Abstract:
A child-resistant lift-top container is disclosed. The container includes a vessel, a lift-off inner cap and an outer locking cap. The outer locking cap engages the lift-off inner cap and is rotatable about the inner cap. The vessel includes a generally downwardly-facing abutment that engages an upwardly-facing abutment on the locking cap to lock the container and prevent the lift-off inner cap from opening. The container is opened by rotating the outer locking cap to disengage the abutments, permitting the lift-off inner cap to be lifted to open the container. The outer locking cap includes at least one spring that engages a spring-engaging surface on the vessel as the outer locking cap is rotated to assist in disengaging the abutments and to allow the outer locking cap to return to its closed and locked position.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This patent application makes reference to, claims priority to and claims benefit from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/779,934 filed on Mar. 7, 2006. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present technology relates to child-resistant safety caps and containers with such caps, more particularly a container including a twist-and-lift child resistant closure that is useful for flip-top containers. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     There is an increasing awareness of the need to protect children from inadvertently gaining access to medications, especially prescribed medications. Sometimes, ingestion of only one or two pills of a prescribed medication will prove fatal to a child. Moreover, there is an increasing awareness of the necessity to provide containers for prescribed medications that are readily and easily opened by a person of responsible age, that is, any person having the cognitive ability to understand the instructions for opening a pill container, which requires certain manipulation and manual dexterity. Such persons are assumed, as well, to have the ability to understand that the act of opening a pill container to gain access to the prescribed medication is a deliberate action, and is only undertaken when there is a necessity to attain access to the prescribed medication in the pill container. 
     There are several conventional, so-called, “childproof” or “child-resistant” pill containers and bottles in the market, which are generally employed by dispensing pharmacists for use in filling prescriptions, where the prescription requires that the pharmacist dispense one or more of a plurality of pills, tablets, gel-caps, capsules, or the like, or a quantity of a liquid medicine. For example, the container may include a “push-and-turn” closure for pill containers, or an “arrow-alignment” closure for pill containers. 
     The “push-and-turn” system for pill containers conventionally refers to a system in which the closure or cap for the pill container must be pushed axially downwardly and rotated at the same time to open the container. The “arrow alignment” system for pill containers conventionally refers to a system in which an arrow on the closure or cap must be aligned with an arrow on the pill container, such as one which is embossed on the container, in order to open the container. However, these containers are often complicated for adults to use. 
     Conventional container assemblies, whether or not of the type where the cap or closure is tethered to the container, may have a fixed protrusion (also referred to as a “thumb tab”) attached to the cap that is configured to assist in the opening of the cap. More typically, this fixed protrusion is opposite the hinge, and thus, acts as a lever to allow the intended user to open the container when a sufficient force is applied under the fixed protrusion. 
     However, these containers are easily opened by a child. 
     Therefore an improved container and closure assembly which is child resistant, yet easily opened by an adult, would be useful. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     One aspect of the present technology is a child-resistant lift-top container including a vessel, and a closure system comprising a lift-off cap and a lock. 
     The vessel has a mouth defined by a rim. The vessel has a margin lying outside the rim, and a generally downward-facing abutment projecting laterally from the margin. The cap has a seating member sized and configured to seat on the rim. 
     The lock engages the cap and is rotatable with respect to the cap about an axis that is generally perpendicular to the rim when the cap is seated on the rim. The lock includes an upward-facing abutment normally biased to engage the downward-facing abutment of the vessel. This engagement prevents the cap from being lifted off. The abutments are disengaged by rotating the lock against the bias, permitting the cap to be lifted to open the container. 
     The subsidiary features shown or described in the present drawings or specification are each intended to be claimed, independently or in any combination. 
     While the presently described technology will be described in connection with one or more preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present technology is not limited to those embodiments. On the contrary, the presently described technology includes all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the vessel, cap, and lock assembly of an embodiment of the invention, when closed and locked. 
         FIG. 2  is a view similar to  FIG. 1 , but showing the assembly with its cap unseated and opened. 
         FIG. 3  is a rear perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , showing the hinge and associated elements. 
         FIG. 4  is a view of the vessel and cap assembly of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , with the lock removed to show underlying structure. 
         FIG. 5  is a view similar to  FIG. 4 , but showing the cap seated on the vessel. 
         FIG. 6  is an isolated perspective view of the lock of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , shown generally from the rear. 
         FIG. 7  is a view similar to  FIG. 3 , showing the lock rotated against its bias. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a view similar to  FIG. 8 , but showing the cap unseated and lifted. 
         FIG. 10  is a view similar to  FIG. 8 , but showing the lock rotated, deflecting a leaf spring outward against an abutment. 
