EP0794128A1 - Fermeture inviolable à l'épreuve des enfants - Google Patents

Fermeture inviolable à l'épreuve des enfants Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0794128A1
EP0794128A1 EP97201330A EP97201330A EP0794128A1 EP 0794128 A1 EP0794128 A1 EP 0794128A1 EP 97201330 A EP97201330 A EP 97201330A EP 97201330 A EP97201330 A EP 97201330A EP 0794128 A1 EP0794128 A1 EP 0794128A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
closure
child
castellations
resistant container
assembly according
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.)
Granted
Application number
EP97201330A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0794128B1 (fr
Inventor
Witney Milner King
Roger Milner King
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Beeson and Sons Ltd
Original Assignee
Beeson and Sons Ltd
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from GB9114871A external-priority patent/GB2257693B/en
Priority claimed from GB9120264A external-priority patent/GB2260534B/en
Priority claimed from GB919122097A external-priority patent/GB9122097D0/en
Priority claimed from GB9124872A external-priority patent/GB2261656B/en
Priority claimed from GB919125397A external-priority patent/GB9125397D0/en
Priority claimed from GB9126242A external-priority patent/GB2262280B/en
Priority claimed from GB9201494A external-priority patent/GB2264108B/en
Priority claimed from GB9209299A external-priority patent/GB2267082A/en
Priority claimed from GB9209374A external-priority patent/GB2267076B/en
Priority claimed from GB9209420A external-priority patent/GB2267484B/en
Priority claimed from GB929210194A external-priority patent/GB9210194D0/en
Application filed by Beeson and Sons Ltd filed Critical Beeson and Sons Ltd
Publication of EP0794128A1 publication Critical patent/EP0794128A1/fr
Publication of EP0794128B1 publication Critical patent/EP0794128B1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • 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
    • B65D23/00—Details of bottles or jars not otherwise provided for
    • B65D23/06—Integral drip catchers or drip-preventing means
    • 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
    • B65D1/00—Containers having bodies formed in one piece, e.g. by casting metallic material, by moulding plastics, by blowing vitreous material, by throwing ceramic material, by moulding pulped fibrous material, by deep-drawing operations performed on sheet material
    • B65D1/02—Bottles or similar containers with necks or like restricted apertures, designed for pouring contents
    • 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
    • B65D1/00—Containers having bodies formed in one piece, e.g. by casting metallic material, by moulding plastics, by blowing vitreous material, by throwing ceramic material, by moulding pulped fibrous material, by deep-drawing operations performed on sheet material
    • B65D1/02—Bottles or similar containers with necks or like restricted apertures, designed for pouring contents
    • B65D1/0223—Bottles or similar containers with necks or like restricted apertures, designed for pouring contents characterised by shape
    • B65D1/023—Neck construction
    • 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
    • B65D25/00—Details of other kinds or types of rigid or semi-rigid containers
    • B65D25/02—Internal fittings
    • B65D25/04—Partitions
    • 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
    • B65D25/00—Details of other kinds or types of rigid or semi-rigid containers
    • B65D25/14—Linings or internal coatings
    • B65D25/16—Loose, or loosely-attached, linings
    • 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
    • B65D41/00—Caps, e.g. crown caps or crown seals, i.e. members having parts arranged for engagement with the external periphery of a neck or wall defining a pouring opening or discharge aperture; Protective cap-like covers for closure members, e.g. decorative covers of metal foil or paper
    • B65D41/02—Caps or cap-like covers without lines of weakness, tearing strips, tags, or like opening or removal devices
    • B65D41/04—Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers secured by rotation
    • B65D41/0407—Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers secured by rotation with integral sealing means
    • B65D41/0414—Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers secured by rotation with integral sealing means formed by a plug, collar, flange, rib or the like contacting the internal surface of a container neck
