Closed container system

Abstract

A sealable container system made of biodegradable materials, including a generally cylindrical, inwardly sloping container body having flattened side portions with holes therein, and a generally cylindrical, inwardly sloping cap with outwardly projecting tabs that are received into the holes to secure the cap onto the container. Inward pressure preleases the tabs from the holes so the cap can be removed without twisting.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A closed container system, comprising:
 a container body having a cylindrical, inwardly sloping shape and at least two holes therein; and   a cap receivable into the container body, the cap having a generally cylindrical, inwardly sloping shape, and at least two outwardly projecting tabs, wherein the tabs are receivable into the holes.   
     
     
         2 . The closed container system of  claim 1 , wherein the container body has at least two flattened side portions, with one of the holes disposed in each flattened side portion. 
     
     
         3 . The closed container system of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the container body has a closed bottom and an open top, and   wherein the cap has a closed bottom and an open top.   
     
     
         4 . The closed container system of  claim 1 , wherein the outwardly projecting tabs on the cap align with the flattened side portions of the container body. 
     
     
         5 . The closed container system of  claim 1 , wherein the cap and the outwardly projecting tabs are integrally formed from a single block of material. 
     
     
         6 . The closed container system of  claim 1 , wherein the container body and the cap are formed from a biodegradable material. 
     
     
         7 . The closed container system of  claim 6 , wherein the biodegradable material is molded pulp fiber. 
     
     
         8 . The closed container system of  claim 1 , wherein the angle of the inwardly sloping shape of the container body is steeper than the angle of the inwardly sloping shape of the cap. 
     
     
         9 . The closed container system of  claim 1 , wherein the container body has an open top end and is dimensioned to nest within an identical container body. 
     
     
         10 . The closed container system of  claim 1 , wherein the cap has an open top end and is dimensioned to nest within an identical cap. 
     
     
         11 . The closed container system of  claim 1 , wherein the outwardly projecting tabs on the cap lock the cap into place in the container body when the cap is pushed downwardly into the container body. 
     
     
         12 . The closed container system of  claim 1 , wherein pushing inwardly on the outwardly projecting tabs releases the cap from the container body. 
     
     
         13 . The closed container system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an open notch in the cap above each outwardly projecting tab.   
     
     
         14 . The closed container system of  claim 1 , wherein the cap further comprises at least two side legs extending downwardly therefrom, the side legs being dimensioned to be received within the container body. 
     
     
         15 . The closed container system of  claim 14 , wherein one of each of the tabs are disposed on each of the side legs. 
     
     
         16 . The closed container system of  claim 14 , further comprising a hinge on each of the side legs, wherein pushing the hinge inwardly releases the tabs from the holes, thereby releasing the cap from the container body. 
     
     
         17 . The closed container system of  claim 6 , wherein the biodegradable material is a bio-plastic. 
     
     
         18 . The closed container system of  claim 1 , wherein the container body and the cap are made from plastic. 
     
     
         19 . The closed container system of  claim 1 , wherein the container body is made of a biodegradable material and the cap is made of a plastic. 
     
     
         20 . The closed container system of  claim 19 ,
 wherein the biodegradable material is a molded pulp fiber, and   wherein the plastic is a bio-plastic.