Tamper evident produce container

Abstract

The present invention relates to a tamper evident produce container having two front corners. The produce container includes a receptacle, a lid and a pair of frangible tabs. The receptacle has a mouth circumscribed by a first flange. The lid is associated with the receptacle to close off the mouth. The lid has a second flange. Each frangible tab is joined to either one of the first or second flange at or in close proximity to one of the two front corners by an area or line of weakness. Each frangible tab includes a first locking formation which is adapted to interlock with a second locking formation provided on or in the other of the first or second flange when the lid is positioned on the receptacle to close off the mouth.

1 . A tamper evident produce container comprising:
 two front corners;   a receptacle with a mouth circumscribed by a first flange;   a lid associated with the receptacle to close off the mouth, the lid having a second flange; and   a pair of frangible tabs, each frangible tab being joined to either one of the first or second flange at or in close proximity to one of the two front corners by an area or line of weakness,   wherein each frangible tab includes a first locking formation which is adapted to interlock with a second locking formation provided on or in the other of the first or second flange when the lid is positioned on the receptacle to close off the mouth.   
     
     
         2 . The tamper evident produce container of  claim 1 , wherein the area or line of weakness includes a perforated or scored line. 
     
     
         3 . The tamper evident produce container of  claim 1 , wherein each frangible tab is joined to the first flange. 
     
     
         4 . The tamper evident produce container of  claim 2 , wherein the area or line of weakness is where the first flange joins the frangible tab. 
     
     
         5 . The tamper evident produce container of  claim 2 , wherein the area or line of weakness follows a path that begins at one edge of the flange, goes around the first locking formation and ends at another edge of the flange. 
     
     
         6 . The tamper evident produce container of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second locking formations are configured to be snap-fit connectors. 
     
     
         7 . The tamper evident produce container of  claim 1 , wherein the first locking formation is a male member which is adapted to mate and interlock with the second locking formation being a complementary female member so as to secure the lid to the receptacle when the lid is in a closed position. 
     
     
         8 . The tamper evident produce container of  claim 7 , wherein the male member includes a substantially frustoconical protrusion. 
     
     
         9 . The tamper evident produce container of  claim 1 , wherein the first flange includes an upwardly projecting rim which provides a first loading bearing surface. 
     
     
         10 . The tamper evident produce container of  claim 1 , wherein the second flange includes a second loading bearing surface, and a vertical wall having one side substantially orthogonally and integrally joined to the second loading bearing surface and another side integrally joined to an outwardly extending fringe. 
     
     
         11 . The tamper evident produce container of  claim 10 , wherein the outwardly extending fringe is adapted to abut the first loading bearing surface when the lid is in a closed position. 
     
     
         12 . The tamper evident produce container of  claim 10 , wherein the outwardly extending fringe is spaced from the first flange by the upwardly projecting rim.