CONTAINER WITH TAMPER-EVIDENT CLOSURE

Abstract

A tamper-evident container includes a base and a lid with a closure portion includes a lip flange and a base flange. When the lid is secured to and closed over the base, the lid flange and the base flange rest adjacent to one another. The base flange includes perforations running along the length of the closure portion to divide the base flange into an outer region and an inner region. The lid flange is secured to the outer region of the base flange. When the lid is separated from the base, the lid flange tears away the outer region of the base flange with the assistance of the perforations on the base flange. When the lid is fully separated from the base, the lid flange carries the outer region of the base to avoid a separate member that needs to be thrown away.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application claims priority to earlier flied U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/719,411, filed on Aug. 17, 2018, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to containers, such as those in the configuration of packages and tubs, which may or may not have a lid. Further, the present invention relates to such containers that are used to store articles, such as food.

It is well known in the art that containers are commonly used to store food, but it should be understood that the invention relates to any type of container for any type of purpose.

More specifically, the present invention relates to disposable food containers, which have particular application for containing food that is for sale, such as at a food market. These containers are commonly made out of disposable and recyclable materials, such as paper and plastic. As a result, there is a first concern as to the use of material that can be recycled. Also, there is a concern that the packaging container be clear or have a window so the consumer can inspect the food prior to purchase. In view of these needs, a container base is provided that houses the food with a lid secured thereto. Commonly the lid simply snaps to the base to seal the food contents therein. The lid can be a separate member or hingedly connected to the base. A container with a lid hingedly connected to the base is commonly referred to as a “clamshell” container configuration.

In use, the food manufacturer or food preparer simply loads the food into the base and then snaps the lid thereon. When the consumer is ready to eat the food, they separate the lid from the base to gain access to the food residing in the base.

In addition to the concerns of recycling and ability to inspect the food in the container, there is also the serious concern of preventing tampering of the container, for purposed of intentional contamination or theft, that must be also be addressed. If tampering cannot be prevented, there is a desired to make it evident that the container has been tampered with. Various efforts have been made in the prior art to completely prevent tampering of a container but this can be very difficult. As a result, the industry has focused on containers that are “tamper-evident” where the container clearly indicates to the consumer that the container may have been tampered with and that they should not purchase that particular container of food.

The simplest efforts in the prior art to make a container tamper-evident is to simply provide a sticker or label across the opening or seal between the base and the lid. However, this requires the food preparer to remember to add the sticker. Also, stickers or labels can be removed.

Further efforts in the prior art involve the use of buttons or other frangible or breakable members on the base and the lid that can secure the two to each other but upon breaking, cannot be resealed leaving the container in a condition that makes it clear to the consumer that the container has already been opened and should not be purchased.

For example, clamshell package designs are common in the prior art that include a lid that is hingedly connected to a base that contains the food product. The base includes an inner recessed peripheral top lip that receives the lid so that the peripheral edges of the lid are hidden making it very difficult to grip the edges of the lid for purposes of separating it from the base. A pull tab is present between the lid and the base. After the lid is secured to the base in hidden fashion, the pull tab is left remaining in view of the consumer to confirm that the container has not been tampered with. To gain access to the contents of the container, the consumer must completely remove the pull tab, which is held in place by perforations or slits. Complete removal of the pull tab breaks the connection between the lid and the base and leaves a flange remaining that makes it clear that the container integrity has been compromised. Such complete removal of the pull tab leaves flanges on the base and lid for the consumer to grasp to help them separate the lid from the base. In particular, the perforated pull tab tears away from the flange at the lip of the lid while a flange emanating from the base of the container remains intact with a portion of the lip of the lid remaining attached to the flange of the base.

A major drawback of this prior art container is the requirement to completely remove an element from the container, which results in an extra article of trash that must be disposed of by the consumer.

In another example, prior art containers are also well known to include a plastic lid that is heat sealed or welded to a plastic base that contains the food. An adhesive member, such as reinforced tape, is provided on the surface of a flange of a lid or base between the weld and the inside of the container. Perforation(s) or slit(s) are provided proximal to the tape. The tape assists in breaking the plastic, which is already weakened by the perforation(s) or slit(s). The tape is commonly colored to bring attention to it as a tamper-evident indicator. As in the above example, this separate member is completely removed from the container. When such a portion of the container is completely removed, it is readily apparent that the colored tape has been removed to show that the container has been tampered with. However, a separate portion of the container must now be removed and disposed of as trash.

In view of the above, the prior art attempts in the prior art are not adequate as they result in additional articles of trash that must be disposed of There is a need for a container that is tamper-evident yet does not necessitate the complete removal of a portion of the container. There is further demand for a tamper-evident container that is less expensive and complicated to manufacture than prior art containers. There is yet another need to provide a tamper-evidence container that is also breathable yet resists liquids from entering the container.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention preserves the advantages of prior art tamper-evident containers. In addition, it provides new advantages not found in currently available tamper-evident containers and overcomes many disadvantages of such currently available tamper-evident containers.

The invention is generally directed to the novel and unique container that has a general clamshell configuration. In one preferred embodiment, a container can include a base and a lid that is hingedly connected thereto at one side. At the opposing side, a closure portion includes a flange at the lip of the lid and a flange emanating outwardly from the base. The flange on the lip and the flange on the base can extend outward in the same direction, when the lid is disposed on the base. When the lid is secured to and closed over the base, the lid flange and the base flange rest adjacent to one another. The base flange includes perforations running along the length of the closure portion of the container essentially dividing the base flange into an outer region and an inner region. The lid flange is secured, such as by welding or adhesive, to the outer region of the base flange. Effectively, the outer region of the base flange is fixed to the lid flange. Alternatively, the lid flange can be perforated to create an outer region and an inner region, with the outer region adhered to the base flange. Enlarged pull areas are provided on one or both of the lip flange and the base flange to facilitate separating the lid from the base. When the lid is separated from the base, the lid flange tears away the outer region of the base flange with the assistance of the perforations on the base flange. When the lid is fully separated from the base at the closure portion of the container, the lid flange carries the outer region of the base, as it has now been torn away. Advantageously, the outer region of the base does not need to be thrown away separately, again, as it is fixed to the lid flange. This reduces the potential for unwanted waste or litter.

In view of the above, the container of the present invention provides evidence of tampering while avoid a tear away strip or pull tab that just be thrown away.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a tamper-evident container that is easy to fill with food.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a tamper-evident container that can be manufactured using common thermoforming equipment.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a tamper-evident container that clearly shows whether or not it has been tampered with if it has not been opened.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a tamper-evident container that clearly shows that it has been tampered with if it has been opened.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a tamper-evident container that provides a structure to facilitate separation of the lid from the base after the unique flange construction has been broken.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a tamper-evident container that does not generate a separate pull tab or pull strip when the tamper-evident feature of the container is activated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

The novel features which are characteristic of the present invention are set forth in the appended claims. However, the invention's preferred embodiments, together with further objects and attendant advantages, will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of the container of the present invention with its lid in an open position;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the container with its lid in a closed position;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view thereof:

FIG. 4 is a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is perspective view of a lid of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a close-up perspective view of the lid pulling away from the base with remaining perforation waste remaining on the flange of the lid; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the container of the present invention with a modified base and lid configuration.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The container of the present invention is unique in that it provides evidence of tampering without requiring a pull tab or pull strip from being completely removed from the container and then thrown away. While reference is made to a particular embodiment of a container, the novel tamper-evident flange construction can be used with any container types (e.g., with or without a living hinge), of any material, for any number of uses (e.g., food, flowable particulates, bulk materials, etc.).

Turning first to FIG. 1, the tamper-evident container 10 of the present invention is shown to be of a general clamshell configuration with a base 12 and a lid 14 hingedly connected thereto via a compliant hinge 16. As understood herein, the term “compliant hinge” is understood to mean a hinge portion of a container that is of the same piece of material as the two portions that it joins. Alternatively, any known hinge can be used in place of the compliant hinge 16. A top plan view of the container 10 is shown in FIG. 2. Details of the unique tamper evident flange 50 will be discussed in detail below. For ease of discussion the container 10 is shown in FIG. 1 is an open condition prior to the securing it shut with contents, such as food, therein. Sample contents are not shown, but one of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the base is generally concave, having a “bowl” like geometry for holding contents therein. The base 12 can include a top edge 20 with a peripheral bead or flange 22. In the illustrated embodiment, the peripheral edge 24 of the lid can snap into the top edge 20 of the base 12 and secured by the peripheral bead or flange 22 to thereby hide the peripheral edge 24 of the lid 14. Alternatively, the top edge 20 can be formed such that it can be received into the peripheral edge 24 of the lid 14. Such a hidden edge configuration is well known in the art. Such snapping of the top edge 24 into the base 12 under flange 22 can be easily carried out by hand without the needs for tools or machinery.