    • 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
    • B65D41/00—Caps, e.g. crown caps or crown seals, i.e. members having parts arranged for engagement with the external periphery of a neck or wall defining a pouring opening or discharge aperture; Protective cap-like covers for closure members, e.g. decorative covers of metal foil or paper
    • B65D41/02—Caps or cap-like covers without lines of weakness, tearing strips, tags, or like opening or removal devices
    • B65D41/04—Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers secured by rotation
    • B65D41/0407—Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers secured by rotation with integral sealing means
    • B65D41/0428—Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers secured by rotation with integral sealing means formed by a collar, flange, rib or the like contacting the top rim or the top edges or the external surface of a container neck
    • 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
    • B65D41/00—Caps, e.g. crown caps or crown seals, i.e. members having parts arranged for engagement with the external periphery of a neck or wall defining a pouring opening or discharge aperture; Protective cap-like covers for closure members, e.g. decorative covers of metal foil or paper
    • B65D41/02—Caps or cap-like covers without lines of weakness, tearing strips, tags, or like opening or removal devices
    • B65D41/04—Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers secured by rotation
    • B65D41/0471—Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers secured by rotation with means for positioning the cap on the container, or for limiting the movement of the cap, or for preventing accidental loosening of the cap
    • 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
    • B65D41/00—Caps, e.g. crown caps or crown seals, i.e. members having parts arranged for engagement with the external periphery of a neck or wall defining a pouring opening or discharge aperture; Protective cap-like covers for closure members, e.g. decorative covers of metal foil or paper
    • B65D41/02—Caps or cap-like covers without lines of weakness, tearing strips, tags, or like opening or removal devices
    • B65D41/04—Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers secured by rotation
    • B65D41/0485—Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers secured by rotation with means specially adapted for facilitating the operation of opening or closing
    • 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
    • B65D41/00—Caps, e.g. crown caps or crown seals, i.e. members having parts arranged for engagement with the external periphery of a neck or wall defining a pouring opening or discharge aperture; Protective cap-like covers for closure members, e.g. decorative covers of metal foil or paper
    • B65D41/32—Caps or cap-like covers with lines of weakness, tearing-strips, tags, or like opening or removal devices, e.g. to facilitate formation of pouring openings
    • B65D41/34—Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers provided with tamper elements formed in, or attached to, the closure skirt
    • B65D41/3442—Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers provided with tamper elements formed in, or attached to, the closure skirt with rigid bead or projections formed on the tamper element and coacting with bead or projections on the container
    • B65D41/3447—Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers provided with tamper elements formed in, or attached to, the closure skirt with rigid bead or projections formed on the tamper element and coacting with bead or projections on the container the tamper element being integrally connected to the closure by means of bridges
    • 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
    • B65D41/00—Caps, e.g. crown caps or crown seals, i.e. members having parts arranged for engagement with the external periphery of a neck or wall defining a pouring opening or discharge aperture; Protective cap-like covers for closure members, e.g. decorative covers of metal foil or paper
    • B65D41/32—Caps or cap-like covers with lines of weakness, tearing-strips, tags, or like opening or removal devices, e.g. to facilitate formation of pouring openings
    • B65D41/46—Snap-on caps or cap-like covers
    • B65D41/48—Snap-on caps or cap-like covers non-metallic, e.g. made of paper or plastics
    • 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
    • B65D50/02—Closures with means for discouraging unauthorised opening or removal thereof, with or without indicating means, e.g. child-proof closures openable or removable by the combination of plural actions
    • B65D50/04—Closures with means for discouraging unauthorised opening or removal thereof, with or without indicating means, e.g. child-proof closures openable or removable by the combination of plural actions requiring the combination of simultaneous actions, e.g. depressing and turning, lifting and turning, maintaining a part and turning another one
    • B65D50/041—Closures with means for discouraging unauthorised opening or removal thereof, with or without indicating means, e.g. child-proof closures openable or removable by the combination of plural actions requiring the combination of simultaneous actions, e.g. depressing and turning, lifting and turning, maintaining a part and turning another one the closure comprising nested inner and outer caps or an inner cap and an outer coaxial annular member, which can be brought into engagement to enable removal by rotation
    • 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
    • B65D51/00—Closures not otherwise provided for
    • B65D51/18—Arrangements of closures with protective outer cap-like covers or of two or more co-operating closures
    • B65D51/20—Caps, lids, or covers co-operating with an inner closure arranged to be opened by piercing, cutting, or tearing
    • 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
    • B65D51/00—Closures not otherwise provided for
    • B65D51/24—Closures not otherwise provided for combined or co-operating with auxiliary devices for non-closing purposes
    • B65D51/242—Closures not otherwise provided for combined or co-operating with auxiliary devices for non-closing purposes provided with means for facilitating lifting or suspending of the container
    • 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
    • B65D55/00—Accessories for container closures not otherwise provided for
    • B65D55/02—Locking devices; Means for discouraging or indicating unauthorised opening or removal of closure
    • B65D55/06—Deformable or tearable wires, strings, or strips; Use of seals, e.g. destructible locking pins
    • B65D55/066—Foil covers combined with outer closures and comprising interacting or interposed tamper indicating means visible through the outer closure, e.g. releasable coloured dyes, changeable patterns, pierceable membranes, visible through a transparent closure or through a window
    • 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
    • B65D77/00—Packages formed by enclosing articles or materials in preformed containers, e.g. boxes, cartons, sacks or bags
    • B65D77/04—Articles or materials enclosed in two or more containers disposed one within another
    • B65D77/048—Articles or materials enclosed in two or more containers disposed one within another the inner and outer containers being rigid and the outer container being of curved cross-section, e.g. cylindrical
    • B65D77/0486—Articles or materials enclosed in two or more containers disposed one within another the inner and outer containers being rigid and the outer container being of curved cross-section, e.g. cylindrical the inner container being coaxially disposed within the outer container
    • B65D77/0493—Articles or materials enclosed in two or more containers disposed one within another the inner and outer containers being rigid and the outer container being of curved cross-section, e.g. cylindrical the inner container being coaxially disposed within the outer container and retained at a distance of the inner side-wall of the outer container, e.g. within a bottle neck
    • 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
    • B65D2251/00—Details relating to container closures
    • B65D2251/0003—Two or more closures
    • B65D2251/0006—Upper closure
    • B65D2251/0015—Upper closure of the 41-type
    • 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
    • B65D2251/00—Details relating to container closures
    • B65D2251/0003—Two or more closures
    • B65D2251/0068—Lower closure
    • B65D2251/0093—Membrane
    • 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
    • B65D2401/00—Tamper-indicating means
    • B65D2401/15—Tearable part of the closure

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to improved child-resistant container closure assemblies.
  • Many known child-resistant closures include a plurality of equidistant ramps on an outer surface of a crown portion of an inner closure part which cooperate with a plurality of equidistant, resilient oblique blades extending inwardly from a crown portion of an outer closure part.
  • the ramps When viewed from the centre of the respective closure parts, the ramps have a right triangular section comprising a horizontal base, a vertical left side and a hypotenuse and the blades extend diagonally downward from the left towards a lower right free end.
  • castellations are provided on both inner and outer closure parts which mate when the outer closure part is depressed.
  • the inner closure part is then bound to rotate with the outer closure part.
  • the blades act as leaf springs to return it to its rest position, in which the castellations are disengaged.
  • Child-resistant closure systems normally rely on the ability of the closure to spring apart, every time, after pressure has been applied, generally at right angles to the plane of the thread. If, even on rare occasions the two parts of the closure do not spring apart and disengage, the child-resistant feature of the closure no longer functions. It is therefore essential that the blades acting as leaf springs have and continue to retain sufficient resilience to exert sufficient pressure to force the two parts of the closure apart in order that there is disengagement at all times, apart from occasions when direct and sufficient pressure is applied to engage the closure system.
  • closures are primarily intended for use by the elderly, and hence must be easy to open, but which, for safety, must be child-resistant.
  • the number of castellations provided on known child-resistant closures is normally two, three or four, but this can require the closure to be rotated for up to 180° before engagement of the castellations can take place. Engagement after a much smaller rotation is desirable.
  • a further drawback of earlier child-resistant closure assemblies has been that the discrete angular ranges of angular displacement of the closure parts at which the castellations may engage one another is one in which the free ends of the blades on the outer closure part lie between ramps on the inner closure part.
  • a result of this is that it is perfectly possible for a container on which such a closure is installed to be left with the closure parts so oriented that the castellations may be engaged simply by immediate depression of the outer closure part. Such a situation can occur where a closure ha been installed with the outer closure part depressed, or where an adult has depressed the outer closure part, but then changed his mind about removing the closure.
  • the present invention provides a child-resistant container closure assembly as defined in claim 1 of the accompanying claims.
  • the closure is moveable from a fully closed position on the neck to a fully disengaged position by rotation through 360° or less, preferably 180° or less, and more preferably about 90° or less.
  • the first and second threads on the container neck and the closure have fully engaging thread profiles to prevent play between the container and the closure and to ensure axial movement of the closure on the container.
  • the first and second threads are of square or rectangular section to provide maximum stability when the threads first engage, and increasingly thereafter. This arrangement is preferable to the conventional "V" section threads.
  • the square section thread ensures that the closure is wound down to its closed position on a parallel plane, thereby making it easier for the engagement of the child-resistant closure in one simple turn of the wrist. The same applies when opening.
  • one of the first and second threads has four thread starts.
  • one of the closure parts is provided with a tamper-evident ring.
  • the tamper-evident ring may be provided on the inner closure part.
  • a child-resistant closure has not previously been combined readily with a tamper-evident ring, because of the difficulty of opening using conventional child-resistant closure systems.
  • the first and second retaining means may comprise one or more projections on the container neck for engaging one or more projections on the closure.
  • the projections may "click" past each other when the closure is rotated into, or out of it's fully closed position.
  • the first retaining means comprise stop elements on one of the neck and closure
  • the second retaining means comprise one or more ribs or projections on the other of the closure and the neck to engage with the stop elements.
  • At least one of the projections may be profiled to have a circumferential ramp surface over which the other projection can ride relatively easily as the closure nears the closing position, and a relatively steep or radial abutment surface against which the other projection bears when the closure is to be unscrewed from the closed position.
  • the child-resistant container closure assembly according to the present invention further comprises an upstanding flange handle on the outer closure part.
  • side flanges may be provided on the handle to assist in applying torque when opening the closure.
  • the closure and container neck are as defined in our International Patent Application W0 91/18799.
  • the angular displacement of the outer closure part relative to the inner closure part between adjacent positions at which the outer closure part can move to its displaced position to engage the first and second sets of castellations is not greater than 45°, and preferably not greater than 25°.
  • a particularly preferred angular displacement is 22.5°, in which case, from a normal rest position, the outer closure would move to a position where it could be moved actually to its displaced position by rotation through 12.25° relative to the inner closure member.
  • This preferred arrangement is provided by the closure having sixteen castellations, in which the maximum turn required for engagement is only 1/16th, i.e 22.5°. This aspect particularly assists and supports ease of opening for the elderly and frail with only a twist of the wrists, without the necessity to let go of the closure or the container, whilst remaining child-resistant.
  • At least one of the first and second sets of castellations has at least 8 equally angularly spaced castellations, and more preferably 16 equally angularly spaced castellations.
  • the number of resilient blades (cantilever leaf springs) should be greater than two for stability, and should be a factor of the number of ratchet ramp projections.
  • the child-resistant container closure assembly comprises means for a rotationally biasing (urging) the outer closure part relative to the inner closure part from each angular displacement at which the outer closure part can adopt its axially displaced position at which the castellations engage, to a respective angular displacement at which the outer closure part cannot adopt the axially displaced position.
  • this is achieved by arranging the ratchet ramp projections relative to the resilient blades (cantilever leaf springs) and the first and second sets of castellations such that, when the castellations are aligned relative to each other so that they can be inter-engaged by axial displacement of the outer closure part, the resilient blades bear resiliently against the ramp surfaces of the ratchet projections to generate a rotational force between the inner and outer parts to urge the outer part away from the aligned orientation and into a misaligned orientation of the castellation.
  • the said rotational force between the inner and outer part is greater in absolute value than any frictional torque resisting relative rotation to the closure parts.
  • the closure of the invention at no time can the closure of the invention be left in a condition at which immediate movement of the outer closure part from its rest position to its displaced position is possible.
  • the outer closure part must first be rotated against some restoring force before such displacement can be effected.
  • each resilient blade has a cross-section which tapers towards its free end, and the profile at the acute angle between each resilient blade and the closure part from which the blade extends is radiused. This helps to ensure that the resilient blades retain their resilience and hence the ability to force the two parts of the closure apart, and also to ensure that when being closed the planes of the top and lower part of the closure remain in parallel planes.
  • an outer closure part 310 constructed of moulded plastics (other suitable materials may be used), consists of a crown portion 312 and a skirt portion 314.
  • the crown portion is provided on its outer surface with a diametric handle 316.
  • the particular form of handle shown includes a central opening 318.
  • an inwardly extending bead 320 whose purpose is to retain the outer closure part on the inner closure part as will be described below
  • FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate that the inner surface of the crown portion 312 is provided with sixteen equidistant castellations 322 of substantially rectangular form and four equidistant oblique resilient blades 324.
  • the resilient blades 324 extend circumferentially from an upper, left-hand end 326, when viewed from the centre of the closure part, to a lower, right-hand free end 328.
  • an inner closure part 350 constructed of moulded plastics (other suitable materials may be used), which includes a crown portion 352 and a skirt portion 354.
  • the inner surface of the skirt portion 354 is provided with coarsely pitched threads 356 of square section 356 with vertical tabs 358, the function and purpose of which are described in detail in our International patent application WO91/18799.
  • the top of the skirt portion 354 is provided with a tapered sealing surface.
  • a tamper-evident ring 370 which will be described below.
  • the crown portion 352 is provided around its periphery with sixteen upstanding, substantially rectangular castellations 360. These castellations 360 are adapted to engage the complementary castellations 322 on the outer closure part (see Figure 2) 310.
  • the outer periphery of the skirt portion 354 includes an outstanding ridge 362 below which, when the inner 350 and outer 310 closure parts are assembled, the bead 320 on the outer closure part 310 is retained. A degree of axial movement of the outer closure part 310 with respect to the inner closure part is permitted to engage and disengage the two sets of castellations 360, 322.
  • each ramp 364 is of substantially right triangular section having a horizontal base, a vertical left-hand side 366 and a hypotenuse, terminating in a right-hand side 368.
  • the handle 316 enables the elderly and frail more easily to apply the force required to push down and engage the two parts of the closure, whilst at the same time the handle 316 makes it easy to turn the closure to open it.
  • the handle 316 therefore makes the closure much easier to operate, in spite of the child-resistant feature, compared with standard child-resistant closures which many people, not just children find difficult to open.
  • the handle 316 may be substituted by four side flanges to the outer closure part 310 which again enables easier opening and closing, or a standard cap with ribbed outer edges.
  • the relative angular displacements at which the complementary castellations 322,360 may be engaged correspond to positions in which the free ends 328 of the resilient blades 324 have already travelled some distances along and up their respective ramps 364. They therefore correspond to positions of increased potential energy.
  • the resilience of the blades 324 is such that, when the outer closure part 310 is released in such a displacement, the free ends 328 of the blades tend to move back down the sloping surfaces of the ramps 364 to their right hand sides 368. Once this has occurred, the complementary castellations 360,322 are no longer so oriented as to be immediately engageable with one another.
  • the tamper-evident ring 370 carried by the inner closure part 350 is shown in detail in Figures 4 to 6. Attached to the top of the ring and integral therewith are eight connecting members 372 which taper upwards from a relatively thick lower region into a relatively thin frangible bridge 374 attached to the inner closure part skirt portion 354. On the inside of the tamper-evident ring 370, extending between the connecting member are eight triangular section ring retaining clips 376 which are adapted to engage a circumferential projection on the outer surface of a container neck.
  • the assembled closure is shown in Figure 7, and specific details of the thread 356 and vertical rib 358 and the seal between closure and container 390 may be found in WO91/18799.
  • the thread is essentially square in section, providing positive and axial alignment of the two closure parts.
  • the container 390 includes an outstanding circumferential projection 392 which is engaged by the ring retaining clips 376. Unscrewing the closure will result in the frangible bridges 374 being stretched and broken.
  • Figure 8 shows a preferred profile of a blade in the form of a leaf spring 324'.
  • the leaf spring 324' is thicker at its base, becoming progressively thinner towards its free edge 394.
  • the joint of the leaf spring 324' with the remainder of the outer closure part 310 is radiused to provide extra strength. This profile gives sufficient resilience and strength to the leaf spring 324' to ensure that the outer closure part 310 and inner closure part 350 are always separated until axial pressure is applied to counteract the bias of the springs 324'.
  • This embodiment of the invention is that, in conjunction with features of the container and closure described in WO91/18799, this is the only child-resistant closure which opens in under half a turn, i.e. 180°, and more generally in approximately a quarter turn i.e. 90° or less, also it is the only child-resistant closure system which can be used in conjunction with either or both of a tamper-evident ring and a foil seal whereby the seal of the closure is air and liquid proof after the foil has been removed or broken.
  • This closure system ensures the functioning of the child-resistant closure, whereby when closed, the resistance to opening is sufficiently strong for the child-resistant feature to operate, but is sufficiently weak as to be overcome by the child-resistant system when properly engaged by an adult.
  • the relevant child-resistant closure is preferably as claimed in WO91/18799. This feature provides the advantage that, upon engagement of the closure system, the closure is held on the container such that the child-resistant closure mechanism operates effectively but that the closure can be released, once the closure outer part is moved to the displaced position, by application of a predictable torque.
  • Conventional spring blades type child-resistant closures are screwed onto a neck thread with more than a 360° turn for closure.
  • This invention overcomes the problem of conventional child-resistant closures of tightening the closure sufficiently, in that the closure does not have to be closed tightly in order for the child-resistant system to become operable, and therefore is particularly effective for the arthritic, weak and elderly, as this combination of new closure systems enables the containers, bottles and closure to be opened and closed easily, in approximately a quarter of a turn, with an effective child-resistant system.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Ceramic Engineering (AREA)
  • Closures For Containers (AREA)
  • Glass Compositions (AREA)
  • Sampling And Sample Adjustment (AREA)
  • Devices For Use In Laboratory Experiments (AREA)
  • Packages (AREA)
  • Catching Or Destruction (AREA)
EP97201330A 1991-07-10 1992-07-10 Fermeture inviolable à l'épreuve des enfants Expired - Lifetime EP0794128B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (25)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9114871A GB2257693B (en) 1991-07-10 1991-07-10 A container and closure
GB9114871 1991-07-10
GB9120264 1991-09-23
GB9120264A GB2260534B (en) 1991-09-23 1991-09-23 Improvements in closures for containers
GB9122097 1991-10-17
GB919122097A GB9122097D0 (en) 1991-10-17 1991-10-17 Improvements in closures for containers
US79694691A 1991-11-22 1991-11-22
US796946 1991-11-22
GB9124872 1991-11-22
GB9124872A GB2261656B (en) 1991-11-22 1991-11-22 A container neck and a closure therefor
GB919125397A GB9125397D0 (en) 1991-11-29 1991-11-29 A container neck and a closure therefor
GB9125397 1991-11-29
GB9126242A GB2262280B (en) 1991-12-11 1991-12-11 A container neck and a closure therefor
GB9126242 1991-12-11
GB9201494A GB2264108B (en) 1992-01-24 1992-01-24 A container closure assembly
GB9201494 1992-01-24
GB9209299A GB2267082A (en) 1992-04-30 1992-04-30 Container seals
GB9209374A GB2267076B (en) 1992-04-30 1992-04-30 Method and apparatus for forming sealable containers
GB9209420A GB2267484B (en) 1992-04-30 1992-04-30 Container closure assembly
GB9209420 1992-04-30
GB9209374 1992-04-30
GB9209299 1992-04-30
GB9210194 1992-05-12
GB929210194A GB9210194D0 (en) 1992-05-12 1992-05-12 Improvements in closures for containers
EP92915179A EP0592580B1 (fr) 1991-07-10 1992-07-10 Recipient avec fermeture

Related Parent Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP92915179A Division EP0592580B1 (fr) 1991-07-10 1992-07-10 Recipient avec fermeture
EP92915179.3 Division 1993-01-28

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0794128A1 true EP0794128A1 (fr) 1997-09-10
EP0794128B1 EP0794128B1 (fr) 2001-11-28

Family

ID=27583068

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP92915179A Expired - Lifetime EP0592580B1 (fr) 1991-07-10 1992-07-10 Recipient avec fermeture
EP97201330A Expired - Lifetime EP0794128B1 (fr) 1991-07-10 1992-07-10 Fermeture inviolable à l'épreuve des enfants

Family Applications Before (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP92915179A Expired - Lifetime EP0592580B1 (fr) 1991-07-10 1992-07-10 Recipient avec fermeture

Country Status (9)

Country Link
EP (2) EP0592580B1 (fr)
JP (1) JPH06509307A (fr)
AT (2) ATE161501T1 (fr)
BR (1) BR9206260A (fr)
DE (1) DE69223788T2 (fr)
DK (1) DK0794128T3 (fr)
ES (2) ES2111644T3 (fr)
GB (1) GB2275048B (fr)
WO (1) WO1993001098A2 (fr)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2775959A1 (fr) * 1998-03-13 1999-09-17 Plastiques De France Ind Bouchon filete inviolable bi-matiere pour bouteilles et son procede de fabrication
EP0963916A1 (fr) * 1998-06-10 1999-12-15 Invat S.r.l. Coiffe de sécurité obtenue par l'application d'un capuchon de sécurité indépendant sur un capuchon normal
WO2004054890A1 (fr) * 2002-12-13 2004-07-01 Cia. De Tapones Irrellenables, S.A Moyen de fermeture de bouchons de bouteilles avec indicateur d'effraction
US9586738B2 (en) 2007-05-29 2017-03-07 Clariant Production (France) S.A.S. Child safety closing device with first opening indicator screw and ring

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US5743419A (en) * 1991-09-23 1998-04-28 Beeson And Sons Limited Container closure with a reinforced resilient blade
EP0667827B1 (fr) * 1992-11-13 1997-04-16 Beeson And Sons Limited Fermeture de recipient avec bague indicatrice d'effraction
GB9316834D0 (en) * 1993-08-13 1993-09-29 Beeson & Sons Ltd Container closure assembly
GB9320389D0 (en) * 1993-10-04 1993-11-24 Beeson & Sons Ltd Improvements relating to container closures
DK9400156U3 (da) * 1994-03-24 1995-07-14 Petersen Willadse Curt Michael Beholder
AU1366895A (en) * 1994-04-28 1995-11-09 Kerr Group, Inc. Easy-open closure and container
GB2298194A (en) * 1995-02-24 1996-08-28 Beeson & Sons Ltd Child resistant closures for containers
GB2299985A (en) * 1995-04-18 1996-10-23 Beeson & Sons Ltd Child resistant closure assemblies
DE69622745T2 (de) * 1995-12-08 2002-11-28 Beeson And Sons Ltd., Rickmansworth Behälterverschlussanordnung mit profilierten schraubgewindegängen
GB2311285A (en) * 1996-03-22 1997-09-24 Beeson & Sons Ltd Snap-on, twist-off container closure assemblies
GB9623782D0 (en) * 1996-11-15 1997-01-08 Metal Box Plc Child-resistant closures for containers, and containers for closure thereby
FR2758800B1 (fr) * 1997-01-30 1999-03-05 Astra Plastique Dispositif servant de temoin a la bonne fermeture d'un bouchon a vis
US5860546A (en) * 1997-03-15 1999-01-19 The Procter & Gamble Company Interference squeeze contour seal assembly closure having a dual thickness neck portion
GB2330133B (en) 1997-10-10 2001-11-07 Beeson & Sons Ltd Closure assembly for pressurized containers
JP2002173146A (ja) * 2000-12-07 2002-06-18 Taisei Kako Co Ltd 非円型容器の内容物保持構造
DK1401724T3 (da) 2001-07-03 2007-05-21 Beeson & Sons Ltd Lågelement med ventil
GB2467355A (en) 2009-01-30 2010-08-04 Beeson & Sons Ltd Container closure with pressure seal
JP2011121593A (ja) * 2009-12-08 2011-06-23 Ishizuka Glass Co Ltd 容器用ネジ式キャップ
GB2476089A (en) 2009-12-10 2011-06-15 Beeson & Sons Ltd Container closure assembly with tamper evident ring
JP5766922B2 (ja) * 2010-08-23 2015-08-19 杏林製薬株式会社 容器の蓋体
US8673242B2 (en) 2011-09-06 2014-03-18 National Scientific Company Over-torque resistant vial
US8652423B2 (en) 2011-09-06 2014-02-18 National Scientific Company Vial closure with septum retention feature
GB201319118D0 (en) * 2013-10-30 2013-12-11 Obrist Closures Switzerland A child-resistant closure
ES2648870T3 (es) * 2014-11-25 2018-01-08 Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A. Una tapa para un dispositivo de apertura
EP3489165B1 (fr) * 2017-11-23 2022-08-17 The Procter & Gamble Company Fermeture pour un récipient présentant une protubérance asymétrique
JP7114972B2 (ja) * 2018-03-26 2022-08-09 大日本印刷株式会社 位置決め回転接続機構およびこれを備えるキャップ付容器
US11040808B2 (en) * 2018-04-12 2021-06-22 Nicholas Patrick Karll Metal child resistant container
GB2588207B (en) * 2019-10-16 2022-04-06 Colin Mear Engineering Ltd A container and method and apparatus for adding a product to a container

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US3944102A (en) * 1972-04-05 1976-03-16 Hermann Grau Safety screw closure
US4957210A (en) * 1989-10-16 1990-09-18 Owens-Illinois Closure Inc. Child resistant closure
US5020681A (en) * 1990-02-01 1991-06-04 Owens-Illinois Closure Inc. Child resistant closure
WO1991018799A2 (fr) * 1990-05-30 1991-12-12 Beeson And Sons Limited Recipient et couvercle de recipient

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GB1104204A (en) * 1966-02-11 1968-02-21 Bowater Packaging Ltd Liquid containers
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US4266687A (en) * 1980-02-29 1981-05-12 U.S. Clinical Products, Inc. Sealing cover and method for resealing an intravenous container
EP0083506A1 (fr) * 1982-01-04 1983-07-13 Unilever Plc Capsule de fermeture
US4418834A (en) * 1982-09-13 1983-12-06 Container Corporation Of America Overcap ring with an integral peelable laminated structure
US4767016A (en) * 1987-08-18 1988-08-30 Adolph Coors Company Liquor bottle capping assembly

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US3944102A (en) * 1972-04-05 1976-03-16 Hermann Grau Safety screw closure
US4957210A (en) * 1989-10-16 1990-09-18 Owens-Illinois Closure Inc. Child resistant closure
US5020681A (en) * 1990-02-01 1991-06-04 Owens-Illinois Closure Inc. Child resistant closure
WO1991018799A2 (fr) * 1990-05-30 1991-12-12 Beeson And Sons Limited Recipient et couvercle de recipient

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2775959A1 (fr) * 1998-03-13 1999-09-17 Plastiques De France Ind Bouchon filete inviolable bi-matiere pour bouteilles et son procede de fabrication
EP0963916A1 (fr) * 1998-06-10 1999-12-15 Invat S.r.l. Coiffe de sécurité obtenue par l'application d'un capuchon de sécurité indépendant sur un capuchon normal
WO2004054890A1 (fr) * 2002-12-13 2004-07-01 Cia. De Tapones Irrellenables, S.A Moyen de fermeture de bouchons de bouteilles avec indicateur d'effraction
AU2003288277B2 (en) * 2002-12-13 2007-06-14 Cia. De Tapones Irrellenables, S.A. Stopper closure means for bottles comprising tamper-evident seal
US9586738B2 (en) 2007-05-29 2017-03-07 Clariant Production (France) S.A.S. Child safety closing device with first opening indicator screw and ring

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ES2164298T3 (es) 2002-02-16
WO1993001098A2 (fr) 1993-01-21
DE69223788D1 (de) 1998-02-05
ATE209590T1 (de) 2001-12-15
DK0794128T3 (da) 2002-03-18
GB2275048A (en) 1994-08-17
GB9400218D0 (en) 1994-06-08
ATE161501T1 (de) 1998-01-15
ES2111644T3 (es) 1998-03-16
WO1993001098A3 (fr) 1993-04-01
GB2275048B (en) 1995-12-13
EP0794128B1 (fr) 2001-11-28
DE69223788T2 (de) 1998-08-06
BR9206260A (pt) 1995-10-10
JPH06509307A (ja) 1994-10-20
EP0592580B1 (fr) 1997-12-29
EP0592580A1 (fr) 1994-04-20

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