Locking System
A locking system for locking a food container and inhibiting tampering of a cover on the container. The container includes a base and sidewalls. The cover hingedly joins with one end of the sidewalls and pivot between an open and a closed position. The cover comprises a lower surface and an upper surface. The upper surface rests in proximity to the lower surface to indicate tampering, and comprises a compression portion. The lower surface includes apertures and a slot. A seal portion at least partially wraps around the container for locking the cover into the closed position. A base end fastens to the base and sidewalls. A locking end includes a drive mechanism that enables the locking end to move along the slot. The locking end includes protrusions that can be pressed into the apertures with the compression portion for fastening the seal portion to the container.
Not applicable
RELATED CO-PENDING U.S. PATENT APPLICATIONSNot applicable.
FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENTNot applicable.
REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER LISTING APPENDIXNot applicable.
COPYRIGHT NOTICEA portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office, patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONOne or more embodiments of the invention generally relate to a locking system for containers. More particularly, the invention relates to a locking system that seals food containers and indicates tampering.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe following background information may present examples of specific aspects of the prior art (e.g., without limitation, approaches, facts, or common wisdom) that, while expected to be helpful to further educate the reader as to additional aspects of the prior art, is not to be construed as limiting the present invention, or any embodiments thereof, to anything stated or implied therein or inferred thereupon.
The following is an example of a specific aspect in the prior art that, while expected to be helpful to further educate the reader as to additional aspects of the prior art, is not to be construed as limiting the present invention, or any embodiments thereof, to anything stated or implied therein or inferred thereupon. By way of educational background, another aspect of the prior art generally useful to be aware of is that wherever food is harvested, manufactured, or distributed there is a need for containers to enable the food to travel securely and in good condition to the shop, warehouse or distribution depot. For many foods, especially those in their own individual containers such as fast foods, the common container is the corrugated fiberboard box. Corrugated boxes are available in many sizes.
Typically, security seals are mechanisms used to seal containers in a way that provides tamper evidence and some level of security. Such seals can help to detect theft or contamination, either accidental or deliberate. Security seals are commonly used to secure vehicles, chemical drums, airline duty free trolleys and utility meters. Typically they are considered an inexpensive way of providing tamper evidence of intrusion into sensitive spaces.
Often, home delivery of many goods, such as perishable farm items such as milk, eggs, and ice, were delivered weekly or even daily to customers by local farms. Fast food is also delivered in food containers, such as pizza boxes.
A cover on a food container may be fabricated from a material that is conducive to separating into multiple layers. A seal lock could be positioned between the layers to help retain the cover in a closed position.
In view of the foregoing, it is clear that these traditional techniques are not perfect and leave room for more optimal approaches.
The present invention is illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings and in which like reference numerals refer to similar elements and in which:
Unless otherwise indicated illustrations in the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTSThe present invention is best understood by reference to the detailed figures and description set forth herein.
Embodiments of the invention are discussed below with reference to the Figures. However, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the detailed description given herein with respect to these figures is for explanatory purposes as the invention extends beyond these limited embodiments. For example, it should be appreciated that those skilled in the art will, in light of the teachings of the present invention, recognize a multiplicity of alternate and suitable approaches, depending upon the needs of the particular application, to implement the functionality of any given detail described herein, beyond the particular implementation choices in the following embodiments described and shown. That is, there are numerous modifications and variations of the invention that are too numerous to be listed but that all fit within the scope of the invention. Also, singular words should be read as plural and vice versa and masculine as feminine and vice versa, where appropriate, and alternative embodiments do not necessarily imply that the two are mutually exclusive.
