Child resistant container

Abstract

A container is provided, including a tubular body having an open first end and a second end defining a receptacle to receive an elongate storage unit; and a retaining frame within the receptacle to receive and retain the unit, movable between a first configuration to engage a retaining surface of the unit to retain it within the receptacle, and a second configuration in which it is released from engagement with the frame for removal from the container, the frame including a supporting rim circumscribing the first end; and a flexible tab depending from the rim and projecting radially into the receptacle, such that in the first configuration a distal end of the tab is configured to engage the retaining surface, and when the frame is moved from the first to the second configuration, the tab is bent towards a peripheral wall of the body and away from the retaining surface.

Claims

1. A container, comprising: a tubular body having an open first end and a second end to define a receptacle; at least one elongate storage unit received within the receptacle; and a retaining frame disposed within the receptacle and configured to receive and retain the at least one storage unit, wherein the retaining frame is movable between a first configuration, wherein the retaining frame is configured to engage a retaining surface of the at least one storage unit to retain the at least one storage unit within the receptacle, and a second configuration, wherein the at least one storage unit is released from engagement with the retaining frame to be removed from the container, wherein the at least one storage unit comprises a stem portion having a stem diameter and an engagement portion having an engagement diameter greater than the stem diameter, the engagement portion defining the retaining surface of the configured storage unit, wherein the retaining frame comprises a supporting rim circumscribing the open first end of the tubular body, and at least one flexible tab depending from the supporting rim and projecting radially into the receptacle, such that in the first configuration a distal end of the at least one flexible tab is configured to engage the retaining surface of the at least one storage unit, wherein, when the retaining frame is moved from the first configuration to the second configuration, the at least one flexible tab is bent towards a peripheral wall of the tubular body and away from the retaining surface of the at least one storage unit, and wherein in the first configuration a distance between the distal end of the at least one flexible tab and an opposite surface of the container is at least as great as the stem diameter and less than the engagement diameter, and in the second configuration a distance between the distal end of the at least one flexible tab and the opposite surface of the container is at least as great as the engagement diameter.

2. A kit, comprising: a container comprising: a tubular body having an open first end and a second end to define a receptacle, at least one elongate storage unit received within the receptacle, and a retaining frame disposed within the receptacle and configured to receive and retain the at least one storage unit, wherein the retaining frame is movable between a first configuration, wherein the retaining frame is configured to engage a retaining surface of the at least one storage unit to retain the at least one storage unit within the receptacle, and a second configuration, wherein the at least one storage unit is released from engagement with the retaining frame to be removed from the container, wherein the at least one storage unit comprises a stem portion having a stem diameter and an engagement portion having an engagement diameter greater than the stem diameter, the engagement portion defining the retaining surface of the configured storage unit, and wherein the retaining frame comprises a supporting rim circumscribing the open first end of the tubular body, and at least one flexible tab depending from the supporting rim and projecting radially into the receptacle, such that in the first configuration a distal end of the at least one flexible tab is configured to engage the retaining surface of the at least one storage unit, wherein, when the retaining frame is moved from the first configuration to the second configuration, the at least one flexible tab is bent towards a peripheral wall of the tubular body and away from the retaining surface of the at least one storage unit; and an elongate holder comprising a cavity configured to receive the stem portion of the at least one elongate storage unit, the cavity and the stem portion being configured for mutual locking engagement, wherein an outer diameter of the elongate holder is at least substantially as great as the engagement diameter.

3. The kit according to claim 2, wherein an internal transverse dimension of the tubular body is between about 0.5 millimeters and about 1.5 millimeters greater than the outer diameter of the elongate holder.

Description

(1) The invention will now be described in more detail by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional side view of a container according to a first aspect of the present invention which is sized to accommodate a single storage unit.

(3) FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view of a container according to a first aspect of the present invention which is sized to accommodate a plurality of storage units.

(4) FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of a container according to the present invention which is sized to accommodate a plurality of storage units which shows how a storage unit is inserted into the container.

(5) FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view of a container array according to a second aspect of the present invention.

(6) FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a container array according to a third aspect of the present invention.

(7) FIG. 6 is a side view of an elongate holder and storage unit for use with the container of the first aspect of the present invention.

(8) FIG. 1 shows a container 100 with a storage unit 101 received within the container 100. The container 100 comprises a tubular body 102 which defines a receptacle. The tubular body 102 is sized to accommodate a single storage unit 101 and is formed from a polymer. The tubular body 102 has an open first end 103 and a closed second end 104. The container 100 further comprises a retaining frame 105 formed from a polymer. The retaining frame 105 comprises a supporting rim 106 which circumscribes the open first end 103 of the tubular body. The retaining frame 105 further comprises a pair of opposing tabs 107a, 107b depending from the supporting rim 106 and projecting radially from the rim 106 into the receptacle.

(9) The container further comprises a lid 108 hinged to the open first end 103 of the tubular body 102. The lid 108 is integrally formed with the tubular body 102 and is attached to the tubular body 102 by a living hinge. The lid 108 is movable between a closed positon, where the lid 108 occludes the open first end 103 of the tubular body 102; and an open position, where the lid 108 is pivoted to reveal the open first end 103 of the tubular body 102. The lid 108 includes a projection 109 which, in the closed positon, engages with a corresponding recess 110 on the inner surface of the tubular body 102 to hold the lid 108 in the closed position.

(10) The storage unit 101 comprises a stem portion, and an engagement portion defining a retaining surface. The stem and the engagement portion are axially aligned and the diameter of the engagement portion is greater than that of the stem portion.

(11) In operation, before the storage unit 101 is used, the retaining frame 105 is in a first configuration where the tabs 107a, 107b engage with the stem of the storage unit 101 and the wider engagement portion prevents the storage unit 101 from passing out of the tubular body 102. To remove the storage unit 101, the retaining frame 105 is moved into the second configuration where the tabs 107a, 107b are bent such that their distal ends move towards a peripheral wall of the tubular body 102 and away from the stem of the storage unit 101. This increases the distance between the distal ends of the opposing tabs 107a, 107b such that the engagement portion is able to pass between them and out of the open first end 103 of the tubular body 101.

(12) FIG. 2 shows a further container 200. The container 200 is sized to accommodate three storage units 201 in axial alignment and includes an open second end 204 opposing the open first end 203. The open second end 204 is closed by a lid 211 hinged to the second end 204 of the tubular body 202. The lid 211 is movable between a closed position, wherein the lid 211 occludes the second end 204 of the tubular body 202; and an open position where, in which the lid 211 is pivoted to reveal the open second end 204 of the tubular body 202.

(13) FIG. 3 shows the operation of the container 200 of FIG. 2. A storage unit 201 has been removed from the open first end 203 of the tubular body 202 leaving a space 212. Once the storage unit 201 has been used, the lid 211 occluding the open second end 204 of the tubular body 202 is opened and the used storage unit 201 is inserted into the open second end 204. This pushes the remaining storage units towards the first end 203 of the tubular body 202.

(14) FIG. 4 shows a container array 420. The array 420 comprises a first container 400a having a tubular body 402a having closed second end 404a, and a second container 400b having a tubular body 2b having a closed second end 404b. The closed second end 404a of the tubular body 402a of the first container 400a is connected to the closed second end 404b of the tubular body 402a of the second container 400b such that the first and second containers 400a, 400b are in axial alignment. The first and second containers 400a, 400b are connected along a line of weakness allowing them to be separated by a user. The first and second containers 400a, 400b are identical to each other and are each the same as the example shown in FIG. 1.

(15) FIG. 5 shows a further container array 520. The array 520 comprises a first 500a, second 500b, and third 500c container. Each of the first 500a, second 500b, and third 500c containers are identical to each other and are each generally the same as the container 100 shown in FIG. 1. Each of the first 500a, second 500b, and third 500c containers are sized to receive a single storage unit 501 meaning that the array 520 can accommodate three storage units in total. The first 500a, second 500b, and third 500c containers are arranged next to each other and are connected to and adjacent container or to adjacent containers along their respective tubular bodies 502a, 502b, 502c.

(16) The container array 520 further comprises an outer housing 521 surrounding the three containers 500a, 500b, 500c. The outer housing 521 is formed from a laminar blank and included an integrally formed hinge lid 522 closing an opening 523. In use, the containers 500a, 500b, 500c are arranged within the outer housing 521 with the open first ends of the tubular bodies facing the same way as the opening 523 of the outer housing 521. The outer housing 521 is formed from cardboard.

(17) FIG. 6 shows an elongate holder 630 and a storage unit 601. The elongate holder 630 is for removing a storage unit 601 from any of the containers described above. The storage unit 601 comprises a stem portion 641 having a stem diameter and an engagement portion 642 having an engagement diameter greater than the stem diameter. The engagement portion 642 defines the retaining surface of the storage unit 601 which engages with the supporting frame 105. Any of the containers described above may be provided as part of a kit further comprising an elongate holder 630. The holder 630 comprises a cavity 631 for receiving the stem portion 641 of a storage unit 601. The cavity 631 and the stem portion 641 are effectively configured for mutual releasable locking engagement, and an outer diameter of the holder 630 is at least substantially as great as the engagement diameter of the engagement portion 642.

(18) Thus, the consumer may advantageously use the holder 630 to remove the storage unit 601 from a container. To this purpose, the consumer slides the holder 630 onto the storage unit 601 such that the stem portion 641 is received into the cavity 631 and the holder 630 and the storage unit 601 are in locking engagement. At the same time, the side wall circumscribing the cavity 631 pushes the tabs 107a, 107b of the retaining frame 105 from the first configuration to the second configuration. This releases the storage unit 101 from the retaining frame 105.