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US 10,669,078 B2Granted
Tamper-evident container and method
AssigneeSabert Corporation
InventorDanny Kalmanides
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tamper-evident container and method is disclosed. The tamper-evident container includes a base portion and a lid (or cover). In an untampered with state, one edge of the lid is removably connected to one edge of the base portion. Namely, the lid includes a tamper-evident tab, wherein the tamper-evident tab includes a grasping overhanging portion that is flanked by at least one breakable joint and wherein the lid is removably connected to the base portion via the breakable joint of the tamper-evident tab. Further, the tamper-evident container comprises an interlocking interface between the base portion and the lid. A method of using the tamper-evident container is provided.
Claims9
A method of evidencing tampering with a tamper-evident container, the method comprising:
- (a) providing a tamper-evident container, the tamper-evident container comprising:
- (i) a base comprising recessed tab comprising a first grasping portion;
- (ii) a lid comprising a tamper-evident tab at least partially overhanging the recessed tab, the tamper-evident tab comprising a second grasping portion flanked by breakable joints between the base and the lid, wherein the breakable joints are severable along lines that are congruent to a periphery of the second grasping portion at opposite sides of the second grasping portion, the breakable joints each comprising a second flap portion that becomes disjoined from the lid when the breakable joints are severed, and a first flap portion that remains hingeably adjoined to the base when the breakable joints are severed;
- and
- (iii) an interlocking interface formed between the base and the lid, wherein when the container is closed the interlocking interface renders contents inside the tamper-evident container inaccessible without severing the breakable joints and/or evidencing tampering with the container, and wherein the breakable joints are at least partially severed along the lines that are congruent to the periphery of the second grasping portion at the opposite sides of the second grasping portion by displacing the second grasping portion relative to the first grasping portion until at least one of the second flap portions is partially disjoined from at least one side of the second grasping portion, thereby evidencing tampering with the container the breakable joints comprising a first breakable joint and a second breakable joint, and wherein when the first breakable joint and/or the second breakable joint is severed, the second flap portion becomes disjoined from the lid, and the first flap portion remains hingeably adjoined to the base;
- (b) instructing a user of the tamper-evident container to grasp the first grasping portion and/or the second grasping portion;
- and
- (c) evidencing tampering with the container when the second grasping portion is displaced relative to the first grasping portion until at least one of the second flap portions is partially disjoined from at least one side of the second grasping portion.
5 more elements
A method of evidencing tampering with a tamper-evident container, the method comprising:
- (a) providing a tamper-evident container, the tamper-evident container comprising:
- (i) a base comprising recessed tab comprising a first grasping portion;
- (ii) a lid comprising a tamper-evident tab at least partially overhanging the recessed tab, the tamper-evident tab comprising a second grasping portion flanked by breakable joints between the base and the lid, wherein the breakable joints are severable along lines that are congruent to a periphery of the second grasping portion at opposite sides of the second grasping portion, the breakable joints each comprising a second flap portion that becomes disjoined from the lid when the breakable joints are severed, and a first flap portion that remains hingeably adjoined to the base when the breakable joints are severed;
- (iii) an interlocking interface formed between the base and the lid, wherein when the container is closed the interlocking interface renders contents inside the tamper-evident container inaccessible without severing the breakable joints and/or evidencing tampering with the container, and wherein the breakable joints are at least partially severed along the lines that are congruent to the periphery of the second grasping portion at the opposite sides of the second grasping portion by displacing the second grasping portion relative to the first grasping portion until at least one of the second flap portions is partially disjoined from at least one side of the second grasping portion, thereby evidencing tampering with the container;
- and
- (iv) wherein the breakable joints comprise a first breakable joint and a second breakable joint, and wherein when the first breakable joint and/or the second breakable joint is not severed, the first flap portion partially obstructs a recess defined in part by the recessed tab;
- (b) instructing a user of the tamper-evident container to grasp the first grasping portion and/or the second grasping portion;
- and
- (c) evidencing tampering with the container when the second grasping portion is displaced relative to the first grasping portion until at least one of the second flap portions is partially disjoined from at least one side of the second grasping portion.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.