Tamper evident container

Abstract

A tamper evident container includes a lid having top and outer walls configured to fit over a flange of a storage element with the outer wall extending below a bottom edge of the flange. The outer wall may include an inwardly extending locking indentation engaging the bottom edge of the flange of the storage element to retain the lid on the storage element. The lid further includes a line of reduced strength extending along a portion of the top wall and/or outer wall to detach a portion of the outer wall and disengage the locking indentation from the flange to allow the lid to be disengaged from the flange without further permanent deformation of the lid or the storage element. The line of reduced strength divides a pull tab.

1 . A tamper evident container for storing a quantity of a product, comprising:
 a storage element having a top edge defining an opening of the storage element and having a flange extending outwardly therefrom; and   a lid having a complementary shape to the opening of the storage element and including a top wall and an outer wall configured to fit over the flange of the storage element with the outer wall extending below a bottom edge of the flange, the outer wall including at least one inwardly extending locking indentation engaging the bottom edge of the flange of the storage element when the lid is disposed on the storage element to retain the lid on the storage element such that the lid cannot be removed from the storage element without permanently deforming at least one of the lid and the storage element, the lid further including a line of reduced strength extending along a portion of at least one of the top wall and the outer wall to detach a portion of the outer wall and disengage the corresponding portion of the at least one locking indentation from the flange to allow the lid to be disengaged from the flange without further permanent deformation of the lid or the storage element, and wherein the lid comprises a pull tab extending outwardly from the outer wall with the line of reduced strength extending along the pull tab proximate the outer wall such that the pull tab may be grasped and pulled away from the lid to separate the tab and outer wall from the lid along the line of reduced strength, and wherein the line of reduced strength divides the pull tab.   
     
     
         2 . The tamper evident container of  claim 1 , wherein the opening of the storage element is substantially rectangular and includes four corners, wherein the lid has a corresponding rectangular shape and the outer wall of the lid has four locking indentations each disposed at one of the corners and engaging the bottom edge of the flange at the corresponding corner, and wherein the line of reduced strength extends along the top wall around one of the corners such that the corresponding locking indentation disengages from the flange when the portion of the outer wall is separated from the lid along the line of reduced strength. 
     
     
         3 . The tamper evident container of  claim 1 , wherein the opening of the storage element is a shape selected from the group consisting of a round shape, an oval shape, a rectangular shape, and a rounded rectangular shape, and wherein the lid has a corresponding shape. 
     
     
         4 . The tamper evident container of  claim 1 , wherein the line of reduced strength extends circumferentially along the top wall of the lid to substantially define an arc in the range of 30° to 120° along the top wall when opening of the storage element and the lid have a round shape. 
     
     
         5 . The tamper evident container of  claim 3 , wherein the lid comprises one locking indentation extending substantially the entire length of the outer wall. 
     
     
         6 . The tamper evident container of  claim 3  wherein the lid comprises more than one locking indentation, each locking indentation extending a portion of the entire length of the outer wall, such that the portion is less than the entire length of the outer wall. 
     
     
         7 . The tamper evident container of  claim 1 , wherein the lid further comprises a second pull tab extending outwardly from the outer wall and disposed opposite the pull tab, with the line of reduced strength extending along the second pull tab such that the second pull tab may be grasped and pulled away from the lid to separate the second pull tab and outer wall from the lid along the line of reduced strength. 
     
     
         8 . The tamper evident container of  claim 1 , wherein the storage element further includes a side wall extending downwardly from the top edge with a portion of the side wall adjacent the top edge angled outwardly away from a center of the storage element as the portion extends downwardly from the top edge, and the lid further includes an inner wall extending downwardly from the top wall with a portion of the inner wall adjacent the top wall being angled outwardly away from a center of the lid as the portion extends downwardly from the top wall such that the angled portion of the inner wall engages the angled portion of the side wall of the storage element to retain the lid on the storage element. 
     
     
         9 . The tamper evident container of  claim 1 , wherein the storage element further includes a side wall extending downwardly from the top edge and a ridge extending along the side wall, and the lid further includes an inner wall extending downwardly from the top wall and a slot extending along the inner wall and sized to receive and engage the ridge to retain the lid on the storage element. 
     
     
         10 . The tamper evident container of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one locking indentation extends inwardly at approximately a 45° negative angle. 
     
     
         11 . The tamper evident container of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one locking indentation extends inwardly at approximately a 0° negative angle. 
     
     
         12 . The tamper evident container of  claim 1 , wherein the line of reduced strength comprises one or more of a line of punctures, a score line, a line of reduced thickness, and a blade scoring line having punctures and bridges adjacent the puncture. 
     
     
         13 . A lid for a container for storing a quantity of a product and having a storage element having a top edge defining an opening of the storage element and a flange extending outwardly therefrom, the lid comprising:
 a base wall having a complementary shape to the opening of the storage element;   an outer wall extending downwardly from the base wall, wherein the base wall and the outer wall are configured to fit over the flange of the storage element with the outer wall extending below a bottom edge of the flange, and wherein the outer wall includes at least one inwardly extending locking indentation engaging the bottom edge of the flange of the storage element when the lid is disposed on the storage element to retain the lid on the storage element such that the lid cannot be removed from the storage element without permanently deforming at least one of the lid and the storage element;   a line of reduced strength extending along a portion of at least one of the base wall and the outer wall to detach a portion of the outer wall and disengage the corresponding portion of the at least one locking indentation from the flange to allow the lid to be disengaged from the flange without further permanent deformation of the lid or the storage element; and   a pull tab extending outwardly from the outer wall with the line of reduced strength extending along the pull tab proximate the outer wall such that the pull tab may be grasped and pulled away from the lid to separate the tab and outer wall from the lid along the line of reduced strength, and wherein the line of reduced strength divides the pull tab.   
     
     
         14 . The lid of  claim 13 , wherein the opening of the storage element is rectangular and includes four corners, wherein the lid has a corresponding rectangular shape and the outer wall of the lid has four locking indentations each disposed at one of the corners and engaging the bottom edge of the flange at the corresponding corner, and wherein the line of reduced strength extends along the top wall around one of the corners such that the corresponding locking indentation disengages from the flange when the portion of the outer wall is separated from the lid along the line of reduced strength. 
     
     
         15 . The lid of  claim 13 , wherein the opening of the storage element is a shape selected from the group consisting of a round shape, an oval shape, a rectangular shape, and a rounded rectangular shape, and wherein the lid has a corresponding shape. 
     
     
         16 . The lid of  claim 13 , wherein the lid comprises one locking indentation extending substantially the entire length of the outer wall. 
     
     
         17 . The lid of  claim 13 , further comprising a second pull tab extending outwardly from the outer wall and disposed opposite the pull tab, with the line of reduced strength extending along the second pull tab proximate the outer wall such that the second pull tab may be grasped and pulled away from the lid to separate the second pull tab and outer wall from the lid along the line of reduced strength. 
     
     
         18 . The lid of  claim 13 , wherein the line of reduced strength comprises one or more of a line of punctures, a score line, a line of reduced thickness, and a blade scoring line having punctures and bridges adjacent the puncture. 
     
     
         19 . The lid of  claim 13 , wherein the base wall comprises a side wall extending upwardly from the base wall and having a top edge with a complementary shape to the opening of the storage element, and a top wall extending outwardly from the side wall at the top edge, a portion of the side wall adjacent the top edge angled outwardly away from a center of the lid as the portion extends downwardly from the top wall such that the angled portion of the side wall of the lid corresponds to and engages a portion of a side wall of the storage element angled outwardly away from a center of the storage element as the portion extends downwardly from the top edge of the storage element to retain the lid on the storage element. 
     
     
         20 . The lid of  claim 13 , wherein the base wall comprises a side wall extending upwardly from the base wall and having a top edge with a complementary shape to the opening of the storage element, a top wall extending outwardly from the side wall at the top edge, and a ridge extending along the side wall, the ridge receiving and engaging a slot extending along a side wall of the storage element that downwardly extends from the top edge of the storage element to retain the lid on the storage element. 
     
     
         21 . A lid for storing a quantity of a product and having a storage element having a top edge defining an opening of the storage element and a flange extending outwardly therefrom, the lid comprising:
 a base wall;   a side wall extending upwardly from the base wall and having a top edge with a complementary shape to the opening of the storage element;   a top wall extending outwardly from the side wall at the top edge;   an outer wall, wherein the side wall, the top wall and the outer wall are configured to fit over the flange of the storage element with the outer wall extending below a bottom edge of the flange, the outer wall including at least one inwardly extending locking indentation engaging the bottom edge of the flange of the storage element when the lid is disposed on the storage element to retain the lid on the storage element such that the lid cannot be removed from the storage element without permanently deforming at least one of the lid and the storage element;   a pull tab disposed adjacent a portion of the outer wall and outwardly extending from the outer wall; and   two lines of reduced strength each extending along the portion of at least one of the top wall and the outer wall to detach the portion of the outer wall and disengage the corresponding portion of the at least one locking indentation from the flange to allow the lid to be disengaged from the flange without further permanent deformation of the lid or the storage element, and wherein at least one of the lines of reduced strength divides the pull tab.   
     
     
         22 . The lid of  claim 21 , wherein the opening of the storage element is rectangular and includes four corners, wherein the lid has a corresponding rectangular shape and the outer wall of the lid has four locking indentations each disposed at one of the corners and engaging the bottom edge of the flange at the corresponding corner, and wherein the lines of reduced strength extends along the top wall adjacent opposite sides of one of the corners such that the corresponding locking indentation disengages from the flange when the portion of the outer wall is separated from the lid along the lines of reduced strength. 
     
     
         23 . The lid of  claim 21 , wherein the lines of reduced strength each comprise one or more of a line of punctures, a score line, a line of reduced thickness, and a blade scoring line having punctures and bridges adjacent the puncture. 
     
     
         24 . The lid of  claim 21 , wherein a portion of the side wall adjacent the top edge is angled outwardly away from a center of the lid as the portion extends downwardly from the top edge such that the angled portion of the side wall of the lid corresponds to and engages a portion of a side wall of the storage element angled outwardly away from a center of the storage element as the portion extends downwardly from the top edge of the storage element to retain the lid on the storage element. 
     
     
         25 . The lid of  claim 21 , wherein the side wall includes a ridge extending along the side wall, the ridge receiving and engaging a slot extending along a side wall of the storage element that downwardly extends from the top edge of the storage element to retain the lid on the storage element. 
     
     
         26 . A tamper evident container for storing a quantity of a product, comprising:
 a storage element having a top edge defining an opening of the storage element and having a flange extending outwardly therefrom, and a side wall downwardly extending from the top edge, the sidewall including an inwardly extending ridge formed on the sidewall; and   a lid having a complementary shape to the opening of the storage element and including a top wall and an outer wall configured to fit over the flange of the storage element with the outer wall extending below a bottom edge of the flange, the lid further including an inner wall downwardly extending from the top wall, the inner wall including a slot configured to receive and engage the ridge of the storage element when the lid is disposed on the storage element to retain the lid on the storage element such that the lid cannot be removed from the storage element without permanently deforming at least one of the lid and the storage element, the lid further including a line of reduced strength extending along a portion of at least one of the top wall and the outer wall to detach a portion of the outer wall and allow a user to access a corresponding portion of the flange to separate the flange from the top wall and disengage a portion of the ridge from the slot to allow the lid to be disengaged from the storage element without further permanent deformation of the lid or the storage element, wherein the lid comprises a pull tab extending outwardly from the outer wall with the line of reduced strength extending along the pull tab proximate the outer wall such that the pull tab may be grasped and pulled away from the lid to separate the tab and outer wall from the lid along the line of reduced strength, wherein the pull tab is divided by the line of reduced strength.   
     
     
         27 . The tamper evident container of  claim 26 , wherein the pull tab comprises a surface extending downwardly from the top wall to a bottom edge of the outer wall. 
     
     
         28 . The tamper evident container of  claim 26 , wherein the line of reduced strength comprises one or more of a line of punctures, a score line, a line of reduced thickness, and a blade scoring line having punctures and bridges adjacent the puncture. 
     
     
         29 . The tamper evident container of  claim 26  further comprising at least a first inside bead on the lid, the inside bead extending along the outer wall and mating with the container.