U.S. patent application number 16/443394 was filed with the patent office on 2020-07-30 for tamper evident produce container.
The applicant listed for this patent is Multisteps Pty Ltd. Invention is credited to John Lam.
Application Number | 20200239208 16/443394 |
Document ID | 20200239208 / US20200239208 |
Family ID | 1000004155857 |
Filed Date | 2020-07-30 |
Patent Application | download [pdf] |
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United States Patent
Application |
20200239208 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lam; John |
July 30, 2020 |
TAMPER EVIDENT PRODUCE CONTAINER
Abstract
The present invention relates to a tamper evident produce
container having two front corners. The produce container includes
a receptacle, a lid and a pair of frangible tabs. The receptacle
has a mouth circumscribed by a first flange. The lid is associated
with the receptacle to close off the mouth. The lid has a second
flange. Each frangible tab is joined to either one of the first or
second flange at or in close proximity to one of the two front
corners by an area or line of weakness. Each frangible tab includes
a first locking formation which is adapted to interlock with a
second locking formation provided on or in the other of the first
or second flange when the lid is positioned on the receptacle to
close off the mouth.
Inventors: |
Lam; John; (Silverwater,
AU) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Multisteps Pty Ltd |
Silverwater |
|
AU |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000004155857 |
Appl. No.: |
16/443394 |
Filed: |
June 17, 2019 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2543/00203
20130101; B65D 43/162 20130101; B65D 43/22 20130101; B65D 55/024
20130101 |
International
Class: |
B65D 55/02 20060101
B65D055/02; B65D 43/16 20060101 B65D043/16; B65D 43/22 20060101
B65D043/22 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 29, 2019 |
AU |
2019900262 |
Claims
1. A tamper evident produce container comprising: two front
corners; a receptacle with a mouth circumscribed by a first flange;
a lid associated with the receptacle to close off the mouth, the
lid having a second flange; and a pair of frangible tabs, each
frangible tab being joined to either one of the first or second
flange at or in close proximity to one of the two front corners by
an area or line of weakness, wherein each frangible tab includes a
first locking formation which is adapted to interlock with a second
locking formation provided on or in the other of the first or
second flange when the lid is positioned on the receptacle to close
off the mouth.
2. The tamper evident produce container of claim 1, wherein the
area or line of weakness includes a perforated or scored line.
3. The tamper evident produce container of claim 1, wherein each
frangible tab is joined to the first flange.
4. The tamper evident produce container of claim 2, wherein the
area or line of weakness is where the first flange joins the
frangible tab.
5. The tamper evident produce container of claim 2, wherein the
area or line of weakness follows a path that begins at one edge of
the flange, goes around the first locking formation and ends at
another edge of the flange.
6. The tamper evident produce container of claim 1, wherein the
first and second locking formations are configured to be snap-fit
connectors.
7. The tamper evident produce container of claim 1, wherein the
first locking formation is a male member which is adapted to mate
and interlock with the second locking formation being a
complementary female member so as to secure the lid to the
receptacle when the lid is in a closed position.
8. The tamper evident produce container of claim 7, wherein the
male member includes a substantially frustoconical protrusion.
9. The tamper evident produce container of claim 1, wherein the
first flange includes an upwardly projecting rim which provides a
first loading bearing surface.
10. The tamper evident produce container of claim 1, wherein the
second flange includes a second loading bearing surface, and a
vertical wall having one side substantially orthogonally and
integrally joined to the second loading bearing surface and another
side integrally joined to an outwardly extending fringe.
11. The tamper evident produce container of claim 10, wherein the
outwardly extending fringe is adapted to abut the first loading
bearing surface when the lid is in a closed position.
12. The tamper evident produce container of claim 10, wherein the
outwardly extending fringe is spaced from the first flange by the
upwardly projecting rim.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to and the benefit of
Australian Patent Application No. 2019900262, filed Jan. 29, 2019,
the contents of which as are hereby incorporated by reference
herein in their entirety.
BACKGROUND
Related Field
[0002] The present invention broadly relates to packaging
containers. More particularly, the present invention relates to a
tamper evident produce container.
Related Art
[0003] Since there has been reported incidents of needles being
deliberately planted in fresh produce such as strawberries
contained in punnets with a vicious motive, it is generally
recognised that there is a need in the packaging industry to
provide tamper evident packaging so as to alert consumers to
punnets which may have been tampered with while carrying
contaminated produce.
[0004] It is an object of the present invention to provide a tamper
evident produce container which may meet the above need, or which
will at least provide a useful alternative.
BRIEF SUMMARY
[0005] According to the present invention, there is provided a
tamper evident produce container having two front corners, the
produce container including: a receptacle with a mouth
circumscribed by a first flange; a lid associated with the
receptacle to close off the mouth, the lid having a second flange;
and a pair of frangible tabs, each frangible tab being joined to
either one of the first or second flange at or in close proximity
to one of the two front corners by an area or line of weakness,
wherein each frangible tab includes a first locking formation which
is adapted to interlock with a second locking formation provided on
or in the other of the first or second flange when the lid is
positioned on the receptacle to close off the mouth.
[0006] In certain embodiments, the area or line of weakness
includes a perforated or scored line. As such, any attempt to
forcibly disengage the lid from the receptacle causes the frangible
tab to break away from either the first or second flange so as to
indicate tampering.
[0007] In certain embodiments, each frangible tab is joined to the
first flange. More optimally, the area or line of weakness is where
the first flange joins the frangible tab. Advantageously, the area
or line of weakness follows a path that begins at one edge of the
flange, goes around the first locking formation and ends at another
edge of the flange.
[0008] In certain embodiments, the first and second locking
formations are configured to be snap-fit connectors. More
optimally, the first locking formation is a male member which is
adapted to mate and interlock with the second locking formation
being a complementary female member so as to secure the lid to the
receptacle when the lid is in a closed position. Most
advantageously, the male member includes a substantially
frustoconical protrusion.
[0009] In certain embodiments, the first flange includes an
upwardly projecting rim which provides a first loading bearing
surface.
[0010] In certain embodiments, the second flange includes a second
loading bearing surface, and a vertical wall having one side
substantially orthogonally and integrally joined to the second
loading bearing surface and another side integrally joined to an
outwardly extending fringe. Advantageously, the outwardly extending
fringe is adapted to abut the first loading bearing surface when
the lid is in a closed position. As such, the outwardly extending
fringe is spaced from the first flange by the upwardly projecting
rim.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIOUS FIGURES
[0011] The invention may be better understood from the following
non-limiting description of the exemplary illustrated embodiment,
in which:
[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a produce container in
accordance with various embodiments of the present invention being
in a closed state;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the produce container of
FIG. 1 in a slightly open state;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a plan view of the produce container of FIG. 1 in
a fully open state;
[0015] FIG. 4A is a magnified plan view illustrating a corner of a
flange of the receptacle of the produce container of FIG. 1 being
joined to a frangible tab by a perforated line of weakness;
[0016] FIG. 4B is a magnified plan view illustrating a corner of a
flange of the receptacle of the produce container of FIG. 1 being
joined to a frangible tab by a scored line of weakness;
[0017] FIG. 5 is a magnified plan view illustrating a corner of a
flange of the lid of the produce container of FIG. 1;
[0018] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a corner of the produce
container of FIG. 1 illustrated a pair of unengaged locking
formations;
[0019] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the corner of FIG. 6 with
the locking formations in engagement with one another;
[0020] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the produce container of
FIG. 1 illustrating the frangible tab being broken away in one
direction and attached to the flange of the lid; and
[0021] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the produce container of
FIG. 1 illustrating the frangible tab being broken away in another
direction and held by an operator's fingers.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS
[0022] Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, there is provided a tamper
evident produce container 10 having two front corners 12 & 14.
The produce container 10 has a receptacle 16, a lid 18 and a pair
of frangible tabs 20 & 22. The receptacle 16 has a mouth 24
circumscribed by a (first) flange 26. The first flange 26 has an
upwardly projecting rim 32 which provides a first loading bearing
surface 34.
[0023] The lid 18 is associated with the receptacle 16 to close off
the mouth 24 via a hinge 28 located at the rear of the container
10. The lid has a (second) flange 30. The second flange 30 has a
second loading bearing surface (see FIG. 3), and a vertical wall
38. The vertical wall 38 has one side substantially orthogonally
and integrally joined to the second loading bearing surface 36 and
another side integrally joined to an outwardly extending fringe 40.
The outwardly extending fringe 40 is adapted to abut the first
loading bearing surface 34 when the lid 18 is in a closed position.
As such, the outwardly extending fringe 40 is spaced from the first
flange 26 by the upwardly projecting rim 32.
[0024] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the container 10 has a pair of
frangible tabs 42 & 44. The tabs 42 & 44 are located in the
two respective front corners 12 & 14 of the container 10. For
exemplary purposes, only one corner 14 is described and shown in
FIGS. 4A, 6 and 7. The frangible tab 44 is joined to the first
flange 26 at or in close proximity to the front corner 14 by an
area or line 48 of weakness. The area or line 48 of weakness is
where the first flange 26 joins the frangible tab 44. As best shown
in FIG. 6, the area or line 48 of weakness follows a path that
begins at one edge 50 of the first flange 26, goes around a first
locking formation 52 and ends at another edge 54 of the first
flange 26.
[0025] As best shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the frangible tab 44 has the
first locking formation 52 which is adapted to interlock with a
second locking formation 56 provided in the second flange 30 when
the lid 18 is positioned on the receptacle 16 to close off the
mouth 24. The first and second locking formations 52 & 56 are
configured to be snap-fit connectors. The first locking formation
52 is a male member which is adapted to mate and interlock with the
second locking formation 56 being a complementary female member so
as to secure the lid 18 to the receptacle 16 when the lid 18 is in
a closed position. In the present embodiment, the first locking
formation 52 is a substantially frustoconical protrusion which is
adapted to interlock with the second locking formation 56 which is
in the shape of a domed recess, as best shown in FIG. 7.
[0026] Turning now to FIGS. 8 and 9, due to the provision and
location of the line 48 of weakness, any attempt to forcibly
disengage the lid 18 from the receptacle 16 would avoidably and
inevitably cause the frangible tab 44 (and indeed 42) to break away
from the first flange 26 so as to indicate tampering. It will be
appreciated that the way by which the container 10 is handled or
manipulated would result in the frangible tab 44 breaking away in
different manners. It will be appreciated that it is most viable
and common to open the container 10 using the thumb and index
finger of both hands. Of course, different people may choose to
have the container 10 in different ways. However, it is anticipated
that in order to unlock the lid 18 from the receptacle 16 and gain
access to the interior of the container 10, an operator must have
one hand firmly gripping onto the second flange 30 of the lid 18
and pulling in one direction and the other hand firmly grasping
onto a selected part of the first flange 26 (the first case
scenario) or the frangible tab 44 (the second case scenario) and
pulling in an opposite direction. Either way, since the first and
second locking formations 52 & 56 are securely interlocked with
one another, the opposing pulling forces would invariably result in
breaking away of the frangible tab 44. In the first case scenario,
since it is a selected part of the first flange 26 that is gripped
onto as shown in FIG. 8, the pulling force exerted on the second
flange 30 would cause the frangible tab 44, being attached to the
second flange 30, to break away from the first flange 26 along the
area or line 48 of weakness in an upward direction. Whereas in the
second case scenario, it is the actual frangible tab 44 that is
grasped onto as shown in FIG. 9. As such, the pulling force exerted
on the frangible tab 44 for the purpose of splitting the first and
second locking formations 52 & 56 would cause the frangible tab
44, which is held by the operator's fingers, to break away from the
first flange 26 in a downward direction, as shown in FIG. 9.
[0027] On the above bases, a broken, breached, missing, torn or
damaged tab in whichever manner would serve the purpose of
providing solid visible evidence to consumers that tampering to the
container 10 may have occurred.
[0028] Now that an advantageous and exemplary embodiment of the
present invention has been described in some detail, it will be
apparent to a skilled person in the art that the tamper evident
produce container of the present invention may offer at least the
following advantages: it is easy to apply and operate; and it
allows consumers to identify containers that have been tampered
with.
[0029] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention
described herein is susceptible to variations and modifications
other than those specifically described. For instance, with or with
adaptions, the frangible tabs 42 and 44 may be provided in the lid
18 being joined to the second flange 30 instead of the first flange
26. Also, although the area or line 48 of weakness in the present
embodiment is in the form of a perforated line, the weakness may
also be a scored line 58 as shown in FIG. 4B or be created in some
other methods. All such variations and modifications are to be
considered within the scope and spirit of the present invention the
nature of which is to be determined from the foregoing
description.
* * * * *