TAMPER EVIDENT CONTAINER
A tamper evident container includes a lid having top and outer walls configured to fit over a flange of a storage element with the outer wall extending below a bottom edge of the flange. The outer wall may include an inwardly extending locking indentation engaging the bottom edge of the flange of the storage element to retain the lid on the storage element. The lid further includes a line of reduced strength extending along a portion of the top wall and/or outer wall to detach a portion of the outer wall and disengage the locking indentation from the flange to allow the lid to be disengaged from the flange without further permanent deformation of the lid or the storage element. The line of reduced strength divides a pull tab.
This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/350,903 filed Jan. 8, 2009 as a continuation in part application. That application claims the benefit of Provisional Patent Application No. 61/019,777, filed Jan. 8, 2008, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELDThe present disclosure is directed to a container for transporting and storing packaged products and, in particular, to a tamper evident container having a release mechanism providing visual evidence that the container has been opened and allowing the container to be reclosed to retain a quantity of a product disposed therein.
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSUREResealable plastic containers in various forms are known in the art. Such containers are particularly useful for storing and transporting perishable items such as perishable foods, and other items being packaged on a small scale and/or close to the point of sale at a grocery store, convenience store and the like. The containers may have a two-piece construction with a bottom bowl, tray, tub or other storage element and a top lid, or may have a one-piece construction with a hinge connecting the lid to the storage element. These types of containers are typically made by thermoforming or blow molding plastics, such as polyesters, polyethylene terephthalate (PETE), polylactic acid (PLA), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polystyrene (PS), polypropylene (PP) and the like.
Because these packages or containers typically contain consumable products, including perishable foods and possibly medications, attempts have been made to provide a tamper-proof construction, or at least a tamper evident lid so that retail employees and consumers can detect when a container has been opened or has been otherwise tampered. It is preferable to provide such a construction without the necessity of using complex molding techniques. In one common type of tamper evident container, shrink wrap is applied around the lid and mouth of the storage element to secure the lid in place. The shrink wrap must be broken before the lid can be removed, thereby providing evidence that the container has been opened. This type of tamper evident container requires the use of an additional shrink wrapping machine and shrink wrapping step to complete the sealing of the container. This may be particularly problematic or time consuming where the food to be packaged in the container is prepared on site and packaged at the retailer. The opening of the package may also be more difficult when the consumer attempts to remove the shrink wrap, and may require the use of a tool such as a scissors or a knife. Consequently, the packaging process may be more labor and equipment intensive, opening the package may be more inconvenient for the consumers, and the additional shrink wrap material may increase the cost of the package.
In another common type of tamper evident container, both the lid and the storage element are modified to provide a locking mechanism that secures the lid to the storage element such that the lid can only be removed by breaking the locking mechanism and thereby providing a visual indication that the container has been opened. For example, U.S. Publ. No. 2007/0138180 to Vovan discloses a container including a base that can hold food and a lid that closes on the base that clearly indicates if the lid has been opened after a clerk loaded food into the base and closed the lid. The base and lid each have trapping portions and pull-open portions with a tear-tab, or tear-open barrier. To close the lid, a clerk projects a tab on the pull-open portion of the lid through a slot in the pull-open portion of the base, and then presses down the entire trapping portion of the lid into the trapping portion of the base. The lid cannot be lifted up because the tear-open barrier forming the top wall of the slot lies over the tab. To open the container, a person must tear the barrier so he/she can pull up the tab and open the lid. The torn barrier provides visual evidence that the container has been opened. In these types of containers, both the lid and the storage element, and the corresponding dies or molds forming these components or other tooling, must be modified to form the locking mechanism, further adding to the cost of producing the containers.
It would, therefore, be desirable to provide a container that overcomes these and other disadvantages.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn accordance with an embodiment of the invention, a tamper evident container for storing a quantity of a product may include a storage element that may have a top edge defining an opening of the storage element and a flange extending outwardly therefrom, and a lid that may have a complementary shape to the opening of the storage element and a top wall and an outer wall configured to fit over the flange of the storage element with the outer wall extending below a bottom edge of the flange. The outer wall may include at least one inwardly extending locking indentation engaging the bottom edge of the flange of the storage element when the lid is disposed on the storage element to retain the lid on the storage element such that the lid cannot be removed from the storage element without permanently deforming at least one of the lid and the storage element. The lid may further include a line of reduced strength extending along a portion of at least one of the top wall and the outer wall to detach a portion of the outer wall and disengage the corresponding portion of the at least one locking indentation from the flange to allow the lid to be disengaged from the flange without further permanent deformation of the lid or the storage element.
In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, a lid for a container for storing a quantity of a product and having a storage element having a top edge defining an opening of the storage element and a flange extending outwardly therefrom, the lid may include a base wall having a complementary shape to the opening of the storage element and an outer wall extending downwardly from the base wall. The base wall and the outer wall may be configured to fit over the flange of the storage element with the outer wall extending below a bottom edge of the flange. The outer wall may include at least one inwardly extending locking indentation that may engage the bottom edge of the flange of the storage element when the lid is disposed on the storage element to retain the lid on the storage element such that the lid cannot be removed from the storage element without permanently deforming at least one of the lid and the storage element. The lid may further include a line of reduced strength extending along a portion of at least one of the base wall and the outer wall to detach a portion of the outer wall and disengage the corresponding portion of the at least one locking indentation from the flange to allow the lid to be disengaged from the flange without further permanent deformation of the lid or the storage element.
In accordance with yet another embodiment of the invention, a lid for storing a quantity of a product and having a storage element having a top edge defining an opening of the storage element and a flange extending outwardly therefrom, the lid may include a base wall, a side wall extending upwardly from the base wall and having a top edge with a complementary shape to the opening of the storage element, a top wall extending downwardly from the side wall at the top edge, and an outer wall, wherein the side wall, the top wall and the outer wall may be configured to fit over the flange of the storage element with the outer wall extending below a bottom edge of the flange. The outer wall may include at least one inwardly extending locking indentation engaging the bottom edge of the flange of the storage element when the lid is disposed on the storage element to retain the lid on the storage element such that the lid cannot be removed from the storage element without permanently deforming at least one of the lid and the storage element. The lid may further include a pull tab disposed adjacent a corner of the outer wall and outwardly extending from the outer wall, and two lines of reduced strength each extending along a portion of at least one of the top wall and the outer wall to detach the corner of the outer wall and disengage the corresponding portion of the at least one locking indentation from the flange to allow the lid to be disengaged from the flange without further permanent deformation of the lid or the storage element.
While the method and device described herein are susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, certain illustrative embodiments thereof have been shown in the drawings and will be described below in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the disclosure and the claims.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONAlthough the following text sets forth a detailed description of numerous different embodiments of the invention, it should be understood that the legal scope of the invention is defined by the words of the claims set forth at the end of this patent. The detailed description is to be construed as exemplary only and does not describe every possible embodiment of the invention since describing every possible embodiment would be impractical, if not impossible. Numerous alternative embodiments could be implemented, using either current technology or technology developed after the filing date of this patent, which would still fall within the scope of the claims defining the invention.
It should also be understood that, unless a term is expressly defined in this patent using the sentence “As used herein, the term ‘______’ is hereby defined to mean . . . ” or a similar sentence, there is no intent to limit the meaning of that term, either expressly or by implication, beyond its plain or ordinary meaning, and such term should not be interpreted to be limited in scope based on any statement made in any section of this patent (other than the language of the claims). To the extent that any term recited in the claims at the end of this patent is referred to in this patent in a manner consistent with a single meaning, that is done for sake of clarity only so as to not confuse the reader, and it is not intended that such claim term be limited, by implication or otherwise, to that single meaning. Finally, unless a claim element is defined by reciting the word “means” and a function without the recital of any structure, it is not intended that the scope of any claim element be interpreted based on the application of 35 U.S.C. §112, sixth paragraph.
