible on the exterior of the tamper-resistance container. In  FIGS.  1 A- 1 B , tamper-resistance container  100  includes an envelope, sack, or bag component  102  and a receipt component  120 . Envelope, sack, or bag component  102  includes closed lower portion  104 , middle portion  106 , which accommodates various items for storage, and closeable upper portion  110 . Adhesive  108  may be deposited on the upper area of middle portion  106  and adhesive  112  may be deposited on closeable upper portion  110 . The adhesive allows container  100  to be sealed in a closed configuration simply by folding upper portion  110  onto middle portion  106  and applying pressure. In this implementation, receipt component  120  does not include adhesive, but rather is folded at a predetermined angle and inserted into container  100  prior to the closure and sealing thereof. Exterior portion  122 , which includes identifying indicia (e.g., order contents, name of person ordering, delivery address, etc.) remains on the outside of container  100  while interior portion  124  remains within middle portion  106  after closure and sealing. In this manner, receipt component  120  cannot be removed or replaced without damaging the receipt itself or re-opening the sealed container, either of which would provide evidence of tampering to the customer. Various adhesives may be used with this example implementation including latex or rubber based adhesives or any other glue or adhesive material, including self-sealing materials, suitable for use with the disclosed tamper resistant containers. 
       FIG.  2 A  depicts a second example implementation of the disclosed tamper-resistant containers, wherein the container is a paper (or plastic) bag shown in an open configuration; and  FIG.  2 B  depicts the example implementation of  FIG.  2 A  shown in a closed or sealed configuration, wherein the paper receipt component has been used as a closure device. In  FIGS.  2 A- 2 B , tamper-resistance container  200  includes bag component  202  and receipt component  250 . Bag component  202  includes closed bottom portion  204 , middle portion  206 , which accommodates various items for storage, front panel  208  in which first slot  210  is formed, rear panel  212 , in which second slot  214  is formed, first side panel  216 , and second side panel  218 . Receipt component  250  includes first adhesive end  252  and second adhesive end  254 , which are joined together when receipt component  250  is looped through first slot  210  and second slot  214  to form a closure device. When closed in this manner, container  200  cannot be re-opened without removing the receipt component, and receipt component  250  cannot be removed or replaced without damaging the receipt itself, which would provide evidence of tampering to the customer. Various adhesives may be used with this example implementation including latex or rubber based adhesives or any other glue or adhesive material, including self-sealing materials, suitable for use with the disclosed tamper resistant containers. Receipt component  250  may also include a detachable portion  256  that may be removed from the longer portion of receipt component  250  if the user of the container wishes to retain information printed thereon. 
     In another implementation, the disclosed tamper-resistant container is a plastic or paper bag or similar item that includes a row of apertures or holes formed in or near the upper, open edges thereof. These apertures or holes may be formed using a specialized manual or automated punch or other item capable of punching completely through the material of the bag. The apertures may be formed in the bag prior to the use of the bag (e.g., at the time the bag is manufactured) or the apertures may be formed at the point of purchase by a cashier or other person by using the described punch. The apertures may be any of a variety of shapes including circular, oval, square, rectangular, triangular, and trapezoidal. The bag is sealed with a receipt that is typically generated at the time the items placed within the bag are purchased. The receipt may be standard paper or a thermal type printable paper that further includes an adhesive that is applied directly onto one side of the receipt. The receipt may be provided in roll form or in other commonly used forms. The adhesive may be self-adhesive or a rubber or latex type adhesive that permanently seals the receipt to the material of bag and to the material of the receipt itself. After the items have been placed in the bag, the adhesive-bearing side of the receipt is placed over and across the apertures or holes, either in a horizontal or vertical orientation, such that the adhesive sticks to itself though the apertures or holes, as well as sticking directly to the material of the bag. By sealing the top edges of the bag in this manner, the sealed bag cannot be re-opened without damaging both the receipt and the material of the bag itself, making any tampering clearly apparent. 
