Package provided with an improved security seal

Abstract

The present invention relates to a package (1), in particular for valuable items, of the type comprising a first storage element (3) and a second storage element (5) that are made of a substantially rigid material. According to the invention, one or more films (8) are adhered to said substantially rigid material, said films having one or more security seals (9) made in the form of grooves (11) preferably arranged in a sunburst pattern. Said grooves (11), defined during the process of making of each of said films (8), are obtained by superimposing one or more layers of material provided with slots. By virtue of this process, said one or more security seals (9) increase the capability of self-destruction of said films (8) upon opening the package (1), reduce the possibilities of counterfeiting the package (1) and ensure good visibility of the items contained in the package (1).

Description

[0001] “Package provided with an improved security seal”

[0002] DESCRIPTION

[0003] Technical Field

[0004] The present invention relates to a package intended for storing and / or carrying items and provided with an improved security seal.

[0005] More particularly, the present invention relates to a package for storing and / or carrying valuable items.

[0006] The present invention finds application, for example, in the making of packages used for storing and / or carrying small-sized valuable items.

[0007] Background Art

[0008] The storage and carrying of valuable items such as, for example, gold or diamonds, are common activities that are in high demand among the owners of such items.

[0009] During these activities, the valuable items are introduced in special packages, generally consisting of a first storage element, inside which the valuable item is housed, and a second storage element, rigidly joined to the first storage element - at least along their respective edges - upon closing the package.

[0010] As is known, the storage and carrying of valuable items within such packages involves several risks. A counterfeiter, for example, could open the package, take possession of the items contained therein, replace them with counterfeit products and close again the package, using closing techniques that mimic the original closing techniques, so as to conceal the theft.

[0011] The legitimate owners, deceived by the counterfeit valuable items and packages, will often realize the theft at a late stage and, being unable to trace the exact circumstances and time of the theft, will hardly regain possession of their belongings.

[0012] For this reason, over the years, packages have been developed with special security seals with tamper-evident features, so that any attempt at tampering is immediately evident on the package, instantly alerting the legitimate owner.

[0013] Currently, among the most commonly used security seals are security seals consisting of a layer of ink, deposited between the first storage element and the second storage element, in such a way that, when the package is opened, the separation between these storage elements leads to an obvious tear in said layer of ink, such that an immediate and indelible alert of occurred opening is generated on the package.

[0014] Therefore, these security seals, hereafter referred to as 'ink security seals', do not make it possible to remove the valuable item from the package without changing the outward appearance of the package.

[0015] However, ink security seals are not without limitations as, due to their nature and the fact that they are placed between the two storage elements, they are practically invisible when the package is closed, making it difficult to determine the authenticity of the package.

[0016] In other words, without the evidence produced by the opening alert, by observing the unopened package it is not possible to ascertain the actual presence of the ink security seal, let alone to ascertain the characteristics of that seal, except by means of special equipment.

[0017] Consequently, ink security seals do not prevent a counterfeiter from opening the package, taking the contents and replacing not only those contents but also the package itself with a counterfeit product that has, in its appearance, the same aesthetic characteristics as the original package.

[0018] Therefore, the legitimate owner, deceived by the counterfeit package and contents, may only realize the theft upon inspection by an expert or upon opening the fake package.

[0019] Another very common type of security seals is security seals obtained by making a series of engravings in the material that constitutes one of the storage elements of the package.

[0020] In contrast to ink security seals, the presence of such security seals, hereafter referred to as 'engraved security seals', can also be ascertained when the package is closed, as these engravings define graphic elements, such as images, wordings or identification codes, which are visible even when the package is closed.

[0021] Moreover, since such engravings imply a weakening of the material, such engraved security seals can also lead to the storage element breaking when the package is opened.

[0022] Therefore, a counterfeiter, after opening the package and taking the contents, will not be able to simply close again the package to conceal the theft as one of the storage elements, being visibly damaged due to the opening, will be unusable.

