Abstract
A sealable container system made of biodegradable materials, including a generally cylindrical, inwardly sloping container body having flattened side portions with holes therein, and a generally cylindrical, inwardly sloping cap with outwardly projecting tabs that are received into the holes to secure the cap onto the container. Inward pressure preleases the tabs from the holes so the cap can be removed without twisting.
Claims
1. A closed container system, comprising: a container body having a cylindrical, inwardly sloping shape and at least two holes therein; and a cap receivable into the container body, the cap having a generally cylindrical, inwardly sloping shape, and at least two outwardly projecting tabs, wherein the tabs are receivable into the holes.
2. The closed container system of claim 1, wherein the container body has at least two flattened side portions, with one of the holes disposed in each flattened side portion.
3. The closed container system of claim 1, wherein the container body has a closed bottom and an open top, and wherein the cap has a closed bottom and an open top.
4. The closed container system of claim 1, wherein the outwardly projecting tabs on the cap align with the flattened side portions of the container body.
5. The closed container system of claim 1, wherein the cap and the outwardly projecting tabs are integrally formed from a single block of material.
6. The closed container system of claim 1, wherein the container body and the cap are formed from a biodegradable material.
7. The closed container system of claim 6, wherein the biodegradable material is molded pulp fiber.
8. The closed container system of claim 1, wherein the angle of the inwardly sloping shape of the container body is steeper than the angle of the inwardly sloping shape of the cap.
9. The closed container system of claim 1, wherein the container body has an open top end and is dimensioned to nest within an identical container body.
10. The closed container system of claim 1, wherein the cap has an open top end and is dimensioned to nest within an identical cap.
11. The closed container system of claim 1, wherein the outwardly projecting tabs on the cap lock the cap into place in the container body when the cap is pushed downwardly into the container body.
12. The closed container system of claim 1, wherein pushing inwardly on the outwardly projecting tabs releases the cap from the container body.
13. The closed container system of claim 1, further comprising: an open notch in the cap above each outwardly projecting tab.
14. The closed container system of claim 1, wherein the cap further comprises at least two side legs extending downwardly therefrom, the side legs being dimensioned to be received within the container body.
15. The closed container system of claim 14, wherein one of each of the tabs are disposed on each of the side legs.
16. The closed container system of claim 14, further comprising a hinge on each of the side legs, wherein pushing the hinge inwardly releases the tabs from the holes, thereby releasing the cap from the container body.
17. The closed container system of claim 6, wherein the biodegradable material is a bio-plastic.
18. The closed container system of claim 1, wherein the container body and the cap are made from plastic.
19. The closed container system of claim 1, wherein the container body is made of a biodegradable material and the cap is made of a plastic.
20. The closed container system of claim 19, wherein the biodegradable material is a molded pulp fiber, and wherein the plastic is a bio-plastic.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] FIG. 1A is a front elevation view of the present container body.
[0023] FIG. 1B is a side elevation view of the container body showing a hole passing through a flat-faced wall portion of the container body.
[0024] FIG. 2 is a top downward looking plan view showing the inside of the container body.
[0025] FIG. 3A is a side elevation view of the container's top cap showing the tab on the cap.
[0026] FIG. 3B is a front elevation view of the cap with both side tabs visible.
[0027] FIG. 4 is a top downward looking plan view showing the inside of the cap.
[0028] FIG. 5 is an exploded side perspective view showing the cap and the container body.
[0029] FIG. 6 is a side elevation view showing the cap engaged within the container body.
[0030] FIG. 7 is a front elevation view showing the exposed tabs of the cap when the cap is engaged with the container body.
[0031] FIG. 8 illustrates a user's hand holding the present closed container system.
[0032] FIG. 9 illustrates the user's hand pressing the tabs of the cap to release it from the container body.
[0033] FIG. 10 illustrates the cap disengaged from the container body while the user's hand holds the container body.
[0034] FIG. 11 is a top plan view of an exemplary embodiment of non-child-resistant cap embodiment.
[0035] FIGS. 12A and 12B are two rotated side elevation views of the non-child-resistant cap of FIG. 11.
[0036] FIG. 13A illustrates the non-child-resistant cap of FIG. 11 separated from the container body.
[0037] FIG. 13B illustrates the non-child-resistant cap of FIG. 11 engaged with the container body.
[0038] FIG. 14A is a plan view of an exemplary embodiment of a child-resistant cap.
[0039] FIG. 14B is a plan view of the child-resistant cap of FIG. 14A with its top hinges pushed inwardly.
[0040] FIG. 14C is a side elevation view of the child-resistant cap of FIG. 14A showing the tabs on the legs.
[0041] FIG. 14D is another side elevation view of the child-resistant cap of FIG. 14A, but rotated 90 degrees to be viewed from a different angle.
[0042] FIG. 14E is a rotated elevation view of the child-resistant cap of FIG. 14A before top hinges are engaged (i.e.: before the hinges are pushed inwardly).
[0043] FIG. 14F is a rotated elevation view of the child-resistant cap of FIG. 14A after top hinges are engaged (i.e.: after the hinges are pushed inwardly).
[0044] FIG. 15 shows the user's hand holding the container with the child-resistant cap of FIG. 14A engaged.
[0045] FIG. 16 shows the user's hand pressing the top hinges of the child-resistant cap of FIG. 14A to disengage the tabs from the container body.
[0046] FIG. 17 shows the user's right hand pressing the top hinges of the child-resistant cap of FIG. 14A, while their left hand lifts the cap from the container.
[0047] FIG. 18 shows the user's right hand holding the container, while the left hand holds the child-resistant cap of FIG. 14A.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0048] FIG. 1A shows a front elevation view of the container body 12, having a top 14 and a base 16. Container body 12 has inwardly sloped walls 18 that have advantages that will be discussed in detail herein.
[0049] FIG. 1B shows a side view of container body 12 (i.e.: turned 90 degrees from the position seen in FIG. 1A) to illustrate the flat-faced wall portion 20 having a hole 22 therein. These same features are preferably also located on the opposite side of the container body 12.
[0050] FIG. 2 is a top plan view looking downwardly into container body 12 showing the open top 14, base 16, holes 22A/22B, and floor 13 of container body 12. In this particular embodiment, the side walls are generally round in shape (forming an inwardly tapering cylinder) except where the flat wall portions 20A/20B are located. The straight, flat wall portions 20A/20B may advantageously enhance structural rigidity and serve as a guide for aligning the cap 24 within the open top end of container body 12.
[0051] In the side elevation view of FIG. 3A, the top 26 and base 28 of the cap 24 are shown. The shaded area is the tab 32, which is used for closure and release of the cap. Preferably, a notch 25 is located just above tab 32. As can be seen, cap 24 has generally inwardly sloping walls, an open top end 26 and a closed bottom end 24. As such, this inwardly sloping wall design shape of cap 24 may allow multiple identical caps to nest inside each other during storage. Similarly, the inwardly sloping shape of container body 12 may also allow multiple identical container bodies to nest within one another (for example, to save space during transportation or storage). As can be seen, the slope 30 of the cap 24 is similar to that of the container body. More preferably, however, the side slope of container body 12 will be steeper than the side slope of cap 24. This would advantageously help cap 24 to lock firmly into position in the container body when pushed downwardly therein.
[0052] FIG. 3B is a front elevation view of the cap 24 that illustrates the exposed tabs 32A/32B that may flank either side of cap 24. These outwardly projecting tabs on cap 24 align with the flattened side portions 20 of container body 12.
[0053] FIG. 4 is a top downward looking plan view of cap 24 showing tabs 32A/32B. This top plan view looks down inside the cap 24 and shows the top 26 and base 28 of cap 24. The base of cap 24 has a floor 31, which serves to separate the contents inside the container body 12 from the outside.
[0054] FIG. 5 is an exploded side elevation view showing cap 24 and container body 12. As previously stated, the cap 24 and container body 12 may have similar slopes 30 and 18 respectively. It is to be understood, however, that these slopes 18 and 30 need not be exactly the same angle, and preferably aren't exactly the same angle. Preferably, the side walls of the container are steeper than those of the cap (to firmly secure the cap in position). Moreover, the top diameters 27 and 29 of each are similar, but the diameter of the cap 24 can optionally be slightly smaller. The advantage of this design is that the cap 24 and cylinder body 12 would mate more firmly with one other.
[0055] In the illustrated embodiment, container body 12 is cylindrically-shaped with sloped walls that have holes 22 positioned on opposite facing walls. An inverted cap 24 (i.e.: a cylinder standing upright with the top face open) has similarly sloped walls to that of the container body, and exterior tabs 32 attached thereto, aligns with and slides into the top 14 of the container body 12. As the cap 24 travels further down into the body of container body 12, the cap 24 becomes snugger for two reasons. First, the tabs 32 of cap 24 begin to push more and more on the narrowing interior walls of container body 12. Second, the dissimilar slopes 18 and 30 of the cap and container body reach a point where the cap 24 can no longer move down tighter due to friction. At this point, tabs 32 of cap 24 engage holes 22 in the walls of the container body 12 and poke through. This locks cap 24 in place, as seen in FIG. 6. As seen in FIG. 7 (with container body 12 turned 90 degrees on its axis from FIG. 6), both tabs 32A/32B are clearly exposed to demonstrate a tamper-resistant, closed container system.
[0056] In FIG. 8, the user's hand 33 is holding the present system. As can be seen, the cap 24 is engaged in container body 12 and the user's index finger 36 and thumb 34 are near tabs 32A/32B.
[0057] In FIG. 9, the user's index finger 36 and thumb 34 are shown compressing tabs 32A/32B, thereby forcing tabs 32A/32B back thru holes 22 in the side walls of container body 12. At this point, cap 24 is under tension (at locations 38A/38B) from compressed tabs 32A/32B. The sloped walls 18 of container body 12 enable cap 24 to release that energy, forcing cap 24 upwards and out of container body 12 as seen in FIG. 10.
[0058] Referring to FIG. 11, an embodiment of a non-child-resistant cap 40 is shown. Specifically, cap 40 has small bumps 42 that are used to help lift cap 40 away from container body 12. In FIG. 12A, the top 41, base 43 with downwardly extending legs 44A/44B of cap 40 are illustrated. Legs 44A/44B of base 43 provides support against the wall of container body 12 and provides outward support for legs 44A/44B. Legs 44A/44B create a friction fit once engaged inside the container. FIG. 12B is much the same as 12A, except rotated by 90 degrees to show cap 40 from a different angle.
[0059] Referring to FIG. 13A, an embodiment of non-child-resistant cap 40 is shown separated from container body 12. Cap 40 slides inside container body 12 as shown in FIG. 13B. As can be seen, tension is created at locations 38A/38B by the friction fit between the legs 44A/44B of cap 40 and the walls of container body 12. This embodiment of cap 40 can advantageously be used for individuals who aren't looking for child safety features, but wish to secure their medication and be able to remove the cap in an easy manner. There are a number of ways to achieve friction fit encompassed within the scope of the present system with cap 24 or 40 seated inside container body 12, such that it presses against the inside of the container body creating friction that holds it in place.
[0060] FIG. 14A is a plan view of an embodiment of a child-resistant cap 48 having top hinges 50A/B with small bumps 42A/42B. As can be seen, the position of top hinges 50A/50B are in-line with the perimeter of cap 48. (This is the resting position for top hinges 50A/50B).
[0061] FIG. 14B shows the top hinges 50A/50B positioned towards the middle of cap 48. FIG. 14C further illustrates the features of child-resistant cap 48. As can be seen, top hinges 50A/50B, legs 44A/44B, and tabs 32A/32B are present. FIG. 14D is an elevation view of the child-resistant cap rotated 90 degrees from the position in of FIG. 14C. FIG. 14D illustrates leg 44 and tab 32 of one side of cap 48. FIG. 14E and FIG. 14F both illustrate the mechanism of the child-resistant cap 48.
[0062] In FIG. 14E, top hinges 50A/50B are shown in their resting position. As can be seen, tabs 32A/32B on legs 44A/44B are practically touching dotted line 49, which simulates how tabs 32A/32B interface with container body 12. In FIG. 14F, top hinges 50A/50B are shown compressed inwards, thereby changing the angle of legs 44A/44B, and therefore changing the position of tabs 32A/32B. In relation to dotted line 49, tabs 32A/32B are now tucked inward. This view simulates how tabs 32A/32B would release from holes 22 of container body 12, thereby causing cap 48 to disengage.
[0063] In FIG. 15, the user's hand is shown holding container body 12 engaged with child-resistant cap 48. Tabs 32A/32B poke thru holes 22 of container body 12; thereby placing top hinges 50A/50B within easy reach of the user's finger and thumb. Small bumps 42A/42B help lift cap 48 of container body 12 when disengaging.
[0064] In FIG. 16, the user compresses top hinges 50A/50B which has two effects: (1) it creates tension (potential energy) at locations 38A/38B that helps push cap 48 upwards and outwards, and (2) it disengages tabs 32 from holes 22 of container body 12.
[0065] In FIG. 17, the user now incorporates the left hand to grab hold of the small bumps 42A/42B to help lift off cap 48 while the right hand continues to hold container body 12 and compress the top hinges 50A/50B. Lastly, FIG. 18 illustrates child-resistant cap 48 disengaged from container body 12.
[0066] In preferred embodiments, the cap (24, 40 or 48) and the outwardly projecting tabs 32 are all integrally formed from a single block of material. Preferably, the material is a biodegradable material, including but not limited to a bio-plastic. Optionally, the present system can be made in a injection-molded process with a single, solid mold. The container body (12) is also preferably made from biodegradable material, including but not limited to a molded pulp fiber. In practice, the present system can be made from a thermoformed process. Optionally, a clamshell container body (12) design can be used with the parts glued back together to conceal the seam. Alternatively, two container bodies can be nested and fused together for enhanced strength and impermeability. Optionally as well, the container body may be wrapped with a paper sleeve to increase smoothness, strength and impermeability.
