Hinged dispensing closure with a tamper-evident seal

Claim 1

A plastic molded tamper-evident dispensing closure comprising a body with means for securance to a container and a lid hingedly secured to said body and movable from a closed non-dispensing position to an open dispensing position on said body, said body further defining a dispensing opening, tamper-evident seal means integrally formed with said lid and interlocked with said body in said closed non-dispensing position, said seal means comprising a seal segment frangibly connected to said lid and which is readily visible to a user of the closure, frangible means connecting said seal segment and said lid, and an integral depending locking section extending downwardly from said seal segment, said locking section including a locking step extending laterally from said locking section, said body defining recess means below said seal segment and adjacent said locking step and including a first body portion, said locking step extending laterally into said recess with said first body portion overlying said locking step for engagement with said locking step to prevent movement of said lid from said closed position, and said body providing a second portion opposite said overlying first body portion and confronting said locking section for maintaining said locking step beneath said overlying first body portion, whereby said lid may not be moved from said closed non-dispensing position without severing said frangible means to separate said seal means from said lid.