[0023] However, engraved security seals of known types also have limitations.

[0024] Indeed, it should be considered that such engravings are commonly made by methods based on material removal, such as laser engraving (suggested for example in document CN110744202 A), or on material deformation, such as punching.

[0025] As is known, methods based on material deformation are common and easily replicable.

[0026] Furthermore, with the rapid development of production technologies, it is becoming increasingly easy for a counterfeiter to have equipment that can faithfully imitate a security seal aesthetically equal to a seal made by laser engraving.

[0027] This aspect is particularly relevant in the case of packages for the storage of items of very high value, such as diamonds, as the value of the item contained in the package may be worth the technical and economic effort to create a counterfeit package.

[0028] Another aspect to be taken into account is the fact that packages are often made, partially or completely, of transparent material in order to be able to view, identify and appreciate the valuable items contained therein.

[0029] However, the engravings that characterize known security seals inevitably limit the visibility of the items contained in the package.

[0030] In conclusion, both currently known ink security seals and engraved security seals have significant limitations.

[0031] An object of the present invention is therefore to overcome the drawbacks of prior art by providing a package with a security seal that guarantees reliable tamper protection, making it impossible to remove the valuable item from the package without visibly changing its appearance, and at the same time making it difficult and costly to counterfeit the seal and thus the package itself.

[0032] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a security seal that allows not only the integrity but also the authenticity of the package in its unopened state to be easily and immediately assessed, even by an untrained eye, making any counterfeiting immediately apparent.

[0033] Furthermore, an object of the present invention is to provide a security seal that, when a partially or fully transparent package is used, does not impair the vision of the valuable items contained in said package.

[0034] These and other objects are achieved with a package as claimed in the appended claims.

[0035] Summary of Invention

[0036] The present invention relates to a package suitable for containing one or more items and comprising, in a manner known per se, a first storage element, made of a substantially rigid material, and a second storage element, also made of a substantially rigid material.

[0037] When the package is closed, these storage elements are joined together, at least along their respective edges, so that they are rigidly connected to each other. The joining of said storage elements makes it possible to define two separate environments: an internal environment, defined by the space contained within the closed package, and an external environment, defined by the external space surrounding said package.

[0038] Said first storage element and / or said second storage element comprise one or more films, adhered to the substantially rigid material of said first storage element and / or said second storage element, said substantially rigid material constituting a support for said one or more films.

[0039] Each of said one or more films includes one or more security seals, inseparably associated with the material forming said films.

[0040] In particular, each of said one or more security seals affects a more or less extensive region, referred to as 'region of application', of said one or more films.

[0041] According to the invention, said region of application of each of said one or more films is formed by superimposing at least two layers of material.

[0042] In particular, each of said films, at their respective region of application, is formed by one or more weakened layers, provided with appropriate slots, and one or more homogeneous layers without the slots present on said weakened layers.

[0043] In addition, in each weakened layer, said slots extend in a direction orthogonal to the thickness of said layer, without necessarily having to reach the edges of said layer.

[0044] The number, arrangement, shape and size of these slots are preferably the same for all the weakened layers forming a single film.

[0045] In the making of each of said films, at said region of application, said one or more weakened layers are applied on one another so that the slots of each weakened layer are superimposed on the slots of the adjacent weakened layers.

[0046] Said one or more homogeneous layers are laid before and / or after the application of said weakened layers.

[0047] The material constituting said weakened layers and said homogeneous layers is such that said weakened layers and said homogeneous layers adhere to one another due to their common structural nature.

[0048] The application of said homogeneous layers and weakened layers may be preceded or followed by further processing steps in order to give special aesthetic and / or functional characteristics to the package.

[0049] The film obtained by superimposing said weakened layers and said homogeneous layers therefore comprises, at the region of application, some grooves formed by the superimposing of the slots of said one or more weakened layers and the presence of at least one or more homogeneous layers. Said grooves, intrinsically connected to the material forming the film, constitute the security seal of the present invention.

