TAMPER EVIDENT FOOD PACKAGES
A food container is provided with a tub and lid, the lid having a locking edge configured to snap-fit into a raised rim of said tub. The lid also has a foldable security tab that has a locking lug for connecting with a corresponding locking indent on the lid. The foldable security tab is perforated such that when the perforation is broken a lift handle portion of the security tag remains connected to the locking edge to allow the lid to be removed from the tub, and a portion of the security tab with the locking lug remains attached to the lid, connected in the locking indent.
This application claims the benefit of priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/529,179, filed on Jul. 6, 2017 the entirety of which is incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND Field of the InventionThe present invention relates to tamper evident food packaging. More particularly, the present invention relates to tamper evident food packaging with a security tab that is not removed.
Description of Related ArtPrior art plastic tamper evident packaging, such as food packaging, use several different features to show that a sealed package has been tampered with. Some sealed packages have a shrink band placed over the package to seal the tub and the lid. Other sealed food packages have a contiguous locking tab/strip between the tub and lid that is “un-zipped” in order to open the two halves. Yet another prior art design for sealed plastic food packaging is to place a large paper label over the closed tub and lid where the paper label wraps around the closed edges of the package to keep the lid and tub from opening and to identify if it has ever been opened.
These methods have inherent drawbacks. Shrink wrapping is an additional step that adds cost and more waste to the environment. The zipper type package, once opened, leaves two exposed edges that have teeth similar to a saw blade that can be a hazard, particularly with food items, and the tab that is un-zipped is again environmental waste. Lastly, the packages that use large labels that wrap around the lid and tub add a significant amount to the overall cost and otherwise decreases the recyclability of the package.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARYThe present arrangement provides a food package where the lid includes a perforated closure tab. The tab is designed to fold back onto the center of the lid in the advertisement area and affixes itself using a male/female button to snap together. This segment of the tab is substantially permanently affixed to the lid by being covered with the product label. When in the closed state the lid and tub are mated and the closure tab is snapped in place and the advertisement/label is placed over the closed tab. To open, the perforated tab is broken providing a lift tab to release the lid from the edge of the tub with the other part of the tab remaining attached to the lid under the label.
To this end a food container has a tub and lid, the lid having a locking edge configured to snap-fit into a raised rim of said tub. The lid also has a foldable security tab that has a locking lug for connecting with a corresponding locking indent on the lid. The foldable security tab is perforated such that when the perforation is broken a lift handle portion of the security tag remains connected to the locking edge to allow the lid to be removed from the tub, and a portion of the security tab with the locking lug remains attached to the lid, connected in the locking indent.
The present invention can be best understood through the following description and accompanying drawings, wherein:
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In one embodiment as shown in
As shown in
Once lid 20 is attached to tub 10 in this manner locking lug 32 of tab 30 is folded over and pressed into locking indent 34 in or near the middle of lid 20 as shown in
To remove lid 20 from tub 10, as shown in
In this embodiment, as shown in
Both embodiments of the present arrangement provide for a closure arrangement that eliminates the separable zipper from the prior art. The interaction between lid 20/120 and tub 10/110, either as two separate pieces or as a one-piece clamshell, lock together by having securing edge 22/122 snap-lock into raised rail 14/114, and are secured with tab 30/130. Tab 30/130 is designed to fold back onto lid 20/120. Once perforated section 36 of tab 30 or perforated section 142 of label 140 has been operated there is now evidence of tampering.
While only certain features of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, many modifications, substitutions, changes or equivalents will now occur to those skilled in the art. It is therefore, to be understood that this application is intended to cover all such modifications and changes that fall within the true spirit of the invention.
Claims
1. A food container comprising:
- a tub; and
- a lid,
- wherein said lid has a locking edge configured to snap-fit into a raised rim of said tub,
- wherein said lid further comprises a foldable security tab, said security tab having a locking lug for connecting with a corresponding locking indent on the lid,
- wherein said foldable security tab is perforated, said foldable security tab configured such that when said perforation is broken a lift handle portion of said security tag remains connected to said locking edge to allow said lid to be removed from said tub, and a portion of the security tab with said locking lug remains attached to said lid, connected in said locking indent.
2. The food container as claimed in claim 1, wherein said tub is either round or rectangular.
3. The food container as claimed in claim 1, wherein said lid includes one or more stacking tabs configured to mate with a tub of a subsequent food container stacked thereon.
4. The food container as claimed in claim 1, wherein said portion of the security tab with said locking lug that remains attached to said lid, connected in said locking indent, is retained under a label affixed to said lid.
5. A food container comprising:
- a tub; and
- a lid; and
- a label,
- wherein said lid has a locking edge configured to snap-fit into a raised rim of said tub,
- wherein said lid further comprises a foldable security tab, said security tab having a locking lug for connecting with a corresponding locking indent on the lid, and
- wherein said label is affixed to the top of said lid, over said folded security tab, said label having a perforated region, wherein said perforated region of said label is configured such that, when broken, it can be lifted to expose said folded security tab to provide a handle to remove said lid from said tub.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 6, 2018
Publication Date: Jan 10, 2019
Inventor: Charles A. Schwester (Far Hills, NJ)
Application Number: 16/028,778