Container with Security Lock

Abstract

A container with a security lock is provided. The container may have a lid (or top) portion and a bottom portion. The lid may have a hinge which allows the lid to rotate with respect to the bottom portion. A unique locking mechanism on the lid locks onto a locking receiving mechanism of the bottom portion to safely lock the lid onto the bottom portion. The bottom portion may receive contents such as medication which may be securely stored and protected from children who might otherwise access an unprotected and unsecured container.

Claims

1. A container comprising: a lid having a front, a back, a first side, a second side, a top and a bottom; a bottom unit having a front, a back, a first side, a second side, an open top and a sealed bottom; a locking mechanism located on the front of the bottom unit wherein the locking mechanism comprises an indented area; an extended bump on the front of the lid wherein the extended bump has a top surface and a bottom surface; wherein the top surface of the bump is flat and wherein the bottom surface of the bottom surface of the bump is curved; and wherein the locking mechanism locks the lid to the bottom unit.

2. The container of claim 1 wherein the first side and the second side of the bottom unit are flexible.

3. The container of claim 2 wherein the lid is not flexible.

4. A method of opening a locked container comprising: providing a lid having a front, a back, a first side, a second side, a top and a bottom; providing a bottom unit having a front, a back, a first side, a second side, an open top and a sealed bottom; providing a locking mechanism located on the front of the bottom unit wherein the locking mechanism comprises an indented area; providing an extended bump on the front of the lid wherein the extended bump as a top surface and a bottom surface; wherein the top surface of the bump is flat and wherein the bottom surface of the bottom surface of the bump is curved; wherein the bump of the lid is locked into the locking mechanism; and squeezing the first side and the second side of the bottom unit while simultaneously pushing the front of the lid toward the back of the bottom unit to release the bump from the locking mechanism.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of providing a flexible material as the first side and the second side of the bottom unit.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of providing a non-flexible material as the lid.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of the back of the container in the open orientation.

[0013] FIG. 2 illustrates an alternative view of the back of the container in the open orientation.

[0014] FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of the container in the closed orientation.

[0015] FIG. 4 illustrates a front view of the container in the closed orientation.

[0016] FIG. 5 illustrates a cross-sectional side view of the container in the closed orientation.

[0017] FIG. 6 illustrates a top view of the container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0018] A container with a security lock is provided. The container may have a lid (or top) portion and a bottom portion. The lid may have a hinge which allows the lid to rotate with respect to the bottom portion. A unique locking mechanism on the lid locks onto a locking receiving mechanism of the bottom portion to safely lock the lid onto the bottom portion. The bottom portion may receive contents such as medication which may be securely stored and protected from children who might otherwise access an unprotected and unsecured container.

[0019] Referring now to the figures, in an embodiment a secured container 1 is provided. The container 1 may have a lid (or top) portion 10 and a bottom portion 50. The container 1 may be especially suitable for securing an item 100, such as medication or a cigarette, which can potentially be harmful to individuals, such as children, whom might otherwise gain access to the item from a non-secure container. In an embodiment, the container 1 is largely made of a durable material, such as plastic and/or metal. In one embodiment, the container 1 is largely made of tin.

[0020] In an embodiment, the lid portion 10 may have a front 11, a back 12, a first side 13, a second side 14, a top 15 and a bottom (not visible). The bottom portion 50 may have a front 51, a back 52, a first side 53, a second side 54, an open top 55 and a sealed bottom 56. The open top 55 of the bottom unit 50 may expose the hollow interior 58 of the container 1 wherein the items 100 may be stored within the interior 58 of the container 1. A hinge 76 may connect the lid 10 to the bottom unit 50 of the container 1 and may allow the lid 10 to rotate with respect to the bottom unit 50 so that a user may open or close the container 1.

[0021] In an embodiment, the container 1 may have a locking mechanism 81 (essentially an indented area of the top lip of the bottom unit 50) located on the front 51 of the bottom unit 50. The locking mechanism 81 of the front 51 of the bottom unit 50 may correspondingly engage and lock a bump 80 of the front 11 of the lid 10. The bump 80 may be an extended outward bump/dimple 80 having one flat side 83 on its top and one curved side 84 on its bottom which, together, form a half oval shape. The curved bottom side 84 is also rounded similar to a dimple.

[0022] A method of opening the container 1 comprises a user squeezing the sides 53, 54 of the bottom unit 50 while simultaneously pushing the front 11 of the lid portion 10 toward the back 52 of the bottom unit 50. When a user does this, the outward bump/dimple 80 may be moved out of the locking mechanism 81 of the front 51 of the bottom unit 50 where it is held by friction when the container 1 is in the closed orientation of FIG. 3. Once the bump 80 of the lid 10 is removed from the locking mechanism 81 of the bottom unit 50, the lid 10 may be rotated backward from the bottom unit 50 and the container 1 may be opened. To securely lock the container 1, the reverse procedure is followed and the bump/dimple 80 of the front 11 of the lid 10 is pushed into the locking mechanism 81 and the lid 10 therein becomes held to the bottom unit 50 by friction. The semi-oval shape of the bump 80 allows the lid 10 to snap into the indented area locking mechanism 81 as a result of the curved side of the bump 80 having a rounded bottom as the bump 80 first contacts the locking mechanism 81.

[0023] Because of the lightly flexible nature of the sides 53, 54 of the bottom unit 50, the simultaneously squeezing of both of the sides 53, 54 slightly forces the front 51 of the bottom unit 50 slightly forward (away from the back 52 of the bottom unit 50). As a result, the locking mechanism 81 of the front 51 of the bottom unit 50 moves very slightly forward (away from the back 52); however, the indented area 81 does not move forward far enough to release the lid 10 from being locked to the bottom unit 80. Instead, the user must simultaneously squeeze the sides 53, 54 of the bottom unit 50 while also pushing the front 11 of the not flexible lid 10 slightly backwards to push the bump 80 out of the locking mechanism 81 to release the lid 10 from the bottom unit 50.

[0024] The flat surface 83 of the top of the bump 80 allows the lid 80 to remain secured to the bottom unit 50 by friction, but also allows the bump 80 to slide out of the locking mechanism 81 in a horizontal manner when a user unlocks the lid 10. Further, because of the flat surface 83 of the top of the bump 80, when a user pushes the lid 10 backward (while squeezing the sides 53, 54) the user must push the lid 10 backward in a horizontal (or nearly horizontal) manner (with a force parallel or substantially parallel to the bottom 56 of the bottom unit 50). Pushing the lid 10 backward in a non-parallel manner will not release the bump 80 from the locking mechanism 81.

[0025] Although embodiments of the invention are shown and described therein, it should be understood that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without diminishing its attendant advantages.