Package with locking mechanism including flexible member having first segment and second segment, and container with flexible tab

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12371234-B2
Application number	US-202117389553-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 30, 2021
Priority date	May 14, 2021
Publication date	Jul 29, 2025
Grant date	Jul 29, 2025

Abstract

The package includes a base, a primary lid connected to the base, the primary lid and the base defining a primary storage area, and a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism includes a flexible member including a first segment and a second segment that are connected by an elbow, the first segment being connected to the primary lid, a distal end of the second segment including at least one contact structure, the flexible member including at least one first engaging structure between the elbow and a front surface of the at least one contact structure, and a second engaging structure on a first wall of the base. The container includes a receptacle wall cooperating with a peripheral wall to define a receptacle, and a flexible tab projecting from the top wall, the flexible tab including a fixed end adjacent to the top wall and a free end opposite the fixed end.

First claim

We claim:

1. A container comprising:
a base including,
a bottom wall,
a peripheral wall perpendicular to the bottom wall, the peripheral wall and the bottom wall defining a storage area, and the peripheral wall at least partially defining a receptacle, and
a receptacle wall cooperating with the peripheral wall to at least partially define the receptacle, the receptacle wall including a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion, the first portion having a first surface, the second portion having a second surface, and the third portion having a third surface, the third surface being offset from the first surface in a first direction and a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the second portion between the first portion and the third portion, and the second surface defining an angle with respect to the third surface, the angle ranging from 3° to 18°;

a lid configured to be moved between a closed and locked configuration and an open configuration, the lid including,
a top wall, and
a flexible tab projecting from the top wall, the flexible tab including a fixed end adjacent to the top wall and a free end opposite the fixed end, the flexible tab configured to move from a relaxed position to a flexed position in response to a force in the first direction and return to the relaxed position absent the force,

a frame including,
the second portion of the receptacle wall, and
the third portion of the receptacle wall; and

an insert including,
the first portion of the receptacle wall, wherein

at least a portion of the insert is in the frame,
in the closed and locked configuration, the flexible tab is in the relaxed position, at least partially in the receptacle, and configured to engage the base to retain the lid in the closed and locked configuration, and
the lid is configured to be moved from the closed and locked configuration to the open configuration by moving the lid in the second direction with the flexible tab in the flexed position.

2. The container of claim 1 , wherein the first portion is a lower portion and the third portion is an upper portion.

3. The container of claim 1 , wherein the receptacle wall is spaced from the peripheral wall in the first direction.

4. The container of claim 1 , wherein the first surface and the third surface are parallel to one another.

5. The container of claim 1 , wherein
the peripheral wall defines a recess, and
the recess is in fluid communication with the receptacle.

6. The container of claim 5 , wherein
the peripheral wall has a top end and a bottom end, and
the bottom end at least partially defines the recess.

7. The container of claim 6 , wherein the base further includes a bridge portion extending continuously across the receptacle.

8. The container of claim 7 , wherein the bridge portion includes the top end of the peripheral wall.

9. The container of claim 6 , wherein
the flexible tab further includes a projection, and
the projection is configured to be at least partially in the recess in the closed and locked configuration and engage the peripheral wall to retain the container in the closed and locked configuration.

10. The container of claim 9 , wherein the projection is recessed with respect to the peripheral wall in the closed and locked configuration.

11. The container of claim 10 , wherein the projection includes a plurality of parallel ribs.

12. The container of claim 1 , wherein
the flexible tab is configured to pivot through an angle between the relaxed position and the flexed position, and
the angle ranges from 2° to 10°.

13. The container of claim 12 , wherein the angle ranges from 4° to 8°.

14. The container of claim 1 , a gap is defined between the receptacle wall and the flexible tab in the closed and locked configuration.

15. The container of claim 14 , wherein
the gap defines a first dimension between the flexible tab and the first surface and a second dimension between the flexible tab and the third surface, and
the second dimension is different than the first dimension.

16. The container of claim 15 , wherein the first dimension is greater than the second dimension.

17. The container of claim 16 , wherein
the first dimension is greater than or equal to 1 mm, and
the second dimension is greater than or equal to 0.5 mm.

18. The container of claim 16 , wherein
the first dimension ranges from 1 mm to 4 mm, and
the second dimension ranges from 1 mm to 1.5 mm.

19. The container of claim 1 , wherein the insert includes the bottom wall.

20. The container of claim 1 , wherein the frame and the insert cooperate to define the peripheral wall.

21. The container of claim 1 , wherein the receptacle wall defines a U-shaped cross-section.

22. The container of claim 1 , wherein the receptacle wall is centered along a transverse axis perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction.

23. The container of claim 1 , wherein the free end of the flexible tab is configured to be aligned with respect to the bottom wall in the closed and locked configuration.

24. The container of claim 1 , wherein the free end of the flexible tab is configured to be recessed with respect to the bottom wall in the closed and locked configuration.

Assignees

• Altria Client Services Llc

Inventors

• Bogdziewicz William J
• Hession Christopher J
• Patil Bipin

Classifications

• B65D2543/0024

  two pieces, one forming at least the whole skirt, the other forming at least the whole upper part · CPC title

• B65D2255/20

  with coacting elements, e.g. ratchet and pawl, formed integrally in the container and closure or dispensing device, e.g. spout, for permanently preventing removal of the latter · CPC title

• B65D2251/1075

  Levers · CPC title

• B65D43/16

  hinged for upward or downward movement · CPC title

• B65D25/04

  Partitions · CPC title