Tamper evident meal delivery carton

A tamper evident container comprising:

• a plurality of wall panels foldably connected together for form a sidewall, the plurality of wall panels including a front wall panel;
• a cover panel foldably connected to one of the plurality of wall panels and movable between an open and closed position;
• a bottom end construction connected to the plurality of wall panels;
• and
• a tamper evident feature provided on the front wall panel and the cover panel, the tamper evident feature comprising:
• a locking tab connected to the front wall panel and extending beyond an upper edge of the front wall panel, the locking tab including an intermediate locking slit defined through the locking tab and extending at least partially across a width of the locking tab, the intermediate locking slit forming an intermediate locking edge within the locking tab, wherein the intermediate locking slit of the locking tab includes a transverse cut end located on each end of the intermediate locking slit, wherein each transverse cut end extends generally perpendicularly toward a terminal edge of the locking tab, wherein the locking tab further comprises a tear-away line extending from each of the transverse cut ends to the terminal edge, wherein each tear-away line is configured as a line of weakness on the locking tab;
• and
• a receiving slot intermediately positioned within the cover panel, the receiving slot including a receiving slit defined through the cover panel and having a length greater than or equal to the width of the locking tab, the receiving slit forming a receiving cut edge within the cover panel;
• wherein the receiving slot is configured to receive the locking tab and the intermediate locking edge of the locking tab is configured to align with the receiving cut edge to engage the tamper evident feature;
• wherein after the tamper evident feature is engaged, the tamper evident feature restricts the cover panel from moving from the closed position to the open position.

A tamper evident feature for a container having a wall panel and a cover panel, the tamper evident feature comprising:

• a locking tab connected to the wall panel of the container, the locking tab comprising:
• a base end portion secured to the wall panel;
• a locking end section extending from the base end portion;
• a terminal edge defining an outer edge of the locking end section;
• an intermediate locking slit defined through the locking tab and extending at least partially across a width of the locking tab, the intermediate locking slit forming an intermediate locking edge within the locking tab;
• and
• a ribbed extension portion extending between the intermediate locking edge and the terminal edge, wherein the ribbed extension portion comprises a plurality of ribs;
• and
• a receiving slot defined in the cover panel of the container, the receiving slot comprising:
• a receiving slit defined into an intermediate portion of the cover panel, the receiving slit having a length equal to or greater than the width of the locking tab, and the receiving slit defining a receiving cut edge within the cover panel;
• wherein the receiving slot is configured to receive the locking tab and the intermediate locking edge of the locking tab is configured to align with the receiving cut edge to engage the tamper evident feature.

A tamper evident container comprising:

• a plurality of wall panels foldably connected together for form a sidewall, the plurality of wall panels including a front wall panel;
• a cover panel foldably connected to one of the plurality of wall panels and movable between an open and closed position;
• a bottom end construction connected to the plurality of wall panels;
• and
• a tamper evident feature provided on the front wall panel and the cover panel, the tamper evident feature comprising:
• a locking tab connected to the front wall panel and extending beyond an upper edge of the front wall panel, the locking tab including an intermediate locking slit defined through the locking tab and extending at least partially across a width of the locking tab, the intermediate locking slit forming an intermediate locking edge within the locking tab, wherein the locking tab further comprises a ribbed extension portion extending between the intermediate locking edge and a terminal edge of the locking tab, wherein the ribbed extension portion comprises a plurality of ribs;
• and
• a receiving slot intermediately positioned within the cover panel, the receiving slot including a receiving slit defined through the cover panel and having a length greater than or equal to the width of the locking tab, the receiving slit forming a receiving cut edge within the cover panel;
• wherein the receiving slot is configured to receive the locking tab and the intermediate locking edge of the locking tab is configured to align with the receiving cut edge to engage the tamper evident feature;
• wherein after the tamper evident feature is engaged, the tamper evident feature restricts the cover panel from moving from the closed position to the open position.