Pharmaceutical product container with permanent locking mechanism

Abstract

Various embodiments of pharmaceutical product containers are disclosed. Each pharmaceutical product container includes a cap, a container body, and a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism is disposable from a locked state to an unlocked state at least when the cap is in a closed position relative to the container body (e.g., to define an enclosed space for pharmaceutical product). Once in the locked state and with the cap being in a closed position, the locking mechanism is unable to return to its unlocked state. Pharmaceutical product enclosed within the container with the locking mechanism being in its locked state may then be disposed of in any appropriate manner (e.g., discarded in the trash).

1 . A pharmaceutical product container, comprising:
 a cap comprising a cap body;   a container body; and   a locking mechanism disposable from an unlocked state to a locked state at least when said cap is in a closed position, with said cap body remaining in a fixed position relative to said container body, and by moving said locking mechanism relative to said cap body, wherein said locking mechanism is unable to return to said unlocked state from said locked state with said cap being in said closed position, and wherein said cap is repeatedly movable relative to said container body between said closed position and an open position prior to said locking mechanism being disposed in said locked state.   
     
     
         2 . The pharmaceutical product container of  claim 1 , wherein said cap comprises said locking mechanism. 
     
     
         3 . The pharmaceutical product container of  claim 1 , wherein said container body comprises at least one locking segment, wherein said cap comprises a first locking tab, wherein said first locking tab is disposable in an unlocking position where said first locking tab and said at least one locking segment are misaligned, and wherein said first locking tab is disposable in a locking position where said first locking tab and said at least one locking segment are aligned. 
     
     
         4 . The pharmaceutical product container of  claim 3 , wherein having said first locking tab in said locking position inhibits rotation of said cap relative to said container body in a direction that would allow said cap to move to said open position. 
     
     
         5 . The pharmaceutical product container of  claim 3 , wherein said first locking tab is deflectable to move to said locking position. 
     
     
         6 . The pharmaceutical product container of  claim 3 , wherein said cap comprises an aperture, wherein said first locking tab is aligned with said aperture, and wherein said first locking tab is directable through said aperture to move said first locking tab to said locking position. 
     
     
         7 . The pharmaceutical product container of  claim 3 , wherein said cap further comprises a latch, wherein said first locking tab is disposed on a first side of said latch when said first locking tab is in said unlocking position, and wherein said first locking tab is disposed on a second side of said latch when said first locking tab is in said locking position. 
     
     
         8 . The pharmaceutical product container of  claim 3 , wherein a sidewall of said container body is disposed about a central axis, and wherein said first locking tab is closer to said central axis when in said locking position versus said unlocking position. 
     
     
         9 . The pharmaceutical product container of  claim 1 , wherein disposing said locking mechanism in said locked state provides a geometric interference between said cap and said container body that inhibits rotation of said cap relative to said container body in a direction that would move said cap to said open position. 
     
     
         10 . The pharmaceutical product container of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a seal between said cap and said container body, wherein said locking mechanism interacts with said seal.   
     
     
         11 . The pharmaceutical product container of  claim 10 , wherein said locking mechanism comprises an open space that is aligned with said seal, wherein said open space is accessible by said seal when said locking mechanism is in said unlocked state, and wherein said open space is inaccessible by said seal when said locking mechanism is in said locked state. 
     
     
         12 . The pharmaceutical product container of  claim 11 , wherein said locking mechanism comprises a movable door, wherein said door is out of alignment with said open space in a first door position, and blocks access to said open space in a second door position. 
     
     
         13 . The pharmaceutical product container of  claim 12 , wherein a sidewall of said container body is disposed about a central axis, and wherein said movable door moves along a movement axis that is at least generally perpendicular to said central axis. 
     
     
         14 . The pharmaceutical product container of  claim 12 , wherein a sidewall of said container body is disposed about a central axis, and wherein said movable door rotates about a rotational axis that is at least generally collinear with said central axis. 
     
     
         15 . The pharmaceutical product container of  claim 12 , wherein said movable door comprises one of a notch and a projection, and said cap comprises the other of said notch and said projection, and wherein engagement of said notch with said projection limits said movable door from moving from said second door position to said first door position. 
     
     
         16 . The pharmaceutical product container of  claim 12 , wherein said movable door comprises a first surface that is adapted to face away from an interior of said container body and a second surface that is adapted to face towards said interior of said container body, and wherein said first surface comprises a movement facilitation feature. 
     
     
         17 . The pharmaceutical product container of  claim 12 , wherein said locking mechanism further comprises a door lock that is activated when said door is disposed in said second door position. 
     
     
         18 . The pharmaceutical product container of  claim 10 , wherein said seal is compressible by a first amount when said locking mechanism is in said unlocked state, wherein said seal is compressible by a second amount when said locking mechanism is in said locked state, and wherein said second amount is less than said first amount. 
     
     
         19 . The pharmaceutical product container of  claim 18 , wherein said second amount resists removal of the cap from the container body. 
     
     
         20 . A pharmaceutical product container, comprising:
 a cap comprising first and second sides;   a container body, wherein said first side of said cap incorporates a first connector configuration for interfacing with said container body to allow said cap to be moved between said open and closed positions; and   a locking mechanism disposable from an unlocked state to a locked state, wherein said second side of said cap incorporates a second connector configuration for interfacing with said container body, and wherein interfacing said second side of said cap with said container body disposes said locking mechanism in said locked state and said locking mechanism is thereafter unable to return to said unlocked state.   
     
     
         21 . The pharmaceutical product container of  claim 20 , wherein said first and second connector configurations are different. 
     
     
         22 . The pharmaceutical product container of  claim 20 , wherein said second connector configuration comprises said locking mechanism. 
     
     
         23 . The pharmaceutical product container of  claim 20 , wherein attaching said cap to said container body using said second connector configuration disposes said locking mechanism in said locked state. 
     
     
         24 . The pharmaceutical product container of  claim 20 , wherein said cap comprises a cap body and a removable cover, wherein removing said cover from said cap body exposes said second connector configuration. 
     
     
         25 . The pharmaceutical product container of  claim 20 , wherein said second connector configuration comprises at least one flexible latch. 
     
     
         26 . The pharmaceutical product container of  claim 25 , wherein each said flexible latch comprises a camming section and a locking section. 
     
     
         27 . The pharmaceutical product container of  claim 26 , wherein each said locking section comprises a free end of a corresponding said flexible latch. 
     
     
         28 . The pharmaceutical product container of  claim 25 , wherein each said flexible latch comprises a cantilever. 
     
     
         29 . The pharmaceutical product container of  claim 25 , wherein a sidewall of said container body is disposed about a central axis, wherein each said flexible latch moves at least generally away from said central axis when positioning said cap on said container body by a movement of said cap relative to said container body along said central axis, and wherein each said flexible latch moves at least generally toward said central axis to dispose said locking mechanism in said locked state. 
     
     
         30 . The pharmaceutical product container of  claim 25 , wherein said container body comprises at least one catch, wherein a sidewall of said container body is disposed about a central axis, wherein a first segment of relative motion between said cap and said container body along said central axis causes said catch to engage an aligned said flexible latch and move said aligned flexible latch at least generally away from said central axis, and wherein each said flexible latch moves at least generally toward said central axis after clearing an aligned said catch to dispose said locking mechanism in said locked state.