U.S. patent application number 16/301252 was filed with the patent office on 2019-07-11 for child-resistant large mouth container.
This patent application is currently assigned to Plastek Industries, Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is Church & Dwight Co., Inc., Plastek Industries, Inc.. Invention is credited to Timothy C. Dzurik, Frank Edward Lindsay, Albert H. Lund, Richard Paul McNabb, Peter A. Piscopo, Alex S. Szekely, Jonathan Andrew Wharton.
Application Number | 20190210777 16/301252 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 60326262 |
Filed Date | 2019-07-11 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20190210777 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
McNabb; Richard Paul ; et
al. |
July 11, 2019 |
Child-Resistant Large Mouth Container
Abstract
A container system (20) comprises: a container body (22) having
a sidewall (26), a shoulder (32), and an externally threaded neck
(34) extending from the shoulder; and a closure (24) having an
internally threaded inner sidewall (50) extending from a rim, an
outer sidewall (60), and an installed condition with the inner
sidewall in threaded engagement with the neck. The outer sidewall
has a radially inwardly protruding barb (80) having a ramping
surface (82) and a stop surface (84). The container body shoulder
has a lug (90) having a ramping surface (92) and a stop surface
(94). A first projection (120) protrudes radially outward from the
outer sidewall to a first circumferential side of the barb and a
second projection (122) protrudes radially outward from the outer
sidewall to a second circumferential side of the barb.
Inventors: |
McNabb; Richard Paul;
(Solebury, PA) ; Lund; Albert H.; (Westfield,
NJ) ; Lindsay; Frank Edward; (Hamilton, NJ) ;
Wharton; Jonathan Andrew; (Ewing, NJ) ; Piscopo;
Peter A.; (Medford, NJ) ; Szekely; Alex S.;
(Jackson, NJ) ; Dzurik; Timothy C.; (Erie,
PA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Plastek Industries, Inc.
Church & Dwight Co., Inc. |
Erie
Princeton |
PA
NJ |
US
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Plastek Industries, Inc.
Erie
PA
Church & Dwight Co., Inc.
Princeton
NJ
|
Family ID: |
60326262 |
Appl. No.: |
16/301252 |
Filed: |
May 15, 2017 |
PCT Filed: |
May 15, 2017 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US2017/032662 |
371 Date: |
November 13, 2018 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62337292 |
May 16, 2016 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 50/046
20130101 |
International
Class: |
B65D 50/04 20060101
B65D050/04 |
Claims
1. A container system (20) comprising: a container body (22)
having: a sidewall (26); a shoulder (32); and an externally
threaded neck (34) extending from the shoulder; and a closure (24)
having: an internally threaded inner sidewall (50) extending from a
rim; an outer sidewall (60); and an installed condition with the
inner sidewall in threaded engagement with the neck, wherein: the
outer sidewall has a radially inwardly protruding barb (80) having
a ramping surface (82) and a stop surface (84); the container body
shoulder has a lug (90) having a ramping surface (92) and a stop
surface (94); a first projection (120) protrudes radially outward
from the outer sidewall to a first circumferential side of the
barb; and a second projection (122) protrudes radially outward from
the outer sidewall to a second circumferential side of the
barb.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein: the closure comprises a
circumferential gap between the first projection and the second
projection.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein: the lug protrudes upward from the
shoulder and radially outward from the neck.
4. The system of claim 1 wherein: the closure has an upper web (70)
having a central portion (72) vertically recessed relative to an
outer portion (74).
5. The system of claim 4 wherein: a circumferential wall (76)
connects the central portion to the outer portion.
6. The system of claim 5 wherein: a plurality of vertical webs (78)
span between the central portion and the circumferential wall.
7. The system of claim 1 wherein: the closure has an upper web
having an underside bearing a plurality of projections (200)
radially overlapping with a rim (36) of the neck.
8. The system of claim 7 wherein: the projections are ramps, each
having a surface (202) at the same pitch as a pitch of the internal
thread of the inner sidewall.
9. The system of claim 1 wherein: the stop surfaces of the barb and
the lug are oriented circumferentially off-radial in a direction
that resists their overriding each other.
10. The system of claim 1 wherein: the stop surfaces of the barb
and the lug are oriented circumferentially off-radial by at least
10.degree. in a direction that resists their overriding each
other.
11. The system of claim 1 wherein: a plurality of vertical webs
(79) connect the inner sidewall to the outer sidewall.
12. The system of claim 1 wherein: a radial web (83) connects the
first projection and the second projection.
13. A method for using the system of claim 1, the method
comprising: squeezing the first projection and the second
projection toward each other to radially outwardly shift the barb;
and unscrewing the closure while maintaining the squeezing.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] Benefit is claimed of U.S. Patent Application No.
62/337,292, filed May 16, 2016, and entitled "Child-Resistant Large
Mouth Container", the disclosure of which is incorporated by
reference herein in its entirety as if set forth at length.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The disclosure relates to plastic jars with threaded
closures. More particularly, the disclosure relates to
child-resistant features for such jars.
[0003] U.S. Pat. No. 5,921,417 to Mull, Jul. 13, 1999, discloses an
exemplary existing system.
SUMMARY
[0004] One aspect of the disclosure involves a container system
comprising: a container body having a sidewall, a shoulder, and an
externally threaded neck extending from the shoulder; and a closure
having an internally threaded inner sidewall extending from a rim,
an outer sidewall, and an installed condition with the inner
sidewall in threaded engagement with the neck. The outer sidewall
has a radially inwardly protruding barb having a ramping surface
and a stop surface. The container body shoulder has a lug having a
ramping surface and a stop surface. A first projection protrudes
radially outward from the outer sidewall to a first circumferential
side of the barb and a second projection protrudes radially outward
from the outer sidewall to a second circumferential side of the
barb.
[0005] In one or more embodiments of any of the foregoing
embodiments, the closure comprises a circumferential gap between
the first projection and the second projection.
[0006] In one or more embodiments of any of the foregoing
embodiments, the lug protrudes upward from the shoulder and
radially outward from the neck.
[0007] In one or more embodiments of any of the foregoing
embodiments, the closure has an upper web having a central portion
vertically recessed relative to an outer portion.
[0008] In one or more embodiments of any of the foregoing
embodiments, a circumferential wall and connects the central
portion to the outer portion.
[0009] In one or more embodiments of any of the foregoing
embodiments, a plurality of vertical webs span between the central
portion and the circumferential wall.
[0010] In one or more embodiments of any of the foregoing
embodiments, the closure has an upper web having an underside
bearing a plurality of projections radially overlapping with a rim
of the neck.
[0011] In one or more embodiments of any of the foregoing
embodiments, the projections are ramps, each having a surface at
the same pitch as a pitch of the internal thread of the inner
sidewall.
[0012] In one or more embodiments of any of the foregoing
embodiments, the stop surfaces are oriented circumferentially
off-radial (e.g., at least 10.degree. or an exemplary 10.degree. to
25.degree. or 10.degree. to 20.degree. or about 15.degree.) in a
direction that resists their overriding each other.
[0013] In one or more embodiments of any of the foregoing
embodiments, wherein: the stop surfaces are oriented
circumferentially off-radial by at least 10.degree. in a direction
that resists their overriding each other.
[0014] In one or more embodiments of any of the foregoing
embodiments, a plurality of vertical webs connect the inner
sidewall to the outer sidewall.
[0015] In one or more embodiments of any of the foregoing
embodiments, a method for using the system comprises: squeezing the
first projection and the second projection toward each other to
radially outwardly shift the barb; and unscrewing the closure while
maintaining the squeezing.
[0016] The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the
accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features,
objects, and advantages will be apparent from the description and
drawings, and from the claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] FIG. 1 is a side view of a container.
[0018] FIG. 2 is a view of an upper portion of the container
(portion below cut away).
[0019] FIG. 3 is a top view of the container upper portion.
[0020] FIG. 4 is a front view of the container upper portion.
[0021] FIG. 5 is a side view of the container upper portion.
[0022] FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view of the container upper
portion taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 3.
[0023] FIG. 7 is a top view of a closure of the container.
[0024] FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the closure.
[0025] FIG. 9 is a vertical sectional view of the closure taken
along line 9-9 of FIG. 7.
[0026] FIG. 10 is a vertical sectional view of the closure taken
along line 10-10 of FIG. 7.
[0027] FIG. 10A is an enlarged view of a portion of the closure of
FIG. 10.
[0028] FIG. 11 is a view of an upper portion of a body of the
container.
[0029] FIG. 12 is a top view of the container body upper
portion.
[0030] FIG. 12A is an enlarged view of a locking ramp region of the
container body.
[0031] FIG. 13 is bottom view of an alternate closure.
[0032] Like reference numbers and designations in the various
drawings indicate like elements.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0033] FIG. 1 shows a large-mouth child resistant container 20
comprising a body 22 and a closure 24. The closure 24 is a screw-on
closure which may be screwed on and off by rotation about a central
longitudinal axis 500 shared by the closure and body when the
closure is installed. The exemplary body 22 comprises a sidewall 26
extending upward from a base 28. The sidewall has a tapered upper
portion 30 transitioning to a shoulder 32 (FIG. 6). An externally
threaded neck 34 (having external thread 35) extends upward from
the shoulder to a rim 36. The rim circumscribes an open mouth
40.
[0034] FIGS. 7-11 show the closure 24. The closure comprises an
internally threaded inner sidewall 50 (FIG. 10A) extending upward
from a lower rim 52 and having a radially inboard surface 54
(bearing the internal thread 55) and an opposite radially outboard
surface 56. The closure further comprises an outer sidewall 60
extending from a lower rim 62 and having respective inboard and
outboard surfaces 64 and 66. A top web 70 spans the inner sidewall
to enclose the container when the closure is installed. FIG. 10
shows the top web 70 as having a central portion 72 vertically
recessed relative to an outer portion 74 and connected thereto via
an angled circumferential wall 76. A plurality of vertical/radial
ribs or webs 78 span between the central portion 72 and
circumferential wall 76 to rigidify the circumferential wall. This
rigidification plus other rigidifications discussed below help
ultimately rigidify the threaded inner wall 50 against being pulled
off. FIG. 9 also shows a vertical/radial web 79 between the inner
sidewall and the outer sidewall (see also, FIG. 8). In the
exemplary embodiment of FIG. 8, these webs 79 are evenly
circumferentially spaced with the exception of one missing web
adjacent the latching feature 80.
[0035] As is discussed further below, the outer sidewall bears
child-resistant features for cooperating with complementary
features of the container body. The FIG. 8 underside view shows a
child-resistant latching feature 80 extending radially inward from
the inboard surface 64 of the outer sidewall 60. In the exemplary
embodiment, this is formed as an inward diversion of the outer
sidewall 60 associated with a complementary recess 81 (FIG. 7) in
the outboard surface 66 of the outer sidewall.
[0036] The complementary feature of the body is a lug 90 (FIG. 11).
The exemplary lug 90 extends upward from an upper surface of the
shoulder 32 and radially outward from an outboard surface of a
lower portion 33 of the neck below the external thread 35. As with
the feature 80, the exemplary feature 90 is formed as a protrusion
associated with a complementary internal recess to maintain a
generally constant wall thickness. This, for example, may be an
artifact of injection blow molding or other blow molding process
forming the features. Each of the features 80 and 90 has a
respective ramping surface 82, 92 and stop surface 84, 94. The
exemplary ramping surfaces are essentially vertical and of slightly
off-circumferential orientation. In the exemplary embodiment, both
are convex arcs. The arcs are oriented so that during an installing
rotation, the ramping surfaces contact each other as the feature 80
is rotated past the feature 90. A ramping action radially outwardly
deforms the outer sidewall 60 at the feature 80 locally. Upon
further rotation, eventually the ramping surfaces will pass out of
engagement (e.g., when respective apexes 86, 96 pass each other).
At this point, the outer sidewall will snap back radially to a
relaxed condition.
[0037] Once the closure is fully installed, an unscrewing rotation
will tend to bring the stop surfaces 84 and 94 into contact with
each other. The stop surfaces are oriented generally vertically and
slightly circumferentially off-radial (e.g., at least 10.degree. or
an exemplary 10.degree. to 25.degree. or 10.degree. to 20.degree.
or about 15.degree.) in a direction that resists their overriding
each other in attempted unscrewing. Thus, further unscrewing torque
will tend to drive the outer sidewall locally inward to maintain
engagement between the features 80 and 90 and prevent unscrewing
rotation.
[0038] To facilitate unscrewing rotation, the user must locally
outwardly deform the closure body outer sidewall 60 at the feature
80 so as to shift it sufficiently radially outward to override the
feature 90. This is done by the provision of a pair of finger
actuatable tabs (radial outward projections) 120 and 122 (FIG. 7)
on two opposite circumferential sides of the feature 80. The tabs
have circumferentially outboard surfaces 124 and 126. The user may
pinch the tabs by replacing a thumb on one of these surfaces and a
forefinger on the other and squeezing those fingers toward each
other. FIG. 7 shows a radial web 83 protruding radially outward
along an arc between the tabs. The addition of the web increases
required squeezing force to allow the outward shift of the feature
80. This exemplary web extends outward across the recess 81. An
exemplary web protrudes by at least about 0.05 inch (e.g., 0.05
inch to 0.15 inch) along the intact portions of the sidewall (away
from the recess 81). The amount of protrusion may circumferentially
vary. As show, a much greater radial extent is shown at the recess
81.
[0039] An additional feature which may be implemented independently
of the child-resistant features is a ventilation feature. The
exemplary ventilation feature vents the container interior even
when the closure is fully screwed on. This may be relevant when the
particular contents of the container have a tendency to outgas or
react and produce gas that must be vented to avoid pressurizing the
container. The exemplary pressure relief features comprises a
plurality of ramps 200 (four shown in FIG. 13) on the underside of
the closure top web 70 at a radial position at least partially
overlapping the rim of the container body. The exemplary ramps 200
have a first surface 202 and a second surface 204 as well as an ID
surface 206 and an OD surface 208. The first surface 202 is at a
pitch corresponding to the thread pitch. This allows the ramps to
be released from a mold portion that molds the interior of the
closure including the threads. The closure is simply unscrewed from
this mold portion.
[0040] The container may be made using otherwise conventional or
yet-developed materials and techniques. Exemplary closure
manufacture is by injection molding and body manufacture by blow
molding. Exemplary closure material is polypropylene. Exemplary
body material is high density polyethylene (HDPE).
[0041] One variation on conventional techniques involves using a
thread of greater than standard depth DT (FIG. 10A) on both neck
and closure. The greater radial engagement between the two threads
allows positive retention of the closure while allowing the closure
to be light and inexpensive to manufacture. Exemplary depth with an
approximately 3 inch mouth diameter is in excess of 0.060 inch or
in excess of 0.070 inch and up to about 0.100 inch or 0.09 inch
with an example of 0.70 inch to 0.80 inch or 0.76 inch. This may be
contrasted with a standard thread of 0.046 inch. The extra depth is
provided by making the angle of the non-bearing face of the thread
closer to radial. This depth is about 50% greater (e.g., at least
30% or 30% to 60% greater) than the SP-400 Voluntary Standard
SP400, International Society of Beverage Technologists drawing
1165379-1 1999 Mar. 10, the disclosure of which is incorporated by
reference herein as if set forth at length.
[0042] The use of "first", "second", and the like in the
description and following claims is for differentiation within the
claim only and does not necessarily indicate relative or absolute
importance or temporal order. Similarly, the identification in a
claim of one element as "first" (or the like) does not preclude
such "first" element from identifying an element that is referred
to as "second" (or the like) in another claim or in the
description.
[0043] Where a measure is given in English units followed by a
parenthetical containing SI or other units, the parenthetical's
units are a conversion and should not imply a degree of precision
not found in the English units.
[0044] One or more embodiments have been described. Nevertheless,
it will be understood that various modifications may be made. For
example, when applied to an existing basic system, details of such
configuration or its associated use may influence details of
particular implementations. Accordingly, other embodiments are
within the scope of the following claims.
* * * * *