Field of the Invention

(1) The present invention relates generally to audible closures for closing packages, tubes, bottles and the like. The present invention also relates generally to audible packages, tubes, bottles and the like. Some embodiments of the present invention find particularly effective application in child resistant closures, and other

embodiments of the present invention find particularly effective application in bottles of medicament or pharmaceutical compounds.

Background to the invention

(2) Closures preserve goods disposed inside packaging, as well as control access to the goods inside the packaging so that they are more likely to be reserved for the sole use of those for which the goods are intended, such as the patients of a doctor or medical professional.

(3) Furthermore, in an ambulance, it is best practice for a paramedic to check with a colleague that the medicament contained in a bottle, tube, ampoule or other package selected for treatment of a patient in the ambulance has not expired and that indeed the type and concentration of the selected medicament package is suitable for the patient. Known good practice in an ambulance is for the paramedic to call out the name of the medicament shown on the bottle, the concentration of the medicament, and the expiry date to their colleague and wait for confirmation from the colleague that the medicament is correct and even indicated lor the symptoms presenting in the patient.

(4) However this and other known systems have limitations since they rely on the label being legible, there being sufficient light for reading the label and there being sufficient time for the colleague to think about the data presented to them.

Furthermore, the system relies on there being a colleague present in the first place.

(5) Some inventors have contemplated packages which include electronic and electric devices to provide, in good conditions, an audible song or message when the closure is moved to open the bottle. These devices involve limitations such as poor response to extreme temperatures, poor battery life, poor frequency response inhibiting intelligibility of the payload message or song, poor robustness, and are otherwise unreliable due to being adversely affected by water ingress or harsh handling.

(6) The present invention seeks to ameliorate one or more of the abovementioned disadvantages or at least seeks to provide a new closure and/or a new package or bottle.

Summary of the Invention

(7) In one broad form the present invention provides a closure for a container, the closure including a music box so that the container forms a mount for the closure and/or a resonator for music sounded by the music box. The closure may sound the music during an opening operation, during a closing operation, or when disengaged from the opening operation but still mounted to the container.

(8) In another broad form the present invention provides a music box for mounting on a closure of a container so that the music box may be mounted on the closure. The closure may sound the music during an opening operation, during a closing operation, or when disengaged from the opening operation but still mounted to the container.

(9) In yet another broad form of the present invention there is provided a cooperating closure and container, the closure comprising tines for sounding music, and the container including teeth for plucking the tines during relative movement between the teeth and the tines.

(10) According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided an audible closure suitable for closing a container, the audible closure including:

a closure element for closing the container;

a rotating ^* sounding assembly operatively mounted to the closure element such that it is adapted to rotate about the closure element,

wherein relative rotation between the rotating sounding assembly and the closure element causes sound to be generated.

(1 1 ) Preferably the rotating sounding assembly includes a chassis for operatively mounting sounding elements thereon.

(12) Preferably a plurality of sounding elements are mounted on the chassis.

Preferably the sounding elements include elements that vibrate when plucked, hit, strummed or otherwise moved by friction from a cooperating actuator. Preferably the sounding elements are in the form of tines which vibrate when their free ends are plucked. Preferably the plurality of tines are in the form of a comb wherein each tine adjacent another sounds a note of a different pitch.

(13) Cooperating actuators may be provided on the container. Preferably, however cooperating actuators are provided on the rotating sounding assembly. Preferably the cooperating actuators are in the form of teeth which in use pluck the ends of the tines.

(14) Preferably the cooperating actuators are mounted on a surface of a hollow cylinder in the form of a sleeve. Preferably the sleeve is mounted on the closure element. Preferably the cooperating actuators are distributed across the sleeve so as to pluck, or cause the plurality of tines to sound in a coherent musical sequence, melody, chords or song.

(15) Preferably the rotating sound assembly includes a lock which inhibits relative movement between the tines and the teeth. The lock, when in use, allows the closure to unscrew from the container without actuating the sounding elements. The lock may be in the form of a ratchet and pawl. Preferably the ratchet includes teeth which are disposed on the sleeve and outwardly disposed so as to be adapted to engage with the pawl.

(16) Preferably the closure element is an internally-threaded cap. Preferably the threaded cap includes a bore for receiving a bearing so that the chassis can rotate about the threaded cap.

(17) Preferably the sleeve fits over the cap with an interference fit so as to inhibit relative movement therebetween.

(18) Preferably the chassis includes a mounting for the comb and a mounting for a bearing and a mounting for the pawl. Preferably the chassis is in the form of a round plate generally the size of the closure so that the chassis can operatively mount the closure on the plate via the bearing. The chassis also preferably includes a mounting for a top and bottom cover. The top cover preferably is in the form of a housing having a top and a depending skirt to cover the workings of the rotating sounding assembly and the base is in the form of a cover plate attached to the base of the skirt.

(19) In use the opening of the container is threaded into the closure element. Once the opening reaches a roof of the closure element the opening seals against the roof and then friction between the opening and the roof causes the closure to turn and then the teeth actuate the tines, sounding a melody.

(20) According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided an audible closure suitable for closing a container, the audible closure including:

a closure element for closing the container; and

one or more actuating elements for actuating the one or more sounding elements, the one or more actuating elements mounted on the closure element;

wherein rotating movement of the chassis about the closing axis causes actuation of the sounding elements causing them to vibrate, the vibrations being amplified by the container when the closure is mounted on the container.

(21 ) In some forms of the invention the cooperating actuating elements on the cooperating surface may be mounted on the container. In some forms of the invention the cooperating elements on the cooperating surface may be integral with the container.

(22) The arrangement is such that the sound stored in the one or more sound storage elements may be music, melody or speech.

(23) In one arrangement the one or more teeth are in the form of tines or tuned teeth. This arrangement lends itself to the production of melody when the tines are plucked. The tines are plucked when they operatively engage with the one or more sound storage element in much the same way as a music box.

(24) In another arrangement the one or more teeth are in the form of a stylus. This arrangement lends itself to the production of music or speech, or more complex sounds, and the stylus may be attached to an amplifying tube, diaphragm and resonating chamber much in the same way as a gramophone or phonograph.

(25) The one or more teeth may be mounted on a base. In one arrangement of the base, the teeth on the base, in the arrangement where there are a plurality of teeth, are arranged in a row.

(26) Optionally the base is connected to the closure or opening portion of the container by a recess, cage, slot or the like, and the recess, cage or slot being integral with the wall of the closure or container. Preferably the cage or recess or slot is open at one end so that the base can slide from that end into a retained position in the cage or recess or slot. Preferably the slot includes a retainer or detent to retain the base in the retained position. (27) The closure element may be a batten or strip which has teeth disposed thereon, or has the sound storage element disposed thereon. In that arrangement the batten is slid in an opening direction from the package or container to open the container or package, and the relative movement between the sound storage element and teeth causes audible sound because of their operative engagement.

(28) Preferably the closure element is a cap for a bottle, the cap including a circular top and at least one skirt depending downwardly therefrom to a cap opening.

Preferably two skirts are provided, with an inner skirt being spaced inwardly on the circular top relative to an outer skirt, the two skirts being disposed on the circular top in a concentric manner. Preferably there is provided a break in the inner skirt so as to facilitate contact between the teeth and the one or more sound storage elements.

(29) The cage is preferably disposed on an inner face of the outer skirt. Preferably there is provided a row of teeth integral with a base and the base is mounted in the cage so that the row of teeth extends from roughly the cap opening to roughly the circular top, along the inner face of the skirt. Preferably the teeth extend inwardly toward the opening portion of the bottle to engage with outwardly-extending formations on an outer wall of a neck of the bottle.

(30) The closure may include a thread for facilitating securing the closure to the bottle. The thread may be disposed on the inner skirt.

(31 ) The base may be adapted to move inside the cage or slot. The base may include one or more followers to facilitate accurate positioning within the cage or slot. This arrangement may be useful in keeping the tuned teeth accurately positioned over selected elements of the sound storage elements. This arrangement may be particularly useful where the sound storage elements are integral with a cooperating thread disposed on the opening portion of the container or package, since each tuned tooth in some arrangements is tuned to a specific frequency and if the cooperating thread is moving vertically along the tuned tooth row, and the base is not moving vertically, the thread may uncontrollably pluck various tuned teeth to make a cacophony. In some arrangements several pins disposed on the thread will pluck multiple tuned teeth at once, making chords possible. Thus, in some arrangements the thread is formed of discrete elements which facilitates both retention of the cap and playing a melody on the passing tines. (32) The closure may be a child-resistant closure and the cage may be disposed in a break of the child-resistant mechanism so as not to interfere with the child-resistant mechanism.

(33) Preferably the audible container or package is a bottle. Preferably the bottle is a cylinder with a neck and a cooperating thread for engaging with the thread on the closure.

