Box, in particular SNUS box, with childproof safety opening

Abstract

A box (1), in particular a snus box, with childproof safety opening and comprising: a container (2), which defines a housing chamber (3) and comprises an inner side wall (5) laterally delimiting the housing chamber (3) and an outer side wall (7), which is arranged around the inner side wall (5) and at a given distance from the inner side wall (5) and has at least one interruption; a lid (4) which is coupled to the container (2) and comprises an inner side wall (16) which has a cavity (10) facing the outer side wall (7) of the container (2); and at least one locking element (8), which is arranged in the area of the interruption of the outer side wall (7) of the container (2), supports a tooth (11) configured to be inserted in the cavity (10) of the lid (4) and is connected to the inner side wall (5) of the container (2) so as to move between an active position, in which the tooth (11) is at least partially inserted in the cavity (10) of the lid (4), and a deactivated position in which the tooth (11) is entirely on the outside of the cavity (10) of the lid (4). The lid (4) has an outer side wall (17) which is arranged around the inner side wall (16) of the lid (4) and at a given distance from the inner side wall (16) of the lid (4) and has a height (H2), namely an axial extension, greater than a height (H1) of the inner side wall (16) of the lid (4).

Description

[0001] "BOX , IN PARTICULAR SNUS BOX , WITH CHILDPROOF SAFETY OPENING"

[0002] Cross-Reference to Related Applications

[0003] This Patent Application claims priority from Italian Patent Application No . 102024000000705 filed on January 16 , 2024 , the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference .

[0004] Technical Field

[0005] The present invention concerns a box, in particular a snus box, with childproof safety opening .

[0006] Prior Art

[0007] Currently, snus pouches are grouped to form groups of 4 -30 pouches of snus which are inserted in boxes made of plastic material ( or more rarely metallic material ) . As described in the patent applications WO2014124939A1 and WO2016202594A1 , for example , a snus box generally has a cylindrical shape and comprises a container which is closed by a removable lid and defines , together with the lid, a chamber designed to house the group of snus pouches . In some cases , in the central area of the main lid an auxiliary chamber is obtained which is closed by an auxiliary lid and is designed to accommodate used snus pouches .

[0008] The patent application US2002084239A1 describes a childresistant and elder- friendly vial / cap system on which a locking ledge located on the vial or on the cap is engaged by a latch located on the other vial or on the cap .

[0009] The patent application US2019344937A1 describes a childproof storage container that comprises a lid and a base with seesawstyle latches .

[0010] One of the market demands , also resulting from speci fic legislation, is for a snus box having a childproof safety opening; in other words , to remove the lid and therefore access the contents of the box, the user has to carry out with his / her fingers several operations simultaneously that require a manual ability generally superior to the manual ability of a child .

[0011] The patent application WO2017125405A1 describes a childproof container for tobacco-based products comprising a base part , a closing part and a locking device to lock the closing part on the base part .

[0012] Description of the Invention

[0013] The obj ect of the present invention is to provide a box, in particular a snus box, with childproof safety opening that has a high guarantee of safety with respect to the manual abilities of a child and, at the same time , is ( relatively) simple and user- friendly for an adult to open and close .

[0014] In accordance with the present invention, a box is provided, in particular a snus box, with childproof safety opening, as claimed in the attached claims .

[0015] The claims furthermore form an integral part of the present description .

[0016] Brief Description of the Drawings

[0017] The present invention will now be described with reference to the attached drawings , which illustrate a non-limiting embodiment example thereof , in which :

[0018] • figures 1 and 2 are two perspective views of a snus box produced in accordance with the present invention and with a lid in two di f ferent angular positions with respect to a container ;

[0019] • figure 3 is a frontal view of the snus box of figure 1 ;

[0020] • figure 4 is a perspective view of only the container of the snus box of figure 1 ;

[0021] • figure 5 is a perspective view of only the lid of the snus box of figure 1 ;

[0022] • figures 6 , 7 and 8 are three di f ferent section views of the snus box of figure 1 ; and

[0023] • figure 9 is a view on an enlarged scale of a detail of figure 6 .

