Lockable container for preventing access to contents by a child

Abstract

Children are notorious for getting into things in their parent's bags and purses. Children can find dangerous substances at ground level and ingest them or create messes. Lockable containers disclosed herein can include a small bag or other container with a multi-step locking zipper. The locking mechanism of the lockable container secures items within the interior of the container and away from children. The lockable container uses a snap latch locking system. Such locking feature is effortless for adults but difficult or impossible for children to open.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A lockable container, comprising:
 a plurality of sidewalls and a bottom wall defining an interior compartment, the interior compartment comprising an opening disposed along un upper side thereof and between a pair of opposing side wall edges;   a closure mechanism including:
 opposing interlocking zipper elements disposed along each of the opposing upper side wall edges at the container opening; and 
 a slider configured to be operated by hand, the slider comprising a Y-shaped channel that is configured to interlock the zipper elements when slid in a first direction and is configured to separate the opposing zipper elements when slide in a second direction opposite to the first direction, depending on the direction of the slider's movement; and 
   a locking mechanism configured to selectively lock the closure mechanism in a closed position thereby restricting access to the interior of the container.   
     
     
         2 . The lockable container according to  claim 1 , the slider comprising a body, a bridge, and a puller. 
     
     
         3 . The lockable container according to  claim 2 , the body comprising a front end and a rear end, the locking mechanism comprising a slider interlocking element being disposed proximate to the front of the body of the slider. 
     
     
         4 . The lockable container according to  claim 3 , the locking mechanism comprising a retractable locking element disposed at an end of the opposing sidewall edges. 
     
     
         5 . The lockable container according to  claim 4 , the locking mechanism comprising a housing, the retractable locking element being slidable within the housing. 
     
     
         6 . The lockable container according to  claim 5 , the retractable locking element including a first retaining element, the locking mechanism further comprising a first opening on a first side of the housing through which the first retaining element of the retractable locking element extends from and retracts into. 
     
     
         7 . The lockable container according to  claim 6 , the retractable locking element including a second retaining element, the locking mechanism further comprising a second opening on a second side of the housing through which the second retaining element of the retractable locking element extends from and retracts into, wherein the first opening is on an opposite side of the housing than the second opening. 
     
     
         8 . The lockable container according to  claim 7 , the first retaining element and second retaining element are opposing buttons on the retractable locking element that, when pressed, release the retractable locking element from a retained position within the housing. 
     
     
         8 . The lockable container according to  claim 6 , the locking mechanism further comprising a vertically disposed spring for biasing the retractable locking element toward an upper opening of the housing. 
     
     
         9 . The lockable container according to  claim 8 , further comprising:
 the retaining element including two opposing clasps; and   the slider interlocking element configured to mechanically interlock with the clasps of the retaining element when the slider interlocking element is inserted into the housing.   
     
     
         10 . The lockable container according to  claim 9 , the clasps of the retaining element being disposed at distal ends of opposing selectively bendable supports. 
     
     
         11 . The lockable container according to  claim 10 , the selectively bendable supports being connected at a proximate ends thereof, the vertical spring configured to provide a vertical bias force against the proximate end of the retractable locking element toward the opening of the housing. 
     
     
         12 . The lockable container according to  claim 11 , the selectively bendable supports being biased apart by one or more horizontal springs extending the selectively bendable supports and biasing the bendable supports into a locked position with the slider interlocking element inserted into the housing. 
     
     
         13 . The lockable container according to  claim 12 , the bendable supports being manually bendable against the bias force of the one or more horizontal springs to reduce the distance between the two opposing clasps of the retaining element releasing the catch of the slider to allow the slider to disengage the zipper elements and allow access to the interior of the lockable container. 
     
     
         14 . The lockable container according to  claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism includes a retractable locking element disposed at an end of the opposing sidewall edges. 
     
     
         15 . The lockable container according to  claim 14 , wherein the locking mechanism further include a housing, the retractable locking element being slidable within the housing. 
     
     
         16 . The lockable container according to  claim 15 , wherein the housing can include an upper opening for receiving a slider body and a slider catch within the housing. 
     
     
         17 . The lockable container according to  claim 16 , wherein the upper opening fully encases a front, top, side and bottom of the slider body when the slider body is slid within the housing in a locked position. 
     
     
         18 . The lockable container according to  claim 1 , locking mechanism including a retractable retaining element including two opposing clasps. 
     
     
         19 . The lockable container according to  claim 18 , wherein the two opposing clasps have a tapered top portion for allowing a catch of a slider to be pressed over tops of the clasps against a bias force of a spring and the clasps snap into a locked position under the bias force of the spring.