ONE-PIECE SQUEEZE AND TURN CHILD-RESISTANT CLOSURE AND CONTAINER SYSTEM

SYSTEME DE CONTENANT ET DE BOUCHON MONOPIECE "PRESSER ET TOURNER" A L'EPREUVE DES ENFANTS

English Abstract

A one-piece squeeze and turn child resistant closure for a container having a
threaded
neck and a top shoulder having a top surface with at least one locking
recessed
annulus slot or groove, the closure comprising a sidewall of a rigid material,
the
sidewall further comprising at least one flexible panel wherein, when
depressed,
allows the unscrewing of the closure from the bottle, wherein each flexible
panel
includes at least one vertical tab that engages a corresponding locking
recessed slot or
groove of the container.

Claims

What is claimed is:
1. A one-piece squeeze and turn child resistant closure for a container having
a
threaded neck and a top shoulder having a top surface with at least one
locking
recessed annulus slot or groove, the closure comprising a sidewall of a rigid
material, the sidewall further comprising at least one flexible panel wherein,
when depressed, allows the unscrewing of the closure from the bottle, wherein
each flexible panel includes at least one vertical tab that engages a
corresponding locking recessed slot or groove of the container.
2. The one-piece closure of claim 1 further comprising at least two flexible
panels.
3. The one-piece closure of claim 2 comprising two flexible panels located at
opposite sides of the bottle.
4. The one-piece closure of claim 1 further comprising at least one vertical
stiffening rib supporting the inside diameter of the sidewall.
5. The one-piece closure of claim 1 further comprising at least one stiffening
rib
supporting the at least one vertical tab.
6. The one-piece closure of claim 1 further comprising a plug seal to plug an
opening in the container.
7. A child resistant package comprising a container and a one-piece squeeze
and
turn child resistant closure for the container; the container having a
threaded
neck and a top shoulder having a top surface with at least one locking annulus
recessed slot or groove, the closure comprising a sidewall of a rigid
material,
the sidewall further comprising at least one flexible panel wherein, when
depressed, allows the unscrewing of the closure from the container, wherein
each movable panel includes a vertical tab that engages a corresponding
locking recessed slot or groove of the container.
8. The package of claim 7 wherein the at least one annulus slot or groove in
the
bottle prevent removal of the closure without first depressing the flexible
panel.
9. The package of claim 7 wherein the closure further comprises at least two
flexible panels.
10. The package of claim 9 wherein the closure further comprises two flexible
panels located at opposite sides of the bottle.

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11. The package of claim 7 wherein the closure further comprises at least one
vertical stiffening rib supporting the inside diameter of the sidewall.
12. The package of claim 7 wherein the closure further comprising at least one
stiffening rib supporting the at least one vertical tab.
13. The package of claim 7 wherein the closure further comprises a plug seal
to
plug an opening in the container.
14. The package of claim 7 wherein the container further comprises at least
one
finger grip.
15. The package of claim 7 wherein the outside diameter of the closure matches
the
outside diameter of the container.

Description

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ONE-PIECE SQUEEZE AND TURN CHILD-RESISTANT CLOSURE AND
CONTAINER SYSTEM
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[01l Illustrative aspects of the invention relate to-child resistant packages
such as for
pharmaceuticals.
BACKGROUND
[02] US Patent 5,671,853 is directed to a child-resistant one-piece container
and one-
piece closure assembly.
[03] There is a need for an improved one-piece squeeze and turn child-
resistant one-
piece container. There is a further need to provide a two-piece package with
no
third component. There is fiuther a need to eliminate sharp edges from
standing
injection molded tabs.
SUMMARY
[04] A first aspect of the invention is directed to a one-piece squeeze and
turn child
resistant closure for a container.
[05] A second aspect is directed to a child resistant package comprising a
container and
a one-piece squeeze and turn child resistant closure for the container.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[06] Fig. la, lb, and lc illustrate a top view, side view, and bottom view,
respectfully,
of a closure for a container in accordance with one aspect of the invention.
[071 Fig. ld illustrates a sectional view of Figure lb taken along line A-A.
[08] Fig. 1 e illustrates a perspective view of the closure.

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[09] Figs. 2a, 2b, and 2c illustrate a top view, side view, and bottom view,
respectfully,
of a container for use with the closure of Fig. 1 in accordance with one
aspect of
the invention.
[10] Fig. 2d illustrates another side view and Fig. 2e illustrates a sectional
side view of
Fig. 2c taken along line A-A.
[11] Fig. 2f is an enlarged view of circle B in Fig. 2e.
[12] Fig. 3 illustrates a side view of a closure and container combination in
accordance
with an aspect of the invention.
[13] Fig. 4 illustrates a front view of a closure and container combination in
accordance
with an aspect of the invention.
[14] Fig. 5 illustrates a perspective view of a closure and container
combination in
accordance with an aspect of the invention.
[15] Figure 6 depicts a top view of a closure in accordance with an aspect of
the
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[16] Illustrative aspects of the present invention will be described. These
aspects
merely provide examples of the invention, and it is needless to say that the
aspects
can be suitably modified without departing from the gist of the invention.
[17] Aspects of the invention include a child resistant package including a
one-piece
squeeze and turn child resistant closure of rigid or stiff material. As shown
in
Figure 3, the closure 1 is placed on a container 10, such as a bottle. The
bottle has
a threaded neck 11 and a top shoulder 12 with recessed "blown" slots or
grooves 13
formed from the upper surface of in the top shoulder. See also Figure 2.
[18] As shown in Figure 1, the closure I has at least one flexible (movable)
panel 2 on
the sidewall 3. Figure 1 illustrates two flexible panels although any suitable
number of flexible panels may be used. The flexible panels, when depressed,
allow

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the unscrewing of the closure from the container. More particularly, each
flexible
panel includes at least one vertical tab 4 that engages a corresponding
locking
surface inside annulus slots or grooves 13 formed in a top shoulder 12 of on
the
container. This arrangement prevents removal of the closure without first
depressing the flexible panels. Depressing the flexible panels releases the
tabs from
the locking surface. The locking surface is an integral part of the "blown"
top
shoulder and top surface of the container. See Figure 3.
[19] The sidewall 3 typically has an outside diameter to match the outside
diameter of
the bottle. The closure and tabs may have stiffening ribs 14 and 15 as shown
in
Figures 1 e and 3.
[20] The cap can be used on an easy-grip bottle having fmger grips 17 such as
shown in
Figures 2b-2e and 3-6.
[21] Aspects of the invention further include an optional plug seal ring 16
for "liquid
tight" requirements and/or elimination of costly induction foil seals.
However,
liners with a foil seal may also be applied if desired.
[22] The one-piece squeeze and turn closure is senior friendly. The present
invention
eliminates standing lugs with sharp edges by using recessed slots 13,
eliminates
angled sidewalls, and allows sleek vertical sidewalls to increase the top
surface for
better stacking of packages.
[23] The shape of the closure and container provides a better store presence
as the shape
is maintained from the very bottom of the package to the very top. The package
is
also department store friendly since stores prefer packages that are easily
stackable.
Aspects of the invention further include optional stacking ring in top of
closure to
help with stacking.
[24] The packages may be used for pharmaceuticals such as tablets and liquids.
The
packages may be used for holding other items as well.
[25] While the various aspects of the invention have been described in
conjunction with
the example structures and methods described above, various alternatives,

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modifications, variations, improvements and/or substantial equivalents,
whether
known or may be presently unforeseen, may become apparent to those having at
least ordinary skill in the art. Accordingly, the example structures and
methods, as
set forth above, are intended to be illustrative of the invention, not
limiting it.
Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the
invention. Therefore, the invention is intended to embrace all known or later
developed alternatives, modifications, variations, improvements and/or
substantial
equivalents

Representative Drawing