Abstract:
A package includes a closure for attachment to a container. The closure has a skirt with a plurality of internal lugs and an internal surface. The container has a sidewall terminating in an open end and having a plurality of external projections. The plurality of external projections include sets of child-resistant and non-child-resistant projections. The child-resistant projections have undersides with notches for receiving the plurality of internal lugs of the closure, and the non-child-resistant projections have substantially flat undersides for locating against the plurality of internal lugs of the closure. The sidewall also has an external surface located axially between the plurality of external projections and the open end for engagement with the internal surface of the closure for sealing the package and for resiliently biasing the closure away from the container. Preferably, indicia are provided on the closure and container to facilitate selective engagement of the lugs and projections in the different modes.

Description:
The present invention relates to closure and container packages, such as prescription packages for example, and more specifically to closure and container packages, and closures and containers for such packages, that have child-resistant and non-child-resistant modes of operation. 
   Reference is made to U.S. application Ser. No. 10/684,724 assigned to the assignee of the present application. 
   BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,057,159, 4,059,198 and 4,485,932 disclose child-resistant closure and container prescription packages that include a container or vial, a closure, and a spring/seal disk arrangement disposed between the closure and the container. The closure has lugs on an inside surface of a skirt that cooperate with external locking notches or pockets on projections around the mouth of the container for securing the closure to the container. An internal abutment on the closure cooperates with the spring/seal disk(s) to urge the closure away from the container so that the lugs are resiliently captured within the notches. When it is desired to remove the closure, the closure is pushed toward the container so that the lugs clear the notches, and then turned counterclockwise. When the closure is assembled to the container, the lugs cam beneath surfaces on the projections against the force of the spring seal disk(s) until the lugs snap into the notches on the projections. 
   Although the closure and container packages disclosed in the noted patents have enjoyed substantial commercial acceptance and success, improvements remain desirable. For example, it can be difficult for adults with impaired dexterity to push and twist the closure with respect to the container to open the package for access to the contents. Some prior art packages have both a child-resistant mode of operation and a non-child-resistant mode of operation, wherein the closure must be inverted, or flipped upside down, and re-applied to the container in the non-child-resistant mode of operation. This inversion of the closure on the container often yields a package having a different appearance in the non-child-resistant mode than in the child-resistant mode. 
   A package in accordance with a first aspect of the invention includes a closure having a skirt with a first plurality of lugs, a container having an open end and a second plurality of external projections and a spring to bias said closure away from said container. The second plurality of external projections on said container includes a first series of projections having under-notches alternating with a second series of projections without under-notches. Indicia on said closure and container are for selectively engaging the lugs with the projections with under-notches in a child-resistant mode of operation, and engaging the lugs with the projections without under-notches in a non-child resistant mode of operation. In the preferred embodiment, the spring is formed by opposed portions of the closure and the container, one or both of which resiliently deflect to develop the spring force. A separate spring element, such as a spring disk, could be provided between the closure and the container rim, but would be less preferred. 
   A package in accordance with a second aspect of the present invention includes a closure for attachment to a container. The closure has a skirt with a plurality of lugs and an internal surface. The container has a sidewall terminating in an open end and having a plurality of projections thereon. The plurality of projections include a set of child-resistant and a set of non-child-resistant projections. The child-resistant projections have undersides with notches for receiving the plurality of lugs of the closure, and the non-child-resistant projections have substantially flat undersides for locating against the plurality of lugs of the closure. The sidewall further has a conical surface at the open end for engagement with the internal surface of the closure to seal the package and to resiliently bias the closure away from the container. The internal surface on the closure skirt preferably is conical. 
   A package in accordance with another aspect of the present invention includes a closure for attachment to a container. The closure includes a base wall and a skirt extending from the base wall. The skirt has a plurality of internal lugs extending radially inwardly and an internal surface between the plurality of lugs and the base wall. The container includes a base, a sidewall extending from the base and terminating in an open end. The sidewall includes a plurality of external projections extending radially outwardly therefrom, and sets of child-resistant and non-child-resistant projections. The child-resistant projections have undersides with notches for receiving the plurality of internal lugs of the closure. The non-child-resistant projections have substantially flat undersides for locating against the plurality of internal lugs of the closure. The sidewall also includes an external conical surface between the plurality of external projections and the open end for engagement with the internal conical surface of the closure for sealing the package and for resiliently biasing the closure away from the container so as to resiliently urge the plurality of internal lugs into the notches of the plurality of child-resistant projections in the child-resistant mode of operation and to resiliently urge the plurality of internal lugs into contact with the undersides of the plurality of non-child-resistant projections in the non-child-resistant mode of operation. 
