Tamper Evident Plastic Dispensing Container

• US 20090101647A1
• Filed: 04/16/2008
• Published: 04/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: J L Clarke Incorporated
• Original Assignee: J.L. CLARK, INC. (Henry Crown & Co.)
• Inventors: Valley, Joseph P. III, Newberry, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,292,111 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 220/266
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 17/4012 for opening partially by means of a tearing tab
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2251/1091 Closures made integrally with the base element at a point remote from the hinge
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2401/25 Non-metallic tear-off strips
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00175 four straight sides, e.g. trapezium or diamond
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00296 Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00351 Dome-like
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00509 Cup
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00555 on both the inside and the outside
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00629 Massive bead
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00694 Segments
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00777 Hole
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00805 Segments
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 43/0212 only on the outside, or a part turned to the outside, of the mouth B65D43/0206 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/0804 integrally formed with the base element provided with the spout or discharge passage
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/0833 Hinges without elastic bias
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/18 Arrangements of closures with protective outer cap-like covers or of two or more co-operating closures B65D51/247 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

Tamper-resistance is provided in spice container closures and containers through use of tamper-evident and/or tamper-resistant elements. A tamper evident closure includes a base, a cover, and a tamper strip, with the tamper strip being joined to the base and cover by a first hinge connecting the tamper strip to the base and a second hinge connecting the tamper strip to the cover. At least one dispensing port in the base is selectively coverable by a flap of the cover. The tamper strip is adapted to be manually torn away and fully released from the cover and base. The flap is hinged to the cover by a third hinge. In addition, or alternatively, a snap lock connection is formed between a container closure and the container.

Claims

1. A tamper evident closure, comprising:

a base having at least one dispensing port therethrough;

a cover having at least one flap removably covering the at least one dispensing port;

a tamper strip;

a first hinge connecting the tamper strip to the base; and

a second hinge connecting the tamper strip to the cover.

2. The tamper evident closure of claim 1, wherein the first and second hinges include a plurality of thin tearable webs, wherein the tamper strip is adapted to be manually torn and fully released from the cover and the base.

3. The tamper evident closure of claim 2, wherein the cover includes a support permanently secured to the base, the at least one flap being hinged to the support at a third hinge.

4. The tamper evident closure of claim 3, wherein:

the base includes a plurality of the dispensing ports;

the cover includes a plurality of the flaps with each of the plurality of flaps removably covering a corresponding one of the plurality of dispensing ports; and

the tamper evident closure has a generally rectangular configuration adapted for a spice container.

5. The tamper evident closure of claim 3, wherein the support is plastically welded to the base.

6. The tamper evident closure of claim 5, further comprising an alignment and welding mechanism between the base and the cover for plastic welding the support to the base, the alignment and welding mechanism including a plurality of weld posts received in a plurality of receiving pockets.

7. The tamper evident closure of claim 1, wherein the base includes a platform and a pair of skirts depending downwardly from the platform, the pair of skirts defining a receiving channel therebetween adapted to receive a top free edge of a container.

8. The tamper evident closure of claim 1, wherein, the cover is disposed on top of the base in a substantially parallel manner to form a juncture between the cover and the base, with the first and second hinges and the tamper strip joining the cover to the base along adjacent edges of the top and base, and the tamper strip spanning the juncture between the base and cover.

9. The tamper evident closure of claim 1, wherein the base, the cover, the tamper strip and the hinges are a one piece integrally molded component.

10. The tamper evident closure of claim 9, wherein the cover is folded on top of the base via the hinges and the tamper strip.

11. A package, comprising:

a container having a sidewall terminating in a free edge;

a closure including a platform and inner and outer skirts depending downwardly from the platform, the inner and outer skirts defining a receiving channel therebetween adapted to receive the free edge of the container; and

a tamper shield integrally formed around the container in spaced relation to the free edge transitioning a perimeter of the sidewall to be similar to a perimeter of the outer skirt.

12. The package of claim 11, further comprising a snap lock connection between the sidewall and the closure.

13. The package of claim 12, wherein the snap lock connection comprises a plurality of locking tabs and locking slots interlocking in the receiving channel.

14. The package of claim 13, wherein the closure is a generally rectangular serving lid having a base with a plurality of dispensing ports and a cover with a plurality of flaps removably covering the dispensing ports, respectively.

15. The package of claim 13, wherein the locking tabs are formed proximate the free edge in spaced relation to the tamper shield and wherein the locking slots are formed on the outer skirt, wherein the locking tabs and the tamper shield are integrally plastic molded portions of the container.

16. The package of claim 15, wherein the locking tabs are wedge shaped adapted for facilitating camming insertion of the sidewall into the receiving channel.

17. A package, comprising:

a container having a generally rectangular sidewall terminating in a free edge;

a closure including a platform and generally rectangular inner and outer skirts depending downwardly from the platform, the inner and outer skirts defining a receiving channel therebetween adapted to receive the free edge of the container; and

a snap lock connection between the sidewall and the closure.

18. The package of claim 17, wherein the snap lock connection comprises a plurality of locking tabs and locking slots interlocking in the receiving channel.

19. The package of claim 18, wherein the locking tabs are formed proximate the free edge and wherein the locking slots are formed on the outer skirt, with the locking slots being integrally plastic molded portions of the closurer.

20. The package of claim 19, wherein the closure is a generally rectangular serving lid having a base with a plurality of dispensing ports and a cover with a plurality of flaps removably covering the dispensing ports, respectively.