[0050] Therefore, in summary, the security seal of the present invention comprises grooves defined during the making of the film and obtained with a method based on lack of addition of material.

[0051] Accordingly, the security seal of the present invention differs from the known security seals in that the known security seals have engravings made after the making of the film and obtained by means of methods based on the removal of material, such as laser engraving, of on material deformation, such as punching.

[0052] Said grooves reduce the resistance of the film at the region of application and, particularly, they reduce the resistance exerted by the film against the stresses generated upon opening the package.

[0053] Therefore, the security seal gives the film, at the region of application on which said security seal if defined, a fragility such as to cause said film to break in the event of opening (or attempt at opening) of the closed package.

[0054] Advantageously, the method of making the security seal of the present invention, based on lack of addition of material, increases fragility and therefore the capability of self-destruction of the film upon opening a closed package in comparison with the security seals obtained by means of material removal or material deformation.

[0055] The breaking of the film results in an immediate and indelible alert of opening (or attempting at opening) the package, which, at a first glance, immediately alerts the legitimate owner of the package and the items contained therein.

[0056] Therefore, the security seal according to the present invention makes it impossible to take the items out of the package without changing the appearance of the storage element to which said film is applied, this resulting in an effective anti-tamper system.

[0057] In addition, the breaking of the film prevents a counterfeiter, following opening of the package and theft of the items contained therein, to conceal the theft by replacing said items with a counterfeit product, because, even if the package is closed again, the storage element having the security seal will be irreparably damaged due to the breaking of the film, and will therefore be unusable.

[0058] Therefore, the integrity of the film, at the region of application on which said seal is defined, is the feature that denotes both the integrity and authenticity of the package.

[0059] Preferably, to further increase the capability of self-destruction of the film when it is subjected to an opening attempt, the homogeneous layers and the weakened layers forming said film can be made of water-soluble substances, because such substances have a particularly fragile structure which easily breaks and is particularly difficult to reconstruct.

[0060] Advantageously, the security seal of the present invention also guarantees the integrity of the package during normal storage and transport of the items, performing its functions only at the time when the package is opened or attempted to be opened.

[0061] In addition, the manufacturing method based on the lack of addition of material gives the security seal of the present invention an aesthetic appearance visibly different from that which could be achieved by common methods of material removal or material deformation.

[0062] Therefore, if a counterfeiter wanted to replace the entire package with a counterfeit one, they would be forced to simulate an intact security seal by using a manufacturing method similar to the original one. Otherwise, the appearance of the counterfeit security seal would be visibly different from that of the original security seal, thereby making it clear that the package has been replaced.

[0063] Furthermore, unlike the more common methods mentioned above, the method of making based on the lack of addition of material is particularly complex and expensive as it involves a high technological content.

[0064] Therefore, the counterfeiter would be forced to incur high expenses in order to be able to imitate the original package.

[0065] Accordingly, the method of making the security seal of the present invention discourages any attempt by a counterfeiter to replicate the entire package with a counterfeit that apparently has a security seal with the same appearance as the original.

[0066] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, said first storage element and / or said second storage element have a window, i.e. a portion at which the substantially rigid material forming said elements is transparent. Said window makes it possible to view, identify and appreciate the items contained in the package, without the need to open it.

[0067] According to this preferred embodiment, the film, and the region of application thereof on which the security seal is defined, is arranged at said window or at a portion of said window because, advantageously, the transparency of the substantially rigid material forming the window makes both the integrity of the film and any breaking of the film even more evident. Moreover, unlike the more common methods mentioned above, the method of making based on the lack of addition of material allows obtaining a security seal which, notwithstanding the slots provided, allows high visibility of the contents of the package through the window.

[0068] Preferably, to further reduce the visual obstruction caused by the grooves, the order of application of said one or more homogeneous layers and said one or more weakened layers is chosen so that said one or more homogeneous layers are closer than said one or more weakened layers to the external surface of the film - understood as the surface facing towards the external environment.

