EP0780318B1

EP0780318B1 - An adult friendly child-resistant package

Info

Publication number: EP0780318B1
Application number: EP19960203029
Authority: EP
Inventors: Nady Bilani; Johan Willy Declerck; Jelle Dankert Vuijk
Original assignee: Procter and Gamble Co
Current assignee: Procter and Gamble Co
Priority date: 1995-12-21
Filing date: 1996-10-30
Publication date: 2002-01-23
Anticipated expiration: 2016-10-30
Also published as: EP0780318A1

Description

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a package according to the preamble of claim 1 which is resistant to opening by the majority of children, yet which can be opened without undue difficulty by adults, also by those whose manual dexterity may, at least to a degree, be impaired.

Background of the invention

Child resistant packaging is understood to be a important concept for preventing inadvertent access by children, for example, to potentially dangerous liquid or dry products. However, inclusion of the child resistant feature adds difficulty and frustration for the adult user when attempting to open the package. Due to the difficulty in opening child resistant packages, many persons, especially elderly adults which may also have impaired strength and dexterity, could prefer a non-child resistant package substitute. Alternatively, when dangerous products are purchased in child resistant packages by adults, the child resistant package is often not reclosed in order to defeat the child resistant feature. As a result, the danger of child poisonings may increase in the homes.
The aforementioned problems are generally recognized in the packaging industry. Attempts to deal with these problems are also disclosed in the patent literature. For example, U.S. Patent No. 4,948,002 issued to Thornock et al. on August 14, 1990 discloses a package comprising a bottle, a collar which is secured in place over the uppermost portion of the bottle and a closure which is secured to the finish portion of the bottle. The collar preferably includes a pair of spring-like pushtabs containing vertical extensions which engage interlocking teeth on the innermost surface of the closure skirt when the closure is fully assembled onto the bottle. To remove the closure, the opposed pushtabs must be manually depressed prior to applying unscrewing torque to the closure to disengage the pushtab extensions from the interlocking teeth on the closure.
The package disclosed in '002 exhibits highly improved child resistance without significantly impeding access by adults. The closure of document '002 comprises two skirts: an outer skirt and an inner skirt. The inner skirt comprises the first engaging means to engage said closure to said container to get a closed package. This inner skirt ensures the leak tightness of said package when said closure closes said container. The pushtab is part of said outer and/or inner skirt. A closure having an inner and outer skirt can be injected and/or blow molded in one piece. The manufacture of a closure having an outer and inner skirt however is considered to be more complicated than the manufacture of a single skirt closure. Indeed, more tools are necessary to mold a double skirt closure with respect to a single skirt closure, a longer cooling time is necessary and more material has to be used for such a double skirt closure. Consequently, the costs for making a double skirt closure are higher with respect to a single skirt closure.
US 3989152 is a US patent to Sunbeam Plastics Co. It discloses a child resistant package according to the preamble of claim 1 comprising a cap with flexible lug, to be screwed onto the neck of a container, said neck comprising an abutment for said lug. When the lug is engaged with the abutment, unscrewing of the cap is impossible, unless said lug be manually depressed inwardly to escape from said abutment. NL-A-7514515 is a Dutch patent application to the Koninklijke Emballage Industrie van Leer B.V. It discloses a child resistant closure, comprising a cap with ribs, that is screwed onto the neck of a container comprising abutment means. Once screwed on to the neck said cap cannot be removed because the lugs engage said abutment means, unless said cap is pressed and deformed by the user, so that said lugs disengage from said abutment means. US 4429800 is a US patent to Donald Greenspan. It discloses a child resistant closure comprising a cap with a pair of lugs that fits onto a container having recesses for the cap's lugs to engage thereinto. For removing the cap, the user presses onto the lug and lifts the cap from the container. EP-A-452232 is a European patent application to Astra Plastique. It discloses a cap comprising a movable portion with lugs, that turns onto a stationary portion (or neck of the bottle) with abutment means. Once closed on to the neck, said cap may only be disengaged by pressing and deforming the cap's walls.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a child resistant closure which comprises a single skirt to reduce its manufacturing costs and enables the user to use only one hand to disengage this child resistant closure from the container, furthermore ensuring not only a child resistant, but also a leak tight engagement with a container.

