Abstract:
The possibility that a child inadvertently unlocks a child-resistant vial by triggering the latch with his teeth is avoided by preventing access to the latch from under the cap. This is achieved by covering all sides of the latch with the exception of the front face thereof intended to be used to trigger the latch while the cap is lifted. Improvement of the humidity barrier in such a vial is achieved by closing the vial container with a cap including a recess that defines inner and outer peripheral walls in the cap. The inner and outer walls together define an annular gap that is configured to complementary receive the peripheral flange of the container. Both the edge of the inner wall of the cap and the inner peripheral wall of the container are provided with sealing rings that are axially distanced when the cap closes the vial container.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/014,257, filed on Jun. 19, 2014, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The present disclosure generally relates to child-resistant safety vials. More specifically, the present invention relates to a child-resistant vial which is also humidity-proof. The use of such child-resistant vials is well-known to contain, store and distribute medications. 
         [0003]    Many types of vials exist to provide prescription medication to users. The simplest model consists in a container and an independent cap so mounted to the container that it can be removed simply by pulling on the cap. 
         [0004]    Child-resistant vials have been known for some times. They come in many flavours. According to one type of child-resistant containers, the interior of the cap is provided with a liner that exerts a pressure onto the container for preventing the vial from being open easily, for example by children. A drawback of this first type of vials is that they require a first mold for the container and a second mold for the cap. Their assembly is also a two-step process considering the assembly of the liner in the cap and then the assembly of the cap onto the vial. 
         [0005]    Another well-known type of child-resistant vials is the arrow-type vial. This vial includes a container having a groove near its opening and a cap provided with a tooth; the cap being removable only when the tooth and groove are aligned. Arrows are provided on both the cap and the container to guide a user in aligning the tooth and groove. This type of vials still requires a two-step molding process. 
         [0006]    The U.S. Pat. No. 8,167,156 issued to Milante on May 1, 2012, titled “Convertible Child Resistant Vial” which is incorporated herein by reference, teaches a child-resistant vial having a first latching element in the form of a tooth on the container and a second latching element in the form of a tooth-receiving notch on the cap. The notch is configured to automatically lock the tooth when the cap closes the container. The vial, which is integral to the container, is of the press-and-lift type, i.e. that it can be opened by pressing onto the tooth while lifting the cap. The vial proposed by Milante can be converted into a non-child-resistant vial by the easy removal of the tooth. 
         [0007]    It has been found, in extremely rare occasions while conducting safety tests, that the vial proposed by Milante was capable of being opened by an infant using his/her teeth. 
         [0008]    It has also been found desirable to provide a similar vial with an improved barrier against humidity. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0009]    The problem of the possibility that a child inadvertently unlocks a child-resistant vial by triggering the latch with his teeth is solved by preventing access to the latch from under the cap. This is achieved for example by covering all sides of the latch with the exception of the front face thereof that is intended to be used to trigger the latch while the cap is lifted. 
         [0010]    Improvement of the humidity barrier in such a vial is achieved for example by closing the vial container with a cap having an inner annular wall and outer skirts together defining an annular gap that complementary receives the peripheral flange of the container. Both the edge of the inner wall and the inner peripheral wall of the container are provided with sealing rings that are axially distanced when the cap closes the vial container. 
         [0011]    In some embodiment, the inner peripheral wall of the cap defines a circular depression onto the cap that is configured to removably receive an identification element. 
         [0012]    According to an illustrated embodiment, there is provided a child-resistant vial comprising: 
         [0013]    a container having a first peripheral skirt provided with an edge that includes a peripheral flange; 
         [0014]    a cap pivotally mounted to the container via a hinge that is integral to both the cap and container; the container being closable by pivoting the cap onto the container; the cap having a second peripheral skirt that generally overlays the first peripheral skirt in a complementary fashion when the container is closed by the cap; the second skirt having an edge that abuts the peripheral flange of the first skirt when the container is closed by the cap so as to close access to the edge of the second skirt; 
         [0015]    a first latching element in the form of a tab that protrudes from the first skirt generally parallel thereto and that has a free distal end; 
         [0016]    a second latching element, in the form of a cut out portion in the second skirt, that cooperates with the tab to lock the vial when the container is closed by the cap; when the vial is locked, the tab is prevented from being released from the cut out portion unless simultaneous pressing on the tab and pulling on the cap; and 
         [0017]    a tab guard on the first skirt, that closes access to the free end of the tab when the container is closed by the cap. 
