Reclosable container with easily openable closure

Abstract

In accordance with the present invention, an easily openable container includes an elastic member that is connected to the container when the closure is in an open condition. Thus, the elastic member is at rest when the cover closure is open and spring-biases the closure to an open condition. When the closure is closed against the spring-biasing of the elastic material, the elastic member is stretched and held stretched when the closure in the front of the closure is engaged, such as by a snap closure or any other releasable connection. When the locking mechanism is released, the closure pops open by contraction of the elastic member.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application is related to and claims priority from earlier filed provisional patent application Ser. No. 60 / 718,669, filed Sep. 20, 2005.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The invention relates generally to product containers. More specifically, the present invention relates to an easily openable closure that has particular use for reclosable containers, such as pill boxes and any other container that is capable of containing articles and objects therein. For example, such containers are capable of storing objects, such as pills, whereby the container can be easily opened for access to some of the pills therein and then easily closed to store the remaining pills for later access. [0003] Moreover, the present invention relates to an easily openable closure that can be used on a container of any size that can contain and house articles and objects therein. As a further example, the closure can be used on a container that can be a laun...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012] The present invention preserves the advantages of prior art closures and reclosable containers. In addition, it provides new advantages not found in currently available closures and containers and overcomes many disadvantages of such currently available closures and reclosable containers.

[0013] The present invention solves the problems in prior art reclosable containers and easily openable closures by providing a new and unique closure and container that can be easily opened by the user without having to struggle with pulling open a friction-fit snap closure or other prior art closure to gain access to object or articles contained therein. The present invention provides a reclosable container with a unique easily openable closure that has a construction that allows a user to easily open the cap. A snap release button tab is provided to release the cover. Most importantly, the cover is spring-biased into an open condition. Thus, when the button tab is depressed, the cover pops open to permit easy and immediate access to the compartment in the container therein.

[0014] In accordance with the present invention, a piece of elastic material (e.g. rubber) is overmolded (or insert molded) into the container when the closure is in an open condition. Thus, the elastic member is at rest when the cover closure is open and spring-biases the closure to an open condition. When the closure is closed against the spring-biasing of the elastic material, the elastic member is stretched and held stretched when the closure in the front of the closure is engaged, such as by a snap closure or any other releasable connection. As can be understood, when the closure is released by pressing a release tab, for example, the closure pops open by contraction of the elastic member. Any type of snap closure may be employed by the present invention. This construction and method of manufacturing of the closure and container is new and novel.

Problems solved by technology

Thus, the construction of this snap-type closure is difficult to operate, particularly by elderly people.

Also, another common closure in pill box is a simple threaded cap which is threadably connected to a female threaded cylindrical pill box storage housing is similarly difficult to operate.

However, these prior art closures and container constructions are complicated and difficult and expensive to manufacture.

These prior art containers are also difficult to operate.

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