Tamper-evident closure with utensil

Abstract

A package for heating and dispensing a food product includes a container body having a top opening and an outside thread, and a lid assembly. The lid assembly includes an outer shell having an inside thread and an integrally formed utensil, and an inner disk. The utensil is defined by a weakened segment or outline formed into an end wall of the outer shell and has a convex region. The disk has a protrusion that is shaped to be received into the convex region when the outer shell is placed on the container body and threaded tightly onto the body over the disk. A sufficient friction force exists between the disk and the body that prevents the disk from turning when the outer shell is unscrewed an initial amount. The protrusion forcibly leaving the convex region causes the weakened segment to rupture creating tamper evidence and a vent for heating.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A package for an edible product, comprising: 
 a container for containing an edible product, said container having a top opening, and a side wall having a first thread;    a first element arranged across said top opening and having a protrusion;    a second element arranged across said opening, said second element having a second thread, said second element engageable to said side wall by screwing said second thread onto said first thread, said second element having a utensil formed into a wall of said second element, said utensil defined by a perimeter of weakness in said wall, said utensil having a dished portion which receives said protrusion when said second element is engaged to said container side wall.    
     
     
         2 . The package according to  claim 1 , wherein said utensil comprises a spoon.  
     
     
         3 . The package according to  claim 1 , wherein said first element comprises a disk.  
     
     
         4 . The package according to  claim 3 , further comprising an all-around seal arranged between said disk and said side wall.  
     
     
         5 . The package according to  claim 4 , wherein said seal and said disk provides the sealed integrity of said container.  
     
     
         6 . The package according to  claim 1 , wherein said first and second threads are discontinuous.  
     
     
         7 . The package according to  claim 1 , wherein said container includes a top rim, said top rim having a friction enhancing surface treatment.  
     
     
         8 . The package according to  claim 1 , wherein said first element comprises a disk, and said container includes a top rim, at least one of said disk and said top rim having a friction enhancing surface treatment to prevent rotation of said disk as said second element is unscrewed.  
     
     
         9 . The package according to  claim 1 , wherein said second element comprises an outer shell having a skirt extending from said wall, said skirt having an open end and an end substantially closed by said wall.  
     
     
         10 . The package according to  claim 1 , wherein said utensil comprises a spoon; 
 wherein said first element comprises a disk;    an annular seal arranged between said disk and said side wall;    said annular seal and said disk provides the sealed integrity of said container; and    wherein said second element comprises an outer shell having a skirt extending from said wall, said skirt having an open end and an end substantially closed by said wall.    
     
     
         11 . A method of venting a package for heating, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a container body having a top opening and a first thread;    providing an outer shell having a second thread and a convex region, said convex region adjacent to a weakened segment;    providing a disk having a protrusion shaped to be received into said convex region when said disk is placed on said container body and said outer shell is threaded tightly onto said body over said disk, wherein a sufficient friction force exists between said disk and said body that prevents said disk from turning when said outer shell is unscrewed an initial amount, and said protrusion forcibly leaving said convex region causes said weakened segment to rupture.    
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , comprising the further step of: 
 providing that said convex region comprises a spoon head and further regions of said outer shell comprise a spoon handle.