Abstract:
The present invention discloses a maze type package that may be child resistant. The package includes a cylindrical container member that includes a plurality of mazes thereon. The coaxial closure member includes studs for engaging the mazes and to releasably secure the closure to the container.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/385,226 filed Feb. 8, 2012 that claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/012,783 filed Feb. 5, 2008, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,113,366 and to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/004,619 filed Dec. 3, 2004, abandoned that claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application 60/526,794 filed Dec. 3, 2003. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Pill containers, as well as certain types of liquid containers and the like, involve snap-on and threaded closures. Snap-on and threaded closures, which may be put on and off easily on the container, are of great convenience to the user. Snap-on and threaded closures, however, enable children to open such containers easily and to be exposed to potentially harmful contents. Containers that employ snap-on and threaded closures therefore should be resistant to opening by children, especially children under age 5. 
     A child resistant package must satisfy specific test standards to comply with protocol specified by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (“CPSC”). These standards are child resistance effectiveness (CRE) and older adult use effectiveness (&#39;OAUE). CRE is the percentage of children in a group that are unable to open the package within a specified time. CRE is measured by asking pairs of children in a specified age group (30% aged 42-44 months, 40% aged 45-48 months, and 30% aged 49-51 months) to open the package in a specified time period both before and after a nonverbal demonstration. Currently, the CPSC requires a CRE of 85 percent before a demonstration and 80 percent after a demonstration. OAUE is the percentage of adults in a group that is able to open and close the package. OAUE is measured by asking individual adults in a specified age group (typically 60-75 years) to open and close a package using instructions supplied with it in a specified time period. Currently, the CPSC requires an OAUE of ninety percent based on pictorial or written instructions. 
     Maze type packages are known in the art. These types of packages employ mazes formed of intersecting grooves. Two types of motion typically are employed to open such a package: (1) rotation and (2) linear (usually axial) motion. The sequence of steps employed typically includes alternating a rotary motion with an axial motion. Although maze type packages exist in the prior art, a need continues for maze type packages which are both child resistant and easily opened by adults, particularly elderly adults. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a package having a container and a closure; 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of the container of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of closure  15 ;  FIG. 3 a    is a cross sectional view of the closure shown in  FIG. 1  taken on line A-A; 
         FIG. 3B  is a cross sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the closure shown in  FIG. 1  B that includes reinforcing ribs. 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of the container of  FIG. 1  that shows a configuration of a maze of ribs on the neck of the container of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4A  is side view of the container of  FIG. 1  that shows an alternative configuration of a maze of ribs that includes a stud retainer; 
         FIG. 5  is a cross sectional view of the container of  FIG. 1  showing a rib  23 ; 
         FIG. 5A  is an enlarged view of a rib of the maze shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a cross section view of an embodiment of stud  27  of closure  15 ; 
         FIGS. 7( a )-7( c )  are cross sectional views of alternative shapes of ribs  23 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a cross sectional assembly view of the package of  FIG. 1  that shows the closure attached to the container. 
     
    
    
     The invention can be more clearly understood by reference to the drawings forming a part of this disclosure wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to packages such as child resistant packages which provide ease of use by older adults, particularly adults over 60 years of age. The packages are sufficiently child resistant to provide adequate protection of child health yet not so complex as to be uneconomical or excessively inconvenient for adults, particularly elderly adults over 60 years of age. In particular, the present invention relates to child resistant packages that employ a maze of intersecting circumferential and axial grooves. 
     The packages include a generally cylindrical container member and a coaxial closure member that may be rotated relative to the container member. The container member and the closure member engage to prevent relative axial movement there between except in predetermined positions. 
     The closure member advantageously may be snap closed onto the container by pushing the closure downwardly on to the container. The package may be easily opened by people who are slightly handicapped or lack total manual dexterity, such as those who are arthritic. Further advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing detailed description. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The closure and container components of the package may be made from materials such as glass, metal, plastics such as polyethylene and polypropylene, as well as paper and the like. The container and the closure components need not be made from the same material. The term package refers to the container in combination with the closure. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-8 , there is shown an embodiment of package  1  which includes container  5  and closure  15 . Container  5  may be of any shape and dimension. Typically, container  5  is a cylindrical receptacle of common diameter throughout its length, or of bottle-like form with neck  17  of reduced diameter. Preferably, and as illustrated in  FIGS. 1-8 , container  5  includes body  19  and neck  17  joined to body  19 . Neck  17  is dimensioned to receive closure  15  thereover. Neck  17  includes opening  18  for permitting access to the contents of container  5 . Although neck  17  is shown in  FIG. 1  as having a narrower diameter than body  19 , the configuration of neck  17  is not so limited. 
     On the outer surface of neck  17  are molded or otherwise provided elevated ribs  23 . Ribs  23  form maze  21  of intersecting axial and circumferential grooves (A)-(K) as shown in  FIG. 4 . Ribs  23  have lower surfaces  24  which are generally flat, such as within ten degrees of perpendicular to the circumferential surface of neck  17 . Ribs  23  may vary in cross-sectional shape. Ribs  23  may have a cross section that is generally trapezoidal as shown in  FIG. 7( a ) . Other possible cross sections include but are not limited to hemispherical and stepped as shown in  FIGS. 7( b ) and 7( c ) , respectively. Ribs  23  may include downwardly, outwardly tapered portion  25  as shown in  FIG. 5A . The angle (β) of tapered portion  25  may vary from about one degree to about 89 degrees, preferably about 30 degrees to about 60 degrees, most preferably about 45 degrees. 
     In an embodiment such as shown in  FIG. 4 or 4A , maze  21  includes a number of circumferential and axial grooves (A)-(K) defined by ribs  23 . Maze  21  includes lowermost circumferential groove (A), a series of three upper, circumferential grooves (C), (E) and (G), and axial grooves (B), (D), (F), (H) and (K). It is understood that the number of circumferential and axial grooves are not limited to those shown in  FIG. 4  or  FIG. 4A . Circumferential grooves such as grooves (C), (E) and (G) may be horizontal or angled in a range of about 1 degree to about 20 degrees to the horizontal, such as about 2 to about 3 degrees to horizontal. Most typically, the circumferential grooves are horizontal. 
     In  FIG. 4 , lowermost groove (A) of maze  21  includes detent  35 . Detent  35  functions to secure studs  27  of closure  15  in locking region  9  between detent  35  in groove (A) and the inner wall surface of neck  17 . Detent  35  typically is positioned from inner wall surface of neck  17  by a distance that is about equal to the width of stud  27  so as to enable stud  27  to be secured in locking region  9  without requiring any lateral movement of stud  27  in lowermost groove A. Detent  35 , however, may be located a distance of about 11% to about 51% of the length of lowermost groove A distal to the inner wall surface of neck  17 , such as a distance of about 23% to about 51% of the length of lowermost groove A distal to the inner wall surface of neck  17 , more typically a distance of about 29% to about 51% of the length of lowermost groove (A) distal to the inner wall surface of neck  17 . Detent  35  may have a trapezoidal cross section as shown in  FIG. 4 . Detent  35 , however, may have a variety of other cross sections such as hemispherical, ellipsoidal, square, rectangular and triangular. 
     In an alternative embodiment such as shown in  FIG. 4A , detent  35  in lowermost groove (A) of maze  21  is replaced by stud retainer  37 . Stud retainer  37  is typically integral with the bottom surface of groove (A) and extends across a portion of the width of groove (A), such as about 5% to about 100%, such as about 20% to about 50% of groove (A), typically about 100% of the width of groove (A). Stud retainer  37  may have a variety of cross sections. Non-limiting examples of possible cross sections for stud retainer  37  include but are not limited to polygons having 3 or more sides, such as 3 to 10 sides, typically four sides, circular cross sections, ellipsoidal cross sections, hemispherical cross sections, concave cross sections, convex cross sections and combinations thereof. Polygonal cross sections may be regular such as square or irregular such as rectangular. Stud retainer  37  functions to secure studs  27  of closure  15  in locking region  9  between stud retainer  37  in groove (A) and the inner wall surface of neck  17 . Stud retainer  37  may extend upwardly from the bottom surface of groove (A) to about 0.1 to about 99% of the depth of groove (A), typically about 25% to about 50% of the depth of groove (A) so to enable stud  27  to pass over stud retainer  37  to be secured in locking region  9  while also enabling stud  27  to pass from locking region  9  into groove (A). Stud retainer  37  is typically located adjacent locking region  9 . Stud retainer  27 , however, may be located in groove (A) distal to locking region  9 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 4A , groove (H) is partially defined by upwardly extending maze side wall  23 A. Side wall  23 A may extend downwardly to the bottom surface of groove (A). 
     In a maze  21 , groove (F) may extend above the upper surface of groove (E) as shown in  FIG. 4 . Groove (F), alternatively, may be co-extensive with the upper surface of groove (E) so as to not to extend above groove (E). Groove (C) may extend on each side of the intersection with groove (B). Similarly, groove (E) may extend to each side of the intersection of groove (D). Grooves such as (A), (C) and (E), together with studs  27  described below, limit unintended movement of closure  15  and also minimize the likelihood that a child can forcibly pry closure  15  off of container  5 . 
     Closure  15  may be of generally conventional design that has a closed top  16  and cylindrical sidewalls  22 . In an alternative embodiment such as shown in  FIG. 3B , closure  15  may include a plurality of spaced, reinforcing bars  88  integral within the interior of closure  15 . Closure  15  has a diameter sufficient to fit over neck  17 . In this embodiment, closure  15  is unlined. In other embodiments, closure  15  may be lined or linerless (e.g., plug seal). As shown in an embodiment such as in  FIG. 3 , two inwardly projecting, diametrically opposed studs  27  are provided on sidewall  22 . In this embodiment, there are two diametrically opposed, individual mazes  21 , typically identical mazes  21 , each of which extend 180 degrees around the circumference of neck  17 . In an alternative embodiment, studs  27  may number three or four and may be located at 120 degrees and at ninety degrees to each other, respectively. A number of mazes  21 , such as identical mazes  21  corresponding in number to the number of studs  27  in closure  15 , are provided on neck  17 . Any number of studs  27 , such as equally spaced studs around the inner periphery of closure  15  may be used. 
     Studs  27  may have a trapezoidal cross section as shown in  FIG. 6 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , stud  27  has an inwardly, downwardly tapered portion  28  and a generally flat, horizontal upper portion  29 . Upper portion  29  is within thirty degrees of perpendicular, such as perpendicular to sidewall  22  of closure  15 . Tapered portion  28  of stud  27  enables stud  27  to ride over ribs  23  of maze  21  when closure  15  is pushed downwardly onto container  5 . This enables a user to snap close closure  15  onto container  5  into a secured position in locking region  9 . Studs  27  have a length L and a thickness T. The length L of stud  27  is sufficient to minimize the possibility that a child may pry closure  15  from container  5 . The thickness of stud  27  corresponds to the width of lowermost groove A so as to achieve a snug fit of stud  27  in groove A. The snug fit typically is sufficient to prevent a child from rocking closure  15  off of container  5 . 
     The angle (α) of tapered portion  28 , as shown in  FIG. 6 , may vary from about 1 degree to about 89 degrees, such as about 30 degrees to about 60 degrees, such as about 45 degrees. 
     Studs  27  preferably may be of a depth and height that corresponds approximately with the depth and height, respectively, of lowermost groove (A) of maze  21  as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . Where stud retainer  27  is present in groove (A), the depth and height of studs  27  are sufficient to pass over stud retainer  37 . This enables upper surfaces  29  of studs  27  to be in the preferred position of being adjacent and generally parallel to the upper surfaces of a groove of maze  21 . 
     When securing closure  15  onto neck  17  of container  5 , closure  15  is first placed onto neck  17  to cause stud  27  of closure  15  to engage axial groove (K) as in  FIG. 4 . Axial groove (K) may be identified by arrow  50 . Downward pressure then is applied to closure  15  to cause stud  27  on closure  15  to ride over ribs  23  to engage the locking region  9  in lowermost groove (A). Lowermost groove (A), as shown in  FIG. 4 , includes detent  35  to retain stud  27  in the locking region  9 . In an alternative embodiment, lowermost groove (A) as shown in  FIG. 4A , includes stud retainer  37  to retain stud  27  in locking region  9 . Studs  27  and ribs  23  cooperate to enable closure  15  to be snap closed easily onto container  5 . This encourages adults who lack dexterity to secure closure  15  onto container  5  to prevent children from gaining access to the contents of container  5 . 
     The child resistant package is opened by rotating and lifting closure  15  relative to container  5 . In this way, studs  27  on closure  15  pass through maze  21  to separate closure  15  from container  5 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 8 , closure  15  first is rotated counterclockwise to cause stud  27  to ride over pass under detent  35  in lowermost circumferential groove (A) as in  FIG. 4  or to ride over stud retainer  37  as shown in  FIG. 4A  to unlock closure  15 . Closure  15  then is rotated counterclockwise to cause stud  27  to engage first axial groove (B). Closure  15  then is lifted to cause stud  27  to engage first upper groove (C). Closure  15  is further rotated counterclockwise in groove (C) to cause stud  27  to engage second axial groove (D). Closure  15  then is lifted to cause stud  27  to engage second upper groove (E). Closure  15  then again is rotated to cause stud  27  to engage third axial groove (F). At this point, closure  15  is lowered to cause stud  27  to engage third upper groove (G). Subsequently, closure  15  is rotated to cause stud  27  to engage fourth axial groove (H). Closure  15  then is lifted to remove closure  15  from container  5 . This series of rotary and lifting motions provides the closure of the invention with high child resistance. Moreover, adults with limited manual dexterity may easily open the closure of the invention. 
     The child resistant package of the invention may be employed in any application where child-resistant benefits are desired to prevent access to the contents of a container. The package therefore may be used for storing of pharmaceutical products, agricultural products, toxic household chemicals, automotive products and other products with certain levels of specific ingredients that are covered within the CPSC guidelines that may be harmful to children. The child-resistant concept also may be used to prevent access to the operating mechanism of devices such as butane lighters, household cleaners, and other devices. 
     Numerous modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.