U.S. patent application number 13/846800 was filed with the patent office on 2014-07-10 for tamper-evident container.
This patent application is currently assigned to WEI MON INDUSTRY CO., LTD.. The applicant listed for this patent is WEI MON INDUSTRY CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Chih-Hsien HUANG.
Application Number | 20140190969 13/846800 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49078599 |
Filed Date | 2014-07-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140190969 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
HUANG; Chih-Hsien |
July 10, 2014 |
TAMPER-EVIDENT CONTAINER
Abstract
A tamper-evident container is disclosed. The tamper-evident
container includes a containing base, a lid, and a release
structure. The containing base has a base edge and the lid has a
lid edge. The lid is fixed to the containing base for closing and
the base edge encloses the lid edge. The release is disposed at the
containing base. The release structure includes a barrier line and
two break lines. The break lines are extended from two ends of the
barrier line to the base edge. A detachable zone is encompassed by
the barrier line, the break lines, and the base edge. The break
lines are for detaching the detachable zone from the containing
base, so that the lid edge is partially exposed so as to separate
the lid from the containing base.
Inventors: |
HUANG; Chih-Hsien; (Taipei
City, TW) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
WEI MON INDUSTRY CO., LTD. |
Hsinchu County |
|
TW |
|
|
Assignee: |
WEI MON INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
HSINCHU COUNTY
TW
|
Family ID: |
49078599 |
Appl. No.: |
13/846800 |
Filed: |
March 18, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/268 ;
220/266 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2543/00518
20130101; B65D 2543/00194 20130101; B65D 2543/00842 20130101; B65D
2401/15 20200501; B65D 2543/00296 20130101; B65D 43/0254 20130101;
B65D 77/2032 20130101; B65D 2401/10 20200501; B65D 2543/00425
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/268 ;
220/266 |
International
Class: |
B65D 17/00 20060101
B65D017/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 7, 2013 |
TW |
102200302 |
Claims
1. A tamper-evident container, comprising: a containing base having
a base edge; a lid having a lid edge, wherein the lid is fixed to
the containing base for closing and the base edge encloses the lid
edge; and a release structure disposed at the containing base, the
release structure comprising: a barrier line; and two break lines
respectively extended from two ends of the barrier line to the base
edge, wherein a detachable zone is encompassed by the barrier line,
the break lines and the base edge; wherein the break lines are for
detaching the detachable zone from the containing base, so that the
lid edge is partially exposed so as to separate the lid from the
containing base.
2. The tamper-evident container of claim 1, further comprising: a
hinge connecting the lid and the containing base, wherein the hinge
and the release structure are arranged in a non-overlapped
manner.
3. The tamper-evident container of claim 2, wherein the
tamper-evident container is integrally formed.
4. The tamper-evident container of claim 1, wherein the containing
base further comprising: at least one protrusion integrally
extended from the containing base within the detachable zone.
5. The tamper-evident container of claim 1, wherein the containing
base further comprising: at least one protrusion integrally
extended from the base edge within the detachable zone.
6. The tamper-evident container of claim 1, wherein the
tamper-evident container is made of polylactic acid.
7. The tamper-evident container of claim 1, wherein the barrier
line is a groove.
8. A tamper-evident container, comprising: a containing base having
a base edge; a lid having a lid edge, wherein the lid is fixed to
the containing base for closing and the lid edge encloses the base
edge; and a release structure disposed at the lid, the release
structure comprising: a barrier line; and two break lines
respectively extended from two ends of the barrier line to the lid
edge, wherein a detachable zone is encompassed by the barrier line,
the break lines and the lid edge; wherein the break lines are for
detaching the detachable zone from the lid, so that the base edge
is partially exposed so as to separate the lid from the containing
base.
9. The tamper-evident container of claim 8, further comprising; a
hinge connecting the lid and the containing base, wherein the hinge
and the release structure are arranged in a non-overlapped
manner.
10. The tamper-evident container of claim 9, wherein the
tamper-evident container is integrally formed.
11. The tamper-evident container of claim 8, wherein the lid
further comprising: at least one protrusion integrally extended
from the lid within the detachable zone.
12. The tamper-evident container of claim 8, wherein the lid
further comprising; at least one protrusion integrally extended
from the lid edge within the detachable zone.
