EP2799364B1

EP2799364B1 - Slidable container with child lock

Info

Publication number: EP2799364B1
Application number: EP12861955.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Hisashi Aizawa; Yasushi Kokubun
Original assignee: Japan Tobacco Inc
Current assignee: Japan Tobacco Inc
Priority date: 2011-12-28
Filing date: 2012-12-25
Publication date: 2017-02-15
Anticipated expiration: 2032-12-25
Also published as: WO2013099874A1; RU2581579C2; RU2014131039A; EP2799364A1; EP2799364A4; CA2859931C; TW201339063A; JP2013139265A; TWI488785B; DK2799364T3; CA2859931A1; JP6000547B2

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present Invention relates to a Container for storing contents, and more particularly to a slidable container with a child lock intended to prevent accidents caused e. g. by child's mischief.

BACKGROUND ART

Slidable containers have been used to store contents such as solid medicine, capsules, etc. Such a slidable Container includes a lower container for storing contents, and a lid for closing the lower container and mounted slidably on the lower container.
There is a possibility that a child may open a slidable container and take contents, such as solid medicine or capsules, out of the container.
Several containers have been developed which are intended to prevent accidents caused e. g. by child's mischief, i.e. in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2003-261162 and published Japanese Translation No. 2011-516356 of PCT International Application. However, no container has yet been developed which, with a simple construction, can securely prevent accidents caused e. g. by child's mischief.
WO 01/55001 A1 discloses a container comprising a lower container having a bottom, a rear wall, a front wall, and a pair of sidewalls and a lid including a top, a rear plate, and opposed side plates. Pairs of bracket are formed on a front end and a rear end of each of the sidewalls, wherein the brackets extends outwards from the respective sidewall.

DISCLOSURE OFTHE INVENTION

The present invention has been made in view of the above situation. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a slidable container with a child lock, which has a simple construction and is easy to handle, and yet can securely prevent accidents caused e. g. by child's mischief.
Thus, the present invention provides a slidable container with a child in accordance with appended claim 1.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the engaging portion of each engaging piece of the lower container is comprised of an outwardly-projecting projection, and the locking portion of the side plate of the lid is comprised of a groove configured to receive the projection.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an inwardly-projecting first top-plate projection is provided on the back surface of the top plate of the lid and, when sliding the lid on the lower container in the opening direction from the closing position, the first top-plate projection comes into contact with the rear plate of the lower container, which produces a resistance to the sliding movement of the lid.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an inwardly-projecting second top-plate projection is provided on the back surface of the top plate of the lid and, when sliding the lid on the lower container in the opening direction from the closing position, the second top-plate projection comes into contact with the rear plate of the lower container, defining the degree of opening of the lid.
The slidable container with a child lock according to the present invention has a simple construction and is easy to handle, and yet can securely prevent accidents caused e.g. by child's mischief.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a slidable container with a child lock according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a plan view of a lower container;
FIG. 3 is a side view of the lower container;
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view of the lower container;
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the lower container as viewed from a rear plate;
FIG. 6 is a plan view of a lid;
FIG. 7 is a side view of the lid;
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional side view of the lid; and
FIG. 9 is a backside view of the lid.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings.
FIGS. 1 through 9 show a slidable container with a child lock according to an embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIGS. 1 through 9, the slidable container 1 with a child lock comprises: a rectangular open-top lower container 2 including a bottom plate 3, a front plate 4, a rear plate 5 and a pair of side plates 6, 6; and a lid 20 for closing or sealing the lower container 2 and mounted on the lower container 2 slidably in a direction from the rear plate 5 toward the front plate 4 of the lower container 2.
The lid 20 includes a top plate 21 that covers the opening of the lower container 2, a rear plate 22 and a pair of side plates 23, 23. The front side of the lid 20 is open; the lid 20 is mounted on the lower container 2 by moving the front-side opening from the rear plate 5 toward the front plate 4 of the lower container 2.
The lower container 2 and the lid 20 of the slidable container 1, having such a construction, are both made of a synthetic resin such as ABS, PP, PE, PS or PC, and can be produced by injection molding.
Examples of contents T to be stored in the slidable container 1 may include solid medicine and tobacco products such as capsule cigarettes, smokeless cigarettes, an oral tobacco product and cigarillos.
The components of the slidable container 1 with a child lock will now be described.
As described above, the rectangular lower container 2 includes the bottom plate 3, the front plate 4, the rear plate 5 and the pair of side plates 6, 6. Each side plate 6 has, on its front plate 4 side, an inner plate portion 7 through a step portion 16. A working plate 8, extending from the front plate 4 and lying outside and parallel to the inner plate portion 7, is provided at a predetermined distance from the inner plate portion 7.
An inner engaging piece 10 is provided through an engaging step portion 9 at the rear end (rear plate 5-side end) of each working plate 8. A projection (engaging portion) 11, projecting outward, is provided on the outer surface of the engaging piece 10. The projection 11 is to be received in and engaged with the below-described groove portion (locking portion) 26 provided in the inner surface of the side plate 23 of the lid 20.
By inwardly pressing on each working plate 8, the working plate 8 and the engaging piece 10 are bent inward, whereby the engagement between the projection 11 of the lower container 2 and the groove portion 26 of the lid 20 is released.
When the lid 20 is mounted on the lower container 2 and the lower container 2 is closed (sealed) with the lid 20, each side plate 23 of the lid 20 overlaps the corresponding side plate 6 and the corresponding engaging piece 10 of the lower container 2. At the same time, the front end 23a of each side plate 23 of the lid 20 comes into contact with the engaging step portion 9 of the working plate 8 of the lower container 2, whereby the lid 20 is positioned with respect to the lower container 2 and the lower container 2 is completely closed (sealed) with the lid 20.
The lower container 2 has a peripheral projection 13 projecting outward from the lower ends of the pair of side plates 6, 6 and the lower end of the rear plate 5.
The peripheral projection 13 extends peripherally along the pair of side plates 6, 6 and the rear plate 5, and lies in the same plane as the bottom plate 3.
When the lid 20 is mounted and slid on the lower container 2, the lower ends of the side plates 23, 23 are guided along the peripheral projection 13.
A guide groove portion 15, extending linearly and horizontally over the peripheral projection 13, is provided in the outer surface of each side plate 6 of the lower container 2. On the other hand, a guide projection 25, which is to be fit into the guide groove of each side plate 6 of the lower container 2, extends linearly and horizontally on the inner surface of each side plate 23 of the lid 20.
When the lid 20 is mounted and slid on the lower container 2, the guide projections 25 of the lid 20 are guided along the guide groove portions 15 of the lower container 2.
As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, a first top-plate projection 28 and a second top-plate projection 29, both projecting inward, are provided on the back surface of the top plate 21 of the lid 20.
The first top-plate projection 28 of the lid 20 is provided near the rear plate 22, and the second top-plate projection 29 is provided near the center of the back surface of the top plate 21.
When sliding the lid 20 on the lower container 2 in the opening direction from the closing position, the first top-plate projection 28 comes into contact with the rear plate 5 of the lower container 2, which produces a resistance to the sliding movement of the lid 20 in the opening direction. Therefore, even after the engagement between the projections 11 of the lower container 2 and the groove portions 26 of the lid 20 is released, the lid 20 does not slide easily on the lower container 2 in the opening direction upon the contact of the first top-plate projection 28 with the rear plate 5.
When further sliding the lid 20 on the lower container 2 in the opening direction, the second top-plate projection 29 comes into contact with the rear plate 5 of the lower container 2, thereby inhibiting the movement of the lid 20 and defining the degree of opening of the lid 20 with respect to the lower container 2.
As shown in FIG. 3, the slidable container 1 also has non-slip portions 8a on the outer surface of each working plate 8 of the lower container 2 so that a finger(s) will not slip upon the opening/closing operation.
The operation of the slidable container 1 of this embodiment having the above-described construction will now be described.
First, the lid 20 is mounted on the lower container 2 in which contents T are housed. The lid 20 can be mounted by sliding the lid 20 on the lower container 2 in a direction from the rear plate 5 toward the front plate 4. The lower container 2 can be closed (sealed) with the lid 20.
When the lower container 2 is closed (sealed) with the lid 20, the side plates 23, 23 of the lid 20 overlap the pair of side plates 6, 6 and the pair of engaging piece 10, 10 of the lower container 2. The front ends 23a, 23a of the side plates 23, 23 of the lid 20 come into contact with the engaging step portions 9 of the lower container 2, whereby the lid 20 is positioned in the closed position.
Further, the projections 11, 11 provided in the engaging pieces 10, 10 of the lower container 2 engage the groove portions 26, 26 provided in the side plates 23, 23 of the lid 20. This prevents the lid 20 from moving in the opening direction.
Therefore, it is not possible for a child to accidentally open the lid 20 and take the contents T, such as solid medicine or capsules, out of the lower container 2.
When opening the lid 20, the pair of working plates 8 of the lower container 2 is first pressed inward to bend the working plates 8 and the pair of engaging pieces 10 inward, thereby disengaging the projections 11, provided on the outer surfaces of the engaging pierces 10, from the groove portions 26 provided in the inner surfaces of the side plates 23 of the lid 20. The lid 20 is then slid on the lower plate 2 in the opening direction (the direction from the front plate 4 toward the rear plate 5 of the lower plate 2).
Immediately after the start of sliding of the lid 20 in the opening direction from the closed position, the first top-plate projection 28 comes into contact with the rear plate 5 of the lower container 2, which produces a resistance to the sliding movement of the lid 20. This can prevent the lid 20 from easily sliding on the lower container 2 in the opening direction after the engagement between the projections 11 of the lower container 2 and the groove portions 26 of the lid 20 is released.
Next, the lid 20 is further slid in the opening direction, whereupon the first top-plate projection 28 of the lid 20 moves across the upper end of the rear plate 5 of the lower container 2, and the lid 20 further slides in the opening direction.
The second top-plate projection 29 of the lid 20 then comes into contact with the upper end of the rear plate 5 of the lower container 2, whereby the movement of the lid 20 in the opening direction is inhibited. The degree of opening of the lid 20 with respect to the lower container 2 is thus defined.
The contents T can now be taken out of the lower container 2.
As described hereinabove, according to the slidable container of this embodiment, a child can be prevented from accidentally taking the contents T, such as solid medicine or capsules, out of the lower container 2.
When sliding the lid 20 on the lower container 2 in the opening direction, it is necessary to disengage the projections 11 of the lower container 2 from the groove portions 26 of the lid 20. The disengagement can be made by simply pressing inward the pair of working plates 8, 8 of the lower container 2, provided in front of the pair of side plates 6, 6. The working plates 8, 8 and the engaging pieces 10, 10 are bent directly, whereby the projections 11 provided on the engaging pieces 10, 10 can be disengaged from the groove portions 26 of the lid 20. The engagement between the projections 11 on the engaging pieces 10, 10 of the lower container 2 and the groove portions 26 of the lid 20 can thus be released by the very simple operation of pressing the pair of working plates 8, 8 inward. When closing or sealing the lower container 2 with the lid 20, the lower container 2 and the lid 20 can be locked by means of the very simple construction consisting of the projection 11 on each engaging piece 10 and the corresponding groove portion 26 of the lid 20.
Each of the working plates 8, 8 of the lower container 2 is provided outside and parallel to the corresponding inner plate portion 7 of the side plate 6 and located at a predetermined distance from the plate section 7. Therefore, when pressing on the working plates 8, 8 inward, the working plates 8, 8 and the engaging pieces 10, 10 can be bent to a large extent. This makes it possible to easily and securely release the engagement between the projections 11 of the lower container 2 and the groove portions 26 of the lid 20.

DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCE NUMERALS

1: container with a child lock
2: lower container
3: bottom plate
4: front plate
5: rear plate
6: side plate
7: inner plate portion
8: working plate
9: engaging step portion
10: engaging piece
11: projection
20: lid
21: top plate
22: rear plate
23: side plate
26: groove portion
28: first top-plate projection
29: second top-plate projection
T: contents

Claims

A slidable container (1) with a child lock, comprising:
a rectangular open-top lower container (2) including a bottom plate (3), a front plate (4), a rear plate (5) and a pair of side plates (6); and

a lid (20) for closing the lower container (2) and mounted on the lower container (2) slidably in a direction from the rear plate (5) toward the front plate (4) of the lower container (2), said lid (20) including a top plate (21), a rear plate (22) and a pair of side plates (23),
characterised in that each side plate (6) of the lower container (2) has, on its end nearest to the front plate (4), an inner plate portion (7) extending inwardly from the respective side plate (6) through a step portion (16), and the lower container (2) has a pair of working plates (8) each extending from the front plate (4) of the lower container (2) and lying outside of and parallel to a respective inner plate portion (7), wherein an engaging piece (10) is provided through an engaging step portion (9) at the end of each working plate (8) opposite the front plate (4), wherein when the lower container (10) is closed with the lid (20), each side plate (23) of the lid (20) overlaps the corresponding side plate (6) and the corresponding engaging piece (10) of the lower container (2), and the end of each side plate (23) of the lid (20) nearest to the front plate (4) is in contact with the engaging step portion (9) of the lower container (2) so that the lower container (2) is sealed by the lid, and wherein an engaging portion (11) is provided in each engaging piece (10) of the lower container (2), and a locking portion (26) to engage the engaging portion (11) of the engaging piece (10) is provided in the corresponding side plate (23) of the lid (20).
The slidable container (1) with a child lock according to claim 1, wherein each working plate (8) of the lower container (2) extends from the front plate (4), and lies outside and parallel to the inner plate portion (7) at a predetermined distance from the inner plate portion (7).
The slidable container (1) with a child lock according to claim 1 or 2, wherein each working plate (8) of the lower container (2) has the same height as that of the inner plate portion (7) of the side plate (6).
The slidable container (1) with a child lock according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein the engaging portion (11) of each engaging piece (10) of the lower container (2) is comprised of an outwardly-projecting projection, and the locking portion (26) of the side plate (23) of the lid (20) is comprised of a groove portion configured to receive the projection.
The slidable container (1) with a child lock according to any one of claims 1-4, wherein an inwardly-projecting first top-plate projection (28) is provided on the back surface of the top plate (21) of the lid (20) and, when sliding the lid (20) on the lower container (2) in the opening direction from the closing position, the first top-plate projection (28) comes into contact with the rear plate (5) of the lower container (2), which produces a resistance to the sliding movement of the lid (20).
The slidable container (1) with a child lock according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein an inwardly-projecting second top-plate projection (29) is provided on the back surface of the top plate (21) of the lid (20) and, when sliding the lid (20) on the lower container (2) in the opening direction from the closing position, the second top-plate projection (29) comes into contact with the rear plate (5) of the lower container (2), defining the degree of opening of the lid (20).