Abstract:
An open ended container with locking lid can provide a number of features. The lid and the container have cooperating threads. The lid has also has a locking mechanism connected to the lid, such as from a downwardly extending wall. The container has a stop, in some embodiments accessible from above, such as with downwardly and possibly linearly biased engagement members of the locking mechanism. In fact, some embodiments have a stop as a portion of satellite ring.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a container with lid combination in which the lid could be placed in a locked configuration or an unlocked configuration wherein when in the locked configuration, the lid cannot be rotated relative to the container in an opening direction but when in an unlocked configuration, the lid can be so rotated. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Locking lid and container configuration have been the subject of many efforts. In addition to the applicant&#39;s earlier efforts, many of which have been patented, others such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,902,620, 6,176,381, 5,544,768 and others show various locking configurations in which the locking mechanism is secured to the container and engages teeth on the lid. Similar techniques have been employed for providing a tamper indicator and is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,926,165. All these prior art designs are various ways of achieving the various objectives, however, the applicant believes that there is still room for improvement in the art of containers with locking lids. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of at least some embodiments of the present invention to provide an improved container and locking lid assembly. 
     It is another object of at least some embodiments of the present invention to provide a locking lid assembly with the lid and container having a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration wherein when transitioning from the locked to the unlocked configuration, a locking member is upwardly and possibly linearly displaced upwardly relative to teeth connected to the containers such as about a satellite ring. 
     It is another object of at least some embodiments of the present invention to provide a locking mechanism operably coupled to a lid, wherein the locking mechanism engages at least one of a plurality of stops on the container to provide a new locking system. 
     Accordingly, in accordance with a presently preferred embodiment of the preferred invention a locking lid and container system provides a container having radially outwardly directed threads or thread segments towards an upper end of the container having the opening into the interior of the container. The lid has cooperating threads and/or thread segments which allow the lid to be screwed onto the container. 
     The lid has a locking mechanism which is preferably oriented to engage upwardly extending stops connected to the container below the threads or thread segments connected to the container. In fact, in the preferred embodiment, the stops extend from a satellite ring which often at least substantially circumnavigates or circumscribes the container. 
     The locking mechanism preferably provides at least one, if not a plurality of engagement members, which are biased into a locking configuration downwardly. A release or operator is preferably connected to the engagement member(s) allowing the engagement members to be upwardly displaced to provide the unlocked configuration. In many embodiments, the engagement member(s) are disposed on a slide and are linearly displaced intermediate the locked and unlocked configurations. The stops are located at specific locations around the container, and in some embodiments, may be located all along the container. 
     Since the engagement members are biased into the locking configuration, as the lid is tightened relative to the container, the engagement members pass over the stops which preferably deflect the engagement member(s) upwardly when tightened, but prevent opposite turning with the engagement member(s) downwardly extending relative to the stops which could be like teeth having an angled surface to facilitate the upward motion of the engagement member(s) upon tightening. A ratcheting sound may be provided as the lid and container enter the locked configuration. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The particular features and advantages of the invention as well as other objects will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a front plan view of a lid and container system of a presently preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a detailed view of Detail A shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3A  is a top plan view of the container shown in  FIG. 1  with the lid removed; 
         FIG. 3B  is a top plan view of an alternative embodiment container as could be used with the lid shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a front plan view of the container shown in  FIGS. 1-3A  with the lid removed; 
         FIG. 5  is a back plan view of the container shown in  FIGS. 1-3A  and  4  with a tamper indicator installed; 
         FIG. 6  is a back plan view of the container shown in  FIGS. 1-3A  and  4  prior to installing the tamper indicator; and 
         FIG. 7  is a front plan view of detail B shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     A container  10  and lid  12  provide an assembly. The lid  12  has the capability of locking relative to the container  10 . The lid  12  has a downwardly extending wall  14  with inwardly directed threads  16 . The inwardly directed threads  16  are illustrated as thread segments  18 ,  20 ,  22 ,  24 , but could be a single continuous thread in other embodiments. By providing multiple lower segments  20 , 24  someone installing the lid  12  relative to the container  10  may not be required to twist as far in order to have threads  16  engage outwardly directed threads of container  10  such as threads  26  shown in  FIG. 4  which may similarly, or dissimilarly provided in the form of thread segments  28 , 30 , 32 , 34 . 
     The multiple sets of upper segments  28 , 32  can provide similar capabilities, and when provided together with lower segments  20 , 24 , a synergistic effect can be provided whereby a user can turn the lid in a first direction such as direction  36  to cooperate to tighten the lid  12  relative to the container  10  a minimal amount before at least some of threads  16  engage threads  26  as would be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art. Of course a single set of threads  26  could be employed in some embodiments. Also, although upper threads  28 ,  30  are anticipated to be initially engaged in the illustrated embodiment, if the gaps  38 . 40  are wide enough, lower thread portions  20 , 24  could initially engage lower portions  30 , 34  or other portions at least in some embodiments. It will be understood that the threads  16 , 26  cooperate to secure the lid  12  relative to the container  10  in a closed configuration. 
     Threads  26  are shown located above, at least partially above a satellite ring  82 , Satellite ring  82  extends radially beyond surfaces  81  and  83  above and below the satellite ring  82  in a preferred embodiment. In fact satellite ring  82  may preferably also extend radially beyond threads  26  as well. 
     As the lid  12  is rotated in the first direction  36  relative to the container  10 , eventually, the locking mechanism  42  can engage one or more stops  44  as will be explained in more detail if the rotation is reversed to the second direction  74 . Stops  44  are shown as at least one, if not a plurality of teeth  46 , 48 , 50 , 52 , 54  as shown in the presently preferred embodiment. Each tooth  46 , 48 , 50 , 52 , and  54  is shown having an angled leading surface  56  terminating in a vertical surface  58 . This feature is not required for all embodiments. Engagement member(s) such as member  64  has an angled leading surface  62  terminating at vertical surface  60  and can be provided as one or more teeth, such as is illustrated or otherwise. It is presently preferred that at least one of stop  44  and/or engagement member(s) have vertical surfaces  58 , 60  which cooperate to lock the lid  12  relative to the container  10  in a locked configuration. It is also preferred, that at least one of stop(s)  44  and/or engagement member(s) have angled leading surfaces  56 , 62  and some may not have either or both of angled surfaces  56 , 62 . 
     The leading surfaces  56 , 62  if angled can deflect a biased engagement member upwardly when turning the lid  10  in the closing direction, illustrated as the first direction  36 . In fact, in a preferred embodiment, both the engagement member(s)  64  and stop(s)  44  have angled leading surfaces  52 , 62 , however other embodiments may have different constructions. Furthermore the leading surfaces  56 , 62  need not necessarily begin at a terminating point of a vertical surface such as vertical surfaces  58 , 60  as illustrated, but could in some embodiments. 
     The locking mechanism  42  may have a slide  66  which moves relative to a housing  68 . In the illustrated embodiment, the slide moves linearly along axis  70 , but other embodiments may function differently. Operator  72  is useful to move engagement member(s)  64  upwardly out of engagement with stop(s)  44  to transition the lid  12  and container  10  combination from a locked to an unlocked configuration. Movement a predetermined distance upwardly along axis  70  moves the vertical surfaces  58 , 60  so that they clear one another thereby allowing rotation, when attempted, in a second direction  74  which is opposite first direction  36 . 
     Spring  76  is shown in a preferred embodiment resiliently biasing the engagement member(s)  64  toward the stop(s)  44 . Various spring configurations are known in the art. The illustrated spring  76  is shown connected to the housing  68  as well as to the slide  66  such as with entrapment within pockets  78 , 80 . Other connection systems can be utilized as are known in the art. The operator  72 , if provided, can overcome the bias of the spring  76  to upwardly displace the engagement member(s)  64  as desired by the user. 
     The locking mechanism  42  is shown connected to the downwardly extending wall  14  of the lid  12 . The stop(s)  44  are shown extending upwardly from a satellite ring  82  which is illustrated below the threads  26  on the container  10 . The stop(s)  44  is shown engaged from above by at least one of the engagement member(s)  64 . Arms  84 , 86  are useful to connect the locking mechanism  42  to the downwardly extending wall  14 . Other connection systems can be utilized with other embodiments. 
     The stop(s)  44  are shown to extend radially at least as far as threads  26  in a preferred embodiment, if not radially therebeyond. Placement of the locking mechanism  42  relative to the wall  14  will have an impact on where the stop(s)  44  are located for proper engagement in the locked configuration. In the illustrated embodiment, at least a portion of the stop(s)  44  are located radially at a similar radius as the threads  26 . 
     In a preferred embodiment, the locking mechanism  42  as it cooperates with the stop  44  does not provide tamper indication. Other embodiments could provide such a function. In this embodiment, if tamper indication is desired, tamper indicator  88  is shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . Tamper indicator  88  can be connected to lid  12  and container  10  at a location spaced from the locking mechanism  12 . Specifically lid  12  is provided with bores or receivers  90  which receive extensions  93  from a first leg  92 . Receivers  94  on the container receive extensions  95  from a second leg  96 . The extensions  93 , 95  may be adhered into the receivers  90 , 94  or otherwise secured thereto in an effort to prevent undesired removal of the legs  92 , 96  relative to either of the lid  12  or container  10 . 
     In operation, the arms  98 , 100  are designed to fail when subjected to rotational force before other portions of the tamper indicator  88  would fail. Other tamper indicators  88  may function differently. 
       FIGS. 3A and 3B  show possible constructions of containers.  FIG. 3A  shows four sets of stops  44  disposed about the satellite ring  82  of the container  10 . Stops  44  are separated by planar upper surface  102  between adjacent sets of stops  44 .  FIG. 3B  shows stops  44  at least substantially circumnavigating the satellite ring  82 . Other embodiments may not provide stops  44  on satellite rings, but instead locate one or more stop(s)  44  at various desired locations relative to the container  10 . 
     Numerous alterations of the structure herein disclosed will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. However, it is to be understood that the present disclosure relates to the preferred embodiment of the invention which is for purposes of illustration only and not to be construed as a limitation of the invention. All such modifications which do not depart from the spirit of the invention are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.