Closure with Sequenced Double Release

• US 20160130049A1
• Filed: 11/05/2015
• Published: 05/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Creative Mechanisms, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Creative Mechanisms, Inc.
• Inventors: Rogers, Anthony R., Amano, Shuichi
• Granted Patent: US 9,968,516 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/03 for pills or tablets containers for pills or tablets with special dispensing means therefor B65D83/04
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2215/04 requiring the combination of different actions in succession
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/0842 consisting of a strap of flexible material
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 50/066 whereby parts of the container or closure having to be deformed, i.e. bi-stable movement B65D50/045 takes precedence

Abstract

A child-resistant closure for a container. The closure has a first groove and a second groove formed into a base. A cap covers an opening in the base. The cap can rotate between a closed position, a primed position and an open position. The cap has a nub that engages the first groove on the base, when in its closed position, engages the second groove on the base when in its primed position, and is free of any groove when in its open position. A mechanical activator is coupled to the base with a teeter connection. The mechanical activator displaces the cap from the closed position to the primed position when a first section of the mechanical activator is depressed. The mechanical activator displaces the cap from the primed position to the open position when a second section of the mechanical activator is depressed.

Claims

1. A child-resistant closure for a container, comprising:

an annular base that engages said container and defines an opening for accessing said container, wherein said annular base has a partial peripheral wall that extends from a first end to a second end, wherein a gap is defined between said first end and said second end;

a cap that is joined to said annular base at a hinged connection, wherein said cap can rotate about said hinged connection to cover said opening;

an activation plate mounted to said annular base within said gap with a teeter connection, said activation plate having a first section and a second section on opposite sides of said teeter connection;

a lock mechanism, controlled by said activation plate, that locks said cap over said opening and opens said cap only after both said first section and said second section of said activation plate are separately pressed in a predetermined sequence.

2. The closure according to claim 1, wherein said cap can rotate about said hinged connection between a closed position, an open position and a primed position, wherein said lock mechanism locks said cap over said opening in both said closed position and said primed position.

3. The closure according to claim 2, wherein said annular base contains a first groove and a second groove proximate said gap, wherein said first groove and said second groove extend in parallel planes.

4. The closure according to claim 3, wherein said cap includes a nub that engages said first groove when said cap is in said closed position and engages said second groove when said cap is in said primed position.

5. The closure according to claim 4, wherein said lock mechanism includes a lifting wedge that extends from said cap, wherein said lifting wedge is contacted by said activation plate when said cap is in said closed position.

6. The closure according to claim 5, wherein said activation plate contacts said lifting wedge but does not displace said lifting wedge if said cap is in said closed position and said first section of said activation plate is depressed before said second section of said activation plate.

7. The closure according to claim 6, wherein said activation plate contacts said lifting wedge and displaces said cap to said primed position from said closed position when said first section of said activation plate is depressed.

8. The closure according to claim 6, wherein said activation plate contacts said lifting wedge and displaces said cap to said open position from said primed position when said second section of said activation plate is depressed.

9. The closure according to claim 5, further including a protrusion extending from said activation plate, wherein said protrusion contacts said lifting wedge on said cap when either said first section or said second section of said activation plate is depressed.

10. A child-resistant closure, comprising:

a base having a central opening extending therethrough, said base having a first groove and a second groove thereon at different elevations;

a cap that is joined to said base at a hinged connection, wherein said cap can rotate about said hinged connection between a closed position, a primed position and an open position, said cap having a nub thereon that engages said first groove, when in said closed position, engages said second groove when in said primed position, and is free of any groove when in said open position;

a mechanical activator coupled to said base with a teeter connection, said mechanical activator having a first section and a second section on opposite sides of said teeter connection that teeter about said teeter connection, wherein said mechanical activator displaces said cap to said primed position from said closed position when said first section of said mechanical activator is depressed; and

wherein said mechanical activator displaces said cap to said open position from said primed position when said second section of said mechanical activator is depressed.

11. The closure according to claim 10, wherein said base has a partial peripheral wall that extends from a first end to a second end, wherein a gap is disposed along said peripheral wall between said first end and said second end.

12. The closure according to claim 11, wherein said mechanical activator is coupled to said base with said teeter connection within the gap.

13. The closure according to claim 11, further including a lifting wedge coupled to said cap, wherein said mechanical activator contacts said lifting wedge when either said first section or said second section of said mechanical activator are depressed.

14. A child-resistant closure, comprising:

a base that defines an access opening extending therethrough, said base having a first groove and a second groove thereon at different elevations;

a cap that is joined to said base at a hinged connection, wherein said cap can rotate about said hinged connection over said access opening between a closed position, a primed position and an open position, wherein said cap engages said first groove, when in said closed position, engages said second groove when in said primed position, and is free of both said first groove and said second groove when in said open position.

a mechanical activator coupled to said base, wherein said mechanical activator has a first section and a second section on opposite sides of a teeter connection, wherein said mechanical activator displaces said cap from said closed position to said primed position when said first section of said mechanical activator is depressed; and

wherein said mechanical activator displaces said cap from said primed position to said open position when said second section of said mechanical activator is depressed.

15. The closure according to claim 14, wherein said base has a partial peripheral wall that extends from a first end to a second end, wherein a gap is disposed along said peripheral wall between said first end and said second end.

16. The closure according to claim 15, wherein said mechanical activator is coupled to said base within the gap.

17. The closure according to claim 14, wherein said cap obstructs said access opening when in both said closed position and said primed position.

18. The closure according to claim 14, further including a tab with a protrusion that is selectively manipuable to a disengaged position from an engaged position, wherein said protrusion prevents said second section of said mechanical activator from moving about said teeter connection when in said engaged position.