Patent Description:
Theft-resistant, hard shell laminate packaging is known. For example, <CIT> discloses a theft-resistant product packaging that includes a front shell having a matrix of cut-resistant strands disposed within or adjacent to a plastic substrate, and a back cover secured to and disposed relative to the front shell so as to form a cavity configured to contain a product therebetween. Tamper-evident security bags manufactured from woven or nonwoven fabrics are also known. Such security bags, however, suffer a shortcoming in that the strands of the woven or nonwoven fabric may be displaced, without detection, and thereby allow the unauthorized access to the contents of the bag.

Therefore, a need exists for a tamper-evident mesh material for use in the manufacture of tamper-evident security bags, in which the displacement of any strands of the mesh material can be detected, the presence of which indicates that the bag and the contents thereof had been tampered with or otherwise accessed without authorization.

The present invention is directed to tamper-evident mesh material, methods of manufacture therefor, and tamper-evident bags manufactured therefrom.

More specifically, the present invention is directed to a tamper-evident mesh material comprising a nonwoven mesh fabric, said mesh fabric comprising a plurality of strands, said plurality of strands comprising overlying strands and underlying strands, wherein said underlying strands and said overlying strands each comprise a visual property, and wherein said overlying strands are bonded to said underlying strands at a plurality of crossover points; and, a contrast layer, wherein said contrast layer is visually distinct from said visual property of said underlying strands, and wherein said contrast layer is disposed over at least a portion of each said overlying strand and each said underlying strand, and over said plurality of crossover points, wherein breakage of a bond between at least one of said overlying strands and at least one of said underlying strands at a crossover point of said plurality of crossover points exposes said visual property of said at least one underlying strand at said crossover point to indicate breakage of said bond, wherein said visual property of said overlying strands or said visual property of said underlying strands is a non-pigmentation. A tamper-evident bag may be formed from the tamper evident mesh material.

Further, the present invention is directed to a method of manufacturing a tamper-evident nonwoven mesh material, comprising the steps of: obtaining a plurality of strands, said plurality of strands comprising overlying strands and underlying strands, wherein said underlying strands and said overlying strands each comprise a visual property; bonding said overlying strands to said underlying strands at a plurality of crossover points; and, applying a contrast layer over at least a portion of each said overlying strand and each said underlying strand, and over said plurality of crossover points, wherein said contrast layer is visually distinct from said visual property of said underlying strands, wherein breakage of a bond between at least one of said overlying strands and at least one of said underlying strands at a crossover point of said plurality of crossover points exposes said visual property of said at least one underlying strand at said crossover point to indicate breakage of said bond, wherein said visual property of said overlying strands or said visual property of said underlying strands is a non-pigmentation.

The tamper-evident mesh material of the present invention may be used, for example, in the manufacture of a variety of tamper-evident security bags for use in applications where it is desirable to detect any traces or evidence of tampering with, or of unauthorized access to, the contents of the bag. Examples of such tamper-evident security bags include currency bags or transaction bags.

The tamper-evident mesh material of the present invention is formed from a nonwoven mesh fabric comprising a contrast layer disposed thereover. The nonwoven mesh fabric comprises a first plurality of strands and a second plurality of strands, wherein the first plurality of strands is oriented in a direction different from the second plurality of strands, and wherein the first plurality of strands is disposed over and bonded to the second plurality of strands at a plurality of crossover points, i.e., points where overlying strands of the first plurality of strands cross over and contact underlying strands of the second plurality of strands. Stated differently, the nonwoven mesh fabric comprises a plurality of strands oriented in a first direction (first direction (or FD) strands (each strand thereof, an FD strand)) disposed over a plurality of strands oriented in a second direction (second direction (or SD) strands (each strand thereof, an SD strand)), and wherein the FD strands are bonded to the SD strands at a plurality of crossover points, i.e., where the FD strands cross over and contact the underlying SD strands. Each strand of the first plurality of strands (or each FD strand) may be discrete strands, may be interconnected with one or more strands, may be integrally formed with one or more strands, or may otherwise comprise one or more strands branching therefrom. Similarly, each strand of the second plurality of strands (or each SD strand) may be discrete strands, may be interconnected with one or more strands, may be integrally formed with one or more strands, or may otherwise comprise one or more strands branching therefrom.

Each strand of the first and/or second plurality of strands of the nonwoven mesh fabric: may be pigmented (meaning that each strand of the first and/or second plurality of strands comprises added pigment(s)); may be unpigmented (or non-pigmented) (meaning that each strand of the first and/or second plurality of strands comprises no added pigment(s), and may be transparent, semi-transparent, semi-opaque or opaque based on the selected polymeric composition(s) of the first and/or second plurality of strands); or may otherwise comprise color(s) (meaning that each strand of the first and/or second plurality of strands comprises color(s) attributable to the selected polymeric composition(s) of the first and/or second plurality of strands). The pigmentation, non-pigmentation or color(s) of the strands of the first and/or second plurality of strands constitute visual properties thereof. In one embodiment of the present invention, each strand of the first and second plurality of strands is pigmented. In another embodiment of the present invention, each strand of the first and second plurality of strands is pigmented, wherein the pigmentation of each of the strands of the first and second plurality of strands is (or may optionally be) the same or substantially the same in color. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, each strand of the first plurality of strands is pigmented a first color, and each strand of the second plurality of strands is pigmented a second color, wherein the first color is different in color from the second color of the respective strands of the first and second plurality of strands. In still another embodiment of the present invention, each strand of the first plurality of strands is unpigmented, and each strand of the second plurality of strands is pigmented (or vice versa).

In a further embodiment of the present invention, each strand of the first and second plurality of strands is unpigmented. In still a further embodiment of the present invention, each strand of the first and second plurality of strands comprises color(s), wherein the color(s) of each of the strands of the first and second plurality of strands is/are (or may optionally be) the same, substantially the same, or different. In yet a further embodiment of the present invention, each strand of the first plurality of strands is pigmented, and each strand of the second plurality of strands comprises color(s) (or vice versa). In still yet a further embodiment of the present invention, each strand of the first plurality of strands is unpigmented, and each strand of the second plurality of strands comprises color(s) (or vice versa).

