BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Pill containers, as well as certain types of liquid containers and the like, involve snap-on and threaded closures. Snap-on and threaded closures, which may be put on and off easily on the container, are of great convenience to the user. Snap-on and threaded closures, however, enable children to open such containers easily and to be exposed to potentially harmful contents. Containers that employ snap-on and threaded closures therefore should be resistant to opening by children, especially children under age 5.
A child resistant package must satisfy specific test standards to comply with protocol specified by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (“CPSC”). These standards are child resistance effectiveness (CRE) and older adult use effectiveness ('OAUE). CRE is the percentage of children in a group that are unable to open the package within a specified time. CRE is measured by asking pairs of children in a specified age group (30% aged 42-44 months, 40% aged 45-48 months, and 30% aged 49-51 months) to open the package in a specified time period both before and after a nonverbal demonstration. Currently, the CPSC requires a CRE of 85 percent before a demonstration and 80 percent after a demonstration. OAUE is the percentage of adults in a group that is able to open and close the package. OAUE is measured by asking individual adults in a specified age group (typically 60-75 years) to open and close a package using instructions supplied with it in a specified time period. Currently, the CPSC requires an OAUE of ninety percent based on pictorial or written instructions.
Maze type packages are known in the art. These types of packages employ mazes formed of intersecting grooves. Two types of motion typically are employed to open such a package: (1) rotation and (2) linear (usually axial) motion. The sequence of steps employed typically includes alternating a rotary motion with an axial motion. Although maze type packages exist in the prior art, a need continues for maze type packages which are both child resistant and easily opened by adults, particularly elderly adults.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a package having a container and a closure;
FIG. 2 is a top view of the container of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a top view of closure 15; FIG. 3a is a cross sectional view of the closure shown in FIG. 1 taken on line A-A;
FIG. 3B is a cross sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the closure shown in FIG. 1 B that includes reinforcing ribs.
FIG. 4 is a side view of the container of FIG. 1 that shows a configuration of a maze of ribs on the neck of the container of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4A is side view of the container of FIG. 1 that shows an alternative configuration of a maze of ribs that includes a stud retainer;
FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the container of FIG. 1 showing a rib 23;
FIG. 5A is an enlarged view of a rib of the maze shown in FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a cross section view of an embodiment of stud 27 of closure 15;
FIGS. 7(a)-7(c) are cross sectional views of alternative shapes of ribs 23;
FIG. 8 is a cross sectional assembly view of the package of FIG. 1 that shows the closure attached to the container.
The invention can be more clearly understood by reference to the drawings forming a part of this disclosure wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to packages such as child resistant packages which provide ease of use by older adults, particularly adults over 60 years of age. The packages are sufficiently child resistant to provide adequate protection of child health yet not so complex as to be uneconomical or excessively inconvenient for adults, particularly elderly adults over 60 years of age. In particular, the present invention relates to child resistant packages that employ a maze of intersecting circumferential and axial grooves.
The packages include a generally cylindrical container member and a coaxial closure member that may be rotated relative to the container member. The container member and the closure member engage to prevent relative axial movement there between except in predetermined positions.
The closure member advantageously may be snap closed onto the container by pushing the closure downwardly on to the container. The package may be easily opened by people who are slightly handicapped or lack total manual dexterity, such as those who are arthritic. Further advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing detailed description.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The closure and container components of the package may be made from materials such as glass, metal, plastics such as polyethylene and polypropylene, as well as paper and the like. The container and the closure components need not be made from the same material. The term package refers to the container in combination with the closure.
Referring to FIGS. 1-8, there is shown an embodiment of package 1 which includes container 5 and closure 15. Container 5 may be of any shape and dimension. Typically, container 5 is a cylindrical receptacle of common diameter throughout its length, or of bottle-like form with neck 17 of reduced diameter. Preferably, and as illustrated in FIGS. 1-8, container 5 includes body 19 and neck 17 joined to body 19. Neck 17 is dimensioned to receive closure 15 thereover. Neck 17 includes opening 18 for permitting access to the contents of container 5. Although neck 17 is shown in FIG. 1 as having a narrower diameter than body 19, the configuration of neck 17 is not so limited.
On the outer surface of neck 17 are molded or otherwise provided elevated ribs 23. Ribs 23 form maze 21 of intersecting axial and circumferential grooves (A)-(K) as shown in FIG. 4. Ribs 23 have lower surfaces 24 which are generally flat, such as within ten degrees of perpendicular to the circumferential surface of neck 17. Ribs 23 may vary in cross-sectional shape. Ribs 23 may have a cross section that is generally trapezoidal as shown in FIG. 7(a). Other possible cross sections include but are not limited to hemispherical and stepped as shown in FIGS. 7(b) and 7(c), respectively. Ribs 23 may include downwardly, outwardly tapered portion 25 as shown in FIG. 5A. The angle (β) of tapered portion 25 may vary from about one degree to about 89 degrees, preferably about 30 degrees to about 60 degrees, most preferably about 45 degrees.
In an embodiment such as shown in FIG. 4 or 4A, maze 21 includes a number of circumferential and axial grooves (A)-(K) defined by ribs 23. Maze 21 includes lowermost circumferential groove (A), a series of three upper, circumferential grooves (C), (E) and (G), and axial grooves (B), (D), (F), (H) and (K). It is understood that the number of circumferential and axial grooves are not limited to those shown in FIG. 4 or FIG. 4A. Circumferential grooves such as grooves (C), (E) and (G) may be horizontal or angled in a range of about 1 degree to about 20 degrees to the horizontal, such as about 2 to about 3 degrees to horizontal. Most typically, the circumferential grooves are horizontal.
In FIG. 4, lowermost groove (A) of maze 21 includes detent 35. Detent 35 functions to secure studs 27 of closure 15 in locking region 9 between detent 35 in groove (A) and the inner wall surface of neck 17. Detent 35 typically is positioned from inner wall surface of neck 17 by a distance that is about equal to the width of stud 27 so as to enable stud 27 to be secured in locking region 9 without requiring any lateral movement of stud 27 in lowermost groove A. Detent 35, however, may be located a distance of about 11% to about 51% of the length of lowermost groove A distal to the inner wall surface of neck 17, such as a distance of about 23% to about 51% of the length of lowermost groove A distal to the inner wall surface of neck 17, more typically a distance of about 29% to about 51% of the length of lowermost groove (A) distal to the inner wall surface of neck 17. Detent 35 may have a trapezoidal cross section as shown in FIG. 4. Detent 35, however, may have a variety of other cross sections such as hemispherical, ellipsoidal, square, rectangular and triangular.
In an alternative embodiment such as shown in FIG. 4A, detent 35 in lowermost groove (A) of maze 21 is replaced by stud retainer 37. Stud retainer 37 is typically integral with the bottom surface of groove (A) and extends across a portion of the width of groove (A), such as about 5% to about 100%, such as about 20% to about 50% of groove (A), typically about 100% of the width of groove (A). Stud retainer 37 may have a variety of cross sections. Non-limiting examples of possible cross sections for stud retainer 37 include but are not limited to polygons having 3 or more sides, such as 3 to 10 sides, typically four sides, circular cross sections, ellipsoidal cross sections, hemispherical cross sections, concave cross sections, convex cross sections and combinations thereof. Polygonal cross sections may be regular such as square or irregular such as rectangular. Stud retainer 37 functions to secure studs 27 of closure 15 in locking region 9 between stud retainer 37 in groove (A) and the inner wall surface of neck 17. Stud retainer 37 may extend upwardly from the bottom surface of groove (A) to about 0.1 to about 99% of the depth of groove (A), typically about 25% to about 50% of the depth of groove (A) so to enable stud 27 to pass over stud retainer 37 to be secured in locking region 9 while also enabling stud 27 to pass from locking region 9 into groove (A). Stud retainer 37 is typically located adjacent locking region 9. Stud retainer 27, however, may be located in groove (A) distal to locking region 9.
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 4A, groove (H) is partially defined by upwardly extending maze side wall 23A. Side wall 23A may extend downwardly to the bottom surface of groove (A).
In a maze 21, groove (F) may extend above the upper surface of groove (E) as shown in FIG. 4. Groove (F), alternatively, may be co-extensive with the upper surface of groove (E) so as to not to extend above groove (E). Groove (C) may extend on each side of the intersection with groove (B). Similarly, groove (E) may extend to each side of the intersection of groove (D). Grooves such as (A), (C) and (E), together with studs 27 described below, limit unintended movement of closure 15 and also minimize the likelihood that a child can forcibly pry closure 15 off of container 5.
