GB1576128A - Container incorporating a safety closure lid - Google Patents

Description

(54) CONTAINER INCORPORATING A SAFETY CLOSURE LID (71) We, MARDON ILLINGWORTH LIMI TED, a British Company of Forest Works, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, NG17 5LH, England, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to a container incorporating a safety closure lid.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a means for the safe closing of containers capable of storing drugs or poisons.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a safety closure lid which can readily be removed by a person aware of the procedure necessary to remove it, but which is resistant to removal by children or other persons not sufficiently alert to perform consciously and deliberately a required sequence of non-instinctive opening operations.

According tothe present invention there is provided a container incorporating a safety closure lid, comprising in combination, (a) a container body having a neck portion provided over a portion of its periphery with an inwardly movable flap having a cam member on its inner surface, and (b) a lid having a skirt portion insertable within the neck portion, and rotatable therein the skirt portion being provided on its outer surface with a cam member, the arrangement being such that, on alignment of the flap and the skirt cam member by rotation of the lid inwardly directed pressure on the flap causes the flap cam member to abut against the skirt cam member and to exert a camming action which causes the lid to rise out of the neck portion.

Preferably, the plane of curvature of the flap cam member and the plane of curvature of the skirt cam member are coplanar with the axis of the container when the skirt is inserted in the neck and the cams are mutually convex.

Preferably, the outer surface of the skirt is provided with an undercut lying between the skirt cam member and the top of the skirt, and the neck portion is provided with a lug extending round the inner surface of the neck portion on a level between the flap cam member and the top of the neck por- tion, the lug being adapted to engage the undercut when the skirt is inserted within the neck portion but being interrupted between the flap cam member and the top of the neck portion, whereby alignment of the cam members disengages the lug from the undercut.

Preferably, when the lug engages the undercut the top surface of the lid lies flush with the top of the neck portion.

The neck portion may be of larger diameter than that lower portion of the container body immediately beneath it, the arrangement being such that when the lug engages the undercut, the lower portion of the skirt fits into said lower portion of the container body to provide a seal, further downward movement of the lid within the neck portion being prevented by abutment of the skirt cam member against the shoulder between the neck portion and said lower portion of the container body.

The flap is preferably hinged to the upper edge of an aperture through the neck portion. The hinge may be provided by a resilient integral web.

The neck portion may be provided with a diametrically opposed pair of flaps each having a cam member and an associated interruption in the lug, and the skirt may be provided with a corresponding diametrically opposed pair of cam members, each with its associated undercut.

The lid and container body may each be one-piece moulding of a synthetic resin such as polypropylene.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which, Figure 1 is a top plan view of a container and safety closure lid according to the invention, Figure 2 is a vertical cross-section through the container and lid of Figure 1, the container section being taken along the line 1-11 and the lid section taken along the line V-V, Figure 3 is a vertical cross-section through the container and lid of Figure 1 with the lid in the process of removal, both sections being taken along the line I-Il.

Figure 4 is a vertical cross-section through the lid only of Figure 1, taken along the line 1-111, Figure 5 is a side view of the lid only of Figure 2, taken in the direction of arrow IV, Figure 6 is a vertical cross-section through the upper portion of the container only of Figure 1, taken along the line I--III, and, Figure 7 is a side view of the upper portion of the container only of Figure 2, taken in the direction of arrow IV.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a moulded polypropylene container 10 having a cylindrical body portion 11 and a coaxial cylindrical neck portion 12 of larger diameter than the body portion and joined thereto by an annular shoulder portion 13.

Engageable with the container is a plugin polypropylene cylindrical lid 14 having a skirt 15 and a flanged top member 16.

Located in diametrically opposed sides of the neck portion 12 are a pair of apertures 17, each extending from near the top of the neck portion down into the shoulder portion 13. In each aperture 17 and hinged to the top edge thereof by a resilient web lies a flap 18 which has on its inner face an inwardly projecting cam 19, the plane of curvature of which is coplanar with the axis of the container, and on its outer face a finger button 20. The extension of the aperture 17 into the shoulder portion provides means to accomodate movement of the finger button when the flap hinges inwards.

An inwardly projecting lug 21 extends round the inner surface of the neck portion on a level located between the cams 19 and the top of the neck portion, but is not continued onto the flaps, as is shown in Figure 3.

The lid skirt 15 is provided on diametrically opposed sides with outwardly projecting buttresses 22. Each buttress 22 descends from the edge of the flanged top member 16 of the lid to terminate at its lower end in a cam surface 23, the plane of whose curvature is coplanar with the axis of the lid. The width of each buttress is less than that of either flap. When the lid is inserted in the container the cams 19, 23 are mutually convex.

An undercut 24, shaped to receive lug 21, is provided in each buttress underneath the edge of the flange 16.

The depth of the skirt 15 and the height of the buttresses 22 relative to the neck portion 12 are such that when the lid is inserted into the container the lid and neck are coaxial, the lower portion of the skirt fits into the body portion 11 of the container to provide a seal 25 between the skirt and the body portion, and the lower end of each buttress 22 abuts against the shoulder portion 13 thereby preventing further downward movement of the- lid into the container. It is convenient to arrange the dimensions of the lid and neck portion so that when the lid is seated within the container the top surface of the top member 16 of the lid is flush with the top of the neck portion.

As shown in Figure 1, the top of the lid is provided with a fiducial mark or directional arrow 26 aligned with an elongate upstanding finger grip 27. A second fiducial marking 28 is provided on the top surface of each finger button 20. The position of the finger grip 27 is such that it is aligned with the buttresses 22.

The invention will now be described with reference to its operation.

In Figure 1, the lid 14 is shown in two positions. In the first position, where the finger grip 27 is depicted by chain lines, the arrows 26 are not in alignment with the fiducial marks 28. In the second position, where the finger grip is depicted by solid lines, the arrows 26 are aligned with the fiducial marks 28.

In Figure 2, the lid is inserted into the container when it is in the first depicted position of Figure 1 so that lug 21 snaps into under cuts 24. By suitably contouring the lug and the undercuts it may be ensured that the lid snaps in easily but cannot be easily removed when in the first position of Figure 1, especially if the top of the lid is flush with the top of the neck portion and if the finger grip is so designed that it cannot easily be pulled but only rotated.

If the lid is now rotated to the second depicted position of Figure 1, the buttresses 22 now become aligned with the flaps 18. As described above, the lug 21 is not continued onto the flaps and consequently now no longer occupies the undercuts 24. The lid is therefore not now prevented from being removed from the container solely by reason of insertion of the lug 21 in the undercuts 24.

To remove the lid from the container, pressure is exerted on the finger buttons 20 in the directions of arrows VI in Figure 3, thereby causing the flaps 18 to hinge inwards and bring the flap cams 19 into camming abutment with the cam surfaces 23 of the buttresses. Continued pressure causes the lid to move upwards in the direction of arrow VII.

Thus, to remove the lid from the con tainer, the lid is rotated so that arrow 26 is aligned with the fiducial marks 28, then a squeezing action is exerted on finger but tons 20. The arrow 26 and fiducial marks 28 may of course bear a specified relationship other than that of alignment when it is de sired to remove the lid from the container: Container and lid may each be moulded from a thermoplastic resin by a conventional two plate moulding tool without the necessity of using sliding cores.

Instead of the finger grip there may be provided in the top of the lid a recess adapted to receive a coin so that the lid may be rotated.

Although described with reference to a pair of flaps and a corresponding pair of buttresses, the invention may alternatively use a single flap and a single buttress.

Mouldable materials other than polypropylene may be used in the construction of the invention, such as polystyrene or nylon.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A container incorporating a safety closure lid, comprising in combination, (a) a container body having a neck portion provided over a portion of its periphery with an inwardly movable flap having a cam member on its inner surface, and (b) a lid having a skirt portion insertable within the neck portion and rotatable therein, the skirt portion, being provided on its outer surface with a cam member, the arrangement being such that, on alignment of the flap and the skirt cam member by rotation of the lid inwardly directed pressure on the flap causes the flap cam member to abut against the skirt cam member and to exert a camming action which causes the lid to rise out of the neck portion.

2. A container as claimed in claim 1 wherein the plane of curvature of the flap cam member and the plane of curvature of the skirt cam member are coplanar with the axis of the container when the skirt is inserted in the neck and the cams are mutually convex.

3. A container as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the outer surface of the skirt is provided with an undercut lying between the skirt cam member and the top of the skirt, and the neck portion is provided with a lug extending round the inner surface of the neck portion on a level between the flap cam member and the top of the neck portion, the lug being adapted to engage the undercut when the skirt is inserted within the neck portion but being interrupted between the flap cam member and the top of the neck portion, whereby alignment of the cam members disengages the lug from the undercut.

4. A container as claimed in claim 3 wherein the neck portion is of larger diameter than that lower portion of the container body immediately beneath it, the arrangement being such that when the lug engages the undercut, the lower portion of the skirt fits into said lower portion of the container body to provide a seal, further downward movement of the lid within the neck portion being prevented by abutment of the skirt cam member against the shoulder between the neck portion and said lower portion of the container body.

5. A container as claimed in claim 3 or 4 wherein the lid is dimensioned such that when the lug engages the undercut the top surface of the lid lies flush with the top of the neck portion.

6. A container as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the flap is hinged to the upper edge of an aperture through the neck portion.

7. A container as claimed in claim 6 wherein the hinge is provided by an integral resilient web.

8. A container as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the neck portion is provided with a diametrically opposed pair of inwardly opening flaps each with its cam member, and the skirt is provided with a corresponding diametrically opposed pair of cam members.

9. A container as claimed in claim 8 as dependent on claim 3 wherein each flap has an associated interruption in the lug and each skirt cam member has an associated undercut.

10. A container as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the lid and container body are each provided with a fiducial mark, the fiducial marks bearing a specified relationship when the lid is rotated to a position such that it is removable from the container body.

11. A container as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the lid and container body are each a one-piece moulding of a synthetic resin.

12. A container as claimed in claim 12 wherein the synthetic resin is nylon or polypropylene.

13. A container incorporating a safety closure lid substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (13)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. Container and lid may each be moulded from a thermoplastic resin by a conventional two plate moulding tool without the necessity of using sliding cores. Instead of the finger grip there may be provided in the top of the lid a recess adapted to receive a coin so that the lid may be rotated. Although described with reference to a pair of flaps and a corresponding pair of buttresses, the invention may alternatively use a single flap and a single buttress. Mouldable materials other than polypropylene may be used in the construction of the invention, such as polystyrene or nylon. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A container incorporating a safety closure lid, comprising in combination, (a) a container body having a neck portion provided over a portion of its periphery with an inwardly movable flap having a cam member on its inner surface, and (b) a lid having a skirt portion insertable within the neck portion and rotatable therein, the skirt portion, being provided on its outer surface with a cam member, the arrangement being such that, on alignment of the flap and the skirt cam member by rotation of the lid inwardly directed pressure on the flap causes the flap cam member to abut against the skirt cam member and to exert a camming action which causes the lid to rise out of the neck portion.

2. A container as claimed in claim 1 wherein the plane of curvature of the flap cam member and the plane of curvature of the skirt cam member are coplanar with the axis of the container when the skirt is inserted in the neck and the cams are mutually convex.

3. A container as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the outer surface of the skirt is provided with an undercut lying between the skirt cam member and the top of the skirt, and the neck portion is provided with a lug extending round the inner surface of the neck portion on a level between the flap cam member and the top of the neck portion, the lug being adapted to engage the undercut when the skirt is inserted within the neck portion but being interrupted between the flap cam member and the top of the neck portion, whereby alignment of the cam members disengages the lug from the undercut.

4. A container as claimed in claim 3 wherein the neck portion is of larger diameter than that lower portion of the container body immediately beneath it, the arrangement being such that when the lug engages the undercut, the lower portion of the skirt fits into said lower portion of the container body to provide a seal, further downward movement of the lid within the neck portion being prevented by abutment of the skirt cam member against the shoulder between the neck portion and said lower portion of the container body.

5. A container as claimed in claim 3 or 4 wherein the lid is dimensioned such that when the lug engages the undercut the top surface of the lid lies flush with the top of the neck portion.

6. A container as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the flap is hinged to the upper edge of an aperture through the neck portion.

7. A container as claimed in claim 6 wherein the hinge is provided by an integral resilient web.

8. A container as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the neck portion is provided with a diametrically opposed pair of inwardly opening flaps each with its cam member, and the skirt is provided with a corresponding diametrically opposed pair of cam members.

9. A container as claimed in claim 8 as dependent on claim 3 wherein each flap has an associated interruption in the lug and each skirt cam member has an associated undercut.

10. A container as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the lid and container body are each provided with a fiducial mark, the fiducial marks bearing a specified relationship when the lid is rotated to a position such that it is removable from the container body.

11. A container as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the lid and container body are each a one-piece moulding of a synthetic resin.

12. A container as claimed in claim 12 wherein the synthetic resin is nylon or polypropylene.

13. A container incorporating a safety closure lid substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.