Container with lid wall locking mechanism

Abstract

A container includes a base and a lid. A wall of the base includes a first flexible tab that can be moved between first relaxed and flexed positions by a first force in a first direction. The lid includes a second flexible tab that can be moved between second relaxed and flexed positions. The container is movable between a closed, locked position and an open, unlocked position. In the closed, locked position, the first flexible tab is in the first relaxed position, the second flexible tab is in the second relaxed position, and the first flexible tab can engage the lid to retain the container in the closed, locked position. The container can be moved from the closed, locked position to the open, unlocked position by a second force to the lid in a second direction while the first flexible tab is in the first flexed position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A container comprising:
 a base including,
 a first wall, and 
 a second wall cooperating with the first wall to at least partially define a storage area, the second wall including,
 a first flexible tab configured to be moved between a first relaxed position and a first flexed position by application of a first force in a first direction; and 
 
   a lid including,
 a third wall including,
 a second flexible tab configured to be moved between a second relaxed position and a second flexed position, 
 
   the container movable between a closed and locked position and an open and unlocked position,   in the closed and locked position, the first flexible tab is in the first relaxed position, the second flexible tab is in the second relaxed position, and the first flexible tab is configured to engage the lid so as to retain the container in the closed and locked position, and   the container is configured to be moved from the closed and locked position to the open and unlocked position by applying a second force to the lid in a second direction different from the first direction while the first flexible tab is in the first 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 lid is configured to be translated with respect to the base. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein one of the lid and the first flexible tab includes a first protrusion that engages the other of the lid and the first flexible tab. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 4 , wherein the base includes the first protrusion and the lid includes a second protrusion. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 5 , wherein the first protrusion defines a circular perimeter. 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 5 , wherein the second protrusion defines a scalloped shape. 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 5 , wherein a surface of the first protrusion defines a ramp. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the lid includes a stop protrusion configured to engage the base so as to limit movement of the lid in the second direction with respect to the base. 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein
 the first flexible tab includes a first protrusion,   the lid includes a second protrusion, and   the second protrusion is configured to engage the first protrusion so as to limit movement of the lid in the second direction with respect to the base.   
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 10 , wherein
 the first flexible tab includes a plurality of first protrusions including the first protrusion,   the lid includes a plurality of second protrusions including the second protrusion, and   each of the plurality of second protrusions is configured to engage a respective one of the plurality of first protrusions so as to limit movement of the lid in the second direction with respect to the base.   
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein
 the base defines a channel, and   the channel receives at least a portion of the lid.   
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 12 , wherein
 the base further includes a ridge, and   the ridge cooperates with the second wall to at least partially define the channel.   
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 12 , wherein the lid further includes a flange, the flange at least partially in the channel. 
     
     
         15 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the base includes a first component including the first wall and a second component including the second wall. 
     
     
         16 . The container of  claim 15 , wherein
 one of the first component and the second component defines a plurality of protrusions,   the other of the first component and the second component defines a plurality of receptacles, and   the plurality of protrusions are in the plurality of receptacles, respectively, to couple the second component to the first component.   
     
     
         17 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the third wall of the lid defines a raised portion configured to receive the second force in the second direction. 
     
     
         18 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the third wall of the lid includes a surface defining a recess. 
     
     
         19 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the second flexible tab defines a recess. 
     
     
         20 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the second flexible tab includes an indicium. 
     
     
         21 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the second flexible tab defines a semi-circular profile. 
     
     
         22 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein
 the first flexible tab includes a first fixed end and a first free end, the first free end in the second direction with respect to the first fixed end, and   the second flexible tab includes a second fixed end and a second free end, the second free end in the second direction with respect to the second fixed end.   
     
     
         23 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the base includes,
 a bottom wall,   a peripheral wall including the first wall, and   an intermediate wall including the second wall, the at least a portion of the intermediate wall parallel to the bottom wall.   
     
     
         24 . The container of  claim 23 , wherein the peripheral wall is free of corners. 
     
     
         25 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the storage area of the base is configured to receive a plurality of oral products. 
     
     
         26 . The container of  claim 25 , wherein the second wall of the base defines a rectangular opening to provide access to the storage area. 
     
     
         27 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the base and the lid include a polymer. 
     
     
         28 . The container of  claim 27 , wherein the polymer includes high-density polyethylene, polypropylene, or both high-density polyethylene and polypropylene, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         29 . The container of  claim 27 , wherein the base and the lid further include a filler in an amount ranging from 10 weight percent to 40 weight percent. 
     
     
         30 . The container of  claim 29 , wherein the filler includes talc. 
     
     
         31 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the container has a stadium-shaped profile.