CONTAINER CAPABLE OF IDENTIFYING THE CONTAINER BEING UNAUTHORIZED OPENED

Abstract

A container includes a box member and a lid. The box member has a first extending member, and the lid has a second extending member. The first extending member is connected to the second extending member initially, and a breaking portion is formed between the first extending member and the second extending member to disconnect the first extending member and the second extending member when the breaking portion is broken. The second extending member is above the first extending member when the lid is connected to the box member, and the first extending member has at least a portion uncovered by the second extending member.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to a container, and more particularly to a container, which is capable of identifying the container being unauthorized opened.

2. Description of Related Art

In present days, plastic containers are widely used in storage of various goods, such as food boxes, fruit boxes, Sushi boxes, electronic product containers. In order to prevent the containers from being unauthorized opened, some containers are wrapped by bands which allows user to open the containers by breaking the bands.

However, the bands are not a good solution since the containers still may be opened and keep the bands unbroken. Furthermore, the bands raise the cost of the containers, and some argue that the bands are hard to break and make the goods stored in the container unseen.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the above, the primary objective of the present invention is to provide a container, which is capable of identifying the container being unauthorized opened and keeping an easy way to open the container.

In order to achieve the objective of the present invention, a container includes a box member and a lid. The box member has a first extending member, and the lid has a second extending member. The first extending member is connected to the second extending member initially, and a breaking portion is formed between the first extending member and the second extending member to disconnect the first extending member and the second extending member when the breaking portion is broken. The second extending member is above the first extending member when the lid is connected to the box member, and the first extending member has at least a portion uncovered by the second extending member.

In an embodiment, the first extending member has a first connecting member while the second extending member has a second connecting member; the first connecting member is connected to the second connecting member, and the breaking portion is formed between the first connecting member and the second connecting member.

In an embodiment, the box member has a gap to receive a portion of the second extending member when the lid is connected to the box member.

In an embodiment, the breaking portion has a tear-off line, and the tear-off line is bent when the lid is connected to the box member.

In an embodiment, the breaking portion has two tear-off lines, and the tear-off lines are bent respectively when the lid is connected to the box member.

In an embodiment, the breaking portion has a winding tear-off line, and the tear-off line is bent when the lid is connected to the box member.

In an embodiment, the first extending member is provided with a first friction structure and the second extending member is provided with a second friction structure.

In an embodiment, the box member is provided with a holding portion while the lid is provided with an engaging portion; the engaging portion engages the holding portion in interference fit when the lid is connected to the box member.

In an embodiment, the holding portion has a stairs-like structure, and the engaging portion is complementary to the stairs-like structure of the holding portion.

In an embodiment, the box member has a protrusion at a top thereof; the lid has an edge portion; the edge portion is lower than a top of the protrusion and surrounded by the protrusion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be best understood by referring to the following detailed description of some illustrative embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing the lid being opened;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing the lid being opened;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing the lid be closed;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing the breaking line being broken;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing the lid being opened;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing the lid being closed;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of a third preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a container of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a box member 12 and a lid 14, and the lid 14 is detachably connected to the box member 12. The box member 12 is a rectangular box in the present embodiment, however, it may be round, triangular, or any other shape. The box member 12 has a receiving room 16 with an opening 18 at a top thereof. The box member 12 has a bottom wall 20 and an annular sidewall vertically projected from edges of the bottom wall 20. The sidewall has a holding portion 22, which has a stairs-like structure, and a protrusion 24, which is projected from a top side of the holding portion 18. The protrusion 24 surrounds a top end of the sidewall of the box member 12. The protrusion 24 is a C-shaped member to form a gap 26 between ends of the protrusion 24.

The lid 14 is connected to the box member 12 to close the receiving room 16. The lid 14 is rectangular to be complementary to the box member 12. The lid 14 has an annular engaging portion 32, which has a stairs-like structure complementary to the holding portion 22 of the box member 12, and an edge portion 34 projected from an outer end of the engaging portion 32.

As shown in FIG. 2, a first extending member 38 is projected from an outer end of the protrusion 24 of the box member 12 and corresponding to the gap 26. The first extending member 38 has a first outer edge 42 and a first inner edge 44. The first inner edge 44 is connected to the box member 12, and the first outer edge 42 is opposite to the first inner edge 44. A first connecting member 46, which is strip-like member, has an end connected to the first outer edge 42 of the first extending member 38.

A second extending member 40 is projected from the edge portion 34 of the lid 14. The second extending member 40 has a second outer edge 48 and a second inner edge 50. The second inner edge 50 is connected to the box member 12, and the second outer edge 48 is opposite to the second inner edge 50. A second connecting member 52, which is strip-like member, has an end connected to the second outer edge 48 of the second extending member 40. The first connecting member 46 is connected to the second extending member 52, and a breaking portion 54 is formed on a boundary of the first and the second connecting members 46, 52. In the present embodiment, the breaking portion 54 is a straight tear-off line, which allows user to exert his/her strength on the first and the second connecting members 46, 52 to disconnect them easily.

