US20130168347A1 - Safety container - Google Patents
Safety container Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20130168347A1 US20130168347A1 US13/341,827 US201113341827A US2013168347A1 US 20130168347 A1 US20130168347 A1 US 20130168347A1 US 201113341827 A US201113341827 A US 201113341827A US 2013168347 A1 US2013168347 A1 US 2013168347A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- bottom member
- lid
- lid member
- container
- safety container
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D50/00—Closures with means for discouraging unauthorised opening or removal thereof, with or without indicating means, e.g. child-proof closures
- B65D50/02—Closures with means for discouraging unauthorised opening or removal thereof, with or without indicating means, e.g. child-proof closures openable or removable by the combination of plural actions
- B65D50/04—Closures with means for discouraging unauthorised opening or removal thereof, with or without indicating means, e.g. child-proof closures openable or removable by the combination of plural actions requiring the combination of simultaneous actions, e.g. depressing and turning, lifting and turning, maintaining a part and turning another one
Definitions
- the embodiments herein relate generally to a safety cap for a container, and more specifically to embodiments that simplify the application of a safety lid to a corresponding container, for example a medicine bottle, with features that reduce the strength and stress needed to open and close the bottle.
- Embodiments of the present invention provide a better system.
- a safety container for limiting access to the contents therein while facilitating entry for those with diminished strength and/or dexterity.
- the container comprises a bottom member for storing contents within an interior therein, and a lid member for engaging the bottom member in a secure, but removable, manner.
- the container bottom member comprises an upper wall and a lower wall, where the bottom member is configured to store contents within an interior accessible by an opening in the upper wall of the bottom member. If so desired, the upper wall of the bottom member may be tapered.
- the bottom member preferably comprises a plurality of detents positioned radially about an outer periphery of the lower wall of the bottom member.
- the lid member comprises a plurality of protrusions positioned radially about in inner surface of the lid member, where the protrusions are and configured to snap into corresponding position within the detents of the bottom member when the lid is positioned in an appropriate radial position relative to the bottom member.
- the safety container comprising guides for directing a lid protrusion into a corresponding bottom member detent.
- the detent comprises a raised surface that has a first end that is configured outwardly of the outer surface of the bottom member.
- FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention
- FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectioned schematic view from arrows A-A of FIG. 1 .
- one embodiment of the inventive safety container 10 comprises a lid member 12 and a bottom member 14 for limiting access to the contents within the container 10 while facilitating entry for those with diminished strength and/or dexterity.
- the bottom member 14 is configured for storing contents within an interior therein, and comprises a radial top surface 16 defining an opening into the interior of the bottom member 14 .
- the bottom member comprises an upper wall 18 and a lower wall 20 .
- the upper wall 18 may be tapered inwardly.
- the bottom member 14 comprises a detent 22 that may be positioned in the lower wall 20 of the bottom member.
- the detent 22 comprises a raised surface 26 that has a first end 28 that projects outwardly from the outer surface 30 of the bottom member 14 .
- the other end of the raised surface 26 is preferably flush with, or is closely above or below the outer surface of upper wall 18 .
- the raised surface may be any configuration that serves to push protrusions 32 on the inside of the lid member 12 outwardly and snugly against the raised surface 26 to then drop into detent 22 when the lid member 12 is pushed sufficiently downwardly over the upper wall 18 of the bottom member 14 .
- the lid member 12 comprises five protrusions 32 spaced appropriately, if not symmetrically, about the interior surface of the lid member 12 .
- five raised surfaces 26 are provided on the bottom member 14 at corresponding positions. More or less protrusions and raised surfaces may be used.
- one or more guide walls 34 may be placed on either side of each raised surface 26 to guide the protrusions 32 cleanly into detent 22 .
- the lid member further comprises a resilient 0 -ring or washer 36 comprising rubber or soft plastic or another like resilient material, where the washer 36 is secured to the upper interior of the lid member 12 .
- the lid member 12 may be compressed upon the top surface 16 of the bottom member 14 .
- the protrusions 32 snap into position into detents 22 adjacent raised surfaces 26 .
- the top surface 16 then impresses a reaction force against the lid member 12 to essentially lock the lid member into place on top of the bottom member 14 .
- the protrusions 32 may be pushed clear of the raised surfaces 26 (and optional guide walls 34 ) along outer surface 30 so that the lid member 12 may be released from the bottom member 14 .
- the material chosen for the lid member may be of one of many available materials that permit sufficient hardness for durability, but sufficient resilience to permits snap-fit engagement with the bottom member and facile release.
- the lid member 12 may comprises a mechanical expansion feature, such as corrugation 40 , 42 in the lid member.
- the corrugation may comprises a plurality of slits 40 provided in the wall of the lid member coupled with optionally additional material 42 that covers over the slits from the interior and/or exterior of the lid member wall.
- the optional additional material 42 may provide a desired barrier against moisture and/or air entry between the slits 40 while the slits are momentarily parted during engagement and disengagement of the lid member from the bottom member.
- the container may be cylindrical or non-cylindrical in shape.
- the scope of protection should be assessed based upon the appropriate construction of the claims as set forth below.
Abstract
A safety container comprising a bottom member and a lid member where the lid member has a plurality of inward projections that fit into corresponding detents in the bottom member so that the lid member may be snapped into position on the bottom member in such a way where the forces required to disengage the projections from the detents are sufficiently large to protect against unauthorized access by young minors but sufficiently small to permit opening by adult users with diminished strength or dexterity.
Description
- The embodiments herein relate generally to a safety cap for a container, and more specifically to embodiments that simplify the application of a safety lid to a corresponding container, for example a medicine bottle, with features that reduce the strength and stress needed to open and close the bottle.
- For decades efforts have been made to provide containers with “child-proof” features that limit the undesired access to container contents by unauthorized minors. In that regard, the prior art is abound in a variety of embodiments designed to address this issue; too many to address in the background section. Nonetheless, with one category of such safety containers, a great deal of manual force is required to remove the lid and access the contents. For those who need access but whose dexterity has become or is quite limited, or where diminished strength precludes the ability to open the lid easily, these prior art safety containers pose the problem of limited usefulness. In another category of safety containers, the mechanism built into the lid and/or the bottle is so complicated that it is not economical to manufacture.
- For that reason, a better system is needed to provide a more easily accessible container for use by those with diminished strength and/or dexterity, a container that is not so complicated that it cannot be manufactured economically, and yet still achieves the overall goal of preventing access by unauthorized minors. Embodiments of the present invention provide a better system.
- In embodiments of the present invention a safety container is provided for limiting access to the contents therein while facilitating entry for those with diminished strength and/or dexterity. In one embodiment, the container comprises a bottom member for storing contents within an interior therein, and a lid member for engaging the bottom member in a secure, but removable, manner.
- In one embodiment, the container bottom member comprises an upper wall and a lower wall, where the bottom member is configured to store contents within an interior accessible by an opening in the upper wall of the bottom member. If so desired, the upper wall of the bottom member may be tapered.
- The bottom member preferably comprises a plurality of detents positioned radially about an outer periphery of the lower wall of the bottom member. The lid member comprises a plurality of protrusions positioned radially about in inner surface of the lid member, where the protrusions are and configured to snap into corresponding position within the detents of the bottom member when the lid is positioned in an appropriate radial position relative to the bottom member.
- In another embodiment, the safety container comprising guides for directing a lid protrusion into a corresponding bottom member detent. In other embodiments, the detent comprises a raised surface that has a first end that is configured outwardly of the outer surface of the bottom member.
- The detailed description of some embodiments of the invention will be is made below with reference to the accompanying figures.
