Package for storing and dispensing fluids
By incorporating a flip-top and child safety lock design into the dosage dispenser, the problem of children accidentally opening the medication is solved, thus achieving safety and protection for the dosage dispenser.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202511762440.5
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2022-05-06
- Filing Date
- 2022-08-31
- Publication Date
- 2026-01-09
AI Technical Summary
Existing dosing dispensers lack effective child safety locks, which could lead to children accidentally opening and using liquid medications, posing a safety hazard.
A dose dispenser incorporating a flip-top and a child safety lock has been designed. The flip-top can be switched between an open and closed configuration, and the child safety lock prevents unauthorized use through the cooperation of a locking plate and a locking plate retainer. The locking plate includes an inclined ramp surface and a motion-blocking surface, combined with a cap opening lip and a vertically extending lip, increasing the difficulty of flipping the cap.
It effectively prevents children from accidentally opening the dispensing device, ensuring the safety of liquid medications and providing a dual protection mechanism to prevent unauthorized use.
Smart Images

Figure CN121291933A_ABST
Abstract
Description
This application is a divisional application of the invention application filed on August 31, 2022, with application number 2022800586171 and entitled "Pediatric Dosing Dispenser". Priority Statement
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 63 / 239575, filed September 1, 2021; U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 63 / 333247, filed April 21, 2022; and U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 63 / 339078, filed May 6, 2022, pursuant to Section 119(e) of Title 35 of the United States Code, each of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference. Background Technology
[0002] This disclosure relates to a dose dispenser for mounting on the top of a bottle or other container, and more specifically, to a dose dispenser comprising a body portion coupled to the container and a flip-top coupled to the body portion. More specifically, this disclosure relates to a dose dispenser with a child safety lock. Summary of the Invention
[0003] According to this disclosure, the dose dispenser includes a body portion and a flap coupled to the body portion to conceal a discharge port formed in the body portion. The body portion is configured to be mounted to the fill neck of a container to form a package and control the discharge of product from the package. The discharge port is configured to receive a fluid delivery tip of a syringe for extracting liquid from the container.
[0004] In an illustrative embodiment, the dose dispenser is configured to change from an open arrangement to a closed arrangement. In the open arrangement, the flap pivots about a flap pivot axis away from the body portion and is spaced apart from the vent hole. In the closed arrangement, the flap pivots about a flap pivot axis to engage with the body portion to cover the vent hole and block entry into the vent hole.
[0005] In an illustrative embodiment, the dose dispenser also includes a child safety lock. The child safety lock is configured to retain the flip-top in a closed arrangement to provide means for preventing unauthorized use and extraction of liquid from the packaged container when the flip-top is in the closed arrangement. The child safety lock includes a locking tab coupled to the flip-top and a locking tab retainer coupled to the body portion. The locking tab includes an inclined ramp surface and a motion-stopping surface. The locking tab retainer includes an actuator pad and a locking tab anchor coupled to the upper end of the actuator pad. The motion-stopping surface of the locking tab is configured to engage the lower surface of the locking tab anchor to restrict movement of the dose dispenser from the closed arrangement to the open arrangement.
[0006] In an illustrative embodiment, the child safety lock includes a cover opening lip coupled to the flip cover and a vertically extending lip coupled to the body portion. The cover opening lip is coupled to the outer surface of a sidewall of the flip cover and, when the dose dispenser is in the closed arrangement, is axially spaced from the upper end of the actuator pad relative to the central axis of the body portion. The vertically extending lip is configured to block access to the interface between the lower end of the flip cover and the body portion. Both the cover opening lip and the vertically extending lip increase the resistance for a child to open the flip cover. Attached Figure Description
[0007] For a detailed description, please refer to the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0008] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of a package according to the present disclosure, including a dosing dispenser coupled to a child safety lock;
[0009] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A perspective view of the dose dispenser, including the flip cover in the closed position;
[0010] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 A perspective view of the dose dispenser, showing the flip cover in the open arrangement;
[0011] Figure 4 yes Figure 1 A perspective view of the dose dispenser;
[0012] Figure 5 yes Figure 1 A perspective view of the dose dispenser;
[0013] Figure 6 yes Figure 1 A perspective view of the dose dispenser;
[0014] Figure 7 yes Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of the dose dispenser, showing the flip cover in the closed arrangement;
[0015] Figure 8 yes Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of the dose dispenser, showing the flip cover in the open arrangement;
[0016] Figure 9 yes Figure 1 A top plan view of the dose dispenser, showing the flip cover in the open arrangement;
[0017] Figure 10 yes Figure 1 A top plan view of the dose dispenser, showing the flip cover in the closed arrangement;
[0018] Figure 11 yes Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of the dose dispenser;
[0019] Figure 12 yes Figure 1 A side view of the dose dispenser, showing a child's teeth engaging with an actuator pad coupled to the dose dispenser;
[0020] Figure 13 yes Figure 1 A side view of the dose dispenser, showing a child's teeth engaging with the lip of the cap that is coupled to the dose dispenser;
[0021] Figure 14 This is a perspective view of a package according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, including a dosing dispenser coupled to a child safety lock;
[0022] Figure 15 yes Figure 14 A perspective view of the dose dispenser, including the flip cover in the closed position;
[0023] Figure 16 yes Figure 14 A perspective view of the dose dispenser, showing the flip cover in the open arrangement;
[0024] Figure 17 yes Figure 14 A perspective view of the dose dispenser;
[0025] Figure 18 yes Figure 14 A perspective view of the dose dispenser;
[0026] Figure 19 yes Figure 14 A perspective view of the dose dispenser;
[0027] Figure 20 yes Figure 14 A cross-sectional view of the dose dispenser, showing the flip cover in the closed arrangement;
[0028] Figure 21 yes Figure 14 A cross-sectional view of the dose dispenser, showing the flip cover in the open arrangement;
[0029] Figure 22 yes Figure 14 A top plan view of the dose dispenser, showing the flip cover in the open arrangement;
[0030] Figure 23 yes Figure 14 A top plan view of the dose dispenser, showing the flip cover in the closed arrangement;
[0031] Figure 24 yes Figure 14A cross-sectional view of the dose dispenser;
[0032] Figure 25 yes Figure 14 A side view of the dose dispenser, showing a child's teeth engaging with an actuator pad coupled to the dose dispenser;
[0033] Figure 26 yes Figure 14 A side view of the dose dispenser, showing a child's teeth engaging with the lip of the cap that is coupled to the dose dispenser;
[0034] Figure 27 This is a perspective view of a package according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, including a dosing dispenser coupled to a child safety lock;
[0035] Figure 28 yes Figure 27 A perspective view of the dose dispenser, including the flip cover in the closed position;
[0036] Figure 29 yes Figure 27 A perspective view of the dose dispenser, showing the flip cover in the open arrangement;
[0037] Figure 30 yes Figure 27 A perspective view of the packaging, showing the dose dispenser removed from the container of the packaging;
[0038] Figure 31 yes Figure 27 A perspective view of the dose dispenser;
[0039] Figure 32 yes Figure 27 A perspective view of the dose dispenser;
[0040] Figure 33 yes Figure 27 The package is in a sectional view with the arrangement closed;
[0041] Figure 34 yes Figure 27 The package is shown in a cross-sectional view with the contents in an open arrangement;
[0042] Figure 35 yes Figure 27 Top view of the dose dispenser; and
[0043] Figure 36 This is a top plan view of another embodiment of the dose dispenser. Detailed Implementation
[0044] Figure 1-13 Packaging 10 according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. Figure 14-26 The packaging 210 of the second embodiment is shown. Figure 27-36 The packaging 310 of the third embodiment is shown.
[0045] According to this disclosure, the packaging 10 includes a container 12, a dose dispenser 14 coupled to a filling neck 16 of the container 12, and a child safety lock 18, such as... Figure 1 As shown. The dosing dispenser 14 includes a body portion 20 adapted to be mounted on a container 12, and includes a flap 22 pivotally coupled to the body portion 20 to conceal a discharge port 24. The discharge port 24 is configured to receive a fluid delivery tip of a syringe for extracting liquid from the container 12.
[0046] The dose dispenser 14 is configured to switch between an open arrangement and a closed arrangement, in which the flap 22 pivots about a flap pivot axis 30 away from the body portion 20; and in the closed arrangement, the flap 22 pivots about the flap pivot axis 30 to engage with the body portion 20 to block access to the discharge port 24. The flap 22 may be integral or integral with the body portion 20 at the flap pivot axis 30 to provide a hinge 21 between them. A child safety lock 18 is configured to hold the flap 22 in the closed arrangement to provide means for preventing unauthorized use and extraction of liquid from the container 12 of the package 10 when the flap 22 is in the closed arrangement. The flap 22 may include a plug 23 inserted into the discharge port 24 in the closed arrangement to seal the surface defining the discharge port 24, such as... Figure 7 As shown. Illustratively, the discharge port 24 is defined at least in part by a discharge nozzle 25 that extends upward toward the flip cover 22 and receives the plug 23 in the closed arrangement.
[0047] The child safety lock 18 includes a locking plate 32 coupled to the flip cover 22 and a locking plate retainer 34 coupled to the main body 20, such as Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown. The locking tab 32 includes an inclined ramp surface 36 and a motion-blocking surface 38. The locking tab retainer 34 includes an actuator pad 40 and a locking tab anchor 42 coupled to the upper end of the actuator pad 40. The motion-blocking surface 38 of the locking tab 32 is configured to engage the lower surface of the locking tab anchor 42 to restrict movement of the dose dispenser 14 from the closed arrangement to the open arrangement, as shown. Figure 7 As shown.
[0048] The dose dispenser 14 can initially be screwed onto the filling neck 16 using threads 31, 33, as... Figure 4 As shown. Package 10 also includes a closure retention system 90 configured to retain the dose dispenser 14 to container 12 after it has been fully mounted on container 12 to prevent, for example, a child from unintentionally removing the dose dispenser 14 from container 12. The closure retention system 90 includes a plurality of ratchet teeth 92 coupled to container 12 and a plurality of ratchet fins 94 coupled to dose dispenser 14, as shown. Figure 4 As shown. The plurality of ratchet teeth 92 are spaced apart below the threads 31 on the filling neck 16 and are shaped to allow the dose dispenser 14 to rotate in a clockwise mounting direction. The plurality of ratchet teeth 92 and the plurality of ratchet fins 94 engage with each other to prevent the dose dispenser 14 from rotating in a counterclockwise removal direction opposite to the clockwise mounting direction. The container 12 also includes a retaining ring 96 located below the plurality of ratchet teeth 92. The retaining ring 96 is positioned directly below the bottom edge of the body portion 20 to prevent access to the plurality of ratchet fins 94 when the dose dispenser 14 is fully mounted on the container 12.
[0049] The main body 20 of the dose dispenser 14 includes a top wall 46, a first annular sidewall 48, a second sidewall 50, and an edge connector 52, as shown below. Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown in the diagram, the top wall 46 is formed to include a discharge port 24, and a central axis 56 extends substantially through the center of the top wall 46 and the discharge port 24. The inner surface of the first sidewall 48 is threaded and engages with a corresponding thread on the filling neck 16 to retain the dose dispenser 14 on the container 12. The second sidewall 50 is coupled to the first sidewall 48 via an edge connector 52 and a plurality of reinforcing ribs 53. A locking tab anchor 42 is coupled to the second sidewall 50.
[0050] The first sidewall 48 is spaced apart from the central axis 56 by a first distance 58, while the second sidewall 50 is spaced apart from the axis 56 by a second distance 60 greater than the first distance 58. A gap 62 is radially formed between the first sidewall 48 and the second sidewall 50. An edge connector 52 connects the upper ends of the first sidewall 48 and the second sidewall 50 to each other to provide the gap 62 between them.
[0051] The first sidewall 48 extends annularly about axis 56, while the second sidewall 50 extends only its lower portion annularly about axis 56. The second sidewall 50 includes a first groove 64 and a second groove 66, the second groove 66 being circumferentially spaced from the first groove 64 relative to axis 56 to provide an actuator pad 40 between the first groove 64 and the second groove 66, as... Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown. The lower end of each slot 64, 66 provides a horizontal actuator pivot axis 68. The upper end of each slot 64, 66 is not limited by any part of the body portion 20. An inward force 100 on the actuator pad 40 causes at least a portion of the actuator pad 40 and the locking tab anchor 42 to pivot and / or bend about the actuator pivot axis 68 to separate the locking tab anchor 42 from the movement blocking surface 38 of the locking tab 32, thereby allowing the flip cover 22 to pivot freely about axis 30 from the closed arrangement to the open arrangement, as shown. Figure 3 and Figure 5 As shown.
[0052] The locking tab anchor 42 includes a pair of circumferentially spaced support posts 70, 72 and an anchor beam 74 extending between and connecting the support posts 70, 72. Each support post 70, 72 is coupled to the upper end of the actuator pad 40 for movement therewith in response to an inward force 100. The anchor beam 74 is perpendicularly spaced from the upper end of the actuator pad 40 to provide a locking tab receiving space 80 between them for receiving the locking tab 32 when the flap 22 is in the closed arrangement, as shown. Figure 7 As shown in the image.
[0053] Anchor beam 74 includes an inclined upper surface 76 and a movement-stopping surface 78. When flap 22 is moved to the closed arrangement, the inclined ramp surface 36 of latch 32 engages with and travels along the inclined upper surface 76 of anchor beam 74. When flap 22 is fully closed, at least one of flap 22 and latch anchor 42 bends as the inclined ramps 36, 76 engage with each other and move past each other. Latch anchor 34 and flap 22 may be at least partially unbent upon reaching the closed arrangement, such that latch 32 extends into latch receiving space 80, and movement-stopping surfaces 38, 78 face each other to prevent flap 22 from rotating about pivot axis 30.
[0054] The child safety lock 18 may also include a cover opening lip 35 coupled to the flip cover 22, such as Figure 7 , Figure 12 and Figure 13 As shown. The opening lip 35 of the cover is coupled to the outer surface of the side wall 84 of the flip cover 22, as... Figure 7 As shown, when the dose dispenser 14 is in the closed arrangement, the cap opening lip 35 is axially spaced from the upper end of the actuator pad 40 relative to the central axis 56 of the body portion 20. A finger receiving space 37 is vertically defined between the upper end of the actuator pad 40 and the cap opening lip 35. Therefore, the sidewall 84 of the flip cover 22 is located radially inward of both the radially outer side of the cap opening lip 35 and the actuator pad 40. In some embodiments, the upper end of the cap opening lip 35 is axially aligned with the upper end of the top wall 82 of the flip cover 22.
[0055] To change the flip cover 22 from a closed to an open arrangement, an inward force 100 is first applied to the actuator pad 40. Subsequently, the user's fingers can enter the finger receiving space 37 and engage the lower surface of the cover opening lip 35. When the actuator pad 40 is deformed, an upward lifting force can be applied to the cover opening lip 35 to change the flip cover 22 from a closed to an open arrangement.
[0056] For example, the gap between the upper end of the actuator pad 40 and the cover opening lip 35 prevents a child from biting down on the actuator pad 40, causing the locking clip anchor 42 to disengage from the locking clip 32, while simultaneously applying an upward lifting force 102 to the cover opening lip 35. Figure 12 and13 As shown. It has been found that children can use their teeth 103 to press the actuator pad in the packaging and immediately apply leverage to the bottom edge of the flip cover to open the packaging. In the illustrated embodiment, if a child uses their teeth 103 to apply an inward force 100 to the actuator pad 40 and disengages the latch 32 from the latch anchor 42, the child stops applying the inward force 100 to the actuator pad 40 as the child's teeth pull up on the lid opening lip 35. Once no inward force 100 is applied to the actuator pad 40, the latch anchor 42 re-engages the latch 32 to lock the dose dispenser 14 in the closed arrangement before any upward force is applied to the flip cover 22. In this way, the actuator pad 40 and the lid opening lip 35 of the child safety lock 18 provide a two-handed opening mechanism that a child may not be aware of, preventing the child from opening the flip cover 22.
[0057] Actuator pad 40 includes a radially extending flange 43 coupled to the outer surface 39 of actuator pad 40, such as Figure 5 As shown. The upper end of the radially extending flange 43 is axially aligned with the upper end of the actuator pad 40 relative to the central axis 56. The outer surface 49 of the radially extending flange 43 is radially outside the sidewall 84 of the flap 22 and the second sidewall 50 of the body portion 20. The radially extending flange 43 provides a protrusion that engages the child's tooth 103 to prevent the child's tooth 103 from reaching the bottom surface of the sidewall 84 of the flap 22 and the lid opening lip 35 when the actuator pad 40 is pressed down. The radially extending flange 43 has an upper surface 45 that abuts against the lower end of the sidewall 84 of the flap 22 in the closed arrangement, as shown. Figure 7 As shown. The radially extending flange 43 extends radially outward from the central axis 56 further than the sidewall 84. The upper surface 45 of the radially extending flange 43 extends radially outward from the sidewall 84 by a distance 47, which can be greater than or equal to the travel distance of the locking retainer 34. Therefore, even when the locking retainer 34 is fully deformed, a portion of the radially extending flange 43 can protrude outward beyond the sidewall 84 of the flap to prevent a child's teeth 103 from engaging the lower end of the sidewall 84 and prying open the flap 22.
[0058] The child safety lock 18 may also include an axially extending lip 120 located at the interface between the lower end of the flip cover 22 and the main body portion 20, such as Figure 7 and Figure 11As shown. A vertically extending lip 120 extends along all or part of the second sidewall 50. The vertically extending lip 120 extends axially outward from the second sidewall 50 of the body portion 20 relative to the central axis 56 to define a channel 123 that receives the lower end of the sidewall 84 of the flap 22 in a closed arrangement. The upper end 125 of the vertically extending lip 120 is positioned above the parting line 122 defined between the flap 22 and the body portion 20 to prevent objects such as a child's fingernails or teeth from extending into the parting line 122 to pry open the flap 22 without pressing the actuator pad 40. Studies have found that children may identify the parting line in the packaging and wedge their fingernails or teeth into the parting line to open the packaging. The vertically extending lip 120 provides a false crack location at its upper end, perpendicularly spaced from the parting line 122, for selection and prying. Children may be distracted by chasing this false alarm and unable to access the packaging 10.
[0059] The vertically extending lip 120 is spaced apart from the central axis 56 by a first radius R1, and in the open arrangement, the sidewall 84 of the flap 22 is spaced apart from the second central axis 56' by a second radius R2. In the closed arrangement, the second central axis 56' is the central axis 56, and therefore the sidewall 84 is also spaced apart from the central axis 56 by a second radius R2. The second radius R2 is smaller than the first radius R1, such that the sidewall 84 is located radially inside the vertically extending lip 120 in the channel 123 in the closed arrangement.
[0060] The flap 22 also includes a top wall 82, a side wall 84, and a pair of reinforcing ribs 86, 88 coupled to the top wall 82 facing the lower surface of the body portion 20 in the closed arrangement. In the closed arrangement, the top wall 82 completely covers the top wall 46 of the body portion 20. The side wall 84 has an inner diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of a portion of the body portion 20 to receive that portion in the closed arrangement. The reinforcing ribs 86, 88 extend from the front end of the flap 22 to the rear end of the flap 22 to reduce the bending of the top wall 82 when the flap 22 is closed, allowing the plug 23 to be inserted into the discharge port 24 and providing a seal while reducing the thickness of the top wall 82. The reinforcing ribs 86, 88 are curved to extend around and receive the outer diameter of the discharge nozzle 25.
[0061] Some similar packaging (not shown) may require a liner, such as a removable seal, to initially prevent access to and removal of the product held in the container until the liner is removed or broken. Illustratively, the plug 23 and child safety lock 18 allow the packaging to be unlined or without a liner made of film, foil, a combination thereof, or any suitable alternative. The plug 23 provides a reusable seal to prevent access to the product in the container 12 when the flap 22 is closed. The dosing dispenser 14 also includes a container plug seal 55 extending into the fill neck 16 and an edge seal 57 engaging the upper end of the fill neck 16.
[0062] In one embodiment, the size and shape of the discharge nozzle 25 are designed for use without a syringe to extract product from the container 12, such as... Figure 9 As shown. The discharge nozzle 25 includes a nozzle sidewall 27 and an inlet ring 29 coupled to the inner surface of the nozzle sidewall 27. The inlet ring 29 is spaced below the upper opening of the discharge nozzle 25 and has an inner diameter smaller than the discharge nozzle 25 to prevent syringe insertion. Conversely, the dose dispenser 14 can be used with the container 12 to release the liquid product by applying a squeezing force to the container to force the liquid product out of the discharge port 24.
[0063] Another package 210 according to this disclosure includes a container 212, a dose dispenser 214 coupled to a filling neck 216 of the container 212, and a child safety lock 218, such as Figure 14 As shown. The dosing dispenser 214 includes a body portion 220 adapted to be mounted on a container 212, and includes a flap 222 pivotally coupled to the body portion 220 to conceal a discharge port 224. The discharge port 224 is configured to receive a fluid delivery tip of a syringe for extracting liquid from the container 212.
[0064] The dose dispenser 214 is configured to switch between an open arrangement and a closed arrangement, in which the flap 222 pivots about a flap pivot axis 230 away from the body portion 220; and in the closed arrangement, the flap 222 pivots about the flap pivot axis 230 to engage with the body portion 220 to block access to the discharge port 224. The flap 222 may be integral or integral with the body portion 220 at the flap pivot axis 230 to provide a hinge 221 between them. A child safety lock 218 is configured to hold the flap 222 in the closed arrangement to provide means for preventing unauthorized use and extraction of liquid from the container 212 of the package 210 when the flap 222 is in the closed arrangement. The flap 222 may include a plug 223 inserted into the discharge port 224 in the closed arrangement to seal the surface defining the discharge port 224, such as... Figure 20As shown. Illustratively, the discharge port 224 is defined at least in part by a discharge nozzle 225 that extends upward toward the flap 222 and receives the plug 223 in the closed arrangement.
[0065] The child safety lock 218 includes a locking plate 232 coupled to the flip cover 222 and a locking plate retainer 234 coupled to the main body 220, such as Figure 15 and Figure 16 As shown. The locking tab 232 includes an inclined ramp surface 236 and a motion-stopping surface 238. The locking tab retainer 234 includes an actuator pad 240 and a locking tab anchor 242 coupled to the upper end of the actuator pad 240. The motion-stopping surface 238 of the locking tab 232 is configured to engage the lower surface of the locking tab anchor 242 to restrict movement of the dose dispenser 214 from a closed arrangement to an open arrangement, as shown. Figure 20 As shown.
[0066] The dose dispenser 214 can initially be screwed onto the filling neck 216 using threads 231, 233, as... Figure 17 As shown. Packaging 210 also includes a closure retention system 290 configured to retain the dose dispenser 214 to container 212 after it has been fully mounted on container 212 to prevent, for example, a child from unintentionally removing the dose dispenser 214 from container 212. The closure retention system 290 includes a plurality of ratchet teeth 292 coupled to container 212 and a plurality of ratchet fins 294 coupled to dose dispenser 214, as shown. Figure 17 As shown. The plurality of ratchet teeth 292 are spaced apart below the threads 231 on the filling neck 216 and are shaped to allow the dose dispenser 214 to rotate in a clockwise mounting direction. The plurality of ratchet teeth 292 and the plurality of ratchet fins 294 engage with each other to prevent the dose dispenser 214 from rotating in a counterclockwise removal direction, which is opposite to the clockwise mounting direction. The container 212 also includes a retaining ring 296 located below the plurality of ratchet teeth 292. The retaining ring 296 is positioned directly below the bottom edge of the body portion 220 to prevent access to the plurality of ratchet fins 294 when the dose dispenser 214 is fully mounted on the container 212.
[0067] The main body 220 of the dose dispenser 214 includes a top wall 246, a first annular sidewall 248, a second sidewall 250, and an edge connector 252, as shown below. Figure 17 and Figure 18As shown in the diagram, the top wall 246 is formed to include a discharge port 224, and a central axis 256 extends substantially through the center of the top wall 246 and the discharge port 224. The inner surface of the first sidewall 248 is threaded and engages with a corresponding thread on the filling neck 216 to retain the dose dispenser 214 on the container 212. The second sidewall 250 is coupled to the first sidewall 248 via an edge connector 252 and a plurality of reinforcing ribs 253. A locking tab anchor 242 is coupled to the second sidewall 250.
[0068] The first sidewall 248 is spaced apart from the central axis 256 by a first distance 258, while the second sidewall 250 is spaced apart from the axis 256 by a second distance 260 greater than the first distance 258. A gap 262 is radially formed between the first sidewall 248 and the second sidewall 250. An edge connector 252 connects the upper ends of the first sidewall 248 and the second sidewall 250 to each other to provide the gap 262 between them.
[0069] The first sidewall 248 extends annularly about axis 256, while the second sidewall 250 extends only its lower portion annularly about axis 256. The second sidewall 250 includes a first groove 264 and a second groove 266, the second groove 266 being circumferentially spaced from the first groove 264 relative to axis 256 to provide an actuator pad 240 between the first groove 264 and the second groove 266, as... Figure 17 and Figure 18 As shown. The lower end of each slot 264, 266 provides a horizontal actuator pivot axis 268. The upper end of each slot 264, 266 is not limited by any part of the body portion 220. An inward force 2100 on the actuator pad 240 causes at least a portion of the actuator pad 240 and the locking tab anchor 242 to pivot and / or bend about the actuator pivot axis 268 to separate the locking tab anchor 242 from the movement blocking surface 238 of the locking tab 232, thereby allowing the flip cover 222 to pivot freely about axis 230 from the closed arrangement to the open arrangement, as shown. Figure 16 and Figure 18 As shown.
