Tamper-evident lid assembly

Abstract

A lid assembly comprising a lid portion and a frame portion, one said portion being adapted to receive the other portion to seal a container fitted with the lid assembly wherein the receiving portion has tamper-evident means connected thereto as a frangible bridge while the other portion has a hinged tab and wherein, in the untampered state, the frangible bridge is intact and prevents rotation of the hinged tab while, on breaking the frangible bridge, the hinged tab is able to rotate about its hinge, allowing opening of the lid.

1 . A lid assembly comprising a lid portion and a frame portion, one said portion being adapted to receive the other portion to seal a container fitted with the lid assembly wherein the receiving portion has tamper-evident means connected thereto as a frangible bridge while the other portion has a hinged tab and wherein, in the untampered state, the frangible bridge is intact and prevents rotation of the hinged tab while, on breaking the frangible bridge, the hinged tab is able to rotate about its hinge, allowing opening of the lid.  
     
     
         2 . A lid assembly according to  claim 1  comprising a lid portion having a hinged tab and a frame portion adapted to receive said lid portion to seal a container fitted with said lid assembly; said frame portion having tamper-evident means connected to the frame as a frangible bridge wherein, in the untampered state, the frangible bridge is intact and prevents rotation of the hinged tab, and wherein, on breaking the frangible bridge, the hinged tab is able to rotate about its hinge, allowing opening of the lid.  
     
     
         3 . A lid assembly according to any preceding claim wherein the frangible bridge is formed between the frame and a detent tab, the detent tab extending across at least a part of the hinged tab and preventing rotation of the hinged tab.  
     
     
         4 . A lid assembly according to any preceding claim wherein the frame is provided with retention means which, in the untampered state, engage the hinged tab, the retention means and the hinged tab cooperating to prevent upward movement of the hinged tab and removal of the lid.  
     
     
         5 . A lid assembly according to  claim 4  wherein the hinged tab is provided with projections which engage the retention means and prevent upward movement of the hinged tab.  
     
     
         6 . A lid assembly according to any preceding claim wherein the frame portion is provided with an upturned skirt along at least part of its periphery, and the lid portion is provided with a downturned rim, the upturned skirt preventing access to at least a portion of the downturned rim so that the lid cannot be opened unless the frangible bridge is broken.  
     
     
         7 . A lid assembly according to any preceding claim wherein the lid portion and the frame portion are connected via at least one hinge.  
     
     
         8 . A lid assembly according to  claim 7  wherein the at least one hinge is provided by a strip of plastics material.  
     
     
         9 . A lid assembly having a tamper-evident seal according to any preceding claim, which also includes retention means; wherein, in the untampered state, the tamper-evident means and the retention means engage the hinged tab to prevent rotation of the hinged tab and removal of the lid, and wherein, in the tampered state, the frangible bridge has been broken and the hinged tab can rotate about its hinge and disengage the retention means, allowing opening of the lid.  
     
     
         10 . A lid assembly according to any preceding claim wherein the detent tab is connected to the frame by a hinge distal to the frangible bridge.  
     
     
         11 . A lid assembly according to any preceding claim wherein the retention means is connected to the frame by a hinge.  
     
     
         12 . A lid assembly according to any preceding claim wherein the frame is provided with fastening means for fastening the detent tab to the frame following breaking of the frangible bridge.  
     
     
         13 . A lid assembly according to any preceding claim wherein, in the untampered state, the hinged tab is held between and in register with the retention means and the detent tab, the hinged tab, retention means and detent tab being substantially parallel to each other.  
     
     
         14 . A lid assembly according to any preceding claim wherein, in the untampered state, the hinged tab is substantially orthogonal to the plane of the lid and substantially parallel to the wall of the container to which the lid assembly is fitted, and wherein, on breaking the frangible bridge, the hinged tab can rotate to lie substantially in the plane of the lid.  
     
     
         15 . A lid assembly according to any of  claims 1  to  8  wherein the detent tab is connected to the frame by a bridge which is frangible at both ends.  
     
     
         16 . A lid assembly according to  claim 15  wherein the retention means is connected to the detent tab.  
     
     
         17 . A lid assembly according to  claim 15  or  claim 16  wherein, in the untampered state, the hinged tab is held by the retention means behind, substantially parallel to and in register with, the detent tab.  
     
     
         18 . A lid assembly according to  claim 15 ,  16  or  17  wherein the retention means maintain the detent tab fastened to the hinged tab following breakage of the frangible bridge.  
     
     
         19 . A lid assembly according to any preceding claim which is injection moulded from a plastics material.  
     
     
         20 . A lid assembly according to any preceding claim wherein the frame portion can be secured to the rim of a container in a snap fit manner.  
     
     
         21 . A lid assembly according to any preceding claim wherein the lid is provided with retainer means for releasably engaging the hinged tab and retaining the hinged tab in a configuration substantially orthogonal to the plane of the lid.  
     
     
         22 . A container provided with the lid assembly of any of  claims 1  to  21 .  
     
     
         23 . A lid assembly according to any preceding claim wherein the frame portion is an integral part of the container to be sealed.  
     
     
         24 . A lid assembly as hereinbefore described with reference to any of the accompanying Figures.  
     
     
         25 . Use of a container comprising a lid assembly which includes a lid portion and a frame portion, the lid portion and the frame portion being connected by at least one hinge, for containing yellow or edible fats such as margarine or spreadable butter.  
     
     
         26 . Use of a container according to  claim 25  wherein the container is defined in  claim 22 .  
     
     
         27 . A container comprising a receptable with a rim, the rim including a plurality of spaced apart interference means and a lid assembly comprising a lid portion and a frame portion, the frame portion cooperating with the rim and including a plurality of spaced apart interference means which are in register with those on the rim and which cooperate therewith to reduce slack between the frame and the receptable.  
     
     
         28 . A container according to  claim 27  provided with the lid assembly of any of  claims 1  to  21 .