SAFETY CONTAINER

Abstract

A safety container comprising a bottom member and a lid member where the lid member has a plurality of inward projections that fit into corresponding detents in the bottom member so that the lid member may be snapped into position on the bottom member in such a way where the forces required to disengage the projections from the detents are sufficiently large to protect against unauthorized access by young minors but sufficiently small to permit opening by adult users with diminished strength or dexterity.

Description

BACKGROUND

The embodiments herein relate generally to a safety cap for a container, and more specifically to embodiments that simplify the application of a safety lid to a corresponding container, for example a medicine bottle, with features that reduce the strength and stress needed to open and close the bottle.

For decades efforts have been made to provide containers with “child-proof” features that limit the undesired access to container contents by unauthorized minors. In that regard, the prior art is abound in a variety of embodiments designed to address this issue; too many to address in the background section. Nonetheless, with one category of such safety containers, a great deal of manual force is required to remove the lid and access the contents. For those who need access but whose dexterity has become or is quite limited, or where diminished strength precludes the ability to open the lid easily, these prior art safety containers pose the problem of limited usefulness. In another category of safety containers, the mechanism built into the lid and/or the bottle is so complicated that it is not economical to manufacture.

For that reason, a better system is needed to provide a more easily accessible container for use by those with diminished strength and/or dexterity, a container that is not so complicated that it cannot be manufactured economically, and yet still achieves the overall goal of preventing access by unauthorized minors. Embodiments of the present invention provide a better system.

SUMMARY

In embodiments of the present invention a safety container is provided for limiting access to the contents therein while facilitating entry for those with diminished strength and/or dexterity. In one embodiment, the container comprises a bottom member for storing contents within an interior therein, and a lid member for engaging the bottom member in a secure, but removable, manner.

In one embodiment, the container bottom member comprises an upper wall and a lower wall, where the bottom member is configured to store contents within an interior accessible by an opening in the upper wall of the bottom member. If so desired, the upper wall of the bottom member may be tapered.

The bottom member preferably comprises a plurality of detents positioned radially about an outer periphery of the lower wall of the bottom member. The lid member comprises a plurality of protrusions positioned radially about in inner surface of the lid member, where the protrusions are and configured to snap into corresponding position within the detents of the bottom member when the lid is positioned in an appropriate radial position relative to the bottom member.

In another embodiment, the safety container comprising guides for directing a lid protrusion into a corresponding bottom member detent. In other embodiments, the detent comprises a raised surface that has a first end that is configured outwardly of the outer surface of the bottom member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The detailed description of some embodiments of the invention will be is made below with reference to the accompanying figures.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectioned schematic view from arrows A-A of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS

By way of example, and referring to FIGS. 1 and 1A, one embodiment of the inventive safety container 10 comprises a lid member 12 and a bottom member 14 for limiting access to the contents within the container 10 while facilitating entry for those with diminished strength and/or dexterity. The bottom member 14 is configured for storing contents within an interior therein, and comprises a radial top surface 16 defining an opening into the interior of the bottom member 14.

The bottom member comprises an upper wall 18 and a lower wall 20. In some embodiments, the upper wall 18 may be tapered inwardly. Preferably, the bottom member 14 comprises a detent 22 that may be positioned in the lower wall 20 of the bottom member. The detent 22 comprises a raised surface 26 that has a first end 28 that projects outwardly from the outer surface 30 of the bottom member 14. The other end of the raised surface 26 is preferably flush with, or is closely above or below the outer surface of upper wall 18. The raised surface may be any configuration that serves to push protrusions 32 on the inside of the lid member 12 outwardly and snugly against the raised surface 26 to then drop into detent 22 when the lid member 12 is pushed sufficiently downwardly over the upper wall 18 of the bottom member 14. In one embodiment, the lid member 12 comprises five protrusions 32 spaced appropriately, if not symmetrically, about the interior surface of the lid member 12. Likewise, five raised surfaces 26 are provided on the bottom member 14 at corresponding positions. More or less protrusions and raised surfaces may be used. If desired, one or more guide walls 34 may be placed on either side of each raised surface 26 to guide the protrusions 32 cleanly into detent 22.

Preferably the lid member further comprises a resilient 0-ring or washer 36 comprising rubber or soft plastic or another like resilient material, where the washer 36 is secured to the upper interior of the lid member 12. Because of its resilience, the lid member 12 may be compressed upon the top surface 16 of the bottom member 14. When dimensioned appropriately, when washer 36 is compressed upon top surface 16, the protrusions 32 snap into position into detents 22 adjacent raised surfaces 26. The top surface 16 then impresses a reaction force against the lid member 12 to essentially lock the lid member into place on top of the bottom member 14. With a simple downward force upon the lid member and rotated a small distance, using merely the palm of one's hand, for example, the protrusions 32 may be pushed clear of the raised surfaces 26 (and optional guide walls 34) along outer surface 30 so that the lid member 12 may be released from the bottom member 14.

It should be appreciated that the material chosen for the lid member may be of one of many available materials that permit sufficient hardness for durability, but sufficient resilience to permits snap-fit engagement with the bottom member and facile release. However, it is also contemplated that the lid member 12 may comprises a mechanical expansion feature, such as corrugation 40, 42 in the lid member. In one embodiment, the corrugation may comprises a plurality of slits 40 provided in the wall of the lid member coupled with optionally additional material 42 that covers over the slits from the interior and/or exterior of the lid member wall. The optional additional material 42 may provide a desired barrier against moisture and/or air entry between the slits 40 while the slits are momentarily parted during engagement and disengagement of the lid member from the bottom member.

Each of the embodiments described herein are illustrations of examples of the present invention and are not intended to restrict the scope of protection afforded the invention. A person of ordinary skill in the art should appreciate that variations in the configuration and materials are contemplated by the present invention without limitation to the specific embodiments presented. For example, the container may be cylindrical or non-cylindrical in shape. In other embodiments, there may be projections that are positioned at different axial positions around the periphery of the bottom member, with projections also provided in different axial positions corresponding to the location of the detents. In that regard, the scope of protection should be assessed based upon the appropriate construction of the claims as set forth below.

Claims

1. A safety container for limiting access to the contents therein yet facilitating entry for those with diminished strength and/or dexterity, the container comprising:

a container bottom member comprising an upper wall and a lower wall, the bottom member being configured to store contents within an interior accessible by an opening in the upper wall of the bottom member, the upper wall comprising a radial top surface defining the opening, the bottom member comprising a plurality of detents positioned radially about an outer periphery of the lower wall of the bottom member, and

a container lid member for enclosing contents within the bottom member when secured thereto, the lid member comprising a plurality of protrusions positioned radially about in inner surface of the lid member and configured to snap into corresponding position within the detents of the bottom member when the lid is positioned in an appropriate radial position relative to the bottom member.

2. The safety container of claim 1, wherein the detent comprises a raised surface that has a first end that extends outwardly from the outer surface of the bottom member.

3. The safety container of claim 1, further comprising guides for directing a lid protrusion into a corresponding bottom member detent.

4. The safety container of claim 1, wherein the lid member further comprises a resilient washer positioned on the interior of the lid member.

5. The safety container of claim 1, wherein the lid member further comprises means for permitting mechanical expansion of the lid member during engagement and/or disengagement of the lid member from the bottom member.

6. The safety container of claim 1, wherein the upper wall of the bottom member is tapered.