At least one surface of each strand of the first and second plurality of strands is covered with a contrast layer that is visually distinct from the pigmentation or non-pigmentation or color(s), as applicable, of each of the strands of the first and second plurality of strands (or visually distinct from the pigmentation or non-pigmentation or color(s), as applicable, of at least each of the strands of the second plurality of strands). The contrast layer may be, for example, a metal layer, a printed layer or a coating. Specifically, the contrast layer may be disposed over, for example, the front surface of each strand of the first and second plurality of strands to conceal the pigmentation or non-pigmentation or color(s) (i.e., the visual property), as applicable, of those front surfaces; however, sections on the front surface of the underlying strands of the second plurality of strands over which the overlying strands of the first plurality of strands are bonded (namely, at the plurality of crossover points) do not include the contrast layer, as those sections were shielded during application of the contrast layer by sections of the overlying strands of the first plurality of strands bonded thereover. Breakage of the bond, and thus disruption of the contrast layer, at a crossover point of an overlying strand and an underlying strand of the respective first and second plurality of strands (via displacement of either the overlying or underlying strand) exposes the pigmented or non-pigmented or colored (as applicable) section (and thus the visual property) of the underlying strand at that particular crossover point, i.e., the pigmented or non-pigmented or colored (as applicable) section on the front surface of the underlying strand to which the overlying strand had been previously bonded. In a tamper-evident security bag formed from the tamper-evident mesh material of the present invention, the visibility of that pigmented or non-pigmented or colored (as applicable) section on that underlying strand would serve as an indicator that the bag and the contents thereof had been tampered with or otherwise accessed without authorization.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the tamper-evident mesh material is formed from a metalized, pigmented nonwoven mesh fabric. The nonwoven mesh fabric comprises a first plurality of strands and a second plurality of strands, wherein each strand of the first and second plurality of strands is pigmented, and wherein the first plurality of strands is oriented in a direction different from the second plurality of strands. The first plurality of strands is disposed over and thermally bonded to the second plurality of strands at a plurality of crossover points, i.e., where the first plurality of strands crosses over and contacts the second plurality of strands. At least one surface of each strand of the first and second plurality of strands is metalized. Specifically, a metal layer is disposed over, for example, the front surface of each strand of the first and second plurality of strands to conceal the pigmentation of those front surfaces; however, sections on the front surface of the strands of the second plurality of strands over which the strands of the first plurality of strands are thermally bonded (namely, at the plurality of crossover points) are not metalized, as those sections on the front surface of those strands of the second plurality of strands were shielded during the metallization process by sections of strands of the first plurality of strands thermally bonded thereover. Breakage of the thermal bond, and thus disruption of the metal layer, at a crossover point of an overlying strand and an underlying strand, respectively, of the first and second plurality of strands (via displacement of either the overlying or underlying strand) exposes the pigmented, non-metalized section of the underlying strand at that particular crossover point, i.e., the pigmented section on the front surface of that underlying strand over which the overlying strand had been previously thermally bonded. In a tamper-evident security bag formed from the tamper-evident mesh material of the present invention, the visibility of that pigmented, non-metalized section on that underlying strand would serve as an indicator that the bag and the contents thereof had been tampered with or otherwise accessed without authorization.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the tamper-evident mesh material is formed from a metalized, nonwoven mesh fabric. The nonwoven mesh fabric comprises a first plurality of strands and a second plurality of strands, wherein the first plurality of strands is oriented in a direction different from the second plurality of strands, and wherein the first plurality of strands is disposed over and thermally bonded to the second plurality of strands at a plurality of crossover points, i.e., where the first plurality of strands crosses over and contacts the second plurality of strands. Each strand of the first plurality of strands is unpigmented, and each strand of the second plurality of strands is pigmented. At least one surface of each strand of the first and second plurality of strands is metalized. Specifically, a metal layer is disposed over, for example, the front surface of each strand of the first and second plurality of strands to conceal the non-pigmentation and the pigmentation of those front surfaces, respectively, of each of the strands of the first and second plurality of strands; however, sections on the front surface of the strands of the second plurality of strands over which the strands of the first plurality of strands are thermally bonded (namely, at the plurality of crossover points) are not metalized, as those sections on the front surface of those strands of the second plurality of strands were shielded during the metallization process by sections of strands of the first plurality of strands thermally bonded thereover. Breakage of the thermal bond, and thus disruption of the metal layer, at a crossover point of an overlying strand and an underlying strand, respectively, of the first and second plurality of strands (via displacement of either the overlying or underlying strand) exposes the pigmented, non-metalized section of the underlying strand at that particular crossover point, i.e., the pigmented section on the front surface of that underlying strand over which the overlying strand had been previously thermally bonded. In a tamper-evident security bag formed from the tamper-evident mesh material of the present invention, the visibility of that pigmented, non-metalized section on that underlying strand would serve as an indicator that the bag and the contents thereof had been tampered with or otherwise accessed without authorization.

Additionally, a tamper-evident security bag formed from a tamper-evident mesh material of the present invention may serve to reduce or avoid the potential for "false positives"; that is, the potential for an inaccurate assessment that the bag and the contents thereof had suffered from tampering. By way of example but not limitation, in one embodiment of the present invention, a tamper-evident security bag, in which false positives may be reduced or avoided, may be formed from a tamper-evident mesh material wherein each strand of the first plurality of strands of the nonwoven mesh fabric is pigmented a first color, and each strand of the second plurality of strands of the nonwoven mesh fabric is pigmented a second color, and wherein the first color is different in color from the second color of the respective strands of the first and second plurality of strands. In the event any use, transport or other handling of such a tamper-evident security bag causes the contrast layer to abrade from, for example, the front surface of an overlying strand (of the first plurality of strands) at a crossover point of that overlying strand and an underlying strand (of the second plurality of strands), a pigmented section (or the first color) of the overlying strand (from where the contrast layer had been abraded) would be exposed. And, because the pigmentation (or first color) of each strand of the first plurality of strands is different in color from the pigmentation (or second color) of each strand of the second plurality of strands, visibility of that pigmented section (or first color) on that overlying strand and not the pigmented section (or second color) of the underlying strand (i.e., at that particular crossover point, and where the overlying strand remains bonded to the underlying strand) may serve to indicate that only the contrast layer had abraded from the front surface of the overlying strand (at that particular crossover point), that the overlying or underlying strands had not been displaced (at that particular crossover point), and that, thus, the bag and the contents thereof had not suffered from tampering (at least at that particular crossover point).

By way of further example but not limitation, in another embodiment of the present invention, a tamper-evident security bag, in which false positives may be reduced or avoided, may be formed from a tamper-evident mesh material wherein each strand of the first plurality of strands of the nonwoven mesh fabric is unpigmented, and each strand of the second plurality of strands of the nonwoven mesh fabric is pigmented. Here too, in the event any use, transport or other handling of such a tamper-evident security bag causes the contrast layer to abrade from, for example, the front surface of an overlying strand (of the first plurality of strands) at a crossover point of that overlying strand and an underlying strand (of the second plurality of strands), an unpigmented section of the overlying strand (from where the contrast layer had been abraded) would be exposed. And, because each strand of the first plurality of strands, without pigmentation, may be transparent or semi-transparent (by virtue of the selected polymeric composition(s) of the first plurality of strands), a pigmented section of the underlying strand would then be visible through the exposed (and transparent or semi-transparent) unpigmented section of the overlying strand (i.e., at that particular crossover point, and where the overlying strand remains bonded to the underlying strand). Visibility of that pigmented section on that underlying strand (through the exposed (and transparent or semi-transparent) unpigmented section of the overlying strand bonded thereover) may serve to indicate that only the contrast layer had abraded from the front surface of the overlying strand (at that particular crossover point), that the overlying or underlying strands had not been displaced (at that particular crossover point), and that, thus, the bag and the contents thereof had not suffered from tampering (at least at that particular crossover point).

The tamper-evident mesh material of the present invention may be used in the manufacture of a tamper-evident security bag, pouch or other packaging, including a bag having one side formed from film and the other side formed from the tamper-evident mesh material of the present invention, or a bag having film sides with one or more windows formed from the tamper-evident mesh material of the present invention, or a bag in which both sides are formed from the tamper-evident mesh material of the present invention and which bag may include one or more film sections.

These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading the following Detailed Description of the Invention.

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate various embodiments of the present invention and, together with the general description of the invention given above, and the detailed description of the embodiments given below, serve to explain the embodiments of the invention.

For simplicity and illustrative purposes, the principles of the present invention are described by referring to various exemplary embodiments thereof, and which embodiments may be depicted in <FIG>. The present invention is not limited to the particular examples, embodiments or methods described herein or otherwise depicted in the Figures, as these may vary. Additionally, the terminology used herein is used for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meanings as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Specific methods and materials are described, although other methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein may be used in the practice of the present invention. Moreover, although certain methods may be described with reference to certain steps that are presented herein in a certain order, in many instances, these steps may be performed in any order as would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art, and thus the methods are not limited to the particular arrangement of steps disclosed herein.

