IP Library Granted Patent US 11,851,253
Granted Patent B2
US 11,851,253 · App. 18/105,023 · Granted Dec 26, 2023

Tamper evident hybrid resealable container

Inventor: Scott William Huffer (Hartsville, SC)
Assignee: SONOCO DEVELOPMENT, INC.
B65D5/5425B23K26/0846B23K26/364B23K26/402B31B50/00B32B7/14B32B27/10B32B37/1292B32B37/182B32B38/0004B65D5/02B65D5/4266B65D5/5455B65D5/563B23K2101/16B23K2101/34B23K2103/172B23K2103/42B31B50/14B31B50/25B31B50/624B31B2105/001B31B2110/35B31B2120/102B32B2439/62
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,851,253
App. No.
18/105,023
Granted
Dec 26, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention relates to a composite container comprising a bottom film layer and a top film layer at least partially adhered to the bottom film layer. The top film layer is scored to form at least one resealable flap and at least one pull tab which is not adhered to the bottom film layer. The bottom film layer comprises at least one cavity opening. A cardboard layer is adhered on its lower surface to the upper surface of the top film layer, wherein the cardboard layer has at least one cavity opening which is substantially aligned with the scoring of the top film layer resealable flap and the cardboard layer is perforated to define a perimeter of at least one pull tab which is substantially aligned with and adhered, on its underside, to the upper surface of the top film layer pull tab.

Claims (27)

1. A resealable container comprising a container body having a bottom wall, at least one upwardly extending sidewall, and a top wall, wherein at least one of the walls or sidewalls has a structure which comprises:

a bottom film layer;

a top film layer at least partially adhered on its lower surface to the upper surface of the bottom film layer, wherein:

the top film layer is scored to form at least one resealable flap and at least one pull tab continuous with the resealable flap, wherein the resealable flap is resealably adhered to the bottom film layer and the pull tab is not adhered to the bottom film layer; and

the bottom film layer comprises at least one cavity opening;

a cardboard layer adhered on its lower surface to the upper surface of the top film layer, wherein:

the cardboard layer has at least one cavity opening which is aligned with or larger than the scoring of the top film layer resealable flap;

the cardboard layer comprises at least one area of weakness which defines a tamper evidence feature, wherein the area of weakness is aligned with or larger than and adhered, on its underside, to the upper surface of the top film layer pull tab; and

when the at least one resealable flap is releasably sealed to the bottom film, the at least one resealable flap covers the bottom film cavity opening.

2. The resealable container of claim 1 , wherein a pressure sensitive adhesive at least partially adheres the top film layer and the bottom film layer.

3. The resealable container of claim 2 , wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive is pattern applied.

4. The resealable container of claim 1 , wherein a permanent adhesive at least partially adheres the top film layer and the bottom film layer.

5. The resealable container of claim 4 , wherein the permanent adhesive is pattern applied.

6. The resealable container of claim 1 , wherein the underside of the pull tab is not adhered to the bottom film layer.

7. The resealable container of claim 1 , wherein the container walls define an interior portion of the container and the bottom film layer cavity opening allows access to the container interior when the resealable flap is at least partially separated from the bottom film layer.

8. The resealable container of claim 1 comprising two resealable flaps and two bottom film layer cavity openings.

9. The resealable container of claim 1 , wherein the top film layer is hermetically sealed to the container.

10. The resealable container of claim 1 , wherein the at least one resealable flap is transparent.

11. The resealable container of claim 1 , wherein the at least one tamper evidence feature is continuous with the at least one cardboard cavity opening.

12. The resealable container of claim 1 , wherein the at least one area of weakness is adjacent the at least one cardboard cavity opening.

13. The resealable container of claim 1 , wherein the at least one tamper evidence feature is configured to separate the from the container wall along the area of weakness.

14. The resealable container of claim 1 , wherein the at least one tamper evidence feature comprises a tab which can be used to separate the tamper evidence feature from the container wall.

15. The resealable container of claim 1 , wherein once the at least one tamper evidence feature is separated from the container wall, it cannot be reaffixed to the container wall.

16. The resealable container of claim 1 , wherein the area of weakness comprises a scored line.

17. The resealable container of claim 1 , wherein the area of weakness comprises a perforated line.

18. The resealable container of claim 1 , wherein the area of weakness comprises a thinned line.

19. The resealable container of claim 1 , wherein the cardboard layer is highly oriented and the area of weakness comprises a break line.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 15, 2025
From: SONOCO DEVELOPMENT, INC.
To: TOPPAN PACKAGING AMERICAS HOLDINGS, INC.
Reel/Frame 071338/0486 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 23, 2023
From: HUFFER, SCOTT WILLIAM
To: SONOCO DEVELOPMENT, INC.
Reel/Frame 064037/0659 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation 17470022 · Sep 9, 2021
Continuation 16872839 · May 12, 2020
Continuation 16386688 · Apr 17, 2019
Continuation 15656481 · Jul 21, 2017
Related Publication 20230174269A1 · Jun 8, 2023