AND CONTAINER

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application is related to, and claims priority to, United States Provisional Patent Application No. 63/037,198, entitled “APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR SUPPLEMENTAL COUPLING BETWEEN PUMP ASSEMBLY AND CONTAINER”, and filed on June 10, 2020, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD

[0002] This application relates generally to containers from which substances are dispensed using a pump assembly, and in particular to providing a supplemental coupling between a pump assembly and a container.

BACKGROUND

[0003] A pump assembly may be used to dispense substances, such as liquids, gels, or creams for example, from a container. In general, a pump assembly is attached to a container and operated by a user to dispense a substance from inside the container. Although a pump assembly may be removable for refilling a container, for example, operation of the pump assembly would still be the intended means of dispensing the substance from the container even if the pump assembly and container are designed for removal of the pump assembly from the container.

[0004] Pump assemblies and containers come in various types. In many applications, a particular type of pump assembly may be best suited to dispensing a particular substance. Different substances are often used with different types of pump assemblies.

SUMMARY

[0005] Any of various substances may be dispensed using a pump assembly, and at least some of those substances are potentially harmful. For example, a substance could include an active substance in an amount that is harmful if ingested at once, and therefore it may be desirable to restrict access to a bulk of such a substance stored inside a container by removing a pump assembly.

[0006] More generally, it may be desirable to safeguard against intentional, or even inadvertent, decoupling of a pump assembly from a container. For example, if the pump assembly were to be inadvertently decoupled from the container, then the substance inside the container may leak from the container. This may be problematic not only for substances that are potentially dangerous, but also for other substances.

[0007] As such, a need exists to provide a supplemental coupling between a pump assembly and a container. Such a supplemental coupling at least reinforces or supplements a primary coupling that is provided between the pump assembly and the container. In some embodiments, a supplemental coupling adds child resistance to a primary coupling or supplements primary coupling child resistance. [0008] As noted above, a pump assembly may be best suited to dispensing a particular substance. This means that a choice of pump assembly for dispensing a substance can potentially be limited, which may in turn limit an overall feature set that is available in a pump-based dispensing system. Sourcing a pump assembly with a child-resistant mechanism, for example, may be limited to suppliers of a particular type of pump assembly that is suitable for the substance that is to be dispensed. Although it may be possible to source the preferred type of pump assembly, that type of pump assembly might not be available with a chi Id- resistant mechanism. More generally, implementation of different or additional features may be a challenge when options are limited to a specific type of pump assembly, for example. Therefore, in the context of providing a supplemental coupling between a pump assembly and a container, there is a need for a supplemental coupling solution that is at least somewhat generic to different pump assembly designs.

[0009] It may also be desirable to provide other features in conjunction with a supplemental coupling, such as a cap or cover to restrict access to and/or operation of the pump assembly so as to control dispensing of the substance. A chi Id- resistant cap or cover, for example, may be of particular importance in applications for dispensing a potentially dangerous substance, and may also be useful to guard against inadvertent dispensing of substances that do not pose a safety concern.

[0010] In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, a collar comprises: an engagement structure to engage a pump assembly, the pump assembly comprising a pump assembly coupling structure to provide a coupling between the pump assembly and a container from which a substance is to be dispensed by the pump assembly; and a collar coupling structure to engage the container and provide a further coupling between the pump assembly and the container.

[0011] In an embodiment, the collar comprises a sleeve configured to receive a part of the pump assembly, and the engagement structure and the collar coupling structure are coupled to the sleeve. [0012] In an embodiment, the sleeve is generally cylindrical and configured for axial alignment with the pump assembly, and the engagement structure extends radially from a wall of the collar toward an axis of the collar.

[0013] In an embodiment, the engagement structure comprises a flange or a lug.

[0014] In an embodiment, the engagement structure is configured to engage the pump assembly coupling structure.

[0015] In an embodiment, the collar is configured to, in an assembled position with the engagement structure engaging the pump assembly coupling structure and the collar coupling structure engaging the container, restrict access to the pump assembly coupling structure, restrict operation of the pump assembly coupling structure, or restrict both access to and operation of the pump assembly coupling structure.

[0016] In an embodiment, the collar comprises a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the engagement structure is proximate the first end of the collar, and the collar coupling structure is proximate the second end of the collar.

[0017] In an embodiment, the collar further comprises a further engagement structure to engage a cover for an external part of the pump assembly that is configured to remain outside the container. [0018] In an embodiment, the further engagement structure is configured to provide a child- resistant coupling between the collar and the cover.

[0019] In an embodiment, the further engagement structure and at least one of the collar coupling structure and the engagement structure are provided on opposite surfaces of the collar.

[0020] In an embodiment, at least one of the collar coupling structure and the engagement structure is provided in an interior space defined by the collar, and the further engagement structure is provided outside the interior space.

[0021] In an embodiment, the coupling between the pump assembly and the container comprises a releasable coupling.

[0022] In an embodiment, the releasable coupling between the pump assembly and the container is a child-resistant coupling.

[0023] In an embodiment, the pump assembly further comprises: a pump actuator; and a pump cover to cover the pump actuator.

[0024] In an embodiment, the pump assembly further comprises a chi Id- resistant coupling to releasably couple the cover in an assembled position covering the pump actuator.

[0025] In an embodiment, the further coupling between the pump assembly and the container comprises a releasable coupling.

[0026] In an embodiment, the coupling between the pump assembly and the container and the further coupling between the pump assembly and the container comprise a same type or different types of coupling.

[0027] In an embodiment, the further coupling between the pump assembly and the container comprises any one or more of: a friction fit coupling; a deformable coupling; a snap-fit coupling; a threaded coupling; an align-to-turn coupling; a squeeze-to-turn coupling; a push-to-turn coupling; a pull-to-turn coupling; a coupling that requires a plurality of operations to be performed to release the coupling; a coupling that requires a plurality of operations to be performed simultaneously to release the coupling; a coupling that comprises multiple components and requires the multiple components to be cooperatively engaged to release the coupling. [0028] In an embodiment, the further engagement structure is configured to provide a releasable cover coupling between the collar and the cover, and the further coupling between the pump assembly and the container and the releasable cover coupling comprise a same type or different types of coupling.

[0029] In an embodiment, the releasable cover coupling comprises any one of: a friction fit coupling; a deformable coupling; a snap-fit coupling; a threaded coupling; an align-to-turn coupling; a squeeze-to-turn coupling; a push-to-turn coupling; a pull-to-turn coupling; a coupling that requires a plurality of operations to be performed to release the coupling; a coupling that requires a plurality of operations to be performed simultaneously to release the coupling; a coupling that comprises multiple components and requires the multiple components to be cooperatively engaged to release the coupling.

[0030] In an embodiment, the substance comprises a cannabinoid-containing substance.

[0031] Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a container comprising: a container body defining an interior space to hold a substance; a pump assembly coupling structure to engage a pump assembly and provide a coupling between the container body and the pump assembly, the pump assembly coupling structure being configured to couple the pump assembly to the container in an assembled position in which the pump assembly is in fluid communication with the interior space and operable to dispense the substance from the interior space; and a collar coupling structure to engage a collar and provide, in an assembled position of the collar in engagement with the pump assembly, a further coupling between the pump assembly and the container.

[0032] In an embodiment, the pump assembly coupling structure and the collar coupling structure are concentric about a discharge opening through which the substance is dispensable from the interior space by the pump assembly.

[0033] In an embodiment, the pump assembly coupling structure and the collar coupling structure are symmetric about a discharge opening through which the substance is dispensable from the interior space by the pump assembly.

[0034] In an embodiment, the container further comprises a neck coupled to the container body, the neck defining a discharge opening through which the substance is dispensable from the interior space by the pump assembly, with the pump assembly coupling structure, the collar coupling structure, or both the pump assembly coupling structure and the collar coupling structure being coupled to the neck.

[0035] In an embodiment, the container further comprises a neck coupled to the container body, the neck defining a discharge opening through which the substance is dispensable from the interior space by the pump assembly, one of the pump assembly coupling structure and the collar coupling structure is coupled to the neck, and the other of the pump assembly coupling structure and the collar coupling structure is coupled to the container body.

[0036] In an embodiment, the coupling between the container body and the pump assembly is a child-resistant coupling.

[0037] In an embodiment, the pump assembly further comprises: a pump actuator; and a pump cover to cover the pump actuator.

[0038] In an embodiment, the pump assembly further comprises a chi Id- resistant coupling to releasably couple the cover in an assembled position covering the pump actuator.

[0039] In an embodiment, the coupling between the container body and the pump assembly and the further coupling between the pump assembly and the container comprise a same type or different types of coupling.

[0040] In an embodiment, the further coupling between the pump assembly and the container comprises any one or more of: a friction fit coupling; a deformable coupling; a snap-fit coupling; a threaded coupling; an align-to-turn coupling; a squeeze-to-turn coupling; a push-to-turn coupling; a pull-to-turn coupling; a coupling that requires a plurality of operations to be performed to release the coupling; a coupling that requires a plurality of operations to be performed simultaneously to release the coupling; a coupling that comprises multiple components and requires the multiple components to be cooperatively engaged to release the coupling.

[0041] In an embodiment, the substance comprises a cannabinoid-containing substance.

[0042] A kit in accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure comprises: a collar as disclosed herein and either or both of a pump assembly and a container as disclosed herein.

[0043] Another kit may include a collar as disclosed herein and a cover as disclosed herein for the external part of the pump assembly. Such a kit may further comprise either or both of a pump assembly and a container as disclosed herein.

[0044] A kit may further comprise any one or more other features as disclosed herein.

[0045] According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a method comprises: providing, on a collar, an engagement structure to engage a pump assembly, the pump assembly comprising a pump assembly coupling structure to provide a coupling between the pump assembly and a container from which a substance is to be dispensed by the pump assembly; and providing, on the collar, a collar coupling structure to engage the container and provide a further coupling between the pump assembly and the container.

[0046] In an embodiment, the method further comprises providing the collar. [0047] In an embodiment, providing the engagement structure comprises one or more of: forming the engagement structure on the collar, attaching the engagement structure to the collar, and integrating the engagement structure with the collar.

[0048] In an embodiment, providing the collar coupling structure comprises one or more of: forming the collar coupling structure on the collar, attaching the collar coupling structure to the collar, and integrating the collar coupling structure with the collar.

[0049] In an embodiment, providing the engagement structure, providing the collar coupling structure, and/or one or more further operations provide any one or more other features as disclosed herein.

[0050] A method according to another aspect of the present disclosure comprises: providing, for a container comprising a body defining an interior space to hold a substance, a pump assembly coupling structure to engage a pump assembly and provide a coupling between the container body and the pump assembly, the pump assembly coupling structure being configured to couple the pump assembly to the container in an assembled position in which the pump assembly is in fluid communication with the interior space and operable to dispense the substance from the interior space; and providing, for the container, a collar coupling structure to engage a collar and provide, in an assembled position of the collar in engagement with the pump assembly, a further coupling between the pump assembly and the container.

[0051] In an embodiment, the method further comprises providing the container.

[0052] In an embodiment, providing the pump assembly coupling structure comprises one or more of: forming the pump assembly coupling structure on the container, attaching the pump assembly coupling structure to the container, and integrating the pump assembly coupling structure with the container.

[0053] In an embodiment, providing the collar coupling structure comprises one or more of: forming the collar coupling structure on the container, attaching the collar coupling structure to the container, and integrating the collar coupling structure with the container.

