U.S. patent application number 12/161122 was filed with the patent office on 2009-08-13 for sliding child safety feature.
Invention is credited to Jean-Pierre Giraud, Michel Zbirka.
Application Number | 20090200307 12/161122 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38288190 |
Filed Date | 2009-08-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090200307 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Giraud; Jean-Pierre ; et
al. |
August 13, 2009 |
SLIDING CHILD SAFETY FEATURE
Abstract
The invention is a container 20 having a base 26, a lid 30 that
can be opened or closed, first and second latch portions (40, 42),
and guard 44. One of the latch portions is associated with the base
26, and the other of the latch portions is associated with the lid
30. The second latch portion 42 is positionable to engage the first
latch portion 40 when the lid 30 covers the opening, and is movable
to disengage the first latch portion 40. The guard 44 is associated
with the second latch portion 42 and normally is in a blocking
position keeping the second latch portion 42 engaged with the first
latch portion 40. The guard 44 is movable laterally, relative to
the first latch portion, from its blocking position to a releasing
position allowing the second latch portion 42 to disengage the
first latch portion 40
Inventors: |
Giraud; Jean-Pierre; (Paris,
FR) ; Zbirka; Michel; (Jouy-sur-Morin, FR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MCANDREWS HELD & MALLOY, LTD
500 WEST MADISON STREET, SUITE 3400
CHICAGO
IL
60661
US
|
Family ID: |
38288190 |
Appl. No.: |
12/161122 |
Filed: |
January 17, 2007 |
PCT Filed: |
January 17, 2007 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US07/01185 |
371 Date: |
November 19, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60760033 |
Jan 17, 2006 |
|
|
|
60803939 |
Jun 5, 2006 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/326 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 50/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/326 |
International
Class: |
B65D 45/16 20060101
B65D045/16 |
Claims
1. A container having an outside and an inside, and comprising: a.
a base having an opening; b. a movable lid configured to cover the
opening when closed; c. a first latch portion associated with one
of the base and the lid; d. a second latch portion associated with
the other of the base and the lid, e. the second latch portion
being positionable to engage the first latch portion when the lid
covers the opening; f. the second latch portion being movable to
disengage the first latch portion; and g. a guard associated with
the second latch portion and biased to a blocking position keeping
the second latch portion engaged with the first latch portion; h.
the guard being movable laterally, relative to the first and second
latch portion portions, from its blocking position to a releasing
position allowing the second latch portion to disengage the first
latch portion.
2. The container of claim 1 in which the first latch portion
overlaps the second latch portion.
3. The container of claim 1 in which the second latch portion
overlaps the guard.
4. The container of claim 1 in which the guard is slidable
laterally in opposed directions from its blocking position to a
first releasing position in one direction and a second releasing
position in the other direction.
5. The container of claim 1, further comprising a channel in one of
the body and the lid in which the guard is slidable.
6. The container of claim 1 in which the guard is laterally
elongated and has first and second laterally spaced portions.
7. The container of claim 6, in which the first laterally spaced
portion is accessible from outside the container, and can be
manipulated to move the guard laterally.
8. The container of claim 6, in which the second laterally spaced
portion is accessible from outside the container, and can be
manipulated to move the guard laterally.
9. The container of claim 1 in which the guard and the second latch
portion are relatively substantially immovable.
10. The container of claim 9, in which the guard in its blocking
position prevents the second latch portion from being pushed inward
sufficiently to disengage the first latch portion.
11. The container of claim 9, in which the second latch portion can
be moved inward from outside the container.
12. The container of claim 9, in which the first latch portion
comprises an opening in one of the base and the lid and the second
latch portion has a projection that projects into the opening to
define a latched position.
13. The container of claim 1, wherein the second latch portion and
the guard are separate parts.
14. The container of claim 13, in which the second latch portion is
movable inward to disengage the first latch portion.
15. The container of 13, in which the guard is slidable laterally,
relative to the second latch portion.
16. The container of claim 13, in which the guard has an abutment
projecting toward and at least partially registered with the second
latch portion when the guard is in its blocking position and
movable laterally out of registration with the second latch portion
when the guard is in the releasing position.
17. The container of claim 13, in which the second latch portion
has an abutment projecting toward and at least partially registered
with the guard when the guard is in its blocking position.
18. The container of claim 17, in which the guard has an abutment
projecting toward and at least partially registered with the second
latch portion abutment when the guard is in its blocking position
and movable laterally out of registration with the second latch
portion abutment when the guard is in the releasing position.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates to child-safe closures for containers,
intended to be opened relatively easily by an adult but with much
more difficulty by a young child.
[0002] There is an increasing awareness of the need to protect
children from inadvertently gaining access to medications,
especially prescribed medications. Ingestion of only one or two
pills of a prescribed medication can prove fatal to a child. There
is an increasing awareness of the necessity to provide containers
for prescribed medications that are readily and easily opened by an
adult, that is, any person having the cognitive ability to
understand the instructions for opening a pill container, which
requires certain manipulation and manual dexterity. Such persons
are assumed to have the ability to understand that the act of
opening a pill container to gain access to the prescribed
medication is a deliberate action, and is only undertaken when
there is a necessity to attain access to the prescribed medication
in the pill container.
[0003] Prior-art child safety feature designs typically employ a
cap and container, which are separate from each other. It has been
found desirable in the consumer and pharmaceutical industries to
offer product packages with a unitary container and cap assembly
(i.e., a flip-top lid). Since the cap and container are unitary,
that is, in some way remain attached (even when opened) the cap
cannot be misplaced when the container is opened. This promotes the
maintaining of the container in a closed state at all times, except
when contents are added or removed from the container.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] An aspect of the invention is a container having a base, a
lid that can be opened or closed, first and second latch portions,
and a guard.
[0005] The base has an opening, and the lid is configured to cover
the opening when closed. One of the latch portions is associated
with the base, and the other latch portion is associated with the
lid. The second latch portion is positionable to engage the first
latch portion when the lid covers the opening, and is movable to
disengage the first latch portion.
[0006] The guard is associated with the second latch portion and
normally is in a blocking position keeping the second latch portion
engaged with the first latch portion. The guard is movable
laterally, relative to the first latch portion, from its blocking
position to a releasing position allowing the second latch portion
to disengage the first latch portion.
[0007] In some embodiments, the guard and second latch portion are
relatively immovable in normal operation of the latch. In other
embodiments the two are relatively movable parts in normal
operation of the latch.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective, schematic view of a container
including the latching mechanisms of the present invention.
[0009] FIG. 2 is a schematic front elevation, with underlying parts
shown in phantom section, of one embodiment of the invention
according to claim 1, sometimes referred to here as the Slide, Push
Latch, and Lift Embodiment. The latch is engaged and guarded.
[0010] FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, showing the guard
displaced laterally to the left. The latch is still engaged but not
guarded against disengagement.
[0011] FIG. 4 is a section taken along section line 4-4 of FIG.
2.
[0012] FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 of an alternative
embodiment of the latch mechanism.
[0013] FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing an alternative
embodiment. The latch is engaged and guarded.
[0014] FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 3 of another embodiment of
the guard. The latch is engaged but not guarded against
disengagement.
[0015] FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 2 of another embodiment
sometimes referred to here as the Slide and Lift Embodiment. The
latch is engaged and guarded.
[0016] FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8, but with the guard
displaced laterally to an unlatched position.
[0017] FIG. 10 is a section taken along section line 10-10 of FIG.
8.
DRAWING REFERENCES
[0018] 20. Container [0019] 22. Outside (of 20) [0020] 24. Inside
(of 20) [0021] 26. Base (of 20) [0022] 28. Opening (of 26) [0023]
30. Lid (of 20) [0024] 32. Latching mechanism [0025] 34. Front (of
26) [0026] 36. Front (of 30) [0027] 40. First latch portion [0028]
42. Second latch portion [0029] 44. Guard [0030] 46. Abutment (of
40) [0031] 48. Abutment (of 42) [0032] 50. Abutment (of 42) [0033]
52. Snap-fit latch [0034] 54. Inner cover [0035] 56. Projection (of
lid 30) [0036] 60. Lateral portion (of 44) [0037] 62. Lateral
portion (of 44) [0038] 64. Central portion (of 44) [0039] 66. Guard
(FIG. 5) [0040] 68. Projection [0041] 72. Guard (FIG. 6) [0042] 74.
Lug [0043] 76. Lug [0044] 78. Stop [0045] 80. Stop [0046] 82.
Sliding finger [0047] 84. Sliding finger [0048] 86. Area of overlap
[0049] 88. Abutment finger [0050] 90. Abutment finger [0051] 92.
Area of registration [0052] 100. Guard (FIG. 7) [0053] 102. Slot
[0054] 104. Slot [0055] 106. Peg [0056] 108. Peg [0057] 110. Barb 6
of 42 [0058] 112. Inside surface 40 [0059] 114. Guard (FIGS. 8-10)
[0060] 116. Second latch portion (8-10) [0061] 118. Downward-facing
abutment (of 122) [0062] 120. Lid [0063] 122. Upward-facing
abutment [0064] 124. First latch portion [0065] 126. Chamfer [0066]
128. Lift tab
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0067] The invention is broadly defined to include all embodiments
included by the words of the claim, read without reference to the
specification. This description provides representative embodiments
of the invention. All variations of those embodiments reasonably
within the words of the claim are contemplated to be protected.
[0068] In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a child
safety feature for a unitary container that incorporates a sliding
mechanism that prevents the movement of a latch or lid. By
utilizing at least two independent motions (i.e. sliding and
lifting the lid), a reduction in the amount of force needed to open
the container may be provided (to facilitate senior friendliness)
while still providing the Child Safety Features.
[0069] As generally used herein, a "child-resistant" cap or closure
for a container means that the cap or closure was tested in the
following manner. When a child-resistant package is tested by a
group of five year old children, the child-resistant package cannot
be opened by at least 85% of those children prior to a
demonstration to them of the proper means of opening the package;
and still cannot be opened by at least 80% of those children after
they receive a demonstration of the proper means for opening the
package. In the case where a child-resistant package is provided to
a test group of adults, at least 90% of those adults must be
capable of opening the package. Where the package is designed so
that it may be re-closed, it can be re-closed by at least 90% of
those adults but still cannot be opened by at least 85% of children
to whom no demonstration of the proper method of opening the
package has been given, nor by 80% of those children after a
demonstration has been made.
[0070] The description and drawings of the present invention are
directed at a container that is substantially flat, but the
releasing mechanism described could be utilized on a wide variety
of containers, vials and bottles.
[0071] In one embodiment, the invention is a closed container used
to house a product where it is desirable to provide a child safety
feature. The container can be opened and reclosed. The container is
filled with product and has an opening for product removal, which
is smaller than the overall perimeter of the container. There is a
lid, attached to the container, which covers the opening,
preventing product from being removed. To access the product, the
lid is opened. In order to provide the Child Safety Feature, there
is a sliding element. In the closed position, the sliding element
interfaces with a feature on the Lid that does not allow the lid to
be opened.
[0072] In one embodiment, the use of a sliding element allows for
freedom in the aesthetic design of the container. The location of
the sliding element of the container can be, for example, on the
front or the sides of the container as desired. The feature that
blocks the lid is located on the sliding element. The user actuates
the slider at a distal end and not directly with the feature that
blocks the movement of the Lid.
[0073] There is a sliding element that in Position 1, referred to
as the `Home Position`, blocks the movement of a feature on the
lid. A slider moves from one side to the other side. The slider
incorporates a means (spring element) of returning the slider to
the Home Position after being depressed. In one embodiment the
spring functionality is an integral part of the slider part design.
As the slider is moved to one side or the other, it no longer
blocks the movement of the feature on the lid, allowing it to be
opened. The slider can be moved to one side of the other to allow
right or left handed use.
[0074] The drawings are merely illustrative and are not meant to
limit the invention. For example, the drawings show a few of the
possible embodiments of the lid. One has a latch that is pressed in
to release. Another is simply raised to open.
Slide, Push Latch, and Lift Embodiments
[0075] In the embodiments of FIGS. 1-7, the Lid has a flexible
element, a latch, which is depressed to move past a locking feature
of another part of the container. There is a rib on the latch that
blocks the movement when the sliding element is in the Home
Position. When the sliding element is moved to one side, the rib is
not obstructed, so the latch of the Lid can be pushed in to clear
the feature on the other part of the container. When the sliding
element is released it returns to the Home position. To close the
container, the lid is simply closed and the latch deflects away the
locking feature as it closes. The locking feature springs back,
securing the Lid in the closed position.
[0076] Referring now to FIGS. 1-4, the container 20 has an outside
22 and an inside 24, a base 26 having an opening 28 and a movable
lid 30 configured to cover the opening 28 when closed. The
container 20 is shown latched closed in FIGS. 1-4 by a latching
mechanism 32 located in or near the fronts 34 and 36 of the base 26
and lid 30.
[0077] The latching mechanism 32 includes first latch portion 40, a
second latch portion 42, and a guard 44. The first latch portion 40
is associated with one of the base and the lid 30 (in the
illustrated embodiment it is associated with the base). The second
latch portion 42 is associated with the other of the base and the
lid 30 (in the illustrated embodiment it is associated with the lid
30). The first and second latch portions 40 and 42 can be reversed,
if desired.
[0078] The second latch portion 42 is positionable in the position
shown in FIGS. 1-4, to engage the first latch portion 40 when the
lid 30 covers the opening. As shown particularly by FIG. 4, the
illustrated first latch portion 40 has a downward facing abutment
46 ("downward" here meaning facing away from the direction in which
the lid 30 opens, and not necessarily referring to the orientation
of the container relative to its surroundings). The illustrated
second latch portion 42 has an upward facing abutment 48 ("upward"
here meaning facing in the direction in which the lid 30 opens, and
not necessarily referring to the orientation of the container 20
relative to its surroundings). The abutments 46 and 48 overlap and
thus interfere, preventing the lid 30 from opening.
[0079] The second latch portion 42 has an inwardly projecting
abutment or rib 50 that engages or disengages the guard 44, as
explained below. The first latch portion 40 also overlaps the
second latch portion 42 in the sense that the first latch portion
40 is at least partially outboard (relative to the container), or
to the left as shown in FIG. 4, of the second latch portion 42.
[0080] In the illustrated embodiment, in addition to the latching
mechanism 40, the container 20 also has a secondary snap-fit latch
52 defined by a rib on an inner cover 54 of the container and a
facing groove in a projection 56 of the lid 30. In an embodiment,
this snap-fit latch 52 provides a seal between the base 26 and the
lid 30 when the container 20 is closed.
[0081] The guard 44 is a separate part from the latch portions 40
and 42 in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-4. The guard 44 is associated
with the second latch portion 42 and normally is in a blocking
position, as shown in FIG. 2, keeping the second latch portion 42
engaged with the first latch portion 40.
[0082] The guard 44 is laterally elongated from left to right,
generally "E" shaped as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, and has first and
second laterally spaced portions or projections 60 and 62, here
near the ends of the guard 44, and a central portion or projection
64.
[0083] A channel is defined in one of the base 26 and the lid 30 in
which the guard 44 is slidable. In the illustrated embodiment, the
channel is defined in the base 26 between the front wall 34 and an
outside flange of the inner cover 54.
[0084] FIG. 5 shows an alternative embodiment 66 of the guard. The
guard 66 has an outwardly projecting abutment 68 located adjacent
to the second latch portion 42 and having the same function as the
abutment 64 shown in FIG. 4.
[0085] FIGS. 6 and 7 show additional embodiments of the guard and
the cooperating structure mounted in the channel in which it
slides. Referring to FIG. 6, the guard 72 includes lateral portions
60 and 62 exposed at the ends of the channel for pushing the guard
laterally in either direction. The guard 72 also has a pair of lugs
74 and 76 positioned to limit the travel of the guard 72 laterally
by engaging the stops 78 and 80 at the normal extremities of travel
of the guard 72.
[0086] The guard 72 has integral sliding fingers 82 and 84 that
bear against the abutment fingers 88 and 90 mounted in fixed
relation to the channel. The guard 72 has a projection 64
overlapping and registered with the abutment 50 of the second latch
member 42 in an area of partial registration 92. The fingers 82 and
88 and the fingers 84 and 90 respectively cooperate to normally
center the guard 72, with the projection 64 and abutment 50 biased
into at least partial registration, unless a sufficient force is
applied to either lateral portion 60 or 62 to displace the
projection 64 and the abutment 50 out of registration.
[0087] The guard 100 has similar construction to the guard 72 of
FIG. 6, except that the sliding travel of the guard 100 is limited
by the engagement of the slots 102 and 104 of the guard 100 with
the pegs 106 and 108 fixed with respect to the slot in which the
guard 100 slides. The guard 100 is displaced to the left in FIG. 7,
so the sliding finger 82 is out of contact with the abutment finger
88. The sliding finger 84 has engaged and deformed the abutment
finger 90 to the left, providing a bias tending to return the guard
100 to its centered position when the lateral portion 62 is no
longer pushed to the left, as by a user disabling the guard 100 to
open the container.
[0088] The embodiments of FIGS. 1-7 work as follows.
[0089] Referring in particular to FIGS. 1-4, the container 20 is
closed and the latch is guarded as shown in FIG. 2. Optionally, the
guard 44 is biased into the centered position shown in FIGS. 2 and
4. The abutment or rib 50 of the second latch portion 42 and the
central portion 64 of the guard 44 are in at least partial
registration. Referring to FIG. 4, when the rib 50 and the central
portion 64 are in at least partial registration, the central
portion 64 blocks the rib 50, preventing the latch portions 40 and
42 from being disengaged.
[0090] FIG. 1 shows that the first and second laterally spaced
portions 60 and 62 are accessible from outside the container 20,
and can be manipulated to move the guard 44 laterally relative to
the first latch portion 40. The guard 44 can thus be slid laterally
from its blocking position to a releasing position allowing the
second latch portion 42 to disengage the first latch portion 40. In
the illustrated embodiment, the guard 44 is slidable laterally in
opposed directions from its blocking position to a first releasing
position in one direction and a second releasing position in the
other direction.
[0091] When the guard 44 is displaced in either direction, as to
the left in FIG. 3, the rib 50 and the central portion 64 are no
longer in even partial registration. The latching mechanism 32 can
then be released at the same time as the bias is maintained on the
guard 44.
[0092] To release the latching mechanism 32, the second latch
portion 42 is disengaged from the first latch portion 40 by
displacing the abutment 48 of the second latch portion 40 inboard,
or to the right in FIG. 4, as the lid 30 is raised. This
displacement of the abutment 48 can be executed, when opening the
container, by pressing the exposed end of the latch portion 42
inwardly to clear the first latch portion 40 until the barb or cam
110 bears against the inside surface 112 of the latch portion 40.
In an embodiment, the latch portion 40, 42, or both are made of
resilient material, so no separate springs or other parts are
needed to allow the latch to function. This is conventional
construction for molded plastic parts, for example.
[0093] The second latch portion 42 is movable (when the guard 44 is
displaced, as shown in FIG. 3) to disengage the first latch portion
40. In this embodiment, the portion of the second latch portion 42
defining the abutment 48 is movable to the right as shown in FIG.
4.
