CHILD RESISTANT AND ADULT FRIENDLY CONTAINER

Abstract

A container body with a casing having an interior surface defining an interior space. A holder is positioned at least partially inside the interior space and has an outer surface that is spaced at least partially from the interior surface of the casing. The holder defines a cavity that is configured to receive a pre-rolled smokeable product to inhibit contact of the pre-rolled smokeable product with objects external to the holder. A connecting member is configured to engage with a cap to seal the holder to inhibit fluid communication between the cavity of the holder and an ambient environment. A method for use in transporting pre-rolled smokeable products with a container body.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based on and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/818,249, filed on Mar. 14, 2019 and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/844,942, filed on May 8, 2019, each of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to containers, and more specifically to child resistant and adult friendly containers.

2. Description of Related Art

In recent years, studies have begun to provide evidence that cannabis may be useful in treating many age-related diseases such as cognitive decline, arthritis and insomnia. Cannabis may be used as pre-rolled joints, or pre-rolls, which are often held in containers to prevent them from being damaged prior to use. It is important to maintain such pre-rolls safe from ingestion by children.

In many applications, reclosable containers are designed with child safety as a paramount consideration, given various incidents of adverse reaction to the consumption of marijuana involving children. An example is child-safe cannabis containers.

The most common solution for designing child-safe or child-resistant containers is a closure which has to be pushed down and turned simultaneously. The rationale is that young children have neither the strength nor the dexterity required for this operation. Safe use of such a packaging solution requires that the safety feature is restored to the same condition after re-closing the package. Practice shows however, that child-safe caps also present a challenge to elderly persons and people with reduced hand function. For them, child-resistant caps are hard to open, which causes the containers to be poorly reclosed, or even left open, which may be counterproductive and result in access to the contents of such containers by children.

The design of child resistant closures that are easy for elderly patients to operate is difficult because of the multitude of factors affecting the discrimination between children and adult physical and cognitive abilities. There are various factors to be considered in designing an effective child resistant, elderly friendly closure, and most of these factors may interact in non-linear, unpredictable ways. These factors can manifest from the differences in palm size, finger length, skin friction, time to frustration, perception of operable elements, and medical conditions.

For a “push and turn” mechanism, the factors that must be considered, for example, include the texture, shape, diameter and height of the gripping surfaces, as each can differentially affect the abilities of different users in operating the mechanism. In terms of interaction with the physical characteristics of the user, they affect the ability of the user to apply a sufficient axial (pushing) force, as well as the simultaneously required rotational (twisting) force. Additionally, the friction at the interface between the different components inherent in the mechanism can be described as static or dynamic in nature, and depends on the different materials used in the container collar, the cap and the internal bias member. This will affect the force required to initiate, and continue the downward movement of the cap, as well as initiating and continuing the rotation of the cap. Furthermore, the dampening of the pushing motion can obfuscate the position at which the cap will be released to turn. Different users may use different parts of their hands to operate the mechanism, so the gripping force of the hand has to be considered. Where the mechanism is designed for one-handed operation, the forces that the user can apply with only the thumb and forefinger must be considered. The multitude of other factors include, but are not limited to, fine motor skills, hand steadiness, eye-hand coordination, vision, cognitive ability of the user, and the cues presented by the mechanism as to how it may operate.

A typical mechanism that embodies the use of simultaneous axial and twisting forces on a cap is exemplified in U.S. Pat. No. 4,059,198.

Such a mechanism comprises the container body itself that has a plurality of hook-like protuberances arranged around the outside circumference of its open end, a cap that has a set of complementary nubs arranged around its inner circumference, such that the nubs can engage the hooks upon insertion of the container into the cap such that the nubs initially clear the hooks, but engage the hooks when the cap is rotated relative to the container body in a bayonet fashion. The key to the operation of the mechanism is a bias member conventionally a dome like circular member inserted into the cap that applies an upward counterforce to attempts to press the cap onto the open end of the container.