[0054] In an embodiment, providing the pump assembly coupling structure, providing the collar coupling structure, and/or one or more further operations provide any one or more other features as disclosed herein.

[0055] Another method comprises providing a collar as disclosed herein; providing a pump assembly as disclosed herein; and providing a container as disclosed herein.

[0056] In an embodiment, the method further comprises coupling the pump assembly to the container using the pump assembly coupling structure. [0057] In an embodiment, the method further comprises further coupling the pump assembly to the container using the collar.

[0058] Another method comprises: providing a collar as disclosed herein; and providing a cover as disclosed herein, for the external part of the pump assembly.

[0059] In an embodiment, the method further comprises releasably coupling the cover to the collar using the further engagement structure.

[0060] In an embodiment, the method further comprises providing a pump assembly; and providing a container.

[0061] In an embodiment, the method further comprises coupling the pump assembly to the container using the pump assembly coupling structure.

[0062] In an embodiment, the method further comprises further coupling the pump assembly to the container using the collar.

[0063] In an embodiment, one or more of the providing operations and/or one or more further operations provide any one or more other features as disclosed herein.

[0064] Other aspects and features of embodiments of the present disclosure will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0065] For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure, reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0066] Fig. 1 A is an isometric view of an example pump-based dispensing system according to an embodiment;

[0067] Figs. 1B to 1G are right, front, left, rear, top, and bottom plan views, respectively, of the example pump-based dispensing system in Fig. 1A;

[0068] Figs. 2A and 2B are isometric exploded views of the example pump-based dispensing system in Fig. 1A;

[0069] Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the example pump-based dispensing system in Fig. 1A, along line A--A shown in Fig. 1C;

[0070] Figs. 4A to 4G are top isometric, right plan, front plan, left plan, top plan, bottom plan, and bottom isometric views, respectively, of a cover in the example pump-based dispensing system in Fig. 1A;

[0071] Figs. 5A to 5G are top isometric, right plan, front plan, left plan, top plan, bottom plan, and bottom isometric views, respectively, of a pump assembly in the example pump-based dispensing system in Fig. 1A; [0072] Figs. 6A to 6G are top isometric, right plan, front plan, left plan, top plan, bottom plan, and bottom isometric views, respectively, of a collar in the example pump-based dispensing system in Fig. 1A;

[0073] Figs. 7 A to 7G are top isometric, right plan, front plan, left plan, top plan, bottom plan, and bottom isometric views, respectively, of a container neck in the example pump-based dispensing system in Fig. 1A;

[0074] Figs. 8A to 8G are top isometric, right plan, front plan, left plan, top plan, bottom plan, and bottom isometric views, respectively, of a container base in the example pump-based dispensing system in Fig. 1A; [0075] Fig. 9A is an exploded view of a container and a child-resistant collar according to one embodiment;

[0076] Fig. 9B is a bottom view of the child-resistant collar in Fig. 9A;

[0077] Fig. 9C is a cross-sectional view of the child-resistant collar and the container in Fig. 9A, along line B--B in Fig. 9B; [0078] Fig. 10A is an exploded view of a container and a child-resistant collar according to another embodiment;

[0079] Fig. 10B is a bottom view of the child-resistant collar in Fig. 10A;

[0080] Fig. 10C is a cross-sectional view of the child-resistant collar in Fig. 10A, along line C--C in

Fig. 10B; [0081] Fig. 10D is a bottom view of the chi Id- resistant collar in Fig. 10B under compression from its sides;

[0082] Fig. 11A is an exploded view of a container and a child-resistant collar according to yet another embodiment;

[0083] Fig. 11 B is a bottom view of the child-resistant collar in Fig. 11 A; [0084] Fig. 11C is a diagram illustrating a partially assembled view of the child-resistant collar and the container in Fig. 11 A;

[0085] Fig. 11 D is a diagram illustrating an assembled view of the child-resistant collar and the container in Fig. 11A;

[0086] Fig. 12A is an exploded view of a container and a child-resistant collar according to a further embodiment;

[0087] Fig. 12B is a bottom view of the child-resistant collar in Fig. 12A;

[0088] Fig. 12C is a diagram illustrating an assembled view of the child-resistant collar and the container in Fig. 12A; [0089] Fig. 12D is a cross-sectional view of the child-resistant collar and the container in Fig. 12C, along line D--D in Fig. 12C;

[0090] Fig. 12E is another cross-sectional view of the child-resistant collar and the container in Fig. 12A, also along line D-D in Fig. 12C but with a lever in a different position than in Fig. 12C; [0091] Fig. 13A is an exploded view of a container and a child-resistant collar according to another embodiment;

[0092] Fig. 13B is a bottom view of the child-resistant collar in Fig. 13A;

[0093] Fig. 13C is a diagram illustrating an assembled view of the child-resistant collar and the container in Fig. 13A; [0094] Fig. 13D is a cross-sectional view of the child-resistant collar and the container in Fig. 13C, along line E-E in Fig. 13C;

[0095] Fig. 13E is a cross-sectional view of the child-resistant collar and the container in Fig. 13A, along line E-E in Fig. 13C but with a lever in a different position than in Fig. 13C;

[0096] Fig. 14A is an exploded view of a container and a child-resistant collar according to yet another embodiment;

[0097] Fig. 14B is a top view of the container in Fig. 14A;

[0098] Fig. 14C is a bottom view of the chi Id- resistant collar in Fig. 14A;

[0099] Fig. 14D is a diagram illustrating an assembled view of the child-resistant collar and the container in Fig. 14A; and [00100] Fig. 14E is a cross-sectional view of the child-resistant collar and the container in Fig. 14A, along line F-F in Fig. 14D.

[00101] Fig. 15 is a flow diagram illustrating an example method according to a further embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION [00102] For illustrative purposes, specific example embodiments will be explained in greater detail below in conjunction with the figures. It should be appreciated, however, that the present disclosure provides many applicable concepts that can be embodied in any of a wide variety of specific contexts. The specific embodiments discussed are merely illustrative and do not limit the scope of the present disclosure. For example, embodiments could include additional, different, or fewer features than shown in the drawings. The figures are also not necessarily drawn to scale.

[00103] The present disclosure relates, in part, to pump-based dispensing of substances. Pump- based dispensing may be particular suited to liquid, gels, or creams intended for topical application, for example, but again these are illustrative examples and the devices or techniques disclosed herein may be applied to dispensing of other substances. [00104] Although not limited thereto, such substances may be or include active substances such as cannabinoids. However, the devices or techniques described herein could also or instead be used for substances without an active substance. As used herein, the term “cannabinoid” is generally understood to include any chemical compound that acts upon a cannabinoid receptor. Cannabinoids could include endocannabinoids (produced naturally by humans and animals), phytocannabinoids (found in cannabis and some other plants), and synthetic cannabinoids (manufactured artificially). Examples of cannabinoids, including phytocannabinoids and synthetic cannabinoids, can be found in International Publication No. WO 2020/037401 A1, published on February 27, 2020. These examples are illustrative, and the present disclosure is not limited to application in conjunction with these or any other particular cannabinoids.

[00105] A substance for pump-based dispensing may include a cannabinoid in its pure or isolated form or a source material comprising the cannabinoid. Examples of source materials comprising cannabinoids include, but are not limited to, cannabis or hemp plant material (e.g, flowers, seeds, trichomes, and kief), milled cannabis or hemp plant material, extracts obtained from cannabis or hemp plant material (e.g., resins, waxes and concentrates), and distilled extracts or kief. In some embodiments, pure or isolated cannabinoids and/or source materials comprising cannabinoids may be combined with water, lipids, hydrocarbons (e.g., butane), ethanol, acetone, isopropanol, or mixtures thereof.

[00106] In some embodiments, a substance for pump-based dispensing may include products of cannabinoid metabolism, including 11-hydroxy-A9-tetrahydrocannabinol (11-OH-THC) for example. [00107] These examples of cannabinoids and substances are intended solely for illustrative purposes. Other embodiments, which may or may not involve a cannabinoid-containing substance, are also contemplated.

[00108] Cannabinoids can be used for recreational and/or medicinal uses. For example, cannabinoids can be used to achieve a desired effect in a user, such as a psychoactive effect, a physiological effect, or a treatment of a condition. By “psychoactive effect”, it is meant a substantial effect on mood, perception, consciousness, cognition, or behavior of a subject resulting from changes in the normal functioning of the nervous system. By “physiological effect”, it is meant an effect associated with a feeling of physical and/or emotional satisfaction. By “treatment of a condition”, it is meant the treatment or alleviation of a disease or condition by absorption of cannabinoid(s) at sufficient amounts to mediate therapeutic effects. In certain embodiments, the disease or condition is selected from the group consisting of pain, anxiety, an inflammatory disorder, a neurological disorder, a psychiatric disorder, a malignancy, an immune disorder, a metabolic disorder, a nutritional deficiency, an infectious disease, a gastrointestinal disorder, and a cardiovascular disorder. Preferably the disease or condition is pain. In other embodiments, the disease or condition is associated with the feeling of physical and/or emotional satisfaction.

[00109] Some embodiments disclosed herein relate to a four-part pump-based dispensing system design, including a collar, a cover, a pump assembly, and a container such as a bottle. The pump assembly is designed to couple with the container, and the collar is designed to engage both the pump assembly and the container, to provide a secondary coupling between the pump assembly and the container. The collar and the cover are also designed to engage each other. A child-resistant feature may be provided, between the cover and the container via the collar for example.

[00110] This type of pump-based dispensing system design, or others herein, may enable or provide such features as any one or more of the following, for example: inhibiting disassembly of the pump-based dispensing system, restricting access to a substance that is stored inside the container, and restricting access to the pump assembly to dispense the substance from the container.

[00111] A secure mechanism is provided in some embodiments, to provide one or more child- resistant couplings between components for example.

[00112] Embodiments may also or instead expand the available choices of pump assemblies that may be used in a pump-based dispensing system. For example, a collar and a container could be generic or standardized components that can be used with pump assemblies from different suppliers to implement additional features without requiring the pump assembly suppliers to support those features. Child resistance, for example, may be provided by a child-resistant coupling between a collar and a container, without requiring a pump assembly that also provides a child resistance feature. Similarly, a cover may also or instead be configured to engage or otherwise cooperate with a collar and/or a container and thereby be generic to different pump assemblies. The collar, container, and cover in these examples are components that are compatible with different pump assemblies, and may be used to implement features in addition to those that are provided in the pump assemblies. [00113] These and other aspects are described by way of example herein, with reference to the drawings.

[00114] Fig. 1A is an isometric view of an example pump-based dispensing system 100 according to an embodiment, and Figs. 1B to 1G are right, front, left, rear, top, and bottom plan views, respectively, of the example pump-based dispensing system. Designations such as right, left, front, rear, top, and bottom are used herein solely for ease of reference relative to the views shown in the drawings. A pump-based dispensing system or parts thereof may be in different orientations than those referenced herein. For example, the designations used in reference to Figs. 1A to 1G are relative to an orientation as generally shown in Fig. 1A, with the two triangular indicia being the “front” of the example pump-based dispensing system 100. During storage, use, assembly, disassembly, and/or otherwise, the pump-based dispensing system 100 or any one or more of its parts may be oriented differently than shown.

