Patent Abstract:
A child-resistant closure system for a container comprises a protective cap, a dispensing tip, and a cylindrical base. The dispensing tip includes a pair of buttons adapted to control whether the dispensing tip is in a locked condition so as to prevent actuation or an unlocked condition so as to permit actuation, via the shoulders, of a sprayer pump unit that is partially contained within the dispensing tip. The cylindrical base has a pair of spaced apart upwardly extending legs. In an locked condition of the dispensing tip, the upwardly extending legs are not aligned with slots defined in a horizontal circumferential portion of the dispensing tip such that downward movement of the dispensing tip in relation to the base is blocked by the upwardly extending legs to prohibit actuation of the sprayer pump unit and to lock the dispensing tip.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    The present application is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/216,639, filed Mar. 17, 2014, which in turn claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/801,831 to the inventors, filed Mar. 15, 2013, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Field. 
         [0003]    Example embodiments in general relate to child-resistant closure systems for containers. 
         [0004]    2. Related Art 
         [0005]    The Consumer Product Safety Commission (“CPSC”) proposed a rule in early 2012 to require child-resistant (“CR”) packaging for any over-the-counter or prescription product containing the equivalent of 0.08 milligrams or more of an imidazoline, a class of drugs that includes tetrahydrozoline, naphazoline, oxymetazoline, and xylometazoline, in a single package. Imidazolines are a family of drugs that are vasoconstrictors indicated for nasal congestion and/or ophthalmic irritation. Products containing imidazolines can cause serious adverse reactions, such as central nervous system (“CNS”) depression, decreased heart rate, and depressed ventilation in children treated with these drugs or who accidentally ingest them. Based on the scientific data, the CPSC has preliminarily found that availability of 0.08 milligrams or more of an imidazoline in a single package, by reason of its packaging, is such that special packaging is required to protect children under 5 years old from serious personal injury or illness due to handling, using, or ingesting such a substance. The CPSC has taken this action under the Poison Prevention Packaging Act of 1970. 
         [0006]    Accordingly, as it is expected that this rule will become law, manufacturers will be required to develop child-resistant closure (CRC) systems for their nasal pump sprayers and eye-dropper dispenser products (such as Visine®), as each of these products contain the equivalent of 0.08 milligrams or more of an imidazoline. In doing so, one goal is to ensure that the newly developed dispensers are robust enough to prevent children five years old and under from being able to inadvertently open the bottle to use or ingest the contents, while still being “senior friendly” to mature adults. 
         [0007]    Moreover, the same child-resistant principals as to be applied to nasal sprayers and eye-dropper (squeeze) bottles so as to comply with impending CR packaging regulations, could also be made applicable to other fields of fluid dispenser/packaging. For example, little or no thought has be given to developing CRC systems for consumer fluid pump dispensers having a viscosity generally higher than that of water or water-based medicinal fluids, such as those dispensers holding lotions, shampoos, baby oils, and paints. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0008]    An example embodiment is directed to a child-resistant closure system for a pump sprayer. The system includes a protective cap, a dispensing tip configured to receive the cap thereon, a lower end of the dispensing tip including a pair of finger-depressing shoulders in opposite relation to one another, each shoulder extending horizontally outward from the dispensing tip, with a cylindrical portion provided beneath the shoulders to serve as a bottom end of the dispensing tip, the cylindrical portion including a pair of buttons spaced 180° apart on a vertical facing of the cylindrical portion, the buttons adapted to control whether the dispensing tip is in a locked or unlocked condition so as to permit actuation, via the shoulders, of a sprayer pump unit that is partially contained within the dispensing tip, each button including an undercut formed on a back face thereof within the interior of the dispensing tip, and a cylindrical base having its upper end secured to the dispensing tip and its lower end configured to be secured to a dispenser bottle which contains fluid, the dispensing tip and base housing the sprayer pump unit therein which is actuated by depressing the shoulders on the dispensing tip once the dispensing tip is in an unlocked condition, the base top end including a circular thread formed around its circumference on an external surface thereof. In a locked condition of the dispensing tip, the undercuts on the back faces of the buttons engage an underside of the circular thread on the base to prohibit actuation of the sprayer pump unit and to lock the dispensing tip. To achieve an unlocked condition of the dispensing tip to permit actuation of the sprayer pump unit via depressing the shoulders, the buttons are pressed simultaneously to deflect the undercuts outward and away from the circular thread on the base, permitting the dispensing tip to move upward to a home dispensing position under a force applied to the dispensing tip from a spring in the sprayer pump unit. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    Example embodiments will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below and the accompanying drawing, wherein like elements are represented by like reference numerals, which are given by way of illustration only and thus are not limitative of the example embodiments herein. 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a front view of a child-resistant closure system for a pump sprayer according to an example embodiment. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a front view of a dispensing tip according to the system of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a bottom perspective view of the dispensing tip according to the system of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a side view of a base according to the system of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a sectional view B-B taken from  FIG. 4   
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a bottom perspective view of the base shown in  FIG. 4 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a dispensing bottle usable with the system of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is a top view of the bottle shown in  FIG. 7 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  is a portion of a cross-cut of the dispensing tip in the xz-plane to show positions of the base legs and buttons in a locked position. 
           [0019]      FIG. 10  is a portion of a sectional view of the system taken in the xy-plane to show a locked position. 
           [0020]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a child-resistant closure system for a pump sprayer according to another example embodiment. 
           [0021]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a cap according to the system of  FIG. 11 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of a base according to the system of  FIG. 11 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view of a dispensing tip according to the system of  FIG. 11 . 
           [0024]      FIG. 15  is a portion of a sectional view of the system taken in the yz-plane to show a locked position. 
           [0025]      FIG. 16  is a perspective view of a child-resistant closure system for a pump sprayer according to another example embodiment. 
           [0026]      FIG. 17  is a front view of a dispensing tip according to the system of  FIG. 16 . 
           [0027]      FIG. 18  is a sectional view C-C taken from  FIG. 17 . 
           [0028]      FIG. 19  is a front view of a base according to the system of  FIG. 16 . 
           [0029]      FIG. 20  is a front view of the dispensing cap and base of the system in  FIG. 16 . 
           [0030]      FIG. 21  is a sectional view A-A taken from  FIG. 20  to show a locked position. 
           [0031]      FIG. 22  is a sectional view A-A taken from  FIG. 20  to show an unlocked position. 
           [0032]      FIG. 23  is a perspective view of a child-resistant closure system for a pump sprayer according to another example embodiment. 
           [0033]      FIG. 24  is a partial side perspective view of a dispensing tip according to the system of  FIG. 23 . 
           [0034]      FIG. 25  is a partial bottom perspective view of the dispenser tip of  FIG. 24 . 
           [0035]      FIG. 26  is a front view of a base according to the system of  FIG. 23 . 
           [0036]      FIG. 27  is a portion of a sectional view of the system taken in the xz-plane to show a locked position. 
           [0037]      FIG. 28  is sectional view of the cap, dispenser tip and base taken in the xz-plane to show a locked position. 
           [0038]      FIG. 29  is a portion of a sectional view of the system taken in the xz-plane to show an unlocked position. 
           [0039]      FIG. 30  is sectional view of the dispenser tip and base taken in the xz-plane to show an unlocked position. 
           [0040]      FIG. 31  is a front view of a child-resistant closure system for a pump sprayer according to another example embodiment. 
           [0041]      FIG. 32  is a portion of a sectional view of the system taken in the xz-plane to show a locked position. 
           [0042]      FIG. 33  is a sectional view A-A taken from  FIG. 31  to show a locked position. 
           [0043]      FIG. 34  is a sectional view A-A taken from  FIG. 31  to show an unlocked position. 
           [0044]      FIG. 35  is a perspective view of a child-resistant closure system for a pump assembly according to another example embodiment. 
           [0045]      FIG. 36  is an exploded view of the system of  FIG. 35 . 
           [0046]      FIG. 37  is a partial bottom perspective view of the dispenser of  FIG. 35 . 
