TAMPER-EVIDENT PACKAGING STRUCTURE INCORPORATED INTO A CONTAINER COVER AND AN ASSEMBLY
A container cover comprises two halves that are integrally-molded. The two halves are connected by a common pivot point or hinge that is disposed to one side of each half which allows the halves to be folded over and onto one another. One half is a solid cover or lid structure (the “lid”) and one half is a ring-like base structure (the “base”), both of which are intended to be disposed atop a container, with the base in direct contact with the container although the lid and base could be modified the include other engaging structure. The lid is configured to fit with and engage the base via the common hinge or pivot point. Opposite the hinge point of each structure is part of a lock structure that provides the tamper-evident functionality when the lid is folded over and attached to the base.
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This application claims the benefit and priority of United States Provisional Patent Application No. 62/884,255 filed Aug. 8, 2019.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates generally to product packaging and to tamper-evident packaging. More specifically, the present invention relates to a container cover that incorporates a tamper-evident structure to provide a limited barrier to entry into the container and, most importantly, provide visible evidence to a consumer that the product container has or has not been tampered with. Further, the present invention relates to such a tamper-evident structure that can be formed into a container cover using one-shot plastic injection molding fabrication.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONTamper-evident packaging is well known. Such packaging is intended to provide at least one barrier of entry to a container, which barrier also provides visible evidence to a consumer that the product within the container has been accessed and that the product has, perhaps, been tampered with.
Perhaps the most familiar type of tamper-evident packaging is in the area of pharmaceuticals where a foil-covered blister pack will show if a pill, capsule or other medication has been compromised where the foil has been pierced or otherwise disturbed. Such packaging often includes a warning statement to the consumer to look for this and to not use the product if the seal is broken.
There are many other types of tamper-evident packaging available and the goal of each is to make the product protected, but not impenetrable. For example, tamper-evident plastic shrink bands can provide security for certain types of lids and caps. Shrink-wrap films provide tamper-evidence for almost any product—from foods to software, toys, board games, cosmetics and other consumer goods. Button-top security lids provide similar security by providing an audible signal to a consumer that the vacuum seal of a food jar is intact. Once open, the food product in the jar is readily accessed by the consumer, often repeatedly. That is, such easy-open packaging must provide security as well as consumer-friendliness.
Significantly, it is desirable for food product packagers to provide a visual seal, a visible description of how it works or what to look for in the case tampering of the package has occurred. Between the packaging step and the consumer's purchase of a product, tamper-evident packaging is advantageous to the packager by knowing that its product and product container has not been tampered during shipment. On the consumer's end, using tamper-evident packaging demonstrates a clear concern for the well-being of the consumer, thereby building consumer loyalty and deterring someone with a plan to harm others. Tamper-evident packaging provides many benefits to product sellers in almost any industry.
Therefore, in the experience of the inventor, there is need for an improved tamper-evident structure that provides visible evidence to a consumer that a product container has been or has not been tampered with. There is also a need to provide such a structure that can be conveniently formed using a one-shot plastic injection molding process.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn accordance with the foregoing, the invention provides an improved tamper-evident structure that provides visible evidence to a consumer that a product container has or has not been tampered with. The structure is also formed using a one-shot plastic injection molding process. This fabrication method is desirable because it simplifies and speeds up the production process for manufacturing the container cover.
Generally speaking, the container cover (the “cover”) of the present invention comprises two halves that are integrally-molded. The two halves are connected by a common pivot point or hinge that is disposed to one side of each half which allows the halves to be folded over and onto one another. One half is a solid cover or lid structure (the “lid”) and one half is a ring-like base structure (the “base”), both of which are intended to be disposed atop a container, with the base in direct contact with the container although the lid and base could be modified the include other engaging structure.
The lid is configured to fit with and engage the base via the common hinge or pivot point. Opposite the hinge point of each structure is part of a lock structure that provides the tamper-evident functionality when the lid is folded over and onto the base. The foregoing and other features of the tamper-evident packaging structure of the present invention will be will be apparent from the detailed description that follows.
Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein like-numbered elements refer to like elements throughout,
Referring now to
Referring again to
That portion of the tamper-evident packaging structure 100 that is formed into the lid 40 comprises three primary elements, all of which are preferably contained within the lid tab 44. Specifically, the lid lift tab 44 comprises a slot-like lid opening 42. See
That portion of the tamper-evident packaging structure 100 that is formed into the base 20 comprises four primary elements. Specifically, the base 20 comprises a flat base protrusion 22 and a void 28 disposed behind the base protrusion 22. See
Once formed, the cover 10 is secured to a container (not shown) by engagement of the circumferential lip 41 of the lid 40 with the complementary circumferential receiver 21 that is defined within the base 20. See
As the lid 40 overlays the base 20, the uppermost portion 23 of the base protrusion 22 will extend upwardly and into the slot-like lid opening 42. The catch 45 of the lid opening 42 will engage the lip 24 of the base protrusion 22. At the same time, the lid protrusion 46 will enter the void 28 defined within the base 20, with the lip 48 of the lid protrusion 46 engaging the rearward facing surface 25 of the base protrusion 22. In these positions, the base protrusion 22 will be unable to be flexed inwardly or rearwardly to the point that the catch 45 of the lid opening 42 disengages the lip 24 of the base protrusion 22. At this point, the cover 10 shows that the cover 10 has not been tampered with. See
This cover 10, when combined with a container (not shown), provides a tamper-evident assembly in accordance with the present invention.
Claims
1. A container cover comprising:
- a container cover base;
- a container cover lid, wherein the container cover lid comprises a perimeter and a covering that extends across and within the perimeter of the container cover lid;
- a container cover hinge that connects the container cover base and the container cover lid such that the container cover lid can be folded over and onto the container cover base;
- wherein the container cover base, the container cover lid and the container cover hinge form a unitary structure; and
- a tamper-evident packaging structure comprising a first portion that is formed within the container cover base and a second portion that is formed within the container cover lid.
2. The container cover of claim 1 wherein the first portion of the container cover lid of the tamper-evident packaging structure further comprises a circumferential lip that engages a complementary circumferential receiver that is defined within the container cover base.
3. The container cover of claim 2 wherein the container cover lid further comprises a lid lift tab extending outwardly from the perimeter of the container cover lid.
4. The container cover of claim 3 wherein the container cover lid lift tab is configured to enable a user to pull the container cover lid to an open position via the container lid lift tab.
5. The container cover of claim 3 wherein the container cover lid lift tab comprises a slot-like lid opening.
6. The container cover of claim 5 wherein the slot-like lid opening comprises an outermost portion and a catch extending inwardly of the container cover lid lift tab.
7. The container cover of claim 6 wherein the slot-like lid opening further comprising an opposing side and the opposing side comprising a lid protrusion, the lid protrusion having an outwardly-extending lip.
8. The container cover of claim 7 wherein the container cover base further comprises a flat base protrusion that extends upwardly from the container cover base.
9. The container cover of claim 8 wherein the cover base protrusion further comprises an uppermost portion and a rearward facing surface.
10. The container cover of claim 9 wherein a base protrusion lip extends outwardly from the uppermost portion of the cover base protrusion.
11. The container cover of claim 10 wherein the base protrusion is a frangible pull structure having pull tabs disposed to either side of the cover base protrusion.
12. The container cover of claim 11 wherein the cover base protrusion is removably attached to the base via a plurality of breakable fingers.
13. The container cover of claim 1 wherein the container cover base, the container cover lid and the container cover hinge collectively comprise a single-shot plastic injection-molded structure.
14. A container cover comprises two halves that are integrally-molded wherein the two halves are connected by a hinge that is disposed to one common side of each half; wherein one half is a lid structure and one half is a base structure, both of which are intended to be disposed atop a container, with the base structure in direct contact with the container; and wherein, opposite the hinge of each structure, is part of a lock structure that provides tamper-evident functionality when the lid structure is folded over and onto the base structure.
15. The container cover of claim 14 wherein:
- the first portion of the lid structure of the tamper-evident packaging structure further comprises a circumferential lip that engages a complementary circumferential receiver that is defined within the cover structure, the lid structure further comprising a lid lift tab extending outwardly from the perimeter of the lid structure;
- the lid lift tab is configured to enable a user to pull the lid structure to an open position via the lid lift tab.
- the lid lift tab comprises a slot-like lid opening;
- the slot-like lid opening comprises an outermost portion and a catch extending inwardly of the lid lift tab;
- the slot-like lid opening further comprising an opposing side and the opposing side comprising a lid protrusion, the lid protrusion having an outwardly-extending lip;
- the base structure further comprises a flat base protrusion that extends upwardly from the base structures;
- the base structure protrusion further comprises an uppermost portion and a rearward facing surface;
- a base protrusion lip extends outwardly from the uppermost portion of the cover base protrusion; and
- the base protrusion is a frangible pull structure having pull tabs disposed to either side of the cover base protrusion and the cover base protrusion is removably attached to the base structure via a plurality of breakable fingers.
16. The container cover of claim 15 wherein the base structure, the lid structure and the hinge comprise a single-shot plastic injection-molded and unitary structure.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 7, 2020
Publication Date: Feb 11, 2021
Applicant: SCHOENECK CONTAINERS, INC. (NEW BERLIN, WI)
Inventors: Joshua R. Kouba (Waukesha, WI), Lauren C. Bartlett (Whitefish Bay, WI)
Application Number: 16/988,297