HINGED TOP CONTAINER WITH TAMPER EVIDENT FEATURE

Abstract

Various embodiments include a tamper evident container including a container base, a lid, and a tamper evident tab. The container base may include an inner chamber for holding one or more added substances and a container opening for accessing the inner chamber from outside the container base. The lid may be sized to securely close the container opening. The lid may prevent access to the inner chamber through the container opening from outside the container base without at least partially removing the lid from the container opening. The tamper evident tab may be pivotally secured to the lid and attached to the container base. Separation of the tamper evident tab from the container base may provide an indication that the tamper evident container has been opened.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/439,558, filed Dec. 28, 2016 and titled, “Hinged Top Container with Tamper Evident Feature,” the entire content each of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

Containers with child resistant packaging are often used to reduce the risk of children ingesting dangerous substances. Such containers often include a safety cap, which is required by regulation for prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, household chemicals, and other unsafe substances. Child resistant packaging may deter access to children, but such containers once opened and reclosed do not generally provide any visual indication that the container has been opened. Thus, child resistant packaging may benefit from features providing an indication that the container has been opened, to alert a consumer to potential tampering.

SUMMARY

Various embodiments include a tamper evident container including a container base, a lid, and a tamper evident tab. The container base may include an inner chamber for holding one or more added substances and a container opening for accessing the inner chamber from outside the container base. The lid may be sized to securely close the container opening. The lid may prevent access to the inner chamber through the container opening from outside the container base without at least partially removing the lid from the container opening. The tamper evident tab may be pivotally secured to the lid and attached to the container base. Separation of the tamper evident tab from the container base may provide an indication that the tamper evident container has been opened.

In various embodiments, the lid may include a tab stop that extends beyond an outer periphery of the container base. The tamper evident tab may be pivotally secured to the lid at a surface of the tab stop. The tamper evident tab may be configured to pivot toward the tab stop once the tamper evident tab is separated from the container base. A distal end of the tab stop may include a locking notch configured to receive and hold an interlocking protrusion on the tamper evident tab. The tab stop may include an aperture and the tamper evident tab may include a protruding element. The tamper evident tab may be configured to pivot toward the tab stop until the protruding element at least partially sits inside the aperture of the tab stop.

The tamper evident tab may be pivotally secure to the lid by a flexure bearing. The tamper evident tab may be configured to remain pivotally secured to the lid once the tamper evident tab is separated from the container base. Also, the tamper evident tab may be integrally formed with the lid. the attachment between the tamper evident tab and the container base may be configured to brake, in response to pressure being applied to a distal end of the tamper evident tab in a direction away from the container base.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and constitute part of this specification, illustrate exemplary aspects of the various embodiments, and together with the general description and the detailed description given herein, serve to explain the features of the embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a contemporary child resistant safety packaging, as known in the prior art.

FIG. 2 is a perspective close-up view of a thumb tab on a lid of the contemporary child resistant safety packaging of FIG. 1, as known in the prior art.

FIG. 3 is a perspective close-up view of a tamper evident container with a tamper evident tab in accordance with various embodiments.

FIG. 4 is a close-up side view of the tamper evident container shown in FIG. 3, with the tamper evident tab in the unopened position, in accordance with various embodiments.

FIG. 5 is a close-up side view of the tamper evident tab shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, with the tamper evident tab in an opened and locked position, in accordance with various embodiments.

FIG. 6 is a close-up side view of a tamper evident container with an alternative tamper evident tab in an opened and locked position, in accordance with various embodiments.

FIG. 7 is a close-up perspective view of a tamper evident container with an alternative lid and tamper evident tab in an opened and locked position, in accordance with various embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. References made to particular examples and implementations are for illustrative purposes, and are not intended to limit the scope of the embodiments or the claims.

Contemporary child resistant safety packaging 5, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, may include a base container 10 and a lid 20, an example of which is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,180,072. The lid 20 may include a flange 25 radially extending slightly beyond an inner collar that fits into an upper opening of the base container 10, snugly inside an upper rim 15 thereof. In a closed configuration (as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2), the flange 25 may sit directly on an upper surface of the upper rim 15. To aid in opening the child resistant safety packaging 5, the lid 20 may include a thumb tab 28. The thumb tab 28 may give a user some leverage for pulling the lid 20 away from the base container 10 to access the contents thereof (i.e., lifting the lid 20 off the base container 10 in the orientation shown in FIGS. 1 and 2). This type of child resistant safety packaging 5 may be opened and reclosed without leaving any visual evidence to alert a consumer to potential tampering.

