Container

• US 10,194,689 B2
• Filed: 06/03/2014
• Issued: 02/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nicoventures Trading Ltd. (British American Tobacco PLC)
• Original Assignee: Nicoventures Holdings Limited (British American Tobacco PLC)
• Inventors: Schennum, Steven Michael, McKeon, Thomas Michael, Abel, Jeremy Aaron
• Primary Examiner(s): HARVEY, JAMES R
• Application Number:
  US14/895,446
• Publication Number:
  US 20160101909A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,708 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 15/01 specially adapted for simulated smoking devices or cigarettes therefor battery charging means structurally associated with the case A24F40/95
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 15/12 for pocket use A24F15/005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/00 Details; Accessories
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/007 with spring means
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/10 Devices to locate articles in containers for protecting articles from mechanical damage B65D81/02
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 43/16 hinged for upward or downward movement cigar or cigarette receptacles A24F15/00; suitcases, ètuis A45C; casings for cosmetic substances with hinged covers A45D40/22; toolboxes B25H3/02; hinges of door or similar type E05D ; boxes for switchboards with hinged covers H02B1/066
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 43/22 Devices for holding in closed position, e.g. clips
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/70 for materials not otherwise provided for

Abstract

A container for an electronic nicotine delivery system. The container has a body having a pair of end walls spaced from each other by a base wall and the body also includes a recess extending between the end walls to receive an electronic nicotine delivery system. A lid is pivotally attached to the body for rotation between open and closed positions about an axis parallel to a longitudinal axis of an electronic nicotine delivery system received in the recess.

Claims

1. A container for an electronic nicotine delivery system, the container comprising:

a body having a pair of end walls spaced from each other by a base wall, the body including a recess extending between the end walls to receive an electronic nicotine delivery system; and

a lid pivotally attached to the body for rotation between open and closed positions about an axis parallel to a longitudinal axis of an electronic nicotine delivery system received in said recess,

wherein the body includes a compartment between the recess and the lid axis, the body and the lid being configured so that an electronic nicotine delivery system is retained in the recess when the lid is in its closed position with the lid covering the recess and said compartment.

2. The container of claim 1, comprising a biasing member to bias the lid towards an open position.

3. The container of claim 2, wherein the body includes a compartment between the recess and the lid axis, the body and the lid being configured so that an electronic nicotine delivery system is retained in the recess when the lid is in its closed position with the lid covering the recess and said compartment.

4. The container of claim 2, further comprising a locking mechanism to hold the lid in the closed position.

5. The container of claim 4, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a cooperating protrusion on the lid and a receiving part on a front edge of the body, said protrusion being received in said receiving part to lock the lid in the closed position.

6. The container of claim 5, comprising a hinge mechanism that pivotally mounts the lid to the body, the hinge mechanism being configured so that the lid can slide laterally in a direction parallel to the base wall of the body to disengage the protrusion from the receiving part and allow the lid to pivot into its open position.

7. The container of claim 6, wherein the hinge mechanism comprises an elongate slot in the lid and a hinge pin that extends from the body and into said slot to pivotally mount the lid to the body and allow the lid to slide laterally relative to the hinge pin received in said slot.

8. The container of claim 2, comprising a hinge mechanism that includes a cam element captured between the body and the lid and constrained to move within a groove formed in the body and a track formed in said lid, said track defining a stable position for the cam element so that the lid is held in a closed position by the cam element when said cam element is in said stable position, and an unstable position in which the lid is free to pivot into its open position when released, said cam element being moveable out of said stable position into said unstable position in response to rotation of the lid in a direction towards the body from its closed position.

9. The container of claim 8, wherein the track comprises an endless loop in the lid and the cam element moves from its stable position along a first portion of the track when the lid pivots into its open position and along a second portion of the track back to its stable position when the lid is pivoted back into its closed position.

10. The container of claim 9, wherein the track is configured so that the cam element moves back into said stable position when the lid is rotated towards the body beyond its closed position so that the lid is held in its closed position when the lid is released.

11. The container of claim 1, comprising a tray received in said body, said recess being formed in said tray.

12. The container of claim 11, wherein said compartment is also formed by said tray.

13. The container of claim 12, wherein the tray is an insert that locates within the chamber and is pivotally mounted to the body for rotation about an axis coaxial with the lid.

14. The container of claim 13, wherein the tray is shaped so that said compartment is disposed between the tray and the base wall of the body, said compartment being accessible when said tray has been rotated about said axis.

15. The container of claim 13, wherein said lid and the tray are configured so that the lid engages the tray during rotation of said lid so that the tray rotates about said axis together with the lid for part of the rotation of the lid between its open and closed positions.

16. The container of claim 1, with an electronic nicotine delivery system received in the recess in the body.

17. The container of claim 16, wherein said electronic nicotine delivery system is an electronic cigarette.

18. The container of claim 2, comprising a tray received in said body, said recess being formed in said tray.