Childproof closure with means for facilitating authorized removal

A childproof closure for containers is particularly suited for use by arthritic or manually handicapped adults which retains child resistant qualities. This is accomplished by a thumb-engageable projection extending from the upper surface of the end wall of the closure at that portion of the circumferential periphery adjacent the opening index mark.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates generally to the field of child resistant closures 
for relatively small containers used to store medicinals and other 
contents potentially harmful if eaten by children of tender years. Devices 
of this general type are well known in the art, and the invention in 
specific constructional details which enable the opening of the closure by 
arthritic or other physically handicapped persons. 
In the typical child proof container construction, it is known to provide a 
neck on the container wherein a tapered bead surrounds the mouth. The bead 
is interrupted over a relatively small arc. Disposed beneath the bead in 
spaced relation is a radially extending flange having an index mark. The 
closure includes an end wall and a peripheral side wall, the inner surface 
of which has one or more inwardly directed flanges which cooperate with 
the bead on the container mouth to maintain the closure in position. An 
additional small flange is configured to pass through the interrupted part 
of the bead, and an index mark is positioned on the outer surface of the 
side wall at that location. The container is opened by first rotating the 
closure relative to the container to align the index marks, and 
subsequently pushing upwardly on the closure in the area of the index mark 
to resiliently distort the closures sufficient to disengage it from the 
container. This opening procedure will normally be beyond the abilities of 
small children, and will frustrate their attempts to open the container 
while normal adults will have little difficulty. Unfortunately, such 
containers are often used by the elderly, many of whom have substantial 
physical disabilities by reason of arthritis, reduced muscular ability and 
the like. Such adults often have difficulty in gripping the closure to 
rotate it to the opening position, and once that is achieved, they have 
further difficulty in prying the closure in an upward direction to 
dislodge it from the mouth of the container. 
The problem has been appreciated in the prior art. A typical attempt at 
resolution is found in the disclosure of U.S. Pat. No. 5,213,225 granted 
May 25, 1993 to Roger M. King, et al. The disclosed construction features 
an upwardly extending flange projecting from the upper surface of the end 
wall of the closure and extending across a diameter. The flange is 
provided with a transverse opening for the insertion of a tool, typically 
a pencil, to provide additional leverage. This construction does 
facilitate rotation of the closure relative to the container, particularly 
if a tool is used. However, it does not materially assist an arthritic 
user in the prying step which follows the alignment step. The flange is of 
planar configuration and relatively thin, so that it bends easily. It is 
also not positioned to enable the transmission of the necessary prying 
force. Most importantly, the flange must be manually engaged between the 
thumb and forefinger, a manipulation requiring a substantial pinching 
force of a degree unavailable to many persons. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Briefly stated, the invention contemplates the provision of an improved 
childproof closure of the class described in which the above-mentioned 
shortcomings have been eliminated, or at least substantially ameliorated. 
To this end, the closure is provided with an upstanding projection of 
arcuate cross section extending from the periphery of the upper surface of 
the end wall and centered at the index mark on the side wall of the 
closure whereby the closure may be removed once it is properly aligned 
with respect to the index mark on the container by gripping the container, 
usually of tubular configuration, between the palm of the hand and several 
fingers, which then positions the thumb of the user against the outer 
surface of the projection so that pressure from the thumb distorts the 
closure using the substantial leverage offered by the projection, so that 
the opening of the container is a one-handed operation. If necessary, in 
the case of a very feeble user, both hands may be employed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSED EMBODIMENT 
In accordance with the invention, the device, generally indicated by 
reference character 10 is formed from a flexible synthetic resinous 
material known in the art, such as polyethylene, polystyrene, or 
terepthalate, and is adapted to engage the mouth of a conventional 
container 11 in known manner. 
The container 11 may be of any desired configuration. In the case of a pill 
container, it normally includes a cylindrical side wall 13 and a planar 
bottom wall 14. An open upper end 15 is provided with a tapered bead 16 
and a radially extending flange 17 separated from the bead 16 by an 
interstice 18. The bead 16 includes an interrupted segment 19, the 
location of which is indicated by an index mark 20 depending from the 
lower surface of the flange 17. 
The closure 10 is also generally conventional in configuration, including 
an end wall 23 having upper and lower surfaces 24-25, a cylindrical side 
wall 26, an outer surface 27 of which is provided with a marking index 28. 
An inner surface 29 has a corresponding locking projection 30 and one or 
more additional locking flanges 31 which engage the bead 16. 
Projecting upwardly from the outer surface of the end wall 23 is an annular 
bead 33 which enables the closure to be engaged with the container in 
non-childproof relation. Disposed radially inwardly from the bead 33 is a 
manually engageable tab 37 of arcuate cross section bounded by an outer 
surface 38, a corresponding inner surface 40, vertical edges 42 and 43, 
and a horizontal edge 44, the tab extending over an arcuate sector ranging 
from 90 to 180 degrees, and normally extending upwardly a distance of 1/2 
to 9/16 of an inch in height. 
Manipulation of the closure to remove it from the container will be 
apparent from a consideration of FIG. 5 in the drawings. As is 
conventional, a first step requires the rotation of the closure relative 
to the container to align the indices so that the projection 30 may be 
moved through the gap in the bead 16. This may be accomplished either by 
grasping the outer surface of the side wall 26, or the movement may also 
be accomplished by grasping the tab 37 if more convenient. Once properly 
aligned, the container 11 may be grasped by a single hand of the user, the 
container being encircled by the fingers which then positions the thumb of 
the user against the outer surface 38 of the tab so that pressure exerted 
by the thumb will readily distort the closure for removal in normal 
manner. It will be noted that because of the height of the tab, 
considerable leverage is afforded, and the container is held in a 
prehensile grip which is far more convenient than the pinching action 
between the thumb and forefinger which is used for removal of a 
conventional closure. 
Once engaged, the closure may be inverted, if desired, for non-childproof 
operation. Since the tab 37 is disposed radially inwardly of the bead 33, 
it will be disposed within the container when the bead 33 is engaged 
within the mouth of the same. 
I wish it to be understood that I do not consider the invention to be 
limited to the precise details of structure shown and set forth in the 
specification, for obvious modifications will occur to those skilled in 
the art to which the invention pertains.