It is to be further understood that the present invention is not limited to the particular methodology, compounds, materials, manufacturing techniques, uses, and applications, described herein, as these may vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is used for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. It must be noted that as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include the plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, a reference to “an element” is a reference to one or more elements and includes equivalents thereof known to those skilled in the art. Similarly, for another example, a reference to “a step” or “a means” is a reference to one or more steps or means and may include sub-steps and subservient means. All conjunctions used are to be understood in the most inclusive sense possible. Thus, the word “or” should be understood as having the definition of a logical “or” rather than that of a logical “exclusive or” unless the context clearly necessitates otherwise. Structures described herein are to be understood also to refer to functional equivalents of such structures. Language that may be construed to express approximation should be so understood unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meanings as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Preferred methods, techniques, devices, and materials are described, although any methods, techniques, devices, or materials similar or equivalent to those described herein may be used in the practice or testing of the present invention. Structures described herein are to be understood also to refer to functional equivalents of such structures. The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to embodiments thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
From reading the present disclosure, other variations and modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art. Such variations and modifications may involve equivalent and other features which are already known in the art, and which may be used instead of or in addition to features already described herein.
Although Claims have been formulated in this application to particular combinations of features, it should be understood that the scope of the disclosure of the present invention also includes any novel feature or any novel combination of features disclosed herein either explicitly or implicitly or any generalization thereof, whether or not it relates to the same invention as presently claimed in any Claim and whether or not it mitigates any or all of the same technical problems as does the present invention.
Features which are described in the context of separate embodiments may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable subcombination. The Applicants hereby give notice that new Claims may be formulated to such features and/or combinations of such features during the prosecution of the present application or of any further application derived therefrom.
References to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “example embodiment,” “various embodiments,” etc., may indicate that the embodiment(s) of the invention so described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but not every embodiment necessarily includes the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Further, repeated use of the phrase “in one embodiment,” or “in an exemplary embodiment,” do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, although they may.
Headings provided herein are for convenience and are not to be taken as limiting the disclosure in any way.
The enumerated listing of items does not imply that any or all of the items are mutually exclusive, unless expressly specified otherwise.
The terms “a”, “an” and “the” mean “one or more”, unless expressly specified otherwise.
Devices or system modules that are in at least general communication with each other need not be in continuous communication with each other, unless expressly specified otherwise. In addition, devices or system modules that are in at least general communication with each other may communicate directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries.
A description of an embodiment with several components in communication with each other does not imply that all such components are required. On the contrary a variety of optional components are described to illustrate the wide variety of possible embodiments of the present invention.
As is well known to those skilled in the art many careful considerations and compromises typically must be made when designing for the optimal manufacture of a commercial implementation any system, and in particular, the embodiments of the present invention. A commercial implementation in accordance with the spirit and teachings of the present invention may configured according to the needs of the particular application, whereby any aspect(s), feature(s), function(s), result(s), component(s), approach(es), or step(s) of the teachings related to any described embodiment of the present invention may be suitably omitted, included, adapted, mixed and matched, or improved and/or optimized by those skilled in the art, using their average skills and known techniques, to achieve the desired implementation that addresses the needs of the particular application.
The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to embodiments thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
There are various types of locking systems that may be provided by preferred embodiments of the present invention. In one embodiment of the present invention, the locking system may include a seal portion that at least partially locks a food container and indicates whether the food container has been opened subsequent to locking the seal. In some embodiments, the locking system may provide a locking mechanism that joins with, and works in conjunction with the food container to form a tamper proof seal portion. In this manner, the container may remain in a closed position until a need to open the container. The seal portion is configured to indicate if the cover on the food container has been opened, or if the sidewalls on the food container have been manipulated to access the contents. The food container may include, without limitation, a pizza box, a Chinese food cylindrical container, a fried chicken box, a frozen food box, a corrugated box, Tupperware, a picnic basket, and any container designed to store cooked or raw foods.
In some embodiments, the seal portion may at least partially wrap around the food container. The seal portion may include, without limitation, a thin, durable strip of material fabricated from substantially the same material from which the food container is constructed. However, in other embodiments, the seal portion may be fabricated from other construct, including, without limitation, cardboard, paper, plastic, fiber, aluminum, metal, and rubber. The food container may comprise a novel cover configured to engage the seal for locking the container into a closed position until an authorized user breaks the seal to access the contents of the food container. The container may include a base that provides a foundation and engages a ground surface. A plurality of sidewalls extends up from the base. The cover on the container may be hingedly joined with one end of the sidewalls and pivot between an open and a closed position. The cover may comprise a lower surface and an upper surface. The lower surface may form a layer that is closest to the food. The lower surface may also comprise at least one aperture that forms a component of the locking mechanism. The upper surface of the container rests in proximity, and above the lower surface. The upper surface may comprise a compression portion that forms yet another component of the locking mechanism.
A slot, which is accessible from one end of the cover, may form between the upper surface and the lower surface. The slot may be sized and dimensioned to at least partially receive the seal portion. In some embodiments, the seal portion may at least partially slide into the slot and engage the at least one aperture to lock the container. The slot forms a snug fit around the seal portion, such that pulling the seal portion from the slot after locking may be destructive to the container and the seal portion. In this manner, tampering may be visibly apparent.
In one embodiment, the seal portion may include a base end that at least partially wraps around the base and one of the sidewalls of the container. The base end may fasten to an outside surface area of the base and the sidewall, forming a secure connection through various fastening mechanisms, including, without limitation, an adhesive, a pin, a screw, a magnet, and friction. The seal portion may further comprise a locking end opposite the base end.
In some embodiments, the locking end may pass through the slot for locking the cover down onto the container. A drive mechanism on a central section of the seal and on the locking end of the seal may include an indentation configured to be operable for a finger to push, or slide the locking end into the slot, between the lower surface and the upper surface of the cover. The locking end may include at least one protrusion that engages with, and fastens to the at least one aperture of the lower surface. The at least one protrusion may include a plurality of teeth that utilize curved ends, or friction to secure into the at least one aperture. Once the at least one protrusion positions above the at least one aperture, the compression portion on the upper surface may then be pressed down to engage the locking end into the slot for locking. The compression portion may include an indentation configured to be operable to be pressed down by a hand for pressing the at least one protrusion into the at least one aperture; and thereby locking the seal portion onto the cover. Upon engagement between the at least one protrusion and the at least one aperture, the food container may be locked. In some embodiments, a plurality of seals may position around the cover to provide additional locking means.
In some embodiments, the locking system may provide a locking mechanism that joins with, and works in conjunction with the food container to form a tamper proof seal portion. The seal portion may be configured to indicate if the cover on the food container has been opened, or if a plurality of sidewalls 120 on the food container has been manipulated to access an item inside the container. In one embodiment, the seal portion may pass between an upper surface 114 and a lower surface 112 of a cover on the container. The seal portion fastens to the lower surface through a locking mechanism, such as at least one protrusion engaging at least one aperture. The upper surface positions so close to the lower surface that insufficient space exists to tamper with the seal portion without breaking the seal portion or damaging the food container. In this manner, tampering may be easily identified.
In some embodiments, the seal portion may at least partially wrap around the food container. The seal portion may include, without limitation, a thin, durable strip of material fabricated from substantially the same material from which the food container is constructed.
However, in other embodiments, the seal portion may be fabricated from other construct, including, without limitation, cardboard, paper, plastic, fiber, aluminum, metal, and rubber. The food container may comprise a novel cover configured to engage the seal portion for locking the container into a closed position until an authorized user breaks the seal portion to access the contents of the food container. The container may include a base 122 that provides a foundation and engages a ground surface. A plurality of sidewalls extends up from the base. The cover on the container may be hingedly joined with one end of the sidewalls and pivot between an open and a closed position. The cover may comprise a lower surface and an upper surface. The lower surface may form a layer that is closest to the food. The lower surface may also comprise at least one aperture 124 that forms a component of the locking mechanism. The upper surface of the container rests in proximity, and above the lower surface.
A slot 118 may form between the upper surface and the lower surface. The slot may be sized and dimensioned to at least partially enable the seal portion to slidably move along a longitudinal axis. The upper surface may comprise a compression portion that forms yet another component of the locking mechanism. The compression portion may include an indentation sized and dimensioned to be operable to be pressed down by a finger or hand. The slot, which is accessible from one end of the cover, may form between the upper surface and the lower surface. The slot may be sized and dimensioned to at least partially receive the seal portion. In some embodiments, the seal portion may at least partially slide into the slot and engage the at least one aperture to lock the container. The slot may form a snug fit around the seal, such that pulling the seal from the slot after locking may be destructive to the container and the seal portion. In this manner, tampering may be visibly apparent.
In some embodiments, the seal portion may include a base end 106 that at least partially wraps around the base and one of the sidewalls of the container. The base end may fasten to an outside surface area of the base and the sidewall, forming a secure connection through various fastening mechanisms, including, without limitation, an adhesive, a pin, a screw, a magnet, and friction. The seal portion may further comprise a locking end 104 opposite the base end. In one embodiment, the base end may be glued to the food container, and the locking end may be free to pass through the slot and lock the cover down.
The locking end of the seal portion may pass through the slot for locking the cover down onto the container. A drive mechanism 116 on a central section of the seal portion and on the locking end of the seal portion may include an indentation configured to be operable for a finger to push, or slide the locking end into the slot, between the lower surface and the upper surface of the cover. The indentation may include moon shaped indentations along the edge of the seal, configured to be operable to be pushed by a thumb for sliding the locking end into the slot. The locking end may include at least one protrusion that engages with, and fastens to the at least one aperture of the lower surface. The at least one protrusion may include a plurality of teeth that utilize curved ends, or friction to secure into the at least one aperture. In one embodiment, the at least one protrusion comprises six cardboard teeth, sized and dimensioned to pass through and lock with six compatible apertures in the lower surface.
In one alternative embodiment, the locking system may lock cargo containers used to carry goods over the seas or in airplanes. In yet another alternative embodiment, the upper surface and the lower surface of the cover may bind together over the seal portion to provide additional security. In yet another alternative embodiment, an audio portion, such as a beeping mechanism may be actuated when the seal is broken, or when the teeth are separated from the holes. In yet another alternative embodiment, the locking end of the seal portion may include a magnet that fastens to the lower surface of the cover. In yet another alternative embodiment, the locking system may utilize a combination code to separate the teeth from the holes.
Those skilled in the art will readily recognize, in light of and in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, that any of the foregoing steps may be suitably replaced, reordered, removed and additional steps may be inserted depending upon the needs of the particular application. Moreover, the prescribed method steps of the foregoing embodiments may be implemented using any physical and/or hardware system that those skilled in the art will readily know is suitable in light of the foregoing teachings. For any method steps described in the present application that can be carried out on a computing machine, a typical computer system can, when appropriately configured or designed, serve as a computer system in which those aspects of the invention may be embodied. Thus, the present invention is not limited to any particular tangible means of implementation.
It will be further apparent to those skilled in the art that at least a portion of the novel method steps and/or system components of the present invention may be practiced and/or located in location(s) possibly outside the jurisdiction of the United States of America (USA), whereby it will be accordingly readily recognized that at least a subset of the novel method steps and/or system components in the foregoing embodiments must be practiced within the jurisdiction of the USA for the benefit of an entity therein or to achieve an object of the present invention. Thus, some alternate embodiments of the present invention may be configured to comprise a smaller subset of the foregoing means for and/or steps described that the applications designer will selectively decide, depending upon the practical considerations of the particular implementation, to carry out and/or locate within the jurisdiction of the USA. For example, any of the foregoing described method steps and/or system components which may be performed remotely over a network (e.g., without limitation, a remotely located server) may be performed and/or located outside of the jurisdiction of the USA while the remaining method steps and/or system components (e.g., without limitation, a locally located client) of the forgoing embodiments are typically required to be located/performed in the USA for practical considerations. In client-server architectures, a remotely located server typically generates and transmits required information to a US based client, for use according to the teachings of the present invention. Depending upon the needs of the particular application, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, in light of the teachings of the present invention, which aspects of the present invention can or should be located locally and which can or should be located remotely. Thus, for any claims construction of the following claim limitations that are construed under 35 USC §112 (6) it is intended that the corresponding means for and/or steps for carrying out the claimed function are the ones that are locally implemented within the jurisdiction of the USA, while the remaining aspect(s) performed or located remotely outside the USA are not intended to be construed under 35 USC §112 (6).
All the features disclosed in this specification, including any accompanying abstract and drawings, may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.
