AU5397701A - Tamper evident container - Google Patents

Description

TAMPER EVIDENT CONTAINER The present invention relates to a tamper evident container. Tamper evident containers and in particular to reusable tamper evident containers.

Plastic packaging such as that used for cakes, bakery items, and fresh foods are susceptible to tampering whereby contaminants may be introduced into the packaged foods after packaging. A variety of tamper proof containers and tamper evident containers are available but none provide an efficient, resealable container which allows for reuse.

We have now found a tamper evident container which is resealable and can be incorporated readily into containers currently used for packaging. Accordingly there is provided a tamper evident container including a body and a lid wherein either the body or the lid has a projection extending peripherally around the body or the lid and wherein the other of the body or the lid has a corresponding peripheral recess into which the projection may be seated and wherein both the body and the lid of the tamper evident container have a peripheral flange extending beyond either the projection or the recess, which flanges are fixed to one another and wherein at least one of the flanges includes a frangible portion such that the body and the lid may be separated by tearing of the frangible portion whilst the body and the lid are able to be re-engaged with the projection and the recess.

The shape of the body and the lid for use in tamper evident containers of the present invention is not narrowly critical. The present invention resides in the engagement of the lid to the body. The body may be of any suitable shape for packaging cakes, baked items, salads, sandwiches and rolls, meats (including meat in marinade), vegetables or other items.

25 The lid may be hingedly connected to the body or may be capable of being completely separated once the frangible portion has been torn.

The flanges of the body and the lid may be fixed to one another by any convenient means including heat sealing, ultrasonic welding, any convenient form of mechanical fixing, adhesion by the use of chemical adhesives or any other 30 convenient means.

The lid may extend over the body of the tamper evident container or may include a depressed portion which is seated within the body of the container. Where the lid is positioned over the body of the container the lid may include a peripheral projection extending downwards which is received in a corresponding recess extending peripherally around the body of the container. Alternatively, the body of the container may have an upward projection which is seated within a corresponding recess which extends peripherally around the lid.

Where the lid includes a projection which extends downwardly, within the body of the container, the lid may include a peripherally extending outward projection which is received within a corresponding recess within the wall of the body of the container. Alternatively, the wall of the body of the container may include an inward projection which is seated within a corresponding recess which extends peripherally around the lid of the container.

In a further embodiment, the body of the container may include an upward projection, which upward projection forms an integral part of the wall of the container.

In this embodiment, the lid of the container includes a corresponding recess which extends peripherally such that the lid is generally within the walls of the container.

The body of the container and the lid include flanges which extend beyond either the projection or the recess and which are fixed to one another as described above. At least one of the flanges includes a frangible portion such that by tearing of the frangible portion the body and the lid are able to be disengaged for opening of the oo tamper evident container. The frangible portion may be a line of reduced thickness 00 and capable of ready tearing. Such a line may be continuous or be discontinuous, 0 20 having discrete segments of reduced thickness. The frangible portion may be a 0•:removable strip and include two lines of reduced thickness as described above.

Once the frangible portion has been torn, the container may be resealed by the re-engagement of the projection into the recess.

00 Tamper evident containers of the present invention may be produced from a S 25 variety of thermoplastics materials including polyvinyl chloride (PVC), amorphous 0polyethylene terphthalate (APET), moleculary imprinted polymers (MIPS) biaxially oriented polystyrene (BOPS), polypropylene (PP) and other suitable thermoplastics 0materials. The body and the lid of the tamper evident container of the present i invention may be produced by any convenient means used in the production of articles from thermoplastics materials including injection moulding, pressure forming, thermoforming and vacuum forming.

In order that this invention may be more easily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings that illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention: FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a round container having an internal locking system.

Figure 2 shows a tamper evident container having an external locking system.

Figure 3 shows a square tamper evident container having an internal locking system.

Figure 4 shows a square tamper evident container having an external locking system.

Figure 5 shows a generally oval tamper evident container having an internal locking system.

Figure 6 shows a generally oval container having an external locking system.

Figure 1 shows a round tamper evident container with an internal locking system for retaining the lid on the base after the initial seal has been torn away.

Stage 1 shows an elevation of the container 1. The lid 2, is shown welded together with the base (not shown) such that the container is tamper evident by checking that the perforations 3 are still intact. A tab 4 is provided in the lid 2 such that a portion of the lid 2 may be torn away from the container 1. After the lid 2 is torn away, a section 20 6f the lid 5 which is plastic welded to the base 6 will remain attached to the base 6.

This is shown in stage 2 of Figure 1.

Stage 3 shows the lid 2 after removal from the base 6. The peripheral edge of the lid 7 includes a flange 8 and an outward projection 9. The flange 8 positions the *o lid on the base 6 and engages a corresponding flange 10 on the base 6. The 25 outward projection 9 engages a corresponding recess 11 on the base 6.

Figure 2 shows a round tamper evident container with an external locking -oo system for retaining the lid on the base after the initial seal has been torn away.

