EMBALLAGE INVIOLABLE PAR LES ENFANTS

CHILD RESISTANT PACKAGE

Abrégé anglais

CHILD RESISTANT PACKAGE
Abstract of the Disclosure
A child resistant package comprising a container
and closure. The container has a side wall, a bottom wall
and an open end. The closure includes an outer member and
an inner member, the inner member having a portion thereof
extending through an opening in the outer member such that
axial pressure may be applied through this portion to move
the inner member relative to the outer member in an axial
direction. A liner insert sealingly engages the upper end
of the container. The inner member and the liner have
interengaging portions such that when the closure is removed
from the container, the liner insert is also removed. A
portion of the liner defines a spring between the liner
and the inner member to yieldingly urging the inner member
axially outwardly toward the outer member. The container
has radially resilient portions on the upper end of the side
wall, and the outer member includes a peripheral skirt having
a rib adapted to engage the radial resilient portions on the
container. The inner member has an annular wall adjacent the
skirt of the outer member. The annular wall has a bead thereon
operable upon axial movement of the inner member toward the
container to move the radially movable portions of the con-
tainer and disengage them from the rib of the outer member.
The wall of the inner member and the skirt of said outer
member having interengaging portions which engage upon axially

outward movement of the inner member relative to the outer
member so that the closure can be removed by axial movement
carrying with it the outer member, the inner member and
the insert.
ii.

Revendications

CLAIMS 1.
A child resistant package comprising
a container having a side wall, a bottom wall and
an open end,
a closure including an outer member and an inner
member,
said inner member having a portion thereof extend-
ing through an opening in the outer member such that axial
pressure may be applied through said portion to move the
inner member relative to the outer member in an axial direc-
tion,
a liner insert sealingly engaging the upper end of
the container,
interengaging means between the inner member and
the liner such that when the closure is removed from the
container, the liner insert is also removed,
spring means between the liner and the inner member
yieldingly urging the inner member axially outwardly toward
the outer member,
said container having radially resilient portions
on the side wall,
said outer member including a peripheral skirt
having portions thereof adapted to engage said radial resilient
portions on the container,
said inner member having an annular wall adjacent
the skirt of the outer member,
8.

said annular wall having means thereon operable
upon axial inward movement of said inner member to move said
radially movable portions of the container to disengage said
portions from the portions of the outer member,
said wall of said inner member and said skirt of
said outer member having interengaging portions which engage
upon axially inward movement of the inner member relative to
the outer member so that the closure can be removed by axial
movement carrying with it the outer member, and the inner
member and the insert.
2.
The child resistant package set forth in claim 1
wherein said radially resistent portions on the container
comprise a plurality of axially upwardly extending circum-
ferentially spaced cantilever portions,
each portion having a shoulder,
said portions on the skirt of said outer member
adapted to engage said cantilever portions comprising an
annular bead extending radially inwardly for engaging beneath
said shoulders.
3.
The child resistant package set forth in claims 1
or 2 wherein said annular wall of said inner member engages
each resilient portion of the container when the inner member
is moved axially inwardly to disengage said resilient portions
from said annular bead on the skirt of the outer member.

4.
The child resistant package set forth in claim 3
wherein each said radially resilient portion of the container
includes an inclined surface tapered radially downwardly an
outwardly which is engaged by the lower edge of the annular
wall of the inner member when the inner member is moved
axially inwardly of the container.
5.
The child resistant package set forth in claim 1
wherein said interengaging means between the annular wall of
the inner member and the skirt of the outer member comprises
spaced annular grooves on the inner surface of the skirt of
the outer member and an annular bead on the outer surface of
the annular wall of the inner member whereby said inner member
is interlocked with said outer member in two positions.
6.
The child resistant package set forth in claim 1
wherein interengaging means between said annular wall of said
inner member and said liner insert comprise a radially inwardly
extending rib adapted to engage the periphery of the liner
insert and remove the insert from the container when the
closure is removed from the container.
10.

7.
The child resistant package set forth in claim 1
wherein said liner insert comprises a sealing portion engaging
the periphery of the open end of the container,
a plug portion engaging the inner surface of the
wall of the container and a central panel portion.
8.
The child resistant package set forth in claim 7
wherein said plug portion defines said spring means.
9.
The child resistant package set forth in claim 8
wherein said inner member includes an annular axially inwardly
extending rib engaging the panel portion of the insert.
10.
The child resistant package set forth in claim 1
wherein said inner member includes a generally cylindrical
portion,
said opening in said outer member being such that
the cylindrical portion extends into said opening,
said inner member including a peripheral horizontal
portion connecting said annular wall and said cylindrical
portion.
11.

11.
A child resistant package comprising
a plastic container having a side wall, a bottom wall
and an open end,
a plastic closure including an outer member and an
inner member,
said inner member having a cylindrical portion thereof
extending through an opening in the outer member such that
axial pressure may be applied through said portion to move
the inner member relative to the outer member in an axial
direction,
a plastic liner insert sealingly engaging the upper
end of the container,
said inner member having an annular wall with a rib
on the inner surface thereof adapted to engage and the liner
such that when the closure is removed from the container, the
liner insert is also removed,
spring means between the liner and the inner member
yieldingly urging the inner member axially outwardly toward
the outer member,
said container having a plurality of radially
resilient portions extending axially upwardly in cantilever
fashion,
said outer member including a peripheral skirt an
annular bead on the inner surface adapted to engage said
radial resilient portions on the container,
12.

said rib on said annular wall of said inner member
being operable upon axial inward movement of said inner
member to move said radially movable portions of the container
to disengage said portions from the bead on the outer member,
said skirt of said outer member having spaced
annular grooves, said wall of said inner member having a
complementary bead on the outer surface thereof such that the bead
engages one of said grooves upon axially inward movement of the
inner member relative to the outer member so that the closure
can be removed and applied by axial movement of the outer
member carrying with it both the outer member and the inner
member and the insert.
12.
The child resistant package set forth in claim 11
wherein each said resilient portion on the container has a
shoulder,
said bead on the skirt of said outer member extending
radially inwardly for engaging beneath said shoulder.
13.
The child resistant package set forth in claim 12
wherein each said radially resilient portion of the container
includes an inclined surface tapered radially downwardly and
outwardly which is engaged by the lower edge of the annular
wall of the inner member when the inner member is moved
axially inwardly of the container.
13.

14.
The child resistant package set forth in claim 11
wherein said liner insert comprises a sealing portion engaging
the periphery of the open end of the container,
a plug portion engaging the inner surface of the wall
of the container and a central panel portion.
15.
The child resistant package set forth in claim 14
wherein said plug portion defines said spring means.
16.
A child resistant closure for use with a container
having a side wall, a bottom wall and an open end and radially
resilient portions at the upper end of said side wall,
said closure including an outer member and an inner
member,
said inner member having a portion thereof extend-
ing through an opening in the outer member such that axial
pressure may be applied through said portion to move the
inner member relative to the outer member in an axial direction,
a liner insert adapted to sealingly engage the upper
end of the container,
interengaging means between the inner member and
the liner insert such that when the closure is removed from
the container, the liner insert is also removed,
14.

spring means between the liner and the inner member
yieldingly urging the inner member axially outwardly toward
the outer member,
said outer member including a peripheral skirt
having portions thereof adapted to engage said radial
resilient portions on the container,
said inner member having an annular wall adjacent
the skirt of the outer member,
said annular wall having means thereon operable
upon axial inward movement of said inner member to move said
radially movable portions of the container to disengage said
portions from the portions of the outer member,
said wall of said inner member and said skirt of
said outer member having interengaging portions which engage
upon axially inward movement of the inner member relative to
the outer member so that the closure can be removed by axial
movement carrying with it both the outer member and the inner
member and the insert.
17.
The child resistant closure set forth in claim 15
wherein said skirt of said outer member has an annular flange
extending radially inwardly adapted to engage beneath said
shoulder on the resilient portion of the container.
15.

18.
The child resistant closure set forth in claim 16
wherein said interengaging means between the annular wall of
the inner member and the skirt of the outer member comprises
spaced annular grooves on the inner surface of the skirt and
an annular bead on the outer surface of the annular wall
whereby said inner member is interlocked with said outer
member in two positions.
19.
The child resistant closure set forth in claim 16
wherein said annular wall of said inner member has a radially
inwardly extending head adapted to engage the periphery of
the liner insert and remove the insert from the container
when the closure is removed from the container.
20.
The child resistant closure set forth in claim 16
wherein said liner insert comprises a sealing portion adapted
to engage the periphery of the open end of the container,
a plug portion adapted to engage the inner surface
of the wall of the container and a central panel portion.
21.
The child resistant closure set forth in claim 20
wherein said plug portion defines said spring means.
16

22.
The child resistant closure set forth in claim 16
wherein said inner member includes a generally cylindrical
portion,
said opening in said outer member being such that
the cylindrical portion extends into said opening,
said inner member including a peripheral horizontal
portion connecting said annular wall and said cylindrical
portion.
23.
The child resistant closure set forth in claim 16
wherein said inner member includes an annular axially inwardly
extending rib engaging the panel portion of the insert.
24.
A child resistant closure for use with a container
having a side wall, a bottom wall and an open end, and radially
resilient portions at the upper end of the container,
said closure being made of plastic including an outer
member and an inner member,
said inner member having a portion thereof extending
through an opening in the outer member such that axial pressure
may be applied through said portion to move the inner member
relative to the outer member in an axial direction,
a plastic liner insert adapted to sealingly engaging
the upper end of the container,
17.

interengaging means between the inner member and
the liner such that when the closure is removed from the
container, the liner insert is also removed,
spring means between the liner and the inner member
yieldingly urging the inner member axially outwardly toward
the outer member,
said outer member including a peripheral skirt
having an annular bead thereof adapted to engage said radial
resileint portions on the container,
said inner member having an annular wall adjacent
the skirt of the outer member,
said annular wall having a rib thereon operable upon
axial inward movement of said inner member to move said
radially movable portions of the container to disengage said
portions from the portions of the outer member,
said wall of said inner member having a bead and said
skirt of said outer member having spaced annular grooves selectively
engaged by said bead upon axially inward or outward movement of
the inner member relative to the outer member so that the closure
can be removed and applied by axial movement carrying with it
the outer member and the inner member and the insert.
25.
The child resistant closure set forth in claim 24
wherein said annular wall of said inner member engages each
resilient portion of the container when the inner member is
moved axially inwardly to disengage said resilient portions
from said annular bead on the skirt of the outer member.
18

26.
The child resistant closure set forth in claim 24
wherein said liner insert comprises a sealing portion engaging
the periphery of the open end of the container,
a plug portion engaging the inner surface of the wall
of the container and a central panel portion.
27.
The child resistant closure set forth in claim 26
wherein said plug portion defines said spring means.
28.
The child resistant closure set forth in claim 24
wherein said inner member includes a generally cylindrical
portion,
said opening in said outer member being such that the
cylindrical portion extends into said opening,
said inner member including a peripheral horizontal
portion connecting said annular wall and said cylindrical
portion.
29.
The child resistant closure set forth in claim 24
wherein said inner member includes an annular axially inwardly
extending rib engaging the panel portion of the insert.
19.

30.
A child resistant package comprising
a container having a side wall, a bottom wall and
an open end,
a closure including an outer member and an inner
member,
said inner member having a portion thereof extend-
ing through an opening in the outer member such that axial
pressure may be applied through said portion to move the
inner member relative to the outer member in an axial direc-
tion,
spring means yieldingly urging the inner member
axially outwardly toward the outer member,
said container having radially resilient portions
on the side wall,
said outer member including a peripheral skirt
having portions thereof adapted to engage said radial resil-
ient portions on the container,
said inner member having an annular wall adjacent
the skirt of the outer member,
said annular wall having means thereon operable
upon axial inward movement of said inner member to move said
radially movable portions of the container to disengage said
portions from the portions of the outer member,
said wall of said inner member and said skirt of
said outer member having interengaging portions which engage
upon axially inward movement of the inner member relative to
20.

the outer member so that the closure can be removed by axial
movement carrying with it the outer member, and the inner
member and the insert.
31.
The child resistant package set forth in claim 30
wherein said radially resistant portions on the container
comprise a plurality of axially upwardly extending circum-
ferentially spaced cantilever portions,
each portion having a shoulder,
said portions on the skirt of said outer member
adapted to engage said cantilever portions comprising an
annular bead extending radially inwardly for engaging
beneath said shoulders.
32.
The child resistant package set forth in claims 30
or 31 wherein said annular wall of said inner member engages
each resilient portion of the container when the inner member
is moved axially inwardly to disengage said resilient portions
from said annular bead on the skirt of the outer member.
33.
The child resistant package set forth in claim 32
wherein each said radially resilient portion of the container
includes an inclined surface tapered radially downwardly and
outwardly which is engaged by the lower edge of the annular
wall of the inner member when the inner member is moved
axially inwardly of the container.
21

34.
The child resistant package set forth in claim 30
wherein said interengaging means between the annular wall of
the inner member and the skirt of the outer member comprises
spaced annular grooves on the inner surface of the skirt of
the outer member and an annular bead on the outer surface of
the annular wall of the inner member whereby said inner
member is interlocked with said outer member in two positions.
35.
A child resistant closure for use with a container
having a side wall, a bottom wall and an open end and radially
resilient portions at the upper end of said side wall,
said closure including an outer member and an inner
member,
said inner member having a portion thereof extend-
ing through an opening in the outer member such that axial
pressure may be applied through said portion to move the
inner member relative to the outer member in an axial
direction,
spring means yieldingly urging the inner member
axially outwardly toward the outer member,
said outer member including a peripheral skirt
having portions thereof adapted to engage said radial
resilient portions on the container,
said inner member having an annular wall adjacent
the skirt of the outer member,
22.

said annular wall having means thereon operable
upon axial inward movement of said inner member to move said
radially movable portions of the container to disengage said
potions from the portions of the outer member,
said wall of said inner member and said skirt of
said outer member having interengaging portions which engage
upon axially inward movement of the inner member relative to
the outer member so that the closure can be removed by axial
movement carrying with it both the outer member and the inner
member and the insert.
36.
The child resistant closure set forth in claim 35
wherein said skirt of said outer member has an annular flange
extending radially inwardly adapted to engage beneath said
shoulder on the resilient portion of the container.
37.
The child resistant closure set forth in claim 35
wherein said interengaging means between the annular wall of
the inner member and the skirt of the outer member comprises
spaced annular grooves on the inner surface of the skirt and
an annular bead on the outer surface of the annular wall
whereby said inner member is interlocked with said outer
member in two positions.
23

Description

i3~
This invention relates to child resistant packages.
Background and Summary
of the Invention
It has been recognized that packages for medicinal
and other materials should preferably be resistant to removal
by childern. In the most commonly utiliz2d types of child
re~i~tant package~, the package includes a closure which
require~ a simultaneous application of axial pressure and
rotation o the closure relative to the contalnerO Such
simultaneous movements have been very effective in providing
a child resistant feature. Howe~er, they have been difficult
to u~e by the elderly or disabled who find it di~icult to
make such .simultaneous manipulationsO Accordingly, it has
~een common for pharmacists to provide to the elderly or
disabled an additional snap-on cap that can be used in lieu
o~ the child resi~tant c losureO
~ k has al~o been heret~fore sugges ted that a closure
be provided ~hat can be used in one positiQn as a child resis~ant
clo~ure and then turned over and used in a conventional manner
on the container as applying by the closure by threadingO
The pre5ent invention is directed to providing a
child resistant package which does not rPquire simultaneous
push or axial and rotating ~orces, which utilizes the simple
expedient of moving a part axially to unlock the closure
a~ter which it can be removed by a mere axial movement in
the opposite direction; and which in the unlocked position
can be ut.iliz~d to reclose the conta.iner without activating

;3~
the child resistant feature thereby providing an additional
mode of use~
In accordance with the invention, the child resistant
package comprises a container and c~osureD The container has
a side wall, a bottom wall and an open end. The closure in-
cludes an outer ~ember having a por~ion thereof ex~ending
through an openi.ng in the outer member ~uch that axial pr~3-
sure may be applied through this portion to move the inner
rnember relative to the outer member in an axial directionO A
liner in~ert ~ealingly engages the upper en~ o~ the conkainerO
The inner member and the liner have interengaging portions
.such that when the closure is removed from the container, the
lin~r in~ert i~ al~o removedO A portion of the liner defines
a ~pring between the liner and the i~ner member to yieldingly
urging the inner member axially outwardly toward the outer
memhern The container ha~ radially resilient portions on the
upper end o~ the ~id~ wall, and the outer member .includes a
peripheral ~kirt having a rib adapted to engage the radial
re~ilient portions on the container~ ~he inner member 'na~ an
annular w~ll adjacent the ~Xirt of the outer inember~ The
annular wall has a bead thereon operable upon axial movement
of the i~ner member towar~ the container t~ ~nove the radially
movable portions of the container and disengage them from the
rib o the outer member~ The wall of the inner member and
and the ~irk of said outer member having interengaging portions
which engage upon axially outward movement of the inner member
relative to the outer member so that the closure can be removed

534
by axial movement carrying with it the outer member, the
inner member and the insert.
Descriptlon o~ the Dr ln~,s
FIGo 1 is ~n ~xploded perspective view o~ a child
resista~t package em~o~ying the invention.
FIG. 2 is a frasmentary sectional view on an enlarged
scale showing the child res.i3tant package with the closur~ in
locked position~
FIG~ 3 is a fragmentary sectional -~i~w similar to
FIG~ 2 showing the closure in an unlocked position.
~ IG. ~ is a fragmenta.ry s~ctional ~iew s.howi;lg ~he
closllre for application in a non-child resistant: mode.

i3~
Referring to FIGSo 1 and 2, the child resi tant
package embodying the invention comprises a container 10
and a closure 11~
The ~ontainer is made o plastic, comprises a side
wall 12, a bottom wall 13, the side walL being cylindrical
and having an open upper endO The container 10 is urther
provided along its side wall 13 with a plurality of circum-
ferentially qpaced axially extending portions 14 at the upper
end that are supported in cantilever fashion so tha~ they can
~le~ radially inwardlyO The portions 14 defining locking lugs,
a,~ pres~ntly de~cribedO
The closure 11 includes an outer member or lock ring
15 and an inner or release member 16 as well as a liner insert
17. The outer member li has a top wall 18 with a cylindrical
op~n.inc~ 19 and a peripheral s~irt 200 The inner member 16
includ~s a cylindrical portion ~1 including a ~op wall 22 and
a ,side wall 23 that extends upwardly into the opening 19 in
the outer member 150 In the locked position the top wall 22
of portion 21 is flush with the top wall lg of the outer
member lS~ The cylindrical portion 21 defines a release button
for unlocking the closure, as presently descxibed~ The inner
memhe.r 16 further includes an annular horizontal portion 24
ex-tending radially outwardly from side wall 23 and an annular
wall 25 that ~xtends along the inner sur~ace of the skirt 20
o~ the outer member 15.

5i3~
The inner insert 17 includes a central flat portion
26~ a plug pox~ion 27 that forms an inner seal with the inner
surface of ~he wall 12 at the upper end and also func~ions as
a spxing, and a peripheral ~lange 28 that overlies the upper
5 end and extends downwardly for a short distance about the
periphery o~ the up~er end of the containex~
As furthar sh~wn in FIGo 2~ the inner surface of the
skirt 20 ~f the outer member 15 i~ formed wi~h an annular bead
30 that engages beneath a shoulder 31 on each of the radial
portions 14 to loc~ the closure on ~he container. In the
pos.ition shown in FI~. 2, the outer surface of the lower end
o~ the inner me~ber 16 i9 formed with an annular bead 32 that
enyage~ an annular groove 33 spaced above the bead 30 in the
inner surface of the skirt 20.
~5 The outer rne~ber 15 and inner member 11 are preferably
made Oæ rigid plastic material such as high density polyethylene
or polypropyleneO The inner in~ert 17 is preferably made o~
~l~xible plastic such as low density polyethylene~ The ~on-
tainer is preferab~y made of rigid transparent or translucent
plastic such as polypropylene, high density polyethylene or
polystyrene.
Referring to FIG. 3, when it is desired to remove
the closuxe, an ax.ial force is applied to the release button
21 moving the inner member 16 axially inwardly relative to
the ou~er member 15 against the ~pring force of the portion
27 of the insert 17. This causes the lower end of the
annular wall 25 of the inner member 16 to engage do~wardly
and outwardly tapex~d surfaces 35 on the upper end of the

~ 3~
radial por~ion~ 14 camming them inwardly in~o grooves 36 in
the side wall l2, thereby disengaging the radial portions 14
from the annular bead 30 of outer member 150 Thi~ also moves
the annular wall 25 downwardly bringing the bead 32 into engage-
ment with another annular groove 34 on the inner surface ofskirt 20 positioned between the groove 33 and at ~he juncture
o skirt 20 and bead 30~ The closure is then ~ree to be re-
m~ved by merely grasping the periphery which may be formed
with serrations 37~ As the closure is lifted9 an annular rib
38 on ~he inner surface of the wall 25 engages the periphery
o~ the insert 17 to remove it with the remainder of the closure.
With the clo5ure in locked position, a protective flange 39 on
the container serves as a deterrent to prying the closure offO
When it is desired to re-apply the closure, a mere
axial movement i~ provided on the outer member and force in
an axial direction causes the outer memher 15 to move axially
relative inwar.dly to the inner member 16 to relock the closure~
By leaving the release button depressed as shown
in FI~. 4, the closure be~omes a non~child resistant closure
and can be applied by simply holding the release button in the
,~epressed position and pushing the closure onto the containerO
In this position, the locking lugs or portions 14 are not
engaged by the bead 30, the bead 32 on the inner member 16
remains in engagement with groove 34 and the insert is not
~lexed on the containersO
To change to a child resistant mode, it is only
necessary to push the outer me~ber or locking ring axially

i3~
further until it snaps down under the locking lug on the
radial por~ions.
It can thus be seen that there has been provided
a child resistant package that requires only axial motion
to open the pa~kage, that will function in a child resistant
mode or a non~child resistant mode~ The closure has an outer
Inember and an inner me~ber permitting these members to have
di~ferent colors~