Container with tamper resistant lid

• US 6,899,245 B1
• Filed: 07/14/2003
• Issued: 05/31/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: James L. Nelson
• Original Assignee: James L. Nelson
• Inventors: Nelson, James L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ngo, Lien M.
• Application Number:
  US10/620,327
• Time in Patent Office: 687 Days
• Field of Search: 220/276, 220/265, 220/266, 220/269, 220/270, 215/254
• US Class Current: 220/276
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00092 circular
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00296 Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00509 Cup
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00555 on both the inside and the outside
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00657 U-shaped or inverted U
• 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 43/0256 only on the outside, or a part turned to the outside, of the mouth of the container B65D43/0239 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 45/20 pivoted

Abstract

A container lid having a tamper evident and tamper resistant band formed of a plurality of equally spaced tabs having spurs that engage the rim of a container with latches formed on the spurs. In one embodiment the tamper evident band is unique because it hinges up instead of down and has a plurality of spurs with a stepped edge forming latches with the spurs engaging slots around the periphery of the lid. The reverse action makes the step edges on the spurs on the inside of tabs formed on the tamper resistant strip pull tighter when any attempt is made to pry or remove the lid from a container or cup. The lid also includes an annulus having interior surfaces that provide an excellent seal both inside and outside of the cup when the tamper resistant band is removed. In a second embodiment a tamper resistant band is formed with a curved surface to engage the exterior surface of the cup and has a plurality of spurs with a detent forming a latch to engage the lower edge of the skirt around the periphery of the lid. Each tab on the tamper resistant and tamper evident band has preferably two spurs.

Claims

1. A tamper resistant lid for containers comprising:

a lid having a peripheral skirt forming an annulus that fits on the rim of a container;

said lid having a plurality of equally spaced slots around said skirt;

a resistant tear strip secured to a peripheral edge of said skirt on said lid by a thin section of material forming a hinge;

said tear strip being hinged on said lid to fold upward;

said tear strip formed of a plurality of tabs;

one or more spurs on each tab constructed to fold beneath a flange around the rim of said container, said spurs being constructed and arranged to engage said slots in said skirt, each of said spurs having a latch mechanism for securely retaining said tamper resistant tear strip on said lid;

whereby said one or more spurs securely holds said lid on said container to protect against tampering with the contents of said container.

2. The tamper resistant lid according to claim 1 in which said one or more spurs comprises at least two of said spurs on each of said tabs.

3. The tamper resistant lid according to claim 2 in which said spurs have a stepped edge forming latches that resist prying said lid off said container.

4. The tamper resistant lid according to claim 3 in which said annulus on said lid has a pair of surfaces that mate with surfaces on said container to provide a secure seal both inside and outside container.

5. The tamper resistant lid according to claim 4 in which one of said pair of surfaces in said annulus mates with an inside surface of said container for guiding said container onto said lid.

6. The tamper resistant lid according to claim 5 in which another of said pair of surfaces in said annulus mates with a surface around a flange on the rim of said container.

7. The tamper resistant lid according to claim 6 in which said another of said pair of surfaces in said annulus includes a peripheral ridge for engaging a lower edge of said flange around said rim of said container for securely locking said lid on said container.

8. The tamper resistant lid according to claim 2 in which said tabs around the periphery of said lid are curved to abut and engage an outer surface of said container when said tamper resistant tear strip is folded down around the rim of said container.

9. The tamper resistant lid according to claim 8 in which there are a pair of spurs formed on each tab of said tamper resistant tear strip, each of said spurs having a latch for engaging a lower peripheral edge of said flange on said container.