Container device and method for securing same

Abstract

A container device and lock and method for locking the container device are disclosed. The container device may be a clam shell container which is secured with a twist on closure. This clam shell container allows for storage of items which are larger than the neck size of a twist-on closure. The container device may have wings on the side of the closure to secure a tight fit with a gasket to make the device water and smell resistant. This device can be used to secure items from unauthorized users. Medications are a common item which can be secured within this device.

1 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . A method of operating a container device, the method comprising:
 providing a container device, the container device comprising:
 a container housing comprising a first housing portion having a wing clip and a first threaded portion, a second housing portion having a second threaded portion, and a hinge moveably connecting the first housing portion to the second housing portion, the container housing configured to move between an open configuration and a closed configuration; and 
 a cap comprising a locking device, the cap configured to rotatably engage the first threaded portion and the second threaded portion to move between a screwed position and an unscrewed position while the container housing is in the closed configuration, 
 wherein the locking device comprises a combination lock configurable to an unlock combination, the locking device configured to prevent the cap from rotating from the screwed position to the unscrewed position unless the combination lock is configured into the unlock combination, 
   moving the container housing to the closed configuration,   engaging the wing clip with the second housing portion to maintain the container housing in the closed position while the wing clip is engaged with the second housing portion, and   rotatably engaging the cap to the screwed position to maintain the container housing in the closed position while the cap is in the screwed position.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising configuring the locking device to a combination. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the combination is not the unlock combination. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the combination is the unlock combination. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising configuring the locking device to change the unlock combination to a second unlock combination. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the combination lock is configured to be opened by an open code comprising a plurality of digits. 
     
     
         18 . A method of operating a container device, the method comprising:
 providing a container device, the container device comprising:
 a container housing comprising an upper container housing portion and a lower container housing portion, the container housing having a front surface, a rear surface, a first sidewall, and a second sidewall defining a substantially rectangular shape, the upper container housing portion movably coupled to a lower container housing portion via a hinge at the rear surface; 
 a first wing on the first sidewall and a second wing on the second sidewall, the first and second wings configured to secure the upper container housing portion to the lower container housing portion; 
 a neck portion configured to protrude from the front surface, the neck portion having an external surface defining a set of threads; and 
 a locking device comprising a combination lock integrated into the locking device with two or more wheels, wherein the locking device is configured to fit over the neck portion of the container housing when closed by threading the locking device onto the set of threads, wherein the locking device is configured to lock the neck portion using a combination other than an unlock combination of the two or more wheels of the combination lock, 
   moving the container housing to the closed configuration,   engaging the first wing and the second wing to secure the upper container housing portion to the lower container housing portion, and   threading the locking device onto the set of threads.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising configuring the locking device to a combination. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the combination is other than the unlock combination. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the combination is the unlock combination. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising configuring the locking device to change the unlock combination to a second unlock combination. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising configuring the locking device to the unlock combination. 
     
     
         24 . A method of operating a container device, the method comprising:
 providing a container device, the container device comprising:
 a container housing comprising an upper container housing portion and a lower container housing portion, the container housing having a front surface, a rear surface, a first sidewall, and a second sidewall defining a substantially rectangular shape, the upper container housing portion movably coupled to a lower container housing portion via a hinge at the rear surface; 
 a first wing on the first sidewall and a second wing on the second sidewall, the first and second wings configured to secure the upper container housing portion to the lower container housing portion; 
 a neck portion configured to protrude from the front surface, the neck portion formed from a top neck portion of the upper container housing portion and a bottom neck portion of the lower container housing portion; and 
 a locking device comprising a combination lock integrated into the locking device with two or more wheels, wherein the locking device is configured to fit onto the neck portion to secure the container housing in a closed configuration, 
 wherein the locking device is configured to lock the neck portion using a combination other than an unlock combination of the two or more wheels of the combination lock, 
   moving the container housing to the closed configuration,   engaging the first wing and the second wing to secure the upper container housing portion to the lower container housing portion, and   placing the locking device onto the neck portion to secure the container housing in the closed configuration.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising configuring the locking device to a combination. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the combination is other than the unlock combination. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the combination is the unlock combination. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising configuring the locking device to change the unlock combination to a second unlock combination. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising configuring the locking device to the unlock combination. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein placing the locking device onto the neck portion comprises twisting the locking device. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the neck portion has a substantially circular shape and the locking device has a substantially circular shape.