Tamper evident tub
View Patent ↗An exemplary tamper evident tub is disclosed. In various embodiments, the exemplary tub includes one or more breakable tabs in near proximity to a lid latching assembly. The one or more breakable tabs, in particular embodiments, prevent access to one or more lift tabs and latches, while the tamper evident tub lid is in a closed position. In various embodiments, the one or more lift tabs and latches are operable to allow for the lid to be opened from a closed position. In some embodiments, removing the breakable tabs allows access to the one or more lift tabs and latches, and further indicates that the exemplary tub has been tampered with.
1. A container, comprising:
a container body defining an interior cavity, the container body comprising a bottom and a top edge, wherein the top edge is opposite the bottom and defines an opening to the cavity;
a latch disposed on an exterior surface of the container body proximate the top edge, the latch comprising an inwardly-extending portion that extends towards the container body;
a lid hingedly-coupled to the container body proximate the opening and disposable in an opened or closed position, the lid comprising a lid tab with at least one outwardly-extending ridge for engaging with the inwardly-extending portion of the latch when the lid is in the closed position; and
a chamber disposed on the exterior surface of the container body, the chamber comprising a front surface that faces away from the container body, and at least a portion of the front surface comprising a removable tab that blocks access to the chamber, wherein:
the latch is defined within the chamber;
the lid tab is received within the chamber through a chamber opening when the lid is in the closed position; and
upon removal of the removable tab, the chamber and the lid tab received therein are accessible when the lid is in the closed position.
2. The container of claim 1 , wherein:
the lid tab is deformable from a first position to a second position;
upon positioning the lid in the closed position, the lid tab is disposed in the first position wherein the at least one outwardly-extending ridge engages the inwardly-extending portion of the latch securing the lid in the closed position; and
upon deformably displacing the lid tab from the first position inwardly toward the container body to the second position, the at least one outwardly-extending ridge disengages with the inwardly-extending portion of the latch, whereby the lid can be moved from the closed position towards the open position.
3. The container of claim 2 , wherein the lid tab comprises a downwardly-extending portion that extends downwardly beyond the at least one outwardly-extending ridge when the lid is in the closed position, the downwardly-extending portion for receiving a disengagement force to disengage the lid tab from the first position to the second position.
4. The container of claim 1 , wherein the lid further comprises at least one lid support tab.
5. The container of claim 4 , wherein at least a portion of the at least one lid support tab extends beyond the top edge of the container body and into the cavity when the lid is in the closed position.
6. The container of claim 5 , wherein the at least one lid support tab further comprises a substantially flat surface for engaging the top edge of the container when the lid is in the closed position.
7. The container of claim 1 , further comprising:
at least one additional latch disposed on the exterior surface of the container body proximate the top edge, the latch comprising an inwardly-extending portion that extends towards the container body; and
at least one additional lid tab with at least one outwardly-extending ridge for engaging with the inwardly-extending portion of the at least one additional latch when the lid is in the closed position.
8. A container assembly, comprising:
a container body defining an interior cavity, the container body comprising a bottom and a top edge, wherein the top edge is opposite the bottom and defines an opening to the cavity;
a latch assembly proximate the top edge of the container body and extending from a face of the container body, the latch assembly comprising a top surface substantially perpendicular to the face of the container body and a front surface substantially parallel to the face of the container body, wherein the latch assembly defines a chamber comprising a latch, an opening through the top surface and into the chamber, and an opening through the front surface and into the chamber;
a lid comprising a tab with a ridge, wherein the tab extends through the opening in the top surface of the latch assembly such that at least a portion of the tab is disposed within the chamber and the ridge is engaged with the latch; and
a tear strip removably coupled to the latch assembly at least partially occluding the opening through the front face of the latch assembly, thereby blocking access to the chamber.
9. The container assembly of claim 8 , wherein the container assembly further comprises a hinge integrally formed with the container body and the lid.
10. The container assembly of claim 9 , wherein the hinge is integrally formed on a side of the container body opposite the latch assembly.
11. The container assembly of claim 8 , wherein the container assembly further comprises a satellite ring circumscribing the container body and comprising a top surface substantially perpendicular to the face of the container body.
12. The container assembly of claim 11 , wherein the satellite ring is integrally formed with the latch assembly.
13. The container assembly of claim 12 , wherein the top surface of the satellite ring is co-planer and integrally formed with the top surface of the latch assembly.
14. The container assembly of claim 11 , wherein the satellite ring is integrally formed with a hinge integrally formed with the container body and the lid.
15. The container assembly of claim 8 , wherein the ridge is a major ridge and the tab further comprises at least one minor ridge.
16. The container assembly of claim 8 , wherein the latch comprises a substantially flat surface substantially parallel to the top surface of the latch assembly, the substantially flat surface engaged with a substantially flat surface of the ridge.
17. The container assembly of claim 8 , wherein:
the tab is disposed in a first position with the ridge engaged with the latch;
the tab is deformable to disengage the ridge; and
upon disengaging the ridge, the tab is moveable in an upward direction, thereby opening the lid.
18. The container assembly of claim 8 , wherein the lid further comprises one or more support structures, wherein at least one portion of each support structure extends below the top edge of the container body into the cavity for preventing the lid from being forced open.