Dispensing Closure

Abstract

A child resistant dispensing closure 1 having a smooth external surface. The closure 1 comprises a body 2 and a lid 3, connected together by a hinge 5. The lid 3 is held closed against the body 2 by a catch 6. The closure 1 has a resilient ring 4 which in its deformed configuration co-operates with the catch 6 to unlock it and provides a lifting region 65, by which a user may lift the lid 3 of the closure 1.

Description

The present invention concerns a dispensing closure, having a body and a lid. The body defines a dispensing orifice through which the contents of a container, to which the closure is attached, may be dispensed. The lid is attached to the body by a hinge, which allows the lid to swing between a closed position, in which the lid occludes the dispensing orifice, to an open position, in which the dispensing orifice is exposed and the contents of the container may be dispensed. In particular, the dispensing closure according to the present invention is a child resistant dispensing closure and includes a catch to lock the lid in its closed position. The lid can only be opened, upon application of two discrete, dissimilar movements, simultaneously by a user. This is generally considered difficult for a child to achieve and is unlikely to result in the closure being opened accidentally.

A child resistant closure of this general type is disclosed in

U.S. Pat. No. 4,790,442—.This patent describes the need for two different and dissimilar movements to prevent the lid from being opened by a child. This patent also discusses the desirability of providing alignment between the adjacent surfaces of the body and the lid, to prevent the lid from being easily grasped to exert an opening force on the lid. In the closure described in this patent, a user must first squeeze radially inwardly, on the two opposing sides of the lid on either side of the hinge, to expose an edge opposite the hinge, by which the lid may then be lifted. This squeezing movement also temporarily releases a catch.

The lid of the closure described in

U.S. Pat. No. 4,790,442—.has a generally planar top plate with a downwardly depending sidewall. An arcuate slot extends through the top plate opposite the hinge and adjacent to the sidewall. The slot allows the sidewall of the lid to be squeezed at two diametrically opposed points, thereby displacing a portion of the sidewall opposite the hinge. This displacement releases a catch and also provides an overhang on the lid relative to the body, by which the lid may be lifted.

A disadvantage of this arrangement is that the top plate of the closure does not support the distorted portion of the sidewall. The arcuate slot subtends an angle of at least 180°, to allow the necessary deformation of the sidewall. However, during the second stage of the opening movement, a user must lift the lid by this unsupported section of sidewall, which will be difficult and will result in axial movement of the sidewall relative to the planar top plate. Repeated movement will lead to damage of the unsupported sidewall and may render the catch (which is carried by this portion of the lid) ineffective.

A further disadvantage of this arrangement is that, unlike the sidewalls of the lid and the body, which join to form a continuous surface, the top plate of the sidewall is disjointed by the arcuate slot. This slot may collect dirt or may be used to pries open the closure using the teeth for example, which will further reduce the effectiveness of the closure.

The closure according to the present invention, overcomes these disadvantages by providing a dispensing closure having a lid that includes a top plate, which covers the ring in both its normal and deformed states and in its deformed state. The ring unlocks the catch temporarily, whilst defining a lifting tab to allow the lid to be moved to its open position.

In the closure according to the invention, the top plate of the closure has a smooth surface with no cavities therein to trap dirt or other foreign objects and cannot be easily manipulated to overcome the catch arrangement. Furthermore, the lifting region of the ring is supported by the top plate and when a user applies axial force to the lifting region to lift the lid, the ring is braced by the top plate, making the lid easier to open.

In use, a user squeezes the ring on either side of the hinge, ovalising the ring, which causes the catch to be released and also provides an overhang portion relative to the body, opposite the hinge. In order to open the closure, a lifting force must be applied simultaneously with the squeezing force required to release the catch and provide the overhang portion. If the squeezing force is released before the lifting force is applied, the catch will re-engage and the resilient ring will relax obliterating or at least minimising the overhang portion. This will make it difficult to open the lid. The two discrete, dissimilar movements, simultaneously applied, prevent the closure from being opened easily by a child.

The lid may be formed in two parts: A resilient ring, forming the sidewall of the lid and a separate top plate. An advantage of this arrangement is that the radial de-formation of the ring is unrestricted. The top plate is specifically designed to cover the ring in both its relaxed and deformed states, whilst providing a smooth surface to the top of the closure. Also, the externally facing surface of the top plate may be adapted to provide different colours, surface finish or promotional opportunities. A disadvantage of this arrangement is that it requires assembly of the two portions of the lid and this may be undesirable in high volume production process.

Accordingly, in an alternative embodiment of the closure, the lid is produced in one-piece, with a top plate and a sidewall depending downwardly therefrom. Again, the resilient ring is provided by the sidewall, but in this embodiment, the end of the sidewall adjacent to the top plate is constrained by the top plate, with which it is integrally moulded.

The radial deformation of the sidewall/ring is thereby reduced and the lateral squeezing force applied to the sidewall/ring will result in both radial deformation and axial deformation of the ring and the associated areas of the top plate.

In this embodiment, if the free edge of the sidewall of the lid is contiguous with the adjacent surface of the body, the squeezing of the sidewall may both release the catch, due to the radial component of deformation, and lift the lid, due to the axial component of deformation. This is clearly a disadvantage from a child resistance viewpoint, because the lid of the closure may be opened by a single squeezing movement. A closure having this disadvantage is disclosed in

U.S. Pat. No. 5,683,016—.(equivalent toU.S. Pat. No. 5,683,016—).

In the closure according to the invention, the free edge of the side wall of the lid is spaced from the adjacent surface of the body, to allow the portion of the side wall which is squeezed to deform axially as well as radially, without the side wall pressing against the base and thereby lifting the lid as the catch is released. A disadvantage of this arrangement is that the gap between the free edge of the side wall of the lid and the adjacent surface of the body may allow a child to manipulate the lid, by biting for example. In order to overcome this disadvantage, the upper surface of the body or the free edge of the lid sidewall may be extended, to cover the gap between the base and the lid and prevent easy access thereto. The portion of the sidewall opposite the hinge is left unprotected, to allow uninhibited deformation of the ring/sidewall to produce a lifting region.

Another embodiment of the invention proposes, a closure, comprising a body and a lid connected together by a hinge, with windows provided in the sidewall and/or the adjacent top plate of the lid. A separate, resilient ring is fixed inside the lid and portions of this ring protrude through the windows to allow the ring to be squeezed laterally on either side of the hinge. On squeezing, the portion of the resilient ring opposite the hinge protrudes radially outwardly, through another window in the sidewall, and thereby releases the catch and provides a lifting region, by which the lid may be lifted and opened.

This design may be enhanced by providing tabs attached to the resilient ring, arranged to protrude through the windows. The tabs may be further enhanced by including finger recesses, to improve the ease with which the ring may be laterally squeezed by a user. Furthermore, the lifting region may be provided by a further tab, which projects from the lid as the ring is deformed, to improve the ease of lifting and opening the lid, after the ring is deformed by squeezing.

This embodiment combines the advantage of a freely deformable resilient ring, which is unconstrained by the lid or the sidewall, whilst ensuring that the ring is completely surrounded by a top plate and sidewall of the lid to achieve a substantially smooth surface. It will be understood that the ring and windows may be designed to enhance the smooth, contiguous flow of the surface of the closure.

The present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows an isometric view (looking from the top) according to a first embodiment of the invention, with the lid in its open position.

FIG. 2 shows an exploded, isometric view (looking from the top) of the same closure as that shown in FIG. 1, with the lid open and separate top plate (not yet assembled).

FIG. 3 shows a plan view of the closure shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, with the lid in its closed, normal position.

FIG. 4A shows a plan view of the closure shown in FIG. 2, with the lid in its deformed position.

FIG. 4B shows the same plan view as FIG. 4A, with the separate top plate removed.

FIG. 5 shows side view of a one-piece closure according to a second embodiment of the invention having a lid comprising a top plate with an integral sidewall depending from the periphery thereof.

FIG. 6 shows an isometric view (looking from the top) of the same closure shown in FIG. 5, with the lid in its open position.

FIG. 7 shows an isometric view of the closure shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 with the lid in its closed, normal position.

FIG. 8 shows the same closure as shown in FIG. 7 in its closed, deformed position.

FIG. 9 shows an isometric view of another embodiment of the invention (similar to the closure shown in FIGS. 5 to 8), with its lid in a closed, normal position and having shield elements.

FIG. 10 shows an isometric view the same closure shown in FIG. 9 in its open position.

FIG. 11 shows an isometric view of another embodiment of the invention, with its lid in a closed, normal position and having an alternative design of shield elements

FIG. 12 shows an isometric view of the closure shown in FIG. 11, with the lid in its open position.

FIG. 13 shows a side view of a closure according to yet another embodiment of the invention, having tabs, which protrude through windows in the sidewall/lid of the closure.

FIG. 14 shows an isometric view (looking from the top) of the closure shown in FIG. 13, with the lid in its open position.

FIG. 15 shows an exploded view of the closure shown in FIGS. 13 and 14).

FIG. 16 shows a plan view of the closure shown in FIGS. 13 to 15, with the lid in its closed, normal position.

FIG. 17 shows a plan view of the closure shown in FIGS. 13 to 16, with the lid in its deformed position.

