Novel tamper evident containers

Abstract

The present invention is directed to containers and packaging that incorporate novel tamper evident features. In particular, the containers of the present invention comprise newly designed tamper evident linkages, i.e., wedged fracture tabs. In addition, the present invention provides novel methods of improving tamper security of packages or containers by incorporating distinguishing printed graphics on the tamper evident component (e.g., frangible hinge, frangible tear strip, or wedged fracture tabs) of the present invention.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tamper evident container comprising:
 a) a cover portion comprising a peripheral locking flange assembly;   b) a base portion comprising an upper peripheral sealing edge configured to substantially eliminate access to the peripheral locking flange assembly of the cover portion when the container is in the closed position; and   c) a tamper evident linkage structure connecting the cover portion to the base portion comprising a wedged fracture tab (WFT) wherein the WFT is configured to produce access flaps upon full fracture and removal of the tab from the cover and base portions of the container.   
     
     
         2 . The tamper evident container of  claim 1 , wherein the wedged fracture tab (WFT) comprises an integrated non-frangible hinge, 
     
     
         3 . The tamper evident container of  claim 1 , wherein the peripheral locking flange assembly comprises an outwardly extending peripheral flange. 
     
     
         4 . The tamper evident container of  claim 1 , wherein the peripheral locking flange assembly comprises a truncated recessed flange (TRF). 
     
     
         5 . The tamper evident container of  claim 1 , wherein the wedged fracture tab (WFT) is asymmetrically frangible. 
     
     
         6 . The tamper evident container of  claim 5 , wherein the asymmetrically frangible wedged fracture tab (WFT) is configured with a contoured frangible score-line. 
     
     
         7 . The tamper evident container of  claim 6 , wherein the asymmetrically frangible wedged fracture tab (WFT) is configured to produce alternating access flaps upon full fracture and removal of the tab from the cover and base portions of the container. 
     
     
         8 . The tamper evident container of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the access flaps is configured with a grip ridge. 
     
     
         9 . The tamper evident container of  claim 1 , further comprising an arced edge lock. 
     
     
         10 . The tamper evident container of  claim 1 , wherein the cover portion further comprises a stacking ridge configured to allow a second container to be stacked on top of the tamper evident container. 
     
     
         11 . The tamper evident container of  claim 1 , wherein the base portion further comprises side ribs engineered to add structural strength and stiffness to the tamper evident container. 
     
     
         12 . The tamper evident container of  claim 1 , wherein the base portion further comprises at least one chamfered corner engineered to improve material distribution. 
     
     
         13 . The tamper evident container of  claim 1 , wherein the wedged fracture tab (WFT) further comprises fracture enhancement buttons. 
     
     
         14 . The tamper evident container of  claim 1 , wherein the shape of the container is selected from the group consisting of square, rectangle, round, elliptical, triangular, pentagon, hexagon, octagon, oval, quatrefoil, and curvilinear triangle. 
     
     
         15 . The tamper evident container of  claim 1 , wherein the tamper evident container is comprised of plastic. 
     
     
         16 . The tamper evident container of  claim 1 , wherein the cover portion further comprises distortion control printed graphics. 
     
     
         17 . The tamper evident container of  claim 1 , wherein the base portion further comprises distortion control printed graphics. 
     
     
         18 . The tamper evident container of  claim 16 , wherein the printed graphics comprise  2  or more colors. 
     
     
         19 . A tamper evident container comprising:
 a) a cover portion comprising a peripheral locking flange assembly, wherein the peripheral locking flange assembly comprises a truncated recessed flange (TRF);   b) a base portion comprising an upper peripheral sealing edge configured to substantially eliminate access to the peripheral locking flange assembly of the cover portion when the container is in the closed position; and   c) a tamper evident linkage structure connecting the cover portion to the base portion comprising an asymmetrically frangible wedged fracture tab (WFT) with integrated non-frangible hinge with a contoured frangible score-line, wherein the WFT is configured to produce alternating access flaps upon full fracture and removal of the tab from the cover and base portions of the container, and wherein the alternating access flaps comprise one access flap centered on the cover portion between two access flaps located on the base portion.   
     
     
         20 . A method of improving tamper security of a tamper evident container comprising the steps of
 incorporating an advanced tamper alert system which comprises a multi-color indication of tampering, wherein the tamper evident component of the tamper evident container includes printed graphics that are a different color than the container regions adjacent to the tamper evident component, such that the tamper security of the tamper evident container is improved.