Child-proof dispensing container and cover assembly

Abstract

A child-proof dispensing container and cover assembly for medicine tablets, such as pills, capsules and the like including a container having a series of cavities formed therein, each of which is adapted to receive at least one of the tablets or pills. A cover is rotatably mounted on the container, and a dispensing opening is formed in the cover, and is sequentially movable into registry with each of the cavities upon rotation of the cover with respect to the container such that a tablet can be removed from its respective cavity only when the dispensing opening is in registry therewith. Locking means is provided on the container and cover having a locked position in which the cover is locked against rotation with respect to the container, and an unlocked condition in which the cover can rotate with respect to the container, the locking means being movable between the locked and unlocked conditions by axial movement of the cover with respect to the container. Biasing means is engaged between the container and cover for biasing the locking means to the locked position such that the cover can be rotated with respect to the container only subsequent to axial movement of the cover with respect to the container against the biasing means.

Description

This invention relates generally to child-proof container and closure assemblies, and is particularly concerned with a child-proof container and cover assembly of the type wherein pills, capsules or the like are dispensed one at a time from the container.

In recognition of the unacceptable number of accidental poisonings resulting from young children having access to unsafe medicines, drugs, household chemicals and other products, it has become necessary to develop containers and closures for packaging such substances that requires a type of manipulation in order to gain access to the contents of the container that a young child is incapable of performing. It has been found that young children are incapable of manipulating a cap mounted on the container in such a manner that the cap is required to be pushed axially relative to the container and then rotated relative to the container in order to gain access to the contents of the container. The cap must be pushed axially toward the container against the biasing force of a spring before it can be rotated with respect to the container. Examples of so-called "child-proof" container and closure assemblies are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,567,057; 3,595,427; 3,608,764; 3,623,623; 3,659,735; 3,680,745; 3,706,401; 3,747,807; 3,753,510 and Reissue No. 27,156.

One common type of package for pills is the type in which a series of cavities, each adapted to receive a single pill, is formed in a container, and a cover is rotatably mounted on a container with a dispensing opening formed therein. Rotation of the cover relative to the container brings the dispensing opening sequentially into registry with the cavities so that the pills can be removed from the container one at a time. This type of container and cover assembly is particularly employed in packaging contraceptive pills wherein the user is required to take one pill each day for a period of time.

An object of this invention is to provide a child-proof dispensing container and cover assembly of the type wherein pills are removed one at a time from the container by rotating a dispensing opening sequentially into registry with a cavity in the container containing a pill.

A further object is to provide a child-proof dispensing container and cover assembly of the type wherein a series of cavities is provided in a container for receiving a pill or capsule, with a rotatable cover mounted on the container having a dispensing opening formed therein which can be sequentilly brought into registry with the cavities upon rotation of the cover relative to the container, wherein the cover must be pushed axially toward the container against a biasing force before it can be rotated with respect to the container so that the pills cannot be removed from the container except by first pushing the cover axially with respect the container against a biasing force and then rotating the cover with respect to the container.

In carrying out the foregoing, and other objects, a child-proof dispensing container and cover assembly according to the present invention includes a container having a series of cavities formed therein, each adapted to receive at least one pill. The cover is rotatably mounted on the container, and a dispensing opening is formed in the cover, the dispensing opening being sequentially movable into registry with each of the cavities upon rotation of the cover with respect to the container so that a pill can be removed from its respective cavity only when the dispensing opening is in registry therewith. In accordance with the present invention, locking means is provided on the container and cover having a locked position in which the cover is locked against rotation with respect to the container and an unlocked position in which the cover can rotate with respect to the container, the locking means being movable between the locked and unlocked positions by axial movement of the cover with respect to the container. Resilient biasing means engaged between the container and cover biases the locking means to the locked position such that the cover can be rotated with respect to the container only after the cover has been pushed axially toward the container against the biasing means to move the locking means to the unlocked position.

Other objects, advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a child-proof dispensing container and cover assembly according to the present invention with the cover shown in the locked position with respect to the container;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 with the cover shown in the unlocked position with respect to the container so that the cover can be rotated with respect to the container;

FIG. 3 is a view taken approximately along lines 3--3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view taken along lines 4--4 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a modified form of the container and cover assembly of FIG. 1.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral 2 collectively designates a container, and reference numeral 4 collectively designates a cover transversely movably mounted on the container 2. The container 2 is formed with a series of cavities 6, each of which is adapted to receive at least one pill. A dispensing opening 8 is formed in the cover 4, the dispensing opening being sequentially movable into registry with each of the cavities 6 upon transverse movement of the cover 4 with respect to the container. Consequently, a pill can be removed from its respective cavity 6 only when the dispensing opening 8 is in registry with the cavity.

In the illustrated embodiment, the container 2 and cover 4 are annular and the cover 2 is rotatably mounted on the container, such rotation providing the transverse movement of the cover with respect to the container.

In the position shown in FIG. 1, the cover 4 is locked against rotation with respect to the container, and FIG. 2 illustrates the axial position that the cover 4 must have with respect to the container 2 before it can be rotated with respect to the container. In accordance with the present invention, as is set forth in detail below, the cover 4 is biased to the locked position of FIG. 1, and must be pushed axially toward the container against the biasing force to the position shown in FIG. 2 before it can be rotated with respect to the container to make it possible to remove pills from the cavities 6.

The cover 4 is prevented from rotating with respect to the container 2 in the position shown in FIG. 1 by locking means 10 and 12 having a locked position as shown in FIG. 1 in which locking elements 10 on the cover 4 are intermeshed with locking elements 12 on the container 2. Stated another way, each locking element 10 of the cover 4 is received between an adjacent pair of locking elements 12 on the container 2. When the cover 4 is pushed axially toward the container 2 to the position shown in FIG. 2, the locking means 10 and 12 move to an unlocked position in which the locking elements 10 are displaced axially from the locking elements 12 to permit rotation of the cover 4 with respect to the container 2. Resilient biasing means 14 is engaged between the container 2 and cover 4 for biasing the locking means 10 and 12 to their locked position such that the cover 4 can be rotated with respect to the container 2 only subsequent to axial movement of the cover 4 with respect to the container 2 against the force of the biasing means 14.

The cover 4 has an end wall 16 and a peripheral skirt 18 projecting axially therefrom, the cover locking elements 10 being in the form of lugs projecting radially inwardly from the skirt 18. The container 2 has a base 20 and an outer side wall 22 projecting axially therefrom, the container locking elements 12 projecting radially outwardly from the outer side wall 22. The skirt 18 and side wall 22 are in telescopic relationship with respect to each other, the outer side wall 22 being received in the skirt 18 in the illustrated embodiment. In the locked position illustrated in FIG. 1, the cover locking elements 10 and container locking elements 12 have the same axial position with respect to the base 20.

Projecting axially from the base 20 in concentric relationship with the outer side wall 22 is an inner side wall 24, and the biasing means 14 is in the form of a resilient flexible spring member projecting radially inwardly from the inner side wall 24. The spring member 14 engages the lower end of a hollow, circular plunger element 26 projecting axially from the end wall 16 of the cover 4, the plunger 26 being concentric with the skirt 18. The spring member 14, in its unstressed position, biases the plunger 26 to the position shown in FIG. 1 in which the cover 4 is displaced axially with respect to the container 2 such that the locking elements 10 and 12 are in their locked position.

Projecting upwardly from the central portion of the base and concentrically surrounded by the inner side wall 24 is a retaining post 28 having an outwardly projecting stop flange 30 formed on its upper end. The plunger 26 has an inwardly projecting stop flange 32 formed on its lower end, and in the locked position of FIG. 1, the stop flange 32 engages the stop flange 30 to prevent axial separation of the cover 4 with respect to the container 2. The spring member 14 thus biases the stop elements 30 and 32 into engagement with each other in the locked position of the container and cover illustrated in FIG. 1.

The series of cavities 6 are defined between the outer side wall 22 and an intermediate side wall 34 which is concentric with the inner and outer side walls 24 and 22, respectively. The intermediate side wall 34 is connected with the inner side wall 24 by a top wall 36 extending between the ends of the inner side wall 24 and intermediate side wall 34 opposite the base 20. A collar 38 depends from the end wall 16 and is surrounded by the inner side wall 24, the collar 38 serving to maintain the concentricity of the cover with respect to the container by preventing lateral or transverse movement of the cover with respect to the container.

The pills are supported in the cavities 6 on an annular rib 40 and transverse ribs 42, the inner surfaces of the side walls 22 and 34 being scalloped as indicated by reference numerals 44 and 46, respectively, the scalloped configurations 44 and 46 cooperating to define a series of circular cavities 6 for receiving circular pills.

As illustrated in the drawings, the cover locking elements 10 are spaced from each other along the inner surface of the skirt 18, and the container locking elements 12 are spaced from each other along the outer surface of the outer side wall 22. The cover locking elements 10 are rectangular as viewed in FIG. 4 having upper and lower parallel surfaces 48 and 49 joined by parallel end surfaces 50 and 51, the upper and lower surfaces 48 and 49 having the same length. The container locking elements 12, on the other hand, are chamfered at corresponding corners as indicated at 52 in FIG. 4 so that when the cover 4 is moved in the direction of arrow 54 in FIG. 4, after being pushed axially inwardly a distance corresponding only to the thickness of the end portion 56 of the container locking elements 12, the chamfered portion 52 serves as a cam surface to cam the cover locking elements 10 downwardly to the phantom line position illustrated in FIG. 4 to permit continued rotation of the cover 4 in the direction of arrow 54 with respect to the container. When the dispensing opening 8 in the end wall 16 of the cover comes into registry with a cavity 6, the locking elements are in the position shown in FIG. 2 so that when the cover 4 is released, the spring member 14 will cause the locking elements 10 to move into intermeshed, locked relationship with the locking elements 12 as illustrated in FIG. 1.

The base 20 of the container 2 is formed with a pair of arcuate slots 58 separated by strips 60 extending diametrically between the retaining post 28 and the inner side wall 24. A spring member 14 is provided in each of the slotted portions 58, however, only one spring member 14 is visible in the drawings, since a cross-section only of the assembly is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 5 illustrates a modified version which differs from the embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 4 only in that provision is made for three layers of pills, whereas the embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 4 makes provision for only a single layer of pills in the cavity 6. The assembly in FIG. 5 includes a cover 4' which is identical in construction to the cover 4 of FIG. 1. The base 2' in the embodiment of FIG. 5 includes lower, intermediate and upper sections 62, 64 and 66, respectively, providing three series of cavities 68, 70 and 72. Each series of the cavities 68, 70 and 72 may represent a one-month supply of pills. Consequently, when the pills have all been removed from the series of cavities 72, the pills in the intermediate layer of cavities 70 becomes accessible through the dispensing opening 8, and so forth.

The lower section 62 projects integrally from the lower end wall of the base 2', while the intermediate and upper sections 64 and 66, respectively, are separate pieces in the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 5, the upper section 66 providing the outer side wall of the container. A shoulder 65 is formed on the upper end of an upstanding leg integral with the lower base section 62, and a lip 63 on a depending leg integral with the upper section 66 engages the shoulder 65 to retain the three sections together.

While specific forms of the invention have been illustrated in the drawings and described in the foregoing specification, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific construction shown. To the contrary, various alterations in the construction and arrangement of parts, all falling within the scope and spirit of the invention, will become apparent to those skilled in the art.

Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A child-proof container and cover assembly for pills and the like comprising: a container member having a base with concentric inner and outer side walls projecting axially therefrom; a cover member rotatably mounted on said container member; a dispensing opening in said cover member sequentially movable to positions in which a pill can be removed from the container member through said dispensing opening; said cover member having an end wall with a skirt projecting axially therefrom; said skirt and outer side wall being disposed in telescopic relationship with respect to each other; locking means on said container and cover members having a locked position in which said cover member is locked against rotation with respect to said container member and an unlocked position in which said cover member can rotate with respect to said container member; said locking means being movable between said locked and unlocked positions by axial movement of said cover member with respect to said container member; and resilient biasing means formed integrally on said container member; a retaining post projecting axially from said base; a pair of arcuate slots formed in said base between said inner side wall and retaining post; a pair of strips extending diametrically between said retaining post and inner side wall and separating said arcuate slots; said biasing means comprising a spring member in each of said arcuate slots; each of said spring members having an inner end joined integrally to said inner side wall and projecting therefrom toward said retaining post and terminating in a free end spaced from said retaining post; and a plunger on said cover member projecting into the space between said inner side wall and retaining post into engagement with said spring members.

2. A child-proof container and cover assembly for pills and the like comprising: a container member having a base with concentric inner and outer annular side walls projecting axially therefrom; a cover member rotatably mounted on said container member; a dispensing opening in said cover member sequentially movable to positions in which a pill can be removed from the container member through said dispensing opening; said cover member having an end wall with a skirt projecting axially therefrom; said skirt and side wall being disposed in telescopic relationship with respect to each other; locking means on said container and cover members having a locked position in which said cover member is locked against rotation with respect to said container member and an unlocked position in which said cover member can rotate with respect to said container member; said locking means being movable between said locked and unlocked positions by axial movement of said cover member with respect to said container member; locking means comprising a plurality of cover locking elements spaced from each other on said cover member and a plurality of container locking elements spaced from each other on said container member, said container and cover locking elements being intermeshed in the locked position to prevent relative rotation between said container and cover members, and being axially displaced from each other in the unlocked position; resilient biasing means formed integrally on said container member, said cover member including a plunger projecting axially from said end wall and received in the space enclosed by said inner side wall, a flange projecting outwardly from said plunger; a retaining post projecting axially from said base and received by said plunger, a pair of arcuate slots formed in the base of said container member, a pair of strips extending diametrically between said retaining post and the inner side wall of said container member and separating said arcuate slots, said biasing means comprising a spring member in at least one of said slots joined integrally to said inner side wall and projecting therefrom toward said retaining post and terminating in a free end spaced from said retaining post, a flange projecting outwardly from said retaining post into the path of the flange on said plunger to prevent axial separation of said cover and container members, said plunger engaging the free end of said spring member, said flange on said plunger being biased to engage said flange on said retaining post by said spring member; the engagement of said spring member and plunger biasing said locking means to the locked position such that said cover member can be rotated with respect to said container member only subsequent to axial movement of said cover member with respect to said container member against the biasing force of said spring member.

3. An assembly as claimed in claim 2 wherein said cover locking elements comprise a plurality of spaced lugs projecting radially from said skirt and said container locking elements comprise a plurality of spaced lugs projecting radially from said outer side wall, said cover locking elements having parallel top and bottom surfaces joined by parallel end surfaces, and said container locking elements having parallel top and bottom surfaces joined by parallel end surfaces, and said container locking elements having chamfered surfaces at corresponding corners operable to cam the cover locking elements downwardly after initial axial and rotative motion of the cover with respect to the container.