Two-shell and two-drawer containers

• US 8,540,115 B2
• Filed: 08/24/2010
• Issued: 09/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CSP Technologies North America LLC (AptarGroup Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: CSP Technologies Incorporated (AptarGroup Incorporated)
• Inventors: Giraud, Jean-Pierre, Zbirka, Michel, Rabinne, Bruce, Pichot, Herve
• Primary Examiner(s): Stashick, Anthony
• Assistant Examiner(s): VOLZ, ELIZABETH J
• Application Number:
  US12/861,999
• Publication Number:
  US 20110073610A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,127 Days
• Field of Search: 220/4.22, 220/231, 220/830, 220/833, 220/835, 220/844, 220/849, 215/201, 206/319
• US Class Current: 220/835
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2251/1058 Latching mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2251/1066 Actuating means
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2251/20 Sealing means
• 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 83/0811 with means for assisting dispensing
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/00 Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials B65D71/00, B65D83/00 take precedence; hand implements or travelling equipment A45C; cosmetic or toiletry equipment A45D; packages for surgical knives, scalpels or blades therefor A61B17/3215; containers specially adapted for medical or pharmaceutical purposes A61J1/00; paint cans B44D3/12; oil cans F16N3/04; containers for carrying small arms F41C33/06; packaging of ammunition or explosive charges F42B39/00; containers for record carriers, specially adapted for cooperation with the recording or reproducing apparatus G11B23/00

Abstract

A package comprises a latch including first and second legs and an actuating portion. The first and second legs are joined at an angle. The actuator portion of the first leg is positioned to be displaced generally laterally to displace the second leg generally longitudinally to release the latch. In another embodiment the package has base wells on the inside surface. A generally flat marginal sealing surface encircles the first and second base wells. The wells of the base and/or lid are covered with a cover sheet to close them. Still another embodiment is a child-resistant container comprising a shell, two drawers, a stop, and a latch. The drawers are prevented from sliding apart past a limit of travel when one drawer is open sufficiently to provide access to its contents and the other drawer is not.

Claims

1. A package comprising:

a first shell portion having a first peripheral portion and a second peripheral portion;

a second shell portion having a first peripheral portion and a second peripheral portion, the second peripheral portion including a first latching abutment;

a latch for releasably latching the second peripheral portions of the first shell portion and second shell portion together, the latch comprising;

first and second legs joined at an angle,

the first leg secured to the first shell portion,

an actuator portion of the first leg adapted to be displaced by a user'"'"'s finger to displace the second leg from a latched position to a released position, and

a second latching abutment secured to the second leg, the second latching abutment configured to engage the first latching abutment when the second leg is in its latched position and to release the first latching abutment when the second leg is in its released position;

a bending ramp positioned to be engaged by the second leg for bending the second leg into contact with a biasing abutment when the second leg is displaced generally longitudinally from the latched position toward the released position.

2. A package comprising:

a first shell portion having a first peripheral portion and a second peripheral portion;

a second shell portion having a first peripheral portion and a second peripheral portion, the second peripheral portion including a first latching abutment; and

a latch for releasably latching the second peripheral portions of the first shell portion and second shell portion together, the latch comprising;

first and second legs joined at an angle,

the first leg secured to the first shell portion,

an actuator portion of the first leg adapted to be displaced by a user'"'"'s finger to displace the second leg from a latched position to a released position in which the first leg is secured to the first shell portion by a pivot, and displacing the actuator portion pivots the first leg relative to the first shell portion, and

a second latching abutment secured to the second leg, the second latching abutment configured to engage the first latching abutment when the second leg is in its latched position and to release the first latching abutment when the second leg is in its released position.

3. A package comprising:

a first shell portion having a first peripheral portion and a second peripheral portion;

a second shell portion having a first peripheral portion and a second peripheral portion, the second peripheral portion including a first latching abutment;

a latch for releasably latching the second peripheral portions of the first shell portion and second shell portion together, the latch comprising;

first and second legs joined at an angle,

the first leg secured to the first shell portion,

an actuator portion of the first leg adapted to be displaced by a user'"'"'s finger to displace the second leg from a latched position to a released position, and

a second latching abutment secured to the second leg, the second latching abutment configured to engage the first latching abutment when the second leg is in its latched position and to release the first latching abutment when the second leg is in its released position;

a third latching abutment on one of the first and second shell portions; and

a second latch for releasably latching the second peripheral portions of the first shell portion and second shell portion together, the second latch comprising;

third and fourth legs joined at an angle,

the third leg secured to the other of the first and second shell portions relative to the third latching abutment, and

an actuator portion of the third leg adapted to be displaced by a user'"'"'s finger, displacing the fourth leg from a latched position to a released position, and

a fourth latching abutment secured to the fourth leg, the fourth latching abutment configured to engage the third latching abutment when the fourth leg is in its latched position and to release the third latching abutment when the fourth leg is in its released position.

4. The package of claim 3, in which the actuator portions of the first and third legs are spaced apart at least three inches.

5. The package of claim 3, in which the second and fourth legs are generally parallel while in their latched positions.

6. The package of claim 3, in which the second and fourth legs are positioned to be displaced generally longitudinally in opposite directions from their latched positions to their released positions.

7. The package of claim 3, in which at least one of the first and third legs is secured to the first shell portion by a pivot, and displacing the actuator portion pivots the secured leg relative to the first shell portion.

8. The package of claim 3, in which the actuator portion of at least one of the first and third legs is normally biased toward its latched position.

9. The package of claim 3, in which the first leg is secured to the first shell portion by a first pivot, and displacing the actuator portion pivots the first leg relative to the first shell portion, and the third leg is secured to the first shell portion by a second pivot, and displacing the actuator portion of the third leg pivots the third leg relative to the first shell portion.

10. The package of claim 3, further comprising:

a first bending ramp positioned to be engaged by the second leg for bending the second leg into contact with a first biasing abutment when the second leg is displaced generally longitudinally from its latched position toward its released position; and

a second bending ramp positioned to be engaged by the fourth leg for bending the fourth leg into contact with a second biasing abutment when the fourth leg is displaced generally longitudinally from its latched position toward its released position.

11. The package of claim 10, in which the first bending ramp is defined by the first shell portion and the second bending ramp is defined by the second leg.

12. The package of claim 3, further comprising a bending ramp positioned to be engaged by at least one of the second and fourth leg for bending the engaged leg into contact with a biasing abutment when the engaged leg is displaced generally longitudinally from the latched position toward the released position.

13. The package of claim 12, in which the bending ramp is positioned to be engaged by the fourth leg and is defined by the second leg.

14. The package of claim 12, in which the bending ramp is positioned to be engaged by the second leg and is defined by the first shell portion.