Container and Membrane Therefor

Abstract

The invention relates to a container, comprising a container opening edge, and a membrane comprising a membrane tab, which membrane closes the opening and is adhered to the opening edge, wherein the tab is at least adhered to the membrane via tamper proof means, and to a membrane.

Claims

1. A metal container comprising: a container body having an opening with a full perimeter opening edge, a metal membrane is adhered to the opening edge and closes the container body opening when the container is in a closed condition, and the metal membrane is removed from the entirely of, and is not resealable to, the full perimeter opening edge when the container is in an opened condition, tamper proof means comprising at least one metal tab and at least one metal tamper indication element, the metal membrane, the at least one metal tab, and the at least one metal tamper indication element are unitary with each other, and the at least one metal tab is to the metal membrane via the at least one tamper evident element, and at least a portion of the at least one metal tamper indication element separates from the at least one metal tab or the metal membrane thereby indicating the tamper proof means has been activated.

2. The container according to claim 1, wherein the at least one tamper indication element is formed by a weakened part of the at least one metal tab and/or of the metal membrane.

3. The container according to claim 1, wherein the at least one tamper indication element is formed by a score in the metal tab.

4. The container according to claim 1, wherein the at least one tamper indication element is formed by a score in the metal membrane.

5. The container according to claim 1, wherein the at least one tamper indication element is formed by a score in the metal tab and in the metal membrane.

6. The container according to claim 1, wherein the at least one tamper indication element is formed by at least one open score line, such as having the form of a triangle or partial moon shape.

7. The container according to claim 1, wherein the at least one tamper indication element is formed by at least one closed score line, such as having the form of a circle, oval, square or rectangle.

8. The container according to claim 1, wherein the at least one tamper indication element is connected via a weakened tab part or tab zone to a tab body.

9. The container according to claim 8, wherein the weakened tab part or tab zone has a reduced thickness and/or reduced width.

10. The container according to claim 1, wherein the metal tab is adhered to the metal membrane by seaming, gluing and the like.

11. (canceled)

12. The container according to claim 2, wherein the at least one tamper indication element is formed by a score in the metal tab.

13. The container according to claim 2, wherein the at least one tamper indication element is formed by a score in the metal membrane.

14. The container according to claim 3, wherein the at least one tamper indication element is formed by a score in the metal membrane.

15. The container according to claim 2, wherein the at least one tamper indication element is formed by a score in the metal tab and in the metal membrane.

16. The container according to claim 3, wherein the at least one tamper indication element is formed by a score in the metal tab and in the metal membrane.

17. The container according to claim 4, wherein the at least one tamper indication element is formed by a score in the metal tab and in the metal membrane.

18. The container according to claim 2, wherein the tamper indication element is formed by at least one open score line, such as having the form of a triangle or partial moon shape.

19. The container according to claim 3, wherein the tamper indication element is formed by at least one open score line, such as having the form of a triangle or partial moon shape.

20. The container according to claim 4, wherein the tamper proof indication element is formed by at least one open score line, such as having the form of a triangle or partial moon shape.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] Therefore reference will be made to the annex drawings wherein:

[0023] FIG. 1A and 1B respective views of a container according to the invention provided with tamper proof means;

[0024] FIG. 1C a cross-sectional view according to the line I-I from FIG. 1A;

[0025] FIGS. 2A and 2B at a larger scale a respective view according to detail II from FIG. 1A; FIG. 3 alternative tamper proof means according to a detail III of FIG. 2B;

[0026] FIGS. 4A and 4B are enlarged perspective views of the top of the container illustrating another tamper proof means; and

[0027] FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the top of the container illustrating yet another alternative tamper proof means.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0028] FIG. 1A discloses a container I according to the invention provided with a container body 2 and a ring 3 curled onto the container body 2 via a curl 4.

[0029] The ring 3 comprises a container opening edge 5 defining an opening 6 of the container 1. This opening 6 is closed off by a membrane 7 which is sealed to the opening edge 5 at a horizontal part 8.

[0030] The membrane 7 is provided with a tab 9 which is folded onto the membrane 7. By gripping the tab 9 the membrane 7 may be removed from the opening edge whereby the content of the container 1 will become accessible.

[0031] The tab 9 is provided with tamper proof means 10. These tamper proof means are formed by a circular tamper proof element 11 defined and formed by a score line 12 formed in the tab 9.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 1B, when the tab 9 is gripped and moved into a standing position (as shown) this tamper proof element 11 will remain visible on the outer surface of the membrane 7 because via this tamper proof element 11 the tab 9 was adhered to the membrane 7.

[0033] Obviously, other parts of the tab 9 might have been adhered to the membrane 7 but at a reduced adherence strength relative to the stronger adherence of the tamper proof element 11 to the membrane 7.

[0034] Clearly, as shown in FIG. 1B, the hole 12 in the tab 9 and the circular tamper proof element 11 on the membrane 7 both give proof of activation of the tab 9 for the subsequent removal of the membrane from the opening edge.

[0035] FIGS. 2A and 2B show tamper proof elements 11 according to the invention having the form of an extension 13 of a tab 14 folded onto a membrane 15. The extension 13 may be made of the same material as the tab 14 and may have the same thickness and is adhered by gluing or seeming to the membrane 15. For opening the container 16 edges 17 may be gripped in order to bring the tab 14 in an upright position as shown in FIG. 2B. This will result in a destruction of a weakened tab part 18 via which the tamper proof element 13 was connected to the tab 14.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 2B the presence of the tamper proof element 13 and a part of the weakened tab part 18 and a remaining part on the tab 14 provide proof to the supplier and/or consumer that the tab 14 has been used for opening the container 16.

[0037] Finally, FIG. 3 shows another container 19 according to the invention provided with a membrane 20 closing an opening of the container via a container ring 21 curled to the body of the container 19. Membrane 20 is provided with a tab 22. The tamper proof means are incorporated in the membrane 20 and have the form of a circular tamper proof element 23. This tamper proof element 23 is formed and defined by a score line 24 in the membrane 20. FIG. 3 shows the tab 22 when in upright position and the tamper proof element torn out of the membrane 20 and still present on the surface 25 facing the membrane 20. To this surface 25 the tamper proof means were adhered to the tab and connecting the tab to the membrane 20.

[0038] Again, as shown in FIG. 3, the destruction of the tamper proof means leaving an opening 26 in the membrane 20 and the tamper proof disc formed element 23 on the tab 22 are both proof of activation of the tab for getting access to the content of the container.

[0039] With reference to FIGS. 4A and 4B, the scoring of the tab 9 and the membrane may follow an open score line 12 having the form of a triangular part. When the tab 9 has been activated, a visible triangularly shaped tamper proof element 11 is formed. With reference to FIG. 5, the scoring of the tab 9 may alternatively follow an open score line 12 having a partial moon space or shape.