Reinforcing columns or ribs can be formed in the base 12 for rigidity of the entire container 10. Such columns may be provided of any desirable size and shape to make the side panels of the container 10 more rigid without increasing the thickness of the material used.

As can be understood, the container 10 can be formed from any material. In one embodiment, the container 10 is formed from an appropriate plastic, having the desired mil thickness, which is typically clear or translucent. For example, the material used is preferably 0.025 inch Ga. PETE plastic. When forming the container, in general, a sheet of plastic can be placed into a tool and then formed as a unitary body, as best seen in FIG. 1, with the lid 14 connected to the base 12 by the hinge 16.

Looking to the novel tamper-evident flange 40 of the present disclosure, at the opposing side of the base 12 from the hinge 16, a closure portion 50 includes a flange 60 at the lip 24 of the lid 14 and a flange emanating outwardly from the base. When the lid is secured to and closed over the base, the lid flange and the base flange rest adjacent to one another.

As in FIG. 4, the base flange 40 includes perforations 44 running along the length of the closure portion 50 of the container 10 essentially dividing the base flange 40 into an outer region 46 and an inner region 48. In the illustrated embodiment, the perforations 44 extends along a sinusoidal wave shape. In alternative embodiments, the perforations 44 can extend along a saw tooth, or triangular path, a square tooth path, or a straight line path. Any type of pattern may be employed for the perforations. The lid flange 60 can be secured to the outer region 46 of the base flange 40. For example, the lid flange can be welded, heat treated, stapled, glued, chemically welded, ultrasonically welded or otherwise adhered to the outer region 46. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-6, enlarged pull tabs 62a, 62b can be provided on the lid flange 60, and enlarged hold tabs 42a, 42b can be provided on the base flange 40 to facilitate separating the lid 14 from the base 12. In the illustrated embodiment, the pull tabs 62a, 62b can be located, respectively, at the start and end of the perforations 44, such that upon pulling upward on the either of the tabs 62a, 62b, the perforations can easily be broken to separate the inner region 48 from the outer region 46 of the base flange 40. Alternatively, the pull tabs (62a, 62b) can be omitted, or only one tab can be provided, as can be seen in FIG. 7. In the embodiment of FIG. 7, the container 110 can be substantially the same as container 10, with the omission of pull tabs. The user can simply grip the lid 114 of the container while holding the hold tabs 142a, 142b to open the container 110. Similarly, the hold tabs (42a, 42b) can be omitted, or only one tab can be provided.

In use, a user can hold one of the two hold tabs 42a, 42b and pull on the respective pull tab 62a, 62b to pivot the lid 14 about the hinge 16 to open the container 10, in a direction A, as can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2. As seen in FIG. 6, when the lid 14 is separated from the base 12, the lid flange 60 tears away the outer region 46 of the base flange 40 with the assistance of the perforations 44 on the base flange 40. When the lid 14 is fully separated from the base 12 at the closure portion 50 of the container 10, the lid flange 60 carries the outer region 46 of the base 12, as it has now been torn away. FIG. 6 shows this in process. As can be understood, the outer region 46 of the base flange 40 will remain attached to the lid flange 60 thereby avoiding a separable tear away pull tab that must be later thrown away while still providing the desirable tamper-evident capability because the outer region 46 and torn perforations 44 are plainly and easily viewable.

In alternative embodiments, the base flange can be a part of the lid, as opposed to the base, and an outer region of the flange can be left behind on the base. Further, in some embodiments where there is no hinge in use, two tamper evident flanges can be provided on respective opposing sides of the container.

It should be noted that the configuration of the lid and base can be modified to suit the application at hand. For example, the use of channels and reinforcing ribs, and the like, can be used to change the characteristics and performance of the overall container. However, the present invention directed to the closure region with the mating lid flange and base flange are not affected thereby.

