The present disclosure relates to a child-resistant package that is convertible to

non-child-resistant operation, and to a closure and a container for such a package.

Background and Summary of the Disclosure

U.S. patent document 2005/0103741 Al discloses a child-resistant package that

includes a container having at least one external thread segment adjacent to the container mouth and an external deflectable locking element spaced from the container mouth. The closure has

a peripheral skirt with a first portion having at least one internal thread segment for threaded

engagement with the container, and a second portion frangibly connected to the first portion with

a locking element for engagement with the deflectable locking element on the container. With

the second portion of the closure skirt connected to the first portion, the package is adapted for child-resistant operation requiring deflection of the locking element on the container to release

the closure for threaded disengagement from the container. When the second portion of the

closure skirt is removed by a user, the closure may be merely threaded on to and off of the

container in a non-child-resistant mode of operation. A general objective of the present

disclosure is to provide a child-resistant package, closure and container that are adapted for snap-

cap operation in a non-child-resistant mode.

The present disclosure embodies a number of aspects or inventions that can be

implemented separately from or in combination with each other.

A child-resistant package, in accordance with a first aspect of the present

disclosure, includes a container having an open mouth, a conical external surface around the open

mouth that widens away from the mouth and a wall extending from the conical external surface.

A closure has a base wall, and a peripheral skirt having a first portion adjacent to the base wall

and a second portion removably connected to the first portion. An annular first wall extends

from the base wall at a position radially inward from the skirt for spring/sealing engagement with

the conical external surface of the container. A second wall extends from the base wall at a

position radially inward from the first wall and, preferably, at an outward conical angle to the

base wall. The second portion of the skirt and the wall on the container have interlocking

elements that resist removal of the closure from the container in a child-resistant mode of

operation absent a force against the first wall to disengage the interlocking elements. The second

portion of the skirt is frangibly removable from the first portion to remove the interlocking elements from the skirt so that the closure is securable to the container in a non-child-resistant

mode of operation with the second wall received by snap-fit within the container mouth.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The disclosure, together with additional objects, features, advantages and aspects thereof, will best be understood from the following description, the appended claims and the

accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a child-resistant package in accordance with

an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of the package in FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 is a partially sectioned elevational view of the container in the package of

FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the portion of FIG. 3 within the area 4;

HG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the portion of FIG. 4 within the area 5;

FIG. 6 is a partially sectioned elevational view of the closure in the package of

HGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view of the portion of FIG. 6 within the area 7;

FIG. 8 is an elevational view of the package of HG. 1 in a non-child-resistant

mode of operation; and

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view of the package in FIG. 8.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments

FIGS. 1-2 illustrate a package 20 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment

of the present disclosure as including a container 22 and a closure 24 secured to the container in

a child-resistant mode of operation. Container 22 (FIGS. 1-5) includes a generally cylindrical

finish 26 that extends from a sidewall 28 of any suitable construction and geometry. Finish 26 preferably includes a cylindrical wall 30, from the upper end of which extends a radially inwardly

tapering conical wall section 32. (Directional words such as "upper" and "lower" are employed

by way of description and not limitation with respect to the upright orientation of the package,

container and closure illustrated in the drawings. Directional words such as "radial" and "axial"

are employed by way of description and not limitation with respect to the axis of the container

finish and/or the closure skirt as appropriate.) Conical wall section 32 has an external conical

surface 34 that widens away from the open mouth at the upper end of the container. An internal

bead 36, preferably a circumferentially continuous internal bead, may extend around the inner

periphery of the container mouth adjacent to the open upper end of conical wall section 32. External engagement elements 38 are disposed around the outer surface of finish wall 30 for

engagement by the container closure in a child-resistant mode of operation. The specific

engagement elements 38 illustrated in the drawings are similar to those illustrated in U.S. Patents

4,059,198 and 4,485,932, although other chid-resistant engagement elements can be employed.

Container 22 preferably is of one-piece integrally molded plastic construction. By way of

example only, container conical surface 34 may be at a nominal angle of 25 ° to the axis of the

container finish.

Closure 24 is of one-piece integrally molded plastic construction, and includes a

base wall 40 and a peripheral skirt 42. Peripheral skirt 42 has a first or upper portion 44 adj acent

to base wall 40 and a second or lower portion 46 remote from base wall 40. Second skirt portion

46 is frangibly coupled to first skirt portion 44, such as by leaders 48 that are made frangible by

scoring along the line 50 (FIGS. 2, 6 and 7). Skirt portions 44, 46 alternatively can be molded

as elements spaced from each other and interconnected by frangible leaders 48. Engagement elements 52 are disposed on second skirt portion 46 for engagement with elements 38 on

container 22. In the specific embodiment illustrated in the drawings, engagement elements 52

are in the form of internal lugs that selectively engage pockets in container engagement elements

38.

A circumferentially continuous annular first wall 54 extends from base ¹ wall 40

within first skirt portion 44. First wall 54 is flexible and resilient, and preferably extends at a

radially inward and axially downward conical angle from base wall 40 as molded. An annular

second wall 56 extends from base wall 40 radially inward from first wall 54. Second wall 56 is

of shorter axial dimension than wall 54, and preferably extends at an axially inward and radially

outward conical angle with respect to base wall 40. (Base wall 40 is illustrated as flat in the

exemplary embodiment, but can be contoured if, desired.) Walls 54, 56 preferably are

circumferentially continuous, concentric with each other and concentric with first skirt portion

44. Walls 54, 56 preferably are of uniform thickness, such as 0.010 inch nominal thickness for

example. By way of example only, wall 54 may be at a nominal angle of 10 ° with respect to the

axis of closure skirt 42 as molded, and wall 56 may be at a nominal angle of 20° to the closure

axis as molded.

In a child-resistant mode of operation illustrated in FIGS. 1-2, with skirt portion

46 intact - i.e., not separated from skirt portion 44 - closure first wall 54 engages external conical

surface 34 of container finish 26 both to seal the package and to provide a spring force that holds

interlocking elements 38,52 in engagement. Wall 54, being flexible and resilient, preferably

flexes radially outwardly at the lower portion engaged with conical surface 34, while the upper

portion of the first wall remains at a conically inward angle. To remove the closure from the

container, force is applied manually downwardly on closure 24 with respect to container 22, against the spring force of wall 54 against surface 34 , until closure engagement elements 52 clear

container engagement elements 38 so that the closure can be removed from the container. An

axially downwardly facing shoulder 58 on closure second skirt portion 46 cooperates with

engagement elements 38 on container 22 to limit the compressive stroke that can be applied to first wall 54. For non-child-resistant operation (FIGS. 8 and 9), with the closure removed from

the container, second skirt portion 46 is frangibly permanently removed from first skirt portion

44. Closure second wall 56 then is receivable by snap-fit over bead 36 within the container

mouth. Closure second wall 56 preferably is circumferentially continuous, so that wall 56 seals

against internal bead 36 around the container mouth. First closure wall 54 also provides a

secondary seal in the non-child-resistant mode of operation. The closure thus operates as a snap-

cap in the non-child-resistant mode of operation.

There thus have been disclosed a child-resistant package, closure and container

that are convertible to non-child-resistant operation, and that otherwise fully satisfy all of the

objects and aims previously set forth. The disclosure has been presented in conjunction with a

presently preferred exemplary embodiment, and a number of modifications and variations have

been discussed. Other modifications and variations readily will suggest themselves to persons

of ordinary skill in the art in view of the foregoing discussion. The disclosure is intended to

embrace all such modifications and variations as fall within the spirit and broad scope of the

appended claims.