Summary of the invention

The present invention is a child-resistant package comprising a container and a closure as defined in claim 1. Said package is suitable for storing and dispensing potentially dangerous products. Said container comprises an upper portion, said upper portion comprising a first engaging means for releasably securing said closure to said container. Said upper portion of said container further comprises at least an interlocking tooth. Said closure comprises an outer skirt and a top wall. Said closure further comprises at least one resiliently deformable pushtab, and at least a part of said pushtab is inwardly movable when a squeezing force is applied to said inwardly movable part of said pushtab. Said pushtab has an exposed surface contour which generally conforms to the exterior surface contour of the adjacent portions of said outer skirt. Said interlocking tooth and said pushtab are so formed and positioned to prevent removing of said closure from said container to open said package unless said pushtab is first depressed to disengage said pushtab from said interlocking tooth before said closure is rotated. At least part of said pushtab passes adjacent to the innermost surface of the interlocking tooth when disengaging said closure from said container. Said outer skirt further comprises second engaging means corresponding to said first means of said upper portion for releasably securing said closure to said container.

Brief description of the figures

Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a child resistant package of the prior art.
Figures 2a to 2e are exploded perspective views of embodiments of child resistant packages not forming part of the present invention. Figures 2f and 2g are cross sectional top views of another child resistant package not forming part of the present invention. Figure 2h is a front view of a child resistant package not forming part of the present invention. Figures 2i and 2j are partial cross sectional views of the interlocking tooth and the pushtab, the pushtab further comprising a guiding ramp.
Figure 3a is a front view of the upper portion of another embodiment of a child resistant package not forming part of the present invention. Figure 3b is a cross sectional side view of another embodiment of a child resistant package not forming part of the present invention.
Figures 4a and 4b are cross sectional top view of the upper portion of a child resistant package according to the present invention
Figure 5a is a partial cross sectional front view of an embodiment of a closure of a child resistant package not forming part of the present invention Figure 5b is a partial front view of the closure of Figure 5a Figure 5c and 5d are further details of the closure of Figures 5a and 5b
Figure 6a is a perspective view of an embodiment of a closure of a child resistant package not forming part of the present invention. Figures 6b and 6c are cross section bottom views of the child resistant closure of Figure 6a
Figures 7a and 7b show partial exploded front views of another embodiment of a closure of a child resistant package not forming part of the present invention.
Figure 8 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a closure of a child resistant package not forming part of the present invention.