The container configuration of the present invention is particularly well-suited for thermoformed containers that are made out of plastic, which may be transparent, translucent or opaque. The walls may be of any thickness, for example, 10 or 14 mil in thickness but may be of any desired thickness. The perforations may be of any type or configuration to facilitate the separation of the outer portion of the base flange from the inner portion of the base flange. Thermoforming, using the appropriate tooling (not shown), is so well known in the art that it need not be discussed in detail herein. Suffice it to say that the tooling would be appropriately manufactured to provide the desired base, lid and lid flange and base flange structures. Containers made out of other materials by other methods can also be achieved using the present invention. Once the container has been formed, a cavity in the base can be filled with food, or other items, and the outer portion of the base flange can be fixed to the peripheral edge of the lid, as discussed above. The container is thus sealed, and if opened, a user will be able to visually inspect the container to determine if the outer portion of the base flange has been previously detached from the inner portion of the base flange.

In view of the foregoing, a new and novel container with an improve tamper-evident feature at its closure region is provided. The unique tamper-evident feature avoids the use of the removable tab member that must be later thrown away.

It would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made to the illustrated embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present invention. All such modifications and changes are intended to be covered by the present invention and any appended claims.

Claims

1. A tamper-evident container, comprising:

a base having a bottom with at least one upstanding side wall defining a cavity therein, the base further includes a top peripheral edge defining a top open end and a base flange extending outwardly from at least a portion of the top peripheral edge, wherein the base flange comprises an inner portion and an outer portion being removably attached to the inner portion;

a lid, having a peripheral edge, the lid being hingedly connected to the base and configured to substantially enclose the top open end when attached to the top peripheral edge, wherein the peripheral edge is fixed to the outer portion of the base flange; and

a hinge member hingedly connecting the lid to the base;

wherein separation of the lid from the base pulls the outer portion of the base flange away from the inner portion of the base flange,

wherein the outer portion of the base flange is left fixed to the lid flange after full separation of the lid from the base, thereby enabling access to the cavity of the base.

2. The tamper-evident container of claim 1, wherein the base, lid and hinge are made of plastic.

3. The tamper-evident container of claim 1, wherein the top peripheral edge of the base includes an inwardly extending flange; the peripheral edge of the lid being configured to reside under the flange.

4. The tamper-evident container of claim 1, wherein the base flange includes at least one gripping tab.

5. The tamper-evident container of claim 4, wherein the peripheral edge of the lid includes at least one gripping tab.

6. The tamper-evident container of claim 1, wherein the inner portion of the base flange is connected to the outer portion by a perforation.

7. The tamper-evident container of claim 6, wherein the perforation extends along a majority of the length of the peripheral edge of the lid.

8. The tamper-evident container of claim 7, wherein the perforation extends between two gripping tabs extending outward from the peripheral edge of the lid.

9. The tamper-evident container of claim 6, wherein the perforation extends along a sinusoidal path.

10. The tamper-evident container of claim 1, wherein the base, the lid, and the hinge are formed from a single piece of material.

11. The tamper-evident container of claim 1, wherein removal of the outer portion of the base flange from the inner portion provides a visual indication to a user that the container has been open.

12. A method of opening a tamper-evident container, the method comprising,

providing the tamper-evident container, the tamper-evident container comprising, a base having a bottom with at least one upstanding side wall defining a cavity therein, the base further includes a top peripheral edge defining a top open end and a base flange extending outwardly from at least a portion of the top peripheral edge, wherein the base flange comprises an inner portion and an outer portion being removably attached to the inner portion; a lid, having a peripheral edge, the lid being hingedly connected to the base and configured to substantially enclose the top open end when attached to the top peripheral edge, wherein the peripheral edge is fixed to the outer portion of the base flange; and a hinge member hingedly connecting the lid to the base;

grasping a first portion of the base, and

grasping a first portion of the peripheral edge of the lid and applying an upward force to the lid to separate the lid from the base and remove the outer portion of the base flange from the inner portion of the base flange.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the first portion of the base is a tab.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the first portion of the lid is a tab.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the outer portion of the base flange is left fixed to the lid flange after full separation of the lid from the base.