Packaging System with Tamper Evidence/Child Resistant Latch

Abstract

A system of a tamper evidence/child resistant latch device and an enclosure is disclosed. The latching device and the enclosure will remain separate to each other as items that can be attached to each other to become as one item only when the enclosure such as a bag and/or a blister pack is packaged with a commodity. The system requires hand-resistance to break a seal to gain access to the commodity. The seal aligns with a matching internal hook so designed that must be hand-broken to gain access to the commodity. A commodity having a value and not considered as dangerous to a child, can provide new security levels. The system requires the dexterity of two hands, as a capacity belonging to an adult, but would be difficult for a child.

Claims

1. A system for packaging a commodity within an enclosure comprising in combination: a. a latch device, wherein the latch device and the enclosure will always remain independent to each other until a the commodity is within the enclosure; b. through-holes located on the top side of the enclosure, wherein the latch device aligns with the through-holes located on the top side of the enclosure thereby locking the enclosure, and when hand manipulated by an adult to an un-locked position giving access to a the packaged commodity by that procedure and wherein the unlocking procedure will be difficult for a child but easy for an adult; c. Wherein the latch device includes a tamper evidence feature designed as a seal and, if broken, will give evidence that an attempt has been made to open the child resistant device to the un-locked position for the purpose of gaining access to a commodity as packaged within the enclosure.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein the enclosure comprises a polymer resin that remains flexible in a manner having at least one resistant feature to manipulate in open position such as a zipper for bags and undercuts for a blister pack which regardless of type enclosure selected, each will have through-holes strategically located on top side of the enclosure by which to receive and accommodate the latching device.

3. A system according to claim 2 including the tamper evidence/child resistant latching device having located male members that match the enclosure strategically located through-holes that the latching device can be permanently attached thus providing a tamper evidence feature that directly aligns with a through-holes located on the top side of the enclosure and when hand manipulated to an un-locked position and removed will give access to a the packaged commodity that, by procedure and intent, will be difficult for a child but easy for an adult to manipulate.

4. A system according to claim 1 including the tamper evidence/child resistant latching device having located male members that match the enclosure strategically located through-holes that the latching device can be permanently attached thus providing a tamper evidence feature that directly aligns with a through-holes located on the top side of the enclosure and when hand manipulated to an un-locked position and removed will give access to a the packaged commodity that, by procedure and intent, will be difficult for a child but easy for an adult to manipulate.

5. A system according to claim 1 wherein the child resistant latching device including a tamper evidence feature that functions as a seal so that when hand-broken can or will facilitates opening of an enclosure that is packaged with a commodity that might be dangerous to a child for which as a procedure is certifiable under CFR Part 1700 (Poison Prevention Packaging).

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein the latch device further includes a front portion with a press-here that must be pressed in toward the enclosure and a back portion with a locking head so that the latch device must be slid sideways past the locking head while front portion is still pushed in order to unlock the latch device.

7. A system according to claim 6 wherein after the commodity is placed within the enclosure someone must properly install the latch device on the enclosure.

Description

(g) BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

[0013] FIG. 1 is a top right front perspective view of a system according to the present invention;

[0014] FIG. 2 is a top right front perspective view of a system according to the present invention with a different enclosure;

[0015] FIG. 3A is first in a series showing a method of installing a system according to the present invention for a package, which opens like a book with a latch device according to the present invention in position to attach to the package;

[0016] FIG. 3B is the second in the series of FIG. 3A with the latch device attached at the back;

[0017] FIG. 3C is the final in the series of FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B with the latch device fully engaged;

[0018] FIG. 3D is first in a series showing a method of installing a system according to the present invention for a package, which opens at the top with a latch device according to the present invention in position to attach to the package;

[0019] FIG. 3E is the second in the series of FIG. 3D with the latch device attached at the back;

[0020] FIG. 3F is the final in the series of FIG. 3D and FIG. 3E with the latch device fully engaged;

[0021] FIG. 4A is a top perspective view of the latch device in the closed position;

[0022] FIG. 4B is a sectional view taken along lines 4B-4B of FIG. 4A;

[0023] FIG. 4C is a top perspective view of the latch device in the open position;

[0024] FIG. 4D is a sectional view taken along the lines 4D-4D of FIG. 4C;

[0025] FIG. 5A shows a user depressing the press here and sliding the front portion of the latch device so that the locking head is released;

[0026] FIG. 5B shows the user pulling back on the front portion, releasing the latch device so that the package can be accessed;

[0027] FIG. 6 is a representation of manufacturing enclosures with through-holes to accept latch devices; and

[0028] FIG. 7 is the same as FIG. 6 but adding an automatic through-hole punch.

(h) DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0029] Referring now to the drawing, and in particular to FIGS. 1 and 4, in a system according to the present invention, a latch device 12 has a tamper evidence feature, tab that combines with an enclosure 14 so designed to replace present day packaging methodology. The system specifies a commodity of choice that may or may not be dangerous to a child to be packaged within the enclosure to include a box, bag and/or a blister pack that will always, prior to attachment of the latch device, have a tamper evidence feature that is discernable to the end user if the system has been tampered with to gain access to the package therein as an enclosure of choice. In a system according to the present invention, latch device 12 further includes a front portion 16 with a press-here 18, which must be pressed in toward the enclosure and a back portion 20 on the back of the package with a locking head 22 so that latch device 12 must be slid sideways past locking head 22 while press-here 18 is still pressed in order to unlock latch device 12.

[0030] Referring now to FIG. 2, an alternative enclosure 24 is combined with latch device 12 in the same way as for enclosure 14 of FIG. 1.

[0031] Referring now to FIG. 3, FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C show how to attach latch device 12 to enclosure 24, and FIGS. 3D, 3E and 3F show how to attach latch device 12 to enclosure 14. Referring to FIGS. 3A and 3D, latch device 12 includes front portion 16 which is on the front of the enclosure, faced by a user, and a back portion 20 facing away from the user and having the male portions that extent into the through-holes 32 of enclosure 14 or enclosure 24. Back portion 20 in addition to locking head 22 includes a press-out 26 which is pressed out of the way with press-here 18. Permanent laches 28 attach to the edge of the enclosure. Each enclosure has through-holes to match locking head 22 and press-out 26.

[0032] Referring now to FIG. 4, FIGS. 4A and 4B show latch device 12 before being opened, showing tamper proof seal or tab 30 in a closed position. FIGS. 4C and 4D show press-here 18 pressing press-out 26 and breaking seal 30.

[0033] Referring to FIG. 5A, to open latch device 12 and access the contents of enclosure 14, a user 31 uses his or her left thumb to depress press-here 18 and push sideways to the left with the users right index finger, sliding the front member to where locking head 22 is released. Referring now to FIG. 5B, back member needs to be pulled back freeing enclosure 14 from locking head 22 and press-out 26.

[0034] Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7, enclosures 14 are made by an automatic feeder from roll 34 of double material 36. Double material 36 is notched at separations 38. Through-holes 32 are punched out by punch 40. Referring also to FIG. 7, a punch press 42 is set to automatically punch out through-holes 32. The number otherwise is shown in FIG. 6

[0035] A system for packaging a commodity within an enclosure includes a latch device. The latch device and the enclosure will always remain independent to each other until a the commodity is within the enclosure. Through-holes are located on the top side of the enclosure, and the latch device aligns with the through-holes located on the top side of the enclosure, locking the enclosure when hand manipulated by an adult to an un-locked position giving access to a the packaged commodity. The unlocking procedure will be difficult for a child but easy for an adult.

[0036] The latch device includes a tamper evidence feature designed as a seal and, if broken, will give evidence that an attempt has been made to open the child resistant device to the un-locked position for the purpose of gaining access to a commodity as packaged within the enclosure.

[0037] In one preferred form, the enclosure includes a polymer resin that remains flexible in a manner having at least one resistant feature to manipulate in open position such as a zipper for bags and undercuts for a blister pack which regardless of type enclosure selected, each will have through-holes strategically located on top side of the enclosure by which to receive and accommodate the latching device.

[0038] The tamper evidence/child resistant latching device has located male members that match the enclosure strategically located through-holes that the latching device can be permanently attached thus providing a tamper evidence feature that directly aligns with a through-holes located on the top side of the enclosure and when hand manipulated to an un-locked position and removed will give access to a the packaged commodity that, by procedure and intent, will be difficult for a child but easy for an adult to manipulate.

[0039] The child resistant latching device including a tamper evidence feature that functions as a seal so that when hand-broken can or will facilitates opening of an enclosure that is packaged with a commodity that might be dangerous to a child for which as a procedure is certifiable under CFR Part 1700 (Poison Prevention Packaging).

[0040] In a system according to present invention, the latch device must be properly installed after the commodity is placed within the enclosure. Someone must properly install the latch device on the enclosure after the commodity is enclosed.

[0041] From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention is well adapted to attain all of the ends and objectives hereinabove set forth, together with other advantages which are inherent to the apparatus.

[0042] It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims.

[0043] As many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the figures of the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.