Tamper-evident containers

Abstract

Various tamper-evident and / or tamper-resistant containers are disclosed. In some embodiments, the container comprises a base and a lid. The base can receive a food product. The lid can be engaged with the base to form a closed chamber in the container. In some embodiments, the lid is received in a peripheral channel in the base and / or recessed below an upper lip of the base to inhibit grasping of a peripheral edge of the lid. The lid can have a tab and a recess. The tab can be positioned in the recess. An indicator can overlay the tab in the recess. To open the container, the tab is drawn upward which pulls the lid out of engagement with the base. Removing the tab from the recess tears or otherwise mars the appearance of the indicator.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE[0001]This application claims the priority benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119 of U.S. Patent Application No. 62 / 568,624, filed Oct. 5, 2017 and U.S. Patent Application No. 62 / 702,277, filed Jul. 23, 2018. The entirety of each of the aforementioned applications, as well as the entirety of any applications for which a foreign or domestic priority claim is identified in the Application Data Sheet as filed with this application, are hereby incorporated by reference under 37 CFR 1.57.BACKGROUNDField[0002]The present disclosure relates to packages, such as packages for holding food items that can indicate to a user whether the package has been opened.Certain Related Art[0003]Food items are commonly held in containers to facilitate storage, protection, and / or transport of the food item. The container can be opened to access the food.SUMMARY OF CERTAIN FEATURES[0004]Some containers include tamper-evident features, which can advantageously indicate whether the container has been op...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent is about containers that have features to indicate if they have been tampered with. This is important for ensuring the contents of the container are safe and have not been contaminated. The tamper-evident features can also discourage people from opening containers and accessing the contents, which could lead to product loss or unsanitary conditions. Additionally, the patent discusses how some containers can have pull tabs or frangible portions that can be opened without being easily detected, which can make it hard for an observer to determine if the container has been opened.

Problems solved by technology

In some situations, the tamper-evident features can discourage activities that could lead to product loss or unsanitary conditions.

For example, the tamper-evident features can discourage a person in a store from opening a container of food, using their fingers to remove some of the food (thereby contaminating the remaining food in the container), and then replacing the lid.

However, the wrap can be difficult to remove, such as by certain children or elderly persons, or those with maladies that cause decreased strength or dexterity (e.g., arthritis).

Also, the wrap can be inconvenient.

Also, the wrap typically separates from the container, which requires the user to track and / or find the wrap (e.g., on the floor) which can be inconvenient.

Further, the wrap can be replaced on the container, which may not be readily detectable.

For example, an unscrupulous person may remove the wrapper, open and close the container, replace the wrap around the edge of the lid of the container, and adhere the wrap in place, such as with adhesive tape.

Because the broken wrap and / or tape may be clear, on the side of the container, or otherwise hidden, the tampered condition of the container may not be readily detectable.

Such an open indentation can be problematic because a container stacked on top of the container is not supported at the open indentation location, which can cause stress, tilting, or toppling of the container stacked on top.

Moreover, the open indentation can be prone to collect dirt, dust, or other contaminants, which could drop into the product in the container during opening of the lid.

Also, a recess observed to contain dirt or other material could cause a potential purchaser to perceive the container as being old or unsanitary, and thus to forgo purchasing the container.

This can obscure that the pull-tab has been used and / or that the frangible portions have been broken, thereby inhibiting an observer from detecting that the container has been opened.

Lifting of the tab from the recess and / or accessing the tab can tear or otherwise mar (e.g., irreversibly) the appearance and / or placement of the indicator.

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