Container with flexible wall locking mechanism

Abstract

A container includes a base, lid, and protrusion. The base can be moved from a relaxed position to a flexed position by applying a first force in a first direction. The lid can be moved between a closed, locked position and an open position. The protrusion is on one of the lid and a peripheral wall of the base, and is configured to be received in a receptacle defined by the other of the lid and peripheral wall. In the closed, locked position, the protrusion is at least partially in the receptacle, the base is in the relaxed position, and the protrusion can engage the receptacle to retain the lid in the closed, locked configuration. The lid can be moved from the closed, locked position to the open position by applying a second force to the lid in a second direction while the base is in the flexed position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A container comprising:
 a base including,
 a bottom wall, and 
 a peripheral wall extending from the bottom wall, at least a portion of the peripheral wall configured to be moved from a relaxed position to a flexed position by applying a first force to the peripheral wall in a first direction; 
   a lid configured to be moved between a closed and locked position and an open position; and   a protrusion on one of the lid and the peripheral wall, the protrusion configured to be received in a receptacle defined by the other of the lid and the peripheral wall,   in the closed and locked position, the protrusion is at least partially in the receptacle, the peripheral wall is in the relaxed position, and the protrusion is configured to engage a surface of the receptacle so as to retain the lid in the closed and locked configuration, and   the lid is configured to be moved from the closed and locked position to the open position by applying a second force to the lid in a second direction different from the first direction while the peripheral wall is in the flexed position.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the protrusion is on the peripheral wall and the lid defines the receptacle. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 3 , wherein the receptacle includes an aperture. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 3 , wherein the receptacle includes a recess. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 3 , wherein
 the protrusion is a first protrusion and the receptacle is a first receptacle,   the container further includes a second protrusion configured to be received in a second receptacle,   in the closed and locked position, the second protrusion is at least partially in the second receptacle, and   the peripheral wall is configured to be moved from the relaxed position to the flexed position by applying the first force in the first direction and a third force in a third direction opposite the first direction.   
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 6 , wherein
 the container defines a longitudinal axis parallel to the second direction, and   the first protrusion and the second protrusion are located opposite one another at a common location along the longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein
 the bottom wall and the peripheral wall cooperate to at least partially define a storage area, and   the storage area is configured to receive a plurality of oral products.   
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the lid includes,
 a top wall, and   a skirt extending from the top wall.   
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 9 , wherein the top wall defines a planar surface. 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 10 , wherein the skirt is perpendicular to the top wall. 
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 9 , wherein the skirt extends around a portion of a perimeter of the top wall, the portion being less than 100% of the perimeter. 
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 9 , wherein the skirt defines a channel. 
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 9 , wherein the top wall defines a protrusion configured to receive the second force. 
     
     
         15 . The container of  claim 14 , wherein the protrusion has a scalloped shape. 
     
     
         16 . The container of  claim 9 , wherein
 the base defines a first height perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction, and   the lid defines a second height perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction, the second height less than 25% of the first height.   
     
     
         17 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the lid has a uniform thickness. 
     
     
         18 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the base has a rounded shape free of sharp corners. 
     
     
         19 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the peripheral wall defines a thickness ranging from 0.25 mm to 0.3 mm. 
     
     
         20 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the base defines a uniform thickness. 
     
     
         21 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the base further includes a connection rim extending from the peripheral wall, the peripheral wall between the bottom wall and the connection rim. 
     
     
         22 . The container of  claim 21 , wherein
 the peripheral wall has a first perimeter defining a first length, and   the connection rim defines a second perimeter defining a second length greater than the first length such that at least a portion of the connection rim is outside of the peripheral wall.   
     
     
         23 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the peripheral wall defines at least one of a projection and a depression configured to receive the first force. 
     
     
         24 . The container of  claim 23 , wherein the at least one of the projection and the depression has a circular-segment shape. 
     
     
         25 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein
 the container defines a length parallel to the second direction, and   the lid is configured to translate a distance with respect to the base, the distance less than the length.   
     
     
         26 . The container of  claim 25 , wherein the distance ranges from 20% of the length to 40% of the length. 
     
     
         27 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein
 the base comprises a first metal, and   the lid comprises a second metal.   
     
     
         28 . The container of  claim 27 , wherein the first metal and the second metal are the same. 
     
     
         29 . The container of  claim 27 , wherein the container is free of polymer. 
     
     
         30 . The container of  claim 29 , wherein the container is 100% recyclable. 
     
     
         31 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the container further comprises:
 indicia printed directly on the lid, the base, or both the lid and the base.   
     
     
         32 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the container has a stadium-shaped profile.