Importance

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Abstract

A child-resistant compact or tablet case of one-piece molded plastic construction made up of a generally flat rectangular base and a cover top interconnected by an integral 'living' hinge. A pair of mating lip flanges extend one each along the front edges of the base and top, i.e., the edges remote from the hinge. Each flange has an arcuate recess, and these recesses are mutually offset from each other laterally of the case when it is closed with the flanges lying against one another. By placing a thumb in one recess, and the tip of the forefinger in the other recess, a pry-open force may be applied to thus readily open the case. Since only one recess is visible when viewing the case from the top or the bottom, this manner of opening the case is not readily apparent to an infant or young child, but is very easy for an infirm or elderly adult to comprehend and use for opening the compact case merely by finger feel. In addition, the base has a pair of latch spring fingers disposed one on each of the laterally opposed sides near the front edge of the base and that protrude upwardly from the base bottom wall in cantilever fashion. The top has a cooperating pair of pockets that receive the free latch-tang ends of the spring fingers to render them exterior-accessible in the closed condition of the case. The outer edges of these pockets form the strike portion of the latch system. To open the case, squeeze pressure must be applied with one hand simultaneously to both of the spring finger tang ends to move them to unlatched condition, and then to hold them in this condition while, also simultaneously, with the other hand pry-open pressure is applied to the two front lip flanges at the aforementioned offset recesses. This two-handed operation further resists opening by a child because of its complex dual-hand-manipulative coordination requirement.

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First Claim