Patent Publication Number: US-11040808-B2

Title: Metal child resistant container

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This Application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/951,482 filed on Apr. 12, 2018. 
    
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a child resistant container with a screw lid. 
     BACKGROUND INFORMATION 
     This invention relates to child resistant packaging. In particular, this invention relates to products that require metal containers such as combustibles or flammable solvents like alcohols, toluene, and hexane. Chlorinated solvents are another type of liquid that is best suited for metal containers. Metal containers also protect the products held within from UV degradation. 
     Some states have enacted laws requiring products that are susceptible to dangerous misuse by children be sold by retailers in child resistant packaging. Examples of such products include medicines, pills, gels, and other similar substances. Some child resistant packaging, such as one-time opening clamshell designs and blister packaging, cannot be resealed after the substance is accessed. Other child resistant packaging products that are resealable, such as plastic pill bottles, cannot use modern preservation techniques to extend the shelf life of the contained substance. A metal child-resistant container is also better suited than a plastic pill bottle for laser etched or engraved tracking information. In the case of etching or engraving on a malleable substance like plastic makes it easy for the tracking information to be scratched off or distorted in other ways that makes the tracking information indecipherable. Many consumers are also concerned about the state of the environment and want products that can be recycled easily. Plastic pill bottles and other packaging are made of materials that are not accepted at many recycling processing plants or have a limited lifecycle. Another concern of consumers&#39; is that plastics are known to leach chemicals into the products they come into contact with. For things such as medication this is a big concern for people with compromised immune systems. This invention will be made of a recyclable metal alloy that is accepted by virtually all recycling processors. The present invention differs from current products on the market in that it can be opened and closed multiple times without loss of function, is easily recyclable, and can preserve the contents of the container better than similar products. 
     The present invention differs from most childproof packages on the market in that it can be used to store a substance itself in addition to pre-packaged product that may not come equipped with a childproofing device while being all metal and 100% recyclable as it uses no adhesives of any sort. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     The objective of this invention is to produce a child resistant metal container that can be resealed, recycled, and is capable of using preservation techniques to store the contained substance longer than other containers. The container is made of a recyclable metal and uses a twist or screw off mechanism that generates an air tight seal. There are three to four pieces; a container lid, a container body, a locking disk and a locking cap. 
     The container body is a metal cylinder tube with a solid, closed “base” and an open “top” opposite of the base. This is where the contained product rests. A main body, which holds the product. A recessed lip is manufactured into the open top of the container body. This recessed lip has screw threads manufactured into the side walls that compliment and accommodate matching threads manufactured into the locking cap. 
     The locking cap is a metal cylindrical tube piece with an “open” end at the base and a “closed” portion at the top. The locking cap is manufactured to a dimension that fits snuggly on the recessed lip of the container body and under the locking plate and container lid. Manufactured into the side walls of the locking cap are screw threads that compliment and accommodate those found on the recessed lip of the container body. Manufactured into the superior exterior surface plane of the locking cap “closed” top piece is a series of depressions that compliment and accommodate a matching set of depressions manufactured into the superior plane of the locking plate. 
     The locking plate is a cylindrical plate that fits between the locking cap and the container lid. Depressions identical in size and dimension to those on the locking cap are manufactured into the surface of the plate. 
     When opposing pressure is applied to the container cap against the container body and the depressions of the locking plate and locking cap are aligned, the container lid and locking cap depress slightly in the recessed lip. The user can then twist the container cap or body, causing the angled screw threads to catch and separate the lid from the body. Without this pressure, the container lid is designed to spin about the inner locking cap without opening, enhancing this product&#39;s child safety features. 
     In alternative embodiments it is possible to create the same multi-piece lid design while the body of the container can be bowl shaped instead of cylindrical. This bowl-shaped body allows for more efficient packaging for shipping and storage. The bowl design is nest-able. In alternative embodiments is possible to create the same multi-piece lid design while the body of the container can be made of spiral wound tubing with a metal bottom cap and threaded metal top of the body. In alternative embodiments it is possible to create the same multi-piece lid design while the body of the container can be a 3 piece metal body consisting of rolled tube, bottom cap, and top cap with threading. In alternative embodiments it is possible to create the same multi-piece lid design while the body of the container can be glass. 
     Alternative embodiments include the addition of an aluminum foil seal attached the inward rolled lip on the main body of the containing. This Aluminum foil seal acts as a barrier to light, moister, odors and is a tamper evident seal. A desiccant and oxygen scavenge material is added to the inside surface of the aluminum foil seal that absorbs oxygen, and hold the moister content of the container to a desirable level. The desiccant and oxygen scavenge material may be self adhering the foil seal or require an adhesive. Alternatively, the desiccant and oxygen scavenge material may act as an adhesive for the foil seal to attach to the container. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  depicts an external view of the container body and container lid in the closed configuration. 
         FIGS. 2A and 2B  depict the container body.  FIG. 2A  depicts a side view, revealing the inward recessed lip and the screw thread.  FIG. 2B  depicts a single angled thread that extends over the entire circumference of the container. 
         FIG. 3  depicts the inner cap and an embodiment of the depressions on the inner cap that the outer cap or center plate fits into. 
         FIG. 4  depicts a cross section of a preferred embodiment of the indentations on the inner cap and center plate. 
         FIGS. 5A and 5B  depict a top down view of alternative embodiments of the center plate. 
         FIG. 6  depicts the container cap that with a smooth top, that would require the application of the center plate. 
         FIG. 7  depicts an embodiment incorporating an aluminum foil seal applied over the opening of the main body. 
         FIGS. 8A, 8B and 8C  depicts the desiccant material and/or oxygen scavenging material on the foil seal.  FIG. 8A  depicts desiccant material and/or oxygen scavenging material applied as a rectangular strip on the foil seal.  FIG. 8C  depicts the desiccant material and/or oxygen scavenging material as two rectangular strips on the foil seal. 
         FIGS. 9A and 9B , depicts the foil seal with a viewing window.  FIG. 9A  depicts the foil seal on the main body with a circular viewing window in the center.  FIG. 9B  depicts the viewing window from the product facing side that shows the desiccant material and or oxygen scavenging material in a ring shape around the viewing window. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     This application relates to a child resistant container. The container requires the user to apply opposing pressure to the top and bottom of the device to engage embossed features located on the outer and inner cap to lock. Once engaged, the user twists and places complimentary angled screw threads engineered into the interior walls of the inner cap  05  and exterior walls of the container body into contact with each other. Once in contact, the user twists engaging the screw threads and unscrewing the container lip from the container body. When closed, the container is air tight, allowing the container to safety store its contents for extended periods of time. Further, due to the air tight nature the gas inside the container when its contents are packaged may be altered to have a less reactive gas inside to prevent decay. A high barrier sealing or lidding film can also be affixed on the top of the body of the container to maintain the specific atmosphere even after the lid is removed. This allows for the contents of the container to be visually inspected without disturbing the specific atmosphere of the container. Once this sealing or lidding film is removed the specific atmosphere of the container is no longer contained. 
     The container is made completely out of metal. The metals may include steel, tin, copper, aluminum or alloys thereof. Metal containers prevents BPA leaching, and chemical leaching into the stored product. Another advantage metal has over plastic is that track and trace information can be laser etched onto the container and not be easily be removed. Metal containers have the further advantage over plastic of being more recyclable in comparison. 
       FIG. 1  depicts the preferred embodiment of the claimed invention. The child resistant container in  FIG. 1  show the container body  01  on the bottom and the outer cap  02  resting on top of it. The area where the outer cap  02  and the container body  01  meet has a seamless edge. In this depiction the outer cap  02  has a smooth top. This embodiment will have a center plate  10  that is attached to the inside of the outer cap  02  or placed between  02  and  05 . In order to open the user must press on the main body  01  and the outer plate  02  together while applying horizontal rotational force to unscrew the caps from the main body  01 . 
     A preferred embodiment of the container has a height between 25 mm and 200 mm and a diameter of between 60 mm and 120 mm in the closed configuration. However, these dimensions may vary in various embodiments. 
       FIG. 2A  depicts the container body  01 . The container body  01  is comprised out of aluminum, however other metals may be used including steel, tin, copper, aluminum or alloys thereof. Other material combinations included tin plated steel, or copper plated steel. The container body  01  is cup-shaped with a recessed neck  03  at the top portion where it will meet the outer cap  02  and a threaded portion extending further upward where the container body will contact the inner cap  05 . The thread on the container body  04  is a one half or three-quarter, or one full turn, or double turn. However, the thread  04  is not to be greater than two full turns, in order to prevent slipping of the threads on the inner cap  05  with the thread on the outer cap  02  when the user applies pressure to the outer cap  02  and container body  01 . Due to the nature of the locking mechanism there are limits to how much force can be applied to unscrew the inner cap  05  from the outer cap, and therefore it is important to avoid the product becoming jammed. To this end there is only a single thread present and it will not have a thread engineered to result in more than one turn or two turns. 
     The main body in one preferred embodiment has a diameter of 68 mm and a height of the body before the inward rolled edge is 30.72 mm. The section with the threads is smaller has a diameter of 61.67 mm. However, the inward rolled edge will vary on the diameter of the container. 
     In alternative embodiments a lidding film or sealing film may be used over the opening of the main body  01  in order to create an air tight seal. The lidding film or sealing film is applied during packaging of the product, and may be combined with the use of an inert gas for storage of the product stored in the main body. 
       FIG. 2B  is another view of the main body  01  that better depicts the inward rolled edge  07  and recessed lip  03  and the thread  04  sections of the main body  01 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2B  the threaded section goes 360 degrees around the top of the container body but does not overlap. The recessed lip  03  depicted allows the inner cap and the outer cap to be in place while creating a seamless edge on the outside of the container. The inward rolled edge  07  wraps around the top of the opening to the main body  01 . When a lidding film or induction film is to be applied the inward rolled edge  07  form a flat surface at least 2 mm thick for the lidding film or induction film to bond. 
       FIG. 3  depicts the inner cap  05 . The inner cap  05  also has one or more indentations  06  on its top surface. These indentions  06  match indentations that are present on either the center locking plate  10  or the outer cap  02  and are the point of where the pressure from the user is converted into friction allowing the container to be opened. The pattern of the indention may vary from embodiment to embodiment. The preferred embodiment depicted in  FIG. 3  is a cross formation that is either four rectangular sections forming a cross, or a continuous cross shape in the middle of the top of the inner cap. 
     Alternatively, the indentation may be any shape that allows there to be an edge in the clockwise direction and counter clockwise direction. Four rectangular indentations  06 , or one cross indention  11  are preferred, other combinations may include two indentations, a single linear indentation, a curved indentation, or multiple indentions, of two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, or more equally, or unequally spaced indentations with a clockwise edge or counter clockwise edge. More indentations will be used in larger containers, and less indentations will be used in smaller containers. In embodiments with a diameter below 70 mm no more than four indentations should be used. In order to prevent ripping of the material in manufacturing the indentation will need to be thick between 4.5 mm and 6 mm thick. The inner cap  05  has threads  04  that correspond to the threads on the main body  01 , allowing the inner cap to unscrew off of the main body. This occurs when the user applies pressure to the outer cap onto the inner cap and turning the inner cap relative to the outer cap. 
     The inner cap  05  is held inside of the outer cap  02  by an inward rolled edge on the outer cap (not shown). Similar to the inward rolled edge on the main body  07  the inward rolled edge is at the end of the open end of the cap and causes the material on the outer cap to be formed inward creating a ledge. On the outer cap  02  the ledge holds the inner cap  05  inside of  02  and prevents the inner cap from sliding out of the outer cap, while allowing the inner cap  05  to float, and rotate inside of the outer cap  02 . The inward rolled edge must be large enough to hold the inner cap  05  in place inside of the outer cap  02 . 
       FIG. 4  depicts a cross section of the indentation on the inner cap  05  and on the center plate  10  or outer cap  02 . Two different angles are used on each edge, in order to resolve the issue of overtightening, the container and making it difficult to open. The two different angles: the working edge  09  and the open edge  08 , the working edge  09  is the edge that is in the counter clockwise direction of the indentations and provides the force during the closing of the container. The open edge  08  is the edge that is on the clockwise direction of the indentations  06  that provides the force that opens the container so long as opposing pressure is applied to  02 . The preferred embodiment the working edge  09  is 75 degrees, or the range or 70 to 80 degrees from the horizontal as to allow the cap to close, but not enough to over tighten and make opening to difficult. The angle allows the mechanism to disengage when it s sealed tight. When the mechanism is sealed tight the mechanism will skip, preventing overtightening. The open edge  08  is 60 degrees from the horizontal which decreases the amount of twist force to be exerted compensating for the closing motion while still requiring a push-down and twist motion to open the container. The range of 40 to 60 degrees from the horizontal may be used for the open edge. This allows the mechanism to operate with enough difficulty to achieve the child resistant requirements but not so difficult that adults are unable to reliably open the device. 
