CONTAINER

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to containers, and more particularly, it relates to child

resistant container packaging.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The use of child resistant packaging is well known in the art and is utilized for many

different types of goods. Primarily, this packaging is used for those products which

represent a potential hazard in the hands of children — i.e. medicaments and the like. The

child proofing of packaging has taken many different approaches and primarily is

dependent upon the product per se — i.e. the size of the package, format, etc. Thus, for

example, in the field of medicine dispensing, many different types of pill containers which

have locking tops are well known and are widely used. Some of the tops require a pressing

motion followed by turning while others require a lifting motion prior to rotation of the

cap. It is also known in the art to seal the pill or tablet in a blister package which is

designed to prevent easy access by children.

On the other hand, it is important that the child resistant packaging can be opened

without undue difficulty by the average consumer for whom the product is intended. This

is frequently a problem in that one of the primary groups of medicament users are the

elderly, and packaging which relies on a certain amount of strength to open is often self-

defeating in that the end users find it difficult or impossible to open such packaging. This

can lead to non-compliance.

It is known in the art, from US Patent 5,346,069 to provide a container wherein a

child resistant feature is provided while still permitting easy opening of the container for

those of limited strength. However, a problem with such containers has been the durability

of the same.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved child resistant

packaging suitable for use with a number of different products wherein a substantial

amount of strength to open the same is not required.

According to the present invention, there is provided a child resistant container

which comprises a bottom member adapted to receive and contain at least one item to be

packaged, the bottom member having a base and at least one wall extending upwardly

therefrom. A cover member is provided to cover the open mouth of the container. The

container includes at least first and second cooperative locking means which are provided

on both the cover member and the bottom member. The first locking means has tab means

associated with one of the members, the tab means being engageable with recess means

provided on the other of the members. Similarly, the second locking means also includes

tab means formed in one of the members, the tab means being engageable with recess

means on the other of the members. The arrangement is such that when the first locking

means are unlocked by disengagement of the tab means with the recess means, this

engagement actually causes more secure engagement of the second locking means to

thereby render more difficult the operation of the first and second locking means

simultaneously. The cover means further includes tab movement limiting means to limit

the amount which the tabs can be moved inwardly to disengage from the recess means.

In one embodiment, there is provided a child resistant package which includes a

bottom member and a cover member, the package being of a substantially rectangular

configuration, the bottom and cover members being formed integrally with a living hinge

member extending a substantial length along one side of the cover and bottom members.

First and second cooperative locking means are located on opposed sides of the cover and

bottom members, each of the locking means comprising a tab formed integrally with one of

the members, and a recess formed in the other of the members to receive the tab and

engage the tab in a locking relationship. The locking means are preferably spaced apart a

sufficient distance to prevent operation of both locking members simultaneously by a child.

Also, tab movement limiting means are provided on the cover to prevent access thereto by

excess inward movement of the tab members.

In one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a cover member

which can be used with a number of different containers, thus allowing for a universal

application of the features of the cover member and easier manufacture of the container.

The present invention provides packaging which may be utilised for a number of

different products though, as previously mentioned, a primary use is in the pharmaceutical

field wherein child resistant features are important. Since the container of the present

invention is suitable for any number of products including bulk goods, a wide variety of

medicaments can be packaged therein. In one embodiment, the container is formed as a

one piece unit of a suitable plastic material such as polypropylene for reasons of

functionality and ease of manufacturer. This is particularly so in the case of the living

hinge embodiment.

- A - In general, the container of the present invention includes a bottom container

portion which is adapted to receive and contain the articles to be packaged. This bottom

container portion may assume many different configurations such as circular, oval,

rectangular, etc. Generally, however, it can be characterized as having a base portion with

at least one wall extending upwardly therefrom to thereby form a container portion adapted

to receive and retain the commodity therein. At the upper end of the walls is a mouth

portion allowing the contents of the container portion to be accessed.

The cover member is designed to cover the mouth of the container and will be of

any conventional configuration compatible with the bottom container portion. The cover,

as previously mentioned, can be formed with the bottom container portion and connected

thereto by means of a living hinge or alternatively, is formed as a separate member.

The cooperative locking means associated with the cover and the container bottom

preferably comprise first and second locking means. Although both locking means

function to retain the cover in the closed position, the second locking means allows limited

movement between the cover member and the bottom member such that the first locking

means may be unlocked while the second locking means maintains a locked position. By

so doing, one can move the first locking means from a locked to an unlocked position

while the second locking means is still in its locked position. One must then perform a

second sequential operation to unlock the second locking means to permit removal of the

cover from the mouth of the container and permit access to the contents thereof. This two-

part sequential operation provides effective child resistant features for this embodiment.

Preferably, the cooperative locking means comprise a tab formed on one of the

cover or bottom members and a recess formed on the other of the members. For purposes

of discussion herein, the tab member will be referred to as being on the bottom container

member while the recess will be described as being formed in the cover member. It will be

understood that the reverse situation can also apply and indeed, combinations of the same

may be utilized as will be appreciated by those knowledgeable in the art. Similarly, the

present description will refer to the arrangement having a generally rectangularly

configured container though, as previously pointed out, many different shapes may be

utilized.

In the preferred embodiment, the second locking means comprises at least one tab

member and one recess formed on a side of the container. More preferred is the

arrangement wherein the second locking means comprises a locking device on both sides

of the container with the first locking means being located on the front of the container.

In the preferred arrangement, the first locking means comprises a tab member

extending upwardly from the front wall of the bottom member with the tab being formed

integrally as a portion of the package. The tab preferably has an outwardly extending

flange and an upper portion thereof which will fit within a recess formed within the front

wall of the cover member. Formation of the tab per se in the operation thereof is

conventional as is known with previously existing tab locking devices. Operation of the

first locking means to unlock the container consists of an inward pressure applied on the

front wall of the bottom portion proximate the tab member to thereby urge the tab member

from its engagement with the recess and thereby permit movement of the cover.

To provide the sequential status of the child resistant features in this embodiment,

the second locking means are located on the side of the container. Preferably identical

blocking devices on each of the opposed sides are utilized. The preferred embodiment

again utilises a tab extending upwardly from the marginal edge of the side walls of the

cover member and recess is located in the side walls of the cover member. The recesses

may be formed in the side walls or in the alternative, may merely consist of apertures with

which the tab member engages and enters into a locking relationship.

The blocking devices of the second locking means provide for a limited movement

of the cover member vis-a-vis the bottom member when in a locked position. In other

words, the engagement of the tab member with the recess still permits a limited upward

movement of the cover member. With this arrangement, the first locking means may be

unlocked and the cover member moved upwardly to prevent relocking thereof while the

second locking means remain in a locked position.

The blocking devices of the second locking means are provided with a means to

limit movement of the tab members. This arrangement is such as to prevent too much of

an inward force being placed on the tab members which could permanently deform the tab

members and/or break the same. If such were to happen, the container becomes relatively

easily accessible in that only movement of the first locking means is required to access the

contents of the container.

Preferably, the arrangement is such that when pressure is exerted on the front wall

of the bottom member proximate the tab member to move it out of a locking relationship

with the corresponding recess, this pressure transmits a force to the side walls of the

bottom member which tends to force the tab members of the second locking means into

tighter engagement with their corresponding recesses. Thus, barring the use of unusual

force, all the locking members cannot be opened simultaneously.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a separate cover

member which may be utilized with different types of container bottoms. The cover

member will be designed to seat on containers of different sizes and will provide the

security features described in the previous embodiment.

In a still further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a hinge

arrangement which may be utilized with the cover of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Having thus generally described the invention, reference will be made to the

accompanying drawings illustrating an embodiment thereof, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a container according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the container in an open position;

Figure 3 is a top plan view thereof;

Figure 4 is a front elevational view thereof;

Figure 5 is a side elevational view thereof;

Figures 6A to 6C illustrate the opening sequence of the container;

Figure 7 is a cross sectional view taken along the lines 7 - 7 of Figure 4, with the

cover being shown in an exploded relationship;

Figure 8 is a view taken along the lines 8 - 8 of Figure 5, with the cover and bottom

being shown in an exploded relationship;

Figures 9 A to 9D illustrate opening of the container;

Figure 10 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of a container according to

the present invention;

Figure 11 is a perspective view of a closure suitable for use with a different type of

container;

Figure 12 is a side elevational view of a portion of a container and cover according

to a further embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 13 is a top plan view thereof;

Figure 14A is an exploded view illustrating securement of the cover to the body;

and

Figure 14B is a view of the cover and body in an assembled condition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings in greater detail and by reference characters thereto, there

is illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 a container in a closed and opened position respectively,

and which container is generally designated by reference numeral 10.

Container 10 includes a top cover member generally designated by reference

numeral 12 and a bottom container member generally designated by reference numeral 14.

Bottom container 14 includes a front wall 16, a rear wall 18, and a pair of opposed

side walls 20 and 22. At the base there is provided a bottom wall 24 which has feet 26

extending downwardly therefrom.

At the upper end of bottom container member 14, there is provided an upper wall

section 32. At the portion adjacent front wall 16, there is provided a rib or protrusion 34.

On the exterior of front wall 16 and adjacent upper wall section 32, there is also provided a

reinforced portion 36.

At upper wall section 32 adjacent side wall 20, there is provided an upwardly

extending tab member 40 which includes a locking button portion 42. Button portion 42 is

substantially hemispherical in configuration.

Cover or top member 12 is connected to bottom container member 14 by means of a

living hinge 46. Top member includes a front wall 48, a rear wall 50, and a pair of

opposed side walls 52 and 54 along with a top wall 56.

Formed within front wall 48 of top member 12 is a recess 58 which is designed to

engage with rib or protrusion 34. On side wall 52, a hemispherical aperture or cut out 60 is

provided and which is designed to engage with locking button 42 on tab 40.

Extending downwardly from the inner surface of top wall 56 are a pair of guard

members 64 and 66 for reasons which will become apparent hereinbelow.

On the other side of upper wall portion 32, there is likewise provided a tab 68

having a locking button 70 formed thereon. Similarly, side wall 54 of cover 12 includes an

aperture or a cut out 72.

As may be best seen in Figure 8, a pair of protrusions 74 and 76 are formed on the

interface of side wall 52 of cover 12 and which are designed to seat within respective

recesses 78 and 80 formed in upper wall section 32. A similar arrangement is provided on

the other side.

In operation, and as may be best seen in Figures 9A to 9D, initially reinforced

portion 36 on front wall 16 of container portion 14 is pushed inwardly to release from

locking engagement protrusion 34 with recess 58 formed on front wall 48 of cover 12.

Due to the fact that apertures 60 and 72 are slightly larger than button portions 42 and 70, a

slight upward movement of cover 12 is permitted. Subsequently, pressure on locking

buttons 42 and 70 will cause disengagement of the locking buttons 42, 70 as well as

protrusions 74 and 76 as is clearly seen in Figure 9C. This will permit full opening of

cover 12. As will be noted in Figure 9C, guard member 64 prevents excessive movement

of tab 40. Otherwise, the tab could remain in an inward position and the effectiveness

thereof is destroyed.

Reference will now be made to the embodiment of Figures 10 and 11, which

illustrate an arrangement using a closure member in conjunction with a different type of

container.

As the embodiments are similar, similar references numerals in the 100's and 200's

will be used for similar components.

As shown in Figure 10, there is provided a closure generally designated by reference

numeral 110 and which comprises the cover member 112 and a body portion 111 similar to

that of the previously described container. In this arrangement, the closure 110 is designed

to be fit on a bottom container member 114 by means of a snap fit as is well known in the

art. To this end, bottom container portion 114 has, at an upper edge thereof, a flange 180 ,

defining a recess 182 extending about the periphery of the lower container member 114. A

plurality of retainer projections on the inner walls of closure 110 are designed to pass over

flange 180 and fit within recess 182 in a known conventional manner.

As shown in Figure 11, a similar arrangement is used except that the closure is

designed to fit on a round bottom container portion 214.

In the embodiments of Figures 10 and 11, a hermetic seal may be provided across

the bottom container portion 114 and 214 by known means such as heat sealing and the

like. It will also be understood that in all embodiments, the bottom container member may

be of many different configurations and may itself have several compartments therein, each

one of the compartments having a heat seal or like member thereacross. It will also be

understood that the cover may come in two pieces without the living hinge and

furthermore, different configurations for the cover may be utilized.

Referring now to the embodiments of Figures 12 to 14, similar- reference numerals

are employed for similar components, the reference numerals being in the 300's.

In this embodiment, there is provided a separate cover member 312 which is

designed to engage with container 314. To this end, container 314 is provided with a cover

312 and which is secured thereto by means of hinge mechanism which will now be

described.

On rear wall 318 of container 314, there is provided plurality of C-shaped members

351 each having a recess 353 formed therein. Recess 353 is essentially a hemispherical

recess having a given diameter. In this regard, the entry to recess 353 is slightly less than

the diameter of the recess.

Mounted on the rear wall of cover 212 are a plurality of rod like members 355.

Member 355 has a slightly oblong configuration wherein a first diameter Y is less than a

second diameter X. Diameter X is approximately equal to the diameter of hemispherical

recess 353. Thus, as may be seen in Figures 14A and 14B, the arrangement is such that

diameter Y permits the easy entry of member 355 into hemispherical recess 353 while upon

rotation, as seen in Figure 14B, the larger diameter X, when the cover is rotated into the

closed position, will keep cover 312 from being removed.

An advantage of this arrangement is that the cover can be molded as a separate

entity leading to greater choices of material and a reduced cost. Naturally, it will be

understood that this described embodiment utilizing the hinge may be used in any of the

preceeding embodiments.

It will be understood that the above described embodiments are for purposes of

illustration only and that changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing

from the spirit and scope of the invention.