[0069] According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the slots of said one or more weakened layers are rectilinear slots, comprised between a pair of mutually parallel flat surfaces, which rectilinear slots, once they are superimposed on each other during the process of making the film, constitute rectilinear grooves.

[0070] Preferably, still according to this preferred embodiment, when considering any plane of the film - at the region of application - arranged parallel to the external surface of the film, said rectilinear grooves constitute a sunburst pattern.

[0071] Said sunburst pattern provides that each of said rectilinear grooves, starting from a common central point, extends radially relative to said common central point, so that each of said rectilinear grooves forms a ray of said sunburst pattern.

[0072] Upon opening the package, the shear forces generated on the film interfere with said rectilinear grooves and generate stresses which, due to the sunburst pattern, are predominantly or only perpendicular to these grooves.

[0073] This orientation of the stresses causes the film material situated close to said grooves to break.

[0074] Therefore, the sunburst pattern, in the event of opening (or attempt at opening) of the package, further increases the capability of self-destruction of the film, causing sure breaking thereof.

[0075] According to an even more preferred embodiment of the present invention, the region of application on which the security seal is defined is located at a window provided on the first storage element or the second storage element, and the grooves forming the security seal are rectilinear grooves arranged according to a sunburst pattern.

[0076] In this embodiment, the sunburst pattern makes it possible to obtain a security seal that is an excellent compromise between performance in terms of security, i.e. guaranteeing that the film will break if the package is opened (attempted to be opened), and in terms of visibility of the contents of the package.

[0077] Brief Description of Drawings

[0078] Further features and advantages of the present invention will become evident from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment given by way of nonlimiting example with reference to the annexed drawings, in which:

[0079] - Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the package according to the invention;

[0080] - Figure 2 shows a top view of the second storage element of the package of Figure 1;

[0081] - Figure 3 shows a view of a detail of a portion of the film adhered to the second storage element of Figure 2, at the region of application of the security seal.

[0082] Description of Embodiments

[0083] In the following description of a preferred embodiment of a package provided with an improved security seal, reference will be made to a package for the storage and / or carrying small-sized valuable items, such as diamonds, small gold ingots or coins. However, such application should not be interpreted in a limiting sense and the package according to the invention could be used to contain any type of medium-sized or largesized items.

[0084] The package according to the present invention, shown in its closed and intact condition in Figure 1, is indicated as a whole with reference numeral 1.

[0085] In a manner known per se, said package 1 comprises a first storage element 3, made of a substantially rigid material, and a second storage element 5, also made of a substantially rigid material.

[0086] As visible in Figure 1, when said package 1 is in its closed state, said first storage element 3 and said second storage element 5 are joined together in such a way that the first storage element 3 is superimposed on the second storage element 5.

[0087] The joining of the first storage element 3 and the second storage element 5 makes it possible to define two separate environments: an internal environment, defined by the space contained within the closed package 1, and an external environment, defined by the external space surrounding said closed package 1.

[0088] According to the illustrated embodiment, the first storage element 3 and the second storage element 5 constitute a package 1 whose shape and size, in the illustrated embodiment, are similar to those of a credit card.

[0089] In particular, said first storage element 3 comprises a deep-drawn part 7, arranged to accommodate one or more valuable items (not shown), at which deep-drawn part the substantially rigid material constituting said first storage element 3 is transparent, thereby defining a front window 7a.

[0090] Said front window 7a allows viewing, identifying and appreciating said one or more valuable items accommodated in the deep-draw part 7.

[0091] The second storage element 5 is substantially flat and comprises a rear window 5a, i.e. a portion which is made as a substantially rigid material and, like the first storage element 3, is transparent.

[0092] When said package 1 is in its closed state, the front window 7a and the rear window 5a are superimposed to each other in such a way that the rear window 5a faces towards the deep-drawn part 7 of the first storage element 3.

[0093] Therefore, said one or more valuable items contained in the package 1 and accommodated in the deep-drawn part 7, can be viewed, identified and appreciated through both the front window 7a and the rear window 5a.

[0094] In an alternative embodiment of the invention, both said first storage element 3 and said second storage element 5 could comprise one or more deep-drawn parts.

[0095] Said one or more deep-drawn parts of the second storage element 5 could be located on said storage element in such a way that, when the package 1 is closed, said one or more deep-drawn parts of the second storage element 5 are superimposed on said one or more deep-drawn parts of the first storage element 3.

[0096] In addition, at at least one of said one or more deep-drawn parts of the first storage element 3, or at other regions of said storage element, the substantially rigid material constituting said first storage element 3 could be transparent, thereby defining corresponding front windows.

[0097] Finally, at at least one of said one or more deep-drawn parts of the second storage element 5, on at other regions of said storage element, the substantially rigid material constituting said second storage element 5 could be transparent, thereby defining corresponding rear windows.

[0098] According to the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the package 1 comprises, at the rear window 5a of the second storage element 5, a film 8, adhered to the substantially rigid material of said second storage element 5, said substantially rigid material constituting a support for said film 8.

[0099] Still according to the embodiment shown in Figure 2, said film 8 comprises a security seal 9, inseparably associated with the material forming said film 8.

[0100] In a possible alternative embodiment, said film 8 could be adhered to any other region of the substantially rigid material constituting the first storage element 3 and / or the second storage element 5. For example, said film 8 could be adhered to the deep-drawn part 7 of the first storage element 3 or to a portion of said deep-drawn part 7.

[0101] Furthermore, several films 8 could be provided on the first storage element 3 and / or the second storage element 5 and each of said films 8 could comprises several security seals 9.

[0102] Turning again to the illustrated embodiment, said security seal 9 comprises, according to the invention, grooves 11, defined upon forming the film 8 and obtained with a method to be described here below.

[0103] As can be easily understood, said grooves 11 remarkably reduce the resistance of the film 8. In particular, said grooves 11 remarkably reduce the resistance exerted by the film 8 against the stresses generated upon opening the package 1.

[0104] Therefore, the security seal 9 provided with said grooves 11, gives the film 8, at the rear window 5a, a fragility such that breaking of said film 8 is caused upon opening (or attempting at opening) the package 1.

[0105] According to the invention, the breaking of the film 8, which takes place at one or more of said grooves 11, results in an immediate and indelible alert of opening (or attempting at opening) the package 1, which, at a first glance, immediately alerts the legitimate owner of the package and the items contained therein.

[0106] Therefore, the security seal 9 makes it impossible to take the items out of the package 1 without changing the appearance of the second storage element 5 to which said film 8 is applied, this resulting in a particularly effective anti-tamper system.

[0107] In addition, the breaking of the film 8 prevents a counterfeiter, following opening of the package 1 and theft of the valuable items contained therein, to conceal the theft by replacing said items with a counterfeit product, because, even if the package 1 is closed again, the second storage element 5 will be irreparably damaged due to the breaking of the film, and will therefore be unusable.

[0108] Therefore, the integrity of the film 8 located at the rear window 5a is the feature that denotes both the integrity and authenticity of the package 1 (and thus the authenticity of the valuable items contained therein).

[0109] Advantageously, the film 8 is located at the rear window 5a, because the transparency of the substantially rigid material at said rear window 5a makes both the integrity of the film 8 and any breaking of the film 8 as a result of the opening (or attempting at opening) the package 1 even more evident. Preferably, the grooves 11 forming said security seal 9 are rectilinear grooves that can be arranged according to several patterns.

[0110] In particular, according to the illustrated embodiments, the grooves 11 forming the security seal 9 are rectilinear grooves arranged in such a way as to constitute, as a whole, a sunburst pattern, i.e. a pattern in which said grooves 11, starting from a common central point 13, extend in a radially divergent manner relative to said common central point 13.

[0111] Said sunburst pattern of the grooves 11 entails several advantages.

[0112] First of all, it should be considered that, upon opening the package 1, the shear forces that are generated on the storage elements 3 and 5, and thus on the film 8, interfere with said grooves 11, generating stresses that, depending on the pattern taken by said grooves 11, may be parallel or perpendicular to said grooves 11.

[0113] Parallel stresses tend to facilitate opening of the package 1. Perpendicular stresses, instead, cause breaking of the material of the film 8 near said grooves 11.

[0114] The sunburst pattern, while not being the sole possible pattern according to the present invention, is particularly advantageous because, in the event of opening (or attempt at opening) of the package 1, it predominantly or solely determines stresses perpendicular to said grooves 11.

[0115] Therefore, the sunburst pattern, in the event of opening (or attempt at opening) of the package 1, remarkably increases the capability of self-destruction of the film 8, causing sure breaking thereof.

[0116] Secondly, the sunburst pattern allows achieving high visibility of the valuable items contained in the package 1.

[0117] This aspect is particularly advantageous because the security seal 9, being located at the rear window 5a, must allow a clear view of said one or more valuable items received in the deep-drawn part 7, without the grooves 11 constituting a visual obstruction.

[0118] Turning to Figure 3, this shows a detail of a portion of the film 8 in which the security seal 9 is defined.

[0119] According to the invention, said film 8, at the region in which the security seal 9 is defined, is formed by superimposing layers of material to one another.

[0120] In particular, as visible in Figure 3, said film 8 is formed by three layers: a homogeneous layer 15, an intermediate weakened layer 17a and an outer weakened layer 17b.

[0121] Said layers, once superimposed to one another, adhere to one another due to the common structural nature that characterizes them. In particular, during the creation of said intermediate weakened layer 17a, the application of the material forming said layer is controlled so as to obtain a lack of addition of such material in some regions of said layer, thereby defining a plurality of intermediate slots 19a.

[0122] Correspondingly, during the creation of said outer weakened layer 17b, the application of the material forming said layer is controlled so as to obtain a lack of addition of such material in some regions of said layer, thereby defining a plurality of outer slots 19b.

[0123] In particular, the lack of addition of material is controlled so that the outer slots 19b correspond to the intermediate slots 19a.

[0124] In this way, the intermediate weakened layer 17a comprises a plurality of intermediate slots 19a and the outer weakened layer 17b comprises a plurality of outer slots 19b.

[0125] According to a first order of application of the layers, shown in Figure 3, the homogeneous layer 15 is applied first, followed by the intermediate weakened layer 17a and finally by the outer weakened layer 17b.

[0126] Alternatively, according to a second order of application of the layers, the outer weakened layer 17b is applied first, followed by the intermediate weakened layer 17a and finally by the homogeneous layer 15.

[0127] Irrespective of the adopted order of application, the weakened layers 17a and 17b are applied on each other in such a way that the intermediate slots 19a and the outer slots 19b overlap each other, i.e., in such a way that each intermediate slot 19a is associated with a corresponding outer slot 19b.

[0128] In this way, the overlapping of each intermediate slot 19a to the corresponding outer slot 19b, taking into account also the presence of this homogeneous layer 15, determines the individual slots 11 of the security seal 9.

[0129] In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the film 8 might consist of a single weakened layer or of any number of weakened layers. The film 8 might also consist of due or more homogeneous layers.

[0130] Consequently, irrespective of the implemented embodiment, said grooves 11 of the security seal 9 of the present invention are defined during the making of the film 8 and are obtained with a method based on the lack of addition of material.

[0131] This differentiates the security seal 9 from the known security seals in that the known security seals have engravings that are made after the making of the film 8 and are obtained with methods based on material removal, such as laser engraving, or on material deformation, such as punching.

