Child Resistant Senior Friendly Can Topper Mechanism

• US 20200130902A1
• Filed: 02/28/2019
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Berlin Packaging, LLC
• Original Assignee: Berlin Packaging, LLC
• Inventors: Sanguinet, Andrew, Niggel, Brett
• Granted Patent: US 10,875,689 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 17/4012 for opening partially by means of a tearing tab
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2215/02 requiring the combination of simultaneous actions
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2251/0021 of the B65D43/16-type
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2251/0071 of the 17-type
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2517/0047 Provided with additional elements other than for closing the opening
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 41/46 Snap-on caps or cap-like covers
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 50/06 requiring the combination of different actions in succession
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 55/16 Devices preventing loss of removable closure members

Abstract

There is shown in embodiments of a closure mechanism configured to fit over the top of the can and prevent access. The closure mechanism is a child resistant senior friendly mechanism that can be opened and removed by the senior when access to the can is desired. The closure mechanism is designed for a single use as once removed it will no longer prevent access of the top of the can.

Claims

1. A child resistant closure mechanism configured for use with a can having a ledge surrounding a top portion of the can and which contents of the can are accessible from the top portion when the can is opened, the closure mechanism comprising:

a base having a base skirt configured to secure to a ledge of a can; and

a cover hinged to the base along an end, the cover configurable into a closed configuration with the base to prevent access to the top portion of the can and moveable into an open configuration with the base; and

a removable pull tab connected to a portion of the base, the removable pull tab accessible only when the cover is in the open configuration, a pair of frangible notches on either side of the portion of the base by the removable pull tab such that when the removable pull tab is removed, the portion of the base breaks away from the base, whereby the base is removable from the ledge of the can to provide access to the top portion of the can and thus the contents.

2. The child resistant closure mechanism of claim 1, wherein the base further includes:

an annular ring having an outer peripheral edge and an inner peripheral edge to define a base surface there between, an inside base skirt extending downwardly from the inner peripheral edge and an outside base skirt extending downwardly from the outer peripheral edge, the outside base skirt having inwardly extending tabs configured to grip under the ledge of the can when the closure mechanism is secured onto a can.

3. The child resistant closure mechanism of claim 2, wherein the pair of frangible notches are positioned on the base surface of the annular ring and on either side of the portion of the base by the removable pull tab.

4. The child resistant closure mechanism of claim 2, wherein the annular ring further includes arcuate slots on the base surface adjacent the inwardly extending tabs configured to permit deflection of the annular ring and prevent tampering with the base.

5. The child resistant closure mechanism of claim 1, wherein the cover further includes:

a top surface terminating at a top peripheral edge to a downwardly extending top skirt, the top surface configured to cover a substantial portion of the top portion of the can when the cover and base are in the closed configuration.

6. The child resistant closure mechanism of claim 1 further comprising:

a manual manipulative locking mechanism configured to secure the cover and base in the closed configuration, the manual manipulative locking mechanism is configured for manual manipulation to release the cover from the base such that the cover may move into the open configuration.

7. The child resistant closure mechanism of claim 5, wherein the manual manipulative locking mechanism includes a pinch lock mechanism defined by including:

a pair of arms diametrically opposed to each other and each extending from the base skirt inwardly towards each other, each arm having a flange extending upwardly above the base, and a projection tab positioned on an outside surface of the flange;

a pair of slots separately corresponding to the pair of arms, each slot defined in a top surface on the cover to receive a flange when the cover and base are in the closed configuration, each slot includes a projection member configured to act in concert with the projection tab on the flange to secure the flanges and lock the cover and base in the closed configuration; and

wherein each flange is resiliently secured to the base, such that the flanges when manually manipulated towards each other the projection tab releases the projection member such that the cover and base are movable to the open configuration.

8. The child resistant closure mechanism of claim 7 further comprising:

an indented surface region on the top surface of the cover positioned around each slot.

9. The child resistant closure mechanism from claim 7 further comprising projection ribs extending from the cover into each projection member configured to reinforce the resiliency of the projection member.

