Tamper Evident Packaging

Abstract

A recloseable package that has means to show if the package has been previously opened by another, thereby reducing the chance of product tampering. This tamper evident package has a separable lid or tray and bowl, and possess at least two means to securely reattach said lid to said bowl after the consumer has opened the package. Emphasis is placed upon the reduction or elimination of the possible safety hazards involving exposed sharp plastic perforated edges by having the tamper evident means internally located using natural plastic biases to cover as much of the perforation as possible. Container contains a periphery edge on the lid that is submerged to prevent access through any other means other than the tamper evident seal.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A recloseable tamper evident container comprising:
 i. a bowl portion, defined by a bottom surface along a horizontal axis, at least one surface wall, describing an interior cavity to hold product, as one contiguous piece therefrom said bottom surface, extending upwardly along the vertical axis from said surface, an exterior edge profile that has a “U” shaped downward orientation facing away from said interior cavity, said exterior “U” shaped edge running along the outer perimeter of said bowl, said perimeter geometrically congruent to said bottom surface, having at least one engagement flange along the horizontal axis, said engagement flanges defined by a nearly perpendicular boundary wall and a projection protruding exteriorly and primarily horizontally from said exterior edge where said projection contains a mating surface used by tamper evident means; and,   ii. a lid portion, said lid having a central surface is the same horizontal plane as said bottom surface said central surface defined as geometrically congruent to said bottom surface, said lid having a defined perimeter area thereabout the entirety of said lid having a defined exterior edge, said perimeter area containing at least two securement means where said means secure said lid to said bowl, where the said exterior perimeter edge engages interiorly, and in close fit proximity to, of a said engagement flange of said bowl, this said engagement flange being located interiorly to said upper edge of said bowl and where said lid contains a protuberant tab located along said exterior perimeter edge of said lid where said tab contains tamper evident means and gripping means and whose exterior edge does not extend past the profile of said upper edge of said bowl portion;   
     
     
         2 . A resealable tamper evident container as in  claim 1  where said lid is separable from said bowl. 
     
     
         3 . A resealable tamper evident container as in  claim 1  where said tamper evident means comprises
 i. at least one male detented button, having side walls projection downwardly from the adjacent surface with increasing draft angle with said walls terminating with inwardly facing chaffered walls terminating in a bottom, 
 ii. a perforated score line on a tab, said line shaped as a three sided parabola, where the two sides terminate at a point prior to an interior edge of said tab, and where said detented button is located interiorally to said parabolic lines and radiused vertex thereof; 
 iii. at least one female recess adaptedly related to the shape and contour of said male detented button, said recess having reverse rake angle walls coinciding and opposite to said increasing draft angle walls of said button creating an interference fit, where said interference between said reverse rake angle walls and said draft angle walls is sufficient to cause said perforated score line to perforate completely prior to said button dislocating from said female recess; and 
 iv. a gripping means located upon said tab, said gripping means comprising embossing, knurl surfaces, protuberances and detented surfaces, said means enhancing the surface area of the tab thereby decreasing the probability of the consumers fingers disengaging from said tab during use. 
 
     
     
         4 . A resealable tamper evident container as in  claim 1  where said tamper evident means comprises
 i. at least one male detented button having side walls projection downwardly from the adjacent surface with increasing draft angle with said walls terminating with inwardly facing chaffered walls terminating in a bottom, 
 ii. a perforated score line on a tab, where said line is shaped concentric about the entirety of and is located exteriorly to, said button 
 iii. at least one female recess adaptedly related to the shape and contour of said male detented button, said recess having reverse rake angle walls coinciding and opposite to said increasing draft angle walls of said button creating an interference fit, where said interference between said reverse rake angle walls and said draft angle walls is sufficient to cause said perforated score line to perforate completely prior to said button dislocating from said female recess; and 
 iv. a gripping means located upon said tab, said gripping means comprising embossing, knurl surfaces, protuberances and detented surfaces, said means enhancing the surface area of the tab thereby decreasing the probability of the consumers fingers disengaging from said tab during use. 
 
     
     
         5 . A resealable tamper evident container as in  claim 1  where said securement means of said lid consists of at least  1  three sided channel, horizontally biased, which interfaces with an interference fit with a three sided submerged channel perimeterly located about said engagement flange of said bowl and at least one reverse slant face, vertically biased, located proximally with said perimeter exterior edge of said lid, said reverse slant face interfaces with a close fit with a positive angled face of said bowl, said positive angled face located perpendicular to and in close proximity to said submerged channel. 
     
     
         6 . A resealable tamper evident container as in  claim 1  where said exterior of said projection of said bowl has a relief angle which coincides with the location of said gripping means of said tab thereby allowing access to both sides of said tab allowing for the gripping of the said exterior perimeter edge and said gripping means of said tab without interference from said projection of said bowl. 
     
     
         7 . A resealable tamper evident container as in  claim 1  where said bowl section has at least four strengthening ribs located thereabout exterior of said bowl said ribs located along the vertical axis of said bowl, where said ribs are located downwardly from said engagement flange, continuing past the length of said surface wall onto said exterior of said bottom surface thereby creating nesting supports. 
     
     
         8 . A recloseable tamper evident container comprising:
 i. a bowl portion, defined by a bottom surface along a horizontal axis, at least one surface wall, describing an interior cavity to hold product, as one contiguous piece therefrom said bottom surface, extending upwardly along the vertical axis from said surface, an exterior edge profile that has a “U” shaped downward orientation facing away from said interior cavity, said exterior “U” shaped edge running along the outer perimeter of said bowl, said perimeter geometrically congruent to said bottom surface, having at least one engagement flange along the horizontal axis, said engagement flanges defined by a nearly perpendicular boundary wall and a projection protruding exteriorly and primarily horizontally from said exterior edge where said projection contains a mating surface used by tamper evident means; and,   ii. a lid portion, said lid having a central surface is the same horizontal plane as said bottom surface said central surface defined as geometrically congruent to said bottom surface, said lid having a defined perimeter area thereabout the entirety of said lid having a defined exterior edge, said perimeter area containing at least two securement means where said means secure said lid to said bowl, where the said exterior perimeter edge engages interiorly, and in close fit proximity to, of a said engagement flange of said bowl, this said engagement flange being located interiorly to said upper edge of said bowl and where said lid contains a protuberant tab located along said exterior perimeter edge of said lid where said tab contains tamper evident means and gripping means and whose exterior edge does not extend past the profile of said upper edge of said bowl portion;   
     
     
         9 . A resealable tamper evident container as in  claim 8  where said lid is permanently attached to said bowl by a living hinge. 
     
     
         10 . A resealable tamper evident container as in  claim 8  where said tamper evident means comprises
 i. at least one male detented button, having side walls projection downwardly from the adjacent surface with increasing draft angle with said walls terminating with inwardly facing chaffered walls terminating in a bottom, 
 ii. a perforated score line on a tab, said line shaped as a three sided parabola, where the two sides terminate at a point prior to an interior edge of said tab, and where said detented button is located interiorally to said parabolic lines and radiused vertex thereof; 
 iii. at least one female recess adaptedly related to the shape and contour of said male detented button, said recess having reverse rake angle walls coinciding and opposite to said increasing draft angle walls of said button creating an interference fit, where said interference between said reverse rake angle walls and said draft angle walls is sufficient to cause said perforated score line to perforate completely prior to said button dislocating from said female recess; and 
 iv. a gripping means located upon said tab, said gripping means comprising embossing, knurl surfaces, protuberances and detented surfaces, said means enhancing the surface area of the tab thereby decreasing the probability of the consumers fingers disengaging from said tab during use. 
 
     
     
         11 . A resealable tamper evident container as in  claim 8  where said tamper evident means comprises
 i. at least one male detented button having side walls projection downwardly from the adjacent surface with increasing draft angle with said walls terminating with inwardly facing chaffered walls terminating in a bottom, 
 ii. a perforated score line on a tab, where said line is shaped concentric about the entirety of and is located exteriorly to, said button 
 iii. at least one female recess adaptedly related to the shape and contour of said male detented button, said recess having reverse rake angle walls coinciding and opposite to said increasing draft angle walls of said button creating an interference fit, where said interference between said reverse rake angle walls and said draft angle walls is sufficient to cause said perforated score line to perforate completely prior to said button dislocating from said female recess; and 
 iv. a gripping means located upon said tab, said gripping means comprising embossing, knurl surfaces, protuberances and detented surfaces, said means enhancing the surface area of the tab thereby decreasing the probability of the consumers fingers disengaging from said tab during use. 
 
     
     
         12 . A resealable tamper evident container as in  claim 8  where said securement means of said lid consists of at least  1  three sided channel, horizontally biased, which interfaces with an interference fit with a three sided submerged channel perimeterly located about said engagement flange of said bowl and at least one reverse slant face, vertically biased, located proximally with said perimeter exterior edge of said lid, said reverse slant face interfaces with a close fit with a positive angled face of said bowl, said positive angled face located perpendicular to and in close proximity to said submerged channel. 
     
     
         13 . A resealable tamper evident container as in  claim 8  where said exterior of said projection of said bowl has a relief angle which coincides with the location of said gripping means of said tab thereby allowing access to both sides of said tab allowing for the gripping of the said exterior perimeter edge and said gripping means of said tab without interference from said projection of said bowl. 
     
     
         14 . A resealable tamper evident container as in  claim 8  where said bowl section has at least four strengthening ribs located thereabout exterior of said bowl said ribs located along the vertical axis of said bowl, where said ribs are located downwardly from said engagement flange, continuing past the length of said surface wall onto said exterior of said bottom surface thereby creating nesting supports.