Tamper evident plastic dispensing container

• US 7,845,519 B2
• Filed: 04/16/2008
• Issued: 12/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: J.L. CLARK, INC. (Henry Crown & Co.)
• Original Assignee: J.L. CLARK, INC. (Henry Crown & Co.)
• Inventors: Valley, Joseph P. III, Newberry, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): NGO, LIEN M
• Application Number:
  US12/103,947
• Publication Number:
  US 20090101674A1
• Time in Patent Office: 965 Days
• Field of Search: 222/153.07, 222/153.06, 222/480, 222/457.5, 222/142.1, 222/541.6, 222/541.4, 222/556, 222/561, 220/257.1, 220/257.2, 220/258.3, 220/258.5, 2202542-2544, 220/265, 220/266, 220/276
• US Class Current: 222/153.07
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2401/60 Tearable part both of the container and of the closure
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/0838 located at an edge of the base element

Abstract

Tamper-resistance of spice container closures and containers is provided through use of tamper-evident and tamper-resistant elements. A spice container package includes a container, a closure and a tear strip, with the tear strip being joined to the closure by a first hinge, and joined to the container by a second hinge. The container includes a side wall. The closure includes a base and a cover, with the base including at least one dispensing port and the cover including at least one flap removably covering the at least one dispensing port. The first hinge connects the tear strip to the cover of the closure. The closure and the container may be integrally molded together as a single plastic component piece.

Claims

1. A spice container package, comprising,

a container having a sidewall;

a closure comprising a base and a cover, the base including at least one dispensing port and the cover including at least one flap removably covering the at least one dispensing port;

a tear strip;

a first hinge connecting the tear strip to the cover of the closure;

a second hinge connecting the tear strip to the container; and

a third hinge connecting the base and the cover, and wherein the base and cover are folded about the third hinge into mutual engagement, and wherein the closure is folded about the first and second hinges into engagement with the container.

2. The spice container package of claim 1, wherein the closure and the container are integrally molded together as a single plastic component piece.

3. The spice container package of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second hinges comprises a plurality of thin tearable webs of plastic material, wherein the tear strip is adapted to be manually torn away from the container and the cover by breakage of the thin tearable webs of plastic material.

4. The spice container package of claim 3, wherein the at least one flap and the at least one dispensing port comprise a plurality of flaps removably covering a plurality of dispensing ports, respectively.

5. The spice container package of claim 4, wherein the base includes a platform defining the dispensing ports 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.

6. The spice container package of claim 5, further comprising a snap lock connection between the sidewall and the closure 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.

7. The spice container package of claim 6, wherein the snap lock connection comprises a plurality of locking tabs and locking slots interlocking in the receiving channel.

8. The spice container package of claim 7, wherein the cover is hinged to the container via the tear strip and the first and second hinges along a front side of the spice container package and wherein the cover is hinged to the base via the third hinge along a back side of the spice container package.

9. A spice container package, comprising:

a generally rectangular container;

a closure comprising a base and a cover, the base including a platform and a skirt depending downward from the platform in telescoping relation with the container, the platform having at least one dispensing port and the cover including at least one flap removably covering the at least one dispensing port;

a tear strip connected to the at least one flap preventing opening of the flap, the tear strip at least extending at least partially over the skirt, wherein the tear strip is adapted to be torn away to allow opening of the at least one flap;

wherein the at least one flap is hinged to the base proximate a back side; and

wherein the tear strip is arranged proximate a front side;

wherein a first hinge connects the tear strip to the closure, and wherein a second hinge connects the tear strip to the container, wherein either or both of the first and second hinges comprises a plurality of thin tearable webs of plastic material, wherein the tear strip is adapted to be manually torn away from the container and the cover by breakage of the thin tearable webs of plastic material; and

wherein the closure is folded about the first and second hinges into engagement with the container.

10. The spice container package of claim 9, wherein the at least one flap and the at least one dispensing port comprise a plurality of flaps removably covering a plurality of dispensing ports, respectively, and wherein the tear strip is independently hinged through at least one thin tearable web to each of the flaps.

11. The spice container package of claim 10, wherein the base includes a platform defining the dispensing ports and inner and outer skirts depending downwardly from the platform, the skirts defining a receiving channel therebetween adapted to receive a top free edge of the container.

12. The spice container package of claim 11, wherein the tear strip extends entirely over the outer skirt and is integrally connected to the sidewall of the container.

13. The spice container package of claim 12, wherein the closure and the container are integrally molded together as a single plastic component piece, wherein the cover is hinged to the container via the tear strip and first and second hinges along a front side of the spice container package and wherein the cover is hinged to the base by the third hinge along a back side of the spice container package.

14. A spice container package comprising a single integral molded component plastic part, the single integral molded component part including a serving lid closure and a container, the serving lid closure having at least one dispensing port and at least one flap removably covering the dispensing port, and wherein a hinge integrally connects the container and the serving lid closure;

wherein the serving lid closure includes a cover and a base, the cover including the at least one flap, the cover being hinged to the container via the tear strip and first and second hinges along a front side of the spice container package and wherein the cover is hinged to the base along a back side of the spice container package; and

wherein the serving lid closure is folded about the first and second hinges into engagement with the container.

15. The spice container of claim 14, wherein each of the first and second hinges comprises a plurality of thin tearable webs of plastic material, wherein the tear strip is adapted to be manually torn away from the container and the cover by breakage of the thin tearable webs of plastic material and wherein the at least one flap and the at least one dispensing port comprise a plurality of flaps removably covering a plurality of dispensing ports, respectively, and wherein the tear strip is independently hinged through at least one thin tearable web to each of the flaps and wherein the base includes a platform defining the dispensing ports and inner and outer skirts depending downwardly from the platform, the skirts defining a receiving channel therebetween adapted to receive a top free edge of the container, the top free edge being connected to the closure by a snap connection.