CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Not applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not applicable.
FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to dispenser closures. More particularly, the present invention relates to threadably movable dispenser closures with a child resistant feature.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Dispenser closures that open by the axial movement of a closure along a container neck are generally known in the art. Such a closure commonly includes a closure portion that is threadably attached to the neck of a container in such a way that the closure may be threadably moved from a closed position to an open position so as to access the contents of the container. The closure of this type of closure commonly has a limited range of rotation, so that the closure may remain affixed to the container even while in the open position (i.e. non-removable). Typically, these closures do not have a child resistant feature.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention comprises a non-removable dispensing closure having a child resistant feature. Additionally, the present invention provides a dispenser closure having a stopping mechanism which limits the range of rotation of the closure about a container neck. The dispensing closure includes a first side wall that is threadably attached to a container neck and has a lower portion on the first or a second side wall with at least two inward depending lugs. A container neck to which the closure cooperates includes a neck portion with an opening therein, at least one thread and at least one lug thereon. The lower portion of a closure side wall has at least two lugs spaced about a lower inner annular surface, preferably at about 90° from each other. The orientation of the lugs on the closure and container are such that when the closure is sealed on the container a first closure lug becomes adjacent a container stop lock or lug preventing or increasing the resistance to a removal rotation of the closure on the container neck providing a child resistant feature. This first closure lug is sized to not contact the stop lock when the lower wall portion of the closure is deformed by a squeezing force. A second closure lug on the lower portion of the closure side wall becomes adjacent the stop lock when the closure reaches an open position on the container functioning as an off stop. The container neck may have two stop locks, preferably spaced at about 180° from each other. In such an embodiment, it is preferable for the container to have four lugs spaced about the annular surface at about 90° intervals where two adjacent lugs cooperate with a single stop lock on the container to provide a child resistant feature and an off stop feature. Additionally, these lugs may be on the inner annular surface of a single or double wall closure. In any of the embodiments described herein or known by one having ordinary skill in the art upon reading this disclosure, the closure is spaced about the container neck allowing a squeezing force placed on a lower portion of a side wall of the closure to deform the lower wall portion, preferably transforming a circular configuration to an oval configuration, separating the closure lug(s) functioning as child resistant lug(s) from the container stop lock(s) or lug(s). Thus, a removal rotation of the closure about the container may be performed. As the removal rotation continues, at least one closure lug acting as a stop lug encounters a container stop lock, thus stopping or resisting removal of the closure from the container neck. These configurations provide a child resistant feature in a dispensing closure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Reference to the figures discloses several embodiments of the present invention and is not to be interpreted as limiting the scope of the present invention.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the closure of the present invention showing the orientation of the closure lugs;
FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the closure of the closure of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a container neck designed to cooperate with the closure of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a bottom view of an alternative embodiment of the closure of the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the closure of the closure of FIG. 1 in a child resistant release condition;
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the closure of the closure of FIG. 1 in an open position about the container neck of FIG. 3;
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the closure of the closure of FIG. 1 in a closed position about the container neck of FIG. 3;
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the closure of the of the present invention in an open position about an alternative embodiment of a container neck.
FIG. 9 is a sectional view of an alternative embodiment of a closure having lugs cooperating with lugs on a container neck;
FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of a closure in an open position about a container neck;
FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of yet another embodiment of a closure in an open position about a container neck.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The following detailed description is given primarily for clearness of understanding and no unnecessary limitations are to be understood there from as modifications will become obvious to those skilled in the art upon reading the disclosure and may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.
As shown in the FIGS. 1-11, a closure of the present invention is provided having child resistant and dispensing features with a stopping mechanism which facilitates the dispensing of the contents of a tube, bottle or similar container, but inhibits removal of the closure from the container. Closures of the present invention may be formed of any material known in the art, such as polypropylene and polyethylene or other polymeric materials.
As shown in FIG. 1, closure 100 has closure lugs 112 and 110 depending from a lower portion 102 of inner annular surface of the side wall. In this embodiment, closure lugs 110 serve as child resistant lugs and closure lugs 112 serve as rotational stop lugs. Rotational stop lugs 112 are more proximate a bottom edge of lower portion 102. However, it is to be understood that both child resistant lugs 110 and rotational stop lugs 112 could all be proximate a bottom edge of lower portion 102 or an equidistance from a bottom edge of lower portion 102 and still function as intended and thus are embodiments of the present invention. On an external annular surface of lower portion 102 are squeeze guides 108 substantially opposite stop lugs 112. Squeeze guides 108 are preferably in the form of an indentation in the external annular surface of lower portion 102 and may optionally have a gripping contour. Upper portion 106 has opening 114. FIG. 2 is a bottom view of closure 100 showing child resistant lugs 110 spaced about the inner annular surface of lower portion 102 at about 180° intervals and the two rotational stop lugs 112 spaced about the inner annular surface of lower portion 102 at about 90° from each of the child resistant lugs 110. Middle portion 104 has helical thread 118 depending from an inner annular surface thereof. Opening 114 is centrally oriented within upper portion 106.
