Tamper evident container utilizing sealed interface between container and lid

1. A tamper evident container, comprising:

a base and a lid mountable thereon;

the base having a bottom wall, a base sidewall extending transverse to the base bottom wall, an inverted U-shaped section connected to the base sidewall, and an annular flange extending from the base inverted U-shaped section such that the base annular flange extends in a plane generally parallel to the base bottom wall; and

the lid having a surface cap, an inverted U-shaped section connected to the lid surface cap, and an annular flange extending from the lid inverted U-shaped section such that the lid annular flange extends in a plane generally parallel to the lid surface cap;

wherein the base and lid inverted U-shaped sections are sized such that, when mounted to one another, the base and lid annular flanges abut one another;

wherein the lid and base inverted U-sections each have projections that together provide a deformable detent mechanism for releasably locking the lid to the base;

wherein the cross-sectional thickness of a first junction between the base annular flange and the base inverted U-section is narrower than the cross-sectional thickness of a wall that provides the base inverted U-section; and

wherein the cross-sectional thickness of a second junction between the lid annular flange and the lid inverted U-section is narrower than the cross-sectional thickness of a wall that provides the lid inverted U-section;

wherein the first junction between the base annular flange and the base inverted U-section defines a corner and the second junction between the lid annular flange and the lid inverted U-section is located radially outward of the first junction so as to enable the base and lid annular flanges to be torn away from the base and lid inverted U-shaped sections along different parting lines.

2. A container according to claim 1 , wherein:

the base inverted U-shaped section comprises a first sidewall portion connected to the base sidewall, a bight portion, and a second sidewall portion connected to the base annular flange, the base projection depending from the second sidewall portion;

the lid inverted U-shaped section comprises a first sidewall portion connected to the lid surface cap, a bight portion, and a second sidewall portion connected to the lid annular flange, the lid projection depending from the second sidewall portion; and

the base projection abuts against the lid second sidewall portion causing the base first sidewall portion to abut and seal against the lid first sidewall portion.

3. A container according to claim 1 , wherein the base and lid annular flanges are bonded to one another.

4. A container according to claim 2 , wherein:

the base second sidewall portion is substantially linear and the base projection extends outwardly therefrom;

the lid second sidewall portion is substantially linear and the lid projection extends outwardly therefrom; and

the lid projection is situated underneath the base projection when the lid is mounted on the base.

5. A container according to claim 1 , including a pull tab connected to at least one of the base and lid annular flanges.

6. A container according to claim 1 , wherein the base and the lid are formed from polypropylene.