Patent Publication Number: US-11034490-B2

Title: Child resistant packaging

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates generally to closures for containers, and more particularly to a closure with a child-resistant feature. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Pharmaceuticals and drugs packaging are very important in view of (a) environmental protection issues, (b) protection from being damaged and (c) child-resistant protection issues. Containers with particularly hazardous materials, such a pharmaceutical, are vulnerable to access by children which can lead to harm to the child if the child (i) is able to open the container and (ii) consumes the contents. 
     To prevent or inhibit access to a container, many closures incorporate child-resistant features. Many different types of child-resistant container have been proposed. One of the most common child-resistant containers uses a cap and container construction that requires a user to press down on the cap while turning to cause locking tabs to disconnect. Once the locking tabs are disconnected the cap can be removed. 
     These “child-resistant” containers are typically used for over-the-counter and prescription medications. Other child-resistant containers are used for other household items, that are toxic if swallowed or ingested. These containers are in place to prevent children from inadvertently gaining access to the contents of these containers. 
     However, these child resistant containers include a multi-step opening and closing process. A certain level of mental and physical dexterity is required for opening and closing such containers. For example, use of a certain amount of pressure or force is needed to open the container, which inhibits children from being able to open. 
     It is therefore a press-down design is fine for removable lids. However, adding child resistant features to a flip top lid has been difficult since the lid is secured at one side and, thus, cannot be twisted to unlock tabs. 
     Also, many child-resistant features make the container difficult to open for anyone with limited dexterity, such as arthritic patients or disabled person or use by the elderly people. 
     Further, these child resistant containers are also often inadequate to protect the contents from degradation upon exposure to environmental factors such as moisture, temperature or air. 
     Since the container body and the closure cap is made of synthetic resin, such as turning in with excessive force, there is a possibility that the engaging protrusion is deformed or damaged. 
     A challenge in creating child resistant containers is making the container easy enough for the arthritic patients or disabled persons or use by the elderly people. 
     A need, therefore, exists for a container which is child resistant and is easily manipulated between an open position and a close position for a non-child. 
     Therefore, there remains a need for improved containers that are easy to use for an elderly or disabled individual or arthritic patients, while providing child-resistant features. Also, there remains a need for a container where the contents are protected for improved shelf-life, such as being liquid-tight, air-tight, moisture-tight. 
     One goal of the present invention is to provide a container with a press-open cap in which the container and the cap engages firmly with each other to inhibit unnecessary opening of the cap, and where a minimal given force is applied in an opening mechanism, releases the engagement to inhibit the breakage of the cap. 
     Another goal of the present invention is to provide (a) child-resistant packaging for pharmaceuticals, drugs, nutraceutical products, medications, cannabis products and other products that could be deemed undesirable for children and (b) a simple, easy to configure packaging that can accommodate different types of products and packaging requirements. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a child-resistant packaging having a closure for a container that forms a two-piece child-resistant closure and have flexible and fixed lugs performing a locking function. 
     In one aspect of the present invention, the child-resistant packaging for storing and securing of pharmaceuticals, drugs, nutraceutical products, medications, cannabis products and other products that could be deemed undesirable for children. The child-resistant packaging has a container with an elongated hollow neck and an extended bottom surface, a cap with an elongated hollow neck and closed top, wherein, the extended bottom surface of the container is a fixed circumferential ring along the elongated neck and provided with relief cut-outs to provide a depression for plurality of lugs provided on the surface perpendicular to the elongated neck and the elongated hollow neck of the cap have plurality of lugs towards its open end. The depressions are provided on the extended bottom surface to give a mark for applying forces towards relief cut-outs. Further, locking threads are provided on outer circumference of the elongated neck to lock it with its counterpart. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, container is a molded body made up of material such as but not limited to thermoplastics, such as and not limited to polypropylene. The container body is circular in shape with an elongated hollow neck and an extended bottom surface. The extended bottom surface is a fixed circumferential ring with the elongated neck and provided with relief cut-outs to provide the depression for plurality of lugs provided on the surface perpendicular to the elongated neck. The provided lugs have an angled/tapered surface and a straight surface. Further, locking threads are provided on outer circumference of elongated neck/cap to lock it with its counterpart. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, the cap is a molded body made up of material such as but not limited to thermoplastics, such as and not limited to polypropylene. The cap body is circular in shape with an elongated hollow neck and closed top. The elongated hollow neck has locking threads on inner circumference to lock it with its counterpart and have plurality of lugs towards its open end. The lugs have an angled/tapered surface and a straight surface. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, the cap lugs can be attached into the elongated neck of the cap using (a) polymeric adhesives like and not limited to epoxy, araldite, and combinations thereof or (b) screws, pins, bolts, or equivalents thereof made of plastic or metal. In such case the lugs will be provided with locator/attachment pins that slide into matching holes provided in the elongated neck of the cap. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, the cap lugs can be separately molded forming a ring and can be attached, as identified above, into the elongated neck of cap. In such case the elongated neck of the cap is provided with thinned out portion at its opening in which lug ring will be inserted then adhered and press fitted. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, in operation, the cap will be screwed to close the container, the angled/tapered surface of the cap lugs will make contact with the angled/tapered face of the container&#39;s lugs and force the depressor area and container&#39;s lugs inwards of the body of the container and as it passes the container&#39;s lug it gets locked. Once the straight surface of lugs of both parts are in contact, anti-rotation is prohibited. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, to unlock the packaging, a depressor/pushing button on the container have to push inward which permits the lugs to pass by each other so that the cap can screwed off. The depressor/pushing button will move into the cut out in elongated neck of container and allows unlock the cap. The relief cut-out allows the depressor/pushing button to move inward to release the cap lugs from the container&#39;s lugs. The relief cut-out causes the depressor/pushing button to only be attached by a living hinge that provides enough flexibility. The living hinge flexes when the depressor/pushing button is pushed inward. The living hinge further aids in bending of the depressor/pushing button when it is pushed. It is designed to ensure that the button/depressor area flexes in evenly and doesn&#39;t twist. 
     It is an object of the present invention is the child-resistant packaging for storing and securing of pharmaceuticals products, medications and drugs. 
     It is another object of the present invention is the child-resistant packaging for storing and securing nutraceutical products. 
     It is another object of the present invention is the child-resistant packaging for cannabis products. 
     It is another object of the present invention is the child-resistant packaging for hazardous materials which are vulnerable to access by the children. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The object of the invention may be understood in more details and more particularly description of the invention briefly summarized above by reference to certain embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings, which drawings form a part of this specification. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective equivalent embodiments. 
         FIG. 1  shows a child-resistant packaging in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  shows an exploded view of a child-resistant packaging in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  shows a top view of a container of a child-resistant packaging with Depressor/pushing button in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  shows a bottom view of a container of a child-resistant packaging in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  shows the exploded view of a cap with lug ring for a child-resistant packaging in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  shows the exploded view of another cap with means of attaching lugs for a child-resistant packaging in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  shows the sectional view of assembled container with a cap of a child-resistant packaging in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  shows the detailed view for highlighting locking between container with a cap of a child-resistant packaging in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 9  illustrates the present invention with a neck seal. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiment set forth herein. Rather, the embodiment is provided so that this disclosure will be thorough, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. 
       FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  illustrate collapsed and exploded views of a child-resistant packaging  10 . The packaging  10  has a container/jar  20  and a cap  30  that form a two-piece child-resistant closure for a container. The container/jar  20  and the cap  30 , each has flexible and fixed lugs that perform a locking function. The container  20  and the cap  30  is a molded body made up of material such as but not limited to thermoplastics such as and not limited to polypropylene, acrylic, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, chlorinated polyvinyl chloride, polyamides, aliphatic polyesters, polybenzimidazole, polycarbonate, polysulfone, polyacetal, polyaryletherketone, polyethylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, plytetrafluoroethylene and combinations thereof. 
       FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4  illustrate the container  20  of a child-resistant packaging  10 . The container  20  body has a storage cavity  370  defined by a cylindrical elongated hollow neck  21  and an extended, closed bottom surface  26 . The extended bottom surface  26  is a fixed circumferential ring having a distal surface  262  and a proximal surface  264 . The distal surface  262  and the proximal surface  264 , each has a larger circumference than the elongated neck  21 . The circumference of the distal surface  262  can be the same or different than the circumference of the proximal surface  264 . In any case, the circumference of the proximal surface  264  is designed such that the cap&#39;s bottom surface  390 , when properly locked to the hollow neck  21 , contacts or nearly contacts at least a portion of the container&#39;s proximal surface  264 . 
