Child-resistant container for tobacco-containing products

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to child-resistant containers and methods of making same for oral products made or derived from tobacco, incorporate tobacco, or may be tobacco-free and are intended for human consumption.

1 . A child-resistant container comprising:
 a body portion defining a first internal space accessible via a first opening and a second internal space accessible via a second opening, the body portion comprising:
 a bottom wall separating the first and second internal spaces; 
 a primary sidewall disposed about a peripheral edge of the bottom wall and extending upwardly and downwardly from the peripheral edge of the bottom wall; 
 a secondary wall comprising an upper edge and a lower edge, the secondary wall coupled to an outer surface of the primary wall and spaced outwardly therefrom and defining a channel between the primary and secondary walls such that one or more portions of the secondary wall flexes relative to the primary wall upon application of a force thereto; 
   a first cover configured to securely and removably engage the first opening of the body portion, wherein the first cover is removable by flexing one of the one or more portions of the secondary wall inwardly to expose an edge of the first cover; and   a second cover configured to securely and removably engage the second opening of the body portion, wherein the second cover is removable by flexing one of the one or more portions of the secondary wall inwardly to expose an edge of the second cover.   
     
     
         2 . A child-resistant container comprising:
 a body portion defining a first internal space accessible via a first opening and a second internal space accessible via a second opening, the body portion comprising:
 a bottom wall separating the first and second internal spaces; 
 a primary sidewall disposed about a peripheral edge of the bottom wall and extending upwardly from the peripheral edge of the bottom wall to define the first internal space and downwardly from the peripheral edge of the bottom wall to define the second internal space; 
 a secondary wall comprising an upper edge and a lower edge, the secondary wall coupled to an outer surface of the primary wall and spaced outwardly therefrom and defining a channel between the primary and secondary walls such that two portions of the secondary wall flex relative to the primary wall upon application of a force thereto; 
   a first cover configured to securely and removably engage the first opening of the body portion, wherein the first cover is removable by flexing one of the two portions of the secondary wall inwardly to expose an edge of the first cover; and   a second cover configured to securely and removably engage the second opening of the body portion, wherein the second cover is removable by flexing the other one of the two more portions of the secondary wall inwardly to expose an edge of the second cover.   
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein:
 a first portion of the secondary wall comprises a first tab configured to flex inwardly relative to the upper edge of the secondary wall so as to expose the edge of the first cover; and   a second portion of the secondary wall comprises a second tab configured to flex inwardly relative to the lower edge of the secondary wall so as to expose an edge of the second cover.   
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the secondary wall is coupled to the primary wall via a lateral extension extending outwardly from the primary wall and about a perimeter of the body portion. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 4 , wherein the lateral extension does not extend about the perimeter of the body portion in an area corresponding to the one or more portions of the secondary wall so that the one or more portions float relative to the primary wall. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 4 , wherein the lateral extension couples to the secondary wall proximate a vertical midline of an inner surface of the secondary wall. 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 4 , wherein an inner surface of the secondary wall comprises a retention mechanism configured to engage a mating structure on the first or second cover to secure the cover to the body portion. 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 4 , wherein an inner surface of the secondary wall comprises two retention mechanisms, a first retention mechanism configured to engage a mating structure on the first cover and a second retention mechanism configured to engage a mating structure on the second cover to secure the first and second covers to the body portion. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 3 , wherein the secondary wall is coupled to the primary wall via a lateral extension extending outwardly from the primary wall and about a perimeter of the body portion. 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 9 , wherein the lateral extension comprises:
 a first reverse compound bend disposed at the first portion of the secondary wall corresponding to the first tab and coupled to an upper edge of the first tab; and   a second reverse compound bend disposed at the second portion of the secondary wall corresponding to the second tab and coupled to a lower edge of the second tab.   
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 10 , wherein the secondary wall further comprises:
 a third portion of the secondary wall comprising a third tab configured to flex inwardly relative to the upper edge of the secondary wall so as to expose the edge of the first cover; and   a fourth portion of the secondary wall comprises a fourth tab configured to flex inwardly relative to the lower edge of the secondary wall so as to expose an edge of the second cover.   
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 11 , wherein the lateral extension further comprises:
 a third reverse compound bend disposed at the third portion of the secondary wall oriented opposite of the first portion of the secondary wall and corresponding to the third tab and coupled to an upper edge of the third tab; and   a fourth reverse compound bend disposed at the fourth portion of the secondary wall corresponding to the fourth tab and coupled to a lower edge of the fourth tab.   
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 4 , wherein the lateral extension comprises a plurality of non-contiguous segments. 
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the primary wall comprises a top edge and a bottom edge and the bottom wall is disposed proximate the bottom edge of the primary wall. 
     
     
         15 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the first internal space comprises a first volume and the second internal space comprises a second volume that is less than the first volume. 
     
     
         16 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second covers comprises
 a top wall;   a primary sidewall extending downwardly from a peripheral edge of the top wall; and   an inner sidewall extending downwardly from the top wall and spaced inwardly from the primary sidewall, wherein the primary and inner sidewalls define a receptacle configured to engage at least a portion of the primary wall of the body portion.   
     
     
         17 . The container of  claim 16 , wherein each of the first and second covers engages the body portion via an interference fit or a snap fit. 
     
     
         18 . The container of  claim 16 , wherein each of the first and second covers further comprises an outer sidewall extending outwardly from the peripheral edge of the top wall and configured to sit substantially flush with an outer surface of the secondary wall of the body portion when engaged. 
     
     
         19 . The container of  claim 18 , wherein the outer sidewalls and the primary sidewalls define a plurality of gaps spaced equidistant about a perimeter of the first and second covers. 
     
     
         20 . The container of  claim 19 , wherein a portion of the plurality of gaps are located so as to correspond to the locations of the one or more portions of the secondary wall that flex relative to the primary wall upon application of a force. 
     
     
         21 . The container of  claim 19 , wherein the container comprises a polygonal shape and the gaps are located to align with corners of the polygonal shape. 
     
     
         22 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the primary wall of the body portion defines a generally cylindrical shape and the secondary wall defines a generally prismatic shape, such as a hex. 
     
     
         23 . The container of  claim 16 , wherein a lower edge of each of the first and second covers abuts the upper and lower edges, respectively, of the secondary wall of the body portion when the covers are engaged with the body portion. 
     
     
         24 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the secondary wall returns to an unflexed position after removal of the force. 
     
     
         25 . The container of  claim 1  further comprising an alignment mechanism. 
     
     
         26 . The container of  claim 25 , wherein the alignment mechanism comprises a plurality of grooves formed in an outer surface of the primary sidewall and disposed about a perimeter thereof and a plurality of mating ribs disposed on an inner surface of the first and second covers. 
     
     
         27 . A child-resistant container comprising:
 a body portion defining an internal space accessible via an opening, the body portion comprising a bottom wall and a sidewall extending upwardly from a peripheral edge of the bottom wall, wherein the sidewall comprises:
 a primary wall extending along a perimeter of the bottom wall and having an inner surface and an outer surface and an upper rim defining the opening; and 
 a secondary wall spaced outwardly from and at least partially surrounding the outer surface of the primary wall thereby defining an open channel between the primary and secondary walls, the open channel extending along a perimeter of the body portion, wherein the secondary wall comprises an upper edge and a lower edge and the secondary wall is coupled to the primary wall along a portion of the lower edge and a remaining portion of the lower edge is spaced apart from the primary wall so as to define a gap between the lower edge of the secondary wall and the primary wall proximate the peripheral edge of the bottom wall, such that a portion of the secondary wall flexes relative to the primary wall upon application of a force thereto; and 
   a cover configured to securely and removably engage the body portion.   
     
     
         28 . The container of  claim 27 , wherein the cover is removable by flexing a portion of the secondary wall inwardly to expose an edge of the cover. 
     
     
         29 . The container of  claim 27 , wherein the portion of the lower edge coupled to the primary wall is coupled thereto via non-contiguous segments so as that the remaining portion of the lower edge of the secondary wall define a plurality of gaps between the lower edge and the primary wall. 
     
     
         30 . The container of  claim 27 , wherein the cover comprises:
 a top wall;   a primary sidewall extending downwardly from a peripheral edge of the top wall; and   an inner sidewall extending downwardly from the top wall and spaced inwardly from the primary sidewall, wherein the primary and inner sidewalls define a receptacle configured to engage at least a portion of the primary wall of the body portion.   
     
     
         31 . The container of  claim 30 , wherein the cover engages the body portion via an interference fit or a snap fit. 
     
     
         32 . The container of  claim 30 , wherein the cover further comprises an outer sidewall extending outwardly from the peripheral edge of the top wall and configured to sit substantially flush with an outer surface of the secondary wall of the body portion when engaged. 
     
     
         33 . The container of  claim 27 , wherein an inner surface of the secondary wall comprises a retention mechanism configured to engage a mating structure on the cover to secure the cover to the body portion. 
     
     
         34 . The container of  claim 27 , wherein the secondary wall returns to an unflexed position after removal of the force. 
     
     
         35 . The container of  claim 27  further comprising an alignment mechanism. 
     
     
         36 . The container of  claim 35 , wherein the alignment mechanism comprises a plurality of grooves formed in an outer surface of the primary sidewall and disposed about a perimeter thereof and a plurality of mating ribs disposed on an inner surface of the cover.