Child-resistant storage container

Abstract

A child-resistant storage container comprising a sleeve having an end opening through which a container can be inserted and an aperture in a side thereof, and a container having outer dimensions substantially equivalent to the inner dimensions of the sleeve and slidably insertable therein. The container has at least one tab proximate a side of the container, the tab operative to automatically extend through the aperture in the sleeve when the container is inserted therein, thereby preventing the removal of the container from the sleeve unless the at least one tab is depressed while pulling the container from the sleeve.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A child-resistant storage container, comprising:
 a sleeve having an end opening through which a container can be inserted and an aperture in a side thereof; and,   a container having outer dimensions substantially equivalent to the inner dimensions of said sleeve and slidably insertable into said sleeve, said container comprising a tab proximate a side of said container, said tab operative to automatically extend through said aperture when said container is inserted into said sleeve, thereby preventing the removal of said container from said sleeve unless said tab is depressed while pulling said container from said sleeve.   
     
     
         2 . The storage container recited in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said sleeve comprises a first sleeve side and an opposing second sleeve side, said first sleeve side having a first aperture therethrough and said second sleeve side having a second aperture therethrough; and,   said container comprises a first container side and an opposing second container side, said first container side having a first tab formed thereon and said second container side having a second tab formed thereon, said first tab operative to automatically extend by spring action through said first aperture and said second tab operative to automatically extend by spring action through said second aperture when said container is inserted into said sleeve, said first and second tabs preventing the removal of said container from said sleeve unless both tabs are simultaneously depressed while pulling said container from said sleeve.   
     
     
         3 . The storage container recited in  claim 2 , wherein said sleeve and said container each have a box shape, and wherein said first sleeve side and said opposing second sleeve side comprise parallel planar surfaces, and said first container side and said opposing second container side comprise parallel planar surfaces. 
     
     
         4 . The storage container recited in  claim 3 , wherein said container is formed from a flat foldable material comprising:
 a bottom portion intermediate to said first container side and said opposing second container side, said first and second container sides foldable to a position orthoganal to said bottom portion;   an end container side coupled to an end of said bottom portion and foldable to a position orthoganal to said bottom portion and simultaneously orthogonal to each of said first and second container sides to form one end of said container; and,   first and second triangular portions joining the ends of said first and second container sides to said end container side, each of said triangular portions comprising a fold line at a forty-five degree angle from the corner points where said bottom portion joins said first and second container sides and said end container side whereby, when said end container side and said first container side and said second container sides are folded to form said one end of said container, said first and second triangular portions extend outwardly to form said first and second tabs.   
     
     
         6 . The storage container recited in  claim 4 , further comprising a hole through said flat foldable material at each of said corner points. 
     
     
         7 . The storage container recited in  claim 3 , further comprising a tray insertable into an open side of said container, said tray having an area for storing a product therein, wherein said area for storing said product is not accessible when said first and second tabs are extended through said first and second apertures of said sleeve but which becomes progressively accessible when both tabs are simultaneously depressed and said container is progressively pulled from said sleeve. 
     
     
         8 . The storage container recited in  claim 2 , wherein a dimension between said tabs is sufficient to preclude simultaneous depression of said tabs by the hand of a small child. 
     
     
         9 . The storage container recited in  claim 1 , wherein a position of said aperture along said sleeve is proximate a closed end of said sleeve and a position of said tab along said side of said container is proximate an end of said container, said tab being proximate to said closed end of said sleeve when said container is fully inserted into said sleeve, wherein said tab automatically extends through said aperture as said container is withdrawn from said sleeve, thereby preventing the removal of said container from said sleeve unless said tab is depressed while pulling said container from said sleeve. 
     
     
         10 . The storage container as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said sleeve is formed from a rigid, foldable paper material. 
     
     
         11 . The storage container as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said sleeve is formed from a rigid, molded plastic material. 
     
     
         12 . The storage container as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said container is formed from a rigid, foldable paper material.