Child Resistant Closure

Abstract

A child resistant closure assembly comprising: an inner housing having an upper surface with an inner edge and an outer edge and a plurality of centrally positioned sloped cams extending concentrically into the upper surface between the inner edge and the outer edge; an outer housing corresponding to the inner housing, having a plurality of circular lugs centrally positioned between of the outer housing and an inner edge of the upper surface and spaced apart extending downward from a planar surface to correspond with the sloped cams.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention is related to a child resistant closure and, more particularly, to a child resistant closure for bottles.

BACKGROUND

Bottle closures or caps, referred to hereinafter simply as closures, are used in a variety of packaging applications. Sometimes closures are used in the packaging of food stuffs such as beverages, condiments, or vegetables, in industrial applications products such as solvents, sealants, fertilizers, insecticides, or other hazardous goods may use some type of closure, and similarly is the case in nutraceuticals or pharmaceuticals, where closures seal some type of pharmacological or nutraceutical compound in a bottle. Some closures are made from different types of metals or alternatively may be formed from a polymeric material, as often is the case, when closures are used for pharmaceutical or nutraceutical applications. These closures routinely suffer from imprecise dimensional characteristics and result in difficult use. What is needed is a closure with better dimensional stability and better engagement and disengagement from a container.

SUMMARY

A child resistant closure assembly is provided and generally includes an inner housing, and an outer housing. The inner housing includes an upper surface with an inner edge and an outer edge, and a plurality of centrally positioned sloped cams extending concentrically into the upper surface between the inner edge and the outer edge. The outer housing is positioned to correspond with the inner housing, and includes a plurality of circular lugs centrally positioned between the outer housing and an inner edge of the upper surface. The circular lugs are spaced apart and extend downward from a planar surface to correspond with the sloped cams.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying figures of which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a child resistant closure according to the invention, shown being assembled;

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of an assembled child resistant closure according to the invention;

FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view of a child resistant closure according to the invention taken along the line 2B-2B of FIG. 2A, as assembled;

FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of an outer housing of a child resistant closure according to the invention;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the outer housing of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of an inner housing a child resistant closure according to the invention;

FIG. 6 is a top cross-sectional view of the child resistant closure according to the invention of FIG. 2, take along line 6-6 of FIG. 2A;

FIG. 7 is a partial side cross-sectional view of the child resistant closure according to the invention of FIG. 6, taken along line 7-7 and in a state of operation;

FIG. 8 is another partial side cross-sectional view of a child resistant closure according to the invention and in another state of operation in an intermediate position;

FIG. 9 is another partial side cross-sectional view of a child resistant closure according to the invention and in another state of operation in a lower position; and

FIG. 10 is another partial side cross-sectional view of a child resistant closure according to the invention and in another state of operation in an upper position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT(S)

Exemplary embodiments of the invention will be described hereinafter in detail with reference to the attached drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements.

The invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that the present disclosure will convey the concept of the disclosure to those skilled in the art.

Now with reference to the figures, an exemplary child resistant closure 1, according to the invention, will be described.

Referring first to FIG. 1, a child resistant closure 1, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, is shown. The child resistant closure 1 generally includes the following major components: an outer housing 100, an inner housing 200, a dropper 300, a bottle 400, a coupling position A and a decoupling position B.

Each of these major components will now be described in greater detail.

Referring to FIGS. 1-10, the outer housing 100 generally includes an outer wall 101, an upper surface wall 112, an inner surface wall 150, and a inner housing dropper mounting area base 180.

In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the outer housing 100 may be formed of any suitable material to provide sufficient dimensional stability and chemical resistance and may be, for example, formed of an injection molded thermoformed material 193.

In the shown embodiment, the outer wall 101 is generally cylindrical with a height 102 and an outer circumference 103. A plurality of ridges 105 are positioned on the outer wall 101 and are equally spaced apart and disposed along a portion of the outer wall 101.

