Tamper Evident Container
AssigneePlacon Corporation
InventorDonald E. McCumber
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A thermoformed thermoplastic container has a lid which closes on a base in a snap fit. A signal tab is hinged to the base and has a tubular projection which folds over the lid and is received in a friction fit with a downwardly extending lid projection. After the container is filled with product, the signal tab is pressed into place on the lid and lies flat. In order to open the lid the signal tab is pulled up, thereby severing a perforated line extending around the lid projection, and separating the lid projection from the lid which prevents the signal tab from again engaging with the lid, thereby serving as an indicator to a customer that the package has been opened.
Claims20
A container comprising:
- a base having portions defining an interior and having an upper wall;
- a lid having an upper wall, the lid being releasably engageable with the base so the lid upper wall overlies the base upper wall;
- portions of the lid upper wall which define a lid projection, wherein a region of weakened material extends around the lid projection;
- a signal tab connected by a first hinge to the base;
- and
- a projection extending from the signal tab, wherein the signal tab is pivotable about the hinge to engage and connect the signal tab projection with the lid projection, such that when, after said engagement, the signal tab is pivoted away from the container lid, the lid projection which is connected to the signal tab projection is caused to be severed from the lid upper wall at the region of weakened material, thereafter preventing the lid projection from being secured to the lid upper wall and providing an indication of the prior manipulation of the signal tab.
A container comprising:
- a container first part having a first wall;
- a container second part having portions defining a second wall, the second part being releasably engageable with the first part so the first wall and the second wall are substantially parallel and in close proximity, the engaged container first part and container second part defining a container interior;
- portions of the first wall which define a first projection, wherein a region of weakened material extends around the first projection;
- a signal tab connected by a hinge to the container second part;
- and
- a second projection extending from the signal tab, wherein the signal tab is pivotable about the hinge and the second projection is configured to cooperate with the first projection to secure the signal tab second projection to the container first part first projection, such that after said engagement, pivoting of the signal tab away from the container first part causes the first projection to be severed from the first part first wall at the region of weakened material thereafter preventing the signal tab second projection from being secured to the container first part first wall and providing an indication of the prior manipulation of the signal tab.
A container comprising:
- a base having an upper wall, and a side wall which extends downwardly from the upper wall to a bottom wall, the base defining a container interior;
- a lid having an upper wall, the lid being releasably engageable with the base so the lid upper wall overlies the base upper wall, and so the lid closes the container interior;
- portions of the base which define a relief below the base upper wall;
- portions of the lid upper wall which define a downwardly extending lid projection, the lid projection extending into the base relief when the lid is closed on and engaged with the base, wherein a region of weakened material extends around the lid projection;
- a signal tab hingedly connected to the base;
- and
- a projection extending from the signal tab to be received within the lid projection and engaged thereto, such that when the signal tab is pivoted away from the container lid, the lid projection is severed from the lid upper wall at the region of weakened material thereafter preventing the lid projection from being secured to the lid upper wall and providing an indication of the prior manipulation of the signal tab.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.