Dispensing tube assembly with tamper indication

Abstract

Disclosed is a dispensing tube assembly with tamper indication including a label with a main body portion and a tamper evident portion. The boundary between the label main body portion and tamper evident portion is defined by a perforated score. The dispensing tube assembly includes a tube portion and a cap portion. The label is adhesively attached to the dispensing tube assembly such that the label surrounds portions of both the tube and the cap and such that the tamper evident portion covers a portion of the cap end. The label also optionally includes a tear-away portion to facilitate separation of the tamper evident portion from the main body portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dispensing tube assembly with tamper indication, comprising:
 an extruded plastic tube including a side wall extending between an open tube end and a closed tube end to define an interior;   a cap attachment head sealed to the closed end, the attachment head including a flow channel;   a cap having a cap body extending between an attachment end and a cap end, the attachment end being attached to the cap attachment head;   an adhesive; and   a label surrounding at least a portion of the tube and a portion of the cap body, the adhesive attaching the label to at least a portion of the tube.   
     
     
         2 . The dispensing tube assembly of  claim 1 , the label having a main body portion and a tamper indicating portion, wherein the boundary between the main body portion and the tamper indicating portion is defined by a score in the label. 
     
     
         3 . The dispensing tube assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the label is attached such that the score is positioned to circumferentially surround a boundary defined by the interface between the tube and the cap body. 
     
     
         4 . The dispensing tube assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the label is attached such that the score circumferentially surrounds a portion of the tube. 
     
     
         5 . The dispensing tube assembly of  claim 1 , the cap end defined by a top surface, wherein the label covers a portion of the top surface. 
     
     
         6 . The dispensing tube assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the label is applied to the cap body such that the portion of the label covering the cap body top surface conforms to and lies flat along the cap body top surface. 
     
     
         7 . The dispensing tube assembly of  claim 2 , wherein prior to attachment of the label to the tube assembly the adhesive is located on only the main body portion of the label such that the adhesive attaches the label to only those portions of the tube and cap body that are in contact with the label main body. 
     
     
         8 . The dispensing tube assembly of  claim 1 , the label having an inner and an outer surface, the inner surface of the label being coated with the adhesive. 
     
     
         9 . The dispensing tube assembly of  claim 2 , the tamper indicating portion of the label having a tear-away portion defined by two scored lines extending perpendicular to the score in the label. 
     
     
         10 . A dispensing tube assembly with tamper indication, comprising:
 an extruded plastic tube including a side wall extending from an open end to a closed end to define an interior;   a cap attachment head sealed to the tube closed end, the attachment head including a first flow channel;   a cap having an attachment portion having a second flow channel and a hinged cover having a top surface, the attachment portion being attached to the attachment head such that the first and second flow channels are oriented to permit the flow of material from the interior of the tube to the outside of the tube, the cover being moveable between a flow position and a no-flow position to prevent flow of material from the inside of the tube when the cover is in the no-flow position; and   a label having a main body portion and a tamper indicating portion, the boundary between the main body portion and the tamper indicating portion defined by a score in the label, the label adhesively attached to the tube such that the main body portion surrounds at least a portion of the tube and a portion of the cap attachment portion.   
     
     
         11 . The dispensing tube assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the label score is perforated, the label attached such that when the cover is in the no-flow position the perforated label score concentrically surrounds an interface defined between the cap attachment portion and the cap cover. 
     
     
         12 . The dispensing tube assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the tamper indicating portion of the label covers a portion of the cap top surface. 
     
     
         13 . The dispensing tube assembly of  claim 10 , the tamper indicating portion of the label having a tear-away portion defined by two scored lines extending perpendicular to the score in the label. 
     
     
         14 . A dispensing tube assembly with tamper indication, comprising:
 an extruded plastic tube including a side wall extending between an open tube end and a closed tube end to define an interior;   a material located in the interior of the tube;   a cap attachment head sealed to the closed end, the attachment head including a flow channel;   a cap having a cap body extending between an open cap end and a closed cap end, the open cap end configured for attachment to the cap attachment head;   an adhesive; and   a label surrounding at least a portion of the tube and a portion of the cap body, the adhesive attaching the label to at least a portion of the tube.   
     
     
         15 . The dispensing tube assembly of  claim 14 , the label having a main body portion and a tamper indicating portion, wherein the boundary between the main body portion and the tamper indicating portion is defined by a score in the label. 
     
     
         16 . The dispensing tube assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the label is attached such that the score is positioned to circumferentially surround the a boundary defined by the interface between the tube and cap body. 
     
     
         17 . The dispensing tube assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the label is attached such that the score circumferentially surrounds a portion of the tube. 
     
     
         18 . The dispensing tube assembly of  claim 14 , the closed cap end defined by a top surface, wherein the label covers a portion of the top surface. 
     
     
         19 . The dispensing tube assembly of  claim 15 , wherein prior to attachment of the label to the tube assembly the adhesive is located on only the main body portion of the label such that the adhesive attaches the label to only those portions of the tube and cap that are in contact with the label main body. 
     
     
         20 . The dispensing tube assembly of  claim 14 , the label having an inner and an outer surface, the entirety of the inner surface of the label being in contact with the adhesive.