Tamper evident label

• US 20100181371A1
• Filed: 11/06/2009
• Published: 07/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NovaVision
• Original Assignee: NovaVision
• Inventors: Messmer, Michael J., Manahan, Michael W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,365,979 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 229/102
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2203/02 Labels
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2401/05 Tearable non-integral strips
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/4233 Cards, coupons, labels or the like formed separately from the container or lid
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1486 Ornamental, decorative, pattern, or indicia
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/28 Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or component and having an adhesive outermost layer

Abstract

A tamper-evident label for a carton having one flap or two opposing flaps includes a pair of end portions each having adhesive or other means for fastening to span the edge of one flap or opposing flaps of the carton. A central area between the end portions defines one or more strips which overlie an edge of one or both flaps. The central area defining the strips is unadhereable to the flaps and are in a condition such that, upon cutting therethrough to form ends on said strips, the ends will be displaced from the strip ends on the opposite sides of the cut.

Claims

1. A tamper-evident label for a carton or other container having first and second opposing flaps movable to a closed position, said flaps each having an edge in close proximity to an edge of the opposing flap when said flaps are in the closed position, one or both of said edges defining a joint, said label comprising a first pad adhereable to said first flap, a second pad adhereable to said second flap and one or more strips joining said first and second pads, said one or more strips being unadhereable to said flaps and being in a stressed condition such that, upon cutting or breaking said one or more strips to form strip ends, said strip ends extending from the first pad will be displaced from the strip ends extending from said second pad.

2. A tamper-evident label according to claim 1 wherein, upon fastening said first pad to said first flap and prior to fastening said second pad to said second flap, said one or more strips are disposed at an angle to said joint other than perpendicular such that displacement of said second pad to a position at which said one or more strips are substantially perpendicular to said joint prior to fastening said second pad to said second flap causes said stressed condition.

3. A tamper-evident label according to claim 1 wherein said strips are placed in said stressed condition prior to said second pad being joined to said second flap by being deformed (1) from lying in a plane (2) to defining a concavity and a convexity as they extend from said first pad to said second pad.

4. A tamper-evident label according to claim 1 wherein said strips are placed in said stressed condition by twisting said second pad relative to said first pad prior to joining said second pad to said second flap.

5. In combination

(a) a carton or other container having one flap or first and second opposing flaps movable to a closed position, said flaps each having an edge, the edges being movable toward one another when said flaps are moved to the closed position, one or both of said edges defining a joint;

and

(b) a tamper-evident label comprising a first pad fastened to said first flap, a second pad fastened to said second flap and one or more strips joining said first and second pads, said one or more strips overlying said joint but not fastened to said flaps and being in a stressed condition such that, upon cutting or breaking said one or more strips to form strip ends, said strip ends extending from said first pad will be displaced from the strip ends extending from said second pad.

6. The combination according to claim 5 wherein, upon fastening said first pad to said first flap and prior to fastening said second pad to said second flap, said one or more strips are disposed at an angle to said joint other than perpendicular, said stressed condition being imparted by displacing said second pad to a position at which said one or more strips are substantially perpendicular to said joint upon fastening said second pad to said second flap.

7. The combination according to claim 5 wherein said strips are placed in said stressed condition prior to said second pad being joined to the said second flap by being deformed (1) from a position lying in a plane (2) to a position defining a concavity and a convexity as they extend from said first pad to said second pad.

8. The combination according to claim 5 wherein said strips are twisted prior to said second pad being joined to said second flap.

9. A tamper-evident label for a carton or other container having a joint defining an access area comprising a first pad adhereable to said container on one side of said joint and a second pad adhereable to said container on the opposing side of said joint and one or more strips joining said first and second pads, said one or more strips overlying said joint and being unadhereable to said container and being in a stressed condition such that, upon cutting or breaking said one or more strips to form strip ends, said strip ends extending from the first pad will be displaced from the strip ends extending from said second pad.

10. A tamper evident label comprising a security layer having a first end portion for fastening to one flap of a carton or other container, a second end portion for fastening to a second flap of a carton or other container and a central portion between said first and second end portions, said central portion having no means for fastening to said first flap or said second flap and having a plurality of slits defining tamper strips, said tamper strips, upon being cut or broken form strip ends, will have the strip ends extending from said first end portion displaced from the strip ends extending from said second end portion.

11. A tamper evident label according to claim 10 further including a protective shield overlying said security layer, said protective shield being adhered to said first end portion and to said second end portion but not adhered to said central portion.

12. A tamper evident label according to claim 10 wherein the side of said security layer first end portion or said second end portion intended to be affixed to a flap of said carton or other container has printing, a portion of which will remain on the flap when said first end portion or said second end portion is removed therefrom.

13. A tamper evident label according to claim 10 wherein indicia is printed on said strips in an area overlying said joint.

14. A tamper evident label according to claim 13 wherein said indicia is also printed on at least one of said end portions.

15. In combination:

(a) a carton or other container having a first and second opposing flaps movable to a closed position, said flaps each having an edge, the edges being movable toward one another when said flaps are moved to the closed position and, when closed, one or both of said edges define a joint; and

tamper evident label comprising a security layer having a first end portion fastened to said first flap, a second end portion for fastened to said second flap and a central portion between said first and second end portions, said central portion overlying said joint but not fastened to said first flap or said second flap and having a plurality of slits defining tamper strips, said tamper strips, upon being cut or broken to form strip ends, will have the strip ends extending from first end portion displaced from the strip ends extending from said second end portion.

16. The combination according to claim 15 further including a protective shield overlying said security layer, said protective shield being adhered to said first end portion and to said second end portion but not adhered to said central portion.

17. The combination according to claim 15 wherein the side of said security layer first end portion or said second end portion intended to be affixed to a flap of said carton or other container has printing, a portion of which will remain on the flap when said first end portion or said second end portion is removed therefrom.

18. The combination according to claim 15 wherein indicia is printed on said strips in an area overlying said joint.

19. The combination according to claim 18 wherein indicia is also printed on at least one of said security layer end portions.

20. In combination:

(a) a carton or other container having one flap or first and second opposing flaps movable to a closed position, said flaps each having an edge, the edges being movable toward one another when said flaps are moved to the closed position and, when closed, one or both of said edges define a joint; and

(b) a security tape overlying said joint and having portions thereof adhered to said flaps, said security tape having one or more tamper strip sections, said tamper strip sections comprising a security layer having a first end portion fastened to said first flap of said carton or other container, a second end portion fastened to said second flap and a central portion between said first and second end portions, said central portion overlying said joint but not fastened to said first flap or said second flap and having a plurality of slits extending longitudinally at least part way between said first end portion and said second end portion defining tamper strips, each of said tamper strips, upon being cut or broken to form strip ends, will have said ends displaced from adjacent ends.

21. The combination according to claim 20 further including a protective shield overlying said security layer, said protective shield being adhered to said first end portion and to said second end portion but not adhered to said central portion.