[00115] The example pump-based dispensing system 100 includes a cover 400, a collar 600, and a container that includes a container neck 700 and a container base 800. In Figs. 1A to 1G, the example pump-based dispensing system 100 is shown in an assembled state. Figs. 2A and 2B are isometric exploded views of the example pump-based dispensing system 100, and also illustrate an example pump assembly 500, which is inside the example pump-based dispensing system but is not easily visible in Figs. 1A to 1G. The manner in which the various components of the example pump- based dispensing system 100 engage each other is perhaps most clearly illustrated in Figs. 2A and 2B, and also Fig. 3, which is a cross-sectional view of the example pump-based dispensing system, along line A--A shown in Fig. 1C.

[00116] With reference to Figs. 2A and 2B, a container is formed by snap-fitting the container base 800 and the container neck 700 together. The pump assembly 500 is coupled to the container neck 700 by way of a threaded connection in this example. The collar 600 is installed over the pump assembly 500 and coupled to the container neck 700 by snap-fitting the collar to the container neck. The cover 400 can then be screwed onto the collar 600 to cover the part of the pump assembly 500 that remains outside the container and the collar. In an assembled state, the components of the example pump-based dispensing system 100 are arranged and coupled together as shown in Fig. 3. The operations referenced above, and related features, are associated with one illustrative embodiment, and are described in further detail herein as an example. Other embodiments are also possible.

[00117] Figs. 4A to 4G are top isometric, right plan, front plan, left plan, top plan, bottom plan, and bottom isometric views, respectively, of the cover 400 in the example pump-based dispensing system 100. A cover such as the example cover 400 can also be referred to as a cap or a lid, or by some other name.

[00118] The cover 400 includes a sidewall 402 and an end wall 404 coupled to the sidewall. The sidewall 402 is a cylindrical sidewall in the embodiment shown. Other cover shapes are also possible. Element 406 is an example of an indicium that is provided in some embodiments to provide an indication to a user as to correct positioning of the cover 400 in an assembled state. The cover 400 could be made from one or more materials including metals, plastics, elastomers and ceramics, for example. However, other materials may also or instead be used.

[00119] The indicium 406 may be or include a structural element such as a raised structure that is formed on or otherwise coupled to the sidewall 402 in the example shown. Other forms of indicia may also or instead be used, including one or more markings, one or more recessed structures, one or more embedded structures, and/or one or more labels, for example.

[00120] In the example shown, an inside surface of the sidewall 402 carries threads 408 to couple the cover 400 to the collar 600. The threads 408 may be formed on, integrated with, or otherwise coupled to the inside surface of the sidewall 402, and may be made from the same material(s) as the sidewall 402 or include different material(s).

[00121] Some embodiments provide a security mechanism to restrict access to the pump assembly 500. Figs. 4F and 4G illustrate an example in which a lug, block, or protrusion 410 is arranged relative to each thread 408 to releasably lock the cover 400 in an assembled state. In the example shown, each lug 410 extends axially from each thread 408 and partially along each thread. As discussed in further detail elsewhere herein, the lugs 410 are received in recesses that are provided in threading on the collar 600 to lock the cover 400 in place.

[00122] Turning now to the pump assembly 500, top isometric, right plan, front plan, left plan, top plan, bottom plan, and bottom isometric views of the the pump assembly are shown in Figs. 5A to 5G, respectively. The pump assembly 500 includes an intake 502, a coupling structure 504, a sleeve 506, and a button or plunger 508. The pump assembly and its components are generally cylindrical in the embodiment shown. Other shapes for one or more of the pump assembly components are also possible. The pump assembly could be made from one or more materials including metals, plastics, elastomers and ceramics, for example, but other materials may also or instead be used.

[00123] The pump assembly 500 is coupled to a container, via a threaded connection and by screwing the coupling structure 504 onto the threaded container neck 700 for example, and is operable by depressing the button 508 to dispense a substance from inside the container through the outlet 512. The substance enters the pump assembly 500 through the intake 502 and an opening 530 shown in Figs. 5F and 5G, and is dispensed through the outlet 512 as the button 508 is depressed by a user.

[00124] Other elements of the example pump assembly 500 include a sleeve 532 into which the inlet 502 is received. This sleeve 532 may be coupled to or part of the coupling structure 504, and/or coupled to or part of the sleeve 506. Element 534 in Fig. 5F represents a flange or other structure, which may be coupled to or part of the sleeve 506 and/or the sleeve 532. This element 534 is configured to be engaged by a flange 520 of the coupling structure 504 in the example shown, to hold the sleeves 506, 532 and other components of the pump assembly 500 in place at least in an assembled state when the pump assembly is coupled to a container. The element 534 may also or instead retain the coupling structure 504 on the remainder of the pump assembly 500 even when the pump assembly is not coupled to a container, so that the coupling structure does not separate from the remainder of the pump assembly.

[00125] The present disclosure is not limited to any particular type of pump assembly, and the pump assembly 500 is just one example. Features disclosed herein may be applied to any of various types of pump assemblies, including but not in any way limited to the example pump assembly 500. [00126] Figs. 6A to 6G are top isometric, right plan, front plan, left plan, top plan, bottom plan, and bottom isometric views, respectively, of an example collar 600 in the example pump-based dispensing system 100. The collar 600 is generally cylindrical in shape, but as noted for other components this shape is just an example. Other shapes are possible.

[00127] In the example shown, the collar 600 includes sidewalls 602, 604, 606. The collar 600 could be made from one or more materials including metals, plastics, elastomers and ceramics, for example. However, other materials may also or instead be used.

[00128] Various examples of collar features or structures that may be provided in some embodiments are also shown in Figs. 6A to 6G.

[00129] Element 610 on sidewall 602 is an example of an indicium to provide an indication to a user as to correct positioning of the cover 400 in an assembled state. The indicium 606 may be or include a structural element such as a raised structure that is formed on or otherwise coupled to the sidewall 602 in the example shown, one or more markings, one or more recessed structures, one or more embedded structures, and/or one or more labels, for example.

[00130] A top or end surface 618 of the sidewall 602, which may instead be a step, flange, or transition between the sidewalls 602 and 604, is an example of a structure to engage part of a cover, such as a lower edge or surface of the cover 400, so as to limit axial movement of the cover over the collar 600.

[00131] Element 616 at a lower part of the sidewall 604 is a flared portion of the sidewall that flares outwardly along an axial direction, from top to bottom in the views shown in Figs. 6B to 6D. This element 616 is an example of a structure to exert an axial force on a cover, to bias the cover in an axial direction away from the collar 600. Four such elements are labelled in Fig. 6E. This is part of a security mechanism that also includes the threading 612 and the recess 614 of the sidewall 604. As shown in Figs. 4F and 4G, the example cover 400 includes threads 408 and lugs 410, and in use the cover 400 is placed over the collar 600 and turned so that the threads 408 engage the threading 612. To fully assemble the cover 400 with the collar 600, the cover is turned until the cover and collar indicia 406, 610 align. At that point, the lugs 410 are received in the recesses 614, and the flared portion 616 biases the cover 400 in a direction to maintain the lugs in the recesses and inhibit removal of the cover. To remove the cover 400 from the collar 600 and access the pump assembly 500 when the pump-based dispensing system 100 is fully assembled, the cover must be displaced axially toward the collar by overcoming the axial component of force applied to the inside surface of the cover sidewall 402 by the flared portion 616. Sufficient displacement of the cover 400 releases the lugs 410 from the recesses 612 so that the cover can then be unscrewed and decoupled from the collar to access the pump assembly 500.

[00132] A top or end surface 620 of the sidewall 604, which may instead be a step, flange, or transition between the sidewalls 604 and 606, is an example of a structure to engage part of a pump assembly, such as an upper edge or surface of the pump assembly coupling structure 504. This is an example of how a collar may engage a pump assembly to further secure the pump assembly to a container when the collar is coupled to the container.

[00133] Element 622 at the top end of the sidewall 606, which may also be considered a form of step or flange, is another example of a structure to engage part of a pump assembly. For example, element 622 may engage a top edge or surface of the pump assembly sleeve 506. As perhaps most clearly shown in Fig. 3, the example collar 600 includes two radial surfaces to engage parts of the pump assembly 500. These radial surfaces include elements 620 and 622 in Figs. 6A to 6E.

[00134] With reference now to Figs. 6F and 6G, additional features 630 and 632 are shown. Element 630, three of which are shown in Fig. 6F by way of example, are lugs, blocks, or protrusions for snap-fitting the example collar 600 to the container neck 700. The inner flange, edge or surface 632 is illustrative of a structure to engage part of the container neck 700 to limit axial movement of the collar 600 over the container neck.

[00135] The example pump-based dispensing system 100 includes a multi-part container, but embodiments of the present disclosure are not in any way limited to such containers. Features disclosed herein with reference to a container neck and/or a container base may be implemented in conjunction with other types of containers that include more or fewer parts. [00136] Figs. 7 A to 7G are top isometric, right plan, front plan, left plan, top plan, bottom plan, and bottom isometric views, respectively, of a container neck 700 in the example pump-based dispensing system 100. The container neck 700 is generally cylindrical in shape, but other shapes are possible. [00137] In the example shown, the container neck 700 includes sidewalls 702, 704, 706, 708, 710. The container neck 700 could be made from one or more materials including metals, plastics, elastomers and ceramics, for example. It should be noted that these are examples, and other materials may also or instead be used.

[00138] Element 720 on sidewall 702 is a lug, block, or protrusion, two of which are shown, for snap-fitting the container neck 700 and the container base 800 together. Element 722 is a chamfered surface or transition between the sidewalls 702 and 704, to facilitate axial movement of a sidewall of the container base 800 axially along the container neck 700, or equivalently to facilitate insertion of the container neck into the container base. In the embodiment, shown, sidewalls of the container neck 700 and the container base 800 partially overlap, as shown perhaps most clearly in Fig. 3. This may have such benefits as improving a friction fit coupling and/or a seal between the container neck 700 and the container base 800.

[00139] A bottom surface 724 of the sidewall 706, which may instead be a step, flange, or transition between the sidewalls 702 and 704, is an example of a structure to engage part of the container base 800, such as an upper edge or surface of the container base, so as to limit axial movement of the container base over the container neck 700, or equivalently to limit insertion of the container neck into the container base.

[00140] A top surface 726 of the sidewall 706, which may instead be a step, flange, or transition between the sidewalls 706 and 708, is an example of a structure to engage part of the collar 600, such as a lower edge or surface of the collar sidewall 602, so as to limit axial movement of the collar over the container neck 700, or equivalently to limit insertion of the container neck into the collar.

[00141] Element 734 in the sidewall 706 is a recess, three of which are shown, to receive cooperating structures 630 on an inside surface of the collar 600, and snap-fit the container neck 700 and the collar together. One or more indicia may be provided on the container neck 700 and/or the collar 600 to indicate proper alignment for the structures 630 to be received into the recesses 734. [00142] Threading 736 is formed in or otherwise coupled to the sidewall 710, to cooperate with threading inside the pump assembly coupling structure 504 and thereby couple the pump assembly 500 to the container neck 700.

[00143] A top or end surface 732 of the sidewall 710, which may instead be a step, flange, or transition between the sidewalls 708 and 710, is an example of a structure to engage part of a pump assembly, such as a lower edge or surface of the pump assembly coupling structure 504. This is an example of how a container neck may engage a pump assembly to limit how far a pump assembly part may be moved over the container neck and/or inhibit over-tightening of a threaded pump assembly coupling structure.

[00144] The edge 730 is labelled in Figs. 7 A to 7D to illustrate that edges may be chamfered as shown, rounded, or otherwise softened. This applies not only to the edge 730, but also to other edges, which may also or instead be chamfered, rounded or otherwise softened.

