U.S. patent application number 11/639896 was filed with the patent office on 2008-06-19 for dual-action child-resistant package and child-resistant closure for such a package.
This patent application is currently assigned to Owens-Illinois HealthCare Packaging Inc.. Invention is credited to Donald P. Delagrange.
Application Number | 20080142468 11/639896 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38704262 |
Filed Date | 2008-06-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080142468 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Delagrange; Donald P. |
June 19, 2008 |
Dual-action child-resistant package and child-resistant closure for
such a package
Abstract
A dual-action child-resistant package includes a container
having a neck finish with an open mouth, at least one external
thread segment, and at least one external lug spaced from the
thread segment and having an angled cam surface facing axially
toward the open mouth. A closure has a peripheral skirt, at least
one internal thread segment for engagement with the external thread
segment on the container neck finish, an internal angled cam
surface on the skirt, at least one internal lug on the skirt for
engagement with the external lug on the neck finish, and a flexible
resilient spring for engaging the neck finish and biasing the
closure away from the neck finish. The closure is threaded onto the
neck finish until the internal lug on the skirt moves over the
external lug on the neck finish to resist unthreading of the
closure from the neck finish. The closure is removable from the
neck finish by: (1) squeezing the skirt to ovalize the skirt such
that the internal lug on the skirt moves radially outwardly from
the external lug on the neck finish whereupon the closure can be
unthreaded from the neck finish, and (2) pushing the closure over
the neck finish against the spring until the cam surface on the
external lug engages the internal angled cam surface on the skirt
to ovalize the skirt until the internal lug on the skirt moves
radially outwardly from the external lug on the neck finish
whereupon the closure can be unthreaded from the neck finish.
Inventors: |
Delagrange; Donald P.;
(Toledo, OH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
OWENS-ILLINOIS, INC.
ONE MICHAEL OWENS WAY, THREE O-I PLAZA
PERRYSBURG
OH
43551-2999
US
|
Assignee: |
Owens-Illinois HealthCare Packaging
Inc.
|
Family ID: |
38704262 |
Appl. No.: |
11/639896 |
Filed: |
December 15, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
215/209 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2251/09 20130101;
B65D 47/0804 20130101; B65D 50/046 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
215/209 |
International
Class: |
B65D 55/02 20060101
B65D055/02 |
Claims
1. A dual-action child-resistant package that includes: a container
having a neck finish with an open mouth, at least one external
thread segment, and at least one external lug spaced from said
external thread segment and having an angled cam surface facing
axially toward said mouth, and a closure having a peripheral skirt,
at least one internal thread segment for engagement with said at
least one external thread segment on said neck finish, an internal
angled cam surface on said skirt, at least one internal lug on said
skirt for engagement with said at least one external lug on said
neck finish, and a flexible resilient spring for engaging said neck
finish and biasing said closure away from said neck finish, said
closure being threadable onto said container neck finish until said
internal lug on said skirt moves over said external lug on said
neck finish to resist unthreading of said closure from said neck
finish, said closure being removable from said neck finish by: (1)
squeezing said skirt to ovalize said skirt such that said at least
one internal lug on said skirt moves radially outwardly from said
at least one external lug on said neck finish whereupon said
closure can be unthreaded from said neck finish, and (2) pushing
said closure over said neck finish against said spring until said
cam surface on said at least one external lug engages said internal
cam surface on said skirt to ovalize said skirt until said at least
one internal lug on said skirt moves radially outwardly from said
at least one external lug on said neck finish whereupon said
closure can be unthreaded from said neck finish.
2. The package set forth in claim 1 wherein said peripheral skirt
includes a first portion on which said at least one internal thread
segment is disposed, and a second portion extending from said first
portion on which said internal cam surface and said at least one
internal lug are disposed.
3. The package set forth in claim 1 wherein said internal cam
surface on said skirt is conical.
4. The package set forth in claim 3 wherein said at least one
internal lug on said skirt includes a pair of lugs on said skirt
angularly spaced from each other to receive said at least one
external lug when said closure is threaded onto said neck
finish.
5. The package set forth in claim 4 wherein one of said pair of
internal lugs has an angled cam surface to cam said one lug over
said external lug during threaded application of said closure to
said neck finish.
6. The package set forth in claim 3 wherein said neck finish has a
pair of said external lugs diametrically spaced from each other on
said neck finish, and said closure has a pair of said internal lugs
diametrically spaced from each other on said skirt.
7. A closure that includes a one-piece plastic shell having a
flexible resilient annular skirt with a first portion having at
least one internal thread segment, a second portion extending from
said first portion and having an internal cam surface angled away
from said first portion, at least one internal lug on said second
portion of said skirt, and a flexible resilient spring for engaging
a container neck finish when said closure is threaded onto the neck
finish.
8. The closure set forth in claim 7 wherein said cam surface is
conical.
9. The closure set forth in claim 8 wherein said at least one
internal lug includes diametrically opposed internal lugs on said
skirt.
10. The closure set forth in claim 9 wherein said skirt includes a
pair of diametrically opposed external finger pads at 90.degree.
spacing to said internal lugs.
11. A child-resistant package that includes: a container having a
mouth, at least one external thread segment and a pair of
diametrically opposed external lugs on a side of said at least one
external thread segment remote from said mouth, and a plastic
closure that includes a base with a dispensing opening, at least
one internal thread segment for engagement with said at least one
external thread segment on said neck finish, a flexible resilient
peripheral skirt with a pair of diametrically opposed internal lugs
for engagement with said external lugs to prevent unthreading of
said closure from said neck finish, said skirt being squeezable to
ovalize said skirt and move said internal lugs out of engagement
with said external lugs and permit unthreading of said closure from
said neck finish, a lid coupled to said base by a hinge for
movement between a closed position overlying said dispensing
opening and an open position spaced from said dispensing opening,
and a child-resistant latch between said lid and said base to
permit opening of said lid with respect to said base, said package
being operable in two child-resistant modes of operation: (1) by
squeezing and turning said peripheral skirt, and (2) by unlatching
said child-resistant latch and opening said lid.
12. The package set forth in claim 11 wherein said skirt includes a
pair of diametrically opposed external finger pads at 90.degree.
spacing to said internal lugs.
13. The package set forth in claim 11 wherein said at least one
internal thread segment is disposed on said peripheral skirt.
14. A closure that includes a one-piece plastic shell having: a
base with a dispensing opening, at least one internal thread
segment, a flexible resilient skirt with a pair of diametrically
opposed internal lugs, said skirt being squeezable to ovalize said
skirt, a lid coupled to said base by a hinge for movement between a
closed position overlying said dispensing opening and an open
position spaced from said dispensing opening, and a child-resistant
latch between said lid and said base to permit opening of said lid
with respect to said base.
15. The closure set forth in claim 14 wherein said skirt includes a
first portion on which said at least one internal thread segment is
disposed and a second portion extending from said first portion on
which said internal lugs are disposed.
16. The closure set forth in claim 15 wherein said skirt includes a
pair of diametrically opposed external finger pads at 90.degree.
spacing to said internal lugs.
Description
[0001] The present disclosure relates to child-resistant packages,
and more particularly to a package that is adapted to be opened in
either of (at least) two child-resistant modes of operation.
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0002] A general object of the present disclosure is to provide a
child-resistant package, and to provide a closure and a container
for such a package, in which the package can be opened to dispense
product in either of (at least) two child-resistant modes of
operation.
[0003] The present disclosure embodies a number of aspects that can
be implemented separately from or in combination with each
other.
[0004] A dual-action child-resistant package, in accordance with
one aspect of the present disclosure, includes a container having a
neck finish with an open mouth, at least one external thread
segment, and at least one external lug spaced from the thread
segment and having an angled cam surface facing axially toward the
open mouth. A closure has a peripheral skirt, at least one internal
thread segment for engagement with the at least one external thread
segment on the container neck finish, an internal angled cam
surface on the skirt, at least one internal lug on the skirt for
engagement with the at least one external lug on the neck finish,
and a flexible resilient spring for engaging the neck finish and
biasing the closure away from the neck finish. The closure is
threaded onto the neck finish until the internal lug on the skirt
moves over the external lug on the neck finish to resist
unthreading of the closure from the neck finish. The closure is
removable from the neck finish by: (1) squeezing the skirt to
ovalize the skirt such that the at least one internal lug on the
skirt moves radially outwardly from the at least one external lug
on the neck finish whereupon the closure can be unthreaded from the
neck finish, and (2) pushing the closure over the neck finish
against the spring until the cam surface on the at least one
external lug engages the internal angled cam surface on the skirt
to ovalize the skirt until the at least one internal lug on the
skirt moves radially outwardly from the at least one external lug
on the neck finish whereupon the closure can be unthreaded from the
neck finish. The peripheral skirt of the closure preferably
includes a first portion on which the at least one internal thread
segment is disposed, and a second portion extending from the first
portion on which the internal cam surface and the at least one
internal lug are disposed.
[0005] A dual-action child-resistant package, in accordance with
another aspect of the present disclosure, includes a container
having a mouth, at least one external thread segment and a pair of
diametrically opposed external lugs on a side of the thread segment
remote from the mouth. A plastic closure includes a base with a
dispensing opening, at least one internal thread segment for
engagement with the external thread segment on the neck finish, and
a flexible resilient skirt with a pair of diametrically opposed
internal lugs for engagement with the external lugs to prevent
unthreading of the closure from the neck finish. The skirt is
squeezable to ovalize the skirt and move the internal lugs out of
engagement with the external lugs, and thereby permit unthreading
of the closure from the neck finish. A lid is coupled to the base
by a hinge for movement between a closed position overlying the
dispensing opening and an open position spaced from the dispensing
opening. A child-resistant latch extends between the lid and the
base to permit opening of the lid with respect to the base. Thus,
the package can be opened in a first child resistant mode of
operation by squeezing the skirt and unthreading the entire closure
from the container neck finish, and in a second child-resistant
mode of operation by opening the lid with respect to the base to
expose the dispensing opening.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] The disclosure, together with additional objects, features,
advantages and aspects thereof, will best be understood from the
following description, the appended claims and the accompanying
drawings, in which:
[0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a closure and container
package in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present
disclosure;
[0008] FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of a portion of the
package illustrated in FIG. 1;
[0009] FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the
line 3-3 in FIG. 2;
[0010] FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale
of the portion of FIG. 2 within the area 4;
[0011] FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to that of
FIG. 4 showing a first child-resistant mode of operation of the
package;
[0012] FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to that of
FIG. 2 showing a second child-resistant mode of opening the
package;
[0013] FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale
of the portion of FIG. 6 within the area 7;
[0014] FIG. 8 is a fragmentary elevational view of the package in
FIG. 1 in a non-child-resistant mode of operation;
[0015] FIG. 9 is a fragmentary elevational view that illustrates
the neck finish of the container in the package of FIGS. 1-8;
[0016] FIG. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of the container
neck finish in FIG. 9;
[0017] FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the closure in the package of
FIGS. 2-7;
[0018] FIG. 12 is a fragmentary perspective view of a
child-resistant package in accordance with a second exemplary
embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0019] FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken substantially along the
line 13-13 in FIG. 12; and
[0020] FIG. 14 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially
along the line 14-14 in FIG. 13.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0021] FIGS. 1-11 illustrate a dual-action child-resistant package
20 in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the present
disclosure. Package 20 includes a child-resistant closure 22
threaded onto the neck finish 24 of a container 26. Container neck
finish 24 includes at least one external thread segment 28 for
securement of closure 22 in a child-resistant mode of operation.
(The term "thread segment" is employed in its usual broad sense to
include both single and multiple threads, and both interrupted and
continuous threads.) Neck finish 24 also includes at least one
external lug 30, preferably diametrically opposed external lugs 30
as best seen in FIGS. 3 and 9. Each external lug 30 has an angled
cam surface 32 that faces axially toward or in the direction of the
open end or mouth of neck finish 24. Cam surfaces 32 preferably are
flat, although conical, convex or concave cam surfaces could be
employed. Closure 22 includes a base wall 34 having a peripheral
flexible resilient annular skirt 36. Skirt 36 includes at least one
internal thread segment 38 for engagement with external thread
segment 28 on neck finish 24 to secure closure 22 to neck finish 24
in a dual-action child-resistant mode of operation. Internal thread
segment 38 is disposed on a first portion of skirt 36 adjacent to
base wall 34. A second portion of skirt 36 extending remotely of
base wall 34 includes an angled internal cam surface 40. Cam
surface 40 preferably is conical, and most preferably extends
entirely around skirt 36 except where interrupted by internal lugs
as will be described. Internal surface 40 preferably is formed on a
portion 42 of skirt 36 that flares radially outwardly at the open
edge of the skirt and terminates in a cylindrically extending
portion 44.
[0022] At least one internal first lug is disposed on the lower
portion of skirt 36, preferably a pair of diametrically opposed
internal first lugs 46 as best seen in FIG. 3. Each internal first
lug 46 preferable has an angled cam surface 48, by means of which
lugs 46 ride over lugs 30, ovalizing flexible resilient skirt 36
until internal first lugs 46 snap behind external lugs 30. Each
internal first lug 46 preferably has an associated adjacent
internal second lug 50 spaced from lug 46 so that external lugs 30
can be received between lugs 46,50. Lugs 50 prevent additional or
over-threading of the closure onto the neck finish. A flexible
resilient spring 52 is carried by closure 22 for engaging neck
finish 24 and biasing closure 22 away from the neck finish. In the
illustrated embodiment of FIGS. 2 and 11, spring 52 comprises a
segmented annular conical spring having angularly spaced segments
54. A liner disk 56 (FIG. 2) preferably is captured between spring
52 and the open end of neck finish 24. Liner disk 56 can be
induction or conduction sealed to neck finish 24 after package 20
has been filled with product and closure 22 applied to the neck
finish. As an alternative, spring 52 could be a continuous annular
spring that engages the neck finish both to seal the package and to
bias closure 22 away from neck finish 24. Spring segments 54
preferably extend downwardly and inwardly from closure base wall
34, as best seen in FIG. 11. As an alternative, spring segments 54
(or a continuous annular spring) could extend from the inside
surface of skirt 36 adjacent to base wall 34. Skirt 36 preferably
includes a pair of diametrically opposed external finger pads 58
(FIGS. 1 and 3) at 90.degree. spacing from internal lugs 46.
[0023] With closure 22 threaded onto container 26 as illustrated in
FIGS. 1-3, closure 22 is removable in either of two child-resistant
modes of operation. In a first child-resistant squeeze-and-turn
mode of operation illustrated in FIGS. 4-5, flexible resilient
skirt 36 is squeezed at finger pads 58 to ovalize the skirt and
thereby move internal lugs 46 radially outwardly with respect to
external lugs 30. When the skirt has been squeezed sufficiently
that lugs 46 clear lugs 30 as shown in FIG. 5, the closure can be
unthreaded from the container neck finish. The second
child-resistant push-and-turn mode of operation is illustrated in
FIGS. 6-7. Closure 22 is pushed downwardly against the force of
spring 52. During such downward motion of the closure, internal cam
surface 40 on closure skirt 36 engages external cam surfaces 32 on
external lugs 30 to spread and ovalize the closure skirt. When the
closure skirt is sufficiently ovalized, the closure can be
unthreaded from the container neck finish.
[0024] FIG. 8 illustrates package 20 in a non-child-resistant mode
of operation in which closure 22 is inverted and received by press
fit, snap fit or threaded fit onto the open end of neck finish 24.
Examples of such inverted non-child-resistant operation are
illustrated in US patent documents 2004/0173561 and
2004/0178165.
[0025] FIGS. 12-14 illustrate a dual-action child-resistant package
60 in accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the present
disclosure. Package 60 includes a closure 62 secured to the neck
finish 64 of a container 66. Neck finish 64 has one or more
external thread segments 28 that are engaged by one or more
internal thread segments 38 on the flexible resilient peripheral
annular skirt 68 of closure 62. Closure 62 includes a base 70 of
which skirt 68 is a part. Base 70 also includes a base wall 72 that
covers the open mouth of neck finish 64, and a dispensing opening
74 in base wall 72. A lid 76 is coupled to base 70 by a hinge 79
(FIG. 14) so that lid 76 can be pivoted between the closed position
illustrated in FIG. 14 overlying dispensing opening 74 and an open
position spaced from the dispensing opening. Hinge 79 can be of any
suitable type. At least one internal lug 78 (FIG. 13) is carried by
skirt 68. Skirt 68 preferably has a pair of diametrically opposed
internal lugs 78 as shown in FIG. 13. Skirt 68 also preferably has
diametrically opposed external finger pads 58 at 90.degree. spacing
to internal lugs 78. Internal lugs 78 engage a pair of
diametrically opposed external lugs 80 on container neck finish 64.
Closure lid 76, in the closed position, preferably is coupled to
closure base 70 by a child-resistant latch mechanism 82. Latch
mechanism 82 can be of any suitable type, with the type illustrated
in U.S. patent document 2005/0023285 being preferred.
[0026] As closure 62 is threaded onto container neck finish 64,
internal lugs 78 on closure skirt 68 engage and ride over external
lugs 80 on neck finish 64 until lugs 78 snap behind lugs 80 in the
child-resistant position of FIG. 13. The entire closure 62 can be
removed from container neck finish 64 in a squeeze-and-turn first
child-resistant mode of operation, in which finger pads 58 are
squeezed to ovalize skirt 68 until lugs 78 clear lugs 80, at which
point closure 62 can be unthreaded from the container neck finish.
The package alternatively can be opened in a second child-resistant
mode of operation by releasing latch 82 and pivoting lid 76 away
from base 70 to enable product be dispensed through opening 74.
[0027] There thus have been disclosed a dual-action child-resistant
package, and closures and containers for such a package, that fully
satisfy all of the objects and aims previously set forth. The
disclosure has been presented in conjunction with several exemplary
embodiments, and modifications and variations have been described.
Other modifications and variations readily will suggest themselves
to persons of ordinary skill in the art in view of the foregoing
description. For example, the disclosure has been presented in
conjunction with so-called single-wall closures in which the
internal thread segments and the child-resistance lugs are disposed
on the inside of a single wall or skirt. However, the disclosure
can as readily be implemented in conjunction with a dual-wall or
multiple-wall closure, in which the thread segments are disposed on
an inner wall for securing the closure to a container neck finish
and the child-resistance mechanisms are disposed on intermediate
and/or outer walls spaced from the inner wall. The exemplary
closures are comprised of one-piece plastic shells. However,
additional components can be included, such as sealing liners or
discs. The disclosure is intended to embrace these and all other
modifications and variations as fall within the spirit and broad
scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *