Abstract:
The present invention will provide tamper-evident container which can be displayed via a hang tag, which clearly shows whether or not the tamper-evident seal has been broken. Furthermore, the present invention uses a seal which is not connected between the cap and the container, but rather is displayed clearly above the cap. This is accomplished by a container having a rim and flange at the opening for use with an attachable and detachable cap hingedly mounted to the container, a flexible hang tag, and perforation means used in collaboration with a mounting plate and hang tag.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/653,404, filed on May 30, 2012, and incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a tamper-evident container and retaining means, and more particularly, to a disposable apparatus comprising a container for holding liquids, gases, and/or solids, having an attached retaining means. 
     DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART 
     Tamper-evident containers are generally described as containers having a means for preventing or detecting unauthorized access to the contents of the container. A common tamper-evident container is molded from plastic and has a “screw-top” structure, which includes an upright threaded neck, an annular neck ring, and an internally threaded cap. Such containers are intended to hold solids or liquids for consumer consumption. 
     Several methods exist for providing tamper-evident or tamper-proof containers. One widely used method includes securing a seal over the mouth of the container beneath the cap. Other methods include vacuum sealing the contents and providing cap protrusions which remain depressed due to the vacuum contained within the container. 
     U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,586,622 and 4,449,640 describe an open-top vial covered by a cap having a depending peripheral skirt, such that an inner surface of the cap skirt and an outer surface of the cap are provided with complementary mating interlock elements. Moreover, the caps comprise an integral tear member, defined by at least one weakened, partially circumferential weakened junction line, such that pulling away the tear member along the junction line allows both removal of the cap and ready visual confirmation that vial integrity has been breached. 
     Other examples include containers having a flange about its opening such that, below the flange and spaced apart therefrom, a shoulder defines an indented neck therebetween. An overcap extends over the flange and about the neck to form a skirt about the neck. The skirt has at least a portion thereof extending inwardly in gripping reaction with the neck and limited in removal by contact with the underside of the flange, whereby the cap cannot be removed without destroying a structural integrity thereof. Although containers with improved closure have been proposed, they may usually be used only once. 
     The prior art provides numerous types of sealing devices which are intended to prevent tampering. While various types of tamper-evident containers exist in the prior art, they are limited in that they use the seal at the connection point between the cap and container, and are often difficult to open. Additionally, the prior art&#39;s devices do not clearly display the tamper-evident seals. Therefore, a need exists for a tamper-evident seal which is not connected between the cap and the container, and which clearly displays whether or not the seal has been broken. The present invention satisfies these needs. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention will provide tamper-evident container which can be displayed via a hang tag, which clearly shows whether or not the tamper-evident seal has been broken. Furthermore, the present invention uses a seal which is not connected between the cap and the container, but rather is displayed clearly above the cap. This is accomplished by a container having a rim and flange at the opening for use with an attachable and detachable cap hingedly mounted to the container, a flexible hang tag, and perforation means used in collaboration with a mounting plate and hang tag. 
     These and other objectives of the present invention will become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments. It is to be understood that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary, and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the invention in the locked position; 
         FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the invention in the locked position; 
         FIG. 3  is a front elevational view of the invention in the locked position; 
         FIG. 4  is a side elevational view of the invention in the locked position; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the invention in the unlocked position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Illustrative embodiments of the invention are described below. The following explanation provides specific details for a thorough understanding of and enabling description for these embodiments. One skilled in the art will understand that the invention may be practiced without such details. In other instances, well-known structures and functions have not been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the description of the embodiments. 
     Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words “comprise,” “comprising,” and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of “including, but not limited to.” Words using the singular or plural number also include the plural or singular number respectively. Additionally, the words “herein,” “above,” “below” and words of similar import, when used in this application, shall refer to this application as a whole and not to any particular portions of this application. When the claims use the word “or” in reference to a list of two or more items, that word covers all of the following interpretations of the word: any of the items in the list, all of the items in the list and any combination of the items in the list. 
     The present invention comprises a container  20  for holding liquids, gases, and/or solids, further comprising a container body  21 , cap  22 , and mounting plate  23 . The container body  21  comprises a rim  24  and flange  25  at the opening  26  for use with the attachable and detachable cap  22  hingedly mounted to the container  20 . The mounting plate  23  is attached to the rim  24  of the container  20  and provides a means for locking and unlocking the cap  22  from the container body  21 . The mounting plate  23  may further include a packing sticker or label  27  having a perforated section or seal  28  for providing evidence of use or abuse. 