[00145] The final component of the example pump-based dispensing system 100 is the container base 800, for which Figs. 8A to 8G illustrate top isometric, right plan, front plan, left plan, top plan, bottom plan, and bottom isometric views, respectively. A container base such as the example container base 800 can also be referred to as a bottom cover or cup, or by some other name. [00146] The container base 800 includes a sidewall 802 and an end wall 804 coupled to the sidewall. The sidewall 802 is a cylindrical sidewall in the embodiment shown. Other cover shapes are also possible. The sidewall 802 has different thicknesses at 810, 814, and a transition 812 therebetween. Element 818 is an annular groove or channel that extends at least partially around the inner surface of the sidewall 802. A single annular groove that extends fully around the inner surface of the sidewall 802, or one or more grooves that extend partially inner surface of the sidewall 802, may be provided.

[00147] The container base 800 could be made from one or more materials including metals, plastics, elastomers and ceramics, for example. However, other materials may also or instead be used.

[00148] The inner profile of the sidewall 802 is complementary to the outer profile of the sidewalls 702, 704 of the example container neck 700 in the example shown. The annular groove(s) 818 are configured to receive the lug(s) 720 for snap-fitting the container neck 700 and the container base 800 together. The number of lugs 720 need not necessarily match the number of annular grooves 818.

For example, a single annular groove 818 that extends at least partially around the inner surface of the sidewall 802 may receive multiple lugs 720. In another embodiment there are fewer lugs 720 than grooves 818, and as such not every groove in a multiple-groove embodiment need necessarily receive a lug. Thus, the number of lugs 720 and the number of annular grooves 818 may be the same or different.

[00149] One or more indicia may be provided on the container neck 700 and/or the container base 800 to indicate proper alignment for the lug(s) 720 to be received into the annular groove(s) 818. No such indicia may be provided, for example, in the case of a single annular groove 818 that extends entirely around the inner surface of the sidewall 802, because in such an embodiment it is only relative axial position and not relative radial position that is important to aligning the lug(s) 720 to be received in the groove.

[00150] The element 812, like the element 722, is a chamfered surface or transition. The chamfered shape of the element 812 facilitates axial movement of the sidewall 702 of the container neck 700 axially along the container base 800, or equivalently facilitates insertion of the container neck into the container base. The sidewall 802 of the container base 800 and the sidewalls of the container neck 700 overlap, as shown perhaps most clearly in Fig. 3. As noted above, this may have such benefits as improving a friction fit coupling and/or a seal between the container neck 700 and the container base 800.

[00151] The top surface or end 816 of the sidewall 802 is an example of a structure to engage part of the container neck 700, such as the surface 724 of the sidewall 706 of the container neck 700, so as to limit axial movement of the container base 800 over the container neck, or equivalently to limit insertion of the container neck into the container base. Such axial movement or insertion may also or instead be limited by a bottom of the sidewall 702 of the container neck 700 contacting the end wall 804 of the container base 800.

[00152] Element 820 is an air intake for an airless piston, and relates to a particular type of pump assembly and container. For an airless pump assembly and container, operation of the pump assembly creates suction inside the container and the piston moves upwards. The air intake 820 permits air into the container, to compensate the internal pressure. This is commonly called an airless system in pump bottles. It should be appreciated, however, that the present disclosure is not in any way limited to such systems, and embodiments may be applied to other types of pump assemblies and/or containers, such as dip tube pump systems with containers that do not include an air intake. [00153] The example pump-based dispensing system 100 has been described in detail above with reference to the drawings, and is useful for illustrating various aspects of the present disclosure. [00154] For example, a collar may be a central component of some embodiments. In general, a collar may include a structure to engage a pump assembly and a structure to engage a container. The structure to engage the pump assembly is also referred to herein as an engagement structure. The structure to engage the container is also referred to herein as a collar coupling structure. The terms “engage” and “couple”, and similar terms, are intended to be general terms herein. The term “engage” and similar terms are intended to encompass such concepts as abut, contact, and/or touch, for example. The term “couple” and similar terms are intended to encompass such concepts as attach, mount, fasten, retain, and/or secure, for example.

[00155] An engagement structure is configured to engage a pump assembly, and the structures 620, 622 of the example collar 600 described above are examples of such an engagement structure. The pump assembly itself includes a pump assembly coupling structure, such as the structure 504 of the example pump assembly 500 described above, to provide a coupling between the pump assembly and a container from which a substance is to be dispensed by the pump assembly. A coupling between components may also or instead be referred to as an attachment, mount, or fastening, for example.

[00156] Elements 630 represent an example of a collar coupling structure to engage the container, and provide a further coupling, which is a child-resistant further coupling in this example, between the pump assembly and the container. The pump assembly itself includes a pump assembly coupling structure to provide a coupling between the pump assembly and the container as noted above, and therefore in this sense the coupling that is provided by the collar is a further coupling between the pump assembly and the container. Such a further coupling may also or instead be referred to as a supplemental, additional, secondary, or auxiliary coupling, for example.

[00157] A collar may be considered a form of sleeve that is configured to receive a part of the pump assembly, with the engagement structure and the collar coupling structure being part of or otherwise coupled to the sleeve. The collar 600 is an example of a collar that is or includes a generally cylindrical sleeve and is configured for axial alignment with a pump assembly, with the engagement structure 620 and/or 622 extending radially from a wall of the collar toward an axis of the collar.

Collars with other shapes may similarly be considered forms of sleeves for receiving part of a pump assembly.

[00158] Elements 620, 622 are illustrative examples of engagement structures in the form of flanges, but other forms are also possible. For example, an engagement structure need not necessarily be a continuous flange, and could instead be or include one or more lugs or other structures extending radially from a collar sidewall or surface.

[00159] In some embodiments, including the example collar 600, the engagement structure is configured to engage the pump assembly coupling structure, shown by way of example at 504 for the example pump assembly 500. The collar may be configured to, in an assembled position with the engagement structure engaging the pump assembly coupling structure and the collar coupling structure engaging the container, provide any of various features. For example, the collar may be configured to provide any one or more of the following features: restrict access to the pump assembly coupling structure, restrict operation of the pump assembly coupling structure, or restrict both access to and operation of the pump assembly coupling structure.

[00160] The example collar 600 is illustrative of a collar that includes a first end and a second end opposite the first end, with an engagement structure 622 proximate the first end of the collar and the collar coupling structure 630 on the sidewall 602 proximate the second end of the collar. Again, this is just an example, and other arrangements are possible.

[00161] Some embodiments include a cover for an external part of the pump assembly that is configured to remain outside the container, and for such embodiments the collar may include a further engagement structure to engage the cover. The threading 612 in the sidewall 604 of the example collar 600 is an example of such a further engagement structure. The further engagement structure may be configured to provide a child-resistant coupling between the collar and the cover, and the flared portion 616 and the recesses 614 are an illustrative example of a further engagement structure to provide such a child-resistant coupling.

[00162] The example collar 600 illustrates an embodiment in which the further engagement structure to engage the cover (612, and optionally 614, 616) and at least one of a collar coupling structure (602, 630) and an engagement structure to engage the pump assembly (an inside surface of 620 and/or 622) are provided on opposite surfaces of the collar. In the illustrated embodiment, at least one of the collar coupling structure and the engagement structure is provided in an interior space defined by the collar 600, and the further engagement structure is provided outside the interior space. [00163] A pump assembly may be intended to be non-removable from the container in some embodiments, and in other embodiments the coupling between the pump assembly and the container is or includes a releasable coupling. The releasable coupling between the pump assembly and the container may itself be or include a child-resistant coupling. Thus a collar may be used with a pump assembly that is configured for a non-releasable, releasable, or child-resistant coupling with a container.

[00164] A collar may be used in conjunction with a pump assembly that also or instead includes other features. A pump assembly may include a pump actuator, as shown by way of example at 508, and a pump cover to cover the pump actuator. Such a pump assembly may also provide a child- resistant coupling to releasably couple the cover in an assembled position covering the pump actuator. If the pump assembly has its own cover, then a collar without a cover could potentially be used with that pump assembly. A cover that couples to the collar could be used even with a pump assembly that has its own cover, to add or supplement child resistance for access to the pump actuator for example.

[00165] Embodiments disclosed herein also encompass containers that include structures to provide or enable multiple couplings. For example, such a container may include a container body defining an interior space to hold a substance. The container body may have multiple parts, as in the case of a container that includes the example container neck 700 and the example container base 800. These components, when assembled together, form a container body that defines an interior space. This is one example, but the present disclosure is not in any way limited to multi-component containers.

[00166] A container according to an aspect of the present disclosure may also include a pump assembly coupling structure, such as the threading 736 for example, to engage a pump assembly and provide a coupling, which is releasable in some embodiments, between the container body and the pump assembly. The pump assembly coupling structure is configured to couple, releasably in some embodiments, the pump assembly to the container in an assembled position. In the assembled position, the pump assembly is in fluid communication with the interior space of the container and is operable to dispense the substance from the interior space.

[00167] A container may also include a collar coupling structure to engage a collar and provide, in an assembled position of the collar in engagement with the pump assembly, a further coupling, which may be a child-resistant further coupling in some embodiments, between the pump assembly and the container. The further coupling between the pump assembly and the container is a releasable coupling in some embodiments. A collar coupling structure is shown by way of example as recesses 734 in sidewall 708 of the example container neck 700.

[00168] The pump assembly coupling structure and the collar coupling structure may be concentric, or even symmetric, about a discharge opening through which the substance is dispensable from the interior space by the pump assembly. Such features are consistent with the example container neck 700, in which the discharge opening is at the top of the container neck.

[00169] Some containers include a neck coupled to the container body as in the example container neck 700, with the neck defining the discharge opening. The pump assembly coupling structure, the collar coupling structure, or both the pump assembly coupling structure and the collar coupling structure may be part of or otherwise coupled to the neck. This is also consistent with the example container neck 700. Other embodiments are also possible. For example, one of the pump assembly coupling structure and the collar coupling structure may be part of or otherwise coupled to the neck, with the other of the pump assembly coupling structure and the collar coupling structure being part of or otherwise coupled to the container body.

[00170] Containers as disclosed herein may be used with any of various types of collars, pump assemblies, and/or covers. For example, collars, pump assemblies, and/or covers having other features as disclosed elsewhere herein may be used in conjunction with such containers, to provide any of various features, such as any of various types of couplings, that are disclosed elsewhere herein.

[00171] Components of a pump-based dispensing system may be provided, manufactured, distributed, and/or sold together, in an assembled or disassembled state, or separately. For example, a combination or kit may include a collar and either or both of a pump assembly and a container. A combination or kit may also or instead include a collar and a cover for the external part of the pump assembly. These components, regardless of whether they are provided, manufactured, distributed, and/or sold together or separately, may include any one or more of the features disclosed elsewhere herein.

[00172] A primary coupling between a pump assembly and a container may be or include a releasable coupling a non-releasable coupling. Similarly, a supplemental or further coupling between the pump assembly and the container, provided by a collar, may be or include a releasable coupling or a non-releasable coupling, and is child-resistant in some embodiments. Although child resistance might be seen as being more desirable for or applicable to a releasable coupling, even a non- releasable coupling may be considered as providing a form or degree of child resistance. A non- releasable coupling is by its very nature intended to impede or inhibit release, and accordingly a measure of child resistance is provided by such a coupling.

