Aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to closures. Particular aspects of the present disclosure relate to child resistant closures for containers.
Closures are known in that art. Some closures include child resistant features which attempt to prevent children from opening a container with which the closure is configured to be engaged.
The present disclosure generally relates to new and novel structures for closures. For example, aspects of the disclosure relate to a closure configured to be engaged with a container, wherein the closure includes a cap and a twist ring. According to aspects of the disclosure, the cap may include: a generally cylindrical main body, a lid, a sidewall extending substantially perpendicularly from the lid, a hinge which allows the lid to pivot between a closed position and an open position and a lift tab configured to protrude outwardly from the cap. According to aspects of the disclosure, the twist ring may be configured to extend around the cap. Further the twist ring may include: a generally cylindrical main body, a rim extending in a substantially horizontal plane and a sidewall extending substantially vertically from the rim. According to aspects of the disclosure, the twist ring may be configured to be rotated in order to be positioned to selectively prevent the lid of the cap from being pivoted from the closed position to the open position.
The above summary presents general aspects of the disclosure in order to provide a basic understanding of at least some of its aspects. The summary is not intended as an extensive overview of the disclosure. It is not intended to identify key or critical elements of the disclosure or to delineate the scope of the disclosure. The above summary merely presents some concepts of the disclosure in a general form as a prelude to the more detailed description provided below.
A more complete understanding of the present disclosure and certain advantages thereof may be acquired by referring to the following description in consideration with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numbers indicate like features, and wherein:
In the following description of various example embodiments of the disclosure, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration various example structures and systems in which aspects of the disclosure may be practiced. It is to be understood that other specific arrangements of parts, structures, example devices, systems, and the like may be utilized and structural and functional modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. When the same reference number appears in more than one drawing, that reference number is used consistently in this specification and the drawings to refer to the same or similar parts throughout.
Child resistant closures are primarily focused on preventing children from opening containers. For example, in some circumstances, containers may contain items that may be harmful to children (e.g., prescription drugs, cleaning materials, etc.) However, while child resistant closures should prevent children from opening containers, such child resistant closures should also allow adults to easily open and close the containers. For example, a child resistant closure should not require an excessive amount of force in order to open the container. It may be difficult for elderly or infirm persons to generate a large amount of force and, therefore, they would find it difficult to open a container if the container was closed with a child resistant closure that requires an excessive amount of force in order to open the container. If an adult finds it difficult to open a container, then the adult may not fully close the container in order to avoid the difficulty the next time the adult has to open the container. Yet, such a situation would defeat the purpose of child resistant closures in the first place. Therefore, aspects of the disclosure relate to child resistant closures which are relatively easy for an adult to open (e.g., adults would not be required to generate a large amount of force).
An illustrative embodiment of a closure 1 according to one aspect of the disclosure is shown at
According to aspects of the disclosure, the closure 1 may include a cap 3 and a twist ring 5. It is noted that while the cap 3 and the twist ring 5 may be engaged to form the closure 1, according to aspects of the disclosure, the cap 3 and twist ring 5 may be separate pieces. Each of the cap 3 and twist ring 5 will be described briefly immediately below in order to provide the reader with a basic understanding of the disclosure. Each of the cap 3 and twist ring 5 will be described in detail further below.
According to aspects of the disclosure, and as seen in
Further, according to aspects of the disclosure, and as seen in
As discussed above, according to aspects of the disclosure, the closure 1 may also include a twist ring 5. According to aspects of the disclosure, and as seen in
According to aspects of the disclosure, the twist ring 5 may be configured to selectively prevent the lid 9 of the cap 3 from being pivoted from the closed position to the open position. For example, according to aspects of the disclosure (as most clearly seen in
For example, according to aspects of the disclosure, the twist ring 5 may include an opening or recess 39 in the sidewall 33 of the generally cylindrical main body 29. According to aspects of the disclosure, and as seen in
The above described configuration of the closure 1 allows the closure to be child resistant, because the closure 1 allows the user to open the closure 1 only when the opening 39 of the twist ring 5 and lift tab 27 of the cap 3 are aligned. This configuration is advantageous for the elderly, infirm, etc., because they do not have to provide a large amount of force to open the container 101. Instead, they merely have to rotate the closure 1 to the appropriate position and apply a much smaller amount of force to open the container 101.
According to aspects of the disclosure, the closure 1 may include additional child resistant features. For example, the closure 1 may be configured so that the cap 3 rotates with the twist ring 5, unless the twist ring 5 is selectively disengaged from the cap 3. In other words, according to aspects of the disclosure, the cap 3 may be engaged with the twist ring 5 in such a manner that when the twist ring 5 is rotated, the cap 3 rotates along with the twist ring 5. In this way, because the cap 3 and the twist ring 5 are rotating together, the cap 3 cannot rotate relative to the twist ring 5. Therefore, in such cases, wherein the twist ring 5 is selectively engaged with the cap 3, the opening 39 of the twist ring 5 cannot be aligned with lift tab 27 of the cap 3. Hence, the rim 31 of the twist ring 5 remains extended over the lift tab 27 and, as described above, the lid of the closure 1 cannot be opened. As a result, the user cannot gain access to the contents of the container 101.
However, according to aspects of the disclosure, the twist ring 5 may also be selectively disengaged from the cap 3. By disengaging the twist ring 5 from the cap 3, the twist ring 5 may be rotated relative to the cap 3 (i.e., the cap 3 remains stationary while the twist ring 5 rotates around it). Therefore, the opening 39 of the twist ring 5 may be aligned with the lift tab 27 of the cap 3. Hence, as described above, the lid 9 of the closure 1 may be opened. As a result, the user can gain access to the contents of the container 101. The operation of the closure 1 with respect to selectively engaging and disengaging the twist ring 5 from the cap 3 will be described in detail below.
Given the general description of various example aspects of the disclosure provided above, more detailed descriptions of various specific example features of closure structures according to the disclosure are provided below.
As discussed above, according to aspects of the disclosure, the twist ring 5 may be configured to engage with the cap 3. According to aspects of the disclosure, and as seen in
Further, as described above, and most clearly seen in
According to aspects of the disclosure, the twist ring 5 may be made of a plastic material such as polypropylene, high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or some other type of plastic. For example, the twist ring 5 may be molded. Of course, according to other aspects of the disclosure, the twist ring 5 may be made from other materials as well (e.g., composites, metals, alloys, etc.).
It is noted that, according to aspects of the disclosure, the twist ring 5 may be configured to increase the traction between the user's hand and the surface of the twist ring 5 and, thereby, aid the user in rotating the twist ring 5. For example, twist ring 5 may include surface feature, such as ridges, along the side surface. The twist ring 5 may be configured in other ways as well. Of course, according to other aspects of the disclosure, the twist ring 5 may include a smooth side.
It is noted that the rim 31 of the twist ring 5 may be configured to provide information to the user. For example, according to aspects of this disclose, the twist ring 5 may include one or more indicators which indicate information to the user. For example, the indicators may be visual, sensory (e.g., felt through touch), etc. For example, according to aspects of the disclosure, the top of the twist ring 5 may be configured to include engraving or raised markings. For example, the rim 31 of the twist ring 5, may be configured with engravings or raised markings that include words, phrases, symbols, etc. that convey information to the user. For example, the engravings or raised markings may provide instructions to the user, such as “PALM AND TURN TO OPEN” or arrows in a counter clockwise direction to indicate the direction to rotate the twist ring 5 to selectively disengage it from the cap 3. Of course, other lettering may be used as well. For example, the lettering may include the expiration date of the substance in the container 101. Further, other indicators may be used as well. For example, alternatively, or, in addition to, the engraving or raised markings, the closure may include Braille or other indicators. Further, it is understood that the indicators may be positioned on portions of the closure 1 other than the top.
According to aspects of the disclosure, the diameter of the cap 3 may be in a range of 1.0-2.9 inches. Further, according to particular aspects of the disclosure, the diameter of the cap 3 may be in the range of 1.5-1.9 inches. According to aspects of the disclosure, the height of the cap 3 may be in a range of 0.5-2.0 inches. Further, according to particular aspects of the disclosure, the height of the cap 3 may be in the range of 0.75-1.0 inches. Additionally, according to some embodiments of this disclosure, the wall thickness of the lid 9 and the sidewalls 11 of the cap 3 may be predetermined dimensions in order to provide appropriate rigidity. For example, according to one embodiment, the wall thickness of the lid 9 of the cap 3 may be in a range of 0.1-0.2 inches. Further, according to one embodiment, the wall thickness of the sidewalls 11 of the cap 3 may be in a range of 0.1-0.2 inches. However, it is noted that the above described dimensions are merely examples. It is understood that the height, diameter and other dimensions of the cap 3 may be varied as desired. For example, according to other embodiments, different portions of the cap 3 may be made of different dimensions, have different thicknesses, different rigidities, etc.
According to aspects of the disclosure, the hinged cap 3 may be a “snap” cap. In other words, the hinged cap 3 may include an engaging mechanism which retains the lid 9 in a closed position when the lid 9 has been closed. An example of a suitable engaging mechanism for creating a “snap” cap includes snap fit protrusions which releasably snap into, and mate with, corresponding detents, wherein the protrusions and detents are positioned on opposite corresponding portions of the cap 3. Other suitable engaging mechanisms (e.g., friction fit) may be used and are well know in the art and, therefore, will not be described in detail here.
According to aspects of the disclosure, the cap 3 may be configured to be relatively permanently engaged with the container 101. For example, according to aspects of the disclosure, the cap 3 may include a skirt configured to engage the container 101 and prevent the cap 3 from being disengaged from the container 101. For example, as seen in
As seen in
Further, according to aspects of the disclosure, and as seen in
Further, according to aspects of the disclosure, and as seen in
Further, according to aspects of the disclosure, and as seen in
Further, according to aspects of the disclosure, the cap 3 may include one or more engaging lugs 25 configured to selectively engage the twist ring 5 and, thereby, cause the cap 3 to rotate with twist ring 5 as described above. For example, the engaging lugs 25 may be positioned on an outer circumference of the sidewall 11 of the main body 7. As seen in
According to aspects of the disclosure, the one or more lugs 25 may be molded as an integral part of the cap 3. Further, according to aspects of the disclosure, the lugs 25 may be evenly spaced around the outer circumference of the sidewall 11 of the cap 3. According to the aspects of the disclosure, cap 3 may include six lugs 25 that are spaced 60° apart around the outer circumference of the sidewall 11 of the cap 3. Of course, this is merely one embodiment, and according to other aspects of the disclosure, the number of lugs 25 and/or the spacing of the lugs 25 may be varied as desired. Further it is noted that respective engaging portions of the internal groove 35 may be varied to correspond to the arrangement of the lugs 25. According to aspects of the disclosure, the lugs 25 may be configured to have a shape with flat, horizontal surfaces, such as cube. Of course, this is merely one embodiment of the lugs 25 and other shapes could be provided as desired. For example, the lugs may be tapered in various directions. According to aspects of the disclosure, the width of the lugs 25 (in the direction extending outwards from the sidewall 11) may be in a range of 0.1-0.2 inches. According to aspects of the disclosure, the height of the lugs 25 may be in a range of 0.05-0.1 inches.
As mentioned above, the lugs 25 are configured to engage with corresponding internal grooves 35 that are molded into the twist ring 5 and positioned around the inner circumference of twist ring 5 in order to make the closure child resistant as described below. Further, as mentioned above, the internal grooves 35 may include portions that are configured to overlap with and engage with the engaging lugs 25 of the cap 3 when the closure is in an uncompressed state that will be described in detail below. Additionally, as described in detail below, the internal grooves 35 and engaging lugs 25 may be configured to disengage when the closure 1 is compressed. Hence, when the downward force is applied to the twist ring 5, the internal grooves 35 are moved downwardly and the lugs 25 “clear” those portions of the internal grooves 35 that are configured to overlap with and engage with the engaging lugs 25 when the closure 1 is in an uncompressed state. Therefore, when the twist ring 5 is disengaged from the cap 3, the twist ring 5 may be rotated and the cap 3 will not rotate. It is noted that instead of lugs 25 other configurations may be used e.g., a ring. Of course the structure of the twist ring 5 should be adjusted accordingly to accommodate the structure of the cap 3.
As described above, according to aspects of the disclosure, the cap 3 may include a lift tab 27. The lift tab 27 may be configured to protrude outwardly from the cap 3. According to aspects of the disclosure, and as seen most clearly in
According to aspects of the disclosure, the cap 3 may be made of a plastic material such as polypropylene, high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or some other type of plastic. For example, the cap 3 may be molded. Of course, according to other aspects of the disclosure, the twist ring 5 may be made from other materials as well (e.g., composites, metals, alloys, etc.).
The operation of the closure 1 with respect to selectively engaging and disengaging the twist ring 5 from the cap 3 will be described in detail below.
Initially, when the container 101 is closed, the closure 1 and the container 101 are engaged with the twist ring 5 and the cap 3 being in the closed position, wherein the opening 39 of the twist ring 5 is not aligned with the lift tab 27 of the cap 3, as shown in
It is noted that unless the downward force is applied to the top of the closure 1 (e.g., the rim 31 of the twist ring 5), the lugs 25 of the cap 3 will not be disengaged from the internal grooves 35 of the twist ring 5 and, hence, the twist ring 5 and the cap 3 will idly rotate together instead of rotating relative to each other. In this way, the closure is considered child resistant.
Further, according to aspects of the disclosure, the closure 1 may include a spring force to ensure the twist ring 5 remains engaged with the cap 3 when the closure is in an uncompressed state. According to aspects of the disclosure, the closure 1 may include a segmented ring that extends from the underside of the top of the closure 1. For example, the segmented ring may comprise a plurality of flanges (shown in dashed line in
According to aspects of the disclosure, the flanges may be configured to have a shape resembling a fin. For example, the flanges may be tapered such that they become narrower as they extend away from the underside of the top of the closure 1. Of course, this is merely an illustrative embodiment and according to other embodiments of the disclosure, the flanges may be configured differently. According to aspects of the disclosure, the flanges may be angled relative to the vertical direction. For example, the flanges may extend in a direction diagonally away from the center of the closure 1 towards the side wall of the closure 1. According to aspects of the disclosure, the length of the flanges may be in a range of 0.1-0.2 inches. Further, according to aspects of the disclosure, the thickness of the flanges may be in a range of 0.01-0.04 inches. However, it is noted that, of course, the dimensions of the flanges may be varied as desired. According to aspects of the disclosure, the flanges may function as a spring feature of the closure 1 to push the twist ring 5 away from the cap 3 when the closure is in the uncompressed state. The flanges may engage against a portion of the cap 3 (e.g., a flange extending outwards from the sidewall 11 of the cap 3; shown in dashed line in
While the disclosure has been described with respect to specific examples including presently preferred modes of carrying out the disclosure, those skilled in the art will appreciate that there are numerous variations and permutations of the above described structures and methods. For example, of course, the above recited dimensions are not intended to be limiting and the dimensions of a particular closure according to aspects of this disclosure could be varied based on the particular purpose for which that particular dispensing device is intended. Further, it is noted that the embodiments described herein are merely illustrative. Of course, numerous other embodiments are contemplated and considered within the scope of the disclosure. For example, the particular measurements recited in this disclosure and in the drawings describe a single embodiment of the disclosure. Many other embodiments with different dimensions (e.g., different lengths, different volume capacities, etc.) are considered within the scope of the disclosure. Thus, the spirit and scope of the disclosure should be construed broadly.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20120018444 A1 | Jan 2012 | US |