Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~ WO 9!;/04686 2 1 7 ~1~1 PCTIUS94108406
I
CE~LD RESISTANT PACKAGE
FlFT n OF TRF- INVENTION
The present invention has relation to a package for storing and dispensing
materials which can be harmful, particularly if improperly ingested. Such materials
may be in solid, tablet, granular, powdered, semi-solid paste or liquid form.
The present invention has further relation to such a package which is
5 resistant to opening by the majority of children coming in contact with it, yet which
can be opened without undo difficulty by adults whose manual dexterity may, at
least to a degree, be impaired.
The present invention has further relation to such a package which can be
and easily ~ cd to facilitate disposal thereof once the contents
l0 have been completely dispensed from the pachge.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Child resistant pachging is ~ great concept for preventing children from
opening potentiaOy dangerous material~ such as " but for adults,
especiaUy the elderly, such pachging can be a nuisance. However, simply making
15 the contents of the pachge more easily accessible to the elderly bears with it the
risk that tne content~ could be accessible to children who could be injured if they
obtain access to the contents of a package and ingest the contents contained therein.
Attempt~ to deal with the ~ probbms are disclosed in the
patent Gterature. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,993,208 issued to Ostrowsky on
20 Nov. 23, 1976 discloses a safety closure means wherein the shoulder on a container
is formed with a pair of ~" q~ positioned locking lugs. The mating closure is
formed of ,' material and has a top end waU and a depending annular
inner waU in addition to a depending outer annular skirt spaced from the inner waU.
The inner waU includes threaded means for engaging the neck of the container to
2 5 secure the cap to the container in a closed position. The outer skirt of the cap has a
pair of " '1~ positioned radially extending locking lugs adjacent the lower
WO 95104C8C 2 1 7 ~ 1 ~ L PCT/US94/0840C ~
end of the skirt. The cap locking lugs are adapted to pass inwardly of the container
locking lugs and to be ~u...~n~ d radially inwardly when the cap is rotated to a cap
closing position. As the cap lugs move past the container locking lugs, the cap lugs
are released from their compressed condition so that they extend outwardly beyond
s the engaging edges of the container locking lugs. This prevents the closure from
being unscrewed until the outer skirt of the closure is manuaDy squeezed radiaDyinwardly adjacent the cap locking lugs to permit them to clear _ _ with the
edges of the container lugs as the cap is unscrewed from the container.
Under normal in use conditions, removal of the closure of Ostrowsky
10 requires squeezing the outer skirt of the closure sufficiently to disengage the lugs on
the container and ~ . _ the closure with the same hand used to
apply the squeezing force. This may be difficult, particularly for elderly pewnswho may have impaired manual dexterity and strength.
In addition, the closure of Ostrowsky visually reveals how the interlocks
15 must be overcome in order to remove the closure. A child having sufficient strength
to depress the closure skirt may have sufficient inteUect to defeat the interlock and
remove the dosure.
Another prior art attempt to overcome the ~" . ' problems is
disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 4,948,û02 issued to Thornock et al.20 on Aug. 14, 1990. The Thornock et al. patent discloses a pachge comprising a
bottle, a coDar which is secured in place over the uppermost portion of the bottle
and a closure which is secured to the finish portion of the bottle be means of
scre v threads. The coUar preferably includa a pair of spring-like
pushtabs containing vertical extensions which engage ~ teeth on the
2 5 innermost surface of the closure skirt when the closure skirt is fully assembled onto
the bonle. To remove the closure, the opposed pushtabs must be manuaUy
depressed prior to applying I ~.: _ torque to the closure to disengage the
pushtao extensions from the ' ' B teeth on the closure. While the Thomock
et al. patent disclose~ ~ pachge exhibiting highly improved child resistance without
30 _ ~ impeding access by adults, the disclosed coDar ~ _ creates an
dement which must be secured to the finish portion of the bottle adding to the
overaU cost of this pachge and a assembly opera~ions needed to produce the
pachge.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a pachge
35 having a child resistant feature which is resistant to opening by the majority of
children coming in contact with the package and which at the same time can readily
be opened by adults vho may have impaired manual dexterity in their fingers due to
Wo 95/04686 PCTIUS94~08406
~ 3 21 761 5~ `
conditions such as advancing age. arthritis, etc.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a package having a
child resistant feature wherein the child resistant feature is integrally molded into the
bottle such that the child resistant feature of the bottle is complete in a single
s - operation without the need for any further. assembly operations to secure the child
resistant feature to the bottle.
.
SUMMA~Y OF 1~ INVF~TION
In a particularly preferred S~' ~t, the present invention provida a
package suitable for storing and dispensing potentiaUy dangerous material. The
10 package is resistant to opening by children yet readily openable by adults: The
package includes a bottle having a base and a finish portion. The finish portion has
an innermost surface and an outermost surface. The finish portion includes a first
means for rotatabb and releasably securing a closure to the finish portion on at least
one of its surfaca. The platform extends radiaUy outward from the finish portion.
15 The platform has an outermost surface which is generaUy "!, aligned with
the finish portion. The finish portion includes at least one resiliently deformable
pushtab having a first end and a second end. At least one of the ends of the
resiliently deformable pushtab is secured to the platform. The pushtab has an
uppermost, lowermost, and an outermost surfaces. The outermost surface is
20 generally: q~ aligned with the finish portion and generally corlforms to the
contour of the exterior surface of the adjacent portions of the platform to minimize
tbe chance of inadvertent depression thereof when the platform is grasped. The
pushtab has a vertical extension projecting above the uppermost surface of the
pushtab. The pushtab is inwardly moveable relative to the rest of the platform when
2 5 ~ force is appGed to the outermost surface of the pushtab.
The package includes closure having a skirt with innermost and outermost
surfaces. The ddrt includes on at least one of its surfaces second mesns
. ' r to the first means for rotatably and rdeasably securing the closure to
the finish portiorL The skirt also has at least one ' ' _ pawl on its inrlermost
30 surface. The ' ' _ pawl being so shaped and positioned that it will def~ect the
vertical extension of the raiGently deformable pushtab when the c!osure is rotatably
secured onto the finish portio4 but will prevent removing the closure from the finish
portion by rotating the dosure in a revse direction unless the resiGently deformabie
pushtab is first depressed to disengage the pushtab verticai extension form the
3 5 ' ' _ pawi.
Preferably the first and second means for rotatabb and releasably securing
WO 9S104686 217 ~ ~ ~1 4 PCTIUS94108406 ~
the closure to the finish portion comprises ~ screw threads. In a
preferred ~ ~ - ' the platform includes a pair of opposed resiliently deformablepushtabs. The platform includes a pushtab stop preventing the pushtab from beingdeprsed too far inwardly causing damage to the pushtab.
In another preferred; ' " t, both the first and second ends of the
pushtab are secured to the platform
BP~TFF DESC~rPTION OF T~iF DRAWINGS
While the ~ ;-- concludes with claims particularly pointing out and
distinctly claiming the present invention, it is believed that the present invention will
10 be better understood from the following description in ., with the
g drawings in which:
Fig. 1 is a side elevation view of a particularly preferred bottle of the present
invention wherein the finish portion includes an integrally molded child resistant
feature;
Fig. 2 is a top plan view ofthe bottle of Fig. I;
Fig. 3. i5 a side devation view of a particularly preferred pachge of the
present invention;
Flg. 4~ is a crn~ ~ ' view of the pachge of Fig. 3 taken along
section line 4-4 of hg. 3 with the pushtabs in the extended condition;
Fig. 4B is a cross-sectional view of the package of Fig. 3 taken along section
line 4-4 of Fig. 3, with the pushtabs in the depressed condition;
Fig. 5 is a side elevation view of another preferred ~ ' ' of a bottle of
the present invention wherein the finish portion includes an integraUy molded child
resistant feature;
2 5 Fig. 6 is ~ top plan view of the bottle of Flg. 5;
Flg. 7 i5 A side devation view of another preferred ' " of a bottle of
the present invention wherein the finish portion includes an integraUy molded child
resistant feature; and
Fig. 8 is ~ top plan view of the bottle of Fig. 7.
