GB2554699A

GB2554699A - Container closure

Info

Publication number: GB2554699A
Application number: GB1616866.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Lant Jon
Original assignee: Origin Pharmaceutical Packaging Ltd
Current assignee: Origin Pharmaceutical Packaging Ltd
Priority date: 2016-10-04
Filing date: 2016-10-04
Publication date: 2018-04-11
Also published as: GB201616866D0

Abstract

A child resistant closure device for a container with a screw threaded opening. The device comprises an inner cap 20, an outer cap 10 and a cup 40 (figure 4). The closure device is arranged such that the inner cap is attached by a screw thread to the opening of the container; the outer cap fits on the inner cap; the cup is releasably attached to the outer cap. The caps have a substantially tubular side wall with one end closed-off to form an end wall. The outer cap is able to rotate independently of the inner cap when turning in an opening direction. When turning in the closing direction, the outer cap engages with the inner cap. The rotation of the cup is in unison with the outer cap when the two are attached.

Description

(54) Title of the Invention: Container closure

Abstract Title: A child resistant closure device (57) A child resistant closure device for a container with a screw threaded opening. The device comprises an inner cap 20, an outer cap 10 and a cup 40 (figure 4). The closure device is arranged such that the inner cap is attached by a screw thread to the opening of the container; the outer cap fits on the inner cap; the cup is releasably attached to the outer cap. The caps have a substantially tubular side wall with one end closed-off to form an end wall. The outer cap is able to rotate independently of the inner cap when turning in an opening direction. When turning in the closing direction, the outer cap engages with the inner cap. The rotation of the cup is in unison with the outer cap when the two are attached.

Figure 1

Figure 2

At least one drawing originally filed was informal and the print reproduced here is taken from a later filed formal copy.

1/5

10 16 in

/ 5

10 16

4/5

10 16 ο

5/5

10 16

Container Closure

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a child resistant closure for a container, and more particularly to a child resistant closure for a container wherein the closure comprises a cup.

Background to the Invention

The secure storage of potentially harmful products is an area of great importance to companies and brand owners. Today, it is essential that any packaging of a harmful product meets stringent standards in at this regard

In terms of the security of the packaging as whole, it is often essential for any packaging to be resistant to opening by a child. Such resistance is typically measured against the ISO 8317 or 16 CFR 1700.20 standards. The use of packaging which is resistant to opening by a child acts as a last line of defence against the accidental ingestion of a product which may cause harm to that child, in case a bottle or container containing the product is left within the reach of a child.

The use of child resistant packaging is not without issue. By their very nature, many products are provided to those who are elderly, weak or infirm. Consequently, if the child resistant packaging is configured incorrectly, it may be the case that people in these categories, the people the products are intended for, may be unable to open the packaging. Similar issues may also arise where the product is provided to a person who is differently abled or disabled. Therefore, any packaging design must also ensure the product contained within is accessible to those who require its use.

Additionally, it may be important for the packaging of any product to indicate if the packaging has been opened since its first closure. Such a feature is often required to ensure that any product has not been tampered with or altered since its original production and packaging by a manufacturer.

From the above description, it can be seen that the requirements for the packing of a product may be both stringent and multi-faceted. An additional layer of complexity in the packing may also be introduced when the harmful product is a medicine or other pharmaceutical, and a means of dispensing the product is required.

Many medicines and pharmaceutical products are now required to have a dosage device included in the retail pack. Cups are dosage devices commonly included with any medicament, typically seen as advantageous by industry due to their low cost and suitability for use with a wide range of pharmaceutical products. However, in the state of the art, such cups are included as a separate item within the sales packaging of a product, i.e. both the medicament container and the cup will be included separately in a branded packaging box. As such, the inclusion of a cup with a medicament is problematic. If the inclusion of a cup is desirable, it must be added during an additional phase of the packaging process. Furthermore, the inclusion of a cup must not affect the child safe packing of the medicament itself.

Summary ofthe Invention

According to the present invention, there is provided a child resistant closure device for a container with a screw threaded opening, said closure device comprising an inner portion in the form of a screw threaded cap and an outer portion into which said inner portion fits, said inner portion and said outer portion both having a tubular side wall and an end wall, said outer portion operably engaging with said inner portion for turning said inner portion in a closing direction, but being able to turn in an opening direction without operably engaging with said inner portion, wherein said closure device further comprises a cup, said cup comprising at least one engagement member for engagement with said outer portion such that said cup is releasably attached to said outer portion, and further such that the rotation of said cup is in unison with the rotation of said outer portion when said cup and said outer portion are attached.

In this way, there is provided a child resistant closure comprising a removable and reattachable cup. Advantageously, the engagement of the cup with the outer portion ensures the cup does not reduce the effectiveness of the child resistant enclosure. Operation of the child resistant closure is maintained with the cup in place, as the engagement ofthe cup with the outer portion such that the two may only rotate in unison ensures that any torque applied by the user to the cup will be transferred directly to the outer portion. Additionally, the cup itself provides no inherent child resistant functionality. In this way, the closure remains child resistant and operable both in the presence, and absence, of the cup.

Furthermore, the inclusion of both a cup and a child resist features in a single closure advantageously enables a reduction in the length ofthe packaging process, as the cup is no longer required to be added in a separate stage.

Preferably, the outer portion is sized to fit substantially within the cup. More preferably, the outer portion is sixed to fit entirely within the cup. Preferably the outer portion is nested substantially within the cup. More preferably, the outer portion is nested entirely within the cup. Preferably, the outer portion is held substantially or entirely within the cup with an interference fit. More preferably, the interference fit is provided by the at least one engagement member.

Preferably, the cup comprises a cup side wall extending from a cup end wall. Preferably, the cup side wall is substantially tubular. Alternatively, the cup side wall is substantially conical. Preferably, the cup end wall is substantially circular. Preferably, the cup defines a substantially cylindrical volume. Alternatively, the cup defines a substantially frustoconical volume.

Preferably, the at least one engagement member is located proximal to an end wall of the cup side wall. More preferably, the at least one engagement member is located at an end of the cup side wall.

Preferably, the at least one engagement member is located proximal to a junction between the cup end wall and the cup side wall. More preferably, the at least one engagement member is located at a junction between the cup end wall and the cup side wall.

Preferably, the at least one engagement member extends perpendicularly from the cup side wall or the cup end wall. More preferably, the at least one engagement member extends perpendicularly from both the cup side wall and the cup end wall.

Preferably, the cup comprises a plurality of engagement members. Preferably the engagement members are regularly spaced. Preferably the engagement members form a castellated profile.

Preferably, at least one engagement member engages with at least one corresponding formation located on the exterior of the outer portion when the cup is attached to the outer portion. Preferably this engagement is in the form of an interference fit. Preferably the corresponding formation is an indentation.

Preferably, an interior surface of the cup comprises at least one locating fin. Preferably, at least one locating fin extends axially along the inner surface of the cup side wall in a direction substantially perpendicular to the of the cup end wall. Preferably, at least one locating fin is engaged by an indentation on the exterior surface of the outer portion when the outer portion is attached to the lid. More preferably this engagement is provided in the form of an interference fit. Preferably, the indentation is provided as the space between two ridges.

Preferably, at least one locating fin extends perpendicularly from the interior surface of the cup. More preferably, the locating fin extends perpendicularly from the interior surface of the cup side wall.

Preferably, the exterior surface of the cup comprises at least one indentation. More preferably, the exterior surface of the cup comprises a plurality of indentations. Still more preferably, the plurality of indentations comprise a castellated profile. Most preferably, the castellated profile is provided at the perimeter of the cup end wall.

Preferably, the cup is translucent. Preferably, the cup is transparent. Preferably, the cup comprises a measuring increment. More preferably, the cup comprises a plurality of measuring increments. Preferably, the measuring increments are raised on the surface of the cup.

Preferably, the cup comprises a ridged outer surface.

Preferably, the closure assembly further comprises a tamper evident portion. More preferably, the tamper evident portion comprises a ring.

Preferably, the tamper evident portion is frangibly connected to the closure. Preferably, the tamper evident portion comprises means for resiliently engaging a container to which the closure fits.

Preferably the closure assembly is a medicine bottle closure assembly.

Detailed Description

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic side view of an outer portion of a closure in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a schematic side view of an inner portion of a closure in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 3 is a schematic side view of a evident portion in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 4 is a schematic isometric view of the exterior of a cup in accordance with the present invention; and

Figure 5 is a schematic isometric view of the interior of a cup in accordance with the present invention.

Referring first to Figure 1 of the drawings there is illustrated an outer portion 10 of a closure in accordance with the present invention. The outer portion 10 is formed of a plastic material, most likely in an injection moulding process. The outer portion 10 is generally cup shaped, and comprises a tubular side wall 11, extending from the substantially circular perimeter of the end wall 12. The end wall 12 is annular in shape, and comprising a central aperture 13 that is circular in shape. The central aperture 13 is located centrally on the end wall 12.

A first finger 14 depends downwardly from the end wall 12 of the outer portion 10, into the interior of the outer portion 10. The first finger 14 depends from the annular surface of the end wall 12 in a location proximal to the central aperture 13. A second finger (not shown) also depends downwardly from the end wall 12 in an identical fashion to the first finger 14. This second finger is located on the opposite side of the aperture from the first finger 14 such that the outer portion 10 has an axis of rotational symmetry about an axis extending from the centre of the central aperture 13. Each finger 14 is resiliently flexible and is arranged such that it may be repeatedly deformed and returned to shape without significant material damage to either the finger or the material it includes. A first series of teeth (not shown) extend around the interior perimeter of the end wall 12, at its intersection with the tubular side wall 11, providing a castellated profile.

The exterior surface of the end wall 12 comprises a plurality of indentations 15 at its perimeter. These indentations 15 are located at regular intervals around the edge of the outer portion, and extend both into the end wall 12 and the tubular side wall 11. Each indentation 15 may be moulded into the outer portion 10 during is formation in an injection moulding process. In addition, the exterior surface of the tubular side wall 11 comprises a plurality of ribs 16, each rib 16 extending axially along the outer surface of the tubular side wall 11 in a direction substantially perpendicular to, or at an acute angle to, the exterior surface of the end wall 12. The end of the plurality of ribs 16 proximal to the end wall 12 is shaped or moulded, such that the transition from the ribbed tubular side wall 11 to the end wall 13 is smoothed.

Referring now to Figure 2, an inner portion 20 of the closure is depicted. Again, the inner portion 20 may be formed of a plastics material, for example by injection moulding. The inner portion 20 is substantially cup shaped, and comprises a tubular side wall 21 extending from the substantially circular perimeter of an end wall 22. A central protrusion 23 extends from the centre of the top surface of the end wall 22, the central protrusion 23 itself having a substantially circular perimeter. The central protrusion 23 is sized such that its perimeter is smaller than that of the central aperture 13. Therefore, when the inner portion 20 is nested inside the outer portion 10, the central protrusion 23 may protrude through the central aperture 13 in the top end 12 of the outer portion 10.

The end wall 22 comprises a plurality of ratchet dogs 24, each having an inclined front camming surface 25 facing in the opening direction of the closure and a rear abutment surface 26 facing in the closing direction of the closure. The abutment surfaces 26 of the ratchet dogs 24 face towards respective fingers depending downwardly from the end wall 12.

The end wall 22 of the inner portion 20 further comprises a second series of teeth 27 located around the perimeter of the end wall 22 and extending upwardly therefrom. The second set of teeth 27 are regularly located around the perimeter of the end wall 22 and form a castellated profile. The profiles of the first and second 27 series of teeth are complementary. The interior surface of the inner tubular side wall 20 of the inner portion 20 also comprises an internal screw thread.

Referring to Figure 3 of the drawings, a tamper evident portion 30 is formed of plastics material, for example by injection moulding. The tamper evident portion 30 comprises an annular collar having upper and lower axially disposed regions 31, 32. A plurality of tabs 33 extend radially inwardly from the lower region 32. The tamper evident portion 30 further comprises a ring of perforations 34 around its circumference between the upper and lower regions 31, 32. The perforations 34 are separated by frangible linking members 35.

In use, the inner portion 20 is received within the outer portion 10 and held captive by snapengagement of its outer rim 28 past an annular ridge that extends radially inwardly from the lower end of the inside of the tubular side wall 11 of the outer portion 10. Once assembled, the fingers 14 which extend downwardly from the end wall 12 of the outer portion 10 engage with the end wall 23 of the inner portion 20 to bias the outer portion 10 upwardly, away from the inner portion 20, such that the rim 28 abuts the ridge.

Optionally, the tamper evident portion 30 of Figure 3 may be received within the inner portion 20 and held captive by snap-engagement of its upper portion 31 with the inner portion 20.

The closure is applied to a container by placing the device on to the externally screw-threaded neck of the container and turning the outer portion 10 in the closing (clockwise) direction: this causes cause the fingers 14 on the outer portion 10 to engage behind respective abutment surfaces of the dogs 24 on the inner portion 20, with the tips of the fingers 14 seating securely against the abutment surfaces 26, such that the inner and outer portions 20,10 lock together to allow the closure to be screwed onto the neck of the container. As the inner portion 20 is tightened onto the threaded neck, it is brought into contact with the rim of the container neck to seal the container.

Turning the outer portion 10 in the opening (counter-clockwise) direction will cause the fingers 14 depending downwardly from the end wall 12 of the outer portion 10 portion 9 to ride over the camming surfaces 25 of the dogs 24 on the inner portion 20, such that the inner and outer portions 20, 10 do not lock together to allow the closure to be unscrewed from the neck of the container.

However, when a downwards force is applied to the outer portion 10, the latter moves downwardly against the bias of the fingers 14 to cause the first and second 24 series of teeth to inter-engage and the central protrusion 23 to protrude through the central aperture 13. Now, turning the outer portion 10 in the opening (counter-clockwise) direction (whilst the downwards force is applied) will allow the closure to be unscrewed from the neck of the container due to the fact that the inner and outer portions 20, 10 are locked together. The simultaneous application of downwards and turning forces to allow the closure to be unscrewed from the neck of the container is difficult for children to perform and thus the closure is child resistant.

Referring now to Figures 4 and 5, a cup 40, capable of containing fluid, of the closure is depicted. Again, the cup 40 may be formed of a plastics material, for example by injection moulding. The plastics material may also be transparent. The cup 40 comprises a tubular cup side wall 41 extending from the substantially circular perimeter of a cup end wall 42. The cup end wall 42 itself is substantially circular and both the cup side wall 41 and the cup end wall 42 are substantially planar.

A third series of teeth 43 extend around the interior perimeter of the cup end wall 42, at its intersection with the tubular cup side wall 41, providing a castellated profile. The profiles of the third series of teeth 43 are complementary with the plurality of indentations 15 located around the edge of the outer portion 10.

The exterior surface of the cup end wall 42 comprises a plurality of cup indentations 44 at its perimeter. These cup indentations 44 are located at regular intervals around the edge of the cup end wall 42, and extend both into the cup end wall 42 and the tubular cup side wall 41. Here, the cup indentations 44 provide a castellated profile. Each cup indentation 44 may be moulded into the cup 20 during is formation in an injection moulding process. Additionally, as depicted, a single formation provides both individual teeth 43 and individual cup indentations 44.

Locating fins 45 extend from the interior surface of the cup side wall 41, each locating fin 45 extending axially along the inner surface of the tubular cup side wall 41 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the exterior surface of the cup end wall 42. The locating fins 45 are spaced at regular intervals around the interior surface of the cup side wall 41, and are sized such that each locating fin may engage with a rib 16 on the outer surface of the tubular side wall 11 of the outer portion 10. Additionally, the cup 40 is marked with a measuring increment 46. As seen in Figure 5, the measuring increment 46 is marked on the interior of the cup side wall 41 of the cup 40, and marks a fill line at which the cup 40 contains a specific volume. The position of this measuring increment 46 may be varied during the manufacturing process of the cup 40 such that it may indicate different volumes of material, these volumes tailored in view of the contents of the container to be dispensed in the cup 40.

In use, the outer portion 10 is nested within the cup 40 and is held in place with an interference fit. As the cup 40 is placed on to the outer portion 10, the locating fins 45 engage with the ridges 16 of the outer portion 10 to guide the cup 40 into position, such that the third series of teeth 43 engage with the indentation 15 to hold to cup 40 in position relative to the outer portion

10.

When in position, the third series of teeth 43 interlock with the indentation 15 to prevent the rotation of the cup 40 in relation to the outer portion. As such, any torque applied by the user to the cup 40 will be transferred directly to the outer portion 10, and the presence of the cup will not affect the operation of the child resistant closure.

Separate to the opening and closing of the closure, the cup 40 may be removed and replaced from the outer portion 10 by the user. When its removal is required, the user may apply an upward force upon the cup 40 in relation to the upper portion 10, removing the third series of teeth 44 from the indentations 15 and simultaneously removing the locating fins 45 form the ribs 16. Once the user has finished using the cup 40, it may be replaced on the outer portion 10 in a repeat of the aforementioned process.

