Tamper-resistant container

Abstract

The present invention provides a container having a lid hingedly connected thereto and so configured that the hinged elements cannot be separated from one another whereby the lid cannot be opened or removed from the body of the container to allow access to the contents of the container.

1 . A tamper-resistant container comprising: 
 two opposite side walls;    two opposite end walls;    a bottom surface interconnecting said side and end walls; and    a lid;    wherein a) one of said side walls includes first hinge elements; b) said lid includes second hinge elements cooperating with said first hinge elements for hingedly connecting said lid to said side wall; c) one of said one side wall and of said lid includes at least one projection; d) the other of said one side wall and of said lid includes at least one aperture corresponding to said one projection; and e) said one projection and said one aperture are so configured that, when said lid is hingedly moved to a closed position, said one projection enters said one aperture and provides resistance to forceful opening of the lid from the container at said hinge elements.    
     
     
         2 . The tamper-resistant container of  claim 1 , wherein said lid includes two lid members.  
     
     
         3 . The tamper-resistant container of  claim 2 , wherein each said side wall defines an upper edge, said first hinge elements including hinge pins mounted to said side walls; each said lid member including generally C-shaped hinge members configured to cooperate with said hinge pins on said upper edge of each side wall.  
     
     
         4 . The tamper-resistant lid according to  claim 3 , wherein said hinge pins are integrally molded with said side walls and wherein said generally C-shaped hinge members are integrally molded with said lid members.  
     
     
         5 . A tamper-resistant lid according to  claim 3 , wherein said C-shaped hinge element are horizontally spaced from one another along an edge of said lid; said projection being located in each spaces between said C-shaped hinge elements.  
     
     
         6 . A tamper-resistant lid according to  claim 3 , wherein said hinge pins are horizontally spaced from one another along said upper edge of said side walls; said aperture being located in each space between said hinge pins.  
     
     
         7 . A tamper-resistant lid according to  claim 5 , wherein each corner along said edge of said lid is free of a C-shaped element; each said corner displaying a male hinge engaging a recessed area in each opposite corner of said upper edge of said side wall to provide resistance to tampering in each corner of said container.  
     
     
         8 . A tamper-resistant lid according to  claim 3 , wherein said C-shaped hinge elements are horizontally spaced from one another along an edge of said lid; said projection being located in spaces between said C-shaped hinge elements except in a central area of said edge; said upper edge of said side wall including, in a central area of said edge of said lid, rib means to provide resistance to tampering in said areas.  
     
     
         9 . A tamper-resistant lid for a container provided with a side wall, said lid being so hingedly mounted to said side wall via cooperating hinge elements as to pivot between open and closed positions, said side wall including at least one aperture and said lid including at least one projection corresponding to said at least one aperture whereby, when said lid is moved to the closed position, said one projection enters said one aperture to provide resistance to tampering via said hinge elements.  
     
     
         10 . A tamper-resistant lid for a container provided with first and second side walls each having an edge provided with first hinge elements and with at least one aperture, said lid comprising: 
 a first lid member having an outer edge provided with second hinge elements configured to cooperate with said first hinge elements; said first lid member being so mounted to said first side wall via said cooperating hinge elements as to be pivotable between open and closed positions; said first lid member including at least one projection;    a second lid member having an outer edge provided with second hinge elements configured to cooperate with said first hinge elements; said second lid member being so mounted to said second side wall via said cooperating hinge elements as to be pivotable between open and closed positions; said second lid member including at least one projection;    wherein a) when said first lid member is moved to the closed position, said at least one projection of said first lid member enters said at least one aperture of the first side wall to provide resistance to tampering; and b) when said second lid member is moved to the closed position, said at least one projection of said second lid member enters said at least one aperture of the second side wall to provide resistance to tampering.    
     
     
         11 . The tamper-resistant lid according to  claim 10 , wherein said first lid member further has an inner edge provided with a lap portion and a recessed portion, and said second lid member has an inner edge provided with a lap portion opposite said recessed portion of the first lid member and a recessed portion opposite said lap portion of the first lid member, so that said first and second lid members are complementarily secured together by an overlapping of said respective inner edges.  
     
     
         12 . The tamper-resistant lid according to  claim 10 , wherein the first hinge elements of the container include hinge pins and wherein said second hinge elements of said first and second lid members include generally C-shaped hinge members.  
     
     
         13 . The tamper-resistant lid according to  claim 12 , wherein said hinge pins are integrally molded with said side walls and wherein said generally C-shaped hinge members are integrally molded with said lid members.