Child resistant package

• US 5,899,348 A
• Filed: 12/02/1997
• Issued: 05/04/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rexam Prescription Products Incorporated (Gerresheimer AG)
• Original Assignee: Owens-Illinois Prescription Products, Inc. (Gerresheimer AG)
• Inventors: Konefal, Robert S., Vander, Noel T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shoap, Allan N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MEREK, JOSEPH C
• Application Number:
  US08/982,996
• Time in Patent Office: 518 Days
• Field of Search: 215/209, 215/211, 215/213, 215/216-221, 215/44, 215/321, 220/281, 220/330, 220/331
• US Class Current: 215/209
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2215/02 requiring the combination of simultaneous actions
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2251/09 Reversible caps or lids, e.g. with threads on one side and a plug on the other
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4984 Retaining clearance for motion between assembled parts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4987 Elastic joining of parts

Abstract

A child resistant package which includes a container having an open end and single or multiple threads on the external surface of the container adjacent the upper end. A closure having a base wall and a peripheral skirt has an inner surface formed with single or multiple threads corresponding in number to the multiple threads on the container for engaging the threads on the container. A deflectable release element is formed integrally on the container. The release element includes an integral axially deflectable lug extending upwardly toward the open end of the container. The closure has at least one locking lug on the skirt of the closure, the number of locking lugs preferably corresponding to the number of threads on the container and closure. The deflectable lug on the deflectable release element normally extends upwardly for engagement with the locking lug such that when the release element is pressed radially inwardly, the lug is disengaged from engagement with a locking lug and the closure can be removed by unthreading the closure from the container. When the closure is reapplied minimal torque is required due to the axial deflection of the lug and one of the stops on the closure moves past the lug. In a preferred form of the child resistant package, the deflectable release element and container include interengaging stops to limit the deflection on the release element.

Claims

1. A child resistant package comprising

a plastic container having an open end,

thread means on the external surface of the container adjacent the open end for securing a closure,

a plastic closure having a base wall and a peripheral skirt,

said skirt having an inner surface formed with thread means for engaging the thread means on the container and at least one axially locking lug thereon,

a deflectable release element formed integrally on the exterior surface of the container,

means for mounting said release element on said container for radial and axial movement relative to said container,

an integral axially deflectable lug mounted on said release element and extending upwardly toward the open end of the container, said lug being deflectable relative to said deflectable release element,

said axially deflectable lug on said release element normally extending upwardly for engagement with said locking lug such that when the release element is pressed radially inwardly and axially downwardly, the deflectable lug is disengaged from engagement with the locking lug and the closure can be removed by unthreading the closure from the container, and

such that when the closure is applied to the container the locking lug on said closure deflects the deflectable lug downwardly relative to said release element past said locking lug.

2. The child resistant package set forth in claim 1 wherein said axially deflectable lug extends from said releasable element circumferentially.

3. The child resistant package set forth in claim 2 wherein said locking lug includes a cam surface engaged by said deflectable lug when the closure is applied.

4. The child resistant package set forth in claim 3 wherein said deflectable lug comprises a cantilever arm and has a stop surface on the end of said arm.

5. The child resistant package set forth in claim 4 wherein said cantilever arm is connected to said deflectable release element in an area intermediate to said release element and said container.

6. The child resistant package set forth in claim 5 wherein said stop surface on said deflectable lug extends axially of the release element when the deflectable lug is undeflected.

7. The child resistant package set forth in claim 1 wherein said deflectable lug includes a top surface engaged by said locking lug on the closure when the closure is applied.

8. The child resistant package set forth in claim 7 wherein said deflectable lug comprises a cantilever arm and a stop surface on the end of said arm.

9. The child resistant package set forth in claim 1 wherein said threads means on said container and said threads means on said closure comprise a single thread and said locking lug on said closure comprises a single locking lug.

10. The child resistant package set forth in claim 1 wherein said threads means on said container and said threads means on said closure comprise multiple threads and there are a number of locking lugs on the closure corresponding in number to the number of threads.

11. The child resistant package set forth in claim 1 wherein said closure includes an integral axially extending annular wall, said annular wall having external thread means for engaging internal thread means on container in a non-child resistant mode.

12. The child resistant package set forth in claim 11 wherein said annular wall includes a tapered flexible end.

13. The child resistant package set forth in claim 1 including stop means for limiting deflection of said release element.

14. The child resistant package set forth in claim 13 wherein said axially deflectable lug extends from said releasable element circumferentially.

15. The child resistant package set forth in claim 14 wherein said deflectable lug includes top surface engaged by said stop when the closure is applied.

16. The child resistant package set forth in claim 15 wherein said deflectable lug comprises a cantilever arm and a stop surface on the end of said arm.

17. The child resistant package set forth in claim 16 wherein said cantilever arm is connected to said deflectable release element in an area intermediate to said release element and said container.

18. The child resistant package set forth in claim 13 wherein said stop means comprises tab feet means for limiting deflection of release element on said deflectable release element and tab stop means on said container for engagement of feet means.

19. The child resistant package set forth in claim 18 wherein said tab feet means includes an axial projection on said deflectable element.

20. The child resistant package set forth in claim 19 wherein said tab stop means includes an axially extending member on said container.

21. The child resistant package set forth in claim 18 wherein said tab feet means includes an axial projection on said release element and said tab stop means includes an axial projection on said container.

22. The child resistant package set forth in claim 18 wherein said tab feet means comprises a pair of circumferentially spaced axially extending feet on said deflectable release element and said tab stop means comprises a pair of axially extending stops on said container, said feet and said axially extending stops being normally radially aligned and spaced from one another.

23. The child resistant package set forth in claim 18 wherein said tab feet means includes an axial projection on said release element and said tab stop means includes an axial projection on said container.

24. The child resistant package set forth in claim 23 wherein said tab feet means comprises a pair of circumferentially spaced axially extending feet on said deflectable release element and said tab stop means comprises a pair of axially extending stops on said container, said feet and said stop being normally radially aligned and spaced from one another.

25. A plastic container for use in a child resistant package including a plastic closure having a base wall and a peripheral skirt with threads on said skirt and a locking lug on said skirt,

said plastic container having an open end,

thread means for securing a closure on the external surface of the container adjacent the upper end,

a deflectable release element formed integrally on the exterior surface of the container,

means for mounting said release element on said container for radial and axial movement relative to said container,

an integral axially deflectable lug mounted on said release element and extending upwardly toward the open end of the container, with said lug being deflectable relative to said deflectable release element,

said axially deflectable lug on said release element normally extending upwardly for engagement with a locking lug on a closure such that when the release element is pressed radially inwardly and axially downwardly, the deflectable lug is disengaged from engagement with the locking lug and the closure can be removed by unthreading the closure from the container, and

such that when the closure is applied to the container the locking lug on the closure deflects the deflectable lug on the release element downwardly relative to said release element past said locking lug.

26. The plastic container set forth in claim 25 wherein said axially deflectable lug extends from said releasable element circumferentially.

27. The plastic container set forth in claim 26 wherein said deflectable lug on the container is adapted to engage a cam portion on the locking lug of the closure when the closure is applied.

28. The plastic container set forth in claim 27 wherein said deflectable lug comprises a cantilever arm and has a stop surface on the end of said arm.

29. The plastic container set forth in claim 28 wherein said cantilever arm is connected to said deflectable element in an area intermediate to said release element and said container.

30. The plastic container set forth in claim 29 wherein said threads means on said container and said threads on said closure comprise a single thread.

31. The plastic container set forth in claim 30 wherein said threads means on said container and said threads on said closure comprise multiple threads.

32. The plastic container set forth in claim 25 including stop means for limiting deflection of said release element.

33. The plastic container set forth in claim 32 wherein said stop means comprises tab feet means for limiting deflection of release element on said deflective release element.

34. The plastic container set forth in claim 33 wherein said tab feet means includes an axial projection on said release element.

35. The plastic container set forth in claim 34 wherein said tab stop means includes an axially extending member on said container.

36. The plastic container set forth in claim 35 wherein said tab feet means includes an axial projection on said release element and said tab stop means includes an axial projection on said container.

37. The plastic container set forth in claim 36 wherein said tab feet means comprises a pair of circumferentially spaced axially extending feet on said deflectable release element and said stop means comprises tab stop means on said container, said feet and said stop means being normally radially aligned and spaced from one another.

38. The child resistant package set forth in claim 29 wherein said stop surface extends axially when the lug is undeflected.

39. The plastic container set forth in claim 38 including stop means for limiting deflection of said release element.

40. The plastic container set forth in claim 39 wherein stop means comprises tab feet means on said deflective release element.

41. The plastic container set forth in claim 40 wherein said tab feet means includes an axial projection on said release element.

42. The plastic container set forth in claim 41 wherein said tab stop means includes an axially extending member on said container.

43. The plastic container set forth in claim 40 wherein said tab feet means includes an axial projection or said release element and said tab stops means includes an axial projection on said container.

44. The plastic container set forth in claim 43 wherein said tab feet means comprises a pair of circumferentially spaced axially extending feet on said deflectable release element and said stop means comprises tab stop means on said container, said feet and said stop means being normally radially aligned and spaced from one another.