IP Library Granted Patent US 11,136,173
Granted Patent B2
US 11,136,173 · App. 16/108,903 · Granted Oct 5, 2021

Child-resistant storage container

Inventors: Sandra Elkind (Lafayette, CO); Shuichi Amano (Bethlehem, PA); Michael Creighton (Warrington, PA)
Assignee: STO RESPONSIBLE, LLC
B65D50/04B65D45/18B65D2215/02
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,136,173
App. No.
16/108,903
Granted
Oct 5, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

The technology disclosed herein includes methods and apparatus of a childproof storage container, which includes a lid and a base portion with seesaw-style latches. The seesaw-style latches are configured to unlock a childproof storage container in a locked position upon simultaneously release. Each seesaw-style latch may include a flared end. In a locked position, the childproof storage container may be unlocked and opened upon depression of the flared end of the seesaw-style latch, which rotates the seesaw-style latch from the lid. Each seesaw-style latch may include a standing rib to prevent over-rotation of each seesaw-style latch and/or a chamfer to facilitate closure. The base portion may include a base portion flange, which includes a plurality of female recesses to receive the plurality of male teeth of a lid flange. The base portion and the lid may include opposing walls that interlock during a closed position and/or a gasket for sealing.

Claims (40)

1. A child-resistant storage container comprising:

a lid, including:

a plurality of male teeth; and

a plurality of standing walls; and

a base portion, the base portion including:

a plurality of female recesses configured to receive the male teeth;

a plurality of seesaw-style latches, the plurality of seesaw-style latches configured to lock the base portion to the lid and unlock the base portion from the lid responsive to simultaneous release of the plurality of seesaw-style latches,

wherein each of the seesaw-style latches includes:

a flared end, wherein simultaneous depression of each flared end of each seesaw-style latch, when the child-resistant storage container is in a locked position, rotates each seesaw-style latch, dislodges each seesaw-style latch from a latch landing and unlocks the lid from the base portion; and

wherein a tab located on at least one of the seesaw-style latches opposite the flared end is configured to push against an angled surface of one of the standing walls on the lid to push the lid with upward pressure to move the male teeth out of the female recesses and open the lid.

2. The child-resistant storage container of claim 1 , wherein each seesaw-style latch includes a standing rib, the standing rib to prevent over-rotation of an associated seesaw-style latch.

3. The child-resistant storage container of claim 1 , wherein the base portion and the lid each includes at least two opposing walls that interlock when the child-resistant storage container is in a locked position.

4. The child-resistant storage container of claim 1 , wherein each seesaw-style latch includes a chamfer to facilitate closure of the child-resistant storage container.

5. The child-resistant storage container of claim 1 , wherein the base portion is attached to the lid via a living hinge.

6. The child-resistant storage container of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of seesaw-style latches are three seesaw-style latches.

7. The child-resistant storage container of claim 1 , further comprising:

a gasket, the gasket located in a channel on at least one of the lid and the base portion.

8. The child-resistant storage container of claim 1 , wherein the lid further comprises:

a lid exterior flange, the lid exterior flange including a plurality of male teeth.

9. The child-resistant storage container of claim 8 , wherein the base portion further comprises:

a base portion exterior flange, the base portion exterior flange including a plurality of female recesses to receive the plurality of male teeth of the lid exterior flange.

10. The child-resistant storage container of claim 1 , wherein the lid includes a lid exterior flange and a lid interior flange, and the base portion includes a base portion exterior flange and a base portion interior flange, and the lid is sized for the lid exterior flange to nest in a channel between the base portion exterior flange and the base portion interior flange, and the lid exterior flange to locate inside the base portion.

11. The child-resistant storage container of claim 1 , wherein each seesaw-style latch is a torsion snap joint.

12. The child-resistant storage container of claim 1 , wherein the at least one tab is configured to push against an angled surface of one of the standing walls on the lid when the seesaw-style latches are depressed and configured to push the lid with upward pressure moving the male teeth out of the female recesses to provide an active opening of the lid.

13. A child-resistant locking storage apparatus comprising:

a lid, the lid including:

a lid exterior flange, the lid exterior flange including a plurality of male teeth;

a plurality of lid walls; and

a plurality of standing walls, at least two standing walls located adjacent to a lid wall;

a base portion, the base portion including:

a base portion exterior flange, the base portion exterior flange including a plurality of female recesses to receive the plurality of male teeth of the lid exterior flange when the child-resistant locking storage apparatus is locked; and

three seesaw-style latches, the three seesaw-style latches configured to lock the child-resistant locking storage apparatus, wherein each seesaw-style latch is located on a wall of the base portion and includes:

a lip, the lip to lock onto a latch landing located on the lid;

a standing rib, the standing rib to prevent over-rotation of each seesaw-style latch; and

a flared end, wherein simultaneous depression of each flared end when the child-resistant locking storage apparatus is in a locked position, rotates each seesaw-style latch, applies pressure against each standing wall, dislodges the seesaw-style latch from the latch landing, simultaneously releases each seesaw latch, and unlocks the lid from the base portion responsive to simultaneous release of all three seesaw-style latches,

and wherein at least one tab located on one of the three seesaw-style latches opposite the flared end of the one of the three seesaw-style latches is configured to push against an angled surface of one of the standing walls on the lid when the one of the three seesaw-style latches is depressed, push the lid with upward pressure moving the male teeth out of the female recesses, and open the lid.

14. The child-resistant locking storage apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the lid exterior flange nests in a channel between the base portion exterior flange and a base portion interior flange, and the lid exterior flange to locate inside the base portion when the child-resistant locking storage apparatus is in a locked position.

15. The child-resistant locking storage apparatus of claim 14 , further comprising:

at least one gasket, the at least one gasket located in at least one of a first channel located in between the base portion exterior flange and the base portion interior flange and a second channel located in between the lid exterior flange and a lid interior flange.

16. A child-resistant locking storage apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the at least one tab is configured to push against an angled surface of one of the standing walls on the lid when the seesaw-style latches are depressed and configured to push the lid with upward pressure moving the male teeth out of the female recesses to provide an active opening of the lid.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 30, 2025
From: COASTAL CULTIVARS, INC.; ALLY LEASING MA LLC
To: ALLY LEASING MA LLC; ALLY IP LLC
Reel/Frame 071559/0341 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 8, 2024
From: STO RESPONSIBLE, LLC
To: COASTAL CULTIVARS, INC
Reel/Frame 067345/0311 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 22, 2018
From: ELKIND, SANDRA; AMANO, SHUICHI; CREIGHTON, MICHAEL
To: STO RESPONSIBLE, LLC
Reel/Frame 046664/0325 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62670493 · May 11, 2018
Related Publication 20190344937A1 · Nov 14, 2019
Cited By (1)
US 1,124,652