Packaging that can be checked for tampering

• US 7,301,460 B2
• Filed: 01/28/2005
• Issued: 11/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Neopost Technologies S.A. (Quadient SA)
• Original Assignee: Neopost Industrie
• Inventors: Coste, François
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Benjamin C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TANG, SON M
• Application Number:
  US11/046,059
• Publication Number:
  US 20050184871A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,033 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 340/572.7
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2203/10 Transponders
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 27/00 Envelopes or like essentially-rectangular containers for postal or other purposes having no structural provision for thickness of contents with shock-absorbing properties B65D81/03; letter-cards B42D15/00
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 27/30 with special means for indicating unauthorised opening
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/4212 Information or decoration elements, e.g. content indicators, or for mailing B65D5/522 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07798 part of the antenna or the integrated circuit being adapted for rupturing or breaking, e.g. record carriers functioning as sealing devices for detecting not-authenticated opening of containers electronic seals G09F3/03

Abstract

The invention relates to packaging, e.g. an envelope or a parcel, that can be checked for tampering, which packaging includes a hermetically sealed body, the body being formed by folding a sheet of material that has been cut to a predefined shape. In order to track the object packaged in the packaging and in order to check the packaging for tampering, the tampering further includes an electronic component that can be interrogated remotely and that is formed by data storage means connected to an antenna. The antenna is formed by an antenna circuit which extends at least over the entire periphery of the inside surface of the sheet of material. Thus, any fraudulent opening of the packaging can be detected by the antenna circuit breaking, thereby making any transmission with the component of the packaging impossible.

Claims

1. Packaging for preventing tampering comprising a hermetically sealed body, said body being formed by folding a sheet of material that has been cut to a predefined shape, the body including fold lines or edges;

said packaging further comprising an RFID electronic component that can be interrogated remotely and that is formed by data storage means connected to an antenna circuit, said antenna circuit extending at least over the entire periphery of the inside surface of the sheet of material including all of said fold lines or edges, such that tampering of the packaging is detected as a result of changes in said antenna circuit.

2. Packaging according to claim 1, wherein the antenna circuit also extends over the main inside faces of the sheet of material.

3. Packaging according to claim 1, wherein the antenna circuit disposed on the sheet of material describes a series of undulations or of zigzags.

4. Packaging according to claim 1, wherein the data storage means and the antenna circuit of the electronic component are disposed on the inside surface of the sheet of material so that it is protected inside the packaging once said packaging has been assembled.

5. Packaging according to claim 1, wherein a first portion of the antenna circuit is disposed on one inside face of the sheet of material, the complementary second portion of the antenna circuit being disposed on the other inside face of the sheet at a place determined so that it completes the first portion of the circuit once the packaging has been assembled.

6. Packaging according to claim 1, wherein the antenna circuit is constituted by a very thin conductor wire bonded by adhesive to the inside surface of the sheet of material.

7. Packaging according to claim 1, wherein the antenna circuit is constituted by a conductive ink deposited on the inside surface of the sheet of material.

8. Packaging according to claim 1, wherein the body of said packaging forms an envelope.

9. Packaging according to claim 1, wherein the body of said packaging forms a box.

10. Packaging according to claim 1, wherein the packaging is provided with weak portions, and wherein at least a portion of the antenna circuit crosses said weak portions that are defined by precuts.