Tamper evident closure

• US 20020195413A1
• Filed: 05/02/2002
• Published: 12/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Allied Domecq Spirits & Wine Limited (Pernod Ricard SA)
• Original Assignee: Allied Domecq Spirits & Wine Limited (Pernod Ricard SA)
• Inventors: Ahlquist, Eric Fredolin, Webb, Dudley Keith, Eastman, Harold
• Granted Patent: US 6,938,757 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 215/230
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2401/55 based on a change or a contrast in colour
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 55/026 initial opening or unauthorised access being indicated by a visual change using indicators other than tearable means, e.g. change of colour, pattern or opacity B65D55/066 takes precedence

Abstract

A tamper evident closure (1) includes a housing (5) containing a blister pack (2) and a substrate (3), wherein the blister pack (2) contains a first reagent which is visible prior to first opening and the substrate (3) contains a second reagent. First opening of the closure ruptures the blister pack thereby exposing the first reagent to the second reagent and effecting a reaction that causes a visual change that signals the closure has been opened. The tamper evident closure of the present invention is primarily intended to be used as an anti-counterfeit measure on a spirit or pharmaceutical bottle. In the preferred embodiment, the closure incorporates a liquid that when brought into contact with a reagent chemical contained in an absorbent pad, effects an irreversible color change. This color change will indicate to a consumer the bottle has been previously opened or tampered with. The design makes it very difficult for a counterfeiter to cover up or eradicate the visible effects. In particular, the only way a counterfeiter could do this would be to put in a replacement blister and an absorbent pad. Filling a blister pack with a liquid is a highly specialist task which makes replication very difficult. The ability to control the color change to complement the branded goods provides a way of building up consumer recognition of the product and thereby establishing confidence in those products that carry the tamper evident closure of the present invention.

Claims

1. A tamper evident closure comprising:

a. a blister pack disposed within a housing, the blister pack containing a first reagent visible prior to first opening of the closure; and

b. a substrate disposed within the housing, the substrate containing a second reagent, such that a first opening of the closure ruptures the blister pack thereby exposing the first reagent to the second reagent and effects a reaction causing a visual change that signals that the closure has been opened.

2. A closure according to claim 1, wherein the substrate changes color in response to exposure to the first reagent.

3. A closure according to claim 2, wherein the substrate carries a latent image that is developed upon exposure to the first reagent.

4. A closure according to claim 1, wherein the substrate carries a latent image that is developed upon exposure to the first reagent.

5. A closure according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of projections that cause rupturing of the blister pack upon first opening of the closure.

6. A closure according to claim 1, wherein the closure further comprises a cap and a cover, the cover characterized by an outer surface, the blister pack and the substrate disposed within the cover, the cover being transparent over at least a portion of its outer surface in such a manner as to offer a view of at least a portion of the substrate and/or the blister pack within the cover.

7. A closure according to claim 6, wherein the cap is a fitting for a container.

8. A closure according to claim 7, wherein the blister pack is such as to be ruptured upon relative movement between the cap and the cover.

9. A closure according to claim 8, wherein the relative movement is in an axial direction.

10. A closure according to claim 7, wherein the cap and the cover together form a child-safety closure.

11. A closure according to claim 10, wherein the blister pack is such as to be ruptured upon relative movement between the cap and the cover.

12. A closure according to claim 11, wherein the relative movement is in an axial direction.

13. A closure according to claim 6, further comprising a plurality of projections that cause rupturing of the blister pack upon first opening of the closure.

14. A closure according to claim 6, further comprising a plurality of projections formed as an integral part of the cap.

15. A closure according to claim 1, wherein the first reagent is dissolved, dispersed or suspended in a carrier fluid.

16. A closure according to claim 15, wherein the carrier fluid is an oil.

17. A closure according to claim 16, wherein the oil includes at least one of a mineral oil and a synthetic oil.

18. A closure according to claim 15, wherein the carrier fluid is selected from the group consisting of silicone, fluorinated silicone, petroleum, glycol, ester, fluorocarbon and perfluorocarbon oils.

19. A closure according to claim 15, wherein the carrier fluid is characterized by a kinematic viscosity in the range of 0.000001 m^2/s to 0.0001 m^2/s.

20. A closure according to claim 15, wherein the carrier fluid is characterized by a kinematic viscosity in the range of 0.00001 m^2/s to 0.00003 m^2/s.

21. A closure according to claim 1, wherein the substrate is pre-treated with the second reagent by impregnation or coating with the second reagent.

22. A closure according to claim 1, wherein the substrate is spray coated with a solution of the second reagent.

23. A closure according to claim 1, wherein the second reagent is selected from the group of organic acids, inorganic acids, organic alkalis and inorganic alkalis.

24. A closure according to claim 1, wherein the second reagent is an acid selected from the group consisting of sulphuric, hydrochloric, nitric, tartaric, citric, malic, benzoic, sorbic, succinic, formic, acetic and propionic acid.

25. A closure according to claim 1, wherein the second reagent is an alkali selected from the group consisting of sodium carbonate, sodium hydroxide, sodium bicarbonate, calcium carbonate, calcium hydroxide, calcium bicarbonate, ammonium carbonate, ammonium bicarbonate, ammonium hydroxide, potassium carbonate, potassium hydroxide and potassium bicarbonate.

26. A closure according to claim 1, wherein the first reagent is a pH indicator selected from the group consisting of methyl violet, thymol blue, methyl yellow, methyl orange, bromocresol green, methyl red, chlorophenol red, bromothymol blue, phenol red, cresol purple, phenolphthalein, thymolphthalein, alizarin yellow R and indigo carmine.

27. A closure according to claim 15, wherein the first reagent is entrained in the carrier fluid in a concentration of between 0.1% and 10% by volume.

28. A closure according to claim 15, wherein the first reagent is entrained in the carrier fluid in a concentration of between 0.5% and 5% by volume.

29. A closure according to claim 15, wherein the first reagent is entrained in the carrier fluid in a concentration of between 1% to 3% by volume.

30. A closure according to claim 1, wherein the blister pack contains a solvent selected from the group consisting of alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, alkoxyalcoholsandglycols.

31. A tamper evident closure according to claim 1, further comprising a container wherein opening of the container ruptures the blister pack.

32. A blister pack containing an oil entrained with a first reagent, the first reagent capable of causing a visual change upon reaction with a second reagent.

33. A blister pack according to claim 32, wherein the oil includes at least one of a mineral oil and a synthetic oil.

34. A blister pack according to claim 32, wherein the first reagent is a pH indicator selected from the group consisting of methyl violet, thymol blue, methyl yellow, methyl orange, bromocresol green, methyl red, chlorophenol red, bromothymol blue, phenol red, cresol purple, phenolphthalein, thymolphthalein, alizarin yellow R and indigo carmine.

35. A blister pack according to claim 32, further comprising a solvent selected from the group consisting of alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, alkoxyalcoholsandglycols.

36. A method for evidencing the opening of a tamper evident closure, the method comprising:

a. providing a blister pack containing an oil entrained with a first reagent;

b. exposing the first reagent to a second reagent upon first opening the closure; and

c. changing a visual appearance of the closure in response to the exposure of the first reagent to the second reagent.