Container with hang tab and method of forming the same

Abstract

Disclosed is a product container that includes, inter alia, a cover portion, a base portion, a hinge section and a hang tab. The hinge section joins the cover portion with the base portion and allows the cover portion to articulate between an open position and a closed position. The cover portion and the base portion are adapted and configured to engage about their periphery and form a product storage compartment when the container is closed. The hang tab projects from the base portion of the product container and enables the closed clamshell container to be suspended from a hook in a retail store. The hang tab is integrally formed, at least in part, from material that is scavenged from the hinge section of the container. In certain constructions, the container is tamper-evident/resistant and the hinge section includes a frangible strip for facilitating separation of the cover portion from the base portion.

1 . A product container comprising:
 a) a cover portion;   b) a base portion, wherein the cover portion and the base portion are adapted and configured to engage about their periphery and form a product storage compartment;   c) a hinge section joining the cover portion with the base portion and allowing the cover portion to articulate between an open position wherein the cover portion is spaced apart from the base portion to a closed position wherein the cover is engaged with the base portion; and   d) a hang tab projecting from the base portion or the cover portion of the product container and including means for suspending the container from a hook when the cover portion is in the closed position; wherein the hang tab is formed at least in part from material scavenged from the hinge section of the container.   
     
     
         2 . A product container as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the hinge section includes a frangible strip for facilitating separation of the cover portion from the base portion. 
     
     
         3 . A product container as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the hang tab is connected to the base portion through a fold line. 
     
     
         4 . A product container as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the cover portion and the base portion are adapted and configured to lock together about their periphery by way of a circumferential engagement means which prevents the container from being opened until the at least one frangible strip of the hinge section is ruptured. 
     
     
         5 . A product container as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the cover section includes an outwardly extending flange and the base portion includes an upwardly projecting bead extending substantially about its perimeter and configured to render the outwardly extending flange of the cover portion relatively inaccessible when the cover is in the closed position. 
     
     
         6 . A product container as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the hang tab defines an aperture which is adapted and configured for receiving a display hook. 
     
     
         7 . A product container as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the hang tab projects from the base section of the container and is formed from material scavenged from the hinge section and the cover section of the container. 
     
     
         8 . A product container as recited in  claim 1 , wherein a skirt depends downwardly from the upper peripheral edge of the base portion, and the hinge section extends from a lower edge of the skirt to an outwardly extending flange of the cover portion. 
     
     
         9 . A product container as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the at least one frangible strip of the hinge section is delimited at least in part by a pair of parallel score lines. 
     
     
         10 . A product container as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the cover portion and the base portion have a generally circular configuration. 
     
     
         11 . A container comprising: a) a cover portion including an outwardly extending peripheral flange; b) a base portion including an upper peripheral edge; c) a hinge joining the outwardly extending flange of the cover portion with the base portion; and a hang tab projecting from the base section and including means for suspending the container from a hook when the container is closed; and wherein the hang tab is formed at least in part from material scavenged from the hinge. 
     
     
         12 . A container as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the upper peripheral edge of the base portion further comprises an upwardly projecting bead extending substantially about the perimeter of the base portion configured to render the outwardly extending flange of the cover portion relatively inaccessible when the container is closed. 
     
     
         13 . A container as recited in  claim 11 , wherein a skirt depends downwardly from the upper peripheral edge of the base portion, and the hinge extends from a lower edge of the skirt to the outwardly extending flange of the cover portion. 
     
     
         14 . A container as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the hinge includes a frangible section, which upon severing facilitates the removal of the cover portion from the base portion to open the container. 
     
     
         15 . A container as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the frangible section of the hinge is further delimited by a plurality of spaced apart notches associated with score lines. 
     
     
         16 . A container as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the cover portion and the base portion have a generally circular configuration. 
     
     
         17 . A container as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the cover portion and the base portion have a generally rectangular configuration. 
     
     
         18 . A container as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the container is capable of being resealed in a substantially leak resistant manner after a portion of the frangible section of the hinge is removed to open the container. 
     
     
         19 . A tamper-resistant/evident container comprising:
 a) a cover portion including an outwardly extending peripheral flange;   b) a base portion including an upper peripheral edge, wherein the cover portion and base portion are adapted and configured to lock together about their periphery by way of a circumferential engagement means;   c) a hinge joining the outwardly extending flange of the cover portion with the base portion, the hinge including a frangible section, which upon severing, provides an arm extending outwardly from the base portion for facilitating removal of the cover portion from the base portion to open the container; and   d) a hang tab projecting from the base section of the container and defining an aperture for enabling the container to be suspended from a hook when the cover portion is in the closed position; wherein the hang tab is formed at least in part from material scavenged from the hinge of the container.   
     
     
         20 . A tamper-resistant/evident container as recited in  claim 19 , further comprising an upwardly projecting bead extending substantially about the perimeter of the base portion configured to render the outwardly extending flange of the cover portion relatively inaccessible when the container is closed. 
     
     
         21 . A thermoformed plastic container comprising:
 a) a cover portion including an outwardly extending peripheral flange;   b) a base portion including an upper peripheral edge; and   c) a hinge joining the outwardly extending flange of the cover portion with the base portion, and   d) a hang tab projecting from either the base portion or the cover portion of the product container for use in displaying the container when the cover section is in the closed position; wherein the container is made from a unitary piece of polymeric material and the hang tab is formed at least in part from material scavenged from the hinge.   
     
     
         22 . A thermoformed plastic container as recited in  claim 21  wherein the polymeric material is chosen from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene terephtalate and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         23 . A thermoformed plastic container as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the polymeric material is a polylactic acid based material.