In the current art, the child resistant bayonet capped container bodies are usually cylindrical in shape, though rectangular prism shapes are known as well. Whether the container is cylindrical or prism shaped, the caps are round.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A container body in accordance with one aspect of the invention described herein includes a casing having an interior surface defining an interior space. A holder is positioned at least partially inside the interior space and has an outer surface that is spaced at least partially from the interior surface of the casing. The holder defines a cavity that is configured to receive a pre-rolled smokeable product to inhibit contact of the pre-rolled smokeable product with objects external to the holder. A connecting member is configured to engage with a cap to seal the holder to inhibit fluid communication between the cavity of the holder and an ambient environment.

The container body may have a plurality of connecting members that are configured to engage a plurality of engaging members of the cap to connect the holder to the cap and to seal the holder. The connecting member may define a holding recess that is configured to receive one of the engaging members of the cap. The connecting member may have a circumferentially extending portion, a tooth, and an axially extending portion that define the holding recess. The tooth may have an axially extending side, a circumferentially extending side, and a ramped side. The connecting member may define an entry recess extending from a top end of the holder to the holding recess. The entry recess may be defined by the tooth of a first connecting member, an axially extending portion of a second connecting member, and a bottom circumferentially extending recess bounding portion of the first connecting member.

A resilient seal may be configured to seal the holder to inhibit fluid communication between the cavity of the holder and an ambient environment when the cap is engaged with the holder. The seal may be configured to provide a biasing force between the cap and the holder in a direction toward the cap from the holder to maintain an engaging member of the cap in a holding recess of the connecting member. The seal may be configured to allow a release of the engaging member of the cap from the holding recess in response to an axial force of 5 kgf by a user. The seal may be configured to allow the release of the cap from the holder in response to an application of a torque of between about 0.1 Nm to about 1 Nm by a user.

The container body described herein may be configured to be child-resistant. The container body may be configured to securely retain pre-rolled smokeable products, including cannabis products. The container body may be configured so that a cap may be coupled and decoupled from the container body without undue problems by adults, including elderly persons.

Another aspect of the invention described herein includes a method for use in transporting pre-rolled smokeable products with a container body as described above. The method includes locating a pre-rolled smokeable product in a cavity of the holder to inhibit contact of the pre-rolled smokeable product with objects external to the holder, and engaging a cap with the holder to inhibit fluid communication between the cavity of the holder and an ambient environment.

Additional aspects of the invention, together with the advantages and novel features appurtenant thereto, 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, or may be learned from the practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The subject matter which is regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and other features, and advantages of the invention will be readily understood from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container body in accordance with the invention described herein showing a cap connected to the container body;

FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the container body and cap of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective side cross-sectional view of the container body and cap of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of the container body of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a side cross-sectional view of the container body of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken through the line 6-6 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a perspective side cross-sectional view of a holder of the container body of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a portion of the holder shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a side cross-sectional view of a casing of the container body and the cap shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a perspective cross-sectional view of the cap of FIG. 1;

FIG. 11 is another perspective cross-sectional view of the cap of FIG. 1;

FIG. 12 is a close-up view of an end portion of the holder shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 13 is a side view of a seal for use with the container body and cap shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 14 is a side cross-sectional view of the seal of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the seal of FIG. 13; and

FIG. 16 is a side cross-sectional view of the container body and cap shown in FIG. 1 showing use of the seal shown in FIG. 13.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As depicted in FIG. 1, a container 10 for holding pre-rolled smokeable products (e.g. cannabis or tobacco), or pre-rolls, may include a container body 20 and a cap 30 releasably connectable to body 20. Such connection may be sealable to inhibit an escape of vapor from an interior space 40 (FIG. 2) of body 20.

As depicted in cross-section in FIG. 2, interior space 40 may include a holder 50 which may be cylindrical and bound a cavity 60 for receiving materials, such as cannabis pre-rolls. Such container may protect the pre-rolls from damage during transport as the pre-rolls would be protected from contact with other objects while held in container 10. For example, container 10 may be held in a pocket of a user while protecting pre-rolls held in cavity 60 of container 10 from contacting other objects in the pocket or being otherwise bent or damaged due to the container maintaining its structural shape.