To ensure the cup 40 may be removed easily from the outer portion 10, the fit of the third series of teeth 44 with the indentations 15 and of the locating fins 45 with the ridges 16 is carefully tailored such that the interference fit provided is sufficient to prevent the cup coming loose during transit and storage, but not so strong as to make removal of the cup challenging. In practice, this is achieved with appropriate choice and control of dimensions during design and manufacture, such that the locating fins 45 and the third series of teeth 44 are only marginally dimensionally larger than the ridges 16 and indentation 15 they are received into.

During use, the cup 40 will typically be removed and replaced by the user. However, for ease of manufacture, it is desirable for the cup 40 to initially be placed onto the outer portion 10 by machine. Here, the cap indentations 44 form a castellated profile around the perimeter of the cup end wall 42 which may be recognised by a pre-existing capping machine. As such, the inclusion of these cap indentations 44 will allow the initial placement of the cup 40 to be undertaken by machine, resulting in the facile manufacture and assembly of the present closure.

Claims

1. A child resistant closure device for a container with a screw threaded opening, said closure device comprising an inner portion in the form of a screw threaded cap and an outer portion into which said inner portion fits, said inner portion and said outer portion both having a tubular side wall and an end wall, said outer portion operably engaging with said inner portion for turning said inner portion in a closing direction, but being able to turn in an opening direction without operably engaging with said inner portion, wherein said closure device further comprises a cup, said cup comprising at least one engagement member for engagement with said outer portion such that said cup is releasably attached to said outer portion, and further such that the rotation of said cup is in unison with the rotation of said outer portion when said cup and said outer portion are attached.

2. The child resistant closure device of claim 1, wherein said outer portion is sized to fit substantially within said cup.

3. The child resistant closure device of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said outer portion is nested substantially within said cup.

4. The child resistant closure device of claim 2 or claim 3, wherein said outer portion is held substantially within said cup with an interference fit.

5. The child resistant closure device of any preceding claim, wherein said cup comprises a cup side wall extending from a cup end wall.

6. The child resistant closure device of claim 5, wherein said at least one engagement member is located proximal to an end of said cup side wall.

7. The child resistant closure device of claim 5, wherein said at least one engagement member is located at an end of said cup side wall.

8. The child resistant closure device of claim 5, wherein said at least one engagement member is located proximal to a junction between said cup end wall and said cup side wall.

9. The child resistant closure device of claim 5, wherein said at least one engagement member is located at a junction between said cup end wall and said cup side wall.

10. The child resistant closure device of any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein said at least one engagement member extends perpendicularly from said cup side wall or said cup end wall.

11. The child resistant closure device of any one of claims 6 to 11, wherein the cup comprises a plurality of engagement members, said engagement members forming a castellated profile.

12. The child resistant closure of any one of claims 6 to 11, wherein said at least one engagement member engages with a corresponding formation located on the exterior of said outer portion when the cup is attached to said outer portion.

13. The child resistant closure of claim 12, wherein said corresponding formation is an indentation.

14. The child resistant closure device of any one preceding claim, wherein an interior surface of said cup comprises at least one locating fin.

15. The child resistant closure device of claim 14, wherein said at least one locating fin extends perpendicularly from said interior surface of said cup.

16. The child resistant closure device of any one preceding claim, wherein the exterior surface of said cup comprises at least one indentation.

17. The child resistant closure device of claim 16, wherein the exterior surface of said cup comprises a plurality of indentations, said indentations forming a castellated profile.

18. The child resistant closure device of any preceding claim, wherein said cup is translucent or transparent.

19. The child resistant closure device of any preceding claim, wherein said cup comprises at least one measuring increment.

20. The child resistant closure device of any one preceding claim, wherein said cup further comprises a ridged outer surface.

21. The child resistant closure device of any one preceding claim, wherein the closure assembly further comprises a tamper evident portion.

5

22. The child resistant closure device of claim 21, wherein said tamper evident portion comprises a ring.

23. The child resistant closure device of claim 21 or 22, wherein said tamper evident portion is frangibly connected to said closure, and further comprises means for

10 resiliently engaging a container to which the closure fits.

24. The child resistant closure device of any one preceding claim, wherein said closure device is a medicine bottle closure assembly.

15

25. A child resistant closure device, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Intellectual

Property

Office

Application No: Claims searched:

GB 1616866.8 1-25