WO1990002692A1 - Child resistant cap with dispensing fitment - Google Patents

Child resistant cap with dispensing fitment Download PDF

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Publication number
WO1990002692A1
WO1990002692A1 PCT/US1989/003995 US8903995W WO9002692A1 WO 1990002692 A1 WO1990002692 A1 WO 1990002692A1 US 8903995 W US8903995 W US 8903995W WO 9002692 A1 WO9002692 A1 WO 9002692A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
fitment
cap
container neck
container
dispensing
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US1989/003995
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Randall Bush
Original Assignee
Randall Bush
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
Application filed by Randall Bush filed Critical Randall Bush
Publication of WO1990002692A1 publication Critical patent/WO1990002692A1/en

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D50/00—Closures with means for discouraging unauthorised opening or removal thereof, with or without indicating means, e.g. child-proof closures
    • 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
    • B65D50/045—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 where one action elastically deforms or deflects at least part of the closure, the container or an intermediate element, e.g. a ring
    • B65D50/046—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 where one action elastically deforms or deflects at least part of the closure, the container or an intermediate element, e.g. a ring and such deformation causes the disengagement of locking means, e.g. the release of a pawl-like element from a tooth or abutment, to allow removal of the closure by simultaneous rotation

Definitions

  • This invention relates to dispensing closures, and, more particularly, to child-resistant dispensing closures.
  • a conventional type of dispensing closure typically employs a base or cap which is threaded onto the neck of a container with a dispensing orifice in the top of the cap, and a lid hinged to the base for closing over and sealing the dispensing orifice.
  • a child resistant closure by definition is one that is difficult for a child to open.
  • the more successful child resistant closures require two separate and dissimilar movements or actions to remove or open the closure. These movements can be simultaneous or sequential.
  • Adding a child resistant feature to a flip top type of dispensing closure adds complexity to the closure and the molding process.
  • closures of this type for example, as shown in coopending patent application. Serial No. 189,109 filed May 2, 1988.
  • dispensing closures that have a captive cap that is normally not or cannot be removed from the container neck but are partially unthreaded to open a dispensing passage.
  • This type of cap is necessarily two piece having an outer cap with the dispensing orifice through its top and an inner fitment which closes the orifice when the outer cap is screwed tight.
  • the captive cap closure is not child resistant, but a child resistant feature can be added.
  • the present invention contemplates the use of a well known Squeeze Lok (R) child resistant feature as it is applied to standard threaded caps as typically shown in Gach, et al U.S. Patent 3,770,153, Montgomery U.S. Patent 3,826,395 and Julian U.S. Patent 3,989,152,
  • this invention is directed to a child resistant closure that has an external locking device of the above type which provides visual indication as the closure is being reapplied to the container that it has been restored to its child resistant state and to a closure which seals on or before the child resistant feature becomes effective and remains sealed through any additional threading on to a tightend Dosition or unthreading until the child resistant feature has been released.
  • the invention contemplates the use of these features in a dispensing closure.
  • the closure of this invention is for use on a container having a locking stop and a threaded neck.
  • the container neck is also provided with an outwardly extending flange above the threads.
  • the child resistant dispensing closure of this invention is two piece having a cap and a fitment.
  • the cap has an imperforate planar top and an annular skirt which depends from the top. Internal threads are provided on the cap which are complementary to the container external threads.
  • the child resistant feature is in the form of a manually releasable detent on the cap which is engagable with the container stop as the cap is being unthreaded from the container neck.
  • the second piece of the closure is in the form of a fitment which has a top with a centrally located dispensing orifice therethrough and a short annular skirt which depends from the periphery of the top.
  • the fitment skirt has an inwardly directed bead for coaction with the container neck flange to sealingly and permanently attach the fitment to the container neck.
