A 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 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, 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.

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

3. (canceled)

4. (canceled)

5. A closure as claimed in claim 1, in which the lid and base are hingedly connected together.

6. A container comprising a tub and a closure as claimed in claim 1 for the closing the tub, the base being attachable to the tub and the lid being hingedly connected to the lid.

7. A container and closure as claimed in claim 6, in which the tub and the closure are generally oblong.

8. A container and closure as claimed in claim 7, in which the lid id hinged to the base along a short side thereof.

9. A container and closure as claimed in claim 7, in which the lid is hinged to the base along a long side thereof.

10. (canceled)

11. A container and closure as claimed in claim 6, in which the closure is non-removably connected to the tub.

12. (canceled)

13. (canceled)

14. A container and closure as claimed in claim 7, in which the locking means are provided at or towards one end of the lid.

15. A container and closure as claimed in claim 7, in which the closure locking mechanism is covered by a removable sticker or label.

16. A child-resistant household cleaning product storage container including a closure as claimed in claim 1 whereby to prevent unwanted access to the contents of the container.

17. A container as claimed in claim 16, in which the container is a cleaning product capsule or tablet box closed by the lid.

18. A child-resistant household cleaning product pack comprising a container and a closure, 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, the closure comprising a lid and a base, the base being attached to the container, the lid having a pair of release members, said release members carrying locking members which engage the base to prevent opening of the lid, the release members are squeezable together to release the locking members from the base.

19.-27. (canceled)

28. A closure as claimed in claim 1, in which the release members are pinched or pressed towards each other to disengage the locking members.

29. A closure as claimed in claim 1, in which the locking means are provided on or by the lid and comprise a pair of locking lugs carried on or by a pair of release members, the lugs engaging the base to prevent opening of the lid, the release members being pinchable towards each other to disengage the lugs from the base.

30. A closure as claimed in claim 1, in which the lid comprises a finger recess adjacent only one of the release members.

31. A container as claimed in claim 1, in which the lid comprises a finger recess adjacent both of the release members.

32. A closure as claimed in claim 1, in which the base is attached or attachable to a container.

33. A closure as claimed in claim 1, in which the base comprises a frame.

34. A closure as claimed in claim 1, in which the base is a container.

Description

[0055] 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.

[0056] 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.

[0057] The closure 10 comprises a base 15 and a lid 20.

[0058] The base 15 includes a generally rectangular frame 16 which can be clipped or otherwise retained on the container.

[0059] The base 15 includes a locking platform 18 including a pair of arcuate slots 19a, 19b.

[0060] 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.

[0061] 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.

[0062] To release the lid the members 23a, 23b must be pinched together and then the lugs can withdraw through the slots.

[0063] FIGS. 6 to 16 show a similar system.

[0064] 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.

[0065] FIGS. 14 to 16 show the container in use protecting laundry detergent capsules 150

[0066] 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.

[0067] 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.

[0068] FIG. 21 shows a closure 410 formed according to a further embodiment. In this embodiment the closure is generally oval.

[0069] 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).

[0070] The pack 560 is generally oblong, meaning that the closure 510 has two shorter sides and two longer sides.

[0071] 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.

[0072] A child-resistant mechanism is provided by the lid at the shorter side opposite the hinge.

[0073] 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.

[0074] 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.

[0075] The pack 660 shown in FIGS. 27 to 30 is similar to the pack 560.

[0076] 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.

[0077] FIGS. 31 to 34 show a pack 760 formed in accordance with the present invention.

[0078] 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.

[0079] FIGS. 35 and 36 show two different mechanisms by which a lid could be connected to a container.

[0080] 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.

[0081] 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.

[0082] Then catches 890 engage in the slots 887 as shown in FIG. 39 to retain the closure 810 stably on the container 870.

[0083] 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.