Closure 15 may be of generally conventional design that has a closed top 16 and cylindrical sidewalls 22. In an alternative embodiment such as shown in FIG. 3B, closure 15 may include a plurality of spaced, reinforcing bars 88 integral within the interior of closure 15. Closure 15 has a diameter sufficient to fit over neck 17. In this embodiment, closure 15 is unlined. In other embodiments, closure 15 may be lined or linerless (e.g., plug seal). As shown in an embodiment such as in FIG. 3, two inwardly projecting, diametrically opposed studs 27 are provided on sidewall 22. In this embodiment, there are two diametrically opposed, individual mazes 21, typically identical mazes 21, each of which extend 180 degrees around the circumference of neck 17. In an alternative embodiment, studs 27 may number three or four and may be located at 120 degrees and at ninety degrees to each other, respectively. A number of mazes 21, such as identical mazes 21 corresponding in number to the number of studs 27 in closure 15, are provided on neck 17. Any number of studs 27, such as equally spaced studs around the inner periphery of closure 15 may be used.
Studs 27 may have a trapezoidal cross section as shown in FIG. 6. As shown in FIG. 6, stud 27 has an inwardly, downwardly tapered portion 28 and a generally flat, horizontal upper portion 29. Upper portion 29 is within thirty degrees of perpendicular, such as perpendicular to sidewall 22 of closure 15. Tapered portion 28 of stud 27 enables stud 27 to ride over ribs 23 of maze 21 when closure 15 is pushed downwardly onto container 5. This enables a user to snap close closure 15 onto container 5 into a secured position in locking region 9. Studs 27 have a length L and a thickness T. The length L of stud 27 is sufficient to minimize the possibility that a child may pry closure 15 from container 5. The thickness of stud 27 corresponds to the width of lowermost groove A so as to achieve a snug fit of stud 27 in groove A. The snug fit typically is sufficient to prevent a child from rocking closure 15 off of container 5.
The angle (α) of tapered portion 28, as shown in FIG. 6, may vary from about 1 degree to about 89 degrees, such as about 30 degrees to about 60 degrees, such as about 45 degrees.
Studs 27 preferably may be of a depth and height that corresponds approximately with the depth and height, respectively, of lowermost groove (A) of maze 21 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. Where stud retainer 27 is present in groove (A), the depth and height of studs 27 are sufficient to pass over stud retainer 37. This enables upper surfaces 29 of studs 27 to be in the preferred position of being adjacent and generally parallel to the upper surfaces of a groove of maze 21.
When securing closure 15 onto neck 17 of container 5, closure 15 is first placed onto neck 17 to cause stud 27 of closure 15 to engage axial groove (K) as in FIG. 4. Axial groove (K) may be identified by arrow 50. Downward pressure then is applied to closure 15 to cause stud 27 on closure 15 to ride over ribs 23 to engage the locking region 9 in lowermost groove (A). Lowermost groove (A), as shown in FIG. 4, includes detent 35 to retain stud 27 in the locking region 9. In an alternative embodiment, lowermost groove (A) as shown in FIG. 4A, includes stud retainer 37 to retain stud 27 in locking region 9. Studs 27 and ribs 23 cooperate to enable closure 15 to be snap closed easily onto container 5. This encourages adults who lack dexterity to secure closure 15 onto container 5 to prevent children from gaining access to the contents of container 5.
The child resistant package is opened by rotating and lifting closure 15 relative to container 5. In this way, studs 27 on closure 15 pass through maze 21 to separate closure 15 from container 5. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, closure 15 first is rotated counterclockwise to cause stud 27 to ride over pass under detent 35 in lowermost circumferential groove (A) as in FIG. 4 or to ride over stud retainer 37 as shown in FIG. 4A to unlock closure 15. Closure 15 then is rotated counterclockwise to cause stud 27 to engage first axial groove (B). Closure 15 then is lifted to cause stud 27 to engage first upper groove (C). Closure 15 is further rotated counterclockwise in groove (C) to cause stud 27 to engage second axial groove (D). Closure 15 then is lifted to cause stud 27 to engage second upper groove (E). Closure 15 then again is rotated to cause stud 27 to engage third axial groove (F). At this point, closure 15 is lowered to cause stud 27 to engage third upper groove (G). Subsequently, closure 15 is rotated to cause stud 27 to engage fourth axial groove (H). Closure 15 then is lifted to remove closure 15 from container 5. This series of rotary and lifting motions provides the closure of the invention with high child resistance. Moreover, adults with limited manual dexterity may easily open the closure of the invention.
The child resistant package of the invention may be employed in any application where child-resistant benefits are desired to prevent access to the contents of a container. The package therefore may be used for storing of pharmaceutical products, agricultural products, toxic household chemicals, automotive products and other products with certain levels of specific ingredients that are covered within the CPSC guidelines that may be harmful to children. The child-resistant concept also may be used to prevent access to the operating mechanism of devices such as butane lighters, household cleaners, and other devices.
Numerous modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.
Patent Grant
9586736
