# US 2014/0190858 A1 · Spill Resistant Tamper Evident Treat Container > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0190858 A1 - Document ID: US20140190858A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/100,329 - Filed: 2011-05-04 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2010-05-04 - Inventors: Michael R. Schramm - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140190858A1 ## CPC - A63H 37/00: Jokes; Confetti, streamers, or other dance favours {; Cracker bonbons or the like} - A45C 11/00: Receptacles for purposes not provided for in groups A45C1/00-A45C9/00 (specially adapted for toiletry or cosmetic equipment A45D29/20, A45D44/18; travelling sewing kits A45F3/48) - A45C 13/08: Decorative devices for handbags or purses - A63H: TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS - A45C: PURSES; LUGGAGE; HAND CARRIED BAGS ## Abstract The present invention is a spill resistant tamper evident treat collection container apparatus. Because of the unique shape, size, and functioning of the apparatus, the apparatus prevents spills of contained treats regardless of the orientation of the apparatus. The apparatus further prevents premature withdrawal of treats from the apparatus by the user (e.g. a child) or other unscrupulous third parties so that the collected treats may subsequently and conveniently be inspected after completion of treat collection (e.g. completion of trick-or-treating). The apparatus is preferably adapted such that if the apparatus is opened to gain access to the contents of the apparatus, such opening is rendered evident. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A collection apparatus for use in collecting treats while preventing spillage of said treats and while controlling access to said treats and while rendering treat tampering evident, said apparatus defining a container having an inner cavity and a funnel extending into said inner cavity, said funnel being adapted to allow the passage of articles from outside of said container to within said container inner cavity by said articles passing through said funnel, wherein said funnel is free of a structure for use in impeding passage of articles completely through said funnel and into said inner cavity being connected to an underside thereof, and wherein said apparatus further defines at least one of an apparatus adapted such that if said apparatus is opened or disassembled, such opening or such disassembly is rendered evident, and an apparatus adapted such that disassembly or opening of said apparatus is child-resistant. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus further defines at least one of an apparatus adapted to resist the spillage of treats when said apparatus is oriented in any orientation, an apparatus having a volumetric capacity of at least 268 cubic inches, an apparatus having a volumetric capacity of at least 268 cubic inches and being adapted to resist the spillage of treats when said apparatus is oriented in any orientation and to be assembleable and disassembleable and to allow passage of a treat through said funnel of said apparatus such that when said apparatus is in an assembled configuration, hand access to contents of said apparatus is substantially restricted, and such that when said apparatus is in a disassembled configuration, hand access to contents of said apparatus is substantially unrestricted, and an apparatus adapted to be assembleable and disassembleable and to allow passage of a treat through said funnel of said apparatus such that when said apparatus is in an assembled configuration, hand access to contents of said apparatus is substantially restricted, and such that when said apparatus is in a disassembled configuration, hand access to contents of said apparatus is substantially unrestricted. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said disassembly defines the disassembly of said funnel from said container. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said child resistant disassembly requires the depression of at least one button while rotating said funnel in order to separate said funnel from said container. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said evident rendering defines at least one severed tab. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus contains a treat within said inner cavity, and wherein said treat further defines at least one of a confectionary treat, a non-confectionary treat, and a packaged treat. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said funnel further defines at least one of a funnel having an opening of at least 0.78 inches in cross-sectional area, a funnel having an opening of at least 1.00 inches in cross-sectional area, a funnel having an opening of at least 1.25 inches in cross-sectional area, a funnel having an opening of at least 1.50 inches in cross-sectional area, a funnel having an opening of at least 1.75 inches in cross-sectional area, a funnel having an opening of at least 2.5 inches in cross-sectional area, a funnel having an opening of at least 3.5 inches in cross-sectional area, and, a funnel having an opening of at least 5.00 inches in cross-sectional area. ### Claim 8 A spill resistant collection apparatus for use in collecting treats while preventing spillage of said treats and while controlling access to said treats and while rendering treat tampering evident, said apparatus defining a container having an inner cavity and a container opening member having an opening, said opening being adapted to allow the passage of articles from outside of said container to within said container inner cavity by said articles passing through said opening, wherein said opening member is free of a structure for use in impeding passage of articles completely through said funnel and into said inner cavity being connected to an underside thereof, and wherein said apparatus is adapted to resist the spillage of apparatus contents when said apparatus is oriented in any orientation, and wherein said apparatus further defines at least one of an apparatus adapted such that if said apparatus is opened or disassembled, such opening or such disassembly is rendered evident, and an apparatus adapted such that disassembly or opening of said apparatus is child-resistant. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said apparatus further defines at least one of an apparatus having an open funnel extending into said inner cavity, an apparatus having a volumetric capacity of at least 268 cubic inches, an apparatus having a volumetric capacity of at least 268 cubic inches and being adapted to resist the spillage of treats when said apparatus is oriented in any orientation and to be assembleable and disassembleable and to allow passage of a treat through said funnel of said apparatus such that when said apparatus is in an assembled configuration, hand access to contents of said apparatus is substantially restricted, and such that when said apparatus is in a disassembled configuration, hand access to contents of said apparatus is substantially unrestricted, and an apparatus adapted to be assembleable and disassembleable and to allow passage of a treat through said open opening of said apparatus such that when said apparatus is in an assembled configuration, hand access to contents of said apparatus is substantially restricted, and such that when said container is in a disassembled configuration, hand access to contents of said container is substantially unrestricted. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said disassembly defines the disassembly of said funnel from said container. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said child resistant disassembly requires the depression of at least one button while rotating said funnel in order to separate said funnel from said container. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said evident rendering defines at least one severed tab. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said apparatus contains a treat within said inner cavity, and wherein said treat further defines at least one of a confectionary treat, a non-confectionary treat, and a packaged treat. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said funnel further defines at least one of a funnel having an opening of at least 0.78 inches in cross-sectional area, a funnel having an opening of at least 1.00 inches in cross-sectional area, a funnel having an opening of at least 1.25 inches in cross-sectional area, a funnel having an opening of at least 1.50 inches in cross-sectional area, a funnel having an opening of at least 1.75 inches in cross-sectional area, a funnel having an opening of at least 2.5 inches in cross-sectional area, a funnel having an opening of at least 3.5 inches in cross-sectional area, and, a funnel having an opening of at least 5.00 inches in cross-sectional area. ### Claim 15 A spill resistant assembleable and disassembleable apparatus for use in collecting treats while preventing spillage of said treats and while controlling access to said treats and while rendering treat tampering evident, said apparatus defining a container having an inner cavity and a funnel extending into said inner cavity, said funnel being adapted to allow the passage of articles from outside of said container to within said container inner cavity by said articles passing through said funnel, wherein said funnel is free of a structure for use in impeding passage of articles completely through said funnel and into said inner cavity being connected to an underside thereof, and wherein said apparatus is adapted to resist the spillage of apparatus contents when said apparatus is oriented in any orientation, and wherein said apparatus further defines at least one of an apparatus adapted such that disassembly of said apparatus is child resistant, an apparatus adapted such that if said apparatus has been opened or disassembled, said opening or said disassembly is rendered evident even if said apparatus is closed or reassembled, and an apparatus adapted such that said funnel allows passage of a treat through said funnel, and such that when said apparatus is in an assembled configuration, hand access to apparatus contents is substantially restricted, and such that when said apparatus is in a disassembled configuration, hand access to contents of said apparatus is substantially unrestricted, and such that if said apparatus is opened or disassembled, such opening or such disassembly is rendered evident even if said apparatus is closed or reassembled. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said apparatus is adapted to resist the spillage of treats when said apparatus is oriented in any orientation, and wherein said container has a volumetric capacity of at least 268 cubic inches. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said disassembly defines the disassembly of said funnel from said container. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said evident rendering defines at least one severed tab. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said child resistant disassembly requires the depression of at least one button while rotating said funnel in order to separate said funnel from said container. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said apparatus contains a treat within said inner cavity, and wherein said treat further defines at least one of a confectionary treat, a non-confectionary treat, and a packaged treat. ### Claim 21 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said funnel further defines at least one of a funnel having an opening of at least 0.78 inches in cross-sectional area, a funnel having an opening of at least 1.00 inches in cross-sectional area, a funnel having an opening of at least 1.25 inches in cross-sectional area, a funnel having an opening of at least 1.50 inches in cross-sectional area, a funnel having an opening of at least 1.75 inches in cross-sectional area, a funnel having an opening of at least 2.5 inches in cross-sectional area, a funnel having an opening of at least 3.5 inches in cross-sectional area, and, a funnel having an opening of at least 5.00 inches in cross-sectional area. ### Claim 22 A container apparatus defining at least one of a container having an inner cavity and a funnel extending into said inner cavity and a removable barrier adhered to said container so as to block the passage of articles between said container exterior and said container inner cavity, wherein said funnel is, but for said removable barrier, adapted to allow the passage of articles from outside of said container to within said container inner cavity by said articles passing through said funnel, and wherein said funnel is free of a structure connected to an underside thereof, and wherein when said removable barrier is removed from said container, said apparatus is free of a structure that impedes said passage of said articles into said inner cavity, and a container having an inner cavity and a container opening member having an opening and a removable barrier adhered to said container so as to block the passage of articles between said container exterior and said container inner cavity, wherein said container opening is, but for said removable barrier, adapted to allow the passage of articles from outside of said container to within said container inner cavity by said articles passing through said container opening, and wherein said opening member is free of a structure connected to an underside thereof, and wherein when said removable barrier is removed from said container, said apparatus is free of a structure that impedes said passage of said articles into said inner cavity and yet said container resists the spillage of container contents when said container is oriented in any orientation. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said apparatus further defines at least one of an apparatus adapted such that if said apparatus is opened or disassembled, such opening or such disassembly is rendered evident, and an apparatus adapted such that disassembly or opening of said apparatus is child-resistant.