Tamper-proof closure/seal for containers, particularly wine bottles

Abstract

In the present invention the bottle or container to be secured is provided with a plastic sleeve with a clear plastic top, providing a view of a safety capsule. The plastic sleeve may be provided with small holes, allowing air to enter within the air space underneath the plastic sleeve. The safety capsule is kept in place with an attachment point to the plastic sleeve. If any tampering occurs such as using an injection needle to enter the bottle through the cork, the safety capsule may be punctured, casing its color to change (e.g., from white to red). This color change is a warning to the end user and seller that a toxic attack to the contents may have occurred.

1 . A tamper-proof seal for containers, comprising: 
 a sleeve attached to an opening of the container, the sleeve having an at least translucent top portion covering the opening of the container;    a safety capsule, covering the opening of the container and viewable through the at least translucent top portion of the sleeve;    air reactive means, provided within the safety capsule, for changing color in response to any air ingress into the safety capsule caused by a puncture to the safety capsule, such that when viewed by a consumer, indicates a possibility of product tampering.    
   
   
       2 . The tamper-proof seal of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve is provided with at least one small breathing hole, allowing air to enter within air space underneath the sleeve so as to react with the air reactive means if the safety capsule is punctured.  
   
   
       3 . The tamper-proof seal of  claim 1 , wherein the safety capsule is kept in place with an attachment point to the sleeve comprising at least one of adhesive, ultrasonic welding, and heat sealing.  
   
   
       4 . The tamper-proof seal of  claim 1 , wherein the air reactive means comprises a chemical fluid, which changes color when exposed to air.  
   
   
       5 . The tamper-proof seal of  claim 1 , wherein the air reactive means comprises a disc provided with printed indicia which will change color when exposed to air so as to create a warning message may appear on the disc alerting a consumer to a possible tampering event.  
   
   
       6 . The tamper-proof seal of  claim 1 , wherein the safety capsule further comprises a smooth surface in which a puncture hole or the like will be more readily apparent to the end user.  
   
   
       7 . The tamper-proof seal of  claim 1 , wherein the safety capsule further comprises a backing plate made of a hard material to prevent hypodermic needles and the like from entering the container, and thus discouraging such types of attack.  
   
   
       8 . The tamper-proof seal of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve is shrink-wrapped to neck of the container such that the sleeve may not be removed without providing evidence to a consumer that it has been previously removed.  
   
   
       9 . The tamper-proof seal of  claim 1 , wherein the safety capsule is incorporated into a traditional wine container foil sleeve so as to provide a traditional appearance to the container assembly.  
   
   
       10 . A tamper-proof seal for containers, comprising: 
 a sleeve attached to an opening of the container, the sleeve having an at least translucent top portion covering the opening of the container;    a safety capsule, covering the opening of the container and viewable through the at least translucent top portion of the sleeve;    a pressurized fluid, provided within the safety capsule, the pressurized fluid being ejected from the safety capsule in response to a puncture to the safety capsule, the pressurized fluid being colored so that when the at least translucent top portion of the sleeve is viewed by a consumer, the presence of the colored fluid indicates a possibility of product tampering.    
   
   
       12 . The tamper-proof seal of  claim 10 , further comprising an absorbent disc, provided above the safety capsule, for absorbing the pressurized fluid so as to alert a consumer that the product may have been tampered with.  
   
   
       13 . The tamper-proof seal of  claim 10 , wherein the safety capsule is kept in place with an attachment point to the sleeve comprising at least one of adhesive, ultrasonic welding, and heat sealing.  
   
   
       14 . The tamper-proof seal of  claim 10 , wherein the pressurized fluid comprises a chemical fluid, which changes color when exposed to air.  
   
   
       15 . The tamper-proof seal of  claim 10 , wherein the safety capsule further comprises a smooth surface in which a puncture hole or the like will be more readily apparent to the end user.  
   
   
       16 . The tamper-proof seal of  claim 10 , wherein the safety capsule further comprises a backing plate made of a hard material to prevent hypodermic needles and the like from entering the container, and thus discouraging such types of attack.  
   
   
       17 . The tamper-proof seal of  claim 10 , wherein the sleeve is shrink-wrapped to neck of the container such that the sleeve may not be removed without providing evidence to a consumer that it has been previously removed.  
   
   
       18 . The tamper-proof seal of  claim 10 , wherein the safety capsule is incorporated into a traditional wine container foil sleeve so as to provide a traditional appearance to the container assembly.