Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TITLE
TAMPER EVIDENT PACKAGING LABELS
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
[0001] The invention is directed to packaging that will provide evidence of
tampering to paclcaging of a type typically associated with confectionery
products,
particularly, bunch wrap packaging.
Description of the Related Art
[0002] Tamper evident packaging utilizing breakable seals is known. U.S.
Patent
No. 4,874,096, for example, is directed to packaging for confectionery having
a
reclosable adhesive opening strip. The packaging is provided with a
supplementary strip which is adhesively attached to the packaging and to the
opening strip. The supplementary strip is also provided with pre-cut
transverse
lines, such that the strip breaks upon opening, which provides evidence of
tampering if the package is subsequently reclosed.
[0003] U.S. Patent No. 5,987,850 discloses a process for applying a revenue
seal
to a cigarette pack. The seal is applied directly to the packaging, applying a
laser
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beam to a smooth coating in the area where the seal is to be applied so that
the seal
will adhere better to that area. The seal is applied across a dividing line
where the
package is opened such that the seal will rupture on opening the cigarette
pack.
[0004] U.S. Patent No. 6,349,~2g B1 is directed to a tamper evident packaging
for
a wound dressing in which two packaging layers are sealed to each other at
their
perimeter for example by heat sealing, adhesive sealing, ~F sealing, or
ultrasonic
sealing. The layers may be sheets of medical grade paper, plastic, foil or the
like.
Perforations are provided in one or both packaging layers within the sealing
region
on the perimeter such that when the package is opened the layer tears along
the
perforation, leaving a portion of the layers attached, thus providing evidence
that
the package has been fully or partly opened.
[0005] Confectionery products are handled by a large number of people at the
point of sale prior to being finally purchased and consumed. This raises a
particular concern that these products are more likely to be subjected to
tampering.
Thus, it is particularly desirable and an object of the invention to provide
evidence
of tampering to packaging associated with confectionery, such as a bunch wrap
package for a molded piece of confectionery.
[0006] While various labels have been developed for placing on packaging,
there
continues to be a need in the art for labels which will provide evidence of
tampering. None of the above-described prior art addresses the problems
associated with providing tamper evident bunch wrap paclcaging in an
attractive
and economical format.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] In one aspect, the invention is a package comprising a wrapper having a
label affixed to a surface thereof, wherein the label has a perimeter and is
provided
with an at least partly removable portion within the perimeter, such that the
label
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provides evidence of tampering when the package is opened. Preferably, the
confection is a molded confection, such as a molded piece of chocolate having
a
flat side, the wrapper is bunch wrapped around the molded confection, and the
label is applied over creases and edges of the wrapper gathered on the flat
side of
the piece. The label has a pattern of perforations, which may be die cut or
formed
by another method, laid out in a pattern to increase the likelihood of tearing
when
tampered with. In some embodiments the label has die cut perforations in a
closed
shape, such that an attempt to remove the label results in the die cut portion
tearing
away, providing evidence of tampering.
[0008] In another aspect, a label may be provided according to the invention
which
provides evidence of tampering but which does not have a region defined by
perforations. For example, a multilayer structure may be used such that all or
a
portion of a top layer is removed by tearing or other means to reveal a layer
underneath which may have a different color or other visible indication which
provides evidence that the label has been tampered with.
[0009] In yet another aspect, a plurality of angles on the perimeter of a
label facing
away from the center of the label may provide evidence of tampering by
providing
tear propagation points, such that the label would be virtually impossible to
remove
without leaving evidence of tampering.
[0010] In yet another aspect, the invention is directed to a method for
providing
evidence of tampering to confectionery packaging when the packaging is opened
or
attempted to be opened, comprising the steps of conforming a wrapper to a
surface of a confectionery piece, gathering edges of the wrapper on a side of
the
confectionery piece, and applying a label with an at least partly removable
portion
within the Iabel perimeter on the side of the confectionery piece over the
edges of
the wrapper such that the label provides visible indication when the packaging
is
opened or attempted to be opened.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0011] Figure 1 depicts a foil bunch wrap having a tamper-evident die cut
label
affixed to it.
[0012] Figure 2 depicts a preferred configuration of die cut perforations on a
tamper evident label.
[0013] Figure 3 depicts a foil bunch wrap having a tamper-evident die cut
label
affixed to it according to another embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0014] A detailed description of the invention will be provided with reference
to a
particular embodiment thereof, which is not to be considered limiting. Figure
1
shows a confectionery piece (2) having a flat side (4) with a perimeter (6). A
foil
wrapper (8) is shown with creases (16) where its bunched edges have been
gathered on the flat side (4) of the confectionery piece. A label (10) having
a label
perimeter (12) conforming to the perimeter of the flat side of the piece is
shown
placed on the flat side of the piece over the creases and bunched edges, in
effect
over the "opening" of the package. Within the perimeter (12) are die cut
perforations (14), which partially tear away when the label (10) is removed or
tampered with.
[0015] "Tamper evident" as used herein means providing any visible indication
that a paclcaging has been opened or that an attempt has been made to open it.