[0132] Advantageously, the method of making said security seal 9, based on lack of addition of material, increases the fragility and therefore the capability of self-destruction of the film 8 upon opening the package 1 in comparison with the security seals obtained with the known methods mentioned above.

[0133] Preferably, to further increase the capability of self-destruction of the film 8, said homogeneous layer 15 and said weakened layers 17a and 17b are made of water-soluble substances, because such substances have a particularly fragile structure which easily breaks and is particularly difficult to reconstruct.

[0134] Nevertheless, the security seal 9 of the present invention guarantees integrity of the film 8 during the normal activities of storage and carrying of said one or more valuable items, performing its functions only upon opening or attempting at opening the package 1.

[0135] Advantageously, the method of making said security seal 9 further allows higher visibility through the rear window 5a when compared with the known security seals obtained with the known methods mentioned above.

[0136] Preferably, to further increase visibility through the rear window 5a (reducing the visual obstruction caused by the grooves 11), during the process of making the film 8 the homogeneous layer 15 can be applied so as to be, after closing the package 1, the layer closest to the outer surface of the rear window 5a, i.e., the layer closest to the surface facing towards the external environment.

[0137] Advantageously, the method of making according to the present invention gives the security seal 9 an aesthetic appearance visibly different from that which could be achieved by the known methods mentioned above.

[0138] Therefore, if a counterfeiter wanted to replace the entire package 1 with a counterfeit one, they would be forced to simulate an intact security seal by using a manufacturing method similar to the original one. Otherwise, the appearance of the counterfeit security seal would be visibly different from that of the original security seal, thereby making it clear that the package has been replaced.

[0139] Furthermore, unlike the more common methods mentioned above, the method of making according to the present invention is particularly complex and expensive.

[0140] Therefore, the counterfeiter would be forced to incur high expenses in order to be able to imitate the original package 1.

[0141] Accordingly, the method of making the security seal 9 of the present invention discourages any attempt by a counterfeiter to replicate the entire package 1 with a counterfeit that apparently has a security seal with the same appearance as the security seal 9.

[0142] The application of the layers forming the film 8 may be followed by further processing steps in order to give special aesthetic and / or functional characteristics to the security seal 9 and / or the storage element 5 to which said film 8 is applied.

[0143] Preferably, said film 8 can subjected to a subsequent printing step so as to define a graphic pattern visible under Wood’s light.

[0144] Advantageously, such printing step does not alter the features of the security seal 9, i.e. it does not reduce the capability of self-destruction of the film 8, as the graphic pattern has strongly discontinuous graphic patterns (words or symbols) made by means of spinning looms such as to minimize the addition of substances that could potentially act as bonds at the grooves 11.

[0145] The graphic pattern printing takes place by depositing a substance, usually transparent, pigmented with small luminescent particles reactive to Wood’s light.

[0146] In this way, detection of the integrity of the film is further implemented by means of Wood’s light inspection.

[0147] Alternatively, it is also possible to introduce, in said substance, particles that reemit visible light when irradiated by infrared radiation or any other irradiating source.

[0148] Finally, advantageously, the package 1 comprising the security seal 9 of the present invention might also comprise other security seals such as ink security seals.

[0149] It will be evident to the person skilled in the art that the embodiment described in detail above is in no way to be understood in a limiting sense, and that numerous variations and modifications are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

[0150] In particular, the package can be made in several different ways and have a structure other than the described one, without thereby departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Package (1), suitable for containing one or more items, of the type comprising a first storage element (3), made of a substantially rigid material, and a second storage element (5), made of a substantially rigid material and rigidly joined to said first storage element (3), wherein said first storage element (3) and / or said second storage element (5) comprise one or more films (8), adhered to said substantially rigid material of said first storage element (3) and / or said second storage element (5), and wherein each of said one or more films (8) comprises one or more security seals (9) made in the form of grooves (11) defined in said one or more films (8), the package (1) being characterized in that, at the region of application in which each of said one or more security seals (9) is defined, each of said one or more films (8) is formed by one or more homogeneous layers (15) and one or more weakened layers (17a, 17b), superimposed to one another in such a way that said one or more weakened layers (17a, 17b) are mutually adjacent, wherein each of said one or more weakened layers (17a, 17b) has slots (19a, 19b), identical for each of said one or more weakened layers (17a, 17b), and in that said grooves (11) are formed by the overlapping of said slots (19a, 19b) and the provision of said one or more homogeneous layers (15).

2. Package (1) according to claim 1, wherein said one or more homogenous layers (15) are closer than said one or more weakened layers (17a, 17b) to the surface of the film (8) facing towards the external environment, understood as the external space surrounding said package (1).

3. Package (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said first storage element (3) comprises one or more front windows (7a), understood as portions at which said substantially rigid material forming said first storage element (3) is transparent, and wherein the region of application of said one or more films (8) is located at at least one of said front windows (7a) or at a portion of at least one of said front windows (7a).

4. Package (1) according to claim 1 or 2 or 3, wherein said second storage element (5) comprises one or more rear windows (5a), understood as portions at which said substantially rigid material forming said second storage element (5) is transparent, and wherein the region of application of at least one of said one or more films (8) is located at at least one of said rear windows (5a) or at a portion of at least one of said rearwindows (5 a).

5. Package (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said first storage element (3) and / or said second storage element (5) have one or more deep-drawn parts (7), and wherein the region of application of at least one of said one or more films(8) is located at at least one of said one or more deep-drawn parts (7) or at a portion of at least one of said deep-drawn parts (7).

6. Package (1) according to claim 4, wherein said first storage element (3) comprises a deep-drawn part (7), arranged to accommodate one or more items, and a front window (7a), located at said deep-drawn part (7), wherein said second storage element (5) has a substantially flat shape and comprises a rear window (5a), and wherein said package (1) comprises a film (8) applied at said rear window (5a) and provided with a security seal(9).

7. Package (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said film (8) comprises a homogeneous layer (15), an intermediate weakened layer (17a) and an outer weakened layer (17b).

8. Package (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said slots (19a, 19b) of said one or more weakened layers (17a, 17b) are rectilinear slots, and wherein said grooves (11) of said security seal (9) are rectilinear grooves.

9. Package (1) according to claim 8, wherein said rectilinear grooves (11) are arranged in a sunburst pattern, understood as the pattern in which each of said rectilinear grooves (11), starting from a common central point (13), extends radially relative to said common central point (13).

10. Package (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said one or more homogeneous layers (15) and said one or more weakened layers (17a, 17b) are made of water-soluble substances.

11. Package (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said slots (19a, 19b) are obtained during the making of said one or more weakened layers (17a,17b) by means of a method based on the lack of addition of the material forming said one or more weakened layers (17a, 17b).

12. Method of making each of said one or more films (8), at the region of application in which each of said one or more security seals (9) is defined, of a package (1) made in accordance with any one of claims 1 - 11, the method comprising the following steps: a) applying, on one another, one or more weakened layers (17a, 17b), in such a way that, during the making of said one or more weakened layers (17a, 17b), the application of the material forming said one or more weakened layers (17a, 17b) is controlled so as to obtain a lack of addition of such material in some regions of each of said one or more weakened layers (17a, 17b), thereby defining, in said regions, slots (19a, 19b), and in such a way that said slots (19a, 19b) of each of said one or more weakened layers (17a, 17b) are coincident with each other and overlap the slots (19a, 19b) of the underlying weakened layers; b) applying, on or under said weakened layers (17a, 17b), one or more homogeneous layers (15).

13. Method according to claim 12, further comprising the step of applying, on the layers obtained during steps a) and b), a graphic pattern made of a substantially transparent substance pigmented with particles that emit visible light when irradiated by an irradiating source.

14. Method according to claim 13, wherein said graphic pattern is made of a substantially transparent substance pigmented with luminescent particles that are reactive to Wood’s light.

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