Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D47/00—Closures with filling and discharging, or with discharging, devices
  • B65D47/04—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps
  • B65D47/06—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps with pouring spouts or tubes; with discharge nozzles or passages
  • B65D47/08—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps with pouring spouts or tubes; with discharge nozzles or passages having articulated or hinged closures
  • B65D47/0804—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps with pouring spouts or tubes; with discharge nozzles or passages having articulated or hinged closures integrally formed with the base element provided with the spout or discharge passage
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D50/00—Closures with means for discouraging unauthorised opening or removal thereof, with or without indicating means, e.g. child-proof closures
  • B65D50/02—Closures with means for discouraging unauthorised opening or removal thereof, with or without indicating means, e.g. child-proof closures openable or removable by the combination of plural actions
  • B65D50/04—Closures with means for discouraging unauthorised opening or removal thereof, with or without indicating means, e.g. child-proof closures openable or removable by the combination of plural actions requiring the combination of simultaneous actions, e.g. depressing and turning, lifting and turning, maintaining a part and turning another one
  • B65D50/045—Closures with means for discouraging unauthorised opening or removal thereof, with or without indicating means, e.g. child-proof closures openable or removable by the combination of plural actions requiring the combination of simultaneous actions, e.g. depressing and turning, lifting and turning, maintaining a part and turning another one where one action elastically deforms or deflects at least part of the closure, the container or an intermediate element, e.g. a ring
  • B65D50/046—Closures with means for discouraging unauthorised opening or removal thereof, with or without indicating means, e.g. child-proof closures openable or removable by the combination of plural actions requiring the combination of simultaneous actions, e.g. depressing and turning, lifting and turning, maintaining a part and turning another one where one action elastically deforms or deflects at least part of the closure, the container or an intermediate element, e.g. a ring and such deformation causes the disengagement of locking means, e.g. the release of a pawl-like element from a tooth or abutment, to allow removal of the closure by simultaneous rotation
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D2251/00—Details relating to container closures
  • B65D2251/10—Details of hinged closures
  • B65D2251/1016—Means for locking the closure in closed position
  • B65D2251/105—The closure having a part fitting over the rim of the container or spout and retained by snapping over integral beads or projections

Definitions

• the present invention concerns a dispensing closure, having a body and a lid.
• the body defines a dispensing orifice through which the contents of a container, to which the closure is attached, may be dispensed.
• the lid is attached to the body by a hinge, which allows the lid to swing between a closed position, in which the lid occludes the dispensing orifice, to an open position, in which the dispensing orifice is exposed and the contents of the container may be dispensed.
• the dispensing closure according to the present invention is a child resistant dispensing closure and includes a catch to lock the lid in its closed position.
• the lid can only be opened, upon application of two discrete, dissimilar movements, simultaneously by a user. This is generally considered difficult for a child to achieve and is unlikely to result in the closure being opened accidentally.
• This patent describes the need for two different and dissimilar movements to prevent the lid from being opened by a child.
• This patent also discusses the desirability of providing alignment between the adjacent surfaces of the body and the lid, to prevent the lid from being easily grasped to exert an opening force on the lid.
• a user In the closure described in this patent, a user must first squeeze radially inwardly, on the two opposing sides of the lid on either side of the hinge, to expose an edge opposite the hinge, by which the lid may then be lifted. This squeezing movement also temporarily releases a catch.
• US 4790442 has a generally planar top plate with a downwardly depending sidewall.
• An arcuate slot extends through the top plate opposite the hinge and adjacent to the sidewall. The slot allows the sidewall of the lid to be squeezed at two diametrically opposed points, thereby displacing a portion of the sidewall opposite the hinge. This displacement releases a catch and also provides an overhang on the lid relative to the body, by which the lid may be lifted.
• a disadvantage of this arrangement is that the top plate of the closure does not s upport the distorted portion of the sidewall.
• the arcuate slot subtends an angle of at least 180°, to allow the necessary deformation of the sidewall.
• a user must lift the lid by this unsupported section of sidewall, which will be difficult and will result in axial movement of the sidewall relative to the planar top plate. Repeated movement will lead to damage of the unsupported sidewall and may render the catch (which is carried by this portion of the lid) ineffective.
• a further disadvantage of this arrangement is that, unlike the sidewalls of the lid and the body, which join to form a continuous surface, the top plate of the sidewall is disjointed by the arcuate slot.
• This slot may collect dirt or may be used to prise open the closure using the teeth for example, which will further reduce the effectiveness of the closure.
• the closure according to the present invention overcomes these disadvantages by providing a dispensing closure having a lid that includes a top plate, which covers the ring in both its normal and deformed states and in its deformed state.
• the ring unlocks the catch temporarily, whilst defining a lifting tab to allow the lid to be moved to its open position.
• the top plate of the closure has a smooth surface with no cavities therein to trap dirt or other foreign objects and cannot be easily manipulated to overcome the catch arrangement. Furthermore, the lifting region of the ring is supported by the top plate and when a user applies axial force to the lifting region to lift the lid, the ring is braced by the top plate, making the Hd easier to open.
• a user squeezes the ring on either side of the hinge, ovalising the ring, which causes the catch to be released and also provides an overhang portion relative to the body, opposite the hinge.
• a lifting force must be applied simultaneously with the squeezing force required to release the catch and provide thp overhang portion. If the squeezing force is released before the lifting force is applied, the catch will re-engage and the resilient ring will relax obliterating or at least minimising the overhang portion. This will make it difficult to open the lid.
• the lid may be formed in two parts: A resilient ring, forming the sidewall of the lid and a separate top plate.
• a resilient ring forming the sidewall of the lid and a separate top plate.
• An advantage of this arrangement is that the radial de ⁇ formation of the ring is unrestricted.
• the top plate is specifically designed to cover the ring in both its relaxed and deformed states, whilst providing a smooth surface to the top of the closure.
• the externally facing surface of the top plate may be adapted to provide different colours, surface finish or promotional opportunities.
• a dis ⁇ advantage of this arrangement is that it requires assembly of the two portions of the lid and this may be undesirable in high volume production process.
• the lid is produced in one-piece, with a top plate and a sidewall depending downwardly therefrom.
• the resilient ring is provided by the sidewall, but in this embodiment, the end of the sidewall adjacent to the top plate is constrained by the top plate, with which it is integrally moulded.
• the free edge of the side wall of the lid is spaced from the adjacent surface of the body, to allow the portion of the side wall which is squeezed to deform axially as well as radially, without the side wall pressing against the base and thereby lifting the lid as the catch is released.
• a disadvantage of this arrangement is that the gap between the free edge of the side wall of the lid and the adjacent surface of the body may allow a child to manipulate the lid, by biting for example.
• the upper surface of the body or the free edge of the lid sidewall may be extended, to cover the gap between the base and the lid and prevent easy access thereto. The portion of the sidewall opposite the hinge is left unprotected, to allow uninhibited deformation of the ring / sidewall to produce a lifting region.
• a closure comprising a body and a lid connected together by a hinge, with windows provided in the sidewall and / or the adjacent top plate of the lid.
• a separate, resilient ring is fixed inside the lid and portions of this ring protrude through the windows to allow the ring to be squeezed laterally on either side of the hinge.
• the portion of the resilient ring opposite the hinge protrudes radially outwardly, through another window in the sidewall, and thereby releases the catch and provides a lifting region, by which the lid may be lifted and opened.
• This design may be enhanced by providing tabs attached to the resilient ring, arranged to protrude through the windows.
• the tabs may be further enhanced by including finger recesses, to improve the ease with which the ring may be laterally squeezed by a user.
• the lifting region may be provided by a further tab, which projects from the lid as the ring is deformed, to improve the ease of lifting and opening the lid, after the ring is deformed by squeezing.
• This embodiment combines the advantage of a freely deformable resilient ring, which is unconstrained by the lid or the sidewall, whilst ensuring that the ring is completely surrounded by a top plate and sidewall of the lid to achieve a substantially smooth surface.
• FIGURE 1 shows an isometric view (looking from the top) according to a first embodiment of the invention, with the lid in its open position.
• FIGURE 2 shows an exploded, isometric view (looking from the top) of the same closure as that shown in FIGURES 1, with the lid open and separate top plate (not yet assembled).
• FIGURE 3 shows a plan view of the closure shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, with the lid in its closed, normal position.
• FIGURE 4A shows a plan view of the closure shown in FIGURE 2, with the lid in its deformed position.
• FIGURE 4B shows the same plan view as FIGURE 4A, with the separate top plate removed.
• FIGURE 5 shows side view of a one-piece closure according to a second embodiment of the invention having a lid comprising a top plate with an integral sidewall depending from the periphery thereof.
• FIGURE 6 shows an isometric view (looking from the top) of the same closure shown in FIGURE 5, with the lid in its open position.
• FIGURE 7 shows an isometric view of the closure shown in FIGURES 5 and 6 with the lid in its closed, normal position.
• FIGURE 8 shows the same closure as shown in FIGURE 7 in its closed, deformed position.
• FIGURE 9 shows an isometric view of another embodiment of the invention
• FIGURE 10 shows an isometric view the same closure shown in Figure 9 in its open position.
• FIGURE 11 shows an isometric view of another embodiment of the invention, with its lid in a closed, normal position and having an alternative design of shield elements
• FIGURE 12 shows an isometric view of the closure shown in FIGURE 11 , with the lid in its open position.
• FIGURE 13 shows a side view of a closure according to yet another embodiment of the invention, having tabs, which protrude through windows in the sidewall / lid of the closure.
• FIGURE 14 shows an isometric view (looking from the top) of the closure shown in
• FIGURES 13 with the lid in its open position.
• FIGURE 15 shows an exploded view of the closure shown in FIGURES 13 and 14).
• FIGURE 16 shows a plan view of the closure shown in FIGURES 13 to 15, with the lid in its closed, normal position.
• FIGURE 17 shows a plan view of the closure shown in FIGURES 13 to 16, with the lid in its deformed position.
• closure In the attached description, the closure is described in relation to an "upright" orientation, where the main axis of the closure is aligned to the vertical and the body of the closure lies vertically below the lid. Wherever possible like parts have been designated using the same reference numerals.
• a dispensing closure 1 generally comprises a body 2 and a lid 3.
• the body 2 is adapted to be connected to a container (not shown) by means of mutually co-operating screw threads or snap beads, for example.
• the connection between the body 2 and the container is a permanent connection, which prevents easy removal of the closure 2 from the container.
• the body 2 has a dispensing orifice 28, through which the contents of the container may be dispensed.
• the lid 3 has a top plate 31, from which a sidewall 32 depends downwardly and a plug 38, designed to co-operate with the dispensing orifice 28.
• a hinge 5 connects the lid 3 to the body 2, and allows the lid 3 to be moved swingingly between a closed position, in which the plug 38 occludes the dispensing orifice 38 and an open position, in which the dispensing orifice 28 is unobstructed and the contents of the container may be dispensed.
• the top plate 31 is formed as a separate component to the remainder of the lid 3, which comprises an inner central panel 33 and a sidewall 32.
• the plug 38 is carried on the inner central panel 33.
• the number and position of the curved arms 36 are chosen to hold the sidewall 32 firmly to the inner central panel 33, and act to limit undesirable axial movement as the lid is opened and closed.
• the resilient curved arms provide a degree of resistance to the squeezing movement of the user required to deform the sidewall 33, without preventing the deformation thereof altogether. This limited resistance is expected by a user, to provide feedback about the degree of squeezing force applied.
• a separate top plate 31 is fixed to the upper surface of the lid 3, by means of a hole 332 and spigot 312 joint (as shown in Figure 2).
• the hole 332 and spigot 312 joint is designed to be permanent, once assembled and the separate top plate 31 is difficult to remove from the inner central plate 33 of the lid 3.
• the sidewall 32 provides the resilient ring 4 and carries one part of the catch 6.
• the other part of the catch 6 is carried on the body 2.
• the catch 6 comprises a tab 61, which engages in a slot 62.
• the tab is shown carried on the resilient ring 4 and the slot is defined in the body 2, but these two parts of the catch 6 may be reversed.
• the catch 6 may comprise two inter-engaging tabs rather than a tab and a slot.
• FIG. 3 shows a plan view of the closure 1, in is closed, normal position. As shown, in this position the separate top plate 31 covers the whole of the upper surface of the resilient ring 4.
• a user squeezes the resilient ring on either side of the hinge 5. On squeezing, the ring 4 deforms (ovalises) and thereby releases the tab part of the catch 61 from the slot 62. Also, the deformed ring 4 creates an overhang 65 on the lid 3 with respect to the body 2. This overhang 65 is used to lift the lid 3, disengaging the plug 38 from the dispensing orifice 28. It should be noted that on ovalising, the deformed ring 4 unlocks the lid but does not open the lid 3. A second separate and distinct lifting movement must be applied by the user simultaneously with the squeezing movement.
• FIGS 5 and 6 show a second embodiment of the invention, having the same general structure as that described above.
• a closure 1 comprises a body 2, for fixing to a container (not shown), and a lid 3 connected together by a hinge 5.
• the lid 3 comprises a top plate 31 with a sidewall 32, depending downwardly from the periphery thereof.
• the sidewall 32 provides the resilient ring 4 required by the invention, but in this embodiment, the top plate 31 and sidewall 32 are moulded integrally (as a single component). This allows high volume production, but the integral nature of the top plate 31 and the side wall 32 means that the top plate 31 inhibits deformation of the ring 4 / sidewall 32.
• a plurality of ribs 37 is also provided between the top plate 31 and sidewall 32 to allow the closure to resist any axial top load.
• the ribs 37 are sized and positioned to stabilise the lid 2, should it be subjected to a top load, during transport, for example.
• This embodiment may be further enhanced by providing a shield 71 , to cover the gap 7 and provide a smooth surface to the closure 1 (as shown in Figures 9 and 10).
• the shield 71 is preferably interrupted at the hinge 5 and the opposing portion of the side wall 32 (adjacent to the catch 6), to allow room for outward radial movement of the side wall 32, required to unlock the catch 6 between the body 2 and the lid 3.
• the shield portions 71 may be extended to provide finger pads, which the user may use to indirectly squeeze the sidewall 32 of the lid 3.
• This arrangement has the advantage that the user is unaware of the radially inward tilting of the free edge of the sidewall 32 (shown in Figure ⁇ ), when squeezing pressure is applied to the pads.
• the shield portions 71 may be relieved (for example, cut away or flared outwardly) in the vicinity of the hinge 5, to allow unrestricted opening and closing of the lid 3 on the body 2.
• the lid 3 of the closure 1 is formed in one piece and is again connected to a body 2 via a hinge 5.
• a plurality of windows 39 is defined in the lid 2 in the sidewall 32 and/or top plate 31.
• a separate resilient ring is assembled inside the lid 2 by a known permanent joint ar ⁇ rangement (eg. hole and spigot arrangement as previously described and as shown n figures 14 and 15).
• the permanent joint between the lid 3 and the resilient ring 4 is designed to allow free deformation of the majority of the ring 4.
• the ring 4 is preferably attached to the lid 2 at one point only.
• a pair of squeeze tabs 41 may be carried on the ring, such that they protrude through the windows 39, Preferably, the squeeze tabs 41 are shaped to accommodate a user's fingers comfortably.
• a lifting tab 65 is also carried on the ring 4, opposite the hinge 5 and may protrude through an associated window 39 in the sidewall 32 of the lid 3.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Closures For Containers (AREA)
• Valve-Gear Or Valve Arrangements (AREA)
• Valve Device For Special Equipments (AREA)

Priority Applications (1)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=34930448

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (8)

Cited By (1)

Families Citing this family (17)

Family Cites Families (62)

• 2005
  • 2005-06-29 WO PCT/EP2005/053085 patent/WO2006003168A1/en active IP Right Grant
  • 2005-06-29 DE DE602005009842T patent/DE602005009842D1/de active Active
  • 2005-06-29 EP EP05763936A patent/EP1786698B1/de not_active Not-in-force
  • 2005-06-29 MY MYPI20052966A patent/MY140144A/en unknown
  • 2005-06-29 AT AT05763936T patent/ATE408565T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2005-06-29 US US11/630,365 patent/US20080237236A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2005-06-29 ES ES05763936T patent/ES2313381T3/es active Active
  • 2005-06-29 MX MXPA06014641A patent/MXPA06014641A/es active IP Right Grant

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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