Child-resistant container with non-cylindrical shape

Abstract

Child-resistant containers are described herein having a body portion and a lid portion that can be coupled to one another. A set of fasteners can be disposed on the body or lid portion to secure the lid portion to the body portion. The fasteners can be flexed or bent which permits the lid portion to be released from the body portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A child-resistant container, comprising:
 a body portion having a hollow interior and a non-cylindrical shape, wherein the body portion comprises a closed, bottom surface and at least one sidewall extending upwardly from the closed, bottom surface to at least partially define the hollow interior;   a lid portion having a second hollow interior and a non-cylindrical shape, wherein the lid portion comprises a top surface and at least one sidewall extending downwardly from the closed, top surface to at least partially define the second hollow interior;   a first set of fasteners disposed on either the lid or body portion, and configured to removably secure the body portion to the lid portion in a closed configuration where the lid portion is disposed on top of the body portion such that the at least one sidewall of the lid portion surrounds the at least one sidewall of the body portion;   wherein each of the first set of fasteners is configured to move or flex inwardly toward an interior of the container when a force is applied, and wherein the lid portion can be released from the body portion when each of the first set of fasteners moves or flexes inwardly; and   wherein each of the first set of fasteners is configured to return to an initial position when the force is no longer applied.   
     
     
         2 . The child-resistant container of  claim 1 , wherein the body portion and lid portion are connected to one another via a living hinge. 
     
     
         3 . The child-resistant container of  claim 2 , wherein the body portion, lid portion, and living hinge are composed of a single injection-molded piece. 
     
     
         4 . The child-resistant container of  claim 1 , wherein the body portion further comprises a set of ribs disposed on an outside surface of the at least one sidewall. 
     
     
         5 . The child-resistant container of  claim 1 , wherein the body portion further comprises a layer of silicone that facilitates sealing of the container when the body portion is secured to the lid portion. 
     
     
         6 . The child-resistant container of  claim 1 , wherein the lid portion further comprises a layer of silicone that facilitates sealing of the container when the body portion is secured to the lid portion. 
     
     
         7 . The child-resistant container of  claim 1 , wherein the first set of fasteners are disposed on the body portion outside of the hollow interior, and wherein the lid portion comprises a first set of apertures each of which is sized and dimensioned to receive a portion of a fastener of the first set of fasteners. 
     
     
         8 . The child-resistant container of  claim 7 , further comprising a gap or space between each of the first set of fasteners and the at least one sidewall of the body portion. 
     
     
         9 . The child-resistant container of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one sidewall of the lid portion comprises first and second cutouts disposed on opposite sides of the at least one sidewall, and wherein each of the cutouts permits access to a fastener of the first set when the lid portion is secured to the body portion. 
     
     
         10 . The child-resistant container of  claim 9 , wherein the first set of fasteners comprises:
 first and second fasteners that each extends upwardly from the bottom surface of the body portion;   wherein the first fastener comprises:
 an elongated portion extending from the bottom surface of the body portion; 
 a top portion that is integral with the elongated portion and comprises a recessed area; and 
 wherein a first portion of the at least one sidewall of the lid portion that is between the first cutout and a first aperture of the first set of apertures that is near the first cutout is configured to be disposed within the recessed area when the lid portion is secured to the body portion; and 
   wherein the second fastener comprises:
 a second elongated portion extending from the bottom surface of the body portion; 
 a second top portion that is integral with the second elongated portion and comprises a second recessed area; and 
 wherein a second portion of the at least one sidewall of the lid portion that is between the second cutout and a second aperture of the first set of apertures that is near the second cutout is configured to be disposed within the second recessed area when the lid portion is secured to the body portion. 
   
     
     
         11 . The child-resistant container of  claim 10 , further comprising a first gap or space between the first fastener and the at least one sidewall of the body portion, and a second gap or space between the second fastener and the at least one sidewall of the body portion. 
     
     
         12 . The child-resistant container of  claim 10 , wherein the bottom surface of the body portion further comprises first and second cutouts disposed adjacent the first and second fasteners, respectively. 
     
     
         13 . The child-resistant container of  claim 1 , wherein the first set of fasteners are disposed on the lid portion outside of the second hollow interior, and wherein the body portion comprises a first set of apertures each of which is sized and dimensioned to receive a portion of a fastener of the first set of fasteners. 
     
     
         14 . The child-resistant container of  claim 13 , further comprising a gap or space between each of the first set of fasteners and the at least one sidewall of the lid portion. 
     
     
         15 . The child-resistant container of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one sidewall of the body portion comprises first and second cutouts disposed on opposite sides of the at least one sidewall, and wherein each of the cutouts permits access to a fastener of the first set when the lid portion is secured to the body portion. 
     
     
         16 . The child-resistant container of  claim 15 , wherein the first set of fasteners comprises:
 first and second fasteners that each extends downwardly from the top surface of the lid portion;   wherein the first fastener comprises:
 an elongated portion extending from the top surface of the lid portion; 
 a top portion that is integral with the elongated portion and comprises a recessed area; and 
 wherein a first portion of the at least one sidewall of the body portion that is between the first cutout and a first aperture of the first set of apertures that is near the first cutout is configured to be disposed within the recessed area when the lid portion is secured to the body portion; and 
   wherein the second fastener comprises:
 a second elongated portion extending from the top surface of the lid portion; 
 a second top portion that is integral with the second elongated portion and comprises a second recessed area; and 
 wherein a second portion of the at least one sidewall of the body portion that is between the second cutout and a second aperture of the first set of apertures that is near the second cutout is configured to be disposed within the second recessed area when the lid portion is secured to the body portion. 
   
     
     
         17 . The child-resistant container of  claim 16 , further comprising a first gap or space between the first fastener and the at least one sidewall of the lid portion, and a second gap or space between the second fastener and the at least one sidewall of the lid portion. 
     
     
         18 . The child-resistant container of  claim 16 , wherein the top surface of the lid portion further comprises first and second cutouts disposed adjacent the first and second fasteners, respectively. 
     
     
         19 . A child-resistant container, consisting essentially of:
 a body portion having a rectangular shape, wherein the body portion comprises a closed, bottom surface and at least one sidewall extending upwardly from the closed, bottom surface to at least partially define a hollow interior;   a lid portion having a rectangular shape, wherein the lid portion comprises a top surface and at least one sidewall extending downwardly from the closed, top surface to at least partially define a second hollow interior;   a living hinge that connects the body portion with the lid portion, wherein the body portion, lid portion, and living hinge are composed of a single injection-molded piece;   first and second fasteners disposed on the body portion outside of the hollow interior, such that a gap or space is created between each of the first and second fasteners and the at least one sidewall of the body portion, and wherein the first and second fasteners are configured to secure the body portion to the lid portion in a closed configuration where the lid portion is disposed on top of the body portion such that the at least one sidewall of the lid portion surrounds the at least one sidewall of the body portion;   wherein the lid portion comprises a first set of apertures each of which is sized and dimensioned to receive a portion of the first or second fastener, and wherein the at least one sidewall of the lid portion comprises first and second cutouts disposed on opposite sides of the at least one sidewall, and wherein each of the cutouts permits access to the first and second fasteners, respectively, when the lid portion is secured to the body portion;   wherein the first fastener comprises:
 an elongated portion extending from the bottom surface of the body portion; 
 a top portion that is integral with the elongated portion and comprises a recessed area; and 
 wherein a first portion of the at least one sidewall of the lid portion that is between the first cutout and a first aperture of the first set of apertures that is near the first cutout is configured to be disposed within the recessed area when the lid portion is secured to the body portion; and 
   wherein the second fastener comprises:
 a second elongated portion extending from the bottom surface of the body portion; 
 a second top portion that is integral with the second elongated portion and comprises a second recessed area; and 
 wherein a second portion of the at least one sidewall of the lid portion that is between the second cutout and a second aperture of the first set of apertures that is near the second cutout is configured to be disposed within the second recessed area when the lid portion is secured to the body portion; 
   wherein each of the first and second fasteners is configured to move or flex inwardly toward an interior of the body portion when a force is applied, and wherein the lid portion can be released from the body portion when each of the first and second fasteners moves or flexes inwardly toward the hollow interior; and   wherein each of the first and second fasteners is configured to return to an initial position when the force is no longer applied.   
     
     
         20 . The child-resistant container of  claim 19 , wherein the body or lid portion further comprises a layer of silicone that facilitates sealing of the container when the body portion is secured to the lid portion.