[00173] Embodiments may include several couplings between components, and those couplings may be of the same or different types. For example, the coupling between a pump assembly and a container may be of the same type as a further coupling provided by a collar, or these two couplings may be different types of coupling. Some embodiments include a releasable cover coupling between the collar and a cover, and in such embodiments the releasable cover coupling may be of the same type as one or more of the other couplings, or a different type of coupling. In the example pump- based dispensing system 100, for example, the coupling between the cover 400 and the collar 600 and the primary coupling between the pump assembly 500 and the container neck 700 are threaded couplings, whereas the further coupling that is provided by the collar between the pump assembly includes a different type of coupling.

[00174] Illustrative examples of couplings include the following, and any of the couplings referenced herein may be or include any one or more of these examples: a friction fit coupling; a deformable coupling; a snap-fit coupling; a threaded coupling; a push-to-turn coupling; a pull-to-turn coupling; a squeeze-to-turn coupling; a coupling that requires multiple operations to be performed to release the coupling; a coupling that requires multiple operations to be performed simultaneously to release the coupling; a coupling that includes multiple components and requires the multiple components to be cooperatively engaged to release the coupling.

[00175] In a friction fit coupling, components or parts thereof are brought into contact with each other, and friction between the components or parts that are in contact holds the components in an assembled state. Applying a force sufficient to overcoming static friction between those components or parts allows separation of those components. An example of a friction fit coupling is a modified coupling between the example container neck 700 and the example container base 800, but without the elements 720, 818. A friction fit coupling could be used between these components and/or others in a pump-based dispensing system. In some embodiments, the force required to release a friction fit coupling provides a measure of child resistance.

[00176] A deformable coupling involves deformation, and typically reversible deformation, of one or more components. As an example, as the collar 600 is being assembled with or disassembled from the container neck 700, the lugs 630, the sidewall 602, and/or the sidewall 708 are elastically deformed at least as the lugs 630 are in contact with the sidewall 708 and are being moved toward or away from the recesses 734 but are outside of those recesses. Assembly or disassembly of the collar 600 and the container neck 700 requires application of a force sufficient to deform the lugs 630, the sidewall 602, and/or the sidewall 708 to move the lugs into or out of the recesses 734 and along the sidewall 708. A deformable coupling could be used between a collar and a container as shown, and/or between other components in a pump-based dispensing system. Child resistance is provided in some embodiments by the force required to deform one or more components to release the coupling.

[00177] This type of coupling is also an example of a snap-fit coupling, in that the lugs 630 snap into the recesses 734 when the collar 600 is assembled with the container neck 700. A deformable snap-fit coupling is also provided between the example container neck 700 and the example container base 800, by the structures 720, 818. Again, although this type of coupling is shown between particular components in the example pump-based dispensing system 100, such a coupling could also or instead be used between other components in a pump-based dispensing system. In some embodiments, child resistance is provided by the force required to “un-snap” or decouple a snap-fit coupling.

[00178] A threaded coupling is shown by way of example for two of the couplings in the example pump-based dispensing system 100. The threaded coupling between the cover 400 and the collar 600 also provides a child resistance feature. Like other types of coupling, a threaded coupling may also or instead be provided between other components.

[00179] Fig. 9A is an exploded view of a container 900 and a child-resistant collar 910 according to one embodiment of an align-to-turn coupling. The container 900 and the child-resistant collar 910 are generally, at least in part, cylindrical in shape. The container 900 and the child-resistant collar 910 are viewed from the side in Fig. 9A. The container 900 includes an outer sidewall surface 902, a top 904, and an annular protrusion or flange 906, which forms a notch or gap 908 or has the notch or gap formed therein. The annular protrusion 906 wraps around the outer sidewall surface 902 of the container 900, proximate to the top 904. An indicator 926 marks the position of the notch on the circumference of the container 900. An indicator could include, for example, printed matter, protrusions, or any other form of marking.

[00180] The child-resistant collar 910 includes an outer sidewall surface 912, an upper end wall or flange 922, and an indicator 928. The flange 922 is configured to engage part of a pump assembly, which is not shown in Figs. 9A to 9C in order to avoid further congestion in the drawings. The indicator 928 marks the position of a tab 916 (shown in Fig. 9B) on the circumference of the child- resistant collar 910.

[00181] Fig. 9B is a bottom view of the child-resistant collar 910, and illustrates the flange 922, an outer sidewall surface 912, an inner sidewall surface 914, the tab 916, and protrusions 918 and 920. The tab 916 is similar to but smaller than the protrusions 918 and 920 in some embodiments. The tab 916 and the protrusions 918 and 920 extend radially inwards from the inner sidewall surface 912. [00182] The annular protrusion 906, the tab 916 and the protrusions 918 and 920 may be considered another form of a snap-fit coupling. When the child-resistant collar 910 is pressed onto the top 904 of the container 900, the tab 916 and the protrusions 918 and 920 may engage with the bottom surface of the annular protrusion 906, such that the annular protrusion sits between the tab, the protrusions and the flange 922. This engagement inhibits release of the child-resistant collar 910 from the container 900, while permitting the child-resistant collar to rotate relative to the container. Fig. 9C is a cross-sectional view of the child-resistant collar 910 and the container 900. Fig. 9C illustrates a cross-section taken along a line labelled as “B-B” in Fig. 9B. The top surface of the annular protrusion 906, the bottom surface of the tab 916 and/or the bottom surfaces of the protrusions 918 and 920 may be tapered (not shown) to enable a user to more easily engage the child-resistant collar 910 with the container 900.

[00183] To release the child-resistant collar 910 from the container 900, the child-resistant collar may be rotated to align the tab 916 with the notch 908 using the indicators 926 and 928. The notch 908 is wide enough to accommodate the tab 916. Pushing or pulling the portion of the child-resistant collar 910 that corresponds to the location of the tab 916 will allow the tab to pass through the notch 908, disengaging this portion of the child-resistant collar 910. The protrusions 918 and 920 may be disengaged from the annular protrusion 906 once the tab 916 is disengaged from the annular protrusion. This type of method or mechanism for releasing the child-resistant collar 910 from the container 900 is referred to herein as align-to-lift or align-to-remove method or mechanism. During installation and/or removal of the child-resistant collar 910, the collar or one or more parts thereof may be deformed, and therefore the example coupling shown in Figs. 9A to 9C may also be illustrative of another example of a deformable coupling.

[00184] The container 900 and the child-resistant collar 910 described with reference to Figs. 9A- 9C could be made, wholly or in part, from flexible materials such as plastics or elastomers. Flexible materials may require less force to manipulate or deform during installation or removal of the child- resistant collar 910.

[00185] In order to avoid congestion in the drawings, a pump assembly is not shown in Figs. 9A to 9C. For completeness, it is noted that the flange 922 is configured to engage part of a pump assembly, to provide a further coupling between the pump assembly and the container 900. With reference to Fig. 9C, for example, part of the pump assembly would be accommodated within the space inside the child-resistant collar 910 and coupled to the container 900 by the collar.

[00186] The example coupling shown in Figs. 9A to 9C is between a collar and a container. Like other types of coupling, this example may also or instead be provided between other components, such as between a cover and a collar, and/or between a pump assembly coupling structure and a container.

[00187] A squeeze-to-turn coupling is another type of coupling that may also or instead be provided. Referring to Fig. 10A, an exploded view of a container 1000 and a child-resistant collar 1010 according to one embodiment is shown. The container 1000 and the child-resistant collar 1010 are generally, at least in part, cylindrical in shape. The container 1000 and the child-resistant collar 1010 are viewed from the side in Fig. 10A. The container 1000 includes a sidewall 1002, a top 1004, an annular protrusion 1006, and a notch 1008, similar to the container 900 described above with reference to Figs. 9A to 9C. The annular protrusion 1006 wraps around the outer surface of the sidewall 1002 of the container 1000, proximate to the top 1004. The notch 1008 is formed in the annular protrusion 1006.

[00188] Fig. 10B is a bottom view of the child-resistant collar 1010. The child-resistant collar 1010 includes an outer sidewall 1012 and a tab 1014, and an inner sidewall 1016. The inner sidewall 1016 comprises threads 1018 (illustrated as dashed lines) that extend radially inwards. The threads 1018 engage with threads on the outer surface of the container 1000, shown as dashed lines proximate the top 1004, to couple the collar 1010 with the container 1000. A flange 1020 is coupled to the sidewalls 1012 and 1016, and is configured to engage part of a pump assembly (not shown).

[00189] Fig. 10C is a cross-sectional view of the child-resistant collar 1010. The cross-section in Fig. 10C is taken along a line labelled as “C--C" in Fig. 10B. Fig. 10C includes a threaded engagement or connection 1028 (illustrated as double dashed lines), which represents the threads 1018 being screwed onto and engaged with the threads on the outer surface of the container 1000. In an assembled state, part of the pump assembly is accommodated within an interior space inside the child-resistant collar 1010 and coupled to the container 1000.

[00190] The tab 1014 is accommodated by the notch 1008 when in the engaged or connected state illustrated in Fig. 10C. The engagement between the tab 1014 and the notch 1008 prevents a user from turning the child-resistant collar 1010 relative to the container 1000 to loosen or tighten the threaded engagement or connection 1028. In order to disengage the tab 1014 and the notch 1008, a squeeze-to-turn mechanism is provided. The outer portion of the child-resistant collar 1010 (e.g., the outer sidewall 1012) is made from or at least includes a flexible material that can be deformed by a user compressing the sides of the child-resistant collar, to disengage the tab 1014 from the notch 1008 and permit a user to unscrew the child-resistant collar from the container 1000.

[00191] Fig. 10D is a bottom view of the chi Id- resistant collar 1010 illustrating an example of the child-resistant collar being compressed from the sides. In Fig. 10D, the child-resistant collar 1010, which is viewed from the bottom, is compressed at points 1030 and 1032. The compression deforms the child-resistant collar 1010, moving the sides of the child-resistant collar that correspond to the points 1030 and 1032 closer to the axial center of the child-resistant collar. The compression also moves the tab 1014 further away from the axial center of the child-resistant collar 1010. The tab 1014 disengages from the notch 1008 due to the deformation of the child-resistant collar 1010, permitting a user to turn the child-resistant collar relative to the container 1000. The child-resistant collar 1010 can then be unscrewed from the container 1000. This type of method or mechanism for releasing a child- resistant collar from a container is referred to herein as a squeeze-to-turn method or mechanism, but is also illustrative of further examples of a threaded coupling and a deformable coupling.

[00192] In Fig. 10D, the sidewall 1016 is not substantially deformed by the compression at the points 1030 and 1032. In some implementations, this could be achieved by forming the sidewall 1016 from a rigid material, different from the material used for the sidewall 1012. In other implementations, this could be achieved by mechanically isolating the sidewall 1016 from compression at the points 1030 and 1032, by spacing them apart as shown. The sidewall 1016 could be formed from the same material as the sidewall 1012, but be thicker to provide more rigidity. In some embodiments, there might be no special configuration of the sidewall 1016 relative to the sidewall 1012, because the container 1000 and/or the threaded connection between the sidewall 1016 and the container could prevent deformation of the sidewall 1016 during removal of the collar 1010.

[00193] Deforming the chi Id- resistant collar 1010 could also or instead allow a user to screw the child-resistant collar 1010 onto the container 1000. When tightening the threaded engagement 1028, the tab 1014 could abut against the top of the annular protrusion 1006, inhibiting the child-resistant collar 1010 from being tightened onto the container 1000. When the sides of the chi Id- resistant collar 1010 are deformed as illustrated in Fig. 10D, the tab 1014 may extend radially beyond the annular protrusion 1006, permitting the child-resistant collar 1010 to be tightened onto the container 1000. [00194] The container 1000 and the child-resistant collar 1010 described with reference to Figs. 10A-10D could be made, wholly or in part, from flexible materials such as plastics or elastomers. Flexible materials may require less force to manipulate or deform during squeezing. In some implementations, only a resilient member on the child-resistant collar 1010 is deformed due to a compression at the points 1030 and 1032. The remainder of the child-resistant collar 1010 could be substantially unaffected by the compression. In these embodiments, a tab, such as the tab 1014, may be implemented on the resilient member.