In overview, various embodiments provide a tamper evident structure, such as in the form of a tamper evident tab, that provides a visual indication that a container has been opened. This feature may be helpful when the tamper evident container 100 is being used to hold a consumable product.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate an embodiment tamper evident container 100 in an unopened position, in accordance with various embodiments. In particular, the tamper evident container 100 may include a container base 110, a lid 200, and a tamper evident tab 300. The tamper evident tab 300 may be initially formed and/or assembled in an unopened position, shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. In the unopened position, the tamper evident tab 300 may be pivotally secured to the lid 200 and attached to the container base 110. As used herein, the term “pivotally secured” refers to an attachment/connection that supports pivot movement between the attached/connected structures. The attachment to the container base 110 may hold the tamper evident tab 300 in place, preventing movement of the tamper evident tab 300.

Separation of the tamper evident tab 300 from the container base 110 provides an indication that the tamper evident container 100 has been opened. Although the tamper evident container 100 may not have actually been opened, the broken attachment between the container base 110 and the tamper evident tab 300 at least indicates that the tamper evident container may have been opened. Additionally, once the attachment between the tamper evident tab 300 and the container base 110 is broken, a consumer may pivot a distal end 310 of the tamper evident tab 300 away from the container base 110. The tamper evident tab 300, once separated from the container base 110, is configuration to pivot upwardly until it reaches the tab stop 240, which coincides with the fully open position (see, FIGS. 5-7). The tamper evident tab 300 may remain pivotally secured to the lid 200 after being separated from the container base 110.

The container base 110 may include an inner chamber for holding one or more added substances (e.g., medicine). In addition, the container base 110 may include a container opening for accessing the inner chamber from outside the container base. Like a pill bottle, the container opening may be at the top of the container base 110.

The lid 200 may be configured to securely close the container opening. In this way, the lid 200 may be sized to match and/or mate with the container opening. Thus, when properly secured to cover the container opening, the lid 200 may prevent access to the inner chamber through the container opening from outside the container base without at least partially removing the lid from the container opening. Similarly, the lid 200 may prevent any added substances held within the inner chamber from being removed and/or falling out.

The lid 200 may include a peripheral flange 225 that extends around the outer perimeter of most of the lid 200. The peripheral flange 225 may be configured to cover an upper rim 115 of the container base 110. Both the peripheral flange 225 and the upper rim 115 may have matching peripheral shapes, such as the zig-zag shaped edge illustrated, which align when the lid 200 closes the container opening of the container base 110. By having matching peripheral shapes, the peripheral flange 225 and the upper rim 115 may make it difficult to open the container without using the tab stop and/or the tamper evident tab 300. Thus, when the lid 200 is fully seated on the container base 110, a seam 175 between the peripheral flange 225 and the upper rim 115 may be difficult to notice.

The lid 200 may also include a tab stop 240 that extends beyond an outer periphery of the peripheral flange 225, the upper rim 115, and the container base 110. The tab stop 240 is configured to limit the pivotal movement of the tamper evident tab 300. In some embodiments, the tab stop 240 may not protrude as far beyond the upper rim 115 as contemporary thumb tabs (e.g., 28 in FIG. 2) used on conventional child resistant safety packaging. In fact, a length that the tab stop 240 extends beyond the upper rim 115 may be too short for a consumer to get under with a finger. In this way, the tab stop 240 may be difficult to use as a thumb tab, which encourages someone wanting to open the tamper evident container 100 to lift and use the tamper evident tab 300. Once in the fully open position, pivoted up against the tab stop 240, the tamper evident tab 300 may be used like a conventional thumb tab. Alternatively, the tab stop 240 may extend just as far if not further beyond the upper rim 115 as contemporary thumb tabs.

The tamper evident tab 300 may include a proximal end 395 and a distal end 310 opposite the proximal end 395. The proximal end 395 may be attached to the lower surface 243 of the tab stop 240, near where the upper rim 115 meets a base of the tab stop 240. A central portion 350 of the tamper evident tab 300, between the proximal end 395 and the distal end 310, may be configured to be attached to the container base 110. In the unopened position, the central portion 350 and the lift portion 330 may extend downwardly, away from the lid 200. A lift portion 330, near the distal end 310 may include indicia (e.g., “LIFT TO OPEN”) or other symbols that suggest to a user how to open the tamper evident container 100.

