Tamper-proof and tamper-evident container closure system

Abstract

A tamper-proof and tamper-evident closure system is for use with a plastic container body and lid of the type wherein the container body has an opening defined by a continuous side wall and the lid has a depending skirt terminating at a lower edge, with the skirt overlapping the side wall adjacent the opening when the lid covers the opening. The closure system comprises a shield flange projecting outwardly from the side wall of the container body immediately adjacent the lower edge of the lid when the lid covers the opening of the container body and a tamper-evidencing band frangibly connected to the shield flange along a separation path spaced from the side wall of the container body. The shield flange bars access to a substantial portion of the lower edge and includes a cut-out section providing access to a minor portion of the lower edge of the lid to permit removal of the lid from the container body. The tamper-evidencing band sufficiently surrounds the lower edge of the lid when the lid covers the opening of the container body to make removal of the lid difficult without separating a portion of the tamper-evidencing band from the shield flange. Preferably, the tamper-evidencing band includes a blocking lug substantially covering the cut-out section of the shield flange when the tamper-evidencing band is connected to the shield flange. The blocking lug blocks access to the lower edge of the lid through the cut-out section until the tamper-evidencing band is separated from the shield flange adjacent the cut-out section. The container, shield flange, and the tamper-evidencing band preferably are molded in unison.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.