Abstract:
Aspects of the invention include a child resistant packaging system that makes use of a container, a protective sleeve and a two part child resistant lid with inner lid and an outer lid that are co-axially aligned. The protective sleeve has a recessed groove that substantially matches a corresponding lip on the container enabling the protective sleeve to retain the container without a stretch fit. Also provided is a sleeve for protecting a container that is constructed from a molded silicone and has a recessed groove for retaining a container.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of application 62/091,750 filed 2014 Dec. 15 titled “Child Resistant Lid and Packaging” 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX 
       [0003]    Not Applicable 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0005]    The present invention is in the field of child resistant lids and associated packaging. 
         [0006]    2. Summary of the Prior Art 
         [0007]    Examples of child resistant packaging are common in the form of child resistant pill bottles. Typically, these pill bottles have a lid that screws onto a container via standard threads. The child resistant functionality is accomplished via a lid that does not unscrew via a standard left turning motion. Rather the lid is designed to unscrew when 2 or more motions are performed. Typically these motions are either push and turn, or squeeze and twist. 
         [0008]    In the conventional child resistant lids there are inner and outer lids that are not rotationally fixed relative to one another. This allows an outer lid to twist while the inner lid remains stationary. 
         [0009]    The requisite steps required to couple the twisting motion of the outer lid to the inner lid are what make the lid child resistant. Conventional models use a plurality of ridges and ramped features on the inside of the outer lid and the top of the inner lid, respectively. These types of features are difficult to produce and require precision molds for the inner and outer lid to effectively work. 
         [0010]    Additionally, with conventional lids which use a push and turn approach to child resistance, once a lid is pushed down, the outer and inner lid are coupled. It may be desirable to have a design which would allow for an outer and inner lid to slip relative to one another if sufficient downward pressure is not maintained on the outer lid. Such a system would provide an additional level of resistance to unintended openings. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    The present invention is an article of manufacture that is particularly adapted for storing materials or compounds which require storage in a child resistant package. Other aspects of the invention are directed toward a container system which utilizes a glass container with a lip and a silicone protective sleeve with a recessed groove. Still further aspects of the invention are directed toward a silicone protect sleeve that has a taper and a recessed groove and in adapted for receiving a container. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  depicts a preferred embodiment of the invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  depicts an exploded view of the embodiment of the invention depicted in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  depicts an exploded view of the invention depicted in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  depicts a preferred embodiment of a lid assembly according to the invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  depicts a section view of the lid assembly shown in  FIG. 4  taken at A; 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  depicts an embodiment of the inner portion of the lid assembly; 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  depicts an embodiment of the outer portion of the lid assembly; 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  depicts a top view of an embodiment of the inner portion of the lid assembly; 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  depicts a cross section view of the lid assembly taken at plane B; 
           [0021]      FIG. 10  depicts an embodiment of the protective sleeve; 
           [0022]      FIG. 11  depicts a cross section of the protective sleeve shown in  FIG. 10 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 12  depicts an embodiment of a container. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0024]      FIG. 1  depicts an exemplary embodiment of a child resistant container  10 . In the exemplary embodiment, the child resistant container  10  is comprised of a lid assembly  12  and protective sleeve  14 . As further shown in the exploded views in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , the lid assembly  12  threads onto a container  13  which is located within the protective sleeve  14 .  FIG. 3  particularly points out the relationship of the protective sleeve  14 , container  13  and lid assembly. When assembled as in  FIG. 1  the protective sleeve  14  and lid assembly  12  prevent any view of the contents of the container  13  in embodiments where the container  13  is constructed from a transparent material like glass or plastic. In some embodiments it may be desirable to prevent viewing of the container  13  contents in order to comply with federal or state regulations for product packaging. However, in other embodiments, the combination of protective sleeve  14  and lid assembly  13  may permit the contents of the container  13  to be visible. 
         [0025]      FIG. 4  depicts the lid assembly  12  in greater detail. The lid assembly  12  is comprised of an inner lid  22  and an outer lid  20 . The inner lid  22  and outer lid  20  each have a central axis defined by their respective cylindrical faces. The central axis for the inner lid  22  and the outer lid  20  are substantially co-axial. The lid assembly  12  is preferably constructed from a fiber filled plastic material such as a poly-propylene that is 30% flax fiber by volume. However, the designs described herein permit the lid assembly  12  to be constructed from wood, metal, composites, ceramics or any other material which is substantially rigid. 
         [0026]      FIG. 5  provides a cross sectional view of the lid assembly  12  as shown in  FIG. 4  taken at plane A.  FIG. 5  shows the threads  26 , the retaining lip  24  and the retaining groove  30 . The retaining lip  24  is molded into the inner lid  22  and the retaining groove  30  is molded into the outer lid  20 . During assembly, the inner lid  22  is pressed into the outer lid  20  whereby the retaining lip  24  seats in the retaining groove  30 . The retaining groove  30  is sized such that the retaining lip  24  is capable of moving up and down within the retaining groove  30 . Preferably, the retaining groove  30  permits movement of approximately ⅛″. As little movement as 1/16″ may be also suitable. In general, the outer lid  20  is permitted limited movement in the co-axial direction previously described relative to the inner lid  22 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 6  shows the inner lid  22 . Visible is the retaining lip  24  and a plurality of grooves  28 . The plurality of grooves  28  are located circumferentially about the outermost top edge of the inner lid  22 . The plurality of grooves  28  extend into the inner lid  22  without fully penetrating the inner lid  22 . The grooves  28  are located at a substantially 45 degree angle relative to the top surface of the inner lid  22  and a substantially 45 degree angle relative to the cylindrical side surface of the inner lid  22 . The edges of the plurality of grooves  28  are filleted such that the transition between the outermost edge  29  of the inner lid  22  and the plurality of grooves  28  is substantially continuous. The details of the plurality of grooves  28  are further shown in the top view of the inner lid  22  shown in  FIG. 8  and the cross section view of the inner lid  22  shown in  FIG. 9 . Particularly, the fillets on the grooves are shown in  FIG. 8 . Additionally, the 45 degree groove angle is visible in the cross section view of  FIG. 9  taken at plane B which intersects the centerline of 2 of the plurality of grooves  28 . The exact number of grooves  28  may vary by application and the quantity of grooves depicted are exemplary only. The fewest suitable number of grooves is 3. 
         [0028]    The plurality of grooves  28  provide an engagement means for the plurality of ribs  32  which are located on the outer lid  20 .  FIG. 7  shows the outer lid  20  in greater detail. The outer lid  20  contains a plurality of ribs  32  which are located in the corner defined by the inner top surface  34  of the outer lid  34  and the inner side surface. The exact number of the plurality of ribs  32  will vary by application, in a larger diameter lid, 3 may be sufficient, in a smaller diameter lid more may be necessary to provide sufficient engagement between the inner lid  22  and the outer lid  20 . The number of ribs depicted in the figures is expressly intended to be exemplary and non-limiting. The plurality of ribs  32  have a substantially 45 degree angle relative to the inner side surface and the inner top surface  34 . The ribs  32  in the preferred embodiment have a thickness of about 0.1″ and are filleted  33  so that the plurality of ribs  32  each have a substantially smooth contour about the central axis defined by the inner side surface of the outer lid  20 . 
         [0029]    In operation the inner lid  22  is located within the outer lid  20  via the retaining lip  24  and retaining groove  30 . The outer lid  20  is constrained to move up and down relative to the inner lid  22  within a fixed range according to the dimension of the locating groove  30 . When a user places the lid assembly  12  on a container, the user presses on the outer lid  20  and turns the lid assembly to thread the threads on the inner lid  22  on the threads of the container. When the user pushes down on the outer lid  20 , the outer lid  20  moves relative to the inner lid  22  allowing the plurality of ribs  32  to engage the plurality of grooves  28 . When the plurality of ribs  32  are engaged with the plurality of grooves  28  the inner lid  22  and outer lid  20  become coupled. 
         [0030]    To remove the lid assembly  12  from a container a user must press down on the outer lid  20  to engage the plurality of ribs  32  with the plurality of grooves  28  thereby coupling the inner lid  22  and outer lid  20  and allowing the user to rotate the inner lid  22  for removal of the lid assembly  12  from the container. As a result of the smooth contours of the outer edge  29  of the inner lid  22  and the smooth contours of the plurality of ribs  32 , if positive pressure is not maintained on the lid assembly, the outer lid  20  will tend to move up from the inner lid  22  when rotated which results in decoupling the inner lid  22  from the outer lid  20 . Thus, the lid assembly  12  provides a child resistant functionality by requiring a user to continuously apply positive pressure while rotating the lid assembly  12  for the inner lid  22  to rotate. 
         [0031]    In some embodiments a piece of foam or compressible material may be located between the top surface of the inner lid  22  and the inner top surface  34  of the outer lid  20 . This material will provide additional child resistant functionality by increasing the force necessary to couple the inner lid  22  and outer lid  20 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 10  depicts an embodiment of the protective sleeve  14  in more detail. The protective sleeve is useful for preventing the viewing of the contents of the container  13  and protecting the container from impacts. The protective sleeve  14  is sized to closely fit the contours of the container  13  and has a recessed groove  34  that fits securely over a corresponding lip  40  on the container  13 .  FIG. 11  provides a cross section of the protective sleeve  14  taken at an arbitrary plane parallel and coincident to the central axis. This view helps to show the tubular construction of the protective sleeve  14 . Notably, because the taper of the container  13  substantially matches the taper of the protective sleeve  14  the protective sleeve  14  does not need to be stretched over the container  13  in order to remain secure on the container  13 . Instead, in some embodiments the combination of the recessed groove  34  positively resting on the container&#39;s  13  corresponding lip  40 , and the substantially similar taper permits the protective sleeve to remain secure on the container  13 . In other embodiments, the corresponding lip  40  may be the sole means of retaining the protective sleeve  14  on the container  13 . The protective sleeve  14  can be constructed from a compression molded silicone, a liquid injection molded silicone or a thermoplastic elastomer. 
         [0033]      FIG. 12  depicts one embodiment of a container  13  constructed according to aspects of the inventions. The threads that would typically be located near the opening of the jar have been omitted for clarity. The container  13  has a corresponding lip  40  near the open end of the container. The container  13  may be constructed out of materials including glass, plastic, metal and wood. Additionally, the container may have a wide range of volumes, including 4 oz, 8 oz, 12, and 16 oz. As the size of the container  13  increases or decreases, the protective sleeve  14  will change in size to match the dimensions of the container  13  in the manner described above. The use of a protective sleeve  14  as part of a child resistant packaging system enables the container  13  to be made out of a transparent and/or fragile material that would otherwise be unsuitable for a child resistant packaging system. 
         [0034]    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.