  • the cap has a depending plug concentric to and within the annular skirt for engagement with the fitment to open or reseal the dispensing orifice as the cap is unthreaded from and threaded onto the container neck.
  • the plug forms a rotary seal which is effective to maintain the sealing engagement with the dispensing orifice as the cap is being unthreaded from a fully tightened position past a position where the detent is manually disenaged from the container stop. This assures that even if a child partially unthreads the cap up to the container stop, the closure will remain sealed .
  • the fitment can be separately applied to the container neck, but more often, it will be inserted into the cap so that only a single capping operation is necessary.
  • the fitment When the fitment is inserted into the cap, it is retained in a unique manner by the coaction of the cap plug with the fitment orifice.
  • the fitment When the closure is threadingly applied to the container neck, the fitment permanently engages the neck by the coaction of the fitment bead with the container neck flange. Thereafter the plug serves to open and reseal the dispensing orifice. Retention of the fitment within the cap prior to initial application to the container neck is by an interference fit between the fitment orifice and the cap plug.
  • the cap has a double skirt with an inner skirt being concentric to an outer skirt.
  • the internal threads are located on the inner skirt and the releasable detent is located on the outer skirt.
  • the manually releasable detent takes the form of a pair of axially extending diametrically opposed tabs which depend from the outer skirt, and the container stop takes the form of a pair of diametrically opposed stop surfaces. The tabs pass by the stop surfaces as the cap is being threaded onto the container neck, but they abut against the stop surfaces when the cap is being unthreaded to prevent further unthreading until the tabs are manually released as the cap is being unthreaded.
  • a pair of opposed pressure pads are provided on the annular skirt centered in a plane at right angles to the plane through the axially extending tabs so that manual release is effected by squeezing inwardly on the pads and moving the tabs outwardly to clear the stop surfaces as the cap is being unthreaded.
  • the container-closure package of the invention in a preferred embodiment, also utilizes a sealing bead on the container neck below the container stop to perform a secondary sealing function.
  • the container stops are in the form of abutments which have lead in cam surfaces which deflect the cap tabs outwardly as the cap is being threaded onto the container to clear the stops.
  • Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing the cap and fitment of the closure as it is applied to the container neck;
  • Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the closure of this invention, with a portion broken away and in section to show the sealing engagement of the cap, fitment and container neck;
  • Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the closure and container neck taken in the encircled area 3 indicated in Fig. 2;
  • Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the fitment attached to the container neck, and;
  • Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along line
  • the closure container package 10 includes two piece closure 12 and container 14.
  • Container 14 has a shoulder portion 16 blending into neck 18 having external threads 20 to receive the closure.
  • the neck has a narrow portion above threads 20 terminating in an annular rim 22 defining dispesning opening 24.
  • Outwardly projecting flange or bead 26 is located on the narrow neck portion adjacent to annular rim 22.
  • Below threads 20 is an outwardly projecting peeling bead 28.
  • Also projecting outwardly from neck 18 or shoulder 16 are a pair of diametrically outwardly projecting stops 30 and 32 as best seen in Fig. 5.
  • Two piece dispensing closure 12 has a generally cylindrical cap 34 and a fitment 36.
  • the fitment 36 has a generally planar top 38 and a short depending skirt 40.
  • Dispensing orifice 42 extends through the top 38, and in most instances an upstanding nozzle or spout 44 surrounds the orifice 42 to direct the product being dispensed from the container 14.
  • the size of orifice 42 and the contour of spout or nozzle 44 can be specifically designed for the particular product being dispensed which is usually a liquid or gel type materials such as a liquid dishwashing machine detergent.
  • An inwardly projecting snap bead 46 adj acent the bottom of skirt 40 is designed to cooperate with container neck flange 26 to snap the fitment 36 onto the container neck for permanent retention and sealing therewith.
  • Container neck bead 26 effects a permanent seal with the interior surface 48 of fitment skirt 40 as best seen in Fig. 3.
  • Cap 34 has a concentric outer skirt 50 and inner skirt 52 as best seen in Fig. 2.
