Child Resistant Tube

Abstract

A container for small objects, including medical and pharmaceutical products. The container has a body that is closable in a secure fashion by a cap. The cap includes a movable locking tab for engaging with an opening in the body and protrusion for engaging a slot or channel formed in the body. Removal of the cap from the body requires pushing the tab as well as twisting the cap before pulling the cap from the body.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A container, comprising:
 a body, comprising:
 a cylindrical portion, having a longitudinal axis associated therewith; 
 an open end on the cylindrical portion; 
 a slot, having a first section, at least a portion of which extends along an arc on the cylindrical portion having its center point on the longitudinal axis, and having a second section; and 
 an opening adjacent to the slot; and 
   a cap adapted to close the open end, comprising:
 a protrusion adapted to fit in the slot, and 
 a movable tab adapted to fit in the opening and spaced from the protrusion such that the tab engages the opening when the protrusion is in an end portion of the first section of the slot. 
   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the second section of the slot extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 2 , wherein the slot is “L” or backwards “L” shaped. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 2 , wherein the slot is “J”-shaped. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the tab comprises a sloped surface such that height of the tab increases from a lower edge of the tab to an upper edge of the tab. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the cylindrical portion further comprises a closed end, such that the cylindrical portion makes up the entirety of the body. 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the protrusion is substantially rectangular. 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the body further comprises a first indication providing a first instruction for removal of the cap from the body, comprising an instruction to push on the movable tab. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 8 , wherein the cap further comprises a second indication providing a second instruction for removal of the cap from the body, comprising an instruction to move the cap such that the protrusion travels along the first section of the slot. 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 9 , wherein the cap further comprises a third indication providing a third instruction for removal of the cap from the body, comprising an instruction to move the cap such that the protrusion travels along the second section of the slot. 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 10 , wherein the third instruction is obscured by the body when the protrusion is in the first section of the slot but is visible when the protrusion enters the second section of the slot. 
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising an o-ring that provides a seal between the cap and the body. 
     
     
         13 . A container, comprising:
 a body, comprising:
 a longitudinal axis; 
 an open end; 
 a slot having a section, at least a portion of which extends along an arc on the cylindrical portion having its center point on the longitudinal axis; and 
 an opening adjacent to the slot; and 
   a cap, comprising:
 a protrusion adapted to fit in the slot; and 
 a movable tab adapted to fit in the opening and spaced from the protrusion such that the tab engages the opening when the protrusion is in the section of the slot that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. 
   
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 13 , wherein the slot further comprises a second section that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         15 . The container of  claim 13 , wherein the body further comprises a cylindrical portion that includes the open end, the slot, and opening. 
     
     
         16 . The container of  claim 13 , wherein the cap further comprises a lid portion and a sleeve portion and wherein the protrusion and tab are formed on the sleeve portion. 
     
     
         17 . A container, comprising:
 a body, comprising:
 a longitudinal axis; 
 an open end; 
 a slot having a first section, at least a portion of which extends along an arc on the cylindrical portion having its center point on the longitudinal axis and a second section connecting the first section to the open end; and 
 an opening adjacent to the slot; 
   a cap, comprising:
 a lid portion; and 
 a sleeve portion, including a protrusion adapted to fit in the slot and a movable tab adapted to fit in the slot and spaced from the protrusion such that the tab engages the opening when the protrusion is in an end portion of the first section of the slot. 
   
     
     
         18 . The container of  claim 17 , wherein the first section is sized such that the cap must be twisted approximately 30 degrees to move the protrusion from the end portion of the first section to the second section. 
     
     
         19 . The container of  claim 17 , wherein the second section is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         20 . The container of  claim 17 , wherein the tab is movable toward a center of the cap and is biased to return to a starting position.