Detailed description of the invention

An embodiment of a child resistant package (10) of the prior art is shown in an exploded perspective view in Figure 1. This package (10) is of the type generally disclosed in U.S. Patent 4,948,002 and comprises a bottle (12), a collar (32) and a closure (52). Said collar (32) is attached onto the shoulder portion (16) of said bottle, and said closure is rotatably and releasably secured to the finish portion (18) of said bottle. A possible means for rotatably and releasably secure said closure to said bottle is a combination of lugs and screw threads. Said collar comprises at least a pushtab (34) with a vertical extension (36) which projects above the top edge (40) of said collar. Said vertical extension of said pushtab interlock with interlocking tooth (62) on the innermost surface of the outer skirt (60) of said closure (52) when said closure is in its closed rest position. In the following, the "closed rest position" is the position in which said closure is fully threaded onto said finish portion (18) of said bottle
As described in WO-A-93/07071 on page 8, line 6 to page 10, line 17, said pushtab (34) may also be preloaded. This means that said pushtab exerts a pressing force against the innermost surface of said outer skirt (60) when said closure (52) is fully threaded onto said finish portion (18) of said bottle (12). Indeed, in this manner the child resistance of the package (10) is increased without at the same time causing a substantial increase of difficulty to open the package by adults.
In '002 as well as in '286, in order to unscrew closure (52) being in its closed rest position from said finish portion (18), said pushtab (34) must be depressed first with one hand. Consequently, said extension (36) of said pushtab is disengaged from said interlocking tooth (62). Then the user is able to unscrew said closure from said bottle (12) with the other hand. This two hand operation is necessary, since said pushtab is located on said collar (32) which remains fixed onto said finish portion during the unscrewing of said closure Therefore. it is impossible in practice to depress said pushtab and to unscrew said closure together at the same moment with only one hand
The need to squeeze the pushtabs with one hand holding also the bottle, while the other hand is unscrewing the closure, may be considered to be inconvenient and too complicated by the user This may be the case. for example, when a package, due to its unwieldy external shape especially around said pushtabs in the upper portion of said package, needs a whole hand lust to firmly hold said package The difficulty to hold a package may be further increased by increasing the dimension and/or weight of said package. Indeed, it may be more difficult in this case to hold the package (10) at its upper portion and to depress concurrently with the same hand said pushtab of the child resistant closure as described in '002 and '286. We found that said package may slip from the hand and fall on the ground, especially when elderly adults having impaired manual strength and dexterity try to handle such a package. Consequently, said package falling on the ground may break with a partial or complete loss of the content
To avoid the before mentioned inconveniences, there is provided a package comprising a child resistant closure which can be opened with only one hand. In the following this is called "one hand operation", in contrast to the "two hand operation" defined above. This is achieved by a package (100) comprising a container (Fig. 2a, 110) and a closure (Fig. 2a, 120). As depicted in Figure 2a, the container (110) not forming part of the present invention comprises a hollow body (111). Said hollow body comprises a base wall (not shown), a side wall (114) and an upper portion (115). Said container may further comprise a handle.
Said container (Fig. 2a, 110) is made of thermoplastic material. Such thermoplastic materials have been extensively described in the art and include vinyl chloride based resins, polymers and co-polymers derived from olefins, acrylic polymers and co-polymers, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene terephthalate glycol, or mixtures thereof. Said container can be made of single or multi-layer extrusion of such materials. It can also comprise recycled thermoplastic materials. A thermoplastic material used herein is polyethylene. The form of said hollow body may be cylindrical, whereby the cross section in a plane parallel to the container's supporting plane is square or rectangular, ovoid or circular. Said supporting plane is the plane on which said container stands on its base wall in its upright position.
Said upper portion (115) is located opposite to said base wall. Said upper portion comprises at least one interlocking tooth (119). Said upper portion preferably comprises a shoulder portion (116) and a neck portion (117), whereby said neck portion defines an opening (112). Said upper portion may be a transition piece which is attached to said container. Said upper portion further comprises a first engaging means (118) for releasably securing said closure to said container. Said first engaging means for releasably securing said closure to said container is located on said shoulder portion or on said neck portion. Said first engaging means for releasably securing said closure to said container is a combination of lugs and screw threads located on the outermost surface of said upper portion. Another first engaging means for releasably securing said closure to said container is a snapping mechanism comprising ribs and/or grooves also located on the outermost surface of said upper portion
Said neck portion may further comprise a spout (150) defining a reduced dispensing opening (151), as shown, for example, in Figure 3b. Said spout is attached on said opening (112). Said spout comprises a channel (152) and attachment means Said channel connects the interior of said container to said reduced dispensing opening. Said spout may be attached on the innermost or outermost surface of said neck portion (117). Said attachment means between said spout and said neck portion may be achieved by threading or snapping mechanisms. When said spout is attached to the outermost surface of said neck portion, said spout may further comprises said first engaging means being a threading or snapping mechanism. Said spout may further comprise the interlocking tooth (119).
Said shoulder portion (Fig. 2a, 116) may be an integral part of said container. Said shoulder portion may also be a transition piece, like said spout (113), additionally attached to said container around said opening (112). Said at least one interlocking tooth (119) is positioned on said shoulder portion. Said interlocking tooth comprises an inclined ramp (119a) and a radial wall (119b). Said shoulder portion comprises at least a pair of interlocking teeth opposing each other.
