Tamper-evident coupling system, process of making said coupling system, container comprising said coupling system and use thereof

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a tamper-evident coupling system including a first base portion, a second base portion, and a tamper-evident coating. The first base portion includes a first coupling portion. The second base portion includes a second coupling portion and is configured to cooperate with the first coupling portion. The first and the second coupling portions are configured to define a priming configuration when the first and second coupling portion are engaged to each other. The tamper-evident coating is associated with a sheet material of the first and the second coupling portions and is configured to visually signal, following a scraping force of the coating, an attempt to separate the first and second coupling portions.

1 . A tamper-evident coupling system, comprising:
 a first base portion comprising a first coupling portion;   a second base portion comprising a second coupling portion, the second coupling portion configured to cooperate with the first coupling portion; and   a tamper-evident coating associated with a sheet material of one or both of the first and the second coupling portions, the tamper-evident coating configured to visually signal, following a scraping force of the coating, an attempt to separate the first and second coupling portions,   wherein the first and second coupling portions are configured to define a priming configuration when the first and second coupling portions are engaged to each other.   
     
     
         2 . The coupling system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first coupling portion defines a first hooking portion and the second coupling portion defines a second hooking portion,
 wherein one or both of the first and second hooking portions comprises a removable portion configured to be separated from the coupling system following the application of a mechanical stress suitable to separate the first and second hooking portions when in the priming configuration.   
     
     
         3 . The coupling system according to  claim 1 , wherein the tamper-evident coating is applied superficially on at least part of the sheet material of one or both of the first and the second coupling portions. 
     
     
         4 . The coupling system according to  claim 1 , wherein in the priming configuration, the tamper-evident coating covers, at least partly, the first coupling portion on a side facing the second base portion. 
     
     
         5 . The coupling system according to  claim 1 , the tamper-evident coating further comprising:
 a support substrate bound directly to a surface of the sheet material of one or both of the first and the second coupling portions, optionally bound directly to the sheet material of one or both of the first and the second hooking portions; and   a removable layer superimposed onto the support substrate so that the support substrate is interposed between the removable layer and the sheet material to which the support layer is bound to directly,   wherein an adhesion strength between the support layer and the sheet material is greater than the adhesion strength between the removable layer and the support layer.   
     
     
         6 . The coupling system according to  claim 5 , wherein the removable layer has a different coloration with respect to the coloration of the support layer that allows for the tamper-evident coating to change coloration after being subjected to a scraping force on at least part of the removable layer, thereby signaling an attempt to tamper with the coupling system. 
     
     
         7 . The coupling system according to  claim 5 , wherein the support substrate comprises a paint comprising one or more filmogenous polymer, monomer, or precursor oligomer. 
     
     
         8 . The coupling system according to  claim 7 , wherein the paint comprises a silicone resin and one or more polymers selected from acrylic resins, alkyd resins, polyester resins, vinyl resins and phenolic resins. 
     
     
         9 . The coupling system according to  claim 5 , wherein the removable layer comprises an ink comprising one or more filmogenous polymer, or monomer, or precursor oligomer, and a metallic pigment. 
     
     
         10 . The coupling system according to  claim 2 , wherein the first and second hooking portions comprise a first and second hook, respectively, defining an undercut portion delimited by a gripping edge, the first and second hooks configured to stably engage each other during the priming configuration, the first and second hooks exhibiting respective concavities facing each other when in the priming configuration. 
     
     
         11 . The coupling system according to  claim 10 , wherein the tamper-evident coating fully covers the surface of the first hook. 
     
     
         12 . The coupling system according to  claim 11 , wherein the second hooking portion comprises a base body comprising the second hook, the second hook being movable by rotation with respect to the base portion, the second hook adjustable to:
 a first configuration in which the second hook extends parallel to the base body of the second hooking portion and is arranged parallel to the second base portion, and   a second configuration in which the second hook is arranged transversely with respect to the base body of the second hooking portion and with respect to the second base portion.   
     
     
         13 . The coupling system according to  claim 10 , wherein in the priming configuration, the tamper-evident coating covers, at least partly, the second hook on a side facing the second base portion. 
     
     
         14 . A tamper-evident container, comprising:
 a storage made of sheet material and defining an internal volume and configured to house one or more products, the storage having a predetermined number of lateral walls defining a passage opening delimited by a free edge and configured to place the internal volume of the storage in communication with an external environment,   a coupling system, comprising:
 a first base portion comprising a first coupling portion, 
 a second base portion comprising a second coupling portion, the second coupling portion configured to cooperate with the first coupling portion, 
 the first and the second coupling portion configured to define a priming configuration when the first and second coupling portion are engaged to each other, 
   wherein the coupling system comprises a tamper-evident coating associated with a sheet material of one or both of the first and the second coupling portions, wherein the tamper-evident coating is configured to visually signal, following a scraping force of the coating, an attempt to separate the first and second coupling portions,   wherein the first base portion is constrained by rotation to the free edge of the storage, the first coupling portion is carried by the first base portion so that this latter is interposed between the free edge of the storage and the first coupling portion,   wherein the first base portion and the first coupling portion are movable relatively to the storage, and configured to define a close configuration of the container in which at least part of the first base portion prevents communication between the internal volume of the storage and the external environment, the first base portion and the first coupling portion configured to define an open configuration in which the first coupling portion allows communication between the internal volume and the external environment,   wherein the second base portion of the coupling system defines at least part of a lateral wall of the storage,   wherein the first and the second coupling portions, during a configuration of first closure of the container, are configured to be engaged to define said priming configuration of the coupling system,   wherein the tamper-evident coating is associated with the sheet material of one or both of the first and the second coupling portions facing the exterior of the container.