10. The child resistant closure mechanism of claim 7, wherein the manual manipulative locking mechanism further includes a front end locking mechanism defined by including:

a catch positioned on an edge of the cover working in concert with a bead positioned on a boss extending from the base, and wherein the front end click lock mechanism is configured to open by applying an upward force on a lip extending from the cover to overcome a frictionally force between the bead and catch.

11. A child resistant mechanism for multiple cans comprising a plurality of the closure mechanisms of claim 1 joined together at a periphery by a frangible link and in substantially the same plane, wherein the frangible link when broken permits separation of one closure mechanism secured to a can from the plurality.

12. The child resistant mechanism of claim 11, wherein said plurality is two.

13. The child resistant mechanism of claim 11, wherein said plurality is four.

14. The child resistant mechanism of claim 13, wherein said plurality is six.

20. The child resistant mechanism of claim 11, wherein said plurality is selected from one of the following:

two, four, and six.

15. A child resistant closure mechanism configured for use with a can having a ledge surrounding a top portion of the can and which contents of the can are accessible from the top portion when the can is opened, the closure mechanism comprising:

a base having a base skirt configured to secure to a ledge of a can; and

a cover hinged to the base along an end, the cover configurable into a closed configuration with the base, and wherein the cover has a top surface terminating at a top peripheral edge to a downwardly extending top skirt, the top surface configured to cover a substantial portion of the top portion of the can when the cover and base are in the closed configuration to prevent access to the top portion of the can and moveable into an open configuration with the base;

a removable pull tab connected to a portion of the base, the removable pull tab accessible only when the cover is in the open configuration, a pair of frangible notches on either side of the portion of the base by the removable pull tab such that when the removable pull tab is removed, the portion of the base breaks away from the base, whereby the base is removable from the ledge of the can to provide access to the top portion of the can and thus the contents; and

a manual manipulative locking mechanism configured to secure the cover and base in the closed configuration, the manual manipulative locking mechanism is configured for manual manipulation to release the cover from the base such that the cover may move into the open configuration and wherein the manual manipulative locking mechanism includes a pinch lock mechanism and a front end locking mechanism working in concert with each other to secure the cover and base in the closed configuration.

16. The child resistant closure mechanism of claim 15, wherein the base further includes:

an annular ring having an outer peripheral edge and an inner peripheral edge to define a base surface there between, an inside base skirt extending downwardly from the inner peripheral edge and an outside base skirt extending downwardly from the outer peripheral edge, the outside base skirt having inwardly extending tabs configured to grip under the ledge of the can when the closure mechanism is secured onto a can and wherein the pair of frangible notches are positioned on the base surface of the annular ring and on either side of the portion of the base by the removable pull tab.

17. The child resistant closure mechanism of claim 16, wherein the pinch lock mechanism defined by including:

a pair of arms diametrically opposed to each other and each extending from the inside base skirt inwardly towards each other, each arm having a flange extending upwardly above the annular ring, and a projection tab positioned on an outside surface of the flange;

a pair of slots separately corresponding to the pair of arms, each slot defined in a top surface on the cover to receive a flange when the cover and base are in the closed configuration, each slot includes a projection member configured to act in concert with the projection tab on the flange to secure the flanges and lock the cover and base in the closed configuration; and

wherein each flange is resiliently secured to the base, such that the flanges when manually manipulated towards each other the projection tab releases the projection member such that the cover and base are movable to the open configuration.

18. The child resistant closure mechanism of claim 17, wherein the front end locking mechanism is defined by including:

a catch positioned on an edge of the skirt defined on the cover working in concert with a bead positioned on a boss extending from the annular ring between the two notches, and wherein the front end click lock mechanism is configured to open by applying an upward force on a lip extending from the cover to overcome a frictionally force between the bead and catch.

19. A child resistant mechanism for multiple cans comprising a plurality of the closure mechanisms of claim 17 joined together at a periphery by a frangible link and in substantially the same plane, wherein the frangible link when broken permits separation of one closure mechanism secured to a can from the plurality.