Multiple compartment container
View Patent ↗The present disclosure provides a lid arrangement for a container with a hinged mating lid. The disclosed lid arrangement avoids inadvertently opening the lid, while at the same time allows easy opening when opening the lid is desired. The lid arrangement is configured to be used with a wide variety of different types of containers with hinged lids. In some embodiments, the lid arrangement is incorporated into a multiple compartment pill container.
1. A container comprising:
a base having a front wall, a real wall, and defining a cavity between the front wall and the rear wall, the cavity including a front portion and a back portion;
a cap configured to mate with the base and movable between an open position and a closed position, the cap including a first end secured adjacent to the back wall of the base and a second end opposite the first end, the second end including one of an engagement arm and a catch engaging the other of an engagement arm and a catch on the front wall of the base when the cap is in the closed position; and
a tab pivotally connected to the base at a location opposite the front wall from the cavity, wherein the tab is configured and arranged such that depressing a front portion of the tab causes a rear portion of the tab to contact the cap to disengage the second end of the cap from the front wall of the base and thereby position the cap in the open position.
2. The container of claim 1 , wherein the second end of the cap includes a lip that engages an inside surface of the front wall of the base.
3. The container of claim 2 , wherein the second end of the cap includes the engagement arm and the front wall of the base includes the catch located on an outside surface of the front wall, and wherein the engagement arm includes a hook that engages the catch.
4. The container of claim 2 , wherein the tab includes a lifter positioned between a pivot axis of the tab and the lip of the cap, the lifter configured to contact the engagement arm when the tab is pivoted about the pivot axis.
5. The container of claim 2 , wherein the tab includes a lifter positioned between a pivot axis of the tab and the lip of the cap, the lifter configured to contact an underside of the cap when the tab is depressed.
6. The container of claim 1 , wherein the tab includes a first end and a second end, each end including a recessed portion that is configured to engage a pair of opposed protrusions on the front end of the base.
7. The container of claim 6 , wherein the tab includes a lifter between a pivot axis and the back of the base, the lifter configured to contact a portion of the cap when the tab is pivoted about the pivot axis.
8. The container of claim 7 , wherein the lifters are at least partially covered by the cap when the cap is mated with the base.
9. The container of claim 1 , wherein the base defines multiple separate cavities, and wherein the container further comprises a cap and a tab for each of the multiple cavities, wherein each of the caps are configured to open and close independently.
10. The container of claim 9 , wherein the multiple caps are connected by a common connection strip, wherein the connection strip is configured to interlock with the base.
11. The container of claim 9 , wherein the multiple caps are each separately attached to the base via a living hinge.
12. The container of claim 1 , wherein the tab is connected adjacent a front of the base such that when the tab rotates in a clockwise direction the lid rotates in a counter clockwise direction.
13. A multiple compartment container comprising:
a base having a front wall, a rear wall, and defining at least a first compartment and a second compartment, wherein the first and second compartments are separated by a partition;
a first lid including a pivot end secured adjacent to the rear wall of the base and a free end movable between an open position spaced from the front wall of the base and a locked position, wherein one of a first lock arm and a first catch disposed on the free end of the first lid engages the other of a first lock arm and a first catch disposed on the front wall of the base to position the first lid in the locked position;
a second lid including a pivot end secured adjacent to the rear wall of the base and a free end movable between an open position spaced from the front wall of the base and a locked position, wherein one of a second lock arm and a second catch disposed on the free end of the second lid engages the other of a second lock arm and a second catch disposed on the front wall of the base to position the second lid in the locked position;
a first actuator pivotally connected to the base at a location opposite the front wall from the first compartment, the first actuator including a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion is covered by the first lid when the first lid is in the locked position;
a second actuator pivotally connected to the base at a location opposite the front wall from the second compartment, the second actuator including a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion of the second actuator is covered by the second lid when the second lid is in the locked position;
wherein the first actuator is configured to release the first lid from the locked position when the second portion of the first actuator is depressed by causing the first portion of the first actuator to engage and dislocate the first lid from the front wall, and wherein the second actuator is configured to release the second lid from the locked position when the second portion of the second actuator is depressed by causing the first portion of the second actuator to engage and dislocate the second lid from the front wall.