Altria Client Services LLC

Meadwestvaco Corporation

Hoffmann-la Roche Inc.

Philip Morris USA Inc.

Westrock Mwv, LLC

Christopher J Hession

Robert T Mitten

William J Bogdziewicz

Bipin R Patil

Christopher L Simpson

Travis Martin Garthaffner

Edward C Fuller

Christopher J Parks

Todd H Huffman

Brian Casey

Daniel Richter

Jack Leong Hung Lum

James David Evans

Andrew T Peeler

Sharad Gupta

Ahmet Ercelebi

Michael H Weston

Ed Fuller

Meredith McHugh Karow

H Cary Longest

Gregory Y Amos

Robert L Kikkert

Todd McCandless

Drew Wilkins

A container includes a base and a lid movable between a closed and locked configuration and an open configuration The base includes a peripheral wall movable from a relaxed position to a flexed position by applying a first force to a first portion in a first direction and a second force to a second portion in a second direction. The lid defines a plurality of receptacles. In the closed and locked configuration, the protrusions are at least partially in the receptacles, the peripheral wall is in the relaxed position, and the protrusions are configured to engage the lid to retain the lid in the closed and locked configuration. The container is configured to be moved from the closed and locked configuration to the open configuration by moving the lid in a third direction different from the first and second directions while the peripheral wall is in the flexed position.

Container with flexible wall locking mechanism

Container

Articles of manufacture, products, and packaging methods are provided that include a label with a tear strip. A labeled container includes a base, a lid, and a label sealing the base to the lid. The base includes a bottom wall and a base side wall. The lid includes a top wall and a lid skirt. The lid mates with the base to define an interior space. The label has a front face and a rear face. The label includes an outer web including polymer film, paper, or a combination thereof and an inner web of polymer. A tear strip is defined in the inner web by one or more weakened portion, score lines, or cuts in the inner web. The rear face of the label is adhesively bonded to the base side wall and to the lid skirt to form a seal between the base and the lid. The tear strip is positioned between a portion of the label adhesive bonded to the base side wall and a portion of the label adhesively bonded to the lid skirt. The tear strip can be used to open the container.

Label having tear strip

A pack for consumer goods includes an outer packaging container and an inner packaging container. The outer packaging container includes a lower box portion with an upper lid portion hingedly connected thereto. The inner packaging container includes a dispensing opening with a resealable closure, a front panel, a back panel, a top panel, a bottom panel, and opposing side panels; each side panel having an inner panel and an outer panel, the inner panel having a first width defining a width of the inner packaging container, and the outer panel including at least a portion having a second width defining flanges having a width greater than the first width. The inner packaging container is insertable within the outer packaging container such that the flanges extending from the back panel of the inner packaging container exert a biasing force on the hinged lid of the outer packaging container to assure lid closure is maintained.

Hinged lid packaging

Container with push-and-slide locking mechanism

Container including locking mechanism with pair of tabs

The package includes a base, a primary lid connected to the base, the primary lid and the base defining a primary storage area, and a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism includes a flexible member including a first segment and a second segment that are connected by an elbow, the first segment being connected to the primary lid, a distal end of the second segment including at least one contact structure, the flexible member including at least one first engaging structure between the elbow and a front surface of the at least one contact structure, and a second engaging structure on a first wall of the base. The container includes a receptacle wall cooperating with a peripheral wall to define a receptacle, and a flexible tab projecting from the top wall, the flexible tab including a fixed end adjacent to the top wall and a free end opposite the fixed end.

Package with locking mechanism including flexible member having first segment and second segment, and container with flexible tab

The container includes a base and a lid pivotally coupled to the base. The base includes a bottom wall and a peripheral wall, where a plurality of receptacles are defined in the peripheral wall. The peripheral wall is configured to be moved from a relaxed position to a flexed position by applying a first force to a first portion of the peripheral wall in a first direction and a second force to a second portion of the peripheral wall in a second direction. The lid includes a top wall and a plurality of projections. In the relaxed position, the lid is configured to engage the receptacles so as to retain the lid in a closed configuration. The container is configured to be moved from the closed configuration to an open configuration by moving the lid in a third direction while the peripheral wall is in the flexed position.

Package with opposing locking mechanisms

The tray includes a base, the base including first sidewalls that are substantially cylindrically shaped, a first upper surface on an upper end of the base, a dome, the dome extending upwardly and away from the first upper surface, the first upper surface and the dome closing the upper end, a first brim, the first brim radially extending from a first lower end of the base.

Tray with base, dome and brim

A package includes a base, a lid, and a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism includes an arm and a flexible member. The arm extends from the lid and has a first engaging structure. The member includes a flexible rib connected to a base floor, and a second engaging structure and a contact structure on a rib outer surface. The member flexes in response to a first force applied in a first direction to the contact structure and relaxes in response to absence of the first force. The member engages the first and second engaging structures based on the member being relaxed while the lid is closed. The member disengages the first and second engaging structures based on the member being flexed while the lid is closed. The lid may be opened based on applying a second force to the lid in a second direction while the member is flexed.

Package with locking mechanism

At least one example embodiment relates to a lid for a container including a base defining an opening and a top configured to engage a portion of the base. The base includes a support wall, a first sidewall, and a second sidewall. The first sidewall and the second sidewall extend from respective ends of the support wall such that the support wall, the first sidewall, and the second sidewall define a gap configured to receive at least a portion of the container. The top includes a cover, a hinge coupled between the cover and the base, and a peripheral wall extending from an interior portion of the cover. The cover is moveable between an open position providing access to the opening and a closed position sealing the opening.

Child-resistant lid for a container

A container is configured to house a consumer product. The container includes a base, a cap, and an over-cap. The base has a bottom wall and a side wall extending from the bottom wall. The cap is engaged with the base so as to define a first compartment. The first compartment is configured to house the consumer product. The over-cap is engaged with the base and at least partially defines a second compartment.

Multi-chambered container

Combined container with push-and-slide locking mechanism

Combined package with locking mechanisms

Growing community of inventors

Mechanicsville, VA, United States of America

Christopher J Hession