US4733786A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Container and innerseal capable of indicating heat tampering
Assignee: Unipac Corp
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Filing: 1986-11-07
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Granted: 1988-03-29
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Expires: 2006-11-07
Abstract
Abstract Innerseal for bottles or other containers comprising a facing layer, an insulating layer adhered to one major surface of said facing layer, and a thermally sensitive layer adhered to said insulating layer. In a second embodiment, the innerseal comprises a facing layer and a thermally sensitive layer adhered to said facing layer. Upon application of a sufficient amount of heat to the thermally sensitive layer, said layer will change its appearance in such a way as to provide an indication of tampering by means of heat.
Inventors
- 👤 Jeffrey O. Emslander
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 11:16
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D53/00; B65D53/04; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S428/00; Y10S428/916; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/249921; Y10T428/249953; Y10T428/249978
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
68 words
An innerseal, capable of detecting tampering by means of heat, comprising: (a) a facing layer, (b) an insulating layer adhered to one major surface of said facing layer, and (c) a thermally sensitive layer adhered to the surface of said insulating layer that is not adhered to said facing layer, said thermally sensitive layer capable of changing its appearance upon application of a sufficient amount of heat thereto.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
68 words
An innerseal, capable of detecting tampering by means of heat, comprising: (a) a facing layer, (b) an insulating layer adhered to one major surface of said facing layer, and (c) a thermally sensitive layer adhered to the surface of said insulating layer that is not adhered to said facing layer, said thermally sensitive layer capable of changing its appearance upon application of a sufficient amount of heat thereto.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The innerseal of claim 1 wherein said facing layer comprises a first layer made of a metallic foil and a second layer made of a polymeric material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The innerseal of claim 2 wherein said polymeric material is a heat sealable material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The innerseal of claim 2 wherein said insulating layer is in face-to-face contact with said metallic foil.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
11 words
The innerseal of claim 1 wherein said insulating layer is transparent.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The innerseal of claim 5 wherein said facing layer has an image printed thereon, said image capable of being seen only when a sufficient amount of heat is applied to said thermally sensitive layer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
11 words
The innerseal of claim 1 wherein said insulating layer is opaque.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The innerseal of claim 7 wherein said insulating layer has an image printed thereon, said image capable of being seen only when a sufficient amount of heat is applied to said thermally sensitive layer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
The innerseal of claim 1 wherein said thermally sensitive layer has an image printed thereon, said image capable of being seen only when a sufficient amount of heat is applied to said thermally sensitive layer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
54 words
The innerseal of claim 1 wherein said thermally sensitive layer is formed of randomly dispersed, equiaxed, irregularly shaped particles of thermoplastic polymer, said particles being spaced from one another to provide a network of micropores therebetween, said particles being connected to each other by fibrils which radiate from each particle to the adjacent particles.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
The innerseal of claim 1 wherein said thermally sensitive layer comprises a transparent polymeric film wherein at least a portion thereof has a thermally imageable material coated thereon.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
93 words
An innerseal, capable of detecting tampering by means of heat, comprising: (a) a facing layer, and (b) a thermally sensitive layer adhered to said facing layer, said thermally sensitive layer capable of changing its appearance upon application of a sufficient amount of heat thereto wherein said thermally sensitive layer is formed of randomly dispersed, equiaxed, irregularly shaped particles of thermoplastic polymer, said particles being spaced from one another to provide a network of micropores therebetween, said particles being connected to each other by fibrils which radiate from each particle to the adjacent particles.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
93 words
An innerseal, capable of detecting tampering by means of heat, comprising: (a) a facing layer, and (b) a thermally sensitive layer adhered to said facing layer, said thermally sensitive layer capable of changing its appearance upon application of a sufficient amount of heat thereto wherein said thermally sensitive layer is formed of randomly dispersed, equiaxed, irregularly shaped particles of thermoplastic polymer, said particles being spaced from one another to provide a network of micropores therebetween, said particles being connected to each other by fibrils which radiate from each particle to the adjacent particles.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
The innerseal of claim 12 wherein said facing layer comprises a layer of metallic foil or polymeric material bearing an adhesive on at least one major surface thereof.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
34 words
The innerseal of claim 12 wherein said facing layer has an image printed thereon, said image capable of being seen only when a sufficient amount of heat is applied to said thermally sensitive layer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
The innerseal of claim 12 wherein said thermally sensitive layer has an image printed thereon, said image capable of being seen only when a sufficient amount of heat is applied to said thermally sensitive layer.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
The innerseal of claim 12 wherein said thermally sensitive layer comprises a transparent polymeric film wherein at least a portion thereof has a thermally imageable material coated thereon.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
64 words
A container having a tamper-indicating innerseal comprising (a) a facing layer, (b) an insulating layer adhered to one major surface of said facing layer, and (c) a thermally sensitive layer adhered to the surface of said insulating layer that is not adhered to said facing layer, said thermally sensitive layer capable of changing its appearance upon application of a sufficient amount of heat thereto.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
64 words
A container having a tamper-indicating innerseal comprising (a) a facing layer, (b) an insulating layer adhered to one major surface of said facing layer, and (c) a thermally sensitive layer adhered to the surface of said insulating layer that is not adhered to said facing layer, said thermally sensitive layer capable of changing its appearance upon application of a sufficient amount of heat thereto.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
89 words
A container having a tamper-indicating innerseal comprising: (a) a facing layer, and (b) a thermally sensitive layer adhered to said facing layer, said thermally sensitive layer capable of changing its appearance upon application of a sufficient amount of heat thereto wherein said thermally sensitive layer is formed of randomly dispersed, equiaxed, irregularly shaped particles of thermoplastic polymer, said particles being spaced from one another to provide a network of micropores therebetween, said particles being connected to each other by fibrils which radiate from each particle to the adjacent particles.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
89 words
A container having a tamper-indicating innerseal comprising: (a) a facing layer, and (b) a thermally sensitive layer adhered to said facing layer, said thermally sensitive layer capable of changing its appearance upon application of a sufficient amount of heat thereto wherein said thermally sensitive layer is formed of randomly dispersed, equiaxed, irregularly shaped particles of thermoplastic polymer, said particles being spaced from one another to provide a network of micropores therebetween, said particles being connected to each other by fibrils which radiate from each particle to the adjacent particles.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-03-29 | 1991-09-28 | 1992-03-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-03-29 | 1995-09-28 | 1996-03-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-03-29 | 1999-09-28 | 2000-03-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |