Child-resistant closure system

Abstract

A child-resistant closure (10) is provided and comprises a lid (20) and a base (15). The closure comprises child-resistant locking means for preventing unwanted opening of the lid. The locking means comprising two locking members (23A, 23B) carried on or by a respective release member, the locking members engaging the base to prevent opening of the lid. The release members are movable towards each other to disengage the locking members from the base.

Claims

1. A child-resistant closure for a container, the closure comprising; a lid and a base, the closure comprising child-resistant locking means for preventing unwanted opening of the lid, the locking means comprising two locking members carried on or by a respective release member provided on or by the lid, the locking members engaging the base to prevent opening of the lid, the release members being movable towards each other to disengage the locking members from the base; wherein the base is non-removably connectable to the container, in that the closure has two shorter sides and two longer sides, in that the lid is connected to the base by a hinge along one of the shorter sides, in that the lid comprises a top plate, the top plate comprises a respective finger recess adjacent the release members so that the release members can be pinched towards each other to disengage the locking members, in that the finger recesses and release members are provided in the top plate and towards the shorter side opposite the hinge, in that the finger recesses and release members together extend across a substantial part of the width of the top plate, and in that the release members are orientated so that a squeeze force is applied across a shorter dimension of the lid.

2. A closure as claimed in claim 1, in which the locking members comprise a pair of lugs.

3. A container comprising a tub and a closure as claimed in claim 1 for the closing the tub.

4. A container and closure as claimed in claim 3, in which the tub and the closure are generally oblong.

5. A closure as claimed in claim 1, in which the finger recesses and release members are covered by a removable sticker or label.

6. A child-resistant household cleaning product pack comprising a container and a closure according to claim 1, the container being a container of the type selected from the group consisting of a storage container, a box or a tub, the container being filled with product selected from the group consisting of a laundry detergent capsule, a dishwasher capsule, a laundry detergent tablet or a dishwasher tablet.

7. A closure as claimed in claim 1, in which the base comprises or is a frame.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows a closure attached to a wide mouth container;

(2) FIG. 2 shows a magnified view of pinching members forming part of the closure;

(3) FIG. 3 shows a section of the closure of FIG. 1 attached to the container;

(4) FIG. 4 shows a base forming part of the closure of FIG. 1;

(5) FIG. 5 shows the underside of a lid forming part of the closure of FIG. 1;

(6) FIG. 6 shows a plan view of a closure in a closed position;

(7) FIG. 7 shows a side view of the closure of FIG. 7 attached to a container;

(8) FIG. 8 shows a side view of FIG. 7;

(9) FIG. 9 shows the closure of FIG. 6 in an open position;

(10) FIG. 10 shows a front view of the closure of FIG. 9;

(11) FIG. 11 shows a side view of the closure of FIG. 10;

(12) FIG. 12 shows the closure of FIGS. 6 to 11 in a locked position;

(13) FIG. 13 shows the closure of FIG. 12 in an unlocked position;

(14) FIG. 14 shows the closure and container of FIGS. 6 to 13, with the closure in a locked position and with container contents shown;

(15) FIG. 15 shows the closure of FIG. 14 in an unlocked position and with a lid partially opened;

(16) FIG. 16 shows the closure of FIG. 15 with a lid in a further opened position;

(17) FIGS. 17 to 19 show a closure system similar to that shown in FIGS. 6 to 16;

(18) FIG. 20 shows a child-resistant closure which is fitted directly onto a container;

(19) FIG. 21 shows a generally oval closure;

(20) FIGS. 22 and 23 show a container pack including a closure connected to a tub-like container;

(21) FIG. 24 shows a magnified view of a child-resistant pinching zone forming part of the closure of FIGS. 22 and 23;

(22) FIG. 25 shows the pack of FIGS. 22 and 23 with a lid in a partially opened position;

(23) FIG. 26 shows the pack of FIG. 25 with the lid in a fully open position;

(24) FIGS. 27 to 30 show a pack similar the pack of Figures to FIGS. 22 to 26;

(25) FIG. 31 shows a plan view of a closure with a tamper-evident label;

(26) FIG. 32 shows the closure of FIG. 31 attached to a container;

(27) FIG. 33 shows a plan view the closure of FIG. 31 with the label removed;

(28) FIG. 34 shows a perspective view of the closure of FIG. 33;

(29) FIGS. 35 and 36 show two different mechanisms by which a lid could be connected to a container;

(30) FIG. 37 shows a container including a rim formed with a plurality of retention slots;

(31) FIG. 38 shows a closure corresponding with the container rim of FIG. 37; and

(32) FIG. 39 shows the closure of FIG. 38 stably retained on the container.

(33) In the following description, all orientational terms, such as upper, lower, radially and axially, are used in relation to the drawings and should not be interpreted as limiting on the invention or its connection to a closure.

(34) Example embodiments are described below in sufficient detail to enable those of ordinary skill in the art to embody and implement the systems and processes herein described. It is important to understand that embodiments can be provided in many alternate forms and should not be construed as limited to the examples set forth herein.

(35) Accordingly, while embodiments can be modified in various ways and take on various alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown in the drawings and described in detail below as examples. There is no intent to limit to the particular forms disclosed and as well as individual embodiments the invention is intended to cover combinations of those embodiments as well. On the contrary, all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the appended claims should be included. Elements of the example embodiments are consistently denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the drawings and detailed description where appropriate.

(36) The terminology used herein to describe embodiments is not intended to limit the scope. The articles “a,” “an,” and “the” are singular in that they have a single referent; however, the use of the singular form in the present document should not preclude the presence of more than one referent. In other words, elements referred to in the singular can number one or more, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” and/or “including,” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, items, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, items, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

(37) Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein are to be interpreted as is customary in the art. It will be further understood that terms in common usage should also be interpreted as is customary in the relevant art and not in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

(38) In general terms the closure system showing in FIGS. 1 to 5 comprises a closure 10 which is attachable to a wide mouth container, in this embodiment a box-like container 5.

(39) The closure 10 comprises a base 15 and a lid 20.

(40) The base 15 includes a generally rectangular frame 16 which can be clipped or otherwise retained on the container.

(41) The base 15 includes a locking platform 18 including a pair of arcuate slots 19a, 19b.

(42) The lid 20 includes a generally rectangular top plate 21 with a frontal recess 22 in which is provided a pair of resilient, arcuate pinching members 23a, 23b.

(43) The pinching members 23a, 23b each carry a locking lug 24a. 24b. In the closed position of the closure the lugs 24a, 24b engage in the slots 19a, 19b and prevent the lid from being removed/opened.

(44) To release the lid the members 23a, 23b must be pinched together and then the lugs can withdraw through the slots.

(45) FIGS. 6 to 16 show a similar system.

(46) In this embodiment the base frame 116 is provided with a plurality of clips 117 for clipping the closure onto the container. In addition the pinching members 123a, 123b are formed as a single piece and connected by an ellipsoidal top plate 130. Also, the 115 base and lid 120 are attached together by a non-active film hinge 125.

(47) FIGS. 14 to 16 show the container in use protecting laundry detergent capsules 150

(48) FIGS. 17 to 19 show a system which is similar to that shown in FIGS. 6 to 16. In this embodiment the pinching members 223a, 223b each have a pair of lateral force insulating links 231. The links restrict lateral spreading of forces when the members are pinched towards each other, thereby concentrating the inward deflection. The recess 222 includes two finger recesses 222a, 222b for receiving a user's index finger and middle finger in use to pinch the member 223a, whilst their thumb pinches the member 223b.

(49) FIG. 20 shows a child-resistant closure 310 formed in accordance with the present invention. The closure may include a base and a lid or may fit directly onto a container.

(50) FIG. 21 shows a closure 410 formed according to a further embodiment. In this embodiment the closure is generally oval.

(51) FIGS. 22 and 23 show a container pack generally indicated 560 and including a closure 510 connected to a container 570 (which in this embodiment is a tub-like container).

(52) The pack 560 is generally oblong, meaning that the closure 510 has two shorter sides and two longer sides.

(53) The closure 510 includes a base 515 which is non-removably (in normal use) connected onto the container so that it cannot easily be removed, and a lid 520 connected to the base by a hinge 525 along one of the shorter sides. This edge hinging allows for side opening.

(54) A child-resistant mechanism is provided by the lid at the shorter side opposite the hinge.

(55) The mechanism (see also FIG. 24) comprises a pair of opposed squeeze members 523a, 523b. The member 523b is at the front of the lid and can be accessed directly. Adjacent the member 523a a finger recess 522 is provided for access.

(56) The squeeze force is therefore applied across the longer dimension of the lid to release the lid so that it can be opened as shown in FIGS. 25 and 26.

(57) The pack 660 shown in FIGS. 27 to 30 is similar to the pack 560.

(58) In this embodiment the squeeze members 623a, 623b are oriented 90 degrees from those in the pack 560. This means that a recess 522a, 522b must be provided adjacent both members for access. The squeeze force is therefore applied across the shorter dimension of the lid.

(59) FIGS. 31 to 34 show a pack 760 formed in accordance with the present invention.

(60) The pack 760 is similar to the pack 660. In this embodiment a tamper-evident label 770 covers the child-resistant mechanism and must be removed before it can be activated. A further label 775 is also applied to the top of the lid. In this embodiment the labels 770, 775 are formed together and a tear line 780 is provided. When the label 770 is removed it tears along the line 780; the label 775 remains and could be used, for example to provide product information and/or marketing/branding.

(61) FIGS. 35 and 36 show two different mechanisms by which a lid could be connected to a container.

(62) FIG. 37 shows a container 870 formed in accordance with the present invention. The container 870 includes a rim 885 formed with a plurality of retention slots 887.

(63) As shown in FIG. 38 a corresponding closure 810 is provided. The closure includes a base 815 and a lid 820. The base 815 includes a rim 816 formed with a plurality if depending catches 890 which are located so as to correspond to the slots 887.

(64) Then catches 890 engage in the slots 887 as shown in FIG. 39 to retain the closure 810 stably on the container 870.

(65) Although illustrative embodiments of the invention have been disclosed in detail herein, with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is understood that the invention is not limited to the precise embodiments shown and that various changes and modifications can be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.