Child-resistant closure

Abstract

A child-resistant dispensing closure is disclosed which has a cap and a spout movably mounted on the cap so as to be capable of being moved between opened and closed positions. Preferably the closure has two separate latch means which engage different portions of the spout when the spout is in the closed position. With this structure both latch means must be manually manipulated so that the spout can be moved from the closed position to the open position.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Hazard et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 58,355 filed July 20, 1970 entitled "Safety Dispensing Closure", now U.S. Pat. No. 3,718,238, issued July 27, 1970.

Hazard U.S. patent application Ser. No. 305,487, filed Nov. 10, 1972, entitled, "Dispensing Closure with Spout Mounted in Closure Skirt".

Hazard U.S. patent application Ser. No. 305,559 filed Nov. 10, 1972 entitled, "Dispensing Closure with Pump Elements".

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENTS

Hazard U.S. Pat. No. 3,477,618 issued Nov. 11, 1969, entitled "Dispensing Closure".

Hazard U.S. Pat. No. 3,655,099 issued Apr. 11, 1972, entitled "Rotatable Spout Closures with Latch Structures".

Hazard U.S. Pat. No. 3,655,103 issued Apr. 11, 1972, entitled "Safety Dispensing Closures".

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This specification relates to dispensing closures having a cap which is adapted to be formed integrally with or formed so as to be mounted upon a container and having a spout movably mounted on the cap so as to be capable of being moved between an opened position in which the passage within a spout is in alignment with the opening extending through the container and a closed position in which the spout seals off the opening through the cap. More specifically, this specification relates to dispensing closures as are indicated in the preceding sentence which are of a child-resistant character.

Currently millions of "common" dispensing closures as indicated in the initial sentence of this specification are being manufactured and sold every month in packaging a wide variety of different products. Such closures are relatively inexpensive structures. They are normally manufactured out of a resilient polyolefin material such as polyethylene by relatively inexpensive injection molding techniques. When formed of such a material, the parts within them are normally snapped together so that the spouts on these closures can be moved as indicated after they are assembled. While unquestionably closures as indicated are very desirable and effective nevertheless there is a certain resistance to the use of common dispensing closures because of the fact that these closures can normally be opened with relative ease.

A number of different expedients have been proposed to make such common dispensing closures relatively child resistant so that these closures can be used with a degree of safety with relatively hazardous materials. As used here, the term "hazardous" is employed in a broad sense so as to include not only materials which are toxic, but materials which might cause physical damage of one sort or another. Among the expedients which have been proposed are various types of detent structures and combinations of detent structures. It has also been proposed to utilize rotatable locking rings, to mount such closures so that they themselves have to be rotated and to utilize extended latch structures. Unquestionably expedients of the various types indicated herein are meritorious and may be satisfactory in various applications.

However, it is considered that there still exists a need for new and improved child-resistant closures. More specifically there exists a need for child-resistant closures operating on somewhat different principals than prior resistant dispensing closures. Further, it is considered that there exists a need for closures of this type which will effectively seal off the ends of the spouts used with them when these spouts are in closed positions so as to prevent any reasonable possibility of viscous materials remaining in these spouts and drying out when the spouts are left in closed positions.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A broad objective of the present invention is to provide child-resistant closures which are intended to fullfil the need for improvement in the dispensing closure field briefly indicated in the preceding discussion. A more specific objective of the present invention is to provide new and improved child-resistant closures which can be manufactured at a comparatively nominal cost, which may be effectively utilized as dispensing closures and which, although of a child resistant character, are of such a nature that they may be easily opened by people of normal faculties even if such individuals should be relatively infirm.

In accordance with this invention these and various related objectives are achieved in a dispensing closure having a cap and a spout, the cap including a skirt for attaching the closure to a container and an opening leading through the cap, the spout being movably mounted on the cap and having a passage extending through it, the spout being capable of being moved between a closed position in which the opening is sealed off by contact with the spout and an open position in which the passage is in alignment with the opening, by the improvement which comprises: latch means which are formed integrally with the cap of a resilient material and which includes holding means to be engaged by the spout when the spout is moved from an open position to a closed position so that such movement causes temporary deflection of the latch means as the spout is placed in a closed position.

The latch means used are sufficiently resilient so as to return to positions in which the holding means engage parts of the spout so as to hold the spout against rotation when the spout has been moved to a closed position. Preferably the latch means indicated in the preceding discussion operate so as to seal off a spout when the spout is in this closed position so as to prevent any chance of material being entrained within the spout drying out when the spout is in a closed position.

Preferably a dispensing closure of the invention includes two of such latch means which require manipulation by both of the hands of a user so that a spout cannot be readily opened except if an individual is coordinated enough to operate both of the latch means simultaneously. Further, preferably the closure includes a spring means for releasing and moving a spout from a closed position when a latch means as described is moved out of engagement with the spout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

It is considered impossible to fully and completely indicate the nature of the concepts embodied within a structure in accordance with this specification in a summary such as the preceding summary. Further details of such a structure and such concepts are best explained with reference to the remainder of this specification, the appended claims and the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a presently preferred embodiment or form of a child-resistant closure of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view taken at line 2--2 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 2 showing the closure in an open position.

The precise closure illustrated in the drawing is only one physical structure embodying the concepts indicated by this specification. These concepts are considered to be fully defined by the appended claims forming a part of this disclosure. These concepts may be employed in a number of different ways in various differently constructed and differently appearing closures through the use or exercise of routine engineering skill in the dispensing closure field.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In the drawing there is shown a child-resistant closure 10 utilized on a container or bottle 12. This container 12 has a generally flat top 14 which carries a centrally located upstanding cylindrical neck 16. This neck 16 preferably includes at least one continuous, concentric bead 18 extending around its periphery in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the neck 16 and a substantially flat top 20. The container 12 also preferably includes a side groove 22 leading from a portion of the top 14. This groove 22 should be sufficiently wide so as to accommodate a normal human finger and should extend to immediately adjacent to the neck 16.

The closure 10 includes a cap 24 and a spout 26. Both this cap 24 and this spout 26 are preferably formed of a conventional polyolefin material so that structures of these parts permit them to be snapped together in such a manner that the spout 26 may be rotated between a closed position as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and an opened position as shown in FIG. 3. In this particular closure 10 shown the spout 26 lies generally in a vertically extending groove 28 located in a skirt 30 of the cap 24 when the spout 26 is in a closed position.

This skirt 30 depends from a flat top 32 of the cap 24. Preferably it is provided with external serrations 34 which are intended to facilitate its use. A subskirt 36 depends from the top 32 within the skirt 30. This subskirt 36 is of a cylindrical configuration and is adapted to fit around the exterior of the neck 16. Preferably this subskirt 36 carries beads 38 which are adapted to snap over and engage the beads 18 so as to form a series of seals between the neck 16 and the subskirt 36.

The spout 26 may be movably mounted upon the cap 24 in any convenient, known manner. In the structure shown aligned bearing openings 42 provided with "pop through" restricted entrances 44 are located within the skirt 30 on opposite sides of the groove 28. With this structure aligned trunnions 46 on the spout 26 may be "snapped" into the openings 42 so as to rotatably mount this spout 26. When the spout 26 is positioned in this manner a cylindrical base 48 on the spout 26 fits within an enlarged end of the groove 28 against a known or conventional type of deformable sealing ring 52.

This ring 52 extends from the interior of the cap 24 around an opening 54 leading through this cap 24. The sealing ring 52 is constructed so as to fit against the base 48 in all positions of the spout 26 so as to all form a seal with the base 48. When the spout 26 is in a closed position as shown a passage 56 leading through this spout 26 from the end 50 is positioned out of communication with the opening 54 and this opening is sealed off by the base 48. When the spout 26 is in an open position as shown this passage 56 is in alignment or substantial alignment with the opening 54.

The closure 10 is constructed in such a manner that the spout 26 connot be moved from a closed position to an open position until it is rotated on the container 12 to a position in which the spout 26 is opposite the groove 22. Such rotation may be conveniently accomplished manually. When the spout 26 is in substantial alignment with the groove 22 a small latch structure 58 extending from the base or bottom 60 of the groove 28 may be manually engaged so as to be pushed downwardly. This latch structure 58 is essentially a flat tab of such dimension as to completely cover an end 62 of the spout 26 which is unattached to the cap 24 except along the bottom 60.

This latch structure 58 is preferably placed so that when the spout 26 is in a closed position it fits against this end 62 in such a manner as to effectively close off or seal the passage 56. The latch structure 58 preferably includes a tooth-shaped holding or mating element 64 which, when the latch structure 58 is in a closed position fits within the passage 56 so as to preclude rotation of the spout 26. From this it will be apparent that when the latch structure 58 is pushed downwardly the spout 26 will be released so that it can be rotated to an open position.

Preferably a small bump 66 is located in the bottom 60 in a position in which it is engaged and held under compression by the spout 26 when this spout is held in a closed position by the latch structure 58. If desired this bump 66 can be located on the spout 26. Because of the resiliency of the material within the cap 24 as the latch structure 58 is released this bump 66 will act as a spring means to automatically partially rotate the spout 26 from a closed position. As the result of such an action the same hand which can be used to release the latch structure 58 can subsequently be utilized to engage the spout 26 so as to rotate it to an open position after this spout 26 is released.

The cap 24 is also preferably formed with a second latch structure 68 corresponding to the structure 58 previously described. This latch structure 68 is essentially a flat tab forming a part of the top 32 which is unattached to this top 32 along opposed parallel side edges 70. This latch structure 68 includes a tooth shaped-holding or mating element 72 which is also adapted to snap within the end of the passage 56 so as to hold the spout 26 against rotation when it is in a closed position.

When the latch structure 68 is used it must be pulled upwardly at the same time that the latch structure 58 is pushed downwardly so that the spout 26 is released in such a manner that it may be moved to an open position as shown. It will be realized that this involves two different similar motions which must be performed concurrently. Normally, two hands will be required for such concurrent movement of the latch structures or means 58 and 68. This "two-motion" feature is considered to contribute materially to the child-resistant features of the complete closure 10. These features encompass within the broad sense the separate concept that the closure 10 must be properly located relative to the container 12 before it can be opened.

From a consideration of the preceding it will be realized that with the described structures both ends of the passage 56 are effectively closed or sealed by the latch structures 58 and 68 may be employed in a closure in which the spout is mounted horizontally in a closed position although this is not normally preferred because an essentially smooth flat-top is normally desired on a closure to facilitate stacking, marking and the like.

The latch structures 58 and 68 used are of such a character that sloping surfaces on the mating elements 64 and 72 will be engaged by the spout 26 as it is rotated to a closed position so as to automatically bend the latch structures 58 in such a manner as to move them out of the way of the spout 26 as it is being closed until such time as these holding means 64 and 72 snap into the ends of the passage 56 so as to hold the spout 26 closed. If desired, the holding means 64 and 72 can be employed to engage portions of the spout 26 other than the passage 56 such as notches (not shown) within the spout 26 or the exterior of the spout 26 although this is not considered preferable with the invention.

Claims

I claim:

1. A dispensing closure having a cap and a spout, said cap including a skirt for attaching said closure to a container and an opening leading through said cap, said spout being rotatably mounted on said cap and having a passage extending therethrough, said spout being capable of being rotated by direct manual engagement between a closed position in which said opening is sealed off by contact with said spout and an open position in which said passage is in alignment with said opening in which the improvement comprises:

latch means of a resilient material formed integrally with said cap

said latch means including a flat tab covering an end of said spout when said spout is in said closed position, said tab extending from said cap and fitting against said end of said spout to close off said end when said spout is in said closed position, said tab being separate from said skirt,

said latch means also including a holding means extending from said tab which is engaged by said spout when said spout is moved from said open position to said closed position, such movement causing temporary deflection of said latch means until such time as said spout is in said closed position,

said tab being sufficiently resilient so as to engage said spout so that said holding means hold said spout against movement when said spout has been moved to said closed position,

said tab being exposed to the exterior of said spout so as to be capable of being physically engaged and pushed generally away from said spout when said spout is in said closed position so as to release said spout so that it can be rotated to said open position.

2. A dispensing closure as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said holding means comprises an element having a sloping surface which is engaged by said spout when said spout is moved to said closed position, said element engaging the interior of said passage within said spout when said spout is in said closed position.

3. A dispensing closure as claimed in claim 1 including:

spring means for moving said spout from said closed position when said latch means is moved so as to disengage said spout.

4. A dispensing closure as claimed in claim 3 wherein:

said spring means comprises a resilient bump.

5. The combination of a container and a dispensing closure having a cap and a spout, said cap including a skirt for attaching said closure to a container and an opening leading through said cap, said spout being movably mounted on said cap and having a passage extending therethrough, said spout being capable of being moved between a closed position in which said opening is sealed off by contact with said spout and an open position in which said passage is in alignment with said opening, said container having a neck, said closure being mounted on said neck, said container having a generally flat surface adjacent to the bottom of said skirt and extending around said neck in which the improvement comprises:

said spout extending generally vertically along the periphery of said skirt when in said closed position so as to terminate in a discharge end located adjacent to the bottom of said skirt,

latch means of a resilient material formed integrally with said cap

said latch means being located at the bottom of said skirt,

said latch means including a holding means which is engaged by said spout when said spout is moved from said open position to said closed position, such movement causing temporary deflection of said latch means until such time as said spout is in said closed position,

said latch means being sufficiently resilient so as to engage said spout so as to hold said spout when said spout has been moved to said closed position,

said container having a groove in said surface,

said cap being rotatably mounted on said neck so as to be capable of being rotated on said neck to a position in which said latch means and said discharge end are located opposite said groove,

said groove providing access to said latch means and being sufficiently large so as to permit said latch means to be moved away from said discharge end into said groove during the movement of said spout between said opened and said closed positions.

6. A dispensing closure as claimed in claim 5 wherein:

said latch means fits against said discharge end so as to close off said discharge end of said spout when said spout is in a closed position.

7. A dispensing closure as claimed in claim 5 including:

spring means for moving said spout from said closed position so that it may be engaged to be moved to said open position when said latch means is moved so as to disengage said spout.

8. A dispensing closure as claimed in claim 5 wherein:

said spring means comprises a resilient bump positioned so as to extend generally between said spout and said cap when said spout is in said closed position. a

9. A dispensing closure as claimed in claim 5 including:

a second one of said latch means, said second one of said latch means being adjacent to the end of said spout remote from said first latch means,

both of said latch means having to be temporarily deformed during the movement of said spout between said open and said closed positions.

10. A dispensing closure as claimed in claim 9 wherein:

both of said latch means fit against said spout so as to close off both ends of said passage when said spout is in said closed position.

11. A dispensing closure having a cap and a spout, said cap including a skirt for attaching said closure to a container and an opening leading through said cap, said spout being movably mounted on said cap and having a passage extending therethrough, said spout being capable of being moved between a closed position in which said opening is sealed off by contact with said spout and an open position in which said passage is in alignment with said opening in which the improvement comprises:

two separate latch means of a resilient material formed integrally with said cap

both of said latch means including a holding means which is engaged by said spout when said spout is moved from said open position to said closed position, such movement causing temporary deflection of said latch means until such time as said spout is in said closed position, said holding means engaging spaced extremities of said spout when spout is in said closed position,

said holding means on each of said latch means comprising an element having a sloping surface which is engaged by said spout when said spout is moved to said closed position, said elements engaging the interior of said passage when said spout is in said closed position,

said latch means fitting against opposite ends of said spout so as to close off the ends of said passage when said spout is in a closed position,

said latch means being sufficiently resilient so as to engage said spout so that said holding means hold said spout against movement when said spout has been moved to said closed position,

said latch means being exposed to the exterior of said spout so as to be capable of being physically engaged when said spout is in said closed position to release said spout for movement to said open position, and

spring means for moving said spout from said closed position when said latch means are moved so as to disengage said spout.

12. A dispensing closure as claimed in claim 11 wherein:

said spring means comprises a resilient bump positioned so as to extend generally between said spout and said cap when said spout is in said closed position.

13. A dispensing closure having a cap and a spout, said cap including a skirt for attaching said closure to a container and an opening leading through said cap, said spout being movably mounted on said cap and having a passage extending therethrough, said spout being capable of being moved between a closed position in which said opening is sealed off by contact with said spout and an open position in which said passage is in alignment with said opening in which the improvement comprises:

two separate latch means of a resilient material formed integrally with said cap

said latch means including a holding means which is engaged by said spout when said spout is moved from said open position to said closed position, such movement causing temporary deflection of said latch means until such time as said spout is in said closed position,

said latch means being sufficiently resilient so as to engage said spout so as to hold said spout when said spout has been moved to said closed position, and engaging spaced extremities of said spout,

said spout being rotatably mounted on said closure skirt so as to extend downwardly in a generally vertical direction along the periphery of said skirt when in a closed position and so as to extend generally horizontally when in said open position.

14. A dispensing closure as claimed in claim 13 wherein:

one of said latch means fits against said spout in said open position so as to tend to hold said spout in said open position.

15. A dispensing closure having a cap and a spout, said cap including a skirt for attaching said closure to a container and an opening leading through said cap, said spout being rotatably mounted on said cap and having a passage extending therethrough, said spout being capable of being rotated between a closed position in which said opening is sealed off by contact with said spout and an open position in which said passage is in alignment with said opening in which the improvement comprises:

two separate latch means of a resilient material formed integrally with said cap

each of said latch means including a flat tab covering an end of said spout when said spout is in said closed position, each of said tabs extending from said cap,

each of said latch means including a holding means which is engaged by said spout when said spout is moved from said open position to said closed position, such movement causing temporary deflection of said latch means until such time as said spout is in said closed position,

both of said latch means being sufficiently resilient so as to engage said spout so as to hold said spout when said spout has been moved to said closed position,

each of said latch means being accessible from the exterior of said closure so as to be capable of being moved so as to permit rotation of said spout from said open to said closed position,

said spout being unattached to either of said latch means.

16. A dispensing closure as claimed in claim 15 wherein:

there are two of said latch means, one of said latch means engaging one extremity of said spout when said spout is in said closed position, the other of said latch means engaging the other extremity of said spout when said spout is in said closed position,

said holding means on each of said latch means comprises an element having a sloping surface which is engaged by said spout when said spout is moved to said closed position, said elements engaging the interior of said passage when said spout is in said closed position,

each of said latch means fits against an end of said spout so as to close off the ends of said passage when said spout is in a closed position, and including,

spring means for moving said spout from said closed position when said latch means are moved so as to disengage said spout,

said spout is rotatably mounted on said closure skirt so as to extend downwardly in a generally vertical direction along the periphery of said skirt when in a closed position and so as to extend generally horizontally when in said open position,

one of said latch means fits against said spout in said open position so as to tend to hold said spout in said open position.

17. A dispensing closure having a cap and a spout, said cap including a skirt for attaching said closure to a container and an opening leading through said cap, said spout being movably mounted on said cap and having a passage extending therethrough, said spout being capable of being moved between a closed position in which said opening is sealed off by contact with said spout and an open position in which said passage is in alignment with said opening in which the improvement comprises:

latch means of a resilient material formed integrally with said cap

said latch means including a holding means which is engaged by said spout when said spout is moved from said open position to said closed position, such movement causing temporary deflection of said latch means until such time as said spout is in said closed position,

said latch means being sufficiently resilient so as to engage said spout so that said holding means hold said spout against movement when said spout has been moved to said closed position,

said latch means being exposed to the exterior of said spout so as to be capable of being physically engaged when said spout is in said closed position to release said spout for movement to said open position,

said spout being rotatably mounted on said closure skirt so as to extend downwardly in a generally vertical direction along the periphery of said skirt when in a closed position and so as to extend generally horizontally when in said open position,

said holding means comprises an element having a sloping surface which is engaged by said spout when said spout is moved to said closed position, said element engaging the interior of said passage within said spout when said spout is in said closed position,

said latch means fitting against an end of said spout so as to close off said end when said spout is in a closed position.