Tamper evident container

Abstract

A tamper evident container includes a tray portion having a base, a sidewall extending upwardly from a perimeter of the base, and a lid portion having an open position and a closed position. The lid portion may be configured to lockingly engage the tray portion in the closed position. A first hinge may be connected to lid portion and tray portion for rotation of the lid portion relative to the tray portion. A tamper evident closure may also be provided having an open position and a locked position, wherein in the locked position the tamper evident closure connects the tray portion and the lid portion when the lid portion in the closed position. A line of weakness is provided in the tamper evident closure which, when broken after the tamper evident closure is in the locked position, permits the lid portion to be moved from the closed position to the open position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tamper evident container comprising:
 a first container portion;   a second container portion;   a first hinge connected to the first container portion and the second container portion for rotation of the first and second container portions relative to each other from an open position to a closed position;   a tamper evident closure comprising:   a locking tab and a second hinge connected to the first container portion wherein the locking tab is rotatable about the second hinge to move the locking tab to a locked position wherein the locking tab is connected to a portion of the second container portion when the container is in the closed position;   a line of weakness that can be broken when the tamper evident closure is in the locked position to allow the first container portion and the second container portion to be rotated relative to each other from the closed position to the open position; and   wherein the locking tab remains connected with the second container portion after the line of weakness is broken.   
     
     
         2 . The tamper evident container of  claim 1  wherein the locking tab further comprises a first protrusion and the second container portion further comprises a first recess wherein the first protrusion is inserted within the first recess when the tamper evident closure is in the locked position. 
     
     
         3 . The tamper evident container of  claim 2  wherein the first container portion further comprises at least one gripping tab extending outwardly;
 the tamper evident closure further comprises a holding surface; and 
 the line of weakness is positioned between the at least one gripping tab and the holding surface. 
 
     
     
         4 . The tamper evident container of  claim 3  wherein the first protrusion is retained within the first recess by a snap connection. 
     
     
         5 . The tamper evident container of  claim 4  wherein the locking tab further comprises at least one side edge; and
 the second container portion further comprises at least one surface that surrounds a portion of the first recess; 
 wherein the at least one side edge of the locking tab is positioned adjacent to the at least one surface when the locking tab is in the locked position to inhibit access to the at least one side edge of the locking tab. 
 
     
     
         6 . The tamper evident container of  claim 5  wherein
 the first recess is provided in a lip extending from the second container portion; and 
 the locking tab is rotated about the lip to insert the first protrusion in the first recess. 
 
     
     
         7 . The tamper evident container of  claim 6  wherein the at least one surface comprises a portion of a side wall of the second container portion. 
     
     
         8 . The tamper evident container of  claim 7  wherein the at least one surface further comprises at least one projection extending from the lip. 
     
     
         9 . The tamper evident container of  claim 8  wherein the holding surface comprises a second protrusion positioned between the second hinge and the line of weakness. 
     
     
         10 . The tamper evident container of  claim 9  wherein the tamper evident closure further comprises
 a second recess opposite to the second protrusion; and 
 a lip protrusion opposite to the first recess wherein, in the locked position, the lip protrusion is inserted into the second recess. 
 
     
     
         11 . The tamper evident container of  claim 10  wherein
 the first container portion comprises a lid having an outside periphery edge; 
 the second container portion comprises a tray portion having a base and the sidewall extending upwardly from a perimeter of the base; and 
 in the closed position the outside periphery edge of the lid portion engages the sidewall of the tray portion in a snap connection. 
 
     
     
         12 . The tamper evident container of  claim 11  wherein the sidewall of the tray portion includes a ridge extending around at least a portion of an upper edge of the sidewall and wherein in the closed position, at least a portion of the outside periphery edge of the lid portion abuts against at least a portion of the ridge to inhibit access to the at least a portion of the outside periphery edge. 
     
     
         13 . A tamper evident closure for a container comprising a first container portion and a second container portion connected by a first hinge, the tamper evident closure comprising:
 a locking tab and a second hinge configured to be attached to the first container portion;   wherein the locking tab is rotatable about the second hinge to move the locking tab to a locked position wherein the locking tab is connected to a portion of the second container portion when the container in a closed position; and   a line of weakness that can be broken when the tamper evident closure is in the locked position to allow the first container portion and the second container portion to be rotated relative to each other from the closed position to an open position; and   wherein the locking tab remains connected with the second container portion after the line of weakness is broken.   
     
     
         14 . The tamper evident closure of  claim 13  wherein
 the locking tab further comprises a first protrusion and 
 the first protrusion is inserted within a first recess in the second container portion when the tamper evident closure is in the locked position. 
 
     
     
         15 . The tamper evident closure of  claim 14  wherein
 the tamper evident closure further comprises a holding surface; 
 the first container portion further comprises at least one gripping tab extending outwardly; and 
 the line of weakness is positioned between the holding surface and the at least one gripping tab. 
 
     
     
         16 . The tamper evident closure of  claim 15  wherein the first protrusion is retained within the first recess by a snap connection. 
     
     
         17 . The tamper evident closure of  claim 16  wherein
 the locking tab further comprises at least one side edge; and 
 wherein the at least one side edge of the locking tab is positioned adjacent the at least one surface provided on the second container portion when the locking tab is in the locked position to inhibit access to the at least one side edge of the locking tab. 
 
     
     
         18 . The tamper evident closure of  claim 17  wherein
 the first recess is provided in a lip extending from the second container portion; and 
 the locking tab is rotated about the lip to insert the first protrusion in the first recess. 
 
     
     
         19 . The tamper evident closure of  claim 18  wherein at least a portion of the at least one side edge of the locking tab is positioned adjacent at least a portion of a side wall of the second container when the locking tab is in the locked position. 
     
     
         20 . The tamper evident closure of  claim 19  wherein the at least one surface further comprises at least one projection extending from the lip. 
     
     
         21 . The tamper evident closure of  claim 20  wherein the holding surface comprises a second protrusion positioned between the second hinge and the line of weakness. 
     
     
         22 . The tamper evident closure of  claim 21  wherein the tamper evident closure further comprises
 a second recess opposite to the second protrusion; and 
 a lip protrusion opposite to the first recess wherein, in the locked position, the lip protrusion is inserted into the second recess.