Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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SLIDABLE CONTAINER WITH CHILD LOCK
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a container for storing contents, and
more
particularly to a slidable container with a child lock intended to prevent
accidents
caused e.g. by child's mischief.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Slidable containers have been used to store contents such as solid
medicine,
capsules, etc. Such a slidable container includes a lower container for
storing
contents, and a lid for closing the lower container and mounted slidably on
the lower
container.
[0003] There is a possibility that a child may open a slidable container and
take
contents, such as solid medicine or capsules, out of the container.
[0004] Several containers have been developed which are intended to prevent
accidents caused e.g. by child's mischief. However, no container has yet been
developed which, with a simple construction, can securely prevent accidents
caused
e.g. by child's mischief.
Prior Art Documents
Patent Documents
[0005] Patent document 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No.
2003-261162
Patent document 2: Published Japanese Translation No. 2011-516356 of PCT
International Application
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above situation. It
is
therefore an object of the present invention to provide a slidable container
with a
child lock, which has a simple construction and is easy to handle, and yet can
securely prevent accidents caused e.g. by child's mischief.
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[0006a] According to the present invention, there is provided a slidable
container with
a child lock, comprising:
a rectangular open-top lower container including a bottom plate, a front
plate,
a rear plate and a pair of side plates, each of the side plates having a front
side, and
a lid for closing the lower container and mounted on the lower container
slidably
in a direction from the rear plate toward the front plate of the lower
container, said lid
including a top plate, a rear plate and a pair of side plates, each of the
side plates of
the lower container comprising an inner plate portion extending inwardly from
the
corresponding front side through a step portion and being integral with the
corresponding side plate of the lower container, the lower container having a
pair of
working plates each extending from the front plate of the lower container and
lying
outside and parallel to the corresponding inner plate portion, each of the
side plates
of the lower container being connected to the bottom plate and the rear plate
of the
lower container, each of the inner plate portions being connected to the
bottom plate
and the front plate of the lower container so as to make the lower container a
sealed
container, each of the working plates having a rear end with an engaging step
portion
providing an engaging piece, wherein when the lower container is closed with
the lid,
each of the side plates of the lid overlaps the corresponding side plate and
the
corresponding engaging piece of the lower container, and a front end of each
of the
side plates of the lid is in contact with the corresponding engaging step
portion of the
lower container, and wherein each of the engaging pieces of the lower
container is
capable of engaging a locking portion provided in the corresponding side plate
of the
lid.
[0007] Thus, preferably, the present invention provides a slidable container
with a
child lock, comprising: a rectangular open-top lower container including a
bottom
plate, a front plate, a rear plate and a pair of side plates; and a lid for
sealing the lower
container and
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mounted on the lower container slidably in a direction from the
rear plate toward the front plate of the lower container, said lid
including a top plate, a rear plate and a pair of side plates, wherein
each side plate of the lower container has, on its front side, an
inner plate portion, and the lower container has a pair of working
plates each extending from the front plate of the lower container
and lying outside and parallel to the inner plate portion, wherein an
engaging piece is provided through an engaging step portion at the
rear end of each working plate, wherein when the lower container
is sealed with the lid, each side plate of the lid overlaps the
corresponding side plate and the corresponding engaging piece of
the lower container, and the front end of each side plate of the lid
is in contact with the engaging step portion of the lower container,
and wherein an engaging portion is provided in each engaging
piece of the lower container, and a locking portion to engage the
engaging portion of the engaging piece is provided in the
corresponding side plate of the lid.
[0008] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the
engaging portion of each engaging piece of the lower container is
comprised of an outwardly-projecting projection, and the locking
portion of the side plate of the lid is comprised of a groove
configured to receive the projection.
[0009] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an
inwardly-projecting first top-plate projection is provided on the
back surface of the top plate of the lid and, when sliding the lid on
the lower container in the opening direction from the closing
position, the first top-plate projection comes into contact with the
rear plate of the lower container, which produces a resistance to
the sliding movement of the lid.
[0010] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an
inwardly-projecting second top-plate projection is provided on the
back surface of the top plate of the lid and, when sliding the lid on
the lower container in the opening direction from the closing
position, the second top-plate projection comes into contact with
the rear plate of the lower container, defining the degree of
opening of the lid.
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[0011] The slidable container with a child lock according to the
present invention has a simple construction and is easy to handle,
and yet can securely prevent accidents caused e.g. by child's
mischief.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a slidable container with a
child lock according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a plan view of a lower container;
FIG. 3 is a side view of the lower container;
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view of the lower container;
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the lower container as viewed
from a rear plate;
FIG. 6 is a plan view of a lid;
FIG. 7 is a side view of the lid;
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional side view of the lid; and
FIG. 9 is a backside view of the lid.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0013] A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now
be described with reference to the drawings.
