WO/2019/094406 | CONSUMER PRODUCT |
WO/2007/027721 | CHILD-RESISTANT PACKAGE HAVING A PLASTIC CONTAINER WITH A BLOW-MOLDED NECK FINISH, AND A CONTAINER AND CLOSURE FOR SUCH A PACKAGE |
WO/1994/029185 | CAP FOR A CONTAINER |
SHINGLE JOHN M (US)
US20040173562A1 | 2004-09-09 | |||
US5443171A | 1995-08-22 | |||
US4320844A | 1982-03-23 | |||
US3979001A | 1976-09-07 | |||
EP1302406A2 | 2003-04-16 |
1. | A tamperindicating child resistant package that includes: a container (14) having a finish (18) with an open mouth <20) and an external circumferential bead (26) spaced from said mouth, and a closure (12) having a skirt (30) for externally encircling said finish, a tamper band (36) frangibly connected to said skirt for positioning beneath said external circumfential bead, and a spring element (42) for engaging said finish and biasing said closure away from said finish, said finish and said skirt having interlocking elements (22,24,32,34) that resist removal of said closure from said finish absent force against said spring element to disengage said interlocking elements, engagement of said tamper band with said bead rupturing the frangible connection of said band to said skirt upon first removal of said closure from said finish. |
2. | The package set forth in claim 1 wherein said interlocking elements include at least one external thread (22) on said finish and a locking lug (24) on an underside of said external thread, and at least one internal thread (32) on said skirt and an interruption (34) in said internal thread for receipt over said lug. |
3. | 3The package set forth in claim 2 wherein said tamper band (36) includes a stop flange (40) resiliency pivotally coupled to said band for engagement with said external circumferential bead (26) on said finish. *& 4. |
4. | The package set forth in claim 1 wherein said closure has a projection (44) for internal receipt within said mouth (20) in an inverted nonchildresistant mode of operation of said closure. *& 5. |
5. | The package set forth in claim 4 wherein said closure has a base wall (28), said projection (44) extending from said base wall in a direction opposite from said skirt and having an external surface spaced radially inwardly from said skirt, said external surface having a portion (46) adjacent to said base wall for sealing engagement with said mouth (20) in said non childresistant mode of operation. *& 6. |
6. | The package set forth in claim 5 wherein said external surface on said projection has a bead (48) spaced from said base wall for snapreceipt within said mouth (20) in said non childresistant mode of operation. |
7. | A childresistant package that includes: a container (14) having a finish (18) with an open mouth (20) , an external circumferential bead (26) spaced from said mouth, at least one external thread (22) between said mouth and said bead, and a locking lug (24) on an underside of said external thread, and a closure (12) having a base wall(28), a peripheral skirt (30) extending from said base wall with at least one internal thread (32) having an interruption (34) for receipt ovecr said locking lug, a tamper band (36) frangibly connected to said skirt at a position spaced from said base wall, a stop flange (40) resiliently pivotally coupled to said band for engagement withi said external circumferential bead on said finish, a spring element (42) for engagement with said finish, and a projection (44) extending from said base wall in a direction opposite from said skirt, said projection having an external surface with a portion (46) adjacent to said base wall and an external bead (48) spaced from said base wall, said closure being received on said finish in a tamperindicating childresistant mode of operation with said skirt received over said finish, said internal threads on said closure engaged with said external thread on said finish, said locking lug on said finish received in said thread interruption on said closure, said spring element engaged with said finish to bias said closure away from said finish, and said stop flange received beneath said external circumferential bead, said closure being received on said finish in a nonchildresistant mode of operation with said projection received within said mouth, said external surface portion of said projection adjacent to said base wall in sealing engagement with an inside diameter of said mouth and said external bead on said projection received by snapfit within said mouth. |
8. | The package set forth in claim 7 wherein said spring element (42) extends radially inwardly from said skirt (30) to engage an end surface of said finish (18). *& 9. |
9. | A closure of onepiece integrally molded plastic construction that includes: a base wall (28), a peripheral skirt (30) extending from said base wall with at least one internal thread (32) having an interruption (34) in said thread, a tamper band (36) frangibly connected to said skirt at a position spaced from said base wall, a stop flange (40) resiliently pivotally coupled to said skirt, and a spring element (42) extending radially inwardly from said skirt, and a projection (44) extending from said base wall in a direction opposite from said skirt, said projection having an external surface with a portion (46) adjacent to said base wall and an external bead (48) spaced from said base wall. *& 10. |
10. | A method of making a closure that includes the step of integrally molding a closure body that includes: a base wall (28), a peripheral skirt (30) extending from said base wall with at least one internal thread (32) having an interruption (34) in said thread, a tamper band (36) frangibly connected to said skirt at a position spaced from said base wall, a stop flange (40) resiliently pivotally coupled to said skirt, a spring element (42) extending radially inwardly from said skirt, and a projection (44) extending from said base wall in a direction opposite from said skirt, said projection having an external surface with a portion (46) adjacent to said base wall and an external bead (48) spaced from said base wall. |
The present invention relates to child-resistant packages, to closures and
containers for such packages, and to methods of making such packages, closures and containers.
Background and Summary of the Invention
Child-resistant closure and container packages conventionally are employed for
prescription vials, vitamin bottles and a number of other applications. The present invention
deals particularly with those types of child-resistant packages that involve application of an axial
force on the closure while simultaneously turning the closure with respect to the container to remove the closure from the container.
A tamper-indicating child-resistant package in accordance with one presently
preferred aspect of the present invention includes a container having a finish with an open mouth
and an external circumferential bead spaced from the mouth. A closure has a skirt for externally
encircling the container finish, a tamper band frangibly connected to the skirt for positioning beneath the external circumferential bead on the container finish, and a spring element for
engaging the finish and biasing the closure away from the finish. The finish and the skirt have
interlocking elements that resist removal of the closure from the finish absent force against the
spring element to disengage the interlocking elements. Engagement of the tamper band with the
external circumferential bead ruptures the frangible connection of the band to the skirt upon first
removal of the closure from the container finish to indicate potential tampering with the package.
In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the interlocking elements include at least one
external thread on the container finish and a locking lug on an underside of the external thread.
At least one internal thread on the skirt has an interruption for receipt over the lug, axial force
on the closure being required to move the interruption out of engagement with the lug and permit
removal of the closure.
A child-resistant package in accordance with another presently preferred aspect
of the invention includes a container having a finish with an open mouth, an external
circumferential bead spaced from the open mouth, at least one external thread between the mouth and the circumferential bead, and a locking lug on an underside of the external thread. A closure
has a base wall, and a peripheral skirt extending from the base wall with at least one internal
thread having an interruption for receipt over the locking lug on the container finish. A tamper band is frangibly connected to the skirt at a position spaced from the base wall, and a stop flange
resiliently pivotally extends from the band for engagement with the external circumferential bead
on the container finish. A projection extends from the base wall in a direction opposite from the
skirt. The projection has an external surface with a portion adjacent to the base wall and an
external bead spaced from the base wall. The closure also has a spring element for engaging the
container finish. The closure is received on the container finish in a tamper-indicating child-
resistant mode of operation with the skirt received over the finish, the threads on the finish and
skirt engaged, the locking lug on the finish received in the thread interruption on the skirt, the
spring element engaged with the finish to bias the closure away from the finish, and the stop
flange received beneath the external circumferential bead on the finish. The closure is received on the finish in a non-child-resistant mode of operation with the projection received within the
container mouth, the external surface portion sealingly engaged with the inside diameter of the
container mouth and the external bead on the projection received by snap-fit within the container
mouth.
Brief Description of the Drawings
The invention, 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:
FlG. 1 is a fragmentary sectional view of a tamper-indicating child-resistant
package in accordance with one presently preferred embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale of the portion of HG.
1 within the area 2;
FTG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of the package of FIGS. 1 and 2 with the
closure mounted to the container in a non-child-resistant mode;
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of the portion of FIG. 3 within the area 4;
FTG. 5 is a fragmentary elevational view of the container in the package of FIGS.
1-4;
FIG. 6 is a partially sectioned elevational view of the closure in the package of
HGS. 1-4; and
E 7 IG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale of a portion of the
closure illustrated in FIG. 6.
Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments
FIGS. 1-4 illustrate a package 10 in accordance with one presently preferred
embodiment of the invention as including a closure 12 removably secured to a container 14.
Container 14 (FIGS. 1-5) has a body 16 and a cylindrical finish 18 extending from the body. Body 16 may be of any suitable geometry. Finish 18 includes an open mouth 20 and at least one external thread (or thread segment) 22. Four angularly spaced thread are illustrated. Each thread
22 has a locking lug 24 extending axially from an underside of the thread at the end of the thread
segment remote from the container mouth. Locking lugs 24 are substantially rectangular in the
preferred embodiment of the invention. A circumferential external bead 26 extends around finish
18 at a position axially spaced from threads 22 and locking lugs 24. Bead 26 preferably is perpendicular to the axis of finish 18.
Closure 12 (RIGS. 1-4 and 6-7) preferably is of one-piece integrally molded
construction that includes a base wall 28. Base wall 28 is of annular construction in the preferred
embodiment of the invention, having an outer peripheral edge from which a skirt 30 axially
extends. Skirt 30 has at least one internal thread (or thread segment) 32 for engagement with
external threads 22 on container finish 18. Each internal thread 32 includes an interruption or
gap 34 for receiving an associated locking lug 24 on container finish 18. A tamper band 36 is
frangibly connected to the lower edge of skirt 30, preferably by a plurality of bridges 38 that are
integrally molded on the inside surfaces of skirt 30 and band 36. (Directional words such as "lower" and "inside" are employed by way of description and not limitation with respect to the
upright orientation of the closure and package illustrated in FIGS . 1-2 and 5-7. Directional words
such as "axial" and "radial" are employed by way of description and not limitation with respect
to the axis of the container finish or the closure skirt as appropriate.) A stop flange 40 is
resiliently pivotally connected to band 36 adjacent to the lower edge of the band for engaging circumferential external bead. 26 on container finish 18 in the tamper-indicating child-resistant
mode of operation illustrated in FIG. 1. Stop flange 40 may be of the type illustrated in U.S.
Patents 5,443,171 or Re33,265.
A spring element 42 extends from closure 12 for engaging container finish 18 in
the child-resistant mode of operation (FIGS. 1 and 2). In the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, spring element 42 is of conical construction, extending
radially inwardly and axially downwardly from skirt 30 at a position adjacent to but spaced from
base wall 28, as best seen in FIG. 7. Spring element 42 preferably is circumferentially
continuous, and preferably widens or thickens as it extends away from skirt 30. A projection 44 extends from the inner peripheral edge of base wall 28 in a direction opposite from skirt 30.
Projection 44 is hollow or dome-shaped in the preferred embodiment of the invention.
Projection 44 has a radially outwardly facing surface with a first portion 46 immediately adjacent
to base wall 28 and a second portion spaced from base wall 28 having a radially outwardly extending circumferential bead 48. Bead 48 may be circumferentially continuous or
circumferentially segmented.
In a tamper-indicating child-resistant mode of operation illustrated in FIGS. 1-2,
closure 12 is received over container finish 18 with closure internal threads 32 engaged with
finish external threads 22 and with locking lugs 24 on finish 18 received within interruptions or
gaps 34 of closure internal threads 32. Spring element 42 engages the upper end of finish 18 to bias closure 12 axially away from container 14 and thereby hold lugs 24 within interruptions 34.
Stop flange 40 of tamper-indicating band 36 is engaged beneath bead 26 on container finish 18.
To remove closure 12 from container 14, it is necessary to press downwardly on closure 12
against the force of spring element 42 until interruptions 34 clear the lower ends of locking lugs
24. Closure 12 may then be turned in a counterclockwise or unthreading direction. As the
closure is unthreaded from the container finish, abutment of stop flange 40 against container bead
26 retards removal of the closure and causes fracture of the frangible connection of tamper band
36 to closure skirt 30. As closure 12 thus is first removed from the package, the tamper band is
frangibly separated from the closure to indicate that the package has been opened. Closure 12
thereafter may be threaded onto and off of the container in a child-resistant mode.
In a non-child-resistant mode of operation illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, closure
12 is inverted and closure projection 44 is received within container mouth 20. External surface
portion 46 on projection 44 is in plug-sealing surface-to-surface engagement with the inside
diameter of container mouth 20, and external bead 48 on projection 44 is received by snap-fit
over an internal bead 50 within the container finish spaced from the open end of the finish.
(Bead 50 could be replaced by an internal circumferential groove.) Closure 12 thus is secured
to the container finish in an inverted non-child-resistant mode of operation, and with the package
sealed by abutment of closure surface 46 with the inside diameter of the container mouth.
Closure 12 and container 14 may be of any suitable material constructions,
preferably plastic such as polypropylene.
There thus have been disclosed a child-resistant package, a closure and a container
for such a package, and methods of making such a closure, container and package that fully
satisfy all of the objects and aims previously set forth. The invention has been disclosed in conjunction with a presently preferred embodiment thereof, and a number of modifications and
variations have been discussed. Other modifications and variations will readily suggest
themselves to persons of ordinary skill in the art in view of the foregoing discussion. The
invention is intended to embrace all such modifications and variations as fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims.