Child-resistant container

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12195247-B2
Application number	US-202218060227-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 30, 2022
Priority date	Nov 30, 2022
Publication date	Jan 14, 2025
Grant date	Jan 14, 2025

Abstract

At least one example embodiment relates to a container. The container includes a base, a canister configured to engage a portion of the base, and a lid configured to be removably coupled to the canister such that the lid is moveable between a locked position and an unlocked position. The base includes a bottom wall having a central portion, a peripheral portion, and an angle portion between the central portion and the peripheral portion. The base includes a first sidewall extending from a periphery of the peripheral portion and about a periphery of the bottom wall and a second sidewall extending from an end of the peripheral portion opposite the first sidewall. The first sidewall and the second sidewall extend perpendicular to the peripheral portion such that the peripheral portion, first sidewall, and second sidewall define a first gap.

First claim

We claim:

1. A container, comprising:
a base, the base including
a bottom wall having a central portion, a peripheral portion, and an angle portion between the central portion and the peripheral portion,
a first sidewall extending from a periphery of the peripheral portion and about a periphery of the bottom wall, and
a second sidewall extending from an end of the peripheral portion opposite the first sidewall, the first sidewall and the second sidewall perpendicular to the peripheral portion such that the peripheral portion, first sidewall, and second sidewall define a first gap;

a canister configured to engage a portion of the base, the canister including,
a base wall including a first side and a second side,
a canister wall about a periphery of the base wall, the canister wall including a first end extending past the base wall in a first direction and a second end extending past the base wall in a second direction opposite the first direction, the first side of the base wall and the first end of the canister wall defining a first cavity, and the second side of the base wall and the second end of the canister wall defining a second cavity,
a third sidewall extending from the second side of the base wall and spaced apart from and concentric with the canister wall such that the third sidewall, a portion of the second side of the base wall, and the canister wall define a second gap, the second gap configured to receive at least a portion of the first sidewall of the base and the first gap configured to receive at least a portion of the second end of canister wall; and

a lid configured to be removably coupled to the canister such that the lid is moveable between a locked position and an unlocked position, the lid including,
a top wall including a top surface and a bottom surface, and
a peripheral wall extending about a periphery of the top wall.

2. The container of claim 1 , wherein the first sidewall and the second sidewall are perpendicular to the central portion.

3. The container of claim 1 , wherein a length of the first sidewall is greater than a length of the second sidewall.

4. The container of claim 1 , wherein the angle portion and a bottom surface of the bottom wall at least partially define a recess.

5. The container of claim 1 , wherein
the base includes a first protrusion extending from an interior surface of the first sidewall; and
the canister includes a second protrusion extending from an exterior surface of the third sidewall, the first protrusion configured to engage the second protrusion.

6. The container of claim 1 , wherein
a thickness of a top portion of the canister wall decreases from the second end toward the first end; and
the canister wall includes a third protrusion extending from an exterior surface of the canister wall at the first end.

7. The container of claim 6 , wherein
the lid includes at least one protrusion extending from an interior surface of the peripheral wall, the at least one protrusion of the lid configured to engage the third protrusion of the canister; and
the lid defines at least one lid notch on an exterior surface of the peripheral wall and at least a portion of the top surface of the top wall, the at least one lid notch opposite the at least one protrusion on the interior surface of the lid.

8. The container of claim 7 , wherein the third protrusion comprises a plurality of protrusions with an opening defined between each of the plurality of protrusions.

9. The container of claim 8 , wherein the second end of the canister wall defines at least one canister notch, the at least one canister notch aligned with the at least one opening.

10. The container of claim 9 , wherein the at least one canister notch is configured to align with the lid notch in the unlocked position.

11. The container of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of a periphery of the second end of the canister wall defines a recess, the recess configured to contact a top surface of the second sidewall of the base such that the second sidewall and the canister wall are flush when the canister and base are engaged.

12. The container of claim 1 , wherein a center portion of the top surface of the top wall defines a recess.

13. The container of claim 1 , wherein the lid is configured to move from the locked position to the unlocked position, the lid configured to be removed from the canister in the unlocked position.

14. The container of claim 1 , wherein:
the canister is configured to engage at least a portion of the base in a snap-fit; and
the canister is configured to engage at least a portion of the lid in a snap-fit.

15. A method of using a container, comprising:
establishing a base, a canister, and a lid for the container,
the base including,
a bottom wall having a central portion, a peripheral portion, and an angle portion between the central portion and the peripheral portion,
a first sidewall extending from a periphery of the peripheral portion and about a periphery of the bottom wall, and
a second sidewall extending from an end of the peripheral portion opposite the first sidewall, the first sidewall and the second sidewall extending perpendicular to the peripheral portion such that the peripheral portion, first sidewall, and second sidewall define a first gap;

the canister including,
a base wall including a first side and a second side,
a canister wall about a periphery of the base wall, the canister wall including a first end extending past the base wall in a first direction and a second end extending past the base wall in a second direction opposite the first direction, the first side of the base wall and the first end of the canister wall defining a first cavity and the second side of the base wall and the second end of the canister wall defining a second cavity,
a third sidewall extending from the second side of the base wall and spaced apart from the canister wall such that the third sidewall, a portion of the second side of the base wall, and the canister wall define a second gap,

the lid including,
a top wall including a top surface and a bottom surface, and
a peripheral wall extending about a periphery of the top wall;

connecting the base to the canister such that the second gap is configured to receive at least a portion of the first sidewall and the first gap is configured to receive at least a portion of the canister wall;
connecting the lid to the canister, the lid configured to rotate between a locked position and an unlocked position; and
rotating the lid from the locked position to the unlocked position such that the lid is removable from the canister.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the connecting the base to the canister comprises:
engaging a first protrusion extending from an interior surface of the first sidewall of the base with a second protrusion extending from an exterior surface of the third sidewall of the canister.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the connecting the lid to the canister comprises:
engaging a third protrusion extending from an exterior surface of the canister wall and adjacent the first end of the canister wall with at least one protrusion extending from an interior surface of the peripheral wall of the lid.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein
the third protrusion defines at least one opening;
the second end of the canister wall defines at least one canister notch, the at least one canister notch aligned with the at least one opening; and
the lid defines at least one lid notch on an exterior surface of the peripheral wall and a

Assignees

• Altria Client Services Llc

Inventors

• Casey Brian M
• Evans James David
• Dawson David

Classifications

• B65D2543/0049

  on the inside, or a part turned to the inside of the mouth of the container · CPC title

• B65D2215/04

  requiring the combination of different actions in succession · CPC title

• B65D81/32

  for packaging two or more different materials which must be maintained separate prior to use in admixture · CPC title

• B65D43/021

  only on the inside, or a part turned to the inside, of the mouth (B65D43/0206 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B65D43/0206

  inside a peripheral U-shaped channel in the mouth of the container · CPC title