Child resistant closure for threaded bottles

Abstract

The present invention relates to a child resistant closure to be used with a bottle or a container with a thread or with thread segments, and which can only be removed by simultaneous tilting and rotating the closure.

Description

[0001] P8065PC00

[0002] 1

[0003] CHILD RESISTANT CLOSU E FOR THREADED BOTTLES

[0004] Field of invention

[0005] The present invention relates to a child resistant closure to be used with a container with a thread or with thread segments, and which can only be removed by two simultaneous actions.

[0006] Background and description of the related art

[0007] The content of a container can be dangerous, and therefore some containers and bottles must be protected from being opened by children who could get hurt by getting into contact with or by ingest some of the dangerous content. However, at the same time it must not be too difficult and require too much strength for adults and mainly elderly people to open.

[0008] A much-used child resistant solution for bottles and containers with a dangerous content is a closure comprising two parts, where an internal thread is located on an inner part of the closure and where an outer part is free to rotate relative to the inner part. To open the closure the outer part must be pressed against the inner part and rotated whereby the inner part is engaging the outer part and the closure can be screwed off.

[0009] In GB 1529999 a closure of this type comprising two parts is described. The threaded inner part is fully contained within the outer part such that it is capable of rotating and moving slightly axially relative to the outer part. Both parts has cooperating protrusions or recesses, which on one side are formed to be able to transmit rotation from the outer part to the inner part to make it possible to screw the closure onto a container, and on the opposite side are formed with an oblique angle, which causes the protrusions to slide over each other when the outer part is rotated in the demounting direction, unless the outer part is pressed against the inner part during unscrewing with a force big enough to overcome the axial force arising from the oblique angle on the protrusions. This solution, however, comprises two independently moulded partsP8065PC00

[0010] 2

[0011] and implies an assembly process, and is therefore relative expensive. Furthermore, it can be difficult for people with reduced dexterity to push and rotate at the same time.

[0012] US9045265B2 and US4997096A describes closures with similar functionality as the afore mentioned closure, but with the difference that the outer parts must be pushed down in one side only, to engage with the inner part.

[0013] US4365721, US4360113A and US3792793A all describes one-piece child resistant closures for a threaded container. The closure in US4360113A is rotated on a threaded container and is removed by placing the closure at a specific rotational position relative to the container and flip it off. The thread in the closure is segmented, and the thread on the container must have an angular area with the thread removed, to allow the closure to be removed. The closure in US4360113A has an inner and an outer cylindrical part. The inner part with a thread matching the thread of a container, and the outer part with two protrusions spaced 180°, which can be rotated pass cooperating stopping features on the container in a mounting direction, but not in a demounting direction. To rotate the closure pass the stopping features the outer cylindrical part must be squeezed at a specific rotational position, and rotated.

[0014] All of the above-described closures require additional features on the container to work, and they are difficult to open for people with reduced finger strength.

[0015] Object of the invention.

[0016] It is a first object of the invention to provide a child resistant closure, which only comprises one part, and which is adapted to work with a threaded container.

[0017] It is a second object of the invention to provide a child resistant closure, which is easier to open for elderly people and people with reduced finger strength than “state of the art” child resistant closures.P8065PC00

[0018] 3

[0019] Brief description of the invention

[0020] Disclosed as a solution to the objects of the invention is a child resistant closure comprising an outer, segmental threaded skirt and an inner plate with a cylindrical rim adapted to close against the inner cylindrical surface of the opening of the bottle when the closure is mounted on the bottle, and where the outer, threaded skirt and the inner plate are connected via resilient arms or bars. When the segmented thread on the closure is engaging the thread on the bottle the inner plate with the rim is forming an angle with the opening of the bottle, and when the closure is further rotated and the inner plate meets the opening of the bottle, then further rotation will reduce this angle until the plate is parallel with the opening and the plate and the rim closes the opening. This will bend the resilient arms or bars and apply a torque to the outer threaded skirt. When the first segment (to engage the thread on the bottle during mounting) passes the end of the thread on the bottle, the outer skirt will tilt an angle due to the tensed resilient arms, and this segment will now block rotation in the unscrewing direction against the end of the thread on the bottle.

[0021] To unscrew and demount the closure, a user must both tilt and rotate the closure in the unscrewing direction, so that the blocking segment gets free of the end of the thread on the bottle and reengages the thread, whereafter it can be unscrewed and demounted in the normal way.

[0022] If the thread on the bottle or container is a two or multiple start thread, there may be two or more segments blocking the unscrewing rotation, when the closure is mounted.

[0023] The rim on the inner plate can be supplemented with or replaced by a pad liner of a suitable material or combination of materials to close tight directly against the opening of the bottle rather than against the inner cylindrical surface of the opening, and this is also within the scoop of the invention.

[0024] In further detail the invention relates to a child resistant closure for closing the opening of a threaded container, which child resistant closure comprises:P8065PC00

[0025] 4

[0026] an outer skirt for interfacing a user, the outer skirt having an inner thread, an inner plate with an inner surface communicating with the opening of the container, the inner plate arranged mainly inside the outer skirt, and

[0027] resilient elements connecting the outer skirt and the inner plate,

[0028] wherein the inner thread is segmented and have one or more starts,

[0029] wherein, during mounting of the closure on the container by a user, the inner surface on the inner plate abuts the opening of the container and the outer skirt is tilted relative to the inner plate, whereby the resilient elements are tensed, and

[0030] wherein, when the closure has been rotated the full angle for mounting the closure, the outer skirt is essentially tilted back by the tensed resilient elements so that parts of the segmented inner thread is moved in behind the end of the thread on the container and rotation in a demounting direction is prevented.

[0031] In this way a one-piece closure can lock on threaded bottles and containers without any specific locking features.

[0032] In another embodiment, of the invention a cylindrical rim is arranged on the inner surface of the inner plate, the rim being adapted to fit firmly into the opening of the container, when the closure is fully mounted. This ensures tightness without adding any additional material.

[0033] In yet another embodiment, a compressible material is arranged on the inner surface of the inner plate, the material being adapted to close firmly against the opening of the container, when the closure is fully mounted. In this way the closure can be used with e.g. liquids.P8065PC00

[0034] 5

[0035] In yet another embodiment, the thread segment or segments of the closure is configured so that it can be moved back into engagement with the container thread by tilting and rotating the closure in the demounting direction at the same time and the closure can hereafter be fully demounted by continued rotating it in the demounting direction. This provides a child resistant function that is easier for elderly people to handle than push and turn, while still difficult for children to figure out.

[0036] In yet another embodiment during mounting one or more additional elements inside the outer skirt are abutting one or more thread starts of the thread on the container, thereby stopping the rotation of the closure in the mounting direction, when the correct rotational mounting position for the closure has been achieved. This prevents the closure from being damaged if a very high mounting torque is applied.

[0037] Figures

[0038] In the following the invention is described in further details with reference to the drawings, wherein

[0039] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a bottle mounted with a first embodiment of the closure according to the invention.

[0040] Figure 2 shows a top view of a first embodiment of the closure according to the invention.

[0041] Figure 3 schematically shows a vertical view of a first embodiment of the closure according to the invention, which is demounted from a bottle.

[0042] Figure 4 schematically shows a vertical view of a first embodiment of the closure according to the invention, which is partly mounted on a bottle but not yet in the locking state.P8065PC00

[0043] 6

[0044] Figure 5 schematically shows a vertical view of a first embodiment of the closure according to the invention, which is fully mounted on a bottle.

[0045] Figure 6 schematically shows a sectional vertical side view of a first embodiment of the closure according to the invention.

[0046] Figure 7 schematically shows a sectional vertical front view of a first embodiment of the closure according to the invention.

[0047] Figure 8 schematically shows a partly sectional vertical view of a first embodiment of the closure according to the invention, which is demounted from a bottle.

[0048] Figure 9 schematically shows a partly sectional vertical view of a first embodiment of the closure according to the invention, which is partly mounted on a bottle but not yet in the locking state.

