MX2008002867A - Child-resistant package having a plastic container with a blow-molded neck finish, and a container and closure for such a package - Google Patents

Abstract

A child-resistant package includes a plastic container (26) having a blow-molded neck finish (24) with an end, at least one external thread (28), an arcuate part-circumferential ledge (30) adjacent to the neck finish and a plurality of angularly spaced ratchet teeth (32a, 32b, 32c, 32d, 32e, 32f and 32g on the ledge. A closure has at least one skirt (48, 50), at least one internal thread (52) on the skirt, at least one flexible resilient ratchet finger (54, 56) extending radially inwardly from the skirt at an angle to the skirt, and a seal element (68) within the skirt for sealing engagement with the end of the container neck finish. Threading of the closure onto the container neck finish brings the ratchet finger into engagement with the ratchet teeth. The array of ratchet teeth and the seal element are such as to accommodate tolerance variations in the blow-molded neck finish while maintaining a seal and child-resistance capability at the neck finish, hi an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure, there are a pair of angularly spaced ratchet fingers on the skirt, with the array of ratchet teeth, the seal element and the angular spacing between the ratchet fingers accommodating tolerance variations in the blow-molded neck finish. The closure preferably is a dual-wall closure having an internal skirt with the internal thread and an external skirt with the ratchet fingers.

Description

CHILDREN'S TEST CONTAINER THAT HAS A PLASTIC CONTAINER WITH A NECK TERMINATION MOLDED BY BLOWING, AND A CONTAINER AND CLOSURE FOR SUCH CONTAINER FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present disclosure relates to child resistant containers, closures and containers, and more particularly to a pressure and rotation closure for a plastic container having a neck finish blow molded.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Pressure and twist-resistant child resistant containers typically have one or more internal interlocking elements in the closure flange that engage one or more external interlocking elements in the neck terminus of the container or the container shoulder. To remove the closure, the closure flange is diametrically pressed to an orientation of 90 ° to the interlocking elements so that the flange is ovalized, the internal interlocking elements in the flange remove the external interlocking elements in the container and the Closing can be unthreaded. U.S. Patent 5,915,576 discloses a child-resistant pressure and rotation package of this type. In plastic containers of this type of packaging, the neck termination Ref. 190656 The container is typically of injection molded construction, in which fairly tight manufacturing tolerances can be maintained. In containers having blow-molded neck terminations, however, the tolerances at the neck termination should be quite broad, so that the childproof mechanism should be capable of operating at a fairly substantial angle of rotation of the closure with regarding the neck termination of the container. It is a general object of the present disclosure to provide such a closure, to provide a container for use with such a closure and / or to provide a child-resistant pressure and twist package that encompasses such closure and container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present description covers a number of aspects that can be implemented separately or in combination with each other. A child resistant package in accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure includes a plastic container having a neck termination blow molded with one end, and at least one external thread, a projection of arcuate circumferential portion adjacent to the termination. of neck and a plurality of angularly spaced ratchet teeth in the projection. A closure has at least one flange, at least one internal thread on the flange, at less a flexible resilient ratchet finger radially extended internally of the flange at an angle to the flange, and a seal member within the flange for sealing engagement with the end of the neck termination of the container. The screwing of the closure onto the neck end of the container places the ratchet finger in engagement with the ratchet tooth. The ratchet tooth arrangement and seal element is such as to accommodate tolerance variations in the blow molded neck termination while maintaining a child-proof capability and seal at the neck termination. In an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure, there is a pair of ratcheting fingers angularly spaced at the flange, with the ratchet teeth arrangement, the seal element and the angular spacing between the ratchet fingers accommodating tolerance variations in the termination of neck molded by blown. The closure is preferably a dual wall closure having an internal flange with the internal thread and an external flange with the ratchet fingers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES The description, together with objects, features, advantages and additional aspects thereof, will be better understood from the following description, the appended claims and the accompanying figures, in the which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a child resistant package in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the description; Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of the neck termination and closure in the package of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a fragmentary elevation view of the container in the container of Figures 1-3; Figure 5 is a top plan view of the neck termination of the container in Figure 4; Figure 6 is a fragmentary plan view on an enlarged scale of the portion of Figure 5 within the area 6; Figure 7 is a top plan view of the closure cover in the container of Figures 1-2; Figure 8 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 8-8 in Figure 7; Figure 9 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 9-9 in Figure 7; Figure 10 is a bottom plan view of the closure cover in Figures 7-9; and Figure 11 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along line 11-11 in the figure 9 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Figures 1-3 illustrate a childproof package 20, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the description including a closure 22 applied to the neck termination 24 of a container 26. The container 26, including termination of neck 24, preferably is of blow-molded plastic construction. The container 26 is illustrated in general detail in Figures 4-6. The neck termination of the container 24 is generally cylindrical and preferably has a single external thread 28. The external thread 28 is preferably a continuous external thread, but may be discontinuous if desired. An arcuate circumferential portion projection 30 is positioned adjacent one side of the neck termination 24 on an externally threaded side 28 remote from the open end of the container neck termination. The projection 30 may extend from the neck termination 24 or the shoulder 29 of the container body 31. A plurality of angularly spaced ratchet teeth extend radially externally from an outer edge of the projection 30. In the illustrated embodiment of the description, there are seven ratchet teeth 32a to 32g, although a greater or lesser number of ratchet teeth may be employed. Each ratchet tooth has a facing face facing clockwise 34 (as seen above), an angled cam surface facing in the counterclockwise direction 36, and rounded tips 38 and bases 40. The connecting faces 34 of the teeth of ratchet are at open angles to diameters 42 (Figure 6) through the neck termination of the container. These features not only allow the blowing of thicker material at the tips of the ratchet teeth, but also provide a surface on which the ratchet fingers can run when the closure is simultaneously tightened and turned in the opposite direction of direction. clock hands . The ratchet teeth are preferably at angular spacing substantially uniform with each other. The closure 2 in FIGS. 1 and 2 includes a plastic closure cover 44 (FIGS. 7-10), preferably of a one-piece compression or injection molded plastic construction. The closure cover 44 in the exemplary embodiment of the disclosure includes a base wall 46, an inner generally cylindrical flange 48 and an outer flange 50. An internal thread 52 is provided in the inner flange 48 for engagement with the external thread of end termination. neck of the container 28, as shown in Figure 2. The outer flange 50 is generally conical in the exemplary embodiment of the description, but may be any other suitable geometry. At least one flexible resilient ratchet finger or fin 54, and preferably a pair of resilient angularly spaced resilient ratchet fingers or fins 54, 56, extend radially internally of the flange 50 at an angle in a counterclockwise direction to flange as seen earlier in Figure 3, or at a clockwise angle to the flange as later in Figure 10. With the preferred conical geometry of the outer flange 50, the ratchet fingers 54, 56 preferably are generally triangular in lateral elevation in this exemplary embodiment, as best seen in Figure 11. The ratchet fingers 54, 56 may be of other geometries. The ratchet fingers 54, 56 are integrally connected to the outer flange 50, but preferably are not connected to the inner flange 48. The angular spacing between the ratchet fingers 54, 56 is preferably such, when compared to the angular spacings between the teeth of ratchet 32a-32g, that the fingers 54, 56 do not simultaneously engage the connecting faces 34. The angular spacing between the ratchet fingers is preferably a non-integral multiple of the angular spacing between the teeth of the ratchet. In the exemplary embodiment of the description, at least one rib or rib 58, and preferably a plurality of angularly spaced ribs or ribs 58, 60, 62 are provide on the inner surface of the flange 50 in an area diametrically opposite to the ratchet fingers 54, 56. The ribs 58-62 extend from the inner surface of the outer flange 50 to the outer surface of the inner flange 48 and integrally connect the flanges internal and external, as best seen in Figures 8 and 10. The diametrically opposite finger pads 64, 66 are preferably provided on the outer surface of the outer rim 50. The finger pads 64, 66 are diametrically opposed to each other and to a 90 ° angle to a diameter extending between the ratchet fingers 54, 56 and the ribs 58-62. A seal member 68 (Fig. 2) is provided in the closure 22 against the base wall 46 within the inner flange 48. The seal member 68 engages the open end of the neck termination of the container to seal the container. Seal element 68 is illustrated in Figure 2 as a liner disc, but may be an annular seal, a sealing plug of the type described in U.S. Patent 4,134,513 or 6,112,921, an unlined seal of the type described in the Patent. of the United States 4,322,009, 5,320,236 or 6,874,648, or any other type of suitable seal. What is important is that the seal element accommodates some slight angular movement of the closure with respect to the neck termination of the container while maintaining both the childproof capacity and seal between the closure and the closure. container. The material of the seal element can be of any suitable type. When the closure 22 is applied to the neck termination of the container 24 by rotating the closure in a clockwise direction as seen from above, the guide ratchet finger 56 initially cam on the guide ratchet tooth 32a and rests in the area behind the ratchet tooth 32a. This represents a tolerance limit for the application of the closure to the neck termination of the container. In the preferred embodiment of the description having two ratchet fingers 54, 56 in the closure 22, the opposite tolerance limit is achieved when the end ratchet finger 54 cams on the terminal ratchet tooth 32g and rests in the area behind the ratchet. This terminal ratchet tooth. The spacings between the ratchet fingers and ratchet teeth in the exemplary embodiment of the description are such that the total angle between these tolerance limits is approximately 90 °. This angle can be increased or decreased by varying the size of the protrusion, the number of ratchet teeth and the number of ratchet fingers. The ratchet teeth arrangement 32a-32g, seal member 68 (Figure 2) and the angular spacing between the ratchet fingers 54, 56 (when more than one ratchet finger is employed) are such as to accommodate tolerance variations in the molded neck termination by blowing 24 while maintaining a child resistant seal and ability at the neck termination. The ratchet fingers sit on the bases of the ratchet teeth, so sharp edges are not required in the ratchet teeth. When it is desired to remove the closure, the closure flange 50 is pressed into the finger pads 64, 66. The ribs 58-62 (Figure 10), when employed, harden the closure flange 50 in the area of the ribs, so that the distortion of the flange caused by tightening the closure flange on the finger pads is maximized in the area of the ratchet fingers 54, 56. When this distortion or ovalization is such that the ratchet fingers clear the ratchet ridges 32a-32g, the closure can be unscrewed in the counterclockwise direction. The directions for opening the package can be molded, printed or otherwise provided on the external surface of the closure base wall 46. Accordingly, a child-resistant package, and a closure and a container for such a container have been described, that completely satisfy all the objects and purposes previously described. The description has been presented in connection with an exemplary embodiment of the description, and a number of modifications and variations have been discussed. For example, the exemplary embodiment of the description has ratchet teeth 32a-32g on one side of the neck termination of the container, ratchet fingers 54, 56 on one side of the closure, and unique threads on the closure and neck termination. This modality has the advantages of providing approximately 360 ° of closure travel and substantial vertical travel by rotation of the closure, and of accommodating a standard closure where resistance to children is not desired. However, the ratchet teeth may be provided on both sides of the neck termination, ratchet fingers or both sides of the closure, and double threads on the closure and the container. Other modifications and variations will readily be suggested by themselves to persons of ordinary skill in the art in view of the foregoing description. The description is intended to cover all modifications and variations when they fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims. It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known to the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is that which is clear from the present description of the invention.

Claims (16)

1. CLAIMS Having described the invention as above, the contents of the following claims are claimed as property: 1. Child-proof package including: a plastic container having a neck finish blow molded with one end, at least one external thread , a projection of arcuate circumferential portion adjacent to the neck termination and a plurality of angularly spaced ratchet teeth in the projection, and a plastic closure having at least one flange, at least one internal thread in the flange, at least one flexible resilient ratchet finger radially extended internally from the flange at an angle to the flange for engagement with the ratchet teeth, and a seal element within the flange for sealing engagement with the end of the neck termination of the container, characterized in that the closure includes a pair of angularly spaced ratchet fingers on the flange and at least one rib Internal reinforcement in the flange in a diametrically spaced area of the ratchet fingers, the ratchet teeth arrangement, the seal element and angular spacing between the ratchet fingers accommodates tolerance variations in the blow molded neck finish while maintaining a childproof ability and seal on the neck termination.
2. 2. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the closure includes at least two internally spaced reinforcement ribs in the diametrically spaced rim of the ratchet fingers.
3. Packaging according to claim 2, characterized in that the angular spacing between the ratchet fingers is a non-integral multiple of angular spacing between the ratchet teeth.
4. 4. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the closure includes external finger pads in the rim diametrically opposed to each other at a spacing of 90 ° to a diameter between the ratchet fingers and at least one reinforcing rib.
5. Packaging according to claim 4, characterized in that the closure is a dual wall closure having an internal rim with the internal thread, and an external rim with the finger pads and the ratchet fingers, at least one ridge Extended reinforcement between the internal and external flanges.
6. 6. Container according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the ratchet teeth are rounded at the tips and bases of the teeth.
7. 7. Container according to claim 6, characterized in that the ratchet teeth have connecting faces facing clockwise at open angles to diameters through the neck termination.
8. 8. Child-proof package that includes: a container having a neck termination with one end, a single external thread, an arcuate circumferential projection adjacent to one side of the neck termination, and a plurality of ratchet teeth angularly spaced on the projection, and a closure having an internal flange with a single internal thread, an outer flange, and a seal element within the internal flange for sealing engagement with the end of the neck termination of the container, characterized in that the closure has a pair of angularly spaced flexible resilient ratchet fingers radially extended internally from the outer flange at an angle to the outer flange for engagement with the ratchet teeth, because the neck termination of the container is a blow-molded neck termination, the arrangement of ratchet teeth, the sealing element and angular thread of the closure on the termination of the container neck put the ratchet fingers in engagement with the teeth of ratchet, ratchet teeth arrangement, seal element and angular spacing between the ratchet fingers accommodate the tolerance variations in the blow molded neck finish while maintaining a childproof capacity and seal at the neck termination, and in that the closure includes at least one internal reinforcing rib extending between the inner flange and the outer flange in a diametrically spaced area of the ratchet fingers.
9. 9. Container according to claim 8, characterized in that the closure includes at least two angularly spaced internal reinforcement ribs extended between the inner flange and the outer flange in a diametrically spaced area of the ratchet fingers.
10. 10. Container according to claim 9, characterized in that the closure includes external finger pads in the rim diametrically opposite each other at a spacing of 90 ° to a diameter between the ratchet fingers and the reinforcing ribs.
11. 11. Container according to claim 8, characterized in that the ratchet teeth are rounded at the tips and bases of the teeth.
12. Packaging according to claim 11, characterized in that the ratchet teeth have connecting faces facing in a clockwise direction. at open angles to diameters through the neck termination.
13. 13. Container according to claim 8, characterized in that the angular spacing between the ratchet fingers is a non-integral multiple of angular spacing between the ratchet teeth.
14. 14. Child-proof closure including an internal rim, an external rim radially externally spaced from the inner rim, and an internal thread on the inner rim, characterized in that a pair of resilient angularly spaced ratchet fingers extend radially internally from the rim external to an angle to the outer flange, and at least one internal reinforcing rib extends between the inner flange and the outer flange in a diametrically spaced area of the ratchet fingers.
15. 15. Closure according to claim 14, characterized in that it includes at least two angularly spaced internal reinforcement ribs extended between the inner flange and the outer flange in a diametrically spaced area of the ratchet fingers.
16. 16. Closure in accordance with claim 14 or 15, characterized in that it includes external finger pads in the rim diametrically opposed to each other at 90 ° spacing at a diameter between the ratchet fingers and at least one reinforcing rib. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a child resistant package that includes a plastic container (26) having a neck termination blow molded (24) with one end, at least one external thread (28), a projection of arcuate circumferential part (30) adjacent to the neck termination and a plurality of angularly spaced ratchet teeth (32a, 32b, 32c, 32d, 32e, 32f and 32g) in the projection. A closure has at least one flange (48, 50), at least one internal thread (52) in the flange, at least one flexible resilient ratchet finger (54, 56) radially extended internally of the flange at an angle to the flange, and a seal member (68) within the flange for sealing engagement with the end of the neck termination of the container. The threading of the closure on the neck termination of the container places the ratchet finger in engagement with the ratchet teeth. The ratchet teeth arrangement and the seal element is such to accommodate tolerance variations in the blow molded neck termination while maintaining a child resistant seal and capacity at the neck termination, in an exemplary embodiment of the description. , there is a pair of angularly spaced ratchet fingers on the flange, with the ratchet teeth arrangement, the seal element and the angular spacing between the ratchet fingers accommodating the ratchet fingers. Tolerance variations in the neck finish blow molded. The closure is preferably a dual wall closure having an internal flange with the internal thread and an external flange with the ratchet fingers.