Container with tamper-evident closure

Abstract

A tamper-evident container includes a base and a lid with a closure portion includes a lip flange and a base flange. When the lid is secured to and closed over the base, the lid flange and the base flange rest adjacent to one another. The base flange includes perforations running along the length of the closure portion to divide the base flange into an outer region and an inner region. The lid flange is secured to the outer region of the base flange. When the lid is separated from the base, the lid flange tears away the outer region of the base flange with the assistance of the perforations on the base flange. When the lid is fully separated from the base, the lid flange carries the outer region of the base to avoid a separate member that needs to be thrown away.

1 . A tamper-evident container, comprising:
 a base having a bottom with at least one upstanding side wall defining a cavity therein, the base further includes a top peripheral edge defining a top open end and a base flange extending outwardly from at least a portion of the top peripheral edge, wherein the base flange comprises an inner portion and an outer portion being removably attached to the inner portion;   a lid, having a peripheral edge, the lid being hingedly connected to the base and configured to substantially enclose the top open end when attached to the top peripheral edge, wherein the peripheral edge is fixed to the outer portion of the base flange; and   a hinge member hingedly connecting the lid to the base;   wherein separation of the lid from the base pulls the outer portion of the base flange away from the inner portion of the base flange,   wherein the outer portion of the base flange is left fixed to the lid flange after full separation of the lid from the base, thereby enabling access to the cavity of the base.   
     
     
         2 . The tamper-evident container of  claim 1 , wherein the base, lid and hinge are made of plastic. 
     
     
         3 . The tamper-evident container of  claim 1 , wherein the top peripheral edge of the base includes an inwardly extending flange; the peripheral edge of the lid being configured to reside under the flange. 
     
     
         4 . The tamper-evident container of  claim 1 , wherein the base flange includes at least one gripping tab. 
     
     
         5 . The tamper-evident container of  claim 4 , wherein the peripheral edge of the lid includes at least one gripping tab. 
     
     
         6 . The tamper-evident container of  claim 1 , wherein the inner portion of the base flange is connected to the outer portion by a perforation. 
     
     
         7 . The tamper-evident container of  claim 6 , wherein the perforation extends along a majority of the length of the peripheral edge of the lid. 
     
     
         8 . The tamper-evident container of  claim 7 , wherein the perforation extends between two gripping tabs extending outward from the peripheral edge of the lid. 
     
     
         9 . The tamper-evident container of  claim 6 , wherein the perforation extends along a sinusoidal path. 
     
     
         10 . The tamper-evident container of  claim 1 , wherein the base, the lid, and the hinge are formed from a single piece of material. 
     
     
         11 . The tamper-evident container of  claim 1 , wherein removal of the outer portion of the base flange from the inner portion provides a visual indication to a user that the container has been open. 
     
     
         12 . A method of opening a tamper-evident container, the method comprising,
 providing the tamper-evident container, the tamper-evident container comprising,
 a base having a bottom with at least one upstanding side wall defining a cavity therein, the base further includes a top peripheral edge defining a top open end and a base flange extending outwardly from at least a portion of the top peripheral edge, wherein the base flange comprises an inner portion and an outer portion being removably attached to the inner portion; 
 a lid, having a peripheral edge, the lid being hingedly connected to the base and configured to substantially enclose the top open end when attached to the top peripheral edge, wherein the peripheral edge is fixed to the outer portion of the base flange; and 
 a hinge member hingedly connecting the lid to the base; 
   grasping a first portion of the base, and   grasping a first portion of the peripheral edge of the lid and applying an upward force to the lid to separate the lid from the base and remove the outer portion of the base flange from the inner portion of the base flange.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the first portion of the base is a tab. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the first portion of the lid is a tab. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the outer portion of the base flange is left fixed to the lid flange after full separation of the lid from the base.