Tamper evident closure with recess

Abstract

A closure that is designed to make it easier to activate a locking mechanism that holds the closure on a container is provided. The closure includes a lid that is adapted to cover an open end of the container. A skirt is coupled with the lid and has an interior surface with a recess formed therein. The skirt is adapted to fit around the rim when the lid is applied to the container. A detachable lock ring is hingedly coupled with the skirt along a weakened tear line. The lock ring is adapted to be folded inwardly and placed in the recess of the skirt when the lock ring is placed in contact with the lip of the container. The lock ring is adapted to engage the lip of the container rim to lock the lid on the container.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A closure for an open end of a container, the container having a rim presenting a lip thereon, said closure comprising: 
 a lid, wherein the lid is adapted to cover the open end of the container;    a skirt coupled with the lid and having an interior surface, wherein the interior surface is adapted to fit around the rim of the container when the lid is applied to the container, and wherein the interior surface of the skirt has a recess formed therein; and    a detachable lock ring hingedly coupled with the skirt along a weakened tear line, wherein the lock ring is adapted to be folded inwardly and placed in the recess of the skirt when the lock ring is placed in contact with the lip of the container, and wherein the lock ring is adapted to engage the lip of the container rim to lock the lid on the container whereby removal of the lid requires the lock ring to be torn away from the skirt along the tear line.    
     
     
         2 . The closure as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the lock ring and the interior surface of the skirt are generally flush with one another when the lock ring is folded inwardly and placed in the recess.  
     
     
         3 . The closure as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the skirt has a cutout formed therein that provides access to the lock ring to facilitate tearing of the lock ring away from the skirt.  
     
     
         4 . The closure as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a shoulder on the interior surface of the skirt, wherein the shoulder is adapted to interact with the lip of the container to releasably hold the lid on the container after the lock ring has been torn away from the skirt.    
     
     
         5 . A package for food comprising: 
 a container having a bottom wall coupled with a side wall, the side wall having a rim presenting a lip thereon defining an open end;    a lid adapted to cover the open end of the container, the lid having an outer periphery;    a skirt coupled with the outer periphery of the lid and adapted to extend around the rim of the container when placed therein, wherein the skirt has an interior surface with a recess formed therein; and    a detachable lock ring hingedly coupled with the skirt along a tear away line, wherein the lock ring includes a free edge and is adapted to be folded inwardly so that the lock ring fits within the recess in the skirt when the lock ring is placed in contact with the lip of the container, and wherein the lid is securely coupled with the container when the lid is received on the open end of the container and the free edge of the lock ring is positioned underneath the rim of the container, whereby the lock ring is detachable from the skirt about the tear line to permit removal of the lid from the container.    
     
     
         6 . The package as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the lock ring and the interior surface of the skirt are flush with one another when the lock ring is folded inwardly and received in the recess.  
     
     
         7 . The package as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the skirt has a cutout formed therein that provides access to the lock ring to facilitate tearing of the lock ring away from the skirt.  
     
     
         8 . The package as recited in  claim 5 , further comprising: 
 a shoulder on the interior surface of the skirt, wherein the shoulder is adapted to interact with the lip of the container to releasably hold the lid on the container after the lock ring has been torn away from the skirt.    
     
     
         9 . A package for food comprising: 
 a cylindrical container having a bottom wall coupled with a side wall, the side wall having a rim presenting a lip thereon defining an open end;    a discoidal lid having a circular periphery adapted to cover the open end of the container;    a skirt having an interior surface with a recess formed therein, the skirt being coupled with the outer periphery of the lid and adapted to extend around the rim of the container when the lid is placed on the container;    a detachable lock ring hingedly coupled with the skirt along a tear away line, wherein the lock ring includes a free edge, wherein the lock ring is adapted to be folded inwardly so that the lock ring fits within the recess and is flush with the interior surface of the skirt when the lock ring is placed in contact with the lip of the container, and wherein the lid is securely coupled with the container when the lid is placed on the container and the free edge of the lock ring is positioned underneath the rim of the container whereby the lock ring is detachable from the skirt about the tear line to permit removal of the lid from the container;    a cutout formed in the skirt that provides access to the lock ring to facilitate tearing of the lock ring away from the skirt; and    a shoulder formed on the interior surface of the skirt and adapted to interact with the lip of the container to releasably hold the lid on the container after the lock ring is torn away from the skirt.    
     
     
         10 . A method for making a closure for a container having a rim defining an open end of the container, said method comprising: 
 providing a discoidal lid adapted to cover the open end of the container;    providing a skirt having a interior surface adapted to fit around the rim of the container;    forming a recess in the interior surface of the skirt;    coupling the lid and the skirt;    forming a lock ring from the skirt along a weakened tear line; and    adapting the lock ring to fit within the recess in the interior surface of the skirt, wherein the lock ring is adapted to fold inwardly toward the interior surface and fit in the recess as the skirt is fit around the rim of the container, and wherein the lid is securely coupled with the container when the lid is received on the container and the free edge of the lock ring is positioned underneath the rim of the container, whereby the lock ring is detachable from the skirt about the tear line to permit removal of the lid from the container.    
     
     
         11 . The method as recited in  claim 10 , further comprising: 
 allowing access to the lock ring to facilitate tearing of the lock ring away from the skirt.    
     
     
         12 . The method as recited in  claim 10 , further comprising: 
 forming a shoulder on the interior surface of the skirt to interact with the rim of the container to releasably hold the lid on container after the lock ring has been torn away from the skirt.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the recess is formed so that the lock ring and the interior surface of the skirt are generally flush with one another when the lock ring is placed within the recess.  
     
     
         14 . A closure for an open end of a container having a rim presenting a lip thereon, said closure comprising: 
 a lid adapted to cover the open end of the container;    a skirt coupled with the lid and having an interior surface adapted to fit around the rim when the lid is applied to the container, the interior surface of the skirt having a recess formed therein;    a detachable lock ring hingedly coupled with the skirt along a weakened tear line, wherein the lock ring is adapted to be folded inwardly when the skirt is placed around the lip, and wherein the lock ring is adapted to engage the lip of the rim of the container to lock the lid on the container, whereby removal of the lid requires the lock ring to be torn away from the skirt along the tear line; and    means for allowing the lock ring to be generally flush with the interior surface of the skirt when the lock ring is folded inwardly and the skirt is placed around the lid.