[0049] Figure 10 schematically shows a partly sectional vertical view of a first embodiment of the closure according to the invention, which is fully mounted on a bottle, and which is in the locking state.

[0050] Figure 11 shows a perspective view of a container mounted with a second embodiment of the closure according to the invention.

[0051] Figure 12 shows a top view of a second embodiment of the closure according to the invention.

[0052] Figure 13 schematically shows a sectional vertical side view of a second embodiment of the closure according to the invention.P8065PC00

[0053] 7

[0054] Figure 14 schematically shows a sectional vertical front view of a second embodiment of the closure according to the invention.

[0055] Figure 15 schematically shows a sectional vertical back view of a second embodiment of the closure according to the invention.

[0056] Figure 16 schematically shows a partly sectional vertical view of a second embodiment of the closure according to the invention, which is partly mounted on a container but not yet in the locking state.

[0057] Figure 17 schematically shows a partly sectional vertical side view of a second embodiment of the closure according to the invention, which is fully mounted on a container.

[0058] Figure 18 schematically shows a partly sectional vertical front view of a second embodiment of the closure according to the invention, which is fully mounted on a container.

[0059] Detailed description

[0060] The terms “up” and “down”, “upper” and “lower”, “upward”, “downward”, “sideward” and “right” and “left” refer to the drawings and not necessarily to a situation of use.

[0061] The term “thread” may imply a full thread or a segmented thread and with one or more starts.

[0062] Some embodiments of the closure may be adapted to work with bottles and containers with standardized thread and without any details specifically made to work together with a closure to provide a child resistant function. Other embodiments may be adapted to work with bottles and containers with a special thread made specifically to work together with the closure.P8065PC00

[0063] 8

[0064] The words “container”, “bottle”, “vial” and the like are used interchangeable.

[0065] Fig. 1 shows a bottle 2 with the closure 1 mounted. Visible on the closure is the outer skirt 5 for interfacing a user via the outer cylindrical surface and for attachment to a bottle 2 via an internal and segmented thread 9 (see fig. 6-7), the inner plate 3 interacting with the opening 19 (see fig. 8) on the bottle 2 and the resilient connection bars 4, which connect the outer skirt 5 with the inner plate 3. On fig. 2 the closure 1 is seen from above. As the inner plate 3 is only connected with the outer skirt 5 via the connecting bars 4, the inner plate 3 can tip an angle and move up and down (ref. to the view in fig. 2) relative to the outer skirt 5, while bending and tensing the connecting bars 4. The section of the connecting bars 4 can be configured to have any suitable shape and bending torque.

[0066] On fig. 3-5 the different stages of mounting the closure can be seen. On fig.3 the closure is not yet attached to the bottle 2. To be able to attach the closure 1 to the bottle 2, the lower surface 7 of the outer skirt 5 must be parallel with the opening 19 of the bottle 2. On fig. 4 the closure 1 has engaged the thread 15 on the bottle 2 and is rotated almost all the way down to the locking position, and on fig. 5 the closure 1 has tilted an angle so that the upper surface 6 now is parallel to the opening 19 of the bottle 2, which in turn has locked the closure 1 against detachment by rotating in the opposite direction. To unscrew and detach the closure 1 a user must tilt the closure back to the position where the lower surface 7 is parallel with the opening 19 of the bottle 2 and rotate in it the opposite direction of the mounting direction. After the thread segments 9 again have correctly engaged the thread 15 on the bottle the user can fully unscrew the closure 1 by simply rotating. The technical aspects of this will be further explained later.

