Claims
- 1. A child-resistant container for holding at least one item, the container comprising:
a housing having upper and lower walls and at least one open side between the upper and lower walls; a tray adapted for holding at least one item, the tray being pivotably connected to the housing at a pivot joint for movement between a first position in which the tray is in the housing for preventing access to the at least one item and a second position in which the tray extends through the at least one open side of the housing for exposing the at least one item; a latch comprising a flexible member connected to the tray, the flexible member being biased into engagement with the housing when the tray is in the first position; and a lock assembly engageable with the tray when the tray is in the first position; wherein the tray is secured in the first position by the latch and the lock assembly and is angularly displaceable from the first position to the second position upon the simultaneous application of a first force to the latch, a second force to the lock assembly and a torque to the tray.
- 2. A child-resistant container according to claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises a notch and the latch further comprises a tang that is engageable with the notch when the tray is in the first position.
- 3. A child-resistant container according to claim 2, wherein the notch is located in a side wall of the housing adjacent the at least one open side.
- 4. A child-resistant container according to claim 3, wherein the lock assembly comprises a first flexible tab integral with one of the upper and lower walls of the housing and a boss extending from the first tab for locking engagement with the tray when the tray is in the first position.
- 5. A child-resistant container according to claim 4, wherein the lock assembly further comprises a second flexible tab integral with the other of the upper and lower walls of the housing and a push rod extending from the first tab to the second tab, such that inwardly directed force applied to the second tab causes outward flexion of the first tab from the one wall and simultaneous disengagement of the boss from the tray to thereby release the tray from the first position.
- 6. A child-resistant container according to claim 5, wherein the tray has a security aperture through which the boss extends when the tray is in the first position.
- 7. A child-resistant container according to claim 1, wherein the lock assembly comprises a first flexible tab integral with one of the upper and lower walls of the housing and a boss extending from the first tab for locking engagement with the tray when the tray is in the first position.
- 8. A child-resistant container according to claim 7, wherein the lock assembly further comprises a second flexible tab integral with the other of the upper and lower walls of the housing and a push rod extending from the first tab to the second tab, such that inwardly directed force applied to the second tab causes outward flexion of the first tab from the one wall and simultaneous disengagement of the boss from the tray to thereby release the tray from the first position.
- 9. A child-resistant container according to claim 7, wherein the tray has a security aperture through which the boss extends when the tray is in the first position.
- 10. A child-resistant container according to claim 1, wherein the housing and the tray are generally rectangular in shape.
- 11. A child-resistant container according to claim 10, wherein the pivot point is adjacent a first corner of the housing.
- 12. A child-resistant container according to claim 11, wherein the lock assembly is adjacent a second corner of the housing that is diagonal to the first corner.
- 13. A child-resistant container according to claim 12, wherein the flexible member of the latch is located at a third corner of the housing when the tray is in the first position.
- 14. A child-resistant container according to claim 13, wherein the latch is integral with the tray.
- 15. A child-resistant container according to claim 13, wherein the housing further comprises a notch and the latch further comprises a tang that is engageable with the notch when the tray is in the first position.
- 16. A child-resistant container according to claim 15, wherein the notch is located in a side wall of the housing adjacent the at least one open side.
- 17. A child-resistant container according to claim 13, wherein the lock assembly comprises a first flexible tab integral with one of the upper and lower walls of the housing and a boss extending from the first tab for locking engagement with the tray when the tray is in the first position.
- 18. A child-resistant container according to claim 17, wherein the lock assembly further comprises a second flexible tab integral with the other of the upper and lower walls of the housing and a pushrod extending from the first tab to the second tab, such that inwardly directed force applied to the second tab causes outward flexion of the first tab from the one wall and simultaneous disengagement of the boss from the tray to thereby release the tray from the first position.
- 19. A child-resistant container according to claim 18, wherein the tray has a security aperture through which the boss extends when the tray is in the first position.
- 20. A child-resistant container according to claim 1, wherein the latch is integral with the tray.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/334,409, filed Nov. 30, 2001 and entitled “Child Resistant Container”.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60334409 |
Nov 2001 |
US |