DET~ Fn DESC~PTION OF THE INVF~ON
Figs. 1-3 show a preferred child resistant package 20 of the preænt
invention. Package 20 may be used for storing and dispensing nearly any potentiaUy
dangerous material whether in solid, tablet, granular, powdered, semi-solid, paste,
or liquid forrn. Package 20 includa a bottle 22 and a dosure 50. Bottle 22 and
35 closure 50 are preferably molded of ~ ,,. "~ ' polyester,
~WO 95/64686 1 ~ 61 ~1 - PCTlUS94~û8406
polyvinyl choride, p~ ,y~ , pcl~ ullr~e, or the iike.
Bottle 22 has a base portion 23 and a cylindricai finish portion 24. Finish
portion 24 includes an opening 29 and helical threads 30 on its outermost surface.
While any suitable securelnent means, e.g., a ~ ' of lugs or screw threads,
5 can be employed to rotatably and releasably secure closure 50 onto fnish portion
24, ~ threads on the inner surface of closure 50 are particularly
preferred.
The tilreads 30 on the exterior surface of finish portion 24 are preferably
doubb lead threads and are . ' y to the threads on the innermost surface
10 of closure 50. The pitch of threads 30 and the threads on closure 50 are preferably
such that closure 50 is fully seated onSo finish portion 24 with apy.. ~ 180 ofrotation.
Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, the finish portion 24 includes a chiid
resishnt feature, generaily designated 31, at the opi~osite end from opening 29. The
lS chiid resistant feature 31 is integraiiy molded with the finish portion 24. Chiid
resistant feature 31 includes a platform 34 extending radiaiiy outward from finish
portion 24. Platform 34 has a ~ planar surface 35 and an outermost
surface 36. The outermost surface 36 of platform 34 is generaliy; "~
aiigned with the finish portion 24. Extending from and secured to platform 34 is a
20 pair of pushtabs 38. Pushtabs 38 include an uppennost surface 38a, ~ Iowermost
surface 38b, an innermost surface 38c, and an outermost surface 38d. The
outermost surface 38d is generaily '1~ aiigned with the finish portion 24
and generaUy conforms to the contour of the outermost surface 36 of platform 34.Pushtabs include a first end 40 and a secured end 41. Flrst end 40 is secured to2 5 platform 34. At the junction of first end 40 of pushtab 38 with platform 34 is a
radiused portion wilich aUows the pushtab 38 to flex inward. In the ' ' of
Figs. 1-3, pushtab 38 behav iike a cantilever beam.
The uppermost surface of each pushtab 38 has a verticai extension 45 which
projects above the piane of the uppermost surface 38a of pushtab 38. Referring
30 now to Fig. 4A, verticai extensions 45 interlock with pawls 55 on the innermost
surface of sicirt portion 52 of dosure 50 when closure 50 is fiuUy threaded ontofinish portion 24. During assembly of closure 50 onto finish portion 24, pawls 55
must rohte past verticai extensions 45. However, verticai extensions 45 interfere
with the rohtion of pawis 55 and cause pushtabs 38 to be resiiiently deflected
35 inwardUy. Graduai lead-in ramps on pawls 55 faciiitate the deflection. rin generai it
i~ preferred that the lead in rarnps exhibit a graduai inwardly directed taper so as to
avoit a sudden increase in the --rr~' '- torque required to fuiiy seat the closure
WO 95/0468G PCT/US94108406
~i761~1 6
50 onto the finish portion 24. If desired, the mating surface of vertical extensions 45
may also be profiledl as generally shown in Figs. 2 and 4A, to minimize the
'- torque required to fully seat the closure 50 onto the finish portion 24.
Both of these features help to ensure that the user will properly reapply the closure
S to restore child resistance to the package after the package has been opened.
Continued rotation of closure 50 causes pawls 55 to clear the veltical
extensions 45, thereby permitting vertical extensions 45 and pushtabs 38 to
resiliently return to their latched condition shown in Fig. 4A. The child resistant
feature 31 may be molded so that pushtabs 38 and Yertical extensions 45 exhibit an
10 ~ ' at rest position wherein the maximum exterior dimension, is measured
across the opposed vertical extensions 45 is ~ equal to or slightly less
than the inside diameter of skirt 52, as measured in the area where pawls 55 are not
present. ~ , the child resistant feature 31 may be molded so that the
vertical extensions 45 exhibit an I ~ ' maximum exterior dimension which is
15 somewhat greater than the inside diameter of the closure skirt 52, in this situation,
application of closure 50 to finish portion 24 results in prdoading of the vertical
extensions 45 against the interior surface of skirt 52 when the closure 50 is fully
seated as shown in Fig. 4A
The P _ of threads 30 and those on the interior surface of skirt 52
20 of closure 50 in ; with vertical extensions 45 arld pawls 55 is such that thelatching of pawls 55 past the vertical extensions 45 occurs nearly ' '1~
with the seating of closure 50 onto finish portion 24. This is readily achievable,
since the ~hread 30 is integraiiy molded with the finish ponion 24 that includes the
integrally molded pushtabs 38, and vertical extensions 45, while the internal tilread
25 on the interior surface of skirt 52 of the closure 50 is integrally molded with the
closure 50 which includes pawls 55.
Wlth pushtabs 38 in the position shown in Fig. 4A, verticai extensions 45
impede count-clocicwise rotation of pawls 55 preventing attempts to reopen the
container by rotadng the closure 50 in the ~ -'- ' direction indicated by
30 arrow "Tn.
Clearance in opening 60 between the innermost surface 38c of pushtab 38
and the pushtab stop 62 permits sufflcient inward deflection of pushtabs 38 from the
position shown in Fig. 4A such that vertical extensions 45 wiil clear pawls 55 when
the user ~ depresses pushtabs 38 arld appCes an unscrewing torque in the
3 5 direction of arrow ~T" to the closure 50.
Fig. 4B is a view of pacicage 20 taken at a point c~,.c ~ ' to section
line 4-4 of Fig. 3, but with pushtabs 38 deflected inwardly. In order to unscrew
WO 9510468G - . ~ PCT)~S94)D84D6
~ ~t ~ 1 7 ~ `
closure 50 from finish portion 24 once the closure has been fully assembled,
sufficient manual pressure must be applied to opposed pushtabs 38 in the direction
indicated by arrows "P" in Fig. 4A such that the vertical extensions 45 on pushtabs
38 disengage the pawls SS on the innermost surface of skirt 52 of closure 50. The
5 squeezing force required to depress pushtabs 38 is preferably great enough to be
difficult for a child, yet low enough that adults can readily depress the opposing
pushtabs 38 while ~ applying an, ., _ torque in a direction of
arrow "T" in Fig. 4B to the dosure S0. The preferred squeezing force "P" for thepushtabs 38 to provide child resistancc without imposing undue difficulty for adults
10 with impaired manual dexterity is believed to be within the range of about 0.5 to
about 5 pounds force. In addition, the diameter of the platform 34 i5 grcat enough
that pushtabs 38 will be spaced sufficiently apart such that it will be difficult for a
child to depress pushtabs 38 with one hand to releasc closure 50.
In addition, the outermost surface 38a of pushtabs 38 are preferably
'~ aligned with the finish portion 24 and generally conform to the
contour of the cxterior surface 36 of the platform 34 so that simply grasping the
platform about its entire periphery and squeezing is untikely to permit both thevertical extensions 45 on the opposed pushtabs 38 to become ~ ,.t~....l~
disengaged from pawls 55 at the same time an ~ torque is being applied to
20 the closure 50. Rather, a conscious decision to squeeze the opposing pushtabs 38
must be made by the user to initiatc the opening process and this must be
~ by a concurrent appGcation of ~ 1 torque to the closure 50 to
proceed further. This minimizes the chance that a child will be able to remove
closure 50 simply by squeezing the entire periphery of platforrn 34 in his or her hand
2 S while trying to unscrew closurc 50.
In Flg. 4A it can be seen that vertical extensions 45 no longer impede
courlter-clockwise rotation of pawls 55 on skirt 52 in a direction indicated by the
arrow ~T". The user is then able to further rotate closure 50 in a counter-clockwise
direction, thereby causing the closure 50 to rise above vertical extensions 45 and
30 release the _ _ of threads 30 and those on the interior surface of skirt 52.
This permits closure 50 to be completely removed from finish portion 24.
Figs. 5 and 6 show an alternative; ~ " of a bottle 222 of the present
invention Bottle 222 comprises a base 223 and a cylindrical finish portion 224.
Fnish portion 224 includes threads 230 on its outermost surface. Finish portion 224
35 also includes a child resistant feature, generally designated 231. Child resistant
feature 231 in integrally molded with the finish portion 224. Child resistant feature
231 includes ~ platforrn 234 extending radially outward from finish portion 224.
WO 95/04686 PCT/IJS94/08406
~6~$~ 8
The platform 234 has a ~u~.."t;~ planar surface 235 and an outermost surface
236. The outermost surface 236 of platform 234 is generally ~ aligned
with the finish portion 224. Extending from and secured to platform 234 is a pair of
pushtabs 238. Pushtabs 238 include an uppermo$ surface 238a, a lowermost
5 surface 238b, an innermost surface 238c, and an outermost surface 238d. The
outermost surface 238a is generally, "~ aligned with the finish portion
224 and generaUy conforms to the contours of the outermost surface 236 of
platform 234. The pushtabs 238 include a first end 240 and a second end 241. Both
the first end 240 and the second end 241 are secured to platform 234. At the
10 junction of pushtab 238 with platform 234 is a radiused portion which allows
pushtabs 238 to flex inward.
The uppermost surface of each pushtab 238 has a verticai extension 245
which projects above the plane of the uppermost surface 238a of pushtab 238.
Vertical extensions 245 interlock with pawls SS on the innennost surface of skirt 52
15 of closure S0, shown in Figs. 3, 4A and 4B, when closure S0 is fiuDy threaded onto
finish portion 224. During assembly of closure 50 onto finish portion 224, pawls 55
must rotate past vertical extensions 45. However, vertical extensio,ns 245 interfere
with the rotation of pawls 55 and cause pushtabs 238 to be resiliently deflectedinwardly. Gradual lead in ramps on pawls 55 facilitate the deflection. The mating
20 surface of vertical extensions 245 is profiled to minimize the .~ ,, ' torquerequired to fiuDy seat closure 50 onto finish portion 224. Continued rotation ofclosure 50 causes pawls 55 to clear verticai extension 245, thereby pemmitting
pushtabs 238 to retum to their iatched condition.
Clearance in opening 260 between the innermost surface 238C of pushtab
25 238 and pushtab stop 262 pemlits sufflcient inward deflection of pushtabs 238 to
clear pawis 55 when the user wants to apply sufflcient I ... g torque to rernovethe closure from the finish portion 224.
- While in an extende~i condition, simiiar to that showrl in Fig. 4A, verticai
extensions 245 impede counter-ciocicwise rotation of pawls 55 when attempting to30 rernove the closure. In order to remove the closure from finish portion 224 orlce the
closure has been fiuDy assembled onto the finish portion, sufflcient manuai pressure
must be applied to pushtab 238 such that verticai extensions 245 on pushtab 238
fiuDy disengage pawls 55. The s~iueezing force required to depress pushtabs 238 is
preferably great enough to be difflcult for a child, yet low enough that adults can
35 readiiy depress the opposing pushtab 238 while . l~, applying an unscrewing
torque to the closure.
In addition, the outermost surface 238a of pushtab 238 are preferably
WO 95/04686 21 761~1 PCT/US94/08406
col~c...~ aiigned with finish portion 224 and confomn to the contour of the
exterior surface 236 of platfomm 234 so thst simply grasping the platfomm about its
periphery and squeezing is unlikely to permit both vertical extensions 245 on the
opposed pushtabs 238 to become inadvertently disengaged from pawls 55 at the
5 same time an ~ _ torque is being applied to the closure. Rather a conscious
decision must be made by the user to initiate the opening process and this must be
,sJ by a concurrent application of unscrewing torque to the closure. This
minimizes the chance that a chiid will be abie to remove the closure simply by
squeezing the entire periphery of platfomm 234 in his or her hand while trying to
10 unscrew the clowre.
Figs. 7 and 8 show an aitemative . )~- of a bottle 322 of the present
invention. Bottle 322 comprises a base 323 and a cyiindrical finish portion 324.Finish portion 324 includes threads 330 on its outemmost surface. Finish portion 324
also includes a child resistant feature, generaily designated 331. Child resistant
15 feature 331 in integraily molded with the finish portion 324. Chiid resistant feature
331 includes a platfomm 334 extending rsdiaily outward from finish portion 324.
The platform 334 has a ! ' ' '- q~, planar surface 335 and an outer nost surface336. The outemnost surface 336 of plafflmm 334 is generaUy ~ aligned
with the finish portion 324. Extending from and secured to platform 334 is a pair of
20 pushtabs 338. Pushtabs 338 include an uppemmost surface 338a, a lowermost
surface 338b, an innemnost surface 338c, and an outemmost surface 338d. The
outemmost surface 338a is generally "~ aligned with the finish pordon
324 and generaily confonns to the contours of the outemnost surfsce 336 of
platform 334. The pushtabs 338 include a first end 340 and a second end 341. Both
25 the f~rst end 340 and the second end 341 are secured to platform 334. At the
junction of pushtab 338 with platforln 334 is a radiused portion which aDows
pushtabs 338 to flex inward.
The uppermost surface of each pushtab 338 has a vertical extension 345
which projects above the plane of the uppermost surface 338a of pushtab 338.
30 Verdcai extensions 345 interlock with pawls 55 on the innermost surface of skirt 52
of closure 50, shown in Figs. 3~ 4A and 4B, when closure 50 is fuDy threaded onto
finish portion 324. During assembly of closure 50 onto finish portion 324, pawls 55
must rotate past verdcai extensions 45. However, vertical extensions 345 interfere
with the rotadon of pawls 55 and cause pushtabs 338 to be resiliently deflected
3 5 inwardly. Gradusl lead in ramps on pawls 55 facilitate the deflection. The mating
surface of verticai extensions 345 is profiled to minimize the r., . ' torque
required to fuDy seat closure 50 onto 6nish portion 324. Continued rotation of
WO 9510468C ?, ~ 6 ~ 5 ~ PCT/US94/08406 ~
ciosure 50 causes pawls 55 to clear verticai extension 345, thereby permitting
pushtabs 338 to return to their latched condition.
Clearance in opening 360 between the innermost surface 338C of pushtab
338 and finish portion 324 permits sufficient inward deflection of pushtabs 338 to
S clear pawls 55 when the user wants to apply sufficient unscrewing torque to remove
the closure from the finish portion 324. Pushtabs 338 include a pair of curved
spring elements 3?0 which create a uniform spring force during inward deflection of
pushtabs 338.
Whiie in an extended condition, similar to that shown in Fig. 4A, verticai
10 extensions 345 impede counter-clocicwise rotation of pawis 55 when attempting to
remove the closure. In order to remove the closure from finish portion 324 once the
closure has been fiully assembled onto the finish portion, sufflcient manuai pressure
must be applied to pushtab 338 such that verticai extensions 345 on pushtab 338
fully disengage pawls 55. The squeezing force required to depress pushtabs 338 is
15 preferably great enough to be difficult for a child, yet low enough that aduits can
readiiy depress the opposing pushtab 338 while ~, applying an, ~.. _
torque to the closure.
In addition, the outermost surface 338a of pushtab 338 are preferably
'1~ aiigned with finish portion 324 and conform to the contour of the
20 exterior surface 336 of piatform 334 so that simply grasping the platform about its
periphery and squeezing is uniilcely to permit both verticai extensions 345 on the
opposed pushtabs 338 to become '~ disengaged from pawis 55 at the
same time an ~ torque is being applied to the closure. Rather a conscious
decision must be made by the user to initiate the opening process and this must be
2 5 ~ by a conwrrent application of unscrewing torque to the ciosure. This
minimized the closure that a child wiii be able to remove the closure simply by
squeeziog the entire periphery of platform 334 in his or her hand whiie trying to
uoscre~v the ciosure.
Whiie partiwlar ~ ' " of thc present invention have been illustrated
30 and described, it would be obvious to those slciiied in the art tilat various other
changes and "~ can be made without departing from the spirit and scope
of the invention. It is therefore, intended to cover in the appended claims ali such
changes and "'' that are within the scope of this invention.