   Another aspect of the present invention includes a closure for receipt on a container having a plurality of external projections. The closure includes a base wall, a skirt, and indicia on at least one of the base wall and the skirt. The skirt extends from the base wall and has a plurality of internal lugs extending radially inwardly and an internal surface between the plurality of internal lugs and the base wall for sealingly engaging the container. The indicia are provided on at least one of the base wall and the skirt to facilitate selective engagement of the plurality of internal lugs either with the plurality of external projections of the closure in a child-resistant mode of operation or in a non-child-resistant mode of operation. 
   A further aspect of the present invention includes a container for cooperation with a closure having a plurality of internal lugs. The container includes a base, and a sidewall extending from the base and terminating in an open end. The sidewall includes a plurality of external projections extending radially outwardly therefrom, and including a set of child-resistant and a set of non-child-resistant projections. The child-resistant projections have undersides with notches for receiving the plurality of internal lugs of the closure. The non-child-resistant projections have substantially flat undersides for locating against the plurality of internal lugs of the closure. The sidewall also includes an external conical surface between the plurality of external projections and the open end for sealing engagement with the closure and for resiliently biasing the closure away from the container so as to resiliently urge the plurality of internal lugs into the notches of the plurality of child-resistant projections in the child-resistant mode of operation and to resiliently urge the plurality of internal lugs into contact with the undersides of the plurality of non-child-resistant projections in the non-child-resistant mode of operation. 
   In one or more of the preferred embodiments of the invention, there are indicia provided on one or both of the closure and container to facilitate selective engagement of the plurality of lugs of the closure either with the child-resistant projections of the container in a child-resistant mode of operation or with the non-child-resistant projections of the container in a non-child-resistant mode of operation. Moreover, the sets of child-resistant and non-child-resistant projections are circumferentially interspersed around the sidewall of the container. Finally, one or both of the sidewall of the container and the skirt of the closure is radially resiliently flexible and adapted to flex upon engagement of the opposing surfaces of the closure and container for sealing the package and resiliently urging the plurality of lugs into the notches of the child-resistant projections in a child-resistant mode of operation and into contact with the undersides of the non-child-resistant projections in a non-child-resistant mode of operation. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention, together with additional objects, features, advantages and aspects thereof, will be best understood from the following description, the appended claims and the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a partially sectioned, exploded, elevational view of a closure and a container of a package in accordance with one presently preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein indicia on the closure and container are aligned to facilitate selective engagement of the closure to the container for use of the package in a child-resistant mode of operation; 
       FIG. 2  is a fragmentary, sectional, two-dimensional linear representation of a three-dimensional circumferential portion of the package illustrated in  FIG. 1 , wherein the closure is received on the container in the child-resistant mode of operation; and 
       FIG. 3  is a fragmentary, sectional, two-dimensional linear representation of a three-dimensional circumferential portion of the package illustrated in  FIG. 1 , wherein the closure is received on the container in a non-child-resistant mode of operation. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1  illustrates a package  10  in accordance with one presently preferred embodiment of the invention. Package  10  includes a vial or container  12  and a closure  14  secured to container  12  either in a child-resistant mode of operation or in a non-child-resistant mode of operation. As will be discussed in more detail below, the closure  14  is oriented and aligned with respect to the container  12  in preparation for applying the closure  14  to the container  12  in a child-resistant mode of operation. 
   The container  12  includes a bottom wall  16  that is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the container  12  and package  10 , and a container sidewall  18  extending upwardly from the bottom wall  16 . A circumferential array of locking elements or projections  20  extend radially outwardly near an upper end of the sidewall  18 , substantially distal from the bottom wall  16 . All of the projections  20  lie in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the container  12  and preferably are equidistantly spaced about the circumference of the sidewall  18 . As partially depicted in  FIG. 1 , there are a total of six projections  20 , but more or fewer may be used as desired. The array of projections  20  includes a first set or plurality of child-resistant (CR) projections  22 , and a second set or plurality of non-child-resistant (NCR) projections  24  that are interspersed or alternate with the first set of projections  22  around the circumference of the container  12 . 
   Each CR projection  22  has a cam surface  26  for camming lugs  28  of the closure  14  underneath the projections  22  and into a downwardly facing pocket or notch  30  for receiving the corresponding locking elements or lugs  28  of the closure  14  in a child-resistant mode of operation. The cam surface  26  and notch  30  define an underside of the projection  24 . Each CR projection  22  also includes a circumferential stop element  32  extending in an axial direction along the sidewall  18  of the container  12  for preventing over-rotation of the closure  14  on the container  12 . 
   Likewise, each NCR projection  24  also has a cam surface  34  for camming the lugs  28  of the closure  14  underneath the projections  24 , but against a downwardly facing axial stop surface  36  that is substantially flat and is provided for preventing the closure  14  from axially separating from the container  12  once applied thereto. The cam surface  34  and stop surface  36  define an underside of the projection  24 . Each NCR projection  24  also includes a circumferential stop element  38  for preventing over-rotation of the closure  14  on the container  12 . 
   A tapered portion  40  of the container sidewall  18  extends upwardly from the plane established by the projections  20 . The tapered portion  40  of the container wall  36  that extends upwardly from the projections  20  preferably tapers narrowingly in radial thickness toward an open upper edge or end  42  that is opposite of the bottom wall  16  and that defines and surrounds an open mouth  46  of the container  12 . A radially outwardly facing surface  44  of the tapered portion  40  preferably is an external conical surface of revolution, while opposed inner surface or open mouth  46  preferably is substantially cylindrical or an internal straight surface of revolution (ignoring draft angle). (Directional words such as “upwardly” and “downwardly” are employed by way of description and not limitation with respect to the upright orientation of the package  10 . Moreover, directional words such as “radial” and “axial” are employed by way of description and not limitation with respect to the central longitudinal axis of the package  10  or container  12 , as appropriate.) 
   Still referring to  FIG. 1 , the closure  14  includes a base wall  48  that preferably is circular, flat for provision of suitable labeling or the like, continuous, and lying in a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the closure  14 . The base wall  48  includes a radial or circumferential periphery  50  from which extends a skirt  52 . The skirt  52  includes a wall portion  54  having an internal surface  56 , preferably a conical surface of revolution for purposes to be described below. The skirt  52  also includes a substantially cylindrical wall portion  58  having the plurality of circumferentially spaced lugs  28  extending radially inwardly from an inner surface  60  thereof. The projections  28  may be either solid, as shown, or hollow. Preferably, the lugs  28  are equidistantly spaced, and are three in number in the illustrated embodiment. Any number of lugs  28  may be used, but it is preferable that the number be half the total quantity of container projections  20  or, in other words, the same quantity as each set of the CR and NCR projections  22 ,  24 . 
   As briefly mentioned above,  FIG. 1  illustrates the closure  14  as oriented and aligned with respect to the container  12  in preparation for applying the closure  14  to the container  12  in a child-resistant mode of operation. Accordingly, both the container  12  and the closure  14  are provided with corresponding alignment indicia  62 ,  64  respectively. The indicia  62 ,  64  on the container  12  and closure  14  serve to facilitate the selective engagement of the plurality of lugs  28  of the closure  14  with the child-resistant projections  22  of the container  14  in the child-resistant mode of operation. Second indicia  65  on container  12  cooperate with closure indicia  64  for alignment and assembly in a non-child-resistant mode of operation. As just one example, the alignment indicia  62 ,  64 ,  65  are provided as raised arrowheads. 
   To apply the closure  14  to the container  12  in a CR mode of operation, it is desirable to first suitably align the closure indicia  64  with the container CR indicia  62 . To apply the closure  14  to the container  12 , the skirt  52  of the closure  14  is received over the open end  42  of the container  12 , such that the lugs  28  of the closure  14  locate freely between the CR and NCR projections  22 ,  24 , and such that the surface  56  of the wall  54  of the closure  14  initially engages the tapered portion  40 , particularly the tapered or conical surface  44  thereof. Continued downward movement of the closure  14  with respect to the container  12  resiliently flexes one or both of the wall  54  of the skirt  52  of the closure  14  and the tapered portion  40  of the sidewall  18  of the container  12 . For example, the wall  54  may flex radially outwardly and/or the tapered portion  40  may flex radially inwardly. As depicted in  FIG. 1  by the initial alignment of the closure  14  to the container  12 , and as best depicted in  FIG. 2  by the arrows  66 , clockwise rotation of the closure  14  on the container  12  cams the closure lugs  28  under the cam surfaces  26  on the CR projections  22  of the container  12  until the lugs  28  lock into the projection notches  30 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , the angles of taper of the conical wall  54  of the closure  14  and of the tapered portion  40  of the container  12 , and the flexibility of the conical wall  54  and of the tapered portion  40 , preferably are such that there is full circumferential sealing engagement between the mating conical surfaces  44  and  56 . The sealing engagement may be accomplished by surface engagement or by line contact engagement of the open end  42  of the container  12  with the conical surface  56  of the closure  14 . The internal conical surface  56  of the conical wall  56  of the closure  14  thus cooperates with the external conical surface  44  of the tapered portion  40  of the container  12  both to seal the package  10  and to resiliently to urge the closure locking lugs  28  into the container locking notches  30 . To remove the closure  14 , the closure  14  is manually urged axially downwardly over the container  12  against the spring force between the tapered portion  40  of the container  12  and the conical wall  54  of the closure  14  until the closure lugs  28  clear the projection notches  30 , and the closure  14  is then freely turned counterclockwise, whereby the lugs  28  ride up the camming surfaces  26  and pass freely between the projections  22 ,  24  so that the closure  14  may be separated from the container  12 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 3 , and in contrast to the prior art, the closure  14  need not be inverted for use in the NCR mode. In fact, the non-child-resistant mode of operation is largely the same as the child-resistant mode of operation described above, except for the following differences. 
   To apply the closure  14  to the container  12  in the NCR mode of operation, it is not desirable to align the closure indicia  64  with the container indicia  65 . It is also contemplated that alternative indicia could be supplied to indicate proper alignment for one or both of the NCR and CR mode. For example, the letters NCR could be formed or printed equidistantly around the container  12  adjacent the camming surfaces  34  of the NCR projections  24 , while the letters CR could be formed or printed equidistantly around the container  12  adjacent the camming surfaces  26  of the CR projection  22 , wherein the arrow indicia  64  of the closure  14  is aligned with the letters of the desired mode. It is also contemplated that any type of appropriate symbology or indicia could be used on one or both of the closure  14  and container  12  to indicate to a user how to use the package  10 . 
   In any case, to attach the closure  14  to the container  12 , the skirt  52  of the closure  14  is received over the open end  42  of the container  12 , as with the CR mode. But, in the NCR mode, the lugs  28  of the closure  14  locate freely between the CR and NCR projections  22 ,  24 , adjacent the camming surfaces  34  of the NCR projections  24 . The closure  14  is rotated clockwise on the container  12  so as to cam the closure lugs  28  under the cam surfaces  34  on the NCR projections  24  of the container  12  until the lugs  28  simply locate under and are axially retained by the axial stop surfaces  36  of the NCR projections  24 , as depicted by arrows  68 . To remove the closure  14 , the closure  14  need not be manually urged axially downwardly over the container  12  as in the CR mode. Rather, the closure  14  is merely turned counterclockwise, whereby the lugs  28  ride up the camming surfaces  34  and pass freely between the projections  22 ,  24  so that the closure  14  may be separated from the container  12 . 
   In conclusion, the present invention presents one or more of the following advantages with one or more of the embodiments described above. The present invention provides a closure and container package, and a closure and a container for use in such a package, in which the closure can be secured to the container in a child-resistant mode of operation as described above, and in a non-child-resistant mode of operation for use by adults with impaired manual dexterity, for example, when child-resistance is not needed. More specifically, the present invention also provides a package, a container, and a closure of the described character that achieves the non-child-resistant mode of operation without having to invert the closure, such that the package has substantially the same appearance whether in the child-resistant mode or in the non-child-resistant mode of operation. Further, the present invention provides a package, a container, and a closure of the described character that achieve the non-child-resistant mode of operation with little additional material, tooling or labor cost as compared with conventional child-resistant packages. Moreover, the present invention provides a two-piece package of the subject type—i.e., a closure and a container without a separate spring element—in which the spring forces for holding the closure on the container are provided by resilient flexure of either or both of the closure and the container. Finally, the closure and container of the present invention are economical to manufacture the package is readily suited to automated packaging—i.e., is automation friendly. 
   There have thus been disclosed a closure and container package, a closure, and a container that fully satisfy all of the objects and aims previously set forth. The invention has been disclosed in conjunction with a number of presently preferred embodiments, and additional modifications and variations have also been described. Other modifications and variations will readily suggest themselves to persons of ordinary skill in the art. As noted previously, the preferred embodiments of the invention employ the resilient flexure of the closure skirt and/or the container rim to develop the spring force that biases the closure with respect to the container. However, one or more other spring elements, such as separate spring disks or spring elements on the closure, could be employed without departing form the invention in its broadest aspects. The invention is intended to embrace all such modifications and variations as fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims.