US 12,084,241 B2
Tamper-evident seals for containers
Sue Ellen Amanat, Chesterfield, MO (US)
Filed by Sue Ellen Amanat, Chesterfield, MO (US)
Filed on Dec. 13, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/548,882.
Prior Publication US 2023/0182978 A1, Jun. 15, 2023
Int. Cl. B65D 55/02 (2006.01); B65B 7/01 (2006.01); B65B 7/28 (2006.01); B65D 53/04 (2006.01)
CPC B65D 55/026 (2013.01) [B65B 7/01 (2013.01); B65B 7/2842 (2013.01); B65D 53/04 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A tamper-evident seal for use with a container, the tamper-evident seal comprising:
a body sealably coupled to a boundary defining an opening;
a gripping portion having a fixed end and a free end, the fixed end extending from the body, the gripping portion including a first surface and an opposite second surface, wherein the free end is sized and shaped to be gripped by a user to enable the user to forcibly disconnect at least a portion of the body from the boundary; and
an indicator including an indicator body including a lower surface adhered to the body and an exposed upper surface that opposes the lower surface, a neck portion of the indicator is removably coupled to the gripping portion and extends from a side edge of the gripping portion, wherein when the indicator is connected to the gripping portion, the indicator upper and lower surfaces are generally parallel to the gripping portion first and second surfaces, such that when the gripping portion is lifted away from the body, at least a portion of the indicator body remains connected to the body, and wherein the body, the gripping portion, and the indicator are formed of a single unitary piece.
 
12. A system for sealing an opening; wherein the system includes:
a container having a boundary defining an opening providing access into the container; and
a tamper-evident seal comprising:
a body sealably coupled to the boundary;
a gripping portion having a fixed end and a free end, the fixed end extending from the body, the gripping portion including a first surface and an opposite second surface, wherein the free end is sized and shaped to be gripped by a user to enable the user to forcibly disconnect at least a portion of the body from the container; and
an indicator including an indicator body including a lower surface adhered to the body and an exposed upper surface that opposes the lower surface, a neck portion of the indicator is removably coupled to the gripping portion and extending from a side edge of the gripping portion, wherein when the indicator is connected to the gripping portion, the indicator upper and lower surfaces are generally parallel to the gripping portion first and second surfaces, such that when the gripping portion is lifted away from the body, at least a portion of the indicator body remains connected to the body, and wherein the body, the gripping portion, and the indicator are formed of a single unitary piece.