Child-resistant flip-top closure and locking system for a container

Abstract

A child resistant flip top closure system is provided that combines a flip top closure for a container with a child resistant locking mechanism system, which uses an automatic locking element that is depressed to enable a simultaneous rotation of a locking member to transition the flip top from a locked position preventing opening the flip top to dispense any substance in the container to an unlocked position, in which the flip top can be opened to enable dispensing of a substance in the container.

Claims

1. A closure system for a dispensing container, comprising: a body member comprising: an outer wall comprising a first vertical edge formed in the outer wall and comprising a horizontal slot formed therethrough, and a recess formed in the outer wall adjacent to the first vertical edge; and a hollow passageway formed through the body member; and a rotating closure member comprising: a lower section configured to be secured to the body member and comprising a central opening and a cantilevered tab comprising a locking edge, which in a locked configuration, abuts a second vertical edge defined by the recess of the body member configured to prevent rotation of the rotating locking member; an upper section configured to cover the central opening and the hollow passageway in a closed configuration and comprising a protruding tab; and a hinge connecting the lower section and the upper section in a manner that enables opening the rotating closure member to an open configuration; wherein the protruding tab is at least partly received in the slot of the body member in the locked configuration and the slot prevents vertical movement of the protruding tab and opening of the rotating closure member; wherein the cantilevered tab is configured to be flexed inwardly to dispose the locking edge within the outer wall of the body member and out of abutment with the second vertical edge to enable the rotation of the rotating closure member in a first axial direction to an unlocked configuration; and wherein in the unlocked configuration, the protruding tab is disposed over the recess and out of the slot of the body member to enable the vertical movement of the protruding tab to open the rotating closure member to the open configuration.

2. The closure system of claim 1, wherein the body member further comprises a post disposed within the outer wall, and wherein the hollow passageway extends through the post.

3. The closure system of claim 2, wherein the post comprises a circumferential bead configured to engage a lip extending from an inner circumferential wall of the central opening of the lower section of the rotating closure member.

4. The closure system of claim 3, wherein the upper section of the rotating closure member further comprises a sealing member configured to engage the post in the closed configuration to seal the hollow passageway.

5. The closure system of claim 4, wherein the body member comprises an inner wall having the post extending therefrom, wherein the inner wall comprises a shoulder adjacent to the post, and wherein the lip on the inner circumferential wall of the central opening of the lower section of the rotating closure member is configured to be engaged between the circumferential bead of the post and the shoulder.

6. The closure system of claim 2, wherein the rotating closure member is configured to be rotated axially about the post approximately 30 between the locked configuration and the unlocked configuration.

7. The closure system of claim 1, wherein the body member comprises an inner wall configured to be removably connected to the dispensing container.

8. The closure system of claim 1, wherein the rotating closure member is configured for rotation in a second axial direction opposite the first axial direction from the unlocked to the locked configuration.

9. The closure system of claim 8, wherein the body member further comprises a plurality of stopping ribs, wherein during rotation of the rotating closure member in the first axial direction, a first edge of the rotating closure member is configured to contact a first of the plurality of stopping ribs to prevent further rotation of the rotating closure member in the first axial direction, and wherein during rotation of the rotating closure member in the second axial direction, a second edge of the rotating closure member is configured to contact a second of the plurality of stopping ribs to prevent further rotation of the rotating closure member in the second axial direction.

10. The closure system of claim 1, wherein the outer wall of the body member further comprises a clearance opposite the recess, and wherein the hinge is disposed in the clearance.

11. The closure system of claim 1, wherein the outer wall of the body member extends around the circumference of the body member.

12. The closure system of claim 1, wherein the cantilevered tab is biased outwardly away from a center of the rotating closure member.

13. The closure system of claim 1, wherein the body member further comprises an inner wall and a gap formed between the outer wall and the inner wall; and wherein the rotating locking member comprises an arm having the cantilevered tab formed thereon configured to be received in the gap.

14. A dispensing container for a substance, comprising: a closure system, comprising: a body member comprising: an outer wall comprising a first vertical edge formed in the outer wall and comprising a horizontal slot formed therethrough, and a recess formed in the outer wall adjacent to the first vertical edge; and a hollow passageway formed through the body member in communication with a chamber of the dispensing container comprising the substance; and a rotating closure member comprising: a lower section configured to be secured to the body member and comprising a central opening and a cantilevered tab comprising a locking edge, which in a locked configuration, abuts a second vertical edge defined by the recess of the body member configured to prevent rotation of the rotating locking member; an upper section configured to cover the central opening and the hollow passageway in a closed configuration and comprising a protruding tab; and a hinge connecting the lower section and the upper section in a manner that enables opening the rotating closure member to an open configuration; wherein the protruding tab is received in the slot of the body member in the locked configuration and the slot prevents vertical movement of the protruding tab and opening of the rotating closure member; wherein the cantilevered tab is configured to be flexed inwardly to dispose the locking edge within the outer wall of the body member and out of abutment with the second vertical edge to enable the rotation of the rotating closure member in a first axial direction to an unlocked configuration; and wherein in the unlocked configuration, the protruding tab is disposed over the recess and out of the slot of the body member to enable the vertical movement of the protruding tab to open the rotating closure member to the open configuration.

15. The dispensing container of claim 14, wherein the dispensing container comprises a neck configured to be received in the hollow passageway of the body member and comprising an external, circumferential bead, and wherein the body member comprises one or more locking elements configured to engage the circumferential bead on the neck to secure the closure system to the dispensing container.

16. The dispensing container of claim 15, wherein the one or more locking elements are disposed on an inner wall of the body member which is spaced apart from the outer wall of the body member.

17. The dispensing container of claim 16, wherein the body member comprises an annular sealing member disposed within the inner wall that is configured to be received within the neck of the dispensing container.

18. The dispensing container of claim 14, wherein the rotating closure member is configured to be rotated axially about the post approximately 30 between the locked configuration and the unlocked configuration.

19. The dispensing container of claim 14, wherein the rotating closure member is configured for rotation in a second axial direction opposite the first axial direction from the unlocked configuration to the locked configuration.

20. The dispensing container of claim 19, wherein the cantilevered tab is biased outwardly away from a center of the rotating closure member and into the recess upon rotation from the unlocked configuration to the locked configuration.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1A shows a front perspective view of a dispensing container comprising a flip-top closure system in a locked configuration, in accordance with an embodiment of the present application;

(2) FIG. 1B shows a front perspective view of the dispensing container comprising the flip-top closure system in an unlocked and closed configuration, in accordance with an embodiment of the present application;

(3) FIG. 1C shows a front perspective view of the dispensing container comprising the flip-top closure system in an unlocked and open configuration, in accordance with an embodiment of the present application;

(4) FIG. 2A shows a front perspective view of a flip-top closure system in a locked configuration, in accordance with an embodiment of the present application;

(5) FIG. 2B shows a front perspective view of the flip-top closure system in an unlocked and closed configuration, in accordance with an embodiment of the present application;

(6) FIG. 2C shows a front perspective view of the flip-top closure system in an unlocked and open configuration, in accordance with an embodiment of the present application;

(7) FIG. 3A shows an exploded view of the flip-top closure system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present application;

(8) FIG. 3B shows an exploded view of the dispensing container comprising the flip-top closure system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present application;

(9) FIG. 3C shows a further exploded view of the dispensing container comprising the flip-top closure system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present application;

(10) FIG. 3D shows a top perspective view of a closure body member of the flip-top closure system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present application;

(11) FIG. 3E shows a bottom perspective view of a closure body member of the flip-top closure system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present application;

(12) FIG. 4A shows a cross-sectional view of the dispensing container comprising the flip-top closure system in the unlocked and closed configuration along axis A-A, in accordance with an embodiment of the present application;

(13) FIG. 4B shows a cross-sectional view of the dispensing container comprising the flip-top closure system in the unlocked and closed configuration along axis B-B, in accordance with an embodiment of the present application;

(14) FIG. 5A shows a cross-sectional view of the dispensing container comprising the flip-top closure system in the unlocked and open configuration along axis C-C, in accordance with an embodiment of the present application; and

(15) FIG. 5B shows a cross-sectional view of the dispensing container comprising the flip-top closure system in the unlocked and open configuration along axis D-D, in accordance with an embodiment of the present application.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(16) The closure system of the present application will be described with reference to FIGS. 1A-5B.

(17) A child resistant (CR) safety closure system 100 in accordance with the present application includes a flip-top closure for a container 150 and a CR system for safety, which uses an automatic locking element and requires a rotation of parts from a dispense-disabled position, to a dispense-enabled position after unlocking. The CR closure system 100 comprises a main, closure body member 110 and a rotating flip-top closure member 120.

(18) The closure body member 110 acts as a means of attachment of the closure system 100 to the container 150 and comprises a single through hole 112b serving as a dispenser from the container 150, and which also is part of a standing axle perpendicular to a plane. The closure body member 110 includes a floor 111 having an inner wall 112 and an outer wall 113 extending vertically therefrom. The inner wall section 112 is dimensioned to fit over a dispensing orifice 151 of the container 150, and to engage a neck 152 of the container orifice 151. In the embodiment illustrated in the Figures, one or more locking elements 118 are arranged circumferentially within the inner wall 112, which can be one or more projections extending out from the inner wall 112, that may snap over and engage a circumferential bead 153 on the neck 152 of the dispensing orifice 151. The closure body member 110 can be secured to the container 150 using alternative mechanisms that retain the child-resistant nature of the dispensing container, including for example with internal threading inside the inner wall 112 to engage a threaded dispensing orifice 151, which may further comprises locking teeth on the bottom of a screw thread that lock with corresponding teeth on the shoulder of the container 150, or floating teeth, wherein one must push down on the closure system 100 in order to engage the teeth on bottom of a screw thread with corresponding teeth on shoulder of container 150.

(19) The inner wall 112 of the closure body member 110 includes a post 112a extending vertically therefrom. A through hole 112b is disposed atop the post 112a, which serves as a dispenser and forms a passageway in fluidic communication with the dispensing orifice 151 of the container 150 when the closure body member 110 is affixed to the container 150. An annular seal 119 may also be provided on the reverse side of an upper surface of the post 112a and within the inner wall 112 and post 112a that is dimensioned to be received within the neck 152 of the dispensing orifice 151 to provide a seal around the dispensing orifice 151. The annular seal 119 prevents the contents in the container 150 from being dispensed into a space between the neck 152 of the container 150 and the underside of the closure body member 110, or leaking out from this space. The post 112a may also include a protruding annular bead 112c around its circumference, which is configured to engage the flip-top member 120 between the bead 112c and a shoulder member 112e, to secure the closure body member 110 to the flip-top member 120 in such a manner that the flip-top member 120 can axially rotate about the closure body member 110, which is in a fixed position secured to the container 150.

(20) The closure body member 110 further includes an outer wall 113 spaced apart from the inner wall 112 by the floor 111 with a gap formed between walls 112, 113. The outer wall 113 includes a substantially U-shaped recess 114 cutout of the wall 113, which is defined on one end by a first vertical edge 114a and on another, opposing end by a second vertical edge 114b, with a horizontal edge 114c formed between and at the base of the two vertical edges 114a, 114b. The recess 114 is configured to receive a cantilevered tab 125 of the flip-top member 120 when the closure system 100 is in a locked configuration. A slot 115 is provided in the outer wall 113 formed in the vertical edge 114b of the recess 114. The slot 115 is dimensioned to receive a tab 135 of the flip-top member 120 and block vertical movement of the tab 135, as described in further detail below. Opposite the recess 114, a clearance area 116 is formed in the outer wall 113, which is configured to receive a hinged area 130 of the flip-top member 120 and allow limited axial rotation of the hinge 130.

(21) The closure system 100 further includes a flip-top member 120, which encloses the container 150 and includes a locking element, which in combination with the closure body member 110, lock the container 150 closed in a child resistant manner. The flip-top member 120 includes a base portion 121 and an upper lid or cap portion 131, which are connected by a hinge 130. In a typical configuration, the lid portion 131 engages the base portion 121 to close the flip-top member 120, and the lid portion 131 can be disengaged from the base portion 121 and rotated about the hinge 130, as shown in FIG. 1C for example, to open the flip-top member 120.

(22) The flip-top member 120 base portion 121 includes an outer wall 123 with a rim 124 disposed atop the outer wall 123, which surrounds a central opening 122. The central opening 122 of the base portion 121 is dimensioned to receive the post 112a of the closure body member 110 within the central opening 122. An inner surface 124a of the rim 124 includes a projecting lip 124b around the circumference of the central opening 122 that is configured to engage the circumferential bead 112c of the post 112a. The lip 124b is secured between the circumferential bead 112c and the shoulder 112e of the post 112a to secure the flip-top member 120 to the closure body member 110 in a manner that permits axial rotation of the flip-top member 120 about the central opening 122 and post 112a/through hole 112b. When the flip-top member 120 and closure body member 110 are secured together, the outer wall 123 of the base portion 121 is disposed in between the inner wall 112 and outer wall 113 of the closure body member 110.

(23) The base portion 121 of the flip-top member 120 also includes an integral locking feature, which includes a cantilevered tab 125 which can be depressed or flexed from the at-rest/locked state, to the unlocked state, which then allows the rotation of the flip-top member 120. The base portion 121 of the flip-top member 120 includes an arm 126 that extends from the outer wall 123, in a direction opposite from the rim 124, and the cantilevered tab 125 is arranged at one end of the arm 126. The cantilevered tab 125 is biased outwardly from the center of base portion 121 at rest, and when the flip-top member 120 and closure body member 110 are secured together in a first, locked configuration, the cantilevered tab 125 extends into the recess 114 in the outer wall 113 of the closure body member 110. An edge 125a of the locking cantilevered tab 125 is concentric and interferes with one of the vertical edges 114a in the recess 114 on the closure body member 110 at rest, such that the flip-top member 120 cannot rotate relative to closure body member 110. Once the cantilevered tab 125 is depressed and the two interfering edges (125a, 114a) no longer interfere, the flip-top member 120 can be rotated relative to the closure body member 110.

(24) The lid portion 131 of the flip-top member 120 is affixed to the base portion 121 by the hinge 130. The lid portion 131 includes a top surface 132 that covers the through hole 112b of the closure body member 110 and the dispensing orifice 151 of the container 150, and a circumferential wall 133 which extends down from the top surface 132. The underside of the top surface 132 of the lid portion 131 includes a seal 134 that aligns with the through hole 112b of the closure body member 110 and seals the through hole 112b and the dispensing orifice 151 of the container 150 when the flip-top member 120 is closed, to prevent the substance in the container 150 from being dispensed into the lid portion 131 when the container is closed (i.e., into the space within the circumferential wall 133 and top surface 132). The seal 134 is disposed over a lip 112d arranged on an inner diameter of the through hole 112b.

(25) The lid portion 131 further includes a tab 135, which aids a user in opening the flip-top member 120 by providing a projecting structural element that can be used as a lever for rotation of the lid portion 131 into the open configuration. In the closure system 100 described herein, the tab 135 further serves as a locking mechanism to prevent the closure system 100 and container 150 from being opened. In the locked configuration, the tab 135 is disposed at least partly within the slot 115 in the outer wall 113 of the closure body member 110. The slot 115 constrains any vertical movement of the tab 135, which prevents the lid portion 131 from rotating into the open position. In order to open the flip-top member 120, the tab 135 has to be rotated axially out of engagement with the slot 115 by depressing the cantilevered tab 125 and rotating the flip-top member 120 as described below, so that the tab 135 is disposed between the two vertical edges 114a, 114b of the recess 114.

(26) FIGS. 1A and 2A show various views of the closure system 100 and container 150 in the locked and closed configuration.

(27) The cantilevered tab 125 of the flip-top member 120 is disposed within the recess 114 of the outer wall 113 of the closure body member 110 when the closure system 100 is in the locked configuration. The recess 114 in the outer wall 113 can be substantially U-shaped, with a first vertical edge 114a on one side of the recess 114 and a second vertical edge 114b on an opposing side of the recess 114. At rest, the cantilevered tab 125 is biased outwardly (i.e., away from the center of the flip-top member 120) and extends into the recess 114. An outwardly protruding edge 125a of the cantilevered tab 125 engages the first vertical edge 114a of the recess 114. This engagement prevents the flip-top member 120 from being able to axially rotate in a direction that would disengage the tab 135 of the lid portion 131 and the slot 115 and reposition the tab 135 over the recess 114 of the outer wall 113 of the closure body member 110. The cantilevered tab 125 can be flexed inwardly by depressing the cantilevered tab 125 at or near the outwardly protruding edge 125a, which repositions the protruding edge 125a within the outer wall 113 of the closure body member 110 and disengages the protruding edge 125a with the vertical edge 114a. A button may extend from the surface of the cantilevered tab 125 that can be depressed to push the cantilevered tab 125 inward. When the cantilevered tab 125 is disengaged from the vertical edge 114a, the base portion 121 and connected lid portion 131 can be rotated approximately 30 degrees from the locked configuration to the unlocked configuration. In certain embodiments of the closure system 100, as shown for example in FIG. 3D, the closure body member 110 may comprise a pair of stopping ribs 117 arranged between the outer wall 113 and the inner wall 112, which are each configured to engage one of two vertical edges 127 on an end of the arm 126 opposite the cantilevered tab 125 and/or on an extension from the base of the outer wall 123 of the base portion 121 of the flip-top member 120. Each stopping rib 117 is configured to engage a vertical edge 127 when the flip-top member 120 is rotated in one of the two axial directions (i.e., in a first direction to unlock the closure system 100 and a second direction to relock the closure system 100), so that axial rotation of the flip-top member 120 relative to the closure body member 110 is constrained. In order to unlock the closure system 100, the cantilevered tab 125 of the flip-top member 120 must be pressed and the flip-top member 120 rotated simultaneously.

(28) FIGS. 1B and 2B show various views of the closure system 100 and container 150 in the unlocked and closed configuration.

(29) In the unlocked configuration, flip-top member 120 has rotated from its position in the locked configuration, and the tab 135 of the lid portion 131 disengaged from the slot 115 of the closure body member 110. The tab 135 is repositioned to be entirely clear of the slot 115, and is disposed over the recess 114 in the outer wall 113 of the closure body member 110. The closure system 100 and the container 150 remain closed in this configuration and unable to dispense the contents of the container 150, but can be opened from this unlocked configuration. The tab 135 of the lid portion 131 can be lifted to pivot the lid portion 131 about the hinge 130 to expose the through hole 112b into the dispensing orifice 151 of the container 150.

(30) FIGS. 1C and 2C show various views of the closure system 100 and container 150 in the unlocked and open configuration.

(31) When opened, the seal 134 of the lid portion 131 is removed from the through hole 112b of the main body 110. A continuous flow passage is formed from the container orifice 151, through the through hole 112b in the post 112a to allow dispensing the substance of the container 150.

(32) To relock the closure system 100 and container 150, the lid portion 131 can be closed by rotating the lid portion 131 back to reseal the through hole 112b, and the axial rotation of the flip-top member 120 can be reversed to reposition the cantilevered tab 125 of the flip-top member 120 within the recess 114 of the closure body member 110. The cantilevered tab 125 is biased outwardly, such that when it is repositioned within the recess 114 of the closure body member 110, it extends back outwardly and the protruding edge 125a of the cantilevered tab 125 reengages the vertical edge 114a of the recess 114. This locking rotation repositions the tab 135 of the lid portion 131 into the slot 115 of the closure body member 110, at least in part, to prevent reopening of the lid portion 131.

(33) As used herein, directional or positional terms such as front, rear, upper, lower, top, bottom, etc., are used for explanatory purposes only to describe the closure system 100 having the orientation shown on the page for example in FIGS. 1A-1B.

(34) While there have been shown and described and pointed out fundamental novel features of the system as applied to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the devices and methods described may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, it is expressly intended that all combinations of those elements and/or method steps which perform substantially the same function in substantially the same way to achieve the same results are within the scope of the invention. Moreover, it should be recognized that structures and/or elements and/or method steps shown and/or described in connection with any disclosed form or embodiment of the invention may be incorporated in any other disclosed or described or suggested form or embodiment as a general matter of design choice.