(34) According to still another aspect ol the present invention there is provided an audible container including:

one or more spaced-apart walls defining an Interior portion of the audible container;

an opening integral with the one or more spaced-apart walls, the opening including a portion for cooperating with a closure element to dose the audible container, the portion including one or more teeth for operatively engaging a cooperating surface on the closure element so that relative movement therebetween causes sound stored on the cooperating surface to be amplified.

(35) According to yet another aspect of the present invention there is provided an audible container or package including:

one or more spaced-apart walls defining an interior portion of the audible container or package;

an opening integral with the one or more spaced-apart walls, the opening including a portion adapted to cooperate with a closure element to close the audible container or package, the portion including one or more analog sound storage elements disposed on an external surface of the portion, the analog sound storage elements adapted to operatively engage with one or more teeth disposed on the closure element so that in use, relative movement therebetween amplifies the sound stored in the one or more sound storage elements.

(36) According to still another aspect of the present invention there is provided an audible closure for a container or package, the audible closure including:

a closure element for closing the container or package;

one or more analog sound storage elements adapted to operatively engage with one or more teeth disposed on the container or package so that in use, relative movement therebetween amplifies the sound stored in the one or more sound storage elements. Brief Description of the Figures

(37) In order to enable a clearer understanding, optional embodiments will hereinafter be described with reference to the attached drawings and in those drawings:

(38) Figure 1 is an exploded isometric view of an audible closure in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the present invention;

(39) Figure 2 is an isometric sectioned view of the audible closure shown in Figure 1 ;

(40) Figure 3 is a side elevation section view of an audible closure and bottle in accordance with an optional embodiment of the present invention;

(41 ) Figure 4 is a side elevation section view of the audible closure and bottle of Figure 3 with a row of tuned teeth removed for clarity;

(42) Figure 5 is an isometric view from one side and underneath of the audible closure and bottle of Figure 3;

(43) Figure 6 is an isometric view of the audible closure and botUe of Figure 3 with the closure element removed for clarity;

(44) Figure 7 is a side elevation view of the audible closure and bottle of Figure 3 with the closure element removed for clarity;

(45) Figure 8 is an isometric view of the closure element shown in Figure 3 shown from one side and befow;

(46) Figure 9 is an isometric view of the closure element of Figure 8 from another angle; and

(47) Figure 10 is a plan view of the closure element of Figure 8 shown from

underneath.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments

(48) Referring to Figures 1 and 2 there is shown an audible closure generally indicated at 110, the audible closure suitable for closing a container (not shown), the audible closure 110 including a closure element 112 for dosing the container; a rotating sounding assembly 114 operatively mounted to the closure element 112 such that it is adapted to rotate about the closure element 112. The arrangement is such that in use, relative rotation between the rotating sounding assembly and the closure element 112 causes sound to be generated. (49) The rotating sounding assembly 112 includes a chassis 116 for operatively mounting sounding elements 118 thereon. A plurality of sounding elements 118 are mounted on the chassis 116. The sounding elements 118 include elements 119 that vibrate when plucked, hit, strummed or otherwise moved by friction from a

cooperating actuator. The sounding elements 118 are in the form of tines 120 which vibrate when their free ends 121 are plucked. The plurality of tines 120 are in the form of a comb 122 wherein each tine adjacent another sounds a note of a different pitch.

(50) Cooperating actuators 124 may be provided on the container. However, in the embodiment shown in the Figures 1 to 2, cooperating actuators 124 are provided on the rotating sounding assembly 112 of the audible closure 110. The cooperating actuators 124 are in the form of teeth 126 which in use pluck the ends of the tines 120.

(51 ) The cooperating actuators 124 are mounted on a surface 128 of a hollow cylinder 130 in the form of a sleeve 132. The sleeve 132 is mounted on the closure element 112. The cooperating actuators 124 are distributed across the sleeve 132 so as to pluck, or cause the plurality of tines to sound in a coherent musical sequence, melody, chords or song.

(52) The rotating sound assembly 114 includes a lock 134 which inhibits relative movement between the tines 120 and the teeth 126. The lock 134, when in use, allows the closure to unscrew from the container without actuating the sounding elements 118. The lock 134 may be in the form of a ratchet 136 and pawl 138.

Preferably the ratchet includes teeth 137 which are disposed on the sleeve 132 and outwardly disposed so as to be adapted to engage with the pawl 138.

(53) The closure element 112 is an internally-threaded cap 113. The threaded cap 113 includes a bore 115 for receiving a bearing 117 so that the chassis 116 can rotate about the threaded cap 113-

(54) The sleeve 132 fits over the cap 113 with an interference fit so as to inhibit relative movement therebetween.

(55) The chassis 116 includes a mounting for the comb 122 and a mounting for a bearing 117 and a mounting for the pawl 138. The chassis 116 is in the form of a round plate generally the size of the threaded closure element 113 so that the chassis 116 can operatively mount the closure element on the plate via the bearing 117. The chassis 116 also preferably includes a mounting for a top and bottom cover. The top cover 140 preferably is in the form of a housing 141 having a top 142 and a depending skirt 144 to cover the workings of the rotating sounding assembly and the base is in the form of a cover plate 145 attached to the base of the skirt 144.

(56) The lock may also include a clutch which includes teeth 160 as shown in the chassis plate. The teeth may lock into cooperating teeth (not shown) on the roof of the closure element 112.

(57) In use the opening of the container is threaded into the closure element. Once the opening reaches a roof of the closure element the opening seals against the roof and then friction between the opening and the roof causes the closure to turn and then the teeth actuate the tines, sounding a melody.

(58) Referring to Figures 3 to 10 there is shown another embodiment of audible closure for a container or package 5, the audible closure generally indicated at 10. The audible closure 10 includes a closure element 12 for closing the container or package 5 and one or more teeth 14 for operatively engaging with one or more analog sound storage elements 16 disposed on a cooperating surface 18 on the container or package 5 so that relative movement therebetween causes sound stored in the analog sound storage element 16 on the cooperating surface 18 to be amplified.

(59) The arrangement is such that the sound stored in the one or more sound storage elements 16 may be music, melody or speech.

(60) The one or more teeth 14 are in the form of tines or tuned teeth 15. This arrangement lends itself to the production of melody when the tines or tuned teeth 15 are plucked. The tines or tuned teeth 15 are plucked when they operatively engage with the one or more sound storage elements 16 in much the same way as a music box.

(61 ) The one or more tines or tuned teeth 15 are mounted on a base 19. In one arrangement of the base 19, the teeth 15 on the base 19, in the arrangement where there are a plurality of teeth 15, are arranged in a row.

(62) The base 19 is connected to the closure element 12 by a cage 21 and the cage 21 is integral with an inner face 23 of the closure element 12. The cage 21 is open at one end 25 so that the base 19 can slide from that end 25 into a retained position in the cage 21. The. slot includes a retainer or detent to retain the base in the retained position.

(63) The closure element 12 is a cap 30 for a bottle 26, the cap 30 including a circular top 32 and at least one skirt 34 depending downwardly therefrom to a cap opening 36. Two skirts are provided, with an inner skirt 35 being spaced inwardly on the circular top relative to an outer skirt 37, the two skirts 35, 37 being disposed on the circular top 32 in a concentric manner. There is provided a break 38 in the inner skirt 35 so as to facilitate contact between the teeth and the one or more sound storage elements 16.

(64) The cage 21 is disposed on an inner face 23 of the outer skirt 37. When assembled there is a row of tines or tuned teeth 15 integral with the base 19 and the base 19 is mounted in the cage 21 so that the row of tuned teeth 15 extends from roughly the cap opening 36 to roughly the circular top 32, along the inner face 23 of the outer skirt 37.

(65) The container or package 5 is in the form of a bottle 26. A thread 60 is formed on a neck 42 of the bottle 26. Pins 62 for plucking the tuned teeth 15 are provided. The pins 62 are integral with the thread 60 and the thread 60 is formed in discrete pins 62 so that the thread 60 forms the function of facilitating securement of the closure element 12 to the bottle neck 42 but also plucking the teeth 15 to play a melody.

(66) The tuned teeth 15 when assembled extend inwardly toward the opening portion of the container 5 in the form of the bottle 26 to engage with outwardly-extending formations on an outer wall 41 of the neck 42 of the bottle 26.

(67) The closure element 12 includes a cooperating thread 50 for facilitating securing the closure element 12 to the bottle 7. The cooperating thread 50 is disposed on the inner skirt 35.

(68) In operation the closure element 12 is rotated around the neck 42 of the bottle 7. Several pins 62 integral with the thread 60 will pluck multiple tuned teeth 15 at once, making chords possible. Thus, in some arrangements the thread is formed of discrete elements which facilitates both retention of the cap and playing a melody on the passing tines.