     In preferred embodiments the indentations have a depth of 0.85 mm with a width of 5.27 mm and a length of 16.62 mm.  FIG. 5A  depicts the center plate  10 , which is located between the inner cap  05  and the outer cap  02 . Depending on the specific embodiment, the center plate  10  may be attached to the inner cap  05  or the outer cap  02  through an adhesive or other bonding measure. In the preferred embodiment, the center plate  10  is placed in between the outer cap  02  and the inner cap  05  without adhesive or another bonding agent. The center plate  10  has indentations  11  that match and fit into the indentations  06  on the inner cap  05 . When pressed together, the center plate  10  and inner cap cap&#39;s  05  indentations fit into each other and allow the locking plate, inner cap, and outer cap to be unscrewed and separated from the container body. The indentation  11  in  FIG. 5A  is a single indention that is cross shaped. There is a clear working edge  12  which is clearly defined and open edge  13  on the clockwise side of the indention is less clear as a result of the steeper angle. 
     The center locking plate  10  is used in embodiments where the indentations are not manufactured into the outer cap  02 . In the case that the outer cap  02  requires a smoother top surface, the inner plate  05  is affixed to the inside of the outer cap  02 , so the outer cap is used to press down onto the inner cap  05  allowing the outer cap  02  to turn as one. 
       FIG. 5B  is an alternative embodiment of the center plate  10  with 4 separate indentations  11 , arranged similarly to the cross embodiment, however the center is not stamped. 
     In a preferred embodiment the diameter of the center plate  10  is 66 mm. There are 4 indentations extending from the center outward in a cross pattern. The indentations are each 4.79 mm in width and 15.82 mm in length allowing them to fit inside of the indentation on the inner cap.  FIG. 6  depicts the outer cap  02 . The outer cap  02  rests over the inner cap  05  and locking plate  10  and it meets the container body  01  at the start of the recessed lip  03 , forming a seamless edge. The outer cap  02  has an inward rolled edge on the edge of its open end (not shown) which creates a channel that hold the inner cap  05 . The inner cap  05  fits in the channel such that it cannot exit the channels, however it is able to float inside of the channel, and freely rotate. The fit of the outer cap  02  on the inner cap  05  is loose enough that turning the outer cap  02  will not turn the inner cap  05  against the resistance of the container body  01 . When the outer cap  02  is pushed down by the user, it locks with the inner cap  05  through the indentations  06  on the inner cap  05  locking plate  10  and allows the outer cap  02  to be separated from the container body  01  and either the center plate  10  or indentation on the outer cap  02 . 
     The indentations themselves vary in size from embodiment to embodiment and the size of the of the indentations vary depending on the number of indentations and size of the container. 
     In alternative embodiments the outer cap  02  will be stamped with the indentations instead of using a center plate  05 . Such a design would consist of three pieces, allowing the outer cap  02  to directly interact with the inner cap  05 . In this embodiment, the indentations  06  are manufactured into the outer cap  02  interact with the indentations on the inner cap  05 . The same angles would be used in the case where the outer cap  02  does not have indentations. 
     In alternative embodiments when the outer cap does not require a smooth superior exterior surface plane, the center plate  10  (with the embossing which matches the locking cap) can be removed from the design. Replaced by the embossing manufactured into the superior exterior surface plane of the outer cap  02  which matches the locking cap. This makes the lid a 2-piece lid whereas the design with the center plate is a 3-piece lid. 
     In various embodiments the locking, mechanisms taught above can be applied to various forms of containers. In such embodiments the main body will change in design, and the inner cap  05 , outer cap  02 , and locking plate will remain largely the same, only changing in size to match the change the dimensions of the new container body. 
       FIG. 7  depicts an alternative embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 2B , further including a multi-layer aluminum foil seal  15  where the multilayer aluminum foil seal  15  is located over the opening to the main body section of the container and is attached to the inward rolled edge  07 . The multi-layer aluminum foil seal  15  seals to the main body through a heat activated adhesive coating, and that has a predetermined amount of a desiccant material and or oxygen scavenge material applied to the product facing side of the foil seal  15 . (Not Shown). The seal may be sealed through induction or conduction sealing. The aluminum foil seal  15  provides a tamper evident seal, that may be used in addition to the tamper evident seal on the outside of the container, as a replacement of the external tamper evident seal. Additionally, the aluminum foil seal  15  provide a barrier to light, oxygen, water, and odors. 
     In a preferred embodiment the aluminum foil seal  15  will be contact conduction sealed to the inward rolled edge  07  of the body of the metal child-resistant container. The foil seal will be either flat or recessed. The foil seal  15  will have protective lacquer layer, an aluminum foil layer, and an extrusion coating layer with a heat activated adhesive. 
     The desiccant material and or oxygen scavenge material may include activated alumina, aerogel, benzophenone, bentonite clay, calcium chloride, calcium oxide, calcium sulfate (drierite), cobalt(II) chloride, copper(II) sulfate, lithium chloride, lithium bromide, magnesium sulfate, magnesium perchlorate, molecular sieve, potassium carbonate, potassium hydroxide, silica gel, sodium, sodium chlorate, sodium chloride, sodium hydroxide, sodium sulfate, sucrose, or sulfuric acid, ferrous carbonate, metal halide catalyst, ascorbate, sodium hydrogen carbonate, citrus, and/or Ascorbic acid. The amount and material makeup of the desiccant and oxygen scavenge material is specifically designed to maintain a relative humidity (RH) inside the container of between 50-65%. The desiccant and oxygen scavenging material may be applied to a smaller portion of the foil seal allowing the heat activated adhesive layer to still function properly, this reduces the need for nitrogen flushing and separate desiccant packets. The desiccant and oxygen scavenging material may be able to be applied to the foil seal through heat stacking or an adhesive. 
       FIGS. 8A, 8B, and 8C  depict various embodiments if the application of the desiccant material and or oxygen scavenging material  16  attached to the foil seal  15 , viewed from the inside of the container.  FIG. 8A  depicts the use of a circular piece of desiccant material and/or oxygen scavenging material  16  attached to the inside of the foil seal  15 . The desiccant material and/or oxygen scavenging material  16  may be made as large or small a necessary to create the desired atmosphere inside the container.  FIG. 8B  depicts the use of a rectangular strip of desiccant material and/or oxygen scavenging material  16  attached to the inside of the foil seal  15 . Alternatively, square shaped desiccant material and/or oxygen scavenging material  16  may be used.  FIG. 8C  depicts an embodiment where there are two desiccant material and/or oxygen scavenging material strips  16  attached to the foil seal  15 . This embodiment allows for different amounts of desiccant material and/or oxygen scavenging material  16  to be used to create the desired atmosphere inside the container. 
       FIGS. 9A and 9B  depicts an alternative embodiment of the preferred invention adding a viewing window  17  to the foil seal  15  and an exposed hole in the foil seal covered by the clear film  17 . The Viewing window allows the product stored and sealed in the container to be viewed without the seal being broken, allowing customers to view the product and know the seal, and product were not tampered with. The viewing window  17  itself comprised of a hole in the foil seal, sealed with a clear film bonded to the foil seal.  FIG. 9A  depicts the foil seal  15  and viewing window  17  in relation to the main body  01 . The clear file of the viewing window  17  may be attached to the foil seal  15  through various bonding techniques. The clear film may be attached to the foil seal  15  on the side facing the product or on the side facing the cap.  FIG. 9B  depicts the product facing side, where the viewing window  17  in in the center and the desiccant material and or oxygen scavenging material  16  is in a doughnut shape surrounding the clear film. Optionally the clear film may be sandwiched between the desiccant material and or oxygen scavenging material  16  and foil seal  15  at the edges of the clear film. Alternatively, the viewing window  17  may be offset to one side of the foil seal, and the clear film is attached to the foil seal  15 , while the desiccant material and or oxygen scavenging material  16  is located on the foil seal  15  at a location where the viewing window is not located. Alternatively, the desiccant material and or oxygen scavenging material  16  may be in one or more separate locations on the product facing surface of the foil seal  15  that does not overlap the viewing window  17 . 
     Alternative embodiments may include a bowl design, that replaces the cup design of the main body. By using a bowl shape instead of a cup shape more efficient packaging and storage is possible, because bowls are nest-able. 
     Alternative embodiments include the use of the same multi lid design with a spiral wound tubing with a bottom cap. The spiral wound tubing may be paper tubes, paper cores, cardboard tubes, chip board tubes, or plastic tubes. The bottom cap may be metal, or plastic. 
     Alternatively, it is possible to create the same multi-piece lid design while the body of the container can be a 3-piece metal body comprising of rolled seamed tube, bottom cap, and top cap with threading. 
     Alternative embodiments may include a viewing window, in the outer cap  02 , inner cap  05 , center plate  10 , main body  01  or combination thereof, to allow the product stored inside to the viewed without opening the container. 
     Additional alternative embodiments allow for there to be a hermetically sealed main container. The three pieces, or two-piece lid design is then used over the hermetically sealed main body. When the customer opens the lid and seal the customer is then able to reseal the container in an air tight seal. 
     Various alterations and modifications may be made to the present invention without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, although particular embodiments refer to the shape of the indentations in the various drawings, this is in no way intended to be limiting as, in use, the present invention may be implemented using different configuration which are used for various products.