     The extended bottom surface  26 , as illustrated at  FIG. 4 , has at least one living hinge  27 —two are illustrated at  FIG. 4 . The living hinge  27  is positioned in an extended bottom surface cavity  23   a . The extended bottom surface cavity  23   a  corresponds with a hollow neck cavity  23  wherein the cavities  23   a  and  23  are aligned in the same area together. Positioned in the hollow neck cavity  23  is at least one lug  24 , preferably a plurality of lugs  24 . A portion of the lug(s)  24  and a portion of the hollow neck cavity  23  are both positioned above the proximal surface  264 . The lug(s)  24  are positioned so the lug(s)  24  contacts the cap  30  when the cap  30  is securely locked to the container  20 . 
     The living hinge  27  has a depressor/pushing button  25 . The extended bottom surface cavity  23   a  and the corresponding hollow neck cavity  23  each has a predetermined depth and the living hinge  27  has sufficient flexibility to permit most non-children users to apply at least a predetermined pressure toward the elongated neck&#39;s center upon the depressor/pushing button  25 . The living hinge  27  flexes when the depressor/pushing button is pushed inward. The living hinge  27  further aids in bending of the depressor/pushing button  25  when it is pushed. It is designed to ensure that the button/depressor button is able to flex in evenly and doesn&#39;t twist when the predetermined pressure is applied. When the predetermined pressure is applied, the living hinge  27  contacts the elongated neck&#39;s wall which results in the container lug(s)  24  transitionally moving toward the elongated neck&#39;s center being in an unlocking state position. And when the predetermined pressure is not applied to the living hinge  27 , the lug(s)  24  revert to a locking state position. 
     Locking threads  22  are also provided on outer diameter of the elongated neck  21  to lock it with its counterpart—the cap  30  when the cap  30  is at least securely positioned on the container  20 . 
       FIG. 5  illustrates an exploded view of the cap  30  having an elongated hollow neck  302  a proximal closed top  304 , and a distal opening  306 . The elongated hollow neck  302  has locking threads  31  on its inner diameter to lock it with its counterpart—the locking threads on the container&#39;s outer diameter of the elongated neck  21 . In all embodiments, the cap  30  has at least one cap lug  34  positioned near the distal opening  306  so that when cap  30  is securely attached to container  20  that cap lug(s)  34  and container lug(s)  24  are aligned in such a way that cap lug(s)  34  and container lug(s)  24  inhibit, unless a sufficient force is applied to the living hinge  27  and simultaneously the cap  30  is unthreaded from the container  20 , the cap  30  from being unattached to the container  20 . 
     In one embodiment, the cap&#39;s elongated neck  302  has a thinned-out portion  32 . The thinned-out portion  32  is provided at and near the distal opening  306 . The thinned-out portion is designed to receive a lug ring  33 . The lug ring  33  can be inserted into the thinned out portion  32  and attached thereto. For example, the attaching process can be accomplished by applying an adhesive (polymeric adhesives like and not limited to epoxy, araldite, and combinations thereof) to the thinned-out portion&#39;s interior wall surface  322 , the lug ring&#39;s exterior surface  332 , or both surfaces  322 ,  332 , then inserting the lug ring into the thinned out portion and press fitting the lug ring and the thinned out portion together. Alternatively, the lug ring  33  can be attached to the thinned-out portion&#39;s interior wall surface  322  by screws, pins, bolts, or equivalents thereof made of plastic or metal; or combinations with the above-identified polymeric adhesives thereof. 