[0070] The locking tab anchor 242 includes a pair of circumferentially spaced support posts 270, 272 and an anchor beam 274 extending between and connecting the support posts 270, 272. Each support post 270, 272 is coupled to the upper end of the actuator pad 240 for movement therewith in response to an inward force 2100. The anchor beam 274 is perpendicularly spaced from the upper end of the actuator pad 240 to provide a locking tab receiving space 280 between them for receiving the locking tab 232 when the flap 222 is in the closed arrangement, as shown in the image. Figure 20 As shown in the image.
[0071] Anchor beam 274 includes an inclined upper surface 276 and a movement-stopping surface 278. When flap 222 is moved to the closed arrangement, the inclined ramp surface 236 of latch 232 engages with and travels along the inclined upper surface 276 of anchor beam 274. When flap 222 is fully closed, at least one of flap 222 and latch anchor 242 bends as the inclined ramps 236, 276 engage with each other and move past each other. Latch anchor 234 and flap 222 may be at least partially unbent upon reaching the closed arrangement, such that latch 232 extends into latch receiving space 280, and movement-stopping surfaces 238, 278 face each other to prevent flap 222 from rotating about pivot axis 230.
[0072] The child safety lock 218 may also include a cover opening lip 235 coupled to the flip cover 222, such as Figure 20 , Figure 25 and Figure 26 As shown. The cap opening lip 235 is coupled to the outer surface of the sidewall 284 of the flip cover 222 and is axially spaced from the upper end of the actuator pad 240 relative to the central axis 256 of the body portion 220 when the dose dispenser 214 is in the closed arrangement. A finger receiving space 237 is vertically defined between the upper end of the actuator pad 240 and the cap opening lip 235. Therefore, the sidewall 284 of the flip cover 222 is located radially inward of the radial outer side of both the cap opening lip 235 and the actuator pad 240. In some embodiments, the upper end of the cap opening lip 235 is axially aligned with the upper end of the top wall 282 of the flip cover 222.
[0073] To change the flip cover 222 from a closed arrangement to an open arrangement, an inward force 2100 is first applied to the actuator pad 240. Subsequently, the user's fingers can enter the finger receiving space 237 and engage the lower surface of the cover opening lip 235. When the actuator pad 240 is deformed, an upward lifting force can be applied to the cover opening lip 235 to change the flip cover 222 from a closed arrangement to an open arrangement.
[0074] For example, the gap between the upper end of the actuator pad 240 and the cover opening lip 235 prevents a child from biting down on the actuator pad 240, causing the locking clip anchor 242 to disengage from the locking clip 232, while also applying an upward lifting force 2102 to the cover opening lip 235. Figure 25 and 26As shown. It has been found that children can use their teeth 2103 to press the actuator pad in the package and immediately apply leverage to the bottom edge of the flap to open the package. In the illustrated embodiment, if a child uses their teeth 2103 to apply an inward force 2100 to the actuator pad 240 and disengages the latch 232 from the latch anchor 242, the child stops applying the inward force 2100 to the actuator pad 240 as the child's teeth pull up on the flap opening lip 235. Once no inward force 2100 is applied to the actuator pad 240, the latch anchor 242 re-engages the latch 232 to lock the dose dispenser 214 in the closed arrangement before any upward force is applied to the flap 222. Therefore, the gap between the upper end of the actuator pad 240 and the lid opening lip 235 provides an area in which a child's teeth 2103 slip off the actuator pad 240 before engaging the lid opening lip 235, allowing sufficient time for the latch anchor 242 to debend and re-engage the latch 232. In this way, the actuator pad 240 and lid opening lip 235 of the child safety lock 218 provide a two-handed opening mechanism that a child may not be aware of, preventing the child from opening the flip cover 222.
[0075] The actuator pad 240 includes a plurality of vertically extending ribs 241 and radially extending flanges 243, such as Figure 18 As shown. Rib 241 and radially extending flange 243 are coupled to the outer surface of actuator pad 240. The upper end of radially extending flange 243 is axially aligned with the upper end of actuator pad 240 relative to central axis 256. The outer surface of radially extending flange 243 is radially outside the side wall 284 of flap 222 and the second side wall 250 of body portion 220. The outer surface of radially extending flange 243 is also radially aligned with the upper end of rib 241. Rib 241 has a downwardly sloping outer surface such that the lower end of rib 241 is radially aligned with actuator pad 240 relative to central axis 256. Rib 241 makes it difficult for a child to apply an inward force 2100 to disengage latch 232 from latch anchor 242 and approach the underside of flap 222. Rib 241 cooperates with the positioning of flap opening lip 235 to provide an additional barrier for a child attempting to enter package 210.
[0076] The radially extending flange 243 has an upper surface 245 that abuts against the lower end of the sidewall 284 of the flap 222 in the closed arrangement, such as Figure 20As shown. The radially extending flange 243 extends radially outward from the central axis 256 further than the sidewall 284. The upper surface 245 of the radially extending flange 243 extends radially outward from the sidewall 284 by a distance 247, which may be greater than or equal to the travel distance of the locking retainer 234. Therefore, even when the locking retainer 234 is fully deformed, a portion of the radially extending flange 243 protrudes outward beyond the sidewall 284 of the flap to prevent a child's teeth 2103 from engaging the lower end of the sidewall 284 and prying open the flap 222.
[0077] The child safety lock 218 may also include a radially extending lip 2120 located at the interface between the lower end of the flip cover 222 and the main body portion 220, such as Figure 20 and Figure 24 As shown. A radially extending lip 2120 extends along all or part of the second sidewall 250. The radially extending lip 2120 extends radially outward from the second sidewall 250 of the body portion 220 to provide an axially extending wall 2121. The axially extending wall 2121 extends radially outward from the second sidewall 250 relative to the central axis 256 to define a channel 2123 for the lower end of the sidewall 284 that receives the flap 22 in a closed arrangement. The upper end 2125 of the radially extending wall 2121 is positioned above the parting line 2122 defined between the flap 222 and the body portion 220 to prevent objects such as a child's fingernails or teeth from extending into the parting line 2122 to pry open the flap 222 without pressing the actuator pad 240. Studies have found that children may identify the parting line in the packaging and wedge their fingernails or teeth into the parting line to open the packaging. The radially extending lip 2120 provides a false crack location at its upper end, perpendicularly spaced from the parting line 2122, for selection and prying. Children may be distracted by chasing this false crack and unable to access the package 210.
[0078] The radially extending lip 2120 is also configured to prevent unintentional downward pressure on the latch retainer 234 or the second sidewall 50 during the assembly of package 210. The outer surface of the radially extending flange 243 is spaced from the central axis 256 by a first radial distance 2R1. The outer surface of the axially extending wall 2121 is spaced from the central axis 256 by a second radial distance 2R2. The second radial distance 2R2 is greater than or equal to the first radial distance 2R1, such that all or most of the latch retainer 234 is located radially inward on the outer surface of the radially extending lip 2120. Therefore, for example, the capping device can be held on the radially extending lip 2120 during the assembly of package 210 without pressing down the latch retainer 234 and opening the flap 222 or damaging the dose dispenser 214. An opened flap 222 may interfere with other devices during assembly.
[0079] The flap 222 also includes a top wall 282, a side wall 284, and a pair of reinforcing ribs 286, 288 coupled to the top wall 282 and facing the lower surface of the body portion 220 in the closed arrangement. In the closed arrangement, the top wall 282 completely covers the top wall 246 of the body portion 220. The side wall 284 has an inner diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of a portion of the body portion 220 to receive that portion in the closed arrangement. The reinforcing ribs 286, 288 extend from the front end of the flap 222 to the rear end of the flap 222 to reduce the bending of the top wall 282 when the flap 222 is closed, allowing the plug 223 to be inserted into the discharge port 224 and providing a seal while reducing the thickness of the top wall 282. The reinforcing ribs 286, 288 are bent to extend around and receive the outer diameter of the discharge nozzle 225.
[0080] Some similar packaging (not shown) may require a liner, such as a removable seal, to initially prevent access to and removal of the product held in the container until the liner is removed or broken. Illustratively, the plug 223 and child safety lock 218 allow the packaging to be unlined or without a liner made of film, foil, a combination thereof, or any suitable alternative. The plug 223 provides a reusable seal to prevent access to the product in the container 212 when the flap 222 is closed. The dosing dispenser 214 also includes a container plug seal 255 extending into the fill neck 216 and an edge seal 257 engaging the upper end of the fill neck 216.
[0081] In one embodiment, the size and shape of the discharge nozzle 225 are designed for use without a syringe to extract product from container 212, such as... Figure 22 As shown. The discharge nozzle 225 includes a nozzle sidewall 227 and an inlet ring 229 coupled to the inner surface of the nozzle sidewall 227. The inlet ring 229 is spaced below the upper opening of the discharge nozzle 225 and has an inner diameter smaller than the discharge nozzle 225 to prevent syringe insertion. Conversely, a dose dispenser 214 can be used with the container 212 to release the liquid product when a squeezing force is applied to the container to force the liquid product out of the discharge port 224. A package 310 according to another embodiment of the present disclosure includes a container 312, a dose dispenser 314 coupled to a filling neck 316 of the container 312, and a child safety lock 318, such as Figure 27 As shown. The dosing dispenser 314 includes a body portion 320 adapted to be mounted on a container 312, and includes a flap 322 pivotally coupled to the body portion 320 to conceal a discharge port 324. The discharge port 324 is configured to receive a fluid delivery tip of a syringe for extracting liquid from the container 312.
[0082] The dose dispenser 314 is configured to switch between an open arrangement and a closed arrangement, in which the flip cover 322 pivots about a flip cover pivot axis 330 away from the body portion 320; and in the closed arrangement, the flip cover 322 pivots about the flip cover pivot axis 330 to engage with the body portion 320 to block access to the discharge port 324. A child safety lock 318 is configured to hold the flip cover 322 in the closed arrangement to provide means for preventing unauthorized use and extraction of liquid from the container 312 of the package 310 when the flip cover 322 is in the closed arrangement. The flip cover 322 may include a plug 323 inserted into the discharge port 324 in the closed arrangement to seal the surface defining the discharge port 324, such as... Figure 33 As shown. Illustratively, the discharge port 324 is defined at least in part by a discharge nozzle 325 that extends upward toward the flip cover 322 and receives the plug 323 in the closed arrangement.
[0083] The child safety lock 318 includes a locking plate 332 coupled to the flip cover 322, such as Figure 28 As shown, the locking plate retainer 334, which is coupled to the main body portion 320, is as follows: Figure 29 As shown. The locking tab 332 includes an inclined ramp surface 336 and a motion-stopping surface 338. The locking tab retainer 334 includes an actuator pad 340 and a locking tab anchor 342 coupled to the upper end of the actuator pad 340. The motion-stopping surface 338 of the locking tab 332 is configured to engage the lower surface of the locking tab anchor 342 to restrict movement of the dose dispenser 314 from a closed arrangement to an open arrangement, as shown. Figure 33 As shown.
[0084] The dose dispenser 314 can initially be screwed onto the filling neck 316 using threads 331, 333, as... Figure 30 As shown. Packaging 310 also includes a closure retention system 390 configured to retain the dose dispenser 314 to the container 312 after it has been fully mounted on the container 312 to prevent, for example, a child from unintentionally removing the dose dispenser 314 from the container 312. The closure retention system 390 includes a plurality of ratchet teeth 392 coupled to the container 312 and a plurality of ratchet fins 394 coupled to the dose dispenser 314, as shown. Figure 30 As shown. The plurality of ratchet teeth 392 are spaced apart below the threads 331 on the filling neck 316 and are shaped to allow the dose dispenser 314 to rotate in a clockwise mounting direction. The plurality of ratchet teeth 392 and the plurality of ratchet fins 394 engage with each other to prevent the dose dispenser 314 from rotating in a counterclockwise removal direction opposite to the clockwise mounting direction. The container 312 also includes a retaining ring 396 located below the plurality of ratchet teeth 392. The retaining ring 396 is positioned directly below the bottom edge of the body portion 320 to prevent access to the plurality of ratchet fins 394 when the dose dispenser 314 is fully mounted on the container 312.
[0085] The main body 320 of the dose dispenser 314 includes a top wall 346, a first annular sidewall 348, a second sidewall 350, and an edge connector 352, as shown below. Figure 30 and Figure 31 As shown in the diagram, the top wall 346 is formed to include a discharge port 324 and has a central axis 356 extending substantially through the center of the top wall 346 and the discharge port 324. The inner surface of the first sidewall 348 is threaded and engages with a corresponding thread on the filling neck 316 to retain the dose dispenser 314 on the container 312. The second sidewall 350 is coupled to the first sidewall 348 via an edge connector 352 and a plurality of reinforcing ribs 353. A locking tab anchor 342 is coupled to the second sidewall 350.
[0086] The first sidewall 348 is spaced apart from the central axis 356 by a first distance 358, while the second sidewall 350 is spaced apart from the axis 356 by a second distance 360 greater than the first distance 358. A gap 362 is radially formed between the first sidewall 348 and the second sidewall 350. An edge connector 352 connects the upper ends of the first sidewall 348 and the second sidewall 350 to each other to provide the gap 362 between them.
[0087] The first sidewall 348 extends annularly about axis 356, while the second sidewall 350 extends only its lower portion annularly about axis 356. The second sidewall 350 includes a first groove 364 and a second groove 366, the second groove 366 being circumferentially spaced from the first groove 364 relative to axis 356 to provide an actuator pad 340 between the first groove 364 and the second groove 366, as... Figure 30 and Figure 31 As shown. The lower end of each slot 364, 366 provides a horizontal actuator pivot axis 368. The upper end of each slot 364, 366 is not limited by any part of the body portion 320. An inward force 3100 on the actuator pad 340 causes at least a portion of the actuator pad 340 and the locking tab anchor 342 to pivot and / or bend about the actuator pivot axis 368 to separate the locking tab anchor 342 from the movement blocking surface 338 of the locking tab 332, thereby allowing the flip cover 322 to pivot freely about axis 330 from the closed arrangement to the open arrangement, as shown. Figure 29 and Figure 31 As shown.
[0088] The locking tab anchor 342 includes a pair of circumferentially spaced support posts 370, 372 and an anchor beam 374 extending between and connecting the support posts 370, 372. Each support post 370, 372 is coupled to the upper end of the actuator pad 342 for movement therewith in response to an inward force 3100. The anchor beam 374 is perpendicularly spaced from the upper end of the actuator pad 340 to provide a locking tab receiving space 380 between them for receiving the locking tab 332 when the flap 322 is in the closed arrangement, as shown. Figure 33 As shown in the image.
[0089] Anchor beam 374 includes an inclined upper surface 376 and a movement-stopping surface 378. When flap 322 is moved to the closed arrangement, the inclined ramp surface 336 of latch 332 engages with and travels along the inclined upper surface 376 of anchor beam 374. When flap 322 is fully closed, at least one of flap 322 and latch anchor 342 bends as the inclined ramps 336, 376 engage with each other and move past each other. Latch anchor 334 and flap 322 may be at least partially unbent upon reaching the closed arrangement, such that latch 332 extends into latch receiving space 380, and movement-stopping surfaces 338, 378 face each other to prevent flap 322 from rotating about pivot axis 330.
[0090] The child safety lock 318 may also include a radially extending lip 3120 located at the interface between the lower end of the flip cover 322 and the main body portion 320, such as... Figure 28 As shown. A radially extending lip 3120 extends along all or part of the actuator pad 340 and the second sidewall 350. The radially extending lip 3120 is positioned directly below the parting line 3122 defined between the flap 322 and the body portion 320 to prevent objects such as a child's fingernail from reaching into the parting line 3122 to pry open the flap 322 without pressing the actuator pad 340. It has been found that children may identify the parting line in the packaging and wedge their fingernails into it to open the packaging. The radially extending lip 3120 provides a false crack location at its lower end for selection and prying. Children may be distracted by chasing this false alarm and unable to access the packaging 310.
[0091] The flap 322 also includes a top wall 382, a side wall 384, and a pair of reinforcing ribs 386, 388 coupled to the top wall 382 facing the lower surface of the body portion 320 in the closed arrangement. In the closed arrangement, the top wall 382 completely covers the top wall 346 of the body portion 320. The side wall 384 has an inner diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of a portion of the body portion 320 to receive that portion in the closed arrangement. The reinforcing ribs 386, 388 extend from the front end of the flap 322 to the rear end of the flap 322 to reduce the bending of the top wall 382 when the flap 322 is closed, allowing the plug 323 to be inserted into the discharge port 324 and providing a seal while reducing the thickness of the top wall 382. The reinforcing ribs 386, 388 are bent to extend around and receive the outer diameter of the discharge nozzle 225.
[0092] Some similar packaging (not shown) may require a liner, such as a removable seal, to initially prevent access to and removal of the product held in the container until the liner is removed or broken. Illustratively, the plug 323 and child safety lock 318 allow the packaging to be unlined or without a liner made of film, foil, a combination thereof, or any suitable alternative. The plug 323 provides a reusable seal to prevent access to the product in the container 312 when the flip-top 322 is closed. The dosing dispenser 314 also includes a container plug seal 355 extending into the fill neck 316 and an edge seal 357 engaging the upper end of the fill neck 316.
[0093] In one embodiment, the discharge nozzle 325 is sized and shaped to receive a syringe to extract liquid product from container 312. The discharge nozzle 325 includes an annular sidewall 327 defining a discharge orifice 324 and a venting device 329. The venting device 329 prevents the formation of a complete seal between the syringe and the discharge nozzle 325, allowing the liquid product to be discharged without deforming container 312. In the illustrative embodiment, the venting device 329 includes a pair of baffles 329 coupled to the nozzle sidewall 327 and extending radially inward toward axis 356. The baffles 329 are circular protrusions in the exemplary embodiment, but may take another shape or form in other embodiments. The baffles 329 are oriented about axis 356 at less than 180 degrees to each other. The baffles 329 may be oriented about axis 356 at less than 90 degrees to each other, such as… Figure 35 As shown.
[0094] Figure 36 Another embodiment of the dose dispenser is shown. The dose dispenser is substantially similar to dose dispenser 314. Therefore, except for the differences explicitly described below, the disclosure of dose dispenser 314 is incorporated by reference for the dose dispenser.
[0095] The dose dispenser includes a body portion 420 defining a discharge orifice 424. The discharge orifice 424 is defined by a discharge nozzle 425, sized and shaped for use without a syringe to extract product from a container. The discharge nozzle 425 includes a nozzle sidewall 427 and an inlet ring 429 coupled to the inner surface of the nozzle sidewall 427. The inlet ring 429 is spaced below the upper opening of the discharge nozzle 425 and has an inner diameter smaller than the discharge nozzle 425 to prevent syringe insertion. Conversely, the dose dispenser can be used with a container to release liquid product by applying pressure to the container to force the liquid product out of the discharge orifice 424.
[0096] The following numbered clauses include contemporaneous and non-limiting embodiments:
[0097] Clause 1, a dose dispenser includes a body portion having a central axis.
[0098] Clause 2, as described in Clause 1, any other suitable clause, or any combination of suitable clauses, describes a dose dispenser, wherein the main body includes a top wall, a first side wall, a second side wall, and an edge connector extending between the first and second side walls and connecting the first and second side walls to each other.
[0099] Clause 3, the dose dispenser as described in Clause 2, any other suitable clause, or any combination of suitable clauses, wherein the top wall is formed to include an exhaust port aligned with the central axis.
[0100] Clause 4, the dose dispenser as described in Clause 3, any other suitable clause, or any combination of suitable clauses, wherein the first sidewall has a threaded inner surface adapted to engage with a corresponding threaded engagement on the filling neck of the container.
[0101] Clause 5, the dose dispenser as described in Clause 4, any other suitable clause, or any combination of suitable clauses, wherein the second sidewall is coupled to the first sidewall via an edge connector and is spaced further from the central axis than the first sidewall.
[0102] Clause 6, the dose dispenser as described in Clause 5, any other suitable clause, or any combination of suitable clauses, further includes a flap coupled to the body portion, the flap being pivotable about a pivot axis between a closed arrangement covering the discharge orifice and an open arrangement spaced apart from the discharge orifice.
[0103] Clause 7, the dose dispenser as described in Clause 6, any other suitable clause, or any combination of suitable clauses, also includes a child safety lock.
[0104] Clause 8, the dose dispenser as described in Clause 7, any other suitable clause, or any combination of suitable clauses, wherein the child safety lock includes a latch coupled to the flip cover and a latch retainer coupled to the body portion to selectively engage the latch when the flip cover is in a closed arrangement to prevent pivoting movement of the flip cover from the closed arrangement to the open arrangement.
[0105] Clause 9, the dose dispenser as described in Clause 8, any other suitable clause, or any combination of suitable clauses, wherein the locking tab is coupled to the inner surface of the sidewall of the flip cover.
[0106] Clause 10, the dose dispenser as described in Clause 9, any other suitable clause, or any combination of suitable clauses, wherein the latch retainer includes an actuator pad coupled to a second sidewall of the body portion and a latch anchor coupled to the upper surface of the actuator pad.
[0107] Clause 11, the dose dispenser as described in Clause 10, any other suitable clause, or any combination of suitable clauses, wherein the actuator pad is defined by a pair of lateral slots formed in the second sidewall to provide a lateral pivot axis at the lower end of each slot for the latch retainer to receive the latch in a normal locked position in a latch receiving space defined between the latch anchor and the actuator pad when the flip cover is in the closed arrangement, and the latch anchor is spaced apart from the latch tongue to allow the flip cover to move between the closed arrangement and the unlocked position of the open arrangement.
[0108] Clause 12, the dose dispenser as described in Clause 11, any other suitable clause, or any combination of suitable clauses, wherein the child safety lock further includes a vertically extending lip arranged along at least a portion of the second sidewall and extending axially outward from the second sidewall relative to the central axis.
[0109] Clause 13, the dose dispenser as described in Clause 12, any other suitable clause, or any combination of suitable clauses, wherein the vertically extending lip also includes an upper surface arranged in a closed arrangement above the lower end of the sidewall of the flap.
[0110] Clause 14, the dose dispenser as described in Clause 12, any other suitable clause, or any combination of suitable clauses, wherein the vertically extending lip cooperates with the second sidewall of the body portion to define a channel, and the lower end of the sidewall of the flip is received in the channel when the flip is in the closed arrangement.
[0111] Clause 15, the dose dispenser as described in Clause 11, any other suitable clause, or any combination of suitable clauses, wherein the actuator pad includes a pad coupled to a second sidewall and a radially extending flange coupled to the upper end of the pad and extending radially outward from the pad away from the central axis.
[0112] Clause 16, the dose dispenser as described in Clause 15, any other suitable clause, or any combination of suitable clauses, wherein the child safety lock further includes a vertically extending lip coupled to the outer surface of the second sidewall and extending axially outward relative to the central axis away from the second sidewall.
[0113] Clause 17, the dose dispenser as described in Clause 15, any other suitable clause, or any combination of suitable clauses, wherein the radially extending flange of the actuator pad has an upper surface that extends radially outward away from the sidewall of the flip cover, such that the outer end of the radially extending flange is spaced further away from the central axis than the sidewall of the flip cover.
[0114] Clause 18, the dose dispenser as described in Clause 17, any other suitable clause, or any combination of suitable clauses, wherein the outer end of the radially extending flange is spaced apart from the sidewall of the flip cover by a first distance, and the latch retainer is configured to deflect inward toward the first sidewall of the body portion by a second distance, the first distance being greater than or equal to the second distance.
[0115] Clause 19, the dose dispenser as described in Clause 15, any other suitable clause, or any combination of suitable clauses, wherein the child safety lock further includes a cover opening lip coupled to the outer surface of the sidewall of the flip cover, the cover opening lip being circumferentially aligned with the lock plate retainer and vertically spaced from the upper end of the actuator pad to vertically define a finger receiving space between the actuator pad and the cover opening lip.
[0116] Clause 20, the dose dispenser as described in Clause 15, any other suitable clause, or any combination of suitable clauses, wherein the vertically extending lip includes an upper surface arranged above the lower end of the sidewall of the flip in a closed arrangement, and wherein the vertically extending lip cooperates with a second sidewall of the body portion to define a channel, and the lower end of the sidewall of the flip is received in the channel when the flip is in a closed arrangement.
[0117] Clause 21, a closure for a container includes a body portion.
[0118] Clause 22, the closure as described in Clause 21, any other suitable clause, or any combination of suitable clauses, wherein the main body comprises a top wall, a first side wall, a second side wall, and an edge connector extending between the first and second side walls and connecting the first and second side walls to each other.
[0119] Clause 23, the closure as described in Clause 22, any other suitable clause, or any combination of suitable clauses, wherein the top wall is formed to include a discharge port.
[0120] Clause 24, the closure as described in Clause 23, any other suitable clause, or any combination of suitable clauses, further includes a flap coupled to the body portion, the flap being pivotable about a pivot axis between a closed arrangement covering the vent and an open arrangement spaced apart from the vent.
[0121] Clause 25, the closure described in Clause 24, any other suitable clause, or any combination of suitable clauses, also includes a child safety lock.
[0122] Clause 26, the closure as described in Clause 25, any other suitable clause, or any combination of suitable clauses, wherein the child safety lock includes a locking plate coupled to one of the flap and the body portion and a locking plate retainer coupled to the other of the flap and the body portion.
[0123] Clause 27, the closure as described in Clause 26, any other suitable clause, or any combination of suitable clauses, wherein a latch is coupled to the flap and a latch retainer is coupled to the body portion to selectively engage the latch when the flap is in a closed arrangement to prevent pivoting movement of the flap from the closed arrangement to the open arrangement.
[0124] Clause 28, the closure as described in Clause 26, any other suitable clause, or any combination of suitable clauses, wherein the locking tab is coupled to the inner surface of the sidewall of the flap.
[0125] Clause 29, the closure as described in Clause 28, any other suitable clause, or any combination of suitable clauses, wherein the locking retainer includes an actuator pad coupled to a second sidewall of the body portion and a locking anchor coupled to the upper surface of the actuator pad.
[0126] Clause 30, the closure as described in Clause 29, any other suitable clause, or any combination of suitable clauses, wherein the actuator pad is defined by a pair of lateral grooves formed in the second sidewall.
[0127] Clause 31, the closure as described in Clause 30, any other suitable clause, or any combination of suitable clauses, wherein the slot provides a lateral pivot axis at the lower end of each slot for the latch retainer to receive the latch in a normal locked position in the latch receiving space defined between the latch anchor and the actuator pad when the flap is in the closed arrangement, and the latch anchor is spaced apart from the latch tongue to allow the flap to move between the closed arrangement and the unlocked position of the open arrangement.
[0128] Clause 32, the closure as described in Clause 31, any other suitable clause, or any combination of suitable clauses, wherein the child safety lock further includes an outwardly extending lip coupled to the outer surface of the second sidewall, the outwardly extending lip including a vertical wall arranged outward from the sidewall of the flap in the closed arrangement.
[0129] Clause 33, the closure as described in Clause 32, any other suitable clause, or any combination of suitable clauses, wherein the outwardly extending lip also includes an upper surface arranged in the closed arrangement above the lower end of the sidewall of the flap.
[0130] Clause 34, the closure as described in Clause 32, any other suitable clause, or any combination of suitable clauses, wherein the outwardly extending lip cooperates with the second sidewall of the body portion to define a channel, and the lower end of the sidewall of the flap is received in the channel when the flap is in the closed arrangement.
[0131] Clause 35, the closure as described in Clause 34, any other suitable clause, or any combination of suitable clauses, wherein the actuator pad includes a pad coupled to a second sidewall and an outwardly extending flange of the second sidewall coupled to the upper end of the pad and remote from the pad and the body portion.
[0132] Clause 36, the closure as described in Clause 35, any other suitable clause, or any combination of suitable clauses, wherein the child safety lock further includes an outwardly extending lip coupled to the outer surface of the second sidewall and extending outwardly away from the second sidewall.
[0133] Clause 37, the closure as described in Clause 35, any other suitable clause, or any combination of suitable clauses, wherein the outwardly extending flange of the actuator pad has an upper surface extending outwardly from the sidewall of the flap, such that the outer end of the outwardly extending flange is spaced apart from the sidewall of the flap.
[0134] Clause 38, the closure as described in Clause 37, any other suitable clause, or any combination of suitable clauses, wherein the outer end of the outwardly extending flange is spaced apart from the sidewall of the flap by a first distance, and the latch retainer is configured to deflect inward toward the first sidewall of the body portion by a second distance, the first distance being greater than or equal to the second distance.
[0135] Clause 39, the closure as described in Clause 35, any other suitable clause, or any combination of suitable clauses, wherein the child safety lock further includes a cover opening lip coupled to the outer surface of the sidewall of the flip cover, the cover opening lip being horizontally aligned with the lock plate retainer and vertically spaced from the upper end of the actuator pad to vertically define a finger receiving space between the actuator pad and the cover opening lip.
[0136] Clause 40, the closure as described in Clause 36, any other suitable clause, or any combination of suitable clauses, wherein the outwardly extending lip also includes an upper surface arranged above the lower end of the sidewall of the flap in the closed arrangement, and wherein the outwardly extending lip cooperates with the second sidewall of the body portion to define a channel, and the lower end of the sidewall of the flap is received in the channel when the flap is in the closed arrangement.
[0137] Clause 41, the closure as described in Clause 31, any other suitable clause, or any combination of suitable clauses, wherein the child safety lock further includes a radially extending lip coupled to the outer surface of a second sidewall, the radially extending lip including a vertical wall arranged radially outward from the sidewall of the flap in a closed arrangement.
[0138] Clause 42, the closure as described in Clause 41, any other suitable clause, or any combination of suitable clauses, wherein the radially extending lip also includes an upper surface arranged in the closed arrangement above the lower end of the sidewall of the flap.
[0139] Clause 43, the closure as described in Clause 41, any other suitable clause, or any combination of suitable clauses, wherein the radially extending lip cooperates with the second sidewall of the body portion to define a channel, and the lower end of the sidewall of the flap is received in the channel when the flap is in the closed arrangement.
[0140] Clause 44, the closure as described in Clause 43, any other suitable clause, or any combination of suitable clauses, wherein the child safety lock further includes an outwardly extending lip coupled to the outer surface of the second sidewall and extending outwardly away from the second sidewall, and wherein the outwardly extending flange is perpendicularly aligned with the outwardly extending lip.
[0141] Clause 45, the closure as described in Clause 44, any other suitable clause, or any combination of suitable clauses, further includes a plurality of vertically extending ribs coupled to the outer surface of the pad and the lower end of an outwardly extending flange, each of the plurality of vertically extending ribs having a downwardly sloping outer surface such that as the rib extends downward away from the downwardly extending flange, the distance from the outer surface of each rib to the second sidewall decreases.
Claims
1. A package for storing and dispensing fluid, the package comprising a container and a dose dispenser for closing an opening of the container, the dose dispenser comprising a body portion having a discharge port that is opened and closed by a flap of the dose dispenser; The main body portion is configured to be coupled to the filling neck of the container; The inner surface of the sidewall of the dose dispenser has threads and engages with corresponding threads on the filling neck to hold the dose dispenser on the container, such that the dose dispenser is initially screwed onto the filling neck using the threads. The packaging also includes a closure retention system for retaining the dose dispenser on the container after it has been fully installed on the container, to prevent the dose dispenser from being accidentally removed from the container; The closure retention system includes ratchet teeth coupled to the container and ratchet fins coupled to the dose dispenser. The ratchet teeth are located below the threads on the filler neck and are shaped to allow the dose dispenser to rotate in a clockwise mounting direction; The ratchet teeth and ratchet fins cooperate with each other to prevent the dose dispenser from rotating in a counterclockwise removal direction, which is opposite to the clockwise installation direction; The container also includes a retaining ring located below the ratchet teeth, directly below the bottom edge of the main body portion, to prevent access to the ratchet fins when the dose dispenser is fully mounted on the container.
2. The packaging according to claim 1, wherein the container includes a plurality of ratchet teeth, and the dose dispenser includes a plurality of ratchet fins, the plurality of ratchet teeth cooperating with the plurality of ratchet fins to prevent the dose dispenser from rotating counterclockwise.
3. The packaging according to claim 1, wherein the dose dispenser comprises: A main body portion having a central axis includes a top wall, a first side wall, a second side wall, and an edge connector extending between and connecting the first and second side walls. The top wall is formed to include a discharge hole aligned with the central axis. The first side wall has a threaded inner surface adapted to engage with a corresponding threaded engagement of a filling neck of a container. The second side wall is coupled to the first side wall via the edge connector and is spaced further from the central axis than the first side wall. A flip cover, coupled to the main body, is pivotable about a pivot axis between a closed arrangement covering the vent and an open arrangement spaced apart from the vent. A child safety lock includes a latch coupled to the flip cover and a latch retainer coupled to the body portion to selectively engage the latch when the flip cover is in the closed arrangement to prevent pivoting movement of the flip cover from the closed arrangement to the open arrangement. The latch is coupled to the inner surface of the sidewall of the flap, and the latch retainer includes an actuator pad coupled to the second sidewall of the body portion and a latch anchor coupled to the upper surface of the actuator pad. The actuator pad is defined by a pair of lateral grooves formed in the second sidewall to provide a lateral pivot axis at the lower end of each groove for the latch retainer to receive the latch in a normal locked position in a latch receiving space defined between the latch anchor and the actuator pad and the latch anchor spaced apart from the latch bolt to allow the flap to move between the closed arrangement and the unlocked position of the open arrangement. The actuator pad includes a pad plate coupled to the second sidewall and a radially extending flange coupled to the upper end of the pad plate and extending radially outward from the pad plate away from the central axis. The radially extending flange has an upper surface that extends radially outward away from the sidewall of the flap, such that the outer end of the radially extending flange is spaced further away from the sidewall of the flap from the central axis, the outer end being spaced apart from the sidewall by a first distance, and the locking plate retainer is configured to deflect inward toward the first sidewall of the body portion by a second distance, the first distance being greater than or equal to the second distance.
4. The packaging of claim 3, wherein the child safety lock further comprises a vertically extending lip arranged to extend along at least a portion of the second sidewall and to extend axially outward from the second sidewall relative to the central axis.
5. The packaging of claim 4, wherein the vertically extending lip further includes an upper surface arranged in the closing arrangement above the lower end of the sidewall of the flap.
6. The packaging of claim 4, wherein the vertically extending lip cooperates with the second sidewall of the body portion to define a channel, and when the flap is in the closed arrangement, the lower end of the sidewall of the flap is received in the channel.
7. The packaging of claim 3, wherein the child safety lock further includes a vertically extending lip coupled to the outer surface of the second sidewall and extending axially outward relative to the central axis away from the second sidewall.
8. The packaging of claim 3, wherein the child safety lock further includes a cover opening lip coupled to an outer surface of the sidewall of the flap, the cover opening lip being circumferentially aligned with the lock plate retainer and vertically spaced from the upper end of the actuator pad to vertically define a finger receiving space between the actuator pad and the cover opening lip.
9. The packaging of claim 7, wherein the vertically extending lip includes an upper surface arranged above the lower end of the sidewall of the flap in the closed arrangement, and wherein the vertically extending lip cooperates with the second sidewall of the body portion to define a channel, and the lower end of the sidewall of the flap is received in the channel when the flap is in the closed arrangement.
10. The packaging of claim 1, wherein the dose dispenser comprises: A main body portion having a central axis, the main body portion including a top wall, a first side wall, a second side wall, and an edge connector extending between the first side wall and the second side wall and connecting the first side wall and the second side wall to each other, the top wall being formed to include a discharge hole, the first side wall having a threaded inner surface adapted to engage with a corresponding threaded engagement of a filling neck of a container, and the second side wall being coupled to the first side wall via the edge connector and spaced further away from the central axis than the first side wall; A flip cover, coupled to the main body, is pivotable about a pivot axis between a closed arrangement covering the vent and an open arrangement spaced apart from the vent. A child safety lock includes a latch coupled to the flip cover and a latch retainer coupled to the body portion to selectively engage the latch when the flip cover is in the closed arrangement to prevent pivoting movement of the flip cover from the closed arrangement to the open arrangement. The latch is coupled to the inner surface of the sidewall of the flap, and the latch retainer includes an actuator pad coupled to the second sidewall of the body portion and a latch anchor coupled to the upper surface of the actuator pad. The actuator pad is defined by a pair of lateral grooves formed in the second sidewall to provide a lateral pivot axis at the lower end of each groove for the latch retainer to receive the latch in a normal locked position in a latch receiving space defined between the latch anchor and the actuator pad, and the latch anchor being spaced apart from the latch bolt to allow the flap to move between the closed arrangement and the unlocked position of the open arrangement. The locking tab anchor includes a pair of circumferentially spaced support posts and an anchor beam extending between and connecting the pair of support posts to each other. Each support post is coupled to the upper end of the actuator pad, and the anchor beam is perpendicularly spaced from the upper end of the actuator pad to provide a locking tab receiving space between them for receiving the locking tab when the flap is in the closed position.
11. The packaging of claim 1, wherein the dose dispenser comprises: The main body includes a top wall, a first side wall, a second side wall, and an edge connector extending between the first side wall and the second side wall and connecting the first side wall and the second side wall to each other, the top wall being formed to include a discharge hole; A flip cover, coupled to the main body, is pivotable about a pivot axis between a closed arrangement covering the vent and an open arrangement spaced apart from the vent. A child safety lock includes a latch coupled to the flip cover and a latch retainer coupled to the body portion to selectively engage the latch when the flip cover is in the closed arrangement to prevent pivoting movement of the flip cover from the closed arrangement to the open arrangement. The latch is coupled to the inner surface of the sidewall of the flap, and the latch retainer includes an actuator pad coupled to the second sidewall of the body portion and a latch anchor coupled to the upper surface of the actuator pad. The actuator pad is defined by a pair of lateral grooves formed in the second sidewall to provide a lateral pivot axis at the lower end of each groove for the latch retainer to receive the latch in a normal locked position in a latch receiving space defined between the latch anchor and the actuator pad, and the latch anchor being spaced apart from the latch bolt to allow the flap to move between the closed arrangement and the unlocked position of the open arrangement. The locking tab anchor includes a pair of circumferentially spaced support posts and an anchor beam extending between and connecting the pair of support posts to each other. Each support post is coupled to the upper end of the actuator pad, and the anchor beam is perpendicularly spaced from the upper end of the actuator pad to provide a locking tab receiving space between them for receiving the locking tab when the flap is in the closed position.
12. A container for packaging according to claim 1.
13. A packaging container for storing and dispensing fluid, wherein the filling neck of the container is configured to receive a dose dispenser to close the opening of the container; The filling neck is threaded for securing the dose dispenser to the container; The filling neck is also provided with ratchet teeth, which form part of the closure retention system for holding the dose dispenser to the container after it is fully installed, so as to prevent the dose dispenser from being accidentally removed from the container. The ratchet teeth are located below the threads on the filler neck and are shaped to allow the dose dispenser to rotate in a clockwise mounting direction; The ratchet teeth on the filling neck and the ratchet fins on the dose dispenser cooperate with each other to prevent the dose dispenser from rotating in a counterclockwise removal direction, which is opposite to the clockwise installation direction; The container also includes a retaining ring located below the ratchet teeth, directly below the bottom edge of the main body portion, to prevent access to the ratchet fins when the dose dispenser is fully mounted on the container.
14. The container according to claim 13, wherein, The container includes a plurality of ratchet teeth for engaging with a plurality of ratchet fins on the dose dispenser to prevent the dose dispenser from rotating counterclockwise.
15. A package comprising: A container includes a container body and a filling neck, the filling neck having an opening that leads to an internal product storage area defined by the container body and the filling neck; the container also includes a closure retainer having an annular closure retaining ring that extends radially outward from the filling neck relative to the central axis of the container; a rotating blocking tooth is provided at the radially outer end of the closure retaining ring that extends radially outward from the closure retaining ring relative to the central axis of the container; A closure element, mounted on the filling neck, for controlling the release of product from the container; the closure element includes a closure body and a flap, the closure body being connected to the container and having a discharge port; the flap being connected to the closure body via a hinge and being pivotable relative to the closure body between a closed arrangement that blocks contact with the discharge port and an open arrangement that allows contact with the discharge port. The enclosed body includes: Outer body sidewall; The inner body sidewall is located radially inside the outer body sidewall relative to the central axis of the enclosed body; The top wall of the main body is connected to the upper ends of the outer side wall and the inner side wall of the main body; A rotating blocking plate is connected to the radially inner surface of the outer body sidewall and extends radially inward; When the closure is installed on the container, the rotation blocking plate engages with the rotation blocking teeth of the container to prevent the closure from rotating relative to the container.
16. The packaging of claim 15, wherein the rotating blocking tab is located entirely above the lower end of the outer body sidewall.
17. The packaging according to claim 15, wherein the rotating blocking teeth comprise: An inclined ramp surface, wherein the inclined ramp surface is inclined relative to the annular closure member; as well as A motion-blocking surface, which is connected to the distal end of the inclined ramp surface and extends radially inward toward the annular closure retaining ring.
18. The packaging according to claim 15, wherein, The annular closure retains a first circumferential section of the ring with a dimension greater than the circumferential length of the rotating blocking tooth, and maintains a constant radial distance from the outer body sidewall; The second radial distance between the distal end of the rotating blocking tooth and the sidewall of the outer body is less than the constant radial distance; The rotating blocking tooth is offset in the circumferential direction from the first circumferential section of the annular closure retaining ring.
19. The packaging according to claim 15, wherein, When the closure is installed in the container, the rotating blocking teeth and the rotating blocking plate are aligned with at least a portion of the hinge in the circumferential direction.
20. The packaging according to claim 19, wherein, The flap has a flap sidewall, a flap topwall connected to the upper end of the flap sidewall, and a retaining tab located on the opposite side of the hinge and used to engage with a portion of the closing body to hold the flap in a closed arrangement; The closure body includes a locking tab section that is radially outward deformable to engage with the retaining tab and prevent the retaining tab from detaching from the closure body in the closed arrangement. The first circumferential section of the ring retaining ring is offset from the rotating blocking tooth in the circumferential direction, its circumferential length is greater than that of the rotating blocking tooth, and its distal end maintains a constant radial distance from the central axis. The second circumferential section of the annular closure retains the rotating blocking tooth and the first circumferential section, both circumferentially offset, and its circumferential length is also greater than that of the rotating blocking tooth. Furthermore, its distal end maintains the same constant radial distance from the central axis. The closure retainer is further provided with a second rotating blocking tooth, which is opposite to the rotating blocking tooth and the hinge in the diametrical direction and is located in the circumferential region between the first circumferential section and the second circumferential section.