In the attached description, the closure is described in relation to an “upright” orientation, where the main axis of the closure is aligned to the vertical and the body of the closure lies vertically below the lid. Wherever possible like parts have been designated using the same reference numerals.

Referring to the attached Figures, a dispensing closure 1 according to the invention generally comprises a body 2 and a lid 3. The body 2 is adapted to be connected to a container (not shown) by means of mutually co-operating screw threads or snap beads, for example. Preferably, the connection between the body 2 and the container is a permanent connection, which prevents easy removal of the closure 2 from the container. Instead, the body 2 has a dispensing orifice 28, through which the contents of the container may be dispensed. The lid 3 has a top plate 31, from which a sidewall 32 depends downwardly and a plug 38, designed to co-operate with the dispensing orifice 28. A hinge 5 connects the lid 3 to the body 2, and allows the lid 3 to be moved swingingly between a closed position, in which the plug 38 occludes the dispensing orifice 38 and an open position, in which the dispensing orifice 28 is unobstructed and the contents of the container may be dispensed.

In a first embodiment of the invention (see FIGS. 1 and 2), the top plate 31 is formed as a separate component to the remainder of the lid 3, which comprises an inner central panel 33 and a sidewall 32. The plug 38 is carried on the inner central panel 33.

The sidewall 32 of the lid 3 is connected to the inner central panel 33 by rigid arms 35 adjacent to the hinge 5 and resilient curved arms 36 distant from the hinge 5 (see FIGS. 2 and 3). The number and position of the curved arms 36 are chosen to hold the sidewall 32 firmly to the inner central panel 33, and act to limit undesirable axial movement as the lid is opened and closed. The resilient curved arms provide a degree of resistance to the squeezing movement of the user required to deform the sidewall 33, without preventing the deformation thereof altogether. This limited resistance is expected by a user, to provide feedback about the degree of squeezing force applied.

A separate top plate 31 is fixed to the upper surface of the lid 3, by means of a hole 332 and spigot 312 joint (as shown in FIG. 2). The hole 332 and spigot 312 joint is designed to be permanent, once assembled and the separate top plate 31 is difficult to remove from the inner central plate 33 of the lid 3.

In this embodiment, the sidewall 32 provides the resilient ring 4 and carries one part of the catch 6. The other part of the catch 6 is carried on the body 2. As shown in FIG. 1, the catch 6 comprises a tab 61, which engages in a slot 62. In FIG. 1, the tab is shown carried on the resilient ring 4 and the slot is defined in the body 2, but these two parts of the catch 6 may be reversed. Alternatively, the catch 6 may comprise two inter-engaging tabs rather than a tab and a slot.

FIG. 3 shows a plan view of the closure 1, in is closed, normal position. As shown, in this position the separate top plate 31 covers the whole of the upper surface of the resilient ring 4. Referring to FIGS. 4A and 4B, to open the closure, a user squeezes the resilient ring on either side of the hinge 5. On squeezing, the ring 4 deforms (ovalises) and thereby releases the tab part of the catch 61 from the slot 62. Also, the deformed ring 4 creates an overhang 65 on the lid 3 with respect to the body 2. This overhang 65 is used to lift the lid 3, disengaging the plug 38 from the dispensing orifice 28. It should be noted that on ovalising, the deformed ring 4 unlocks the lid but does not open the lid 3. A second separate and distinct lifting movement must be applied by the user simultaneously with the squeezing movement.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show a second embodiment of the invention, having the same general structure as that described above. A closure 1 comprises a body 2, for fixing to a container (not shown), and a lid 3 connected together by a hinge 5. Again the lid 3 comprises a top plate 31 with a sidewall 32, depending downwardly from the periphery thereof. The sidewall 32 provides the resilient ring 4 required by the invention, but in this embodiment, the top plate 31 and sidewall 32 are moulded integrally (as a single component). This allows high volume production, but the integral nature of the top plate 31 and the side wall 32 means that the top plate 31 inhibits deformation of the ring 4/sidewall 32.

In fact, it has been found that when the sides of the ring 4/sidewall 32 are squeezed by a user, the ring 4/sidewall 32 has two components of deformation. Radial de-formation, which is required to unlock the catch 6 and provide the lifting region 65 required according to the invention, and axial deformation, which is undesirable because the side wall 32 presses against the adjacent surface of the body 2 and tends to lift the lid 2. In this embodiment, this problem is overcome by leaving a gap 7 between the free edge of the side wall 32 and the adjacent surface of the body 2, which is sized such that the axial deformation of the ring 4/sidewall 32 can be accommodated, without lifting the lid 3.

