Envelopes – wrappers – and paperboard boxes – Paperboard box – Tamper indicating
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-17
2001-10-02
Elkins, Gary E. (Department: 3727)
Envelopes, wrappers, and paperboard boxes
Paperboard box
Tamper indicating
C206S807000, C229S125260, C229S125280
Reexamination Certificate
active
06296175
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to child resistant containers for storage of hazardous materials, and in particular, child resistant containers for transferring and storing ammunition.
(2) Background of the Invention
Young children have a well-known tendency to place small objects in their mouths. In addition to swallowing, children often bang objects together or on hard surfaces. Such activity may lead to tragic results when ammunition is accidentally made accessible to children. Although efforts are generally made to keep boxes of ammunition out of reach from children, secondary lines of defense are needed. Further, access to ammunition may lead to efforts to actually load a weapon out of curiosity, which may also lead to tragic consequences.
Many child resistant containers have been devised for hazardous materials, such as ammunition and medicine. Opening these containers generally depends on some combination of dexterity, strength and intellect, which is not possessed by young children. In addition to being rather expensive to manufacture, these containers often turn out to be inconvenient and too difficult for adults to open. Many adults lack the strength and dexterity to open these containers for a variety of physical reasons. Further, given the nature of the contents, these containers need to provide periodic access and child resistance between periods of access.
There is a need for an inexpensive container that is child resistant while remaining accessible to adults of varying physical abilities. The container must have a reusable locking assembly. Preferably, the container would be easy to manufacture using traditional paperboard construction techniques.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a solution with a releasable, childproof container that is particularly suited for ammunition and other hazardous items. The container has a cover and body. The container body includes, preferably in two opposing side walls, a resilient locking leaf, which is preferably biased slightly outward. The resilient leaf is adapted to pivot inwardly and outwardly within an opening in a side wall. The container cover includes stops mounted on an inner surface of the body side walls and aligned with the cover side wall having the resilient leaf. Adjacent to and above the stop is a release panel, which is also capable of pivoting inwardly and outwardly relative to the container.
As the cover is lowered over and onto the container body, the stops force the resilient leaves inward. The resilient leaf releases outward after the stop travels completely below the resilient leaf, such that the stop is positioned directly below and in alignment with the corresponding resilient leaf. The cover and container body cannot be inadvertently separated from the fully closed position because upward travel of the cover relative to the body is interrupted by the stops contacting the corresponding resilient leaves. The cover is removed by initially pushing inwardly on the release panels so that the resilient leaves are moved inwardly to a position inside the stops. Once the resilient leaves and respective stops are clear of each other, the cover is released for removal. Preferably, the container box and cover are of paperboard box construction using corrugated cardboard wherein the cover and body are each formed from uniform templates.
These and other aspects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art after a reading of the following description of the preferred embodiments when considered in conjunction with the drawings. It should be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention as claimed. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate one embodiment of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
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Carlyle Womble
Elkins Gary E.
MPC Packaging Corporation
Rhodes C. Robert
Sandridge & Rice, PLLC
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