US 12,503,277 B2Granted

Container with flexible wall locking mechanism

AssigneeAltria Client Services LLC

InventorsWilliam J. Bogdziewicz, Christopher J. Hession, Scott A. Fath, Travis Martin Garthaffner, Ahmet Ercelebi

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A container includes a base and a lid movable between a closed and locked configuration and an open configuration The base includes a peripheral wall movable from a relaxed position to a flexed position by applying a first force to a first portion in a first direction and a second force to a second portion in a second direction. The lid defines a plurality of receptacles. In the closed and locked configuration, the protrusions are at least partially in the receptacles, the peripheral wall is in the relaxed position, and the protrusions are configured to engage the lid to retain the lid in the closed and locked configuration. The container is configured to be moved from the closed and locked configuration to the open configuration by moving the lid in a third direction different from the first and second directions while the peripheral wall is in the flexed position.

Claims26

Dependent claims

A container comprising:

a base including,
a bottom wall,
a peripheral wall perpendicular to the bottom wall, at least a portion of the peripheral wall being configured to be moved from a relaxed position to a flexed position by applying a first force to a first portion the peripheral wall in a first direction and a second force to a second portion of the peripheral wall in a second direction different than the first direction, the bottom wall and the peripheral wall defining a storage area, the peripheral wall including an inner surface, an upper surface, and an outer surface, the inner surface being a planar surface extending from the bottom wall to the upper surface;
a plurality of protrusions on the peripheral wall,
a first indentation defined by the outer surface of the peripheral wall below a protrusion of the plurality of protrusions, and
a second indentation defined by the outer surface of the peripheral wall;
a first lid configured to be moved between a closed and locked configuration and an open configuration, the first lid including,
a top wall, and
a skirt perpendicular to the top wall, the skirt defining a plurality of receptacles, the skirt having a bottom surface and an outermost surface;
and
a secondary lid configured to pivot with respect to the bottom wall, wherein in the closed and locked configuration, the plurality of protrusions are at least partially in the plurality of receptacles, respectively, the peripheral wall is in the relaxed position, the plurality of protrusions are configured to engage the first lid to retain the first lid in the closed and locked configuration, and the first indentation is configured such that the bottom surface of the skirt is exposed by the first indentation,
the container is configured to be moved from the closed and locked configuration to the open configuration by moving the first lid in a third direction different from the first direction and the second direction while the peripheral wall is in the flexed position;
in the closed and locked configuration, the outer surface is coplanar with the outermost surface of the skirt, and
the second indentation exposes an upper surface of the secondary lid.

11 more elements

A container comprising:

a base movable between a relaxed position and a flexed position, the base including,
a bottom wall,
a first peripheral wall portion, and
a second peripheral wall portion opposite the first peripheral wall portion, the second peripheral wall portion and the first peripheral wall portion at least partially defining a storage area, the first peripheral wall portion and the second peripheral wall portion each respectively defining an inner surface, an upper surface, and an outer surface, the inner surface of the first peripheral wall portion and the inner surface of the second peripheral wall portion each being a planar surface extending from the bottom wall to the respective upper surfaces of the first peripheral wall portion and the second peripheral wall portion;
a first lid configured to be moved between a closed and locked configuration to prevent access to the storage area and an open configuration to permit access to the storage area;
a living hinge coupling the first lid to the base;
a locking mechanism including,
a plurality of protrusions on one of the base and the first lid,
a first indentation on the base below a protrusion of the plurality of protrusions,
a plurality of receptacles on the other of the base and the first lid, and
a skirt having a bottom surface and an exterior surface;
a secondary lid configured to pivot with respect to the bottom wall;
and
a second indentation defined by the base, the second indentation exposing an upper surface of the secondary lid, wherein
in the closed and locked configuration, the plurality of protrusions are at least partially in the plurality of receptacles, respectively, the base is in the relaxed position, and the first indentation is configured such that bottom surface of the skirt is exposed by the first indentation, and
the container is configured to be moved from the closed and locked configuration to the open configuration by concurrently applying
a first force to the first peripheral wall portion,
a second force to the second peripheral wall portion, the second force opposite of and parallel to the first force, and
a third force to the first lid, the third force perpendicular to the first force and the second force, and
in the closed and locked configuration, the outer surface is coplanar with the exterior surface.

17 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 17/320,918Filed 14 May 2021
Published: US 2022/0363448 A117 Nov 2022
Granted: 23 Dec 2025
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

B65D 43/22
Non-removable lids or covers: devices for holding in closed position, e.g. clips
B65D 50/046
Where one action elastically deforms or deflects at least part of the closure, the container or an intermediate element, e.g. a ring: and such…
B65D 11/10
Containers having bodies formed by interconnecting or uniting two or more rigid, or substantially rigid, components made wholly or mainly of…: of…
B65D 43/162
Hinged for upward or downward movement: the container, the lid and the hinge being made of one piece