A plurality of ribs 37 is also provided between the top plate 31 and sidewall 32 to allow the closure to resist any axial top load. The ribs 37 are sized and positioned to stabilise the lid 2, should it be subjected to a top load, during transport, for example.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, to open the closure 1, a user again squeezes either side of the lid 2 to deform the resilient ring 4/side wall 32. In this embodiment, the sidewall 32 is constrained at its top edge by the top plate 31. Thus, the squeezing movement tends to push the sidewall 32 radially inwardly and downwardly (as shown in FIG. 8. As described in relation the previous embodiment the squeezing movement unlocks a catch (not shown in FIGS. 7 and 8) and also provides a lifting region 65, by which the lid 3 may be lifted.

This embodiment may be further enhanced by providing a shield 71, to cover the gap 7 and provide a smooth surface to the closure 1 (as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10). The shield 71 is preferably interrupted at the hinge 5 and the opposing portion of the side wall 32 (adjacent to the catch 6), to allow room for outward radial movement of the side wall 32, required to unlock the catch 6 between the body 2 and the lid 3.

In a variation to this embodiment (see FIGS. 11 and 12), the shield portions 71 may be extended to provide finger pads, which the user may use to indirectly squeeze the sidewall 32 of the lid 3. This arrangement has the advantage that the user is unaware of the radially inward tilting of the free edge of the sidewall 32 (shown in FIG. 8), when squeezing pressure is applied to the pads. In this arrangement, the shield portions 71 may be relieved (for example, cut away or flared outwardly) in the vicinity of the hinge 5, to allow unrestricted opening and closing of the lid 3 on the body 2.

Referring to FIGS. 13 to 15, in a final embodiment of the invention, the lid 3 of the closure 1 is formed in one piece and is again connected to a body 2 via a hinge 5. A plurality of windows 39 is defined in the lid 2 in the sidewall 32 and/or top plate 31. A separate resilient ring is assembled inside the lid 2 by a known permanent joint arrangement (e.g. hole and spigot arrangement as previously described and as shown n FIGS. 14 and 15). The permanent joint between the lid 3 and the resilient ring 4 is designed to allow free deformation of the majority of the ring 4. In other words, the ring 4 is preferably attached to the lid 2 at one point only.

A pair of squeeze tabs 41 may be carried on the ring, such that they protrude through the windows 39, Preferably, the squeeze tabs 41 are shaped to accommodate a user's fingers comfortably. A lifting tab 65 is also carried on the ring 4, opposite the hinge 5 and may protrude through an associated window 39 in the sidewall 32 of the lid 3.

Referring to FIGS. 16 and 17, a user who wants to gain access to the contents of the container squeezes the squeeze tabs 41, deforming the ring 4 and unlocking the catch 6. As illustrated in FIG. 17, the deformation of the ring also causes a lifting portion 65 to protrude from the lid 2, opposite the hinge, allowing the lid 2 to be lifted and thereby opened.

The examples described above are included as illustrative of the present invention only and other resilient ring designs, falling within the scope of the claims, will be apparent to the man skilled in the art, without departing from the general teaching of the invention.

Claims

1. A dispensing closure comprising a body for connection to a container,a lid, moveable relative to the body between open and closed positions,a catch arranged to lock the body and the lid together, when the lid is in its closed position, anda resilient ring, having a normal and deformed state.wherein the lid includes a top plate, which covers the ring in both its normal and deformed states and in its deformed state, the resilient ring unlocks the catch temporarily while defining a lifting tab, to allow the lid to be moved to its open position.

2. The dispensing closure according to claim 1, wherein at least part of the catch is carried on the resilient ring.

3. The dispensing closure according to claim 1, wherein the lid comprises a top plate and integral sidewall depending from the periphery thereof, the resilient ring is carried inside the lid and the lid includes a plurality of windows, through which the resilient ring may be pressed to cause deformation.

4. The dispensing closure according to claim 3, wherein the sidewall includes a plurality of windows, finger tabs are carried by the resilient ring and the finger tabs protrude through the windows making it easier for a user to deform the resilient ring.

5. The dispensing closure according to claim 4, wherein two substantially diametrically opposed finger tabs are provided to allow a user to squeeze the resilient ring, thereby deforming it to unlock the catch and expose the lifting tab.

6. The dispensing closure according to claim 1, wherein the resilient ring is integral with the top plate and depends from the periphery thereof.

7. The dispensing closure according to claim 6, wherein a gap is provided between adjacent surfaces of the body and the lid to accommodate axial movement of the resilient ring as it deforms.

8. The dispensing closure according to claim 7, further comprising a shield to prevent access to the gap.

9. The A dispensing closure according to claim 8, wherein the shield is segmented to allow access to the lifting tab.

10. The dispensing closure according to claim 1, wherein the external surface of the closure is adapted to be smooth and continuous.