It is noted that according to USA law 35 USC §112 (1), all claims must be supported by sufficient disclosure in the present patent specification, and any material known to those skilled in the art need not be explicitly disclosed. However, 35 USC §112 (6) requires that structures corresponding to functional limitations interpreted under 35 USC §112 (6) must be explicitly disclosed in the patent specification. Moreover, the USPTO's Examination policy of initially treating and searching prior art under the broadest interpretation of a “mean for” claim limitation implies that the broadest initial search on 112(6) functional limitation would have to be conducted to support a legally valid Examination on that USPTO policy for broadest interpretation of “mean for” claims. Accordingly, the USPTO will have discovered a multiplicity of prior art documents including disclosure of specific structures and elements which are suitable to act as corresponding structures to satisfy all functional limitations in the below claims that are interpreted under 35 USC §112 (6) when such corresponding structures are not explicitly disclosed in the foregoing patent specification. Therefore, for any invention element(s)/structure(s) corresponding to functional claim limitation(s), in the below claims interpreted under 35 USC §112 (6), which is/are not explicitly disclosed in the foregoing patent specification, yet do exist in the patent and/or non-patent documents found during the course of USPTO searching, Applicant(s) incorporate all such functionally corresponding structures and related enabling material herein by reference for the purpose of providing explicit structures that implement the functional means claimed. Applicant(s) request(s) that fact finders during any claims construction proceedings and/or examination of patent allowability properly identify and incorporate only the portions of each of these documents discovered during the broadest interpretation search of 35 USC §112 (6) limitation, which exist in at least one of the patent and/or non-patent documents found during the course of normal USPTO searching and or supplied to the USPTO during prosecution. Applicant(s) also incorporate by reference the bibliographic citation information to identify all such documents comprising functionally corresponding structures and related enabling material as listed in any PTO Form-892 or likewise any information disclosure statements (IDS) entered into the present patent application by the USPTO or Applicant(s) or any 3rd parties. Applicant(s) also reserve its right to later amend the present application to explicitly include citations to such documents and/or explicitly include the functionally corresponding structures which were incorporate by reference above.
Thus, for any invention element(s)/structure(s) corresponding to functional claim limitation(s), in the below claims, that are interpreted under 35 USC §112 (6), which is/are not explicitly disclosed in the foregoing patent specification, Applicant(s) have explicitly prescribed which documents and material to include the otherwise missing disclosure, and have prescribed exactly which portions of such patent and/or non-patent documents should be incorporated by such reference for the purpose of satisfying the disclosure requirements of 35 USC §112 (6). Applicant(s) note that all the identified documents above which are incorporated by reference to satisfy 35 USC §112 (6) necessarily have a filing and/or publication date prior to that of the instant application, and thus are valid prior documents to incorporated by reference in the instant application.
Having fully described at least one embodiment of the present invention, other equivalent or alternative methods of implementing a locking system to inhibit tampering with food inside containers according to the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Various aspects of the invention have been described above by way of illustration, and the specific embodiments disclosed are not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed. The particular implementation of the locking system to inhibit tampering with food inside containers may vary depending upon the particular context or application. By way of example, and not limitation, the locking system to inhibit tampering with food inside containers described in the foregoing were principally directed to a pizza box locking mechanism that forms a seal around the box and between two layers in the cover implementations; however, similar techniques may instead be applied to larger food containers, such as refrigerators, which implementations of the present invention are contemplated as within the scope of the present invention. The invention is thus to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the following claims. It is to be further understood that not all of the disclosed embodiments in the foregoing specification will necessarily satisfy or achieve each of the objects, advantages, or improvements described in the foregoing specification.
Claim elements and steps herein may have been numbered and/or lettered solely as an aid in readability and understanding. Any such numbering and lettering in itself is not intended to and should not be taken to indicate the ordering of elements and/or steps in the claims.
The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed.
The Abstract is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R. Section 1.72(b) requiring an abstract that will allow the reader to ascertain the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to limit or interpret the scope or meaning of the claims. The following claims are hereby incorporated into the detailed description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment.
Claims
1. A system comprising:
- a container for containing an item, said container comprising a cover for at least partially regulating access to said item, said cover comprising a lower surface, said lower surface comprising a slot, said lower surface further comprising at least one aperture, said cover further comprising an upper surface, said upper surface comprising a compression portion; and
- a seal portion for at least partially securing said container in a closed position and at least partially inhibiting tampering with said container, said seal portion being disposed to at least partially encompass said container, said seal portion comprising a locking end for at least partially locking said cover into said closed position, said locking end being disposed to position between said upper surface and said lower surface, said locking end comprising a drive mechanism for driving said locking end into said slot, said locking end further comprising at least one protrusion for at least partially passing through said at least one aperture, said at least one protrusion being configured to at least partially receive a force from said compression portion for engaging said at least one aperture.
2. The system of claim 1, in which said system comprises a locking system.
3. The system of claim 2, in which said container comprises a food container.
4. The system of claim 3, in which said item comprises a food.
5. The system of claim 4, in which said container comprises a base.
6. The system of claim 5, in which said container comprises at least one sidewall.
7. The system of claim 6, in which said seal portion comprises a base end.
8. The system of claim 7, wherein said base end engages said base and said at least one sidewall for at least partially encompassing said container.
9. The system of claim 8, in which said base end comprises an adhesive.
10. The system of claim 9, wherein said locking end is adapted to move along a longitudinal axis of said slot.
11. The system of claim 10, wherein said upper surface and said lower surface are sufficiently proximal to indicate tampering with said seal portion.
12. The system of claim 11, in which said compression portion comprises a semi-circular indentation configured to be operable to be pressed down by a hand for pressing said at least one protrusion into said at least one aperture.
13. The system of claim 12, in which said at least one protrusion comprises six curved rectangular teeth.
14. The system of claim 13, in which said at least one aperture comprises six holes configured to at least partially receive said six curved rectangular teeth.
15. The system of claim 14, in which said locking end comprises an adhesive.
16. The system of claim 15, in which said seal portion comprises a pair of straps.
17. The system of claim 16, wherein said pair of straps comprise a substantially similar material as said container.
18. The system of claim 17, wherein said pair of straps engage said container from opposite ends of said container.
19. A system comprising:
- means for positioning an item inside a container;
- means for moving a cover of said container into a closed position;
- means for encompassing said container with a seal portion;
- means for fastening a base end to a base and at least one sidewall of said container;
- means for sliding a locking end into a slot with a drive mechanism;
- means for pressing at least one protrusion into at least one aperture with a compression portion; and
- means for locking said cover into said closed position and at least partially inhibiting tampering of said cover.
20. A system consisting of:
- a container for containing an item, said container comprising a food container, said item comprising a food, said container further comprising a base, said container further comprising at least one sidewall, said container further comprising a cover for at least partially regulating access to said item, said cover comprising a lower surface, said lower surface comprising a slot, said lower surface further comprising at least one aperture, said at least one aperture comprising six rectangular holes, said cover further comprising an upper surface, said upper surface and said lower surface being sufficiently proximal to indicate tampering, said upper surface comprising a compression portion, said compression portion comprising a semi-circular indentation configured to be operable to be pressed down by a hand; and
- a seal portion for at least partially securing said container in a closed position and at least partially inhibiting tampering with said container, said seal portion comprising a pair of straps, said pair of straps being disposed to engage said container from opposite ends, said seal portion being disposed to at least partially encompass said container, said seal portion comprising a locking end for at least partially locking said cover into said closed position, said locking end being disposed to position between said upper surface and said lower surface, said locking end being configured to at least partially position inside said slot, said locking end being adapted to move along a longitudinal axis of said slot, said locking end comprising a drive mechanism for driving said locking end into said slot, said locking end further comprising at least one protrusion for at least partially passing through said at least one aperture, said at least one protrusion comprising six curved rectangular teeth, said at least one protrusion being configured to at least partially receive a force from said compression portion for engaging said at least one aperture, said seal portion further comprising a base end for engaging said base and said at least one sidewall, said base end comprising an adhesive for fastening to said base.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 27, 2013
Publication Date: Jul 2, 2015
Inventor: Jeffrey Thomas Crooms (Cliffside Park, NJ)
Application Number: 14/141,770
