Tamper evident clamshell container

Abstract

Tamper evident clamshell containers include a first half hingedly coupled to a second half. The first half has a first closure edge with a tamper evident closure frangibly coupled thereto and the second half has a second closure edge with an engagement feature. The tamper evident closure can be coupled to the engagement feature to close the container. A force necessary to decouple the tamper evident closure and the engagement feature is greater than a force necessary to frangibly decouple the tamper evident closure from the first closure edge of the first half of the container.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tamper evident container comprising:
 a first half including a first closure edge having a tamper evident closure frangibly coupled thereto; and   a second half coupled to the first half, the second half including a second closure edge having an engagement feature, the tamper evident closure configured to be coupled to the engagement feature and close the container;   wherein a force necessary to decouple the tamper evident closure and the engagement feature is greater than a force necessary to frangibly decouple the tamper evident closure from the first closure edge of the first half.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the first half is hingedly coupled to the second half to form a clamshell container, and wherein the first closure edge of the first half and the second closure edge of the second half are opposite a hinge edge where the first half is hingedly coupled to the second half. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising a first closure configured to releasably couple the first half and the second half and close the container. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 3 , further comprising a second closure configured to releasably couple the first half and the second half and close the container. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 4 , wherein the tamper evident closure and the engagement feature are flanked by the first closure and the second closure. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 5 , wherein the first half is hingedly coupled to the second half along at least a portion of a back of the container, the first closure and the second closure are each located on a front of the container adjacent a respective side of the container, and the tamper evident closure and the engagement feature are substantially centered on the front of the container. 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the tamper evident closure is configured to be coupled to the engagement feature by a snap-fitting. 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising a coupling device configured to couple the tamper evident closure to the engagement feature when the tamper evident closure is coupled to the engagement feature and the container is closed. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 8 , wherein the coupling device is configured to mechanically fasten and retain the tamper evident closure to the engagement feature when the tamper evident closure is frangibly decoupled from the first closure edge of the first half. 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 8 , wherein a portion of the coupling device is configured to pass through the tamper evident closure and the engagement feature when the tamper evident closure is coupled to the engagement feature and the container is closed. 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the tamper evident closure is configured to be frangibly decoupled from the first closure edge of the first half by tearing the tamper evident closure from a remainder of the first closure edge. 
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the tamper evident closure is frangibly coupled to the closure edge of the first half of the container by a partition defining the tamper evident closure. 
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 12 , wherein the partition includes a thickness that is less than the thickness of portions of the container adjacent the partition. 
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 12 , wherein the partition includes perforations. 
     
     
         15 . The container of  claim 12 , wherein the partition defines the tamper evident closure as a tab frangibly coupled to the first edge. 
     
     
         16 . The container of  claim 12 , wherein the partition circumscribes the tamper evident closure so an aperture is formed in the first edge when the tamper evident closure is frangibly decoupled therefrom. 
     
     
         17 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the container comprises an opaque material. 
     
     
         18 . The container of  claim 17 , wherein the opaque material comprises one of a foamed material or a paper-based material. 
     
     
         19 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the container comprises a transparent material. 
     
     
         20 . The container of  claim 19 , wherein the transparent material comprises polyethylene terephthalate.