Child-resistant container and process of making the same

Abstract

A child-resistant container including a storage lockable by a closure system. The container includes a first coupling portion carried by the closure system and a second coupling portion carried by the storage and configured to cooperate with the first coupling portion for locking the container in a closure condition. The container also includes a support panel carried by the storage which is configured, in the locking condition of the container, to contact at least one side wall of the storage directly carrying the second coupling portion.

1 . A child-resistant container comprising:
 a storage defining a compartment and having at least one side wall which defines a passage opening delimited by a free edge, said passage opening being configured to put in communication the compartment with an external environment,   a closure system movable with respect to the storage at least between:
 a closure condition where the closure system prevents the communication between the compartment of the storage and the external environment, and 
 an open condition where the closure system allows the communication between the compartment of the storage and the external environment, 
   at least a first coupling portion carried by the closure system,   at least a second coupling portion carried by the at least one side wall of the storage,   wherein the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion are configured to engage each other in the closure condition to define a locking condition of the container where the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion prevent the closure system and the storage to switch from the closure to the open condition,   wherein the closure system also includes at least one release portion configured to allow, at least in the locking condition, the disengagement between the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion,   wherein the container includes a support panel carried by the storage, hinged to the free edge of that storage, and   wherein the support panel is at least partially arranged in the compartment of the storage and configured to contact the at least one side wall of the storage directly supporting the second coupling portion.   
     
     
         2 . The child-resistant container according to  claim 1 , wherein the support panel is engaged to the free edge section of the storage defined by the at least one side wall of the storage immediately adjacent to the side wall directly supporting the second coupling portion. 
     
     
         3 . The child-resistant container according to  claim 1 , wherein the support panel is perimetrically delimited by:
 an attachment edge directly hinged to the free edge of the storage,   a distal edge opposite to the attachment edge, and   a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge opposite the first lateral edge, which connect the attachment edge and the distal edge,   wherein at least one section of at least one of the first and second lateral edges of the support panel is configured to contact at least the side wall of the storage directly carrying the second coupling portion, and   wherein the distal edge, at least in the locking condition, is placed in the compartment of the storage.   
     
     
         4 . The child-resistant container according to  claim 1 , wherein the side wall of the storage directly supporting the second coupling portion has at least one seat configured to receive a portion of the support panel,
 wherein the seat is delimited by a gripping edge configured to contact, at least in the locking condition, the support panel to keep it at least partially in the compartment of the storage.   
     
     
         5 . The child-resistant container according to  claim 1 , wherein the support panel is movable by rotation around the free edge of the storage at least between:
 a first operating position where the support panel is placed outside the compartment of the storage, and   a second operating position where the support panel is folded in the compartment of the storage,   where the support panel, at least in the locking condition, is placed in the second operating position.   
     
     
         6 . The child-resistant container according to  claim 4 , wherein the gripping edge of the seat is configured to lock the support panel, following the movement of the support panel from the first to the second operating position, in said second operating position. 
     
     
         7 . The child-resistant container according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one side wall of the storage includes at least one front wall and one opposite rear wall, wherein the front wall and the rear wall are connected to each other by a first and a second side wall which are also opposite each other,
 wherein the at least one support panel comprises a first and a second panel, spaced and opposite each other, wherein the first and second support panels are engaged to the free edge section respectively defined by the first and second side walls of the storage, and   wherein the first support panel, in the locking condition, faces the side wall directly supporting the second support panel while said second support panel, optionally in the locking condition, is directed toward the side wall directly supporting the first support panel.   
     
     
         8 . The child-resistant container according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second coupling portion carried by the front wall of the storage, and   a second coupling portion carried from the rear wall of the storage.   
     
     
         9 . The child-resistant container according to  claim 1 , wherein the side wall of the storage carrying the second coupling portion includes at least one outer panel, wherein the second coupling portion protrudes from the outer panel outside the compartment,
 wherein at least one side wall of the storage directly carrying said second coupling portion comprises said outer panel and one inner panel facing and engaged each other,   wherein the outer panel and the inner panel are joined in a single piece at a folding edge and facing each other to define a folded portion, wherein that folding edge defines at least one section of the free edge of the storage, and   wherein the at least one support panel, at least in the locking condition, is configured to contact at least one of the outer panel and the inner panel of the side wall of the storage.   
     
     
         10 . The child-resistant container according to  claim 7 , wherein each of said front walls and rear walls of the storage carries at least a second coupling portion and also includes said outer panel and inner panel,
 wherein each of said first and second side walls of the storage carries the support panel, wherein each support panel, in the condition of locking the container, is configured to contact the front wall and the rear wall.   
     
     
         11 . The child-resistant container according to  claim 9 , wherein
 the seat is defined on the inner panel, and/or   the seat is defined by at least one section of the perimeter edge of the inner panel.   
     
     
         12 . The child-resistant container according to  claim 9 , wherein the inner panel of the side wall of the storage directly carrying the second coupling portion defines two opposing seats respectively configured to contact the first and second support panel. 
     
     
         13 . The child-resistant container according to  claim 4 , where the support panel extends in thickness between an upper surface and a lower surface, wherein the gripping edge of the seat is configured to directly contact the upper surface of the panel. 
     
     
         14 . The child-resistant container according to  claim 1 , wherein the free edge of the storage lies on a plane, wherein said support panel lies on a plane tilted with respect to the lying plane of the free edge,
 where the support panel defines a descent entering the compartment of the storage.   
     
     
         15 . The child-resistant container according to  claim 1 , wherein the lying plane of the support panel is tilted with respect to the lying plane of the free edge by an angle greater than five degrees. 
     
     
         16 . A child-resistant container comprising:
 a storage defining a compartment and having at least one side wall which defines a passage opening delimited by a free edge, said passage opening being configured to put in communication the compartment with an external environment,   a closure system movable with respect to the storage at least between:
 a closure condition where the closure system prevents the communication between the compartment of the storage and the external environment, and 
 an open condition where the closure system allows the communication between the compartment of the storage and the external environment, 
   at least a first coupling portion carried by the closure system,   at least a second coupling portion carried by the storage,   wherein the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion are configured to engage each other in the closure condition to define a locking condition of the container where said first and second coupling portions prevent the closure system and the storage to switch from the closure to the open condition,   wherein the container includes at least one support panel the support panel which defines a descent entering the compartment of the storage, and   wherein the at least one support panel is at least partially arranged in the compartment of the storage and configured to contact at least the side wall of the storage directly supporting the second coupling portion.   
     
     
         17 . The child-resistant container according to  claim 16 , wherein the free edge of the storage lies on a plane,
 wherein the support panel lies on a plane tilted to the plane of position of the free by an angle greater than five degrees.   
     
     
         18 . The child-resistant container according to  claim 16 , wherein the at least one side wall of the storage includes at least one front wall and one opposite rear wall, wherein the front wall and the rear wall are connected to each other by a first and a second side wall which are also opposite each other,
 wherein the at least one support panel comprises a first and a second panel, spaced and opposite each other, wherein the first and second support panels are engaged to the free edge section respectively defined by the first and second side walls of the storage, and   wherein the first support panel, in the locking condition, faces the side wall directly supporting the second support panel while said second support panel, in the locking condition, is directed toward the side wall directly supporting the first support panel.   
     
     
         19 . The child-resistant container according to  claim 16 , wherein the side wall of the storage carrying the second coupling portion includes at least one outer panel and one inner panel facing and engaged each other,
 wherein the at least one support panel, at least in the locking condition, is configured to contact at least one of the outer panel and the inner panel of the side wall of the storage,   wherein the front wall and the rear wall comprise at least one seat, wherein the seat is delimited by a gripping edge configured to contact, at least in the locking condition, the support panel to keep it at least partially in the compartment of the storage, and   wherein the seat is defined by at least one section of the perimeter edge of the inner panel.   
     
     
         20 . The child-resistant container according to  claim 18 , wherein the inner panel of the side wall of the storage directly carrying the second coupling portion defines two opposing seats respectively configured to contact the first and second support panel.