Slide and Lift Embodiment
[0094] In the second embodiment, the lid has a feature that engages
the sliding element directly. When the sliding element is moved to
one side or the other, the second latch portion moves laterally, no
longer engages the lid 30, and the lid can be opened. The
unlatching action is thus a lateral release in this embodiment,
instead of an inward release. When the sliding element is released,
it returns to the home position. When the container is closed, the
feature on one of the slide or on the lid is chamfered or angled so
that the sliding element is again pushed to one side by the closing
force, allowing the feature on the lid to pass. Then the sliding
element returns to the home position, engaging the feature on the
lid and blocking the opening movement of the lid.
[0095] The "slide and lift" embodiment is illustrated schematically
in FIGS. 8-10. In this embodiment, best characterized in FIG. 10,
the guard 120 and the second latch portion 122 are relatively
substantially immovable. While they could be two separate parts
joined together, in this embodiment the guard 120 and the second
latch portion 122 are integral portions of one part. The guard 120
is again laterally slidable, and biased to its home or center
position, as in previous embodiments.
[0096] In the embodiment of FIGS. 8-10 the second latch portion 122
has a downward-facing abutment 124, and the lid 126 has an
upward-facing abutment 128 defined by the first latch portion 130.
Lateral sliding of the guard 120 carries the second latch portion
122 out of alignment with the first latch portion, directly
disengaging the latch. The lid 126 can then be raised without
interference between the abutments 124 and 128.
[0097] Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, the top of the second latch
portion 122 is relieved by a chamfer 132. The chamfer 132 is
engaged by the first latch portion 130 as the lid 126 is closed,
biasing the slide to the left, though not as far as shown in FIG.
9, until the first latch portion 130 passes below the second latch
portion 122 and the lid is closed. At that point the chamfer 132 is
no longer engaged, and the guard 120 returns to its home or
centered position shown in FIG. 8.
[0098] As in the previous embodiments, many changes can be made
without departing from the present invention, such as additional
latching functionality that must be concurrently manipulated to
open the container.
[0099] Materials
[0100] The parts that compose the container 20 can, for example, be
made of a thermoplastic material. Depending on the requirements of
the product, barrier materials such as high density polyethylene,
polypropylene, or cyclo-olefin copolymers could be used.
Alternatively, non-barrier materials might also be used.
Non-barrier thermoplastic materials include polystyrene, polyester
terephthalate, or polyvinyl chloride.
[0101] The slider may be made of different materials. By making it
out of a thermoplastic material such as polycarbonate or
polystyrene, spring features as illustrated in the Figures can be
incorporated directly into the design, eliminating the need for
additional components and assembly work.
[0102] The slider preferably is assembled to the container 20 so
that it is not readily removable by a user.
[0103] Resealability Option
[0104] In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a
container 20 that is moisture-tight and resealable. The term
"resealable" means that the container 20 can be opened/reopened and
closed/reclosed a numerous amount of times (e.g. more than 5 times)
and still retain its moisture-tight properties. The term "moisture
tight" means the moisture ingress of the container 20 is less than
about 1500 micrograms/day of water, determined by the following
test method: (a) place approximately one gram of molecular sieve in
the container and record the weight; (b) close the resealable
mechanism; (c) place the sealed container in an environmental
chamber at conditions of 80% relative humidity and 22 deg. C. (72
deg. F.); (c) after one day, weigh the container containing the
molecular sieve; (d) after approximately two weeks, weigh the
container (e) subtract the first day sample from the value obtained
and divide by the number of days to calculate the moisture ingress
of the container in units of micrograms of water.
[0105] In one embodiment, the container with a reclosable lid 30
that has a child safety feature with the followings actions:
[0106] A sliding part, when moved, allows a flexible lid element to
be depressed, which allows the lid to be opened.
[0107] The sliding element can move in each direction.
[0108] A sliding element interferes with a feature on the lid 30
and is moved to allow the lid 30 to be opened
[0109] In another embodiment, the sliding element incorporates a
spring element to bring it back to the home position, blocking the
latch mechanism from being depressed. In yet another embodiment,
the sliding element is assembled onto the container so it can not
be readily removed. For example, movement of the slider does not
have to be side to side. In another example, the container has a
reclosable lid 30 that creates a moisture tight seal.
* * * * *