[00195] Although only one tab and one notch are illustrated in Figs. 10A to 10D, some embodiments include multiple tabs and multiple notches implemented on a child-resistant collar and a container. In these embodiments, the engagement between the child-resistant collar and the container could involve the multiple tabs being engaged with respective notches. In further embodiments, one or more tabs are implemented on a container, and one or more notches within an annular protrusion are implemented on a child-resistant collar.

[00196] Like other examples, the coupling in Figs. 10A to 10D is shown between a collar and a container, but may also or instead be provided between other components.

[00197] The threaded connection between the example cover 400 and the example collar 600 illustrates one form of a push-to-turn coupling. Release of this coupling and removal of the cover 400 from an assembled state with the collar 600 involves moving the cover axially toward the collar to release the lugs 410 from the recesses 614 so that the cover can be turned in a direction to unscrew the cover from the collar.

[00198] Other forms of push-to-turn couplings are also possible. Consider, for example, Figs. 11A- 11D. Referring to Fig. 11 A, this drawing shows an exploded view of a container 1100 and a child- resistant collar 1120 according to another embodiment. The container 1100 and the child-resistant collar 1120 are generally, at least in part, cylindrical in shape. The container 1100 and the child- resistant collar 1120 are viewed from the side in Fig. 11A. The container 1100 includes a sidewall 1102, a top 1104 and a protrusion 1106. The protrusion 1106 extends radially outwards from the sidewall 1102, and includes a slanted edge 1108, an axial or vertical edge 1110, and a notch 1112. [00199] In Fig. 11 A, the child-resistant collar 1120 includes a sidewall 1124 and a flange 1122 to engage part of a pump assembly. Fig. 11B is a bottom view of the child-resistant collar 1120, which illustrates the sidewall 1124, a tab 1126, a bottom surface of the flange 1122, and an inner surface 1130 of the sidewall 1124. The tab 1126 extends radially inwards from the inner surface 1130 of the sidewall 1124.

[00200] Fig. 11C is a diagram illustrating a partially assembled view of the child-resistant collar 1120 and the container 1100, but with the collar and container in a disengaged state. The child- resistant collar 1120 is shown with dashed lines in Fig. 11C for the purpose of illustrating internal features.

[00201] In Fig. 11 C, the child-resistant collar 1120 and the container 1100 are assembled together but are not yet fully engaged or connected. To engage or connect the child-resistant collar 1120 and the container 1100, the child-resistant collar could be pushed and/or rotated relative to the container such that the tab 1126 abuts against the slanted edge 1108 of the protrusion 1106. During the rotation, the tab 1126 could slide along the slanted edge 1108 and engage with the notch 1112. [00202] Fig. 11 D is a diagram illustrating an assembled view of the child-resistant collar 1120 and the container 1100. In order to avoid congestion in the drawing, no pump assembly is shown in Fig.

11D. Part of the pump assembly would be engaged by the lower surface 1128 of the flange 1122 when a pump-based dispensing system is fully assembled. [00203] Any of various options are possible for biasing the child-resistant collar 1120 away from the container 1100, to thereby bias the tab 1126 toward engagement with the notch 1112 and inhibit removal of the collar from the container. For example, the flange 1122 may be made from a reversibly deformable material that is deformed and maintains such a bias when a pump-based dispensing system is assembled. One or more compressible members such as an O-ring or one or more spring members may also or instead be coupled to the flange 1122, the inner surface 1130, and/or a bottom edge of the sidewall 1124, to bear against a part of the pump assembly, the top 1104 of the sidewall 1102, and/or another structure of the container 1100.

[00204] The engagement between the tab 1126 and the notch 1112, regardless of the specific manner in which a bias is created or maintained, inhibits the release of the child-resistant collar 1120 from the containerl 100, and further inhibits a rotation of the child-resistant collar relative to the container. In order to release the tab 1126 from the notch 1112, a user could press down on the child- resistant collar 1120 to overcome the bias and disengage the tab 1126 from the notch 1112. The user could then rotate the chi Id- resistant collar 1120 relative to the container 1100 to return the child- resistant collar to the disengaged state illustrated in Fig. 11C. In this sense, the coupling between the child-resistant collar 1120 and the container 1100 could be considered a push-to-turn coupling.

[00205] A squeeze-to-turn mechanism could also be implemented in the engagement between the child-resistant collar 1120 and the container 1100 to provide child resistance. Referring to Fig. 11 D, the child-resistant collar 1120 could be released from the container 1100 by compressing the sides of the child-resistant collar to disengage the tab 1126 from the notch 1112. The sidewall 1124 of the child-resistant collar 1120 may be compressed in a similar manner to that illustrated for the child- resistant collar 1010 in Fig. 10D. During the compression, the child-resistant collar 1120 may become deformed, moving the tab 1126 further away from the axial center of the child-resistant collar and disengaging the tab from the notch 1112. The user may then rotate the chi Id- resistant collar 1120 relative to the container 1100 to return the child-resistant collar to the position illustrated in Fig. 11C. This type of method or mechanism of releasing the chi Id- resistant collar 1120 from the container 1100 is another example of a deformable coupling and/or a squeeze-to-turn coupling.

[00206] Although only one tab and one protrusion are illustrated in Figs. 11 A to 11 D, some embodiments include multiple tabs and multiple protrusions implemented on a child-resistant collar and a container. A fixed spacing could be used between the multiple tabs, with the same fixed spacing between the multiple protrusions. In these embodiments, the engagement between the child- resistant collar and the container could involve the multiple tabs being engaged with respective notches of the multiple protrusions. In further embodiments, one or more tabs are implemented on a container, and one or more protrusions are implemented on a child-resistant collar. Tabs and notches with different shapes and configurations are also contemplated.

[00207] The container 1100 and the child-resistant collar 1120 described above with reference to Figs. 11A to 11D could be made, wholly or in part, from a flexible material such as plastics or elastomers. The container 1100 and the child-resistant collar 1120 could also include other forms of coupling, such as a threaded coupling, releasably held against unscrewing by one or more tabs and one or more protrusions.

[00208] A coupling as illustrated in Figs. 11 A to 11 D is not restricted only to a coupling between a collar and a container, and may also or instead be used between other components.

[00209] According to some aspects of the present disclosure, a one-way lock mechanism is implemented in a coupling to provide child resistance. One form of one-way lock includes a ratchet engagement or mechanism that permits a collar to be screwed onto a container, but inhibits the collar from being unscrewed unless the ratchet engagement is reversed or disabled.

[00210] Referring to Fig. 12A, an exploded view of a container 1200 and a child-resistant collar 1210 according to another embodiment is shown. The container 1200 and the child-resistant collar 1210 are generally, at least in part, cylindrical in shape. The container 1200 and the child-resistant collar 1210 are viewed from the side in Fig. 12A. The container 1200 includes a sidewall 1202, a top 1204, teeth 1206 and threads 1208. The threads 1208 extend radially outwards from the sidewall 1202. The teeth 1206 also extend radially outwards from the sidewall 1202. In this sense, a portion of the sidewall 1202 may be considered to be a toothed surface. Although the teeth 1208 are illustrated as being rectangular in shape, other shapes, such as triangular shapes, are also contemplated. [00211] In Fig. 12A, the child-resistant collar 1210 includes a sidewall 1212, a stop 1226, a lever 1220, and an open end wall or flange 1230 to engage a pump assembly. Fig. 12B is a bottom view of the child-resistant collar 1210, which illustrates sidewall 1212, an inner surface 1214 of the sidewall, pawls 1216 and 1218, the lever 1220, stops 1224 and 1226, a resilient member 1222, a bottom surface of the flange 1230, a channel 1228, and threads 1232. The lever 1220 passes through the sidewall 1212 and rigidly connects to the pawls 1216 and 1218. The lever 1220 could be made from a rigid material, such as plastic or metal. The pawls 1216 and 1218 could be made from the same material or a different material than the lever 1220. The lever rotates about a pivot 1221 (shown in Figs. 12D and 12E) between an outer surface of the sidewall 1212 and the inner surface 1214. The resilient member 1222 biases the lever 1220 toward the stop 1224. The resilient member 1222 may be a spring, such as a coil spring, for example.

[00212] The resilient member 1222 is coupled to the sidewall 1212. However, in other embodiments, a resilient member may instead be connected to other components of a chi Id- resistant collar. The lever 1220 could be biased toward the stop 1224 by other forms of resilient member, such as by a flexible tab or leaf spring that is attached to or integrated with the outer surface of the sidewall 1212 or the inner surface 1214.

[00213] Fig. 12C is a diagram illustrating an assembled view of the child-resistant collar 1210 and the container 1200, and an engagement between the child-resistant collar and the container. In Fig. 12C, the threads 1208 of the container 1200 are engaged with threads 1232 of the child-resistant collar 1210. In addition, the pawl 1216 is engaged with the teeth 1206 of the container 1200.

[00214] Fig. 12D is a cross-sectional view of the collar 1210 and the container 1200 taken along a line labelled as “D-D" in Fig. 12C. The bottom surface of the flange 1230 is in view in the cross- section of Fig. 12D. Fig. 12D illustrates a threaded engagement or coupling 1234, which represents the engagement of the threads 1208 and the threads 1232. This engagement could be achieved by screwing the child-resistant collar 1210 onto the container 1200. Fig. 12D also illustrates the pawl 1216 engaged with the teeth 1206 of the container 1200 (i.e. , the pawl 1216 is positioned between the teeth 1206), which results from the resilient member 1222 biasing the lever 1220 in a clockwise direction. In this sense, the pawl 1216 and the toothed surface are reversibly engaged by the resilient member 1222. Screwing the child-resistant collar 1210 onto the container 1200 corresponds to the child-resistant collar 1210 turning counter-clockwise relative to the container 1200 in Fig. 12D. This direction of rotation is permitted as no stop is inhibiting the lever 1220 from pivoting in a counter clockwise direction for a certain distance. When the pawl 1216 abuts a tooth during this rotation, the lever 1220 will rotate counter-clockwise until the pawl 1216 is able to pass over the tooth within the channel 1228. The resilient member 1222 will then bias the lever 1220 back towards the stop 1224 when the pawl 1216 is no longer abutting a tooth. Therefore, the child-resistant collar 1210 can be screwed onto the container 1200 while the pawl 1216 is engaged with the teeth 1206.

[00215] The child-resistant collar 1210 is inhibited from rotating clockwise relative to the container 1200. During this rotation, when the lever 1220 abuts a tooth 1206, the stop 1224 will inhibit the lever 1220 from pivoting in a clockwise direction to clear the tooth. Therefore, the child-resistant collar 1210 is inhibited from be unscrewed from the container 1200. This may be considered to be a form of one way lock, with the coupling between the child-resistant collar 1210 and the container 1200 considered to be a ratchet engagement or coupling.

[00216] The child-resistant collar 1210 may be unscrewed and removed from the container 1200 by manipulating the lever 1220. This is illustrated in Fig. 12E, which is another cross-sectional view of the child-resistant collar 1210 and the container 1200. The cross-section of Fig. 12E is also taken along the line labelled as “D-D" in Fig. 12C, but with the lever 1220 in a different position than in Fig. 12C. In Fig. 12E, the lever 1220 is pivoted in a counter-clockwise direction by a user, which overcomes the bias applied by the resilient member 1222. When the lever 1220 is pushed into abutment with the stop 1226, only the pawl 1218 engages with the teeth 1206. The pawl 1216 does not engage with the teeth 1206 in this position of the lever 1220.

[00217] Unscrewing the child-resistant collar 1210 from the container 1200 corresponds to the child-resistant collar 1210 turning clockwise relative to the container 1200 in Fig. 12E. This direction of rotation is permitted in Fig. 12E because no stop is inhibiting the lever 1220 from pivoting in a clockwise direction for a certain distance. When the pawl 1218 abuts a tooth 1206 during this rotation of the collar 1210 relative to the container 1200, the lever 1220 can pivot in a clockwise direction until the pawl 1218 is able to pass over the tooth. The user could then force the lever 1220 back towards the stop 1226. This allows the child-resistant collar 1210 to be unscrewed from the container 1200 when the pawl 1218 is engaged with the teeth 1206. The number of times that the lever 1220 must be operated to enable it to pivot around a tooth 1206 will depend on such features as axial length of the teeth, spacing between the teeth, and how far the collar must be rotated so that the lever 1220 clears the teeth during removal of the collar 1210. Although the teeth 1206 are spaced relatively closely in Fig. 12E, fewer teeth with larger spacing could be provided in other embodiments.

[00218] With the lever 1220 pivoted toward the stop 1226 as in Fig. 12E, the child-resistant collar 1210 is inhibited from rotating in a counter-clockwise relative to the container 1200. During counter clockwise rotation with the lever 1220 in this position, when the pawl 1218 of the lever 1220 abuts a tooth 1206, the stop 1226 will inhibit the lever 1220 from pivoting further in a counter-clockwise direction. Therefore, the one-way lock in the ratchet engagement between the child-resistant collar 1210 and the container 1200 has been reversed in Fig. 12E compared with Fig. 12D.

[00219] In some embodiments, the pawl 1218 might not be included. Therefore, when the lever 1220 is in the position illustrated in Fig. 12E, no pawl is engaged with the teeth 1206, and the child- resistant collar may freely rotate in any direction. In this sense, the engagement between the child- resistant collar 1210 and the container 1200 will have been disengaged. An example of a one-way lock with a single pawl is illustrated in Figs. 13A to 13E.

[00220] Referring to Fig. 13A, an exploded view of a container 1300 and a child-resistant collar 1310 according to another embodiment is shown. The container 1300 and the child-resistant collar 1310 are generally, at least in part, cylindrical in shape. The container 1300 and the chi Id- resistant collar 1310 are viewed from the side in Fig. 13A. The container 1300 is similar to the container 1200 discussed above with reference to Figs. 12A to 12E. The container 1300 includes a sidewall 1302, a top 1304, teeth 1306 and threads 1308. The threads 1308 and the teeth 1306 extend radially outwards from an outer surface of the sidewall 1302. [00221] In Fig. 13A, the child-resistant collar 1310 includes a sidewall 1312, an open end wall or flange 1330, and a lever 1320. Fig. 13B is a bottom view of the chi Id- resistant collar 1310, which illustrates the sidewall 1312, an inner surface 1314 of the sidewall, a pawl 1316, the lever 1320, a bottom surface of the flange 1330, a channel 1328 to accommodate an inner end of the lever 1320, and threads 1332. The lever 1320 passes through the sidewall 1312, and rigidly connects to the pawl 1316. The lever 1320 is configured to rotate about a pivot 1321 (shown in Figs. 13D and 13E) between an outer surface of the sidewall 1312 and the inner surface 1314. The child-resistant collar 1310 is similar to the child-resistant collar 1210 discussed above with reference to Figs. 12A to 12E, with the exception that the child-resistant collar 1310 does not include stops, does not include a second pawl, and does not include a resilient member on the outer surface of the sidewall 1312. [00222] Fig. 13C is a diagram illustrating an assembled view of the child-resistant collar 1310 and the container 1300, and an engagement between the child-resistant collar and the container. In this engagement, the threads 1308 of the container 1300 are engaged with threads 1332 of the child- resistant collar 1310. The pawl 1316 is also engaged with the teeth 1306 of the container 1300. [00223] Fig. 13D is a cross-sectional view of the child-resistant collar 1310 and the container 1300 taken along the line Έ--E" illustrated in Fig. 13C. The bottom surface of the flange 1330 is in view in the cross-section of Fig. 13D. Fig. 13D illustrates a threaded engagement or coupling 1334, which represents the engagement of the threads 1308 and the threads 1332. This engagement could have been achieved by screwing the child-resistant collar 1310 onto the container 1300. Fig. 13D also illustrates the pawl 1316 engaged with the teeth 1306 of the container 1300. Fig. 13D further illustrates internal walls 1324 and 1326 formed between the outer surface of the sidewall 1312 and the inner surface 1314, in the space accommodating the lever 1320. A resilient member 1322 is provided on the internal wall 1324, which biases the lever 1320 in a clockwise direction. The resilient member 1322 could be a spring, such as a leaf spring, for example, or could be a tab or other structure provided on or integrated with the collar 1310 to bias the lever 1320 in a clockwise direction and into engagement with the teeth 1306. In this sense, the pawl 1316 and the toothed surface are reversibly engaged by the resilient member 1322.

[00224] In Fig. 13D, the child-resistant collar 1310 is permitted to turn counter-clockwise relative to the container 1300 while the pawl 1316 is engaged with the teeth 1306, which corresponds to screwing the child-resistant collar onto the container. When the child-resistant collar 1310 is turned counter-clockwise relative to the container 1300, the pawl 1316 on the lever 1320 abuts a tooth 1306 and can be rotated counter-clockwise. Some resistance to this rotation may be provided by the resilient member 1322, however this resistance could be overcome by a user. In contrast, the child- resistant collar 1310 is inhibited from turning clockwise relative to the container 1300 in Fig. 13D. When the child-resistant collar 1310 is turned clockwise relative to the container 1300, the lever 1320 abuts a tooth 1306. Although the lever 1320 could be pivoted clockwise around the pivot 1321, the extent of this pivoting is limited in the example shown at least by the internal wall 1326. Therefore, the child-resistant collar 1310 is inhibited from being unscrewed from the container 1300. In this sense, the child-resistant collar 1310 is only permitted to rotate in one direction relative to the container 1300. This may be considered to be a form of one-way lock, with the coupling between the child-resistant collar 1310 and the container 1300 considered to be a ratchet engagement or coupling.

[00225] The child-resistant collar 1310 may be unscrewed and removed from the container 1300 by manipulating the lever 1320. This is illustrated in Fig. 13E, which is another cross-sectional view of the coupling between the child-resistant collar 1310 and the container 1300. In Fig. 13E, the lever 1320 is pivoted in a counter-clockwise direction and held by a user, which overcomes the bias applied by the resilient member 1322. The lever 1320 could abut the internal wall 1324. With the lever 1320 in this position, the pawl 1316 does not engage with the teeth 1306. Therefore, the child-resistant collar 1310 is permitted to rotate freely relative to the container 1300. This allows the child-resistant collar 1310 to be unscrewed from the container 1300. In this sense, the one-way lock in the ratchet engagement or coupling between the child-resistant collar 1310 and the container 1300 has been disengaged in Fig. 13E compared with Fig. 13D.

[00226] According to some aspects of the present disclosure, a release mechanism is used to provide child resistance. A release mechanism is a device that can be locked and/or unlocked through the use of a key. For example, when a key presses a component of a release mechanism, the release mechanism could disengage, at least in part, a child-resistant collar from a container. The child-resistant collar and the container could be pressed or screwed together to reset the release mechanism.

[00227] Referring to Fig. 14A, an exploded view of a container 1400 and a child-resistant collar 1410 according to another embodiment is shown. The container 1400 and the child-resistant collar 1410 are generally, at least in part, cylindrical in shape. The container 1400 and the child-resistant collar 1410 are viewed from the side in Fig. 14A. The container 1400 includes a sidewall 1402, a top 1404, threads 1408 and a leaf spring 1416. The leaf spring 1416 includes a tab 1418. The threads 1408 extend radially outwards from the outer surface of the sidewall 1402 in the example shown. [00228] Examples of materials that could be used in a container and collar are disclosed elsewhere herein. The leaf spring 1416 includes a resilient material, which could be the same as a material from which the container 1400 and/or the collar 1410 are made in an embodiment. The tab 1418 could be made from the same material(s) as the leaf spring 1416 and/or from one or more different materials. [00229] The leaf spring 1416 could be integral with or coupled to the container 1400, by adhesive for example. The tab 1418 could similarly be integral with or coupled to the leaf spring 1416, by adhesive or otherwise.

[00230] Fig. 14B is a top view of the container 1400, which illustrates the sidewall 1402, the top 1404, an inner surface 1406 of the sidewall, the threads 1408, the leaf spring 1416 and the tab 1418. The leaf spring 1416 extends, in part, radially outwards from an outer surface of the sidewall 1402. The leaf spring 1416 also extends, in part, in a clock-wise direction around the outer surface of the sidewall 1402 in the view shown in Fig. 14B. The tab 1418 is located proximate the distal end of the leaf spring 1416 relative to the container 1400. The tab 1418 extends, at least in part, radially outwards from the central axis of the container 1400.

[00231] Referring again to Fig. 14A, the chi Id- resistant collar 1410 includes a sidewall 1412 with an aperture 1420, and an open end wall or flange 1430 to engage part of a pump assembly. Fig. 14C is a bottom view of the child-resistant collar 1410, which illustrates the sidewall 1412, an inner surface 1414 of the sidewall, a channel 1428 to accommodate the leaf spring 1416, and threads 1432 that extend radially inwards.

[00232] Fig. 14D is a diagram illustrating an assembled view of the child-resistant collar 1410 and the container 1400, and an engagement or coupling between the child-resistant collar and the container. In Fig. 14D, the threads 1408 of the container 1400 are engaged with threads 1432 of the child-resistant collar 1410. In addition, the tab 1418 is engaged with a notch 1422 (shown in Fig. 14E) on the inner surface 1414 of the child-resistant collar 1410.

[00233] Fig. 14E is a cross-sectional view of the child-resistant collar 1410 and the container 1400 taken along a line labelled as “F--F" in Fig. 14D. The bottom surface 1428 is in view in the cross- section of Fig. 14E. Fig. 14E illustrates a threaded engagement 1434, which represents the engagement of the threads 1408 and the threads 1432. This engagement could be achieved by screwing the child-resistant collar 1410 onto the container 1400. A user could press the tab 1418 toward the container 1400 as the collar 1410 is being screwed onto the container so that the tab is located inside the inner surface 1414.

[00234] Fig. 14E also illustrates the tab 1418 of the leaf spring 1416 engaged with the notch 1422 of the child-resistant collar 1410. The leaf spring 1416 could bias the tab 1418 into the notch 1422 when the chi Id- resistant collar 1410 and the container 1400 are assembled. In this sense, the tab 1418 and the notch 1422 are reversibly engaged by the leaf spring 1416. The reversible engagement between the tab 1418 and the notch 1422 inhibits the child-resistant collar 1410 from rotating relative to the container 1400, to help prevent the child-resistant collar from being unscrewed from the container. [00235] The aperture 1420 is provided adjacent to the notch 1422 to accommodate a tool or key. The key could be pushed through the aperture 1420 to contact the tab 1418 within the notch 1422.

The key could then be used to push the tab 1418 out of the notch 1422, deforming the leaf spring 1416. This disengages the tab 1418 from the notch 1422, and allows the child-resistant collar 1410 to be rotated relative to the container 1400. Therefore, the child-resistant collar 1410 can be unscrewed from the container 1400. The combination of the leaf spring 1416, tab 1418, aperture 1420 and notch 1422 form a release mechanism that permits disengagement of the child-resistant collar 1410 and the container 1400.

[00236] In other embodiments, a release mechanism may be provided for a child-resistant collar and a container without a threaded engagement. For example, a release mechanism could be provided for a child-resistant collar and a container that are engaged when pressed together. In this example, the leaf spring could extend, as least in part, in an axial direction, downwards along the container 1400 in the view shown in Fig. 14A. A notch could be provided on the child-resistant collar to engage a tab on the leaf spring when the child-resistant collar is pressed onto the container. This engagement between the tab and the notch could inhibit movement of the child-resistant collar relative the container, and therefore inhibit the chi Id- resistant collar from being pulled off of the container. Similar to Fig. 14E, the tab and the notch could be disengaged by pushing the tab away from the notch using a key pushed through an aperture in the child-resistant collar.

[00237] In another embodiment, a leaf spring could extend in the opposite direction, upwards along the container 1400 in the view shown in Fig. 14A. A user could push the leaf spring and/or the tab toward the container 1400 as a collar is screwed or pressed onto the container, so that the tab is located inside the inner wall of the collar when the collar is assembled to the container. In some embodiments, part of the leaf spring is accessible below an outer bottom edge of the collar when the collar is assembled to the container, and the user can then disengage the tab from a notch in the collar by directly pushing the leaf spring toward the container instead of using a key. In this case, child resistance could be provided without an aperture or key, and a radial groove could be provided in the collar instead of a notch because no aperture or key and therefore no particular alignment between the tab and a notch are needed to release the tab from the collar.

[00238] Other embodiments are also possible. For example, multiple leaf springs, tabs, and/or notches could be provided. Other types of resilient members could be used in addition to or instead of a leaf spring. A tab could have a different shape than shown in Figs. 14A to 14E.

[00239] The various embodiments shown in Figs. 9A-14E illustrate different examples of couplings. Although all of these examples are shown between a collar and a container, such couplings may also or instead be provided between other components, such as between a cover and a collar and/or between a pump assembly coupling structure and a container.

[00240] Other types of coupling are possible. For instance, several examples of push-to-turn couplings are provided above. Pull-to-turn couplings may be provided in other embodiments, with a collar, pump assembly, and/or cover being biased toward a locked or assembled position and requiring a pulling force to overcome that bias. Some of these example couplings require multiple operations to be performed to release the coupling, and at least squeeze-to-turn couplings, push-to- turn couplings, pull-to-turn couplings, and the examples in Figs. 12A to 14E involve performing multiple operations simultaneously to release the coupling.

[00241] Some types of couplings may include multiple components and require the multiple components to be cooperatively engaged to release the coupling. Suppose, for example, that a collar includes a threaded wall from which threads extend, as shown in Fig. 14C for example, and that an outer ring is rotatably coupled to the threaded wall to form a slip-ring or bearing-type arrangement. A tool or key could then be required to extend through an aperture in the ring to cooperatively engage the ring and the threaded wall, to stop the ring from rotating relative to the threaded wall and enable the threaded wall to be rotated relative to a container. A deformable ring could enable a squeeze-to- turn embodiment in which squeezing the ring cooperatively engages structures on the ring and the threaded wall, or cooperatively engages the ring and the wall through friction, for examples. Other multi-part or multi-component designs are also possible.

[00242] The embodiments described above relate primarily to pump-based dispensing systems and components thereof. Other embodiments, including methods, are also possible.

[00243] Fig. 15 is a flow diagram illustrating an example method according to a further embodiment. The example method 1500 involves an operation 1502 of providing one or more components. A component, and/or a substance that is to be dispensed, may be provided in other ways than by directly producing or manufacturing them. Any one or more components and/or any one or more substances could be provided by purchasing or acquiring them from a manufacturer or producer, for example. Multiple manufacturers or producers may be involved. Therefore, “providing” as used herein is not restricted to, and need not necessarily involve, production or manufacturing by an entity that assembles or uses any of the disclosed embodiments.

[00244] In an embodiment, the providing at 1502 involves providing, on a collar, an engagement structure to engage a pump assembly. As disclosed elsewhere herein, the pump assembly includes a pump assembly coupling structure to provide a coupling, which is a releasable coupling in some embodiments, between the pump assembly and a container from which a substance is to be dispensed by the pump assembly. The providing at 1502 may also involve providing, on the collar, a collar coupling structure to engage the container and provide a child-resistant further coupling, which may also or instead be a releasable coupling, between the pump assembly and the container. A method may also involve providing the collar.

[00245] Providing the engagement structure may involve, for example, any one or more of: forming the engagement structure on the collar, attaching the engagement structure to the collar, and integrating the engagement structure with the collar.

[00246] Providing the collar coupling structure may involve any one or more of: forming the collar coupling structure on the collar, attaching the collar coupling structure to the collar, and integrating the collar coupling structure with the collar, for example. The engagement structure and the coupling structure may be provided in similar or different ways. The manner in which the engagement structure is provided need not necessarily influence or impact and the manner in which the coupling structure is provided.

[00247] Any of various features disclosed herein may be embodied or provided by a method. For example, providing the engagement structure, providing the collar coupling structure, providing the collar, and/or one or more further operations may provide any one or more features of a pump-based dispensing system or a component thereof as disclosed elsewhere herein.

[00248] According to another embodiment, the providing at 1502 involves providing, for a container that includes a body defining an interior space to hold a substance, a pump assembly coupling structure to engage a pump assembly and provide a coupling between the container body and the pump assembly. The pump assembly coupling structure is configured to couple the pump assembly to the container in an assembled position in which the pump assembly is in fluid communication with the interior space and operable to dispense the substance from the interior space. The coupling between the container body and the pump assembly is a releasable coupling in some embodiments. [00249] Such a method may also involve providing at 1502, for the container, a collar coupling structure to engage a collar and provide, in an assembled position of the collar in engagement with the pump assembly, a further coupling between the pump assembly and the container. The further coupling may be or include a child-resistant further coupling in some embodiments. The further coupling between the pump assembly and the container may also or instead be a releasable coupling in some embodiments.

[00250] Some embodiments also involve providing the container at 1502.

[00251] Providing the pump assembly coupling structure at 1502 may involve any one or more of: forming the pump assembly coupling structure on the container, attaching the pump assembly coupling structure to the container, and integrating the pump assembly coupling structure with the container. Providing the collar coupling structure at 1502 may also or instead involve any one or more of: forming the collar coupling structure on the container, attaching the collar coupling structure to the container, and integrating the collar coupling structure with the container. The manner in which the pump assembly coupling structure is provided need not necessarily influence or impact and the manner in which the collar coupling structure is provided.

[00252] Any of various features disclosed herein may be embodied or provided by such a method. For example, providing the pump assembly coupling structure, providing the collar coupling structure, providing the container, and/or one or more further operations may provide any one or more features of a pump-based dispensing system or a component thereof as disclosed elsewhere herein.

[00253] A method may involve other operations, such as those illustrated by way of example in dashed lines in Fig. 15. Consider, for example, a method that involves providing a collar, providing a pump assembly, and providing a container. Such a method may also involve assembling the provided components at 1504, by coupling the pump assembly to the container using the pump assembly coupling structure for example. A method may also or instead involve further coupling the pump assembly to the container using the collar. In some embodiments, the pump assembly and the container are pre-assembled, in which case assembling components at 1504 may involve further coupling the pump assembly to the container using the collar, without the same entity or user necessarily also coupling the pump assembly to the container using the pump assembly coupling structure.

[00254] Another embodiment may also or instead involve providing a collar and providing a cover at 1502. Such a method may also involve releasably coupling the cover to the collar using the further engagement structure. In embodiments that also involve providing the pump assembly and providing the container at 1502, the operation at 1504 may involve either or both of: coupling the pump assembly to the container using the pump assembly coupling structure; and further coupling the pump assembly to the container using the collar.

[00255] As noted for other method embodiments, any of various features disclosed herein may be embodied or provided by such a method. One or more of the providing operations and/or one or more further operations may provide any one or more features of a pump-based dispensing system or a component thereof as disclosed elsewhere herein.

[00256] A pump-based dispensing system may be used at 1506 to dispense a substance. In some embodiments, one or more components may be disassembled at 1508, to enable cleaning or refilling at 1510, for example. Disassembly at 1508 may also or instead be useful for such purposes as component servicing, replacement of one or more components with a different component of the same or different type, and/or a change of one substance to a different substance. [00257] The example method 1500 also includes an optional operation of reassembling components at 1512. After reassembly, a pump-based dispensing system may be ready for further dispensing at 1506, as shown by the dashed-line return arrow from 1512 to 1506 in Fig. 15.

[00258] Variations of the example method 1500 are possible. For example, the operation 1502 and the optional operation 1504 are shown separately for illustrative purposes, but need not be separate operations in all embodiments. A pump-based dispensing system may be assembled together and provided in a single unit.

[00259] Other operations may also or instead be provided. As an example, a method may also include providing one or more substances for dispensing. A pump-based dispensing system may be pre-filled with a substance, or a substance may be provided separately for filling and/or refilling a container.

[00260] Thus, the example method 1500 is illustrative of one embodiment. Examples of various ways to perform the illustrated operations, additional operations that may be performed in some embodiments, or operations that could be omitted in some embodiments, could be inferred or apparent from the description and drawings. Assembly at 1504, disassembly at 1508, and/or reassembly at 1512 may take any of various forms, depending on the types of couplings between components. Further variations may be or become apparent.

[00261] The present disclosure relates to a unique design that may be adaptable to any of various types of kind of pump assembly. A child resistance system may be provided between a cover and a container, and/or between a pump assembly and the container, via a collar. Such a child resistance system provides a secure mechanism to inhibit disassembly of pump-based dispensing system components. Some embodiments involve four components, including a container, a collar, a pump assembly, and a cover, with the cover and the collar securing access to and/or disassembly of the pump assembly from the container.

[00262] A potential advantage is standardization of components, such that the same container may be compatible with different pumps, for example, to better enable bulk performance without significant restriction to particular types or suppliers of pump assemblies. For example, the neck of a container may be of a standard size and design to hold different pump assemblies. The container itself is also not necessarily restricted to any particular design, and could be airless or configured to work with dip tubes, for example.

[00263] Child resistance as referenced herein generally encompasses the concept of inhibiting or making disassembly of one or more components and/or access to one or more components more difficult. Formal definitions of child resistance may be found, for example, in US16 CFR 1700.20 and ISO 8317. Other standards, regulations, or laws may provide similar, different, more detailed, or less detailed definitions of child resistance.

[00264] While the present disclosure refers to specific features and embodiments, various modifications and combinations can be made thereto. The description and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded simply as an illustration of some embodiments of the invention as defined by the appended claims, and are contemplated to cover any and all modifications, variations, combinations or equivalents that fall within the scope of the present invention. Therefore, although embodiments and potential advantages have been described in detail, various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the invention as defined by the appended claims. Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of any process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the present disclosure, processes, machines, manufactures, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed, that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufactures, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps.