Tamper evident container with frangible hinge

Abstract

A container includes a base having a base peripheral portion and a lid having a lid peripheral portion. The lid peripheral portion is mountable to the base peripheral portion to mount the lid to the base for closing the container. A frangible hinge member pivotably joins the base to the lid. The hinge member includes a base hinge panel joined to the base peripheral portion, and a lid hinge panel joined to the lid peripheral portion. The base and lid hinge panels are pivotally joined together at a pivot region. One of the base hinge panel and the lid hinge panel has a line of weakness extending at least partially thereacross. At least a portion of the line of weakness is spaced from and positioned inwardly of the pivot region. The one of the base hinge panel and the lid hinge panel is separable along the line of weakness into a grasping portion connected to one of the base and the lid, and a flap portion connected to the pivot region.

1 . A container comprising:
 a) a base having a base peripheral portion defining a base peripheral edge;   b) a lid having a lid peripheral portion defining a lid peripheral edge, the lid peripheral portion mountable to the base peripheral portion to mount the lid to the base, and at least one of the base peripheral edge and lid peripheral edge being generally inaccessible to a user when the lid is mounted to the base to inhibit grasping thereof to separate the lid from the base;   c) a hinge member pivotably joining the base to the lid, the hinge member including:
 i) a base hinge panel joined to the base peripheral portion, and a lid hinge panel joined to the lid peripheral portion, 
 ii) the base and lid hinge panels pivotally joined together at a pivot region; 
 iii) one of the base hinge panel and the lid hinge panel having a line of weakness extending at least partially thereacross, at least a portion of the line of weakness being spaced from and positioned inwardly of the pivot region; 
 iv) the one of the base hinge panel and the lid hinge panel being separable along the line of weakness into a grasping portion connected to one of the base and the lid, and a flap portion connected to the pivot region. 
   
   
   
       2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the line of weakness extends at least partially across the lid hinge panel, the lid hinge panel being separable along the line of weakness into the grasping portion and the flap portion, the grasping portion connected to the lid, and the flap portion connected to the pivot region. 
   
   
       3 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the lid hinge panel bears against at least a portion of the base hinge panel when the lid is mounted to the base. 
   
   
       4 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the pivot region comprises a plurality of pivot surfaces joined together at a plurality of non-frangible pivot edges. 
   
   
       5 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the base and lid hinge panels have respective inner surfaces facing each other when the container is closed, and at least a portion of the inner surfaces are spaced apart to form a gap therebetween. 
   
   
       6 . The container of  claim 5 , wherein the line of weakness overlies the gap. 
   
   
       7 . The container of  claim 6 , wherein the lid hinge panel is separable into the grasping portion and the flap portion by displacement of at least a portion of the flap portion downwardly into the gap. 
   
   
       8 . The container of  claim 6 , wherein the base hinge panel comprises a planar portion adjacent the lid hinge panel when the lid is mounted on the base, and wherein the gap comprises a hollow extending downwardly from the planar portion, away form the lid hinge panel. 
   
   
       9 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the line of weakness defines a plurality of curves. 
   
   
       10 . The container of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of curves provide a plurality of grasping protrusions along the grasping portion when the one of the lid hinge panel and the base hinge panel is separated into the grasping portion and the flap portion. 
   
   
       11 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the pivot region is biased to pivot the flap portion away from the grasping portion when the one of the lid hinge panel and the base hinge panel is separated into the grasping portion and the flap portion. 
   
   
       12 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the lid peripheral edge is generally inaccessible to a user when the lid is mounted to the base. 
   
   
       13 . The container of  claim 12 , wherein the base comprises a bottom panel, at least one sidewall extending upwardly from a periphery of the bottom panel, and the base peripheral portion extends from the at least one sidewall. 
   
   
       14 . The container of  claim 13 , wherein the lid comprises a covering portion and the lid peripheral portion extends from the covering portion. 
   
   
       15 . The container of  claim 14 , wherein the base peripheral portion comprises at least one engagement surface extending from an upper portion of the at least one sidewall to define an inwardly open recess. 
   
   
       16 . The container of  claim 15 , wherein the lid peripheral portion comprises a projection receivable in the recess. 
   
   
       17 . The container of  claim 16 , wherein the base peripheral portion comprises a seating surface positioned above the recess. 
   
   
       18 . The container of  claim 17 , wherein the lid peripheral portion comprises a flange positioned above and outwardly of the projection, the flange being seatable on the seating surface. 
   
   
       19 . The container of  claim 18 , wherein the base peripheral portion comprises a barrier wall extending upwardly from an outer portion of the seating surface and extending from a first position to a second position spaced perimetrically from the first position. 
   
   
       20 . The container of  claim 19 , wherein the flange has a first portion and having an outer edge in perimetrical registration with the barrier wall and a second portion extending between the first position and the second position when the projection is received in the recess.