Slide open container

Abstract

A cover portion ( 6 ) is slidable between a closed position in which it covers a holding space defined by a drawer portion ( 4 ). Upwardly opening slots ( 22 ) in the side walls ( 14 ) of the drawer portion ( 4 ) extend between front shoulders ( 26 ) and rear shoulders ( 24 ). Each slot ( 22 ) receives a stop member ( 54 ) projecting downwardly from the cover portion ( 6 ). Engagement of the stop members ( 54 ) with the shoulders ( 24, 26 ) limits sliding movement of the cover portion ( 6 ). A lock projection ( 30 ) extends laterally outwardly from each side wall ( 14 ) of the drawer portion ( 4 ) and is received into a corresponding recess ( 56 ) on the cover portion ( 6 ) to releasably lock the cover portion ( 6 ) in its closed position. The lock projections is are positioned in grooves ( 28 ), and the recesses ( 56 ) are formed in longitudinally extending tongues ( 58 ). The cover portion ( 6 ) is resilient, and an air-tight seal is formed between each tongue ( 58 ) and the bottom of the groove ( 28 ) into which it is received. The front end wall ( 16 ) of the drawer portion ( 4 ) has a ramp surface ( 34 ) to assist the removal of articles from the holding space.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A slide open container comprising a drawer portion defining a holding space for articles, and a cover portion slidable between a closed position in which said cover portion at least substantially covers said holding space, and an open position in which said space is accessible to a user; said drawer portion having an outer side surface with a lock projection extending laterally outwardly therefrom, and said cover portion having a top wall and a side wall with an inwardly facing recess positioned to receive said lock projection when said cover portion is in said closed position, to releasably lock said cover portion in said closed position; said cover portion being sufficiently flexible to cause said side wall of said cover portion to bend laterally outwardly when a user presses on said top wall, to move said lock projection out of said recess.  
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein said drawer portion has a bottom surface with serrations formed thereon, said serrations being positioned to be engaged by a first finger of a hand of a user as the user presses on said top wall with another finger of the same hand of the user and, with said other finger, slides said cover portion toward said open position.  
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 2 , wherein said top wall has a convex outer surface.  
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein said top wall has a convex outer surface.  
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein said side wall of said cover portion includes a lower edge portion having a longitudinally extending tongue projecting laterally inwardly therefrom, and said outer side surface of said drawer portion has a groove extending therealong positioned to slidably receive said tongue as said cover portion slides between said closed position and said open position; said lock projection being positioned in said groove, and said recess being formed in said tongue.  
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 2 , wherein said side wall of said cover portion includes a lower edge portion having a longitudinally extending tongue projecting laterally inwardly therefrom, and said outer side surface of said drawer portion has a groove extending therealong positioned to slidably receive said tongue as said cover portion slides between said closed position and said open position; said lock projection being positioned in said groove, and said recess being formed in said tongue.  
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 3 , wherein said side wall of said cover portion includes a lower edge portion having a longitudinally extending tongue projecting laterally inwardly therefrom, and said outer side surface of said drawer portion has a groove extending therealong positioned to slidably receive said tongue as said cover portion slides between said closed position and said open position; said lock projection being positioned in said groove, and said recess being formed in said tongue.  
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 4 , wherein said side wall of said cover portion includes a lower edge portion having a longitudinally extending tongue projecting laterally inwardly therefrom, and said outer side surface of said drawer portion has a groove extending therealong positioned to slidably receive said tongue as said cover portion slides between said closed position and said open position; said lock projection being positioned in said groove, and said recess being formed in said tongue.  
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein said drawer portion has a side wall that includes said outer side surface and an upper edge portion, said upper edge portion having an upwardly opening slot extending therealong from a front shoulder to a rear shoulder; and said cover portion has a stop member projecting downwardly therefrom and slidably received into said slot, engagement of said stop member with said rear shoulder defining a limit of sliding movement of said cover portion as said cover portion slides into said open position.  
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 2 , wherein said drawer portion has a side wall that includes said outer side surface and an upper edge portion, said upper edge portion having an upwardly opening slot extending therealong from a front shoulder to a rear shoulder; and said cover portion has a stop member projecting downwardly therefrom and slidably received into said slot, engagement of said stop member with said rear shoulder defining a limit of sliding movement of said cover portion as said cover portion slides into said open position.  
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 4 , wherein said drawer portion has a side wall that includes said outer side surface and an upper edge portion, said upper edge portion having an upwardly opening slot extending therealong from a front shoulder to a rear shoulder; and said cover portion has a stop member projecting downwardly therefrom and slidably received into said slot, engagement of said stop member with said rear shoulder defining a limit of sliding movement of said cover portion as said cover portion slides into said open position.  
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 5 , wherein said drawer portion has a side wall that includes said outer side surface and an upper edge portion, said upper edge portion having an upwardly opening slot extending therealong from a front shoulder to a rear shoulder; and said cover portion has a stop member projecting downwardly therefrom and slidably received into said slot, engagement of said stop member with said rear shoulder defining a limit of sliding movement of said cover portion as said cover portion slides into said open position.  
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein said side wall of said cover portion has an outer side surface with serrations formed thereon and positioned to be engaged by a finger of a user.  
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein said drawer portion has a bottom wall with an inner surface, an upper edge spaced above said inner surface, and an end wall extending between said inner surface and said upper edge; said end wall having a ramped configuration to guide an article in said drawer portion upwardly and outwardly when a user engages the article with a first finger of a hand of the user and slides the article toward and against said end wall, to enable the user to grip the article between the first finger and another finger of the same hand of the user.  
     
     
         15 . The container of  claim 14 , wherein said end wall has a ramp surface that curves continuously from said inner surface to said upper edge.  
     
     
         16 . The container of  claim 5 , wherein said drawer portion has a bottom wall with an inner surface, an upper edge spaced above said inner surface, and an end wall extending between said inner surface and said upper edge; said end wall having a ramped configuration to guide an article in said drawer portion upwardly and outwardly when a user engages the article with a first finger of a hand of the user and slides the article toward and against said end wall, to enable the user to grip the article between the first finger and another finger of the same hand of the user.  
     
     
         17 . The container of  claim 9 , wherein said drawer portion has a bottom wall with an inner surface, an upper edge spaced above said inner surface, and an end wall extending between said inner surface and said upper edge; said end wall having a ramped configuration to guide an article in said drawer portion upwardly and outwardly when a user engages the article with a first finger of a hand of the user and slides the article toward and against said end wall, to enable the user to grip the article between the first finger and another finger of the same hand of the user.  
     
     
         18 . A slide open container comprising a drawer portion defining a holding space for articles, and a cover portion slidable between a closed position in which said cover portion at least substantially covers said holding space, and an open position in which said space is accessible to a user; said drawer portion having a side wall that includes an upper edge portion, said upper edge portion having an upwardly opening slot extending therealong from a front shoulder to a rear shoulder; and said cover portion having a stop member projecting downwardly therefrom and slidably received into said slot, engagement of said stop member with said rear shoulder defining a limit of sliding movement of said cover portion as said cover portion slides into said open position.  
     
     
         19 . The container of  claim 18 , wherein said side wall of said drawer portion has an outer side surface with a lock projection extending laterally outwardly therefrom, and said cover portion has a side wall with an inwardly facing recess positioned to receive said lock projection when said cover portion is in said closed position, to releasably lock said cover portion in said closed position.  
     
     
         20 . The container of  claim 19 , wherein said side wall of said cover portion includes a lower edge portion having a longitudinally extending tongue projecting laterally inwardly therefrom, and said outer side surface of said drawer portion has a groove extending therealong positioned to slidably receive said tongue as said cover portion slides between said closed position and said open position; said lock projection being positioned in said groove, and said recess being formed in said tongue.  
     
     
         21 . The container of  claim 18 , wherein said drawer portion has a bottom wall with an inner surface, an upper edge spaced above said inner surface, and an end wall extending between said inner surface and said upper edge; said end wall having a ramped configuration to guide an article in said drawer portion upwardly and outwardly when a user engages the article with a first finger of a hand of the user and slides the article toward and against said end wall, to enable the user to grip the article between the first finger and another finger of the same hand of the user.  
     
     
         22 . The container of  claim 19 , wherein said drawer portion has a bottom wall with an inner surface, an upper edge spaced above said inner surface, and an end wall extending between said inner surface and said upper edge; said end wall having a ramped configuration to guide an article in said drawer portion upwardly and outwardly when a user engages the article with a first finger of a hand of the user and slides the article toward and against said end wall, to enable the user to grip the article between the first finger and another finger of the same hand of the user.  
     
     
         23 . The container of  claim 20 , wherein said drawer portion has a bottom wall with an inner surface, an upper edge spaced above said inner surface, and an end wall extending between said inner surface and said upper edge; said end wall having a ramped configuration to guide an article in said drawer portion upwardly and outwardly when a user engages the article with a first finger of a hand of the user and slides the article toward and against said end wall, to enable the user to grip the article between the first finger and another finger of the same hand of the user.  
     
     
         24 . A slide open container comprising a drawer portion defining a holding space for articles, and a cover portion slidable between a closed position in which said cover portion at least substantially covers said holding space, and an open position in which said space is accessible to a user; one of said drawer portion and said cover portion having a slot extending therealong from a front shoulder to a rear shoulder; and the other of said drawer portion and said cover portion having a stop member projecting therefrom and slidably received into said slot, engagement of said stop member with said front shoulder and said rear shoulder defining limits of sliding movement of said cover portion as said cover portion slides into said closed position and said open position, respectively.  
     