           [0047]      FIG. 38  is a sectional view of the system taken in the xy-plane to show an unlocked position with the cap installed. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0048]      FIG. 1  is a front view of a child-resistant closure system for a pump sprayer according to an example embodiment. The child-resistant closure (CRC) system  100  includes a cap  110 , a dispensing tip  120  and a base  130 . Each of the cap  110 , dispensing tip  120  and base  130  may be injection molded or extruded or otherwise formed of a suitable plastic material, as is known. The cap  110  is 3-sided to minimize rolling and avoid losing the cap  110 . The base  130  has interior grooves or threads for coupling it to a threaded member on dispenser bottle  140  which holds the medicinal fluid therein. The base  130  and dispensing tip  120  also partially enclose a sprayer pump unit  150  (not shown) which partly extends into the dispenser bottle  140  interior. 
         [0049]    In an example, the CRC system  100  described here and child-resistant based embodiments to be described hereafter may be applicable, but not limited to: single or multi-dose dispensers such as nasal sprayers, ocular sprayers, dermal sprayers, misters, aerators, airless dispensers, air-use dispensers, spouted and non-spouted pump assemblies, and the like. The containers or dispensers foreseeable have applications in the healthcare, home and garden, beauty and food and beverage industries, thus the embodiments described herein are applicable to dispensers or containers configured for, but not limited to dispensing nasal medicine, sunscreens, food products, paints and protectants, deodorants, insect repellants, sealed breath fresheners, ear medicine, dermal medicine, lotions, fragrances, air fresheners, spray starches, oxygen, insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, rodenticides, spray oils, talcs, and spray food stuffs. Further, the CRC systems can be varied in size and applied as a platform to handle any desired viscosity of fluid. 
         [0050]      FIG. 2  is a front view of a dispensing tip according to the system of  FIG. 1 , and  FIG. 3  is a bottom perspective view of the dispensing tip according to the system of  FIG. 1 . Dispensing tip  120  includes a pair of spaced, dished buttons  122  on a collar  126  that permit locking and unlocking of the dispensing tip  120  for rotation thereof to allow dispensing via a pair of shoulders  121 , which are used to depress the sprayer pump unit  150  within (not shown) under finger pressure, as is known. A button  122  is provided on either side of collar  126  and includes a relief  124  separated by a hinge  125  that acts as a cam when the button  122  is actuated by the user. A ramp  127  is positioned on the back side of each relief  124 ; this interfaces with an upstanding leg  135  that is formed on either side atop of base  130 , as to be shown hereafter. A pair of internal catches  129  within dispensing tip  120  also come into contact with the legs  135  of the base  130  in a locked condition, locking out the dispensing tip  120 . 
         [0051]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the base,  FIG. 5  a sectional B-B taken from  FIG. 4  of the base,  FIG. 6  is a bottom perspective view of the base,  FIG. 7  is a dispenser bottle usable with the system of  FIG. 1 , and  FIG. 8  is a top view of the bottle shown in  FIG. 12 . Referring to  FIGS. 4-8 , the base  130  includes a pair of upstanding legs  135  in spaced relation on a top surface thereof, and includes a series of grooved internal threads  131  for coupling with a dispenser bottle  140 . There is also a vertical clearing  136  adjacent each leg that is formed into base  130  that permits product dispensing. Additionally, an anti-back off feature has been added to both the dispenser bottle  140  and base  130 . The base  130  is formed with internal threads  131 , and serrated teeth  132  at its bottom skirt. Upon full seating of the base  130  to the bottle  140 , the downward force of application will push the bottom skirt of the base  130  over formed teeth  142  in the bottle  140 , providing a secure method of application where tampering to remove the base  130  would be evident and would eliminate accidental removal. 
         [0052]      FIG. 9  is a portion of a cross-cut of the dispensing tip in the xz-plane to show positions of the base legs and buttons in a locked position, and  FIG. 10  is a portion of a sectional view of the system taken in the xy-plane to show a locked position. Referring to  FIGS. 9 and 10 , basic operations are described. The cap  110  is retained simply by an undercut on the dispensing tip  120 . All that is required to remove cap  110  is a vertical pull. 
         [0053]      FIG. 10  shows a locked condition with the leg  135  of the base  130  held by catch  129 ;  FIG. 9  shows this in another orientation and additionally shows the tab  127  on the dispenser tip engaged with leg  135 . Both horizontal dished buttons  122  on dispensing tip  120  are to be simultaneously depressed in order to release the dispensing mechanism. Depressing the buttons cants the ramps  127  outward via hinges  125 , which releases the upstanding legs  135  on the base  130 , allowing each leg  135  to turn and release from its corresponding catch  129 . The dispensing tip  120  pivots 30° on center axis and aligns with the vertical clearing  136  on the base  130 , which allows for product dispensing. 
         [0054]    Although the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-10  describes a base  130  having two legs that is twist to unlock, in which the dispenser tip  120  locks out actuation of a sprayer pump unit, the exact same embodiment can be accomplished with a dispenser  120  having two buttons, but actuating a single leg  135 . The functions of locking and unlocking described above with a single leg having the same construction as leg  135  would accomplish the same goal of locking out dispensing, as the leg  135  would extend all the way to catch  129 . The other side would by legless, but the interlock would still require simultaneous two-button interaction for child-resistant purposes. 
         [0055]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a child-resistant closure system for a pump sprayer according to another example embodiment, and  FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a cap according to the system of  FIG. 11 . Referring to  FIGS. 11 and 12 , the child-resistant closure (CRC) system  200  includes a cap  210 , a dispensing tip  220  and a base  230 . Each of the cap  210 , dispensing tip  220  and base  230  may be injection molded or extruded or otherwise formed of a suitable plastic material, as is known. The cap  210  is 3-sided to minimize rolling and avoid losing the cap  210  and includes a lower rim  223 . 
         [0056]    The dispensing tip  220  includes two raised ribbed buttons  222  on opposite sides thereof that control whether the dispensing tip  220  is in a locked or unlocked condition so as to permit actuation of the sprayer pump unit  250  (not shown). The base  230  has interior grooves or threads for coupling it to a threaded member on dispenser bottle  240  which holds the medicinal fluid therein. The base  230  and dispensing tip  220  also partially enclose a sprayer pump unit  250  (not shown) which partly extends into the dispenser bottle  240  interior. 
         [0057]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of a base according to the system of  FIG. 11 . The base  230  includes a pair of upstanding legs  235  in spaced relation on a top surface thereof, and includes a series of grooved internal threads (not shown) for coupling with a dispenser bottle  240 . There is also a horizontal groove  237  outside each leg  235  to facilitate dispenser tip  220  rotation around the base  230  when rotating to an unlocked state to permit dispensing. The base  230  and dispenser bottle  240  have serrations similar to that shown in  FIGS. 5-8 ; in other words, an anti-back off feature is included. The base  230  is formed with internal threads and serrated teeth at its bottom skirt. Upon full seating of the base  230  to the bottle  240 , the downward force of application pushes the bottom skirt of the base  230  over formed teeth in the bottle  240 , providing a secure method of application where tampering to remove the base  230  would be evident and would eliminate accidental removal. 
         [0058]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view of a dispensing tip according to the system of  FIG. 11 . The dispenser tip  220  includes shoulders  221  that is the finger-depressing surface for actuating the internal sprayer pump unit  250 . The center between the shoulders  221  has a circular downward cutout  224  in which the rim  213  of the cap  210  can seat in. The upper ends of the buttons  222  includes catches  225  that clamp onto the rim  213  of the cap  210  seated in the circular cutout  224  to fixedly retain the cap  210 . 
         [0059]      FIG. 15  is a portion of a sectional view of the system taken in the yz-plane to show a locked position. In operation, both raised ribbed buttons  222  on dispensing tip to be depressed in order to release the top cap  210 . Actuation is achieved through depression of the buttons  220  that twist the arms at the midpoint releasing the catches  225  that are slightly elevated from the cap deck of the dispensing tip  220 . The cap  210  can then be removed. 
         [0060]    However, the system  200  is still locked (as shown in  FIG. 15 ) and will not dispense. To operate, the dispensing tip  200  needs to be rotated 30° to release the sprayer pump unit  250 . The dispensing tip  220  is locked by the two vertical legs  235  that protrude from top surface of the base  230 . When the dispensing tip  220  is rotated, reliefs (not shown in  FIG. 15 ) cut though the dispensing tip  220  to allow the legs  235  to pass through on the dispensing stroke. 
         [0061]      FIG. 16  is a perspective view of a child-resistant closure system for a pump sprayer according to another example embodiment,  FIG. 17  is a front view of a dispensing tip according to the system of  FIG. 16 ,  FIG. 18  is a sectional view C-C taken from  FIG. 17 , and  FIG. 19  is a front view of a base according to the system of  FIG. 16 . Referring to  FIGS. 16-19 , the child-resistant closure (CRC) system  300  includes a cap  310 , a dispensing tip  320  and a base  330 . Each of the cap  310 , dispensing tip  320  and base  330  may be injection molded or extruded or otherwise formed of a suitable plastic material, as is known. The cap  310  is 3-sided to minimize rolling and avoid losing the cap  310 . 
         [0062]    The dispensing tip  320  includes a pair of finger-depressing shoulders  321  in opposite relation thereto (180 degrees apart), as well as two buttons  322  on opposite sides of a cylindrical portion of the dispenser tip  320  below the shoulders  321  that control whether the dispensing tip  320  is in a locked or unlocked condition so as to permit actuation of the sprayer pump unit  350  (not shown) via the shoulders  321 . An undercut  324  is formed on the back side of each button  322 , the undercuts  324  are configured to interface and engage a single circular thread  337  at the top of a base  330 . The base  330  has interior grooves or threads for coupling it to a threaded member on dispenser bottle  340  which holds the medicinal fluid therein. The base  330  and dispensing tip  320  also partially enclose a sprayer pump unit  350  (not shown) which partly extends into the dispenser bottle  340  interior. 
         [0063]      FIG. 20  is a front view of the dispensing tip and base of the system in  FIG. 16 ,  FIG. 21  is a sectional view A-A taken from  FIG. 20  to show a locked position, and  FIG. 22  is a sectional view A-A taken from  FIG. 20  to show an unlocked position. Referring to  FIGS. 20-22 , in the A-A views the cap  310  is shown removed. This is because in this embodiment the cap  310  is not locked; it can be removed from the dispensing tip  320  by simply pulling upward. With the dispensing tip  320  in place, dispensing actuation is locked out. Specifically, the dispensing tip  320  is retained by the two undercuts  324 , each undercut  324  located on the back face of two buttons  322  180° apart on the dispensing tip  320 . The undercuts  324  engage with the underside of continuous, circular thread  337  at the top of the base  330 , as shown in the locked configuration of  FIG. 21 . When engaging, the undercuts  324  will initially deflect outwards until they pass the thread  337 , where after they will snap back to vertical and engage the underside of thread  337  of base  330 , as shown. 
         [0064]    To release the dispensing tip  320 , the buttons  332  on the dispensing tip  320  must be pressed simultaneously, causing the undercuts  324  to once again deflect outwards. The dispensing tip  320  will move vertically (by force of the spring in the sprayer pump unit  350 , shown obscured by the dispensing tip  320 ) to the home dispensing position. This is shown in  FIG. 22 . With the dispensing tip  320  now released, the sprayer pump unit  350  is now free to dispense a single dose via pressing down using one&#39;s fingers on the shoulders  321 , as is known. For each dose, the dispensing tip  320  must be released. 
         [0065]      FIGS. 21 and 22  also show the internal threads  331  and serrations  332  on the inside of the base  330 . As previously shown in  FIGS. 5-8 , an anti-back off feature is added to both the bottle  340  and base  330 . Upon full seating of the base  330  to the bottle  340 , the downward force of application will push the bottom skirt of the bottle (containing serrations  332 ) over the formed teeth in the bottle  340 , providing a secure method of application where tampering to remove the base  330  would be evident and would eliminate accidental removal thereof 
         [0066]      FIG. 23  is a perspective view of a child-resistant closure system for a pump sprayer according to another example embodiment,  FIG. 24  is a partial side perspective view of a dispensing tip according to the system of  FIG. 23 ,  FIG. 25  is a partial bottom perspective view of the dispenser tip of  FIG. 24 , and  FIG. 26  is a front view of a base according to the system of  FIG. 23 . Referring to  FIGS. 23-26 , the child-resistant closure (CRC) system  400  includes a cap  410 , a dispensing tip  420  and a base  430 . Each of the cap  410 , dispensing tip  420  and base  430  may be injection molded or extruded or otherwise formed of a suitable plastic material, as is known. The cap  410  is 3-sided to minimize rolling and avoid losing the cap  410 . 
         [0067]    The dispensing tip  420  includes two levers  422  on opposite sides thereof that control whether the dispensing tip  420  is in a locked or unlocked condition so as to permit actuation of the sprayer pump unit  450  (not shown). A pair of slits or reliefs  424  are formed on either side of each lever  422  to provide flexibility. The dispensing tip  420  includes finger-depressing shoulders  421  which serve to engage the internal pump sprayer unit (not shown). Centrally located between the shoulders  421  is a circular recessed cutout  424  for receiving the rim of the cap  410  so that the cap  410  may be seated therein. As shown in  FIGS. 24 and 25 , each lever  422  includes two undercuts, on set on the top end of the lever  422 , another undercut on a back side thereof. There is a top set of undercuts  425  that is designed to engage the rim of the cap  410  to secure the cap  410  into the recessed cutout  424  to lock out operation of the dispenser tip  420 . There is a lower undercut  427  that engages a horizontal single thread rim  437  on the upper end of base  430  which also locks out actuator operation. Accordingly, user action on the levers  422  control the action of the undercuts  425 ,  427 . 
         [0068]    The base  430  has interior grooves or threads for coupling it to a threaded member on dispenser bottle  440  which holds the medicinal fluid therein. The base  430  and dispensing tip  420  also partially enclose a sprayer pump unit  450  (not shown) which partly extends into the dispenser bottle  440  interior. 
         [0069]      FIG. 27  is a portion of a sectional view of the system taken in the xz-plane to show a locked position,  FIG. 28  is sectional view of the cap, dispenser tip and base taken in the xz-plane to show a locked position,  FIG. 29  is a portion of a sectional view of the system taken in the xz-plane to show an unlocked position, and  FIG. 30  is sectional view of the dispenser tip and base taken in the xz-plane to show an unlocked position.  FIGS. 27-30  should be generally referred to for the following discussion. 
         [0070]    With the cap  410  in place seated in cutout  424  and the dispenser  420  depressed, dispenser actuation is locked out. Specifically, the cap  410  is retained by the top undercuts  425  on the end of levers  422  that act as the release/retention mechanism. The undercuts  425  engage with the topside of the cap  410  to hold it in place. When engaging, the levers  422  will deflect outwards until the undercuts  425  pass the platform of the cap  410 , where they will snap back to vertical and engage. 
         [0071]    The same lever  422  controls the lockout of the dispensing tip  420 . There is a second set of undercuts  427 , each on the back side of its corresponding lever within the interior of dispenser  420 , that provides the platform for the thread retention of horizontal thread rim  437  on base  430 . When engaging, the levers  422  will deflect outwards until the undercuts  427  pass the horizontal thread  437 , where they will snap back to vertical and engage. 
         [0072]    To release the cap  410 /dispensing tip  420 , the levers  422  on the dispensing tip  420  must be pressed simultaneously, causing the levers  422  to once again deflect outwards. The dispensing tip  420  will pop up to dispensing mode (under spring pressure of the internal sprayer pump unit  450 ) and the cap  410  can be drawn up and off of the dispenser tip  420 . With the cap  410  having been removed (as shown in  FIG. 30 ), the shoulders  421  can now be depressed to actuate the sprayer pump unit  450  to dispense a single dose. For each subsequent dose, the act of simultaneously depressing the levers  422  must be repeated to release the dispensing tip  420 . 
         [0073]      FIGS. 28 and 30  also show the internal threads  431  and serrations  432  on the inside of the base  430 . As previously shown in  FIGS. 5-8 , an anti-back off feature is added to both the bottle  440  and base  430 . Upon full seating of the base  430  to the bottle  440 , the downward force of application will push the bottom skirt of the bottle (containing serrations  432 ) over the formed teeth in the bottle  440 , providing a secure method of application where tampering to remove the base  430  would be evident and would eliminate accidental removal thereof 
         [0074]      FIG. 31  is a front view of a child-resistant closure system for a pump sprayer according to another example embodiment. The child-resistant closure (CRC) system  500  is essentially identical to that described above regarding system  300  in  FIGS. 16-22 . However, unlike system  300 , the dispenser tip  520  in system  500  has a double walled construction to increase strength and robustness of the dispenser tip  520 , with an outer dispenser cap  520  and an inner wall  520 ′. As such, the following figures are provided merely to review operation for locked and unlocked conditions of the system. 
         [0075]      FIG. 32  is a portion of a sectional view of the system taken in the xz-plane to show a locked position,  FIG. 33  is a sectional view A-A taken from  FIG. 31  to show a locked position, and  FIG. 34  is a sectional view A-A taken from  FIG. 31  to show an unlocked position. Referring to  FIGS. 32-34 , in the A-A view of  FIG. 34 , the cap  510  is shown removed. This is because in this embodiment the cap  510  is not locked; it can be removed from the dispensing tip  520  by simply pulling upward. With the dispensing tip  520  in place, dispensing actuation is locked out. Specifically, the dispensing tip  520  is retained by the two undercuts  524  on the back face of two buttons  522  180° apart on the base  520 . The undercuts  524  engage with the underside of continuous horizontal thread  537  on the base  530 , as shown in the locked configuration of  FIG. 33 . When engaging, the undercuts  524  will initially deflect outwards until they pass the thread  537 , where after they will snap back to vertical and engage the underside of thread  537  of base  550 , as shown. 
         [0076]    To release the dispensing tip  520 , the buttons  522  on the dispensing tip  520  must be pressed simultaneously, causing the undercuts  524  to once again deflect outwards. The dispensing tip  520  will move vertically (by force of a spring in the sprayer pump unit  550 ) to the home dispensing position. This vertical movement is shown in  FIG. 34 . With the dispensing tip  520  now released, the sprayer pump unit  550  is now free to dispense a single dose. For each dose, the dispensing tip  520  must be released by simultaneously pressing buttons  522 . 
         [0077]      FIGS. 33 and 34  also show the internal threads  531  and serrations  532  on the inside of the base  530 . As previously shown in  FIGS. 5-8 , an anti-back off feature is added to both the bottle  540  and base  530 . Upon full seating of the base  530  to the bottle  540 , the downward force of application will push the bottom skirt of the bottle (containing serrations  532 ) over the formed teeth in the bottle  540 , providing a secure method of application where tampering to remove the base  530  would be evident and would eliminate accidental removal thereof 
         [0078]      FIG. 35  is a perspective view of a child-resistant closure system for a pump assembly according to another example embodiment  FIG. 36  is an exploded view of the system of  FIG. 35 , and  FIG. 37  is a partial bottom perspective view of the dispenser of  FIG. 35 . System  600  differs from the previous embodiments in that CR is provided for a spray pump, with a spray head  615  and nozzle  616 . Additionally, the cap  610  serves no part in the child resistance, it can be pulled off at any time. 
         [0079]    System  600  includes cap  610 , having a flat rim  613  to be seated in dispenser  620 , a pump head  615  with nozzle  616 , base  630 , and tank  640  with or without fluid therein. The dispenser  620  includes a button  622  that actuates similar to the button described in system  400 , as it includes a pair of undercuts  627 , each on a back side of a corresponding button  622  for engaging the single thread  637  at the top of base  630 . 
         [0080]      FIG. 38  is a sectional view of the system taken in the xy-plane to show an unlocked position with the cap installed. The cap  610  is not locked in this embodiment and is removed by simply pulling upward.  FIG. 38  shows the thread  637  disengaged from the undercuts  627  on the back of buttons  622 ; the dispenser is released and unlocked. However, assuming the dispenser  620  and cap in place, the pump head  615  is locked out. Specifically, the dispenser  620  is retained by the two undercuts  627  on the back face of two buttons  622  on the dispenser  620  that are 60° apart. The undercuts  627  engage with the underside of continuous horizontal thread  637  at the top of the base  630 . When engaging, the undercuts  627  will deflect outwards until the undercuts  627  pass the thread  637  where they will snap back to vertical and engage. 
         [0081]    To release the dispenser, the buttons  612  must be pressed simultaneously, causing the undercuts  627  to once again deflect outwards and the dispenser  620  will move vertically (by force of the spring in the pump head  615 ) to the home dispensing position. With the dispenser  620  released, the pump head  615  is now free to dispense one dose. 
         [0082]    The example embodiments being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as departure from the example embodiments, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included herein.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1