DE20011131U1 - Tamper-evident packaging - Google Patents

Description

Spritzgusswerk KG Richard Rassbach GmbH & Co. S £195

Tamper-evident packaging

The invention relates to a tamper-evident packaging with a container and a closure lid, the edge of which is snapped onto the upper edge of the container and is only accessible to the opening handle after removal of a tear-off element.

In a known tamper-evident packaging (DE 44 18 935 C2), the container of which is closed by means of a lid on the upper edge of the container, the container has a circumferential protective element on its upper edge, which is formed in one piece with the container wall and covers the circumferential edge of the closure lid, which prevents the closure element from being removed and to which a tear-off tab is detachably connected via a large number of predetermined breaking points. The tear-off tab is arranged above the protective element and extends circumferentially over part of the outer edge of the closure lid, covering it. To open the packaging, the tear-off tab is removed by separating the predetermined breaking points, thereby exposing a recess in the protective element so that the lower edge of the closure lid is accessible to the opening handle and the closure lid can be manually removed from the upper edge of the container.

In a further development of the packaging described above, known from DE 195 12 108 C2, the tear-off tab is integrated into the protective element of the container via predetermined breaking points in such a way that the outer surface of the tear-off tab runs flush with the outer surface of the protective element, whereby the width of the tear-off tab corresponds to the height of the protective element and the upper and lower edges of the protective element are aligned with the upper and lower edges of the tear-off tab. To open the packaging, the tear-off tab is removed by separating the predetermined breaking points and thereby opening the recess in the

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Protective element exposed so that the lower edge of the closure cover is accessible to the opening handle.

Packaging can also be found on the market, particularly for sweets and the like, in which a segment of the lid attached to the upper edge of the container can be folded back or pushed away from the upper edge of the container if necessary in order to expose a segment-like container opening for the measured dispensing of the container contents. There is no provision for tamper-evident packaging in these packages.

Based on this, the invention is based on the object of providing a tamper-evident packaging of the type mentioned at the outset, in which the container opening can be exposed and resealed in segments as required, while effectively securing the packaging against unauthorized initial opening.

This object is achieved according to the invention in that the closure lid is fixed to the upper edge of the container by snap-like anchors arranged at intervals around its circumference and has a lid segment which can be removed from the upper edge of the container when the closure lid is fixed, and in that the tear-off element extends in the circumferential direction of the closure lid over a section of the edge of the lid segment and is connected to the edge of the lid segment of the closure lid via a plurality of predetermined breaking points arranged at a distance from one another, wherein the lid segment of the closure lid is releasably fixed to the container edge by at least one of the snap-like anchors arranged at intervals around the circumference of the closure lid, which can only be unlocked when the tear-off element is removed from its position connected to the edge of the lid segment of the closure lid, whereby the lid segment of the closure lid

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The end cover can be removed from the container edge and the container opening is accessible in segments.

Preferably, the lid segment of the closure lid is pivotably connected to the latter via a spring-back film hinge, so that the lid segment can be manually pivoted upwards after the tear-off element has been removed and the associated at least one anchor has been released from the container edge. Due to the spring-back effect of the film hinge, the lid segment is always automatically pressed against the upper container edge after the opening process has been completed.

The edge of the closure lid or the lid segment can have a step-like cross-sectional profile. Preferably, the tear-off element is positively integrated into the edge of the lid segment of the closure element via predetermined breaking points. Each anchor can have an elastic locking element extending radially inwards and diagonally upwards from the inner wall of the edge of the closure lid or from the inner wall of the tear-off element, which can be releasably engaged with the container edge. In order to bring the locking elements into the snap-like anchoring with the upper container edge in a suitable manner, the locking elements are preferably designed so that their upper end is arranged with little play below the lower edge of the upper container edge in the fixed position of the closure lid or the lid segment. Preferably, the tear-off element integrated into the edge of the lid segment of the closure lid via the predetermined breaking points is band-like and has an elastic locking element on the inner wall at each end.

The tear-off element preferably has a step-like cross-sectional profile corresponding to the edge of the closure cover at its circumferential ends, with the elastic locking element being fixed to the inner wall of an upper vertical section of the

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cut stair-step-like ends of the tear-off element is provided. At each end of the band-like tear-off element, a handle extending downwards over the lower edge of the tear-off element can be provided on its outer wall for easy tearing off of the tear-off element.

In a preferred embodiment of the packaging according to the invention, the tear-off element has a gap-like recess extending from its inner wall, into which, when the tear-off element is integrated into the edge of the lid segment, a rectangular part of the edge of the lid segment is fitted in a form-fitting manner and is connected with its horizontal leg to the inner wall of the gap-like recess of the tear-off element via predetermined breaking points. The rectangular part of the edge of the lid segment is exposed after the tear-off element has been removed and the anchors between the locking elements and the upper edge of the container have been simultaneously released at the ends of the tear-off element and forms a handle element for manually pivoting the lid segment upwards away from the edge of the container around the film hinge so that the opening of the container segment is accessible. After the rectangular handle element is released, the lid segment is pushed into the closed position by the return effect of the film hinge. The tear-off element, which is positively integrated into the edge of the lid segment, is preferably arranged centrally in the circumferential section of the lid segment of the closure lid. The recess of the tear-off element is preferably provided centrally in relation to its circumferential length.

The container and the closure lid of the tamper-evident packaging according to the invention are preferably made of plastic using an injection molding process. For manufacturing reasons, an opening is therefore provided in the upper edge area of the closure lid or the lid segment above the upper end of each locking element extending from the inner wall of the edge.

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The tamper-evident packaging according to the invention ensures effective protection against unauthorized initial opening while at the same time allowing only segmental opening of the closure lid that closes the container opening. The lid segment, which is forced back into the closed position by the restoring force of the film hinge, can optionally be secured to the latter in this position by manually operated push-button-like means that are to be provided on the lid segment and on the upper edge of the container.

The container and the associated closure lid of the packaging according to the invention can have a circular, oval or any other corresponding outline shape and the tear-off element connected to the edge of the closure lid via predetermined breaking points can protrude in height beyond the edge of the closure lid or be positively integrated into the edge of the closure lid via the predetermined breaking points.

The packaging according to the invention is particularly suitable for dispensing or removing bulk-like contents, e.g. sweets and the like, which can be dispensed or removed in a dosed manner through the container segment opening.

The tamper-evident packaging according to the invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. These include:

Fig. 1 is a front view of a preferred embodiment of the tamper-evident packaging with a round cup and a closure lid attached thereto, in the outer edge of which a band-like tear-off element is integrated,

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the packaging according to Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a fragmentary part of the closure cover.

according to the design shown in Fig. 1 with a tear-off element integrated in its edge area,

Fig. 4 is a schematic perspective view of a bridge-like part of the packaging according to Fig. 1 with the tear-off element removed from the edge of the closure lid,

Fig. 5 is a schematic perspective view of the tear-off tab cut out from the edge of the closure lid according to the embodiment of the packaging according to Fig. 1,

Fig. 6A - 6C fragmentary representations of a section in the plane AA and the plane B-B of Fig. 1, respectively, where

Fig. 6A shows in section in plane A-A a fragmentary view of the edge of the closure lid in relation to the upper edge of the container before the closure lid is applied,

Fig. 6B shows a fragmentary section in plane AA of the edge of the closure lid in relation to the upper edge of the container during the production of the snap-like anchoring of the locking element and the upper edge of the container before the locking position of the locking element is reached and

Fig. 6C shows in section in plane BB a fragmentary view of the edge of the lid segment of the closure lid in relation to the upper container edge in the anchoring position of a locking element arranged on the inner wall of the tear-off element on the upper container edge,

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary representation of a section of the film hinge between the closure cover and its cover segment in the plane CC of Fig. 1.

As can be seen from Figs. 1 to 3, the tamper-evident packaging in the preferred embodiment comprises a container 1 in the form of a round bowl and a closure lid 2 with a corresponding outline, the edge 4 of which is attached to the upper container edge

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3 is fixed by snap-like anchors 7 which are arranged at intervals around the circumference of the container edge. As Fig. 2 shows, the closure lid 2 has a lid segment 6 which is pivotably connected to the part 24 of the closure lid 2 which is permanently anchored on the container edge 3 via a spring-back film hinge 11 and is releasably fixed to the container edge 3 by two anchors 7 spaced apart from one another before the packaging is opened for the first time.

Fig. 7 illustrates the mounting of the film hinge 11 on the upper container edge 3, which connects the permanently fixed part 24 of the closure lid 2 and the lid segment 6, the film hinge 11 being designed in terms of material and design such that its restoring effect pushes the lid segment 6 from the open position into the closed position towards the container edge 3. As Fig. 2 shows, the tear-off element 8, which is positively integrated into the edge 4 of the lid segment 6, is arranged centrally in the circumferential section 9 of the lid segment 6 of the closure lid 2. From Fig.2 it can also be seen that the part 24 of the closure lid 2 is permanently fixed to the upper container edge 3 by five snap-like anchors 7 arranged at the same distance from one another over the circumference of the part 24, while the lid segment 6 of the closure lid 2, which can pivot about the film hinge 11, is removably fixed to the upper container edge 3 by two snap-like anchors 7 spaced apart from one another, these anchors 7 each being arranged on one of the circumferential ends 16 of the band-like tear-off element 8.

The anchors 7 of the part 24 of the closure lid 2 permanently fixed to the upper container edge 3 are each formed by a locking element 14 provided on the inner wall 12 of the edge 4 of the closure lid 2 and the upper container edge 3, while the anchors 7 of the lid segment 6 which can be removed from the container edge 3 are each formed by a locking element 14 provided on the inner wall 13 of the tear-off element 8 and the

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upper container edge 3, as can be seen from Figs. 6A to 6C. Other embodiments of snap-like anchoring of the closure lid or lid segment on the upper container edge of the packaging according to the invention are within the scope of the invention.

The locking elements 14 are elastic and extend from the inner wall 12 of the edge 4 of the closure lid 2 or from the inner wall 13 of the tear-off element 8 radially inwards and obliquely upwards, as can be seen from Fig. 6A or Fig. 6C, which shows the assignment of the edge 4 of the closure lid 2 to the upper container edge 3 before the closure lid 2 is applied to the container 1 or the assignment of the tear-off element 8 integrated into the edge 4 of the lid segment 6 to the upper container edge 3 with the closure lid 2 fixed thereon. Fig. 6B illustrates the movement of the upper end 15 of the respective elastic locking elements 14 towards the inner wall 12 of the edge 4 of the closure lid 2 when sliding along the outer edge 25 of the upper container edge 3 during placement of the closure lid 2 on the container 1. In a corresponding manner, the upper ends 15 of the locking elements 14 provided on the inner wall 13 of the tear-off element 8 move towards the inner wall 13 of the tear-off element 8 when sliding along the outer edge 25 of the upper container edge 3 during placement of the closure lid 2 on the upper container edge 3. Fig. 6C illustrates that the upper end 15 of each of the locking elements 14 provided on the inner wall 13 of the tear-off element 8 is arranged below the lower edge 15 of the container edge 3 in the fixed position of the lid segment with little play to the lower edge 15 of the container edge 3. Accordingly, the upper end 15 of each of the locking elements 14 provided on the inner wall 12 of the edge 4 of the closure element 2 is arranged below the upper container edge 3 with a slight clearance to the lower edge 15 of the container edge 3 in the fixed position of the closure lid 2.

From Fig.3 it can be seen that the edge 4 of the closure cover 2 or the cover segment 6

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the preferred embodiment of the packaging has a step-like cross-sectional profile. The band-like tear-off element 8 is positively integrated into the edge 4 of the lid segment 6 of the closure lid 2 via a plurality of predetermined breaking points 10 arranged at a distance from one another, as shown in Fig. 3. The tear-off element 8 has a step-like cross-sectional profile corresponding to the edge 4 of the closure lid 2 at its circumferential ends 16, as can best be seen in Fig. 5, which shows the tear-off element 8 severed from the edge 4 of the lid segment 6. One of the locking elements 13 is provided on the inner wall 13 of the upper vertical sections 17 of the ends 16 of the tear-off element 8, which have a stepped cross-section, as can be seen from Fig. 6C. At each end 16 of the band-like tear-off element 8, a handle part 20 extending downwards over the lower edge 19 of the tear-off element 8 is provided on its outer wall 18 to facilitate the separation of the tear-off element 8 from the edge 4 of the cover segment 6.

Fig. 5 further shows that the tear-off element 8 has a gap-like recess 21 extending from its inner wall 13, into which, as Fig. 4 and 5 illustrate, a rectangular part 22 of the edge 4 of the lid segment 6 is fitted with its horizontal leg 23 in a form-fitting manner via predetermined breaking points 10 when the tear-off element 8 is integrated into the edge of the lid segment 6. In the state of the packaging before it is first opened, the tear-off element 8 covers the rectangular part 22 of the edge 4 of the lid segment 6 inaccessibly. To create a container segment opening of the packaging, the tear-off element 8 is removed from the position integrated in the edge 4 of the lid segment 6 of the closure lid 2 by cutting all predetermined breaking points 10, whereby at the same time the anchors 7 between the locking element 14 at each end 16 of the tear-off element 8 and the upper container edge are released. The opening of the packaging is thus only possible if the tear-off element 8, which secures the packaging against unauthorized initial opening, is removed while simultaneously releasing the

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Locking elements 14 have been removed from their anchoring on the upper container edge 3 from the position integrated in the edge 4 of the lid segment 6 of the closure lid 2. The lid segment 6 can then be pivoted away from the upper container edge 3 about the film hinge 11 by means of the right-angled part 22 of the edge 4 of the lid segment 6, which forms a handle element, and the container opening 5 can be made accessible in segments.

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List of reference symbols

1 container

2 closure lids

3 upper container edge

4 Edge of the cover

5 Container opening

6 Lid segment

7 snap-type anchors

8 Tear-off element

9 Section of the edge of the lid segment

10 predetermined breaking points

11 Film hinge

12 Inner wall of the edge of the closure lid

13 Inner wall of the tear-off element

14 Locking element

15 Bottom edge of the container rim

16 ends of the tear-off element

17 upper vertical section of the stair-stepped ends of the tear-off element

18 Outer wall of the tear-off element

19 lower edge of the tear-off element

20 Handle part

21 Recess of the tear-off element

22 rectangular part of the edge of the lid segment

23 horizontal leg of the right-angled part

24 permanently fixed part of the closure cap

25 Outer edge of the upper container rim

Claims (13)