As indicated, holder 50 may be cylindrical with such cylindrical shape inhibiting the pre-rolls held in cavity 60 from being caught or punctured by any edges or corners that could be present in a non-cylindrical container. Holder 50 may be located inside and connected to a casing 70 that functions as an outer shell of container 10. A space 65 may be located around an outer surface 51 of holder 50 between holder 50 and casing 70 for a portion of a longitudinal dimension of container 10, wherein the longitudinal dimension or axis of container 10 extends from a top end 73 of casing 70 to a bottom end 11. Holder 50 may be connected (e.g., via welding, riveting or another connecting fastener) to casing 70 at a bottom connecting point 72 that may be located at a center of a circle of a cross-section of the cylindrical shape of holder 50 and at a center of a cross-section of casing 70. As depicted, casing 70 may have a cross-sectional square shape or such casing may be formed of other shapes.

FIG. 6 depicts a cross-sectional end perspective view of FIG. 2 transverse to longitudinal dimensions of holder 50 and casing 70 showing about a half of a cylindrical shape of holder 50 and about a half of a square shape of casing 70.

Holder 50 may also include a plurality of spacing arms 52 (FIGS. 2, 3, 5, 7 8) located longitudinally opposite connecting point 72 (relative to a longitudinal dimension of container 10) to maintain a remainder of holder 50 spaced interiorly relative to casing 70. Such arms may maintain a top engaging portion 54 of holder 50 equally spaced relative to an interior surface 71 of casing 70 at a top end 73 of casing 70. Such arms may be shaped to fit inside corners of casing 70 to maintain such spacing and inhibit movement of holder 50 relative to casing 70.

As depicted in FIGS. 4 and 12, a top extending portion 56 of holder 50 may extend longitudinally past casing 70 relative to a longitudinal dimension of container 10. Top extending portion 56 may include connecting members 80 configured (e.g., shaped and dimensioned) to connect holder 50 to cap 30. Cap 30 may include engaging members 32 (FIGS. 10 & 11) configured (e.g., shaped and dimensioned) to engage connecting members 80 to connect cap 30 to holder 50 and casing 70.

Connecting members 80 may be bayonet shaped, for example, as depicted in FIGS. 4 and 12 while engaging members 32 (FIGS. 10 & 11) may project from an inner surface 33 of cap 30 and may be cube shaped except for ramped portions 35 at a top corner thereof. Connecting members 80 may project from adjacent recessed surfaces 82.

Cap 30 may be located on extending portion 56 such that an interior 37 of cap 30 receives extending portion 56. Cap 30 may be moved longitudinally toward bottom connecting point 72 such that engaging members 32 may be moved longitudinally via an entry recess 81 defined by recessed surfaces 82. Cap 30 may be rotated clockwise via a circumferentially extending recess 91 defined by adjacent recessed surfaces 82 such that one of engaging members 32 may be located in a holding recess 83 bounded by a tooth 84 of one of connecting members 80. The entry recess 81 extends from a top end 57 of the holder 50 to the circumferentially extending recess 91 and the holding recess 83. The entry recess 81 is defined by the tooth 84, an axially extending portion 87a of an adjacent connecting member, and a bottom circumferentially extending recess bounding portion 95. Tooth 84 may extend longitudinally (i.e., axially relative to an axial dimension of holder 50) from a circumferentially extending portion 85 of one of connecting members 80. Holding recess 83 may also be bounded by extending portion 85 and a triangularly shaped axially extending portion 87. Holding recess 83 may be one of a plurality (e.g., 4) of holding recesses around a circumference of extending portion 56.

Cap 30 may include a seal 45 (FIGS. 13-15) in interior 37 of cap 30 bounded by inner surface 33. Seal 45 is omitted from FIGS. 1-12 for ease of illustration and is depicted in FIGS. 13-15. FIG. 16 depicts a cross-section of container 10 including seal 45. Seal 45 may be formed of low density polyethylene (LDPE) for example and may be elastically deformable such that seal 45 may be compressed longitudinally (i.e., axially relative to holder 50) by a user relative to container 10 when the user presses on cap 30 in a longitudinal direction toward an opposite end 11 of container 10 toward bottom connecting point 72. Seal 45 may be biased such that when such pressure is released seal 45 tends to return in a direction away from opposite end 11 of container 10 and away from bottom connecting point 72. For example, seal 45 may include a circumferential bottom portion 49 that may contact a top end 57 (FIG. 16) of extending portion 56 and may be resiliently compressed by an axial force (e.g. by a user pressing on cap 30) such that a bias force may be provided in the opposite direction (i.e., away from end 11). A bottom portion 47 of seal may be received within an inner radial surface of top end 57 to provide a seal thereby inhibiting fluid communication between interior 37 of cap 30 and cavity 60 of holder 50 relative to the ambient environment.