An upper surface wall 112 extends up from the outer wall 101. A plurality of ridges 105 are positioned on a portion of the upper surface wall 112 and are collinear with the ridges 105 formed on the outer wall 101. The ridges 105 radiate from a center axis 120 of the upper surface wall 112. In an exemplary embodiment, the ridges 105 form an uninterrupted upper surface wall 112.

In an exemplary embodiment, an outer dropper receiving passageway 140 is provided along a portion of the upper surface wall 112 about a center of the outer housing 100 concentric to the outer wall 101. The outer dropper receiving passageway 140 is positioned interior to the plurality of ridges 105 and has a planar section 131 along a circular width 132 and a diameter D5, as shown in FIG. 3. Additionally, the upper surface wall 112 is formed along a thickness 142 of the outer housing 100 and is perpendicular to the center axis 120.

An inner surface wall 150 is positioned along an underside of the outer housing 100. In an exemplary embodiment, the inner surface wall 150 is generally circular and has an interior height 152 that is less than a height of the outer wall 101.

In an exemplary embodiment, the upper surface wall 112 includes a lower face 160 that includes a planar surface 161 that is positioned opposite the upper surface wall 112 and perpendicular to the inner surface wall 150. A plurality of lugs 165 are positioned along the lower face 160, as shown in FIG. 3. The lugs 165 are further positioned around the lower face 160 and extend outward from the planar surface 161. The lugs 165, as shown in FIGS. 2A-3 and 6-8, generally have a lug height 166A in the range of (i.e. 0.02 to 0.04 inches in an exemplary embodiment). One of ordinary skill in the art would understand that the dimensions of the lugs 165 may be increased or decreased depending upon their intended application. Additionally, the lugs 165 have a cylindrical outer profile 166B and in general, a width 166C, that generally is in the range of (i.e. 0.08 to 0.10 inches in an exemplary embodiment) and may be varied depending upon the application.

An inner surface wall 150 extends down from the lower face 160 and the planar surface 161 and has a retaining flange 155 along a lower portion 154 of the inner surface wall 150. The retaining flange 155 extends around the inner circumference 157 of the inner surface wall 150, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 7, and has a diameter D2. In an exemplary embodiment, the retaining flange 155 is asymmetrical over the flange surface 156. In an exemplary embodiment, a rib 158 is formed around an upper portion 155A of the flange 155 and the flange 155 has an inner housing mating surface 159 along the rib 158, as shown in FIGS. 2A-B and 7-10.

In an exemplary embodiment, the inner surface wall 150 includes a base 180. The base 180 is at a lower end of the inner surface wall 150 and has a base planar surface 181 extending around the base 180 as shown in FIG. 3. The base planar surface 181 is radially offset from the inner surface wall 150 and abuts the retaining flange 155.

Referring to FIGS. 1-2B and 5-10, the inner housing 200 will be described and generally includes an upper surface 201, an inner dropper receiving passageway 232, a sidewall 250 and an inner bottle coupling portion 260.

In an exemplary embodiment, the inner housing 200, may be formed of any suitable material to provide sufficient dimensional stability and chemical resistance, and may be, for example, formed of compression molded thermoset material 294.

In the shown embodiment, the upper surface 201 generally includes an inner edge 202 and an outer edge 203. Positioned between the inner edge 202 and the outer edge 203 are a plurality of sloped cams 205. Each of the sloped cams 205 have a leading edge 206, a circular engagement wall 207, a back edge 208, a cam ramp 208B, and a tapered wedge 209 along a curvilinear length 210. Along an outer portion 211B of the plurality of sloped cams 205 is a first circumferential length 211 and along an inner portion 212A is a second circumferential length 212. The inner portion 212A and the outer portion 211B together form a sloped cam width 213, as shown in FIG. 6. The plurality of sloped cams 205 extend concentrically into the inner housing 200 upper surface 201 between the inner edge 202 and the outer edge 203, as shown in FIGS. 1-2B and 5-10.

