Abstract:
Tamper-resistance of spice container closures and containers is provided through use of tamper-evident and tamper-resistant elements. A spice container package includes a container, a closure and a tear strip, with the tear strip being joined to the closure by a first hinge, and joined to the container by a second hinge. The container includes a side wall. The closure includes a base and a cover, with the base including at least one dispensing port and the cover including at least one flap removably covering the at least one dispensing port. The first hinge connects the tear strip to the cover of the closure. The closure and the container may be integrally molded together as a single plastic component piece.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS 
     This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/912,591, filed Apr. 18, 2007, the disclosure and teachings of which are incorporated herein in their entireties, by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention generally relates to closures and/or containers of the type used for spices, or the like, and more particularly to tamper-resistant closures and/or containers. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Numerous spice container closures and/or containers are known as exemplified by U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,114,627; 7,021,482; 6,422,411; 5,052,572; 4,621,744; 3,370,757; 3,255,928; and 3,251,509; and U.S. Patent Publication No. 2007/0056972A1; all of which are assigned to the present assignee and all of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties. 
     Although spice container closures and/or containers of the type exemplified in the patent documents listed above work well, further improvements are desirable, particularly with regard to making spice container closures and/or containers more tamper-resistant. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention provides improvements in the tamper-resistance of spice container closures and/or containers through use of a container closure and/or container including tamper-evident and/or tamper-resistant elements. 
     In one form of the invention, a spice container package includes a container, a closure and a tear strip, with the tear strip being joined to the closure by a first hinge, and joined to the container by a second hinge. The container includes a side wall. The closure includes a base and a cover, with the base including at least one dispensing port and the cover including at least one flap removably covering the at least one dispensing port. The first hinge may connect the tear strip to the cover of the closure. The closure and the container may be integrally molded together as a single plastic component piece. 
     A spice container package, according to the invention, may further include a third hinge connecting the base and the cover, in such a manner that the base and cover may be folded about the third hinge into mutual engagement, and such that the closure may be folded about the first and second hinges into engagement with the container. Each of the first and second hinges may take the form of a plurality of thin tearable webs of plastic material, configured in such a manner that the tear strip may be manually torn away from the container and the cover by breakage of the thin tearable webs of plastic material. 
     In some forms of the invention, the at least one flap and at least one dispensing port may be configured as a plurality of flaps removably covering a plurality of dispensing ports respectively. 
     The base, of a closure of a spice container package according to the invention, may include a platform defining the dispensing ports and a pair of skirts depending downwardly from the platform in such a manner that the pair of skirts define a receiving channel therebetween adapted to receive a top free edge of a container. A snap lock connection may be provided between the side wall and the closure, and a tamper shield may be integrally formed around the container in spaced relation to the free edge transitioning a perimeter of the side wall to be similar to a perimeter of the outer skirt. The snap lock connection may include a plurality of locking tabs and locking slots which interlock with one another in the receiving channel. 
     In some forms of the invention, the cover of the closure is hinged to the container via the tear strip and the first and second hinges along a front side of the spice container package, and the cover is hinged to the base via the third hinge along a back side of the spice container package. 
     One form of a spice container package, according to the invention, includes a generally rectangular container, a closure having at least one flap removably covering at least one dispensing port in the closure, and a tear strip connected to the at least one flap for preventing opening of the flap. The closure includes a base and a cover, with the base having a platform and a skirt depending downward from the platform in telescoping relation with the container. The platform includes the at least one dispensing port and the cover includes the at least one flap removably covering the at least one dispensing port. The tear strip is connected to the at least one flap in such a manner that the flap is prevented from opening while the tear strip is in place. The tear strip extends at least partially over the skirt, and is adapted to be torn away to allow opening of the at least one flap. 
     The at least one flap may be hinged to the base proximate a back side, with the tear strip being arranged proximate to a front side. Either or both of the first and second hinges may take the form of a plurality of thin tearable webs of plastic material, such that the tear strip may be manually torn away from the container and cover by breakage of the thin tearable webs of plastic material. 
     The at least one flap and the at least one dispensing port may be configured as a plurality of flaps removably covering a plurality of dispensing ports, respectively, with the tear strip being independently hinged through at least one thin tearable web to each of the flaps. The base may include a platform defining the dispensing ports and inner and outer skirts depending downwardly from the platform, such that the skirts define a receiving channel therebetween which is adapted to receive a top free edge of the container. The tear strip may extend entirely over the outer skirt and be integrally connected to the side wall of the container. 
     In some forms of a spice container package according to the invention, the closure and the container are integrally molded together as a single plastic component piece. The cover is hinged to the container via the tear strip and the first and second hinges along a front side of the spice container package, and the cover is hinged to the base by the third hinge along a back side of the spice container package. 
     A spice container package, according to the invention, may be provided as a single integral molded component plastic part, including a serving lid closure and a container. The serving lid closure has at least one dispensing port and at least one flap removably covering the dispensing port. A hinge integrally connects the container and the serving lid closure. The serving lid may include a cover and a base, with the cover having the at least one flap and the cover being hinged to the container via the tear strip and the first and second hinges along a front side of the spice container package. The cover is hinged to the base along a back side of the spice container package. 
     In a spice container package formed as a single integral molded component plastic part, according to the invention, each of the first and second hinges may take the form of thin tearable webs of plastic material, such that the tear strip is adapted to be manually torn away from the container and the cover by breakage of the thin tearable webs of plastic material. The at least one flap and at least one dispensing port may take the form of a plurality of flaps removably covering a plurality of dispensing ports respectively. The tear strip may be independently hinged through at least one thin tearable web to each of the flaps. The base may include a platform defining the dispensing ports and inner and outer skirts depending downwardly from the platform, such that the skirts define a receiving channel therebetween adapted to receive a top free edge of the container, with the top free edge being connected to the closure by a snap connection. 
     Other aspects, objectives and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings incorporated in and forming a part of the specification illustrate several aspects of the present invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1   a  is a cross section of a top upper portion of a spice container package shown in isometric, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 1   b  is an isometric exploded assembly view of part of a serving lid closure and a container of the spice container package shown in  FIG. 1   a;    
         FIG. 2  is a top and side end isometric view of a molded unassembled spice container package blank (including a serving lid closure and a container) to be assembled into a spice container package, except that the tamper shield and snap lock mechanism are not shown in this drawing. 
         FIGS. 3 and 4  are generally side end and bottom isometric views of the molded unassembled spice container package blank shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     
    
    
     While the invention will be described in connection with certain preferred embodiments, there is no intent to limit it to those embodiments. On the contrary, the intent is to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In the figures, an embodiment of the present invention is shown as a spice container package  10  including a serving lid closure  14  and a container  18 . The serving lid closure  14  and the container  18  are integrally molded together of plastic material as a one piece unitarily molded. Preferably, the assembled spice container package is generally rectangular in configuration similar to many of the spice container packages as seen in supermarkets. However, inventive features may also be employed in non-rectangular package designs and/or in other closures. 
     While multiple pieces could be used, the serving lid closure  14  is preferably a one piece integrally molded plastic member (with the serving lid closure  14  also being integrally molded with the container) as shown in the drawings. As such, multiple molding of separate parts may not be necessitated. Additionally, the serving lid closure  14  can be molded using relatively simple molding technique between two mold halves potentially with a one pull mold process (slots  70  in outer skirt may be formed with pins from the side or may permit resilient mold release through slight flexure). 
     The serving lid closure  14  generally includes a base  22  and a cover  30 , which are joined by an elongate hinge  32 . A tamper strip  26  is disposed intermediate the cover  30  and the container  18  and joined to each of the two respective components by virtue of hinges  34  and  38 , which are very thin segments of plastic material which allow the serving lid to be folded relative to the container during assembly. Specifically, during assembly, the base  22  is first folded relative to the cover  30  through hinge  32  (and the flaps may releasably snap onto the base over the dispensing port); and then the entire serving lid closure  14  is rotated and pivoted relative to the container  18  about the tamper strip  26  (via hinges  34  and  38 ) so that the base  22  of the serving lid closure  14  is telescopically received on the free edge of the container sidewall and can be secured directly to the top portion of the side wall of the container  18 . 
