Methods and apparatus for monitoring the content of a chamber of a container via electrical capacitive tomography (ECT) or acoustic imaging are presented. The three-dimensional volume of the chamber and its content are imaged by developing a map of permittivity or acoustic impedance by (1) applying a stimulus signal between each of a plurality of electrode pairs of a plurality of electrodes that is arranged about the chamber and (2), for each stimulus signal applied, measuring a response signal at each of the remaining electrodes of the plurality. Once the map of permittivity or acoustic impedance is established, the number and type of tablets (or liquid) within the chamber is determined.

Methods and apparatus for monitoring the content of a chamber of a container via electrical capacitive tomography (ECT) or acoustic imaging are presented. The three-dimensional volume of the chamber and its content are imaged by developing a map of permittivity or acoustic impedance by (1) applying a stimulus signal between each of a plurality of electrode pairs of a plurality of electrodes that is arranged about the chamber and (2), for each stimulus signal applied, measuring a response signal at each of the remaining electrodes of the plurality. Once the map of permittivity or acoustic impedance is established, the number and type of tablets (or liquid) within the chamber is determined.

The invention disclosed is an intermediate-volume, dimensionally scalable container having a large transmural aperture providing easy access to contents and a resealable lid providing quick and repeated access to the contents. In one embodiment the invention provides a clear visible indication as to the locked or unlocked state of the lid and is adapted to readily incorporate different forms of tamper proof and tamper evident seals. The invention includes an assembly of similar containers of the same or different volumes having recessed bottom portions to receive the upper portion and lid of a vertically adjacent container when stacked and at least two opposing sides having complementary surface deformations to facilitate side-to-side mating of such containers when shipped, displayed for sale or stored.

A container with an opening for receiving items for later disposal is disclosed. The container includes a container body with a bottom and a sidewall extending upwards from the bottom, as well as a removable lid to close the container. The container also includes a lock to lock the lid to the container. An engagement structure is provided on a side opposite the lock to prevent separation of the lid from the container body. The container may be stackable by including complementary male and female structures on the bottom and the lid. The container may also include a handle adjacent the bottom that contacts the ground when the container rests on the ground.

A container with an opening for receiving items for later disposal is disclosed. The container includes a container body with a bottom and a sidewall extending upwards from the bottom, as well as a removable lid to close the container. The container also includes a lock to lock the lid to the container. An engagement structure is provided on a side opposite the lock to prevent separation of the lid from the container body. The container may be stackable by including complementary male and female structures on the bottom and the lid. The container may also include a handle adjacent the bottom that contacts the ground when the container rests on the ground.

A container is disclosed that has a base and a lid that is rotatable about a hinge from a closed configuration to an open configuration. The lid may be secured to the base with a latch assembly. A latch assembly may have a locked position and an unlocked position, where the latch assembly includes: a latch body pivotally connected to the lid, a latch button slidably connected with the latch body, the latch button having a latch button-locking member, a latch-locking arm pivotally connected to the latch body, and a latch-locking arm biasing member that exerts a rotational force on the latch-locking arm. When the latch assembly is moved to the locked position, the latch-locking arm may engage the base and rotate against the rotational force from the latch-locking arm causing the latch button to move against the linear force until the latch button-locking member engages the arm-locking member.

A container is disclosed that has a base and a lid that is rotatable about a hinge from a closed configuration to an open configuration. The lid may be secured to the base with a latch assembly. A latch assembly may have a locked position and an unlocked position, where the latch assembly includes: a latch body pivotally connected to the lid, a latch button slidably connected with the latch body, the latch button having a latch button-locking member, a latch-locking arm pivotally connected to the latch body, and a latch-locking arm biasing member that exerts a rotational force on the latch-locking arm. When the latch assembly is moved to the locked position, the latch-locking arm may engage the base and rotate against the rotational force from the latch-locking arm causing the latch button to move against the linear force until the latch button-locking member engages the arm-locking member.

A lockable and moisture-proof pill box has a storing base having at least one compartment for holding pills, at least one lid pivotally mounted on the storing base, and at least one sealing and pushing member. Each of the at least one lid has a sealing ring and a pushing bar integrally formed as a single part. With the at least one sealing and pushing member mounted between the storing base and the at least one lid, the at least one compartment in the storing base can be airtightly sealed by the sealing ring when being closed, so as to prevent the pills in the at least one compartment from being spilt. Moreover, each of the at least one lid can be automatically opened by push of the pushing bar. Thus, a user can take the pills held in the compartment easily and conveniently.

A lockable and moisture-proof pill box has a storing base having at least one compartment for holding pills, at least one lid pivotally mounted on the storing base, and at least one sealing and pushing member. Each of the at least one lid has a sealing ring and a pushing bar integrally formed as a single part. With the at least one sealing and pushing member mounted between the storing base and the at least one lid, the at least one compartment in the storing base can be airtightly sealed by the sealing ring when being closed, so as to prevent the pills in the at least one compartment from being spilt. Moreover, each of the at least one lid can be automatically opened by push of the pushing bar. Thus, a user can take the pills held in the compartment easily and conveniently.

A shipping box system and method are provided in which a shipping box has a container having a bottom surface and a plurality of walls, the container walls forming a perimeter about a container cavity. The shipping box further has a lid having a top surface and walls, the lid walls forming a perimeter about a lid cavity. The box further provides a sensor module for determining a physical location and orientation of the container, a computations module for evaluating data retrieved from the sensor module, and a locking assembly for locking the container and the lid in a closed configuration. The container and the lid are sized to nest, such that when the lid is fixed to the container, the container cavity and the lid cavity occupy substantially the same space and the container walls and the lid walls overlap.