Patent Publication Number: US-11643258-B2

Title: Container with security lock

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The following application is a based on and claims the priority benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No.: 62/867,371 filed Jun. 27, 2019 and is a divisional of U.S. Ser. No.: 16/858,525 filed on Apr. 24, 2020; the entire content of which is incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A container with a security lock is provided. The container has a top unit and a bottom unit. The bottom unit may have a first side and a second side wherein the first side and the second side each have a compressible tab. The top unit may have a first opening and a second opening wherein the first opening and the second opening receive a portion of the compression tabs when the top unit is locked to the bottom unit. 
     Containers with security locks are known. For example, U.S. Pat. No.: 9,481,496 to Cottle discloses a child resistant container for nicotine products. The container comprises latching elements adapted to interlock with cooperating latching elements when said lid is pushed onto a said base to retain said lid to said base. The latching elements are further adapted to disengage from said cooperating latching elements when a simultaneous force is exerted on all releasable latching arrangements by two hands of a user or the like. 
     Further, U.S. Pat. No.: 9,187,220 to Biesecker discloses a cap having a top wall, an outer peripheral edge, a first section, and a second section. A skirt depends from the outer peripheral edge. The skirt includes an attached end, a free end, a plurality of slots, and a plurality of apertures. Each aperture is spaced-apart from the free end of the skirt. The top wall has a first configuration and a second configuration. When the top wall is in the first configuration, the first section is generally planer and the second section is generally arcuate. When the top wall is in the first configuration, the skirt extends generally perpendicularly to the first section to generally engage at least a portion of a container. When the top wall is in the second configuration, the free end of the skirt extends radially outwardly from the attached end thereof to allow the cap to be removed from the container. 
     Still further, U.S. Pat. No.: 8,931,657 to Kientzle discloses a pharmaceutical container having a bottle having a bottom wall and side walls. A ridge proximate to the bottom wall projects from an interior surface of at least one of the side walls, to facilitate nested stacking of a plurality of bottles. One or more of the side walls includes a cover locking receptacle proximate to the top end of the side wall. The pharmaceutical container also includes a cover including a sliding lid contained in a cover housing. The cover housing has a top wall, which includes an opening, and cover side walls. A child-resistant closure mechanism is also provided to limit the movement between the sliding lid and the bottle. 
     However, these patents fail to describe a container with a security lock which is easy to use. Further, these patents fail to provide for a container with a security lock which allows a user to unlock a child-resistant container in a simple and safe manner. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A container with a security lock is provided. The container has a top unit and a bottom unit. The bottom unit may have a first side and a second side wherein the first side and the second side each have a compressible tab. The top unit may have a first opening and a second opening wherein the first opening and the second opening receive a portion of the compression tabs when the top unit is locked to the bottom unit. 
     An advantage of the present child resistant storage container is that the present child resistant storage container is easy to use for adults while preventing children from gaining access to the interior of the container. The device is also especially suitable for seniors which typically have difficulty opening child resistant containers. 
     Still another advantage of the present child resistant storage container is that the present container lacks exterior sharp edges and corners which may otherwise injure someone. 
     For a more complete understanding of the above listed features and advantages of the container with a security lock reference should be made to the detailed description and the drawings. Further, additional features and advantages of the invention are described in, and will be apparent from, the detailed description of the preferred embodiments. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    illustrates a perspective view of the container with a security lock wherein the top unit is secured to the bottom unit in the closed form. 
         FIG.  2    illustrates a perspective view of the bottom unit (removed from the top unit) of the container with a security lock. 
         FIG.  3    illustrates a front view of the bottom unit of the container with a security lock. 
         FIG.  4    illustrates a side view of the bottom unit of the container with a security lock. 
         FIG.  5    illustrates a top view of the bottom unit of the container with a security lock. 
         FIG.  6    illustrates an engineering drawing of the individual units of the container with a security lock in one embodiment. 
         FIG.  7    illustrates a side view of an alternative embodiment of the container with a security lock. 
         FIG.  8    illustrates the top unit in the process of being attached to or removed from the bottom unit. 
         FIG.  9    illustrates a side cross-sectional view of the top unit wherein the groves are visible. 
         FIG.  10    illustrates an alternative embodiment of the container wherein a hinge is used to rotate the top unit from the bottom unit. 
         FIG.  11    illustrates an embodiment wherein the device has a removable frame having an open bottom which is inserted into the bottom unit. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     A container with a security lock is provided. The container has a top unit and a bottom unit. The bottom unit may have a first side and a second side wherein the first side and the second side each have a compressible tab. The top unit may have a first opening and a second opening wherein the first opening and the second opening receive a portion of the compression tabs when the top unit is locked to the bottom unit. 
     Referring first to  FIGS.  1  and  2   , in an embodiment a secured container  1  is provided. The container  1  may have a top unit  10  and a bottom unit  50 . The container  1  may be especially suitable for securing an item  845 , such as medication, which can potentially be harmful to individuals, such as children, whom might otherwise gain access to the item (such as medicine) from a non-secure container. In an embodiment, the container  1  is largely made of a durable material, such as plastic and/or metal. In one embodiment, the container  1  is largely made of tin. The container  1  is especially suitable for preventing children from accessing the items  845  of the container  1  when the container  1  is sealed. 
     The bottom unit  50  may have a top  51  ( FIG.  3   ), a bottom  52 , a front  53 , a back  54 , a first side  55 , a second side  56  and a generally hollow interior  57  for storing the items  845 . An extended top edge  59  may be located on the top  51  of the bottom unit  50 , extending around the entire perimeter of the top  51  of the bottom unit  50 . The extended top edge  59  may have a perimeter edge which extends a distance  60  ( FIG.  3   ) away from the sides  55 ,  56 , the front  53  and the back  54  of the bottom unit  50 . Further, in an embodiment, the extended top edge  59  may have a thickness (or width)  61  which acts as a securing mechanism for the top unit  10 , as discussed below. 
     In an embodiment, the first side  55  and the second side  56  may each have an extended bump  70 . The extended bump  70  may allow a user to grasp and to more easily slightly push in the sides  55 ,  56  of the bottom unit  50  so as to separate the bottom unit  50  from the top unit  10  (or rotate the top unit  10  away from the bottom unit  50  in the embodiment of  FIG.  10    wherein the hinge is utilized). Further, the extended top edge  59  of the bottom unit  50  may have a first tab  100  and a second tab  101  wherein the first tab  100  and the second tab  101  are on different sides  55 ,  56  of the bottom unit  50 . In an embodiment, the extended bumps  70  are located directly below the first tab  100  and the second tab  101  of the bottom unit  10  so as to make pressing both easy. 
     The first tab  100  and the second tab  101  may have a space  110  located on each side of the first tab  100  and the second tab  101 . The spaces  110  may allow the first tab  100  and the second tab  101  to move or pivot with respect to the extended top edge  59  by, for example, slightly bending at the crease or connection point of the first tab  100  and the second tab  101 . The first tab  100  and second tab  101  may each have a front end  102  and a back end  103 . The back end  103  of the first tab  100  and the second tab  101  may have, in an embodiment, a generally triangular extension  105  which may allow a user to more easily push the first tab  100  and the second tab  101  (and also extended bumps  70  together with one finger each) to unlock the top unit  10  from the bottom unit  50  (as discussed below). As shown in the figures, the space  110  at the back end  103  of the first tab  100  and the second tab  101  completely separates the perimeter of the extended top edge  59 , whereas the space  110  at the front  102  of the first tab  100  and the second tab  101  does not completely separate the extended top edge  59 . As a result, the back end  103  of the first tab  100  and the second tab  101  move inward more than the front end  102  of the first tab  100  and the second tab  101  and therefore allow the triangular extensions  105  of the first tab  100  and the second tab  101  to move inward and outward with respect to the openings  431  ( FIG.  7   ) of the top unit  10  to lock and unlock the top unit  10  with respect to the bottom unit  50 . 
