Child-resistant canister

• US 8,371,463 B2
• Filed: 07/22/2009
• Issued: 02/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Berry Plastics Corporation (Berry Global Group Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Berry Plastics Corporation (Berry Global Group Inc.)
• Inventors: Beecroft, W. Gordon
• Primary Examiner(s): Stashick, Anthony
• Assistant Examiner(s): Smalley, James N
• Application Number:
  US12/507,557
• Publication Number:
  US 20100025355A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,301 Days
• Field of Search: 215/216, 215/222, 215/332
• US Class Current: 215/216
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2215/02 requiring the combination of simultaneous actions
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 50/046 and such deformation causes the disengagement of locking means, e.g. the release of a pawl-like element from a tooth or abutment, to allow removal of the closure by simultaneous rotation

Abstract

A child-resistant canister includes a container and a closure configured to mount on the container to close an opening into an interior region formed in the container. The closure includes a lid and a lid anchor coupled to the lid. The lid anchor is configured to mate with a closure retainer included in the container to retain the closure in a mounted position on the container.

Claims

1. A child-resistant canister comprising

a container formed to include a product-receiving chamber and a mouth opening into the product-receiving chamber,

a closure including a lid comprising a wall formed to include an interior region and configured to mount on the container to assume a closed position closing the mouth formed in the container when rotated relative to the container about an axis of rotation, and

a closure-release control mechanism comprising a first lock tab spaced radially inwardly of the lid wall and coupled to the lid of the closure and arranged to lie in the interior region formed in the lid and a first tab controller coupled to the container and formed to include a lock-tab receiver channel arranged to receive the first lock tab therein when the closure is mounted on the container to assume the closed position, wherein the first tab controller includes

a tab blocker configured normally to mate with the first lock tab upon movement of the first lock tab to a closure-retaining position in the lock-tab receiver channel to block rotation of the closure relative to the container about the axis of rotation in a closure-removal direction to retain the closure in the closed position on the container and

a tab-motion limiter configured to provide means for blocking movement of the first lock tab in a radially outward direction away from the axis of rotation to unmate from the tab blocker during an unauthorized attempt to remove the closure from the container so that an unauthorized user is unable to move the first lock tab from the closure-retaining position in a radially outward direction to assume a radially outwardly displaced position unmated from the tab blocker and then rotate the closure relative to the container about the axis of rotation in a closure-removal direction while the first lock tab remains in the radially outwardly displaced position to cause the first lock tab to move relative to and past the tab blocker without mating with the tab blocker in an unauthorized effort to remove the closure from the container.

2. The canister of claim 1, wherein the container includes a body formed to include the product-receiving chamber and a filler neck coupled to the body and formed to include the mouth, the first tab controller is coupled to the filler neck, and the tab-motion limiter is arranged to lie in spaced-apart relation to the filler neck to locate the first lock tab in a section of the lock-tab receiver channel provided between the filler neck and the tab-motion limiter when the closure is mounted on the container to assume the closed position and the first lock tab is located in the closure-retaining position.

15. The canister of claim 1, wherein the first tab controller includes a tab-blocker support platform coupled to the container and formed to include the lock-tab receiver channel, the tab blocker is coupled to the tab-blocker support platform to lie in a stationary position relative to the container and provide a portion of an outer boundary of the lock-tab-receiver channel, and the tab-blocker support platform is formed to include the tab-motion limiter.

16. The canister of claim 15, wherein the first tab controller further includes a first limiter support coupled to the container and to the tab-motion limiter and a second limiter support coupled to the container and to the tab-motion limiter to support the tab-motion limiter in a stationary position relative to the container, the second limiter support is arranged to lie in spaced-apart relation to the first limiter support to locate the lock-tab receiver channel therebetween, and the tab blocker is coupled to the tab-motion limiter and arranged to lie between the tab-motion limiter and the container and between the first and second limiter supports.

3. A child-resistant canister comprising

a container formed to include a product-receiving chamber and a mouth opening into the product-receiving chamber,

a closure configured to mount on the container to assume a closed position closing the mouth formed in the container when rotated relative to the container about an axis of rotation, and

a closure-release control mechanism comprising a first lock tab coupled to the closure and a first tab controller coupled to the container and formed to include a lock-tab receiver channel arranged to receive the first lock tab therein when the closure is mounted on the container to assume the closed position, wherein the first tab controller includes

a tab blocker configured normally to mate with the first lock tab upon movement of the first lock tab to a closure-retaining position in the lock-tab receiver channel to block rotation of the closure relative to the container about the axis of rotation in a closure-removal direction to retain the closure in the closed position on the container and

a tab-motion limiter configured to provide means for blocking movement of the first lock tab in a radially outward direction away from the axis of rotation to unmate from the tab blocker during an unauthorized attempt to remove the closure from the container so that an unauthorized user is unable to move the first lock tab from the closure-retaining position in a radially outward direction to assume a radially outwardly displaced position unmated from the tab blocker and then rotate the closure relative to the container about the axis of rotation in a closure-removal direction while the first lock tab remains in the radially outwardly displaced position to cause the first lock tab to move relative to and past the tab blocker without mating with the tab blocker in an unauthorized effort to remove the closure from the container

wherein the container includes a body formed to include the product-receiving chamber and a filler neck coupled to the body and formed to include the mouth, the first tab controller further includes a first limiter support coupled to the filler neck and to the tab-motion limiter and a second limiter support coupled to the filler neck and to the tab-motion limiter to support the tab-motion limiter in a stationary position relative to the filler neck and the second limiter support is arranged to lie in spaced-apart relation to the first limiter support to locate the lock-tab receiver channel therebetween and wherein the first limiter support and second limiter support are arranged to lie above and in spaced-apart relation to the body.

4. The canister of claim 3, wherein the tab blocker is coupled to the tab-motion limiter and arranged to lie between the tab-motion limiter and the filler neck and between the first and second limiter supports.

6. The canister of claim 3, wherein an outer boundary of the lock-tab receiver channel is defined by portions of the filler neck, first limiter support, tab-motion limiter, tab blocker, and second limiter support.

5. A child-resistant canister comprising

a container formed to include a product-receiving chamber and a mouth opening into the product-receiving chamber,

a closure configured to mount on the container to assume a closed position closing the mouth formed in the container when rotated relative to the container about an axis of rotation, and

a closure-release control mechanism comprising a first lock tab coupled to the closure and a first tab controller coupled to the container and formed to include a lock-tab receiver channel arranged to receive the first lock tab therein when the closure is mounted on the container to assume the closed position, wherein the first tab controller includes

a tab blocker configured normally to mate with the first lock tab upon movement of the first lock tab to a closure-retaining position in the lock-tab receiver channel to block rotation of the closure relative to the container about the axis of rotation in a closure-removal direction to retain the closure in the closed position on the container and

a tab-motion limiter configured to provide means for blocking movement of the first lock tab in a radially outward direction away from the axis of rotation to unmate from the tab blocker during an unauthorized attempt to remove the closure from the container so that an unauthorized user is unable to move the first lock tab from the closure-retaining position in a radially outward direction to assume a radially outwardly displaced position unmated from the tab blocker and then rotate the closure relative to the container about the axis of rotation in a closure-removal direction while the first lock tab remains in the radially outwardly displaced position to cause the first lock tab to move relative to and past the tab blocker without mating with the tab blocker in an unauthorized effort to remove the closure from the container

wherein the container includes a body formed to include the product-receiving chamber and a filler neck coupled to the body and formed to include the mouth, the tab-motion limiter and the first and second limiter supports cooperate to form a tab-blocker support platform coupled to the filler neck and arranged to lie above and in spaced-apart relation to the body to locate the tab blocker support platform above and in spaced-apart relation to the body and the tab blocker is coupled to the tab-blocker support platform to lie in a stationary position relative to the filler neck and to the tab-motion limiter and define an outer boundary of the lock-tab receiver channel.

7. A child-resistant canister comprising

a container formed to include a product-receiving chamber and a mouth opening into the product-receiving chamber,

a closure configured to mount on the container to assume a closed position closing the mouth formed in the container when rotated relative to the container about an axis of rotation, and

a closure-release control mechanism comprising a first lock tab coupled to the closure and a first tab controller coupled to the container and formed to include a lock-tab receiver channel arranged to receive the first lock tab therein when the closure is mounted on the container to assume the closed position, wherein the first tab controller includes

a tab blocker configured normally to mate with the first lock tab upon movement of the first lock tab to a closure-retaining position in the lock-tab receiver channel to block rotation of the closure relative to the container about the axis of rotation in a closure-removal direction to retain the closure in the closed position on the container and

a tab-motion limiter configured to provide means for blocking movement of the first lock tab in a radially outward direction away from the axis of rotation to unmate from the tab blocker during an unauthorized attempt to remove the closure from the container so that an unauthorized user is unable to move the first lock tab from the closure-retaining position in a radially outward direction to assume a radially outwardly displaced position unmated from the tab blocker and then rotate the closure relative to the container about the axis of rotation in a closure-removal direction while the first lock tab remains in the radially outwardly displaced position to cause the first lock tab to move relative to and past the tab blocker without mating with the tab blocker in an unauthorized effort to remove the closure from the container, and

wherein the closure includes a deformable lid formed to include an interior region, the first lock tab is coupled to the deformable lid and arranged to lie in the interior region, and the first lock tab is arranged to move in the lock-tab receiver channel from the closure-retaining position in a radially inward direction toward the axis of rotation and away from the tab-motion limiter during inward deformation of the deformable lid to assume a radially inwardly displaced closure-releasing position in the lock-tab receiver channel closer to the axis of rotation in response to application of an external force to an exterior portion of the deformable lid associated with the first lock tab to separate the first lock tab from the tab blocker to initiate removal of the closure from the container and free the closure to rotate relative to the container about the axis of rotation in the closure-removal direction in an authorized effort to remove the closure from the container.

8. A child-resistant canister comprising

a container formed to include a product-receiving chamber and a mouth opening into the product-receiving chamber,

a closure configured to mount on the container to assume a closed position closing the mouth formed in the container when rotated relative to the container about an axis of rotation, and

a closure-release control mechanism comprising a first lock tab coupled to the closure and a first tab controller coupled to the container and formed to include a lock-tab receiver channel arranged to receive the first lock tab therein when the closure is mounted on the container to assume the closed position, wherein the first tab controller includes

a tab blocker configured normally to mate with the first lock tab upon movement of the first lock tab to a closure-retaining position in the lock-tab receiver channel to block rotation of the closure relative to the container about the axis of rotation in a closure-removal direction to retain the closure in the closed position on the container and

a tab-motion limiter configured to provide means for blocking movement of the first lock tab in a radially outward direction away from the axis of rotation to unmate from the tab blocker during an unauthorized attempt to remove the closure from the container so that an unauthorized user is unable to move the first lock tab from the closure-retaining position in a radially outward direction to assume a radially outwardly displaced position unmated from the tab blocker and then rotate the closure relative to the container about the axis of rotation in a closure-removal direction while the first lock tab remains in the radially outwardly displaced position to cause the first lock tab to move relative to and past the tab blocker without mating with the tab blocker in an unauthorized effort to remove the closure from the container,

wherein the closure includes a deformable lid formed to include an interior region, the first lock tab is coupled to the deformable lid and arranged to lie in the interior region, and the first lock tab is arranged to move in the lock-tab receiver channel from the closure-retaining position in a radially inward direction toward the axis of rotation and away from the tab-motion limiter during inward deformation of the deformable lid to assume a radially inwardly displaced closure-releasing position in the lock-tab receiver channel closer to the axis of rotation in response to application of an external force to an exterior portion of the deformable lid associated with the first lock tab to separate the first lock tab from the tab blocker to initiate removal of the closure from the container and free the closure to rotate relative to the container about the axis of rotation in the closure-removal direction in an authorized effort to remove the closure from the container, and

wherein the container includes a body formed to include the product-receiving chamber and a filler neck coupled to the body and formed to include the mouth, the filler neck includes a rim coupled to the body and formed to include a passageway communicating with the mouth and the product-receiving chamber and a closure retainer coupled to an exterior surface of the rim to lie outside the passageway and configured to mate with the closure to retain the closure in the closed position on the container, the deformable lid includes a top wall arranged to cover the mouth and a first tab-mover wall coupled to the first lock tab and arranged to depend from the top wall to locate the first lock tab and the closure-release control mechanism in a space provided between the first tab-mover wall and the rim when the closure lies in the closed position, and the tab-motion limiter is arranged to lie in a space provided between the first tab-mover wall and the first lock tab when the closure lies in the closed position.

9. The canister of claim 8, wherein the tab-motion limiter includes an exterior surface that is arranged to face away from the rim and the first tab-mover wall is arranged to move toward and mate with the exterior wall of the tab-motion limiter during movement of the first lock tab from the closure-retaining position to the radially inwardly displaced closure-releasing position.

10. The canister of claim 9, wherein the tab-motion limiter further includes an interior surface that is arranged to face toward the rim and the tab blocker is coupled to the interior surface of the tab-motion limiter and arranged to lie in a space provided between the tab-motion limiter and the rim.

11. The canister of claim 8, wherein the first tab controller is coupled to the exterior surface of the rim and positioned to lie below the closure retainer on the rim and above a top wall of the body of the container.

12. The canister of claim 11, wherein the first tab controller is made of a rigid material and arranged to lie in a stationary position relative to the rim of the filler neck and the body of the container during movement of the first lock tab in the lock-tab receiver channel between the closure-retaining position and the radially inwardly displaced closure-releasing position.

13. The canister of claim 8, wherein the first lock tab includes a plate coupled to the first-tab mover wall and arranged to extend downwardly into the lock-tab receiver channel and mate with the tab blocker and the tab-motion limiter when the closure is mounted in the closed position on the container and the first lock tab lies in the closure-retaining position.

14. The canister of claim 13, wherein the tab blocker includes a cam ramp arranged to face away from the tab-motion limiter and toward the rim and is configured to provide means for contacting the plate as the plate moves downwardly into the lock-tab receiver channel and for yieldably biasing the plate in a radially inward direction toward the rim during rotation of the closure about the axis of rotation relative to the container in a closure-installation direction until the plate clears the tab blocker to cause the plate to move in an opposite radially outward direction toward the tab-motion limiter to assume a locked position in which a first edge of the plate lies in closely confronting relation to a stop face included in the tab blocker and a second edge of the plate lies in closely confronting relation to an interior surface of the tab-motion limiter that is arranged to face toward the rim and lie adjacent to the stop face of the tab blocker.

17. A child-resistant canister comprising

a container formed to include a product-receiving chamber and a mouth opening into the product-receiving chamber,

a closure configured to mount on the container to assume a closed position closing the mouth formed in the container when rotated relative to the container about an axis of rotation, and

a closure-release control mechanism comprising a first lock tab coupled to the closure and a first tab controller coupled to the container and formed to include a lock-tab receiver channel arranged to receive the first lock tab therein when the closure is mounted on the container to assume the closed position, wherein the first tab controller includes

a tab blocker configured normally to mate with the first lock tab upon movement of the first lock tab to a closure-retaining position in the lock-tab receiver channel to block rotation of the closure relative to the container about the axis of rotation in a closure-removal direction to retain the closure in the closed position on the container and

a tab-motion limiter configured to provide means for blocking movement of the first lock tab in a radially outward direction away from the axis of rotation to unmate from the tab blocker during an unauthorized attempt to remove the closure from the container so that an unauthorized user is unable to move the first lock tab from the closure-retaining position in a radially outward direction to assume a radially outwardly displaced position unmated from the tab blocker and then rotate the closure relative to the container about the axis of rotation in a closure-removal direction while the first lock tab remains in the radially outwardly displaced position to cause the first lock tab to move relative to and past the tab blocker without mating with the tab blocker in an unauthorized effort to remove the closure from the container, and

wherein the closure includes a deformable lid formed to include an interior region, the first lock tab is coupled to the deformable lid and arranged to lie in the interior region, the container includes a body formed to include the product-receiving chamber and a filler neck coupled to the body and formed to include the mouth, the filler neck includes a rim coupled to the body and formed to include a passageway communicating with the mouth and the product-receiving chamber and a closure retainer coupled to an exterior surface of the rim to lie outside the passageway and configured to mate with the closure to retain the closure in the closed position on the container, the deformable lid includes a top wall arranged to cover the mouth and a first tab-mover wall coupled to the first lock tab and arranged to depend from the top wall to locate the first lock tab and the closure-release control mechanism in a space provided between the first tab-mover wall and the rim when the closure lies in the closed position, and the tab-motion limiter is arranged to lie in a space provided between the first tab-mover wall and the first lock tab when the closure lies in the closed position.

18. The canister of claim 17, wherein the closure retainer comprises a series of rail sections coupled to the exterior surface of the filler neck and configured to form a first anchor-retainer notch and a separate second anchor-retainer notch on the exterior surface of the filler neck, the closure further includes a first lid anchor configured to mate with the closure retainer during installation of the closure on the container to retain the lid in a mounted position on the filler neck closing the open mouth of the container, the first lid anchor includes a lug support coupled to the lid and arranged to lie in the interior region of the lid, a first lug anchor coupled to the lug support and arranged to extend toward the axis of rotation and into the first anchor-retainer notch when the closure lies in the closed position on the container and a second lug anchor coupled to the lug support and arranged to extend toward the axis of rotation and into the second anchor-retainer notch when the closure lies in the closed position on the container.

19. The canister of claim 18, wherein the lug support is curved and has a concave surface facing toward the axis of rotation and a convex surface facing toward the first lock tab.

20. The canister of claim 18, wherein the lug support is arranged to lie between the first lock tab and the axis of rotation.

21. The canister of claim 18, wherein the first lock tab terminates at a lower edge, the lug support terminates at a lower edge, and the lower edge of the lug support is arranged to lie between the top wall of the lid and the lower edge of the first lock tab.

22. The canister of claim 18, wherein the closure further includes a ring-shaped orientation member coupled to the top wall of the lid and arranged to lie in the interior region of the lid to mate with the rim when the closure lies in the closed position on the container to orient the lid in a predetermined aligned relation with the container and the lug support is arranged to lie between the first lock tab and the ring-shaped orientation ring.

23. A child-resistant canister comprising

a container comprising a body and a filler neck,

a closure configured to rotate about an axis of rotation relative to the container to mount on the container to close an opening into an interior region formed in the container, the closure including a lid and a lid anchor coupled to the lid and arranged to mate with a closure retainer included in the container to retain the closure in a mounted position on the container,

a closure-release control mechanism includes a first lock tab coupled to the lid and a first tab controller coupled to the container and configured to mate with the first lock tab normally to block rotation of the lid relative to the container about the axis of rotation while the closure lies in the mounted position on the container and to block radially outward movement of the first lock tab away from the axis of rotation when the closure lies in the mounted position on the container to minimize a chance of unauthorized removal of the closure from the container by blocking movement of the first lock tab in a radially outward direction away from the axis of rotation, and

wherein the first tab controller is mounted on the filler neck and is spaced from the body, the first tab controller being configured to have a portion located radially outward of the first lock tab to block radially outward movement of the first lock tab.

24. The canister of claim 23, wherein the first tab controller is formed to include a lock-tab receiver channel sized and located to receive the first lock tab therein when the closure is mounted on the container and the first tab controller includes a rigid tab blocker located in a stationary position relative to the container to mate with the first lock tab normally to block rotation of the lid relative to the container about the axis of rotation when the closure lies in the closed position on the container and a tab-motion limiter strip coupled to the tab-blocker and arranged to lie in spaced-apart relation to the container to form a portion of the lock-tab receiver channel therebetween and to lie in spaced-apart relation to the axis of rotation to locate the first lock tab therebetween when the closure lies in the mounted position on the container so as to retain the first lock tab in closely confronting relation to the tab blocker.