         FIG. 11  is a diagrammatic series of views showing how the container can be unlocked and opened, focusing on the embodiment of  FIGS. 8-10  but applicable in most respects to the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-7  as well. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The closure assembly of the present technology comprises two components, (1) a rotating outer cap or lock and (2) an inner flip-top cap. 
     The outer locking cap or lock is preferably snapped on to the inner flip-top cap. The outer cap engages a flange feature that is located along the circumference of the inner cap. When engaged, the outer cap can rotate on the stationary, non-rotatable flip-top inner cap. In the closed position a generally downward-facing lug or abutment, located on the container body, engages a slot in the outer cap having a generally upward-facing abutment, preventing the flip-top from opening. 
     To open the closure, a user rotates the outer cap or lock about the inner cap so that the slot in the outer cap is positioned away from the lug on the container body. The user keeps the outer cap in the rotated position and then lifts up on the cap. The inner flip-top cap opens. When the user releases the cap, the outer cap returns to its original (closed position) with a spring-like mechanism. 
     Specific details of alternative embodiments of the closure system of the present technology will now be discussed with reference to the drawings. 
     Referring to the drawings,  FIGS. 1-7  show an embodiment of a container  20 , useful as a pill bottle, for example. Referring first to  FIG. 2  in particular, the container  20  comprises a vessel  22 , a lift-off cap  24 , and an outer cap or lock  26 . The vessel  22  is generally straight-walled and has an interior portion  28  accessed through a mouth  30  defined by a peripheral beaded rim  32 . The vessel  22  has a margin  34  lying outside the rim and also, in this embodiment, extending below a flange  36 . The “margin” is broadly defined to include any exterior portion of the vessel above its base  38 . The flange  36  functions to prevent the lift-off cap from being accidentally opened by an upward force that could impact the container during shipping or if the container were accidentally dropped. If the container is bumped or dropped, the flange prevents an upward force from being directed on to the lift-off cap. 
     The vessel  22  has a generally downward-facing abutment  40  projecting laterally from the margin  34 . “Downward-facing” is broadly defined in this context to mean facing approximately opposite the direction in which the cap  24  is lifted. “Downward facing” simply means that the abutment  40  does not face horizontally or upward, when the rim  32  is generally horizontal and positioned at the top. The abutment  40  can face directly downward or obliquely downward. 
     Now referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the lift-off cap  24  is described in more detail. The cap  24  has a seating member  44  which, in the illustrated embodiment, is a groove, sized and configured to seat on the rim  32  of the vessel. The rim  32  of this embodiment is beaded to seat in the groove  44  and form a seal. The rim  32  and groove  44  provide an interference fit. In other embodiments, a seal need not be formed, nor is an interference fit essential in some instances, depending on the contents intended for the container  20 . In the illustrated embodiment, the cap  24  has a web  46 , a skirt  48  depending from the web  46 , and a thumb tab  50 . The thumb tab  50  is provided so the same cap  24  and vessel  22  assembly, illustrated in  FIG. 5 , can function as a flip-top container without installing the lock  26 , as when certain containers do not need to be childproof. 
     Referring in particular to  FIG. 5 , the cap  24  also has a roughly mushroom-shaped crown  52 . The crown  52  has a wider portion or head defining a pivot flange  54  to receive and cooperate with the lock  26 , and a narrower neck  56  beneath the head. A pivot groove  58  is defined under the pivot flange  54  and radially outside the neck  56 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the vessel  22  is joined to the lift-off cap  24  by a hinge  60 , which may be, for example, an integral hinge. In the illustrated embodiment, the hinge  60  is formed integrally with the vessel  22  and the lift-off cap  24  in a single mold. These parts can alternatively be fabricated as more than one part and assembled. A hinge  60  also is not essential, and could be omitted, or could be replaced by a tether or other capturing arrangement, without limitation. In this embodiment, the hinge  60  also defines spring abutments  61  and  62 . 
     The parts of the lock  26  are shown particularly in  FIGS. 3 and 6 . The lock  26  in this embodiment is configured as an outer cap, including a web  64  and a depending skirt  66 , that covers the lift-off cap  24  in use and prevents the cap  24  from being unseated while the lock  26  is engaged. The lock  26 , at a minimum, includes an upward-facing abutment  68 , adapted and normally biased to engage the downward facing abutment  40  of the vessel. “Upward facing” simply means that the abutment  68  does not face horizontally or downward, when the rim  32  is generally horizontal and positioned at the top and the lock  26  is in its locking position, shown here in  FIGS. 1-3 . The abutment  40  can face directly upward or obliquely upward. 
     Returning to  FIG. 6 , the illustrated embodiment includes additional features. A pivot flange  70  is provided extending circumferentially around at least a portion of the skirt  66 , defining above it a pivot groove  72 . At least one spring, in this embodiment a pair of leaf springs  74  and  76 , is provided. The spring  74  is formed in this embodiment by providing a circumferentially extending slot  78  in the skirt  66 , relieving part of the periphery of the spring  74  so it is free to flex unconstrained by the relative stiffness of the remainder of the skirt  66 . The spring  74  is integrally formed with the skirt  66 , in this embodiment, and has a hinge abutment  80 . The spring  76  is similarly defined in part by the slot  82  and has a hinge abutment  84 . In this embodiment, the interior of the skirt  66  also has a thumb tab recess. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the lock  26  and cap  24  are assembled by snapping the pivot flange  54  of the cap  24  ( FIG. 5 ) into the pivot groove  72  of the lock  26  ( FIG. 6 ) so the pivot flange  70  of the lock  26  is received in the pivot groove  58  of the cap. A similar result can be obtained by providing a flange or bead of the web  46  extending radially outside the skirt  48  of the cap, to receive the pivot groove  72 . As a result, the lock  26  is captured on and rotatable on the cap  24 , in this embodiment. The lock  26  is rotatable with respect to the cap  24  about an axis that is generally perpendicular to the rim  32  when the cap  24  is seated on the rim  32 . This capturing feature prevents the lock  26  from being easily lifted away from the cap  24 . 
     When the cap  24  and lock  26  are assembled for normal use, the downward facing abutment  40  of the vessel is circumferentially aligned with the upward facing abutment  68  of the lock  26 . Additionally, the hinge abutments  80  and  84  ( FIG. 6 ) abut the spring abutments  61  and  62  ( FIG. 4 ), as shown best in  FIG. 3 . The bias springs  74  and  76 , when relaxed, thus normally bias the abutments  40  and  68  into engagement, locking the container  20 . 
     The abutments  40  and  68  are disengaged by rotating the lock  26  against the bias exerted by one of the springs  74  or  76 , displacing the abutment  68  of the lock  26  laterally and permitting the cap  24  to be lifted to open the container  20 . This is illustrated by comparing  FIGS. 3 and 7 . In  FIG. 3 , the lock  26  is in its rest position, the abutments  40  and  68  are engaged, and the spring  74  is relaxed and remains in line with the skirt  66 , so the container  20  is locked. In  FIG. 7 , the lock  26  is turned counterclockwise relative to the vessel  22 , bending the spring  74  due to the engagement of the hinge abutment  80  of the spring  74  with the spring abutment  61  of the hinge  60 . Urging the lock  26  against its bias bends the spring  74 . The abutments  40  and  68  are disengaged, and the cover can be lifted up from the position shown in  FIG. 7 , while maintaining the displacement of the lock  26 , to open the container. The lock  26  can also be turned clockwise relative to the vessel  22 , which causes the spring  76  to bend due to the engagement of the hinge abutment  84  of the spring  76  with the spring abutment  62  of the hinge  60 . Again, the abutments  40  and  68  are disengaged, and the cover can be lifted up from the vessel. 
     In an alternate embodiment, only one of the springs  74  or  76  is necessary; the other could be replaced by a fixed abutment that allows the lock  26  to be rotated in only one direction, against the bias of the single spring. 
       FIGS. 8-11  show a second embodiment of a closure system of the present technology, in which a container  90  includes a bottle-shaped vessel  98  having a shoulder  92  and a faceted, approximately square section. The working parts of the container  90  are similar to those of the container  20 , except as indicated here. In the embodiment of  FIGS. 8-11 , as shown in  FIG. 9 , the spring engaging surface is not a portion of the hinge  96 , but rather is an abutment or lug  94  that projects upward from the shoulder  92  of the vessel  98 . Also, with reference to  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the abutment  100  of the spring  102  on the lock  106  is displaced radially outward with respect to the skirt  104  of the lock  106 . The abutment  94  is angled, as shown in  FIG. 9 , such that the abutment  100  optionally can act as a cam surface sliding radially outward along the abutment  94 , bending the spring  102  radially outward to generate the necessary bias against rotation. This arrangement exerts leverage on the spring  102 . 
       FIG. 9  also shows reinforcing projections such as  108  to reinforce the skirt  104 , which in this embodiment depends below the inner lift-off cap  24 . 
       FIG. 11  shows the necessary steps for opening either embodiment of the container, illustrated respecting the embodiment of  FIGS. 8-10 . Step  108  shows the user grasping the vessel  98  in one hand. Then the lock  106  is rotated relative to the vessel  98 , as shown in step  110 . Finally, while maintaining the lock  106  in its displaced position against the bias of the spring  102 , the lock  106  and underlying cap is flipped up about its hinge, as shown at  112 . The container then opens, as shown in the step  114 . 
     The invention has now been described in such full, clear, concise and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains to practice the same. It is to be understood that the foregoing describes preferred embodiments and examples of the invention, and that modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.