  • Inner skirt 52 has internal threads 54 for engagement with container threads 20.
  • Cap 34 has an imperforate planar or slightly curved top 56 with a depending plug 58 concentric with outer and inner skirts 50 and 52.
  • Plug 58 diverges outwardly from cap top 56 to its distal end and engages orifice 42 and nozzle 44 with an interference fit to form the primary seal between the cap 34 and the fitment 36.
  • Fitment 36 can be separately applied to the container neck as seen in Fig. 4, or more commonly it is inserted into cap 34 for retention therewith which allows the closure 12 to be shipped as a unit to the ultimate packager.
  • the interference fit between the nozzle 42 and the plug 58 retains the fitment secure within the interior of inner skirt 52.
  • Annular flange 60 depends from the cap top 56 and is of an appropriate length to contact fitment top 58 leaving a slight clearance between the top of fitment nozzle 44 and the inside of cap top 56.
  • flange 60 exerts a downward force on fitment top 38 so that fitment bead 46 snaps over container flange 26 during this initial capping operation.
  • the fitment is permanently retained in a sealing relationship on the container neck.
  • the plug 58 serves to seal the orifice 42. With the interference fit and the axial length of plug 58 and nozzle 44, the seal is maintained during the initial unthreading action of the cap 34.
  • a V-shaped sealing ring 62 depends from the fitment top 38 to form a secondary seal of the fitment with the annular rim 22 of container neck 18. Additionally, a V-shaped sealing ring 64 depends from the bottom of annular flange 60 to form a secondary seal of the cap to the fitment. Sealing rings 62 and 64 are the same diameter concentrating the sealing force between cap 34 and fitment 36 and the force between fitment 36 and container rim 22 in line. Another seal is provided between cap 34 and container neck 18 by the coaction of container neck bead 28 and the bottom of inner skirt 52 as best seen in Fig. 2.
  • a child resistant lock in the form of a manually releasable detent is provided on closure 12 for cooperation with container stop 30, 32.
  • this takes the form of a pair of diametrically opposed axially extending tabs or lugs 66 and 68 depending from outer skirt 50 which cooperate with outwardly projecting container stops 30 and 32.
  • tabs 66 and 68 are deflected outwardly by cam surfaces 70 and 72 of container stops 30 and 32. This outward deflection of outer wall 50 and tab 58 is shown in phantom in Fig. 2 as wall portion 50' and tab 68'.
  • Fig. 5 shows the tabs 66 and 68 in cross section before contact with the container stops 30 and 32.
  • the positions of the tabs as they initially engage the cam surfaces 70 and 72 is shown in phantom at 66' and 68'.
  • the tabs are shown at 662 and 682 deflected to their fullest extent by the cam surfaces, and they are shown at 66 3 and 683 in the position they would assume as they drop off the cam surfaces 70 and 72 of the stops onto shoulder 16.
  • the cap can be tightened up to an additional 90° to a fully tightened position shown by the positions of the tabs at 66 4 and 684.
  • cap 34 When cap 34 is unthreaded, it can be rotated only up to the point where tabs 66 and 68 come into contact with the stop surfaces 74 and 76 of container stops 30 and 32. This position is shown at 66 3 and 683 in Fig. 5.
  • the tabs 66 and 68 must be manually deflected outward to clear the stops 30 and 32 simultaneously with counterclockwise unthreading of the cap. Such a manual outward deflection is accomplished by pressing at diametrically opposed pad portions 78, only one of which is shown in Figs. 1 and 2. These pads 78 are located on a plane 90 from a plane through the center of the depending tabs 66 and 68.
  • container stops 30 and 32 could extend upwardly from shoulder 16 spaced from neck 18 in a manner shown in Figs. 1 - 3 of U. S. Patent 3,989,152 so that inward pressure on cap skirt 50 in line with tabs 66 and 68 would more the tabs inward to clear the container stops.
  • squeeze tabs can be used such as shown in Figs. 4 - 6 of this patent so that the cap would have only a single skirt.
  • Plug 58 maintains it sealing contact with orifice 42 and nozzle 44 from a position before or at the stop surfaces 30 and 32 through the fully tightened position shown at 66 4 and 684 until they have been released from the container stops as shown in full section at 66 and 68 in Fig. 5.
  • the present inveniton provides a child resistnnt two piece dispensing closure which includes a threaded cap having a reliable squeeze and turn safety lock with a plug, and a fitment providing a dispensing orifice that is sealed by the plug and a fitment which maintains a rotary seal over the "backed up to lock" turning rotation of the cap from fully tight to release of safety lock; such closure being well suited for marketing household products to which small children should not have access.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Closures For Containers (AREA)

Abstract

A child resistant dispensing closure in which a threaded cap (34) must be fully removed from a container (14) to permit dispensing through an orifice (42) in a fitment (36) which remains sealed to the container. A plug (58) depending from the cap serves as a rotary seal, effective until a child resistant lock is released as the cap is being unthreaded.

Description

CHILD RESISTANT CAP WITH DISPENSING FITMENT
This invention relates to dispensing closures, and, more particularly, to child-resistant dispensing closures.
A conventional type of dispensing closure typically employs a base or cap which is threaded onto the neck of a container with a dispensing orifice in the top of the cap, and a lid hinged to the base for closing over and sealing the dispensing orifice.
A child resistant closure by definition is one that is difficult for a child to open. The more successful child resistant closures require two separate and dissimilar movements or actions to remove or open the closure. These movements can be simultaneous or sequential.
Adding a child resistant feature to a flip top type of dispensing closure adds complexity to the closure and the molding process. However, there are successful closures of this type, for example, as shown in coopending patent application. Serial No. 189,109 filed May 2, 1988. There also are a variety of dispensing closures that have a captive cap that is normally not or cannot be removed from the container neck but are partially unthreaded to open a dispensing passage. This type of cap is necessarily two piece having an outer cap with the dispensing orifice through its top and an inner fitment which closes the orifice when the outer cap is screwed tight. The captive cap closure is not child resistant, but a child resistant feature can be added.
The present invention contemplates the use of a well known Squeeze Lok(R) child resistant feature as it is applied to standard threaded caps as typically shown in Gach, et al U.S. Patent 3,770,153, Montgomery U.S. Patent 3,826,395 and Julian U.S. Patent 3,989,152,
As in my coopending patent application, Serial No. filed , 1988, this invention is directed to a child resistant closure that has an external locking device of the above type which provides visual indication as the closure is being reapplied to the container that it has been restored to its child resistant state and to a closure which seals on or before the child resistant feature becomes effective and remains sealed through any additional threading on to a tightend Dosition or unthreading until the child resistant feature has been released. The invention contemplates the use of these features in a dispensing closure.
The closure of this invention is for use on a container having a locking stop and a threaded neck. The container neck is also provided with an outwardly extending flange above the threads.
The child resistant dispensing closure of this invention is two piece having a cap and a fitment. The cap has an imperforate planar top and an annular skirt which depends from the top. Internal threads are provided on the cap which are complementary to the container external threads. The child resistant feature is in the form of a manually releasable detent on the cap which is engagable with the container stop as the cap is being unthreaded from the container neck.
The second piece of the closure is in the form of a fitment which has a top with a centrally located dispensing orifice therethrough and a short annular skirt which depends from the periphery of the top. The fitment skirt has an inwardly directed bead for coaction with the container neck flange to sealingly and permanently attach the fitment to the container neck.
The cap has a depending plug concentric to and within the annular skirt for engagement with the fitment to open or reseal the dispensing orifice as the cap is unthreaded from and threaded onto the container neck. The plug forms a rotary seal which is effective to maintain the sealing engagement with the dispensing orifice as the cap is being unthreaded from a fully tightened position past a position where the detent is manually disenaged from the container stop. This assures that even if a child partially unthreads the cap up to the container stop, the closure will remain sealed .
The fitment can be separately applied to the container neck, but more often, it will be inserted into the cap so that only a single capping operation is necessary. When the fitment is inserted into the cap, it is retained in a unique manner by the coaction of the cap plug with the fitment orifice. When the closure is threadingly applied to the container neck, the fitment permanently engages the neck by the coaction of the fitment bead with the container neck flange. Thereafter the plug serves to open and reseal the dispensing orifice. Retention of the fitment within the cap prior to initial application to the container neck is by an interference fit between the fitment orifice and the cap plug.
In a preferred form of the closure, the cap has a double skirt with an inner skirt being concentric to an outer skirt. The internal threads are located on the inner skirt and the releasable detent is located on the outer skirt. The manually releasable detent takes the form of a pair of axially extending diametrically opposed tabs which depend from the outer skirt, and the container stop takes the form of a pair of diametrically opposed stop surfaces. The tabs pass by the stop surfaces as the cap is being threaded onto the container neck, but they abut against the stop surfaces when the cap is being unthreaded to prevent further unthreading until the tabs are manually released as the cap is being unthreaded. Also in the preferred form, a pair of opposed pressure pads are provided on the annular skirt centered in a plane at right angles to the plane through the axially extending tabs so that manual release is effected by squeezing inwardly on the pads and moving the tabs outwardly to clear the stop surfaces as the cap is being unthreaded.
The container-closure package of the invention, in a preferred embodiment, also utilizes a sealing bead on the container neck below the container stop to perform a secondary sealing function. Also, the container stops are in the form of abutments which have lead in cam surfaces which deflect the cap tabs outwardly as the cap is being threaded onto the container to clear the stops.
Other features of the closure will be set forth in the detailed description, the preferred embodiments of the invention being illustrated in the drawing in which:
Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing the cap and fitment of the closure as it is applied to the container neck;
Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the closure of this invention, with a portion broken away and in section to show the sealing engagement of the cap, fitment and container neck;
Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the closure and container neck taken in the encircled area 3 indicated in Fig. 2;
Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the fitment attached to the container neck, and;
Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along line
5-5 of Fig. 2 additionally showing in phantom the cap tabs in
various positions relative to the container stops as the container is rotated.
As best seen in Fig. 1, the closure container package 10 includes two piece closure 12 and container 14. Container 14 has a shoulder portion 16 blending into neck 18 having external threads 20 to receive the closure. The neck has a narrow portion above threads 20 terminating in an annular rim 22 defining dispesning opening 24. Outwardly projecting flange or bead 26 is located on the narrow neck portion adjacent to annular rim 22. Below threads 20 is an outwardly projecting peeling bead 28. Also projecting outwardly from neck 18 or shoulder 16 are a pair of diametrically outwardly projecting stops 30 and 32 as best seen in Fig. 5.
Two piece dispensing closure 12 has a generally cylindrical cap 34 and a fitment 36. The fitment 36 has a generally planar top 38 and a short depending skirt 40. Dispensing orifice 42 extends through the top 38, and in most instances an upstanding nozzle or spout 44 surrounds the orifice 42 to direct the product being dispensed from the container 14. The size of orifice 42 and the contour of spout or nozzle 44 can be specifically designed for the particular product being dispensed which is usually a liquid or gel type materials such as a liquid dishwashing machine detergent. An inwardly projecting snap bead 46 adj acent the bottom of skirt 40 is designed to cooperate with container neck flange 26 to snap the fitment 36 onto the container neck for permanent retention and sealing therewith. Container neck bead 26 effects a permanent seal with the interior surface 48 of fitment skirt 40 as best seen in Fig. 3.
Cap 34 has a concentric outer skirt 50 and inner skirt 52 as best seen in Fig. 2. Inner skirt 52 has internal threads 54 for engagement with container threads 20. Cap 34 has an imperforate planar or slightly curved top 56 with a depending plug 58 concentric with outer and inner skirts 50 and 52. Plug 58 diverges outwardly from cap top 56 to its distal end and engages orifice 42 and nozzle 44 with an interference fit to form the primary seal between the cap 34 and the fitment 36.
Fitment 36 can be separately applied to the container neck as seen in Fig. 4, or more commonly it is inserted into cap 34 for retention therewith which allows the closure 12 to be shipped as a unit to the ultimate packager. The interference fit between the nozzle 42 and the plug 58 retains the fitment secure within the interior of inner skirt 52. Annular flange 60 depends from the cap top 56 and is of an appropriate length to contact fitment top 58 leaving a slight clearance between the top of fitment nozzle 44 and the inside of cap top 56. As the cap 34 is threaded onto container neck 18, flange 60 exerts a downward force on fitment top 38 so that fitment bead 46 snaps over container flange 26 during this initial capping operation. Thereafter, the fitment is permanently retained in a sealing relationship on the container neck. Thereafter, the plug 58 serves to seal the orifice 42. With the interference fit and the axial length of plug 58 and nozzle 44, the seal is maintained during the initial unthreading action of the cap 34.
A V-shaped sealing ring 62 depends from the fitment top 38 to form a secondary seal of the fitment with the annular rim 22 of container neck 18. Additionally, a V-shaped sealing ring 64 depends from the bottom of annular flange 60 to form a secondary seal of the cap to the fitment. Sealing rings 62 and 64 are the same diameter concentrating the sealing force between cap 34 and fitment 36 and the force between fitment 36 and container rim 22 in line. Another seal is provided between cap 34 and container neck 18 by the coaction of container neck bead 28 and the bottom of inner skirt 52 as best seen in Fig. 2.
A child resistant lock in the form of a manually releasable detent is provided on closure 12 for cooperation with container stop 30, 32. In the preferred form of the invention utilizing a double skirt cap, this takes the form of a pair of diametrically opposed axially extending tabs or lugs 66 and 68 depending from outer skirt 50 which cooperate with outwardly projecting container stops 30 and 32. As cap 34 is threaded onto container neck 18, tabs 66 and 68 are deflected outwardly by cam surfaces 70 and 72 of container stops 30 and 32. This outward deflection of outer wall 50 and tab 58 is shown in phantom in Fig. 2 as wall portion 50' and tab 68'. When the tabs are past their respective stops, the tab and wall portion resume their normal inward position as shown in Fig. 2. The cap can continue to be turned until it is fully threaded onto the container neck threads. Fig. 5 shows the tabs 66 and 68 in cross section before contact with the container stops 30 and 32. The positions of the tabs as they initially engage the cam surfaces 70 and 72 is shown in phantom at 66' and 68'. The tabs are shown at 662 and 682 deflected to their fullest extent by the cam surfaces, and they are shown at 66 3 and 683 in the position they would assume as they drop off the cam surfaces 70 and 72 of the stops onto shoulder 16. The cap can be tightened up to an additional 90° to a fully tightened position shown by the positions of the tabs at 66 4 and 684.
When cap 34 is unthreaded, it can be rotated only up to the point where tabs 66 and 68 come into contact with the stop surfaces 74 and 76 of container stops 30 and 32. This position is shown at 66 3 and 683 in Fig. 5. The tabs 66 and 68 must be manually deflected outward to clear the stops 30 and 32 simultaneously with counterclockwise unthreading of the cap. Such a manual outward deflection is accomplished by pressing at diametrically opposed pad portions 78, only one of which is shown in Figs. 1 and 2. These pads 78 are located on a plane 90 from a plane through the center of the depending tabs 66 and 68.
It will be apparent that container stops 30 and 32 could extend upwardly from shoulder 16 spaced from neck 18 in a manner shown in Figs. 1 - 3 of U. S. Patent 3,989,152 so that inward pressure on cap skirt 50 in line with tabs 66 and 68 would more the tabs inward to clear the container stops. Likewise other forms of squeeze tabs can be used such as shown in Figs. 4 - 6 of this patent so that the cap would have only a single skirt.
Plug 58 maintains it sealing contact with orifice 42 and nozzle 44 from a position before or at the stop surfaces 30 and 32 through the fully tightened position shown at 66 4 and 684 until they have been released from the container stops as shown in full section at 66 and 68 in Fig. 5. The present inveniton provides a child resistnnt two piece dispensing closure which includes a threaded cap having a reliable squeeze and turn safety lock with a plug, and a fitment providing a dispensing orifice that is sealed by the plug and a fitment which maintains a rotary seal over the "backed up to lock" turning rotation of the cap from fully tight to release of safety lock; such closure being well suited for marketing household products to which small children should not have access.

Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
1. A two piece child resistant dispensing closure for use on a container having a neck terminating in an annular rim defining a dispensing opening and having external threads, an outwardly extending flange on said neck above said threads and a stop below said threads, said closure comprising, in combination: a cap having an imperforate top and an annular skirt depending from said top, internal threads complementary to said container neck external threads, and manually releasable detent means engageable with said container stop as said cap is being unthreaded from said container neck; and a fitment having a top with a centrally located dispensing orifice therethrough and an annular skirt depending from the periphery of said fitment top, said fitment skirt having an inwardly directed bead for coaction with said container neck flange to sealingly engage said fitment with said container neck, said cap having a depending plug concentric to and within said annular skirt for engagement with said fitment for opening and resealing said dispensing orifice as said cap is unthreaded from and threaded onto said container neck.
2. The dispensing closure according to claim 1 wherein said cap plug and fitment orifice have means for retention of said fitment within said cap skirt prior to engagement of said closure with said container neck, said fitment permanently engaging said container neck by coaction of said fitment bead and container neck flange upon initial threading of said closure onto said container neck and thereafter said plug opening and resealing said dispensing orifice as said cap is unthreaded from and threaded onto said container neck.
3. The dispensing closure according to claim 2 wherein said means for retention includes an interference fit between said fitment orifice and said cap plug.
4. The dispensing closure according to claim 2 wherein said means for retention includes an outwardly extending taper on said cap plug.
5. The dispensing closure according to claim 1 wherein said cap has an inner skirt concentric with said annular skirt, said internal threads being located thereon, and said manually releasable detent means being located on said annular skirt.
6. The dispensing closure according to claim 5 wherein said manually releasable detent means include a pair of axially extending diametrically opposed tabs depending from said annular skirt which pass by said container stop which takes the form of diametrically opposed stop surfaces as the cap is being threaded onto the container neck, but abut against said stop surfaces when the cap is being unthreaded to prevent further unthreading until the tabs are manually released as said cap is being unthreaded.
7. The dispensing closure according to claim 6 wherein diametrically opposed pressure pads are provided on said annular skirt centered in a plane at right angles to a plane through said axially extending tabs so that manual release is effected by squeezing inwardly on said pads moving said tabs outwardly to clear said stop surfaces as the cap is being unthreaded.
8. The dispensing closure according to claim 1 wherein said cap plug has a length sufficient to maintain sealing engagement with said dispensing orifice as said cap is being unthreaded from a fully tightened position past a position where said detent is manually disengaged from said container stop.
9. The dispensing closure according to claim 1 further including an annular sealing ring depending from said fitment top for engagement with the annular rim of said container neck.
10. A two piece child resistant dispensing closure for use on a container having a neck terminating in an annular rim defining a dispensing opening and having external threads, an outwardly extending flange on said neck above said threads and a stop below said threads, said closure comprising, in combination: a cap having an imperforate top and an annular skirt depending from said top, internal threads complementary to said container neck external threads, and manually releasable detent means engagable with said container stop as said cap is being unthreaded from said container neck; and a fitment having a top with a centrally located dispensing orifice therethrough and an annular skirt depending from the periphery of said fitment top, said fitment skirt having an inwardly directed bead for coaction with said container neck flange to sealingly engage said fitment with said container neck, said cap having a depending plug concentric to and within said annular skirt for engagement with said fitment dispensing orifice for retaining said fitment within said inner cap skirt prior to engagement of said closure with said container neck, said fitment permanently engaging said container neck by coaction of said fitment bead and container neck flange upon initial threading of said closure onto said container neck and thereafter said plug opening and resealing said dispensing orifice as said cap is unthreaded from and threaded onto said container neck.
11. The two piece dispensing closure according to claim 10 further including an annular flange depending from said cap top for engagement with said fitment top to exert a downward force on said fitment as said cap is being initially threaded onto said container neck to snap said fitment bead over said container neck flange effecting permanent engagement of the fitment with the container neck.
12. The dispensing closure according to claim 11 further including a sealing ring depending from said annular flange for engagement with said fitment top.
13. The dispensing closure according to claim 12 further including a sealing ring depending from said fitment top for engagement with said annular rim.
14. The dispensing closure according to claim 13 wherein said sealing rings depending from said annular flange and said fitment top are of the same diameter so that they are in line with each other to exert a downward sealing force as said cap is being threaded onto said container neck effecting a seal between said cap flange and said fitment and a seal between said fitment and said annular rim of the container neck.
15. The dispensing closure according to claim 14 wherein each of said sealing rings has a V-shaped cross-section.
16. The dispensing closure according to claim 11 further including a dispensing nozzle extending upwardly from said fitment top and surrounding said dispensing orifice for directing the dispensing of a product from said dispensing orifice, said annular flange extending downwardly sufficiently to engage said fitment top leaving a clearance between said nozzle and said cap top.
17. A two piece child resistant dispensing closure for use on a container having a neck terminating in an annular rim defining a dispensing opening and having external threads, an outwardly extending flange on said neck above said threads and a stop below said threads, said closure comprising, in combination: a cap having an imporforate top and concentric inner and outer annular skirts depending from said top, said inner skirt having internal threads complementary to said container neck external threads, and said outer skirt having manually releasable detent means engagable with said container stop as said cap is being unthreaded from said container neck; and a fitment having a top with a centrally located dispensing orifice therethrough and an annular skirt depending from the periphery of said fitment top, said f itment skirt having an inwardly directed bead for coaction with said container neck flange to sealingly engage said fitment with said container neck, said cap having a depending plug concentric to and within said inner skirt for engagement with said fitment dispensing orifice for retaining said fitment within said inner cap skirt prior to engagement of said closure with said container neck, said fitment permanently engaging said container neck by coaction of said fitment bead and container neck flange upon initial threading of said closure onto said container neck and thereafter said plug opening and resealing said dispensing orifice as said cap is unthreaded from and threaded onto said container neck.
18. The dispensing closure according to claim 17 further including an annular flange depending from said cap top for contacting said fitment top and snapping said fitment bead over said container neck flange upon initial threading of said closure onto said container neck, said flange further having a sealing ring depending therefrom for contact with said fitment top, and further including a sealing ring depending from said fitment top for engagement with said annular rim of the container neck.
19. A container-closure package comprising, in combination: a container having a neck terminating in an annular rim defining a dispensing opening and having external threads on said neck, an outwardly extending flange on said on said neck above said threads, an annular sealing bead below said threads, and a stop below said sealing bead; a closure including a cap having an imperforate top an concentric inner and outer annular skirts depending from said top, said inner skirt having internal threads complementary to said container neck external threads and a lower portion for sealing contact with said container neck sealing bead, and said outer skirt having a manually releasable tab arranged to pass said container stop as said cap is threaded onto said container neck and engage the container stop to prevent unthreading said cap; and a fitment having a top with a centrally located dispensing orifice therethrough aligned with said dispensing opening and an annular skirt depending from the periphery of said fitment top, said fitment skirt having an inwardly directed bead for coaction with said container neck flange to sealingly engage said fitment with said container neck, said cap having a depending plug concentric to and within said inner skirt for engagement with said fitment dispensing orifice for retaining said fitment within said inner cap skirt prior to engagement of said closure with said container neck, said fitment permanently engaging said container neck by coaction of said fitment bead and container neck flange upon initial threading of said closure onto said container neck and thereafter said plug opening and resealing said dispensing orifice as said cap is unthreaded from and threaded onto said said container neck; said sealing plug having a length sufficient to maintain said sealing engagement with said dispensing orifice as said cap is being unthreaded from a fully tightened position past the position where said tab must be manually released from said container stop to continue unthreading of said cap from said container neck.
20. The dispensing closure according to claim 19 further including an annular flange depending from said cap top between said cap plug and said inner skirt for engagement with said fitment top to exert a downward force on said fitment as said cap is being initially threaded onto said container neck to snap said fitment bead over said container neck flange effecting permanent engagement of the fitment with the container neck, a sealing ring depending from said annular flange for engagement with said fitment top, and a sealing ring depending from the top for engagement with said annular rim; whereby a primary seal is effected between said fitment and said container neck by the coaction of said inwardly directed bead on said fitment with said container neck flange, a secondary seal is effected between said fitment and said container neck by said sealing ring depending from said fitment engaging said annular rim, a primary rotary seal is maintained between said cap and said fitment by the engagement of said sealing plug with said orifice, a secondary seal is maintained between said cap and said fitment by the engagement of said sealing ring on said annular flange with said fitment top, and an additional seal is maintained between said container neck and said cap by the coaction of said annular sealing bead with said inner skirt.
21. The container-closure package according to claim 19 wherein said outer skirt has a pair of diametrically opposed manually releasable tabs depending axially therefrom for coaction with a pair of diametrically opposed container stops, and wherein each container stop has a cam surface which deflects said tabs outwardly to pass said stops as the cap is being threaded onto the container neck, and said stops also having an abutment surface which engages said tabs to prevent unthreading of said cap from said container neck until said tabs are manually released by squeezing said cap inwardly to deflect said tabs outwardly to clear said abutment surfaces.
PCT/US1989/003995 1988-09-13 1989-09-13 Child resistant cap with dispensing fitment WO1990002692A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US24362688A 1988-09-13 1988-09-13
US243,626 1988-09-13

Publications (1)

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WO1990002692A1 true WO1990002692A1 (en) 1990-03-22

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US1989/003995 WO1990002692A1 (en) 1988-09-13 1989-09-13 Child resistant cap with dispensing fitment

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AU (2) AU4133289A (en)
FR (1) FR2636310A1 (en)
WO (1) WO1990002692A1 (en)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1997001494A1 (en) * 1995-06-28 1997-01-16 The Procter & Gamble Company An adult friendly child-resistant package
WO1997023388A1 (en) * 1995-12-21 1997-07-03 The Procter & Gamble Company An adult friendly child-resistant package
US5706963A (en) * 1996-08-13 1998-01-13 Gargione; Frank V. Child resistant closure
US5836466A (en) * 1997-05-22 1998-11-17 Rexam Plastics, Inc. Safety closure and container assembly
WO1998052839A1 (en) * 1997-05-22 1998-11-26 Rexam Plastics, Inc. Double-shell closure having an arcuate groove
US6036036A (en) * 1995-06-28 2000-03-14 The Procter & Gamble Company Adult friendly child-resistant package

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FR1488447A (en) * 1966-05-27 1967-07-13 Astra De Bouchage Soc Improvements to stopper devices with spout
US3578223A (en) * 1968-08-27 1971-05-11 Monsanto Co Container with closure
US3986626A (en) * 1975-07-18 1976-10-19 Sunbeam Plastics Corporation Threaded cap and neck for a liquid container
US4187964A (en) * 1978-08-01 1980-02-12 Anchor Hocking Corporation Combined closure cap and pour-out fitment
US4358031A (en) * 1980-08-26 1982-11-09 Owens-Illinois, Inc. Safety closure and container with dispensing spout
US4387819A (en) * 1981-12-23 1983-06-14 Corsette Douglas Frank Sealing means for a snap-on fitment

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR1488447A (en) * 1966-05-27 1967-07-13 Astra De Bouchage Soc Improvements to stopper devices with spout
US3578223A (en) * 1968-08-27 1971-05-11 Monsanto Co Container with closure
US3986626A (en) * 1975-07-18 1976-10-19 Sunbeam Plastics Corporation Threaded cap and neck for a liquid container
US4187964A (en) * 1978-08-01 1980-02-12 Anchor Hocking Corporation Combined closure cap and pour-out fitment
US4358031A (en) * 1980-08-26 1982-11-09 Owens-Illinois, Inc. Safety closure and container with dispensing spout
US4387819A (en) * 1981-12-23 1983-06-14 Corsette Douglas Frank Sealing means for a snap-on fitment

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1997001494A1 (en) * 1995-06-28 1997-01-16 The Procter & Gamble Company An adult friendly child-resistant package
US6036036A (en) * 1995-06-28 2000-03-14 The Procter & Gamble Company Adult friendly child-resistant package
WO1997023388A1 (en) * 1995-12-21 1997-07-03 The Procter & Gamble Company An adult friendly child-resistant package
US5706963A (en) * 1996-08-13 1998-01-13 Gargione; Frank V. Child resistant closure
US5836466A (en) * 1997-05-22 1998-11-17 Rexam Plastics, Inc. Safety closure and container assembly
WO1998052839A1 (en) * 1997-05-22 1998-11-26 Rexam Plastics, Inc. Double-shell closure having an arcuate groove

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR2636310A1 (en) 1990-03-16
AU4133289A (en) 1990-03-22
AU4307289A (en) 1990-04-02

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