Locking container lid apparatus and method

Abstract

A container lid includes a permanently or elastically deformed tamper evident feature that alerts the user that the container has been accessed. Moreover, the tamper evident feature requires no additional material and produces no extra waste.

1 . A closure assembly for a container having a sidewall, comprising: 
 a top having a periphery;    a skirt extending from the periphery;    a pull tab having an opening and disposed on the skirt;    a rib configured to detachably engage the container, disposed on the pull tab extending inwardly and substantially in parallel with the top; and    a first groove and a second groove disposed on the skirt on either side of the pull tab.    
   
   
       2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first groove and the second groove are configured to tear.  
   
   
       3 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first groove and the second groove are configured to deform elastically.  
   
   
       4 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the closure assembly has a plurality of pull tabs disposed on the skirt.  
   
   
       5 . The assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of pull tabs are circumferentially spaced around the skirt.  
   
   
       6 . The assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of pull tabs comprises two pull tabs.  
   
   
       7 . The assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of pull tabs comprises three pull tabs.  
   
   
       8 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the top is configured with a stacking rib adjacent the periphery.  
   
   
       9 . A closure assembly system for a container having a sidewall, comprising: 
 a top having a periphery;    a skirt extending from the periphery;    a pull tab having an opening and disposed on the skirt;    a locking means configured to detachably engage the container, disposed on the pull tab extending inwardly and substantially in parallel with the top; and    a first indicating means and a second indicating means disposed on the skirt on either side of the pull tab.    
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the first indicating means and the second indicating means are configured to tear.  
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the first indicating means and the second indicating means are configured to deform elastically.  
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the closure system has a plurality of pull tabs disposed on the skirt.  
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of pull tabs are circumferentially spaced around the skirt.  
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the top is configured with a stacking locking means adjacent the periphery.  
   
   
       15 . A method of indicating an open container having a sidewall comprising: 
 providing a top having a periphery;    providing a skirt extending from the periphery;    providing a pull tab having an opening and disposed on the skirt;    locking the container via a rib detachably engaging the container disposed on the pull tab extending inwardly and substantially in parallel with the top; and    indicating via a first indicating means and a second indicating means disposed on the skirt on either side of the pull tab.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first indicating means and the second indicating means are configured to tear.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first indicating means and the second indicating means are configured to deform elastically.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the closure method has a plurality of pull tabs disposed on the skirt.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the plurality of pull tabs are circumferentially spaced around the skirt.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the top is configured with a stacking rib adjacent the periphery.