Patent Publication Number: US-2011056976-A1

Title: Structure for Tamper-Resistance Container

Description:
FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to an improved design and construction for containers or boxes where a high level of tamper-resistance can be achieved by a simple mechanism, so that there is an easy way of finding out whether any tampering has been attempted against the content of goods (food items, for example) stored inside the container made pursuant to the teachings of present invention. 
     Especially in the case of perishable grocery items such as fish, meat, vegetable, fruit and similar produce, having simple and cost-effective tamper-proof mechanism has become ever more important in the market today. 
     Tamper-resistance, sometimes referred to as tamper-proof, packaging mechanism usually involves an external sealing material that both serve to seal off the covered place and serve as product information and labeling, without any structural design or improvement made to the box/container itself. Because there is no other structural improvement made to the body of the container, such prevention of tampering on the level of the external seal is oftentimes not too effective. 
     In terms of general product packing, present invention provides a great way of product packaging assembly container where workers do not need to spend substantial amount of time to complete a task of putting products into a container box, due to the simple design of fold-back piece with matching ridge-tabs wedging into the corresponding notches. This creates cost-saving in the human labor and thus is beneficial to many businesses in this regards. 
     In the case where the container made pursuant to the teachings of present invention is of transparent material, consumers can easily see and be assured of the initial quality of the goods inside and thus reduce the operating hassle of consumers needing to return merchandise due to spoiled food, tampered items, or other unsafe conditions that are often associated with retail business product items without such simple mechanism of locking and tamper-proofing structure. 
     OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Present invention provides a simple closure mechanism where a high level of air-tightness can be achieved by a meshing structure of a ring of lip with a corresponding ring of groove, so that the freshness of the food items get to be preserved. 
     Another object of present invention seeks to provide a simple locking closure of cover to the main body, where a fold-back piece is overlapping the top cover, with some ridge-tabs (on the fold-back piece) wedging into corresponding notches (on the cover), so the closure of a container is made relatively secure. 
     Yet another objective of present invention is to allow a sticker, either in the form of a strip or a whole-piece product label, to seal off the junction place where the fold-back piece is covering the top of the cover piece, so that if some unwarranted tampering happens, the seal or product label would be broken off and is thus made conspicuous to consumers. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate the preferred embodiments of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
       A brief description of the drawings is as follows: 
         FIG. 1  shows a tamper-resistance container of present invention, in its open state. 
         FIG. 2  shows a tamper-resistance container of present invention, in its closed state, with the fold-back piece sticking out. 
         FIG. 3  shows a tamper-resistance container of present invention, in its closed state, with the fold-back piece being folded on top of the cover piece, and the ridge-tab pieces wedged into the corresponding notches on the outside surface of the cover piece. 
         FIG. 4  shows a strip taping over the junction place of the fold-back piece and the top cover, achieving a sealing function. 
         FIG. 5  shows a whole-piece product label covering the outside surface of the cover piece, achieving a sealing function. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     In  FIGS. 1 and 2 , images of an opened and closed container of present invention are shown, where a main body  1  forms an inner space  11  for receiving objects into the container. 
     A ring of lip  12  exists around the top edge of main body  1 . Said ring of lip  12  may not necessarily be in a round ring shape, but generally following the circumference of the top open edge of said main body  1 . 
     A first fold-connector piece  21  is formed to connect main body  1  and a cover piece  2 . A ring of groove  22  is formed around the periphery of cover piece  2  so that when said cover piece  2  is folded to close the main body  1 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 &amp; 2 , said groove  22  is tightly meshed with the ring of lip  12 . The lip  12  and the groove  22  are made to match their relative sizes, so that when cover piece  2  is pressed towards the main body  1 , a securely closed container is made. 
     A fold-closing piece  3  is formed on one side of main body  1  at the end farthest from the fold-connector piece  21 . A second fold-connector piece  31  serves to link said fold-closing piece  3  to main body  1 , so that when the container is closed (where the groove  22  is tightly meshed in with the lip  12  when the cover piece  2  is folded to close off the main body  1 ), said fold-closing piece  3  can be folded back on top of cover piece  2 , as shown from  FIG. 2  to  FIG. 3 . 
     A plurality of ridge-tabs  33  are formed on the side that is to be in contact with the top surface of cover piece  2 . A plurality of notches  23  are formed on one end of cover piece  2  where said ridge-tabs  33  can be pushed into and wedged against said notches  23 , locking the closure of the container. 
     A sealing strip  4  can be made to come with the container/box, attaching and extending from the outmost edge of the fold-closing piece  3 , so that when the container is in a closed stated, as shown in  FIG. 3 , said sealing strip  4  can be used to seal over the junction place, as shown in  FIG. 4 , where the fold-closing piece  3  is folded over the cover piece  2 . 
     Said sealing strip  4  can be made to be a separate product supply item, or it can be made to come with the container, having already half sticking to the fold-closing piece  3 , ready for use when the container is closed and the fold-closing piece  3  is folded over to create the locking closure. 
     As such, this combination of the desired features creates a simple and effective tamper-proof container. If any tampering is attempted, the seal and the locking closure structure disclosed herein will easily present proof of tampering. 
     Alternatively, a product label  5  can be made to come with the product, as shown in  FIG. 5 , so that the use of the product label not only serves a “sealing” function for the desired tamper-proof purpose, pricing, date and other nutritional fact information can also be imprinted on said product label, as well as other decorative features that may be obtained.