Child-proof container for medicines and the like

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present invention is a container for medicines and other articles that are dangerous to small children.
It comprises an enclosure with a cover that can be pivoted to an open position only after it has been moved longitudinally from one closed position to another.
More specifically, a pivot latch prevents pivotal movement of the cover from a first closed position, but permits pivotal movement from a second closed position.
Longitudinal movement of the cover from its first to its second position is restrained by a slide latch that can be released by pressing the sides of the enclosure inwardly.
The pivot latch can be formed by a pin that rides in a slot extending in the direction of longitudinal movement of the cover and having an open end and a closed end.
When the cover occupies its first closed position, the pin is located at the closed end of the slot and holds the cover against pivotal movement, but when the cover is in its second closed position, the pin is aligned with the open end of the slot through which it can be withdrawn as the cover is pivoted to an open position.
The slide latch can be formed by a detent received by a notch or other deformation when the cover in its first closed position.
When the container is to be opened, the detent is released from the notch by flexing the enclosure sidewalls inwardly, permitting the cover to move longitudinally to its second closed position from which it can be opened.
The detent may be tapered so that it urges the sidewalls of the enclosure inwardly to reassume the seond closed position as the cover is swung shut.
Perferably, there are two detents and two corresponding notches on opposite sides of the container so that both sides must be pressed simultaneously before longitudinal movement of the cover is possible.
The size of the container can be such that a child's hand is not large enough to press both sides at the same time.
The child-proof latching action of the present invention is particularly suitable for a straight-sided, box-like structure that can be used as a convenient master container for several medicine bottles and other dangerous articles, such as razor blades and poisons