GB2449704A - Child resistant closure - Google Patents

Abstract

A child resistant closure 11 comprises a collar 12 for attachment to the mouth of a container, and an integral flip-top cap 13. The cap 13 has depending hooks 35 engageable in corresponding holes 26 of the collar, and releasable by squeezing of the cap radially inwardly. The collar and cap may be a one-piece plastics moulding.

Description

Child Resistant Closure This invention relates to a child resistant

closure (CRC) for a container, and particularly to such a closure having a flip-top.

Many kinds of CRC are known. Most commonly a screw cap has some kind of latching or detent mechanism which must be released before the closure can be unscrewed. Such closures are typically used for pharmaceuticals and household chemicals.

-Another common kind of closure has a flip-top comprising a hinged lid-mounted on collar for--snap or screw attachment to the mouth of a container. Flip-tops are sometimes preferred not least because the closure remains attached to the container whether in the open or closed condition. Typically flip-tops are used for drinks containers and are not inherently child resistant. What is required is a CRC having a flip-top and of an economical and effective design.

According to the invention there is provided a child resistant closure comprising a collar for attachment to the mouth of a container, and cap hinged to the collar for movement between open and closed conditions, the cap having a depending hook adapted for engagement within an upwardly facing recess of said collar, and the cap being resiliently deformable by squeezing to disengage said hook and recess when said cap is in the closed condition.

In the preferred embodiment said hook faces radially outward and is released by radially inward squeezing. Preferably opposite hooks are for simultaneous disengagement on squeezing of the cap. In the preferred embodiment said hooks are symmetrically placed on either side of the hinge.

The closure is typically circular, and in a preferred embodiment said opposed hooks are on a diameter orthogonal to the mid-point of said hinge.

I V

Preferably the collar includes an upstanding flange extending within said cap in the closed condition and radially inboard of said hook. Said collar is adapted to limit deformation of the cap to a predetermined range, so as to permit disengagement of the hook but prevent excessive deformation. Such a flange may be provided for each of two opposed hooks, or may comprise a continuous flange constituting a pouring lip of the collar.

The cap preferably defines identified areas for squeezing, for example, by the use of ribbing or by a change in external profile or by the use of flats.

A cap according to the inve tfo may be móulded in one piece from any suitable resilient plastics material.

One feature of the invention will be apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment shown by way of example in the accompanying drawings in which:-Figs. I to 6 show various views of a full open one-piece flip-top CRC according to the invention; Fig. 7 is a transverse section through a container with a flip-top of Figs. 1 to 6 attached and in the closed condition; and Figs. 8 and 9 are external views of the container and closure of Fig. 7.

With reference to Figs. 7 to 9, a small moulded plastics container 10, e.g. 100mm in height has a closure 11 mounted thereon. The closure 11 comprises a collar 12 attached to the container by e.g. snap fitting or screw threading, and a cap 13 connected to the collar by a living hinge 14. Squeeze pads 15 are provided on opposite sides of the cap, as illustrated.

Figs. Ito 6 show the closure 11 in the fully open condition, in which the collar 12 and cap 13 are fully opened through 180 about the hinge 14.

The collar 12 comprises an inner flange 21 having partial screw threads 22, and an outer flange 23 spaced radially outwardly therefrom by a web 24. The flanges 21, 23 and web 24 are mutually orthogonal and comprise thin-wall generally planar sections. The outer flange 23 includes opposite internal dogs 25 for engagement with corresponding dogs facing radially outwardly on the container neck; such dogs provide one-way resilient engagement upon on-screwing of the collar so as to prevent access to the container by simply screwing the collar off the neck of the container. In the case of a snap fitting closure, such dogs are unnecessary.

The web includes opposite holes 26 for engagement by hooks of the cap, which are described below.

-As illustrated, the inner flange 21 is circular so as to closely ngagé the thradëd mouth of a container. The outer flange 23 is somewhat oval and has the major axis passing through the holes 26. In consequence the radial width of the web varies, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 5.

An upstanding flange 27 is generally opposite the inner flange 21 and slightly inboard thereof so as to provide an internal on-screwing stop for engagement with the end of the container mouth.

Connected to the collar 12 by the integral hinge 14 is the cap 13, which comprises inner and outer flanges 31, 32 and a circular end wall 33. The outer flange 32 defines opposite generally flat squeeze pads 34, at the edge of which extend outwardly facing hooks 35 adapted to enter the holes 26 if urged radially inwardly by squeezing the pads 34. In the undeformed condition the hooks engage the respective radially outer edges of the hole 26 to securely retain the cap 13 in a closed condition. It will be understood that the holes 26 are a close fit with the hooks 35 in a circumferential direction, but have sufficient radial clearance to allow the maximum radial hook dimension to pass.

The inner flange 31 is circular and of the same diameter as the inner flange 21, so as to be in abutting relationship where the cap is closed (Fig. 7).

The end wall 33 carries information about the method of opening the closure, as illustrated, but could of course carry other or alternative information, or be plain.

In use a user squeezes the pads 34, typically between finger and thumb so as to release the hooks 35 and allow the cap 13 to be opened. Pushing the cap in the closing direction engages the hooks 35 by snap-fitting, and for this purpose the hooks have respective ramp faces 36 at the tips thereof.

It will be understood that although an oval exterior is depicted, the external profile of the closure could be any desired shape that has clearance to accommodate radially inward deformation for releasing the hook(s). For example a square or hexagonal shape is possible.

Claims (10)

1. A child resistant closure comprising a collar for attachment to the mouth of a container and a cap hinged to the collar for movement between open and closed conditions, the cap having a depending hook adapted for engagement within an upwardly facing recess of said collar, and the cap being resiliently deformable by squeezing to disengage said hook and recess when the cap is in the closed condition.

2. A closure according to claim 1, wherein said hook faces outwardly of said cap.

3. A closure according to claim I or claim 2, wherein said hook has a ramped end for snap-fitting engagement in said recess.

4. A closure according to any preceding claim, wherein said collar and cap are a one-piece plastics moulding.

5. A closure according to any preceding claim wherein said collar includes an upstanding flange adapted to limit inward movement of said hook.

6. A closure according to claim 5, wherein said flange is continuous.

7. A closure according to any preceding claim, wherein two opposite hooks are provided, and engageable in respective opposite recesses.

8. A closure according to claim 7, wherein said hooks and recesses are symmetrically arranged.

9. A closure according to any preceding claim wherein said cap includes a depending continuous wall for engagement with said collar in the closed condition. I b

10. A closure substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.