CA3140771A1 - Child-resistant cap - Google Patents
Child-resistant cap Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA3140771A1 CA3140771A1 CA3140771A CA3140771A CA3140771A1 CA 3140771 A1 CA3140771 A1 CA 3140771A1 CA 3140771 A CA3140771 A CA 3140771A CA 3140771 A CA3140771 A CA 3140771A CA 3140771 A1 CA3140771 A1 CA 3140771A1
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- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- cap
- inner cap
- closure
- outer cap
- wall
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D50/00—Closures with means for discouraging unauthorised opening or removal thereof, with or without indicating means, e.g. child-proof closures
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D2215/00—Child-proof means
- B65D2215/06—Child-proof means based on the difference in size between children's and adults' hands
Abstract
A child-resistant closure for a container includes an inner cap retained in an outer cap, the outer cap being rotatable with respect to the inner cap; the inner cap having a gripping surface on a circumferential sidewall; the outer cap having a circumferential lateral wall defining at least one elongate cutout that exposes the gripping surface, the cutouts providing adequate contact area between a typical thumb and/or fingers of an adult, and the exposed gripping surface to allow removal, of the closure from a container, and inadequate contact area between a typical thumb, finger and/or hand of a child to allow removal of the closure.
Description
CHILD-RESISTANT CAP
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
f00011 Not Applicable.
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE
l00021 This disclosure pertains to child -resistant packaging and more particularly to internally threaded caps or closures that are highly resistant to removal from a container by a child, but which can be easily removed by an elderly, weak or infirm adult, BACKGROUND OF THE. DISCLOSURE
j00031 Child-resistant locking closures were invented in the I 960'sõ and have been widely used as a last line of defense against the risk of children ingesting dangerous materials, The Poison Prevention Packaging Act requires the use. of child.resistant packaging for most pregtiptien drugs, ovevthe-eounter drugs, household chemicals, and other hazardous materials that:could be dangerous for children.
[0004) There are now hundreds of child-resistant packaging designs available.
Most of these designs require two dissimilar motioas for opening, which are intended to be easy for adults, yet difficult for children, However, the 1.1,S, Consumer Product Safety Commission has stated that there isis no such thing as, child-proof packaging.
Thus, the objective is :to design packaging that denies access to most children, v,.thile allowing access to most adults. Existing child-resistant packaging is reasonably effective at preventing most children from opening such containers, while allowing most adults easy access to the contents of such containers. However, because most of these designs rely on a disparity between the knowledge, strength and/or dexterity of the typical adult as compared with the typical child, there are precocious and/or unusually strong or.dexterous children that will be able to open existing child,resistant packaging, and there are weak, elderly or infirm adults that will be denied access to the eontentS Of chi Id-teSiStant packaging.
[0005] Thus, there is a need for an improved child-resistant cap or closure for a container that allows fewer children to open the container and also allows more adults to open the container.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0006] The disclosed childqesistant closure has a screw-on inner cap covered by an outer cap. A griping surface on a sidewall of the inner cap is exposed through at least on-e cutout in the outer cap. The cutout or cutouts limit contact between the fingers and hands of a User and the inner cap to an area of the gripping surface that is sufficient to allow an adult to apply the force needed 'CO remove the cap from a container, while being too small to allow a child, especially a smaller child to contact a sufficiently large area of the .gripping surface to allow removal of the closure from the container.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a child-resistant closure in accordanee with this disclosure, [00081 figure 2 is a top perspective view of the inper cap of a child-resistant closure in accordance with this disclosure>
110009] Figure 3 is a bottom perspective view of the inner cap of the child-resistant closure.
[00101 Figure 4 is a top perspective view of the outer cap of the child-resistant closure;
[00111 Figure 5 is :a. bottom perspective view of the outer cap of the child-resistant closure, (00121 Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view showing threading engagement between the child-resistant closure and a container.
[00131 Figure 7 is an illustration of seven common techniques for removing a screw-on lid from a. container, 00141 Figure 8 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a child-resistant closure in accordance with this disclosure.
[00151 Figure 9 is:a perspective view of another alternative embodiment of a child-resistant closure in accordance With this diScloanre DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS
[00.1.6] Shown in Figure 1 is a child-resistan closure 10 in accordance with this disclosure. Closure 10 includes an inner tap 12 (shown in Figures 2 and 3)6 and an outer cap 14 (shown in Figures 4 and 5). As shown in Figure 1, inner cap 12 is nested within and retained by outer cap 14.
[0017] Outer cap 14 includes a lip portion 16 that extends radially inwardly of a lateral wall 24 that dep..nth from a top wall 19, In the illustrated embodiment, lip portion 16 is located at a bottom edge of wait 28, but could conceivably extend from an interior side 29 of wall 28 disposed in spaced relation to the bottom edge of wail 28, Lip portion 1.6 retains inner cap 12 within outer cap 14 so that it cannot be easily separated from the outer cap when the closure 10 is completely removed from a container, [0018] Inner cap 12 includes a top wall 41 and a depending circumferential S. ide wall 20 having an interior surface 21 provided with internal threads 34 for engaging external threads 36 on a container 22 (see Figure 6), and an exterior surface 23 provided with gripping features 32. In the illustrated embodiment, gripping features:
32 r,tomprise plurality t-if parallel elongate protuberances or ribs that extend vertically (Le., parallel to the screw axis of cap 12), however, other types of gripping features can be employed, such as hemispherical bumps, knurls, or the like, The interior side 29 of wall 2 is smooth and substantially free of protuberances, undulations or other relief features to minimize engagement between the interior surfaces 29 of outer cap 14 and the gripping features 32 of inner cap 12. The smoothness of the interior surfaces 29 of outer cap 14 prevents the application of forces applied to the exterior surfaces of wall 28 of Outer cap 14 to he transferred to the exterior surface 23 of inner cap 12 or gripping features 32. Rather, torque applied to extetior surfaces: of wall 28 of outer cap 14 would cause only the outer cap 12 to rotate with interior surfaces of outer cap 14 sliding along exterior surfaces of inner cap 12. This prevents a child from using gross motor control and large muscles to effect removal of the closure. Frictional engagement can be further reduced or eliminated by using a stiffer outer cap audlor providing an annular gap between the exterior lateral surfaces of the inner cap and interior lateral surfaces Of the outer cap.
[0019] The lateral wall 28 includes an upper elongate cutout section 24 and a lower elongate cutout section 26 that is spaced from the cutout 24 and separated from cutout 24 by a bridge portion 30. Cutouts 24 and 26 expose gripping features 32 on exterior surface 23 (if side,wall 20 of inner cap 12. The cutouts 24 arid 26: art sized so that substantially the entire surface of the thutnb. Of a typical adult can contact either the exposed gripping features 31, whereas the thumb of a typical child would contact a substantially reduced area of the exposed gripping surfaces. Therefore, a child would need to apply substantially more thumb pressure in order to apply the amount of force needed to unscrew closure 10 from a container 22. For example,, a typical adult has a distal phalanx portion of the thumb that is about 30 min long and ANA 20 min wide, whereas a typical Child might have a distal phalanx portion of the thumb that is about 25 mm by 15 MM. Thus, if the cutouts 24 and 26 are sized to have a length alorn-; the circumference that is about 30 mm and widths that are each about 6 trim with the bridge having a width of about 8 mm, the thumb of the typical adult would contact about 360 square millimeters of the exposed gripping surface, whereas the thumb of the typical child would contact only about 175 square millimeters.
Therefore, if the closure is designed so that a predetermined amount of pressure must be exerted on the gripping surface to allow a typical adult to remove the closure 10 from a container 22, a typical child would be required to apply more than. twice the amount of pressure needed by the typical adult to remove the closure. Stated differently, a.ti adult, size thumb can wrap around the bridge 30 to apply pressure and torque to inner cap 12, whereas a child-Size thumb cannot wrap around bridge 30 to allow sufficient contact with the exposed gripping surface.
[0020] The.
amount of effort needed to open the Container 22 can be .controlled by appropriate design of the threads (e.g., pitch, lead, thread angle, thread depth, etc.), and by providing the closure with a stop 46 that prevents over-tightening of closure 10 onto a container 22. Stop 46 is located on the interior surface 21 of wall 20 of inner cap 12, and includes a bottom or stop surface 47 that engages an upper edge surface 50 of bottle .22 to ensure that the amount of torque or force needed to remove closure 10 does not vary appreciably after it is tightened onto bottle 22, [0021] In the illustrated embodiment, inner cap 12 is provided with one-way ratchet ramps 40 on the upper surface of top wall 41. Ramps 40 each include a sloped surface 52 and a stop surface 54. Outer cap 14 can be provided with one-way ratchet ramps 42 on bottom surface 44 of top wall 19. Each of ramps 42 includes a sloped surface 56 and a stop surface 58. in the illustrated embodiment, clockwise rotation of outer cap 14 causes outer cap 14 and inner cap 12 to lock and rotate together when stop surfaces 54 and 58 contact.
Counterclockwise rotation of outer cap 14 causes caps 12 and 14 to sup or slide past each other as sloped surfaces 52 and 56 engage, causing only outer cap 14 to rotate unless adequate pressure is applied to the surfaces of inner cap 12 exposed through cutouts 24 and 26.
[0022] it has been determined that most people remove screw-on lids or caps from containers, such as medicine bottles, using one of seven different techniques illustrated in Figure 7, These techniques utilize both gross and fine motor control but can be categorized as either one of three. techniques predominantly utilizing gross motor control or one of four techniques predominantly utilizing fine motor control to execute the gripping technique.
Those techniques predominantly involving gross motor control rely on max imiziug contact.
between the peripheral side wall and/or top of the lid or cap and the fingers and/or hand of the user, The "cylindrical" and 'pronated cylindrical" techniques, each maximize contact with the peripheral side wall of the lid by placing the length of the index or middle finger, length of the thumb, and a portion of the hand between the index (or middle, ring, little finger) and thumb against the side wait and using larger hand/wrist muscles to achieve a grip that is strong enough to remove the lid: the difference between the techniques being the palm facing in the opposite direction of a comparable cylinder grip when the pronated cylindrical grip is employed. The lout commonly used techniques for removing a screw' on lid from a container that predominantly employ line motor control do not principally rely on contact between the hand and -lid, but instead primarily involve contact between the finger(s) and thumb and the side wall of the lid. These techniques generally involve contacting only the tip andlor pulp of the index finger and thumb at opposing, peripheral surfaces of the lid, the exception being the "box." technique, which involves placement of the thumb pulp and side of the middle finger knuckle on opposite lid surfaces:, and the index linger tip andior pulp on a peripheral side surface of the lid approximately half-way between the surfaces: contacted by the middle finger and thumb. In each of the techniques involving fine motor control, the grip needed to facilitate removal of the lid is established and maintained primarily by using the fingers and thumb, [00231 It has been discovered that children, especially smaller children that are at risk of ingesting potentially harmful substances (e4,, prescription drugs), generally rely on one of the techniques that predominantly utilize gross motor icontrol, because use of fine motor control is typically underdeveloped in smaller children. In contrast; it has been discovered that adults (without physical or cognitive impairments that affect their ability to open screw-on lid containers) more frequently use techniques that predominantly utilize fine motor control to remove a screw-On lid from a container, [0024] The child-resistant caps of this disclosure are desiRned to significantly limit the efficacy of techniques that predominantly utilize gross motor control for removing a screw-on. cap from a bottle Or other container. More prmisely, the disclosed designs prevent contact between the top of the inner cap and the fingers or hands of a user attempting to remove the lid, and also severely limits contact with the peripheral side wall of the inner cap, allowing substantially all adults (without physical or cospitive impairment that affect their ability to open screw-ou lid containeW, including the elderly, to remove the lid, while preventing substantially all children under the age Of five frOin removing the [0025] Shown in Figure .8 is an alternative embodiment 110 similar to that shown in Figures 1-6, but with the outer cap 1.1.4 having two upper elongate cutout sections 124 and two lower elongate cutout sections 120, each upper elongate cutout separated from a corresponding lower elongate cutout by a bridge portion 130. The cutouts expose areas of exterior surface 1,23 arid gripping. features 132 of side wall 120 sufficient to allow an adult to position an index finger tip or pulp .............................. OP one side of the inner cap and a thumb tip or pulp on the opposite side, and apply suffiCient pressure and torque to facilitate removal of the closure 110 from a container, While preventing a child froth removing the cap in a similar manner or from employing gross motor control and large muscles. Specifically, the cutouts limit exposure of the exterior surface 123 and gripping features 132 to an area that is not large enough to facilitate contact with surfaces of the user's hand, fingers and/or thumb that would allow closure removal techniques employing gross motor control and large muscles.
[00261 Another alternative closure 210 similar to closure 110 is shown in Figure 9.
Closure 210 differs from closure 110 by eliminating bridge portions 130.
Rather, outer cap 214 has two cutouts 124 on opposite sides of closure 210 The elimination of bridge portions 130 improve the efficacy of fine motor control grip interfaces while maintaining reduced efficacy of gross motor control grip interfaces. Stated differently, the elimination of bridge portions .130 make it easier for elderly or infirm adults to remove the closure, while still preventing the effective use of gross motor control and large muscles,. typically employed by children to remove'screw-on caps from. containers.
[0027] The above description is intended to be illustrative and not restrictive. Many embodiments and applications other than the examples provided would be apparent upon reading the above description. The scope of the invention Should be determined with reference to the appended claims along with the ful]. scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. It is anticipated and intended that future developments will occur, and that the disclosed systems and methods will be incorporated into such future embodiments.
[0028] All terms used in the claims are intended to be given their broadest reasonable constructions and their ordinary meanings. as understood by those knowledgeable in the technologies described herein unless an explicit indication to the contrary is made herein. In particular, use Of the singular articles such as "a," "the," "said,"
'7 etc., -should be read to recite one or moro of the indicated elements unie8s.
a &dm recites an explicit limitation to the contrary.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
f00011 Not Applicable.
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE
l00021 This disclosure pertains to child -resistant packaging and more particularly to internally threaded caps or closures that are highly resistant to removal from a container by a child, but which can be easily removed by an elderly, weak or infirm adult, BACKGROUND OF THE. DISCLOSURE
j00031 Child-resistant locking closures were invented in the I 960'sõ and have been widely used as a last line of defense against the risk of children ingesting dangerous materials, The Poison Prevention Packaging Act requires the use. of child.resistant packaging for most pregtiptien drugs, ovevthe-eounter drugs, household chemicals, and other hazardous materials that:could be dangerous for children.
[0004) There are now hundreds of child-resistant packaging designs available.
Most of these designs require two dissimilar motioas for opening, which are intended to be easy for adults, yet difficult for children, However, the 1.1,S, Consumer Product Safety Commission has stated that there isis no such thing as, child-proof packaging.
Thus, the objective is :to design packaging that denies access to most children, v,.thile allowing access to most adults. Existing child-resistant packaging is reasonably effective at preventing most children from opening such containers, while allowing most adults easy access to the contents of such containers. However, because most of these designs rely on a disparity between the knowledge, strength and/or dexterity of the typical adult as compared with the typical child, there are precocious and/or unusually strong or.dexterous children that will be able to open existing child,resistant packaging, and there are weak, elderly or infirm adults that will be denied access to the eontentS Of chi Id-teSiStant packaging.
[0005] Thus, there is a need for an improved child-resistant cap or closure for a container that allows fewer children to open the container and also allows more adults to open the container.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0006] The disclosed childqesistant closure has a screw-on inner cap covered by an outer cap. A griping surface on a sidewall of the inner cap is exposed through at least on-e cutout in the outer cap. The cutout or cutouts limit contact between the fingers and hands of a User and the inner cap to an area of the gripping surface that is sufficient to allow an adult to apply the force needed 'CO remove the cap from a container, while being too small to allow a child, especially a smaller child to contact a sufficiently large area of the .gripping surface to allow removal of the closure from the container.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a child-resistant closure in accordanee with this disclosure, [00081 figure 2 is a top perspective view of the inper cap of a child-resistant closure in accordance with this disclosure>
110009] Figure 3 is a bottom perspective view of the inner cap of the child-resistant closure.
[00101 Figure 4 is a top perspective view of the outer cap of the child-resistant closure;
[00111 Figure 5 is :a. bottom perspective view of the outer cap of the child-resistant closure, (00121 Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view showing threading engagement between the child-resistant closure and a container.
[00131 Figure 7 is an illustration of seven common techniques for removing a screw-on lid from a. container, 00141 Figure 8 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a child-resistant closure in accordance with this disclosure.
[00151 Figure 9 is:a perspective view of another alternative embodiment of a child-resistant closure in accordance With this diScloanre DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS
[00.1.6] Shown in Figure 1 is a child-resistan closure 10 in accordance with this disclosure. Closure 10 includes an inner tap 12 (shown in Figures 2 and 3)6 and an outer cap 14 (shown in Figures 4 and 5). As shown in Figure 1, inner cap 12 is nested within and retained by outer cap 14.
[0017] Outer cap 14 includes a lip portion 16 that extends radially inwardly of a lateral wall 24 that dep..nth from a top wall 19, In the illustrated embodiment, lip portion 16 is located at a bottom edge of wait 28, but could conceivably extend from an interior side 29 of wall 28 disposed in spaced relation to the bottom edge of wail 28, Lip portion 1.6 retains inner cap 12 within outer cap 14 so that it cannot be easily separated from the outer cap when the closure 10 is completely removed from a container, [0018] Inner cap 12 includes a top wall 41 and a depending circumferential S. ide wall 20 having an interior surface 21 provided with internal threads 34 for engaging external threads 36 on a container 22 (see Figure 6), and an exterior surface 23 provided with gripping features 32. In the illustrated embodiment, gripping features:
32 r,tomprise plurality t-if parallel elongate protuberances or ribs that extend vertically (Le., parallel to the screw axis of cap 12), however, other types of gripping features can be employed, such as hemispherical bumps, knurls, or the like, The interior side 29 of wall 2 is smooth and substantially free of protuberances, undulations or other relief features to minimize engagement between the interior surfaces 29 of outer cap 14 and the gripping features 32 of inner cap 12. The smoothness of the interior surfaces 29 of outer cap 14 prevents the application of forces applied to the exterior surfaces of wall 28 of Outer cap 14 to he transferred to the exterior surface 23 of inner cap 12 or gripping features 32. Rather, torque applied to extetior surfaces: of wall 28 of outer cap 14 would cause only the outer cap 12 to rotate with interior surfaces of outer cap 14 sliding along exterior surfaces of inner cap 12. This prevents a child from using gross motor control and large muscles to effect removal of the closure. Frictional engagement can be further reduced or eliminated by using a stiffer outer cap audlor providing an annular gap between the exterior lateral surfaces of the inner cap and interior lateral surfaces Of the outer cap.
[0019] The lateral wall 28 includes an upper elongate cutout section 24 and a lower elongate cutout section 26 that is spaced from the cutout 24 and separated from cutout 24 by a bridge portion 30. Cutouts 24 and 26 expose gripping features 32 on exterior surface 23 (if side,wall 20 of inner cap 12. The cutouts 24 arid 26: art sized so that substantially the entire surface of the thutnb. Of a typical adult can contact either the exposed gripping features 31, whereas the thumb of a typical child would contact a substantially reduced area of the exposed gripping surfaces. Therefore, a child would need to apply substantially more thumb pressure in order to apply the amount of force needed to unscrew closure 10 from a container 22. For example,, a typical adult has a distal phalanx portion of the thumb that is about 30 min long and ANA 20 min wide, whereas a typical Child might have a distal phalanx portion of the thumb that is about 25 mm by 15 MM. Thus, if the cutouts 24 and 26 are sized to have a length alorn-; the circumference that is about 30 mm and widths that are each about 6 trim with the bridge having a width of about 8 mm, the thumb of the typical adult would contact about 360 square millimeters of the exposed gripping surface, whereas the thumb of the typical child would contact only about 175 square millimeters.
Therefore, if the closure is designed so that a predetermined amount of pressure must be exerted on the gripping surface to allow a typical adult to remove the closure 10 from a container 22, a typical child would be required to apply more than. twice the amount of pressure needed by the typical adult to remove the closure. Stated differently, a.ti adult, size thumb can wrap around the bridge 30 to apply pressure and torque to inner cap 12, whereas a child-Size thumb cannot wrap around bridge 30 to allow sufficient contact with the exposed gripping surface.
[0020] The.
amount of effort needed to open the Container 22 can be .controlled by appropriate design of the threads (e.g., pitch, lead, thread angle, thread depth, etc.), and by providing the closure with a stop 46 that prevents over-tightening of closure 10 onto a container 22. Stop 46 is located on the interior surface 21 of wall 20 of inner cap 12, and includes a bottom or stop surface 47 that engages an upper edge surface 50 of bottle .22 to ensure that the amount of torque or force needed to remove closure 10 does not vary appreciably after it is tightened onto bottle 22, [0021] In the illustrated embodiment, inner cap 12 is provided with one-way ratchet ramps 40 on the upper surface of top wall 41. Ramps 40 each include a sloped surface 52 and a stop surface 54. Outer cap 14 can be provided with one-way ratchet ramps 42 on bottom surface 44 of top wall 19. Each of ramps 42 includes a sloped surface 56 and a stop surface 58. in the illustrated embodiment, clockwise rotation of outer cap 14 causes outer cap 14 and inner cap 12 to lock and rotate together when stop surfaces 54 and 58 contact.
Counterclockwise rotation of outer cap 14 causes caps 12 and 14 to sup or slide past each other as sloped surfaces 52 and 56 engage, causing only outer cap 14 to rotate unless adequate pressure is applied to the surfaces of inner cap 12 exposed through cutouts 24 and 26.
[0022] it has been determined that most people remove screw-on lids or caps from containers, such as medicine bottles, using one of seven different techniques illustrated in Figure 7, These techniques utilize both gross and fine motor control but can be categorized as either one of three. techniques predominantly utilizing gross motor control or one of four techniques predominantly utilizing fine motor control to execute the gripping technique.
Those techniques predominantly involving gross motor control rely on max imiziug contact.
between the peripheral side wall and/or top of the lid or cap and the fingers and/or hand of the user, The "cylindrical" and 'pronated cylindrical" techniques, each maximize contact with the peripheral side wall of the lid by placing the length of the index or middle finger, length of the thumb, and a portion of the hand between the index (or middle, ring, little finger) and thumb against the side wait and using larger hand/wrist muscles to achieve a grip that is strong enough to remove the lid: the difference between the techniques being the palm facing in the opposite direction of a comparable cylinder grip when the pronated cylindrical grip is employed. The lout commonly used techniques for removing a screw' on lid from a container that predominantly employ line motor control do not principally rely on contact between the hand and -lid, but instead primarily involve contact between the finger(s) and thumb and the side wall of the lid. These techniques generally involve contacting only the tip andlor pulp of the index finger and thumb at opposing, peripheral surfaces of the lid, the exception being the "box." technique, which involves placement of the thumb pulp and side of the middle finger knuckle on opposite lid surfaces:, and the index linger tip andior pulp on a peripheral side surface of the lid approximately half-way between the surfaces: contacted by the middle finger and thumb. In each of the techniques involving fine motor control, the grip needed to facilitate removal of the lid is established and maintained primarily by using the fingers and thumb, [00231 It has been discovered that children, especially smaller children that are at risk of ingesting potentially harmful substances (e4,, prescription drugs), generally rely on one of the techniques that predominantly utilize gross motor icontrol, because use of fine motor control is typically underdeveloped in smaller children. In contrast; it has been discovered that adults (without physical or cognitive impairments that affect their ability to open screw-on lid containers) more frequently use techniques that predominantly utilize fine motor control to remove a screw-On lid from a container, [0024] The child-resistant caps of this disclosure are desiRned to significantly limit the efficacy of techniques that predominantly utilize gross motor control for removing a screw-on. cap from a bottle Or other container. More prmisely, the disclosed designs prevent contact between the top of the inner cap and the fingers or hands of a user attempting to remove the lid, and also severely limits contact with the peripheral side wall of the inner cap, allowing substantially all adults (without physical or cospitive impairment that affect their ability to open screw-ou lid containeW, including the elderly, to remove the lid, while preventing substantially all children under the age Of five frOin removing the [0025] Shown in Figure .8 is an alternative embodiment 110 similar to that shown in Figures 1-6, but with the outer cap 1.1.4 having two upper elongate cutout sections 124 and two lower elongate cutout sections 120, each upper elongate cutout separated from a corresponding lower elongate cutout by a bridge portion 130. The cutouts expose areas of exterior surface 1,23 arid gripping. features 132 of side wall 120 sufficient to allow an adult to position an index finger tip or pulp .............................. OP one side of the inner cap and a thumb tip or pulp on the opposite side, and apply suffiCient pressure and torque to facilitate removal of the closure 110 from a container, While preventing a child froth removing the cap in a similar manner or from employing gross motor control and large muscles. Specifically, the cutouts limit exposure of the exterior surface 123 and gripping features 132 to an area that is not large enough to facilitate contact with surfaces of the user's hand, fingers and/or thumb that would allow closure removal techniques employing gross motor control and large muscles.
[00261 Another alternative closure 210 similar to closure 110 is shown in Figure 9.
Closure 210 differs from closure 110 by eliminating bridge portions 130.
Rather, outer cap 214 has two cutouts 124 on opposite sides of closure 210 The elimination of bridge portions 130 improve the efficacy of fine motor control grip interfaces while maintaining reduced efficacy of gross motor control grip interfaces. Stated differently, the elimination of bridge portions .130 make it easier for elderly or infirm adults to remove the closure, while still preventing the effective use of gross motor control and large muscles,. typically employed by children to remove'screw-on caps from. containers.
[0027] The above description is intended to be illustrative and not restrictive. Many embodiments and applications other than the examples provided would be apparent upon reading the above description. The scope of the invention Should be determined with reference to the appended claims along with the ful]. scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. It is anticipated and intended that future developments will occur, and that the disclosed systems and methods will be incorporated into such future embodiments.
[0028] All terms used in the claims are intended to be given their broadest reasonable constructions and their ordinary meanings. as understood by those knowledgeable in the technologies described herein unless an explicit indication to the contrary is made herein. In particular, use Of the singular articles such as "a," "the," "said,"
'7 etc., -should be read to recite one or moro of the indicated elements unie8s.
a &dm recites an explicit limitation to the contrary.
Claims
WII AT is CLAIMED IS:
1 A child,resistant closure for a container, comprising:
an inner cap rot.atably retained within an miter cap;
the inner cap it-winding a top: wall and a depending side wall having art interior surface and an exterior sttrface, threads on the interior surface c)f the side wall of the inner cap, aid gripping features on the exterior surface of dw side wall of the hiller cap; and the outer cap havirig a top wail and a depe-'nding lateral waII, the lateral \vai having a first cutout section exposing the gripping features On the 6Vetior Snrfaee of the Sidewal of the hitter cap, and the lateral wall having a smooth interior surface that prevents effective transfer of torque from the interior surface of the outer cap to the exterior surface of the inner cap.
2.The closure of claim I, wherein the itillt1 cap is rotattthly retained within the outer cap by a 6mi/inferential lip portion that projects inwardly from an interior surface or lower edge of the lateral wali of the outer cap, and supports a -lower edge of the side wall of the inner cap.
3 The dome of claim I, wherein the gripping features are a plurality of ribs, 4. The closure of claim I, wherein an upper surface of the top wall of the inner cap includes =a first one-way ratchet ramp, and a lower surface of the upper wall of the outer cap includes a. second one-way ratchet ramp, whereby the: first one-way ratchot ramp and the second one-way :ratchet ramp are dngagethie with each other to allow the inner cap and the outer cap to =be rotated together when the closure is screwed onto a container, and the first one.,way ratchet ramp and the second atieway ratchet tamp allow the outer cap to rotae freely with respect to the inner cap when the outer cap is rotated in an fvposite direction unless there is a predetermined amount of contact between the exposed exterior surfaces of the side wall of the inner cap and the thumb of a person routing the outer cap:
5. 'The closure yf claim I, wherein ail upper .surface of the top wail of the inner cap includes a pair of one-w4y ratchet ramps, and a loNwr surface a the upper wall a the outer cap includes .a second pair of one-way ratchet ramps, whereby the first pair of one.-way ratchet ramp and the second pair. of one-way ratchet ramp am ertgageable with eaCh other to allow the inner cap arid the outer cap to be rotated together when the closure ìss.erewed fmto colltainer,, and the first pair of one-way ratchet ramp and the second pair of one-way ratchet ramp alloW the ottret cap tO rotate freely with respeato the inner cap when the outer cap is rotated in an opposite direction unless there is a predetermined amount of contact between the exposed exterior surfaces of the :side wall.of the inner cap and the thurnh of a person rotating the. outer cap.
The closure Of tlaim l..Wherein the interior surface of the inner cap includes a stop that prevents the inne.r cap from being over-tightened onto a ef.mtainer, thereby facilitating wnoval. of the closure from a container Mien pressure from an adult thurrib is ;applied to the :surfaces kyf the exterior surfaces of the sidewali of the inner cap exposed through the upper and lower cutouts of the lateral walls of the outer cap.
The closute of claim I, wherein the. lateral wallof the outer cap has a second ciuout section expming the gripping features on the exterior .surface of the sidewall of the inner cap, the first and second cutouts arranged opposite :one another alking the lateral wall.
A child-resistant clog= for a container, COluprising:
= :an inner cap rotatahly retained within an outer cap;
the inner cap including a top wall and a depending side wall having an.
interior :surface and an exterior surface, threads on the interior surface of the side wall of the inner cap, and gripping features on the extexior surface of the side wall of the inner cap; rrcl the outer cap having a top wall and a depending hneral wall, the lateral wall haNing an upper elongate cutout section exposing gripping features OD a first:section of the exterior surface of the sidewall of the inner. cap, and a lower elongate cutout section exposing gripping features on a sect-mad sectim of the exterior surface of the sidewall of the inner cap, the upper cumt and the tower cutout tggether defining a bridge portion of the lateral!
wall extending between the upper and lower cutouts, the bridge portion 0-Awing a section of the sidewall between the upper and tOWer cutarts, The elosure of Claim 8, wherein the inner cap is rotatahly reuined within the outer cap by a circumferential lip portion that projects inwardly from an interim surface or lower edge of the lateral wall of the uuter cap, and supports a lower edge of the side wall of the inner cap.
10. The closutr, of claim 8, Vvhcrein the gripping features are a phtrality dribs.
11. The closure =of Claim .8, Wherein an upper surface of the tOp wall of the inner cap includes a first one-way ratchet nunp, and a lower surface =of the upper wall of the outer cap includes a second one-way ratchet ramp, whereby the first one-way ratchet ramp and the. sc-cond one-way ratehct my are engageable with each other to allOw the inner cap and the outer cap to be rotated together when the don1re ìs screwtK/ Mao a container, and. the first one-way ratchet ramp and the kaind. otte-Way ratchet ratilp allow the outer cap to rotate freely with respect to the inner cap µvhea the outer cap is rotated in an opposite direction ttnless there is a predetermined amount of contact between the exposed exterior surfam of the :side waH of the inner cap and the thumb of =a person rotating the outer cap, 1.2. The closure of daiiti 8, wherein an upper surface of the top wall of the inner cap includes a pair of one-way ratchet ramps, and a lower surface of the upper wall of the outer cap includes a second pair of one-way ratchet rainps, whereby the first pair of one-way ratthet ramp Mid the second pair of one-way ratchet: ramp are engageable with each other tr) allow the inner cap and the outer cap to be rotated together when the closure is screwed onto a container, and. the first pair of one-way ratchet ramp and the second pair of oneimay ratchet ramp allow the outer cap to 'Vac freely with respect to the inner cap when the outer cap is rotated in an opposiir direcfion unless there is a predetermined amount of contact:
between the eXpOsed eXterior surfaCeS ()..f thesì&wall of the inner Cap and the thumb of a person rotating the outer eap, 13. The closure of claim 8, wherein the interior surface of the inner cap includes a stop that prevents the inner cap front being over-tightened: onto a container, thereby facilitating removal of thc closure from a contthner when pressure from an adult thumb is applied to the 8rurfami of the exterior surfaces of the sidewall of the inner cap, exposed through the upper and loWer cutouts of the lateral walls of the ou:ter cap, 14, The closure of claim 8, wherein the outer eap has two uiver elongate cutout sections disposed opposite one another along the lateral wall, two 10\k'er eh-A-Tate cutout smtions disposed opposite one another along the lateral wall, and each upper cutout section associated with a 1.ower cutout section together defining a bridge portion.
1 A child,resistant closure for a container, comprising:
an inner cap rot.atably retained within an miter cap;
the inner cap it-winding a top: wall and a depending side wall having art interior surface and an exterior sttrface, threads on the interior surface c)f the side wall of the inner cap, aid gripping features on the exterior surface of dw side wall of the hiller cap; and the outer cap havirig a top wail and a depe-'nding lateral waII, the lateral \vai having a first cutout section exposing the gripping features On the 6Vetior Snrfaee of the Sidewal of the hitter cap, and the lateral wall having a smooth interior surface that prevents effective transfer of torque from the interior surface of the outer cap to the exterior surface of the inner cap.
2.The closure of claim I, wherein the itillt1 cap is rotattthly retained within the outer cap by a 6mi/inferential lip portion that projects inwardly from an interior surface or lower edge of the lateral wali of the outer cap, and supports a -lower edge of the side wall of the inner cap.
3 The dome of claim I, wherein the gripping features are a plurality of ribs, 4. The closure of claim I, wherein an upper surface of the top wall of the inner cap includes =a first one-way ratchet ramp, and a lower surface of the upper wall of the outer cap includes a. second one-way ratchet ramp, whereby the: first one-way ratchot ramp and the second one-way :ratchet ramp are dngagethie with each other to allow the inner cap and the outer cap to =be rotated together when the closure is screwed onto a container, and the first one.,way ratchet ramp and the second atieway ratchet tamp allow the outer cap to rotae freely with respect to the inner cap when the outer cap is rotated in an fvposite direction unless there is a predetermined amount of contact between the exposed exterior surfaces of the side wall of the inner cap and the thumb of a person routing the outer cap:
5. 'The closure yf claim I, wherein ail upper .surface of the top wail of the inner cap includes a pair of one-w4y ratchet ramps, and a loNwr surface a the upper wall a the outer cap includes .a second pair of one-way ratchet ramps, whereby the first pair of one.-way ratchet ramp and the second pair. of one-way ratchet ramp am ertgageable with eaCh other to allow the inner cap arid the outer cap to be rotated together when the closure ìss.erewed fmto colltainer,, and the first pair of one-way ratchet ramp and the second pair of one-way ratchet ramp alloW the ottret cap tO rotate freely with respeato the inner cap when the outer cap is rotated in an opposite direction unless there is a predetermined amount of contact between the exposed exterior surfaces of the :side wall.of the inner cap and the thurnh of a person rotating the. outer cap.
The closure Of tlaim l..Wherein the interior surface of the inner cap includes a stop that prevents the inne.r cap from being over-tightened onto a ef.mtainer, thereby facilitating wnoval. of the closure from a container Mien pressure from an adult thurrib is ;applied to the :surfaces kyf the exterior surfaces of the sidewali of the inner cap exposed through the upper and lower cutouts of the lateral walls of the outer cap.
The closute of claim I, wherein the. lateral wallof the outer cap has a second ciuout section expming the gripping features on the exterior .surface of the sidewall of the inner cap, the first and second cutouts arranged opposite :one another alking the lateral wall.
A child-resistant clog= for a container, COluprising:
= :an inner cap rotatahly retained within an outer cap;
the inner cap including a top wall and a depending side wall having an.
interior :surface and an exterior surface, threads on the interior surface of the side wall of the inner cap, and gripping features on the extexior surface of the side wall of the inner cap; rrcl the outer cap having a top wall and a depending hneral wall, the lateral wall haNing an upper elongate cutout section exposing gripping features OD a first:section of the exterior surface of the sidewall of the inner. cap, and a lower elongate cutout section exposing gripping features on a sect-mad sectim of the exterior surface of the sidewall of the inner cap, the upper cumt and the tower cutout tggether defining a bridge portion of the lateral!
wall extending between the upper and lower cutouts, the bridge portion 0-Awing a section of the sidewall between the upper and tOWer cutarts, The elosure of Claim 8, wherein the inner cap is rotatahly reuined within the outer cap by a circumferential lip portion that projects inwardly from an interim surface or lower edge of the lateral wall of the uuter cap, and supports a lower edge of the side wall of the inner cap.
10. The closutr, of claim 8, Vvhcrein the gripping features are a phtrality dribs.
11. The closure =of Claim .8, Wherein an upper surface of the tOp wall of the inner cap includes a first one-way ratchet nunp, and a lower surface =of the upper wall of the outer cap includes a second one-way ratchet ramp, whereby the first one-way ratchet ramp and the. sc-cond one-way ratehct my are engageable with each other to allOw the inner cap and the outer cap to be rotated together when the don1re ìs screwtK/ Mao a container, and. the first one-way ratchet ramp and the kaind. otte-Way ratchet ratilp allow the outer cap to rotate freely with respect to the inner cap µvhea the outer cap is rotated in an opposite direction ttnless there is a predetermined amount of contact between the exposed exterior surfam of the :side waH of the inner cap and the thumb of =a person rotating the outer cap, 1.2. The closure of daiiti 8, wherein an upper surface of the top wall of the inner cap includes a pair of one-way ratchet ramps, and a lower surface of the upper wall of the outer cap includes a second pair of one-way ratchet rainps, whereby the first pair of one-way ratthet ramp Mid the second pair of one-way ratchet: ramp are engageable with each other tr) allow the inner cap and the outer cap to be rotated together when the closure is screwed onto a container, and. the first pair of one-way ratchet ramp and the second pair of oneimay ratchet ramp allow the outer cap to 'Vac freely with respect to the inner cap when the outer cap is rotated in an opposiir direcfion unless there is a predetermined amount of contact:
between the eXpOsed eXterior surfaCeS ()..f thesì&wall of the inner Cap and the thumb of a person rotating the outer eap, 13. The closure of claim 8, wherein the interior surface of the inner cap includes a stop that prevents the inner cap front being over-tightened: onto a container, thereby facilitating removal of thc closure from a contthner when pressure from an adult thumb is applied to the 8rurfami of the exterior surfaces of the sidewall of the inner cap, exposed through the upper and loWer cutouts of the lateral walls of the ou:ter cap, 14, The closure of claim 8, wherein the outer eap has two uiver elongate cutout sections disposed opposite one another along the lateral wall, two 10\k'er eh-A-Tate cutout smtions disposed opposite one another along the lateral wall, and each upper cutout section associated with a 1.ower cutout section together defining a bridge portion.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/US2019/033900 WO2020242438A1 (en) | 2019-05-24 | 2019-05-24 | Child-resistant cap |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA3140771A1 true CA3140771A1 (en) | 2020-12-03 |
Family
ID=73553847
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA3140771A Pending CA3140771A1 (en) | 2019-05-24 | 2019-05-24 | Child-resistant cap |
Country Status (3)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP3976495A4 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA3140771A1 (en) |
| WO (1) | WO2020242438A1 (en) |
Family Cites Families (8)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3722727A (en) * | 1971-04-16 | 1973-03-27 | Sunbeam Plastics Corp | Safety closure for a medicine bottle |
| US4002258A (en) * | 1976-02-20 | 1977-01-11 | Plastisonics Company, Inc. | Child resistant closure |
| US4347804A (en) * | 1980-02-12 | 1982-09-07 | Medi-Timer Corporation | Mono-disc rotatory medication reminder |
| US4365722A (en) * | 1981-06-26 | 1982-12-28 | Kramer Steven G | Reminder closure |
| GB9310052D0 (en) * | 1993-05-15 | 1993-06-30 | Carters Drinks Group Ltd | Improvements in or relating to closures |
| KR200422318Y1 (en) * | 2006-05-02 | 2006-07-25 | 주식회사 태평양 | Safety cap of case |
| US20180370700A1 (en) * | 2017-06-21 | 2018-12-27 | Bryan Gregori | Child-resistant cover |
| US20190161254A1 (en) * | 2017-11-29 | 2019-05-30 | Cory J. Wilson | Child-resistant cap |
-
2019
- 2019-05-24 WO PCT/US2019/033900 patent/WO2020242438A1/en unknown
- 2019-05-24 EP EP19930500.4A patent/EP3976495A4/en active Pending
- 2019-05-24 CA CA3140771A patent/CA3140771A1/en active Pending
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| EP3976495A1 (en) | 2022-04-06 |
| EP3976495A4 (en) | 2022-12-21 |
| WO2020242438A1 (en) | 2020-12-03 |
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