FIG. 3 shows dispensing container 300 having a design to cooperate with closure 100. Dispensing container 300 has a pair of stop locks 310 spaced about 180° apart and depending from container body 302 and the bottom of lower container neck portion 304 and positioned so that child resistant lugs 110 are adjacent a locking side of child resistant lugs 110 when in a sealing position. In this embodiment stop locks 310 are axially orientated and have a sloped top wall allowing child resistant lugs 110 to pass over when closure 100 nears a sealing position on container 300. Lower container neck portion 304 has helical thread 312 depending from an outer annular surface. Upper neck portion 306 has a central opening in the top circumscribed with sealing bead 314. Sealing post 308 depends upward from the central opening in upper neck portion 306. Preferably, sealing post 308 has an inverse “Y” configuration depending from a ring wherein it is retained within the central opening in upper neck portion 306 when pushed therein.
FIG. 4 shows closure 400 having pronounced stop lugs 412. In this embodiment, child resistant lugs 410 are spaced about the inner annular surface of lower portion 402 at about 180° intervals and the two rotational stop lugs 412 are spaced about the inner annular surface of lower portion 402 at about 90° from each of the child resistant lugs 410. Rotational stop lugs 412 depend further from the inner annular surface of lower portion 402 than child resistant lugs 410 since they need not bypass stop locks on a container neck. Middle portion 404 has helical thread 418 depending from an inner annular surface thereof. Opening 414 is centrally oriented within upper portion 406.
FIG. 5 shows closure 100 in a child resistant lug 110 releasing position. Closure 100 has child resistant lugs 110 spaced about the inner annular surface of lower portion 102 at about 180° intervals and the two rotational stop lugs 112 spaced about the inner annular surface of lower portion 102 at about 90° from each of the child resistant lugs 110. On an external annular surface of lower portion 102 are squeeze guides 108 substantially opposite stop lugs 112. Squeeze guides 108 are depressed with a force 116. Force 116 deforms lower portion 102 into an oval configuration wherein child resistant lugs 110 are radially separated from each other allowing them to bypass stop locks on a closure neck. Upper portion 106 has centrally oriented opening 114. Middle portion 104 has helical thread 118 depending from an inner annular surface thereof. Opening 114 is centrally oriented within upper portion 106.
FIG. 6 shows closure 100 in an open position on container 300. Closure 100 shows rotational stop lugs 112 cooperating with stop locks 310 inhibiting the removal of closure 100 from container 300. On an external annular surface of lower portion 102 are squeeze guides 108 substantially opposite stop lugs 112. Upper portion 106 has opening 114. Middle portion 104 has helical thread 118 depending from an inner annular surface thereof cooperating with helical thread 312 depending from an outer annular surface of lower container neck portion 304. Upper neck portion 306 has a central opening in the top circumscribed with sealing bead 314 cooperating with an inner annular surface of upper portion 106 forming a seal there between. Sealing post 308 depends upward from the central opening in upper neck portion 306 and is spatially removed form opening 114 allowing contents of container body 302 to pass there through.
FIG. 7 shows closure 700 in a closed or sealing position on container 750. Closure 700 shows child resistant lugs 710 cooperating with stop locks 760 inhibiting the removal of closure 700 from container 750. In order for closure 700 to be removed from container 750, squeeze guides need be pressed as shown in FIG. 3 releasing child resistant lugs 710 from stop locks 760. Upper portion 706 has opening 714. Middle portion 704 has helical thread 718 depending from an inner annular surface thereof cooperating with helical thread 762 depending from an outer annular surface of lower container neck portion 754. Upper neck portion 756 has a central opening in the top and sealing bead 715 forming a seal on an outer annular surface thereof. Sealing bead 715 depends from an inner annular surface of upper portion 706 of closure 700 forming a seal with upper neck portion 756. Sealing post 758 depends upward from the central opening in upper neck portion 756 and is plugging opening 714 sealing the contents of container body 752 in container 750 and closure 700.
FIG. 8 shows closure 800 in an open position on container 850. Closure 800 and container 850 are of dispensing configuration designed to release evolved gases from a material contained in closure body 852. Closure 800 shows rotational stop lugs 812 cooperating with stop locks 860 inhibiting the removal of closure 800 from container 850. On an external annular surface of lower portion 802 are squeeze guides 808 substantially opposite stop lugs 812. Upper portion 806 has openings 814. Middle portion 804 has helical thread 818 depending from an inner annular surface thereof cooperating with helical thread 862 depending from an outer annular surface of lower container neck portion 854. Upper neck portion 856 has a central opening in the top circumscribed with sealing bead 864 cooperating with an inner annular surface of upper portion 806 forming a seal there between. Gas or fume flow 880 shows the release path of the fumes from container body 852 to the ambient environment.
FIG. 9 shows closure lug 921 and stop lock 960 having an angle with respect to the axis of container 950 having body 952 and closure 900 having upper portion 906. This angular relationship improves the bite or resistance to a rotational removing force placed on closure 900.
FIG. 10 shows double wall closure 1000 in an open position on container 1300. Outer wall 1004 and inner wall 1002 are joined with an extension of upper portion 1006. Closure 1000 shows rotational stop lug 1012 cooperating with stop lock 1310 inhibiting the removal of closure 1000 from container 1300 thus functioning as an off stop. On an external annular surface of lower portion of outer wall 1004 are squeeze guides 1008, one of which is substantially opposite stop lug 1012. At about 90° from stop lug 1012 is stop lug 1010 which cooperates with container stop lock 1310 upon the sealing of closure 1000 upon container 1300. In a sealed configuration, applying a squeezing force on squeeze guides 1008 deforms a lower portion of outer wall 1004 separating stop lug 1010 from stop lock 1310 thus providing a child resistant feature to closure 1000. Upper portion 1006 has opening 1014. Inner wall portion 1002 has helical thread 1018 depending from an inner annular surface thereof cooperating with helical thread 1312 depending from an outer annular surface of container neck portion 1306. The upper portion of container neck 1306 has a central opening in the top circumscribed with sealing bead 1314 cooperating with an inner annular surface of upper portion 1006 forming a seal there between. Sealing post 1308 depends upward from the central opening in upper neck portion 1306 and is spatially removed from opening 1014 allowing contents of container body 1302 to pass there through. Even though this embodiment of double wall closure 1000 shows only two stop lugs 1012 and 1010 for cooperation with one stop lock 1310 it is to be understood that a double wall embodiment may have more stop lugs, preferably four at about 90° intervals, and container 1300 may have more stop locks, preferably 2 at about 180° intervals.
FIG. 11 shows double wall closure 1100 in an open position on container 1300. Outer wall 1104 and inner wall 1102 are joined with flanges 1119 spatially arranged about the upper edge of outer wall 1104. Closure 1100 shows rotational stop lug 1112 cooperating with stop lock 1310 inhibiting the removal of closure 1100 from container 1300 thus functioning as an off stop. On an external annular surface of lower wall portion of outer wall 1104 are squeeze guides 1108, one of which is substantially opposite stop lug 1112. At about 90° from stop lug 1112 is stop lug 1110 which cooperates with container stop lock 1310 upon the sealing of closure 1100 upon container 1300. In a sealed configuration, applying a squeezing force on squeeze guides 1108 deforms a lower portion of outer wall 1104 separating stop lug 1110 from stop lock 1310 thus providing a child resistant feature to closure 1100. Upper portion 1106 has opening 1114. Inner wall portion 1102 has helical thread 1118 depending from an inner annular surface thereof cooperating with helical thread 1312 depending from an outer annular surface of container neck portion 1306. The upper portion of container neck 1306 has a central opening in the top circumscribed with sealing bead 1314 cooperating with an inner annular surface of upper portion 1106 forming a seal there between. Sealing post 1308 depends upward from the central opening in upper neck portion 1306 and is spatially removed from opening 1114 allowing contents of container body 1302 to pass there through. Even though this embodiment of double wall closure 1100 shows only two stop lugs 1112 and 1110 for cooperation with one stop lock 1310 it is to be understood that this or other double wall or single wall embodiments may have more stop lugs, preferably four at about 90° intervals, and container 1300 may have more stop locks, preferably 2 at about 180° intervals.
The foregoing detailed description is given primarily for clearness of understanding and no unnecessary limitations are to be understood therefrom and modifications will become obvious to those skilled in the art upon reading the disclosure and may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.
Patent Grant
7828166