In an exemplary embodiment, an inner dropper receiving passageway 232 is provided along a center portion of the inner housing 200. As shown in FIGS. 2A-B and 6-10, in an exemplary embodiment, the inner dropper receiving passageway 232 has a diameter D4 which is less than the diameter D2 of the retaining flange 155 and the diameter D5 of the outer dropper receiving passageway 140, in an embodiment. Along a portion of the inner dropper receiving passageway 232 is a molded inner dropper receiver coupling 230, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5-6. On a portion of the molded inner dropper receiver coupling 230 is an upper receiver coupling 234 along the upper surface 201 of the inner housing 200 and along another portion of the molded inner dropper receiver coupling 230 is a lower receiver coupling 238 along an inside upper wall 239 of the inner housing 200.

As shown in FIGS. 1-2B, 5, 7-10, in an exemplary embodiment, a sidewall 250 is provided and generally extends around and forms a circumference 255 of the inner housing 200. Along a lower portion of the sidewall 250 is a foot 257 extending out from the sidewall 250 along a bottom 254 forming a mating flange 258 having a diameter D3 that is greater than the diameter D2. Along a portion of the inner housing 200 is an inner bottle coupling portion 260 which is threaded along a threaded height 262 and is positioned adjacent the inner dropper receiving passageway 232.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2A-B, the dropper 300 will be described and generally includes a bulb 310 having an upper mating portion 311, a lower mating portion 312, an outer wall 313, a bulb coupler 314, and a tube 320. One skilled in the art would understand that the tube 320 may be formed of a variety of materials such as a glass, a polymer, a fibrous material or any other suitable material known by one of ordinary skill in the art. A bottle 400 as shown in FIG. 1, generally includes a threaded portion 410 and a central receiving portion 420.

Now with reference to FIGS. 1-2B and 6-10, assembly of a child resistant closure 1 according to the invention will now be described. In an exemplary embodiment, the dropper 300 includes a bulb 310 that is inserted into the inner housing 200. More specifically, the bulb 310 is inserted in through the inner housing 200 such that the upper mating portion 311 mates with the inner housing 200 along the molded inner dropper receiver coupling 230 along the inner dropper receiving passageway 232. The upper mating portion 311 mates with the upper receiver coupling 234 along the upper surface 201 of the inner housing 200 and the lower mating portion 312 mates with the lower receiver coupling 238 along the inside upper wall 239 of the inner housing 200 forming a seal between the dropper 300 outer wall 313 and the inner housing 200.

A tube 320 is inserted into the dropper 300 and mates with the bulb 310 along the bulb coupler 314. The outer housing 100 is then placed over the top of the inner housing 200 and the dropper 300 with the bulb 310 passes into and partially extends through the outer dropper receiving passageway 140 in the center of the outer housing 100. The lugs 165, along the lower face 160 of the outer housing 100, are positioned on the upper surface 201 of the inner housing 200. The outer housing 100 retaining flange 155, along the lower portion 154, snap fits over the foot 257 extending out from the sidewall 250 along a bottom 254 at a mating flange 258.

The outer housing 100, the inner housing 200 and the dropper 300 are then ready to be assembled with a bottle 400, such that the tube 320 passes into the central receiving portion 420. The outer housing 100, the inner housing 200 with the dropper 300, can then be mated to the bottle 400 and the threaded portion 410. In another embodiment, the dropper 300 is omitted.

Now, with reference to FIGS. 2A-2B and 6-10, operation of a child resistant closure 1 according to the invention will be described in a coupling position A. The plurality of lugs 165 of the outer housing 100, rest along the upper surface 201, as shown in FIG. 10, in the upper position 186. The outer housing 100 is moved downward, in a direction counter to the Z direction, such that the plurality of lugs 165 press against the upper surface 201 and as the outer housing 100 is rotated in a locking clockwise direction 192 the plurality of lugs 165 slide off of the upper surface 201 and the plurality of lugs 165 move along the cam ramp 208B over the back edge 208 into the sloped cams 205, as is shown in FIG. 7. The plurality of lugs 165 move down the sloped cams 205 and the tapered wedge 209 along a curvilinear length 210 between the inner portion 212A and the outer portion 211B to an intermediate position 185. During this movement to the intermediate position 185, the inner housing 200, along a mating flange 258 with a diameter D3, vertically decouples, in a direction Z, relative to the outer housing 100 and the retaining flange 155 when the plurality of lugs 165 partially engage with the sloped cams 205 in the intermediate position 185 and form a separation 199 between the inner housing 200 and the outer housing 100, as shown in FIG. 8.

As the plurality of lugs 165 move along the sloped cams 205 the inner housing 200 and the outer housing 100 are aligned along the cam width 213 and the inner dropper receiving passageway 232 is positioned adjacent to the plurality of lugs 165. As the outer housing 100 is further rotated in a locking clockwise direction 192 to the lower position 184, as shown in FIG. 9, the plurality of lugs 165 abut the circular engagement wall 207 and tighten the inner housing 200 along a threaded height 262 of the inner bottle coupling portion 260 onto the bottle 400 threaded portion 410. In the lower position 184, the separation 199 increases between the inner housing 200 and mating flange 258 and the outer housing 100, as shown in FIG. 9.

Now, with reference to FIGS. 2A-B and 6-10, operation of a child resistant closure 1 according to the invention will be described in a decoupling position B.

As shown in FIG. 9, the plurality of lugs 165 abut the circular engagement walls 207 of the inner housing 200 and the inner housing 200 along a threaded height 262 of the inner bottle coupling portion 260 that is coupled onto the bottle 400 threaded portion 410.

As the outer housing 100 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction 191 from the lower position 184 (shown in FIG. 9), the plurality of lugs 165 move upward along the sloped cams 205 and the tapered wedge 209 along a curvilinear length 210 between the inner portion 212A and the outer portion 211B, reaching the intermediate position 185 and the separation 199 decreases between the inner housing 200 and mating flange 258 and the outer housing 100, as the plurality of lugs 165, move away from the circular engagement walls 207 and the outer housing 100 and inner housing 200 transition from the lower position 184 to the intermediate position 185, as shown in FIG. 8.

As the outer housing 100 is further rotated in a counterclockwise direction 191, from the intermediate position 185, the plurality of lugs 165 approach the back edge 208 of the sloped cams 205 (shown in FIG. 7), and the plurality of lugs 165 move over the back edge 208 and up over the cam ramp 208B and are then positioned on the upper surface 201 of the inner housing 200 (shown in FIG. 10). Once the plurality of lugs 165 reach the upper surface 201, in the upper position 186, as shown in FIG. 10, the plurality of lugs 165 are pressed firmly against the upper surface 201, counter to the direction Z, and the outer housing 100 is further rotated in a counterclockwise direction 191 disengaging the inner housing 200 from a bottle 400.

When the outer housing 100, of FIG. 10, is not pressed downward, (i.e., counter to the direction Z), the plurality of lugs 165 will ratchet over the upper surface 201 of the inner housing 200 such that when the plurality of lugs 165 are rotated in a locking clockwise direction 192 or an unlocking counterclockwise direction 191, the outer housing 100 does not drive the inner housing 200 in a locking clockwise direction 192 nor an unlocking counterclockwise direction 191 and in turn the inner housing 200 is not loosened or tightened from the bottle 400.

The foregoing illustrates some of the possibilities for practicing the invention. Many other embodiments and fields of use for a child resistant closure 1 are possible and within the scope and spirit of the invention. It is, therefore, intended that the foregoing description be regarded as illustrative rather than limiting.