To connect cap 30 to top extending portion 56 of holder 50 to close container 10 (e.g., to protect pre-rolls in cavity 60), cap 30 may be pressed longitudinally (i.e., axially) by a user relative to container 10 to allow one of engaging members 32 to move axially past tooth 84 and in a circumferential direction as cap 30 is rotated. For example, a force of 5 kgf (kilogram-force) may be required in the longitudinal direction (relative to container 10) to overcome a resiliency of seal 45 to allow one of the engaging members 32 to move past tooth 84. Pressure on cap 30 may be released such that seal 45 may expand in a direction away from the opposite end of container 10 and away from bottom connecting point 72 due to a resilient bias of seal 45 as described above. Thus, in response to the release of pressure and resiliency of seal 45, cap 30 and engaging members 32 may move longitudinally (i.e., axially) relative to container 10 away from bottom connecting point 72 and one of such engaging members 32 may be received in holding recess 83 and such engaging member 32 may be blocked from being rotated counterclockwise by tooth 84 absent pressure being applied to cap 30. Multiple such engaging members 32 may be received in multiple holding recesses 83 to inhibit movement of cap 30 in a counterclockwise direction. The release of the cap 30 and resilient bias of seal 45 may provide a force in the direction away from the opposite end 11 of container 10 to bias engaging members 32 within the holding recesses 83 and against bottom surfaces 89 of extending portion 85.

To open container 10 (e.g., to allow access to cavity 60) when the engaging members 32 are received within the holding recesses 83, pressure may be applied to cap 30 by a user longitudinally (i.e., axially) relative to container 10 toward bottom connecting point 72 compressing seal 45 such that engaging members 32 may extend longitudinally past connecting members 80 and cap 30 may be rotated counterclockwise until the engaging members 32 have moved circumferentially (e.g., in recess 91) past connecting members 80. The pressure may then be released and the engaging members 32 may pass through a recess (e.g., entry recess 81) to allow cap 30 to be removed from top extending portion 56 of holder 50 and away from casing 70.

In an example, a user may apply axial and rotational pressure to engage cap 30 with extending portion 56 by engaging engaging members 32 with the holding recesses (e.g., holding recess 83) using one hand. In another example, a user may apply axial and rotational pressure to disengage cap 30 from extending portion 56 by disengaging engaging members 32 from the holding recesses (e.g., holding recess 83) using one hand.

In addition, seal 45 may be vapor proof when cap 30 is engaged with extending portion 56. Specifically, a resiliency force of seal 45 biasing cap 30 away from extending portion 56 may hold engaging members 32 within the holding recesses 83. The bias force holding engaging members 32 within the holding recesses may be balanced with the force required to move cap longitudinally to disengage engaging members 32 to allow an opening of container 10, including the frictional characteristics (e.g., static and dynamic friction) of the cap 30 and extending portion 56 that opposes the rotational motion, such that a required axial force and rotational friction does not make the twisting motion too difficult for elderly persons.

In an example, connecting members 80 may include ramped portions 86 and engaging members 32 may move along the ramped portions during clockwise rotation of cap 30 to facilitate entry of one such engaging members (e.g., through recess 81 and recess 91) into holding recess 83 and other such engaging members into similar or identical such holding recesses. Ramped portions 86 may be aligned at about a 45 degree angle relative to a longitudinal axis of container 10. Ramped portions 35 of engaging members 32 may similarly facilitate movement of the engaging members in a counterclockwise direction along connecting members 80 after cap 30 has been pressed toward bottom connecting point 72. Ramped portions 35 may be aligned at about a 45 degree angle relative to a longitudinal axis of container 10.

Referring to FIG. 12, the tooth 84 may include ramped side 86, a circumferentially extending side 92, and an axially extending side 93. The axially extending side 93 connects to the bottom surface 89 of extending portion 85. Each of the ramped side 86, the circumferentially extending side 92, and the axially extending side 93 may be a curved surface transitioning to a top surface 94 of the tooth 84.

As depicted in the figures, cap 30 and casing 70 may have similar or identical outside cross-sectional sizes and shapes. As depicted casing 70 and cap 30 may have identical or similar outside cross-sectional square shapes. In other examples, casing 70 and cap 30 could have identical or similar outside rectangular, circular or oval shapes. In further examples, casing 70 and cap 30 could have identical or similar outside cross-sectional shapes of other polynomials.

The described similar or identical outside cross-sectional sizes and shapes of cap 30 and casing 70 allow a user to easily ascertain if a closure mechanism of container 10 is properly engaged. More specifically, the similar or identical cross-sectional sizes and shapes make it easier for a user to identify the alignment of surfaces of cap 30 and casing 70 (e.g., by touch or sight) when the cap 30 and extending portion 56 are engaged such that engaging members 32 are received in the holding recesses 83. In contrast, if the shapes of the cap and casing differed, e.g., if either the cap is round and the body square, or the cap is square and the body is round, it would be more difficult to ascertain if such a closure mechanism is properly engaged (i.e., engaging members 32 are received in the holding recesses). Further, differences between a child's manual dexterity and cognitive abilities versus that of an elderly adult may allow an adult to easily open container 10 when the closure mechanism is properly engaged (i.e., engaging members 32 are received in the holding recesses) while being difficult if not impossible for children to operate.

Importantly, an ultimate movement required to rotate the cap (e.g., cap 30) after applying axial pressure is the torque required to rotate the cap (e.g., clockwise to locate engaging members 32 in the holding recesses) which is a function of the friction of the rotating cap relative to holder 50, as well as its diameter. It would be understood by one skilled in the art that it would be more difficult to apply a given torque to a cap with a small diameter (or dimension) as opposed to a cap with a large diameter (or dimension). For example, there would be less surface area to apply a force to, and less leverage available for such force, with a smaller cap. It would also be understood by one skilled in the art that when a diameter of a container body (e.g., casing 70) is wider than a diameter of a cap (e.g., cap 30), a cognitive signal is presented that a twisting motion may undo the cap, in analogy with the common non-child resistant containers such as soda bottles and mayonnaise jars.

One of the characteristic differences between adults and children is hand size, and thus a thickness (if square) or diameter (if round) of a cap (e.g., cap 30), and a casing (e.g., casing 70) are critical to differentiating child and adult ease of opening. Further, a diameter or thickness of a cap (e.g., cap 30), and a casing (e.g., casing 70) may be manipulated to differentiate child and adult ease of opening since the absolute dimensions are critical to the ease of gripping such a casing and cap, and applying an axial force and simultaneously applying a torque force.

As described above, when cap 30 is engaged with extending portion 56, engaging members 32 may be received in holding recesses 83. In one example, after an axial force is applied to move the engaging members 32 axially or longitudinally closer to the opposite end 11 than tooth 84 (or a similar tooth or structure) a rotation of 45 degrees may be required to disengage the mechanism, i.e., to move the tooth circumferentially such that one or more of engaging members 32 may move axially or longitudinally in a direction toward a top end 57 of holder 50 due to a resilient force of seal 45 or a force applied by a user. The amount of rotation required would be dependent on a number, a size and a placement of connecting members 80. In another example, a rotation of 135 degrees may be required to disengage such a mechanism. In a further example, a rotation of 225 degrees may be required to disengage the mechanism. In yet another example, a rotation of 315 degrees may be required to disengage the mechanism. In yet a further example, any rotation other than 0 to 5 degrees or 355 to 360 degrees (i.e., a rotation between 5 to 355 degrees) may be required to engage or disengage the mechanism if the cross section of the body and cap is oval. In one aspect, any rotation other than 360/n degrees may be required to engage or disengage the mechanism if the cross section of the body and cap is an n sided polygon.

As suggested above, cross-sections of a cap (e.g., cap 30) and a body (e.g., casing 70) may be aligned when a closing mechanism of a container (e.g., container 10) is in an engaged and locked state (e.g., when engaging members 32 may be received in holding recesses 83 of extending portion 56). In another example, cross-sections of a cap (e.g., cap 30) and a body (e.g., casing 70) may not be aligned when the closing mechanism is in the disengaged and unlocked state.

As indicated above, in an example, it may be visually apparent (e.g., cross-sections of a cap and a body or casing may be aligned) when a closing mechanism of a container (e.g., container 10) is in an engaged and locked state. In another example, it may be visually apparent when the mechanism is in the disengaged and unlocked state.

As indicated above, in an example, it may be tactilely apparent (e.g., cross-sections of a cap and a body or casing may be aligned) when a closing mechanism of a container (e.g., container 10) is in an engaged and locked state. In another example, it may be tactilely apparent when the mechanism is in the disengaged and unlocked state.

In an example, a thickest side (if square or rectangular in cross-section) or diameter (if round in cross-section) of a cap (e.g., cap 30) and a body (e.g., casing 70) may be between 0.5 and 1.25 inches, between 0.65 and 1 inches, or between 0.7 and 0.8 inches.

In an example, a total length of an engaged and locked cap and body (e.g., container 10 when cap 30 is engaged with extending portion 56) may be between about 2 and about 6 inches. In another example, an engaged and locked cap and body (e.g., container 10 when cap 30 is engaged with extending portion 56) may be between about 3 and about 5 inches.

In an example, cross-sections of a cap (e.g., cap 30) and a body (e.g., casing 70) may have square external cross-sections. In another example, cross-sections of a cap (e.g., cap 30) and a body (e.g., casing 70) may have round internal cross-sections. In a further example, cross-sections of a cap (e.g., cap 30) and a body (e.g., casing 70) may have square internal cross-sections. In yet another example, cross-sections of a cap (e.g., cap 30) and a body (e.g., casing 70) may have oval external cross-sections. In yet a further example, cross-sections of a cap (e.g., cap 30) and a body (e.g., casing 70) may have rectangular internal cross-sections. In an example, cross-sections of a cap (e.g., cap 30) and a body (e.g., casing 70) may have rectangular external cross-sections. In another example, cross-sections of a cap (e.g., cap 30) and a body (e.g., casing 70) may have polygonal internal cross-sections. In a further example, cross-sections of a cap (e.g., cap 30) and a body (e.g., casing 70) may have polygonal external cross-sections.

In one aspect, a container (e.g., container 10) may be configured such that a shape and dimensions thereof (e.g., external dimensions of a cap and casing) are small relative to the hands of an adult so that a torque required to rotate a depressed cap (e.g., cap 30) from a locked (e.g., when engaging members are received in holding recesses) to an unlocked position (e.g., when engaging members are released from holding recesses) is about 0.791 Nm (Newton-metre).

In an example an axial force (i.e., in a direction toward end 11 opposite a free end of cap 30 and toward bottom connecting point 72) to release a cap (e.g., cap 30) from a casing (e.g., extending portion 56 connected to casing 70) by pressing engaging members (engaging members 32) of the cap axially past any retaining members (e.g., tooth 84) to overcome any resilient force (e.g., from a seal) may range from about 2 kgf to 8 kgf. In another example, such an axial force to overcome the resilient force and to press engaging members (engaging members 32) of the cap axially past any retaining members (e.g., tooth 84) may range from about 3 kgf to 7 kgf. In a further example, an axial force to overcome the resilient force and to press engaging members (engaging members 32) of the cap axially past any retaining members (e.g., tooth 84) may range from about 4 kgf to 6 kgf.

In an example, an axial force to overcome the resilient force and to press engaging members (engaging members 32) of the cap axially past any retaining members (e.g., tooth 84) may be about 2 kgf. In another example, an axial force to overcome the resilient force and to press engaging members (engaging members 32) of the cap axially past any retaining members (e.g., tooth 84) may be about 3 kgf. In yet another an example, an axial force to overcome the resilient force and to press engaging members (engaging members 32) of the cap axially past any retaining members (e.g., tooth 84) may be about 4 kgf. In a further example, an axial force to overcome the resilient force and to press engaging members (engaging members 32) of the cap axially past any retaining members (e.g., tooth 84) may be about 5 kgf. In yet a further example, an axial force to overcome the resilient force and to press engaging members (engaging members 32) of the cap axially past any retaining members (e.g., tooth 84) may be about 6 kgf. In an example, an axial force to overcome the resilient force and to press engaging members (engaging members 32) of the cap axially past any retaining members (e.g., tooth 84) may be about 7 kgf. In another example, an axial force to overcome the resilient force and to press engaging members (engaging members 32) of the cap axially past any retaining members (e.g., tooth 84) may be about 8 kgf.

