USE AND MANUFACTURE

FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to containers, and more particularly, to child-resistant and airtight containers.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Containers are utilized across a variety of industries and applications for storage purposes. At times, these containers may store certain contents which require a child-resistant seal. To create the necessary tension to provide a child-resistant seal, three components are commonly utilized: a lid, a base, and a collapsible gasket.

SUMMARY

[0003] According to one aspect, a container having a lid and a base is provided. The lid has a top surface and a first sidewall extending circumferentially downward from the top wall and terminating in a bottom rim. The lid also includes at least two channels formed in the first sidewall and extending to the bottom rim. The at least two channels may be formed on an outer surface of the sidewall near the distal end, in some embodiments. The base includes a bottom surface and a second sidewall extending circumferentially upward from the bottom surface and terminating in a top rim. The base also includes at least two bosses extending out from the second sidewall. The at least two bosses may be formed on an inner surface of the sidewall near the distal end, in some embodiments. The at least two bosses are configured to be matingly received by the at least two channels to form an airtight seal when the lid is coupled to the base. [0004] In some exemplary embodiments, the airtight seal is formed by a surface of constant contact between the lid and the base when the at least two bosses are matingly received by the at least two channels. The airtight seal may be watertight. If desired, the container may meet all child-resistant standards set forth in 16 CFR 1700.15 using the procedures outlined in 16 CFR 1700.20.

[0005] The at least two bosses may be configured to be slidably received by the bottom rim and/or the at least two channels. The at least two channels may be grooved.

[0006] In some exemplary embodiments, the lid includes two channels equidistantly spaced around a circumference of the first sidewall and the base includes two bosses equidistantly spaced around a circumference of the second sidewall. In some alternative embodiments, the lid includes three channels equidistantly spaced around a circumference of the first sidewall and the base includes three bosses equidistantly spaced around a circumference of the second sidewall. In further alternative embodiments, the lid includes four channels equidistantly spaced around a circumference of the first sidewall and the base includes four bosses equidistantly spaced around a circumference of the second sidewall.

[0007] The first sidewall may include one or more first shouldered angles. The second sidewall may also include one or more second shouldered angles, and the one or more first shouldered angles may directly contact the one or more second shouldered angles along an entire circumference of the container when the lid is coupled to the base.

[0008] The lid may be coupled to the base by positioning the bottom rim of the lid to face the top rim of the base and rotating the lid in a clockwise direction and pushing the lid downwards onto the base. In some embodiments, the lid is configured to be uncoupled from the base by pushing the lid downwards onto the base and rotating the lid in a counterclockwise direction as the lid lifts upwardly away from the base.

[0009] In some exemplary embodiments, the at least two bosses are positioned on an interior surface of the second sidewall and the at least two channels are formed in an exterior surface of the first sidewall. However, in other exemplary embodiments, the at least two bosses are positioned on an exterior surface of the second sidewall and the at least two channels are formed in an interior surface of the first sidewall.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[00010] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a container having a base and a lid, configured in accordance with the present disclosure;

[00011] FIG. 2A is a perspective view of the lid of FIG. 1;

[00012] FIG. 2B is a side view of the lid of FIG. 1;

[00013] FIG. 2C is a top view of the lid of FIG. 1;

[00014] FIG. 2D is a bottom view of the lid of FIG. 1;

[00015] FIG. 3 A is a perspective view of the base of FIG. 1;

[00016] FIG. 3B is a bottom view of the base of FIG. 1;

[00017] FIG. 3C is a top view of the base of FIG. 1; and

[00018] FIG. 3D is a cross-sectional view of the base of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[00019] Child-resistant packaging and containers are used to reduce the risk of poisoning in children by preventing the unintended ingestion of potentially hazardous items, such as certain prescription and over the counter (OTC) medications, pesticides, and household chemicals. Child-resistant containers are designed to be significantly difficult for children under the age of five to open and not difficult or time-consuming for normal adults to open and use properly. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) regulates child-resistant packaging. If a container meets the requirements of 16 CFR 1700.15 using the procedures outlined in 16 CFR 1700.20, the container can be certified as child-resistant by the CPSC. Most child-resistant containers include three or more components to provide an airtight seal. For example, typical child-resistant pill containers contain a gasket piece in the cap that is compressed when the cap is coupled to the base to create a seal. However, these multi-component containers are more costly to manufacture than a two-piece container and the gaskets can easily fail with repeated use. Moreover, these containers are generally not recyclable, and ultimately end their lifecycle in a landfill.

[00020] The subject disclosure is directed to a container that is child-resistant and capable of forming an airtight seal. In contrast to other types of child-resistant containers, the presently disclosed containers do not rely on a gasket or other type of additional component to form an airtight seal. Instead, the presently disclosed containers are formed of two mating pieces that easily couple to form an airtight seal while also meeting child-resistance standards set by the CPSC. Additionally, and as described below in detail, the disclosed containers may be manufactured from recycled, recyclable, and/or biodegradable materials (e.g., fiber-fdled resins or hemp-plastic blends) to provide improved environmental impact.

[00021] FIG. 1 illustrates an exploded view of a container 100 configured in accordance with the subject disclosure. As shown in FIG. 1, container 100 includes a lid 10 and a base 50. The lid 10 and the base 50 are couplable to and removable from one another. When coupled, the interior of the container 100 is airtight and/or watertight, meaning that the contents of the container 100 are completely insulated from the container’s external environment. In some aspects, container 100 comprises, consists of, or consists essentially of a lid 10 and a base 50 as described in detail herein. FIGS. 2A-2D (discussed below) illustrate various features of the lid 10 and FIGS. 3A-3D (discussed below) illustrate various features of the base 50.

[00022] As shown in FIGS. 2A-2D, the lid 10 includes a top surface 12 and a first sidewall 14 extending circumferentially downward from the top surface 12 and terminating in a bottom rim 16. In some implementations, first sidewall 14 extends around the entire circumference of top surface 12. Lid 10 also includes at least two channels 18a, 18b formed in the first sidewall 14 and extending to the bottom rim 16. In some embodiments, the at least two channels 18a, 18b may be formed on an outer surface of the sidewall 14 near the distal end. In some embodiments, lid 10 includes two, three, four, or more channels. For example, as shown in FIGS. 2A-2D, lid 10 includes four channels 18a, 18b, 18c, 18d; however, other variations are possible and contemplated herein.

[00023] In some embodiments, the least two channels 18a, 18b may be grooved. In these and other embodiments, the first sidewall 14 may include one or more first shouldered angles 22, as shown in FIGS. 2A-2B. In some such embodiments, the second sidewall 54 may include one or more second shouldered angles shaped to directly contact the one or more first shouldered angles 22 when the lid 10 is coupled to the base 50. If present, the one or more first shouldered angles 22 and one or more second shouldered angles can enable container 100 to have an airtight, childresistant seal without the need for a gasket or additional components. Specifically, when the lid 10 is coupled to the base 50, the one or more first shouldered angles 22 can directly contact the one or more second shouldered angles of the second sidewall 54 along an entire circumference of the container 100 to create an airtight seal. [00024] As shown in FIG. 2D, lid 12 may include reinforcements 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d. If present, reinforcements 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d may be internally disposed in lid 12 to provide support to lid 12 during coupling and uncoupling of lid 12 to base 50. In some embodiments, reinforcements 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d are equidistantly spaced around a circumference of the first sidewall 14; however, other variations are possible and contemplated herein.

[00025] As shown in FIGS. 3A-3D, base 50 includes a bottom surface 52 and a second sidewall 54 extending circumferentially upward from the bottom surface 52 and terminating in a top rim 56. In some embodiments, second sidewall 54 extends around the entire circumference of bottom surface 52. Base 50 includes at least two bosses 58a, 58b extending out from the second sidewall 54. In some embodiments, the at least two bosses 58a, 58b may be formed on an inner surface of the sidewall 54 near the distal end. In some embodiments, base 10 includes two, three, four, or more bosses. For example, as shown in FIGS. 3A-2D, base 50 includes four channels 58a, 58b, 58c, 58d; however, other variations are possible and contemplated herein. [00026] As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art upon consideration of the subject disclosure, the at least two bosses 58a, 58b may be shaped to be slidably received by the at least two channels 18a, 18b of the lid 10 when the base 50 is coupled to the lid 10. The at least two bosses 58a, 58b may have a substantially rectangular shape, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3D. However, in other embodiments, the at least two bosses 58a, 58b may be substantially square, trapezoidal, circular, oval, or in the form of another geometric shape. If the at least two bosses 58a, 58b have linear sides, the sides may be parallel to or offset from the plane of top rim 56. [00027] Container 100 may be configured to have an equal number of bosses 58 and channels 18. For example, in some embodiments, the lid 10 includes two channels 18a, 18b equidistantly spaced around a circumference of the first sidewall 14 and the base 50 includes two bosses 58a, 58b equidistantly spaced around a circumference of the second sidewall 54. In other embodiments, the lid 10 includes three channels 18a, 18b, 18c equidistantly spaced around a circumference of the first sidewall 14 and the base 50 includes three bosses 58a, 58b, 58c equidistantly spaced around a circumference of the second sidewall 54. As shown in FIGS. 1- 3D, the lid 10 includes four channels 18a, 18b, 18c, 18d equidistantly spaced around a circumference of the first sidewall 14 and the base 50 includes four bosses 58a, 58b, 58c, 58d equidistantly spaced around a circumference of the second sidewall 54.

[00028] Although lid 10 is illustrated in the accompanying figures with channels 18a, 18b on an external surface of the first sidewall 14, it should be noted that in other alternative embodiments, channels 18a, 18b may be positioned on an internal surface of the first sidewall 14. In some such embodiments, bosses 58a, 58b on the base 50 may be positioned on an internal surface of second sidewall 54 (rather than an internal surface of second sidewall 54, as shown in the accompanying figures).

[00029] As previously mentioned, the lid 10 is configured to be coupled to the base 50.

Coupling can be carried out by positioning the bottom rim 16 of the lid 10 to face the top rim 56 of the base 50. The lid 10 and/or base 50 may be rotated relative to one another to position the at least two bosses 58a, 58b within the at least two channels 18a, 18b. Lid 10 can then be rotated in a clockwise direction with respect to the base 50. As lid 10 is rotated in a clockwise direction, the bosses 58a, 58b travel farther into channels 18a, 18b and eventually lock the lid 10 into place on the base 50. When the lid 10 is locked onto the base 50, the interior of container 100 is airtight and/or watertight. In these and other embodiments, when the lid 10 is locked onto the base 50, the container 100 is child-resistant, meaning that the container 100 meets all standards set forth in 16 CFR 1700.15 using the procedures outlined in 16 CFR 1700.20. [00030] To remove lid 10 from base 50, more than a simple counterclockwise rotation of the lid 10 relative to the base 50 is required. In some embodiments, removing the lid 10 from the base 50 requires the lid 10 to be pushed downward onto the base 50 as the lid 10 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction. In these and other embodiments, to remove the lid 10 from the base 50 requires the first sidewall 14 to be slightly squeezed during counterclockwise rotation of the lid 10 on the base.

[00031] Container 100 may be formed of any desired material. For example, in some embodiments, container 100 may be formed of a fiber-filled resin. In select embodiments, a blend of polymeric and/or hemp-based materials may be used to construct container 100. In various embodiments, container 100 may be formed of a plastic-hemp blend containing between 5-50% hemp by weight, such as between 25-50%, between 10-30% hemp by weight, or between 15-25% hemp by weight. Any suitable type of polymer may be used for the plastic-hemp blend, such as polypropylene homopolymer, polyethylene, polystyrene, or combinations thereof. Depending on its composition, container 100 may be biodegradable and/or recyclable. If desired, one or more other types of natural or man-made fibers may be blended with one or more polymers and used to form container 100. For example, in some embodiments, container 100 may include agave fibers, ocean plastics, jute, flax, bamboo, ramie, abaca, coir, and/or sisal. [00032] Container 100 may be formed by any suitable process. For example, various printing and/or injection-molding processes may be used to construct container 100, as desired.

[00033] It should be understood that the embodiments of the invention described above are only particular examples which serve to illustrate the principles of the invention. Modifications and alternative embodiments of the invention are contemplated which do not depart from the scope of the invention as defined by the foregoing teachings and appended claims. It is intended that the claims cover all such modifications and alternative embodiments that fall within their scope. [00034] What is claimed is: