Closure for container

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9422091-B2
Application number	US-201414576596-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 19, 2014
Priority date	Dec 19, 2013
Publication date	Aug 23, 2016
Grant date	Aug 23, 2016

Abstract

A package includes a container and a closure. The container is formed to include a product-storage chamber and a mouth opening into the product-storage chamber. The closure is configured to mount on the container to assume an installed position closing the mouth formed in the container when rotated relative to the container about a vertical axis of rotation in a closure-installation direction.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A child-resistant package comprising
a container formed to include a product-storage chamber and a mouth opening into the product-storage chamber,
a closure configured to mount on the container to assume an installed position closing the mouth when rotated relative to the container about a vertical axis of rotation in a first closure-installation direction, and
a closure-release control mechanism comprising a first rotation-blocking stop coupled to the closure to rotate therewith about the vertical axis of rotation during installation of the closure on the container and removal of the closure from the container, a movable release element coupled to the container for movement relative to the container away from the closure, and a locking tab coupled to the movable release element for movement therewith and arranged to engage the first rotation-blocking stop to block rotation of the closure about the vertical axis of rotation in a second closure-removal direction to retain the closure in the installed position on the container, the locking tab including a sloped upper surface and a stop surface,
wherein the movable release element is coupled to the container to cause the locking tab to pivot downwardly about a horizontal pivot axis in response to a first pivot-inducing force applied to the sloped upper surface included in the locking tab by the first rotation-blocking stop during rotation of the closure about the vertical axis of rotation in the first closure-installation direction to free the first rotation-blocking stop to confront the stop surface included in the locking tab when the closure is in the installed position on the container, and
wherein the movable release element is coupled to the container to cause the locking tab to pivot about the horizontal pivot axis during exposure to a second pivot-inducing force applied to the locking tab by the movable release element during movement of the movable release element into the product storage chamber in a downward direction away from the closure to move the stop surface included in the locking tab away from confronting relation with the first rotation-blocking stop to free the closure for rotation about the vertical axis of rotation in the second closure-removal direction relative to the container during removal of the closure from the container.

2. The child-resistant package of claim 1 , wherein the closure-release control mechanism further includes a second rotation-blocking stop coupled to the closure to rotate therewith, wherein the second rotation-blocking stop is located in spaced-apart relation to the first rotation-blocking stop to locate the mouth of the container therebetween when the closure is coupled to the container in the installed position.

3. The child-resistant package of claim 2 , wherein the closure includes a top surface arranged to close the mouth when the closure is in the installed position, a retainer ring coupled to the top surface to extend downwardly around the mouth when the closure is in the installed position, and a rim coupled to the top surface in spaced-apart radial relation to the retainer ring and arranged to extend away from the top surface toward the container when the closure is in the installed position.

4. The child-resistant package of claim 3 , wherein the first rotation-blocking stop is located in a space formed in the closure and defined by the top surface, the retainer ring, and the rim.

5. The child-resistant package of claim 4 , wherein the first rotation-blocking stop is appended to the top surface, the retainer ring, and the rim.

6. The child-resistant package of claim 5 , wherein the first rotation-blocking stop includes a stop body arranged to extend between and interconnect the rim and the retainer ring and arranged to extend downwardly away from the top surface toward the container when the closure is in the installed position and a stop arm appended to the stop body and the rim and arranged to extend downwardly to engage the locking tab when the closure is in the installed position, the first rotation-blocking stop is located in spaced-apart relation above the locking tab when the closure is in the installed position.

7. The child-resistant package of claim 1 , wherein the movable release element includes a deformable flange coupled to the container to extend away from the closure and a raised engagement ridge coupled to the deformable flange to extend away from the container toward the closure.

8. The child-resistant package of claim 7 , wherein the locking tab is coupled to the deformable flange to move therewith and is located between the raised engagement ridge and a filler neck included in the container.

9. The child-resistant package of claim 8 , wherein the deformable flange includes a coupled end coupled to the container, an opposite ridge end located in spaced-apart relation to the coupled end, and an upper surface arranged to extend between and interconnect the coupled end and the ridge end and to face upwardly toward the closure.

10. The child-resistant package of claim 9 , wherein the raised engagement ridge is coupled to the upper surface to extend upwardly toward the closure and is located between the ridge end and the locking tab.

11. The child-resistant package of claim 8 , wherein the container includes the filler neck, a side wall, and a platform coupled to the side wall and arranged to extend between and interconnect the side wall to the filler neck.

12. The child-resistant package of claim 1 , wherein the movable release element includes a deformable flange coupled to the container to extend away from the closure and a raised engagement ridge coupled to the deformable flange to extend away from the container toward the closure, and the deformable flange includes a coupled end coupled to the container, an opposite ridge end located in spaced-apart relation to the coupled end, a first side extending between and interconnecting the coupled and ridge ends, an opposite second side extending between and interconnecting the coupled and ridge ends, and an upper surface arranged to extend between and interconnect the coupled end, the ridge end, and the first and second sides and to face upwardly toward the closure.

13. The child-resistant package of claim 12 , wherein the locking tab is appended to the upper surface and is located between the first side and the second side of the deformable flange.

14. The child-resistant package of claim 13 , wherein the locking tab extends from the first side of the deformable flange toward the second side of the deformable flange and is in spaced-apart relation to the second side.

15. The child-resistant package of claim 14 , wherein the sloped upper surface of the locking tab terminates at the first side of the deformable flange and is arranged to extend away from the first side toward the closure and the second side.

16. The child-resistant package of claim 15 , wherein the stop surface is arranged to extend between and interconnect the sloped upper surface of the locking tab and the upper surface of the deformable flange and is arranged to face toward the second side of the deformable flange.

17. The child-resistant package of claim 1 , wherein the closure is mounted to the container to close the mouth, the closure-release control mechanism further includes a second rotation-blocking stop coupled to the closure to rotate therewith and located in spaced-apart relation to the first rotation-blocking stop to locate the mouth of the container therebetween, the closure includes a top surface closing the mouth, a

Assignees

• Berry Plastics Corp

Inventors

• Martin Brian

Classifications

• B65D2251/065

  the external skirt having a non-circular cross-section, e.g. square, elliptical · CPC title

• B65D50/046

  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 title

• B65D50/043 Primary

  the closure comprising a screw cap whose threads are shaped to accommodate blocking elements and the closure is removed after first applying axial force to unblock it and allow it to be unscrewed · CPC title