As indicated above, an axial force may be applied to a cap (e.g., cap 30) in a direction (e.g., toward bottom connecting point 72) toward end 11 opposite a free end of the cap (e.g., cap 30) to press engaging members (engaging members 32) of the cap axially past any retaining members (e.g., tooth 84) to overcome any resilient force (e.g., from a seal) toward the free end of the cap. After such engaging members are located axially past any retaining members, the cap may be rotated (e.g., counter clockwise) to allow the engaging members to be located in circumferential spaces (e.g., recesses 81, 91) between the retaining members (e.g., connecting members 80) and the cap may then be moved away from end 11 to release the cap from the casing and holder. Such rotation of the cap may require a torque of about 0.1 Nm to about 1 Nm. In another example, the required torque may be about 0.1 Nm to about 0.9 Nm. In a further example the torque required to rotate the cap to allow the engaging members to be located in circumferential spaces between the retaining members (e.g., tooth 84) and the cap may be less than or equal to about 0.791 Nm. In another example, the required torque may be about 0.791 Nm.

As described above, extending portion 56 of holder 50 may include connecting members 80 bounding holding recesses (e.g. holding recess 83) configured to receive engaging members 32 of cap 30. In an example, extending portion 56 may include four connecting members 80 and cap 30 may have four engaging members 32 engageable therewith. In another example, extending portion 56 may include four connecting members 80 circumferentially equally spaced (e.g., 90 degrees apart) around the extending portion and cap 30 may have four engaging members 32 circumferentially equally spaced (e.g., 90 degrees apart) around inner circumference of the cap. In other examples, there could be 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8 connecting members and corresponding engaging members on such an extending portion and cap.

In an example, connecting members (e.g., connecting members 80) of an extending portion (e.g., extending portion 56) and engaging members (e.g., engaging members 32) of a cap (e.g., cap 30) engageable with each other may be disposed evenly circumferentially around their respective surfaces. In another example, such connecting members and engaging members may be disposed unevenly around their respective surfaces. Also, the shape, size, or depth of a plurality of connecting members may be different from each other. Similarly, the shape, size, or depth of a plurality of engaging members may be different from each other. Further, some of the particular connecting members and engaging members diametrically opposed to each other and directly engaging each other may have distinct shapes relative to other such pairs circumferentially separated from each other.

Also, the holder described above (e.g., holder 50) may be formed of polypropylene (PP) plastic, for example. Seal 45 described above may be formed of low density polyethylene (LDPE). The casing (e.g., casing 70) and an outer portion of the cap (e.g., cap 30) described above may be formed of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) plastic, for example. An inner portion of the cap (e.g., cap 30) described above may be formed of PP plastic, for example.

As described above, container 10 may include a seal having a resilient force in a direction opposite end 11 such that an axial force of 5 kgf may overcome such resilient force to allow engaging members (engaging members 32) of a cap (e.g., cap 30) to move axially past any retaining members (e.g., connecting members 80) to allow rotation of the cap and a release through recesses (e.g., recess 81, recess 91) of a holder (e.g., holder 50). Container 10 may have dimensions of 133 mm×21 mm×21 mm, for example.

A senior adult use effectiveness test and sequential child test per 16 CFR 1700.20 was conducted with an exemplary container. The container was found to be one hundred percent effective on child-resistant guidelines and ninety-eight percent effective on senior use effectiveness guidelines.

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference is made above to embodiments of the invention and specific language describing the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, and any alterations and further modifications in the described embodiments, and any further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates are contemplated and protected.

From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all ends and objectives herein-above set forth, together with the other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the invention.

Since many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matters herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings are to be interpreted as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

While specific embodiments have been shown and discussed, various modifications may of course be made, and the invention is not limited to the specific forms or arrangement of parts and steps described herein, except insofar as such limitations are included in the following claims. Further, it will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A container body comprising:

a casing comprising an interior surface defining an interior space;

a holder positioned at least partially inside the interior space and comprising an outer surface that is spaced at least partially from the interior surface of the casing, wherein the holder defines a cavity that is configured to receive a pre-rolled smokeable product to inhibit contact of the pre-rolled smokeable product with objects external to the holder; and

a connecting member configured to engage with a cap to seal the holder to inhibit fluid communication between the cavity of the holder and an ambient environment.

2. The container body of claim 1, wherein the connecting member comprises a plurality of connecting members configured to engage a plurality of engaging members of the cap to connect the holder to the cap and to seal the holder.

3. The container body of claim 2, wherein a first connecting member of the plurality of connecting members defines a holding recess configured to receive an engaging member of the plurality of engaging members.

4. The container body of claim 3, wherein the first connecting member comprises a circumferentially extending portion, a tooth and an axially extending portion bounding the holding recess.

5. The container body of claim 4, wherein the tooth comprises an axially extending side, a circumferentially extending side, and a ramped side.

6. The container body of claim 5, wherein the ramped side extends at an angle of about 45 degrees relative to a longitudinal axis of the holder.

7. The container body of claim 5, wherein the axially extending side, the circumferentially extending side, and the ramped side comprise curved surfaces connecting to a top surface of the tooth.

8. The container body of claim 1, wherein the connecting member defines an entry recess and a holding recess.

9. The container body of claim 8, wherein the entry recess extends from a top end of the holder to the holding recess.

10. The container body of claim 9, wherein the connecting member comprises a circumferentially extending portion, a tooth and an axially extending portion defining the holding recess, and wherein the entry recess is defined by the tooth, an axially extending portion of a second connecting member and a bottom circumferentially extending recess bounding portion of the connecting member.

11. The container body of claim 1, wherein the pre-rolled smokeable product comprises a first pre-rolled smokeable product of a plurality of pre-rolled smokeable products and the holder comprises a cylindrical container configured to hold the plurality of pre-rolled smokeable products.

12. The container body of claim 1, further comprising a resilient seal configured to seal the holder to inhibit fluid communication between the cavity of the holder and an ambient environment when the cap is engaged with the holder.

13. The container body of claim 12, wherein the seal is configured to provide a biasing force between the cap and the holder in a direction toward the cap from the holder to maintain an engaging member of the cap in a holding recess of the connecting member.

14. The container body of claim 13, wherein the seal is configured to allow a release of the engaging member of the cap from the holding recess in response to an axial force of 5 kgf by a user.

15. The container body of claim 14, wherein the seal is configured to allow the release of the cap from the holder in response to an application of a torque of between about 0.1 Nm to about 1 Nm by a user.

16. A method for use in transporting pre-rolled smokeable products with a container body comprising a casing comprising an interior surface defining an interior space, and a holder positioned at least partially inside the interior space and comprising an outer surface that is spaced at least partially from the interior surface of the casing, the method comprising:

locating a pre-rolled smokeable product in a cavity of the holder to inhibit contact of the pre-rolled smokeable product with objects external to the holder; and

engaging a cap with the holder to inhibit fluid communication between the cavity of the holder and an ambient environment.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising engaging a plurality of connecting members of the holder with a plurality of engaging members of the cap to connect the holder to the cap and to seal the holder.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of engaging a plurality of connecting members of the holder with a plurality of engaging members of the cap comprises receiving a first engaging member of the plurality of engaging members in a holding recess bounded by a first connecting member of the plurality of connecting members.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of engaging a plurality of connecting members of the holder with a plurality of engaging members of the cap comprises applying an axial force to the cap to compress a resilient seal and rotating the cap to engage the first engaging member in the holding recess.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of applying the axial force to the cap comprises applying an axial force of at least 5 kgf to the cap.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the step of engaging a plurality of connecting members of the holder with a plurality of engaging members of the cap comprises applying a torque to the cap of about 0.1 Nm to about 1 Nm.