The tamper evident tab 300 may be pivotally secured to the lid 200 at a lower surface 243 of the tab stop 240, as shown in FIG. 4. Thus, the tamper evident tab 300 and the lid may be connected to eachother. In various embodiments a flexure bearing may provide the pivotal movement between the tamper evident tab 300 and the lid 200. In this way, the tamper evident tab 300 and the lid 200 may be integrally formed as rigid or semi-rigid structures joined by a thin hinge area 390 that provides a so-call “living joint.” The thin hinge area 390 may be flexible enough to bend, enabling the pivotal movement. With a flexure bearing type union, the tamper evident tab 300 and the lid 200 may be integrally formed. Alternatively, other pivotal couplings and/or hinges may be used that pivotally secure the tamper evident tab 300 and the lid 200, when formed as separate elements.

The tamper evident tab 300, which is a tamper evident structure, may be molded or otherwise formed as part of the lid 200. During assembly, once the lid 200 is positioned such that the lid 200 covers the container opening, the tamper evident tab 300 may be folded down and/or held against the container base 110. While held against the container base 110, the central portion 350 may be adhered to the container base 110 by means of ultrasonic welding. For example, a small protrusion of material 130 may serve as a connection point between the upper rim 115 and the central portion 350. The small protrusion of material 130 may be plastic or other fusible material. Alternatively, means other than ultrasonic welding may be used to connect the tamper evident tab 300 to the container base 110. For example, one or more adhesives, other welding methods, or mechanical connections may be used. Once the inner chamber of the container base 110 has been loaded with an added substance (e.g., medicine) and the tamper evident tab 300 adhered to the container base 110, the tamper evident container 100 may not be opened without breaking the connection between the tamper evident tab 300 and the container base 110. The bond between the tamper evident tab 300 and the container base 110 may be configured to be overcome (i.e., broken) by a consumer, once that consumer is ready to open the tamper evident container 100.

The attachment between the tamper evident tab 300 and the container base 110 may be configured to brake in response to pressure being applied by a consumer. For example, the consumer may apply pressure to the distal end 310 of the tamper evident tab 300 in a direction away from the container base 110 to separate the tamper evident tab 300 from the container base.

Between the central portion 350 and the distal end 310, the tamper evident tab 300 may include a step, which provides with one or more additional features. For example, one feature of the step is to provide a lift surface 320 that initially faces the upper rim 115 may be offset from the upper rim 115 more than the central portion 350 to make room for a user to engage the lift surface with a finger. By applying pressure away from the upper rim 115, on the lift surface 320, a consumer may more easily brake the attachment between the tamper evident tab 300 and the container base 110.

When a consumer is ready to open the tamper evident container 100, the consumer may firmly pull on the tamper evident tab 300 and it may break away from the upper rim 115, enabling the tamper evident tab 300 to pivot. After the tamper evident tab 300 has been separated from the container base 110, the tamper evident tab 300 may be rotated (i.e., pivoted) about its connection point with the tab stop 240 into an open position. Separation of the tamper evident tab 300 from the container base 110 provides an indication that the tamper evident container 100 has been opened.

FIG. 5 illustrates a close-up view of the tamper evident tab 300 pivoted into an open position. After the tamper evident container 100 has been opened, the tamper evident tab 300 may no longer be needed. A problem could arise from the tamper evident tab 300 hanging loose. For example, too much pivotal movement by the tamper evident tab 300 may cause the tamper evident tab 300 to break off and get lost or mix with the contents of the tamper evident container 100. To mitigate these possible circumstances, the tamper evident tab 300 may be configured to be held in the fully open position, up against the tab stop 240.

The step between the central portion 350 and the distal end 310 of the tamper evident tab 300 may also include an interlocking feature. In particular, an outer edge or surface on the step may include an interlocking protrusion 345. The interlocking protrusion 345 may be configured to be received and held in a locking notch disposed in the distal end of the tab stop 240. The interlocking protrusion 345 may hold the tamper evident tab 300 up against the tab stop 240, once pivoted to the open position and held in-place with the interlocking protrusion 345 firmly seated in the locking notch 245. The interlocking protrusion 345 may be configured to snap into the locking notch 245 formed at the distal end of the tab stop 240. The dimensions of the central portion 350 and position of the interlocking protrusion 345 may be configured to provide sufficient interference to hold the interlocking protrusion 345 in the locking notch 245.

After the tamper evident tab 300 has been snapped into its final location, secured against the tab stop 240, a consumer may simply push up on the lift surface 320 of the tamper evident tab 300 to open the lid 200. Indicia on an upper surface of the lift portion 330 may provide instruction in this regard to the consumer.

FIG. 6 illustrates a tamper evident container 101 in the fully opened position, in accordance with various embodiments. The tamper evident container 101 may be similar to the tamper evident container 100 described above. One alternative aspect is that the tamper evident container 101 may include a modified interlocking structure for holding an alternative tamper evident tab 301 in an open position up against the tab stop 240. The alternative tamper evident tab 301 includes a slightly extended step portion with an alternative interlocking protrusion 346. The interlocking protrusion 346, rather than being configured to snap into a locking notch, is configured to snap over a top edge 249 of the tab stop 240. The dimensions of the central portion 350, the step, and position of the alternative interlocking protrusion 346 may be configured to provide sufficient interference to hold the alternative interlocking protrusion 346 on the tab stop 240.

In various embodiments, when the tamper evident tabs 300, 301 have been separated from the container base 110 (i.e., detached from the upper rim 115), a small damaged area 325, on the underside of the central portion 350, may remain where the connection was broken. Similarly, on the upper rim 115, some damage or the remains of the small protrusion of material 130 used to weld the tamper evident tabs 300, 301 to the container base 110 may be visible after separation. Such damage or remains may provide evidence that the tamper evident container 100 has been opened.

In various embodiments, the thin hinge area 390 of the tamper evident tab 300 may be configured to partially break or separate, as shown in FIG. 6. Only a small sliver of the thin hinge area 390 may be needed to remain intact in order to provide the pivotal coupling. In addition, a partially broken thin hinge area 390 may provide the option for a consumer to tear-off and dispose of the tamper evident tab 300.

FIG. 7 illustrates a tamper evident container 102 in an opened position, in accordance with various embodiments. The tamper evident container 102 may be similar to the tamper evident containers 100, 101 described above. One alternative aspect is that the tamper evident container 102 may include an alternative tab stop 241. The alternative tab stop 241 may include an aperture 250 that is configured to receive a protruding element 351 extending from the central portion 350 of the tamper evident tab 300. Once the tamper evident tab 300 is pivoted toward the alternative tab stop 241, the protruding element 351 may at least partially sit inside the aperture 250. The protruding element 351 may include its own interlocking elements that mate with and are held by portions of the side wall of the aperture 250. Additionally, or alternatively, the protruding element 351 may serve as backstop for providing sufficient interference to hold the interlocking protrusions 345, 346 in position, holding the tamper evident tab 300 up against the tab stop 240, 241.

The preceding description of the disclosed embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the claims. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from the scope of the claims. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the following claims and the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A tamper evident container, comprising:

a container base including an inner chamber for holding one or more added substances and a container opening for accessing the inner chamber from outside the container base;

a lid sized to securely close the container opening, wherein the lid prevents access to the inner chamber through the container opening from outside the container base without at least partially removing the lid from the container opening; and

a tamper evident tab pivotally secured to the lid and attached to the container base, wherein separation of the tamper evident tab from the container base provides an indication that the tamper evident container has been opened.

2. The tamper evident container of claim 1, wherein the lid includes a tab stop that extends beyond an outer periphery of the container base, wherein the tamper evident tab is pivotally secured to the lid at a surface of the tab stop.

3. The tamper evident container of claim 2, wherein the tamper evident tab is configured to pivot toward the tab stop once the tamper evident tab is separated from the container base.

4. The tamper evident container of claim 2, wherein a distal end of the tab stop includes a locking notch configured to receive and hold an interlocking protrusion on the tamper evident tab.

5. The tamper evident container of claim 2, wherein the tab stop includes an aperture and the tamper evident tab include a protruding element, wherein the tamper evident tab is configured to pivot toward the tab stop until the protruding element at least partially sits inside the aperture.

6. The tamper evident container of claim 1, wherein the tamper evident tab is pivotally secure to the lid by a flexure bearing.

7. The tamper evident container of claim 1, wherein the tamper evident tab is configured to remain pivotally secured to the lid once the tamper evident tab is separated from the container base.

8. The tamper evident container of claim 1, wherein the tamper evident tab is integrally formed with the lid.

9. The tamper evident container of claim 1, wherein the attachment between the tamper evident tab and the container base is configured to brake in response to pressure being applied to a distal end of the tamper evident tab in a direction away from the container base.