In the present embodiment, the container 10 is made by injection molding, so that the box member 12, the lid 14, the first extending member 38 and the second extending member 40 are made into a single member.

The first extending member 38 is provided with a first friction structure 56, which has plural strip-like protrusions, and the second extending member 40 is provided with a second friction structure 58, which has plural strip-like protrusions as well. The first and the friction structures 56, 58 help people to firmly hold the first and the second connecting members 46, 52.

As shown in FIG. 3, the engaging portion 32 of the lid 14 engages the holding portion 22 of the box member 12 in interference fit when the lid 14 is connected to the box member 12 to close the receiving room 16. Under such status, the edge portion 34 of the lid 14 is lower than a top 28 of the protrusion 24 of the box member 12 and surrounded by the protrusion 24. As a result, the edge portion 34 of the lid 14 is almost impossible to be hold by hands.

As shown in FIG. 4, the breaking portion 54 is bent and the second extending member 40 has a portion received in the gap 26 when the lid 14 covers the box member 12. At this time, the second extending member 40 is above the first extending member 38 and separated from the first extending member 38. Furthermore, the second extending member 40 covers only a portion of the first extending member 38. In other words, the first extending member 38 has at least a portion uncovered by the second extending member 40. The misalignment of the first and the second extending members 38, 40 allows user to hold them firmly and easily. Furthermore, both the first and the second extending members 38, 40 have curved edges to protect the user from being cut by the edges.

As shown in FIG. 5, when user pulls the first and the second extending members 38, 40 in opposite directions, the breaking portion 54 will be broken to disconnect the first and the second connecting members 46, 52. When the user continuously pulls the second extending member 40 upwardly, the lid 14 will be removed from the box member 12, and the container 10 of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention is opened.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show a container of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention, which is basically the same as the container 10 of the first preferred embodiment, except that the breaking portion 54 has two parallel and separated tear-off lines.

FIG. 8 shows a container of the third preferred embodiment of the present invention, which is basically the same as the container 10 of the first preferred embodiment, except that the breaking portion 54 has a winding tear-off line.

FIG. 9 shows a container of the fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention, which is basically the same as the container 10 of the first preferred embodiment, except that the box member 12 and the lid 14 are round. The first and the second extending members 38, 40 are projected from the box member 12 and the lid 14 respectively and connected to each other through the breaking portion 54.

In conclusion, user may check the breaking portion 54 to identify the container is unauthorized opened or not. In addition, the misalignment of the first and the second extending members 38, 40 allows user to hold them firmly and easily.

It must be pointed out that the embodiments described above are only some preferred embodiments of the present invention. All equivalent structures which employ the concepts disclosed in this specification and the appended claims should fall within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A container, comprising:

a box member having a first extending member; and

a lid detachably connected to the box member, having a second extending member;

wherein the first extending member is connected to the second extending member initially, and a breaking portion is formed between the first extending member and the second extending member to disconnect the first extending member and the second extending member when the breaking portion is broken;

wherein the second extending member is above the first extending member when the lid is connected to the box member, and the first extending member has at least a portion uncovered by the second extending member;

wherein the box member further has a first connecting member while the lid further has a second connecting member; the first connecting member is projected from the first extending member, and the second connecting member is projected from the second extending member;

the first connecting member is connected to the second connecting member, and the breaking portion is formed between the first connecting member and the second connecting member;

wherein the first connecting member has no part directly connected to the box member, and the second connecting member has no part directly connected to the lid.

2. (canceled)

3. The container of claim 1, wherein the box member has a gap to receive a portion of the second extending member when the lid is connected to the box member.

4. The container of claim 1, wherein the breaking portion has a tear-off line, and the tear-off line is bent when the lid is connected to the box member.

5. The container of claim 1, wherein the breaking portion has two tear-off lines, and the tear-off lines are bent respectively when the lid is connected to the box member.

6. The container of claim 1, wherein the breaking portion has a winding tear-off line, and the tear-off line is bent when the lid is connected to the box member.

7. The container of claim 1, wherein the first extending member is provided with a first friction structure and the second extending member is provided with a second friction structure.

8. The container of claim 1, wherein the box member is provided with a holding portion while the lid is provided with an engaging portion; the engaging portion engages the holding portion in interference fit when the lid is connected to the box member.

9. The container of claim 8, wherein the holding portion has a stairs-like structure, and the engaging portion is complementary to the stairs-like structure of the holding portion.

10. The container of claim 1, wherein the box member has a protrusion at a top thereof; the lid has an edge portion; the edge portion is lower than the top of the protrusion and surrounded by the protrusion.