Hinge label tab container

Abstract

A two-piece tamper-evident and tamper-resistant container having a base, a lid and a label hinge connecting the lid and base to one another for use in packing, identifying and selling fresh food items and the like. A rim about an upper periphery of the base engages an identically contoured flange about a lower periphery of the lid, and a protective lip integral to and extending from an outermost end of the rim prevents access to the lip making the label hinge the only possible access point of the container. Any tampering to access the inside of the container would be made evident by a torn or missing label hinge.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A two-piece container comprising:
 a base comprising a rim about an upper periphery, a protective lip extending from an outermost end of the rim and a label adhesion area along a portion of the rim;   a lid comprising a flange about a lower periphery, the flange terminating at an outermost end, and a label adhesion area along a portion of the flange; and   a label hinge having a surface comprised of an adhesive material, at least a portion of the label hinge being attachable to the label adhesion area of base and a portion of the label hinge being attachable to the label adhesion area of the lid;   wherein the rim and flange have a complimentary contour such that the flange snap fits within the rim and the outermost end of the flange is positioned adjacent the protective lip of the base.   
     
     
         2 . The two-piece container of  claim 1 , wherein the base is comprised of a first suitable material and the lid is comprised of a second and different suitable material. 
     
     
         3 . The two-piece container of  claim 2 , wherein the base has a substantial thickness different from a substantial thickness of the lid. 
     
     
         4 . The two-piece container of  claim 2 , wherein the suitable material of the base is of a color different than a color of the suitable material of the lid. 
     
     
         5 . The two-piece container of  claim 2 , wherein the first and second suitable materials are selected from the group of polymers consisting of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polystyrene (PS), high-impact polystyrene (HIPS), oriented polystyrene (OPS), polypropylene (PP), and polylactic acid (PLA). 
     
     
         6 . The two-piece container of  claim 1 , wherein a surface of the outermost end of the flange has an angle relative to an adjacent surface less than an angle of an outermost surface of the rim relative to an adjacent surface corresponding to the adjacent surface of the lid. 
     
     
         7 . The two-piece container of  claim 6 , wherein the angle of the flange surface is in the range of from about 2 to about 10 degrees less than and the angle of the rim surface. 
     
     
         8 . The two-piece container of  claim 6 , wherein the angle of the flange surface is about 5 degrees less than the angle of the rim surface. 
     
     
         9 . The two-piece container of  claim 1 , wherein the flange of the lid secures within the rim of the base, the container can only be opened from the label adhesion area. 
     
     
         10 . The two-piece container of  claim 1 , wherein the outermost end of the flange abuts the protective lip of the base to prevent access to the end for lifting the flange. 
     
     
         11 . The two-piece container of  claim 1 , wherein the label hinge is comprised of a non-plastic material. 
     
     
         12 . The two-piece container of  claim 1 , wherein the label hinge is comprised of a plastic material. 
     
     
         13 . The two-piece container of  claim 12 , wherein the label hinge functions as a hinge between the lid and the base and comprises at least one perforated line. 
     
     
         14 . The two-piece container of  claim 13 , wherein the label hinge comprises two perforated lines. 
     
     
         15 . A two-piece container comprising:
 a base comprising a rim about an upper periphery, a protective lip integral to and extending from an outermost end of the rim and a label adhesion area positioned along a portion of the rim;   a lid comprising a flange about a lower periphery, the flange terminating at an outermost end, and a label adhesion area positioned along a portion of the flange corresponding to the portion of the rim having a label adhesion area; and   a label hinge having a surface comprised of an adhesive material, at least a portion of the label hinge being attachable to the label adhesion area of base and a portion of the label hinge being attachable to the label adhesion area of the lid to thereby act as a hinge for the lid and base;   wherein the rim and flange have complimentary contours such that the flange snap fits within the periphery of the rim and the outermost end of the flange is positioned adjacent the protective lip of the base to prevent access to the end.   
     
     
         16 . The two-piece container of  claim 15 , wherein a surface of the outermost end of the flange has an angle relative to an adjacent surface less than an angle of an outermost surface of the rim relative to an adjacent surface corresponding to the adjacent surface of the lid. 
     
     
         17 . The two-piece container of  claim 16 , wherein the angle of the flange surface is in the range of from about 2 to about 10 degrees less than and the angle of the rim surface. 
     
     
         18 . The two-piece container of  claim 16 , wherein the angle of the flange surface is about 5 degrees less than the angle of the rim surface. 
     
     
         19 . A method for forming a tamper-resistant and tamper-evident two-piece container comprising the steps of:
 forming a base for the container, the base comprising a rim about an upper periphery, a protective lip integral to and extending from an outermost end of the rim and a label adhesion area positioned along a portion of the rim;   forming a lid for the container, the lid comprising a flange about a lower periphery, the flange terminating at an outermost end, and a label adhesion area positioned along a portion of the flange corresponding to the portion of the rim having a label adhesion area;   applying at least a portion of a label hinge having a surface comprised of an adhesive material, to the label adhesion area of base; and   applying at least a portion of the label hinge to the label adhesion area of the lid to thereby act as a hinge for the lid and base;   wherein the rim and flange have complimentary contours such that the flange snap fits within the periphery of the rim and the outermost end of the flange is positioned adjacent the protective lip of the base to prevent access to the end.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the lid and base are formed of different materials.