         [0018]    In accordance to another illustrated embodiment, there is provided a child-resistant vial comprising: 
         [0019]    a child-resistant vial comprising: 
         [0020]    a container having a first peripheral skirt provided with an edge that includes a peripheral flange; 
         [0021]    a cap pivotally mounted to the container via a hinge that is integral to both the cap and container; the container being closable by pivoting the cap onto the container; the cap having an second peripheral skirt that generally overlays the first peripheral skirt in a complementary fashion when the container is closed by the cap; the second skirt having an edge that abuts the peripheral flange of the first skirt when the container is closed by the cap so as to prevent access to the edge of the second skirt; the cap having a recess defining internal and external walls of the cap, yielding a gap therebetween that receives an upper portion of the first skirt therein; each of an inner wall of the container and an inner wall of the internal wall of the cap includes a sealing ring; 
         [0022]    a first latching element in the form of a tab that protrudes from the first skirt generally parallel thereto and that has a free distal end; 
         [0023]    a second latching element in the form of a cut out portion in the second skirt, that cooperates with the tab to lock the vial when the container is closed by the cap; when the vial is locked, the tab is prevented from being released from the cut out portion unless simultaneous pressing on the tab and pulling on the cap; and 
         [0024]    a tab guard on the first skirt, that prevents access to the free end of the tab when the container is closed by the cap. 
         [0025]    In accordance to still another embodiment, there is provided a child-resistant vial comprising a container, a cap hingedly mounted to the container, and a latch mounted to both the container and the cap therebetween; the latch being automatically locked when the container is closed by the cap; the latch including a trigger for its unlocking and the latch being openable by simultaneously pulling on the cap and pressing on the trigger; the container further comprising a trigger guard for closing access to the trigger from all sides except from an inner face of the trigger. 
         [0026]    It is believed that the meaning of the expression “child-resistant” is well-known in the art. It should therefore not be limited herein in any ways. The expression child-resistant should be construed herein to include something or an operation that cannot be executed by a typical child or by a typical person having limited abilities with his/her hands, such as arthritics. This includes, without limitations, operations which can only successively be performed by combining at least two actions. 
         [0027]    The use of the word “a” or “an” when used in conjunction with the term “comprising” in the claims and/or the specification may mean “one”, but it is also consistent with the meaning of “one or more”, “at least one”, and “one or more than one”. Similarly, the word “another” may mean at least a second or more. 
         [0028]    As used in this specification and claim(s), the words “comprising” (and any form of comprising, such as “comprise” and “comprises”), “having” (and any form of having, such as “have” and “has”), “including” (and any form of including, such as “include” and “includes”) or “containing” (and any form of containing, such as “contain” and “contains”), are inclusive or open-ended and do not exclude additional, unrecited elements. 
         [0029]    Other objects, advantages and features will become more apparent upon reading of the following non-restrictive description of illustrative embodiments thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0030]    In the appended drawings: 
           [0031]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a vial according to a first embodiment, the vial being illustrated closed by the cap; 
           [0032]      FIG. 2  is a perspective exploded view of the vial from  FIG. 1 , showing the vial opened; 
           [0033]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the vial from  FIG. 1 , showing the identification token removed from the cap; 
           [0034]      FIG. 4  is a side sectional view of the vial from  FIG. 1 , the vial being illustrated closed by the cap; 
           [0035]      FIG. 5  is a side sectional view of the vial from  FIG. 1 , showing the vial opened; 
           [0036]      FIG. 6  is a close-up view taken within line  6 - 6  from  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0037]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the vial from  FIG. 1 , showing an identification element in the form of a label sticker; and 
           [0038]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a vial according to a second embodiment, shown before an identification label sticker is affixed onto the cap. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0039]    An illustrated embodiment of a humidity-proof and child-resistant vial  10  will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 1-2  and  4 - 5 . 
         [0040]    The vial  10  comprises a container  12  and an integral cap  14 , hingedly mounted to the container  12  via an integral hinge  16 . The container  12 , cap  14  and hinge  16  together define a one piece body which is obtained through conventional molding process using a polymeric material such as copolymeric polypropylene. Other material, which can, for example, further be bio-degradable, can also be used. 
         [0041]    The container  12  includes a hollow cylindrical portion, defined by a circular peripheral wall  18  and a bottom  20 . Together, the wall  18  and bottom  20  defines a cavity  22 . 
         [0042]    The container  12  also includes a skirt  24  slanting outwardly and downwardly from the upper edge  26  of the container  12 . The skirt  24  has a length that gradually increases on both sides from the hinge  16  to the diametrically opposite position. 
         [0043]    The edge of the skirt  24  is provided with a peripheral flange  28 . As will become more apparent upon reading the following description, the cap  14  includes an outer skirt  30  that overlays the skirt  24  in a complementary fashion when the vial  10  is closed. In such a closed configuration of the vial  10 , the edge  32  of the skirt  30  abuts the flange  28  from above so as to prevent access to the cap  14  from below the skirt  24 . The skirt  24  further includes two embossed side portions  35 , the purpose of which will be described hereinbelow in more detail. 
         [0044]    The container  12  further includes a first latching element in the form of a tab  34  attached by its upper edge  36  to the upper edge  26  of the skirt  24  at a position diametrically opposite the hinge  16 . At this position, the skirt  24  includes a generally trapezoid cut  38  that receives the tab  34 . The cut  38  is slightly greater than the tab  34  so as to allow tilting movement of the trigger  34  within the cut  38  towards the peripheral wall  18  of the container  12  about the attachment  36 . 
         [0045]    The cut  38  is distanced from the flange  28 , leaving a narrow portion  39  of the skirt  24  below the tab  34 . The portion  39  acts as a tab guard that limits access to the tab  34  from below. For example, an infant or child would be prevented from accessing the tab  34  with its teeth from under the tab  34 . 
         [0046]    The tab  34  is tapered so as to be thicker near the bottom edge thereof. As will be described hereinbelow in more detail, the tab  34  further acts as a trigger and both terms will be used interchangeably herein when referring to the element  34 . The tab  34  includes an ergonomical oval thumb-receiving recess  40  on its front side  42  near the bottom edge. The bottom edge of the tab  34  is cut along its width, defining a shoulder  44 . 
         [0047]    As described hereinabove, the cap  14  includes an outer skirt  30  that complementary covers the skirt  24  of the container up to the flange  28  when the vial  10  is closed. The outer skirt  30  includes two embossed side portions  45  that cover the corresponding side portions  35  on the container  12  skirt  24 . Each portion  45  includes a protrusion  46  that extends substantially along its width at the top thereof. The embossed side portions  45  and the protrusions  46  together define finger-receiving portions that contribute to help lifting the cap  14  to open the vial  10  when the trigger  34  is depressed using the other hand. 
         [0048]    The cap  14  includes a circular recess  48  on its outer side. The recess  48  yields an annular wall  50  on its inner side. 
         [0049]    The skirt  30  and annular wall  50  are configured and sized so as to yield a gap  52  therebetween that allows receiving in a complementary manner the upper portion of the container&#39;s skirt  24  therein when the cap  14  is pivoted thereon. 
         [0050]    The front portion of the skirt  30  includes a second latching element in the form of a cut out  54  that allows passage to the tab  34  therethrough. The cut out  54  is configured so as to be hooked by the shoulder  44  when the container  12  is closed by the cap  14 . 
         [0051]    The cut out  54  is so shaped and sized so that the portion of the cut  38  below the shoulder  44  is substantially covered. It results from this that an infant or any other person would be prevented to open the vial  10  by an inadvertent pushing on the trigger  34  from below thereof while simultaneously tilting up the cap  14 , for example using his/her teeth. 
         [0052]    Turning briefly to  FIG. 6 , both the distal edge of the wall  50  and the inner wall of the container  12  include respective sealing rings in the form of protruding lips  56  and  58 . The sealing rings  56  and  58  are so positioned as to be adjacent when the vial  10  is closed by the cap  14 . 
         [0053]    In operation, the vial  10  can be closed by pivoting the cap  14  towards the container  12  until the tab  34  is received within the cut out  54 . The cap  14  is then automatically locked in a closing position onto the container  12 . 
         [0054]    In this position, the trigger  34  is prevented from being accessed from all its side, except from its front face, and can only be pushed towards the container wall. Only the combined actions of pushing on the trigger  34  and lifting the cap  14  allows releasing the trigger  34  from the cut out  54 . 
         [0055]    A person skilled in the art would appreciate that removing the tab  34  by jiggling or cutting it when the cap  14  is opened allows converting the vial  10  from child-resistant to easy opening. 
         [0056]    According to some embodiments, the portion of the container  12  behind the tab  34  is provided with writings, marks, symbols, or other (not shown) to indicate to the user that a child safety feature of the vial has been removed. Such an indication can be in the form of a symbol, text, etc. and can be molded on the container, engraved, or affixed using a sticker thereto. 
         [0057]    According to such an embodiment, the presence of the tab hides this indication and its removal reveals it. 
         [0058]    The circular recess  48  defines a token-receiving portion. More specifically, the recess  48  is configured and sized to receive and hold a disk-shaped token  60 . Such a token  60  may be used for example by the pharmacist or a user to add “at-a-glance” information relative to the vial, including without limitations, the identity of the patient, the content of the vial, the time in the day to take a pill contained in the vial  10 , etc. For such a purpose, the token  60  might be characterized by a color, inscriptions, engraving or printing thereon, a shape, a size, etc. or any combination thereof. 
         [0059]    The token-receiving portion  48  includes elongated restrainers  62 , protruding from the inner peripheral wall  63  of the recess  48 , that prevents a token  60  inserted thereunder to be unmounted from the recess  48  without being forced. Two aligning guides  64 , extending from the recess wall  63  near the hinge  16 , are intended to be received in a peripheral notch  66  of the token  60  when it is mounted in the recess  48 . In addition to preventing the pivoting of the token  60  within recess  48 , the guides  64  further act as aligning means for the token  60 . Indeed, according to the first illustrative embodiment, the token  60  includes a marketing or informational logo  68  that can be properly oriented, for example in relation to the trigger  34 . 
         [0060]    Prior to using the vial  10 , or at any time, a token  60  can be inserted in the recess  48  by snapping the token  60  while it is oriented so that the guides  64  are positioned within the notch  66 . 
         [0061]    As shown in  FIG. 7 , the recess  48  can be used to receive another identification element than a token  60 . For example, a self-adhesive label sticker  68  can be used. The sticker  68  is shaped and sized for generally complementing the recess  48 . The sticker  68  may include colors, symbols, text or more generally marks and writings or any combination thereof. Also, the configuration, dimensions and finish are not limited to the illustrated embodiment. 
         [0062]      FIG. 8  illustrates a vial  70  according to a second embodiment. Since the vial  70  is similar to the vial  10 , only the differences therebetween will be described herein in more detail for concision purposes. 
         [0063]    The vial  70  is bigger than the vial  10  and includes a round sticker receiving recess  72  that is concentric with the main recess  74  of the cap  76 . According to the second embodiment, the diameter of the sticker-receiving recess  72  is generally equal to the main recess  48  of the smaller vial  10 . Thus, the recess  72  serves as a sticker placement guide for sticker  68  of the same size than those adapted for the dimension of the recess  48  of the vial  10 . 
         [0064]    The sticker-receiving recess  72  is not limited to be co-centrically positioned with regards to the main recess  74  of the cap  76 . 
         [0065]    It is to be noted that modifications could be made to the vial  10  or  70  described hereinabove, for example: 
         [0066]    the trigger can be positioned at other locations than diametrically opposite the hinge  16 ; 
         [0067]    the trigger can be configured differently than illustrated. For example, it can still be attached to the skirt  24  of the container  12  from its bottom or side edge; 
         [0068]    the angle of the skirts  24  and  30  can be different than illustrated; 
         [0069]    the flange  28  can be more or less narrow than illustrated; 
         [0070]    the token-receiving portion on the cap can be omitted or may be configured with other token attachments than those illustrated. It can also be configured for receiving other element than a disk-shaped token or a sticker; 
         [0071]    the hinge  16  can be configured to further bias the cap  14  towards or away the container  12 ; 
         [0072]    the embossed finger-receiving portions can be omitted, or take another form; 
         [0073]    the cap can be provided with any configuration of friction elements to ease the grip thereon; 
         [0074]    the number and configuration of the sealing members between the cap and container may be different than illustrated herein; and 
         [0075]    the dimensions of the vial may vary depending, for example, on the application. 
         [0076]    Embodiments of the vial can be used to contain medicine, toxic matter or any other substance that has to be kept out of reach of children. It can also be used to contain non-toxic matter also. 
         [0077]    It is to be understood that the humidity-proof and child-resistant vial is not limited in its application to the details of construction and parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described hereinabove. The vial is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced in various ways. 
         [0078]    For example, the container can take other form than a cylindrical body. The shape and configuration of the container and/or of its aperture can also be regular or irregular. 
         [0079]    Although the present invention has been described hereinabove by way of illustrated embodiments thereof, it can be modified. It is therefore to be understood that numerous modifications may be made to the illustrative embodiments and that the scope of the claims should not be limited by the preferred embodiment, but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the description as a whole.