Referring now to <FIG>, in one embodiment of the present invention, tamper-evident mesh material <NUM> is formed from a nonwoven mesh fabric <NUM> comprising a contrast layer <NUM> disposed thereover. Mesh fabric <NUM> comprises a plurality of strands oriented in a first direction (first direction (or FD) strands <NUM> (each strand thereof, an FD strand <NUM>)) disposed over a plurality of strands oriented in a second direction (second direction (or SD) strands <NUM> (each strand thereof, an SD strand <NUM>)). FD strands <NUM> may be, for example, a plurality of strands generally oriented in the cross machine direction (cross machine direction (or CD) strands), and SD strands <NUM> may be, for example, a plurality of strands generally oriented in the machine direction (machine direction (or MD) strands), or vice versa. Additionally, each FD strand <NUM> may be discrete strands, may be interconnected with one or more FD strands <NUM>, may be integrally formed with one or more FD strands <NUM>, or may otherwise comprise one or more FD strands <NUM> branching therefrom. Similarly, each SD strand <NUM> may be discrete strands, may be interconnected with one or more SD strands <NUM>, may be integrally formed with one or more SD strands <NUM>, or may otherwise comprises one or more SD strands <NUM> branching therefrom. FD strands <NUM> are thermally bonded (e.g., via calendaring, through-air, infrared or ultrasonic) (or, alternatively, chemically bonded (e.g., via solvents or binders), or adhesively bonded (e.g., via acrylic or polyolefin adhesives)) to SD strands <NUM> at substantially each of crossover points <NUM>, i.e., at substantially each point where the FD strands <NUM> cross over and contact the underlying SD strands <NUM>. (As used herein, the term "substantially", when made with reference to thermal bonding (or any alternate bonding) at "each of crossover points <NUM>", is intended to allow for conventional levels of bonding imperfections and defects in otherwise uniformly oriented and bonded nonwoven fabrics.

FD strands <NUM> and/or SD strands <NUM> may be pigmented (meaning that FD strands <NUM> and/or SD strands <NUM> comprise added pigment(s)), or may be unpigmented (or non-pigmented) (meaning that FD strands <NUM> and/or SD strands <NUM> comprise no added pigment(s), and may be transparent, semi-transparent, semi-opaque or opaque based on the selected polymeric composition(s) of FD strands <NUM> and/or SD strands <NUM>, as applicable), or may otherwise comprise color(s) (meaning that FD strands <NUM> and/or SD strands <NUM> comprise color(s) attributable to the selected polymeric composition(s) of FD strands <NUM> and/or SD strands <NUM>, as applicable). The pigmentation, non-pigmentation or color(s), as applicable, of FD strands <NUM> and SD strands <NUM> constitute a visual property of FD strands <NUM> and SD strands <NUM>. In one embodiment of the present invention, FD strands <NUM> and SD strands <NUM> are pigmented. In another embodiment of the present invention, FD strands <NUM> and SD strands <NUM> are pigmented, wherein the pigmentation of FD strands <NUM> and SD strands <NUM> is (or may optionally be) the same or substantially the same in color. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, FD strands <NUM> are pigmented a first color, and SD strands <NUM> are pigmented a second color, wherein the first color is different in color from the second color of the respective FD strands <NUM> and SD strands <NUM>. In still another embodiment of the present invention, FD strands <NUM> are unpigmented, and SD strands <NUM> are pigmented (or vice versa). In a further embodiment of the present invention, FD strands <NUM> and SD strands <NUM> are unpigmented. In still a further embodiment of the present invention, FD strands <NUM> and SD strands <NUM> comprise color(s), wherein the color(s) of FD strands <NUM> and SD strands <NUM> are (or may optionally be) the same, substantially the same, or different. In yet a further embodiment of the present invention, FD strands <NUM> are pigmented, and SD strands <NUM> comprise color(s) (or vice versa). In still yet a further embodiment of the present invention, FD strands <NUM> are unpigmented, and SD strands <NUM> comprise color(s) (or vice versa).

Contrast layer <NUM> may be, for example, a metal layer <NUM> (as described herein with reference to <FIG>) or a printed layer or a coating (as described herein with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>). Contrast layer <NUM> is disposed over at least a portion of one or more surfaces of each FD strand <NUM> and each SD strand <NUM>, and serves to conceal the pigmentation, non-pigmentation or color(s) (i.e., the visual property), as applicable, of those portions of the one or more surfaces of FD strands <NUM> and SD strands <NUM> over which contrast layer <NUM> is disposed. For example, contrast layer <NUM> may be disposed over at least the front surfaces 22a, 24a, respectively, of FD and SD strands <NUM>, <NUM>; however, sections 24b on the front surface 24a of each SD strand <NUM> over which FD strands <NUM> are thermally bonded (namely, at substantially each of crossover points <NUM>) would not include contrast layer <NUM>, as those sections 24b would have been shielded during application of contrast layer <NUM> by the sections 22b of FD strands <NUM> thermally bonded thereover (see, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>). Consequently, breakage of the thermal bond, and thus disruption of contrast layer <NUM>, at a crossover point <NUM> of any selected FD strand <NUM> and SD strand <NUM> (via displacement of those FD or SD strands <NUM>, <NUM>) would expose the pigmented or non-pigmented or colored (as applicable) section 24b (and thus the visual property) of the SD strand <NUM> at that particular crossover point <NUM>, i.e., the pigmented or non-pigmented or colored (as applicable) section 24b on the front surface 24a of the SD strand <NUM> over which the FD strand <NUM> had been previously thermally bonded (see, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>). In a tamper-evident security bag formed from the tamper-evident mesh material of the present invention, the visibility of this pigmented or non-pigmented or colored (as applicable) section 24b of SD strand <NUM> would serve as an indicator that the bag and the contents thereof had been tampered with or otherwise accessed without authorization.

In various embodiments, contrast layer <NUM> is or may be visually distinct from the pigmentation, non-pigmentation or color(s), as applicable, of FD strands <NUM> and SD strands <NUM>. For example, in an embodiment where FD strands <NUM> and SD strands <NUM> are pigmented (including where the pigmentation of FD strands <NUM> and SD strands <NUM> is the same or substantially the same in color), contrast layer <NUM> would be visually distinct from the pigmentation of FD strands <NUM> and SD strands <NUM> (or at least visually distinct from the pigmentation of SD strands <NUM>), and would serve to conceal the pigmentation of the one or more surfaces of FD strands <NUM> and SD strands <NUM> over which contrast layer <NUM> is disposed. Similarly, in an embodiment where FD strands <NUM> are pigmented a first color and SD strands <NUM> are pigmented a second color (and wherein the first color is different in color from the second color of the respective FD strands <NUM> and SD strands <NUM>), contrast layer <NUM> would be visually distinct from the pigmentation (or first color) of FD strands <NUM> and the pigmentation (or second color) of SD strands <NUM> (or at least visually distinct from the pigmentation (or second color) of SD strands <NUM>), and would serve to conceal the pigmentation (both the first and second colors) of the one or more surfaces of FD strands <NUM> and SD strands <NUM> over which contrast layer <NUM> is disposed.

In an embodiment where FD strands <NUM> are non-pigmented (and are transparent or semi-transparent based on the selected polymeric composition(s) of FD strands <NUM>) and SD strands <NUM> are pigmented, contrast layer <NUM> would be visually distinct from the non-pigmented FD strands <NUM> and from the pigmented SD strands <NUM>, and would serve to conceal the non-pigmentation and the pigmentation of the one or more surfaces of respective FD strands <NUM> and SD strands <NUM> over which contrast layer <NUM> is disposed. In an embodiment where FD strands <NUM> are non-pigmented (and are opaque or semi-opaque based on the selected polymeric composition(s) of FD strands <NUM>) and SD strands <NUM> are pigmented, contrast layer <NUM> would be visually distinct from the non-pigmented FD strands <NUM> and from the pigmented SD strands <NUM> (or at least visually distinct from the pigmentation of SD strands <NUM>), and would serve to conceal the non-pigmentation and the pigmentation of the one or more surfaces of respective FD strands <NUM> and SD strands <NUM> over which contrast layer <NUM> is disposed.

In an embodiment where FD strands <NUM> are pigmented and SD strands <NUM> are non-pigmented (and are transparent or semi-transparent based on the selected polymeric composition(s) of SD strands <NUM>), contrast layer <NUM> would be visually distinct from the pigmented FD strands <NUM> and from the non-pigmented SD strands <NUM> (or at least visually distinct from the non-pigmentation of SD strands <NUM>), and would serve to conceal the pigmentation and the non-pigmentation of the one or more surfaces of respective FD strands <NUM> and SD strands <NUM> over which contrast layer <NUM> is disposed. In an embodiment where FD strands <NUM> are pigmented and SD strands <NUM> are non-pigmented (and are opaque or semi-opaque based on the selected polymeric composition(s) of SD strands <NUM>), contrast layer <NUM> would be visually distinct from the pigmented FD strands <NUM> and from the non-pigmented SD strands <NUM> (or at least visually distinct from the non-pigmentation of SD strands <NUM>), and would serve to conceal the pigmentation and the non-pigmentation of the one or more surfaces of respective FD strands <NUM> and SD strands <NUM> over which contrast layer <NUM> is disposed.

In an embodiment where FD strands <NUM> and SD strands <NUM> comprise color(s) (including where the color(s) of FD strands <NUM> and SD strands <NUM> is/are the same, substantially the same, or different), contrast layer <NUM> would be visually distinct from the color(s) of FD strands <NUM> and SD strands <NUM> (or at least visually distinct from the color(s) of SD strands <NUM>), and would serve to conceal the color(s) of the one or more surfaces of FD strands <NUM> and SD strands <NUM> over which contrast layer <NUM> is disposed. In an embodiment where FD strands <NUM> are pigmented, and SD strands <NUM> comprise color(s), contrast layer <NUM> would be visually distinct from the pigmentation of FD strands <NUM> and the color(s) of SD strands <NUM> (or at least visually distinct from the color(s) of SD strands <NUM>), and would serve to conceal the pigmentation and the color(s) of the one or more surfaces of the respective FD strands <NUM> and SD strands <NUM> over which contrast layer <NUM> is disposed. In an embodiment where FD strands <NUM> comprise color(s), and SD strands <NUM> are pigmented, contrast layer <NUM> would be visually distinct from the color(s) of FD strands <NUM> and the pigmentation of SD strands <NUM> (or at least visually distinct from the pigmentation of SD strands <NUM>), and would serve to conceal the color(s) and the pigmentation of the one or more surfaces of the respective FD strands <NUM> and SD strands <NUM> over which contrast layer <NUM> is disposed.

In an embodiment where FD strands <NUM> are non-pigmented (and are transparent or semi-transparent based on the selected polymeric composition(s) of FD strands <NUM>), and SD strands <NUM> comprise color(s), contrast layer <NUM> would be visually distinct from the non-pigmentation of FD strands <NUM> and the color(s) of SD strands <NUM>, and would serve to conceal the non-pigmentation and the color(s) of the one or more surfaces of respective FD strands <NUM> and SD strands <NUM> over which contrast layer <NUM> is disposed. In an embodiment where FD strands <NUM> are non-pigmented (and are opaque or semi-opaque based on the selected polymeric composition(s) of FD strands <NUM>), and SD strands <NUM> comprise color(s), contrast layer <NUM> would be visually distinct from the non-pigmentation of FD strands <NUM> and the color(s) of SD strands <NUM> (or at least visually distinct from the color(s) of SD strands <NUM>), and would serve to conceal the non-pigmentation and the color(s) of the one or more surfaces of respective FD strands <NUM> and SD strands <NUM> over which contrast layer <NUM> is disposed.

In an embodiment where FD strands <NUM> comprise color(s), and SD strands <NUM> are non-pigmented (and are transparent or semi-transparent based on the selected polymeric composition(s) of SD strands <NUM>), contrast layer <NUM> would be visually distinct from the color(s) of FD strands <NUM> and the non-pigmentation of SD strands <NUM> (or at least visually distinct from the non-pigmentation of SD strands <NUM>), and would serve to conceal the color(s) and the non-pigmentation of the one or more surfaces of respective FD strands <NUM> and SD strands <NUM> over which contrast layer <NUM> is disposed. In an embodiment where FD strands <NUM> comprise color(s), and SD strands <NUM> are non-pigmented (and are opaque or semi-opaque based on the selected polymeric composition(s) of SD strands <NUM>), contrast layer <NUM> would be visually distinct from the color(s) of FD strands <NUM> and the non-pigmentation of SD strands <NUM> (or at least visually distinct from the non-pigmentation of SD strands <NUM>), and would serve to conceal the color(s) and the non-pigmentation of the one or more surfaces of respective FD strands <NUM> and SD strands <NUM> over which contrast layer <NUM> is disposed.

In an embodiment where FD strands <NUM> are non-pigmented (and are transparent or semi-transparent based on the selected polymeric composition(s) of FD strands <NUM>), and SD strands <NUM> are non-pigmented (and are opaque or semi-opaque based on the selected polymeric composition(s) of SD strands <NUM>), contrast layer <NUM> would be visually distinct from the non-pigmentation of FD strands <NUM> and SD strands <NUM>, and would serve to conceal the non-pigmentation of the one or more surfaces of FD strands <NUM> and SD strands <NUM> over which contrast layer <NUM> is disposed. In an embodiment where FD strands <NUM> are non-pigmented (and are opaque or semi-opaque based on the selected polymeric composition(s) of FD strands <NUM>), and SD strands <NUM> are non-pigmented (and are transparent or semi-transparent based on the selected polymeric composition(s) of SD strands <NUM>), contrast layer <NUM> would be visually distinct from the non-pigmentation of FD strands <NUM> and SD strands <NUM> (or at least visually distinct from the non-pigmentation of SD strands <NUM>), and would serve to conceal the non-pigmentation of the one or more surfaces of FD strands <NUM> and SD strands <NUM> over which contrast layer <NUM> is disposed. In an embodiment where FD strands <NUM> and SD strands <NUM> are non-pigmented (and are opaque or semi-opaque based on the selected polymeric composition(s) of FD strands <NUM> and SD strands <NUM>), contrast layer <NUM> would be visually distinct from the non-pigmentation of FD strands <NUM> and SD strands <NUM> (or at least visually distinct from the non-pigmentation of SD strands <NUM>), and would serve to conceal the non-pigmentation of the one or more surfaces of FD strands <NUM> and SD strands <NUM> over which contrast layer <NUM> is disposed.

With continuing reference to <FIG> (and as also shown in <FIG>), contrast layer <NUM> is in the form of metal layer <NUM>. Metal layer <NUM>, applied via a metallization process (described below), is disposed over at least the front surface 20a of mesh fabric <NUM>; that is, at least front surface 20a of mesh fabric <NUM> is metalized to conceal the pigmentation, non-pigmentation or color(s), as applicable, of FD strands <NUM> and SD strands <NUM> of mesh fabric <NUM>, and, more precisely, to conceal the pigmentation, non-pigmentation or color(s), as applicable, of the front surfaces 22a, 24a, respectively, of FD and SD strands <NUM>, <NUM> (see, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>). Specifically, metal layer <NUM> extends over the entire front surface 22a of each FD strand <NUM>, and over the front surface 24a of each SD strand <NUM> except for sections 24b on the front surface 24a of each SD strand <NUM> over which FD strands <NUM> are thermally bonded (namely, at substantially each of crossover points <NUM>) (see, <FIG>, <FIG>). Stated differently, the front surface 22a of each FD strand <NUM> is metalized, and the front surface 24a of each SD strand <NUM> is also metalized; however, the sections 24b on the front surface 24a of each SD strand <NUM> over which FD strands <NUM> are thermally bonded (namely, at substantially each of crossover points <NUM>) are not metalized, as those sections 24b were shielded during the metallization process by the sections 22b of FD strands <NUM> thermally bonded thereover (see, <FIG>, <FIG>). Consequently, breakage of the thermal bond, and thus disruption of metal layer <NUM>, at a crossover point <NUM> of the metalized FD and SD strands <NUM>, <NUM> (via displacement of those metalized FD or SD strands <NUM>, <NUM>) exposes the pigmented or non-pigmented or colored (as applicable), non-metalized section 24b (and thus the visual property) of the SD strand <NUM> at that particular crossover point <NUM>, i.e., the pigmented or non-pigmented or colored (as applicable) section 24b on the front surface 24a of the SD strand <NUM> over which the FD strand <NUM> had been previously thermally bonded (see, <FIG>, <FIG>). In a tamper-evident security bag formed from the afore-described tamper-evident mesh material, where the metalized front surface 20a of mesh fabric <NUM> forms, at least in part, an exterior face of the security bag, the visibility of this pigmented or non-pigmented or colored (as applicable), non-metalized section 24b of SD strand <NUM> would serve as an indicator that the bag and the contents thereof had been tampered with or otherwise accessed without authorization.

Depending upon the pigmentation, non-pigmentation or color(s) of FD strands <NUM> and SD strands <NUM> of mesh fabric <NUM> of tamper-evident mesh material <NUM>, breakage of the thermal bond, and thus disruption of metal layer <NUM>, at a crossover point <NUM> of the metalized FD and SD strands <NUM>, <NUM> (via displacement of those metalized FD or SD strands <NUM>, <NUM>) will yield different visual results. For example, in an embodiment of tamper-evident mesh material <NUM> where FD strands <NUM> and SD strands <NUM> are pigmented (including where the pigmentation of FD strands <NUM> and SD strands <NUM> is the same or substantially the same in color), breakage of the thermal bond, and thus disruption of metal layer <NUM>, at a crossover point <NUM> of the metalized FD and SD strands <NUM>, <NUM> (via displacement of those metalized FD or SD strands <NUM>, <NUM>) would expose the pigmented, non-metalized section 24b of the SD strand <NUM> at that particular crossover point <NUM>, i.e., the pigmented section 24b on the front surface 24a of the SD strand <NUM> over which the FD strand <NUM> had been previously thermally bonded. In a tamper-evident security bag formed from the afore-described tamper-evident mesh material, where the metalized front surface 20a of mesh fabric <NUM> forms, at least in part, an exterior face of the security bag, the visibility of this pigmented, non-metalized section 24b of SD strand <NUM> would serve as an indicator that the bag and the contents thereof had been tampered with or otherwise accessed without authorization.

Similarly, in an embodiment where FD strands <NUM> are pigmented a first color and SD strands <NUM> are pigmented a second color (and wherein the first color is different in color from the second color of the respective FD strands <NUM> and SD strands <NUM>), breakage of the thermal bond, and thus disruption of metal layer <NUM>, at a crossover point <NUM> of the metalized FD and SD strands <NUM>, <NUM> (via displacement of those metalized FD or SD strands <NUM>, <NUM>) would expose the pigmented, non-metalized section 24b (and thus the second color) of the SD strand <NUM> at that particular crossover point <NUM>, i.e., the pigmented section 24b on the front surface 24a of the SD strand <NUM> over which the FD strand <NUM> had been previously thermally bonded. In a tamper-evident security bag formed from the afore-described tamper-evident mesh material, where the metalized front surface 20a of mesh fabric <NUM> forms, at least in part, an exterior face of the security bag, the visibility of this pigmented, non-metalized section 24b (and thus the second color) of SD strand <NUM> would serve as an indicator that the bag and the contents thereof had been tampered with or otherwise accessed without authorization.

In an embodiment where FD strands <NUM> are non-pigmented (and are transparent, semi-transparent, semi-opaque, or opaque based on the selected polymeric composition(s) of FD strands <NUM>) and SD strands <NUM> are pigmented, breakage of the thermal bond, and thus disruption of metal layer <NUM>, at a crossover point <NUM> of the metalized FD and SD strands <NUM>, <NUM> (via displacement of those metalized FD or SD strands <NUM>, <NUM>) would expose the pigmented, non-metalized section 24b of the SD strand <NUM> at that particular crossover point <NUM>, i.e., the pigmented section 24b on the front surface 24a of the SD strand <NUM> over which the FD strand <NUM> had been previously thermally bonded. In a tamper-evident security bag formed from the afore-described tamper-evident mesh material, where the metalized front surface 20a of mesh fabric <NUM> forms, at least in part, an exterior face of the security bag, the visibility of this pigmented, non-metalized section 24b of SD strand <NUM> would serve as an indicator that the bag and the contents thereof had been tampered with or otherwise accessed without authorization.

In an embodiment where FD strands <NUM> are pigmented and SD strands <NUM> are non-pigmented (and are transparent, semi-transparent, semi-opaque, or opaque based on the selected polymeric composition(s) of SD strands <NUM>), breakage of the thermal bond, and thus disruption of metal layer <NUM>, at a crossover point <NUM> of the metalized FD and SD strands <NUM>, <NUM> (via displacement of those metalized FD or SD strands <NUM>, <NUM>) would expose the non-pigmented, non-metalized section 24b of the SD strand <NUM> at that particular crossover point <NUM>, i.e., the non-pigmented section 24b on the front surface 24a of the SD strand <NUM> over which the FD strand <NUM> had been previously thermally bonded. In a tamper-evident security bag formed from the afore-described tamper-evident mesh material, where the metalized front surface 20a of mesh fabric <NUM> forms, at least in part, an exterior face of the security bag, the visibility of this non-pigmented, non-metalized section 24b of SD strand <NUM> would serve as an indicator that the bag and the contents thereof had been tampered with or otherwise accessed without authorization.

In an embodiment where FD strands <NUM> and SD strands <NUM> comprise one or more colors (including where the color(s) of FD strands <NUM> and SD strands <NUM> is/are the same, substantially the same, or different), breakage of the thermal bond, and thus disruption of metal layer <NUM>, at a crossover point <NUM> of the metalized FD and SD strands <NUM>, <NUM> (via displacement of those metalized FD or SD strands <NUM>, <NUM>) would expose the colored, non-metalized section 24b of the SD strand <NUM> at that particular crossover point <NUM>, i.e., the colored section 24b on the front surface 24a of the SD strand <NUM> over which the FD strand <NUM> had been previously thermally bonded. In a tamper-evident security bag formed from the afore-described tamper-evident mesh material, where the metalized front surface 20a of mesh fabric <NUM> forms, at least in part, an exterior face of the security bag, the visibility of this colored, non-metalized section 24b of SD strand <NUM> would serve as an indicator that the bag and the contents thereof had been tampered with or otherwise accessed without authorization.

In an embodiment where FD strands <NUM> are pigmented, and SD strands <NUM> comprise color(s), breakage of the thermal bond, and thus disruption of metal layer <NUM>, at a crossover point <NUM> of the metalized FD and SD strands <NUM>, <NUM> (via displacement of those metalized FD or SD strands <NUM>, <NUM>) would expose the colored, non-metalized section 24b of the SD strand <NUM> at that particular crossover point <NUM>, i.e., the colored section 24b on the front surface 24a of the SD strand <NUM> over which the FD strand <NUM> had been previously thermally bonded. In a tamper-evident security bag formed from the afore-described tamper-evident mesh material, where the metalized front surface 20a of mesh fabric <NUM> forms, at least in part, an exterior face of the security bag, the visibility of this colored, non-metalized section 24b of SD strand <NUM> would serve as an indicator that the bag and the contents thereof had been tampered with or otherwise accessed without authorization.

In an embodiment where FD strands <NUM> comprise color(s), and SD strands <NUM> are pigmented, breakage of the thermal bond, and thus disruption of metal layer <NUM>, at a crossover point <NUM> of the metalized FD and SD strands <NUM>, <NUM> (via displacement of those metalized FD or SD strands <NUM>, <NUM>) would expose the pigmented, non-metalized section 24b of the SD strand <NUM> at that particular crossover point <NUM>, i.e., the pigmented section 24b on the front surface 24a of the SD strand <NUM> over which the FD strand <NUM> had been previously thermally bonded. In a tamper-evident security bag formed from the afore-described tamper-evident mesh material, where the metalized front surface 20a of mesh fabric <NUM> forms, at least in part, an exterior face of the security bag, the visibility of this pigmented, non-metalized section 24b of SD strand <NUM> would serve as an indicator that the bag and the contents thereof had been tampered with or otherwise accessed without authorization.

In an embodiment where FD strands <NUM> are non-pigmented (and are transparent, semi-transparent, semi-opaque, or opaque based on the selected polymeric composition(s) of FD strands <NUM>) and SD strands <NUM> comprise color(s), breakage of the thermal bond, and thus disruption of metal layer <NUM>, at a crossover point <NUM> of the metalized FD and SD strands <NUM>, <NUM> (via displacement of those metalized FD or SD strands <NUM>, <NUM>) would expose the colored, non-metalized section 24b of the SD strand <NUM> at that particular crossover point <NUM>, i.e., the colored section 24b on the front surface 24a of the SD strand <NUM> over which the FD strand <NUM> had been previously thermally bonded. In a tamper-evident security bag formed from the afore-described tamper-evident mesh material, where the metalized front surface 20a of mesh fabric <NUM> forms, at least in part, an exterior face of the security bag, the visibility of this colored, non-metalized section 24b of SD strand <NUM> would serve as an indicator that the bag and the contents thereof had been tampered with or otherwise accessed without authorization.

In an embodiment where FD strands <NUM> comprise color(s) and SD strands <NUM> are non-pigmented (and are transparent, semi-transparent, semi-opaque, or opaque based on the selected polymeric composition(s) of SD strands <NUM>), breakage of the thermal bond, and thus disruption of metal layer <NUM>, at a crossover point <NUM> of the metalized FD and SD strands <NUM>, <NUM> (via displacement of those metalized FD or SD strands <NUM>, <NUM>) would expose the non-pigmented, non-metalized section 24b of the SD strand <NUM> at that particular crossover point <NUM>, i.e., the non-pigmented section 24b on the front surface 24a of the SD strand <NUM> over which the FD strand <NUM> had been previously thermally bonded. In a tamper-evident security bag formed from the afore-described tamper-evident mesh material, where the metalized front surface 20a of mesh fabric <NUM> forms, at least in part, an exterior face of the security bag, the visibility of this non-pigmented, non-metalized section 24b of SD strand <NUM> would serve as an indicator that the bag and the contents thereof had been tampered with or otherwise accessed without authorization.

In an embodiment where either or both of FD strands <NUM> and SD strands <NUM> is/are non-pigmented (and may be transparent, semi-transparent, semi-opaque or opaque based on the selected polymeric composition(s) of the FD strands <NUM> and SD strands <NUM>, as applicable), breakage of the thermal bond, and thus disruption of metal layer <NUM>, at a crossover point <NUM> of the metalized FD and SD strands <NUM>, <NUM> (via displacement of those metalized FD or SD strands <NUM>, <NUM>) would expose the non-pigmented, non-metalized section 24b of the SD strand <NUM> at that particular crossover point <NUM>, i.e., the non-pigmented section 24b on the front surface 24a of the SD strand <NUM> over which the FD strand <NUM> had been previously thermally bonded. In a tamper-evident security bag formed from the afore-described tamper-evident mesh material, where the metalized front surface 20a of mesh fabric <NUM> forms, at least in part, an exterior face of the security bag, the visibility of this non-pigmented, non-metalized section 24b of SD strand <NUM> would serve as an indicator that the bag and the contents thereof had been tampered with or otherwise accessed without authorization.

Mesh fabric <NUM> may be formed from any pigmented, unpigmented or colored polyolefin (including, without limitation, polyethylene) or other suitable polymers, and more preferably from a cross-laminated nonwoven pigmented, unpigmented or colored polyolefin fabric, including, without limitation, any such pigmented, unpigmented or colored nonwoven fabrics designated under the trademark CLAF® and available from JX Nippon ANCI, Inc. (including, without limitation, JX28 or other pigmented, unpigmented (also referred to as "natural") or colored CLAF® fabrics (see, www. com/english/claf/properties/pdf/claf_grade. JX28 fabric comprises FD strands (more specifically, CD strands) that are about <NUM> microns wide, and SD strands (more specifically, MD strands) that are about <NUM> microns wide. As such, if material <NUM> were formed from a metallized, and pigmented or unpigmented or colored, JX28 fabric, displacing a CD or MD strand thereof, and breaking the thermal bond at a crossover point of the CD and MD strands, would reveal a pigmented, unpigmented or colored (as applicable), non-metalized section of the MD strand measuring about <NUM> microns by about <NUM> microns at that particular crossover point.

Metallization of mesh fabric <NUM> may be achieved through a variety of metallization techniques and processes, including for example: (a) vacuum metallization (the process of evaporating a metal, such as aluminum or other selected metals, in a vacuum chamber, which evaporated metal then bonds to the desired substrate (here, mesh fabric <NUM>), applying a uniform metalized layer thereover (mesh fabric <NUM> would be unwound and rewound within the chamber during application of metal layer <NUM> via the metallization process)), with such vacuum metallization processes available through Printpack, Inc. com) and Polyplex Corporation Limited (www. com); and, (b) sputter-coating technologies, such as those available through Eastman Chemical Company (www. com) and Vacuum Depositing Inc. com), which may be used to apply an array of metals to the substrate (here, mesh fabric <NUM>), including stainless steel, titanium, aluminum, gold, copper, silver, and other metal or metal oxide alloys. Additionally, slit die coating, foam coating, or gravure printing, may be used to apply metallic or non-metallic coatings to mesh fabric <NUM>, such that each section 24b of each SD strand <NUM> (over which FD strands <NUM> are thermally bonded) remains uncoated or unprinted.

Referring now to <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>-<NUM>, the tamper-evident mesh material of the present invention may be used in the manufacture of a tamper-evident security bag, pouch or other packaging, including: a bag <NUM> having one side <NUM> formed from film and the other side <NUM> formed from the tamper-evident mesh material <NUM> of the present invention (see, <FIG>); a bag <NUM> having film sides <NUM>, <NUM> with one or more windows <NUM> formed from the tamper-evident mesh material <NUM> of the present invention (see, <FIG>); a bag <NUM> having both sides <NUM>, <NUM> formed from the tamper-evident mesh material <NUM> of the present invention (see, <FIG>); a bag <NUM> having film sides <NUM>, <NUM> with one or more windows <NUM> formed from the tamper-evident mesh material <NUM> of the present invention (see, <FIG>); a bag <NUM> having both sides <NUM>, <NUM> formed from the tamper-evident mesh material <NUM> of the present invention, with a film section <NUM> interposed on side <NUM> (and optionally on side <NUM> (not shown)) (see, <FIG>); or, a bag <NUM> having one side <NUM> formed from film and the other side <NUM> formed from the tamper-evident mesh material <NUM> of the present invention, with a film section <NUM> interposed on side <NUM> (see, <FIG>). In each of bags <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>, the metalized front surface 20a of mesh fabric <NUM> forms, at least in part, an exterior face of the bag. Breakage of the thermal bond, and thus disruption of metal layer <NUM>, at a crossover point <NUM> of an overlying FD strand <NUM> and an underlying SD strand <NUM> of mesh fabric <NUM> (via displacement of those FD and SD strands <NUM>, <NUM>) exposes the pigmented, unpigmented or colored (as applicable), non-metalized section 24b of the underlying SD strand <NUM> at that particular crossover point <NUM>, i.e., the pigmented, unpigmented or colored (as applicable) section 24b on the front surface 24a of the underlying SD strand <NUM> over which the overlying FD strand <NUM> had been previously thermally bonded (see, <FIG>, <FIG>). Visibility of this pigmented, unpigmented or colored (as applicable), non-metalized section 24b of the underlying SD strand <NUM> would serve as an indicator that the bag (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> or <NUM>) and the contents thereof had been tampered with or otherwise accessed without authorization. Bags <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> may be manufactured in accordance with any generally known and accepted bag manufacturing methods and practices, including, for example, side-sealed bag and tube bag manufacturing methods and practices. Tamper-evident tapes seals or other sealing strips may be incorporated into the mouth or opening of each such tamper-evident security bag, pouch or other packaging, including bags <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>, also in accordance with generally known and accepted manufacturing methods and practices. Further, film sides or sections on any of the bags described herein may comprise printed text, designs, logos or other information or indicia. Ink or dye packs may be used in conjunction with a tamper-evident security bag manufactured from material <NUM>, with such inks or dyes having the ability to pass through material <NUM> upon tampering with or unauthorized access to the bag or the contents thereof.

Additionally, any one or more of tamper-evident security bags <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> formed from a tamper-evident mesh material <NUM> of the present invention may serve to reduce or avoid the potential for "false positives"; that is, the potential for an inaccurate assessment that bags <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> or <NUM> and the contents thereof had suffered from tampering. By way of example but not limitation, in one embodiment of the present invention, any one or more of tamper-evident security bags <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>, in which false positives may be reduced or avoided, may be formed from a tamper-evident mesh material <NUM> wherein FD strands <NUM> of mesh fabric <NUM> are pigmented a first color and SD strands <NUM> of mesh fabric <NUM> are pigmented a second color (and wherein the first color is different in color from the second color of the respective FD strands <NUM> and SD strands <NUM>). In the event any use, transport or other handling of such a tamper-evident security bag <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> or <NUM> causes metal layer <NUM> to abrade from, for example, the front surface 22a of an FD strand <NUM> at a crossover point <NUM> of that FD strand <NUM> and an SD strand <NUM>, a pigmented section (or the first color) of that FD strand <NUM> (from where metal layer <NUM> had been abraded) would be exposed. And, because the pigmentation (or first color) of each FD strand <NUM> is different in color from the pigmentation (or second color) of each SD strand <NUM>, visibility of that pigmented section (or first color) on that FD strand <NUM> and not the pigmented section (or second color) of the SD strand <NUM> (i.e., at that particular crossover point <NUM>, and where the FD strand <NUM> remains bonded over and to the SD strand <NUM>) may serve to indicate that only the metal layer <NUM> had abraded from the front surface 22a of that FD strand <NUM> (at that particular crossover point <NUM>), that the FD strand <NUM> or the SD strand <NUM> had not been displaced (at that particular crossover point <NUM>), and that, thus, the bag and the contents thereof had not suffered from tampering (at least at that particular crossover point <NUM>).

By way of further example but not limitation, in another embodiment of the present invention, any one or more of tamper-evident security bags <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>, in which false positives may be reduced or avoided, may be formed from a tamper-evident mesh material <NUM> wherein FD strands <NUM> of mesh fabric <NUM> are non-pigmented (and are transparent or semi-transparent based on the selected polymeric composition(s) of FD strands <NUM>) and SD strands <NUM> are pigmented. In the event any use, transport or other handling of such a tamper-evident security bag <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> or <NUM> causes metal layer <NUM> to abrade from, for example, the front surface 22a of an FD strand <NUM> at a crossover point <NUM> of that FD strand <NUM> and an SD strand <NUM>, a non-pigmented (and transparent or semi-transparent) section of that FD strand <NUM> (from where metal layer <NUM> had been abraded) would be exposed. And, because each FD strand <NUM>, without pigmentation, may be transparent or semi-transparent (by virtue of the selected polymeric composition(s) of the FD strand <NUM>), a pigmented section of the SD strand <NUM> would then be visible through the exposed (and transparent or semi-transparent) non-pigmented section of the FD strand <NUM> (i.e., at that particular crossover point <NUM>, and where the FD strand <NUM> remains bonded over and to SD strand <NUM>). Visibility of that pigmented section on that SD strand <NUM> (through the exposed (and transparent or semi-transparent) non-pigmented section of FD strand <NUM> bonded thereover) may serve to indicate that only the metal layer <NUM> had abraded from the front surface 22a of that FD strand <NUM> (at that particular crossover point <NUM>), that the FD strand <NUM> or the SD strand <NUM> had not been displaced (at that particular crossover point <NUM>), and that, thus, the bag and the contents thereof had not suffered from tampering (at least at that particular crossover point <NUM>).

Further such tamper-evident security bags <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>, in which false positives may be reduced or avoided, may be formed from a tamper-evident mesh material <NUM> wherein the visual property of FD strands <NUM> (i.e., the pigmentation, non-pigmentation, or color(s) of FD strands <NUM>) is visually distinct from the visual property of SD strands <NUM> (i.e., the pigmentation, non-pigmentation, or color(s) of SD strands <NUM>).

Referring now to <FIG> and <FIG>, in a further embodiment of the present invention, tamper-evident mesh material <NUM> may comprise contrast layer <NUM> in the form of a printed layer or coating applied over front surface 20a of pigmented mesh fabric <NUM>, instead of metal layer <NUM>. The printed layer or coating (print/coating <NUM>) may be an acrylic or urethane ink or coating, or other ink or coating suited for the application contemplated herein. Similar to each of the "metalized" embodiments described hereinabove, in this print/coating embodiment, nonwoven mesh fabric <NUM> comprises FD strands <NUM> disposed over and thermally (or otherwise) bonded to SD strands <NUM> at substantially each of crossover points <NUM>, i.e., at substantially each point where the FD strands <NUM> cross over and contact the underlying SD strands <NUM>. Here as well, FD strands <NUM> may be, for example, a plurality of pigmented, unpigmented or colored strands generally oriented in the cross machine direction (cross machine direction (or CD) strands), and SD strands <NUM> may be, for example, a plurality of pigmented, unpigmented or colored strands generally oriented in the machine direction (machine direction (or MD) strands), or vice versa. A print/coating layer <NUM> is disposed over front surface 20a of mesh fabric <NUM> to conceal the pigmentation, non-pigmentation or color(s) (as applicable) thereof, and, more precisely, to conceal the pigmentation, non-pigmentation or color(s) (as applicable) (i.e., the visual property) of front surfaces 22a, 24a, respectively, of FD and SD strands <NUM>, <NUM>. Specifically, the print/coating layer <NUM> extends over the entire front surface 22a of each FD strand <NUM>, and over front surface 24a of each SD strand <NUM> except for those sections 24b on the front surface 24a of each SD strand <NUM> over which FD strands <NUM> are thermally bonded (namely, at substantially each of crossover points <NUM>). Stated differently, front surface 22a of each FD strand <NUM> includes the print/coating layer <NUM>, and front surface 24a of each SD strand <NUM> also includes the print/coating layer <NUM>; however, the sections 24b on the front surface 24a of each SD strand <NUM> over which FD strands <NUM> are thermally bonded do not include the print/coating layer <NUM>, as those sections 24b were shielded during the printing/coating process by sections 22b of FD strands <NUM> thermally bonded thereover. Consequently, breakage of the thermal bond, and thus disruption of the print/coating layer <NUM>, at a crossover point <NUM> of the FD and SD strands <NUM>, <NUM> (via displacement of those FD or SD strands <NUM>, <NUM>) exposes the unprinted/uncoated section 24b (and thus the pigmentation, non-pigmentation or color(s) (i.e., the visual property), as applicable) of the SD strand <NUM> at that particular crossover point <NUM>, i.e., the pigmented, non-pigmented or colored (as applicable) section 24b on the front surface 24a of the SD strand <NUM> over which the FD strand <NUM> had been previously thermally bonded. In a tamper-evident security bag (including bag structures similar to any one or more of bags <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> or <NUM>) formed from the tamper-evident mesh material of this "print/coating" embodiment, where the print/coating layer <NUM> of the front surface 20a of the mesh fabric <NUM> forms, at least in part, an exterior face of the security bag, the visibility of this unprinted/uncoated section 24b (and thus the pigmentation, non-pigmentation or color(s), as applicable) of the SD strand <NUM> would serve as an indicator that the bag and the contents thereof had been tampered with or otherwise accessed without authorization.

In yet a further embodiment of the present invention, the tamper-evident mesh material of the present invention is formed from a metalized, nonwoven mesh fabric, wherein the nonwoven mesh fabric comprises three or more pluralities of strands, each such plurality of strands oriented in a direction different from the other plurality(ies) of strands, with a first such plurality of strands thermally bonded over a second such plurality of strands at a plurality of crossover points (and with the third and any such further plurality(ies) of strands thermally bonded, in succession, thereunder). Each of the three or more pluralities of strands is either pigmented, non-pigmented or colored, and each of the strands of each plurality of strands is metalized. Specifically, through a metallization process, a metal layer is disposed over, for example, the front surface of each strand in each plurality of strands to conceal the pigmentation, non-pigmentation or color(s) (as applicable) of those front surfaces; however, sections on the front surfaces of those strands over which other strands are thermally bonded (namely, at the plurality of crossover points) are not metalized, as those sections on the front surfaces of those strands were shielded during the metallization process by sections of the other strands thermally bonded thereover. Breakage of the thermal bond, and thus disruption of the metal layer, at a crossover point of an overlying and an underlying metalized strand (via displacement of those metalized strands) exposes the pigmented, non-pigmented or colored (as applicable), non-metalized section of the underlying strand at that particular crossover point, i.e., the pigmented, non-pigmented or colored (as applicable) section on the front surface of the underlying strand over which the overlying strand had been previously thermally bonded. In a tamper-evident security bag formed from the tamper-evident mesh material of this further embodiment, the visibility of that pigmented, non-pigmented or colored (as applicable), non-metalized section on that strand would serve as an indicator that the bag and the contents thereof had been tampered with or otherwise accessed without authorization. It is contemplated that, in this further embodiment, a print/coated layer may be used instead of the metal layer.

It is contemplated herein that both the front and back surfaces of mesh fabric <NUM>, and thus the front and back surfaces of FD and SD strands <NUM>, <NUM>, may comprise the metal layer, print layer or coating described hereinabove, thus concealing the pigmentation, non-pigmentation or color(s) (as applicable) of all surfaces of mesh fabric <NUM> with the exception of those surface sections of FD and SD strands <NUM>, <NUM> thermally bonded to each other at substantially each of the crossover points <NUM> thereof. Accordingly, breakage of the thermal bond (and thus disruption of the metal layer, print layer or coating, as applicable) at a crossover point <NUM> of the FD and SD strands <NUM>, <NUM>, would expose the pigmented, non-pigmented or colored (as applicable) (and non-metalized, unprinted, or uncoated, as applicable) surface sections of each of FD and SD strands <NUM>, <NUM> at that particular crossover point <NUM>, i.e., the pigmented, non-pigmented or colored (as applicable) sections on the back and the front surfaces, respectively, of FD and SD strands <NUM>, <NUM>, where FD and SD strands <NUM>, <NUM> had been previously thermally bonded to each other. In a tamper-evident security bag formed from such a tamper-evident mesh material, the visibility of this pigmented, non-pigmented or colored (as applicable) section of SD strand <NUM> would serve as an indicator that the bag and the contents thereof had been tampered with or otherwise accessed without authorization.

Claim 1:
A tamper-evident mesh material comprising:
a nonwoven mesh fabric (<NUM>), said mesh fabric comprising a plurality of strands (<NUM>, <NUM>), said plurality of strands comprising overlying strands (<NUM>) and underlying strands (<NUM>), wherein said underlying strands (<NUM>) and said overlying strands (<NUM>) each comprise a visual property, and wherein said overlying strands (<NUM>) are bonded to said underlying strands (<NUM>) at a plurality of crossover points (<NUM>); and, a contrast layer (<NUM>), wherein said contrast layer (<NUM>) is visually distinct from said visual property of said underlying strands (<NUM>), and wherein said contrast layer (<NUM>) is disposed over at least a portion of each said overlying strand (<NUM>) and each said underlying strand (<NUM>), and over said plurality of crossover points (<NUM>),
wherein breakage of a bond between at least one of said overlying strands (<NUM>) and at least one of said underlying strands (<NUM>) at a crossover point (<NUM>) of said plurality of crossover points (<NUM>) exposes said visual property of said at least one underlying strand (<NUM>) at said crossover point (<NUM>) to indicate breakage of said bond, wherein said visual property of said overlying strands (<NUM>) or said visual property of said underlying strands (<NUM>) is a non-pigmentation.