US 12,378,049 B2
Tamper-evident plastic container
Brian M. Murphy, Chicago, IL (US)
Assigned to PACTIV LLC, Lake Forest, IL (US)
Filed by PACTIV LLC, Lake Forest, IL (US)
Filed on May 29, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/677,501.
Application 18/677,501 is a continuation of application No. 17/668,774, filed on Feb. 10, 2022, granted, now 12,024,348.
Application 17/668,774 is a continuation of application No. 16/385,145, filed on Apr. 16, 2019, granted, now 11,279,534, issued on Mar. 22, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2025/0100766 A1, Mar. 27, 2025
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B65D 55/02 (2006.01); B65D 43/02 (2006.01); B65D 43/16 (2006.01)
CPC B65D 55/024 (2013.01) [B65D 43/0237 (2013.01); B65D 43/162 (2013.01); B65D 2543/00194 (2013.01); B65D 2543/00296 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. 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; and
a lid portion having an outwardly extending lid tab joined to the base flange by a hinge, 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;
one of the base flange and the lid tab having a non-linear path of weakness formed therein to define a frangible connection, wherein the frangible connection is configured to be ruptured to initially open the lid portion from the closed position;
further wherein the non-linear path of weakness has a waveform pattern in plan view, the non-linear path of weakness comprising a plurality of discrete connection regions along a length of the non-linear path of weakness with each discrete connection region spaced from opposing peaks of the waveform pattern and with no discrete connection regions at the opposing peaks of the waveform pattern.