Tamper evident containers

Abstract

A tamper-evident container can include a base and a lid. Each of the base and the lid can include a flange having a free edge that defines at least a portion of an outermost perimeter of the base or lid, respectively. The lid can include a tab that has an upper surface and a lower surface opposite the upper surface and a weakened region that borders a portion of the tab. When the lid is coupled to the base in a closed pre-use configuration, the lower surface of the tab is accessible from a lateral side of the container. The tab can be separated from a neighboring portion of the lid flange along the weakened region yet remain coupled with the lid and assist in uncoupling the lid from the base.

1 . A tamper-evident container comprising:
 a base comprising:
 a bottom end; 
 a sidewall extending upwardly from the bottom end to define a cavity; 
 a base connection interface at an upper end of the sidewall that extends about a periphery of the sidewall; and 
 a base flange extending outwardly relative to the base connection interface with a configuration such that a majority of the base flange is substantially planar, the base flange comprising a free edge that defines at least a portion of an outermost perimeter of the base; and 
   a lid comprising:
 a lid connection interface configured to selectively couple with the base connection interface to attach the lid to the base in a configuration that closes the cavity of the base; and 
 a lid flange extending outwardly relative to the connection interface of the lid, with a configuration such that a majority of the base flange is substantially planar, the lid flange comprising:
 a free edge that defines at least a portion of an outermost perimeter of the lid; 
 a tab that comprises an upper surface and a lower surface opposite the upper surface, wherein the free edge of the lid extends along a periphery of the tab; and 
 
 a weakened region that borders a portion of the tab; 
   wherein, when the lid is coupled to the base in a closed pre-use configuration:   the base flange is directly connected to an upper end of the base connection interface;   the base flange is at a higher position than is the base connection interface, relative to the bottom end of the base;   the lid flange is above the base flange;   the free edge of the base flange extends further outward than the free edge of the lid flange;   the relative dimensions of the lid flange and the base flange prevent the container from being grasped to separate the lid from the base without pulling on the tab;   the tab extends radially outwardly and is substantially parallel to the base flange;   the lower surface of the tab is accessible from a lateral side of the container such that a finger of a user can be moved in a radially inward direction that is parallel to the base flange to pass under the free edge of the lid flange and contact the lower surface of the tab; and   the tab is configured to be separated from a neighboring portion of the lid flange along the weakened region yet remain coupled with the lid and assist in uncoupling the lid from the base, wherein separation of the tab along the weakened region indicates that the lid has been uncoupled from the base to transition from the closed pre-use configuration to an open configuration.   
     
     
         2 . The tamper-evident container of  claim 1 , wherein the base flange comprises a recessed region that is downwardly offset from neighboring portions of the base flange, wherein the free edge of the base flange extends along a periphery of the recessed region and along a periphery of portions of the base flange that neighbor the recessed region. 
     
     
         3 . The tamper-evident container of  claim 2 , wherein, when the lid is coupled to the base in the closed pre-use configuration, the tab is positioned over the recessed region of the base and cooperates therewith to define an opening that is accessible from a lateral side of the container to permit a user to insert a finger between the free edges of the lid and the base and into the opening. 
     
     
         4 . The tamper-evident container of  claim 2 , wherein the bottom end defines a plane to permit the base to rest on a horizontal surface, wherein at least a majority of the base flange defines a plane that is parallel to the plane defined by the bottom end, and wherein the recessed region of the base flange is outside of the plane defined by other portions of the base flange. 
     
     
         5 . The tamper-evident container of  claim 4 , wherein the recessed region of the base flange defines a planar portion that is parallel to and offset from the plane defined by other portions of the base flange. 
     
     
         6 . The tamper-evident container of  claim 1 , wherein an entirety of the lower surface of the tab faces an upper surface of the base flange, and wherein the base flange is flexible so as to be downwardly displaceable to expose the lower surface of the tab. 
     
     
         7 . The tamper-evident container of  claim 6 , wherein the base further comprises a gripping feature that is radially aligned with the tab when the lid is coupled to the base in a closed pre-use configuration. 
     
     
         8 . The tamper-evident container of  claim 1 , wherein the base flange comprises a notch that exposes at least a portion of the lower surface of the tab when the lid is coupled to the base in the closed pre-use configuration. 
     
     
         9 . The tamper-evident container of  claim 1 , wherein an entirety of the free edge of the lid flange is exposed when the lid is coupled to the base in a closed pre-use configuration. 
     
     
         10 . The tamper-evident container of  claim 1 , wherein at least a majority of the lid flange defines a plane, and wherein the tab is within the plane when the container is in the closed pre-use configuration. 
     
     
         11 . The tamper-evident container of  claim 1 , wherein the relative dimensions of the base flange and the lid flange are such that the free edge of the lid and the free edge of the base can be touched by a user, but cannot be grasped to separate the lid from the base. 
     
     
         12 . The tamper-evident container of  claim 1 , wherein after the initial opening, the tab is bent relative to the neighboring portion of the lid flange. 
     
     
         13 . The tamper-evident container of  claim 1 , wherein, when the container is in the closed pre-use configuration, the lid flange is planar and the tab is co-planar therewith. 
     
     
         14 . The tamper-evident container of  claim 13 , wherein after the initial opening, the tab remains substantially planar and is angled relative to the plane of the neighboring portion of the lid flange. 
     
     
         15 . The tamper-evident container of  claim 1 , wherein the free edge of lid extends about at least a majority of the outermost perimeter of the lid. 
     
     
         16 . The tamper-evident container of  claim 1 , wherein the free edge of the base extends about at least a majority of the outermost perimeter of the base. 
     