"Bunch wrapping," as used herein, means wrapping an obj ect with a sheet of
material; conforming the material to the outside shape of the object; and
bunching
the edges of the sheet of material against a surface of the object. This
definition is
consistent with the usage in the art. The "Glossary of Packaging Terms,"
published by the Packaging Institute International, for example, defines bunch
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wrap as "a method of wrapping with the packaging material gathered on the
underside."
[0016] In a preferred embodiment, the edible piece is a molded chocolate
confection which has a flat side owing to the molding process. The flat side
makes
it easier to bunch the edges of the wrapper against that side, and also makes
it
easier to place the label securely over the edges of the wrapper to form the
package
opening.
[0017] Bunch wrapping may be accomplished by methods known in the art, such
as by pushing the confectionery piece into a sheet of wrapper material through
an
orifice with brushing members conforming the wrapper material to the piece.
Members then push the trailing ends against the piece. These and other
methods,
being known in the art, will not be elaborated upon herein, expect as pertains
to the
invention.
[0018] A bunch wrap package according to the prior art is relatively easily
opened
and tampered with by taking an exposed edge of the wrapped sheet and peeling
it
away from the confectionery piece. According to the present invention, to
prevent
a person from unwrapping the packaging, tampering with the confectionery, and
then replacing the wrapper, a label is placed over the exposed edges. The
bunch
wrap and label are provided with an additional tamper evident feature by using
a
pattern of perforations on the label which tear when the label is opened or
tampered with.
[0019] Any wrapper material can be used as a substitute for foil wrapper (8)
to
wrap the piece, provided it has sufficient "dead fold" properties to permit
the
wrapper to conform to the shape of the piece. Dead fold is defined in the
Glossary
of Packaging Terms as "a hand or machine made fold which will remain in
position without sealing, such as a soft foil" Preferred wrapper materials are
foils
and laminated foils such as a 10 to 20 micron thickness soft temper foil.
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[0020] The label (10) has a label perimeter (12) die cut from label stock, and
a
pattern of perforations (14) which are also formed by die cutting. Any label
stock
known in the art may be used. Such stock typically comprises an adhesive-
backed
label material of paper, laminated paper, plastic, or the like on a non-
adhesive liner.
Typically, the label material bears instructions or regulatory information
printed
before the label is die cut. Of course, if the label is printed, the die
cutting
operation must be done in registration with the printing. It has been found,
however, that the pattern of perforations (14) formed in the label (10)
according to
the invention do not interfere with the legibility of the label information.
j0021J Die cutting can be by any means known in the art, such as with a platen
die
cutter, rotary die cutter, laser cutter, or any other system known in the art
or
hereafter developed. The die includes a definition of the label perimeter
shape and
cuts through the Label material to the liner and the excess label material is
stripped
away from the liner.
[0022] The perforations (14) are provided in a pattern on the Label, and may
be cut
at the same time as the label perimeter or in a different die cutting step.
Preferably,
the perforations are cut at the same time that the perimeter of the label is
cut, and
thus the same die is used. The perforations are provided in a pattern to
increase the
likelihood that the label will tear upon opening. This will provide a tamper
evident
feature to the bunch wrap/label combination. The perforation pattern is
preferably
not plainly visible, and during manufacture of the packaging combination, the
label
is handled as a single piece such that the perforations do not tear away.
Accordingly, some lands (spaces between the cut portions) in the perforation
design are necessary so that portions of the label do not tear away during
handling
of the label and during the process of affixing the label to the bunch wrapped
piece.
Likewise, although perforations extending to the perimeter of the label are
possible, this configuration is Less preferred because it would be expected to
cause
tearing of the label when the label is removed from the liner.
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[0023] In a preferred embodiment shown in Figure 2, the perforations (24)
follow
the shape of the perimeter (26) of a flat side of the piece being wrapped.
Several
concentric shapes following the perimeter shape may increase the tendency of
the
label to tear during tampering.
[0024] A series of points or near points as shown in Figure 1 may provide
better
tamper evidence than a smooth shape, because tearing appears to propagate most
easily at a sharp point in the perforation pattern. Of course, the ability to
have a die
economically prepared may impose constraints on the design that is used. It is
prefeiTed, but not necessary, that the die cut perforations (14, 24) define a
closed
shape. Thus, when a person pulls the label off, an entire portion tears away
from
the rest of the label.
[0025] In another embodiment, the label is made tamper evident by die cutting
a
label perimeter having numerous relatively sharp angles (1 ~) as shown in
Figure 3.
The label perimeter is thus provided with a plurality of tear propagation
points
(20). A label having this configuration is extremely difficult to remove
without
leaving evidence of tampering. However, with existing technology, such a label
presents significant challenges in terms of handling, and it would be
difficult to
reliably and rapidly remove such a label from the Iiner and apply it to the
bunch
wrap. Configurations according to any of the foregoing embodiments prevent
tampering.
[0026] The foregoing description is for the purposes of illustration and is
not to be
deemed to limit the invention, which is defined by the following claims.