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US5657893A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Security container with releasably locking receptacle and lid

Assignee: Proloc International Ltd
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Filing: 1994-03-31
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Granted: 1997-08-19
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Expires: 2014-03-31
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Abstract

Abstract A container includes a receptacle portion and a lid, butt ends thereof being hingeably connected one to the other; one or more resiliently mounted teeth are formed which extend upwardly from a forward end of the receptacle portion, and which include a body portion with a recess extending therethrough; a plurality of laterally spaced apart protrusions are provided and extend inwardly from a forward end of the lid, such that on the lid being hinged over the receptacle portion, the protrusions contact and move over the resiliently mounted teeth, so as to releasably engage within the recesses and so as to releasably lock the receptacle portion and lid together. Recesses are provided and extend through an upper surface of the lid, adjacent a front face thereof, so as to allow for the insertion of a release mechanism therethrough and between said one or more teeth and a forward end of said lid, so as to allow for disengagement between said one or more teeth and said one or more protrusions and subsequent release of said lid from said receptacle portion.

Inventors

  • 👤 Glenn Edward Hitchings

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-02 17:15
CPC Classifications
E; E05; E05B; E05B73/00; E05B73/0017; E05B73/0023; B; B65; B65D; B65D43/00; B65D43/02; B65D43/0202; B65D43/0214; B65D43/0222; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T292/00; Y10T292/08; Y10T292/0801; Y10T292/082; Y10T292/0821; Y10T292/0894; Y10T70/00; Y10T70/50; Y10T70/5009; Y10T70/70; Y10T70/7441; Y10T70/7486; Y10T70/7492

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim 239 words
A container including a receptacle portion and a lid; and wherein butt ends thereof are hingeably connected one to the other; front faces of said receptacle potion and said lid being so formed as to allow for releasable locking engagement therebetween; at least one resiliently mounted tooth being formed or provided on and within said front face of said receptacle portion; said at least one tooth including a body portion with an aperture extending therethrough; at least one protrusion being provided and extending inwardly from said front face of said lid; wherein on said lid being hinged downwardly over said receptacle potion, said at least one protrusion will contact and move over said at least one resiliently mounted tooth, so as to releasably engage within said aperture of said at least one tooth and so as to releasably lock said receptacle portion and said lid together; at least one access means being provided and extending through a top of said lid, adjacent said front face thereof, said access means comprising a plurality of apertures through said top of said lid, such as to allow for the insertion of release means through said at least one access means and between said at least one tooth and said front face of said lid, such as to bring about disengagement between said at least one tooth and said at least one protrusion, and subsequent release of said lid from said receptacle portion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 239 words
A container including a receptacle portion and a lid; and wherein butt ends thereof are hingeably connected one to the other; front faces of said receptacle potion and said lid being so formed as to allow for releasable locking engagement therebetween; at least one resiliently mounted tooth being formed or provided on and within said front face of said receptacle portion; said at least one tooth including a body portion with an aperture extending therethrough; at least one protrusion being provided and extending inwardly from said front face of said lid; wherein on said lid being hinged downwardly over said receptacle potion, said at least one protrusion will contact and move over said at least one resiliently mounted tooth, so as to releasably engage within said aperture of said at least one tooth and so as to releasably lock said receptacle portion and said lid together; at least one access means being provided and extending through a top of said lid, adjacent said front face thereof, said access means comprising a plurality of apertures through said top of said lid, such as to allow for the insertion of release means through said at least one access means and between said at least one tooth and said front face of said lid, such as to bring about disengagement between said at least one tooth and said at least one protrusion, and subsequent release of said lid from said receptacle portion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 215 words
A container including a receptacle portion and a lid; and wherein butt ends thereof are hingeably connected one to the other; front faces of said receptacle potion and said lid being so formed as to allow for releasable locking engagement therebetween; a plurality of resiliently mounted, laterally spaced apart teeth being formed with and extending upwardly from and inward of said front face of said receptacle portion; said teeth including a body portion with an aperture extending therethrough; a plurality of laterally spaced apart protrusions being provided and extending inwardly from said front face of said lid; wherein on said lid being hinged over said receptacle portion, said protrusions will contact and move over said resiliently mounted teeth, so as to releasably engage within said apertures and so as to releasably lock said receptacle portion and said lid together; a plurality of access means being provided and extending through a top of said lid, adjacent said front face thereof, such as to allow for the substantially simultaneous insertion of a plurality of release means through said plurality of access means and between each resilient tooth and said front face of said lid, such as to bring about simultaneous disengagement between said teeth and said protrusions, and subsequent release of said lid from said receptacle portion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 215 words
A container including a receptacle portion and a lid; and wherein butt ends thereof are hingeably connected one to the other; front faces of said receptacle potion and said lid being so formed as to allow for releasable locking engagement therebetween; a plurality of resiliently mounted, laterally spaced apart teeth being formed with and extending upwardly from and inward of said front face of said receptacle portion; said teeth including a body portion with an aperture extending therethrough; a plurality of laterally spaced apart protrusions being provided and extending inwardly from said front face of said lid; wherein on said lid being hinged over said receptacle portion, said protrusions will contact and move over said resiliently mounted teeth, so as to releasably engage within said apertures and so as to releasably lock said receptacle portion and said lid together; a plurality of access means being provided and extending through a top of said lid, adjacent said front face thereof, such as to allow for the substantially simultaneous insertion of a plurality of release means through said plurality of access means and between each resilient tooth and said front face of said lid, such as to bring about simultaneous disengagement between said teeth and said protrusions, and subsequent release of said lid from said receptacle portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 60 words
A container as claimed in claim 2, wherein said plurality of access means comprises a plurality of laterally spaced apart holes extending across and through the top of said lid, adjacent said front face thereof, such that when said receptacle portion and lid are engaged one with the other, said holes are positioned substantially above said engaged teeth and protrusions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 81 words
A container as claimed in claim 2, wherein said plurality of access means comprises a plurality of laterally spaced apart holes extending across and through the top of said lid, adjacent said print face thereof, such that when said receptacle portion and lid are engaged one with the other, said holes are positioned substantially above said engaged teeth and protrusions; wherein each hole is divided into two laterally spaced apart sections such as to allow for location of bifurcated release means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 43 words
A container as claimed in claim 2, wherein upper sides of said receptacle portion are stepped, and lower ends of sides of said lid portion are so formed as to engage within said step on closure of said lid over said receptacle portion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 25 words
A container as claimed in claim 2, wherein said front faces of said receptacle portion and lid are formed so as to be generally opaque.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 123 words
A container as claimed in claim 2, wherein butt ends of said receptacle portion and said lid are provided with alternately, laterally spaced apart, housing portions having an elongate wall opening in a wall thereof, and curvilinear cover portions; the arrangement being such that with said adjacent butt ends that juxtapose relative to each other, so as to be hingeably engageable, the spaced apart housing portions of respective butt ends are so located relative to each other that bores extending therethrough are in substantial axial alignment, such as to allow for the insertion and location of elongate retaining means therein and therethrough; said alternately and laterally spaced apart curvilinear cover portions extending at least partially over and about each of said housing portions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 12 words
A container as claimed in claim 2 formed of a plastic material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 14 words
A container as claimed in claim 2 in the form of a security container.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 260 words
A container including a receptacle portion and a lid; and wherein butt ends thereof are hingeably connected one to the other; front faces of said receptacle portion and said lid being so formed as to allow for releasable locking engagement therebetween; a plurality of resiliently mounted, laterally spaced apart teeth being formed with and extending upwardly from and inward of said front face of said receptacle portion; said teeth including a body portion with an aperture extending therethrough; a plurality of laterally spaced apart protrusions being provided and extending inwardly from said front face of said lid; wherein on said lid being hinged over said receptacle portion, said protrusions will contact and move over said resiliently mounted teeth, so as to releasably engage within said apertures and so as to releasably lock said receptacle portion and said lid together; a plurality of access means being provided and extending through a top of said lid, adjacent said front face thereof, such as to allow for the insertion of a plurality of release means through said plurality of access means and between each resilient tooth and said front face of said lid, such as to bring about disengagement between said teeth and said protrusions, and subsequent release of said lid from said receptacle portion, wherein abutment portions extend upwardly from the inner surface of the front face of the receptacle portion, between said resiliently mounted teeth, such that said abutment portions and said teeth are laterally and alternately spaced apart across an inner surface of the front face of said receptacle portion.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 260 words
A container including a receptacle portion and a lid; and wherein butt ends thereof are hingeably connected one to the other; front faces of said receptacle portion and said lid being so formed as to allow for releasable locking engagement therebetween; a plurality of resiliently mounted, laterally spaced apart teeth being formed with and extending upwardly from and inward of said front face of said receptacle portion; said teeth including a body portion with an aperture extending therethrough; a plurality of laterally spaced apart protrusions being provided and extending inwardly from said front face of said lid; wherein on said lid being hinged over said receptacle portion, said protrusions will contact and move over said resiliently mounted teeth, so as to releasably engage within said apertures and so as to releasably lock said receptacle portion and said lid together; a plurality of access means being provided and extending through a top of said lid, adjacent said front face thereof, such as to allow for the insertion of a plurality of release means through said plurality of access means and between each resilient tooth and said front face of said lid, such as to bring about disengagement between said teeth and said protrusions, and subsequent release of said lid from said receptacle portion, wherein abutment portions extend upwardly from the inner surface of the front face of the receptacle portion, between said resiliently mounted teeth, such that said abutment portions and said teeth are laterally and alternately spaced apart across an inner surface of the front face of said receptacle portion.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 32 words
A container as claimed in claim 10, wherein laterally spaced apart raised portions or humps extend across an inner surface of the top of the lid, and engage behind said abutment portions.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2000-08-18 2001-02-17 2001-08-19 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2004-08-18 2005-02-17 2005-08-19 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2008-08-18 2009-02-17 2009-08-19 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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