Container with tamper-evidence, reclosure features

Abstract

A container is provided from an integral blank having a body portion, a cover hingedly conncected to the rear wall, and a locking device including a lock flap hingedly connected to the top edge of at least one of the front wall panel or a side wall panel and a lock flap receiving member for receiving the lock flap when the cover is closed, wherein the lock flap receiving member is located on an inner surface of the cover front wall panel or at least one cover side wall panel, wherein the lock flap receiving member and lock flap are formed upon the initial separation of the cover front wall panel and cover side wall panels from the front wall panel and side wall panels about a line of weakness when the cover is first moved from a closed position to an open position.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A container comprising: 
 A) a body portion having a front wall panel, a rear wall panel, side wall panels, and a bottom panel,    B) a reclosable cover comprising 
 i. a cover top panel hingedly connected to the rear edge of the rear wall panel,  
 ii. a cover front wall panel connected to the cover top panel, and  
 iii. a pair of cover side wall panels connected to the cover front wall panel and the cover top panel, and  
   C) a locking device comprising 
 i. a lock flap hingedly connected to the top edge of at least one of the front wall panel or a side wall panel and  
 ii. a lock flap receiving member for receiving the lock flap when the cover is closed, wherein the lock flap receiving member is located on an inner surface of the cover front wall panel or at least one cover side wall panel, wherein the lock flap receiving member and lock flap are formed upon the initial separation of the cover front wall panel and cover side wall panels from the front wall panel and side wall panels about a line of weakness when the cover is first moved from a closed position to an open position.  
   
     
     
         2 . A container of  claim 1 , further comprising a recess provided at the upper portion of each corner between the front wall panel and the side wall panels of the body of the carton, each recess having spaced apart sides and extending from an upper marginal edge of said panels thereinto a given length to relieve stress caused by the overlapping of the cover over the top of the body portion of the carton when the cover is closed.  
     
     
         3 . A container of  claim 1 , wherein the line of weakness comprises a line of perforations or a line of slits.  
     
     
         4 . A container of  claim 2 , wherein the line of weakness comprises a line of perforations or a line of slits.  
     
     
         5 . A container of  claim 1 , wherein the cover front panel comprise a means for grasping the cover front panel.  
     
     
         6 . A container of  claim 2 , wherein the cover front panel comprise a means for grasping the cover front panel.  
     
     
         7 . A container of  claim 1 , wherein when the cover is closed the lock flap is engaged by the lock flap release member, wherein an audible noise is made.  
     
     
         8 . A container of  claim 2 , wherein when the cover is closed the lock flap is engaged by the lock flap release member, wherein an audible noise is made.  
     
     
         9 . An integral blank suitably cut and scored for forming a container comprising: 
 A) a front wall panel, a rear wall panel, side wall panels, and bottom end flaps adapted to form a body portion,    B) means adapted to form a reclosable cover comprising 
 i. a cover top panel hingedly connected to the rear edge of the rear wall panel,  
 ii. a cover front wall panel connected to the cover top panel, and  
 iii. a pair of cover side wall panels connected to the cover front wall panel and the cover top panel, and  
   C) a locking device comprising 
 i. a lock flap hingedly connected to the top edge of at least one of the front wall panel or a side wall panel and  
 ii. a lock flap receiving member for receiving the lock flap when the cover is closed, wherein the lock flap receiving member is located on an inner surface of the cover front wall panel or at least one cover side wall panel, wherein the lock flap receiving member and lock flap are formed upon the initial separation of the cover front wall panel and cover side wall panels from the front wall panel and side wall panels about a line of weakness when the cover is first moved from a closed position to an open position.  
   
     
     
         10 . A blank of  claim 9 , further comprising a recess provided at the upper portion of each corner between the front wall panel and the side wall panels of the body of the carton, each recess having spaced apart sides and extending from an upper marginal edge of said panels thereinto a given length to relieve stress caused by the overlapping of the cover over the top of the body portion of the carton when the cover is closed;  
     
     
         11 . A blank of  claim 9 , wherein the line of weakness comprises a line of perforations or a line of slits.  
     
     
         12 . A blank of  claim 10 , wherein the line of weakness comprises a line of perforations or a line of slits.  
     
     
         13 . A blank of  claim 9 , wherein the cover front panel comprise a means for grasping the cover front panel.  
     
     
         14 . A blank of  claim 10 , wherein the cover front panel comprise a means for grasping the cover front panel.  
     
     
         15 . A blank of  claim 9 , wherein when the cover is closed the lock flap is engaged by the lock flap release member, wherein an audible noise is made.  
     
     
         16 . A blank of  claim 10 , wherein when the cover is closed the lock flap is engaged by the lock flap release member, wherein an audible noise is made.