Apparatus and method for a child-resistant oral nicotine can
Provided herein is a child-resistant can including a base and a lid. The base may include a bottom plate, a base circumferential wall, and an interior surface defined by the bottom plate and base circumferential wall. The lid may be configured to enclose the interior surface.
1 . A child-resistant can comprising:
a base comprising:
a bottom plate;
a base circumferential wall extending from the bottom plate,
the bottom plate and the base circumferential wall defining an interior surface and an opposing exterior surface,
the base circumferential wall comprising a spiral groove in the exterior surface; and
a shell comprising:
a shell circumferential wall configured to abut against a lower portion the exterior surface of the base circumferential wall, the shell circumferential wall comprising a projection configured to be received within the spiral groove, an upper portion of the shell circumferential wall and an upper portion of the base circumferential wall configured to form a gap therebetween; and
a bistable cap comprising a top plate and one or more flexing arms, the one or more flexing arms configured to be received within the gap,
wherein the projection is movable along the spiral groove such that the shell circumferential wall can move downwards with respect to the base to expose the one or more flexing arms,
wherein the bistable cap is removable from the base and/or the shell by pressing down on the top plate such that the one or more flexing arms translate outwards from the base circumferential wall,
wherein each of the one or more flexing arms comprises an inwards projection at its terminal end, configured to engage with the exterior surface of the base circumferential wall, within the gap.
2 . The child-resistant can of claim 1 , wherein the spiral groove wraps around a circumference of the base.
3 . The child-resistant can of claim 1 , wherein the spiral groove is configured to allow the shell to move downward 1 mm or more and 10 mm or less.
4 . The child-resistant can of claim 1 , wherein the spiral groove is configured to allow the shell to move downward 3 mm or more and 6 mm or less.
5 . The child-resistant can of claim 1 , wherein a depth of the spiral groove is within a range of about 1 mm to about 5 mm.
6 . The child-resistant can of claim 1 , wherein a width of the spiral groove is within a range of about 1 mm to about 5 mm.
7 . The child-resistant can of claim 1 , wherein a diameter of the can is within a range of about 50 mm to about 100 mm.
8 . The child-resistant can of claim 1 , wherein a height of the can is within a range of about 10 mm to about 30 mm.
9 . The child-resistant can of claim 8 , wherein the height of the can is within a range of about 15 mm to about 25 mm.
10 . A method of closing the child-resistant can of claim 1 , comprising:
contacting the bistable cap with the base circumferential wall;
applying pressure to the top plate of the bistable cap to cause the one or more flexing arms to flex inwards to engage the base circumferential wall;
rotating the shell to translate the projection along the spiral groove;
moving the shell upwards with respect to the base circumferential wall to trap the one or more flexing arms within the gap.
11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the contacting of the bistable cap with the base circumferential wall and the applying of pressure to the top plate comprises placing the top plate of the bistable cap on a surface and placing the base and the shell on top of the bistable cap,
wherein the weight of the base and the shell causes the one or more flexing arms to flex inward, thereby engaging base circumferential wall.
12 . A method of opening the child-resistant can of claim 1 , comprising:
rotating the shell such that the projection translates along the spiral groove so that the shell circumferential wall moves downwards with respect to the base;
exposing the one or more flexing arms;
pressing down on the top plate such that the one or more flexing arms translate outwards from the base circumferential wall; and
removing the bistable cap from the base.
13 . The child-resistant can of claim 1 , wherein the can is at least 80% by weight metal.
14 . The child-resistant can of claim 13 , wherein the metal is one or more selected from the group consisting of aluminum, tinplate, chromed steel, stainless steel, zinc, and copper.
15 . The child-resistant can of claim 1 , wherein the bistable cap is at least 80% by weight metal.
16 . The child-resistant can of claim 15 , wherein the bistable cap is at least 80% by weight metal and the base is at least 80% by weight plastic.
17 . The child-resistant can of claim 1 , wherein the exterior surface of the base circumferential wall further comprises a flexing arm groove and the inwards projection is configured to engage with the flexing arm groove.
18 . A child-resistant can comprising:
a base comprising:
a bottom plate;
a base circumferential wall extending from the bottom plate,
the bottom plate and the base circumferential wall defining an interior surface and an opposing exterior surface,
the base circumferential wall comprising a spiral groove in the exterior surface; and
a shell comprising:
a shell circumferential wall configured to abut against a lower portion the exterior surface of the base circumferential wall, the shell circumferential wall comprising a projection configured to be received within the spiral groove, an upper portion of the shell circumferential wall and an upper portion of the base circumferential wall configured to form a sap therebetween; and
a bistable cap comprising a top plate and one or more flexing arms, the one or more flexing arms configured to be received within the gap,
wherein the projection is movable along the spiral groove such that the shell circumferential wall can move downwards with respect to the base to expose the one or more flexing arms,
wherein the bistable cap is removable from the base and/or the shell by pressing down on the top plate such that the one or more flexing arms translate outwards from the base circumferential wall, and
wherein the base circumferential wall extends from the bottom plate to an upper edge and the spiral groove terminates in a dead-end below the upper edge.
19 . A child-resistant can comprising:
a base comprising:
a bottom plate;
a base circumferential wall extending from the bottom plate,
the bottom plate and the base circumferential wall defining an interior surface and an opposing exterior surface,
the base circumferential wall comprising a spiral groove in the exterior surface; and
a shell comprising:
a shell circumferential wall configured to abut against a lower portion the exterior surface of the base circumferential wall, the shell circumferential wall comprising a projection configured to be received within the spiral groove, an upper portion of the shell circumferential wall and an upper portion of the base circumferential wall configured to form a sap therebetween; and
a bistable cap comprising a top plate and one or more flexing arms, the one or more flexing arms configured to be received within the gap,
wherein the projection is movable along the spiral groove such that the shell circumferential wall can move downwards with respect to the base to expose the one or more flexing arms,
wherein the bistable cap is removable from the base and/or the shell by pressing down on the top plate such that the one or more flexing arms translate outwards from the base circumferential wall, and
wherein the projection is not configured to contact the cap.