Said shoulder portion may further comprise a surrounding wall (Fig. 2c, 130). Said surrounding wall is concentrically aligned to said opening (112). Said interlocking tooth (119) may be a separate part, distanced from said surrounding wall (Fig. 2c), or may be part of the innermost or outermost surface of said surrounding wall (Fig. 2d and Fig. 2e). Said surrounding wall may be interrupted with a cut through the thickness of said surrounding wall (Fig. 2h). The dimension of said cut is such to give complete access to said pushtab from the outside of said closure, at least partially accommodating said pushtab (123). In this case, said cut in said surrounding wall acts as an interlocking tooth, as illustrated in Figure 2f. Indeed, said pushtab (123) has first to deflected inwardly towards said neck portion such that said pushtab is between said neck portion and said surrounding wall. In this case, said pushtab extends over the bottom edge (128) of said outer skirt (122) of said closure, as shown in Figure 2h.
An essential feature of the present invention is said closure (120) Said closuie comprises an outer skirt (122), a top wall (129) and at least a resiliently deformable pushtab (123) Said outer skirt comprises on at least one of its surfaces second engaging means (118a) complementary to said first engaging means (118) of said upper portion (115) for releasably securing said closure to said container. Preferably, said second engaging means for releasably securing said closure to said container is a combination of lugs and screw threads or a snapping mechanism comprising ribs and/or grooves, corresponding to said first engaging means on said upper portion
Preferably, said second engaging means (118a) for releasably securing said closure to said container is located above or under said pushtab (123) , when said closure stands in its upright position. The upright position of a closure is hereinafter defined to be the position of the closure in which the top wall (129) is the highest portion of the closure with respect to the rest of the closure Correspondingly, the first engaging means (118) on said container are located above said interlocking tooth (119),or under said interlocking tooth, when said container stands in its upright position. The first and second engaging means between said closure and said container is such to achieve a sufficient leak tight closing of the package.
As an option, said closure further comprises a plug (Fig. 3b, 154) closing said reduced dispensing opening (151) of said spout. Indeed, this plug fits into said reduced opening of said spout, as shown in Figure 3b. The plug plunges at least partially into said channel (152). In this manner, said plug further improves the leak tightness when said container is closed with said closure.
Another essential feature of said closure is said pushtab (123). Said pushtab is the part of said closure interacting with said interlocking tooth (119). Said pushtab may be part or attached to said outer skirt (122). Said pushtab has an exposed outermost surface contour which generally conforms to the exterior outermost surface contour of the adjacent portions of said outer skirt of said closure. This minimizes the chance of in advertent depression of said pushtab when said outer skirt is grasped. Said pushtab may be positioned anywhere on said outer skirt, e.g. at different distances from the top wall, as already shown, for example, in Figures 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d.
Figure 2a shows an embodiment not forming part of the present invention in which said pushtab is part of said outer skirt, and whereby said pushtab is formed by at least a pair of parallel slots (124, 124'). In this manner, said pushtab is fixed to said outer skirt along the drawn line (125) perpendicular to said slots. Therefore, said pushtab is cantilevered to said outer skirt of said closure. The same principle is used for the pushtab in Figure 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e and 2h Another possibility is shown in Figure 3a in which said pushtab is part of said outer skirt, formed by three slots (124, 124' and 124") and connected to said outer skirt through the transition poition (124a).
Thus an essential feature of the present invention is that a spring (126) is located between said outer skirt and said pushtab as illustrated, for example, in Figures 4a and 4b Said spring is made of a flexible and resilient arm (128). Said spring is attached to or part of the innermost surface of said outer skirt (122) at one end and attached to or leant against said pushtab at the opposite end of said flexible and resilient arm. In this case, said outer skirt (122) comprises a cut through the thickness of said outer skirt. Said cut has substantially the same dimension of said pushtab, giving complete access to said pushtab from the outside of said closure and fully accommodating said pushtab (123).
Said spring (126) according to the present invention is not limited by any particular form of said spring Indeed, said spring may be of several different forms, as shown, for example, in Figures 4a and 4b. Figures 4a and 4b illustrate a cross sectional plane view of a closure according to the present invention, showing said pushtab (123), said spring (126) and said outer skirt (122). Said spring comprises at least one flexible and resilient arm (128) which is attached to a part of the innermost surface of said outer skirt. As a preferred alternative, said flexible and resilient arm may be attached to or be part of the innermost surface of said top wall (129), preferably through a transition part connecting said spring to the innermost surface of the top wall
Figure 5a represents a cross sectional side view, illustrating an example of a child resistant closure not forming part of the present invention with a preloaded pushtab (123'). Indeed, in a first manufacturing process said flexible and resilient arm (128) is made substantially perpendicular to said outer skirt (122), as shown in Figure 5a. In practice, said outer skirt comprises a hinged pushtab (123'), said pushtab being hinged along the drawn line (Fig. 5b, 224). Furthermore, said pushtab and/or said outer skirt comprises at least a pair of lateral wings (Fig. 5b, 225). After the manufacturing of this closure with preloaded pushtab, said pushtab can be pushed down towards said outer skirt and locked within said outer skirt by said lateral wings, as shown in Figure 5b. Indeed, said lateral wings impede that said pushtab springs back to the initial position of Figure 5a, i.e. said lateral wings maintain said pushtab locked within said outer skirt. Therefore, this allows to provide a preloaded pushtab. When said lateral wings are located on said outer skirt, said lateral wings are over the outermost surface of said pushtab. Vice versa, when said lateral wings are located on said pushtab, said lateral wings press on the innermost surface of said outer skirt. To better conform to the exterior surface contour of the adjacent portions of said outer skirt, said pushtab and/or said outer skirt may preferably further comprise recesses (Fig. 5c, 227) corresponding to said lateral wings. Indeed, said lateral wings may seat within said recesses, as shown in Figure 5d. In a similar manner, the spring (126) is preloaded, as well.
