Tamper-evident Container Lock
AssigneePizza Spice Packet, LLC
InventorTodd Wikstrom
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A locking arrangement for a container that has a lid pivotally attached with a base includes a flap that is pivotally attached at a first end thereof to the lid at a peripheral edge of the lid. The flap has a tab projecting laterally away from a second end of the flap. A frangible portion of the lid is defined by a perforation that terminates to encompass the first end of the flap. A slot is formed through an upwardly-projecting peripheral wall of a base of the container. As such, with the lid of the container moving towards a closed position, and with the tab in a folded position, the flap and tab are inserted through the slot of the peripheral wall of the base, thereafter as the tab clears the slot the resilient material urges the tab into an expanded position to lock the container.
Claims16
A locking arrangement for a container having an outside surface and an inside surface, an internal space, an opening, and a closure for the opening that has at least a first part and a second part, the closure movable between an open configuration allowing access to the internal space of the container, and a closed configuration for sealing the container, the container made with a resilient material, the locking arrangement comprising:
- a flap pivotally attached at a first end thereof to the first part, the flap having at least one tab projecting laterally away from a second end thereof, the at least one tab movable between an expanded position and a folded position, the flap formed from the first part;
- a slot formed through the second part and aligned and sized to accept the second end of the flap when the tab is in the folded position and when the closure is in the closed configuration;
- whereby with the closure of the container in the closed configuration, and with the at least one tab in the folded position, the flap and the at least one tab can be inserted through the slot from the outside surface of the container through to the internal space of the container, thereafter as the at least one tab clears the slot the resilient material urges the at least one tab into the expanded position, a width of the flap and the at least one tab being greater than a width of the slot to prevent subsequent removal of the flap and the at least one tab from the slot, the closure openable when the at least one tab is separated from the first part of the container.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.