Tamper evident lid

Abstract

An improved tamper evident lid for a container is provided. The lid includes an annular sidewall with an upper section and a lower section connected together by a weakened portion. The lid includes one or more tamper evident locking components for securing the lid to the container. Each locking component extends inward from an interior surface of the lower sidewall section with a top wall that connects the locking component to the upper sidewall section. The lid includes a void space defined into the exterior of the annular sidewall and corresponding to each locking component. Each locking component forms a continuous enclosure separating the void spaces from the interior of the lid and preventing leakage of contents through void spaces. The void spaces and the weakened portion create a line of weakness that can provide visual evidence of tampering once the lid has been secured to a container.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tamper-evident lid for a container, the lid comprising:
 an annular sidewall defining a perimeter of the lid, the annular sidewall including an upper sidewall section and a lower sidewall section connected together along a weakened portion extending circumferentially around the annular sidewall;   a cover portion connected to the upper sidewall section; and   a locking component provided on an interior surface of the lower sidewall section, wherein the locking component comprises a projecting wall extending inward from the interior surface and a top wall connected to the projecting wall and extending back toward the annular sidewall and defining an enclosed upper boundary of the locking component.   
     
     
         2 . The lid of  claim 1 , further comprising a void space extending into an exterior surface of the annular sidewall and corresponding to the locking component, wherein the void space extends through the annular sidewall and into the locking component and is defined by the projecting wall and the top wall of the locking component. 
     
     
         3 . The lid of  claim 2 , wherein the projecting wall and the top wall seal an inner portion the void space and separate the void space from an interior of the lid. 
     
     
         4 . The lid of  claim 3 , wherein the top wall of the locking component comprises a continuous top wall extending from the projecting wall to an interior surface of the upper sidewall section along an entire length of the locking component to separate the void space from the interior of the lid. 
     
     
         5 . The lid of  claim 4 , wherein the continuous top wall of the locking component restricts contents in the container from exiting the lid through the locking component and void space. 
     
     
         6 . The lid of  claim 2 , wherein the void space comprises a continuously uninterrupted open space formed into the annular sidewall and defined along an interior of the lid by the locking component, wherein the open space is without obstructions along an entire length of the void space. 
     
     
         7 . The lid of  claim 1 , wherein the weakened portion connecting the upper sidewall section and the lower sidewall section extends circumferentially around the perimeter of the lid. 
     
     
         8 . The lid of  claim 7 , wherein the weakened portion comprises a gap defined partially through the annular sidewall between the lower sidewall section and the upper sidewall section. 
     
     
         9 . The lid of  claim 8 , further comprising a void space extending into an exterior surface of the annular sidewall and corresponding to the locking component, wherein the void space extends through the annular sidewall and into the locking component and is defined by the projecting wall and top wall of the locking component, wherein the void space is generally aligned with and is integral with the weakened portion extending circumferentially around the annular sidewall of the lid. 
     
     
         10 . The lid of  claim 9 , wherein the void space has a width greater than a width of the weakened portion. 
     
     
         11 . The lid of  claim 1 , further comprising an inward projection defined on an interior surface of the upper sidewall section adjacent a lower edge of the upper sidewall section, wherein the continuous top wall of the locking component extends from the projecting wall toward the inward projection and connects to the inward projection along a connecting edge defined along a length of the locking component. 
     
     
         12 . The lid of  claim 11 , wherein the connecting edge of the locking component creates a line of weakness around the circumference along with the weakened portion. 
     
     
         13 . The lid of  claim 1 , wherein the locking component is configured to be positioned under an upper rim of the container when the lid is secured onto the container. 
     
     
         14 . The lid of  claim 13 , wherein locking component restricts the lid from being removed from the container after being secured to the container without deforming the annular sidewall along the weakened portion of the lid. 
     
     
         15 . The lid of  claim 13 , wherein the locking component restricts the lid from being removed from the container after being secured to the container without providing a visual indication of tampering. 
     
     
         16 . The lid of  claim 1 , further comprising a pair of ribs provided on the interior surface of the lower sidewall section adjacent to the locking component, wherein each rib is positioned next to an end portion of the locking component. 
     
     
         17 . The lid of  claim 16 , wherein the pair of ribs are configured to facilitate stacking of the lid with another second lid by engaging an annular projection of the second lid. 
     
     
         18 . The lid of  claim 1 , wherein the lid comprises five locking components circumferentially spaced around the annular sidewall. 
     
     
         19 . The lid of  claim 18 , further comprising a void space corresponding to each locking component, wherein each void space extends through the annular sidewall and into the locking component and is defined by the projecting wall and the top wall of the locking component. 
     
     
         20 . A tamper-evident lid for a container, the lid comprising:
 an annular sidewall defining a perimeter of the lid, the annular sidewall including an upper sidewall section and a lower sidewall section;   a weakened portion extending circumferentially around the annular sidewall and partially through the annular sidewall, the weakened portion connecting the upper sidewall section and the lower sidewall section together;   a cover portion connected to the upper sidewall section;   one or more locking components provided on an interior surface of the lower sidewall section, wherein each locking component comprises:
 a projecting wall extending radially inward from the interior surface of the lower sidewall at an upward angle; and 
 a top wall extending from the projecting wall toward a lower edge of the upper sidewall section; 
 wherein the top wall connects to an interior surface of the upper sidewall section along the lower edge to form an enclosed upper boundary of the locking component; and 
   a void space corresponding to each locking component of the one or more locking components, wherein each void space extends into and through the annular wall at a location corresponding to the locking component and is defined along an interior of the lid by the projecting wall and the top wall of the locking component;   wherein the void space is generally aligned with and integral with the weakened portion to form a continuous line of weakness for tamper evidence around the circumference of the lid;   wherein the projecting wall and top wall form a continuous enclosure separating each void space from the interior of the lid.