The invention relates to a child resistant container with a screw lid.
This invention relates to child resistant packaging. In particular, this invention relates to products that require metal containers such as combustibles or flammable solvents like alcohols, toluene, and hexane. Chlorinated solvents are another type of liquid that is best suited for metal containers. Metal containers also protect the products held within from UV degradation.
Some states have enacted laws requiring products that are susceptible to dangerous misuse by children be sold by retailers in child resistant packaging. Examples of such products include medicines, pills, gels, and other similar substances. Some child resistant packaging, such as one-time opening clamshell designs and blister packaging, cannot be resealed after the substance is accessed. Other child resistant packaging products that are resealable, such as plastic pill bottles, cannot use modern preservation techniques to extend the shelf life of the contained substance. A metal child-resistant container is also better suited than a plastic pill bottle for laser etched or engraved tracking information. In the case of etching or engraving on a malleable substance like plastic makes it easy for the tracking information to be scratched off or distorted in other ways that makes the tracking information indecipherable. Many consumers are also concerned about the state of the environment and want products that can be recycled easily. Plastic pill bottles and other packaging are made of materials that are not accepted at many recycling processing plants or have a limited lifecycle. Another concern of consumers' is that plastics are known to leach chemicals into the products they come into contact with. For things such as medication this is a big concern for people with compromised immune systems. This invention will be made of a recyclable metal alloy that is accepted by virtually all recycling processors. The present invention differs from current products on the market in that it can be opened and closed multiple times without loss of function, is easily recyclable, and can preserve the contents of the container better than similar products.
The present invention differs from most childproof packages on the market in that it can be used to store a substance itself in addition to pre-packaged product that may not come equipped with a childproofing device while being all metal and 100% recyclable as it uses no adhesives of any sort.
The objective of this invention is to produce a child resistant metal container that can be resealed, recycled, and is capable of using preservation techniques to store the contained substance longer than other containers. The container is made of a recyclable metal and uses a twist or screw off mechanism that generates an air tight seal. There are three to four pieces; a container lid, a container body, a locking disk and a locking cap.
The container body is a metal cylinder tube with a solid, closed “base” and an open “top” opposite of the base. This is where the contained product rests. A main body, which holds the product. A recessed lip is manufactured into the open top of the container body. This recessed lip has screw threads manufactured into the side walls that compliment and accommodate matching threads manufactured into the locking cap.
The locking cap is a metal cylindrical tube piece with an “open” end at the base and a “closed” portion at the top. The locking cap is manufactured to a dimension that fits snuggly on the recessed lip of the container body and under the locking plate and container lid. Manufactured into the side walls of the locking cap are screw threads that compliment and accommodate those found on the recessed lip of the container body. Manufactured into the superior exterior surface plane of the locking cap “closed” top piece is a series of depressions that compliment and accommodate a matching set of depressions manufactured into the superior plane of the locking plate.
The locking plate is a cylindrical plate that fits between the locking cap and the container lid. Depressions identical in size and dimension to those on the locking cap are manufactured into the surface of the plate.
When opposing pressure is applied to the container cap against the container body and the depressions of the locking plate and locking cap are aligned, the container lid and locking cap depress slightly in the recessed lip. The user can then twist the container cap or body, causing the angled screw threads to catch and separate the lid from the body. Without this pressure, the container lid is designed to spin about the inner locking cap without opening, enhancing this product's child safety features.
In alternative embodiments it is possible to create the same multi-piece lid design while the body of the container can be bowl shaped instead of cylindrical. This bowl-shaped body allows for more efficient packaging for shipping and storage. The bowl design is nest-able. In alternative embodiments is possible to create the same multi-piece lid design while the body of the container can be made of spiral wound tubing with a metal bottom cap and threaded metal top of the body. In alternative embodiments it is possible to create the same multi-piece lid design while the body of the container can be a 3 piece metal body consisting of rolled tube, bottom cap, and top cap with threading. In alternative embodiments it is possible to create the same multi-piece lid design while the body of the container can be glass.
Alternative embodiments include the addition of an aluminum foil seal attached the inward rolled lip on the main body of the containing. This Aluminum foil seal acts as a barrier to light, moister, odors and is a tamper evident seal. A desiccant and oxygen scavenge material is added to the inside surface of the aluminum foil seal that absorbs oxygen, and hold the moister content of the container to a desirable level. The desiccant and oxygen scavenge material may be self adhering the foil seal or require an adhesive. Alternatively, the desiccant and oxygen scavenge material may act as an adhesive for the foil seal to attach to the container.
This application relates to a child resistant container. The container requires the user to apply opposing pressure to the top and bottom of the device to engage embossed features located on the outer and inner cap to lock. Once engaged, the user twists and places complimentary angled screw threads engineered into the interior walls of the inner cap 05 and exterior walls of the container body into contact with each other. Once in contact, the user twists engaging the screw threads and unscrewing the container lip from the container body. When closed, the container is air tight, allowing the container to safety store its contents for extended periods of time. Further, due to the air tight nature the gas inside the container when its contents are packaged may be altered to have a less reactive gas inside to prevent decay. A high barrier sealing or lidding film can also be affixed on the top of the body of the container to maintain the specific atmosphere even after the lid is removed. This allows for the contents of the container to be visually inspected without disturbing the specific atmosphere of the container. Once this sealing or lidding film is removed the specific atmosphere of the container is no longer contained.
The container is made completely out of metal. The metals may include steel, tin, copper, aluminum or alloys thereof. Metal containers prevents BPA leaching, and chemical leaching into the stored product. Another advantage metal has over plastic is that track and trace information can be laser etched onto the container and not be easily be removed. Metal containers have the further advantage over plastic of being more recyclable in comparison.
A preferred embodiment of the container has a height between 25 mm and 200 mm and a diameter of between 60 mm and 120 mm in the closed configuration. However, these dimensions may vary in various embodiments.
The main body in one preferred embodiment has a diameter of 68 mm and a height of the body before the inward rolled edge is 30.72 mm. The section with the threads is smaller has a diameter of 61.67 mm. However, the inward rolled edge will vary on the diameter of the container.
In alternative embodiments a lidding film or sealing film may be used over the opening of the main body 01 in order to create an air tight seal. The lidding film or sealing film is applied during packaging of the product, and may be combined with the use of an inert gas for storage of the product stored in the main body.
Alternatively, the indentation may be any shape that allows there to be an edge in the clockwise direction and counter clockwise direction. Four rectangular indentations 06, or one cross indention 11 are preferred, other combinations may include two indentations, a single linear indentation, a curved indentation, or multiple indentions, of two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, or more equally, or unequally spaced indentations with a clockwise edge or counter clockwise edge. More indentations will be used in larger containers, and less indentations will be used in smaller containers. In embodiments with a diameter below 70 mm no more than four indentations should be used. In order to prevent ripping of the material in manufacturing the indentation will need to be thick between 4.5 mm and 6 mm thick. The inner cap 05 has threads 04 that correspond to the threads on the main body 01, allowing the inner cap to unscrew off of the main body. This occurs when the user applies pressure to the outer cap onto the inner cap and turning the inner cap relative to the outer cap.
The inner cap 05 is held inside of the outer cap 02 by an inward rolled edge on the outer cap (not shown). Similar to the inward rolled edge on the main body 07 the inward rolled edge is at the end of the open end of the cap and causes the material on the outer cap to be formed inward creating a ledge. On the outer cap 02 the ledge holds the inner cap 05 inside of 02 and prevents the inner cap from sliding out of the outer cap, while allowing the inner cap 05 to float, and rotate inside of the outer cap 02. The inward rolled edge must be large enough to hold the inner cap 05 in place inside of the outer cap 02.
In preferred embodiments the indentations have a depth of 0.85 mm with a width of 5.27 mm and a length of 16.62 mm.
The center locking plate 10 is used in embodiments where the indentations are not manufactured into the outer cap 02. In the case that the outer cap 02 requires a smoother top surface, the inner plate 05 is affixed to the inside of the outer cap 02, so the outer cap is used to press down onto the inner cap 05 allowing the outer cap 02 to turn as one.
In a preferred embodiment the diameter of the center plate 10 is 66 mm. There are 4 indentations extending from the center outward in a cross pattern. The indentations are each 4.79 mm in width and 15.82 mm in length allowing them to fit inside of the indentation on the inner cap.