13. The tamper-evident container of claim 8, wherein the lid
further comprising; two depressions formed on the lid within the
detachable zone.
14. The tamper-evident container of claim 8, wherein the
tamper-evident container is made of polylactic acid.
15. The tamper-evident container of claim 8, wherein the harrier
line is a groove.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The application claims priority to Taiwan Application Serial
Number 102200302, filed Jan. 7, 2013, which is herein incorporated
by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field of Invention
[0003] The present disclosure relates to a container. More
particularly, the present disclosure relates to a tamper-evident
container.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] In the past, stealing goods packed in containers or putting
something into the containers without leaving any traces was not
difficult because the containers were easy to be opened. Therefore,
tamper-evident containers are developed and are popular in
supermarkets or convenient stores nowadays. Typically,
tamper-evident containers are hardly opened after closing. If
somebody opens the tamper-evident containers only in force and
without following a predetermined way, obvious distortions will be
left on the tamper-evident containers.
[0006] A predetermined way for opening a conventional
tamper-evident container may be removing a security tape adhered
thereon or removing a strip thereof. However, the conventional
tamper-evident container will leave litter such as the security
tape or the strip removed that is inconvenient for consumers also
not environmentally-friendly.
SUMMARY
[0007] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a
tamper-evident includes a containing base, a lid, and a release
structure. The containing base has a base edge and the lid has a
lid edge. The lid is fixed to the containing base for closing and
the base edge encloses the lid edge. The release structure is
disposed at the containing base. The release structure includes a
barrier line and two break lines. The break lines are extended from
two ends of the barrier line to the base edge. A detachable zone is
encompassed by the barrier line, the break lines, and the base
edge. The break lines are for detaching the detachable zone from
the containing base, so that the lid edge is partially exposed so
as to separate the lid from the containing base.
[0008] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a
tamper-evident includes a containing base, a lid, and a release
structure. The containing base has a base edge and the lid has a
lid edge. The lid is fixed to the containing base for closing and
the lid edge encloses the base edge. The release structure is
disposed at the lid. The release structure includes a barrier line
and two break lines. The break lines are extended from two ends of
the barrier line to the lid edge. A detachable zone is encompassed
by the barrier line, the break lines, and the lid edge. The break
lines are for detaching the detachable zone from the lid, so that
the base edge is partially exposed so as to separate the lid from
the containing base.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] The disclosure can be more fully understood by reading the
following detailed description of the embodiment, with reference
made to the accompanying drawings as follows:
[0010] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a tamper-evident container
according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a three dimensional view of the tamper-evident
container of FIG. 1 after closing;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the
tamper-evident container taken along the line A-A of FIG. 2;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing the detachable zone
detached from the containing base of the tamper-evident container
of FIG. 2.
[0014] FIG. 5 is an exploded view of a tamper-evident container
according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0015] FIG. 6 is a three dimensional view of the tamper-evident
container of FIG. 5 after closing;
[0016] FIG. 7 is a partial crass-sectional view of the
tamper-evident container taken along the line B-B of FIG. 6;
[0017] FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing the detachable zone
detached from the lid of the tamper-evident container of FIG.
6;
[0018] FIG. 9 is a three dimensional view of a tamper-evident
container according to the third embodiment of the present
disclosure;
[0019] FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing a detachable zone
detached from a lid of a tamper-evident container according to the
fourth embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0020] FIG. 11 is a three dimensional view of a containing base of
a tamper-evident container according to the fifth embodiment of the
present disclosure;
[0021] FIG. 12 is a schematic view showing the detachable zone
detached from the containing base of FIG. 11:
[0022] FIG. 13 is a three dimensional view of a lid of a
tamper-evident container according to the sixth embodiment of the
present disclosure; and
[0023] FIG. 14 is a three dimensional view of a lid of a
tamper-evident container according to the seventh embodiment of the
present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0024] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a tamper-evident container 100
according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2
is a three dimensional view of the tamper-evident container 100 of
FIG. 1 after closing. In FIGS. 1 and 2, the tamper-evident
container 100 includes a lid 110, a containing base, 120, and a
release structure 130. The lid 110 is fixed to the containing base
120 for closing the containing base 120 and the release structure
130 is disposed at the containing base 120. The release structure
130 includes a barrier line 131 and two break lines 132. The break
lines 132 are respectively extended from two ends of the barrier
line 131 to the base edge 121. A detachable zone D1 is encompassed
by the barrier line 131, the break lines 132, and the base edge
121. In addition, the containing base 120 includes a protrusion 122
extended from the base edge 121 within the detachable zone D1. The
tamper-evident container 100 is integrally formed. The manner the
lid 110 is fixed to the containing base 120 may be snapping,
latching and so on.
[0025] FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the
tamper-evident container 100 taken along the line A-A of FIG. 2. In
detail, the lid 110 has a lid edge 111 and the containing base 120
has a base edge 121. The base edge 121 encloses the lid edge 111
that makes the lid edge 111 hardly be held adequately. Therefore,
the tamper-evident container 100 is almost unable to be opened
after the lid 110 fixed to the containing base 120 unless by the
release structure 130.
[0026] FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing the detachable zone D1
detached from the containing base 120 of the tamper-evident
container 100 of FIG. 2. In FIG. 4, consumers detach the detachable
zone D1 from the containing base 120 by pulling down the protrusion
122 to break the break lines 132, so that the lid edge 111 is
partially exposed. The protrusion 122 facilitates breakage of the
break lines 132 but may not be necessary. Once the lid edge 111 is
partially exposed, consumers can hold the lid 110 and the
containing base 120 adequately and separate them from each other.
Therefore, the tamper-evident container 100 can be opened easily.
The barrier line 131 is for stopping breakage of the break lines
132. In other words, the barrier line 131 is a terminal of the
breakage of the break lines 132. The barrier line 131 may be a
groove or other geometries.
[0027] Thus, there is no litter left but the lid 110 and the
containing base 120 only when the tamper-evident container 100 is
opened by the release structure 130. The tamper-evident container
100 would be more convenient to consumers and also
environmentally-friendly. Moreover, the tamper-evident container
100 may be made of polylactic acid to further reduce the burden of
environment.
[0028] FIG. 5 is an exploded view of a tamper-evident container 200
according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG.
6 is a three dimensional view of the tamper-evident container 200
of FIG. 5 after closing. FIGS. 5 and 6, the tamper-evident
container 200 includes a lid 210, a containing base 220, and a
release structure 230. The lid 210 is fixed to the containing base
220 for closing the containing base 220 and the release structure
230 is disposed at the lid 210. The release structure 230 includes
a barrier line 231 and two break lines 232. The break lines 232 are
respectively extended from two ends of the barrier line 231 to the
lid edge 211. A detachable zone D2 is encompassed by the barrier
line 231, the break lines 232, and the lid edge 211. In addition,
the lid 210 includes a protrusion 212 extended from the lid 210
within the detachable zone D2. The tamper-evident container 200 is
integrally formed. The manner the lid 210 is fixed to the
containing base 220 may be snapping, latching and so on.
[0029] FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view of the
tamper-evident container taken 200 along the line B-B of FIG. 6. In
detail, the lid 210 has a lid edge 211 and the containing base 220
has a base edge 221. The lid edge 211 encloses the base edge 221
that makes the base edge 221 hardly be held adequately. Therefore,
the tamper-evident container 200 is almost unable to be opened
after the lid 210 fixed to the containing base 220 unless by the
release structure 230.
[0030] FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing the detachable zone D2
detached from the lid 210 of the tamper-evident container 200 of
FIG. 6. In FIG. 8, consumers detach the detachable zone D2 from the
lid 210 by pulling up the protrusion 212 to break the break lines
232, so that the base edge 22 is partially exposed. The protrusion
212 facilitates breakage of the break lines 232 but may not be
necessary. Once the base edge 221 is partially exposed, consumers
can hold the lid 210 and the containing base 220 adequately and
separate them from each other. Therefore, the tamper-evident
container 200 can be opened easily. The barrier line 231 is for
stopping breakage of the break lines 232. In other words, the
barrier line 231 is a terminal of the breakage of the break lines
232. The barrier line 231 may be a groove or other geometries.
[0031] Thus, there is no litter left but the lid 210 and the
containing base 220 only when the tamper-evident container 200 is
opened by the release structure 230. The tamper-evident container
200 would be more convenient to consumers and also
environmentally-friendly. Moreover, the tamper-evident container
200 may be made of polylactic acid to further reduce the burden of
environment.
[0032] FIG. 9 is a three dimensional view of a tamper-evident
container 300 according to the third embodiment of the present
disclosure. In FIG. 9, the tamper-evident container 300 includes a
lid 310, a containing base 320, a release structure 330, and a
hinge 340. The hinge 340 connects the lid 310 and the containing
base 320. The lid 310 is fixed to the containing base 320 for
closing the containing base 320. The release structure 330 is
disposed at the containing base 320 and arranged in a
non-overlapped manner with the hinge 340. The release structure 330
includes a barrier line 331 and two break lines 332. The break
lines 332 are respectively extended from two ends of the barrier
line 331 to the base edge 321. A detachable zone D3 is encompassed
by the barrier line 331, the break lines 332, and the base edge
321. The manner the lid 310 is fixed to the containing base 320 may
be snapping, latching and so on.
[0033] The lid 310 has a lid edge 311 and the containing base 320
has a base edge 321. Similarly, the base edge 321 encloses the lid
edge 311 that makes lid edge 311 hardly be held adequately.
Therefore, the tamper-evident container 300 is almost unable to be
opened after the lid 310 fixed to the containing base 320 unless by
the release structure 330.
[0034] As the first embodiment, the detachable zone D3 can be
detached from the containing base 320 by pulling down the base edge
321 within the detachable zone D3 to break the break lines 332, so
that the lid edge 311 can be partially exposed. Once the lid edge
311 is partially exposed, consumers can hold the lid 310 and the
containing base 320 adequately and separate them from each other.
Therefore, the tamper-evident container 300 can be opened easily.
The barrier line 331 is for stopping breakage of the break lines
332. In other words, the barrier line 331 is a terminal of the
breakage of the break lines 332. On the other hand, breakage of the
break lines 332 does not damage the hinge 340 because the release
structure 330 and the hinge 340 are arranged in a non-overlapped
manner.
[0035] Thus, there is no litter left when the tamper-evident
container 300 is opened by the release structure 330. The
tamper-evident container 300 would be more convenient to consumers
and also environmentally-friendly. Moreover, packaging goods by the
tamper-evident container 300 with the hinge 340 is more efficient
because packagers do not need to pick a lid and a containing base
respectively during packaging process anymore.
[0036] FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing a detachable zone D4
detached from a lid 410 of a tamper-evident container 400 according
to the fourth embodiment of the present disclosure. The
tamper-evident container 400 includes a lid 410, a containing base
420, a release structure 430, and a hinge 440. The hinge 440
connects the lid 410 and the containing base 420. The lid 410 is
fixed to the containing base 420 for closing the containing base
420. The release structure 430 is disposed at the lid 410 and is
arranged in a non-overlapped manner with the hinge 440. The release
structure 430 includes a barrier line 431 and two break lines 432.
The break lines 432 are respectively extended from two ends of the
barrier line 431 to the lid edge 411. A detachable zone D4 is
encompassed by the barrier line 431, the break lines 432, and the
lid edge 411. The manner the lid 410 is fixed to the containing
base 420 may be snapping, latching and so on.
[0037] The lid 410 has a lid edge 411 and the containing base 420
has a base edge 421. Similarly, the lid edge 411 encloses the base
edge 421 that makes the base edge 421 hardly be held adequately.
Therefore, the tamper-evident container 400 is almost unable to be
opened after the lid 410 is fixed to the containing base 420 unless
by the release structure 430.
[0038] As FIG. 10 shown, the detachable zone D4 can be detached
from the lid 410 by pulling up the lid edge 411 within the
detachable zone D4 to break the break lines 432, so that the base
edge 421 is partially exposed. Once the base edge 421 is partially
exposed, consumers can hold the lid 410 and the containing base 420
adequately and separate them from each other. Therefore, the
tamper-evident container 400 can be opened easily. The barrier line
431 is for stopping breakage of the break lines 432. In other
words, the barrier line 431 is a terminal of the breakage of the
break lines 432. On the other hand, breakage of the break lines 432
does not damage the hinge 440 because the release structure 430 and
the hinge 440 are arranged in a non-overlapped manner.
[0039] Thus, there is no litter left when the tamper-evident
container 400 is opened by the release structure 430. The
tamper-evident container 400 would be more convenient to consumers
and also environmentally-friendly. Moreover, packaging goods by the
tamper-evident container 400 with the hinge 440 is more efficient
because packagers do not need to pick a lid and a containing base
respectively during packaging process anymore.
[0040] FIG. 11 is a three dimensional view of a containing base 520
of a tamper-evident container according to the fifth embodiment of
the present disclosure. In FIG. 11, the containing base 520 has a
base edge 521 and a release structure 530 is disposed at the
containing base 520. The release structure 530 includes a barrier
line 531 and two break lines 532. The break lines 532 are
respectively extended from two ends of the barrier line 531 to a
base edge 521 of the containing base 520. A detachable zone D5 is
encompassed by the barrier line 531, the break lines 532, and the
base edge 521.
[0041] FIG. 12 is a schematic view showing the detachable zone D5
detached from the containing base 520 of FIG. 11. Similar to the
third embodiment above, the break lines 532 can be broken by pull
down the base edge 521 within the detachable zone D5, so that a lid
edge of a lid of the tamper-evident container enclosed by the base
edge 521 after the lid is fixed to the containing base 520 can be
partially exposed. The barrier line 531 is for stopping breakage of
the break lines 532. In this case, the barrier line 531 may just be
disposed at a flange inside the containing base 520.
[0042] FIG. 13 is a three dimensional view of a lid 610 of a
tamper-evident container according to the sixth embodiment of the
present disclosure. In FIG. 13, the lid 610 includes a lid edge 611
and two depressions 612. A release structure 630 is disposed at the
lid 610. The release structure 630 includes a barrier line 631 and
two break lines 632. The break lines 632 are extended from two ends
of the barrier line 631 to the lid edge 611. A detachable zone D6
is encompassed by the barrier line 631, the break lines 632, and
the lid edge 611. The depressions 612 are within the detachable
zone D6. In this case, the break lines 632 can be broken by
pinching the depressions 612 and pulling up the detachable zone D6,
so that a base edge of a containing base of the tamper-evident
container enclosed by the lid edge 611 after the lid 610 is fixed
to the containing base can be partially exposed. The barrier line
631 is curved and for stopping breakage of the break lines 632.
[0043] FIG. 14 is a three dimensional view of a lid 710 of a
tamper-evident container according to the seventh embodiment of the
present disclosure. In FIG. 14, the lid 710 includes a lid edge 711
and four depressions 712. Two release structures 730 are
respectively disposed at the lid 710. Each of the release
structures 730 includes a barrier line 731 and two break lines 732.
The break lines 732 are respectively extended from two ends of the
barrier line 731 to the lid edge 711. Similar to embodiments above,
two detachable zones D7 are therefore formed. The depressions 712
are within the detachable zones D7 averagely. In this case, the
break lines 732 can be broken by pinching the depressions 712 and
pulling up the detachable zone D7, so that a base edge of a
containing base of the tamper-evident container enclosed by the lid
edge 711 after the lid 710 is fixed to the containing base can be
partially exposed. From the release structures 730, more portions
of the base edge are exposed.
[0044] In other embodiments of the disclosure, the break lines are
not limited to be extended from two ends of the barrier line as
long as a detachable zone can be encompassed by the barrier line,
the break lines and the base edge (or the lid edge). There is no
restriction on the size of the detachable zone as long as consumers
can hold the lid and the containing base adequately after the
detachable zone detached from the containing base (or the lid).
There is no restriction on the appearance of the barrier line or
the break lines as long as a detachable zone can be encompassed by
the barrier line, the break lines and the base edge (or the lid
edge). For example, the barrier line may be straight or curved and
each of the break lines may be consisted of a series of aligned
cuts or a series of curved cuts. There is also no restriction on
the shape and the position of the protrusions or the depressions as
long as the protrusions and the depressions are within the
detachable zone and facilitate breakage of the break lines.
[0045] Although the present disclosure has been described in
considerable detail with reference to certain embodiments thereof,
other embodiments are possible. Therefore, their spirit and scope
of the appended claims should no be limited to the description of
the embodiments contained herein.
[0046] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various
modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the
present disclosure without departing from the scope or spirit of
the invention. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the
present disclosure cover modifications and variations of this
invention provided they fall within the scope of the following
claims.
* * * * *