Tamper-evident container having release flap and closure tab

Abstract

A unitary blank having a body portion having an upper edge, a lower edge, a first outer edge and a second outer edge opposite the first outer edge, the body portion further having a plurality of fold lines to define a plurality of body wall portions. A handle portion extending from at least one of the first outer edge and the second outer edge. A first body wall portion including a first closure tab portion extending from the first body wall portion. A second body wall portion including a second closure tab portion extending from the second body wall portion, wherein the first closure tab portion is configured to be joined with the second closure tab portion to form a closure tab when the blank is formed into a container. A cover portion extending from the upper edge of the second body wall portion and configured to receive the closure tab.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A unitary blank for forming a container comprising:
 a body portion having an upper edge, a lower edge, a first outer edge and a second outer edge opposite the first outer edge, the body portion further having a plurality of fold lines extending between the upper edge and the lower edge to define a plurality of body wall portions;   at least one handle portion extending from at least one of the first outer edge and the second outer edge;   a first body wall portion of the plurality of body wall portions including a first closure tab portion extending from the first body wall portion, wherein the first body wall portion has an inner edge and an outer edge defined by the first outer edge of the body portion;   a second body wall portion of the plurality of body wall portions including a second closure tab portion extending from the second body wall portion, wherein the first closure tab portion is configured to be joined with the second closure tab portion to form a closure tab when the blank is formed into a container, wherein the second body wall portion has an inner edge and an outer edge defined by the second outer edge of the body portion; and   a cover portion extending from the upper edge of the second body wall portion of the plurality of body wall portions, the cover portion configured to receive the closure tab.   
     
     
         2 . The blank of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one handle portion includes a first handle portion extending from the first outer edge and a second handle portion extending from the second outer edge, the first handle portion configured to be joined to the second handle portion to form a handle when the blank is formed into the container. 
     
     
         3 . The blank of  claim 2 , wherein the first handle portion and the second handle portion each includes a handle cut-out, the first handle portion having a handle flap extending from an edge of the handle cut-out of the first handle portion, the handle flap configured to be folded through the handle cut-out of the second handle portion. 
     
     
         4 . The blank of  claim 3 , further including a window cut-out on at least one of the body wall portions of the plurality of body wall portions. 
     
     
         5 . The blank of  claim 4 , wherein the window cut-out is covered with a film material selected from the group consisting of polyester, PLA, and acetate. 
     
     
         6 . The blank of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of body wall portions further includes a third body wall portion, a fourth body wall portion, and a fifth body wall portion, wherein the third body wall portion has a first inner edge and a second inner edge, the fourth body wall portion has a first inner edge and a second inner edge, and the fifth body wall portion has a first inner edge and a second inner edge,
 wherein the third body wall portion extends from the first inner edge of the first body wall portion, the fourth body wall portion extends from the second inner edge of the third body wall portion, and the fifth body wall portion extends from the second inner edge of the fourth body wall portion to the inner edge of the second body wall portion.   
     
     
         7 . The blank of  claim 1 , further including auto-bottom body wall portions extending from the lower edge of the body portion and configured to form a bottom portion opposite the cover portion when the blank is formed into a container. 
     
     
         8 . The blank of  claim 1 , wherein the cover portion further includes cover side portions, the cover side portions configured to be folded into the container when the blank is formed into a container. 
     
     
         9 . A container formed from the blank of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         10 . The blank of  claim 1 , wherein the first closure tab portion and the second closure tab portion are configured to be joined by an adhesive. 
     
     
         11 . A container comprising:
 a body portion and a cover portion joined together to define an interior of the container, the body portion having a plurality of side walls;   at least one handle portion extending from an outer edge of at least one of the plurality of side walls;   a first side wall of the plurality of side walls including a first closure tab portion extending from the first side wall, wherein the first side wall has an inner edge and an outer edge defined by a first outer edge of the body portion; and   a second side wall of the plurality of side walls including a second closure tab portion extending from the second side wall, wherein the first closure tab portion is joined with the second closure tab portion to form a closure tab, wherein the second side wall has an inner edge and an outer edge defined by a second outer edge of the body portion, wherein the cover portion extends from an upper edge of the second side wall, wherein the closure tab is received in the cover portion.   
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one handle portion includes a first handle portion extending from the first outer edge and a second handle portion extending from the second outer edge, the first handle portion joined to the second handle portion to form a handle. 
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 12 , wherein the first handle portion and the second handle portion each includes a handle cut-out, the first handle portion having a handle flap extending from an edge of the handle cut-out of the first handle portion, the handle flap configured to be folded through the handle cut-out of the second handle portion. 
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 13 , further including a window cut-out on at least one side wall of the plurality of side walls. 
     
     
         15 . The container of  claim 14 , wherein the window cut-out is covered with a film material selected from the group consisting of polyester, PLA, and acetate. 
     
     
         16 . The container of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of side walls further includes a third side wall, and a fourth side wall, and a fifth side wall, wherein the third side wall has a first inner edge and a second inner edge, the fourth side wall has a first inner edge and a second inner edge, and the fifth side wall has a first inner edge and a second inner edge,
 wherein the third side wall extends from the first inner edge of the first side wall, the fourth side wall extends from the second inner edge of the third side wall, and the fifth side wall extends from the second inner edge of the fourth side wall to the inner edge of the second side wall.   
     
     
         17 . The container of  claim 11 , further including a bottom portion opposite the cover portion, the bottom portion formed of auto-bottom body wall portions extending from a lower edge of the body portion. 
     
     
         18 . The container of  claim 11 , wherein the cover portion further includes cover side portions. 
     
     
         19 . The container of  claim 11 , wherein the first closure tab portion and the second closure tab portion are joined by an adhesive. 
     
     
         20 . The container of  claim 11 , wherein the container comprises at least one of a paperboard, paper, a paper laminated on at least one side, a multiple-walled paper, a resin, a plastic, a polymer, a composite material, and a foam.