Tamper-evident double-lid for packaging and containers

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a tampering/opening evidence mechanism to avoid the adulteration and reuse of packages, which corresponds to a device having a dual lid with a series of mechanisms that, when the user turns the lid to open the product, make the side surface thereof to be stained by an ink located therein. Thus, the mechanism of the invention stains with a permanent/indelible ink the inside of the dual lid, when it is rotated by the user for the first opening of the container, and wherein said movement allows both surface to be stained due to an element, such as a foam, being charged with ink which stains both surfaces with the rotation of the lid.

Claims

1. A double lid device for evidencing opening or tampering of a container and corresponding to the lid of the container located on top thereof, said device characterized by comprising: an inner lid; an outer lid configured to rotate relative to the inner lid; an outer wedge and an inner wedge, which couple the outer lid and the inner lid, respectively; an internal anti-twist stop located on the top surface of the inner lid; an external anti-twist stop located on the internal surface of the outer lid and configured to couple to the internal anti-twist stop; and one or more staining elements located on the top surface and/or the side wall of the inner lid and directly contacting the inner top surface of the outer lid so as to stain such inner top surface when the outer lid is rotated, wherein the one or more staining elements contains or contain, or is or are impregnated with, an indelible ink.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the outer lid is manufactured in a colorless or transparent plastic material.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the inner lid is a tubular piece comprising a thread, the inner wedge, the one or more staining elements, and the internal anti-twist stop.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more staining elements comprises or comprise a foam or absorbent material charged with ink.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more staining elements is or are located in an upper part of an outer face of the inner lid.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more staining elements is or are located in side walls of an outer face of the inner lid.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more staining elements is or are located in an upper part and side walls of an outer face of the inner lid.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more staining elements is or are located both in an outer face of the inner lid and an inner face of the outer lid.

9. The device of claim 4, wherein the one or more staining elements is or are located in an upper part of an outer face of the inner lid.

10. The device of claim 4, wherein the one or more staining elements is or are located in side walls of an outer face of the inner lid.

11. The device of claim 4, wherein the one or more staining elements is or are located in an upper part and side walls of an outer face of the inner lid.

12. The device of claim 4, wherein the one or more staining elements is or are located both in an outer face of the inner lid and an inner face of the outer lid.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The relevant aspects and the advantages of the present invention will be better understood with relation to the following drawings in which:

(2) FIGS. 1A and 1B show a perspective view of the device of the present invention with an upper marking device.

(3) FIG. 2 shows a cross-section isometric view of the device of FIGS. 1A and 1B, which has an upper marking or staining element.

(4) FIGS. 3A and 3B show a perspective view of the device of the present invention with a side marking device.

(5) FIG. 4 shows a cross-section isometric view of the device of FIGS. 3A and 3B, which has a side marking or staining element.

(6) FIGS. 5A and 5B show a perspective view of the device of the present invention with a joint marking device.

(7) FIG. 6 shows a cross-section isometric view of the device of FIGS. 5A and 5B, which has a joint marking element.

(8) FIGS. 7A and 7B show a perspective view of the device of the present invention with a marking device in outer and inner lids.

(9) FIG. 8 shows a cross-section isometric view of the device of FIGS. 7A and 7B, which has a joint marking element which completely marks the outer and inner lids.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(10) The present invention is directed to a double lid device for evidencing opening or tampering of a container, wherein said device corresponds to the lid of the container and is located on the upper part thereof, wherein the device corresponds to a plurality of inner seals in the lid of the container, allowing users to have a greater certainty about the contents of the container.

(11) FIGS. 1A, 1B and 2 shows a double lid with only one marking or staining device. The device of the present invention comprises an outer lid (1) which is coupled to another inner lid (2), wherein both pieces couple to each other through an internal wedge (6) and an outer wedge (4). These wedges (6, 4) allow the outer lid (1) to rotate relative to the inner lid (2) but without being decoupled, in the same way in the upper space of the two lids an inner anti-twist stop (3) and an outer anti-twist stop (7) are located.

(12) Thus, firstly there is the outer lid (1), which is preferably manufactured in a colorless or transparent plastic, in order to let the user see the functioning mechanism and the staining of the two lids when the container has been already tampered or opened.

(13) In the lower part of the outer lid (1) there are some anti-twist stops (3, 7), in the same way an outer wedge (4) is fixed which is coupled to the inner lid (2) allowing it to be rotated relative to the outer lid (1) without being decoupled.

(14) The inner lid (2) is a tubular piece comprising the following parts defined as: a thread (5) which coupled to the package, a lower wedge (6) and an outer wedge (4) which are coupled to avoid the involuntary movement of the device, a foam (8) charged with ink which rotates with the inner lid (2) when opening, generating thereby an indelible ink stain in the outer lid (1), in the same way on the inner surface we find an inner anti-twist stop (3) which is coupled to the outer anti-twist stop (7) after the rotation necessary to stain the outer lid (1), preventing the outer lid (1) to keep rotating along with the inner lid (2), allowing the thread (5) to rotate and the product to be opened.

(15) In another embodiment of the present invention, the foam (8) charged with ink is laterally located, such that a side ink stain is achieved once the outer lid (1) is rotated with respect to the inner lid (2), i.e. in the side walls of the outer lid (1).

(16) FIG. 4 shows the diagram of the second embodiment, which basically comprises the same elements as previously mentioned, but with the difference that one the side surface of the inner lid (2) the foam (8) charged with indelible ink is located, instead of being in the upper part. However, other locations can be used in places where the structure allows to do so, wherein the presence of the foam (8) charged with side ink makes it necessary that the double lid mechanism is replicated for this new embodiment.

(17) For this, FIGS. 3A and 3B show that on the sides of the inner lid (2) surface, the foams (8) charged with ink are disposed, wherein in this embodiment the outer lid (1) remains unchanged as well as the anti-twist stops (3, 7) and the wedges (4, 6).

(18) In another embodiment of the invention, the staining covers simultaneously the upper and side surfaces.

(19) FIGS. 5A and 5B show the inner lid (2) with several foams (8) charged with ink located both in the side walls and the upper wall of the inner lid (2), wherein in this case the outer lid (2) is impregnated with ink in the side walls and the upper wall once the outer lid (1) is rotated. The mechanism impregnating both surfaces is similar to the mechanism used in the previous embodiments as can be appreciated in FIGS. 5A and 5B, wherein the outer lid (1), the wedges (4, 6), the stop (3) and the stop (7) remain unchanged. The difference of this embodiment is based on that once the outer lid (1) is rotated, the foams (8) charged with ink impregnate simultaneously the side and surface walls of the outer lid (1).

(20) In another embodiment, the device of the present invention has the foam (8) charged with ink in the outer (1) and inner (2) lids, for example FIG. 8 shows the outer lid (1) with the foams (8) charged with ink in the upper and side walls, similarly in the inner lid (2) there are foams (8) charged with ink in its upper and side parts. In this case, the outer (1) and inner (2) lids are impregnated with ink in the surfaces once the outer lid (1) is rotated relative to the inner lid (2).

(21) Thus, the side and upper staining mechanism is similar to the mechanism previously used as can be appreciated in FIGS. 7A and 7B, wherein the outer lid (1), the inner lid (2), the wedge (4), the wedge (6), the stop (3) and the stop (7) remain unchanged. The difference of this embodiment is based on that once the outer lid (1) is rotated relative to the inner lid (2), the foams (8) charged with ink impregnate the side and upper surfaces of the inner lid (1) and the outer lid (2).