Patent Publication Number: US-7591394-B1

Title: Child-resistant package, closure and container

Description:
The present disclosure relates to child-resistant packages, such as prescription packages for example, and to closures and containers for such packages. 
   BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
   The present disclosure involves a number of aspects that can be implemented separately from or in combination with each other. 
   A child-resistant package, in accordance with a first aspect of the present disclosure, includes a container having an open mouth surrounded by a wall and a closure engagement element extending circumferentially part-way but not completely around the wall. The portion of the wall into which the engagement element does not extend is resiliently inwardly flexible. A closure has a base portion that engages an end of the container wall around the mouth and an engagement portion that engages the engagement element on the container wall. The portion of the container wall that is inwardly flexible permits manual engagement with the base portion of the closure to remove the closure from the container. In an exemplary embodiment according to this aspect of the disclosure, the engagement element on the container includes an internal bead, and the closure includes an annular wall extending from the base portion of the closure with an external bead for snap-engagement over the internal bead on the container wall. Thus, to open the package in a child-resistant mode of operation, the portion of the container wall in which the internal bead is absent is pressed radially inwardly to enable manual engagement with an undersurface of the base portion of the closure, and the closure is then pushed away from the container to disengage the respective beads. 
   In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the closure and container are adapted for a non-child-resistant mode of operation by providing an internal bead around the open mouth of the container and a peripheral bead around the base portion of the closure. The closure thus may be inverted so that the peripheral bead on the closure base portion can be received by snap-fit over the internal bead around the container mouth. In accordance with a third aspect of the disclosure, the container is configured to facilitate stacking of containers in an automatic prescription filling system, for example. The container sidewall has an upper cylindrical portion on which at least one closure engagement element is disposed and a lower conical portion extending from the cylindrical portion. The cylindrical portion is radially outwardly offset from the conical portion, so that the conical portions of the containers can be nested one within another with the cylindrical portions in stacked engagement to facilitate removal. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The disclosure, together with additional objects, features, advantages and aspects thereof, will best be understood from the following description, the appended claims and the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a partially sectioned elevational view of a package in accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; 
       FIG. 2  is a fragmentary partially sectioned elevational view of a portion of the package in  FIG. 1  during removal of the closure; 
       FIG. 3  is a fragmentary partially sectioned elevational view of the package in  FIG. 1  in a non-child-resistant mode of operation; 
       FIG. 4  is a sectioned elevational view of the container in the package of  FIGS. 1-3 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a top plan view of the container in  FIG. 4 , being taken from the direction  5  in  FIG. 4 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a sectioned elevational view of a stack of containers of the type illustrated in  FIGS. 4-5 ; and 
       FIG. 7  is a partially sectioned elevational view of the closure in the package of  FIGS. 1-3 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIGS. 1-3  illustrate a package  20 , in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention, as including a container  22  to which a closure  24  is removably secured. Referring also to  FIGS. 4-5 , container  22  includes a sidewall  26  having a first section  28  surrounding the open mouth of the container and a second section  30  spaced from the open mouth of the container. First sidewall section  28  preferably is substantially cylindrical, while second sidewall section  30  preferably is frustoconical. Container  22  also has a base  32 , preferably a push-up base connected to sidewall section  30  by a rounded chime  34 . Container  22 , including sidewall sections  28 ,  30  and base  32 , preferably is of one-piece integrally molded plastic construction. Sidewall section  28  preferably is radially outwardly offset from sidewall section  30 , being coaxial with sidewall section  30  and integrally connected thereto by a contiguous shoulder portion  36 . 
   At least one closure engagement element is disposed on container sidewall section  28  for securement of closure  24  ( FIGS. 1-3 ). In the illustrated exemplary embodiment of the disclosure, this closure engagement element includes an internal bead  38  on container sidewall section  28 . As best seen in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , bead  28  extends circumferentially part-way but not completely around the inside surface of sidewall section  28 . The portion  28   a  of sidewall section  28  into which bead  38  does not extend is resiliently radially inwardly flexible, inasmuch as bead  38  does not extend into this sidewall portion to strengthen the sidewall portion against inward flexure. Bead  38  preferably is circumferentially continuous, except of course at sidewall portion  28   a , but could be circumferentially discontinuous if desired. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment of the disclosure, bead  38  extends around approximately 270° of sidewall section  28 , with portion  28   a  constituting about 90° of the total sidewall section. These figures are exemplary. The upper edge  40  of sidewall section  28  preferably lies in a plane perpendicular to the axis of container sidewall  26 . 
   In the illustrated exemplary embodiment of the disclosure, there is an internal bead  42  that extends around the container mouth at the upper edge of sidewall section  28 . (Directional words such as “axial” and “radial” are employed by way of description and not limitation with respect to the central axis of the container or the closure as appropriate. Directional words such as “upper” and “lower” are employed by way of description and not limitation with respect to the upright orientation of the package, container and closure illustrated in the drawings.) As will be described, this internal bead  42  preferably is provided to facilitate a non-child-resistant mode of operation of package  20 . Although bead  42  is provided in the preferred exemplary embodiment of the disclosure, bead  42  is not necessary in accordance with all aspects of the present disclosure. Bead  42 , when provided, can be circumferentially continuous, as shown, or circumferentially discontinuous. 
   Closure  24  ( FIGS. 1-3  and  7 ) includes a base portion  44 , which preferably is flat and circular in geometry. Base portion  44  has a radially outwardly extending flange  45  with an undersurface  46 , which preferably is annular and flat, extending around the periphery of base portion  44  in the illustrated preferred embodiment of the disclosure. The outer diameter of flange  45  and undersurface  46  preferably is not greater than the outer diameter of the open container mouth—i.e., the outer diameter of the upper edge of container wall section  28 . An annular wall  48  extends from the inner periphery of undersurface  46  and preferably is coaxial with the outer periphery of base portion  44 . An external bead  50  is provided on annular wall  48  at a spacing from undersurface  46  suitable for snap-fit over bead  38  (FIGS.  1  and  4 - 5 ) in assembly of closure  24  to container  22  in a child-resistant mode of operation ( FIGS. 1-2 ). A peripheral bead  52  preferably is provided around base portion  44  of closure  24 . Closure  24  preferably is hollow within annular wall  48 , and preferably is of one-piece integrally molded plastic construction. 
   In a child-resistant mode of operation illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , closure  24  is secured to container  22  with annular wall  48  received within the container mouth and closure bead  50  received by snap-fit over container bead  38 . Bead  50  has an outside diameter for primary plug-sealing engagement within wall section  28 . Flat undersurface  46  of closure base portion  44  is in secondary sealing engagement with upper edge  40  of container sidewall portion  28 . To remove closure  24 , container wall portion  28   a  is pushed radially inwardly in the direction  54  in  FIG. 2 , which then permits manual engagement with a portion of closure undersurface  46 . The closure is then pushed axially in the direction  56  until beads  38 ,  50  disengage and the closure can be removed from the container. Suitable indicia may be provided on sidewall  22  to inform a user where to push sidewall portion  28   a , and indicia may be molded or otherwise provided on the top surface of closure  24  to inform a user how to open the package. The requirement for two perpendicular motions—i.e., radially inward motion of container wall portion  28   a  and then axial movement against closure undersurface  46 —provides the child resistance. The package thus provides a snap-cap-type child-resistant mode of operation. 
   In the preferred embodiment of the disclosure, anon-child-resistant mode of operation is provided by peripheral bead  52  on closure base portion  44  and internal bead  42  around the container mouth. That is, closure  24  is inverted ( FIG. 3 , as compared with  FIGS. 1-2 ) and secured to the container by snap-fit of closure peripheral bead  52  over container internal bead  42 . In the non-child-resistant mode of operation, therefore, the exemplary embodiment of the disclosure operates as a simple snap-cap. Suitable indicia can be molded or otherwise provided on the undersurface of base portion  44  within annular wall  48 , for example, to advise a user that the package is non-child-resistant in the configuration of  FIG. 3 . Sealing engagement in the non-child-resistant mode of operation is provided by contact between closure bead  52  and the inner surface of wall section  28 , and contact between container bead  42  and the outer surface of closure wall  44 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 6 , the preferred geometry of container  22  is such that the containers can be stacked one within another, with conical wall sections  22  nested within each other and cylindrical wall sections  28  in abutting end-to-end engagement. This container stacking aspect of the present disclosure is particularly useful in connection with automatic prescription filling machines. 
   There thus have been disclosed a package, a container and a closure that fully satisfy all of the objects and aims previously set forth. The disclosure has been presented in conjunction with a presently preferred embodiment, and a number of modifications and variations have been discussed. Other modifications and variations readily will suggest themselves to persons of ordinary skill in the art in view of the foregoing description. The disclosure is intended to embrace all such modifications and variations as fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims.