WO2003095319A1

WO2003095319A1 - Locking key cap

Info

Publication number: WO2003095319A1
Application number: PCT/US2003/014221
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jameson P. Stull; Robert T. Auer
Original assignee: Stull Technologies
Priority date: 2002-05-07
Filing date: 2003-05-07
Publication date: 2003-11-20
Also published as: AU2003230279A1

Abstract

A one-piece cap closure (110) has a base (110) and a cap (120) joined to the base is a movable between an opened and a closed position. The base is provided with a key (170) and the cap is provided with a key-way (190) through which the key extends in an offset position relative to the key-way while the cap is in the closed position. The cap automatically locks the base via the offset orientation of the key with the key-way when the cap is pushed downward onto the base, such closing operation only requiring one finger. To open the closure, the key is turned so that it can pass through the key-way and the cap is lifted from the base, such turning and lifting action requiring both hands to work simultaneously.

Description

LOCKING KEY CAP

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application 60/378,542 filed May 7, 2002.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a closure in general, and more particularly, to a child-resistant locking cap that requires skill and dexterity to operate and manipulate. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Child resistant packaging must meet certain requirements in order to be labeled as "child resistant." For instance, 40 C.F.R. § 157.21(b), relating to child resistant packaging for pesticides and toxic substances, defines child-resistant packaging as "packaging that is designed and constructed to be significantly difficult for children under 5 years of age to open or obtain a toxic or harmful amount of the substance contained therein within a reasonable time, and that is not difficult for normal adults to use properly." The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has also established standards that have been codified at 16 C.F.R. §1700.20, to determine whether certain packaging is deemed "child resistant."

Furthermore, the Poison Prevention Packaging Act (PPPA) enacted in 1970 requires a number of household substances to be packaged in child-resistant packaging. Such packaging must be designed or constructed to be significantly difficult for children under five years of age to open within a reasonable time, and not difficult for normal adults to use properly, which is similar to the standard defined above and required by the CPSC. For the sake of the elderly and handicapped who might have difficulty opening such containers, the PPPA provides that a regulated product available for purchase on store shelves may be packaged in one non-complying size provided it carries a warning that it is not recommended for use in households with children, and provided that the product is also supplied in complying popular size packages. Since such regulations have been in effect, there have been remarkable declines in reported deaths from ingestions by children of toxic household products including medications, (see 15 U.S.C. §1471-1476). Thus, great attention has been devoted by the government and industry to protect children from gaining access to consumer products that might be harmful if utilized in an unintended fashion.

The locking cap closure of the present invention is designed to serve multiple purposes, and thus much consideration was given to the degree of difficulty required to open the closure. For instance, it was necessary for the operation of the design to be senior friendly, child resistant and manufactured at a competitive price point. Mindful of the above-noted considerations, the closure design of the present invention lends itself to be opened by an average adult without too much difficulty, yet is difficult for a child to open within a reasonable amount of time. It has a one piece design that eliminates the need for a separate cap that could be considered a small part and present a chocking hazard to a young child, especially since very young children have a tendency to place lose parts in their mouth. The closure of the present invention is also preferably intended to be locked onto a container during the assembly process and is not removable from such container without a special tool.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A one-piece cap closure is defined by a base having a locking key and a cap having a key-way and joined to the base by a living hinge. The key-way is constructed and oriented such that it causes the key to rotate into an alignment position with the key- way in order to pass through the key-way when the cap is closed onto the base. Once the key passes completely through the key-way, it rotates into an offset position relative to the key-way and automatically locks the cap to the base. To open the closure, the key must be oriented so that it can pass through the key-way when the cap is lifted, such turning and lifting action requiring both hands to work simultaneously. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of one embodiment of the closure of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the closure of FIG. 1 in the closed position. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view thereof.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the closure of FIG. 1 in the opened position. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view thereof. DETADLED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following detailed description is of the best mode or modes of the invention presently contemplated. Such description is not intended to be understood in a limiting sense, but to be an example of the invention presented solely for illustration thereof, and by reference to which in connection with the following description and the accompanying drawings one skilled in the art may be advised of the advantages and construction of the invention. In the various views of the drawings, like reference characters designate like or similar parts.

FIGS. 1-5 illustrate one embodiment of the closure 100 of the present invention generally comprising a base 110 and a cap 120 joined thereto preferably by a living hinge 130. The closure 100 is preferably formed as a one-piece injection molded polypropylene closure, although other polymeric and non-polymeric materials may be used and the closure 100 may be formed by methods other than injection molding as is known in the art. For purposes of discussion, however, it will be assumed that polypropylene is the preferred material being used for all aspects of the closure 100. As noted above, a one piece design is preferable because it eliminates the need for a separate cap that might present a chocking hazard to a young child. The closure 100 is also preferably molded in the open position (FIGS. 4-5) with the base 110 and cap 120 held together by the living hinge 130.

The present inventors have found that the closure 100 of the present invention works best when affixed to a flexible-walled container 140 and when product (not shown) stored within said container 140 is dispensed while said container 140 is in an inverted position. Product stored within said container 140 is dispensed through a nozzle 150 provided on the base 110, which nozzle 150 is sealed by a pin 160 provided on the cap 120. When closing the cap 120, the pin 160 automatically registers into the nozzle 150 and seals it completely each time the cap 120 is closed. To further prevent unintentional access to the container 140 by a child, the base 110 may be provided with a bead snap 165 located inside a skirt wall that snaps over a bead ring 144 located on the side neck 148 of the container 140, such that without a special tool, the closure 100 is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to remove from the container 140. Located in the center area of the base 110 is a pin 170 that is flexibly supported on said base and that functions as a key (hereinafter referred to as "key 170"). Key 170 is preferably provided with an enlarged top section 180 for manual manipulation as will be described below. Located in the center area of the cap 120 is a key- way 190 for passage of said key 170 therethrough. The key-way 190 is dimensioned and oriented on an upper surface 200 of the cap 120 such that it is out of alignment (see FIG. 2) with said key 170 when said cap 120 is in the closed position (FIGS. 1-3) and when said key 170 is in its original molded position (see FIGS. 4-5). In other words, the key 170, and more particularly the enlarged top portion 180, prevents movement of the cap 120 from the closed position to the opened position, with such movement only being accomplished by the manual orientation of the key 170 into alignment with the key- way 190. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-5, the key 170 must be turned clockwise in accordance with indicia 210 provided on the cap 120 to align the key 170 with the key- way 190 and to allow for the key 170 to pass through the key-way 190 while the cap 120 is moved toward the open position. Of course, while the provision of such indicia 210 is preferred to assist adults in the operation of the closure 100, it is not necessary for the operation of the inventive closure 100.

However, when the cap 120 is moved from the open position (FIGS. 4-5) to the closed position (FIGS. 1-3), the key-way 190 automatically forces the key 170 to rotate and flex into an aligned position with the key- way 190 as the key 170 passes through the key- way 190 by virtue of the key 170 being flexibly supported on the base 110.

After the key 170 passes completely through the key-way 190, the key 170 rotates back into its original position and out of alignment with the key- way 190, resulting in an automatic locking of the cap 120 onto the base 110. The flexible movement of the key 170 from its original molded position, through the key- way 190, and then back to its original molded, automatic locking position is due to the inherent memory found in the polypropylene material. Once the cap 120 is in the closed position, any attempted movement of the cap 120 toward the open position, without a simultaneous rotation of the key 170 into alignment with the key- way 190, will cause the upper surface 210 of the cap 120 to frictionally contact the enlarged top portion 180 of the key 170. Thus, movement of the cap 120 toward the open position, without a simultaneous movement of the key 170, is prevented.

To open or "unlock" the cap 120, a consumer must turn the key 170 and apply an upward force on the cap 120 simultaneously. On a front inside edge 220 of the cap 120 and on a front inside edge 230 of the base 110 is a matching back draft angle that creates a second lock that requires slight upward pressure to release the cap 120 from the base 110. This secondary pull-apart friction lock is a necessary part of the sequence that is required to lift the cap 120 from the base 110. A finger depression 240 may be provided on the base 110 and a lifting tab 250 may be provided on the cap 120 to assist in the figure purchase of this pull-apart friction lock. It will be appreciated that the closure 100 of the present invention requires only one figure to close the cap 120 onto the base 110 and to automatically lock the cap 120 onto the base 110. However, the opening of such closure 100 requires two hands working simultaneously, one hand to rotate the key 170 and the other hand to overcome the secondary pull-apart friction lock provided on the edge 220, 230 of the cap 120 and base 110.

While the present invention has been described at some length and with some particularity with respect to the several described embodiments, it is not intended that it should be limited to any such particulars or embodiments or any particular embodiment, but it is to be construed with references to the appended claims so as to provide the broadest possible interpretation of such claims in view of the prior art and, therefore, to effectively encompass the intended scope of the invention. Furthermore, the foregoing describes the invention in terms of embodiments foreseen by the inventor for which an enabling description was available, notwithstanding that insubstantial modifications of the invention, not presently foreseen, may nonetheless represent equivalents thereto.

Claims

CLAIMSI claim:

1. A one-piece, automatically-locking closure comprising: a) a base for attachment to a container and through which product stored within said container is dispensed; b) a cap joined to said base and movable relative to said base between an opened and a closed position; c) a key flexibly supported on said base; and d) a key-way provided on said cap for passage of said key therethrough; e) wherein, during movement of said cap from said opened position to said closed position, said key is automatically movable from a first position that is aligned with said key-way and enabling passage of said key through said key-way, to a second position out of alignment with said key-way and preventing the return passage of said key through said key- way for locking said cap into said closed position.

2. The closure of claim 1 , wherein said cap is joined to said base by a living hinge.

3. The closure of claim 1, wherein movement of said cap from said closed position to said open position requires a manual movement of said key from said second position to said first position.

4. The closure of claim 3, wherein said manual movement of said key must occur simultaneously with the lifting of said cap from said base in order to move said cap to said opened position.

5. The closure of claim 1, wherein said base is provided with a nozzle for dispensing product stored within a container on which said base is attached.

6. The closure of claim 5, wherein said cap is provided with a pin for sealing said nozzle while said cap is in the closed position.

7. The closure of claim 1 , wherein said key is centrally-positioned on said base.

8. The closure of claim 1, further comprising a friction lock provided on an edge of said base and cap for requiring a slight upwards pressure to initiate motion of said cap from said closed position to said opened position.

9. The closure of claim 8, wherein said friction lock further comprises a matching back draft angle provided on said edge of said base and cap.

10. The closure of claim 9, further comprising a finger depression provided on said base and a lifting tab provided on said cap to aid initiating motion of said cap from said closed position to said opened position.

11. The closure of claim 1, wherein said base is provided with means for locking said base to a container.

12. The closure of claim 11, wherein a bead snap is provided along an inner wall of said base for locking engagement with a container bead.

13. The closure of claim 1, wherein said key is provided with an enlarged top portion that is adapted for manual manipulation by a user.

14. The closure of claim 13, wherein said cap is provided with an upper surface that contacts said enlarged top portion during movement of said cap from said closed position to said open position if said key is not oriented to said first position during said movement.

15. The closure of claim 1, wherein said closure is injection molded as a single piece in the opened position.

16. The closure of claim 1, wherein said closure is formed from a polymeric material.

17. The closure of claim 16, wherein said closure is formed from plastic.

18. The closure of claim .17, wherein said closure is formed from polypropylene.

19. The closure of claim 18, wherein the key has flexibility and an inherent memory to return to an original position such that, during the closing of the cap onto the base, the key is movable from an original position, to a different position during passage of the key through the key-way, and finally back to its original position to automatically lock the cap onto the base.

20. The closure of claim 1, wherein the key has flexibility and an inherent memory to return to an original position such that, during the closing of the cap onto the base, the key is movable from an original position, to a different position during passage of the key through the key-way, and finally back to its original position to automatically lock the cap onto the base.

21. A container having a one-piece, automatically-locking closure, said container comprising: a) a storage chamber for storing a dispensable product, b) a closure base attached to said storage chamber and through which dispensable product is dispensed; c) a closure cap joined to said closure base by a living hinge and movable relative to said closure base between an opened and a closed position; d) a locking key flexibly supported on said closure base; and e) a key-way provided on said closure cap for passage of said key therethrough; f) wherein, during movement of said closure cap from said opened position to said closed position, said locking key is automatically movable from a first position that is aligned with said key-way and enabling passage of said key through said key-way, to a second position out of alignment with said key-way and preventing the return passage of said key through said key-way for locking said closure cap into said closed position.

22. The container of claim 21, further comprising a bead provided on said storage chamber and a bead lock provided on said closure base for locking engagement with said bead.

23. The container of claim 21, wherein the locking key has flexibility and an inherent memory to return to an original position such that, during the closing of the closure cap onto the closure base, the locking key is movable from an original position, to a different position during passage of the locking key through the key- way, and finally back to its original position to automatically lock the closure cap onto the closure base.

24. The container of claim 23, wherein the closure base is formed from polypropylene.

25. The container of claim 24, wherein the closure cap is formed from polypropylene.