It is believed that preloading of said pushtab ensures positive locking with said interlocking tooth (119) even in situations where manufacturing tolerances drift beyond specific limits If no preloading of said pushtab is present, drifts in manufacturing tolerance can reduce the required amount of travel for said pushtab and thereby permit disengaging of said closure (120) with less depression of said pushtab. Furthermore, we found that adults having impaired manual strength and dexterity do not find the preloading of said pushtab to pose any additional opening difficulty for them. Indeed, the level of preloading is not so great as to significantly increase the total force required to release said pushtab from said interlocking tooth and permit disengaging of said closure. Therefore, the adults are more prone to reapply said closure to said package once the desired amount of contents has been removed rather than leaving said closure only partially secured to or completely off of said package after initial opening.
On the contrary, we found an improved child resistance when preloading said pushtab (123') and spring (126). While the precise phenomenon which produces said improved child resistance is not fully understood, it is believed that preloading of said pushtab and spring offers a degree of initial resistance to the depression exerted by children. This may discourage children from attempting to further depress said pushtab while concurrently applying an disengaging force to said closure (120). Thus, the chances that said closure will be inadvertently opened by someone who does not understand the opening mechanism is substantially reduced. Another benefit of a preloaded pushtab is that the resiliency of said pushtab is better preserved, especially when said pushtab and spring is made of a particular material, like polypropylene.
The packages disclosed in figures 2-8 are closed and opened in the following manner. In the simplest execution having screw threads as first and second engaging means, the maximum thickness of said pushtab (123) is greater compared to the thickness of the outer skirt (122). When the closure is screwed on the container to close the package, the innermost surface of the outer skirt passes in front of the outermost surface of the interlocking tooth. However, the pushtab, which has a greater thickness with respect to the outer skirt, has to be deflected to pass around the interlocking tooth. In this case, the deflection of the pushtab may be helped by a guiding ramp (131). The guiding ramp is an inclined ramp located between the innermost and the outermost surface of the pushtab and on the part of the pushtab which first comes in contact with the interlocking tooth when the closure is screwed in the closing direction. The direction along the guiding ramp can be substantially parallel to the direction along the inclined wall (119a), as shown in a cross section view of Figure 2i. Alternatively, the edge (119e), which is the interconnecting edge between the inclined wall (119a) and the outermost surface (119C) of the interlocking tooth, may point towards the guiding ramp as shown in a cross section view of Figure 2j When the guiding lamp is made like in Figure 2i, then the pushtab is inwardly deflected towards the container or said neck portion (117) whenever said closure is turned in the closing rotation On the contrary, when the guiding ramp is like in Figure 2j, the pushtab is outwardly deflected passing in front of the outermost surface (119c) of the interlocking tooth whenever said closure is turned in the closing rotation
Figures 2f, 2g and 3a illustrate the position of said pushtab. when said closure is fully threaded onto said container. Said radial wall (119b) of said interlocking tooth impedes that said pushtab may rotate in the reverse opening direction without first pushing inwardly onto said pushtab. Indeed, to unscrew said closure from said container, once said closure is fully assembled onto said shoulder portion (116), said pushtabs must be inwardly depressed as shown by the arrows (200) such that said pushtab disengage from said interlocking tooth. Said pushtab must be depressed until the thickness of said pushtab overcomes the innermost edge (119d) of said radial wall (119b). Now it is possible to turn said closure in the opening direction and to unscrew said closure from said container. Thereby at least part of said pushtab passes adjacent to the innermost surface of the interlocking tooth when disengaging said closure from said container. In case said closure comprises two pushtabs interacting correspondingly with two interlocking teeth on said shoulder portion of said container, then both pushtabs must be depressed together to unscrew said closure from said container. We found that a closure comprising two pushtabs opposite to each other further improves the child resistance to disengage said closure from said container without increasing the difficulty of disengagement by adults, especially by adults having impaired manual strength and dexterity.
The unscrewing of said closure from said container needs only a one-hand operation. Indeed, it is possible to grasp said closure (120) with one hand and at the same time to depress said pushtab(s) with one or two fingers of the same hand grasping said closure before turning said closure to open said package. This one-hand operation is allowed by the fact that said pushtab is positioned on said closure itself. Therefore, the other hand may be used only to hold said container without needing to interact in the opening operation. We found that packages, which are uneasy to hold due to their unwieldy shape, especially when these packages have a large dimension and/or weight, comprising the child resistant closure according to the present invention can be firmly grasped and easily opened also by elderly adults having impaired manual strength and dextrity. Therefore, the risk of having said package slipped from the hand is substantially reduced.
