Child-resistant closure

Abstract: A closure 1 for a container comprises a slidable opening member 3 slidable between a retracted position and an extended position. In the retracted position, substantially no opening force can readily be applied to the opening member 3. In the extended position, an opening force can be applied to the opening member 3 to open the container. Retraction means is provided for automatically returning the opening member to the retracted position.

Description: The present invention relates to a closure for a container according to the preamble of claim 1, more especially to a safety closure which offers at least some measure of resistance to unintended opening by children. Such closures are sometimes referred to as "child resistant closures" or simply "CRCs". The closure of the present invention belongs to that class of child resistant closures which, when in the "safe" configuration offer little, or substantially no protruberance, surface or formation on which a child can readily gain a grip. To open such closures, a retracted opening member must be pulled from the retracted position to an extended position, whereby, the user may gain purchase on the opening member. Then, a force applied to the opening member enables the closure to be opened. CRCs of this type will hereinafter be referred to as non-grippable CRCs. A variety of designs have been proposed for non-grippable CRCs, such as are described in the following published patent specifications: GB 2 108 094 (corresponding to the preamble of claim 1); US 4 358 022; US 4 462 501; and US 4 535 903. However, all these designs have the disadvantage that if one forgets after use, to push the opening member back into the retracted position, a child then finding the container with such a closure will readily be able to open it. Document EP-A-0609955 (forming part of the state of the art according to Article 54 (3) EPC) discloses a closure comprising the features of the preamble of claim 1 together with the automatic retraction means. Flip-top closures are another generally known form of closure, e.g. as described in GB 1 433 597, GB 1 431 498 and GB 1 219 174. Another kind of CRC but in the flip-top category is disclosed in the specification of US 4 371 095 in which a circular lid is chordally hinged so that when the lid is pressed, part thereof tilts upwardly to be gripped and opened. If the sides of the closure are not gripped to pinch the lid and the lid is released, the resilience of the hinge causes the lid to close again. However, the part of the lid to be pressed is readily accessible so that a child could accidentally open the closure with relative ease. Moreover, positive closing upon release of the lid is only possible because the closure is of the kind in which a spigot closes a relatively narrow orifice by interference fit. The design is not readily suited to wider-mouthed closures. A new type of closure has now been devised which overcomes the aforementioned problems. Thus, the present invention provides a closure for a container, the closure comprising a body and an opening member which is slidably movable between a retracted position in which substantially no opening force can readily be applied thereto and an extended position in which an opening force may be applied thereto to open the container, characterised in that retraction means is provided for automatically returning the opening member to the retracted position, and in that in the extended position the opening member forms a lever to which a downward opening force may be applied to open the container. As well as preventing the opening member from remaining in the unextended position, the retraction means can, in at least some embodiments, exert a resistance such that a very young child could not withdraw the opening member, even if that child could identify the opening member. However, the main child resistant feature is that slidable retraction of the opening member makes the opening member difficult to grip until successfully extended. Preferably, the body is configured to enclose the opening member so that only part thereof is accessible when the opening member is in the retracted position. The opening member can be provided with engagement means for enabling it to be engaged by a finger or a finger nail, e. g. as one or more ribs, grooves, knurls or other surface roughness feature. The opening member may be provided with a tab on an outward facing part thereof. The engagement means may be provided on such a tab. The opening member may be arranged to be slidable through an opening in at least a side wall of the body. The opening can be of any convenient shape, for example a cut-away portion (e. g. slot shaped) for accepting the opening member when in the retracted position. In a preferred embodiment, the opening member is generally elongate. Then, the opening member may be slidable along the longitudinal axis thereof. Moreover, the opening member may be slidable along a radial path relative to a vertical axis (e.g. axis of symmetry) of the body. Preferably, the retraction means is in the form of a spring means for adopting a stressed condition when the opening member is in the extended position and in a relaxed condition when the opening member is in the retracted position. In a preferred embodiment, the spring means comprises a first link member, linking the opening member to the body of the closure. Most preferably, there is also a second link member, linking the opening member to the closure body. In the preferred embodiment, two link members extend outwardly from the opening member, on respective sides thereof, the opening member being generally elongate. Most preferably, the link member or members is/are bendable barb-shaped spring member(s). The link member(s) may be formed integrally with the body and/or the opening member but conveniently the closure, including the opening member, together with any link member(s) is formed integral as a one-piece closure. Most preferably, the closure is formed of a plastics material, for example polypropylene and is manufactured by injection moulding. In the alternative to a radially extendable sliding opening member, the opening member could be pivoted to slide into and out of the body. Of course, other forms of spring means are possible, for example formed of an elastic material or utilising a coil spring, e. g. a compression or extension spring. The closure may be integral with a container but have a separable lid-part or it may be an entirely separate item to be placed on or removed from the container, as desired. Thus, the closure preferably then is provided with means for attaching it to a container. It may also have a tear-strip for preventing opening prior to removal of the tear-strip. The closure may also have a hinge enabling it to be hingeably opened whilst attached to a container. The present invention will now be explained in more detail by way of the following description of a preferred embodiment and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: - Figure 1 shows a rear perspective view of a first embodiment of a closure according to the present invention; Figure 2 shows a front perspective view of the closure shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 shows an opening member of the closure shown in Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 shows a section along A-A in Figure 3; Figure 5 shows a section along B-B in Figure 3; Figure 6 shows a top view of the closure shown in Figures 1 and 2, with a recess shown in phantom; and Figure 7 shows a detail of a second embodiment of the present invention, corresponding to that of Figure 3 of the first embodiment. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, a first embodiment of a closure 1 according to the present invention is provided with an opening member 3. The opening member 3 is slidably moveable between a retracted position as shown in Figure 1 and in solid line in Figure 3, and an extended position as shown in phantom in Figure 3. The closure comprises a substantially cylindrical body 5, although it could be of any convenient shape, determined for example by aesthetic considerations, function, and the shape of the container 7 (shown in part only) to which it is attached. In this embodiment, the closure 1 is attached to the container 7 by means of a conventional tear-strip 9 which is removable by pulling on a tab 11. The closure 1 cannot be removed to open the container 7 until the tear-strip is torn away. The substantially cylindrical closure body 5 has a substantially flat top 13 and a cylindrical side wall 15. A slot-shaped opening 17 is formed in the vicinity of the junction of the top and side wall, along a relatively small section of the circumference of the body, so that the opening member 3 is accessible. As shown in Figure 3, the opening member is generally elongate. A first end 19 is in the form of a thumb tab 21, the outward end 22 of which constitutes the part accessible through the slot-shaped opening 17. The thumb tab 21 is provided with ridges/depressions 23 to assist gripping between the fingers or engagement with a finger nail. The thumb tab 21 is joined by a central spine section 25 to a pressure member 27 at a second end 29 of the opening member 3, remote from the first end 19. Approximately two-thirds of the way along the spine 25, from the thumb tab 21 to the pressure member 27 are formed right and left barb springs 31, 33 respectively, extending outwardly therefrom, angled backwards, away from the thumb tab 21 and towards the pressure member 27 at about 45° to the spine. The closure 1, including the opening member 3 with its barb springs 31, 33 are injection moulded, integral as a single piece, out of polypropylene. The respective ends 35, 37 are joined to the underside of the top 13. The opening member 3 as a whole is entrained within a recess 39 (see Fig. 6) within the underside of the the top 13. Referring again to Figures 1 and 2, it will be appreciated that in the normal position, the opening member 3 will be retracted so that only the thumb tab 21 will be accessible through the slot-shaped opening 17. In this state, even with the tear-strip 9 removed, the closure is generally too smooth to be removed easily from the container 7 by a child. However, if the thumb tab 21 is gripped then it can be withdrawn through the slot (Fig. 2) to extend proud thereof. To withdraw the tab thus requires a force to be exerted against the spring resistance exerted by the barb springs 31, 33 which are deformed by flexing, due to their ends 35, 37 remaining fixed to the underside of the top 13 whilst the opening member is pulled outwardly through the slot-shaped opening 17. Then, an opening force can be applied to the closure by means of the thumb tab 21 of the opening member 3. Conveniently, this can be effected by pressing downwards on the thumb tab so that the pressure member 27 exerts an upward pressure against the underside of the top 13. In this way the top is removed. Upon releasing contact with the thumb tab 21, the barb springs 31, 33 naturally return to their original unflexed state, thereby retracting the opening member 3 so that only the tip 22 of the thumb tab is again accessible. To re-close the container 7, it is simply pushed back on. It will be appreciated that the closure may be removably fitted to the container by any convenient means, e. g. snap-fit and optionally, may be hinged thereto. Figure 7 shows a detail of a second embodiment of the invention corresponding to Figure 3 of the first embodiment. Here, the opening member 3 is exactly the same as that of Figure 3 except that the barb springs 31, 33 are replaced by respective metallic coil springs 39, 41. The coil springs are anchored at their respective ends 43, 45 remote from the spine section 25 to the underside of the top 13. In Figure 7, all reference numerals otherwise correspond to those in Figure 3 to denote the same components and the remainder of the closure is otherwise exactly the same as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 4 to 6. In the light of this disclosure, modifications of the described embodiment, as well as other embodiments, all within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims will now become apparent to persons skilled in the art.

Claims: A closure (1) for a container (7), the closure (1) comprising a body (5) and an opening member (3) which is slidably moveable between a retracted position in which substantially no opening force can readily be applied thereto and an extended position in which an opening force may be applied thereto to open the container (7), characterised in that retraction means (31, 33, 39, 41) is provided for automatically returning the opening member (3) to the retracted position, and in that in the extended position the opening member (3) forms a lever to which a downward opening force may be applied to open the container (7). A closure (1) according to claim 1, further characterised in that the body (5) is configured to enclose the opening member (3) so that only a part (22) thereof is accessible when the opening member (3) is in the retracted position. A closure (1) according to claim 2, further characterised in that the accessible part (22) of the opening member (3) is provided with engagement means (23) for enabling it to be engaged by a finger or a finger nail. A closure (1) according to any preceding claim, further characterised in that the opening member (3) is slidable through an opening (17) in at least a side wall of the body (5). A closure (1) according to claim 4, further characterised in that the opening (17) is a cut-away portion for accessing the opening member (3) when in the retracted position. A closure (1) according to any preceding claim, further characterised in that said opening member (3) is generally elongate and the opening member (3) is slidable along the longitudinal axis thereof. A closure (1) according to any preceding claim, further characterised in that said retraction means (31, 33, 39, 41) comprises spring means for adopting a stressed condition when the opening member (3) is in the extended position and a relaxed condition when the opening member (3) is in the retracted position. A closure (1) according to claim 7, further characterised in that said spring means (31, 33, 39, 41) comprises at least one link member (31, 33, 39, 41) linking said opening member to the closure body (5). A closure (1) according to claim 8, further characterised in that said opening member (3) is generally elongate and first and second said link members (31, 33, 39, 41) are joined respectively to either side of said opening member (3). A closure (1) according to claim 8 or claim 9, further characterised in that said link member or members (31, 39) is or are bendable barb-shaped member(s) (31, 39). A closure (1) according to any of claims 8-10, further characterised in that said link member or members (31, 39) is or are formed integral with said opening member (3). A closure (1) according to any of claims 8-11, further characterised in that the body (5) comprises a top portion (13) and the link member or members (31, 33, 39, 41) join said opening member to the underside of said top portion (13). A closure (1) according to any preceding claim, further characterised in that said opening member (3) is further provided with a pressure member (27) for bearing upon said closure body when a downward opening force is applied to the opening member (3) to open the container (7).

Inventors: FRITZSCHE RODGER ERICH, FRITZSCHE, RODGER ERICH
Applicants: RPC CONTAINERS LTD, RPC CONTAINERS LIMITED
Application year: 1995
Main classification: B65D50
IPC codes: B65D50