     
         25 . The container of  claim 24 , wherein said drawer portion includes a side wall having an outer side surface with a lock projection extending laterally outwardly therefrom, and said cover portion has a side wall with an inwardly facing recess positioned to receive said lock projection when said cover portion is in said closed position, to releasably lock said cover portion in said closed position.  
     
     
         26 . The container of  claim 25 , wherein said side wall of said cover portion includes a lower edge portion having a longitudinally extending tongue projecting laterally inwardly therefrom, and said outer side surface of said drawer portion has a groove extending therealong positioned to slidably receive said tongue as said cover portion slides between said closed position and said open position; said lock projection being positioned in said groove, and said recess being formed in said tongue.  
     
     
         27 . The container of  claim 24 , wherein said drawer portion has a bottom wall with an inner surface, an upper edge spaced above said inner surface, and an end wall extending between said inner surface and said upper edge; said end wall having a ramped configuration to guide an article in said drawer portion upwardly and outwardly when a user engages the article with a first finger of a hand of the user and slides the article toward and against said end wall, to enable the user to grip the article between the first finger and another finger of the same hand of the user.  
     
     
         28 . A slide open container comprising a drawer portion defining a holding space for articles, and a cover portion slidable between a closed position in which said cover portion at least substantially covers said holding space, and an open position in which said space is accessible to a user; said drawer portion having opposite outer side surfaces each with a lock projection extending laterally outwardly therefrom, and said cover portion having a top wall and opposite side walls each with an inwardly facing recess positioned to receive a corresponding one of said lock projections when said cover portion is in said closed position, to releasably lock said cover portion in said closed position; said cover portion being sufficiently flexible to cause said side walls of said cover portion to bend laterally outwardly when a user presses on said top wall, to move said lock projections out of said recesses; each said side wall of said cover portion including a lower edge portion having a longitudinally extending tongue projecting laterally inwardly therefrom, and each said outer side surface of said drawer portion having a groove extending therealong positioned to slidably receive a corresponding one of said tongues as said cover portion slides between said closed position and said open position; on each said outer side surface, said lock projection being positioned in said groove; on each said side wall, said recess being formed in said tongue; and said grooves having bottoms positioned a first distance apart, and said tongues being positioned a second distance apart, said second distance being less than said first distance to cause said tongues to contact said bottoms of said grooves with sufficient pressure to form an air-tight seal therebetween.  
     
     
         29 . The container of  claim 28 , wherein said cover portion is made of a plastic material having a higher elasticity than said drawer portion.  
     
     
         30 . The container of  claim 29 , wherein said cover portion is made of polypropylene, and said drawer portion is made of polystyrene.  
     
     
         31 . The container of  claim 28 , wherein said top wall has a convex outer surface.  
     
     
         32 . A slide open container comprising a drawer portion defining a holding space for articles, and a cover portion slidable between a closed position in which said cover portion at least substantially covers said holding space, and an open position in which said space is accessible to a user; said drawer portion having opposite outer side surfaces, said cover portion having a top wall and opposite side walls, and said cover portion being resiliently flexible to cause said side walls of said cover portion to bend laterally outwardly when a user presses on said top wall; each said side wall of said cover portion including a lower edge portion having a longitudinally extending tongue projecting laterally inwardly therefrom, and each said outer side surface of said drawer portion having a groove extending therealong positioned to slidably receive a corresponding one of said tongues as said cover portion slides between said closed position and said open position; and said grooves having bottoms positioned a first distance apart, and said tongues being positioned a second distance apart, said second distance being less than said first distance to cause said tongues to contact said bottoms of said grooves with sufficient pressure to form an air-tight seal therebetween.  
     
     
         33 . The container of  claim 32 , wherein said cover portion is made of a plastic material having a higher elasticity than said drawer portion.  
     
     
         34 . The container of  claim 33 , wherein said cover portion is made of polypropylene, and said drawer portion is made of polystyrene.  
     
     
         35 . The container of  claim 32 , wherein said top wall has a convex outer surface.  
     
     
         36 . A slide open container comprising a drawer portion defining a holding space for articles, and a cover portion slidable between a closed position in which said cover portion at least substantially covers said holding space, and an open position in which said space is accessible to a user; said drawer portion having a bottom wall with an inner surface, an upper edge spaced above said inner surface, and an end wall extending between said inner surface and said upper edge; said end wall having a ramped configuration to guide an article in said drawer portion upwardly and outwardly when a user engages the article with a first finger of a hand of the user and slides the article toward and against said end wall, to enable the user to grip the article between the first finger and another finger of the same hand of the user.  
     
     
         37 . The container of  claim 36 , wherein said end wall has a ramp surface that curves continuously from said inner surface to said upper edge.