Container with button release

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018229902-A1
Application number	US-201815950784-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 11, 2018
Priority date	Apr 17, 2013
Publication date	Aug 16, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A container includes container body ( 120 ) defining an interior ( 122 ) and an opening ( 124 ) leading to the interior. A lid ( 140 ) is movable with respect to the container body to move the container between a closed position in which the lid covers the opening and an opened position in which the opening is exposed. A housing ( 180 ) is affixed to an upper portion of the container body, adjacent to the opening. A release ( 160 ) is movably housed within the housing. The release is configured to move between a locked position in which the release retains the lid in the closed position, and an unlocked position, in which the release permits the lid to move into the opened position. The release moves from the locked position to the unlocked position by a first movement in a radially inward direction of the container, followed by a second movement in an axially upward direction of the container.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 .- 28 . (canceled)

29 . A container for storing products therein, the container comprising:
a container body defining an interior for housing products, and an opening leading to the interior; a lid that is movable with respect to the container body to move the container between a closed position in which the lid covers the opening and encloses the products therein, and an opened position in which the opening is exposed; a housing affixed to an upper portion of the container body, adjacent to the opening; and a release that is movably housed within the housing, the release being configured to move between a locked position in which the release retains the lid in the closed position, and an unlocked position in which the release permits the lid to move into the opened position; wherein the release is movable from the locked position to the unlocked position by a first movement comprising depressing the release in a radially inward direction, wherein, in the unlocked position, the release is configured to be moved in a second movement comprising sliding the release in an axially upward direction such that the release contacts and pushes up on the lid, thereby disengaging the lid from the container body so as to actuate movement of the lid from the closed position to the opened position.

30 . The container of claim 29 , wherein the container is a vial comprising a bottom wall having an outer edge and a tubular side wall extending upward from the outer edge, the bottom wall and the side wall defining the interior, and an upper edge of the side wall defining the opening.

31 . The container of claim 30 , further comprising an engagement ridge at the upper edge of the side wall, the engagement ridge configured to engage a portion of the lid when the container is in the closed position.

32 . The container of claim 30 , further comprising a rim that extends radially outwardly from the side wall at a location between the housing and the opening.

33 . The container of claim 29 , wherein the lid has an outer perimeter that is less than an outer perimeter of the upper edge of the side wall.

34 . The container of claim 29 , wherein the lid is attached to the container body by a hinge, and the lid pivots about the hinge to move the container between the closed position and the opened position.

35 . The container of claim 29 , wherein the lid comprises a base wall configured to cover the opening when the container is in the closed position and a seal that extends downwardly from a bottom surface of the base wall, the seal configured to engage the container body when the container is in the closed position to form a substantially moisture tight seal between the lid and the container body.

36 . The container of claim 30 , wherein the lid comprises a base wall configured to cover the opening when the container is in the closed position, and a skirt that extends downward from the base wall about an outer perimeter thereof, wherein the skirt contacts an upper edge of the side wall when the container is in the closed position.

37 . The container of claim 29 , wherein:
the lid further comprises at least one of a tab or a front portion that is positioned to extend over the housing when the container is in the closed position; the at least one of a tab or a front portion is formed as an extension of the base wall and has an end that is positioned flush with or radially inward with respect to an outer surface of the housing when the container is in the closed position; and a bottom surface of the at least one of a tab or a front portion faces an upper side of the housing when the container is in the closed position.

38 . The container of claim 29 , wherein the housing comprises a bridge wall, the bridge wall having first and second ends that that attach to the container body and define a housing space between the container body and the bridge wall, the housing space dimensioned for slidably housing the release.

39 . The container of claim 29 , wherein the release comprises a button configured to actuate the first movement and the second movement.

40 . The container of claim 39 , wherein the button projects from beneath the bridge wall when in the locked position.

41 . The container of claim 40 , wherein the button clears the bridge wall during the first movement, and passes beneath the bridge wall during the second movement.

42 . The container of claim 29 , wherein the release is biased to the locked position.

43 . A method of moving a container between an opened position and a closed position, the method comprising:
providing the container, wherein the container comprises:
a container body defining an interior for housing the products, and an opening leading to the interior;
a lid that is movable with respect to the container body to move the container between a closed position in which the lid covers the opening, and an opened position in which the opening is exposed;
housing affixed to an upper portion of the container body, adjacent to the opening; and
a release that is movably housed within the housing, the release configured to move between a locked position in which the release retains the lid in the closed position, and an unlocked position in which the release permits the lid to move the into the opened position;
moving the release from the locked position to the unlocked position by moving the release within the housing in a radially inward direction; wherein once the release is in the unlocked position, the method comprises sliding the release in an axially upward direction such that the release contacts and pushes up on the lid, thereby disengaging the lid from the container body so as to actuate movement of the lid from the closed position to the opened position.

44 . The method of claim 43 , wherein the lid is pivotably affixed to the container body by a hinge, and moving the lid from the closed position to the opened position comprises pivoting the lid about the hinge.

45 . The method of claim 44 , wherein the method further comprises closing the container by moving the lid from the opened position to the closed position, wherein the release is biased to the locked position, and wherein the release returns to the locked position after closing the lid.

Assignees

• Csp Technologies Inc

Inventors

• Giraud Jean-Pierre
• Pichot Herve
• Lucas Jr Franklin Lee

Classifications

• B65D2215/04

  requiring the combination of different actions in succession · CPC title

• B65D50/066

  whereby parts of the container or closure having to be deformed, i.e. bi-stable movement (B65D50/045 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B65D43/16 Primary

  hinged for upward or downward movement · CPC title

• B65D43/26 Primary

  Mechanisms for opening or closing, e.g. pedal-operated {(for refuse receptacles B65F1/1623)} · CPC title

• B65D43/22

  Devices for holding in closed position, e.g. clips · CPC title