     In an embodiment, the container  1  may have an internal slits  612  (visible in  FIG.  2   ). The internal slits  612  may be located directly under and parallel to the first tab  100  and the second tab  101 . The back end  103  of the first tab  100  and the second tab  101  may be connected to the slits  612 . The slits  612  may have a length equal to the length of the first tab  100  and the second tab  101 . In an embodiment, the slits  612  may allow the first tab  100  and the second tab  101  to slightly bend inward more easily to operate the container  1  by allowing the top unit  10  to be removably secured to the bottom unit  50  by allowing the first tab  100  and the second tab  101  to slightly bend. 
     In an embodiment, to secure the top unit  10  to the bottom unit  50  the top unit  10  is first slid over a portion of the extended top edge  59  of the bottom unit  50 , as shown in  FIG.  8   . In particular, an extended groove  310  ( FIG.  9   ) on each side of the interior of the top unit  10  receives a portion of the extended top edge  59  when the top unit  10  is secured to the bottom unit  50 . As a result, the thickness  61  of the extended top edge  59  is slightly less than the height  311  of the extended grooves  310  so that the top unit  10  may be secured to the bottom unit  50 . 
     In an embodiment, the bottom unit  50  may have a removable tray portion  400  which be changed. In one embodiment, the extended top edge  59  and the first tab  100  and the second tab  101  may actually be part of the removable tray  400  ( FIG.  8   ) and not the bottom unit. Further, the removable tray  400  may be made of plastic, metal or other durable material which may also help protect the items  845  of the container  1 . In an embodiment, the extended top edge  59  of the bottom unit  50  create an air-tight and/or liquid tight seal with respect to the top unit  10  when the top unit  10  is secured to the bottom unit  50 . As a result, the items  845  of the interior of the container  1  are protected. 
     To secure the top unit  10  to the bottom unit  50 , the extended grooves  310  of the top unit  10  are aligned with and slid over the extended top edge  59  of the bottom unit  50 . While sliding extended groove  310  of the top unit  10  over the extended top edge  59  of the bottom unit  50 , a leading edge  811  ( FIG.  1   ) of the top unit  10  contacts, and slightly bends and forces inward the triangular portions of the first tab  100  and the second tab  101  so that the first tab  100  and the second tab  101  lock into the openings  431  ( FIG.  7   ) of the top unit  10  and the top unit  10  and bottom unit  50  are then secured together as one. Preferably the leading edge  811  is angled between thirty-five and fifty-five degrees with respect to the top surface of the top unit  10 . The first tab  100  and the second tab  101  may bend as a result of the spaces  110  allowing the first tab  100  and the second tab  101  to slightly bend. To remove the top unit  10  from the bottom unit  50  the reverse process is done. More specifically, a user presses the extended bumps  70  and the first tab  100  and the second tab  101  of the bottom unit  50  together, therein compressing the sides  55 ,  56  of the bottom unit  50  so that the first tab  100  and the second tab  101  are no longer in the openings  431  of the top unit  10 . A user then may slide the top unit  10  off from the bottom unit  50 . Further, in a method of use, because of the rigid nature of the top unit  10 , a user may also need to press the dead center area of the top unit  10  to slightly bend the perimeter of the top unit  10  slightly outward while, at the same time, pressing the first tab  100  and the second tab  101  and the extended bumps  70  and also sliding the top unit  10  with respect to the bottom unit  50  to release the top unit  10  from the bottom unit  50 . 
     Referring now to  FIG.  10   , in an embodiment, a lock  550  may be incorporated on the bottom unit  50  to further lock the bottom unit  50  to the top unit  10 . In this embodiment, the lock  550  may be located at, for example, the front  53  of the bottom unit  50 . Further, in an embodiment, a hinge  500  may allow the top unit  10  to rotate with respect to the bottom unit  50  so that the two units are always connected. 
     Finally, referring now to  FIG.  11   , in an embodiment, a removable frame  890  may be used in connection with the container  1 . The removable frame  890  may be placed within the bottom of the device. The removable frame  890  may lack a bottom so that items  845  stored in the container  1  rest directly on the bottom of the container. 
     Although embodiments of the invention are shown and described therein, it should be understood that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without diminishing its attendant advantages.