       FIG.  3 A  depicts a third example implementation of the disclosed tamper-resistant containers, wherein the container is a paper bag shown in an open configuration and an adhesive-bearing paper receipt component is shown prior to placement around the upper portion of the bag.  FIG.  3 B  depicts the example implementation of  FIG.  3 A  shown in a closed or sealed configuration, wherein the paper receipt component has been used as a closure device; and  FIG.  3 C  depicts the example implementation of  FIG.  3 B , wherein the paper receipt component has been partially torn off the upper portion of the bag to unseal the container and allow access to the contents thereof. In  FIGS.  3 A- 3 C , tamper-resistant storage system  300  includes bag component  302  and receipt component  320 . Bag component  302  includes closed bottom portion  304 , middle portion  306 , which accommodates various items for storage, front panel  308  in which apertures  310  are formed, rear panel  312 , in which apertures  314  are formed in horizontal alignment with apertures  310 , first side panel  316 , and second side panel  318 . Receipt component  320  includes adhesive  322  deposited on one side thereof. In  FIGS.  3 A- 3 C , apertures  310  and  314  are circular in shape and have been formed immediately adjacent to one another to create a perforation along the upper edge of bag component  302 . Receipt component  320  includes adhesive deposited along the length of one side thereof and is long enough to fold completely in half and onto itself as shown in  FIG.  3 B , while leaving a slight overhang (see left side of  320 ). This overhang may be grasped and used to pull receipt component  320  upward such that the perforated top edge of bag component  302  tears neatly in a linear manner (see  FIG.  3 C ) to unseal bag component  302 . Receipt component  320  cannot be removed from bag component  302  without damaging the upper portion of the bag component, thereby making any tampering with the seal visible. Receipt component  320  may also include detachable portion  324  that may be removed from the longer portion of receipt component  320  if the user of the container wishes to retain information printed thereon. Additionally, as shown in  FIG.  3 A , receipt component  320  may include centrally located guideline  322  running lengthwise along receipt component  320  for facilitating proper positioning of receipt component  320  on the closeable upper portion of container. 
       FIG.  4 A  depicts a fourth example implementation of the disclosed tamper-resistant containers, wherein the container is a tamper resistant plastic or paper bag of the type used to store and transport food and other items, and wherein a receipt component is not used for sealing the container.  FIG.  4 B  depicts the container of  FIG.  4 A , wherein a plurality of adhesive strips have been deposited on the interior surfaces of the container in a manner that permits the strips of adhesive to not engage one another when the container is in an open configuration and to directly engage one another when the container is in a closed configuration, thereby sealing the container in a tamper-resistant manner.  FIG.  4 C  is an alternate view of the interior of the container of  FIG.  4 B  showing the positioning of the adhesive strips on the interior surfaces of the container. In  FIGS.  4 A- 4 C , container  400  includes exterior region  402 ; interior region  404 ; closed bottom  406 ; first sidewall  408 , which is substantially flat; second sidewall  410 , which is substantially flat; third sidewall  412 , which includes first pleated section  414  and second pleated section  416 ; fourth sidewall  418 , which includes first pleated section  420  and second pleated section  422 ; and open top  424 . Two strips of self-sealing adhesive  430  are disposed on the outer edges of the interior of each flat sidewall portion  408  and  410  near the top portion of container  400 . A strip of self-sealing adhesive  450  is disposed on the interior of the first section ( 414 ,  420 ) of each pleated sidewall portion and a strip of self-sealing adhesive  450  is disposed on the interior of the second section ( 416 ,  422 ) of each pleated sidewall portion adjacent to the strip of self-sealing adhesive disposed on the first section ( 414 ,  420 ). Each strip of adhesive disposed on a pleated sidewall portion is positioned lower than the strips of adhesive disposed on the outer edges of each flat sidewall portion such that the various strips of adhesive do not overlap. None of the adhesive strips engage one another when the container is in an open, unsealed configuration (see  FIG.  4 A- 4 C ). The adhesive strips  430  on the outer edges of one flat sidewall portion engage the adhesive strips  430  on the outer edges of the other, opposite, flat sidewall portion when the container is in a closed, sealed configuration, and the adhesive strips  450  on the first and second sections of each pleated sidewall portion engage one another when the container is in a closed, sealed configuration (see  FIG.  4 D ). The engagement of the strips of adhesive with one another seals the container closed in a tamper-resistant manner because any attempt to open the sealed container will visibly damage the material of the container due to the permanent nature of the bond formed between the strips of adhesive. 
       FIG.  5 A  depicts a fifth example implementation of the disclosed tamper-resistant containers, wherein the container is a tamper resistant plastic or cardboard box of the type used to store and transport food and other items, wherein a receipt component is not used for sealing the container, and wherein a plurality of adhesive strips have been deposited on certain surfaces of the upper and lower flaps of the box for allowing the box to be closed and sealed in a tamper-resistant manner.  FIG.  5 B  depicts the container of  FIG.  5 A  shown in a partially closed configuration. In  FIGS.  5 A- 5 B , container  500  includes exterior region  502 ; interior region  504 ; closeable bottom  506 ; first sidewall  508 , which includes upper flap  510  and lower flap  512 ; second sidewall  514 , which includes upper flap  516  and lower flap  518 ; third sidewall  520  which includes upper flap  522  and lower flap  524 ; fourth sidewall  526 , which includes upper flap  528  and lower flap  530 , and open top  532 , which may be sealed in a tamper-resistant manner. Strips of self-sealing adhesive  540  are deposited on the exterior of upper flaps  510  and  516  and, optionally, on the exterior of lower flaps  512  and  518 . Likewise, strips of self-sealing adhesive  550  are deposited on the interior of upper flaps  522  and  528  and, optionally, on the interior of lower flaps  524  and  530 . In some implementations, the adhesive used on the lower flaps is not a self-sealing adhesive. Container  500  is sealed by simply pressing adhesive strips  540  and  550  together to form a bond. The engagement of the strips of adhesive with one another seals the container closed in a tamper-resistant manner because any attempt to open the sealed container will visibly damage the material of the container due to the permanent nature of the bond formed between the strips of adhesive. 
     The implementations shown in  FIGS.  4 A- 4 C and  5 A- 5 B  and described above typically use one or more commercially available self-sealing adhesives, such as CASA  101  Self Sealing Adhesive (Casa Adhesives, Inc.; Calhoun, Ga.), to create permanent bond between the sections of the container being joined together to seal the container in a tamper-resistant manner. A self-sealing adhesive is a pressure sensitive adhesive that can form a strong bond with itself and with another substrate. A pressure-sensitive adhesive (also referred to a PSA or self-stick adhesive) is a type of non-reactive adhesive which forms a bond when pressure is applied to bond the adhesive with a surface. No solvent, water, or heat is needed to activate the adhesive. As the name “pressure-sensitive” indicates, the degree of bond is influenced by the amount of pressure which is used to apply the adhesive to the surface. Surface factors such as smoothness, surface energy, removal of contaminants, etc. are also important with regard to proper bonding. PSAs are usually designed to form a bond and hold properly at room temperatures and typically reduce or lose their tack at low temperatures and reduce their shear holding ability at high temperatures. “Permanent” pressure-sensitive adhesives are initially pressure-sensitive and removable (for example, to relabel mislabeled goods), but after hours or days change their properties by becoming less or not viscous, or by increasing bond strength such that the bond becomes permanent. 
     As previously stated and as used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the,” refer to both the singular as well as plural, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The term “comprising” as used herein is synonymous with “including,” “containing,” or “characterized by,” and is inclusive or open-ended and does not exclude additional, unrecited elements or method steps. Although many methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used, particular suitable methods and materials are described herein. Unless context indicates otherwise, the recitations of numerical ranges by endpoints include all numbers subsumed within that range. Furthermore, references to “one implementation” are not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional implementations that also incorporate the recited features. Moreover, unless explicitly stated to the contrary, implementations “comprising” or “having” an element or a plurality of elements having a particular property may include additional elements whether or not they have that property. 
     Underlined and/or italicized headings and subheadings are used for convenience only, do not limit the disclosed subject matter, and are not referred to in connection with the interpretation of the description of the disclosed subject matter. All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the various implementations described throughout this disclosure that are known or later come to be known to those of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and intended to be encompassed by the disclosed subject matter. Moreover, nothing disclosed herein is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether such disclosure is explicitly recited in the above description. 
     There may be many alternate ways to implement the disclosed inventive subject matter. Various functions and elements described herein may be partitioned differently from those shown without departing from the scope of the disclosed inventive subject matter. Generic principles defined herein may be applied to other implementations. Different numbers of a given module or unit may be employed, a different type or types of a given module or unit may be employed, a given module or unit may be added, or a given module or unit may be omitted. 
     It should be appreciated that all combinations of the foregoing concepts and additional concepts discussed in greater detail herein (provided such concepts are not mutually inconsistent) are contemplated as being part of the disclosed inventive subject matter. All combinations of claimed subject matter appearing at the end of this disclosure are contemplated as being part of the inventive subject matter disclosed herein. While the disclosed inventive subject matter has been illustrated by the description of example implementations, and while the example implementations have been described in certain detail, there is no intention to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the disclosed inventive subject matter in its broader aspects is not limited to any of the specific details, representative devices and methods, and/or illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept.