Tamper- resistant and tamper evident containers

Abstract

A tamper-resistant container with tamper-evident features which includes a cover portion made at least in part from a plastic material and including an outwardly extending peripheral flange and a base portion including an upwardly projecting skirt terminating in an outer peripheral edge. The outer peripheral flange extending beyond the outwardly extending peripheral flange of the cover portion to hinder access to the container when the container is closed. The container also including a hinge joining the cover portion with the base portion. The hinge includes a frangible section including at least one score line that when severed, facilitates removal of the cover portion from the base portion to open the container.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A plastic tamper-resistant/tamper-evident container comprising:
 a cover portion made at least in part from a plastic material, the cover portion including an outwardly extending peripheral flange;   a base portion including an upwardly projecting skirt terminating in an outer peripheral flange, the outer peripheral flange extending beyond the outwardly extending peripheral flange of the cover portion to hinder access to the container when the container is closed; and   a hinge joining the cover portion to the base portion, the hinge including a frangible section, the frangible section comprising at least one score line that when severed facilitates removal of the cover portion from the base portion to open the container.   
     
     
         2 . The plastic tamper-resistant/tamper-evident container of  claim 1 , wherein the frangible section comprises one score line. 
     
     
         3 . The plastic tamper-resistant/tamper-evident container of  claim 1 , wherein the frangible section comprises at least a two score lines. 
     
     
         4 . The plastic tamper-resistant/tamper-evident container of  claim 3 , wherein the at least two score lines are substantially parallel. 
     
     
         5 . The plastic tamper-resistant/tamper-evident container of  claim 1 , wherein the container is formed from a material including at least one of polystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene, polypropylene and polyvinyl chloride. 
     
     
         6 . The plastic tamper-resistant/tamper-evident container of  claim 1 , wherein the cover portion, base portion, hinge and tear strip are unitarily formed from a single sheet of plastic. 
     
     
         7 . The plastic tamper-resistant/tamper-evident container of  claim 1 , wherein the upper peripheral edge of the base portion forms at least in part an upwardly projecting bead extending substantially about the perimeter of the base portion configured to render the outwardly extending flange of the cover portion relatively inaccessible when the container is closed. 
     
     
         8 . The plastic tamper-resistant/tamper-evident container of  claim 1 , wherein the frangible section, when severed provides at least one projection extending from at least one of the base portion or the cover portion to facilitate removal of the cover portion from the base portion to open the container. 
     
     
         9 . The plastic tamper-resistant/tamper-evident container of  claim 8 , wherein the projection extends from the base portion of the container. 
     
     
         10 . The plastic tamper-resistant/tamper-evident container of  claim 8 , wherein the projection extends from the cover portion of the container. 
     
     
         11 . The plastic tamper-resistant/tamper-evident container of  claim 1  wherein the base portion further comprises one or more gussets that resist flexure of the container when the container is closed. 
     
     
         12 . The plastic tamper-resistant/tamper-evident container of  claim 1 , wherein the cover portion further comprises one or more gussets that resist flexure of the container when the container is closed.