WO2005021398A2

WO2005021398A2 - Child-proof closures

Info

Publication number: WO2005021398A2
Application number: PCT/GB2004/003684
Authority: WO
Inventors: Adam White; Belinda Winder
Original assignee: University Of Leeds
Priority date: 2003-08-28
Filing date: 2004-08-27
Publication date: 2005-03-10
Also published as: WO2005021398A3

Abstract

A child-proof closure and/or container (1) particularly for medicines, is operable without the requireannent for the application of any significant force. Instead, the closure / container is provided with release elements (33) only accessible by an adult- sized hand or which require alignment of their parts in a pre-determined manner.

Description

CHILD-PROOF CLOSURES

Field of the Invention The present invention relates to containers, and/or closures for containers, for medicines and other potentially harmful substances and in particular containers/closures designed to prevent access by children.

Background to the Invention The dangers of leaving medicines or other potentially harmful substances in containers which can be easily opened by children are well known.

Many different types of containers are available with closures which are designed to prevent accidental opening by young children. Such child-resistant closures may be of the screw-threaded "squeeze-and-turn" type, which require pressure to be applied to some part of the closure in order to permit free rotation on the screw-threads and hence removal of the closure from the container body, as described for example in EP-A-1 092 643.

Child-resistant containers are also known which comprise locking means located on the body of the container which must be disengaged to permit removal of the closure from the container body. US 5,586,671 and PCT/US98/13057 show two such designs.

A common problem with child-resistant containers is that the force required to open the container may be considerable and, as a result, adults who have impaired manual dexterity or who lack strength in their hands and/or fingers may be unable to open such containers. A further drawback of child-resistant containers that are operated by deformation and/or twisting of a closure on a container body is that a child having sufficient strength may be able to open the container through trial and error. Accordingly there remains a need for containers which reduce the likelihood of unauthorised access by children but which can be easily opened by adults, including the elderly and infirm.

Statements of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided a child-proof closure and/or container which is operable without the requirement for the application of any significant force, the closure/container being provided with release elements only accessible by an adult-sized hand or which require alignment of their parts.

According to a first preferred aspect of the present invention there is provided a child-resistant container comprising a container body and a closure, said closure having a screw-threaded part for engagement with a corresponding screw-threaded portion of the container body, and a locking part which, when the closure is in screw- threaded engagement with the container body, is located within the container and comprises a plurality of locking means, each of said locking means being accessible from the exterior of the container and movable relative to the screw-threaded part of said closure between a first position and a second position, wherein separation of the closure from the container body is not possible when any one of the locking means is in a first position and is possible when both or all of the locking means are in their second positions.

The plurality of locking means may be arranged so that, with one hand used to grip the container body, the fingers on the other hand of a young child are physically unable to disengage both or all of the locking means from the exterior of the container, thereby preventing the child from separating the closure from the container body, whilst the fingers on the other hand of an adult user can easily disengage both or all of the locking means with the use of relatively little force. This may be achieved by having the two or more locking means spaced sufficiently far apart from each other. The parts of the closure may be provided by two interconnected elements. In an embodiment of the invention the locking part of the closure is mounted on the screw- threaded part for pivotal movement of the locking means between the first and second positions. The locking means may be resiliently biased so that they normally occupy the first position in which separation of the closure from the container body is not possible.

In a preferred embodiment each of the locking means is provided with an integral button which extends through an opening in the wall of the screw-threaded part of the closure, whereby depression of the button by the application of pressure from the exterior of the container effects movement of the locking means from the first to the second position. If desired the integral button of each locking means may extend into a recess on the exterior of the screw-threaded part of the closure so that the outer surface of the button is flush with the outer wall of the closure. Recessing of the button reduces the likelihood of breakage by the application of horizontal force, provides a means of naturally guiding the fingers of the user to the button, and provides leverage for the rotational movement required to separate the closure from the container body.

In a further embodiment the container body is provided with stop means which prevents relative rotation between the closure and the container body by engagement with at least one of the locking means if the or each of the locking means is in the first position.

Preferably the stop means is an inwardly extending abutment which may take the form of a resilient finger which extends inwardly and circumferentially in a direction opposite to the direction that the closure must be rotated in order to remove the closure from the container body. The inward circumferential direction of the finger ensures that the closure may be rotated onto the container body so as to close the container, but that attempted rotation in the opposite direction is prevented by engagement of the locking means with the raised end of the finger. The stop means may be provided on the inner wall of the screw-threaded portion of the container body, and if desired it may be integral with the container body.

Each of the locking means may be moved simultaneously or sequentially from the first to the second position to permit separation of the closure from the container body. Preferably both or all of the locking means must be in the second position at the same time to permit said separation, whether or not they are moved to that position at the same time.

In a preferred embodiment the locking part of the closure is provided with three locking means which are spaced apart around the periphery of the closure. The locking means may be spaced equidistantly around the periphery of the closure. Preferably the locking means are located at a distance from each other such that the fingers on one hand of a young child are physically unable to reach and therefore depress both or all of the buttons of the locking means simultaneously, thereby preventing the child from opening the container. In the case where there are three locking means, it is preferred that the distance between the centre of each locking means on the periphery of the closure is at least 5mm, preferably at least 60mm, and more preferably at least 70mm.

According to a second preferred aspect of the present invention there is provided a closure for a container comprising a cap for closing the container and retention thereon by rotatable engagement relative to the container and a cover for the cap which is biased into a first position relative to the cap in which the cover is freely rotatable relative to the cap, the cap being movable relative to the cover from said first position into a second position in which rotation of the cover effects rotation of the cap, said cover and said cap each including engagement means which require alignment by relative rotation therebetween to enable the cap to be moveable to said second position in which said engagement means on the cover are mated with corresponding engagement means on the cap. Preferably, the engagement means includes mating male and female members arranged on respective ones of the cap and the cover.

Preferably, the cover includes first and second relatively rotatable parts, at least one of said parts carrying said engagement means.

Preferably the cover includes a third part rotatable relative to said first and second parts and carrying further engagement means.

In a particularly preferred embodiment according to the second preferred aspect of the present invention the cap is provided with at least two radially spaced apart recesses and the cover is provided with at least two corresponding lugs, the cover comprising at least two radially separated and relatively rotatable parts, said lugs being located on at least two of said parts. In another embodiment, the recesses are located on the cover and the lugs are located on the cap.

Preferably, the cover comprises annular concentric rings rotatable relative to each other so as to position the engagement means in different positions relative to one another.

Preferably the cap is biased into said first portion by resilient biasing means, more preferably a spring and most preferably a compression spring.

The invention, in its second preferred aspect, also provides a container comprising a container body and a closure of the invention.

Accordingly, a closure of the second preferred aspect of the present invention provides a child-proof container, when used in connection with the container body, because three separate operations are required to enable the closure to be removed from the container. These operations are the correct positioning of the engagement means relative to each other, the depression of the cover onto the cap and then the rotation of the closure so as to unfasten the closure from the container.

The closure may be provided with indications so as to enable the engagement means on the cover on the cap to be correctly aligned. These indications may be in the form of symbols such as numbers located or to be located on different parts of the closure and for alignment according to a pre-determined code.

Reference has been made above to the engagement means including lugs and recesses. The term lug is intended to cover any suitable protrusion, spike, finger or other feature extending from a surface and which provides an obstruction between two surfaces such that they cannot be brought together unless the lug is accommodated in some way by the opposed surface. Similarly the recess may be a depression, hole, well, channel or other appropriate accommodation within the surface.

Reference has also been made to rotatable engagement between the container and the cap of the closure. This rotatable engagement may be realised by means of mating screw threads provided on the container and the cap. In an alternative embodiment, a bayonet type arrangement may be provided.

Containers for use with the closure of the invention, in at least its second aspect, are preferably hand-holdable containers such as medicine bottles and the like.

According to a third preferred aspect of the present invention there is provided a closure for a container, said closure having a cap for securing to the container, said cap being removable from the container by relative rotation therebetween, the closure further including a tubular cover at one end of which the cap is mounted for rotation relative to the cover and locking means, located within said tubular cover adjacent said cap, which is operable to prevent relative rotation between said cover and said cap, said locking means being operably accessible from the end of the tubular cover opposite the location of the cap.

Accordingly, the invention, in its third preferred aspect, provides a closure for a container which can only be unscrewed from the container body if the locking means can be accessed. The tubular cover can be dimensioned such that it will accommodate the adult finger of a person's hand, which finger will be long enough to reach from that end where access is made to the other end where the locking means is located. By contrast, this distance may be made too long for the finger of a child's hand to reach the locking means.

Preferably said locking means is movable relative to the closure between a first position in which separation of the closure from the container body is not possible, and a second position in which separation of the closure from the container body is possible by relative rotation between the closure and the container body.

Preferably the locking means include a button which can be moved from the first to the second position by finger pressure. More preferably the button is resiliently biased into the first position.

Preferably the distance between the open end of the tubular cover and the locking means is at least 5 cm more preferably at least 6cms and most preferably at least 6,5cm.

Preferably the relative rotation between the closure and the container is only possible while the button is maintained, by fmger pressure, in the second position.

The invention, in its third preferred aspect, also provides a container comprising a container body and the closure of the invention. Containers incorporating closures of the invention are also preferably hand-holdable containers such as medicine bottles and the like.

According to a fourth preferred aspect of the present invention there is provided a container comprising a container body and a closure, said closure having a screw- threaded part for engagement with a corresponding screw-threaded portion of the container body, and a locking collar, moveable relative to the closure and the container body between a first position in which the closure and the container body are held by the collar against relative separation therebetween and a second position in which relative separation therebetween is possible.

Preferably one of the closure and the container body is provided with a substantially continuous circumferential flange and the other of the closure and the container body is provided with a discontinuous circumferential flange, said collar being provided with a discontinuous circumferential flange whereby alignment of the flanged and unflanged portions of the discontinuous flanges permits said relative separation to be effected.

Preferably stop means are provided on the collar or on that one of the closure and the container body provided with a discontinuous flange, said stop means preventing said relative movement of the collar when said second position is reached.

Preferably the container body is provided with said discontinuous flange and with said stop means.

According to a fifth preferred aspect of the present invention there is provided a child-resistant container comprising a container body and a closure, said closure being movable relative to the container between a first closed position and the second open position, means locking the closure in said first position, said locking means being movable relative to the closure between locking and unlocking positions, and a plurality of key elements each of which is independently moveable between a first position preventing movement of said locking means from its locking position to its unlocking position and the second position in which this movement is not prevented.

Preferably the closure is in the form of a lid which is pivotally attached to the container body.

Preferably each key element is mounted on the container body for rotational movement relative thereto. More preferably each key element and the container body are provided with visible indicia which require alignment to indicate that the key element is in its second position.

Preferably the locking means and each key element are provided with a mating key and keyhole arrangement which, when the components are aligned, will allow the locking means to be movable to its second position. It is emphasised, however, that both or all of the these mating key and keyhole arrangements must be aligned before such movement of the locking means is possible.

Medicinal pills or capsules are often provided in so-called blister packs in which a number of pills or capsules are located in a sheet having one or more rows of recesses each for accommodating a single pill or capsule. A protective film may be broken to access the pill or capsule within a particular hole. Such blister packs are commonly provided in simple cardboard containers which can be easily opened by, for instance, a child.

A sixth preferred aspect of the present invention is concerned with containers which are generally in the form of closed trays having lids which may be opened to reveal their contents, whether in the form of blister packs or, for instance, loose pills or capsules. There is a need for such containers to be rendered effectively child-proof.

According to the sixth preferred aspect of the present invention there is provided a container comprising first and second body parts which are relatively slideable in a first direction between a first position in which access to the interior of the container is prevented and a second position in which access to the interior of the container is possible, said first body part being provided with a plurality of first locking members, each mounted for independent movement relative to said first body part in a second direction, and said second body part being provided with a plurality of second locking members, each of which is for locking and unlocking engagement with a corresponding first locking member by effective relative movement therebetween.

Preferably the two body parts together form a closed tray. More preferably the closed tray includes a base part and a lid part, the lid part for accommodating medicinal pills, tablets, capsules or the like. The lid part may accommodate these items in loose form or in the form of blister packs.

The lid part may be provided with a plurality of key or lock elements which are for engagement with corresponding lock or key elements on the body part.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The accompanying drawings are as follows:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a container in accordance with the first preferred

aspect of the present invention;

Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the container of Figure 1;

Figure 3A is a cross-section of part of the container of Figure 1 showing one of the

locking means in its locked position;

Figure 3B is a cross-section of the same part as shown in Figure 3A but with the

locking means in its open position;

Figure 4 shows the container of Figure 1 with the hands and fingers of an adult user positioned ready to open the container; Figure 5 is a perspective drawing of a closure, in accordance with the second preferred aspect of the invention attached to a container;

Figure 6 is a plan view of the top of the closure of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a cross-section through the closure of Figure 5 along line II-II of Figure 6; Figure 8 is an exploded view of the closure of Figure 5;

Figure 9 is a perspective view showing how the closure of Figure 5 is used with a container;

Figure 10 shows in diagrammatic form a system incorporating the closure of Figure 5

Figure 11 is a perspective view of a container in accordance with a third preferred aspect of the present invention;

Figure 12 shows the container of Figure 11 at the beginning of the procedure to remove the closure therefrom;

Figure 13 shows a child's hand superimposed on an adult's hand;

Figure 14 shows a longitudinal section through the container of Figure 11 ; Figure 15 is a partial longitudinal section of the container of Figure 11 and illustrating the procedure for removing the closure;

Figure 16 is a perspective view of a container in accordance with a fourth preferred aspect of the present invention;

Figure 17 is a exploded perspective view of the container of Figure 16; Figure 18 shows the container of Figure 16 in the process of being opened.

Figure 19 is a front perspective view of a container in accordance with a fifth preferred aspect of the present invention;

Figure 20 is a view of the container of Figure 19 being held and about to be opened;

Figure 21 is a view of the container of Figure 19 showing a further stage in the opening of operation;

Figure 22 is a cross-section through the container of Figure 19;

Figure 23 is a perspective view of a container in accordance with a sixth preferred aspect of the present invention;

Figure 24 shows the container of Figure 23 in the process of being opened; Figure 25 shows the container of Figure 23 in its open condition and displaying loose medicinal pills; Figure 26 shows, in exploded view, the parts of the container of Figure 23 being used to store blister packs;

Figure 27 shows the container of Figure 23 partially assembled from the position shown in Figure 23; and Figure 28 shows blister packs with integral locking means which can be used with a container similar to that shown in Figure 23.

Detailed Description of the Invention

The invention will now be described, by way of examples only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings, a child resistant container 1 of moulded plastic construction is shown, the container comprising a closure 3 and a container body 5. The container may be for holding a plurality of pills, capsules or other medicinal products.

The bowl-shaped container body 5 has a flat circular base 37 with a curved wall 39 extending from the periphery of the base 37. At its upper edge wall 39 forms an inwardly extending shoulder 41 from which extends upwardly a circular neck portion 43 provided with a screw-thread 45 on its outer surface. On its interior, neck portion 43 is provided with an integral, inwardly extending resilient fmger 49 having a smooth ramped inner wall 51 terminating at an end face 53.

The closure 3 comprises a screw-threaded part 7 which has a circular top wall 9 and a curved side wall 11 extending from the periphery of the base wall 9. The interior surface of the side wall 11 is provided with a screw-thread 13 for complementary engagement with the screw-thread on the container body. Three curved recesses 15 are spaced apart equidistantly on the periphery of the exterior surface of the screw- threaded part 7, each of which spans the edge of the base wall 9 and part of the side wall 11 extending therefrom. At the base of each of the recesses there is an elliptical opening 17. The locking part 19 of the closure 3 comprises an annular disc 21 with an inner edge 23 designed for snap-fit mounting onto a projection 25 on the interior surface of the base wall 9 of the screw-threaded part 7, so that in normal use the closure 3 is a single piece. Three resiliently moimted locking means 27 project axially below the plane of the annular disc 21 from gaps located equidistantly apart in the outer edge 29. The locking part 19 is mounted on the screw-threaded part 7 such that the locking means 27 are movable by pivoting against the projection 25. Each of the locking means 27 comprises a locking arm 31, an integral button 33 and a hinge portion 35. The locking arm comprises a straight outer wall 32, extending axially from an angled shoulder 34 adjacent to the button 33, and a tapered inner wall 36. When the screw- threaded and locking parts of the closure 3 are interconnected in use, each of the integral buttons 33 extend tlirough corresponding openings 17 in the screw-threaded part 7 so as to be accessible from the exterior of the container 1.

In order to close the container 1, the screw-threaded part 7 of the closure 3 is positioned over the screw-threaded neck portion 43 of the container body 5 so that the locking arms 31 locate inside the container body 5, and the closure 3 is rotated in a clockwise direction so as to engage the complementary screw-threads. As the closure 3 is rotated onto the neck portion 43 the locking arms 31 are sequentially brought into clockwise abutment with the resilient fmger 49 on the imier wall 47 of the neck portion 43. The direction of extension of the resilient finger 49 is such that as the closure 3 is rotated each of the locking arms 31 in turn is inwardly deflected, as the outer wall 32 of each locking arm rides along the smooth ramped inner wall 51 of the resilient finger 49, until the raised end face 53 is reached at which point each locking arm snaps back radially outwards into its original position. In this way clockwise rotation of the closure 3 is permitted, without having to disengage each of the locking means 27, until the closure is fully fitted onto the container body 5.

Referring to Figure 3 A, when the container is closed each of the locking means 27 is resiliently biased so as to occupy a first locked position whereby the shoulder 34 adjacent to the button 33 lies flush with the inner wall of the screw-threaded part 7, and the outer wall 32 of the locking arm 31 lies flush with the inner wall 47 of the neck portion 43 of the container body 5.

If an attempt is made to open the container 1 by simply rotating the closure 3 in an anti-clockwise direction about the container body 5, one of the locking arms 31 is brought into circumferential abutment with the raised end face 53 of the resilient fmger 49 such that further attempted rotation in the same direction is resisted. In this way removal of the closure is prevented unless, prior to anti-clockwise rotation, each of the locking means 27 is moved from the first position into a second position, as shown in Figure 3B, either by simultaneous or sequential depression of the buttons 33. When the locking means 27 are moved into this second position the locking arms 31 are sufficiently inwardly deflected away from the neck portion 43 of the container body 5 such that the resilient fmger 49 is no longer engageable with the locking arms 31 during rotation. As a result anti-clockwise rotation of the closure 3 is no longer resisted and removal of the closure 3 from the container body 5 is possible.

Referring to Figure 4, the three buttons 33 are spaced equidistantly approximately 70mm apart on the periphery of the closure 3 such that simultaneous or sequential engagement of the buttons 33 through pressure applied by a first fmger, second finger and fourth fmger of one hand of an adult user is straightforward and does not require significant force. The recesses 15 naturally guide the fingers of the user to the buttons 33 and provide leverage for the rotational movement required to separate the closure 3 from the container body 5. However, the location of the buttons 33 is such that the fingers of one hand of a child are unlikely to be able to span all three buttons at the same time, and therefore simultaneous or sequential depression of the buttons and rotation of the closure to open the container will be difficult for a child even if he mode of operation is known.

Referring to Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings, there is shown a perspective view of a closure 104 of the invention attached to a container 106 so as to produce a child-proof vessel 102. Such vessels are suitable for holding pharmaceutical tablets 112. The closure 104 comprises a cap 108 and cover 110 which substantially covers the cap 108. Cover 110 has a circular wall 111 and a top face 114.

Figure 6 shows a plan view of top face 114 of closure 104. Top face 114 of closure 104 comprises an outer annular portion 116 and a circular centre portion 124 between which are concentric annular rings 120 and 122. Rings 120, 122 are rotatable about their common axis (ie through the plane of the paper) relative to each other, the outer portion 116 and the centre portion 124. Rotation of the concentric annular rings 120, 122 is facilitated by integral upstanding studs 123 which protrude from the top face 114. The concentric annular rings 120, 122 are marked by symbols 130 such that positions of the concentric annular rings 120, 122 relative to the rim 116 or centre portion 124 may be readily positioned, in particular, relative to further symbols 132 on these parts.

In use, closure 104 is attached to container 106 and may be detached so as to obtain access to the contents of the container by rotating the concentric annular rings 120, 122 such that a given number denoted by figures 130 is dialled on these rings aligned with the arrow 132 on the rim 116. The cover 110 may then be depressed onto the cap 108 such that, on rotating the cover 110, cap 108 may also rotate and the closure 104 can be unscrewed from the container 106 so as to gain access to the contents of the container.

Referring to Figures 7 and 8, it can be seen that cover 110 is clipped onto cap 108 by means of circumferential, inwardly directed hook or flange 170 at the bottom of wall 111. This hook 170 locates against shoulder 172 of the cap. The cap and cover may be moved towards and apart from one another along their common central axis. The spring 142 is located in a central recess 144 in the cover and a corresponding recess 146 in the cap. If the cap is rotated relative to the cover, or vice versa, the spring stays in place and the central portion 124 does not itself rotate relative to cap 108. Concentric annular ring 120 of cover 110 is rotatably located in the top face 114 by means of ridge 176 that travels in a corresponding channel in the rim. Similarly annular ring 120 has a channel 178 in which a corresponding ridge in annular ring 122 can travel. A similar arrangement is also provided between annular ring 22 and centre portion 124. When the cover is in the position as shown in Figure 7, wall 111, annular rings 120, 122 and centre portion 124 are all freely rotatable independent of one another in the plane of the surface of the cover 114.

The wall 111 of cover 110 has a lug 150 attached to the inner side thereof. Lug 150 is locatable in depression 160 in the cap. Likewise annular rings 120, 122 also have one or more lugs 152, 154 attached on their underside, ie the side of the cover adjacent to the cap. These lugs are locatable in a recess or recesses 166 of the cap.

In use, to release the closure from a container it is necessary to depress cover 110 relative to cap 108 such that spring 142 is compressed and hook 170 is released from shoulder 172 as the wall 111 of the cover 16 travels down the sides of the cap 108. The extent of travel is restricted by the aforementioned lugs 150, 152, 154 unless they are aligned with the corresponding recesses 160, 166 and 166'. When aligned the recesses accommodate the lugs and the cover is fully depressible. Lug 150 is then located in recess 160 such that rotating the cover rotates the cap by means of lug 150 located in recess 160.

Recesses 166 and 166' each accommodate lugs 152, 154. As can be seen from this diagram if the lugs are not rotated relative to one another such that the positions correspond to the positions of the recesses it will not be possible to depress cover 110 onto cap 108. This may require rotating the wall 111 and concentric annular rings 120, 122 relative to one another and also relative to the cap 108. When the lugs 150, 152, 152' and 154 are suitably arranged by rotating concentric annular rings 120, 122 relative to wall 111 the cover 110 may be depressed against the cap 108 such that lug 150 on rim 116 locates in recess 160. When this occurs any torsional force on the rim 1 16 of the cover 110 is transferable to cap 108 such that the screw thread 140 on cap 108 may be engaged and disengaged from the container 106 so that access may be gained to the inside of container 106 or the closure may be attached to the container 106. In an alternative embodiment of the invention a bayonet type fitting may be present for rotatably attaching and detaching the cap 108 from the container 106. It will be seen that on depressing the cover 110 onto the cap 108 little in the way of torsional force may be exerted upon the cap 108 via the annular rings 120, 122 as these are only externally contactable by the upper faces (ie on face 114 of the cover 110 and the annular rings 120, 122 remain freely rotatable relative to the wall 111 of the cover 110).

Figure 9 shows in schematic fonri how a closure of the invention is used with a container. A person first uses gripping means 134 to rotate annular rings 120, 122 such that the symbols 130 on the annular rings and the symbols 132 on the rim are suitably aligned according to a predefined code, the code conesponding to a correct alignment of the lugs in the recesses as previously described. The person then depresses the cover 110 onto cap 108, as shown by the anow and rotates the whole closure 104 relative to the container 106 so as to gain access to the container.

Figure 10 shows a schematic view of a method of labelling the closure for use. A set of adhesive labels 170 is provided such that symbols may be suitably adhered to the annular rings of the closure so as to provide an access code for the closure. Labels are also provided to identify the contents of the container and further adhesive labels are provided so that a cumulative record of uses of the container for the closure can be made in a document.

Referring to Figure 11 of the accompanying drawings, a container 201 includes a container body 203 and a closure 205. The container is for holding a medicine such as pharmaceutical capsules.

Figure 12 shows the beginning of the process whereby the closure 205 may be removed from the container body 203. This involves the insertion of a finger into the tubular closure 205. Figure 13 illustrates that the index fmger 209 of an adult hand is considerably longer than that of 211 of a child's hand. Referring to Figures 14 and 15 of the accompanying drawings, the container 201 has an elongate container body 203 with an externally threaded necked opening 213. Located on container body 203 is a closure 205 of the invention. Enclosure 205 is of substantially tubular form having a double cylindrical wall 215, the outer skin 217 being radially spaced from inner skin 219. At its upper open end closure 205 is provided with an end collar 221 which sits on the ends of skins 215, 217, thereby closing the gap between them. At the other end of closure 205, the outer skin 217 terminates in an inwardly directed flange 223 which locates between two outwardly directed flanges 225 and 227 formed on cap 229 having an inner screw thread 231 which mates with the external screw thread on container body 203, thereby closing the container body.

Cap 229 has a circular top 230, the upper surface of which is provided with the central recess 235 for accommodating one end of spring 237. The other end of spring 237 engages the domed under surface 239 of locking member 241. Locking member 241 has an integral downwardly depending circumferential wall 243 and a pair of diametrically opposed lugs 245 which extend interiorally of wall 243 from the domed surface 241 to a position below the end of wall 243. At the bottom ends lugs 245 protrude beyond the bottom of wall 243 and these protruding ends are shaped and dimensioned to fit within corresponding recesses 247 in the upper surface of top 233 of cap 229.

Inner skin 219 is provided with diametrically opposed longitudinal slots (not shown) within which fingers (not shown) which extend outwardly from wall 243 are located and slide.

As shown in Figure 14, applying a rotational force to closure 205, while gripping container body 203 will result in closure 205 rotating relative to body 203. Depression of locking member 241 towards cap 229, as illustrated in Figure 15, will cause the lower ends of the lugs 245 to engage within the recesses 247 on the cup, at least after some rotation occurs until the lugs 245 find the recesses. Once the lugs 245 are engaged in the recesses 47, further rotation of closure 5 can only occur together with rotation of cap 233. Accordingly, with the container body being gripped against rotation, the entire closure will be unscrewed from the cap.

Due to the length of closure 205, and more particularly the length between the open end of closure 205 and the locking member 41, only an adult's fmger can access the locking member. A child's finger is simply too short. Accordingly the above described closure is such that it is effectively child-proof.

Referring to Figures 16 to 18 of the accompanying drawings, a container 301 is a three part, moulded plastic construction having a container body 303 a closure 305 and a collar 307.

Container body 303 is of cylindrical shape having a circular cylindrical side wall 309 and an integral base (not shown). At its upper open end, container body 303 is provided with an internal screw-threaded portion 311. Extending outwardly from the upper edge of body 303 is a discontinuous flange 313 which has three spaced apart sections 315. Each section 315 extends circumferentially about the upper surface of body 303 and is of a circumferential length about 1/6¹ of the total periphery. The three flange sections together make up about one half of the periphery with alternating spaces making up the other half. At least one of the flanged sections 315 is provided, at one end thereof, with a downwardly extending stop member 317.

Closure 305 has three main sections. Lower section 319 is provided with an external screw-thread for mating with the internal thread 311 of container body 303. Intermediate section 321 is in the form of a continuous rounded circumferential flange extending a short distance outwardly of the remainder of the body of the closure. Upper section 323 has a flat upper surface 325 and extending between upper surface 325 and intermediate section 321 an outwardly curving surface 327 provided with spaced apart, longitudinally arranged ribs 329 providing fmger grips. The third part of container 301 is a collar 331 which has an outer surface 333 which curves gently outwardly from its upper edge 335 to its lower edge 337. Located internally of collar 331 is a discontinuous flange 339 having three sections which extend radially inwardly and correspond to the three flanged sections 315 of discontinuous flange 313 on container body 303.

The outer surface of collar 331 is provided with longitudinal, spaced apart ribs 339 providing fmger grips. Collar 331 is also provided with indicia 341 in the form of two closely spaced dots located between two ribs 340. These dots 341 are for alignment with a corresponding air of dots 43 located on the container body 303 just below the discontinuous flange 313 and between two flange sections 315.

Figure 16 shows the container in its closed position. To open the container the collar 307 is rotated until the dots 341 and 343, on the collar and the container body respectively, are aligned. At this point the discontinuous flange 339 of collar 307 engages the stop member 317 of discontinuous flange 313 of the container body. It is now possible to grip the closure 305 and rotate it anti-clockwise so that the closure, carrying collar 307 unscrews from the container body 303, as illustrated if Figure 18.

Referring to Figures 19 to 22 of the accompanying drawings, a child-resistant container 401 is a moulded plastic construction, the container comprising a container body 403 and a closure or lid 405. As illustrated in Figure 22 lid 405 is attached to the container body 403 by means of a pivotal link 407 located at the upper rear part of the body 407.

The overall shape of the container is of a flat closed dish and it may be used to accommodate, for instance, medicinal substances such as pills or capsules 409. The lid 405 is provided with a spring member 411 at its pivot point. Spring member 411 engages the curved wall of body 403 and urges the lid 405 into its closed position.

At its front end lid 40 is provided with a downwardly extending catch member 413 which in turn is provided with a forwardly extending hook 415.

Centrally located at the front of container body 403 are both the locking means and the key elements for operating the opening and closing of the lid 405. Pivotally mounted in an upper position of the front section 417 of body 403 is a flap 419 which is moveable between a first position, as illustrated in Figures 19, 20 and 22 and a second position as illustrated in Figure 21. In its first position flap 419 engages with hook 415 of element 413 when the lid 405 is in its closed position. Depression of the flap 419, as illustrated in Figure 21, releases hook 415 from its held position and enables the lid to be swung open to the position shown in Figure 22.

Flap 49 is provided, on its inner bottom surface, with two downwardly extending key elements or lugs, each of which is for engagement with a corresponding recess 423 located in a further key element 425 which is mounted for rotational movement about a vertical access. Each key element 425 is provided with a dial 427 which partially extends through an opening 429 in the front of the container body 403. Dial 427 is provided with spaced apart indicia, in the form of numbers 431 and the container body 403 is provided with a further indicia, in the form of arrow head 433. When dial 427 is rotated to the correct position, for instance when number 407 on dial 427 is aligned with arrowhead 433, then this is the position at which recess 423 is vertically aligned with the conesponding lug 421 on flap 419. When both dials 427 have been rotated to their appropriate positions, then it is possible to press down on flap 419, causing it to swing back into body 403 (as indicated in Figure 21). The lid 405 can then be pivoted to the position shown in Figure 22.

Also shown in Figure 22 are top plan views of the key elements 425 showing dials 427 and the recesses 423. In order to open the container 401, it is first of all necessary to know the particular combination required to position the dials 427 so that the lid is unlocked. Furthermore, the arrangement may be such that manual dexterity is then required to open the container. For instance, the dials may have to be held in their coreect positions whilst at the same time pressing on the flap to enable the lid to be raised.

Referring to Figure 23 of the accompanying drawings, there is illustrated a tray-like container having a broadly rectangular shape and being formed of two body parts 501, 503. Body part 1 is a lid which, as best illustrated in Figure 24, is slideable relative to base part 503 in order to reveal or give access to the contents of the container. In the particular case of the container of Figure 23 the sliding apart of the lid and body parts, as illustrated in Figure 24, can be continued until a position is reached, illustrated in Figure 25, where the lid part 503, which itself is in the form of a tray having a cover 505 and a base 507, may be opened by pivoting of the cover 505 relative to base 507, to reveal its contents in the form of a plurality of medicinal pills 509.

The container illustrated in Figures 23 to 25 is provided, at the front of its base part 503, with three side-by-side buttons 511. Each button 11 is located within a corresponding recess 513 in the curved front upper wall 515 of base part 503.

Each button 511 is marked with an arrow head 517 and, below the button 511 wall 515 is marked with indicia 1, 2 and 3 indicating different possible positions for the button 51 1. The lid part 501 can only be slid relative to the body part 503 when all three buttons are in their correct position. As indicated in Figure 23, this is when the arrows are pointing at indicia 1, 2, 3 respectively reading from left to right. With the buttons in these positions then lid part 501 can be slid back as indicated in Figure 24. When lid part 501 has been slid back sufficiently, the cover 505 may be raised around its rear pivotal connection with the remainder of lid part 501 to the position shown in Figure 25, thereby revealing the pills 509. Referring to Figures 26 and 27 of the accompanying drawings, the container 521 is essentially as described above in connection with the embodiment shown in Figures 23 to 25. In this case the lid part is used to accommodate blister packs 523. Figures 26 and 27 illustrate more clearly the mechanism which allows the lid part 525 to be locked to body part 527 and also released for sliding movement relative to body part 527.

Body part 527 is provided with a front section 529 which is pivotally connected by its rear edge to the rest of body part 527. In Figures 23 to 25 the part corresponding to item 529 is shown in its pivotally closed position whereas in Figure 26 it is shown pivotally open so that the underside of this part is seen. Located on the underside of part 529 are three guide lugs 531 each of which secures and provides a guide for a slider assembly 533 including buttons similar to button 511 of Figure 23. In addition to buttons the slider assemblies include a base 525 and, extending from the free side of base 535 a peg 537.

The lid part 525 is provided with a front integral plate or web 539 which includes three cut-outs 541 each of which is associated with a corresponding slider assembly 533. Each cut-out 541 includes an entry portion 543 and a laterally extending body portion 545. It is the position of the entiy portion 543 relative to the body portion 545 which determines the "unlocked" position of the button. With the lid part 525 located in position on the base part 521 and with the front part 529 in its closed position, pegs 537 extend into the body portions 545 of plate 539 of lid part 525. With the button positions adjacent their respective entry portions 543 then it is possible to slide the lid part away from the buttons because the entry portions 543 accommodate the pegs 537 during this movement. If any of the pegs is not positioned adjacent its respective entry portion 543 then this sliding movement is not possible. Referring to Figure 28 of the accompanying drawings, there is shown part of an alternative embodiment of the invention in which the blister packs are themselves provided with integral webs 551 in which the appropriate cut-outs 533 are located. In this case the number codes appropriate for opening the container would be specific to the particular blister packs rather than to the container itself.

Claims

1. A child-proof closure and/or container, operable without the requirement for the application of any significant force, said closure/container being provided with release elements which are only accessible by an adult-sized hand or which require alignment of their parts in a pre-determined manner.

2. A child-resistant container comprising a container body and a closure, said closure having a screw-threaded part for engagement with a conesponding screw-

tlireaded portion of the container body, and a locking part which, when the closure is in screw-threaded engagement with the container body, is located within the

container and comprises a plurality of locking means, each of said locking means being accessible from the exterior of the container and movable relative to the screw-

threaded part of said closure between a first position and a second position, wherein

separation of the closure from the container body is not possible when any one of the

locking means is in a first position and is possible when both or all of the locking

means are in their second positions.

3. A container according to claim 2, wherein said screw-threaded and locking parts of said closure are provided by two interconnected elements.

4. A container according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein said locking part is mounted on said screw-threaded part for pivotal movement of the locking means between said first and second positions.

5. A container according to any of claims 3 to 4, wherein said locking means are resiliently biased into said first position.

6. A container according to any of claims 2 to 5, wherein each of said locking means is provided with an integral button which extends through an opening in the wall of the screw-threaded part of said closure, whereby depression of said button from a location exterior of the container effects movement of the locking means from the first to the second positions.

7. A container according to claim 6, wherein said button extends into a recess on the exterior of said screw-threaded part of said closure.

8. A container according to any of claims 2 to 7, wherein said container body is provided with stop means which prevents relative rotation between the closure and the container body by engagement with at least one of said locking means if the or each of the locking means is in the first position.

9. A container according to claim 8, wherein said stop means is provided by at least one inwardly extending abutment.

10. A container according to claim 9, wherein said abutment is provided in the form of a resilient finger which extends inwardly and circumferentially in a direction opposite to the direction that the closure must be rotated in order to remove said closure from said container body.

1 1. A container according to any of claims 8 to 10, wherein said stop means is provided on the inner wall of said screw-threaded portion of said container body.

12. A container according to claim 11, wherein said stop means is integral with the screw- threaded portion of said container body.

13. A container according to any of claims 2 to 12, wherein each of said locking means may be moved simultaneously or sequentially from said first to said second position to permit separation of the closure from the container body.

14. A container according to claim 13, wherein both or all of said locking means must be in the second position at the same time to pennit said separation.

15. A container according to any of claims 2 to 15, wherein said locking part is provided with three locking means which are spaced apart around the peripheiy of said closure.

16. A container according to claim 15, wherein the distance between any two adjacent locking means is at least 50 mm.

17. A container according to any of claims 2 to 16, wherein said locking means are spaced apart equidistantly around the periphery of said closure.

18. A container according to any of claims 6 to 17, wherein said locking means are arranged around the periphery of said closure at a distance from each other such that the fingers on one hand of a young child are physically unable to reach and therefore depress both or all of the buttons of the locking means simultaneously or sequentially.

19. A closure for a container comprising a cap for closing the container and retention thereon by rotatable engagement relative to the container and a cover for the cap which is biased into a first position relative to the cap in which the cover is freely rotatable relative to the cap, the cap being movable relative to the cover from said first position into a second position in which rotation of the cover effects rotation of the cap, said cover and said cap each including engagement means which require alignment by relative rotation therebetween to enable the cap to be moveable to said second position in which said engagement means on the cover are mated with corresponding engagement means on the cap,

20. A closure according to Claim 19, wherein the engagement means includes mating male and female members arranged on respective ones of the cap and the cover.

21 , A closure according to Claim 19 or Claim 20, wherein the cover includes first and second relatively rotatable parts, at least one of the said parts carrying said engagement means.

22. A closure according to Claim 21 wherein the cover includes a third part rotatable relative to said first and second parts and carrying further engagement means.

23. A closure according to Claim 19, wherein the cap is provided with at least two radially spaced apart recesses and the cover is provided with at least two corresponding lugs, the cover comprising at least two radially separated and relatively rotatable parts, said lugs being located on at least of two said parts.

24. A closure according to any of claims 19 to 23, wherein the cover comprises annular concentric rings rotatable relative to each other so as to position engagement means in different positions relative to one another.

25. A closure according to any of claims 19 to 24, wherein the cap is biased into said first position by resilient biasing means.

26, A closure according to Claim 25 wherein the resilient biasing means is a spring.

27. A closure for a container said closure having a cap for securing to the container, said cap being removable from the container by relative rotation therebetween, the closure further including a tubular cover at one end of which the cap is mounted for rotation relative to the cover and locking means, located within said tubular cover adjacent said cap, which is operable to prevent relative rotation between said cover and said cap, said locking means being operably accessible from the end of the tubular cover opposite the location of the cap.

28. A closure according to claim 27, wherein said locking means is moveable relative to the closure between a first position in which separation of the closure from the container body is not possible, and a second position in which separation and closure from the container body is possible by relative rotation between the closure and the container body.

29. A closure according to claim 27 or claim 28, wherein the locking means include a button which can be moved from the first to the second position by finger pressure.

30. A closure according to claim 29, wherein the button is resiliently biased into the first position.

31. A closure according to any of claims 27 to 30, wherein the distance between the open end of the tubular cover and the locking means is at least 5cm.

32. A closure according to any of claims 27 to 31, wherein the distance between the open end of the tubular cover and the locking means is at least 6cm.

33. A closure according to any of claims 27 to 32, wherein the distance between the open end of the tubular cover and the locking means is at least 6.5cm.

34. A closure according to any of claims 27 to 33, wherein the relative rotation between the closure and the container is only possible while the locking means is maintained in its operable condition.

35. A container comprising a container body and a closure as claimed in any of the claims 27 to 34.

36. A container comprising a container body and a closure, said closure having a screw-threaded part for engagement with a corresponding screw-threaded portion of the container body, and a locking collar, moveable relative to the closure and the container body between a first position in which the closure and the container body are held by the collar against relative separation therebetween and a second position in which relative separation therebetween is possible.

37. A container according to claim 36, wherein one of the closure and the container body is provided with a substantially continuous circumferential flange and the other of the closure and the container body is provided with a discontinuous circumferential flange, said collar being provided with a discontinuous circumferential flange whereby alignment of the flanged and unflanged portions of the discontinuous flanges permits said relative separation to be effected.

38. A container according to claim 37, wherein stop means are provided on the collar or on that one of the closure and the container body provided with a discontinuous flange, said stop means preventing said relative movement of the collar when said second position is reached.

39. A container according to claim 37 or claim 38, wherein the container body is provided with said discontinuous flange and with said stop means.

40. A container according to any of claims 36 to 39, wherein said collar and said container body are provided with indicia, alignment of which indicates that relative separation between said closure and said contain body is possible.

41. A child-resistant container comprising a container body and a closure, said closure being movable relative to the container between a first closed position and the second open position, means locking the closure in said first position, said locking means being movable relative to the closure between locking and unlocking positions, and a plurality of key elements each of which is independently moveable between a first position preventing movement of said locking means from its locking position to its unlocking position and the second position in which this movement is not prevented.

42. A container according to claim 41, wherein the closure is in the form of a lid which is pivotally attached to the container body.

43. A container according to claim 41 or claim 42, wherein each key element is mounted on the container body for rotational movement relative thereto.

44. A container according to claim 43, wherein each key elements and the container body are provided with visible indicia which require alignment to indicate the key element is in its second position .

45. A container according to any of claims 41 to 44, wherein the locking means in each key element are provided with a mating key and key arrangement which, when the components are aligned, will allow the locking means to be movable to its second position.

46. A container comprising first and second body parts which are relatively slideable in a first direction between a first position in which access to the interior of the container is prevented and a second position in which access to the interior of the container is possible, said first body part being provided with a plurality of first locking members, each mounted for independent movement relative to said first body part in a second direction, and said second body part being provided with a plurality of second locking members, each of which is for locking and unlocking engagement with a corresponding first locking member by effective relative movement therebetween.

47. A container according to claim 46, wherein the two body parts together form a closed tray.

48. A container according to claim 47 wherein the closed tray includes a base part and a lid part, the lid part for accommodating medicinal pills, tablets, capsules or the like.

49. A container according to claim 48, wherein the lid part is provided with a plurality of key or lock elements which are for engagement with corresponding lock or key elements on the body part.