Container systems

Abstract

Container systems suitable for containing contents such as consumer products, closure systems, and methods related thereto, where the container systems and/or closure systems include hinged lids that are openable when first and second buttons located on a securing member are moved from respective first positions to respective second positions.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A container system comprising:
 a container body comprising walls that define an interior volume and an opening that provides throughaccess to the interior volume;   a closure system comprising a hinged lid that is selectively moveable between a closed position that covers the opening and an open position that allows access to the interior volume,
 where the hinged lid is maintained in the closed position when at least a first interlocking member is engaged with a complementary interlocking member; and 
   a securing member that is non-integral to the body and non-integral to the lid,
 the securing member comprising a first button and a second button that is spaced apart from, but joined to, the first button,
 each of the first and second buttons being biased to respective first positions and each being moveable to respective second positions, 
 
 wherein when the first and second buttons are simultaneously in their respective second positions, the lid is able to be moved from the closed position to the open position because at least the first interlocking member disengages from the complementary interlocking member. 
   
     
     
         2 . A container system according to  claim 1 , wherein the container system further comprises a frame, the frame being connectable to the container body and hingeably connectable to the lid, where the securing member is also non-integral to the frame. 
     
     
         3 . A container system according to  claim 2 , wherein the securing member is secured to the lid, the body, or the frame, preferably the frame. 
     
     
         4 . A container system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first button and the second button are spaced apart by a distance of from about 50 mm to about 150 mm when in the respective first positions. 
     
     
         5 . A container system according to  claim 1 , wherein the distance between the first and second buttons when the buttons are each in the respective second position is less than the distance between the buttons when the buttons are each in the respective first position. 
     
     
         6 . A container system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second buttons are both near a front wall of the container body. 
     
     
         7 . A container system according to  claim 1 , wherein the securing member is substantially parallel to a hinge axis about which the hinged lid rotatably opens. 
     
     
         8 . A container system according to  claim 1 , wherein a spring system resiliently biases the first and second buttons to their respective first positions. 
     
     
         9 . A container system according to  claim 8 , wherein the spring system resiliently biases the first button to its first position and independently resiliently biases the second button to its first position. 
     
     
         10 . A container system according to  claim 8 , wherein the spring system is part of, preferably integrally part of, the securing member. 
     
     
         11 . A container system according to  claim 8 , wherein the spring system comprises flexible plastic. 
     
     
         12 . A container system according to  claim 8 , wherein the spring system is substantially in the shape of any of the letters M, N, S, U, V, or W. 
     
     
         13 . A container system according to  claim 1 , wherein moving the first and second buttons from the first and second positions, respectively, does not deform the lid or the body. 
     
     
         14 . A container system according to  claim 1 , wherein the second button is operatively connected to a second interlocking member. 
     
     
         15 . A container system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second members each comprise an outer edge, wherein the distance between the outer edge of the first interlocking member and the outer edge of the second interlocking members is from about 10 mm to about 60 mm when the first and second buttons are in their respective first positions. 
     
     
         16 . A container system according to  claim 14 , wherein the first interlocking member is located between the first button and the second interlocking member. 
     
     
         17 . A container system according to  claim 16 , wherein the second interlocking member is located between the first interlocking member and the second button. 
     
     
         18 . A container system according to  claim 14 ,
 wherein the second interlocking member is selectively engageable with a second complementary locking member,   wherein moving the first button from its respective first position to its respective second position results in disengagement of the first locking member and the first complementary locking member, and   wherein moving the second button from its respective first position to its respective second position results in disengagement of the second locking member and the second complementary locking member.   
     
     
         19 . A container system according to  claim 1 , wherein the securing member comprises an intermediate portion located between the first button and the first interlocking member, the intermediate portion comprising a connector portion configured to facilitate connection of the securing member to the body and/or closure system. 
     
     
         20 . A container system according to  claim 1 , wherein the container system comprises a biasing system that biases the lid towards the open position. 
     
     
         21 . A container system according to  claim 20 , wherein the biasing system comprises an elastic member. 
     
     
         22 . A container system according to  claim 21 , wherein a projection located on the closure system, preferably on the lid, elastically deforms the elastic member when the lid is in the closed position. 
     
     
         23 . A container system according to  claim 1 , wherein the interior volume comprises contents selected from the group consisting of: consumer products, pesticides, paint, solvents, industrial chemicals, industrial hardware, medicines, pills, food, and combinations thereof, preferably consumer products, more preferably a household care product. 
     
     
         24 . A container system according to  claim 23 , wherein the contents comprise a consumer product comprising a household care product, where the household care product comprises a household care composition selected from the group consisting of a fabric care treatment composition, a dish detergent composition, or a mixture thereof. 
     
     
         25 . A container system according to  claim 23 , wherein the contents comprise a consumer product in the form of a water-soluble unit dose article. 
     
     
         26 . A method of opening a container system according to  claim 1 , the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a container system according to  claim 1 ,   moving the first button and the second button so that the buttons are simultaneously located in their respective second positions,   opening the hinged lid, and   optionally accessing contents stored in the interior volume.   
     
     
         27 . A closure system suitable for attachment to an open end of a container body, the closure system comprising a lid, a frame, and a securing member,
 the frame being configured to attach to an open end of a container body, the frame having an outer periphery and an inner periphery, the inner periphery defining a frame opening;   the lid being hingedly connected to the frame, the lid being selectively moveable between a closed position and an open position,
 the lid effectively covering the frame opening when in the closed position and effectively allowing access through the frame opening when in the open position; 
   the securing member being non-integral to the frame and non-integral to the lid,
 the securing member being connected to at least one of the frame and/or lid, 
 the securing member comprising a first button and a second button that is spaced apart from the first button, 
 each of the first and second buttons being moveable from a respective first position to a respective second position, 
 each of the first and second buttons being resiliently biased the respective first positions, 
 the first button being operatively connected to a first interlocking member located substantially between the first and second buttons, where the first interlocking member is selectively engageable with a complementary locking member, where the lid is maintained in the closed position when the first locking member and the complementary locking member are engaged, and where the lid is moveable from the closed position to the open position when both the first and second buttons are moved from the respective first positions to the respective second positions, resulting in disengagement of the first locking member and the complementary locking member. 
   
     
     
         28 . A closure system according to  claim 27 , wherein the second button is operatively connected to a second interlocking member located substantially between the first and second buttons, where the second interlocking member is selectively engageable with a complementary locking member, preferably a second complementary locking member. 
     
     
         29 . A closure system according to  claim 27 , wherein the securing member is connected to the frame, and wherein the complementary locking member is located on the lid. 
     
     
         30 . A container system comprising:
 a container body comprising walls that define an interior volume and an opening that provides throughaccess to the interior volume;   a closure system comprising a hinged lid that is selectively moveable between a closed position and an open position,
 the lid effectively blocking access to the interior volume when in the closed position and effectively allowing access to the interior volume when in the open position; 
   a locking system comprising
 a securing member that is non-integral to the body and non-integral to the lid, the securing member comprising a first button and a second button that is spaced apart from the first button,
 each of the first and second buttons having a first position, 
 each of the first and second buttons being moveable to a second position, 
 each of the first and second buttons being resiliently biased to their respective first positions, and 
 said first button being operatively connected to a first interlocking member located substantially between the first and second buttons, 
 
 where the first interlocking member is selectively engageable with a complementary locking member, 
   where the lid is maintained in the closed position when the first interlocking member and the complementary interlocking member are engaged, and   where the lid is moveable from the closed position to the open position when both the first and second buttons are moved from the respective first positions to the respective second positions, resulting in disengagement of the first interlocking member and the complementary locking member.