Child-resistant container

Abstract

A child-resistant container includes an outer housing defining a cavity and an inner receptacle configured to be slidably received in the cavity of the outer housing and move between a closed position and an open position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A child-resistant container comprising:
 an outer housing defining a cavity; and   an inner receptacle configured to be slidably received in the cavity of the outer housing and move between a closed position and an open position,   wherein the outer housing comprises at least one locking member, and   wherein the inner receptacle comprises at least one locking member configured to engage the at least one locking member of the outer housing when the inner receptacle is in the closed position, wherein the outer housing further comprises at least one release mechanism configured to disengage the at least one locking member of the inner receptacle from the at least one locking member of the outer housing, and wherein the at least one release mechanism is flexible.   
     
     
         2 . The child-resistant container of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one release mechanism comprises at least one score. 
     
     
         3 . The child-resistant container of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one notch in the outer housing, the at least one notch exposing a portion of the inner receptacle when the inner receptacle is in the closed position. 
     
     
         4 . The child-resistant container of  claim 1 , wherein one of the outer housing and the inner receptacle further comprises a catch, and the other of the outer housing and the inner receptacle comprises a stop member configured to engage the catch when the inner receptacle is in the open position. 
     
     
         5 . The child-resistant container of  claim 1 , wherein the entire outer housing is formed by bending a single piece of material. 
     
     
         6 . The child-resistant container of  claim 5 , wherein the outer housing at least one locking member is a flap. 
     
     
         7 . The child-resistant container of  claim 1 , wherein the entire inner receptacle is formed by bending a single piece of material. 
     
     
         8 . The child-resistant container of  claim 1 , wherein the inner receptacle at least one locking member is selected from the group consisting of tabs, ribs, or flanges. 
     
     
         9 . The child-resistant container of  claim 7 , wherein the entire outer housing is formed by bending a single piece of material, wherein the outer housing comprises one of a catch or stop member and the inner receptacle comprises the other of said catch or stop member, wherein the catch is configured to receive at least a portion of the stop member for preventing the inner receptacle from completely separating from the outer housing. 
     
     
         10 . The child-resistant container of  claim 9 , wherein the outer housing and the inner receptacle are formed from paper material. 
     
     
         11 . A child-resistant container comprising:
 an outer housing defining a cavity, said outer housing being entirely made by bending a single piece of material; and   an inner receptacle configured to be slidably received in the cavity of the outer housing and move between a closed position and an open position, said inner receptacle being entirely made by bending a single piece of material,   wherein the outer housing comprises at least one locking member, and   wherein the inner receptacle comprises at least one locking member configured to engage the at least one locking member of the outer housing when the inner receptacle is in the closed position.   
     
     
         12 . The child-resistant container of  claim 11 , wherein the outer housing further comprises at least one release mechanism configured to disengage the at least one locking member of the inner receptacle from the at least one locking member of the outer housing. 
     
     
         13 . The child-resistant container of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one release mechanism comprises at least one score. 
     
     
         14 . The child-resistant container of  claim 11 , further comprising at least one notch in the outer housing, the at least one notch exposing a portion of the inner receptacle when the inner receptacle is in the closed position. 
     
     
         15 . The child-resistant container of  claim 11 , wherein the outer housing at least one locking member is a flap. 
     
     
         16 . The child-resistant container of  claim 11 , wherein the inner receptacle at least one locking member is selected from the group consisting of tabs, ribs, or flanges. 
     
     
         17 . The child-resistant container of  claim 11 , wherein the outer housing comprises one of a catch or stop member and the inner receptacle comprises the other of said catch or stop member, wherein the catch is configured to engage at least a portion of the stop member for preventing the inner receptacle from completely separating from the outer housing. 
     
     
         18 . The child-resistant container of  claim 17 , wherein the catch is configured to receive at least a portion of the stop member of preventing the inner receptacle from completely separating from the outer housing. 
     
     
         19 . The child-resistant container of  claim 11 , wherein the outer housing and the inner receptacle are formed from paper material. 
     
     
         20 . A child-resistant container comprising:
 an outer housing defining a cavity; and   an inner receptacle configured to be slidably received in the cavity of the outer housing and move between a closed position and an open position,   wherein the outer housing comprises at least one locking member, and   wherein the inner receptacle comprises at least one locking member configured to engage the at least one locking member of the outer housing when the inner receptacle is in the closed position, wherein the outer housing further comprises at least one release section being flexible and configured to disengage the at least one locking member of the inner receptacle from the at least one locking member of the outer housing.   
     
     
         21 . The child-resistant container of  claim 20 , wherein the release section comprises at least one score to enhance its flexibility.