[0014] FIGS. 1 through 9 show a slidable container with a child
lock according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0015] As shown in FIGS. 1 through 9, the slidable container 1 with
a child lock comprises: a rectangular open-top lower container 2
including a bottom plate 3, a front plate 4, a rear plate 5 and a pair
of side plates 6, 6; and a lid 20 for closing or sealing the lower
container 2 and mounted on the lower container 2 slidably in a
direction from the rear plate 5 toward the front plate 4 of the lower
container 2.
[0016] The lid 20 includes a top plate 21 that covers the opening of
the lower container 2, a rear plate 22 and a pair of side plates 23,
23. The front side of the lid 20 is open; the lid 20 is mounted on
the lower container 2 by moving the front-side opening from the
rear plate 5 toward the front plate 4 of the lower container 2.
[0017] The lower container 2 and the lid 20 of the slidable
,
,
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container 1, having such a construction, are both made of a
synthetic resin such as ABS, PP, PE, PS or PC, and can be produced
by injection molding.
[0018] Examples of contents T to be stored in the slidable
container 1 may include solid medicine and tobacco products such
as capsule cigarettes, smokeless cigarettes, an oral tobacco
product and cigarillos.
[0019] The components of the slidable container 1 with a child lock
will now be described.
[0020] As described above, the rectangular lower container 2
includes the bottom plate 3, the front plate 4, the rear plate 5 and
the pair of side plates 6, 6. Each side plate 6 has, on its front
plate 4 side, an inner plate portion 7 through (lying next to) a step
portion 16. A working plate 8, extending from the front plate 4
and lying outside and parallel to the inner plate portion 7, is
provided at a predetermined distance from the inner plate portion
7.
[0021] An inner engaging piece 10 is provided through (lying next
to) an engaging step portion 9 at the rear end (rear plate 5-side
end) of each working plate 8. A projection (engaging portion) 11,
projecting outward, is provided on the outer surface of the
engaging piece 10. The projection 11 is to be received in and
engaged with the below-described groove portion (locking portion)
26 provided in the inner surface of the side plate 23 of the lid 20.
[0022] By inwardly pressing on each working plate 8, the working
plate 8 and the engaging piece 10 are bent inward, whereby the
engagement between the projection 11 of the lower container 2
and the groove portion 26 of the lid 20 is released.
[0023] When the lid 20 is mounted on the lower container 2 and
the lower container 2 is closed (sealed) with the lid 20, each side
plate 23 of the lid 20 overlaps the corresponding side plate 6 and
the corresponding engaging piece 10 of the lower container 2. At
the same time, the front end 23a of each side plate 23 of the lid 20
comes into contact with the engaging step portion 9 of the working
plate 8 of the lower container 2, whereby the lid 20 is positioned
with respect to the lower container 2 and the lower container 2 is
,
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completely closed (sealed) with the lid 20.
[0024] The lower container 2 has a peripheral projection 13
projecting outward from the lower ends of the pair of side plates 6,
6 and the lower end of the rear plate 5.
5 [0025] The peripheral projection 13 extends peripherally along the
pair of side plates 6, 6 and the rear plate 5, and lies in the same
plane as the bottom plate 3.
[0026] When the lid 20 is mounted and slid on the lower container
2, the lower ends of the side plates 23, 23 are guided along the
peripheral projection 13.
[0027] A guide groove portion 15, extending linearly and
horizontally over the peripheral projection 13, is provided in the
outer surface of each side plate 6 of the lower container 2. On the
other hand, a guide projection 25, which is to be fit into the guide
groove of each side plate 6 of the lower container 2, extends
linearly and horizontally on the inner surface of each side plate 23
of the lid 20.
[0028] When the lid 20 is mounted and slid on the lower container
2, the guide projections 25 of the lid 20 are guided along the guide
groove portions 15 of the lower container 2.
[0029] As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, a first top-plate projection 28
and a second top-plate projection 29, both projecting inward, are
provided on the back surface of the top plate 21 of the lid 20.
[0030] The first top-plate projection 28 of the lid 20 is provided
near the rear plate 22, and the second top-plate projection 29 is
provided near the center of the back surface of the top plate 21.
[0031] When sliding the lid 20 on the lower container 2 in the
opening direction from the closing position, the first top-plate
projection 28 comes into contact with the rear plate 5 of the lower
container 2, which produces a resistance to the sliding movement
of the lid 20 in the opening direction. Therefore, even after the
engagement between the projections 11 of the lower container 2
and the groove portions 26 of the lid 20 is released, the lid 20 does
not slide easily on the lower container 2 in the opening direction
upon the contact of the first top-plate projection 28 with the rear
plate 5.
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[0032] When further sliding the lid 20 on the lower container 2 in
the opening direction, the second top-plate projection 29 comes
into contact with the rear plate 5 of the lower container 2, thereby
inhibiting the movement of the lid 20 and defining the degree of
opening of the lid 20 with respect to the lower container 2.
[0033] As shown in FIG. 3, the slidable container 1 also has
non-slip portions 8a on the outer surface of each working plate 8 of
the lower container 2 so that a finger(s) will not slip upon the
opening/closing operation.
[0034] The operation of the slidable container 1 of this
embodiment having the above-described construction will now be
described.
[0035] First, the lid 20 is mounted on the lower container 2 in
which contents T are housed. The lid 20 can be mounted by
sliding the lid 20 on the lower container 2 in a direction from the
rear plate 5 toward the front plate 4. The lower container 2 can be
closed (sealed) with the lid 20.
[0036] When the lower container 2 is closed (sealed) with the lid
20, the side plates 23, 23 of the lid 20 overlap the pair of side
plates 6, 6 and the pair of engaging piece 10, 10 of the lower
container 2. The front ends 23a, 23a of the side plates 23, 23 of
the lid 20 come into contact with the engaging step portions 9 of
the lower container 2, whereby the lid 20 is positioned in the closed
position.
[0037] Further, the projections 11, 11 provided in the engaging
pieces 10, 10 of the lower container 2 engage the groove portions
26, 26 provided in the side plates 23, 23 of the lid 20. This
prevents the lid 20 from moving in the opening direction.
[0038] Therefore, it is not possible for a child to accidentally open
the lid 20 and take the contents T, such as solid medicine or
capsules, out of the lower container 2.
[0039] When opening the lid 20, the pair of working plates 8 of the
lower container 2 is first pressed inward to bend the working plates
8 and the pair of engaging pieces 10 inward, thereby disengaging
the projections 11, provided on the outer surfaces of the engaging
pieces 10, from the groove portions 26 provided in the inner
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surfaces of the side plates 23 of the lid 20. The lid 20 is then slid
on the lower plate 2 in the opening direction (the direction from the
front plate 4 toward the rear plate 5 of the lower plate 2).
[0040] Immediately after the start of sliding of the lid 20 in the
opening direction from the closed position, the first top-plate
projection 28 comes into contact with the rear plate 5 of the lower
container 2, which produces a resistance to the sliding movement
of the lid 20. This can prevent the lid 20 from easily sliding on the
lower container 2 in the opening direction after the engagement
between the projections 11 of the lower container 2 and the groove
portions 26 of the lid 20 is released.
[0041] Next, the lid 20 is further slid in the opening direction,
whereupon the first top-plate projection 28 of the lid 20 moves
across the upper end of the rear plate 5 of the lower container 2,
and the lid 20 further slides in the opening direction.
[0042] The second top-plate projection 29 of the lid 20 then comes
into contact with the upper end of the rear plate 5 of the lower
container 2, whereby the movement of the lid 20 in the opening
direction is inhibited. The degree of opening of the lid 20 with
respect to the lower container 2 is thus defined.
[0043] The contents T can now be taken out of the lower container
2.
[0044] As described hereinabove, according to the slidable
container of this embodiment, a child can be prevented from
accidentally taking the contents T, such as solid medicine or
capsules, out of the lower container 2.
[0045] When sliding the lid 20 on the lower container 2 in the
opening direction, it is necessary to disengage the projections 11 of
the lower container 2 from the groove portions 26 of the lid 20.
The disengagement can be made by simply pressing inward the
pair of working plates 8, 8 of the lower container 2, provided in
front of the pair of side plates 6, 6. The working plates 8, 8 and
the engaging pieces 10, 10 are bent directly, whereby the
projections 11 provided on the engaging pieces 10, 10 can be
disengaged from the groove portions 26 of the lid 20. The
engagement between the projections 11 on the engaging pieces 10,
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of the lower container 2 and the groove portions 26 of the lid 20
can thus be released by the very simple operation of pressing the
pair of working plates 8, 8 inward. When closing or sealing the
lower container 2 with the lid 20, the lower container 2 and the lid
5 20 can be locked by means of the very simple construction
consisting of the projection 11 on each engaging piece 10 and the
corresponding groove portion 26 of the lid 20.
[0046] Each of the working plates 8, 8 of the lower container 2 is
provided outside and parallel to the corresponding inner plate
10 portion 7 of the side plate 6 and located at a predetermined
distance from the plate section 7. Therefore, when pressing on
the working plates 8, 8 inward, the working plates 8, 8 and the
engaging pieces 10, 10 can be bent to a large extent. This makes
it possible to easily and securely release the engagement between
the projections 11 of the lower container 2 and the groove portions
26 of the lid 20.
DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0047] 1 container with a child lock
2 lower container
3 bottom plate
4 front plate
5 rear plate
6 side plate
7 inner plate portion
8 working plate
9 engaging step portion
10 engaging piece
11 projection
20 lid
21 top plate
22 rear plate
23 side plate
26 groove portion
28 first top-plate projection
29 second top-plate projection
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T contents