Stage 1 shows an elevation of the container 21. The lid 22, is shown welded together with the base (not shown) such that the container is tamper evident by checking that the perforations 23 are still intact. A tab 24 is provided in the lid 22 such that a portion of the lid 22 may be torn away from the container 21. After the lid 22 is torn away, a section of the lid 25 which is plastic welded to the base 26 will remain attached to the base 26. This is shown in stage 2 of Figure 2.

Stage 3 shows the lid 22 after removal from the base 26. The peripheral edge of the lid 27 includes a flange 28 and a recess 29. The flange 28 positions the lid on the base 26 and engages a corresponding flange 30 on the base 26. The upward projection 31 engages a corresponding recess 29 on the base 26.

Figure 3 shows a square tamper evident container with an internal locking system for retaining the lid on the base after the initial seal has been torn away.

Stage 1 shows an elevation of the container 41. The lid 42, is shown welded together with the base (not shown) such that the container is tamper evident by checking that the perforations 43 are still intact. A tab 44 is provided in the lid 42 such that a portion of the lid 42 may be torn away from the container 41. After the lid 42 is torn away, a section of the lid 45 which is plastic welded to the base 46 will remain attached to the base 46. This is shown in stage 2 of Figure 3.

Stage 3 shows the lid 42 after removal from the base 46. The peripheral edge of the lid 47 includes a flange 48 and an outward projection 49. The flange 48 positions the lid on the base 46 and engages a corresponding flange 50 on the base 46. The outward projection 49 engages a corresponding recess 51 on the base 46.

Figure 4 shows a square tamper evident container with an external locking *°o*oo system for retaining the lid on the base after the initial seal has been torn away.

Stage 1 shows an elevation of the container 61. The lid 62, is shown welded 20 together with the base (not shown) such that the container is tamper evident by checking that the perforations 63 are still intact. A tab 64 is provided in the lid 62 such that a portion of the lid 62 may be torn away from the container 61. After the lid S* 62 is torn away, a section of the lid 65 which is plastic welded to the base 66 will remain attached to the base 66. This is shown in stage 2 of Figure 4.

25 Stage 3 shows the lid 62 after removal from the base 66. The peripheral edge of the lid 67 includes a flange 68 a recess 69. The flange 68 positions the lid on the base 66 and engages a corresponding flange 70 on the base 66. The upward projection 71 engages a corresponding recess 69 on the base 66.

Figure 5 shows an oval tamper evident container with an internal locking system for retaining the lid on the base after the initial seal has been torn away.

Stage 1 shows an elevation of the container 81. The lid 82, is shown welded together with the base (not shown) such that the container is tamper evident by checking that the perforations 83 are still intact. A tab 84 is provided in the lid 82 such that a portion of the lid 82 may be torn away from the container 81. After the lid 82 is torn away, a section of the lid 85 which is plastic welded to the base 86 will remain attached to the base 86. This is shown in stage 2 of Figure Stage 3 shows the lid 82 after removal from the base 86. The peripheral edge of the lid 87 includes a flange 88 and an outward projection 89. The flange 88 positions the lid on the base 86 and engages a corresponding flange 90 on the base 86. The outward projection 89 engages a corresponding recess 91 on the base 86.

Figure 6 shows an oval tamper evident container with an external locking system for retaining the lid on the base after the initial seal has been torn away.

Stage 1 shows an elevation of the container 101. The lid 102, is shown welded together with the base (not shown) such that the container is tamper evident by checking that the perforations 103 are still intact. A tab 104 is provided in the lid 102 such that a portion of the lid 102 may be torn away from the container 101. After the lid 102 is torn away, a section of the lid 105 which is plastic welded to the base 106 will remain attached to the base 106. This is shown in stage 2 of Figure 6.

Stage 3 shows the lid 102 after removal from the base 106. The peripheral edge of the lid 107 includes a flange 108 and recess 109. The flange 108 positions the lid on the base 106 and engages a corresponding flange 110 on the base 106.

The upward projection 111 engages a corresponding recess 109 on the base 106.

20' It will of course be realised that the above has been given only by way'of ~illustrative example of the invention and that all such modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of the invention as is herein set forth.

Iit11:

Claims (1)

1. A tamper evident container including a body and a lid wherein either the body or the lid has a projection extending peripherally around the body or the lid and wherein the other of the body or the lid has a corresponding peripheral recess into which the projection may be seated and wherein both the body and the lid of the tamper evident container have a peripheral flange extending beyond either the projection or the recess, which flanges are fixed to one another and wherein at least one of the flanges includes a frangible portion such that the body and the lid may be separated by tearing of the frangible portion whilst the body and the lid are able to be re-engaged with the projection and the recess. DATED THIS TWENTY FIRST DAY OF JUNE 2001 RAPTIS PAX PTY LTD BY PIZZEYS PATENT TRADE MARK ATTORNEYS **e .e *e*e* *ee