Patent Publication Number: US-10766674-B2

Title: Cannabis storage assembly

Description:
This is a nonprovisional application for patent under 35 U.S.C. § 111(a). 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The instant disclosure relates to cannabis storage containers. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Though current storage containers and assemblies recognize the need for secure containment, they currently only utilize a single means of access prevention. These available containers fall short in addressing concerns regarding the free movement of parts or features in addition to unencumbered access to contents despite the fact that these assemblies may indeed have some sort of security feature. 
     Cannabis, much like medications or other potentially harmful or toxic substances, requires secure containment, especially for those individuals who are not designated for its use. These individuals could be children, the elderly, or any person for whom the contained substance is not prescribed, designated, or legally permitted. As such, it is imperative that these individuals be protected from accidentally encountering or using these very substances through ensured prevention of access; particularly, cannabis. Accordingly, there is a need for a secure assembly that utilizes multiple mechanisms of access prevention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       One or more preferred exemplary embodiments will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements, and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a top side perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a cannabis storage assembly of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the cap, the base, and the container of the cannabis storage assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the view of the cannabis storage assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4A  is a first state of assembly of the cannabis storage assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4B  is a second state of assembly of the cannabis storage assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5A  is a top view of the base. 
         FIG. 5B  is a top perspective view of the base. 
         FIG. 5C  is a side profile view of the base. 
         FIG. 5D  is a cross-sectional view of the base. 
         FIG. 5E  is a bottom view of the base. 
         FIG. 5F  is a bottom perspective view of the base. 
         FIG. 6A  is a top view of the cap. 
         FIG. 6B  is a top perspective view of the cap. 
         FIG. 6C  is a side profile view of the cap. 
         FIG. 6D  is a cross-sectional view of the cap. 
         FIG. 6E  is a bottom view of the cap. 
         FIG. 6F  is a bottom perspective view of the cap. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The cannabis storage assembly of the instant disclosure solves these problems—a single means of deterrence and unencumbered access despite a security feature—by requiring the proper alignment of the cap and the base—a first mechanism of prevention. Upon proper alignment, when the cap is inserted into the base, the cannabis storage assembly enters a configuration in which the contents of the container are secured, though the assembly could at this point potentially be unsecured by its user. Furthermore, upon manipulation of the cap&#39;s orientation relative to the base, a second mechanism of prevention, the storage assembly enters another secure configuration, thusly completely preventing access to the container&#39;s contents. 
     Referring to the drawings, and in particular  FIG. 1 , an exemplary embodiment of a cannabis storage assembly  10 , designed to be child-resistant, is shown according to the instant disclosure. Referring to  FIG. 4B , the base  200  is inserted into the container  100 , and the cap  300  is interested into a base  200 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , The container  100  has a closed end  110  and an open end  112 . The container  100  has a first wall  114 . The first wall  114  terminates at the open end  112  at a first edge  122 . The first wall  114  has a first inner surface  116  which faces an interior volume  120 , as well as a first outer surface  118  opposite the interior volume  120 . The interior volume  120  of the container  100  allows the user of the assembly to place contents within it, or alternatively, is the area from which the assembly&#39;s user may retrieve contents. In the embodiment depicted in the figures, the first wall  114  extends perpendicularly away from the closed end  110 . Referring to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 5A , the base  200  is shown. The base  200  has a rim  210 . The rim  210  has a first circumference  212  and a second circumference  214 , where the second circumference  214  is located interior to the first circumference  212  relative to a common center. Referring to  FIG. 5B  and  FIG. 5F , in the embodiment depicted, the rim  210  has a first upper surface  216  and a first under surface  218 . Furthermore, in the embodiment shown, the differential between the first circumference  212  and the second circumference  214  creates an area between them. The rim  210  contains a second edge  220 . In the embodiment depicted in the figures, the second edge  220  contains a first set of visual indicia  222 . The first set of visual indicia  222  may take, for example, the form of words, arrows, lines, or other similar markings. The first set of visual indicia  222  works in concert with a second set of visual indicia  328 , further herein disclosed, to allow the assembly&#39;s user to confirm whether the base  200  is in proper alignment with the cap  300 , further herein disclosed, or conversely, whether the base  200  and the cap  300  are out of alignment. In the embodiment shown in the figures, the first set of visual indicia  222  take the form of at least one line. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5F , the base  200  has a second wall  224 . The second wall  224  has a second inner surface  226  and a second outer surface  228 . In this embodiment, the second inner surface  226  is situated such that it is flush with the second circumference  214  of the rim  210 . The second wall  224  has a third circumference  230  and a fourth circumference  232 , where the fourth circumference  232  is located interior to the third circumference  230  relative to a common center. Additionally in the embodiment depicted in the figures, the second wall  224  extends perpendicularly away from the rim  210 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5B  and  FIG. 5F  the second wall  224  has a third edge  234 . The second wall  224  contains a lip  236 . Referring to  FIG. 5A , the lip  236  has a first extent  238  that is at least a portion of the fourth circumference  232 . Referring to  FIG. 5D , in the embodiment depicted, the lip  236  is located on the second inner surface  226 . Further referring to  FIG. 5D  and  FIG. 5F , in the embodiment shown, the lip  236  has a second upper surface  240  and a second under surface  242 , where the second under surface  242  of the lip  236  is oriented such that it is parallel to the first under surface  218  of the rim  210 , and the second upper surface  240  is oriented such that it makes an acute angle with respect to the second inner surface  226  and creates a vertex with the the second under surface  242 . The lip  236  serves as the means by which the base  200  and the cap  300  interact such that the assembly can be brought from a semi-secured configuration to a secured configuration, further herein disclosed, respectively, or from a secured configuration to a semi-secured configuration. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5A , the lip  236  defines at least one notch. In the embodiment shown, the at least one notch is of a second extent  250 . In this embodiment, the lip  236  defines a first notch  244 , a second notch  246 , and a third notch  248 . The second notch  246  and the third notch  248  are of a third extent  252  and a fourth extent  254 , respectively, where the second extent  250  and the third extent  252  are both different than the first extent  238 . The at least one notch serves as the space into which the at least one prong, further herein disclosed, may be inserted upon manipulation of the cap  300  into the base  200  by the assembly&#39;s user. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5B ,  FIG. 5D , and  FIG. 5F , the at least one notch contains at least one ledge. The at least one ledge spans a fifth extent  262  that is at least a portion of the second extent  250  of the first notch  244 . In the embodiment depicted in the figures, the assembly contains a first ledge  256 , a second ledge  258 , and a third ledge  260 , where the second ledge  258  is of a sixth extent  264  and the third ledge  260  is of a seventh extent  266 . In the embodiment depicted in the figures, the at least one ledge contains a third upper surface  268  and a third under surface  270 . The third under surface  270  is oriented such that it is parallel to the first under surface  218 . The third upper surface  268  is oriented such that it makes an acute angle with respect to the second inner surface  226  and creates a vertex with the third under surface  270 . The interaction of the at least one prong and the at least one ledge provides the resistance required to be overcome by the assembly&#39;s user such that the at least one prong can be urged over the at least one ledge and thus brought into a semi-secured configuration. Conversely, the interaction between the at least one prong and the at least one ledge provides the resistance required to be overcome by the assembly&#39;s user such that the at least one prong can be urged over the at least one ledge in the opposite direction as previously stated such that assembly can be brought from a semi-secured configuration to an unsecured configuration, also further herein disclosed. 
     Referring further to  FIG. 5C , the base  200  contains at least one means of immobilization  272  upon interaction with the container  100 . In the embodiment depicted in the figures, the base  200  contains as a means of immobilization  272  at least one rib. Particularly in the embodiment depicted, the base  200  contains a first rib  274  and a second rib  276 , where the first rib  274  has an eighth extent  278  and the second rib  276  has a ninth extent  280 , where the eighth extent  278  and the ninth extent  280  are at least a portion of the third circumference  230 . Additionally in the embodiment shown in the figures, the at least one rib has a fourth upper surface  282  and fourth under surface  284 , where the fourth upper surface  282  is oriented such that it is parallel to the first under surface  218 , and the fourth under surface  284  is oriented such that it makes an acute angle with respect to the second outer surface  228  and creates a vertex with the fourth upper surface  282 . The at least one rib provides the assembly the means of interaction between the base  200  with the first inner surface  116  such that the at least one rib prevents the rotational, ascending, descending, and lateral movement of the base  200  when inserted into the container  100 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 6A , the cap  300  contains a fifth upper surface  310  and a fifth under surface  312 . Referring to  FIG. 6B , the fifth upper surface  310  contains at least one manner of manipulation. The at least one manner of manipulation is the assembly&#39;s feature or features which allow its user to change the orientation of the cap  300  relative to the base  200 . In the embodiment depicted in the figures, the fifth upper surface  310  contains contours as a manner of manipulation. The contours are in the form of gradations. The gradations are stacked layers which follow an approximate concentric pattern. The layers form peaks and valleys relative to the cap&#39;s  300  horizontal axis. The differences between the peaks and valleys create the impression of indentations into which the assembly&#39;s user could potentially depress at least one finger to aid in the manipulation of the cap&#39;s  300  spatial orientation relative to the base  200 . Further in the embodiment depicted in the figures, the fifth upper surface  310  contains four such indentations where the indentations have a semi-circular shape. Further in the embodiment depicted in the figures, the fifth upper surface  310  contains a fourth edge  326  as another manner of manipulation. In the embodiment depicted, the fourth edge  326  contains a tab. The tab is a sequential stack of gradations that has an extent, relative to the cap&#39;s  300  horizontal axis, sufficient to allow the assembly&#39;s user to apply force, pressure, or leverage to aid in the manipulation of the cap&#39;s  300  spatial orientation relative to the base  200 . Further referring to  FIG. 6B , a fifth upper surface  310  contains at least one manner for confirmation of alignment. A fifth upper surface  310  contains as a manner of confirmation of alignment a second set of visual indicia  328 . The visual indicia provide the assembly&#39;s user a manner in which to confirm that the assembly is in a semi-secured or secured configuration. The visual indicia may take the form, for example, of words, arrows, lines, or other similar markings to allow the user to confirm whether the orientation of the cap  300  is in proper alignment with the base  200 . In the embodiment shown, the second set of visual indicia  328  take the form of least one line. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6C , the cap  300  contains a third wall  314 . The third wall  314  contains a third inner surface  316  and a third outer surface  318 . Referring to  FIG. 6D ,  FIG. 6E , and  FIG. 6F , the third outer surface  318  contains at least one prong. The at least one prong is the means by which the assembly can be brought into a semi-secured or secured configuration via interaction between the at least one prong, the at least one ledge, and the lip  236 , respectively. The at least one prong is of an extent sufficient to accommodate movement through the at least one notch and over the at least one edge. In the embodiment depicted in the figures, the cap contains three prongs where a first prong  320  is of a tenth extent  326 , a second prong  322  is of an eleventh extent  328 , and a third prong  324  is of a twelfth extent  330 , where the tenth extent  326 , the eleventh extent  328 , and the twelfth extent  330  are within manufacturing tolerances of the second extent  250 , the third extent  252 , and the fourth extent  254 , respectively. Additionally, in the embodiment depicted, the at least one prong has a sixth upper surface  332  and sixth under surface  334 , where the sixth upper surface  332  is parallel to the fifth under surface  312  and the sixth under surface  334  makes an acute angle with respect to the third wall  314  and also creates a vertex with the sixth upper surface  332 . The interaction between the at least one prong and the at least one ledge provides the assembly the manner by which it may be brought into a semi-secured configuration. The assembly&#39;s user must ensure proper alignment of the at least one prong with the at least one notch via the first set of visual indicia  222  and the second set of visual indicia  328 . Upon confirmation of alignment of the cap  300  and the base  200 , the assembly&#39;s user may exert sufficient force or leverage to press the at least one prong into the at least one notch such that the at least one prong creates an abutment with the at least one ledge. Upon application of a sufficient force, the at least one prong is urged over the vertex of the sixth upper surface  332  and the sixth under surface  334 , after which the at least one prong creates and abutment with the sixth under surface  334 . Upon manipulation of the cap  300  such that the at least one prong and the at least one notch are out of alignment with respect to the first set of visual indicia  222  and the second set of visual indicia  328 , the at least one prong will then be in contact with the second under surface  236  of the lip, thusly securing the assembly and preventing the assembly&#39;s user from accessing the contents of the container  100 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4A , an unsecured configuration is shown. In an unsecured configuration, the base  200  is inserted into the container  100 . In the embodiment depicted, the at least one rib provides the manner by which the base  200  is nested into the container  100 , in which the base&#39;s  200  movement is fully restricted. Further in the unsecured configuration, the cap  300  is fully removed from the base  200 . As such, the assembly&#39;s user has total access to the contents contained within the container, or conversely, has the ability to place contents into the container. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4B , a semi-secured configuration is shown. In a semi-secured configuration, the base  200  is inserted into the container  100 . The at least one rib provides the means by which the base  200  is nested into the container  100 , fully restricting the movement of the base  200 . Further in a semi-secured configuration, the cap  300  is inserted into the base  200 . The at least one prong and the at least one notch must be in proper alignment with respect to the first set of visual indicia  222  and the second set of visual indicia  328 . Once the assembly&#39;s user has confirmed proper alignment, the user must use sufficient force, pressure, or leverage to overcome the resistance provided by the interaction of the at least one prong and the at least one ledge. Once the assembly&#39;s user has depressed the cap  300  fully into the base  200 , the assembly will provide auditory indicia of a semi-secured configuration by via an audible click, snap, or other similar noise made by the interaction of the at least one prong and the at least one ledge. Thus, a semi-secured configuration of the assembly is one such that the cap  300  is completely inserted into the base  200 , the first set of visual indicia  222  and the second set of visual indicia  328  are aligned, yet the assembly&#39;s interior volume  120  is restricted despite the fact that the cap  300  and the base  200  are in proper alignment. The assembly&#39;s user could in fact turn the assembly upside down and any contents in the container would remain securely within it. Further, in order for the assembly&#39;s user to gain access to the interior volume  120 , the assembly&#39;s user would have to exert sufficient force, pressure, or leverage in the reverse direction as previously stated, such that the user could overcome the resistance provided by the interaction of the at least one prong and the at least one ledge. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4B , a secured configuration is shown. A secured configuration incorporates all of the features and characteristics of a semi-secured configuration with the addition of further manipulation of the cap&#39;s  300  rotational orientation with respect to the base  200 . In this configuration, the assembly&#39;s user may rotate the cap  300  so that the at least one prong is situated such that it is in at least partial contact with lip  236 , or, alternatively, in an embodiment with two or more prongs, such as the one depicted in the figures, where a first prong  320  is in alignment with the second ledge  258  or the third ledge  260 , and the second prong  322  is in alignment with the first ledge  256 , where the tenth extent  326  of the first prong  320  is greater than the fifth extent  262  or the sixth extent  264  of the second ledge  258  or the third ledge  260 , respectively. Thus, in a secured configuration, the assembly&#39;s user will not be able to exert any amount of force, pressure, or leverage, exclusive of the amount to destroy the assembly&#39;s structural integrity, sufficient to overcome the resistance created between the interaction of the least one prong and the lip  236 , or alternatively, the misalignment of prongs and ledges. 
     In an alternate embodiment, the assembly contains all of the features disclosed in the previous embodiment, where the points of difference are that the base  200  contains an outer surface which contains at least one prong, and the cap  300  contains the lip  236 , where the lip  236  contains at least one notch and the at least one notch in turn contains at least one ledge. Just as in the previously disclosed embodiment, beginning in an unsecured configuration, the assembly&#39;s user must manipulate the cap&#39;s  300  rotational orientation relative to the base  200  such that the at least one prong and the at least one notch are in alignment. Once in alignment, the user may press the cap  300  down into the base  200 , urging the at least one prong over the at least one ledge, thus bringing the assembly into a semi-secured configuration. After which, the assembly&#39;s user may manipulate the cap&#39;s  300  rotational orientation such that the at least one prong and the at least one notch are out of alignment, and the at least one prong is in at least partial contact with the lip  236 , thus bringing the assembly into a secured configuration. 
     In yet another alternate embodiment, the assembly contains all of the features disclosed with respect to the embodiment depicted in the figures, where the point of difference is that the assembly contains a cap  300 , a base  200 , and a container  100 , in which the base  200  and container  100  are a unitary feature. That is, the base  200  and the container  100  are a single component of the cannabis storage assembly  10  within this embodiment. 
     It is to be understood that the foregoing is a description of one or more preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention. The invention is not limited to the particular embodiment(s) disclosed herein, but rather is defined solely by the claims below. Furthermore, the statements contained in the foregoing description relate to particular embodiments and are not to be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention or on the definition of terms used in the claims, except where a term or phrase is expressly defined above. Various other embodiments and various changes and modifications to the disclosed embodiment(s) will become apparent to those skilled in the art. All such other embodiments, changes, and modifications are intended to come within the scope of the appended claims. 
     As used in this specification and claims, the terms “for example,” “for instance,” “such as,” and “like,” and the verbs “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and their other verb forms, when used in conjunction with a listing of one or more components or other items, are each to be construed as open-ended, meaning that the listing is not to be considered as excluding other, additional components or items. Other terms are to be construed using their broadest reasonable meaning unless they are used in a context that requires a different interpretation.