MXPA97004960A - Container assembly and non-proof closure - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a package of multiple components for safely storing contents that are to be reached only through the handling of the package, the package comprising: a closure that includes: a top wall, a skirt projecting from the upper wall: a radially flexible locking element including a locking tongue, the locking element is mounted on the closure for movement relative to the skirt, the locking tongue is connected to the locking element through a band at one site and the locking tongue is separated from the locking element at another location through a recess, and a closure thread located within an interior of the closure, and a container including: a receptacle portion, a threaded neck projecting axially from the receptacle portion; in the container and projecting away from the receptacle portion, which has a stop element for coupling the tongue In this case, coupling between the stop element and the locking tongue that prohibits the uncoupling of the closure from the container, the closure is locked on the container unless the locking tab moves in a radial direction near the bottom of the skirt towards a center of the closure. simultaneously with the rotation of the

Description

CONTAINER ASSEMBLY AND CLOSURE TO PROOF OF CHILDREN BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a child-resistant container and closure system, which provides for easy opening by adults, even of weak adults, but, nevertheless, requires manipulation that makes the closure be tough to be opened by children. The present invention is composed of a one-piece container of easy manufacture and a closure for said container.

DISCUSSION OF PREVIOUS TECHNIQUE The childproof package is used to prevent inadvertent access, by children, to potentially hazardous materials such as medicines, chemicals or poisons. The provision of child-proof packages usually increases the cost and can result in the package being difficult to open by an adult user. This difficulty in opening child-proof packages is combined when an adult attempts to open the package, is weakened, or has reduced manual dexterity in one or both hands as a result of, v. gr., arthritis. Older people tend to rely on medications more than an average age person, and they also tend to have resistance and manual dexterity damaged by arthritis or age. Therefore, older people may have a harder time opening child-proof packages. Childproof packages exist in the prior art. For example, the patent of E.U.A. No. 3,917,097 to Uhlig describes a closure with internal tabs coupling stops on the container. The uncoupling of the stops and tabs is achieved by compressing the opposing finger indentations to bend the tabs out of engagement with the stops, and then to rotate the closure. The flexing of the eyelashes in this device requires the deformation of the circumference of the closure through the fingers of a user. The patent of E.U.A. No. 3,984,021, also by Uhlig, and the patent of E.U.A. No. 3,941,268 to Owens et al., Describe closures with internal tabs, which couple the stops on the container. Again, the uncoupling of the tabs and stops is achieved by bending the opposite sides of the closure until the tabs and stops are uncoupled, and then the closure is rotated. A similar concept is described in the patent of E.U.A. No. 3,993,208 of Ostrowesky. These devices also require the bending of the circumference of the closure to uncouple the locking attachment. Finally, the patent of E.U.A. No. 5,230,433 to Hamilton et al. Discloses a seal with detents, which engage push tab extensions projecting from a sleeve mounted on the container. The decoupling is achieved by compressing the opposing push tabs and rotating the closure.

Each of the aforementioned prior art closures have at least the disadvantage that they are not easy to remove by weak adults, since they require significant force to bend the outer circumference of the closure portion, to uncouple the locking mechanisms between the closure and the container. The patent of E. U.A. No. 4,948, 002 and the patent design of E. U .A. No. 330,677 also describe child-proof packages. These packages have the disadvantage that the part of the package that must be manipulated to uncouple the working portion is on the container. As a result, the user must manipulate the container with one hand to uncouple the locking accessory, and must manipulate the closure with the other hand by turning the closure to unscrew it from the container. Thus, manual dexterity of both hands is required to remove the closure, making the closure difficult to remove by those with a weak hand. These packages are also difficult to manufacture as they use a complicated two-piece container assembly, as well as a one piece fitting assembly adapted on the container assembly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a child-proof closure and container combination that avoids access to container contents by children, which is relatively easy to be removed by an adult, even by a weak adult who has manual dexterity only in one hand. Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a childproof package, which is easy and inexpensive to manufacture and assemble. The present invention is a combination of a closure and a container. The closure has a top wall, an annular skirt, and a closure thread located inside the closure. At least one movable, compressible panel is molded in the annular skirt, and a locking tab is formed on each movable panel. The movable panels are separated from the skirt through gaps, which makes the movable panels easier and radially deformable by the fingers of a user. Preferably, two or more movable panels and locking tongues are provided on the closure. The container includes a receptacle portion to hold the contents. A threaded neck projects upwardly from the receptacle portion. A ring encloses the neck, and includes at least one stationary locking projection. The ring can be formed through the upper shoulder of the container. Preferably, two stationary locking tongues are provided on the ring. The stationary stationary projections engage the locking tabs on the closure, so that the locking tabs prohibit rotation of the closure outside the neck of the container, unless the movable panels are compressed. The closure and the container can each be made of plastic, although the container can alternatively be made of glass. The closing thread, which secures the closure to the container, can be on an annular threaded skirt, which projects from the upper wall of the closure. The annular threaded skirt and the annular skirt are substantially concentric. The annular skirt can be ribbed or have ribs to facilitate the grip by the user. Advantageously, there are two of each of the movable panels, the locking tongues and the stationary locking projections. The movable panels are advantageously located 180 ° apart from the circumference of the closure. Typical products that can be stored within the childproof container of the present invention include, but are not limited to, liquid or solid medicines, pills, prescriptions, treatments, as well as soaps, detergents, pesticides, poisons, solvents, products industrial chemicals, and the like. The closure and container combination according to the present invention is capable of being manufactured with conventional equipment used in the manufacture of containers, both glass and plastic, without any substantially heavy modification for said equipment. Conventional plastic or glass molding techniques can be used to construct the package of the present invention without difficulty. The container can be manufactured, v. gr., through normal bottle injection molding machines.

The closure and container combination of the present invention has numerous advantages. First, it can be easily manufactured as a one-piece bottle and a one-piece closure. Secondly, it is not necessary to manipulate both the bottle and the closure to open the package. The closure of the present invention is advantageously designed with movable panels, which allow the closure to be threaded onto the container using automatic threading machinery without additional equipment for handling the closure or the container. Finally, the package does not require significant bending force to decouple the locking portions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 shows a side view of a first embodiment of the container portion of the present invention; Figure 2 shows a side view of a first embodiment of a closure of the present invention; Figure 3 shows a top view of the closure of Figure 2; Figure 4 shows a cross-sectional view, along line IV-IV, of the closure of Figure 2, and shows the locking tongues of the closure; Figure 5 shows a side view in cross section, along the line V-V of the closure of Figure 3; Figure 6 shows a cross-sectional side view, along line VI-VI, of the closure of Figure 3; Figure 7 shows a top view of the container of Figure 1; Figure 8 shows a detailed cross-sectional view, along the line VI I I-VI I I, of the area of the movable panel of the closure of Figure 6; Figure 9 shows a detailed side view of a stationary locking projection of the present invention; Figure 10 shows a top view in detail of a stationary stationary projection of the present invention; Figure 1 1 shows an extreme end view of a stationary stationary projection of the present invention; Figure 12 shows an alternative embodiment of the locking tongue of the present invention; and Figure 13 shows an alternative embodiment of the container of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Figures 1 -13 show the construction of a child resistant container and closure combination of the present invention.

A closure 1 10 is mounted on a container 150 through interlocking threads 154, 232, to prevent access to the contents of the container. The closure 1 10 includes an upper wall 12, which has a generally circular shape. Projecting from the upper wall 112 is an annular skirt 114. In the closure of Figure 2, the annular skirt 114 is widened, allowing a wider scale of movement of the movable panels 116, 116 '. A wider scale of the radial movement for the movable panels 116, 116 'makes them less easily manipulated by the small hands of the children, thus ensuring that the closure is especially safe against removal by a child. The annular skirt 114 includes at least one radially flexible locking device, such as the movable panel 116. Preferably, two movable panels 116, 116 'are provided, although other numbers are possible. The annular skirt 114 may include grooves or ribs 114a, which facilitate grip of the closure 110. The outer surface of the movable panels 116, 116 'preferably should not include grooves or ribs, thereby distracting children from grasping or manipulating them. mobile panels 116, 116 '. Molded to a radially internal surface of each of the movable panels 116, 116 ', is a locking tab 120, which has a rectangular cross section, or may have a surface formed as a circular arc 300. (See Figure 8 and 12). The circular arc 300, 300 'of the locking tongues 120, 120' can facilitate the locking tongue 120, 120 'on the stationary locking projections 164, 164' during the tension of the closure 110 on the neck 152 of the container. A portion of the locking tongues 120, 120 ', closest to the upper wall 112, is integrally molded to the movable panels 116, 116' in the band 301, 301 '. The other portion of the locking tongues 120, 120 'is separated from the movable panel 116, 116' through recesses G, G '. The recesses G, G 'between the locking tongues 120 and 120' and the movable panels 116, 116 'allow the locking tongues 120, 120' to bend in the radial direction, allowing the locking tongues 120, 120 'to bend around of the stationary stationary projections 164, 164 ', during the tension of the closure 110 on the container 150. The stationary stationary projections 164, 164' pass through the gaps G, G 'during the tension of the closure 110 on the neck 152 of the container. Figure 6 shows a cross section of the closure, showing the interior of the closure. The annular threaded skirt 132 projects from the upper wall 112 and is generally concentric with the annular skirt 114. The threads 232 on the threaded skirt 132 engage corresponding threads 154 on a neck 152 of the container to hold the closure 110 on the container 150. The threads 232 may have a length sufficient to ensure that the locking tabs 120, 120 'run over the stationary locking projections 164, 164' when the closure 110 is tightened on the neck 152 of the container. The closure 110 may include stabilization bands 700, which provide stability between the annular skirt 114 and the annular threaded skirt 132. In addition, the thread system on the closure 110 and the container 150 may include multiple threads. Two or more separate threads may be included on the closure 110 and the container 150. The US patent. No. 5,213,225 teaches said system, wherein the threads only enclose the closure and neck of the container by a fraction of a circumference. Using this system, the closure only requires a partial rotation to be removed from the neck of the container. This aspect of "quick opening" can be advantageous for those users who find it difficult to open containers. The structure of a container according to one embodiment of the present invention is generally shown in Figures 1 and 7. In Figure 1, the container 150 is shown as having a containment portion 158. The neck 152 extends upwardly from the container shoulder 168. This neck 152 has an annular lip 162 defining an opening through which the contents of the container can be filled. container 150. Surrounding the neck 152 is at least one container thread 154. The thread 154 engages a corresponding thread 232 on the closure 110 to secure the closure 110 on the container 150. Enlarging outwardly of the neck 152 is a ring or extension 160. The extension 160 has an outer perimeter 156 that exits with the container body 158. The extension 160 can be defined by a generally flat ring-shaped ring, or concentric floor with the container axis 150 (Figure 1) , or it can be a flange projecting from the neck 152 of the container (Figure 13). Mounted on extension 160 is a stationary stationary projection 164. In FIG. 1, two stationary stationary projections 164 and 164 'are shown. As shown in Figure 10, the stationary stationary projections 164, 164 'have a radially outer surface 400. The outer surface 400 is configured in the shape of a circular arc with a central point corresponding to the axis of the container 150. A locking face 402 extends along a radius of the axis of the container 150. Preferably, an inner surface 401 is formed perpendicular to the locking face 402. The inner surface 401 need not be perpendicular to the locking face 402, however, and only needs to be a surface which, from its leading edge 405 to its trailing edge 406, projects radially inwardly . This radial inward projection of the inner surface 401 ensures that the locking tabs 120, 120 'will be deformed radially inward as they travel over the stationary locking projections 164, 164'. The internal surface 402 is preferably formed on a dividing line of the mold used to make the container 150. During the operation of the closure 110 of the present invention, as the closure 110 rotates on the threads 154, in a tightening direction, the circular arc 300, 300 of the locking tongues 120, 120 '(or in the embodiment of Figure 12, the anterior corner 303 of the locking tongue 120) comes into contact with the inner surface 401 of the stationary locking projection 164 in the leading edge 405. In addition the rotation of the closure 110 in the tightening direction flexes the locking tongues 120, 120 'radially inwardly, so that the radially outer surface of the locking tongues 120, 120' slides along the internal surface 401. As the locking tabs 120, 120 'slide along the inner surface 401, the stationary locking projections 164, 164' pass towards the gap G between the movable panels 116, 116 'and the locking tongues 120, 120'. After the locking tabs 120, 120 'have slid on the inner surface 401, the locking tabs 120, 120' are radially outwardly released so that the rear surfaces 304 of the locking tabs 120, 120 'engage. the locking face 402 of the stationary stationary projections 164, 164 '. The coupling between the back surface 304 and the locking face 402, both of which are located along a radius of the axis of the container 150, prevents reverse rotation of the closure 110 relative to the container without manipulation of the movable panels 116. , 116 '. To uncouple the closure 110 from the container 150, a user places a finger on each movable panel 116, 116 'and presses the movable panels 116, 116'. The movable panels 116, 116 'are easily flexed radially inwardly due to the gaps 500 between the movable panels 116, 116' and the annular skirt 114. These gaps ensure that the force necessary to decouple the locking lugs 120, 120 'is only that force necessary to flex the movable panels 116, 116' against the resistance of the hinge 600 of the movable panel. This radial movement causes the face radially outward of the locking tongues 120, 120 'to be positioned radially within the inner face 401 of the stationary locking projections 164, 164'. The rotation of the closure in a non-tightening direction causes the stationary stationary projections 164, 164 'to pass into the gaps G between the movable panels 116, 116' and the locking tabs 120, 120 '. In this position, the locking tabs 120, 120 'can rotate past the stationary locking projections 164, 164', under a non-tightening rotation of the closure 110 relative to the container 150. After the locking tabs 120, 120 ' the stationary stationary projections 164, 164 'pass, the closure 110 can be unscrewed from the neck 152 of the container in a known manner. The use of locking tabs 120 allows compression of the movable panels 116 to directly move each locking tab 120 out of engagement with the stationary locking projections 164 and 164 '. In this way, the user has better control over the uncoupling of the childproof accessory than when the working tongue is only manipulated indirectly. In addition, since the perimeter 156 can be made to flood the annular skirt 114, a pleasing overall appearance is provided through the continuous character of the container 150 and the closure 110. However, since the holes 500 between the movable panels 116, 116 and the annular skirt 114, as well as the hinge 600 of the movable panel connecting the movable panels 116, 116 'to the upper wall 112, the locking mechanism is much easier to uncouple than a closure wherein the circumference of the closure must be deformed to open the locking mechanism. Of course, it is understood and expected that variations may be made in the construction principles described in the present embodiment, by those skilled in the art and it is intended that said modifications, changes, and substitutions be included within the scope of the present application. . For example, since two stationary stationary projections and two locking tongues have been shown in the illustrated embodiments, any number of such attachments is contemplated by the closure and container combination of the present invention. The scope of the present application is limited only by the language of the appended claims.

Claims (1)

1 . - A combination of closure and container, comprising: a closure, including: an upper wall; a dependent ring skirt; at least one closing thread; at least one movable, compressible panel separated from said annular skirt through at least one recess; and at least one locking tongue integrally molded with said movable panel, said locking tongue comprising a rear surface; and a container, said container comprises: a receptacle portion; a threaded neck projecting from said receptacle portion; and a ring adjacent to and surrounding said neck, said ring having located thereon at least one stationary locking projection, said stationary locking projection comprises a locking face, said stationary locking projection engaging said locking tongue by rotation of the threaded closure on said neck threaded in a first direction until said locking face engages the rear surface, the coupling between the locking face and the rear surface preventing rotation of the thread of the closure on the threaded neck in a direction opposite said first direction unless said panel movable is compressed radially inward. 2 - The combination according to claim 1, wherein said closure and said container are made of plastic. 3. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said closure is made of plastic and said container is made of glass. 4. The combination according to claim 1, further comprising an annular threaded skirt projecting from the upper wall, said annular threaded skirt comprises said closing thread. 5. The combination according to claim 4, wherein said annular threaded skirt and said annular skirt are substantially concentric. 6. The combination according to claim 1, wherein a radially external surface of said annular skirt has ribs on it. 7 - The combination according to claim 1, comprising two of said movable panels, two of said locking tabs, and two of said stationary locking projections. 8. The combination according to claim 7, wherein said locking tabs are circumferentially spaced 180 degrees apart, and said stationary locking projections are circumferentially 180 degrees apart. 9 - The combination according to claim 1, wherein said locking tongues are connected to said movable panels through a band a at an axial site, and wherein said locking tongues are separated from the movable panels through a gap. in another axial site. 19. The combination according to claim 1, wherein at least one stationary stationary projection comprises a radially internal surface, which projects radially inwardly from the leading edge to the trailing edge. 1 - A package of multiple components for safely storing contents that are to be reached only through the manipulation of said package, the package comprising: a closure comprising: a top wall; a skirt projecting from said top wall; a radially flexible locking element comprising a locking tongue, said locking tongue connected to the locking element through a band at one site and the locking tongue being separated from the locking element at another site; and a closure thread positioned within an interior of the closure; and a container comprising: a receptacle portion; a threaded neck projecting axially from the receptacle portion; an extension having a stop element for coupling said locking tongue, the coupling between said stop element and said locking tongue prohibiting the rotational uncoupling of said closure from the containersaid closure being locked on the container unless said locking tab moves in a radial direction towards a center of said closure simultaneously with the rotation of the closure. 12 - The package according to claim 11, wherein said closure and said container are made of plastic. 13. The package according to claim 11, wherein said closure is made of plastic and said container is made of glass. 14 - The package according to claim 11, further comprising an annular threaded skirt projecting from the upper wall, an interior of said annular threaded skirt comprises said closing thread. 15. The package according to claim 14, wherein said annular threaded skirt and said annular skirt are substantially concentric. 16 - The package according to claim 11, wherein said radially flexible locking element comprises a movable panel. 17. The package according to claim 11, comprising two of said radially flexible elements and two of said stop elements. 18 - The package according to claim 17, wherein said plurality of radially flexible locking elements are circumferentially spaced 180 degrees apart and said stop elements are circumferentially 180 degrees apart. 19. The package according to claim 1, wherein said stop element comprises a radially internal surface that projects radially inward from a leading edge toward a trailing edge.