Claims

1. A child resistant closure assembly comprising:

an inner housing having an upper surface with an inner edge and an outer edge and a plurality of sloped cams centrally positioned extending concentrically into the upper surface between the inner edge and the outer edge;

an outer housing corresponding to the inner housing and having a plurality of circular lugs centrally positioned between the outer housing and an inner edge of the upper surface and spaced apart extending downward from a planar surface to correspond with the plurality of sloped cams.

2. The child resistant closure assembly of claim 1, wherein a dropper is positioned in the outer housing and the inner housing.

3. The child resistant closure assembly of claim 2, wherein the inner housing includes an inner dropper receiving passageway engageable with an outer wall of a dropper.

4. The child resistant closure assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of sloped cams includes a circular engagement wall positioned on a leading edge of the sloped cams.

5. The child resistant closure assembly of claim 3, wherein the plurality of circular lugs are concentrically offset from the inner dropper receiving passageway of the inner housing.

6. The child resistant closure assembly of claim 5, wherein the plurality of circular lugs are positioned adjacent to an inner housing dropper mounting area.

7. The child resistant closure assembly of claim 3, wherein the inner housing includes a molded inner dropper receiver coupling along the upper surface.

8. The child resistant closure assembly of claim 6, wherein the plurality of circular lugs engage with each of the sloped cams and the plurality of circular lugs abut a plurality of circular engagement walls to rotate the inner housing in a clockwise locking direction when the outer housing is in a lower position.

9. The child resistant closure assembly of claim 6, wherein the plurality of circular lugs disengage each of the sloped cams, and engage the upper surface of the inner housing, above the sloped cams, to couple the inner housing to the outer housing at an upper position and to rotate the inner housing and the outer housing in a counterclockwise unlocking direction when the outer housing is in an intermediate position.

10. The child resistant closure assembly of claim 6, wherein the plurality of circular lugs disengage the sloped cams and the upper surface of the inner housing, and the outer housing is freely rotatable in a clockwise and a counterclockwise direction when the outer housing is in an upper position.

11. The child resistant closure assembly of claim 3, wherein the outer housing includes an outer dropper receiving passageway having a larger diameter than a diameter of the inner dropper receiving passageway.

12. The child resistant closure assembly of claim 11, wherein the outer housing includes a retaining flange around a base thereof that is engageable with the inner housing.

13. The child resistant closure assembly of claim 3, wherein in a dropper assembled state the dropper is received in the inner dropper receiving passageway, in a molded inner dropper receiver coupling, and in an outer dropper receiving passageway.

14. The child resistant closure assembly of claim 1, wherein the inner housing is a thermoset material.

15. The child resistant closure assembly of claim 1, wherein the outer housing is a thermoplastic material.

16. The child resistant closure assembly of claim 1, wherein the sloped cams have a width corresponding with the outer housing when the plurality of circular lugs are engaged.

17. The child resistant closure assembly of claim 16, wherein the inner housing has around a base a mating flange for coupling with a retaining flange.

18. The child resistant closure assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of circular lugs are equally spaced around a lower face of the outer housing.

19. The child resistant closure assembly of claim 1, wherein the inner housing, relative to a retaining flange, vertically decouples from the retaining flange around a base of the outer housing when the plurality of circular lugs are partially engaged with the sloped cams.

20. The child resistant closure assembly of claim 19, wherein a separation is formed between the inner housing and the retaining flange when the inner housing vertically decouples from the retaining flange.

21. The child resistant closure assembly of claim 2, wherein the dropper includes a bulb.

22. A child resistant closure assembly comprising:

an inner housing having an upper surface and a plurality of centrally positioned sloped cams extending concentrically into the upper surface in a curvilinear direction;

an outer housing corresponding to the inner housing and having a plurality of circular lugs spaced apart and extending downward from a planar surface to correspond with the sloped cams, the plurality of circular lugs are centrally positioned and curvilinear along the outer housing on the upper surface; and

a dropper positioned through the outer housing and the inner housing.