Childproof Container with Pressure-Operated Lid

Abstract

The present childproof container with pressure-operated lid provided includes a cylindrical container, wherein the outside diameter of the lid matches the dimensions of the container body, wherein the lid and body engage in a screw-type mating mechanism. The threaded insert in the lid assembly rotates freely inside the outer insert that mates tightly to the lid sleeve when the lid assembly is rotated in either direction. The top surface of the inner threaded insert of the lid assembly has protrusions that can match grooves or channels on a bottom surface of the tightly-mated outer insert, allowing the components to engage with each other when inward pressure is applied to the top of the outer sleeve to open the container.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application incorporates by reference and claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Application 62/767,160 filed on Nov. 14, 2018.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present subject matter relates generally to a container with a child-proof opening mechanism. More specifically, the present subject matter provides a cylindrical container design that opens with a twisting mechanism that can be easily operated by an adult, while presenting an insurmountable obstacle to a child, or other person who lacks either the knowledge or manual dexterity to operate the unlocking mechanism.

Parents of young children often need to restrict their children from accessing dangerous or inappropriate items, both in their homes and in the world. Additionally, parents often look for containers that are discreet in both size and function, because such containers tend to be less attractive to young children, who often reach for items that are unique or that appear toy-like. In the event that the child does get their hands on the container, it is important that the child is unable to open the container and gain access to its inner contents.

Another important concern, especially for parents of older children, is that many of the currently available containers lack novelty in the opening mechanism, so it is simple for the child to observe the adult opening the container and can easily imitate the action to open the container on his own. In fact, in many cases, the child can witness many of the currently available containers being operated through casual observation of television and movies.

In addition to this, containers that require compound or sequential movements to open are much more difficult for children to operate, so the best childproof containers feature lids which require people to perform more than one motion or action to open.

Accordingly, a need exists for a new container with a childproof opening mechanism, particularly one which is both novel and complex in its operation, while also being as discreet as possible.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To meet the needs described above, the childproof container with pressure-operated lid provided herein can include a cylindrical container including a lid and a body, wherein the outside diameter of the lid matches the dimensions of the container body. The lid and body engage via a threaded mechanism. The lid assembly can include a threaded inner insert and an outer insert. The threaded inner insert within the lid assembly can rotate freely inside the outer insert of the lid assembly that can mate tightly to a lid sleeve surrounding the outer insert. The top surface of the threaded outer insert of the lid assembly has protrusions, ribs or similar surface texture. The bottom surface of the tightly-mated inner insert in the lid sleeve has matching grooves, channels, ribs, or surface texture to the threaded insert component of the lid assembly, allowing the protrusions and indentation components to engage with each other when inward pressure is applied to the top of the outer sleeve.

In an example, the childproof container with pressure operated lid can include a flat spacer or seal that nests inside the threaded inner insert of the lid assembly, wherein the flat spacer can rotate independently of all other components in the lid assembly and can press tightly against the top surface of the male threaded portion of the container when the container is closed.

An advantage of the present container is providing an unlockable container using two different motions at once, further preventing children from opening the container.

A further advantage of the present container is providing an unlocking mechanism that cannot be easily perceived and/or studied by older children to unlock the container.

Another advantage of the present system is providing a unique locking and unlocking mechanism that can be used on a variety of container types.

Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the examples will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following description and the accompanying drawings or may be learned by production or operation of the examples. The objects and advantages of the concepts may be realized and attained by means of the methodologies, instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawing figures depict one implementation in accord with the present concept, by way of example only, not by way of limitations. In the figures, like reference numerals refer to the same or similar elements.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a childproof container with pressure operated lid, showing the container closed.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a childproof container with pressure operated lid, showing the container open, with the male and female mating surfaces visible.

FIG. 3 is an illustration of an exploded view of a childproof container with pressure operated lid, showing the container body and lid assembly with lid sleeve, tightly-mated lid insert, threaded lid insert and male and female mating surfaces.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1-2 illustrate an example of a childproof container 10 with a pressure operated lid container 10. FIG. 1 illustrates the container 10 in a closed position wherein the lid and body are engaged together, while FIG. 2 illustrates the container 10 in an open position exposing an inner cavity.

The container 10 can be a hollow, cylinder, with a body 11 and a lid assembly 12. The container 10 can include any suitable height and shape. The body 11 can have a threaded male mating surface 13 on a portion of the outer surface of a top portion 30 of the body 11. For example, the body 11 can include a top portion 30 and a bottom portion 32, wherein the threaded male mating surface 13 is at least on a portion of the top portion 30. The top portion 30 can have a smaller diameter than that of the bottom portion 32 of the body 11.

The threaded male mating surface 13 can engage with a female mating surface 14 of the lid assembly 12. For example, the lid assembly 12 can include a threaded inner insert 15 having a top portion 36 and bottom portion 36, wherein a threaded female mating surface 14 can be on at least a portion of an inner surface of a bottom portion 34.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the container 10 illustrating the body 11 and the lid assembly 12, wherein the lid assembly can include the threaded female mating surface 14 on the inner threaded insert 15, a tightly-mated outer insert 16, and a lid sleeve 17 surrounding the outer insert 16.

In an example, the tightly-mated outer 16 can be slightly smaller in diameter than the inner diameter of the lid sleeve 17, which allows the outer insert 16 to slide snugly into the sleeve 17. Friction (e.g., a pressure fit) prevents the lid sleeve 17 from moving independently of the insert 16 during normal operation. In an example, the lid sleeve 17 can be in the form of a cylindrical ring having a side body surface without a top or bottom.

In an example, the outer diameter of the threaded inner insert 15 of the lid assembly 12 can be slightly smaller than the inside dimension of the tightly-mated outer insert 16, allowing the two inserts to move independently of one another.

The threaded inner insert 15 of the lid assembly 12 can include a plurality of protrusions 18 that can extend from the top surface of the threaded insert 15. In an example, the protrusions 18 can be positioned along the outer perimeter of the top surface of the threaded insert 15. A plurality matching indentations 19 on the bottom surface of the tightly-mated insert 16. In an example, the indentations 19 can be positioned along the outer perimeter of the bottom surface of the tightly-mated insert 16.

Of course, it is contemplated the threaded inner insert 15 of the lid assembly 12 can include a plurality of indentations that can extend into the top surface of the threaded insert 15, and wherein a plurality matching protrusions on the bottom surface of the tightly-mated insert 16 can engage with the indentations on the threaded inner insert.

In an example, the protrusions 18 and indentations 19 can be any suitable complementary shapes. For example, the protrusions 18 and indentations 19 can have a cross-section of a square, round, semicircular, triangular, however, it is contemplated that the shape could be any suitable shape or texture. The protrusions 18 can be rectangular ridges, whereas the indentations 19 are rectangular voids to receive the protrusions 18. For example, the protrusions 18 and indentations 19 can match one another sufficiently to produce adequate engagement for the threaded insert 15 to move together with the tightly-mated insert 16 when inward pressure is applied to the top of the lid assembly 12. When the threaded insert 15 engages with the tightly-mated insert 16, the protrusions 18 insert within the indentations 19. In an example, the protrusions 18 and indentations 19 engage with each other only with the application of pressure from the top of the lid assembly 12. As a result of the engagement between the protrusions 18 and indentations 19, the lid assembly 12 can be twisted to open, thereby separating the lid assembly 12 from the body 11. When pressure is not applied to the lid assembly 12, the protrusions 18 do not engage with the indentations 19 thus preventing the opening of the container when twisted. In other words, because the threaded insert 15 and tightly-mated insert 16 can move independently from each other, a user can twist the lid assembly 12 and fail to open the container as merely twisting the tightly-mated insert 16 does not engage and subsequently twist the threaded insert 15. As a result, the lid assembly 12 will not open.

The lid system 12 can include a flat spacer 20 that nests inside the threaded insert 15 and presses tightly against the top of the male threaded portion of the body 11 when the container 10 is closed. Alternatively, the flat spacer 20 can be nested against an upper surface within the threaded insert 15. The flat spacer 20 rotates independently of the other components in the lid assembly 12. The spacer 20 can have indentations, protrusions, or texture. In an example, the container 10 can omit the flat spacer 20.

It should be noted that various changes and modifications to the embodiments described herein 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 present invention and without diminishing its attendant advantages. For example, various embodiments of the systems and methods may be provided based on various combinations of the features and functions from the subject matter provided herein.

Claims

1. A container comprising:

a lid assembly including an outer insert and an inner insert, wherein the inner insert is positioned within the outer insert, wherein an inner surface of the inner insert includes a female threaded surface,

wherein the outer insert includes an outer top surface and an outer cylindrical wall extending from the outer top surface, wherein the outer top surface includes a plurality of outer protrusions positioned along the perimeter of the outer top surface,

wherein the inner insert includes an inner top surface and an inner cylindrical wall extending from the inner top surface, wherein the inner top surface includes a plurality of protrusions positioned along the perimeter of the inner top surface,

wherein when the inner insert is positioned inside the outer insert, the inner protrusions align with the outer protrusions; and

a body including a base and a cylindrical wall extending from the base defining an interior cavity, wherein an outer surface of an extended end of the cylindrical wall includes a male threaded surface to engage with the female threaded surface of the lid assembly,

wherein upon downward pressure on the lid assembly, the lid assembly moves from a first position to a second position,

wherein in the first position, the inner protrusions do not engage with the outer protrusions and wherein the outer insert rotates independent of the inner insert,

wherein in the second position, the inner protrusions engage with the outer protrusions and wherein the inner insert rotates dependent with the outer insert.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein the lid assembly includes a lid sleeve surrounding the cylindrical side wall of the outer insert

3. The container of claim 1, wherein the inner protrusions and the outer protrusions are the same shape.

4. The container of claim 1, wherein the inner protrusions and the outer protrusions are different shapes.

5. The container of claim 1, wherein the inner protrusions and the outer protrusions are a rectangular shape.