[0067] On fig. 6 the closure is seen in a sectional view from the side (inner plate 3 can tilt from side to side relative to the view) and the two main parts of the closure, the outer skirt 5 and the inner plate 3, are visible. The outer skirt 5 has a bore 12 with a centerP8065PC00

[0068] 9

[0069] axis 13, on which thread segments 9 for engaging the thread 15 on the bottle 2 is arranged. The inner plate 3 has a center axis 14 and a rim 8, which is tightening the opening 19 of the bottle 2 when the closure 1 is attached to the bottle 2. The two centre axes 13,14 are angled such that the center axis 14 of the outer skirt 5 is perpendicular to the upper surface 6 and the center axis 13 of the inner plate 3 is perpendicular to the lower surface 7. When the closure is attached to a bottle the surface 18 is mating the opening 19 of the bottle 1. Visible on fig. 6 is also the locking surface 11, which locks against the thread end 16 of the thread 15 when the closure is fully mounted, and which thereby locks the closure 1 against detachment by simply unscrewing. The connecting bars 4 are hidden behind the rim 8.

[0070] Fig. 7 shows the closure 1 in a sectional view from the front (inner plate 3 can tilt in and out of the view). The locking surface 11 can now be seen from the side, and it is noticed that the radial depth is enlarged a little with a thickening 20 (will be further explained later) and that it is approximately parallel with the center axis 14. Visible is also the thread segment 10, which is tilted and angle relative to the thread segments 9 corresponding to the angle between the axis 13 and 14. The purpose of this tilted thread segment 10 will be explained later. In Fig. 7 the centre axes 13, 14 are coinciding and the connecting bars 4 are visible on the sides of the rim 8.

[0071] Fig. 8-10 describes attachment and detachment of the closure to a bottle in a more technical perspective. On fig. 8 the closure 1 is not yet attached to the bottle 2, and the connection bars 4 (see fig. 7) that connects the inner plate 3 with the outer skirt 5 are not tensed. The centre axes 13, 14 of the outer skirt 5 and the inner plate 3 are forming an angle relative to each other, and the bore 12 with the center axis 13 are aligned with the axis 17 of the bottle 2. On fig. 9 the closure 1 has been screwed down to a level, where the inner plate 3 is pressed against the opening 19 and the rim 8 is pressed down in the opening. The inner plate 3 has been straightened up so that the axis 14 of the inner plate 3 and the axis 17 of the bottle 1 are now aligned. As the axis 13 of the outer skirt 5 is still aligned with the axis 17 of the bottle, the connecting bars 4 (see fig. 7) are bended and tensed and they now apply a torque to the outerP8065PC00

[0072] 10

[0073] skirt 5. When the right thread segment 9 passes the thread-end 16 on the bottle 2, the outer skirt 5 of the closure tilt an angle to a level where the resilient connecting bars 4 are more or less free of tension, and where the right thread segment 9 is no longer engaged with the thread 15, but displaced down a distance corresponding to app. half the thread pitch of the thread 15 (see also fig. 10). Now the lowest part of the thread 15 is lying on the thread segment 10 and the closure cannot tilt further. The locking surface 11 (see fig. 7) in the end of the right thread segment 9 is blocking the closure 1 from being unscrewed, as it collides with the thread-end 16 when it is rotated in the unscrewing direction. To ensure a sufficient surface area to withstand the unscrewing torque, a thickening 20 (see fig. 7) is added to the end of the lower thread segment 9. To unscrew and detach the closure, a user must tilt the closure 1 anticlockwise (ref. to fig 8-10) to move the lower thread segment 9 back into engagement with the thread 15 on the bottle 2 and then rotate the closure. When the threadend 16 is free of the blocking surface 11, the closure 1 can simply be screwed off.

[0074] In fig. 11-18 another embodiment of the closure that must be tipped and rotated to open, and which is adapted to cooperate with containers with a suitable thread, is shown. Fig. 11 shows a container 102 with a closure 101 mounted. Visible are the outer skirt 105 and the inner plate 103, while the resilient arms 104 connecting the inner plate 103 with the outer skirt 105 and allowing the inner plate 103 to tip an angle relative to the outer skirt 105 e.g. can be partly seen. The cross section of the resilient arms may be rectangular, round or more complex. A tamper proof ring 126 to ensure that the device is tamper evident can be part of the closure and can be seen on the figure. The tamper proof ring 126 prevents a user from tilting the closure 101 to unscrew it and must be removed before the closure can be tilted and screwed off. To mount a closure 101 with a tamper proof ring 126 in a filling facility, the closure is simply forced over the container 102, whereby the closure flexes, and the thread segments of the closure are pressed down under the thread segments of the container.

[0075] Fig. 12 shows the closure 101 from above, whereby more details can be seen. The thread segments 109a-f that interacts with the thread segments 115 on the containerP8065PC00

[0076] 11

[0077] 102 and the stop elements 125, which protect the closure from an exaggerated mounting torque by mating the inlet of the thread segments on the container, are visible. The resilient arms 104 are protruding up from two niches in the outer skirt 105. They must have a certain length to allow the inner plate 103 to tip a sufficient angle relative to the outer skirt 105 without breaking, which is depending of the kind of material used for the closure. The play between the walls of the niches and the resilient arms 104 prevents the resilient arms from being excessively bent. A much-used material for closures in the pharma and chemical industry due to its price, nontoxicity and chemical resistance is Poly Propylene (PP), which will also be very suitable for this closure due to its high notch resistance. Other materials may be used, though, incl. sheet metal.

[0078] Fig. 13-15 shows different sections of the closure 101. In fig. 13 the shown section is rotated 90° relative to the resilient arms 104. The small thread segments 109a-d are placed two and two on each side of the resilient arms 104, and on the axis 113 for the thread segments 109 it can be seen, that the thread formed by the thread segments 109a-f are tilted an angle relative to the center axis 114 of the inner plate 103 and relative to the inner cylindrical side of the outer skirt 105. The outer skirt 105 is double layered to apply stiffness to the closure and to provide enough space for the niches and the resilient arms 104.

[0079] Fig. 14-15 are rotated 90° relative to fig. 13, and here the thread segments 109 e and f can be better seen (the rim 108 has a cut-out to ease the understanding). When the outer skirt 105 tilts and locks in place after screwing the closure on the container, the thread segment 109f moves up (will be further explained later). A cut-out in the thread segment has made a shelf 1 lOf and a locking surface 11 If, and when the closure is in place and locked, the end of one of the starts of the 4-start thread on the container will lie on this shelf, and the locking surface 11 If will prevent rotation of the closure against the end 116 of the thread 115 (see fig. 16-18). The situation for the segment 109e is similar, except that this segment moves down to lock the closure. This will be further explained later.P8065PC00

[0080] 12

[0081] During mounting of the closure, the rim 108 moves down in the opening 119 of the container and provides the main tightness feature for the system. The planar surface 118 outside the rim 108 may also be used as a tightening surface against the end face of the opening 119 of the container, eventually supported by a compressible sealing material.

[0082] Also visible in fig. 14 and 15 are the resilient elements or arms 104 and the stop elements 125 to prevent damage from an excessive torque from a user during mounting of the closure.

[0083] The different stages in mounting / demounting the closure 101 can be seen on fig. 16-18. In fig. 16 the closure is in the process of being mounted on the container 102. The closure 101 is sectioned for better understanding and the thread segments 109a and 109b in front of the neck of the container are also made visible. The closure has been moved down over the threaded neck of the container and partly rotated in place, and the lower surface 107 is parallel with the opening 119 of the container, so that the axis 113 of the thread 109 is parallel with the axis 117 of the container 102. The resilient arms 104 that connects the inner plate 103 with the outer skirt 105 are not visible.

[0084] The thread segment 109b has almost been rotated below and out of engagement with the thread segment 115 on the container, while the thread segment 109a is still engaging the thread. The thread segments 109e and 109f are still fully engaged with the thread segments 115 of the container.

[0085] The rim 108 on the inner plate 103 has been pressed down in the opening 119 of the container and the inner plate 103 has consequently been straightened up to match with the opening 119 of the container. This has bent and tensed the resilient arms 104 between the outer skirt 105 and the inner plate 103 and aligned the axis 114 of the inner plate 103 with the axis of the thread 113. Consequently, the outer skirt 105 strives to straighten up as well.

[0086] The thread segments 109a-f on the closure 101 may be chamfered so that they will catch the thread on the container, even if e.g. the upper surface 106 is parallel with the opening of the closure.P8065PC00

[0087] 13

[0088] The thread segments 115 on the container is a four-start thread, which match very well with this embodiment of the closure, but a two-start thread or a multiple start thread could also be imagined. The lower end of the thread segments 115 on the container 102 stops abruptly to form a well-defined end surface 116 against the locking surfaces 111 on the closure.

[0089] In fig. 17 the closure 101 has been rotated further so that the end of two opposite thread segments 115 has moved into the area of the cut-out in the thread segments 109e and 109f. The spring force from the resilient arms 104 has straightened up the outer skirt 105 and moved the end of the two opposite thread segments 115 down in the cut-outs to lie on the shelf 1 lOe and 11 Of, and the end surfaces 116 are now mating the locking surfaces 11 If and 11 le. The contact between thread segment 109a and one of the thread segment 115 on the container on one side, and thread segment 109c and another of the thread segments 115 on the container on the opposite side serves as a pivots for the tilting of the outer skirt 105, and these contact points together with the shelf 1 lOf are engaged with the thread 115 after mounting of the closure, and prevents the closure from being pulled off.

[0090] Fig. 18 also shows a closure 101 fully mounted on a container 102, but with the section rotated 90°. In this view it can clearly be seen that the end of the thread segment 115 is lying on the shelf 1 lOe on the thread segment 109e, and that the contact between the locking surface 11 le and end surface 116 prevent anti-clockwise rotation of the closure to remove it.

[0091] The closure can now be removed by a user by tilting the closure 101, thereby moving the end of the thread segments 115 on the container out of engagement with the cutouts in the thread segments 109e and 109f, and then rotating the closure in the unscrewing direction.

Claims

P8065PC0014Claims1. A child resistant closure (1, 101) for closing the opening (19, 119) of a threaded (15, 115) container (2, 102), the child resistant closure comprising:an outer skirt (5, 105) for interfacing a user, the outer skirt (5, 105) having an inner thread (9, 109),an inner plate (3, 103) with an inner surface (18, 118) communicating with the opening (19, 119) of the container, the inner plate (3, 103) arranged mainly inside the outer skirt (5, 105), andresilient elements (4, 104) connecting the outer skirt (5, 105) and the inner plate (3, 103),wherein the inner thread (9, 109) is segmented and have one or more starts,wherein, during mounting of the closure (1, 101) on the container (2, 102) by a user, the inner surface (18, 118) on the inner plate abuts the opening (19, 119) of the container (2, 102) and the outer skirt is tilted relative to the inner plate, whereby the resilient elements (4, 104) are tensed, andwherein, when the closure (1, 101) has been rotated the full angle for mounting the closure, the outer skirt (5, 105) is essentially tilted back by the tensed resilient elements (4, 104) so that parts of the segmented inner thread (9, 109) is moved in behind the end (16, 116) of the thread (15, 115) on the container (2, 102) and rotation in a demounting direction is prevented.

2. A child resistant closure (1, 101) according to claim 1, wherein a cylindrical rim (8, 108) is arranged on the inner surface (18, 118) of the inner plate (3, 103), theP8065PC0015rim being adapted to fit firmly into the opening (19, 119) of the container (2, 102), when the closure (1, 101) is fully mounted.

3. A child resistant closure (1, 101) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a compressible material is arranged on the inner surface (18, 118) of the inner plate (3, 103), the material being adapted to close firmly against the opening (19, 119) of the container (2, 102) when the closure (1, 101) is fully mounted.

4. A child resistant closure (1, 101) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the thread (9, 109) of the closure (1, 101) is configured so that it can be moved back into engagement with the container thread (15, 115) by tilting and rotating the closure at the same time in the demounting direction, and the closure (1, 101) can hereafter be fully demounted by continued rotation in the demounting direction.

5. A child resistant closure (1, 101) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein one or more additional elements (125) inside the outer skirt during mounting are abutting one or more thread starts of the thread (15, 115) on the container (2, 102), thereby stopping the rotation of the closure in the mounting direction, when the correct rotational mounting position for the closure has been achieved.

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