     The container body  21  comprises an elongated hollow cylinder  31  having a closed end  32  and an open end  33 . The rim  24  and flange  25  are positioned at the open end  33  of the container body  21  and provide for an air-tight seal when the cap  22  is attached. Opposing mounting plate arms  34  are positioned below the flange  25  on the rim  24  and extend outward horizontally. The open end  33  of the container body  21  and flange  25  fit deeply into a recessed portion  35  of the cap  22 , resulting in not only a tighter seal, but also making it impossible to lift the cap  22  to break the seal without tearing the perforated section  28 . After opening the container  20  and breaking the seal  28 , the dimensions of the rim  24  and flange  25  allow for easy reuse, as the cap  22  is designed to fit snuggly thereon. 
     The cap  22  is attached to the container  20  with a hinge  29  between the cap  22  and the rim  24 . Opposite the hinge  29 , a horizontal flat protrusion  36  is provided for easily removing the cap  22  from the container body  21  and permitting easy recapping if reuse is desired. Locking extensions  37  are positioned on the cap  22  near the mounting plate arms  34  and are generally offset from center, supplementary to the mounting plate arms  34 . The locking extensions  37  operate to obstruct the path of the mounting plate  23  or mounting plate arms  34 . The cap  22  also provides a flat vertical protrusion  38  extending from its top  39  and is positioned between the locking extensions  37 , generally perpendicular to a line between the hinge  29  and horizontal flat protrusion  36 . 
     The flexible mounting plate  23  or hang tag allow for the container  20  to be hung in a display manner, such as in a store display, through an aperture  30 . The mounting plate  23  is attached between the mounting plate arms  34  and is positioned such that the mounting plate  23  and flat vertical protrusion  38  are adjacent in the locked position  41 . As such, the mounting plate  23  directly obstructs the cap  22  from being removed, effectively locking the container  20  and protecting the contents from unauthorized use. Furthermore, the locking extensions  37  prevent the perforation section  28  from breaking inadvertently. To convert the container  20  to an unlocked position  42 , the mounting plate arms  43  must be forcefully pushed past the locking extensions  37 , un-obstructing the cap  22  and flat vertical protrusion  38 . 
     A mounting sticker or label  27  may be placed over both the mounting plate  23  and flat vertical protrusion  38 , with a perforated section  28  generally positioned between each object  23 ,  38 , respectively. As such, the flat vertical protrusion  38 , mounting plate  23 , and perforated section  28  provide the tamper-evident sealing mechanism  43  when used in combination therebetween. Furthermore, the mounting plate  23  is retained by the mounting plate arms  34 , removing all load-bearing force from the perforated seal  28  and preventing it from breaking inadvertently. Lastly, the mounting plate arms  34  extend outward toward the locking extensions  37 , providing the unlocked position  42  as the natural position for the container  20 . As such, when in the locked position  41 , the mounting plate  23  is constantly pressed against the locking extensions  37 , positioning the mounting plate  23  in a position to obscure the opening of the cap  22 . 
     While the mounting plate  23  is intended to remain fixed to the container body  21 , it is within the purview of the present invention that it be removed for reuse. In this instance, the mounting plate arms  34  will be severed from the container body  21 , thus detaching the mounting plate  23  entirely. After removal, there will be no locking mechanism  43  or other means of protecting the contents of the container  20 . As such, the contents can be accessed by simply lifting the cap  22  from the container body  21 . 
     While the above description contains specific details regarding certain elements, sizes, and other teachings, it is understood that embodiments of the invention or any combination of them may be practiced without these specific details. Specifically, although certain shapes are designated in the above embodiments, any shape may be used (cylindrical, square, etc). These details should not be construed as limitations on the scope of any embodiment, but merely as exemplifications of the presently preferred embodiments. In other instances, well known structures, elements, and techniques have not been shown to clearly explain the details of the invention. 
     The above detailed description of the embodiments of the invention is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed above or to the particular field of usage mentioned in this disclosure. While specific embodiments of, and examples for, the invention are described above for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications are possible within the scope of the invention, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize. Also, the teachings of the invention provided herein can be applied to other systems, not necessarily the system described above. The elements and acts of the various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments. 
     Changes can be made to the invention in light of the above “Detailed Description.” While the above description details certain embodiments of the invention and describes the best mode contemplated, no matter how detailed the above appears in text, the invention can be practiced in many ways. Therefore, implementation details may vary considerably while still being encompassed by the invention disclosed herein. As noted above, particular terminology used when describing certain features or aspects of the invention should not be taken to imply that the terminology is being redefined herein to be restricted to any specific characteristics, features, or aspects of the invention with which that terminology is associated. 
     While certain aspects of the invention are presented below in certain claim forms, the inventor contemplates the various aspects of the invention in any number of claim forms. Accordingly, the inventor reserves the right to add additional claims after filing the application to pursue such additional claim forms for other aspects of the invention.