Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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container-lid assembly having a ~lidina lid
The subject invention relates to a container-lid
assembly according to the preamble og claim 1. Such a
container-lid assembly is known from L3S~A~9,535,903. Such
containers are used for example for packaging products, which
should preferably not be accessible to children. Examples
thereof are health-affecting chemicals, such as drugs.
iahen designing child-proof closures for drugs packagings,
consideration must also be given to the fact that geriatric
patients should be able to open such packagings.
In practice, this means that closures for packagings
have to be designed in such a way that, if a specific group
of children has been shown how to open the container, they
are unable to reproduce this action, whereas a less able
patient can indeed perform it.
In US-A~9,535,903 a lid is described having a tongue
which can bg moved outwardly from the circumference of the
lid. The circumference of the lid is otherwise flush with the
upper part of the container, such that if the tongue is in
its retracted position it is not possible to firmly engage
the lid and open the lid. By moving the tongue outwardly,
such that a part of it protrudes ~rom the lid, an engagement
surface is created for grasping and opening the lid.
Although this is a first step to a child-proof
container closure it has been shown that if a child once sees
opening of the lid through outward movement of the tongue it
can repeat such an action relatively easy.
It is an object of the present invention to
provide a novel container which obviates or mitigates at
least one of the disadvantages of prior art containers.
The invention aims to provide a further save guard
making opening by children nearly impossible whilst keeping
opening of the lid relatively easily for other persons, such
as geriatric patients.
Through the provision of blocking means for the
tongue it is necessary for a user to first act on these
blocking means to make the movement of the tongue possible
at all such that an edge of it can be moved outside of the
circumference of the container-lid assembly. These blocking
means can be
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realized on the one hand such that inward movement of the
tongue is only possible after or effectes repositioning of the
blocking means such that at the end of the return movement of
the tongue the tongue is automatically blocked. On the other
hand it is possible to design the blocking means such that in
the position wherein the tongue: can be moved, it is free to
move to-and-fro and the blocking means will not automatically
return to their blocking position. The last embodiment is of
importance if the container-lid assembly is to be used for
elder patients wherein the presence of children is not
probably. In that case the "unsafe" position of the tongue is
not of importance. However, if the presence of children is
substantial the~first embodiment is preferable.
The blocking means fo:r th~ tongue can comprise any
means known in the art. To keep operation of both the
blocking means and the tongue easily on the one hand and to
make the way of opening of the lid and movement of the tongue
on the other hand as difficult to be understood as possible
for children on the other hand, according to a preferred
embodiment of the invention the blocking means comprise the
operating means for the tongue. This means that first of all
the blocking means have to be manipulated such that the
tongue can freely be moved and after that the blocking means
act to operate the tongue.
To prevent opening of the lid from the container
through intraduotion of a sharp object, such as a knife,
between the lid and the container as much as possible by
children, according to a preferred embodiment protruding
edges are provided at the upper past of the container between
which the lid is received. In contrast to the container-lid
assembly according to the US patent specification 4,535,903
it is not possible to introduce objects such as knifes or
screw drivers between the lid and the container resulting in
an opening force of the lid.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention
the blocking m~ans comprise a cam being connected with the
tongue, wherein the cam and tongue can be slide to-and-fro in
the lid. The cam can be engaged by a curved disc being a part
of a rotating ring provided in th~ upper part of the lid and
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having gripping members. ~'hrough rotation of th~ ring the cam
can ba positioned in front of a free pazt of the curved disc
such that the tongue together with the cam case freely move
to-and-~ro. kiowever, if the curved disc is in another
position movement of the cam and so movement of the tongue is
blocked. In this embodiment it is possible on the one hand to
.store the container in an unsafe position, i.e. in the
position wherein the curved disc. permits free mpvement of the
cam or to store the containe:° in a sate position, i.e.
wherein the curved disc is in any other position blocking
movement of the cam.
According to another embodiment the blocking means
comprise a rotatable blocking disc of which one extremity is
provided with operating means and of which the other side is
provided an the one hand with means for rotatable engagement
with the tongue and on the other hand a non circular curved
portion received in a slit provided in the lid. The slit is
realized such that transferral of the curved position in the
slit can only be realized in predetermined positions. Tn
ZO this way it is possible to operate the tongue through the
blocking disc only if this blocking disc is in a
predetermined position. In all other positions the movement
of the disc and so movement of the tongue is prevented by
abutment of the curved part and the boundary of the slit.
Zg To improve ease of use of the container-lid assembly
according to a preferred embodiment marDcings are provided on
at least one of the rotating ring, blockine3 disc or the upper
face of the lid to orientate the rotating ring or blocking
disc relative to the lid.
30 Although the circumference of the lid such as the
protruded edges described above and the part to which the
hinge is conn~cted can be integrally moulded with the
container, according to a preferred embodiment below the
blacking/operating means a further lid surface is provided
35 connected with blocking means cooperating with corresponding
means in the container. In thi$ way it is possible to realize
a lid assembly comprising a lid proper and cooperating
circumferenti.al edge which can lee snapped or connected in any
other way knc>wn in the art to various types of containers.
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The invention will beg further elucidated referring to
preferred embodiments of the invention Shawn in the drawings.
However, it ha$ to be understood that these are only
examples.
In the drawing:
Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a first
embodiment of the container-lid assembly according to the
invention;
Figure z shows in an exploded view s~chematiGally the
structure of the upper part of the container~lid assembly
according to Figure 1;
Figure 3 and 3a show details of the locking structure
according to the embodiment of fig. 1, wherein in fig. 3 the
lid is shown in closed posita.on in cross section on the
container;
Figure 4 the container-lid assembly according to Fig.
3 in open position;
Figure 5 shows in perspective view a second
embodiment according to the invention;
Figure 6a and 6b show in cross section the embodiment
of figure 5, in fig. 6a in closed pasition and in fig. 6b in
open position;
Figure 7 shows a detail of the second embodiment;
Figure 8 shows a third embodiment shown in
perspective oP a container-lid assembly according to the
invention;
Figure 9 a container-lid assembly according to Figure
8 in cross section in closed position; and
Figure 10 the container-lid assembly in cross section
according to figure B in open, condition.
In Fig. 1 the container-lid assembly is generally
referred to~with 1. It comprises a Container having reference
number 2 and being provided with opening 30 and a lid
generally referred to with 3. As is clear from figure 2 lid 3
3s comprises a circumferential edge 31 to which lid part 32 is
connected. Fa~om figure 3 it is clear that this lid part has
an upper face 4 and a lower face 5. In between a space ie~
defined ~or r8ceiving of a tongue 6, which Can move in and
out the lid a!3 is clear from comparison of figures 3 and 4.
5
Cam 7 is provided on tongue 6. ~atween upper face ~8 and lower
Face 5 a rotating ring 8 is provided, which, as is clear from
figure 3a, is provided with a slit 9. rn figure a slit 9 is
Shawn at the left side of the drawing, such that cam '7 with
its protrusion can just move below this slit 9. Rotating ring
is provided with engagement ears 10. mo realize positioning
of ring 8 as shown in figure 4, markings 19 and 12 are
realized on the ring and the upper face of the lid
respectively as is shown in figure 1. Lid part 32 is provided
with a sealing edge 13 snapping, as is clear from figure 3,
in a corresponding receiving section 19r o~ the container, The
container furthermore comprises a circumferential groove 15
in which a protrusion 16 of the eircumferentsal edge 31 can
be accommodated. As is clear from figure 1 front side 19 of
the lid and front side 20 of the container are flush.
The embodiment shown in figures 1 and 4 functions as
follows:
Turing production container having different sizes
are realized of which the neck of opening 30 is always the
same. because of that on different containers always the same
circumferential edge 31 can be snapped, wherein the
protruding part 16 engages the circumferential groove of the
container. 1'he lid is connected with this circumferential
edge through hinge 15. If the lid is snapped in clased
position, which is realized through cooperation of parts 13
and 14, a flush transition between the fxont faces 19 and 20
results if tongue 16 is moved inwardly as is clear from
figurs 1. Becaus~ of that it is not possible for the (young)
user to remove the lid fxom the container. The force of
engagement between the lid part 32 and the container is too
large. If the lid has to be open~d it is necessary to move
tongue 6 outwardly to the position shown ire figure 4. In this
position it is possible to grass under tongue 6 such that the
lid is Opened as yet. Tongue 6 Can only be moved in outward
direction by moving from the position according to figures 1
and 3 in leftward direction of aim 7. rthis.movement to the
left of cam 7 ins restricted in all positions Dy rotating ring
8 except in case wherein slit 9 is moved in leftward
direction, i.e, in the position wherein the markings 11 and
CA 02114864 2005-04-19
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12 are i,n front of each other. After taking of an article
from the container, the user can choose whether or not to
reloCk,, the Iid through inward movement of the tongue and
rotating of the rotating ring.
zn figures 5-7 a second embodiment of the con tainer-
lid assembly according to the invention is shown. Th i s most
preferred embodiment comprises a container, but in contrast
to the previous first embodiment lid 32 is integrally formed
with the.container. Such an embodiment is interesting if a
large number of the same containers has to be produced and
can for example be realized by injection moulding. Lid 32 is
connected to the container through film hinge. "
Lid 32 is provided with an internal slit 39 to
accommodate tongue 52 having an opening 35. A pin-shaped part
45 of blocking disc 38 can be introduced in opening 37 of
tongue 52. To elucidate the shape of this pin-shaped part 45
it is separately shown in fig. 7 between blocking disc 38 and
lid 32 in dash lines. The flat of this pin has reference'46.
From fig. 7 it is clear that pin 45 can extend through both
the left and right side of opening 35, but can only be
displaced from the left side to the right side or v.v. in the
position, in which the flat 46 of pin 45 is dire cted to
protrusion 36. Pin 45 is rotatably received in open s ng 35.
Markings 4t and 42 are provided to obtain an indicatio n for a
correct position of blocking disc 38.
As described above transferral of blocking disc 38 is
only possible if the flat 46 on pin 45 is dire cted to
protrusion 35. In that position the tongue can be moved out
of the circumference of the container as is shown in fig. 6a.
In that position it is possible to engage the lid and to
remove it from the container as shown in fig. 6b. apposite
protruding edges 50 of the container prevent access of a
knife, screw driver and so on for forced opening of th a lid.
In figures 8-10 a third embodiment of the invention
is shown. In this embodiment also a container 2 is provided
having a lid, now indicated with 23. The lid also has a
circumferential edge and a lid portion proper'. The
circurnferential edge is realized in the same way as in the
embodiment as described above whilst the lid part has been
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given reference number 33. The lid portion 33 ie connected to
the circumferential edge 31 through hinge 28_ The lid part 33
comprises as in the previous embodiments an upper face 24 and
a lower face 25 in between a tongue 22 is provided. In the
upper face an opening 27 is realized. The tongue is extended
with a curved part 29 extending through opening 27. For
positioning of the curved part the upper face of the lid is
provided with protruding edges 26.
The embodiment described above functions as follows:
Starting from the closed position shown in fig. 9 the user
has to exert a farce through opening 27 vn curved part 29.
Because of that tongue will move outwardly, such that a
gripping point for the lid portion is provided through which
the lid portion can be removed from the container. In this
embodiment after relieving the curved part 29 this wil3
always resiliently move back to the position shown in fig. 9
such that after closing of the lid always automatica114y
safety is ensured.
Although the invention has been described above
referring to three preferred embodiments, it has to be
understood that numerous changes can be effected. It w111 be
clear for the person skilled in the art that it is possible
in many ways to block the lip for engaging the lid. All such
amendments are deemed to be within the range of the enclosed
2S claims.
