Unitary Child-Resistant Containers Configured for Attachment to Identifier Cap, and Identifier Cap

• US 20160167844A1
• Filed: 12/11/2014
• Published: 06/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Merger SUB Gotham 2
• Original Assignee: Kush Bottles, Inc.
• Inventors: Wu, Ben, Johnson, Brian R. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 9,694,955 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2215/06 based on the difference in size between children's and adults' hands
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00092 circular
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00296 Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00518 Skirt
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00546 NO contact
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00925 by applying inwardly directed pressure at two horizontally opposed points
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 43/021 only on the inside, or a part turned to the inside, of the mouth B65D43/0206 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 43/162 the container, the lid and the hinge being made of one piece B65D43/161 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 50/00 Closures with means for discouraging unauthorised opening or removal thereof, with or without indicating means, e.g. child-proof closures tamper-indicating closures without means for discouraging, see the relevant groups, e.g. B65D41/32, B65D51/20
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/245 provided with decoration, information or contents indicating devices, labels B65D81/366 takes precedence

Abstract

A mechanism or feature incorporated into or on the lid of a one piece child-resistant container which allows customization of the container by attachment of an independent, separate ancillary piece or identifier cap to the lid. The identifier cap may snap onto or be pushed onto the lid in a secure manner.

Claims

1. An identifier cap for a unitary child-resistant container that includes a vessel portion and a lid portion connected by a living hinge portion, and the lid portion is configured to open via a “

squeeze to open”

mechanism, wherein the lid is opened from a closed position by a user squeezing the vessel at opposed sides adjacent the lid, the identifier cap comprising;

a surface portion configured to cover at least a portion of the lid portion when attached to the lid;

a cap connection feature configured to engage a corresponding lid connection feature;

to establish a connection mechanism for securely attaching the cap to the lid and to resist forces tending to disconnect the cap from the lid, including forces generated by the “

squeeze to open”

mechanism to open the lid from the vessel.

2. The cap of claim 1, wherein the connection mechanism is configured to provide an interference fit with the lid connection feature.

3. The cap of claim 2, wherein the cap connection feature includes a recess space defined by one or more surfaces of the cap and configured to receive a protrusion feature protruding from a lid surface to grip the protrusion feature by interference forces resulting from interference between the one or more cap surfaces and the protrusion feature.

4. The cap of claim 3, wherein the one or more surfaces include tips of ribs extending inwardly from an external skirt portion toward a center of the cap.

5. The cap of claim 3, wherein the cap has an outer periphery configured such that a portion of the cap is received within a recess in the lid.

6. The cap of claim 2, wherein the cap connection feature includes a protrusion feature protruding from a cap surface, and configured to enter a recess in the lid.

7. The cap of claim 2, wherein the cap connection feature includes a tail portion configured to slip into an opening formed in a lateral edge of the lid.

8. A combination, comprising:

a unitary child-resistant container including a vessel portion and a lid portion connected by a living hinge portion, the lid portion configured to open via a “

squeeze to open”

mechanism, wherein the lid is opened from a closed position by a user squeezing the vessel at opposed sides adjacent the lid;

the lid portion comprising a lid connection feature;

a separate identifier cap configured for attachment to the lid portion, the cap comprising;

a surface portion configured to cover at least a portion of the lid portion when attached to the lid;

a cap connection feature configured to engage the lid connection feature;

wherein the lid connection feature and the cap connection feature are configured to form a connection mechanism for securely attaching the cap to the lid and resist forces tending to disconnect the cap from the lid, including forces generated by the “

squeeze to open”

mechanism to open the lid from the vessel.

9. The combination of claim 8, wherein the connection mechanism provides an interference fit between the cap connection feature and the lid connection feature.

10. The combination of claim 9, wherein the cap connection feature includes a recess space defined by one or more surfaces of the cap, the lid connection feature includes a protrusion feature protruding from a lid surface, and wherein the protrusion feature enters the recess space and is gripped by interference forces resulting from interference between the one or more cap surfaces and the protrusion feature.

11. The combination of claim 10, wherein the lid further includes a recess defined by a peripheral wall and a lid surface, and the protrusion extends from the lid surface, and the cap has an outer periphery configured such that a portion of the cap is received within the recess as the protrusion engages the cap surfaces.

12. The combination of claim 8, wherein the lid connection feature includes a recess space defined by one or more surfaces of the lid, the cap connection feature includes a protrusion feature protruding from a cap surface, and wherein the protrusion feature enters the recess space and is gripped by interference forces resulting from interference between the one or more lid surfaces and the protrusion feature.

13. The combination of claim 12, wherein the one or more surfaces include tips of ribs extending inwardly from an external skirt portion toward a center of the cap.

14. The combination of claim 8, wherein the cap is a first color, and the container is a second color different from the first color.

15. The combination of claim 8, wherein the lid connection feature includes an opening formed in a lateral edge of the lid, and the cap connection feature includes a tail portion configured to slip into the opening.

16. The cap of claim 9, wherein the cap is a unitary structure fabricated of a first plastic material, the container vessel and lid are fabricated of a second plastic material, and the first plastic material is harder than the second plastic material.

17. A plastic unitary child-resistant container, including a vessel portion and a lid portion connected by a living hinge portion, the lid portion configured to open via a “

squeeze to open”

mechanism, wherein the lid is opened from a closed position by a user squeezing the vessel at opposed sides adjacent the lid, the container further characterized in that;

the lid portion comprises a lid connection feature configured to engage a corresponding cap connection feature in a separate identifier cap to securely attach the cap to the lid by an interference fit and to resist forces tending to disconnect the cap from the lid, including forces generated by the “

squeeze to open”

mechanism to open the lid from the vessel.

18. The container of claim 17, wherein the lid connection feature includes a protrusion feature protruding from a lid surface, and wherein the protrusion feature is configured to enter a recess space in the identifier cap.

19. The container of claim 18, wherein the lid further includes a recess defined by a peripheral wall and a lid surface, and the protrusion feature extends from the lid surface, and the recess is configured to receive a portion of the cap within the recess as the protrusion feature engages the cap.

20. The container of claim 19, wherein the protrusion feature extends above a surface of the outer periphery of the lid.

21. The container of claim 17, wherein the lid connection feature includes a recess space defined by one or more surfaces of the lid, the recess space configured to receive a protrusion feature protruding from a cap surface.