In order to provide a container capable of storing a product therein and providing visual evidence of the opening or attempted opening of the container, a bowl, tray, tub or other storage element and a corresponding lid have complementary configurations that require permanent deformation or destruction of one or both components for removal of the lid once the lid is attached to the top of the storage element. The storage element may include an outwardly extending flange at a top edge of the storage element, and the lid may include outwardly and downwardly extending walls that wrap around the flange of the storage element with locking portions, such as locking nipples, tabs, tags, nubs, protrusions, or indentations, having negative angles undercutting the flange to secure the lid to the storage element. The lid further includes a line of reduced strength formed by a series of punctures, score lines or the like along a portion of the outwardly and/or downwardly extending walls that yields to detach a portion of the lid undercutting the flange of the bowl to allow removal of the lid from the bowl. The lid may further include a pull tab extending outwardly and having the line of reduced strength extending between the pull tab and a wall of the lid such that the pull tab may be grasped and pulled away from the lid to break the lid along the line of reduced strength and detach the portion undercutting the flange. In some embodiments, the pull tab is divided by the line of reduced strength, so that after the pull tab is pulled, a portion of the pull tab remains contiguous with the lid, enabling a grasp. Additionally, in certain embodiments, after the container is filled with the product and the lid is attached to the bowl, the outer edge of the lid can be rolled up to mate with the outer edge of the bowl, further increasing the tightness of the fit and providing addition evidence of opening based on the destruction of the package after opening.
Additionally, for packages where leak resistance is a design consideration, an additional inside bead may be included on the lid to improve the leak resistance. The inside bead mates with the container. In addition to controlling for tolerance, the presence of the inside bead on the lid improves the fit between the lid and the bowl. In other embodiments, the inside bead may mate with a complementary feature on the container. Alternatively, the inside bead may be located on the container, or the complementary feature may be on the lid.
The side walls 18 extend upwardly from the bottom wall 16 and terminate at an open top edge 20. The side walls 18 may include an inwardly extending ridge 19 disposed near the open top edge 20. The inwardly extending ridge 19 may engage a corresponding inner slot on the lid 14 to retain the lid 14 on the storage element 12. The inwardly extending ridge 19 may extend substantially continuously along the side walls 18 of the storage element 12. A radial flange 22 extends outwardly at the top edge 20 of the side walls 18 and extends beyond the side walls 18. The flange 22 may include a radially extending portion 24 and a downwardly extending annular portion 26 that are best illustrated in the detail view of the corner of the container 10 at
It should be noted that the dimensions and geometry of the storage element 12 shown in
One embodiment of a tamper evident lid 14 configured to attach at the top edge 20 of the storage element 12 is illustrated in
In the illustrated example of the generally square or rectangular storage element 12, the lid 14 is secured to the storage element 12 at the rounded corners of the flange 22 by providing inwardly protruding locking indentations 40 at each corner. In certain embodiments, the corners of the flange 22 may be squared off with the lid 14 being shaped accordingly. The indentations 40 extend inwardly at a negative angle φ so that the indentations 40 wrap inwardly underneath the annular portion 26 of the flange 22 as shown in
Once the lid 14 is secured to the storage element 12 with the indentations 40 engaging the flange 22 at the corners, the lid 14 cannot be removed from the storage element 12 in a manner that is not evident to an observer. If a person attempts to lift the lid 14 over one of the corners, the indentation 40 collapses under the flange 22 as a force F is applied as shown in
In order to allow the lid 14 to be removed in a manner that allows the container 10 to be reclosed, the lid 14 is configured so that one of the corners may be partially detached from the upper edge 34 and the corresponding corner indentation 40 to disengage from the flange 22 of the storage element 12. Detachment of one corner is sufficient to allow the remaining indentations 40 of the lid 14 to disengage from the flange 22 and also to reengage the flange 22 to temporarily reattach the lid 14 and reclose the container 10 if desired. Referring to
To facilitate detachment of the corner of the lid 14 along the line of reduced strength 42, the lid 14 may include a pull tab 44 attached to a portion of the outer wall 38 of the lid 14 proximate the corner having the line of reduced strength 42. For example, the pull tab 44 may be an outward extension of the top wall 36, or may be angled downwardly from the top wall 36 along the outer wall 38 such that the end of the tab 44 is concurrent with a bottom edge of the outer wall 38. In the embodiment illustrated in
The line of reduced strength 42 may extend from the corner of the lid 14 along the pull tab 44 proximate the point of intersection of the pull tab 44 with the outer wall 38. To further assist the user in opening the container 10, the pull tab 44 may include an arrow 46 formed thereon, or applied after the lid 14 is formed, and pointing in the direction that the pull tab 44 is to be pulled to detach the pull tab 44 and the corner along the line of reduced strength 42. When the user grasps and pulls the pull tab 44 in the direction of the arrow 46 or outwardly from the container 10, the punctures, score lines, or the like cause the pull tab 44 to detach at the end of the pull tab 44 and then along the line of reduced strength 42 around the corner of the lid 14. As the corner detaches at the end of the line of reduced strength 42 and the pull tab 44 is pulled further away from the lid 14, the top wall 36 proximate the end of the line of reduced strength 42 may plastically deform or detach such that the corner and pull tab 44 remain disposed away from the side of the container 10 to provide visual evidence of the opening of the container 10 as shown in
Referring to
The pull tab 44 can include indicia to assist the user in detaching the corner, such as for example, the word “lift” to indicate that the pull tab 44 is to be lifted to detach the pull tab 44 and the corner along the line of reduced strength 42. The pull tab 44 may also include a gripping pattern formed on the pull tab 44 to further aid the user in gripping and detaching the pull tab 44. When the user grasps and pulls the pull tab 44 upwardly and outwardly from the container 10, the line of reduce strength 42 cause the angled portion 47 to detach along the line of reduced strength 42 around the corner of the lid 14. As the corner detaches at the end of the line of reduced strength 42 and the pull tab 44 is pulled further away from the lid 14, the top wall 36 proximate the end of the line of reduced strength 42 may plastically deform or detach such that the corner and pull tab 44 remain disposed away from the side of the container 10 to provide visual evidence of the opening of the container 10. With one of the corners detached, the adjacent corners may be pulled outwardly away from the flange 22 and lifted over the flange 22 to remove the lid 14 from the storage element 12.
Referring to
A line of reduced strength 42 may extend from the corner of the lid 14 along the each of the first and second pull tabs 44, 45 proximate the point of intersection of the pull tabs 44, 45 with the outer wall 38. To further assist the user in opening the container 10, the pull tabs 44, 45 may include arrows 46 formed thereon, or applied after the lid 14 is formed, and pointing in the direction that the pull tabs 44, 45 are to be pulled to detach the pull tabs 44, 45 and the corner along the line of reduced strength 42. The pull tabs 44, 46 may also include a gripping pattern formed on the pull tabs 44, 45 to further aid the user in gripping and detaching the pull tabs 44, 45. Either pull tab 44, 45 can be grasped by the user and pulled to partially or fully detach the pull tab 44 and the corner along the line of reduced strength 42. To partially detach the corner, the user may pull either the first or second pull tab 44, 45 until the pull tab 44, 45 and the corner detach along the line of reduced strength 42, but before the remaining pull tab 44, 45 detaches. To fully detach the corner, the user may pull the first or second pull tab 44, 45, until first or second pull tab 44, 45 detaches along the line of reduced strength 42 around the corner of the lid 14, and continue to pull the first or second pull tab 44, 45 to detach the remaining pull tab 44, 45 along the line of reduced strength 42. The user can also pull both the first and second pull tabs 44, 45 causing both pull tabs 44, 45 to detach from at the end of each of the pull tabs 44, 45 and then along the line of reduced strength 42 around the corner of the lid 14. In each case, the corner of the lid 14 is completely detached from the container 10 to provide visual evidence of the opening of the container 10.
Alternatively, to ensure that the corner is only partially detached, two lines of reduced strength 42 can be provided that extend around the corner but do not intersect. Thus when the user pulls either the first or second pull tab 44, 45 and detaches the pull tab 44, 45 and the corner along only one of the lines of reduced strength 42, the remaining pull tab 44, 45, and consequently the corner, remains attached to the lid 14.
As further shown in
Referring to
As discussed above, other container 10 shapes are contemplated. For example, the container 10 may have a round opening, and a round lid 14 may be provided. In such a round configuration, the lid 14 may have a series of indentations 40 spaced around the outer wall 38 of the lid 14. Alternatively, the lid 14 may have a single indentation 40 around all of or substantially the entire outer wall 38. In either configuration, the indentation(s) 40 prevent the lid 14 from being removed from the storage element 12 without evidence of the removal. The lid 14 also includes a line of reduced strength 42 and a pull tab 44 as discussed above. In the circular configuration, the line of reduced strength 42 may extend in the range of 30° to 120°, and in some embodiments in the range of 60° to 90° around the circumference of the top wall 36 of the lid 14 to ensure a sufficient amount of detachment of the indentation(s) 40 to allow the lid 14 to be removed from the storage element 12. This arc of 30° to 120° can provide an opening for grasping via a finger hole of a predetermined size to ease in opening.
In the illustrated embodiment, an internal lock may be formed by the engagement of a ridge 119 of the storage element 112 and a slot 133 of the lid 114 in a similar manner as described above. Referring to
As shown in
The lid 114 of the container 110 of
When the lid 214 is attached to the storage element 212, the ridge 219 may deflect outwardly and/or the slot 233 may deflect inwardly to allow the ridge 219 to be received in and engaged by the slot 233. Once the ridge 219 is received in the slot 233, the resiliency of the material(s) from which the storage element 212 and the lid 214 are fabricated allow the components to return their normal geometries to lock the lid 214 onto the storage element 212. The outwardly extending top wall 236 and downwardly extending outer wall 238 of the lid 214 may extend over the flange 222 of the storage element 212, which may prevent a user from reaching under the lid and pulling on the flange 222 to separate the flange 222 from the top wall 236 and disengage the ridge 219 from the slot 233 to open the container in a manner not evident to an observer. The downwardly extending outer wall 238 may further include an outwardly extending portion disposed at a bottom edge of the outer wall 238.
The container 210 may further include a line of reduced strength 242, such as a line of punctures, score lines, a continuous line of reduced thickness, a blade scoring line having punctures and bridges adjacent the punctures, and combinations thereof The line of reduced strength 242 can be formed as described above and can extend along a portion of the top and outer walls 236, 238 at one of the corners, along one of the sides, or a combination thereof, to allow for detachment of the portion, and thereby allow a user to reach under the lid and access the flange 222 to disengage the ridge 219 from the slot 233 and, consequently, the lid 214 from the storage element 214.
As described above, to facilitate detachment of a portion of the top and outer walls 236, 238 along the line of reduced strength 242, the lid 214 may include a pull tab 244 attached to a portion of the outer wall 238 of the lid 214 proximate the portion of the outer wall and/or top wall having the line of reduced strength 242. When the user grasps and pulls the pull tab 244 outwardly from the container 210, the punctures, score lines, or the like cause the pull tab 244 to detach at the end of the pull tab 244 and then along the line of reduced strength 242 along the top and/or outer wall 236, 238. Detachment of a portion of the top and/or outer wall 236, 238 may then allow a user reach under the top wall 236 of the lid 214 to disengage the ridge 219 of the storage element 212 from the slot 233 of the lid 214, and thereby detach the lid 214 from the storage element 212. The detachment of the portion of the top and/or outer wall 236, 238 may also allow the user access to a portion of the storage element 212 which may be grasped and provide leverage for disengaging the lid 214 from the storage element 212.
In one embodiment, the end ridge of the outer wall 38 is ‘rolled’ in to extend a distance sufficient to increase the strength of the end ridge. This simultaneously increases the strength of the lid and also results in a tighter lock between the lid and the package to further restrict opening. In such an embodiment, the rolling of the end ridge creates a flanged portion extending radially away from the side wall at the terminal edge of the lid. The rolled edge can be formed via mold, or by the application of a mechanical force during the manufacture or after filling the bowl with a product and closing the lid. The mechanical force may be applied with a machine, or via a finger or similar human interaction for example by squeezing and working around the perimeter or by pressing the bowl and lid together circumferentially.
In addition to the arrangement illustrated in
While the present invention has been described with reference to specific examples, which are intended to be illustrative only and not to be limiting of the invention, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that changes, additions or deletions may be made to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Claims
1. A tamper evident container for storing a quantity of a product, comprising:
- a storage element having a top edge defining an opening of the storage element and having a flange extending outwardly therefrom; and
- a lid having a complementary shape to the opening of the storage element and including a top wall and an outer wall configured to fit over the flange of the storage element with the outer wall extending below a bottom edge of the flange, the outer wall including at least one inwardly extending locking indentation engaging the bottom edge of the flange of the storage element when the lid is disposed on the storage element to retain the lid on the storage element such that the lid cannot be removed from the storage element without permanently deforming at least one of the lid and the storage element, the lid further including a line of reduced strength extending along a portion of at least one of the top wall and the outer wall to detach a portion of the outer wall and disengage the corresponding portion of the at least one locking indentation from the flange to allow the lid to be disengaged from the flange without further permanent deformation of the lid or the storage element, and wherein the lid comprises a pull tab extending outwardly from the outer wall with the line of reduced strength extending along the pull tab proximate the outer wall such that the pull tab may be grasped and pulled away from the lid to separate the tab and outer wall from the lid along the line of reduced strength, and wherein the line of reduced strength divides the pull tab.
2. The tamper evident container of claim 1, wherein the opening of the storage element is substantially rectangular and includes four corners, wherein the lid has a corresponding rectangular shape and the outer wall of the lid has four locking indentations each disposed at one of the corners and engaging the bottom edge of the flange at the corresponding corner, and wherein the line of reduced strength extends along the top wall around one of the corners such that the corresponding locking indentation disengages from the flange when the portion of the outer wall is separated from the lid along the line of reduced strength.
3. The tamper evident container of claim 1, wherein the opening of the storage element is a shape selected from the group consisting of a round shape, an oval shape, a rectangular shape, and a rounded rectangular shape, and wherein the lid has a corresponding shape.
4. The tamper evident container of claim 1, wherein the line of reduced strength extends circumferentially along the top wall of the lid to substantially define an arc in the range of 30° to 120° along the top wall when opening of the storage element and the lid have a round shape.
5. The tamper evident container of claim 3, wherein the lid comprises one locking indentation extending substantially the entire length of the outer wall.
6. The tamper evident container of claim 3 wherein the lid comprises more than one locking indentation, each locking indentation extending a portion of the entire length of the outer wall, such that the portion is less than the entire length of the outer wall.
7. The tamper evident container of claim 1, wherein the lid further comprises a second pull tab extending outwardly from the outer wall and disposed opposite the pull tab, with the line of reduced strength extending along the second pull tab such that the second pull tab may be grasped and pulled away from the lid to separate the second pull tab and outer wall from the lid along the line of reduced strength.
8. The tamper evident container of claim 1, wherein the storage element further includes a side wall extending downwardly from the top edge with a portion of the side wall adjacent the top edge angled outwardly away from a center of the storage element as the portion extends downwardly from the top edge, and the lid further includes an inner wall extending downwardly from the top wall with a portion of the inner wall adjacent the top wall being angled outwardly away from a center of the lid as the portion extends downwardly from the top wall such that the angled portion of the inner wall engages the angled portion of the side wall of the storage element to retain the lid on the storage element.
9. The tamper evident container of claim 1, wherein the storage element further includes a side wall extending downwardly from the top edge and a ridge extending along the side wall, and the lid further includes an inner wall extending downwardly from the top wall and a slot extending along the inner wall and sized to receive and engage the ridge to retain the lid on the storage element.
10. The tamper evident container of claim 1, wherein the at least one locking indentation extends inwardly at approximately a 45° negative angle.
11. The tamper evident container of claim 1, wherein the at least one locking indentation extends inwardly at approximately a 0° negative angle.
12. The tamper evident container of claim 1, wherein the line of reduced strength comprises one or more of a line of punctures, a score line, a line of reduced thickness, and a blade scoring line having punctures and bridges adjacent the puncture.
13. A lid for a container for storing a quantity of a product and having a storage element having a top edge defining an opening of the storage element and a flange extending outwardly therefrom, the lid comprising:
- a base wall having a complementary shape to the opening of the storage element;
- an outer wall extending downwardly from the base wall, wherein the base wall and the outer wall are configured to fit over the flange of the storage element with the outer wall extending below a bottom edge of the flange, and wherein the outer wall includes at least one inwardly extending locking indentation engaging the bottom edge of the flange of the storage element when the lid is disposed on the storage element to retain the lid on the storage element such that the lid cannot be removed from the storage element without permanently deforming at least one of the lid and the storage element;
- a line of reduced strength extending along a portion of at least one of the base wall and the outer wall to detach a portion of the outer wall and disengage the corresponding portion of the at least one locking indentation from the flange to allow the lid to be disengaged from the flange without further permanent deformation of the lid or the storage element; and
- a pull tab extending outwardly from the outer wall with the line of reduced strength extending along the pull tab proximate the outer wall such that the pull tab may be grasped and pulled away from the lid to separate the tab and outer wall from the lid along the line of reduced strength, and wherein the line of reduced strength divides the pull tab.
14. The lid of claim 13, wherein the opening of the storage element is rectangular and includes four corners, wherein the lid has a corresponding rectangular shape and the outer wall of the lid has four locking indentations each disposed at one of the corners and engaging the bottom edge of the flange at the corresponding corner, and wherein the line of reduced strength extends along the top wall around one of the corners such that the corresponding locking indentation disengages from the flange when the portion of the outer wall is separated from the lid along the line of reduced strength.
15. The lid of claim 13, wherein the opening of the storage element is a shape selected from the group consisting of a round shape, an oval shape, a rectangular shape, and a rounded rectangular shape, and wherein the lid has a corresponding shape.
16. The lid of claim 13, wherein the lid comprises one locking indentation extending substantially the entire length of the outer wall.
17. The lid of claim 13, further comprising a second pull tab extending outwardly from the outer wall and disposed opposite the pull tab, with the line of reduced strength extending along the second pull tab proximate the outer wall such that the second pull tab may be grasped and pulled away from the lid to separate the second pull tab and outer wall from the lid along the line of reduced strength.
18. The lid of claim 13, wherein the line of reduced strength comprises one or more of a line of punctures, a score line, a line of reduced thickness, and a blade scoring line having punctures and bridges adjacent the puncture.
19. The lid of claim 13, wherein the base wall comprises a side wall extending upwardly from the base wall and having a top edge with a complementary shape to the opening of the storage element, and a top wall extending outwardly from the side wall at the top edge, a portion of the side wall adjacent the top edge angled outwardly away from a center of the lid as the portion extends downwardly from the top wall such that the angled portion of the side wall of the lid corresponds to and engages a portion of a side wall of the storage element angled outwardly away from a center of the storage element as the portion extends downwardly from the top edge of the storage element to retain the lid on the storage element.
20. The lid of claim 13, wherein the base wall comprises a side wall extending upwardly from the base wall and having a top edge with a complementary shape to the opening of the storage element, a top wall extending outwardly from the side wall at the top edge, and a ridge extending along the side wall, the ridge receiving and engaging a slot extending along a side wall of the storage element that downwardly extends from the top edge of the storage element to retain the lid on the storage element.
21. A lid for storing a quantity of a product and having a storage element having a top edge defining an opening of the storage element and a flange extending outwardly therefrom, the lid comprising:
- a base wall;
- a side wall extending upwardly from the base wall and having a top edge with a complementary shape to the opening of the storage element;
- a top wall extending outwardly from the side wall at the top edge;
- an outer wall, wherein the side wall, the top wall and the outer wall are configured to fit over the flange of the storage element with the outer wall extending below a bottom edge of the flange, the outer wall including at least one inwardly extending locking indentation engaging the bottom edge of the flange of the storage element when the lid is disposed on the storage element to retain the lid on the storage element such that the lid cannot be removed from the storage element without permanently deforming at least one of the lid and the storage element;
- a pull tab disposed adjacent a portion of the outer wall and outwardly extending from the outer wall; and
- two lines of reduced strength each extending along the portion of at least one of the top wall and the outer wall to detach the portion of the outer wall and disengage the corresponding portion of the at least one locking indentation from the flange to allow the lid to be disengaged from the flange without further permanent deformation of the lid or the storage element, and wherein at least one of the lines of reduced strength divides the pull tab.
22. The lid of claim 21, wherein the opening of the storage element is rectangular and includes four corners, wherein the lid has a corresponding rectangular shape and the outer wall of the lid has four locking indentations each disposed at one of the corners and engaging the bottom edge of the flange at the corresponding corner, and wherein the lines of reduced strength extends along the top wall adjacent opposite sides of one of the corners such that the corresponding locking indentation disengages from the flange when the portion of the outer wall is separated from the lid along the lines of reduced strength.
23. The lid of claim 21, wherein the lines of reduced strength each comprise one or more of a line of punctures, a score line, a line of reduced thickness, and a blade scoring line having punctures and bridges adjacent the puncture.
24. The lid of claim 21, wherein a portion of the side wall adjacent the top edge is angled outwardly away from a center of the lid as the portion extends downwardly from the top edge such that the angled portion of the side wall of the lid corresponds to and engages a portion of a side wall of the storage element angled outwardly away from a center of the storage element as the portion extends downwardly from the top edge of the storage element to retain the lid on the storage element.
25. The lid of claim 21, wherein the side wall includes a ridge extending along the side wall, the ridge receiving and engaging a slot extending along a side wall of the storage element that downwardly extends from the top edge of the storage element to retain the lid on the storage element.
26. A tamper evident container for storing a quantity of a product, comprising:
- a storage element having a top edge defining an opening of the storage element and having a flange extending outwardly therefrom, and a side wall downwardly extending from the top edge, the sidewall including an inwardly extending ridge formed on the sidewall; and
- a lid having a complementary shape to the opening of the storage element and including a top wall and an outer wall configured to fit over the flange of the storage element with the outer wall extending below a bottom edge of the flange, the lid further including an inner wall downwardly extending from the top wall, the inner wall including a slot configured to receive and engage the ridge of the storage element when the lid is disposed on the storage element to retain the lid on the storage element such that the lid cannot be removed from the storage element without permanently deforming at least one of the lid and the storage element, the lid further including a line of reduced strength extending along a portion of at least one of the top wall and the outer wall to detach a portion of the outer wall and allow a user to access a corresponding portion of the flange to separate the flange from the top wall and disengage a portion of the ridge from the slot to allow the lid to be disengaged from the storage element without further permanent deformation of the lid or the storage element, wherein the lid comprises a pull tab extending outwardly from the outer wall with the line of reduced strength extending along the pull tab proximate the outer wall such that the pull tab may be grasped and pulled away from the lid to separate the tab and outer wall from the lid along the line of reduced strength, wherein the pull tab is divided by the line of reduced strength.
27. The tamper evident container of claim 26, wherein the pull tab comprises a surface extending downwardly from the top wall to a bottom edge of the outer wall.
28. The tamper evident container of claim 26, wherein the line of reduced strength comprises one or more of a line of punctures, a score line, a line of reduced thickness, and a blade scoring line having punctures and bridges adjacent the puncture.
29. The tamper evident container of claim 26 further comprising at least a first inside bead on the lid, the inside bead extending along the outer wall and mating with the container.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 2, 2009
Publication Date: Apr 8, 2010
Inventors: George A. Golota (Glenview, IL), Michael A. Drozek (Palatine, IL), James J. Sanfilippo (Barrington Hills, IL), Roman Forowycz (Lake Forest, IL), John E. Sanfilippo (Barrington Hills, IL), Francisco J. Soria (West Chicago, IL)
Application Number: 12/610,983
International Classification: B65D 17/34 (20060101); B65D 45/00 (20060101);