BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention. The present invention relates generally to the field of child-resistant storage cases for medications, valuables and the like. More specifically, the present invention discloses a child-resistant storage case having opposing side latches that must be simultaneously pressed to open the storage case, as well as a front latch that must be pressed downward at the same time.

Background of the Invention. A wide variety of storage boxes and cases have been used since time immemorial. These typically include a bottom and a plurality of side walls defining an interior volume with an upper opening for storing items. A lid can be used to enclose the interior region by sealing the upper opening. The lid is often hinged to one of the side walls. A wide variety of latch mechanisms can be used to secure the lid to the other side walls in the closed position.

Many storage cases are used for storing pills or medications or the like that might be hazardous to small children or pets. These storage cases do not usually require strong security, in sense of a safe or lock box, but rather only need to incorporate features rendering it difficult for a child to open the storage case. This is often referred to as being "child-resistant." Here again, the prior art in this field includes numerous examples of pill bottles, medication containers and other storage cases that incorporate a wide variety of child-resistant features. Many child-resistant features are based on the smaller size of a child's hand, or a child's relative lack of dexterity.

For example, the prior art includes several examples of storage cases having opposing side latches that must be actuated simultaneously to open the storage case. The distance between these side latches is selected to be greater than the span of a small child's hand, but the latches are conveniently spaced for an adult's hand. Similarly, the prior art also includes storage cases having a plurality of latch mechanisms on the sides, front or other aspects of the storage case that must be actuated simultaneously to open the case. Here again, the spacing between the latch mechanisms makes it difficult for a small child to open the case.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention provides child-resistant storage case having opposing side latches that must be simultaneously pressed to open the storage case, as well as a front latch on the lid that must be pressed downward at the same time. The required downward actuation of the front latch is counter-intuitive for most people, and in combination with the side latches, is very difficult for most small children. The storage case can also include a lip or rail covering the seam between the lid and the body of the storage case to prevent the storage case from being pried open with a finger nail or bladed device.

These and other advantages, features, and objects of the present invention will be more readily understood in view of the following detailed description and the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention can be more readily understood in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an axonometric view of an embodiment of the present storage case 1 with the lid 3 open.

FIG. 2 is another axonometric view corresponding to FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top view corresponding to FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a rear view corresponding to FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a front view corresponding to FIG 1.

FIG. 6 is a left side view corresponding to FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is an axonometric view of another embodiment of the storage case 1 with the lid 3 closed.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the storage case 1 with the lid 3 closed.

FIG. 9 is a detail cross-sectional view of the front latch mechanism.

FIG. 10 is an axonometric view of another embodiment of the storage case 1 in which the side latcheslO, 12 employ complementary sets of slots 14 and bumps 5.

FIG. 11 is an axonometric view of another embodiment of the storage case in which the side latches 10, 12 have horizontal ridges 16 that must be pressed inward to release the lid 3.

FIG. 12 is a detail cross-sectional view of a side latch mechanism corresponding to FIG. 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1 and 2 provide two axonometric views of an embodiment of the present storage case 1. Corresponding orthogonal views of the storage case 1 with the lid 3 open are shown in FIGS. 3 - 6. The storage case 1 has a generally rectangular configuration in the embodiment shown in these drawings. It includes a base 2 with front, rear and opposing side walls defining an interior storage space 4 within the peripheral walls of the storage case 1 . A lid 3 is connected by a hinge 5 to the rear wall of the base 2, and can be used to close the storage compartment 4 as depicted in FIGS. 7 and 8. In the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings, this lid 3 also has front, rear and opposing side walls that generally align with the corresponding walls of the base 2 when closed.

The embodiment of the storage case 1 shown in the accompanying drawings is generally rectangular with rounded corners, substantially flat top and bottom walls, and peripheral walls that are substantially vertical. Alternatively, the case could be circular, elliptical, hexagonal, star-shaped or any other desired shape. Also, the vertical peripheral walls are optional. For example, the lid 3 and base 2 could define a rounded or clamshell structure. However, in general terms, the storage case can be viewed as having a front aspect, a rear aspect, and at least two opposing side aspects.

The entire storage case 1 can be fabricated as a single molded part that requires no assembly (i.e., no hinge or secondary components). The storage case 1 is complete directly from the molding process, which helps to reduce manufacturing costs. The hinge 5 can be a "living hinge" that is common in many top-to-bottom closure cases and containers that are currently on the market.

Two side latches 10 and 12 extend upward from the side aspects of the base 2 as shown in FIG. 1 and 2. These side latches 10, 12 include protrusions to removably engage complementary recesses 1 , 13 in the interior side walls of the lid 3 when the lid 3 is closed. The user can release the latches 10, 12 by pressing inward on the side aspects of the base 2 adjacent to the side latches 10, 12. This deforms the side aspects and moves the side latches 10, 12 slightly inward to disengage them from the recesses 1 1 , 13. The distance between the side latches 10, 12 exceeds the span of a small child's hand, but an adult should be able to readily actuate both side latches 10, 12 with one hand. Alternatively, the side latches could extend downward from the side aspects of the lid 3 to engage corresponding recesses or slots in the base 2. In either embodiment, the same pressure on the sides of the case could disengage the side latches from the recesses.

The storage case 1 is also equipped with a front latch 20 as shown in the cross-sectional views provided in FIGS. 8 and 9. The front latch 20 extends downward from the front aspect of the lid 3 to removably engage a corresponding complementary feature (e.g., a recess 21 , opening, lip, edge or protrusion) in the interior of the front wall of the base 2. However, unlike the side latches 10 and 12, the front latch 20 is actuated by a horizontal tab 22 that extends forward from the front aspect of the lid 3 as shown in FIGS. 1 , 3, 6, 8 and 9. In the embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, the front latch 20 and horizontal tab 22 essentially form an L-shaped assembly that pivots or deflects with respect to the front wall of the lid 3 when downward force is applied to the horizontal tab 22, as illustrated by the arrows in FIG. 9. The user presses downward on this horizontal tab 22 to pivot or deflect the front latch 20 slightly inward and thereby disengage it from the recess 21. The horizontal tab 22 shown in the accompanying drawings is substantially planar. It should be understood that this tab 22 could have other configurations or shapes, such as a post.

By pushing down on the horizontal tab 22, the adjacent section of the front wall of the lid 3 deflects in response to the angular moment arm exerted by the horizontal tab 22, thereby moving the front latch 20 away from the recess 21 in the front wall of the base 2. Thinning the wall at the corner (as shown in FIG. 9) can be used to reduce the force required to rotate the latch 20 out of the recess 21. Decreasing the thicknesses of the wall on both sides of the latch 20 can also reduce the force required to rotate or pivot the latch 20. While still maintaining that downward force and simultaneously pressing inward on the side latches 10 and 12, a subsequent upward motion is required to lift the lid 3. This requirement of applying a downward moment on the horizontal tab 22 of the front latch mechanism while lifting upward on the lid 3 is counter- intuitive to most users, and particularly difficult for small children. It should be note that pressing upward on the horizontal tab 22 would be counter-productive and would only engage the front latch 20 more securely in the recess 21.

To open the storage case 1 , the user must simultaneously press inward on both side latches 10, 12 and also press downward on the horizontal tab 22 of the front latch 20. An adult can easily open the storage case 1 using two hands. One hand is typically used to actuate the side latches 10 and 12, while the other hand is used to press downward on the horizontal tab 22 and exert a moment to deflect the front latch 20 inward. In contrast, a small child usually requires two hands to operate the side latches 10, 20 due to the distance between the side latches 10, 12. The distance between a child's thumb and middle finger, which is typically the greatest anatomical span between two fingers, is usually about 2.5 to 4 inches for a child of up to five years of age. This leaves no hands free to operate the front latch 20. A particularly enterprising child might try to actuate the front latch 20 with her teeth, nose, toe or some other body party. However, it would be very difficult for a child to exercise the required dexterity to press downward on the horizontal tab 22 while lifting the lid 3.

Closure is simply done by pushing down on the lid 3 to engage all of the snap-fit features, which offers a tactile response, both audible and by feel, so the user knows the storage case 1 has been completely closed.

Optionally, a lip or rail 30 can extend along the edges of the lid 3 or base 2 to cover the seam between base 2 and lid 3 when the lid 3 is closed, as illustrated in FIG. 7. This lip 30 serves to protect storage case from being pried open with a fingernail or bladed device.

FIG. 10 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the opposing side latches. Here, the barbed side latches and recesses in the previous figures have been replaced with complementary sets of slots 14 and bumps 15. But, as before, the user must simultaneously press both opposing bumps 15 inward to release the side latches. For the purposes of this disclosure, it should be understood that such bumps 15 and slots 14, as well as other kinds of indents and detents, should be considered as falling within the scope of the terms "latches" and "recesses" as used herein. It should also be understood that other types of side latch mechanisms could be readily substituted. For example, FIG. 11 is an axonometric view of another embodiment of the storage case in which the side latches 10, 12 have horizontal ridges 16 that must be pressed inward to release the lid 3. FIG. 12 is a detail cross-sectional view of a side latch mechanism corresponding to FIG. 11. Here again, the thickness of the wall adjacent to the horizontal ridges 16 and side latches 10, 12 can be reduced to reduce the force required to disengage the side latches 10, 12 from the recesses 11 , 13 in the lid 3.

The above disclosure sets forth a number of embodiments of the present invention described in detail with respect to the accompanying drawings. Those skilled in this art will appreciate that various changes, modifications, other structural arrangements, and other embodiments could be practiced under the teachings of the present invention without departing from the scope of this invention as set forth in the following claims.