IP Library Granted Patent US 12698138
Granted Patent B2
US 12698138 · App. 18/794,279 · Granted Aug 4, 2026

Cylindrical container and dispenser

Inventors: Alex Nunes Barrette (Richmond, VA); Mallory Walsh Barrett (Richmond, VA); Melinda Su-En Lee (Pittsburgh, PA)
Assignee: Parcel Health, Inc.
B65D50/046A61J1/03B65D59/02
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12698138
App. No.
18/794,279
Granted
Aug 4, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A locking adapter for a container and a container are provided, in which the locking adapter is secured within and onto the cylindrical body by way of an outward-directed force applied by the locking adapter to the interior of the cylindrical body. The locking adapter may be removed by use of one or more buttons and/or a removable portion.

Claims (26)

1 . A device comprising:

a cylindrical body;

a single-piece locking adapter affixed to a first end of the cylindrical body, the locking adapter comprising:

an interior portion that extends into the interior of the cylindrical body;

a transition region having a curved cross-section that extends into the interior of the cylindrical body when the locking adapter is affixed to the cylindrical body, wherein a first portion of the transition region closer to the first end of the cylindrical body has a larger circumference than a second portion of the transition region that extends further into the cylindrical body, and wherein the transition region is continuous around the circumference at the first end;

a flared base disposed outside the cylindrical body and in physical contact with the first end of the cylindrical body, the flared base having a sufficiently large diameter to prevent the flared base from being inserted in the cylindrical body; and

a threaded portion extending axially away from the flared base and the cylindrical body, the threaded portion comprising one or more threads that interlock with a protective cap to be removably attached to the threaded portion;

wherein the cylindrical body comprises paper, cardboard, paper stock, or a combination thereof.

2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the locking adapter further comprises a destructively removable portion that, when removed from the remainder of the locking adapter, allows the locking adapter to be removed from the cylindrical body.

3 . The device of claim 2 , wherein the destructively removable portion of the locking adapter is separated from the remainder of the locking adapter via one or more perforated regions.

4 . The device of claim 3 , wherein the perforated region comprises a different material than other portions of the locking adapter.

5 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the device exhibits a temperature change of 10-20° less than a concurrent rise in ambient temperature.

6 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the interior portion further comprises:

one or more arm portions; and

one or more buttons, each button of the one or more buttons being disposed on a corresponding one of the one or more arm portions such that the each button extends through a corresponding hole in the cylindrical body.

7 . A locking adapter configured to attach to a cylindrical body, the locking adapter comprising:

a flared base having a first circumference;

a transition region having a curved cross-section that extends into the interior of the cylindrical body when the locking adapter is attached to the cylindrical body, wherein a first portion of the transition region closer to the flared base has a second circumference that is smaller than the first circumference and greater than a third circumference of a second portion of the transition region farther away from the flared base, wherein the transition region is continuous around the second circumference;

a threaded portion extending axially away from the flared base in the opposite direction from the transition region, the threaded portion comprising one or more threads that interlock with a protective cap to be removably attached to the threaded portion,

wherein the cylindrical body comprises paper, cardboard, paper stock, or a combination thereof.

8 . The locking adapter of claim 7 , further comprising a destructively removable portion that, when removed from the remainder of the locking adapter, allows the locking adapter to be removed from the cylindrical body.

9 . The locking adapter of claim 8 , wherein the destructively removable portion of the locking adapter is separated from the remainder of the locking adapter via one or more perforated regions.

10 . The locking adapter of claim 9 , wherein the perforated region comprises a different material than other portions of the locking adapter.

11 . The locking adapter of claim 7 , further comprising:

one or more arm portions that extend into the interior of the cylindrical body when the locking adapter is attached to the cylindrical body; and

one or more buttons, each button of the one or more buttons being disposed on a corresponding one of the one or more arm portions such that the each button extends through a corresponding hole in the cylindrical body when the locking adapter is attached to the cylindrical body.