Safety container

Abstract

A safety container having a liner disposed within an outer container. The liner includes a liner box removably coupled to a liner lid. The liner box has a liner floor with upwardly extending liner walls. In a first closed state the liner lid is positioned such that the liner lid engages the liner walls. The liner lid is removable from the liner walls in a first open state. The outer container box is slidingly coupled to the outer container lid through openings at opposing ends of the outer container lid. In a second closed state the outer container box and liner are enclosed by the outer container lid. The outer container box is slidably removed at least partially from the outer container lid to a second open state while the liner is configured to the first open state.

Claims

1. A safety container comprising: a container box having: a bottom surface having a first front portion and a first side portion; a first front wall extending upward from the first front portion; a first side wall having a first top portion and a first side surface, with the first side wall extending upward from the first side portion, and with the first top portion extending longitudinally along a length of the first side wall; and a first protrusion extending outward from the first top portion of the first side wall; and a container lid having: a top surface having a second front portion and a second side portion; a second front wall extending downward from the second front portion; and a second side wall having a second top portion and a second side surface, with the second side wall extending downward from the second side portion, and the second top portion extending longitudinally along a length of the second side wall; and an elongated indentation extending inward into the second top portion of the second side wall and extending longitudinally at least partially along a length of the second side wall, with the first protrusion slidably engaging the elongated indentation, thereby causing the container lid to slidably engage the container box; and a locking member having a distal member disposed on one of the second side surface and the top surface, with the distal member of the locking member engaging one of the first side wall and the first front wall to releasably lock the container lid to the container box, wherein the distal member includes a plurality of spaced apart ramped members forming at least one space therebetween.

2. The safety container of claim 1, wherein the locking member is substantially U-shaped.

3. The safety container of claim 1, wherein the locking member is substantially V-shaped.

4. The safety container of claim 1, wherein the locking member is substantially Y-shaped.

5. The safety container of claim 1, wherein the locking member forms a ramp extending downward from the second front portion.

6. The safety container of claim 1, wherein a third front portion of the second side wall responds to applied pressure to deform the second front portion of the top surface, thereby moving the locking member away from the first front wall to release the container lid from a locked configuration with the container box.

7. The safety container of claim 6, wherein the second front portion of the top surface is composed of a resilient material.

8. The safety container of claim 6, wherein the third front portion of the second side wall includes at least one of a groove and a detent engageable by a finger to apply the pressure.

9. The safety container of claim 6, wherein the second front wall includes a pair of wall members forming a void therebetween, with the void at least partially closing as the second front portion deforms due to the applied pressure.

10. The safety container of claim 1, wherein the container box includes an underneath surface having at least one of a groove and a detent engageable by a finger to apply pressure to slide the container box relative to the container lid.

11. A safety container comprising: a container box having: a first bottom surface facing upward and having a first front portion and a first side portion; a first front wall extending upward from the first front portion; a first side wall having a first top portion and a first side surface, with the first side wall extending upward from the first side portion, and with the first top portion extending longitudinally along a length of the first side wall; and a first protrusion extending outward from the first top portion of the first side wall; and a container lid having: a top surface facing downward and having a second front portion and a second side portion; a second front wall extending downward from the second front portion; and a second side wall having a second top portion and a second side surface, with the second side wall extending downward from the second side portion, and the second top portion extending longitudinally along a length of the second side wall; and an elongated indentation extending inward into the second top portion of the second side wall and extending longitudinally at least partially along a length of the second side wall, with the first protrusion slidably engaging the elongated indentation, thereby causing the container lid to slidably engage the container box; and a locking member having a distal member disposed on one of the second side surface and the top surface, with the distal member of the locking member engaging one of the first side surface of first side wall and the first front wall to releasably lock the container lid to the container box, wherein the distal member includes a plurality of spaced apart ramped members forming at least one space therebetween.

12. The safety container of claim 11, wherein the locking member is substantially U-shaped, with free ends of the U-shape having a smooth junction with the top surface, and an opposite end of the U-shape forming an edge.

13. The safety container of claim 11, wherein the locking member is substantially V-shaped, with free ends of the V-shape having a smooth junction with the top surface, and an opposite end of the V-shape forming an edge.

14. The safety container of claim 11, wherein the locking member is substantially Y-shaped, with free ends of the Y-shape having a smooth junction with the top surface, and an opposite end of the Y-shape forming an edge.

15. The safety container of claim 11, wherein a third front portion of the second side wall responds to applied pressure to deform the second front portion of the top surface, thereby moving the locking member away from the first front wall to release the container lid from the locked configuration with the container box.

16. The safety container of claim 15, wherein the second front portion of the top surface is composed of a resilient material.

17. The safety container of claim 15, wherein the third front portion of the second side wall includes at least one of a groove and a detent engageable by a finger to apply the pressure.

18. The safety container of claim 15, wherein the second front wall includes a pair of wall members forming a void therebetween, with the void at least partially closing as the second front portion deforms due to the applied pressure.

19. The safety container of claim 11, wherein the container box includes a second bottom surface facing downward and having at least one of a groove and a detent engageable by a finger to apply pressure to slide the container box relative to the container lid.

20. A method comprising: providing a safety container comprising: a container box having: a bottom surface having a first front portion and a first side portion; a first front wall extending upward from the first front portion; a first side wall having a first top portion and a first side surface, with the first side wall extending upward from the first side portion, and with the first top portion extending longitudinally along a length of the first side wall; and a first protrusion extending outward from the first top portion of the first side wall; and a container lid having: a top surface having a second front portion and a second side portion; a second front wall extending downward from the second front portion; and a second side wall having a second top portion and a second side surface, with the second side wall extending downward from the second side portion, and the second top portion extending longitudinally along a length of the second side wall; and an elongated indentation extending inward into the second top portion of the second side wall and extending longitudinally at least partially along a length of the second side wall, with the first protrusion slidably engaging the elongated indentation, thereby causing the container lid to slidably engage the container box; and a locking member having a distal member disposed on one of the second side surface and the top surface, wherein the distal member includes a plurality of spaced apart ramped members forming at least one space therebetween; sliding the first protrusion along the elongated indentation until one of the first side wall and the first front wall engages the locking member; and engaging one of the first side wall and the first front wall with the distal member of the locking member to releasably lock the container lid to the container box.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present disclosure will be more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a safety container of the present invention showing a container and liner or insert of the present invention in a fully open position.

(3) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the container and insert of FIG. 1 in a partially closed position.

(4) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the insert of FIG. 1 in a fully open position.

(5) FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the insert of FIG. 1 in a partially closed position.

(6) FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the insert of FIG. 1 in a fully closed position.

(7) FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment an insert or liner of the present invention in a fully closed position.

(8) FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another embodiment of an insert or liner of the present invention in a fully open position.

(9) FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the insert of FIG. 7 in a fully closed position.

(10) FIG. 9 is a perspective view of another embodiment of an insert or liner of the present invention in a fully closed position.

(11) FIG. 10 is a perspective view of another embodiment of an insert or liner of the present invention in a fully open position.

(12) FIG. 11 is a top view of another embodiment of an insert or liner of the present invention in an open state positioned within an outer container box or drawer of the present invention.

(13) FIG. 12 is a bottom view of an embodiment of an outer container lid or cover of the present invention.

(14) FIG. 13 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a safety container of the present invention.

(15) FIG. 14 is a bottom view of another embodiment of an outer container lid or cover of the present invention.

(16) To facilitate an understanding of the embodiments, identical reference numerals have been used, when appropriate, to designate the same or similar elements that are common to the figures. Further, unless stated otherwise, the features shown in the figures are not drawn to scale, but are shown for illustrative purposes only.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(17) Exemplary embodiments are described herein to provide a detailed description of the present disclosure. Variations of these embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art. Moreover, certain terminology is used in the following description for convenience only and is not limiting. For example, the words top and bottom, or upper and lower designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The word a is defined to mean at least one. The terminology includes the words above specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof, and words of similar import.

(18) Referring to FIGS. 1-3, is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a sliding container 100 similar to or identical to the sliding container of the '350 Patent, as described above, is provided. The sliding container 100 includes a rectangular outer container box or drawer 110 with an open top and a rectangular outer container lid or cover 120 having a top portion, two opposing side walls and a rear wall. Each of the box 110 and lid 120 are constructed of a rigid or semi-rigid material such as plastic. In this embodiment, the box 110 and lid 120 are constructed with polystyrene. As described above, the rectangular container box 110 and the rectangular container lid 120 are lockable and slide with respect to each other. In this embodiment, the sliding container 100 is substantially the same as the container in the '350 Patent except that the container 100 is configured without the second catches 17 so that the box 110 and lid 120 are completely separable. With this type of configuration, a user is able to access stored product regardless of what portion of the box 110 the product is located.

(19) Referring to FIGS. 3-5, within the sliding container 100 is a removable liner or insert 130. The liner 130 includes a liner box 132 and a liner lid 134 coupled together with a hinge 136. The liner 130 is made of a relatively soft, non-porous material, including but not limited to silicone and other materials coated with silicone. Silicone provides a non-stick surface and is ideal for liquid or semi-liquid products to be stored. Also, the soft material provides dampening or absorbs sound when a hard product is stored within the liner 130.

(20) Still referring to FIGS. 3-5, the hinge 136 could be a separate assembled part or could be constructed integral to the box 132 and lid 134, for example, formed by molding the box 132 and lid 134 together. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the liner 130 is sized such that it fits snugly inside the container box 110. Furthermore, the liner lid 134 is positioned such that the top surface of the container box 110 is aligned with the top surface of the liner lid 134.

(21) In one embodiment, the part of the hinge 136 facing the inside of the liner 130 is reinforced with additional silicone such that the liner lid 134 is normally open, or open in a rested state, as shown in FIG. 3. With this configuration, a user can open and close the liner 130 without engaging the lid 134. That is, when the user separates the container box 110 from the container lid 120, the liner lid 134 is automatically opened. When the user inserts the container box 110 having the liner 130 into the container lid 120, the liner lid 134 engages the bottom of the container lid 120 and the liner 130 is closed as the container box 110 slides into the container lid 120.

(22) In another embodiment, the liner 130 is formed integral to the container box 110, thereby reducing manufacturing costs. Also, the liner 130 could be constructed of hard plastic while a soft material such as plastic foam or silicone is attached to the inner surface of the liner box 132 and a bottom surface of the liner lid 134 to provide dampening or sound absorption of any hard materials within that are displaced during transport.

(23) FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a liner 230 of the present invention. In this embodiment, the liner 230 is substantially similar to the liner 130 described above except that it is provided with a fingernail groove 138 for opening the liner 230. That is, the top edge of the liner box 132 of the wall opposite the hinge 136 as well as and the bottom edge of the liner lid 134 of the wall opposite the hinge 136 each contain a groove or indent to form the fingernail groove 138. The grooves or indents only partially extend through the respective walls and thus the liner 230 is completely enclosed when the liner lid 134 is closed despite the presence of the fingernail groove 138.

(24) Another embodiment of a liner 330 of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. In this embodiment, the walls of the liner box 132 includes an inner portion 132a and an outer portion 132b. The inner portion 132a is sized slightly smaller than the outer portion 132b such that an intermediate surface 132c is formed therebetween. The liner lid 134 includes downwardly extending flanges 134a in which the flanges 134a have a thickness substantially similar to the width of the intermediate surface 132c. In a closed configuration, the flanges 134a engage the intermediate surface 132c to provide an enclosure. The liner 330 also includes an indent 141 and a matching flexible tab 140 at a top surface of the liner lid 134. When the container lid 120 is closed, the tab 140 folds down into the indent 141. When the container lid 120 is opened, the tab 140 returns to the upright position such that the liner lid 134 can be opened by engaging and pulling the tab 140 to separate the liner lid 134 from the liner box 132.

(25) FIG. 9 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a liner 430 of the present invention. In this embodiment, the liner 430 is identical to the liner 330 shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 except that the indent 141 and tab 140 is replaced by an integral handle 142 extending from the top surface of the liner lid 134. The handle 142 is formed within an indent 143 such that a top surface of the handle 142 is co-planar to the top surface of the liner lid 134. Alternatively, the handle 142 could extend to below top surface of the liner lid 134. The liner lid 134 can be opened by using the handle 142 to separate the liner lid 134 from the liner box 132.

(26) FIG. 10 shows another embodiment of the liner 530 of the present invention. In this embodiment, the liner lid 134 further comprises four downwardly extending walls 135 with raised ridges (not shown) on inner sides of the wall. The liner lid 134 also includes an upper tab 144a extending laterally from one wall 135. The liner box 132 further comprises four upwardly extending indented walls 133 and a lower tab 144b extending laterally from a wall 133 corresponding to the upper tab 144a on the liner lid 134. The inner sides and raised ridges (not shown) of the lid walls 135 engage the outer sides of the indented liner box walls 133 in a closed configuration of the liner 530 such that the raised ridges of the liner lid walls 135 are positioned adjacent to and engage the indented liner box walls 133, providing a secure seal. The liner lid 134 can be separated from the liner box 132 by engaging and pulling the upper tab 144a. The liner box 132 could be removed from the container box 132 by engaging and pulling the lower tab 144b. It is preferred that the liner 530, including each of the tabs 144a, 144b, is constructed of silicone. This construction provides flexible tabs 144a, 144b. It is also preferred that the liner 530 be sized slightly smaller than the container box 130 so that the tabs 144a, 144b could be concealed within the container 100 when the container 100 is closed and locked, and the user could have easy access to the tabs 144a, 144b when the container 100 is opened. In the alternative, the liner 530 could be constructed with a hinge so that the liner is a one-piece construction.

(27) Referring to FIG. 11, another embodiment of an insert or liner 630 of the present invention is shown positioned within the outer container box 110. In this embodiment, the liner 630 includes a liner box 632 having a liner floor 602 with upwardly extending liner walls 604. A continuous channel 606 is formed along an upper end of the liner walls 604. A liner lid 610 is hingedly coupled to a rear liner wall 604a. A continuous projection 612 extends from the liner lid underside 610a. The channel 606 and projection 612 are matching such that the projection 612 is secured within the channel 606 when engaged in a first closed state (not shown). In a first open state, as shown in FIG. 11, the liner lid 610 is pivotable away from the liner walls 604. In this embodiment, the liner 630 provides an air tight and leak proof inner container while the outer container 100 provides a child proof enclosure. Thus, materials such as oils and the like could be stored and transported without concern of odors, leakage and access to children. Additionally, as described above, the hinge portion of the liner 630 where the liner lid 610 and liner box 632 are joined could be reinforced with plastic so that the liner lid 610 remains open. Alternatively, the liner box 632 and liner lid 610 could be constructed of a softer and more elastic plastic such that a tighter seal is formed between the channel 606 and projection 612.

(28) Referring to FIGS. 13 and 14, another embodiment of a safety container 200 of the present invention is shown. The safety container 200 includes an outer container drawer (not shown) removable from and slidable within an outer container cover 220. The outer container cover 220 includes a top plate 222 with three outer walls 224 extending downwardly therefrom and having an opening 226 for the outer container drawer to enter into. The configuration of the safety container 200 is similar to the safety container 100 described above with a few exceptions. First, the safety container 200 is long and narrow, specifically, 3 in length 9/16 in height 11/16 in depth. Thus, the safety container 200 of this embodiment is suitable for storage and transport of oil cartridges for recreational nicotine use and the like.

(29) Referring to FIG. 14, the outer container cover 220 includes a locking member 228 projecting downwardly from an underside of the top plate 222. The locking member 228 includes an edge 232 disposed a distance away from an outer container wall 224, forming a slot 234 therebetween. The locking member 228 is tapered in decreasing thickness from the edge 232 to an opposing end 236 of the locking member 228. The opposing end 236 includes a smooth junction with the underside of the top plate 222. In this embodiment, the locking member 228 is substantially V-shaped, free ends 236 of the V-shape having a smooth junction with the underside of the top plate 222 and an opposite end of the V-shape forming the edge 232. The locking member 228 includes a pair of spaced apart ramped members 240 with a space 250 therebetween.

(30) In another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12, an outer container cover 720 has a top plate 722 with outer walls 724 extending therefrom. The locking member 728 in this embodiment is substantially U-shaped, free ends 736 of the U-shape having a smooth junction with the underside of the top plate 722 and an opposite end of the U-shape forming the edge 732. With these locking member 228, 728 configurations manufacturing cost is reduced by using less material and decreasing defects.

(31) The liners or inserts of the present invention could be inserted into any child resistant container such as the containers 100, 200 described above. The containers 100, 200 as well as the liners could take on different sizes and shapes so long as the liners could be secured within the container. In the alternative, the liners or inserts could be used separately if child resistance is not required.

(32) Each of the embodiments could be modified and constructed to be leak-proof. For example, the liner lid walls could be offset inwardly and the liner box walls could include a channel or indent partially extending through the thickness of the liner box walls so that the liner lid walls and liner box channel or indent engage to form a two-sided seal when in a closed configuration.

(33) Each outer container described above is constructed of hard plastic and manufactured by injection molding to provide sufficient strength and to withstand wear and tear. Each liner described above is also constructed of plastic by injection molding. Silicone could be used to provide a soft, non-stick surface but other plastics could be used as well.

(34) Although this invention has been described in its exemplary forms with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of example and numerous changes in the details of construction and combination and arrangement of parts may be employed without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.