Tamper-Evident, Tear-Open Resealable Package

Abstract

A tamper-evident package utilizes a transparent resealable adhesive structure such as a tape or a label to cover the portal opening. When the package is first opened, frangible portions of the package between adjacent arcuate cuts and slits that define the portal are torn and distorted so that re-registration of the opposing laterally-extending edges of the portal upon reclosing is not possible. This results in a package which is visually tamper-evident. The tamper-evident condition can be enhanced by graphics or other printing on the front of the package in the area of the arcuate cuts and the center of the portal to make the misalignment of a resealed portal viewed through the transparent reseal structure more visually apparent. In one embodiment of the invention, a series of arcuate cuts are centered laterally and are flanked on the right and left sides by two continuous wavy slits, which together form the portal.

1 . A tamper-evident, resealable package having a front and a back, top and bottom edges, left and right edges, a lateral dimension extending between the side edges, a longitudinal dimension extending between the top and bottom edges, and a laterally-extending, tear-open, reclosable portal moveable from an open position to a closed position for providing access to contents within the package through the portal when open, comprising:
 a) a series of arcuate cuts through the front of the package comprising laterally-extending, longitudinally-spaced rows of individual, unconnected arcuate cuts, each cut defining a continuous arc with an apex and two free ends;   b) laterally-extending slits through the front of the package on either lateral side of said series of arcuate cuts; and,   c) a transparent, adhesive reseal structure applied over said portal for holding the portal in the closed position;
 wherein the package becomes distorted in the area of said arcuate cuts when the package is initially opened to provide visually evidence of prior opening when the package is re-closed with the reseal structure. 
   
     
     
         2 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the area above the portal becomes distorted compared to the area below the portal so that re-registration of the areas above and below the portal is not possible upon resealing. 
     
     
         3 . The package of  claim 1  having manually frangible portions of the package front located between adjacent arcuate cuts which rupture and distort when the package is first opened. 
     
     
         4 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein a facing direction of each of said arcuate cuts is defined by the pointing direction of its apex and wherein the cuts of one row all point in one longitudinal direction opposite the pointing direction of all the arcuate cuts of the other row, said rows being longitudinally staggered thereby defining a series of laterally-extending, alternating upward-pointing and then downward-pointing, unconnected cuts. 
     
     
         5 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the ends of longitudinally adjacent cuts overlap. 
     
     
         6 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the ends of said arcuate cuts intercept the lateral closure axis. 
     
     
         7 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the series of cuts are centered between opposite sides of the package. 
     
     
         8 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein a central, longitudinally-extending tab portion of said reseal structure is adhesively deadened to facilitate its manual grasping. 
     
     
         9 . The package of  claim 1 , further including graphics printed on the front of the package in the area of the series of arcuate cuts to enhance the visual evidence of a prior opening of said portal. 
     
     
         10 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein said adhesive, reseal structure is located across the package front, wraps around the sides of the package, and is adhered to the backs side of the package. 
     
     
         11 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein said arcuate cuts are substantially identical except for their orientation. 
     
     
         12 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein each of said arcuate cuts each has a longitudinal axis, which are parallel to one another. 
     
     
         13 . The package of  claim 12 , wherein each arcuate cut is symmetrical about its longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         14 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein said adhesive, reseal structure comprises either a tape or label having a polymer backing and a pressure-sensitive adhesive on either side of said polymeric backing. 
     
     
         15 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure-sensitive adhesive is selected such that a greater force is required to remove the reseal structure from the package than is required to tear the package along the portal to create the opening to the package contents. 
     
     
         16 . The package of  claim 14 , wherein the adhesive structure is adapted to function equally well with either moist or dry package contents.