1. Tamper-evident packaging with a container ( 1 ) and a closure lid ( 2 ), the edge ( 4 ) of which is snapped onto the upper container edge ( 3 ) and is only accessible to the opening handle after removal of a tear-off element ( 8 ), characterized in that - the closure lid ( 2 ) is fixed to the upper container edge ( 3 ) by snap-like anchors ( 7 ) arranged at intervals around its circumference and - has a lid segment ( 6 ) which can be removed from the container edge ( 3 ) when the closure lid ( 2 ) is fixed, and that - the tear-off element ( 8 ) extends in the circumferential direction of the closure lid ( 2 ) over a section ( 9 ) of the edge ( 4 ) of the lid segment ( 6 ) and is connected to the edge ( 4 ) of the lid segment ( 6 ) of the closure lid ( 2 ) via a plurality of predetermined breaking points ( 10 ) arranged at a distance from one another, wherein - the lid segment ( 6 ) of the closure lid ( 2 ) is releasably fixed to the container edge ( 3 ) by at least one of the snap-like anchors ( 7 ) arranged at intervals around the circumference of the closure lid ( 2 ), which can only be unlocked when the tear-off element ( 8 ) is removed from its position connected to the edge ( 4 ) of the lid segment ( 6 ) of the closure lid ( 2 ), whereby the lid segment ( 6 ) of the closure lid ( 2 ) can be removed from the container edge ( 3 ) and the container opening ( 5 ) is accessible in segments. 2. Packaging according to claim 1, characterized in that the lid segment ( 6 ) of the closure lid ( 2 ) is pivotably connected to the latter via a spring-back film hinge ( 11 ) and can be manually pivoted upwards after removal of the tear-off element ( 8 ) and release of the at least one anchor ( 7 ) associated with the lid segment ( 6 ) from the container edge ( 3 ). 3. Packaging according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the edge ( 4 ) of the closure lid ( 2 ) or of the lid segment ( 6 ) has a step-like cross-sectional profile. 4. Packaging according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tear-off element ( 8 ) is positively integrated into the edge ( 4 ) of the lid segment ( 6 ) of the closure lid ( 2 ) via the predetermined breaking points ( 10 ). 5. Packaging according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each anchor ( 7 ) has an elastic locking element ( 14) extending radially inwards and obliquely upwards from the inner wall (12 ) of the edge ( 4 ) of the closure lid ( 2 ) or from the inner wall ( 13 ) of the tear-off element ( 8 ) and which can be releasably brought into engagement with the container edge ( 3 ). 6. Packaging according to claim 5, characterized in that the upper end ( 15 ) of each locking element ( 14 ) in the fixed position of the closure lid ( 2 ) or the lid segment ( 6 ) is arranged with slight play to the lower edge ( 15 ) of the container rim ( 3 ) below the latter. 7. Packaging according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tear-off element ( 8 ) integrated into the edge ( 4 ) of the lid segment ( 6 ) of the closure lid ( 2 ) via the predetermined breaking points ( 10 ) is band-like and has an elastic grid element ( 14 ) at each end ( 16 ) on the inner wall ( 13 ). 8. Packaging according to claim 7, characterized in that the tear-off element ( 8 ) has at its circumferential ends ( 16 ) a step-like cross-sectional profile corresponding to the edge ( 4 ) of the closure lid ( 2 ) and that the elastic locking element ( 14 ) is provided on the inner wall ( 13 ) of an upper vertical section ( 17 ) of the cross-sectionally step-like ends ( 16 ) of the tear-off element ( 8 ). 9. Packaging according to one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that at each end ( 16 ) of the band-like tear-off element ( 8 ) on its outer wall ( 18 ) a handle part ( 20 ) extending downwards over the lower edge ( 19 ) of the tear-off element ( 8 ) is provided. 10. Packaging according to one of claims 4 to 9, characterized in that the tear-off element ( 8 ) has a recess ( 21 ) extending from its inner wall ( 13 ), into which, when the tear-off element ( 8 ) is integrated into the edge ( 4 ) of the lid segment ( 6 ), a rectangular part ( 22 ) of the edge ( 4 ) of the lid segment ( 6 ) is fitted in a form-fitting manner and is connected with its horizontal leg ( 23 ) to the tear-off element ( 8 ) via predetermined breaking points ( 10 ), and that the horizontal leg ( 23 ) of the rectangular part ( 22 ) of the edge ( 4 ) of the lid segment ( 6 ) after removal of the tear-off element ( 8 ) and simultaneous release of the anchors ( 7 ) between the locking elements ( 14 ) and the upper container edge ( 3 ) at the ends ( 16 ) of the tear-off element ( 8 ) forms a handle element for manually pivoting the lid segment ( 6 ) about the film hinge ( 11 ) away from the container edge ( 3 ) upwards. 11. Packaging according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tear-off element ( 8 ) which is positively integrated into the edge ( 4 ) of the lid segment ( 6 ) is arranged centrally in the peripheral section ( 9 ) of the lid segment ( 6 ) of the closure lid ( 2 ). 12. Packaging according to claim 10, characterized in that the recess ( 21 ) of the tear-off element ( 8 ) is provided centrally with respect to its circumferential length. 13. Packaging according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the container ( 1 ) and the closure lid ( 2 ) are injection-molded from plastic.