[0024] Preferred Embodiments of the Invention

[0025] In figures 1 and 2 , the reference number 1 indicates overall a snus box ( or package ) with childproof safety opening and containing a group (not illustrated) of 4-30 snus pouches ; namely, the snus box 1 comprises a group (not illustrated) of snus pouches housed inside said snus box 1 . Preferably, the snus box 1 is made of moulded plastic material .

[0026] The snus box 1 illustrated in the attached f igures has a cylindrical shape that develops symmetrically along a longitudinal axis A. According to a di f ferent embodiment not illustrated, the snus box 1 has a prismatic shape that develops along the longitudinal axis A and has a base shaped, for example , in the form of a regular polygon; by way of example , the base of the snus box 1 could have a polygonal shape with four or more sides .

[0027] As better illustrated in figure 4 , the snus box 1 comprises a container 2 that defines a housing chamber 3 in which the group (not illustrated) of snus pouches is arranged . The container 2 is cup-shaped and therefore has an open upper end which is closed by a lid 4 ( illustrated in figures 1-3 and 5 ) ; namely the lid 4 is coupled to the container 2 to close the open upper end of the container 2 and must be removed to access the group (not illustrated) of snus pouches .

[0028] As illustrated in figure 4 , the container 2 comprises an inner side wall 5 (preferably having cylindrical shape but it can also have other shapes , for example parallelepipedal ) which laterally delimits the housing chamber 3 and a lower wall 6 (preferably having circular shape but it can also have other shapes , for example polygonal with four or more sides ) that delimits the housing chamber 3 at the bottom and is opposite the open upper end . Furthermore , the container 2 comprises an outer side wall 7 (preferably having a cylindrical shape but it can also have other shapes , for example parallelepipedal ) which is arranged around the inner side wall 5 and at a given distance from the inner side wall 5 ; namely, the outer side wall 7 of the container 2 has a diameter greater than a diameter of the inner side wall 5 of the container 2 and therefore an annular space is defined between the two side walls 5 and 7 .

[0029] According to a preferred embodiment illustrated in the attached figures ( and shown in figure 6 ) , the inner side wall 5 of the container 2 has a height (namely an axial extension) lower than the outer side wall 7 of the container 2 ; namely the outer side wall 7 of the container 2 is higher than the inner side wall 5 of the container 2 .

[0030] As better illustrated in figure 4 , the outer side wall 7 of the container 2 has two opposite interruptions , namely in two opposite areas the outer side wall 7 of the container 2 is absent ( is interrupted) ; at each interruption of the outer side wall 7 of the container 2 is a respective locking element 8 ( therefore overall two locking elements 8 are present opposite each other ) .

[0031] As illustrated in figure 6 , a connection element 9 is provided that rigidly connects , without allowing relative movements , the inner side wall 5 of the container 2 to the outer side wall 7 of the container 2 ; namely, the connection element 9 establishes a rigid permanent connection between the two side walls 5 and 7 of the container 2 . According to a preferred embodiment illustrated in the attached figures , the connection element 9 ( like the outer side wall 7 of the container 2 ) is interrupted only at the locking elements 8 , namely at the interruptions of the outer side wall 7 of the container 2 . According to a preferred embodiment illustrated in the attached figures , the connection element 9 is arranged perpendicular to both the side walls 5 and 7 of the container 2 . In other words , the two side ( cylindrical ) walls 5 and 7 of the container 2 are j oined by the connection element 9 which is perpendicular to both the side ( cylindrical ) walls 5 and 7 of the container 2 and partially occupies the empty space delimited between the two side ( cylindrical ) walls 5 and 7 of the container 2 ; the connection element 9 is a circular crown interrupted at the locking elements 8 (namely at the interruptions of the outer side wall 7 of the container 2 ) .

[0032] As illustrated in figures 5- 9 , the lid 4 (which is coupled to the container 2 to close the open upper end) has laterally an annular cavity 10 that runs along the entire periphery of the lid 4 (namely it has an annular shape without interruptions ) . In accordance with embodiment variations not illustrated and less preferred, the cavity 10 of the lid 4 could be provided with interruptions . In this case , when the lid 4 is coupled to the container 2 it is important for the cavity 10 to be present at least at the locking elements 8 .

[0033] As illustrated in figures 7 and 8 , each locking element 8 (which is arranged at an interruption of the outer side wall 7 of the container 2 ) supports a tooth 11 which is conf igured to be inserted in the cavity 10 of the lid 4 ; namely the dimension and the shape of each tooth 11 are such as to allow the tooth 11 to engage the cavity 10 of the lid 4 . In other words , by engaging the cavity 10 , the teeth 11 allow the lid 4 to be axially locked to the container 2 .

[0034] According to a preferred embodiment , each tooth 11 has in cross section a rectangular shape with bevelled ( rounded) edges ; in particular, the bevelled ( rounded) profile of the teeth 11 makes entry and exit of the teeth 11 into / out of the cavity 10 easier, namely the bevelled ( rounded) profile of the teeth 11 facilitates entry and exit of the teeth 11 into / out of the cavity 10 .

[0035] As illustrated in figures 7 and 8 , each locking element 8 is connected to the inner side wall 5 of the container 2 to move between an active position ( illustrated in figures 7 and 8 ) , in which the tooth 11 is inserted in the cavity 10 of the lid 4 preventing the lid 4 from being separated from the container 2 , and a deactivated position (not illustrated) in which the tooth 11 is completely outside the cavity 10 of the lid 4 , allowing the lid 4 to be separated from the container 2 . In other words , normally (namely in the absence of external interventions ) the locking elements 8 are in the active position ( illustrated in figures 7 and 8 ) and therefore prevent the lid 4 from being separated from the container 2 ; in order to separate the lid 4 from the container 2 (namely to open the box 1 ) it is necessary to press on the locking elements 8 to move the locking elements 8 from the active position ( illustrated in figures 7 and 8 ) to the deactivated position (not illustrated) . In accordance with the embodiment illustrated in the attached figures , i f two locking elements 8 are present , to open the box 1 separating the lid 4 from the container 2 it is necessary to simultaneously press on the two locking elements 8 to simultaneously move the two locking elements 8 from the active position ( illustrated in figures 7 and 8 ) to the deactivated position (not i llustrated) .

[0036] As illustrated in figures 6- 9 , the cavity 10 of the lid 4 faces the outer side wall 7 and each locking element 8 moves the tooth 11 from the inside of the box 1 towards the outside of the box 1 (namely from the inner side wall 5 towards the outer side wall

[0037] 7 ) moving from the active position ( illustrated in figures 7 and

[0038] 8 ) to the deactivated position (not illustrated) so as to extract the tooth 11 from the cavity 10 of the lid 4 . According to a preferred embodiment illustrated in figures 7 and 8 , each locking element 8 is hinged to the inner side wall 5 of the container 2 to rotate around a fulcrum which is interposed between the tooth 11 and a pressure area 12 of the locking element 8 configured to be pushed by the fingers of a user during opening of the lid 4 . In particular, the pressure area 12 of each locking element 8 is arranged near ( substantially at ) the lower wall 6 of the container 2 ; namely, in each locking element 8 , the tooth 11 is arranged at the top ( i . e . towards the lid 4 ) , the pressure area 12 is arranged at the bottom ( i . e . towards the lower wall 6 of the container 2 ) and the fulcrum is in the middle .

[0039] According to a preferred embodiment , at each pressure area 12 the outer surface of each locking element 8 has raised ribs that perform the function of both visually identi fying the pressure area 12 and of locally increasing the friction to facilitate the application of pressure by the fingers .

[0040] According to a preferred embodiment illustrated in figures 7 and 8 , each locking element 8 is connected to the inner side wall 5 of the container 2 by means of a connection element 13 which is adapted to elastically deform and constitutes the fulcrum of the hinge . Each connection element 13 is integral with a respective locking element 8 at a first end and is integral with the inner side wall 5 of the container 2 at a second end arranged lower down, namely axially nearer the lower wall 6 of the container 2 , with respect to the first end . In other words , each connection element 13 has a first end which is arranged lower down (nearer to the lower wall 6 of the container 2 ) and is integral with the inner side wall 5 of the container 2 and a second end which is opposite the first end and is arranged higher up (nearer the lid 4 ) and is integral with a respective locking element 8 .

[0041] According to a preferred embodiment illustrated in figures 7 and 8 , each connection element 13 is arranged inclined with respect to the locking element 8 and the inner side wall 5 of the container ( and i s also inclined with respect to the outer side wall 7 of the container 2 ) and forms acute and obtuse angles with the locking element 8 and the inner side wall 5 of the container 2 .

[0042] According to a preferred embodiment illustrated in figures 7 and 8 , each connection element 13 consists of a flat plate .

[0043] According to a preferred embodiment illustrated in figures 6- 9 , the lid 4 has at the bottom a wedge-shaped stop body 14 which is arranged below the cavity 10 , is located (when the lid 4 is coupled with the container 2 ) between the inner side wall 5 of the container 2 and the outer side wall 7 of the container 2 , and has a thickness increasing towards the cavity 10 ; in other words , the wedge- shaped stop body 14 delimits at the bottom the cavity 10 of the lid 4 . When the lid 4 is coupled to the container 2 , the wedge-shaped stop body 14 slips into the space between the side walls 5 and 7 of the container 2 and between the space between the locking element 8 and the inner side wall 5 of the container 2 and its inclined surface comes into contact with the teeth 11 ; as the lid 4 enters the container 2 , the wedge-shaped stop body 14 , by pushing progressively on the teeth 11 , determines a progressive elastic deformation of the locking elements 8 until the teeth 11 overcome the wedge-shaped stop body 14 and therefore enter the cavity 10 by elastic return, determining locking of the lid 4 to the container 2 .

[0044] In the embodiment illustrated in the attached figures , the wedge-shaped stop body 14 is sol id, namely it does not present cavities inside it ; according to a di f ferent embodiment not illustrated, the wedge-shaped stop body 14 has internally a cavity (which can be open towards the top ) which increases the elastic deformation capacity thereof in a radial direction . According to a preferred embodiment , at its lowest point (namely nearer the lower wall 6 of the container 2 ) the wedge-shaped stop body 14 has a maximum width which is equivalent (namely is equal to or greater than) the distance between the teeth 11 and the inner side wall 5 of the container 2 so that the lid 4 fits more easily (namely without impediments ) into the container .

[0045] According to a possible embodiment , notches can be provided along the inclined surface of the wedge-shaped stop body 14 , so as to facilitate narrowing towards the inside (namely the elastic deformability in a radial direction) during insertion of the lid 4 into the container 2 .

[0046] According to a possible embodiment , each locking element 8 is initially connected to the outer side wall 7 of the container 2 by means of some weak bridges which are broken at the first movement of the locking element 8 , namely at the first opening of the lid 4 . A function of these weak bridges is to guarantee greater stability of the locking elements 8 (which are constrained to the side wall 7 of the container 2 ) during assembly of the box 1 . A further function of these weak bridges is to make the first opening of the lid 4 a little more di f ficult ( since at the first opening of the lid 4 slightly more force has to be applied on the pressure area 12 of the locking elements 8 in order to break the weak bridges ) , thus providing the user with certain proof that the l id 4 has never been opened previously .

[0047] As illustrated in figure 5 , the lid 4 has an upper wall 15 (preferably circular but it can also have di f ferent other shapes , for example polygonal with four or more sides ) which delimits at the top the housing chamber 3 (when the lid 4 is coupled with the container 2 ) and is opposite the lower wall 6 of the container 2 (when the lid 4 is coupled to the container 2 ) . Furthermore , the lid 4 comprises an inner side wall 16 (preferably cylindrical but it can also have other shapes , for example parallelepipedal ) which protrudes overhanging and downwards from the upper wall 15 ; namely, the circular ( cylindrical ) inner side wall 16 originates from the upper wall 15 , extends downwards ( therefore towards the container 2 below) , and is perpendicular to the upper wall 15 . Lastly, the lid 4 comprises an outer side wall 17 (preferably cylindrical but it can also have other shapes , for example parallelepipedal ) which protrudes overhanging downwards from the upper wall 15 ; namely, the circular ( cylindrical ) inner side wall 16 originates from the upper wall 15 , extends downwards ( therefore towards the container 2 below) , and is perpendicular to the upper wall 15 . The outer side wall 17 of the lid 4 is arranged around the inner side wall 16 of the lid 4 and at a given distance from the inner side wall 16 ; namely the outer s ide wall 17 of the lid 4 has a diameter greater than a diameter of the inner side wall 16 of the lid 4 and therefore an annular space is defined between the two side walls 16 and 17 .

[0048] As better illustrated in figure 9 , the inner side wall 16 of the lid 4 has a height Hl (namely an axial extension starting from the upper wall 15 ) lower than a height H2 (namely an axial extension starting from the upper wall 15 ) of the outer side wall 17 of the lid 4 ; namely the inner side wall 16 of the lid 4 is lower than the outer side wall 17 of the lid 4 .

[0049] According to a possible embodiment , a di f ference between the height H2 of the outer side wall 17 of the lid 4 and the height Hl of the inner side wall 16 of the lid 4 is between 1 and 5 mm and preferably between 1 and 3 mm . By way of example , the height H2 of the outer side wall 17 of the lid 4 is generally between 6 and 14 mm while the height Hl of the inner side wall 16 of the lid 4 is generally between 4 and 10 mm .

[0050] When the lid 4 is coupled to the container 2 , the outer side wall 17 of the lid 4 is arranged radially more to the outside of the locking elements 8 and radially overlaps the locking elements 8 to prevent an outward radial movement of the locking elements 8 ( as illustrated in figure 7 ) . The outer side wall 17 of the lid 4 has two interruptions (windows , openings ) 18 , each of which has a circumferential extension analogous ( i . e . substantially equal to or, better, slightly greater to take account of the construction tolerances ) to a circumferential extension of the locking elements 8 : when the lid 4 is in an angular opening position ( illustrated in figures 2 and 8 ) with respect to the container 2 , each interruption 18 is aligned with a corresponding locking element 8 and therefore allows the locking element 8 an outward radial movement ( since the upper part of the locking element 8 can pass through the interruption 18 to move radially outwards ) .

[0051] In other words , the outer side wall 17 of the lid 4 (provided with the two interruptions 18 ) constitutes a stop system that prevents the movement of the locking elements 8 ( therefore opening of the lid 4 ) when the lid 4 is not in the angular opening position ( illustrated in figures 2 and 8 ) with respect to the container 2 ; namely, the outer side wall 17 of the lid 4 allows the movement of the locking elements 8 ( therefore opening or removal of the lid 4 ) only when the lid 4 is in the angular opening position ( illustrated in figures 2 and 8 ) with respect to the container 2 .

[0052] In other words , the lid 4 does not have a symmetry around the longitudinal axis A so that the opening ( removal ) of the lid 4 is permitted only i f the lid 4 is in a precise angular opening position ( illustrated in figures 2 and 8 ) with respect to the container 2 in which the two interruptions 18 of the outer side wall 17 of the lid 4 are aligned with the two locking elements 8 ; namely, to open ( remove ) the lid 4 it is necessary to rotate the lid 4 with respect to the container 2 around the longitudinal axis A until bringing the lid 4 exactly to the angular opening position ( illustrated in figures 2 and 8 ) with respect to the container 2 , otherwise it is not possible to open ( remove ) the lid 4 .

[0053] As illustrated better in figure 9 , the outer side wall 17 of the lid 4 is arranged more on the outside than an upper portion of the outer side wall 7 of the container 2 and therefore externally surrounds the upper portion of the outer side wall 7 of the container 2 . Namely, the upper portion of the outer side wall 7 of the container 2 is arranged in an annular space between the outer side wall 17 of the lid 4 and the inner side wall 16 of the lid 4 . Analogously, as illustrated in figure 7 , the outer side wall 17 of the lid 4 is arranged more on the outside than an upper portion of each locking element 8 and therefore externally surrounds the upper portion of each locking element 8 . Namely, the upper portion o f each locking element 8 is arranged in an annular space between the outer s ide wall 17 of the lid 4 and the inner side wall 16 of the lid 4 .

[0054] As illustrated in figures 6 and 9 , an upper portion of the outer side wall 7 of the container 2 is thinner than a remaining part of the outer side wall 7 of the container 2 to create a seat 19 in which the outer side wall 17 of the lid 4 is accommodated . In particular, the seat 19 reproduces in negative the shape and dimensions of the outer side wall 17 of the lid 4 . Analogously and as illustrated in figures 7 and 8 , an upper portion of each locking element 18 of the container 2 is thinner than a remaining part of the locking element 18 to create a seat 20 in which the outer side wall 17 of the lid 4 is accommodated . In particular, each seat 20 reproduces in negative the shape and dimensions of the outer side wall 17 of the lid 4 .

[0055] The conformation of the outer side wall 17 of the lid 4 allows the lid 4 to be closed (namely the lid 4 to be coupled to the container 2 ) in any relative angular position with respect to the container 2 . Namely, to open the lid 4 , the lid 4 must be in the exact angular opening position ( illustrated in figures 2 and 8 ) whereas to close the lid 4 , the lid 4 can be in any angular position . In particular, when the lid 4 is fitted around the container 2 in a position di f ferent from the angular opening position ( illustrated in figures 2 and 8 ) , initially the outer side wall 17 of the lid 4 surrounds ( also ) the two locking elements 8 , preventing the locking elements 8 ( and in particular the upper part o f the locking elements 8 ) from moving radially outwards ; subsequently, as the lid 4 is fitted around the container 2 , the stop bodies 14 elastically deform the teeth 11 and the locking elements 8 to overcome the teeth 11 and therefore allow complete closure of the lid 4 .

[0056] In the embodiment illustrated in the attached figures , the lid 4 has a bevelled upper edge , whereas according to other embodiments not i llustrated, the lid 4 has a rounded or straight upper edge . It is understood that the shape of the edges of the lid 4 is not relevant for the purpose of the present invention . In accordance with an embodiment not illustrated, the lid 4 comprises an auxiliary chamber which is si zed to contain used snus . Said auxiliary chamber is cup-shaped and has an open upper end . In said embodiment , the lid 4 comprises a closing element si zed to close the open upper end of the auxiliary chamber and movable between a closing position in which it closes the open upper end of the auxiliary chamber and an opening position in which it allows access to the auxiliary chamber .

[0057] In accordance with an embodiment not illustrated, the box 1 provides safety means that prevent the lid 4 and the container 2 from separating, i f the box 1 is overturned and the locking elements 8 are pressed .

[0058] In said embodiment , the lid 4 can be shaped to provide said safety means ; in said case , the lid 4 is provided with a sealing edge and / or a releasable catch ( not illustrated) that prevents the lid 4 from detaching from the container 2 i f the box 1 is overturned and the locking elements 8 are pressed . Alternatively, the container 2 can be shaped to provide said safety means in particular at the inner side wall 5 ; in said case , the container 2 is provided with a sealing edge and / or a releasable catch (not illustrated and arranged preferably at the inner side wall 5 ) that prevents the lid 4 from detaching from the container 2 i f the box 1 is overturned and the locking elements 8 are pressed .

