Tamper evident container

• US 5,224,617 A
• Filed: 11/07/1991
• Issued: 07/06/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: IPL Incorporated (IPL Plastics, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: IPL Incorporated (IPL Plastics, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gaudreault, Mario
• Primary Examiner(s): Elkins, Gary E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CRONIN, STEPHEN K
• Application Number:
  US07/788,922
• Time in Patent Office: 607 Days
• Field of Search: 220/265, 220/266, 220/268, 220/306, 220/94 R, 220/94 A, 220/214, 220/657, 220/659, 220/756, 220/770, 220/771, 220/775, 206/499, 206/505, 206/506, 206/510, 206/515, 206/519
• US Class Current: 220/266
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 21/0233 Nestable containers
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2401/10 Tearable part of the container B65D2401/60 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/28 Handles of containers made by folding or erecting blanks made of paper B65D5/46; of bottles or jars B65D23/10 ; holders for glasses, bottles, cartons, plastic bags, cans A47G23/02
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/2888 provided near to or at the upper edge or rim
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00194 square or rectangular
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00296 Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00509 Cup
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00537 on the outside, or a part turned to the outside of the mouth of the container
• 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 2543/00685 Totality
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/0074 Massive bead
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00796 Totality
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00888 by applying lever forces
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 43/0212 only on the outside, or a part turned to the outside, of the mouth B65D43/0206 takes precedence

Abstract

A container adapted to securely engage a cover displaying a peripheral depending skirt comprises a body with side walls having an upper edge portion adapted to engage the skirt of the closure. The side walls include a peripheral inverted L-shaped flange. Integrally formed with the flange on two sides of the container is a downward projection including a frangible tab which must be broken to remove the cover from the container; however, the broken tabs do not hinder the reclosure of the container, nor the handling of the container. The side projections are so shaped as to allow similarly constructed containers to be nested one into the other.

Claims

1. A container adapted to securely engage a cover displaying a peripheral depending skirt, comprising:

a body including side walls having an upper edge portion adapted to engage the peripheral depending skirt of a cover;

said side walls including a peripheral flange consisting of a horizontal portion projecting outwardly from said side wall and of an outer vertical portion distanced from said side wall, said portions receiving in close relationship therewithin a lower part of said skirt; and

a pair of opposite side projections each having a horizontal portion integrally formed with said side wall and with said horizontal portion of said flange and a downwardly extending vertical portion integrally formed with said vertical portion of said flange;

tab means on said side projections being connected at least to said vertical portion of said flange through weakened areas to thereby render said tab means breakable when pressure is applied thereon thus providing visual indication of tampering, whether authorized or unauthorized, and allowing removal of the cover from the container.

2. A container as defined in claim 1, wherein said tab means having a horizontal portion slightly distanced from said side wall.

3. A container as defined in claim 1, wherein said weakened areas consists of a series of spaced thin bridging members.

4. A container as defined in claim 3, wherein said weakened areas are disposed in a U-shaped outline in said vertical portion.

5. A container as defined in claim 2, wherein said vertical portion of each side projection includes an outwardly projecting lower portion displaying recessed areas along lower edges thereof;

said recessed areas including an outer recessed area in vertical alignment with said outer vertical portion of said flange to thereby receive therein an upper portion of the outer vertical portion of a flange of a lower similarly constructed container nested in said container.

6. A container as defined in claim 5, wherein said recessed areas include an inner recessed area in vertical alignment with the upper edge portion of the inclined side wall of the container to thereby receive therein the upper edge portion of the side wall of a similarly constructed container nested in said container.

7. A container as defined in claim 1, wherein the upper edge portion of said container contains, at least on portions thereof, external circumferential bead means adapted to be securely engaged with internal circumferential bead means on the skirt of said cover.

8. A container as defined in claim 1, wherein said container is formed of an injection-moulded plastic material.

9. A container as defined in claim 1, further comprising a handle having the opposite ends thereof pivotally engaged in said vertical portions of said side projections.