Tamper-evident packaging structure incorporated into a container cover and an assembly

Abstract

A container cover comprises two halves that are integrally-molded. The two halves are connected by a common pivot point or hinge that is disposed to one side of each half which allows the halves to be folded over and onto one another. One half is a solid cover or lid structure (the “lid”) and one half is a ring-like base structure (the “base”), both of which are intended to be disposed atop a container, with the base in direct contact with the container although the lid and base could be modified the include other engaging structure. The lid is configured to fit with and engage the base via the common hinge or pivot point. Opposite the hinge point of each structure is part of a lock structure that provides the tamper-evident functionality when the lid is folded over and attached to the base.

1 . A container cover comprising:
 a container cover base;   a container cover lid, wherein the container cover lid comprises a perimeter and a covering that extends across and within the perimeter of the container cover lid;   a container cover hinge that connects the container cover base and the container cover lid such that the container cover lid can be folded over and onto the container cover base;   wherein the container cover base, the container cover lid and the container cover hinge form a unitary structure; and   a tamper-evident packaging structure comprising a first portion that is formed within the container cover base and a second portion that is formed within the container cover lid.   
     
     
         2 . The container cover of  claim 1  wherein the first portion of the container cover lid of the tamper-evident packaging structure further comprises a circumferential lip that engages a complementary circumferential receiver that is defined within the container cover base. 
     
     
         3 . The container cover of  claim 2  wherein the container cover lid further comprises a lid lift tab extending outwardly from the perimeter of the container cover lid. 
     
     
         4 . The container cover of  claim 3  wherein the container cover lid lift tab is configured to enable a user to pull the container cover lid to an open position via the container lid lift tab. 
     
     
         5 . The container cover of  claim 3  wherein the container cover lid lift tab comprises a slot-like lid opening. 
     
     
         6 . The container cover of  claim 5  wherein the slot-like lid opening comprises an outermost portion and a catch extending inwardly of the container cover lid lift tab. 
     
     
         7 . The container cover of  claim 6  wherein the slot-like lid opening further comprising an opposing side and the opposing side comprising a lid protrusion, the lid protrusion having an outwardly-extending lip. 
     
     
         8 . The container cover of  claim 7  wherein the container cover base further comprises a flat base protrusion that extends upwardly from the container cover base. 
     
     
         9 . The container cover of  claim 8  wherein the cover base protrusion further comprises an uppermost portion and a rearward facing surface. 
     
     
         10 . The container cover of  claim 9  wherein a base protrusion lip extends outwardly from the uppermost portion of the cover base protrusion. 
     
     
         11 . The container cover of  claim 10  wherein the base protrusion is a frangible pull structure having pull tabs disposed to either side of the cover base protrusion. 
     
     
         12 . The container cover of  claim 11  wherein the cover base protrusion is removably attached to the base via a plurality of breakable fingers. 
     
     
         13 . The container cover of  claim 1  wherein the container cover base, the container cover lid and the container cover hinge collectively comprise a single-shot plastic injection-molded structure. 
     
     
         14 . A container cover comprises two halves that are integrally-molded wherein the two halves are connected by a hinge that is disposed to one common side of each half; wherein one half is a lid structure and one half is a base structure, both of which are intended to be disposed atop a container, with the base structure in direct contact with the container; and wherein, opposite the hinge of each structure, is part of a lock structure that provides tamper-evident functionality when the lid structure is folded over and onto the base structure. 
     
     
         15 . The container cover of  claim 14  wherein:
 the first portion of the lid structure of the tamper-evident packaging structure further comprises a circumferential lip that engages a complementary circumferential receiver that is defined within the cover structure, the lid structure further comprising a lid lift tab extending outwardly from the perimeter of the lid structure; 
 the lid lift tab is configured to enable a user to pull the lid structure to an open position via the lid lift tab. 
 the lid lift tab comprises a slot-like lid opening; 
 the slot-like lid opening comprises an outermost portion and a catch extending inwardly of the lid lift tab; 
 the slot-like lid opening further comprising an opposing side and the opposing side comprising a lid protrusion, the lid protrusion having an outwardly-extending lip; 
 the base structure further comprises a flat base protrusion that extends upwardly from the base structures; 
 the base structure protrusion further comprises an uppermost portion and a rearward facing surface; 
 a base protrusion lip extends outwardly from the uppermost portion of the cover base protrusion; and 
 the base protrusion is a frangible pull structure having pull tabs disposed to either side of the cover base protrusion and the cover base protrusion is removably attached to the base structure via a plurality of breakable fingers. 
 
     
     
         16 . The container cover of  claim 15  wherein the base structure, the lid structure and the hinge comprise a single-shot plastic injection-molded and unitary structure.