US Patent 11279534 Tamper-evident plastic container

Tamper-evident plastic container comprises a base portion having a sidewall and a base flange, and a lid portion having a lid tab joined to the base flange by a hinge, wherein the lid portion has an open and a closed position. The lid portion is configured to lockingly engage the base portion in the closed position. One of the base flange or the lid tab has 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. The non-linear path of weakness is spaced from the hinge to define a tamper indicator region between the non-linear path of weakness and the hinge, wherein the tamper indicator region remains joined to the hinge after the frangible connection is ruptured. Methods of containing a product in a tamper-evident container are also disclosed.