-
FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectioned schematic view from arrows A-A ofFIG. 1 . - By way of example, and referring to
FIGS. 1 and 1A , one embodiment of theinventive safety container 10 comprises alid member 12 and abottom member 14 for limiting access to the contents within thecontainer 10 while facilitating entry for those with diminished strength and/or dexterity. Thebottom member 14 is configured for storing contents within an interior therein, and comprises aradial top surface 16 defining an opening into the interior of thebottom member 14. - The bottom member comprises an
upper wall 18 and alower wall 20. In some embodiments, theupper wall 18 may be tapered inwardly. Preferably, thebottom member 14 comprises a detent 22 that may be positioned in thelower wall 20 of the bottom member. Thedetent 22 comprises a raisedsurface 26 that has afirst end 28 that projects outwardly from theouter surface 30 of thebottom member 14. The other end of the raisedsurface 26 is preferably flush with, or is closely above or below the outer surface ofupper wall 18. The raised surface may be any configuration that serves to pushprotrusions 32 on the inside of thelid member 12 outwardly and snugly against the raisedsurface 26 to then drop into detent 22 when thelid member 12 is pushed sufficiently downwardly over theupper wall 18 of thebottom member 14. In one embodiment, thelid member 12 comprises fiveprotrusions 32 spaced appropriately, if not symmetrically, about the interior surface of thelid member 12. Likewise, five raisedsurfaces 26 are provided on thebottom member 14 at corresponding positions. More or less protrusions and raised surfaces may be used. If desired, one ormore guide walls 34 may be placed on either side of each raisedsurface 26 to guide theprotrusions 32 cleanly into detent 22. - Preferably the lid member further comprises a resilient 0-ring or
washer 36 comprising rubber or soft plastic or another like resilient material, where thewasher 36 is secured to the upper interior of thelid member 12. Because of its resilience, thelid member 12 may be compressed upon thetop surface 16 of thebottom member 14. When dimensioned appropriately, whenwasher 36 is compressed upontop surface 16, theprotrusions 32 snap into position intodetents 22 adjacent raisedsurfaces 26. Thetop surface 16 then impresses a reaction force against thelid member 12 to essentially lock the lid member into place on top of thebottom member 14. With a simple downward force upon the lid member and rotated a small distance, using merely the palm of one's hand, for example, theprotrusions 32 may be pushed clear of the raised surfaces 26 (and optional guide walls 34) alongouter surface 30 so that thelid member 12 may be released from thebottom member 14. - It should be appreciated that the material chosen for the lid member may be of one of many available materials that permit sufficient hardness for durability, but sufficient resilience to permits snap-fit engagement with the bottom member and facile release. However, it is also contemplated that the
lid member 12 may comprises a mechanical expansion feature, such ascorrugation slits 40 provided in the wall of the lid member coupled with optionallyadditional material 42 that covers over the slits from the interior and/or exterior of the lid member wall. The optionaladditional material 42 may provide a desired barrier against moisture and/or air entry between theslits 40 while the slits are momentarily parted during engagement and disengagement of the lid member from the bottom member. - Each of the embodiments described herein are illustrations of examples of the present invention and are not intended to restrict the scope of protection afforded the invention. A person of ordinary skill in the art should appreciate that variations in the configuration and materials are contemplated by the present invention without limitation to the specific embodiments presented. For example, the container may be cylindrical or non-cylindrical in shape. In other embodiments, there may be projections that are positioned at different axial positions around the periphery of the bottom member, with projections also provided in different axial positions corresponding to the location of the detents. In that regard, the scope of protection should be assessed based upon the appropriate construction of the claims as set forth below.
Claims (6)
1. A safety container for limiting access to the contents therein yet facilitating entry for those with diminished strength and/or dexterity, the container comprising:
a container bottom member comprising an upper wall and a lower wall, the bottom member being configured to store contents within an interior accessible by an opening in the upper wall of the bottom member, the upper wall comprising a radial top surface defining the opening, the bottom member comprising a plurality of detents positioned radially about an outer periphery of the lower wall of the bottom member, and
a container lid member for enclosing contents within the bottom member when secured thereto, the lid member comprising a plurality of protrusions positioned radially about in inner surface of the lid member and configured to snap into corresponding position within the detents of the bottom member when the lid is positioned in an appropriate radial position relative to the bottom member.
2. The safety container of claim 1 , wherein the detent comprises a raised surface that has a first end that extends outwardly from the outer surface of the bottom member.
3. The safety container of claim 1 , further comprising guides for directing a lid protrusion into a corresponding bottom member detent.
4. The safety container of claim 1 , wherein the lid member further comprises a resilient washer positioned on the interior of the lid member.
5. The safety container of claim 1 , wherein the lid member further comprises means for permitting mechanical expansion of the lid member during engagement and/or disengagement of the lid member from the bottom member.
6. The safety container of claim 1 , wherein the upper wall of the bottom member is tapered.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US13/341,827 US20130168347A1 (en) | 2011-12-30 | 2011-12-30 | Safety container |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US13/341,827 US20130168347A1 (en) | 2011-12-30 | 2011-12-30 | Safety container |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20130168347A1 true US20130168347A1 (en) | 2013-07-04 |
Family
ID=48694017
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US13/341,827 Abandoned US20130168347A1 (en) | 2011-12-30 | 2011-12-30 | Safety container |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20130168347A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US10644302B2 (en) | 2014-05-21 | 2020-05-05 | Imec Vzw | Conformal coating on three-dimensional substrates |
-
2011
- 2011-12-30 US US13/341,827 patent/US20130168347A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US10644302B2 (en) | 2014-05-21 | 2020-05-05 | Imec Vzw | Conformal coating on three-dimensional substrates |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |