CHILD-RESISTANT CONTAINER AND CLOSURE

Abstract

A child-resistant container and closure, wherein the container includes a base and an upstanding wall defining an inner volume of the container. The container has an open top for gaining access to the inner volume of the container. A cylindrical neck extends upwards from a periphery of the open top of the container. An outer surface of the neck has elongated L-shaped grooves each of which has a bump. A skirt of the closure has protrusions to engage with the elongated grooves for securing the closure to the container. The protrusions are slidably received within the elongated grooves, and the bump offers predetermined resistance to the respective protrusions. Such resistance is overcome by applying predetermined amount of torque to the closure, wherein a child does not have such strength to apply the predetermined amount of torque but an adult has.

Claims

1. A childproof combination of container and closure comprising: a container comprising: a base and a wall defining an inner volume of the container, the container has an open-top, a neck extends from a periphery of the wall, two or more elongated grooves in an outer surface of the neck, a closure comprising: a central section and a skirt that extends downwards from a periphery of the central section, the skirt has an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface of the skirt has two or more protrusions, each of the two or more protrusions is configured to engage and disengage with the respective elongated groove for closing and opening the closure, wherein each protrusion is configured to be slidably received within the respective elongated groove, wherein each elongated groove has a bump, the bump configured to offer predetermined amount of resistance to respective protrusion, and wherein predetermined amount of torque must be applied to the closure for the two or more protrusions to pass over the respective bumps.

2. The childproof combination of container and closure according to claim 1, wherein the childproof combination of container and closure further comprises: at least one upper pointer on the outer surface of the skirt, wherein the at least one upper pointer points downwards; and at least one lower pointer on an outer surface of the wall, wherein the at least one lower pointer points upwards, wherein the at least one upper pointer and the at least one lower pointer are positioned such that when the at least one upper pointer is aligned with the at least one lower pointer, the two or more protrusions are aligned with the two or more elongated grooves.

3. The childproof combination of container and closure according to claim 1, wherein a number of the at least one lower pointer or a number of the at least one upper pointer are equal to a number of the two or more protrusions.

4. The childproof combination of container and closure according to claim 1, wherein the two or more protrusions comprise three protrusions and the two or more elongated grooves comprises three elongated grooves.

5. The childproof combination of container and closure according to claim 1, wherein the two or more protrusions are disposed along a rim of the skirt.

6. A method for restricting access to a container for a child, the method comprising the steps of: providing a childproof combination of container and closure comprising: a container comprising: a base and a wall defining an inner volume of the container, the container has an open-top, a neck extends from a periphery of the wall, two or more elongated grooves in an outer surface of the neck, and a closure comprising: a central section and a skirt that extends downwards from a periphery of the central section, the skirt has an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface of the skirt has two or more protrusions, each of the two or more protrusions is configured to engage and disengage with the respective elongated groove for closing and opening the closure, wherein each protrusion is configured to be slidably received within the respective elongated groove, wherein each elongated groove has a bump, the bump configured to offer predetermined amount of resistance to respective protrusion, and wherein predetermined amount of torque must be applied to the closure for the two or more protrusions to pass over the respective bumps; depressing the closure over the neck of the container such that the two or more protrusions are slidably received within the two or more elongated grooves; and upon depressing, turning the closure, under the predetermined amount of torque to prevent separation of the closure from the container by a child.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the childproof combination of container and closure further comprises: at least one upper pointer on the outer surface of the skirt, wherein the at least one upper pointer points downwards; and at least one lower pointer on an outer surface of the wall, wherein the at least one lower pointer points upwards, wherein the at least one upper pointer and the at least one lower pointer are positioned such that when the at least one upper pointer is aligned with the at least one lower pointer, the two or more protrusions are aligned with the respective two or more elongated grooves.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein a number of the at least one lower pointer or a number of the at least one upper pointer are equal to a number of the two or more protrusions.

9. The method according to claim 6, wherein the two or more protrusions comprise three protrusions and the two or more elongated grooves comprises three elongated grooves.

10. The method according to claim 6, wherein the two or more protrusions are disposed along a rim of the skirt.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] The accompanying figures, which are incorporated herein, form part of the specification and illustrate embodiments of the present invention. Together with the description, the figures further explain the principles of the present invention and to enable a person skilled in the relevant arts to make and use the invention.

[0020] FIG. 1 is a bottom and side perspective view of the combination of container and the closure, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] FIG. 2 is a top and side perspective view of the combination of container and the closure, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] FIG. 3 is a front view of the combination of container and closure, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a front of the combination of container and closure, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] Subject matter will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and which show, by way of illustration, specific exemplary embodiments. Subject matter may, however, be embodied in a variety of different forms and, therefore, covered or claimed subject matter is intended to be construed as not being limited to any exemplary embodiments set forth herein; exemplary embodiments are provided merely to be illustrative. Likewise, a reasonably broad scope for claimed or covered subject matter is intended. Among other things, for example, the subject matter may be embodied as methods, devices, components, or systems. The following detailed description is, therefore, not intended to be taken in a limiting sense.

[0025] The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any embodiment described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. Likewise, the term “embodiments of the present invention” does not require that all embodiments of the invention include the discussed feature, advantage, or mode of operation.

[0026] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of embodiments of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprise”, “comprising,”, “includes” and/or “including”, when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

[0027] The following detailed description includes the best currently contemplated mode or modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention will be best defined by the allowed claims of any resulting patent.

[0028] Referring to FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a combination of container 100 and closure 200. The container 100 can include a base 105 and a wall 110 that define an inner volume of the container 100. The container 100 can include an open-top for gaining access to the inner volume of the container 100. The container 100 shown in FIG. 1 is round however, containers of any other shape and size are within the scope of the present invention. The container 100 shown in FIG. 1 can be a palm-size container used for storing medicines or psychotropic substances. However, containers of different sizes and shapes are within the scope of the present invention. The container can be made from medical-grade material, such as plastic or metal. Coatings of suitable material can also be provided for safety and aesthetic purposes, for example, a colored coating can be provided. However, the container can be made from any material and any such containers are within the scope of the present invention. In one case, the container can be made from a lightweight metal such as tin or aluminum.

[0029] A cylindrical neck 120 can extend upwards from a periphery 130 of the wall 110. The neck 120 can be seen offset from the wall 110, wherein the wall 110 can curve inwards to form a step and then extend upwards to form the neck 120, the step is more clearly shown in FIG. 2.

[0030] The outer surface of the neck 120 includes an L-shaped groove 140 that has a vertical leg and a continuous horizontal leg. A protrusion 210 on an inner surface of the closure can slide into the vertical leg when the closure is placed over the neck of the container, and then slide into the horizontal leg of the L-shaped groove when the closure is turned relative to the container.

[0031] Two or more of the L-shaped groove 140 can be provided spaced apart from one another on the outer surface of the neck 120. It may be preferable for small-size containers to have three L-shaped grooves equally spaced apart from one another and disposed along the circumference of the neck. It is understood, however, that two or more L-shaped grooves are within the scope of the present invention. For example, containers with a larger diameter may have four or more consecutive L-shaped grooves.

[0032] Moreover, clearly shown in FIG. 3, the vertical leg can be straight and extends downwards from a periphery of the neck. The horizontal leg can be continuous from a bottom of the vertical leg. The horizontal leg can have a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end is at the vertical leg. The lower edge of the horizontal leg can be straight and may run parallel to the periphery of the container. The upper edge of the horizontal member tapers downwards from the proximal end towards the distal end. This tapering allows the closure to be tightened and secured to the container. The protrusion 210 of the closure 200 can interlock within the horizontal leg of the L-shaped groove 140 similar to a threaded screw mechanism.

[0033] The closure 200 can be used to close the open top of the container 100. The closure 200 can have a central section 220 and a skirt 230 that extends downwards from a periphery of the central section 220. The skirt 230 can overlap the neck 120 of the container 100 when mounted over the container. The step formed between wall 110 and neck 120 of the container can receive the skirt 230, such that the outer surface of the skirt and the outer surface of the wall of the container can be smooth and continuous. However, the outer surfaces of the skirt and the wall may not need to be continuous and such variation in the surfaces are within the scope of the present invention.

[0034] The inner surface of the skirt 230 can have protrusions 210 that can engage and disengage with the L-shaped grooves 140 in the neck 120 of the container 100 for closing the closure to the container. The protrusions are visible in FIG. 1 showing a bottom perspective view of the closure 200. The protrusions can slide within the L-shaped grooves when the closure is placed over the neck of the container. The protrusions can be seen provided along the rim of the skirt. The positions of the protrusions can correspond to the L-shaped grooves. To close, the closure can be placed over the neck of the container and the closure can then be rotated till the protrusions are aligned to the vertical members of the L-shaped grooves, and when aligned, the closure can drop down over the neck, wherein the protrusions slide into the vertical grooves. To aid in such alignment, pointers can be provided on the container and the closure. FIG. 1 shows an upper pointer 240 on the closure and a lower pointer 160 on the container.

[0035] For each lower pointer on the container, there can be a corresponding upper pointer on the closure. The lower pointer and the corresponding upper pointer can form a pair, wherein the pointers in the pair are positioned such that when the upper pointer and the lower pointer of the pair are aligned, the protrusions are above the vertical leg of the L-shaped grooves. The closure and the container can be engaged and disengaged when the upper pointer is aligned to the lower pointer. When the pointers are aligned, the protrusions are aligned with the vertical legs of the L-shape grooves. To close the closure, the closure can be aligned relative to the open top of the container such that the upper pointer and the lower pointer are along a common axis. Typically, when the pointers can be aligned, the closure can be placed over the neck of the container. Now the closure can be slightly depressed so that the protrusion in the closure can slidably engage with the corresponding L-shaped groove of the container, and then turned under force to pass over a bump 150 in the horizontal leg, thereby preventing the separation of the closure. To remove the closure from the container, the closure can be turned under force in a reverse direction to pass over the bump, and then the closure can be pulled upwards to release the closure.

[0036] Also, as can be seen in FIG. 2, the lower pointer 160 can be triangular and can point upwards towards the neck 120 of the container 100. The pointer, however, can be of any other shape, such as an arrowhead, and any such shape of the pointer is within the scope of the present invention. Additionally, more than one pointer can be provided and spaced at equal distances from each other. Although one pair of pointers is enough, however, more than one pointer can be provided for ease. For, example, three equally spaced pointers. The pointers may appear visually the same or can be distinguished, such as a change in color or texture.

[0037] The bump 150, more clearly shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, provide a certain amount of resistance to the movement of the protrusion of the container within the L-shaped groove. The bump 150 can be provided near the proximal end of the horizontal leg. To pass over the bump, the certain amount of force must be applied to the closure while turning the closure. Thus, while holding the container in one hand and grasping the closure in another hand, force must be applied by another hand to overcome the resistance provided by the bump. This force or torque requires certain amount of strength, wherein the resistance can be of such an amount that the child cannot overcome it by the usual strength of hand the children possess. However, an adult or grown child has such strength to overcome the resistance of provided by the bump. Thus, by changing the dimensions of the bump, the amount of resistance can be varied. Based on the shape of the bump and the protrusion, the resistance provided by the bump while closing the closure can be lesser than that required while opening the closure. The resistance while opening the closure can be important and determined using suitable experimentation.

[0038] In certain implementations, the bump can be formed by an embossing process using a male and female embossing plate. The bump can be approximately 1 mm long or may be slightly higher or lower. The actual dimensions may depend upon the dimensions of the protrusions and required resistance generated by the bump relative to the protrusion for the protrusion to pass over the bump. Similarly, the protrusion can also be about 1 mm long. In a preferred embodiment, the amount of resistance offered can be such that children under the age of 5, as a rule, do not possess the dexterity nor the hand strength to open and close the disclosed container but adults can.

[0039] While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above-described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention as claimed.