[0059] In the embodiment illustrated in the attached figures , the outer side wall 7 of the container 2 has ( exactly) two opposite interruptions and therefore there are ( exactly) two locking elements 8 ; according to other embodiments , the number of locking elements 8 ( and therefore interruptions of the outer side wall 7 of the container 2 ) could be di f ferent and variable from a minimum of one single locking element 8 to a maximum of three or four locking elements 8 ( increasing the number of locking elements 8 also increases the di f ficulty of opening the lid 4 and therefore improves safety in terms of being childproof ) . The locking elements 8 can also be arranged in a non-symmetrical manner around the longitudinal axis A.

[0060] In the embodiment described above , the box 1 contains snus , but according to other embodiments , the box 1 can contain any other type of product of the tobacco industry or also any other type of product of another industry ( for example a food product or a pharmaceutical product ) .

[0061] The embodiments described here can be combined with one another without departing from the protective scope of the present invention .

[0062] The box 1 described above has numerous advantages . The box 1 described above has a childproof safety opening with a high guarantee of safety with respect to the manual abilities of a child .

[0063] The box 1 described above is ( relatively) simple and user- friendly for an adult to open; in fact , it is particularly simple and intuitive for a user to grip the container 2 at the bottom (namely near the lower wall 6 ) with his / her f ingers , thus applying a direct inward pressure on the pressure areas 12 of the locking elements 8 while with the other hand the lid 4 is gripped and pulled upwards .

[0064] Furthermore , the box 1 described above is quick and simple for an adult to close since to close the box 1 it is suf ficient to press the lid 4 against the container 2 in any angular position of the lid 4 with respect to the container 2 .

[0065] The box 1 described above is simple and inexpensive to produce , since the container 2 and the lid 4 can be easily made by moulding plastic material .

[0066] LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS OF THE FIGURES

[0067] 1 snus box

[0068] 2 container

[0069] 3 housing chamber

[0070] 4 lid

[0071] 5 inner side wall

[0072] 6 lower wall

[0073] 7 outer side wall

[0074] 8 locking element

[0075] 9 connection element

[0076] 10 cavity

[0077] 11 tooth

[0078] 12 pressure area 13 connection element

[0079] 14 stop body

[0080] 15 upper wall

[0081] 16 inner side wall 17 outer side wall

[0082] 18 interruption

[0083] 19 seat

[0084] 20 seat

[0085] A longitudinal axis Hl height

[0086] H2 height

Claims

CLAIMS1) A box (1) , in particular a snus box, with childproof safety opening and comprising: a container (2) , which defines a housing chamber (3) and comprises an open upper end, an inner side wall (5) laterally delimiting the housing chamber (3) , a lower wall (6) delimiting the housing chamber (3) at the bottom, and an outer side wall (7) , which is arranged around the inner side wall (5) and at a given distance from the inner side wall (5) and has at least one interruption; a lid (4) , which is coupled to the container (2) to close the open upper end and comprises an upper wall (15) , an inner side wall (16) , an outer side wall (17) arranged around the inner side wall (16) of the lid (4) and at a given distance from the inner side wall (16) of the lid (4) , and a cavity (10) ; and at least one locking element (8) , which is arranged in the area of the interruption of the outer side wall (7) of the container (2) , supports a tooth (11) configured to be inserted in the cavity (10) of the lid (4) and is connected to the container (2) so as to move between an active position, in which the tooth (11) is at least partially inserted in the cavity (10) of the lid (4) , and a deactivated position, in which the tooth (11) is completely on the outside of the cavity (10) of the lid (4) ; wherein the outer side wall (17) of the lid (4) has a height (H2) , namely an axial extension, greater than a height (Hl) of the inner side wall (16) of the lid (4) ; the box (1) is characterized in that: the inner side wall (16) of the lid (4) has the cavity (10) facing the outer side wall (7) of the container (2) ; and the locking element (8) is connected to the inner side wall (5) of the container (2) .2) The box (1) according to claim 1, wherein a difference between the height (H2) of the outer side wall (17) of the lid (4) andthe height (Hl) of the inner side wall (16) of the lid (4) ranges from 1 to 5 mm and preferably ranges from 1 to 3 mm.3) The box (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the outer side wall (17) of the lid (4) is arranged more on the outside than an upper portion of the outer side wall (7) of the container (2) and, therefore, surrounds the upper portion of the outer side wall (7) of the container (2) .4) The box (1) according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein an upper portion of the outer side wall (7) of the container (2) is thinner than a remaining part of the outer side wall (7) of the container (2) so as to create a first seat (19) , which accommodates the outer side wall (17) of the lid (4) .5) The box (1) according to one of the claims from 1 to 4, wherein an upper portion of the outer side wall (7) of the container (2) is arranged in a space comprised between the outer side wall (17) of the lid (4) and the inner side wall (16) of the lid ( 4 ) .6) The box (1) according to one of the claims from 1 to 5, wherein the outer side wall (17) of the lid (4) is arranged more on the outside than an upper portion of the locking element (8) and, therefore, surrounds the upper portion of the locking element ( 8 ) .7) The box (1) according to one of the claims from 1 to 6, wherein an upper portion of the locking element (8) is thinner than a remaining part of the locking element (8) so as to create a second seat (20) , which accommodates the outer side wall (17) of the lid ( 4 ) .8) The box (1) according to one of the claims from 1 to 7, wherein an upper portion of the locking element (8) is arrangedin a space comprised between the outer side wall (17) of the lid (4) and the inner side wall (16) of the lid (4) .9) The box (1) according to one of the claims from 1 to 8, wherein the locking element (8) is hinged to the inner side wall (5) of the container (2) so as to rotate around a fulcrum interposed between the tooth (11) and a pressure area (12) of the locking element (8) configured to be pushed by the fingers of a user during the opening of the lid (4) .10) The box (1) according to claim 9, wherein the locking element (8) is connected to the inner side wall (5) of the container (2) by means of a first connection element (13) , which is designed to elastically deform, constitutes the fulcrum of the hinge, is connected to the locking element (8) at a first end and is connected to the inner side wall (5) of the container (2) at a second end arranged lower, namely axially closer to the lower wall (6) of the container (2) , compared to the first end.11) The box (1) according to one of the claims from 1 to 10, comprising a second connection element (9) , which stops in the area of the locking element (8) and connects, in a rigid manner and without permitting relative movements, the inner side wall (5) of the container (2) to the outer side wall (7) of the container ( 2 ) .12) The box (1) according to one of the claims from 1 to 11, wherein the lid (4) has, at the bottom, a wedge-shaped stop body (14) , which is arranged under the cavity (10) , is located between the inner side wall (5) of the container (2) and the outer side wall (7) of the container (2) and has a thickness increasing towards the cavity (10) .13) The box (1) according to one of the claims from 1 to 12, wherein the locking element (8) , at first, is connected to theouter side wall (7) of the container (2) by means of some weak bridges, which are broken when the locking element (8) is moved for the first time.14) The box (1) according to one of the claims from 1 to 13, wherein the outer side wall (17) of the lid (4) has an interruption (18) , which has a circumferential extension at least equal to a circumferential extension of the locking element (8) and must be angularly aligned with the locking element (8) so as to allow the locking element (8) to radially move outwards in order to move from the active position to the deactivated position.15) The box (1) according to claim 14, wherein the outer side wall (17) of the lid (4) prevents the locking element (8) from being moved from the active position to the deactivated position when the lid (4) is not in an angular opening position which angularly aligns the interruption (18) with the locking element (8) .16) The box (1) according to one of the claims from 1 to 15, wherein the locking element (8) moves the tooth (11) from the inside of the box (1) towards the outside of the box (1) when it is moved from the active position to the deactivated position, so as to extract the tooth (11) from the cavity (10) of the lid (4) .

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