Patent Publication Number: US-2023158529-A1

Title: Device for packaging and dispensing a product with child safety

Description:
The present invention relates to a product packaging and dispensing device which is safe for children. 
     The invention belongs to the field of childproof metering systems. 
     Numerous solutions have been proposed for fitting flasks, bottles and other containers with closure systems making it possible to restrict access to their contents by children and to ensure that adults can still access them. 
     However, most of the existing solutions are complex and costly to manufacture, are insufficiently robust, or do not meet the regulatory standards and provisions currently in force. 
     The aim of the present invention is to remedy the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art. 
     To that end, the present invention proposes a product packaging and dispensing device, having:
         a container having a base and an upper edge opposite to this base, the container containing the product to be dispensed;   a subassembly that is fixed to the container and has a neck, a pump for dispensing the product, and a pushbutton that is able to slide in the neck and actuates the pump by manual pressure; and   a closure cap having a first wall; the device being notable in that:   the neck is provided with two slots, each having a first, flared part starting on an upper edge of the neck and a second, thin part extending over a finite length of the neck to form a bend with said first part, said first wall possessing two first ribs, each intended to be inserted into a slot in the neck to enable the cap to rotate from a closed position, for which the two first ribs are each locked in the base of the second, thin part, to an open position, for which said first ribs have reached the first, flared parts, and in that   the subassembly has an annular surface that rests on the upper edge of the container and is provided with at least one lug, and the cap has a second cylindrical wall which has a diameter greater than the first wall and is concentric with respect to the first wall, the second wall having an inner face provided with at least one second axial rib which butts against the at least one lug when the cap is in a closed position; and   the second wall has two diametrically opposed regions which are deformable by manual pressure so as to allow the cap to rotate by releasing the at least one second rib from said at least one lug.       

     The product packaging and dispensing device is thus fitted with a robust childproof locking system that has a very limited number of parts, is simple to manufacture and is inexpensive. This is because the packaging device combines a safety component by way of the cap, on which it is necessary to exert a certain pressure to enable it to rotate, and an opening component that performs well and is well controlled by the opening system of said cap, involving a bayonet-type system. It should be noted that the safety component implementing second ribs that butt against lugs is completely disassociated from the opening component involving the bayonet system. In this way, neither of these components influences the other component, ensuring proper operation of the product packaging and dispensing device according to the invention under any circumstances. 
     The cap is secured to the subassembly by means of a bayonet-type fixing system. When the cap is in the closed position, the second ribs are locked in the base of the second, thin parts of the slots and thus prevent any translational movement of the cap along its axis of revolution. When the cap is rotated from its closed position, the second ribs thus move toward the first, flared parts of the slots. Once they have reached said first parts, said ribs no longer serve as a stop, and there is nothing to retain the cap on the subassembly any more. The cap can then be removed from the subassembly effortlessly. The presence of two second ribs and two slots makes it possible to properly distribute the forces produced between the cap and the subassembly when said cap is being rotated around said subassembly. It should be noted that in the second, thin part of the slot each first rib slides along a longitudinal axis of said first rib, and in the first, flared part each first rib slides along an axis that is inclined with respect to a longitudinal axis of this first rib. Specifically, it is assumed that each first rib keeps the same spatial orientation in the second, thin part of the slot and in the first, flared part of said slot. 
     In one particular embodiment, the aforementioned annular surface is provided with two diametrically opposed lugs and the aforementioned inner face is provided with two second diametrically opposed axial ribs that respectively butt against the two lugs when the cap is in the closed position. This makes it possible to still further increase the safety of the locking of the device. 
     In one particular embodiment, the second wall has an outer face having a predetermined overthickness in the two deformable regions. This makes it possible for the user to easily identify the locations at which it is necessary to press on and rotate the cap in order to unlock it and open it. 
     According to one possible particular feature, this overthickness may have a plurality of grooves. This improves the ability to firmly grasp the cap while it is being pressed on and rotated, and this still further improves identification of the locations to be used for these manoeuvers simply by touch. 
     In one particular embodiment, the cap has instructions for opening the device. This promotes proper use of the device and this avoids having to provide a separate paper user manual for the device, which is not very practical. 
     According to one possible particular feature, these opening instructions may be etched onto the cap. This makes it possible to do away with printing in ink on a label and gluing this label to the cap. 
     According to one possible feature of the invention, the two slots in the neck are diametrically opposed such that the two first, flared parts are aligned along a diameter of the neck. 
     According to one possible feature of the invention, the two first ribs are diametrically opposed, each of the two first ribs having a profile in the shape of an arc of a circle extending along an imaginary circle embodying the periphery of the neck. The presence of two second ribs and two slots that are diametrically opposed makes it possible to properly distribute the forces when an inadvertent opening manoever is being performed. 
     According to one possible feature of the invention, the width of the second, thin part of each first rib is greater than the width of a first rib, the width of the first, flared part of each first rib being greater than the length of said first rib. More specifically, the width of the second, thin part is slightly greater than the width of the first rib, and so the first rib can slide along the second, thin part without generating any play. Similarly, the width of the first, flared part of the slot is slightly greater than the length of the first rib, and so, when the entirety of the first rib has reached the first, flared part of the slot, said first rib can immediately slide into said first, flared part. 
     The invention also relates to a method for using a product packaging and dispensing device according to the invention. 
     According to the invention, the method comprises the following steps, assuming the cap closes said device:
         a step of applying a manual pressure to the two deformable regions of the second wall of the cap, so as to release the second ribs from the two lugs,   a step of rotating the cap which causes each first rib to slide in each slot, from the second, thin part to the first, flared part,   a step of removing the cap from the subassembly when each first rib is located completely within the first, flared part of each slot.       

    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Further aspects and advantages of the invention will become more clearly apparent from reading the following detailed description of particular embodiments, which are given by way of entirely nonlimiting example and with reference to the appended drawings, in which: 
         FIG.  1    is a schematic perspective view, partially showing hidden detail, of a device according to the present invention, in one particular embodiment. 
         FIG.  2    is a schematic perspective view of a subassembly included in a device according to the present invention, in one particular embodiment. 
         FIG.  3    is a schematic perspective view, partially showing the inside, of a cap included in a device according to the present invention, in one particular embodiment. 
         FIG.  4    is a schematic perspective view, partially showing the outside, of a cap included in a device according to the present invention, in one particular embodiment. 
         FIG.  5    is a schematic side view of a device according to the present invention, showing the positioning of the two ribs butting against the lugs. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT(S) 
     As shown in  FIG.  1   , in one particular embodiment, a product packaging and dispensing device  10  according to the invention has a container  12 , preferably cylindrical, which contains the product to be dispensed. 
     The product to be dispensed is, for example, a liquid, a paste or a gas. By way of entirely nonlimiting example, this may be a pharmaceutical, cosmetic, cleaning or dietary product. 
     The container  12  has a base  120  and an upper edge  122  at its end opposite to the base  120 . 
     With reference to  FIG.  2   , the device  10  also has a subassembly that is fixed to the container  12  and has a neck  14 , a pump  16  for dispensing the product, and a pushbutton  18 . The pushbutton  18  is able to slide in the neck  14  and actuates the pump  16  by manual pressure applied to the top of the pushbutton  18 . 
     With reference to  FIGS.  1  and  2   , the neck  14  is a hollow cylindrical wall possessing two slots  150  each having a first, flared part  151  continued by a second, thin part  153 . The first, flared part  151  starts on an upper edge  152  of the neck  14  and extends in the width of said neck  14  along an axis which is inclined with respect to the axis of revolution of this neck  14 . Before it has completely passed through the neck  14 , the first, flared part  151  continues by way of the second, thin part  153 , which extends along an imaginary circle embodying the circumference of the neck  14 . This second, thin part  153  has a profile in the shape of an arc of a circle prescribed by the curvature of the neck  14  and has a finite length in said neck  14 . It should be specified that each slot  150  having the first, flared part  151  and the second, thin part  153  is blind, and that said two parts  151 ,  153  communicate with one another. This is because each slot  150  can be likened to a profiled recess which is made in the neck  14  and does not pass through said neck  14 . The two slots  150  are disposed on the neck  14  in diametric opposition, that is to say that the centers of the two first, flared parts  151 , considered along the upper edge  152  of the neck  14 , are aligned along a diameter of the neck  14 , and the two second, thin parts  153  extend from the same side with respect to said first, flared parts  151 . 
     With reference to  FIGS.  3  and  4   , the device  10  moreover has a closure cap  20 , which has a first cylindrical wall  200  having two first ribs  154 . More specifically, this cylindrical wall  200  possesses an inner surface  201 , from which the two first ribs  154  emerge. The two first ribs  154  extend along one and the same imaginary circle embodying the circumference of the first cylindrical wall  200  and are disposed on the first wall  200  in diametric opposition. Each first rib  154  thus has a profile in the shape of an arc of a circle prescribed by the curvature of the first wall  200  of the cap  20 , and has a finite length. These first ribs  154  can thus be likened to projecting and inwardly curved bayonets. The width of the second, thin parts  153  of the slots  150  is greater than the width of the first ribs  154  and the width of the first, flared parts  151  of said slots is greater than the length of the first ribs  154 . The cap  20  is placed on the subassembly such that each first rib  154  is inserted into a slot  150  in the neck  14 . This cap  20  is mounted rotatably on the subassembly, such that it can be transferred from a closed position, for which the first ribs  154  are locked in the base of the second, thin parts  153  of the two slots  150 , to an open position, for which said first ribs  154  have reached the first, flared parts  151  of said slots  150 . The first ribs  154  slide in the second, thin parts  153  of the slots  150  without generating any play. Once the first ribs  154  have reached the first, flared parts  151  of the slots  150 , the cap  20  can be removed from the subassembly in the direction along which each of said first, widened parts  151  extends. Specifically, the cap  20  is removed from the subassembly with retention of the spatial orientation of the first ribs  154 , which is identical to that which they have in the second, thin parts  153  of the slots  150 . In this way, the cap  20  is mounted on the subassembly by means of a bayonet-type system. 
     With reference to  FIG.  2   , the aforementioned subassembly has an annular surface  140  which rests on the upper edge  122  of the container  12 . 
     In accordance with the invention, the annular surface  140  is provided with at least one lug  142  on its face opposite to that located inside the container  12 . 
     With reference to  FIGS.  1 ,  3  and  5   , the cap  20  also has a second cylindrical wall  300  which has a diameter greater than the first wall  200  and is concentric with respect to the latter. The second wall  300  has an inner face  302 , which can be seen in  FIGS.  1  and  3   , provided with at least one second axial rib  304 , which can be seen in  FIGS.  1  and  3   . In the closed position of the cap  20 , this second rib  304  butts against the lug  142 , thus rotationally locking the device  10 . 
     With reference to  FIGS.  1 ,  2  and  5   , in the embodiment under consideration, the annular surface  140  is provided with two diametrically opposed lugs  142  and the inner face  302  is provided with two second diametrically opposed axial ribs  304  that respectively butt against the two lugs  142  of the cap  20 . However, it would be possible to provide more lug/second associated rib pairs. In these figures, only a single one of the two lugs  142  can be seen, the other lug  142  being hidden by the elements of the device  10 . 
     With reference to  FIGS.  1  and  4   , the second wall  300  moreover has two diametrically opposed regions  306  which are deformable by manual pressure. These two regions  306  are located such that any straight line that passes through the axis of the cylinder of the walls  200  and  300 , is orthogonal to this axis and passes through the second rib(s)  304  is orthogonal to any straight line that passes through the axis of this same cylinder and divides the two regions  306  into two sectors with the same surface area. In other words, the two regions  306  are positioned perpendicularly to the second ribs  304 . 
     The locking manoeuver for the device  10  consists in exerting a manual pressure on these two regions  306  while still rotating the cap  20 . Deformation of the second wall  300  causes the second ribs  304  to then move away from the axis of the aforementioned cylinder and, when the pressure exerted is sufficient, they move away enough to be able to be released from the lugs  142 . 
     As shown in  FIGS.  1  and  3   , in one particular embodiment, the second wall  300  may have an outer face having a slight overthickness in the two deformable regions  306 . This overthickness may have a plurality of grooves  308 , which can be seen in  FIGS.  1 ,  3  and  4   . 
     As a variant, the two deformable regions  306  may have a particular etching or screen print or any other feature that makes it possible for the user to identify them so that they apply pressure to the correct place on the cap  20  in order to remove it. 
     The second wall  300  may be made of any material that has mechanical properties compatible with the elastic deformation necessary for the operation of the device  10 . 
     As shown in  FIGS.  1  and  4   , in one particular embodiment, the cap  20  may incorporate instructions for opening the device  10 . By way of entirely nonlimiting example, these instructions may be etched, or printed or appended by any other technique, onto the cap  20 , for example onto the top of the cap  20 , for example in the form, on the one hand, of two arrows directed toward one another and located above the two deformable regions  306 , indicating that pressure should be applied to these two regions  306 , and, on the other hand, of a rotary arrow indicating the direction of rotation for the opening and unlocking action. 
     In the examples of  FIGS.  1  and  4   , these illustrations are supplemented by the numeral “1” located between the two facing arrows and the numeral “2” located at the side of the rotary arrow. These numerals indicate the order of operations, specifically: press on the cap  20 , then turn it. 
     A method for using a product packaging and dispensing device  10  according to the invention comprises the following steps, assuming the cap  20  closes said device  10 :
         a step of applying a manual pressure to the two deformable regions  306  of the second wall  300  of the cap  20 , so as to release the second ribs  304  from the two lugs  142 ,   a step of rotating the cap  20  which causes each first rib  154  to slide in each slot  150 , from the second, thin part  153  to the first, flared part  151 ,   a step of removing the cap  20  from the subassembly when each first rib  154  is located completely within the first, flared part  151  of each slot  150 .