GB2367811A

GB2367811A - Tamper-evident carton

Info

Publication number: GB2367811A
Application number: GB0025023A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nigel Davis
Original assignee: Field Group PLC
Current assignee: Field Group PLC
Priority date: 2000-10-12
Filing date: 2000-10-12
Publication date: 2002-04-17
Anticipated expiration: 2020-10-12
Also published as: GB0025023D0; GB2367811B

Abstract

A tamper-evident carton is held closed by a releasable adhesive patch (2). The carton is preferably made of a laminate of metal foil and paperboard with the foil on the outside. A portion (3) of the foil under the patch is defined by a cut (4) extending through the foil but not into the paperboard, so that the foil portion delaminates and is removed to expose the paperboard (6) when the patch is removed.

Description

"Containers"

This invention relates to cartons, and in particular to ones having a tamper-evident feature, that is one which while permitting the carton to be opened and re-closed when desired, makes it evident that it has previously been opened.

It is known for a carton to have a releasable adhesive patch of a suitable sheet material, such as a transparent plastics film, applied in a position where it holds the carton closed. Such a patch has to be lifted to enable the carton to be opened, and it may then be evident that this has been done. However, if the patch is carefully re-applied, this may not be so.

According to the present invention there is provided a carton having a patch of a suitable sheet material releasably adhered thereto, arranged so that the patch must be lifted to enable the carton to be opened, wherein at least the part of the carton under the said patch is of delaminatable construction and is partially cut through to define an area which will delaminate and detach with the patch when the same is lifted as aforesaid.

With such an arrangement, the result of the detachment of the said area may be made sufficiently visually apparent for it then to be clear that the carton has been opened.

Preferably the said part of the carton is of laminar construction comprising at least two layers.

However, the said part could be made of a single layer of material of delaminatable nature, such as a suitable carton board.

For delamination to occur as aforesaid, it is of course essential that the bond between the patch and the carton material be greater than that holding the carton material together. This may readily be achieved by

suitable choice of adhesive material and carton material.

The area which delaminates and detaches is preferably defined by a single continuous cut.

Preferably the said area is within a region of the carton which is printed with lettering, so that a substantial part of said lettering is removed when the said area is detached, thereby increasing the visual impart of the said area having been detached.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of one end of a carton according to the invention, before being opened; and Figure 2 is a similar view of the carton in the process of being opened.

Referring first to Figure 1, the carton is made from a one-piece blank of conventional configuration, with a tuck-in closure flap 1 at the end shown. The carton material is a laminate of paperboard and aluminium foil, with the foil on the outside, but any suitable carton material may be used, not necessarily foil coated. The flap 1 is held closed by an adhesive patch 2, made of transparent plastics sheet material with a releasable adhesive on one side. In this embodiment the patch 2 is made of Fasson's PP Top Clear supplied by Avery Dennisons Materials Limited and the adhesive is S277 from the same supplier. Under the patch, a semi-circular portion 3 of the outer, metal foil, lamination of the flap 1 is defined by a continuous cut 4 extending right through the foil layer but not into the paperboard layer. The portion 3 is in a region of the carton which is printed with lettering 5.

It will be appreciated that the carton cannot be opened without disengaging the patch 2 from (at least)

the closure flap 1. This may be done, as indicated in Figure 2, by the user inserting a finger nail under the edge of the patch, which may then be lifted from the face of the closure flap because of the releasable nature of the adhesive. However, as the bond between the adhesive and the metal foil of the outer lamination of the carton is greater than the bond between the foil and the inner, paperboard, lamination, the portion 3 of the foil is detached from the flap by delamination, leaving behind an exposed area 6 of paperboard. As the paperboard of the area 6 is of a different colour and texture from the surrounding, undisturbed, area of metal foil, and also as a substantial part of the lettering 5 has thereby been removed, it is evident that the carton has been opened. Furthermore, as the particular S277 adhesive used is one which will remain behind on the carton surface when the patch is lifted, rather than staying on the patch, it is difficult to hide the fact that the patch has been lifted, by attempting to replace it. The other end of the carton has a closure similar to that described above.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A carton having a patch of a suitable sheet material releasably adhered thereto, arranged so that the patch must be lifted to enable the carton to be opened, wherein at least the part of the carton under the said patch is of delaminatable construction and is partially cut through to define an area which will delaminate and detach with the patch when the same is lifted as aforesaid.
2. A carton as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said part of the carton is of laminar construction comprising at least two layers.
3. A carton as claimed in claim 2, wherein the outer lamination is made of metal foil.
4. A carton as claimed in claim 2 or 3, which is entirely of laminar construction.
5. A carton as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the said area is defined by a single continuous cut.
6. A carton as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the said area is within a region of the carton which is printed with lettering, so that a substantial part of said lettering is removed when the said area is detached.
7. A carton as claimed in claim 1, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
8. A blank for making a carton as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6.