TAMPER-EVIDENT PLASTIC CONTAINER

1 .- 20 . (canceled)

21 . A tamper-evident plastic container comprising:

a base portion having a base, a sidewall extending upwardly from a perimeter of the base to define a compartment, and a base flange extending outwardly from at least a portion of the sidewall;

a lid portion having an outwardly extending lid tab joined to the base flange by a hinge including at least one hinge line, the lid portion having an open position and a closed position, the lid portion being configured to lockingly engage the base portion in the closed position, wherein the lid portion further comprises at least one grip tab; and

a non-linear path of weakness formed in the lid portion to define a frangible connection, wherein the frangible connection is configured to be ruptured to initially open the lid portion from the closed position, wherein the non-linear path of weakness defines a centerline parallel with the at least one hinge line, and the at least one grip tab is aligned with the centerline of the non-linear path of weakness.

22 . The tamper-evident plastic container of claim 21 , wherein the at least one grip tab comprises a first grip tab disposed proximate a first end of the centerline of the non-linear path of weakness and a second grip tab disposed proximate a second end of the centerline of the non-linear path of weakness opposite the first grip tab.

23 . The tamper-evident plastic container of claim 21 , wherein the at least one grip tab extends outwardly beyond the base flange when the lid portion is in the closed position.

24 . The tamper-evident plastic container of claim 21 , wherein the non-linear path of weakness comprises a plurality of discrete connection regions spaced along a length of the non-linear path of weakness.

25 . The tamper-evident plastic container of claim 24 , wherein the non-linear path of weakness comprises a plurality of perforations with the plurality of discrete connection regions disposed therebetween.

26 . The tamper-evident plastic container of claim 24 , wherein the plurality of discrete connection regions are disposed in an alternating pattern between a first side of the centerline and a second side of the centerline.

27 . The tamper-evident plastic container of claim 26 , wherein the discrete connection regions on the first side are closer to the centerline than the discrete connection regions on the second side.

28 . The tamper-evident plastic container of claim 24 , wherein the non-linear path of weakness has a waveform pattern in plan view and each discrete connection region is spaced from opposing peaks of the waveform pattern with no discrete connection regions at the opposing peaks of the non-linear path of weakness.

29 . The tamper-evident plastic container of claim 21 , wherein the hinge includes a hinge member having a first hinge line joined to the base flange and a second hinge line joined to the lid portion, wherein the first hinge line and the second hinge line are spaced from each other by the hinge member.

30 . The tamper-evident plastic container of claim 29 , wherein each of the first hinge line and the second hinge line is substantially parallel with the centerline of the non-linear path of weakness.

31 . The tamper-evident plastic container of claim 21 , wherein a tamper indicator region is defined between the at least one hinge line and the non-linear path of weakness, wherein the tamper indicator region remains joined to the at least one hinge line after the frangible connection is ruptured.

32 . A method of containing a product in a container, comprising:

providing a tamper-evident plastic container comprising:

a base portion having a base, a sidewall extending upwardly from a perimeter of the base to define a compartment, and a base flange extending outwardly from at least a portion of the sidewall;

a lid portion having an outwardly extending lid tab joined to the base flange by a hinge including at least one hinge line, the lid portion having an open position and a closed position, the lid portion being configured to lockingly engage the base portion in the closed position, wherein the lid portion further comprises at least one grip tab; and

a non-linear path of weakness formed in the lid portion to define a frangible connection, wherein the frangible connection is configured to be ruptured to initially open the lid portion from the closed position, wherein the non-linear path of weakness defines a centerline parallel with the at least one hinge line, and the at least one grip tab is aligned with the centerline of the non-linear path of weakness;

disposing a product within the compartment; and

lockingly engaging the lid portion and the base portion in the closed position.

33 . The method of claim 32 , wherein the at least one grip tab comprises a first grip tab disposed proximate a first end of the centerline of the non-linear path of weakness and a second grip tab disposed proximate a second end of the centerline of the non-linear path of weakness opposite the first grip tab.

34 . The method of claim 32 , wherein the at least one grip tab extends outwardly beyond the base flange when the lid portion is in the closed position.

35 . The method of claim 32 , wherein the non-linear path of weakness comprises a plurality of discrete connection regions spaced along a length of the non-linear path of weakness.

36 . The method of claim 35 , wherein the plurality of discrete connection regions are disposed in an alternating pattern between a first side of the centerline and a second side of the centerline.

37 . The method of claim 36 , wherein the discrete connection regions on the first side are closer to the centerline than the discrete connection regions on the second side.

38 . The method of claim 36 , wherein the non-linear path of weakness has a waveform pattern in plan view and each discrete connection region is spaced from opposing peaks of the waveform pattern with no discrete connection regions at the opposing peaks of the non-linear path of weakness.

39 . The method of claim 32 , wherein the hinge includes a hinge member having a first hinge line joined to the base flange and a second hinge line joined to the lid portion wherein the first hinge line and the second hinge line are spaced from each other by the hinge member, wherein each of the first hinge line and the second hinge line is substantially parallel with the centerline of the non-linear path of weakness.

40 . The method of claim 32 , wherein a tamper indicator region is defined between the at least one hinge line and the non-linear path of weakness, wherein the tamper indicator region remains joined to the at least one hinge line after the frangible connection is ruptured.