Patent ID: 9493277
Filing Date: 2016-11-15
CPC Classification: B65D

Claim Text:
1. A tamper evident container comprising: a) a base having a base peripheral portion defining a base peripheral edge; b) a lid having a lid peripheral portion defining a lid peripheral edge, the lid mountable to the base for bringing the container to a closed position, the closed position defined by engagement of the lid peripheral portion with the base peripheral portion about a periphery of the container and the lid overlying the base; c) a base hinge panel joined to the base peripheral portion and extending outwardly therefrom; d) a lid hinge panel joined to the lid peripheral portion and extending outwardly therefrom, the base and lid hinge panels pivotally joined together at a pivot region, and the base and lid hinge panels having respective inner surfaces facing each other when the container is in the closed position, at least a portion of the inner surfaces spaced apart to form a gap therebetween when the container is in the closed position; and e) a frangible line of weakness extending at least partially across one of the base hinge panel and the lid hinge panel, the one of the base hinge panel and the lid hinge panel being separable along the frangible line of weakness into a grasping portion connected to one of the base and the lid, and a flap portion connected to the pivot region; f) wherein, when the container is in the closed position, at least a portion of the frangible line of weakness overlies the gap and is spaced inwardly from the pivot region towards one of the base peripheral portion and the lid peripheral portion, thereby reducing the risk of accidental separation of the base and lid along said frangible line of weakness, and wherein the frangible line of weakness is severable while the container is in the closed position by displacement of at least a portion of the one of the base hinge panel and the lid hinge panel into the gap, and wherein prior to severing the frangible line of weakness, at least one of the base peripheral edge and lid peripheral edge is generally inaccessible to a user about the periphery of the container when the container is in the closed position to inhibit opening the container without severing the frangible line of weakness.