TAMPER-RESISTANT AND TAMPER EVIDENT CONTAINERS

• US 20140367383A1
• Filed: 08/29/2014
• Published: 12/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Inline Plastics Corporation
• Original Assignee: Inline Plastics Corporation
• Inventors: Sellari, Robert, Boback, Peter, Stein, Bruce K., Landan, Daniel A., Klimaszewski, Tadeusz J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,630,756 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 220/270
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 22/003 Containers for packaging, storing or transporting, e.g. bottles, jars, cans, barrels, tanks
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00092 circular
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00101 square-like or rectangular-like
• 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 2543/00546 NO contact
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/0062 Groove or hollow bead
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00685 Totality
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00731 Groove or hollow bead
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00796 Totality
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 41/32 Caps or cap-like covers with lines of weakness, tearing-strips, tags, or like opening or removal devices, e.g. to facilitate formation of pouring openings
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 43/0254 only on the inside, or a part turned to the inside, of the mouth of the container B65D43/0239 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 43/162 the container, the lid and the hinge being made of one piece B65D43/161 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 43/163 the container and the lid being made separately B65D43/161 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 43/22 Devices for holding in closed position, e.g. clips
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 55/024 Closures in which a part has to be ruptured to gain access to the contents B65D41/32, B65D43/0235, B65D55/022, B65D55/06 take precedence

Abstract

A tamper-resistant container with tamper-evident features includes a cover portion including an outwardly extending peripheral flange and a base portion an upper peripheral rim and a skirt depending downwardly therefrom. The upper peripheral rim extending substantially about the perimeter of the container and configured to substantially surround the outwardly extending peripheral flange of the cover portion to render the outwardly extending peripheral flange of the cover portion relatively inaccessible when the container is closed. The container includes a hinge joining the cover portion to the base portion. The vertical height of the hinge correlates with the height of the skirt that depends downwardly from the base portion when the height of the skirt is substantially uniform around the perimeter of the container. The hinge includes a frangible section including at least one line of weakness which, when severed, facilitates removal of the cover portion from the base portion.

Claims

1. A plastic tamper-resistant/tamper-evident container comprising:

a cover portion including an outwardly extending peripheral flange;

a base portion including an upper peripheral rim and a skirt depending downwardly therefrom, the upper peripheral rim extending substantially about the perimeter of the container and configured to substantially surround the outwardly extending peripheral flange of the cover portion to render the outwardly extending peripheral flange of the cover portion relatively inaccessible when the container is closed; and

a hinge joining the cover portion to the base portion, wherein the vertical height of the hinge correlates with the height of the skirt that depends downwardly from the base portion when the height of the skirt is substantially uniform around the perimeter of the container, the hinge including a frangible section, the frangible section comprising at least one line of weakness which, when severed, forms at least one projection extending from at least one of the base portion or cover portion for facilitating removal of the cover portion from the base portion to open the container.

2. The plastic tamper-resistant/tamper-evident container of claim 1, wherein the frangible section comprises one score line.

3. The plastic tamper-resistant/tamper-evident container of claim 1, wherein the frangible section comprises at least a two score lines.

4. The plastic tamper-resistant/tamper-evident container of claim 3, wherein the at least two score lines are substantially parallel.

5. The plastic tamper-resistant/tamper-evident container of claim 1, wherein the container is formed from a material including at least one of polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene, polypropylene and polyvinyl chloride.

6. The plastic tamper-resistant/tamper-evident container of claim 1, wherein the cover portion, base portion, and hinge are unitarily thermoformed from a single sheet of plastic.

7. The plastic tamper-resistant/tamper-evident container of claim 1, wherein the projection extends from the base portion of the container.

8. The plastic tamper-resistant/tamper-evident container of claim 1, wherein the projection extends from the cover portion of the container.

9. The plastic tamper-resistant/tamper-evident container of claim 1 wherein the base portion further comprises one or more gussets that resist flexure of the container when the container is closed.