     
         17 . The tamper-evident container of  claim 1 , wherein a plane defined by the base flange is parallel to a plane defined by the lid flange at their respective free edges. 
     
     
         18 . The tamper-evident container of  claim 17 , wherein the base has a base transition section between the base connection interface and the sidewall of the base,
 wherein the base transition section is opposite from a lid transition section, which extends from the lid connection interface; and   wherein the base transition section defines a plane that is parallel to a plane define by the lid transition section.   
     
     
         19 . The tamper-evident container of  claim 18 , wherein the planes defined by the base flange and the lid flange at their respective free edges are at higher positions, relative to the bottom end of the base, than the planes defined by the transition section of the base and the transition section of the lid. 
     
     
         20 . The tamper-evident container of  claim 17 , wherein, when the container is in the closed pre-use configuration, the free edge of the lid flange is exposed and is positioned above the base flange. 
     
     
         21 . The tamper-evident container of  claim 1 , wherein the base and lid are permanently coupled to each other via a hinge. 
     
     
         22 . The tamper-evident container of  claim 1 , wherein the weakened region comprises a line of perforation. 
     
     
         23 . A tamper-evident container comprising:
 a base comprising:
 a bottom end; 
 a sidewall extending upwardly from the bottom end to define a cavity; 
 a base connection interface at an upper end of the sidewall that extends about a periphery of the sidewall; and 
 a base flange extending outwardly relative to the base connection interface, the base flange comprising: 
 a free edge that defines at least a portion of an outermost perimeter of the base; and 
 a recessed region that is downwardly offset from neighboring portions of the base flange, wherein the free edge extends along a periphery of the recessed region and the neighboring portions of the base flange; and 
   a lid comprising:
 a lid connection interface configured to selectively couple with the base connection interface to attach the lid to the base in a configuration that closes the cavity of the base; and 
 a lid flange extending outwardly relative to the connection interface of the lid, the lid flange comprising: 
 a free edge that defines at least a portion of an outermost perimeter of the lid; 
 a tab, wherein the free edge extends along a periphery of the tab; and 
 a weakened region that borders a portion of the tab in close proximity to the lid connection interface; 
   wherein, when the lid is coupled to the base in a closed pre-use configuration:   the tab is positioned over the recessed region of the base and cooperates therewith to define an opening that is accessible from a lateral side of the container to permit a user to insert a finger between the free edges of the lid and the base and into the opening;   the weakened region does not extend to an outer edge of the lid flange such that a portion of the lid flange acts as a stop to prevent tearing beyond the weakened region;   the portion of the lid flange that acts as a stop extends over one of the portions of the base flange neighboring the recessed region; and   the tab is configured to be separated from a neighboring portion of the lid flange along the weakened region yet remain coupled with the lid and assist in uncoupling the lid from the base, wherein separation of the tab along the weakened region indicates that the lid has been uncoupled from the base to transition from the closed pre-use configuration to an open configuration.   
     
     
         24 . The tamper-evident container of  claim 23 , wherein, when the container is in the closed pre-use configuration, the free edge of the lid flange is exposed and is positioned above the base flange. 
     
     
         25 . The tamper-evident container of  claim 23 , wherein the relative dimensions of the base flange and the lid flange are such that the free edge of the lid and the free edge of the base can be touched by a user, but cannot be grasped to separate the lid from the base. 
     
     
         26 . The tamper-evident container of  claim 23 , wherein after the initial opening, the tab is bent relative to the neighboring portion of the lid flange. 
     
     
         27 . The tamper-evident container of  claim 23 , wherein, when the container is in the closed pre-use configuration, the lid flange is planar and the tab is co-planar therewith. 
     
     
         28 . The tamper-evident container of  claim 27 , wherein after the initial opening, the tab remains substantially planar although angled relative to the plane of the neighboring portions of the lid flange. 
     
     
         29 . The tamper-evident container of  claim 23 , wherein the free edge of lid extends about at least a majority of the outermost perimeter of the lid. 
     
     
         30 . The tamper-evident container of  claim 23 , wherein the free edge of the base extends about at least a majority of the outermost perimeter of the base. 
     
     
         31 . The tamper-evident container of  claim 23 , wherein the base flange is at a higher position than is the base connection interface, relative to the bottom end of the base. 
     
     
         32 . The tamper-evident container of  claim 23 , wherein the base flange is directly connected to an upper end of the base connection interface. 
     
     
         33 . The tamper-evident container of  claim 23 , wherein the bottom end defines a plane to permit the base to rest on a horizontal surface, wherein at least a majority of the base flange defines a plane that is parallel to the plane defined by the bottom end, and wherein the recessed region of the base flange is outside of the plane defined by other portions of the base flange. 
     
     
         34 . The tamper-evident container of  claim 33 , wherein the recessed portion of the base flange defines a planar portion that is parallel to and offset from the plane defined by other portions of the base flange. 
     
     
         35 . The tamper-evident container of  claim 23 , wherein the tab has a length and a width, wherein the weakened region extends along the length of the tab, and wherein the width of the tab tapers along the length of the tab in the direction toward the portion of the lid flange that acts as a stop. 
     
     
         36 . The tamper-evident container of  claim 35 , wherein the weakened region is closer to the lid connection interface along a majority of the length of the tab than to the outer edge of the lid flange. 
     
     
         37 . The tamper-evident container of  claim 23 , wherein the base and lid are permanently coupled to each other via a hinge. 
     
     
         38 . The tamper-evident container of  claim 23 , wherein the weakened region comprises a line of perforation.