The indentations themselves vary in size from embodiment to embodiment and the size of the of the indentations vary depending on the number of indentations and size of the container.
In alternative embodiments the outer cap 02 will be stamped with the indentations instead of using a center plate 05. Such a design would consist of three pieces, allowing the outer cap 02 to directly interact with the inner cap 05. In this embodiment, the indentations 06 are manufactured into the outer cap 02 interact with the indentations on the inner cap 05. The same angles would be used in the case where the outer cap 02 does not have indentations.
In alternative embodiments when the outer cap does not require a smooth superior exterior surface plane, the center plate 10 (with the embossing which matches the locking cap) can be removed from the design. Replaced by the embossing manufactured into the superior exterior surface plane of the outer cap 02 which matches the locking cap. This makes the lid a 2-piece lid whereas the design with the center plate is a 3-piece lid.
In various embodiments the locking, mechanisms taught above can be applied to various forms of containers. In such embodiments the main body will change in design, and the inner cap 05, outer cap 02, and locking plate will remain largely the same, only changing in size to match the change the dimensions of the new container body.
In a preferred embodiment the aluminum foil seal 15 will be contact conduction sealed to the inward rolled edge 07 of the body of the metal child-resistant container. The foil seal will be either flat or recessed. The foil seal 15 will have protective lacquer layer, an aluminum foil layer, and an extrusion coating layer with a heat activated adhesive.
The desiccant material and or oxygen scavenge material may include activated alumina, aerogel, benzophenone, bentonite clay, calcium chloride, calcium oxide, calcium sulfate (drierite), cobalt(II) chloride, copper(II) sulfate, lithium chloride, lithium bromide, magnesium sulfate, magnesium perchlorate, molecular sieve, potassium carbonate, potassium hydroxide, silica gel, sodium, sodium chlorate, sodium chloride, sodium hydroxide, sodium sulfate, sucrose, or sulfuric acid, ferrous carbonate, metal halide catalyst, ascorbate, sodium hydrogen carbonate, citrus, and/or Ascorbic acid. The amount and material makeup of the desiccant and oxygen scavenge material is specifically designed to maintain a relative humidity (RH) inside the container of between 50-65%. The desiccant and oxygen scavenging material may be applied to a smaller portion of the foil seal allowing the heat activated adhesive layer to still function properly, this reduces the need for nitrogen flushing and separate desiccant packets. The desiccant and oxygen scavenging material may be able to be applied to the foil seal through heat stacking or an adhesive.
Alternative embodiments may include a bowl design, that replaces the cup design of the main body. By using a bowl shape instead of a cup shape more efficient packaging and storage is possible, because bowls are nest-able.
Alternative embodiments include the use of the same multi lid design with a spiral wound tubing with a bottom cap. The spiral wound tubing may be paper tubes, paper cores, cardboard tubes, chip board tubes, or plastic tubes. The bottom cap may be metal, or plastic.
Alternatively, it is possible to create the same multi-piece lid design while the body of the container can be a 3-piece metal body comprising of rolled seamed tube, bottom cap, and top cap with threading.
Alternative embodiments may include a viewing window, in the outer cap 02, inner cap 05, center plate 10, main body 01 or combination thereof, to allow the product stored inside to the viewed without opening the container.
Additional alternative embodiments allow for there to be a hermetically sealed main container. The three pieces, or two-piece lid design is then used over the hermetically sealed main body. When the customer opens the lid and seal the customer is then able to reseal the container in an air tight seal.
Various alterations and modifications may be made to the present invention without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, although particular embodiments refer to the shape of the indentations in the various drawings, this is in no way intended to be limiting as, in use, the present invention may be implemented using different configuration which are used for various products.
This Application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/951,482 filed on Apr. 12, 2018.
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Tin Canna (TM) website information Accessed Sep. 19, 2019, https://tin-canna.com/tin-canna/ Inventor Nicholas Patrick Karll listed as Founder and CEO—Eco Packaging Solutions (Year: 2019). |
Written Opinion of the International Searching Authority and International Search Report dated Aug. 15, 2019 for International Application No. PCT/US2019/027049. |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 15951482 | Apr 2018 | US |
Child | 16011267 | US |