Patent Application
20170057706
The present invention relates generally to a tamper-evident container structure, which comprises a plastic tray base and a cover that are attachable to each other with a first post and a second post coupled to each other, wherein the plastic tray base is provided on a circumference thereof with a first flange that is greater than a second flange provided along a circumference of the cover, so that unauthorized opening of the cover is prevented, unless a tear-off section that is formed at a predetermined location on a first protrusion with perforation lines provided on opposite sides of the tear-off section and a cut-off section formed between the perforation lines and the plastic tray base is torn to allow for opening and lifting of the cover, thereby providing a tamper evident effect.
Various plastic containers that are made through vacuum forming are available, including boxes, cups, or bowls, which are fit for storage of food for keeping the food fresh. Such products are generally made of clear materials, allowing general consumers to see therethrough to observe food therein when they intend to purchase the food and this eliminates unnecessary arguing and quarrels after the sale. However, to inspect the food contained in such a container is intact and fresh, some consumers may open, without permission and authorization, the container to directly inspect the food. Some of such food containers, after being opened by the consumers, are not properly sealed to the original condition so that the food contained therein may get contaminated or spoiled. In addition, this may also lead to damage of the plastic container and affects the outside appearance of the container. Further, if it is not timely recognized that the package container has been tampered and opened, deterioration of the food contained therein would cause a waste of food and is also an economic burden of the shops.
Although temper evident containers are known, the conventional tamper evident containers often have a locking method that permits defeating the temper evident features using finger nails or pry tool to lift the covet.
In view of these problems, the present invention aims to provide a tamper-evident container, which provides a tamper evident effect to eliminate the drawbacks and deficiency of the prior art devices.
Thus, to prevent damage of the outside appearance of a plastic container and food contained in the container losing freshness resulting from unauthorized opening and tampering of the plastic container, the primary object of the present invention is to provide a tamper-evident container structure, which comprises a plastic tray base, a cover, a first protrusion section, a second protrusion section, a first post, a second post, perforation lines, and a cut-off section to provide a tamper indicating effect of ready identification of unauthorized opening or tampering.
To achieve the above objects, the present invention provides a tamper-evident container structure, which generally comprises a plastic tray base, the plastic tray base having one surface that is open and an opposite surface that is closed, the plastic tray base having an interior space in which at least one stop block is formed in such a way that the stop block circumferentially extends along an inner circumference of the plastic tray base, the plastic tray base having an outer circumference on which a first flange is formed in such a way that the first flange circumferentially extends around the plastic tray base;
a cover, which is coupled to the open surface of the plastic tray base to selectively close the plastic tray base, the cover having an outer circumference on which a second flange is formed in such a way that the second flange circumferentially extends around the cover and at least one downward-projecting block formed inboard and at an inner side of the second flange, length and width of the second flange being smaller than length and width of the first flange;
at least one first protrusion, which is formed at a predetermined location on the circumference of the plastic tray base, the first protrusion comprising at least one tear-off section formed at a predetermined location thereof, at least one perforation line being formed at a connection between the tear-off section and the first protrusion, a cut-off section being formed between the tear-off section and the plastic tray base, the tear-off section comprising at least one first post formed at a predetermined location thereof and a first recess; and
at least one second protrusion, which is formed at a predetermined location on the circumference of the cover, the second protrusion comprising at least one second post formed at a predetermined location thereof and a second recess, the second post and the first post being engageable with each other to tightly couple the first protrusion and the second protrusion to each other, the first recess and the second recess being in mating engagement with each other.
In the above-described first protrusion, the first protrusion has a middle section that comprises the tear-off section formed therein.
In the above-described tear-off section, the first post is formed on a surface of the tear-off section.
In the above-described first post, the first post has a lower portion on which an engagement block is formed to circumferentially extend along an inner circumference of the first post and the first post is a raised triangular block.
In the above-described second protrusion, the second post is formed on a surface of the second protrusion.
In the above-described second post, the second post has a lower end on which a projection block is formed to circumferentially surround the second post and the second post is a raised triangular block, so that engagement between the projection block and the engagement block couples the first post and the second post to each other.
In the above-described first recess, the first recess is arranged in a portion of the tear-off section of the first protrusion that is put into engagement with the second protrusion.
In the above-described second recess, the second recess is arranged in a portion of the second protrusion that is put into engagement with the tear-off section.
The foregoing objectives and summary provide only a brief introduction to the present invention. To fully appreciate these and other objects of the present invention as well as the invention itself, all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the art, the following detailed description of the invention and the claims should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the specification and drawings identical reference numerals refer to identical or similar parts.
Many other advantages and features of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example.
The following descriptions are exemplary embodiments only, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the following description provides a convenient illustration for implementing exemplary embodiments of the invention. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made in the function and arrangement of the elements described without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.
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A cover 2 is coupled to the open surface of the plastic tray base 1 to selectively close the plastic tray base 1. The cover 2 has an outer circumference on which a second flange 21 is formed in such a way that the second flange 21 circumferentially extends around the cover 2 and at least one downward-projecting block 22 formed inboard and at an inner side of the second flange 21. Length and width of the second flange 21 are smaller than length and width of the first flange 12.
At least one first protrusion 3 is formed at a predetermined location on the circumference of the plastic tray base 1. The first protrusion 3 has a middle section in which at least one tear-off section 31 is formed. At least one perforation line 32 is formed at a connection between the tear-off section 31 and the first protrusion 3 and a cut-off section 33 is formed between the tear-off section 31 and the plastic tray base 1. At least one first post 34 is formed on a surface of the tear-off section 31. The tear-off section 31 is provided, at a predetermined location thereof, with a first recess 35.
At least one second protrusion 4 is formed at a predetermined location on the circumference of the cover 2. At least one second post 41 is formed on a surface of the second protrusion 4. The second protrusion 4 is provided, at a predetermined location thereof, with a second recess 42. The second post 41 and the first post 34 are structured to mate and thus in coupled engagement with each other to couple the first protrusion 3 and the second protrusion 4 to each other. The first recess 35 and the second recess 42 are in mating engagement with each other.
In the structure of the first post 34 described above, the first post 34 has a lower portion that comprises an engagement block 341, which, defining a groove, circumferentially extends along an inner circumference of the first post 34. The first post 34 may be a triangular raised block.
In the structure of the second post 41 described above, the second post 41 is a triangular raised block and the second post 41 has a lower portion that comprises a projection block 411 formed thereon to circumferentially surround the second post 41. Mutual mating engagement between the projection block 411 and the engagement block 341 couples and joins the first post 34 and the second post 41 to each other.
In the structure of the first recess described above, the first recess is arranged in a portion of the tear-off section of the first protrusion that is put into engagement with the second protrusion.
In the structure of the second recess described above, the second recess is arranged in a portion of the second protrusion that is put into engagement with the tear-off section.
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It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods differing from the type described above.
While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the claims of the present invention.