The squeezing force required to depress said pushtab(s) (123) is preferably great enough to be difficult for a child, yet low enough for adults, especially for elderly adults having impaired manual strength and dexterity to readily depress said pushtab(s) The preferied squeezing force for said pushtab(s) is believed to be in the range of about 2.2 N (0 5 pounds) and about 22.2 (5 pounds) In addition, said pushtab(s) are preferably substantially flush with the outermost surface of said outer skirt (122) of said closure (120) In this manner, grasping said closure about its outer skirt is unlikely to permit said pushtab(s) from inadvertently disengaging from said interlocking teeth (119). Rather, a conscious decision to squeeze said pushtab(s) must be made by the user to initiate the opening process. This minimizes the chance that a child will be able to remove said closure (120) simply by squeezing the entire outermost surface of said outer skirt (122) in his or her hand while trying to unscrew said closure
Figures 2c, 2d, 2e and 2h illustrate embodiments comprising a surrounding wall (130). In Figure 2c said interlocking tooth is distanced and a separate part of said surrounding wall. Again, said pushtab (123) has a greater thickness compared to the outer skirt (122) Consequently, the pushtab has to be deflected to pass around the interlocking tooth, as described for Figure 2a Again the deflection of the pushtab may be helped by the guiding ramp (131), preferably by the guiding ramp as shown in Figure 2i. Consequently, the pushtab deflects in such a manner that the outermost surface of the pushtab passes behind the outermost surface (119c) of the interlocking tooth along the inclined ramp (119a), herein referred to as inward deflection. This inward deflection is preferable, since a greater space for the deflection of the pushtab is available. Indeed, the free space in front of the outermost surface of the interlocking tooth is limited by the distance to the innermost surface of the surrounding wall. Similarly as for the embodiment of Figure 2a, when said closure is turned in the closing position, said pushtab is deflected, whereas the outer skirt passes between said surrounding wall and the outermost surface (119c) of said interlocking tooth. To open said package, said pushtab has to be pushed until the thickness of said pushtab overcomes said innermost edge (119d) of said interlocking tooth, as described before in Figure 2a.
Said interlocking tooth (119) in Figures 2d and 2e is part of said surrounding wall (130). In this case, said pushtab (123) comprises a downward extension (127). In Figure 2d said downward extension projects over the bottom edge (128) of said outer skirt (122) and is located on the innermost surface of said pushtab. When said closure is screwed on said container, said downward extension is deflected as usual by said inclined wall (119a) of said interlocking tooth (119), whereby the rest of said pushtab and said outer skirt remains above the top surface (129) of said surrounding wall. To open said package, said downward extension has to be inwardly pushed by depressing said pushtab until the thickness of said downward extension overcomes said innermost edge (119d) of said interlocking tooth The same principle applies to the embodiment of Figure 2e Figure 2g illustrates the same embodiment of Figures 2d of 2e further comprising two opposing interlocking teeth (119, 119'). This furthe opposing interlocking tooth (119') limits the movement of said pushtab once said closure is in its closing position. We found that this limited movement allowed in the closing position further discourages childs to open said closure.
Another child resistant closure (300) not forming part of the present invention is shown in Figure 6a. As shown in Figure 6b said pushtab (323) comprises an outer wall (310) and an inner wall (312). Said inner wall is connected with said outer wall. As an option, said inner wall is connected with said outer wall through a connecting portion (Fig. 6b, 314). A channel (Fig. 6b, 315) is delimited by said inner wall and said outer wall. When said closure is screwed onto said container, only said inner wall of said pushtab is deflected and locked by said interlocking tooth (119), as shown in Figure 6c. Said interlocking tooth passes between said inner and outer wall through said channel (315).
As described above, said radial wall (119b) of said interlocking tooth (119) impedes that said inner wall (314), and consequently said pushtab (323), may rotate in the reverse opening direction without any action on said pushtab. Indeed, to unscrew said closure (300) from said container, once said closure is fully assembled onto said shoulder portion (116), said pushtab must be inwardly depressed towards said dispensing opening (118) such that said inner wall (312) disengages from said interlocking tooth. Said pushtab must be depressed until the thickness of said inner wall overcomes the edge (119d) of said radial wall (119b). Now it is possible to turn said closure in the opening direction and to unscrew said closure from said container.
Said inner wall (314) may further comprise on its innermost surface a lateral wall (Fig. 6c, 316) on each side of said inner wall (312). Said lateral wall is parallel to said inner wall and is located slightly behind said inner wall towards said neck portion (117) between said interlocking tooth and said neck portion (117) when said closure is in its closing position. Said lateral wall ensures that said inner wall of said pushtab passes on said inclined wall (119a) of said interlocking tooth when unscrewing said closure. Consequently, said interlocking tooth is obliged to pass through said channel (315). This may be especially useful when said shoulder portion (Fig. 2a, 116) does not comprise a surrounding wall (Fig. 2b, 130). Indeed, it may happen otherwise that said inner wall of said pushtab may pass on the outermost surface (119c) of said interlocking tooth without having to first deflect said pushtab bypassing the child resistance of said closure.
An example of a closure (310) not forming part of the present invention comprising as first and second engaging means a snapping mechanism is shown in Figures 7a and 7b. Figure 7a illustrates the closure comprising the outer skirt (322). said second engaging means (118a) and said pushtab (323) Said pushtab comprises a lug (327) Said lug is an extension of said spring which interacts with said interlocking tooth (319) to achieve a child resistant closure of the package according to the present invention As a preferred option, said lug may be connected to said pushtab by a connecting part, similar to the connecting part (314) shown in Figure 6c Said interlocking tooth is located as before on the upper portion (115) of said container. Specifically, said lug interacts with said interlocking tooth in such a manner that said closure cannot be pulled off from the corresponding container before said pushtab is pressed. Indeed, only when pushing on said pushtab allows said lug to get free from said interlocking tooth, and consequently to pull off said closure from said container.
In an embodiment not forming part of the present invention said lug and said interlocking tooth are made as shown in Figures 7a and 7b. Said lug comprises a lateral extension (328) comprising a flat upper wall (329). Said extension may have a cylindrical shape. Preferably, said extension has a semi-rounded cylindrical shape which facilitates an easy snap-on of said closure on said container. Said interlocking tooth further comprises a roof (330) extending from the upper portion of said interlocking tooth. Said roof and said lug interact with each other in such a manner that said lug is located under said roof when said closure is in its closed position on said container. Consequently, in this position said closure cannot be simply pulled off from said container. Indeed, when trying to pull off said closure with an upward movement, said flat upper wall of said lug comes in interaction with the lower surface of said roof. Thereby a further upward movement of said closure is prevented.
The only way to open said container is first to push on said pushtab (323), thereby inwardly pressing onto said pushtab (323). Consequently, also said lug (327) is deflected away from said roof (330). Said closure can be easily pulled off once said lug is not vertically aligned anymore with respect to said roof. We found that this provides child resistance to said closure according to the present invention. When said closure is snapped onto said container, said lug passes on one side of said roof. Thereby said spring is deflected inwardly towards said container or outwardly away from said container. Once said lug has overpassed said roof, said spring returns to the undeflected position where said lug is positioned under said roof.
Another embodiment not forming part of the present invention is shown in Figure 7b. In this case at least a lug (327) is located on said pushtab on the lower portion of the outer surface of said pushtab (323). Said lug interlocks in between the arc (340). The arc comprises a roof (341) limited by two columns (342). Said lug is again under said roof in between said columns when said closure is in its closed position on said container. To open said container the same principle as discussed before apply also in this case. When said closure is pushed onto said container for closing, said spring deflects inwardly towards said container such that said lug snaps under said root
Another embodiment of a closure for said child resistant package not forming part of the present invention is shown in Figure 8 Said closure (400) comprises a housing (410) and a fitment (420) Said housing comprises said outer skirt, said second engaging means on the innermost surface of said outer skirt and cuts through the thickness of said housing corresponding to the location of said two pushtabs (423). Said fitment comprises said two pushtabs Said fitment is inserted inside said housing to complete the closure (400) which can be applied onto a container according to the present invention. Preferably, said housing has an upper hole (407) and said fitment comprises a hat (421) passing at least partially through said upper hole (407). In this case, said fitment provides the closure of said container.
Each feature described until here with the help of Figures 2 to 8 can be put in different combinations with any of the other features for a child resistant package according to the present invention as long as said combinations do not depart from the scope of claim 1. The closure described in U.S. Patent 4,948,002 comprises an outer skirt and an inner skirt. On the contrary, all the closures described above according to the present invention comprise an outer skirt only without an inner skirt. The child resistant closures without an inner skirt according to the present invention facilitate the manufacturing process of said closures. Indeed, more tools are necessary to mold a double skirt closure with respect to a single skirt closure, a longer cooling time is necessary and more material has to be used for such a double skirt closure. Consequently, the costs for making a double skirt closure are higher with respect to a single skirt closure.
Preferably, said closure (120) is made of thermoplastic material. Such thermoplastic materials have been extensively described in the art and include vinyl chloride based resins, polymers and co-polymers derived from olefins, acrylic polymers and co-polymers, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene terephthalate glycol, or mixtures thereof. Said closure can be made of single or multi-layer extrusion of such materials. It can also comprise recycled thermoplastic materials, A preferred thermoplastic material used herein is polypropylene. Different parts of said closure, like said pushtab (123) or said spring (126), may be made of a different thermoplastic material than said outer skirt (122) or top wall (129). Parts of different thermoplastic material may be co-injected together. Indeed, we found that said pushtab or spring of different forms (Figures 5 to 7) or of a different material with respect to the rest of said closure allows to vary the flexibility of said pushtab, i.e. to vary the force needed to be applied on said pushtab.
As a preferred option, said package (100) according to the present invention may further comprise a pilferproof system. The pilfer-proof system enables the user to check when buying the package according to the present invention filled with a product that said package has not been opened before by someone else Said pilferproof system may be achieved with bleak-off spurs (140) or with a pull-out ring (145) Said break-off spurs attach said closure (120) to said shoulder portion (116) This attachment achieved with said break-off spurs is easily broken off when said package is opened for the first time Said pull-out cover is a cover over said opening (112) or reduced opening (151) Consequently, the access to the content of said package can be achieved only after uncovering said opening from said pull-off cover. As a preferred option, said pull-off cover further comprises a ring extending from said pull-off cover Said ring facilitates the uncovering of said opening from said pull-off cover Indeed, the user may insert a finger in said ring. and consequently pull-off said cover.
Said package (100) according to the present invention is suitable for storing and dispensing potentially dangerous products. Potentially dangerous products are products which may hurt the health of children and adults when not used consciently and with the correct dosage. Medicaments and cleaning products are, for example, such products. These products may be in solid, tablet, granular, powdered, semi-solid, paste or liquid form. Preferably, said package according to the present invention contains liquid cleaning products, like a hard surface cleaner or a toilet bowl cleaner.

Claims

A child-resistant package (100) comprising a container (110) and a closure (120), said container comprising an upper portion (115), said upper portion comprising a first engaging means (118) for securing in a releasable manner said closure to said container, said upper portion further comprising at least an interlocking tooth (119), said closure comprising an outer skirt (122) and a top wall (129),said closure further comprising at least one resiliently deformable pushtab (123), and at least a part of said pushtab being inwardly movable when a squeezing force is applied to said inwardly movable part of said pushtab, said pushtab has an exposed surface contour which generally conforms to the exterior surface contour of the adjacent portions of said outer skirt, said interlocking tooth and said pushtab being so formed and positioned as to prevent removing of said closure from said container to open said package unless said pushtab is first depressed to disengage said pushtab from said interlocking tooth before said closure is disengaged from said container, at least part of said pushtab passing adjacent to the innermost surface of the interlocking tooth when disengaging said closure from said container, said outer skirt further comprising a second engaging means (118a) corresponding to said first engaging means of said upper portion for securing in a releasable manner said closure to said container, characterized in that said pushtab (123) is connected with a spring either (126) to said innermost surface of said outer skirt (122) of said closure (120) or to the innermost surface of said top wall (129).
A package according to claim 1 characterized in that said upper portion (115) comprises a neck portion (117) and a shoulder portion (116), said neck portion comprising an opening (112), said shoulder portion comprising at least said interlocking tooth (119).
A package according to claim 2 characterized in that said shoulder portion (116) further comprises a surrounding wall (130), said interlocking tooth (119) being located between the innermost surface of said surrounding wall and said neck portion (117).
A package according to claim 3 characterized in that said shoulder portion (116) further comprises a surrounding wall (130), said surrounding wall (130) further comprising at least an interlocking tooth on the innermost surface of said surrounding wall.
A package according to claim 4 characterized in that said pushtab comprises a guiding ramp (131) or a downward extension (127).
A package according to claim 2 characterized in that said shoulder portion (116) further comprises a surrounding wall (130), said surrounding wall (130) further comprising at least a cut through the thickness of said surrounding wall, said cut being dimensioned to fully accommodate said pushtab (123).
A package according to any of the claims 2 to 6 characterized in that said shoulder portion (116) is a transition piece attached to said container.
A package according to any of the preceding claims characterized in that said interlocking tooth (119) comprises an inclined ramp (119a) and a radial wall (119b).
A package according to claim 1 characterized in that said pushtab (123) comprises a lug (327) and said interlocking tooth comprises a roof (330).
A package according to any of the preceding claims characterized in that said pushtab (323) comprises an inner wall (312) and an outer wall (310).
A package according to claim 10 characterized in that said inner wall (312) further comprises a lateral wall (316) which is located slightly behind said inner wall towards said neck portion (117) between said interlocking tooth and said neck portion (117) when said closure is in its closing position.
A package according to any of the preceding claims characterized in that said pushtab (123') is preloaded.
A package according to claim 12 characterized in that said pushtab (123') and/or said outer skirt (122) comprises lateral wings (225), which will maintain said pushtab locked within said outer skirt.
A package according to any of the preceding claims characterized in that said closure comprises two pushtabs opposite to each other.
A package according to claim 14 characterized in that said closure (400) comprises a housing (410) and a fitment (420), said housing comprising said outer skirt and cuts through the thickness of said housing corresponding to the location of two pushtabs (423), and said fitment is inserted inside said housing, said fitment further comprising said two pushtabs.
A package according to claim 15 characterized in that said housing has an upper hole (407) and said fitment passes at least partially through said hole, said fitment providing the closure of said container.