     The lug ring  33  has the at least one cap lug(s)  34 . The cap lug(s)  34  can be an integral molded portion of the lug ring  33  or separately molded and can be attached onto the lug ring  33 . The cap lug(s)  34  can be attached into the lug ring  33  using (a) polymeric adhesives like and not limited to epoxy, araldite, and combinations thereof, (b) screws, pins, bolts, or equivalents thereof made of plastic or metal; or (c) combinations thereof. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates the exploded view of another embodiment of cap  30  having an elongated hollow neck and closed top. The elongated hollow neck  302  has locking threads  31  on its inner diameter to lock it with its counterpart—container  20 . The cap  30  also has the at least one cap lug(s)  34 . The at least one cap lug(s)  34  can be an integral molded portion of the cap  30  or, as shown in  FIG. 6 , separately molded and adhered onto the elongated neck of cap  30 . The cap lug(s)  34  can be attached into the elongated neck of the cap using (a) polymeric adhesives like and not limited to epoxy, araldite, and combinations thereof or (b) screws, pins, bolts, or equivalents thereof made of plastic or metal; or (c) combinations thereof. 
     As illustrated at  FIG. 6 , the cap&#39;s elongated hollow neck  302  can have a plurality of lug cavities  35 . The lug cavities  35  are configured to receive at least one locator/attachment pin(s)  36  protruding from the cap lug(s)  34  rear surface  350 . In addition to the  0  connection of the lug cavities  35  and locator/attachment pin(s), the cap lug(s)  34  can be attached into the elongated neck of the cap using (a) polymeric adhesives like and not limited to epoxy, araldite, and combinations thereof or (b) screws, pins, bolts, or equivalents thereof made of plastic or metal; or (c) combinations thereof. As set forth above, the cap lug(s)  34  and container lug(s)  24  are designed to inhibit, unless a sufficient force is applied to the living hinge  27  and simultaneously the cap  30  is unthreaded from the container  10 , the cap  30  from being unattached to the container  10   
       FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8  illustrate sectional views of assembled container  20  with a cap  30  of a child-resistant packaging  10 . In operation, the cap  30  will be screwed onto the container  20  to have a closed child-resistant packaging  10 , the cap lugs  34  also have an angled/tapered surface  34   b  that are configured to contact an angled/tapered face  24   b  of the container/jar lugs  24  that will result in forcing the container lug(s)  24  inwards towards the body of the container  20  and as the cap lug(s)  34  passes the container&#39;s lug(s)  24 , the container  20  and the cap  30  get locked together. Each cap lug also has a straight surface  34   a  that is on the opposite side of the cap lug&#39;s tapered surface  34   b ; likewise each container lug(s) has a straight surface  24   a  that is on the opposite side of the container lug&#39;s tapered surface  24   b . When the container  20  and cap  30  are locked together, at least one of the cap lug&#39;s straight surface  34   a  and at least one of the container lug&#39;s straight surface  24   a  contact each other in order to inhibit undesirable unlocking rotation between the container and the cap when the container and the cap are to be locked together. This will inhibits a child from opening the packaging  10  on its own. 
     To unlock the child-resistant packaging  10 , the depressor/pushing button  25  on container  20  should be pushed inward which permits the container lugs  24  to be transitionally moved toward the center of the container  20  which in turn permits jar lugs  34  to pass by the container lugs  24  when the cap  30  is simultaneously screwed off from the container  20 . 
     The depressor/pushing button  25  will move into the cut out  23  in elongated neck of container and allows unlock the cap  20 . The relief cut-out  23  allows the depressor/pushing button  25  to move inward to release the cap lugs  34  from the container lugs  24 . The relief cut-out  23  causes the depressor/pushing button  25  to only be attached by a live hinge  27  that provides enough flexibility. The live hinge  27  flexes when the depressor/pushing button is pushed inward. The live hinge  27  further aids in bending of the depressor/pushing button  25  when it is pushed. It is designed to ensure that the button/depressor area flexes in evenly and doesn&#39;t twist. 
     Further, the cap&#39;s elongated hollow neck can comprises a neck seal  99 , as shown at  FIG. 9 , to further inhibit the rotation of the cap lugs  34  past the locked position. With the neck seal, a second cap lug  34  is not necessary to inhibit the over-rotation of the cap lug  34 , as the cap&#39;s bottom surface  390  contacts or nearly contacts at least a portion of the container&#39;s proximal surface  264  to inhibit the over-rotation so the cap lug  34  is positioned just past the container lug  24  when the container  10  is in a locked position. 
     The foregoing description of embodiments of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, and modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of the invention. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principals of the invention and its practical application to enable one skilled in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.