Open-mark packaging

Abstract

A package including a base (2), a lid (3) attached to said base for rotation about a hinge axis (4) for opening the package, the lid (3) including a body (5) and a main tab (6) separated from the body by a fold line (7), and a tamper-evident tab (8) affixed to the base, wherein prior to an initial opening of the package the main tab and the tamper-evident tab are connected to one another via a first line of weakness (9), such that the main tab and the tamper-evident tab separate along the first line of weakness when the main tab is folded about the fold line prior to rotating the lid about the hinge axis to open the package.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a package. [Background technology]

[0002] Certain packages are sealed before opening to maintain the freshness of the product therein, and some of these packages include a form of tamper evidence that indicates to the user whether the package has been previously opened. Summary of the Invention

[0003] In one aspect of the invention, there is provided a package comprising a base, a lid attached to the base for rotation about a hinge axis, for opening the package comprising a body and a main tab separated from the body by a fold line, and a tamper-evident tab affixed to the base, wherein prior to initial opening of the package the main tab and the tamper-evident tab are connected to one another via a first line of weakness, such that when the main tab is folded about the fold line prior to rotating the lid about the hinge axis to open the package, the main tab and the tamper-evident tab separate along the first line of weakness.

[0004] The base may include a lower surface and a front wall upstanding from the lower surface at an angle thereto, the body of the lid may extend parallel to the lower surface, the main tab may be folded over to overlap the front wall prior to initial opening, and the tamper-evident tab may be affixed to the front wall.

[0005] The front wall may be perpendicular to the lower surface, the lower surface and the front wall may meet along a seam, and the front wall may include an upper edge that is parallel to the seam.

[0006] The first line of weakness may extend at an angle of less than 90 degrees relative to the top edge of the front wall.

[0007] Prior to initial opening, the main body of the lid may be connected to the tamper-evident tab along a second line of weakness, and upon rotating the lid about the hinge axis and after the main tab and tamper-evident tab have separated along the first line of weakness, the main body and tamper-evident tab may separate along said second line of weakness.

[0008] A second line of weakness between the tamper-evident tab and the body of the lid may extend along said top edge of the front wall.

[0009] The main tab may extend beyond the tamper evident tab towards the seam.

[0010] The main tab may include a leading edge that contacts the seam prior to initial opening.

[0011] The package of the present invention may include a set of tamper-evident tabs, each tamper-evident tab separated from a main tab by a first line of weakness.

[0012] Prior to initial opening, the body of the lid may be connected to each tamper-evident tab along a second line of weakness, and upon rotating the lid about the hinge axis and after the main tab and tamper-evident tab separate along the first line of weakness, the body and tamper-evident tab may separate along each of said second lines of weakness.

[0013] A pair of tamper evident tabs may be affixed to the front wall on either side of the main tab.

[0014] The first line of weakness between the main tab and each tamper-evident tab may each extend at an angle such that the main tab tapers away from the body of the lid.

[0015] The main tab may extend beyond the set of tamper evident tabs towards the seam.

[0016] The or each tamper evident tab may be attached to the base via a permanent adhesive.

[0017] The base may include a slot extending along the top edge of the front wall of the base configured to receive a major tab to facilitate closure of the package after initial opening.

[0018] The base may include an upper surface extending from an upper edge of the front wall and parallel to the lower surface.

[0019] The top surface may include an opening configured to allow access to the package. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0020] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [Figure 1] 1 is an isometric view of a package according to an embodiment of the present invention before opening. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a package according to an embodiment of the present invention after opening. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a package 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention prior to package 1 being opened. Package 1 includes a base 2 and a lid 3 attached to base 2 that rotates about hinge axis 4 to open package 1. Lid 3 includes a body 5 and a main tab 6 separated from body 5 of lid 3 by fold line 7. Package 1 also includes a tamper-evident tab 8 affixed to base 2. As shown in FIG. 1 , prior to initial opening of package 1, main tab 6 and tamper-evident tab 8 are connected to one another via a first line of weakness 9. This configuration allows main tab 6 and tamper-evident tab 8 to separate along first line of weakness 9 when main tab 6 is folded about fold line 7 prior to rotating lid 3 about hinge axis 4 to open package 1.

[0022] The base 2 includes a lower surface 10 and a front wall 11 that upstands at an angle from the lower surface 10. As shown in FIG. 1 , the front wall 11 extends perpendicular to the lower surface 10. The lower surface 10 and the front sidewall 11 meet along a seam 12. The front wall 11 includes an upper edge 13 that is parallel to the seam 12. Prior to initial opening of the package 1, the body 5 of the lid 3 extends parallel to the lower surface 10, and the main tab 6 is folded relative to the body 5 about a fold line 7 to overlap the front wall 11. The tamper-evident tab 8 is affixed to the front wall 11. Additionally, the main tab 6 may be affixed to the front wall 11. Alternatively, the main tab 6 may not be affixed to the front wall 11 and may be held in place via a first line of weakness 9 connecting the main tab 6 to the tamper-evident tab 8.

[0023] A first line of weakness 9 between the main tab 6 and the tamper-evident tab 8 extends at an angle less than 90 degrees relative to the top edge 13 of the front wall 11 and is configured to break when the main tab 6 is rotated about the fold line 7 to open the package 1. Additionally, prior to initial opening, the body 5 of the lid 3 is connected to the tamper-evident tab 8 along a second line of weakness 14. The second line of weakness 14 extends along the top edge 13 of the front wall 11. After the main tab 6 and the tamper-evident tab 8 are separated along the first line of weakness 9, when the lid 3 is rotated about the hinge axis 4, the body 5 of the lid 3 and the tamper-evident tab 8 separate along the second line of weakness 14. Alternatively, the package 1 includes only the first line of weakness 9 between the main tab 6 and the tamper-evident tab 8 and does not include the second line of weakness 14 between the tamper-evident tab 8 and the body 5 of the lid 3. In this configuration, the tamper-evident tab 8 is not connected to the body 5 of the lid 3. Thus, the consumer does not need to break the first line of weakness 9 between the main tab 6 and the tamper-evident tab 8 to open the package 1 .

[0024] Main tab 6 includes a leading edge 15 that extends beyond tamper-evident tab 8 toward seam 12 and contacts seam 12 prior to initial opening of package 1. Because leading edge 15 of main tab 6 extends beyond tamper-evident tab 8, a consumer can lift main tab 6 without interference from tamper-evident tab 8. Alternatively, leading edge 15 of main tab 6 may be positioned away from seam 12 prior to initial opening of package 1. In some embodiments in which main tab 6 is affixed to front wall 11, the portion of main tab 6 that extends beyond tamper-evident tab 8 may not be attached to front wall 11 to define a fingerlift for a consumer to lift main tab 6.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 1 , package 1 includes a pair of tamper-evident tabs 8, each separated from a main tab 6 by a first line of weakness 9. Additionally, body 5 of lid 3 is connected to each tamper-evident tab 8 along a second line of weakness 14. After main tab 6 and tamper-evident tab 8 are separated along the first line of weakness 9, when lid 3 is rotated about hinge axis 4, main body 5 of lid 3 and tamper-evident tab 8 separate along each second line of weakness 14. The pair of tamper-evident tabs 8 are affixed to front wall 11 on either side of main tab 6. The first lines of weakness 9 between main tab 6 and the pair of tamper-evident tabs 8 extend at an angle such that main tab 6 tapers away from main body 5 of lid 3. In other words, the first lines of weakness 9 extend inward toward each other. This configuration allows first lines of weakness 9 to be more easily broken, thereby reducing the force required to lift main tab 6 and open package 1. Additionally, main tab 6 extends beyond the set of tamper-evident tabs 8 toward seam 12. This configuration highlights main tab 6 relative to tamper-evident tabs 8 and indicates to the consumer that main tab 6, rather than tamper-evident tab 8, must be lifted to open package 1. In some embodiments where main tab 6 is affixed to front wall 11, the portion of main tab 6 that extends beyond tamper-evident tabs 8 need not be affixed to front wall 11 to define a fingerlift for the consumer to lift main tab 6.

[0026] FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the same package 1 as FIG. 1 after package 1 has been opened. To open package 1, main tab 6 is lifted and rotated about fold line 7. This action breaks a first line of weakness 9 between main tab 6 and a pair of tamper-evident tabs 8. Lid 3 is then lifted and rotated about hinge line 4 while breaking a second line of weakness 14 between the pair of tamper-evident tabs 8 and the base 5 of lid 3, which extends across the top edge 13 of the front wall 11 of the base 2. Base 2 further includes a slot 16 extending along the top edge 13 of the front wall 11 of base 2 that is configured to facilitate closure of package 1 after initial opening. To close package 1, main tab 6 is inserted into slot 16, thus sealing package 1.

[0027] The or each tamper-evident tab 8 is affixed to the front wall 11 of the base 2 via a permanent adhesive. When the lid 3 is rotated about the hinge line 4 to open the package 1, as shown in FIG. 2 , the tamper-evident tab 8 remains affixed to the front wall 11 of the base 2. Thus, the tamper-evident tab 8 indicates to the consumer whether the package 1 has been previously opened. Furthermore, because the tamper-evident tab 8 is affixed to the front wall 11 of the base 2, the body 5 of the lid 3 does not have any lines of weakness or tears. The body 5 of the lid remains intact when the package 1 is opened and is capable of providing information for the consumer. Thus, any information on the body 5 of the lid 3 is not damaged when the package 1 is opened and is always visible to the consumer.

[0028] Base 2 further includes an upper surface 17 extending from upper edge 13 of front wall 11 and parallel to lower surface 10. Upper surface 17 includes an opening 18 configured to allow access to the contents of package 1.

[0029] The various embodiments described herein are provided merely to aid in understanding and teaching the claimed features. These embodiments are merely representative examples and are not intended to be comprehensive or exclusive. It should be understood that the advantages, embodiments, examples, functions, features, structures, and / or other aspects of the present disclosure should not be construed as limiting the disclosure to the exact scope of the claims or to the equivalents of the claims, and that other embodiments may be utilized or modified without departing from the scope and / or spirit of the present disclosure. Various embodiments may suitably comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of the disclosed elements, components, features, parts, steps, means, or other combinations. The present disclosure also encompasses other inventions not currently claimed but which may be claimed in the future.

Claims

1. A package, A base and a lid for opening the package attached to the base for rotation about a hinge axis, the lid including a body and a main tab separated from the body by a fold line; a tamper-evident tab attached to the base; prior to initial opening of the package, the main tab and the tamper-evident tab are connected to one another via a first line of weakness such that the main tab and the tamper-evident tab separate along the first line of weakness when the main tab is folded about the fold line prior to rotating the lid about the hinge axis to open the package; the base includes a lower surface and a front wall upstanding at an angle relative to the lower surface, the body of the lid extends parallel to the lower surface, the main tab is folded over to overlap the front wall prior to initial opening, and the tamper-evident tab is affixed to the front wall; the front wall is perpendicular to the lower surface, the lower surface and the front wall meet along a seam, and the front wall includes an upper edge that is parallel to the seam; A package wherein prior to initial opening, the body of the lid is connected to the tamper-evident tab along a second line of weakness, and upon rotating the lid about the hinge axis and after the main tab and the tamper-evident tab separate along the first line of weakness, the body and the tamper-evident tab separate along the second line of weakness.

2. A package as described in claim 1, characterized in that the first line of weakness extends at an angle of less than 90 degrees relative to the upper edge of the front wall.

3. A package as described in claim 1, characterized in that the second line of weakness between the tamper-evident tab and the body of the lid extends along the upper edge of the front wall.

4. A package as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the main tab extends beyond the tamper-evident tab towards the seam.

5. The package of claim 4, wherein the main tab includes a leading edge that contacts the seam prior to initial opening.

6. A package as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the package includes a set of tamper-evident tabs, each of which is separated from the main tab by the first line of weakness.

7. 7. The package of claim 6, wherein prior to initial opening, the body of the lid connects to each of the tamper-evident tabs along the second line of weakness, and upon rotating the lid about the hinge axis and after the main tab and the tamper-evident tab separate along the first line of weakness, the body and the tamper-evident tab separate along each of the second lines of weakness.

8. The package of claim 6, wherein the pair of tamper-evident tabs are affixed to the front wall on either side of the main tab.

9. A package as described in claim 6, characterized in that the first lines of weakness between each of the main tabs and the tamper-evident tabs extend at an angle such that the main tabs taper away from the main body of the lid.

10. The package of claim 6, wherein said main tab extends beyond said set of tamper-evident tabs toward said seam.

11. A package as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the tamper-evident tab is attached to the base via a permanent adhesive.

12. A package as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the base includes a slot extending along the upper edge of the front wall of the base configured to accommodate the main tab to facilitate closure of the package after initial opening.

13. A package as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the base extends from the upper edge of the front wall and includes an upper surface parallel to the lower surface.

14. 14. The package of claim 13, wherein the top surface includes an opening configured to provide access to the contents of the package.

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