     The hinges  34  and  38  for the tamper strip  26  are sufficiently thin to allow for manual removal and tearing such that tamper strip  26  also serves as a tear strip that can be manually removed relatively easily through manual manipulation. Typically the tamper strip  26  will include printed indicia on its front face (along the front of the package) indicating that it can be pulled and removed or otherwise indicating that it is a feature evident of tampering. In the assembled position, the tamper strip  26  is releasably and tearable away from the flaps of the cover  30  and the top of the container  18 . 
     The base  22  includes a platform  42  through which a plurality of dispensing ports  46  are formed (e.g., such as a spoon port, a sift port and a pour port as shown). The cover  30  comprises a plurality of flaps  62  joined by hinge  32 . Each flap  62  are independently movable and covers one of the dispensing ports  46  to allow for selective manual access to the dispensing ports  46  when in use. The longitudinal hinge  32  for the flaps  62  is sufficiently thin segments of plastic to allow for pivoting motion and also sufficiently thick so as to prevent inadvertent manual tear away. 
     A different aspect of the disclosed embodiment which can be used and employed independent of the tamper strip related features is the provision for reliably and preferably permanently locking the serving lid closure  14  to the container  18 . Between the container  18  and serving lid closure  14  is provided a mounting interface with interacting snap structures located at discrete locations including as shown locking tabs  66  and locking slots  70 . In the disclosed embodiment, the locking tabs  66  are formed approximate the top of the container side wall (at opposing ends and/or opposing sides), while complimentary locking slots  70  are formed into the serving lid closure  14 . Alternative methods of fixing and permanently securing the serving lid to the container include welding, staking, gluing or other securing mechanisms. 
     As shown, the base  22  of the serving lid closure  14  includes an inner rectangular skirt  74  and an outer rectangular skirt  78 , which both depend downwardly from the platform  42 . The inner skirt  74  is slidably received and may engage the inner surface of the container  18  proximate a top and thereof. The outer skirt  78  which defines the locking slots  70  is received over the exterior surface of the side wall of the container  18 . To assist in assembly, cam surfaces  82  and  86  are provided to facilitate temporary flexing of the outer skirt  78  outwardly away relative to the side wall of the container  18  during assembly to allow the locking tabs  66  to snap into the locking slots  70  (e.g. note the locking tabs  66  may be in the form of a wedge). Upon receipt of the locking tabs  66  into the locking slots  70 , locking segments  90  formed along the lower edge of the locking slots  70  of the outer skirt  78  release back inwardly to engage the underside of the locking tab  66  to permanently secure the container  18  to the serving lid closure  14  so as to prevent easy manual removal. As shown after assembly, the resilient flexure in the outer skirt  78  is relieved once it is allowed to flex back inwardly after it clears the underside of the locking tabs  66 . 
     Preferably, a tamper shield  94  which transitions the container sidewall to a thickness about the same (or greater if desired) than the perimeter of the outer skirt  78  is provided so as to prevent easy manual manipulation of the locking segments  90  which could allow for tampering of the serving lid closure. The tamper shield preferably extends around the periphery of the container sidewall and may be a triangular thickened region of the sidewall as shown. Thus, the design provides a mechanical lock between the closure  14  and the container  18  to greatly reduce the possibility of removal without causing visual damage to one or both of the components, particularly without the availability of tools. 
     To assemble the device, the cover of the serving lid closure is folded relative to the base. Thereafter, the serving lid closure and the container are pushed together in order to permanently lock the serving lid closure to the container. Thereafter, the consumer must remove the tamper evident strip in order to access the product such as spices, dry flowable granular product or other product that may be contained within the container. 
     All references, including publications, patent applications, and patents cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein. 
     The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) is to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention. 
     Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.