Closure and container package having child-resistant and non-child-resistant modes of operation

Abstract

A child-resistant package includes a plastic container having a body, an externally threaded finish, and a shoulder coupling the finish to the body and having an outer axially facing surface. A deflectable release element is integrally cantilevered from an exterior surface of the finish adjacent to the outer axially facing surface of the container shoulder, and a locking lug is provided on the release element. A plastic closure has an internally threaded skirt for receipt over the externally threaded finish and a locking lug on the skirt for engagement with the locking lug on the release element to prevent unthreading of the closure from the finish. Manual flexure of the release element moves the locking lug on the release element out of engagement with the locking lug on the skirt to permit removal of the closure. The release element on the container finish is positioned with respect to the container shoulder such that abutment of the release element against the external surface of the shoulder prevents over-flexing of the release element away from the closure.

1 . A child-resistant package that includes: 
 a plastic container having a body, an externally threaded finish, a shoulder coupling said finish to said body and having an outer axially facing surface, a deflectable release element integrally cantilevered from an exterior surface of said finish adjacent to said outer axially facing surface of said shoulder, and a locking lug on said release element, and    a plastic closure having an internally threaded skirt for receipt over said externally threaded finish and a locking lug on said skirt for engagement with said locking lug on said release element to prevent unthreading of said closure from said finish,    manual flexure of said release element moving said locking lug on said release element away from said locking lug on said skirt,    said release element on said finish being positioned with respect to said shoulder such that abutment of said release element against said external surface of said shoulder prevents over-flexing of said release element away from said closure.    
     
     
         2 . The package set forth in  claim 1  wherein said closure includes a base wall with an external periphery coupled to said skirt, and an annular wall extending from said base wall in a direction opposite from said skirt for securement to said container finish in an inverted non-child-resistant mode of operation of said closure.  
     
     
         3 . The package set forth in  claim 2  wherein said finish has a first circumferential bead and said annular wall has a second circumferential bead adapted to be received by snap fit over said first bead in said non-child-resistant mode of operation.  
     
     
         4 . The package set forth in  claim 3  wherein said first bead on said finish is an external circumferential bead and said second bead on said annular wall is an internal circumferential bead.  
     
     
         5 . The package set forth in  claim 4  wherein snap fit of said second bead over said first bead brings said base wall into engagement with an end of said finish to seal said package.  
     
     
         6 . The package set forth in  claim 2  wherein said finish includes at least one second external thread adjacent to an open end of said finish, and said closure includes at least one second internal thread on said annular wall for receipt over said second external thread on said finish in a non-child-resistant mode of operation of said package.  
     
     
         7 . A package having child-resistant and non-child-resistant modes of operation, which includes: 
 a plastic container having a body, an externally threaded finish having a lesser lateral dimension than said body, a radially extending shoulder integrally connecting said finish to said body, and having a surface facing axially outwardly from said body, a resiliently deflectable release element integrally cantilevered radially outwardly from an exterior surface of said finish adjacent to said shoulder, and a first locking lug on said release element, and    a plastic closure having a base wall, an internally threaded skirt extending from an outer periphery of said base wall, at least one second locking lug on said skirt, and an annular wall extending from said base wall in a direction opposite from said skirt,    said closure being adapted to be secured to said container finish in a child-resistant mode of operation with said skirt threaded onto said finish and said at least one second locking lug in engagement with said first locking lug on said release element,    flexure of said release element away from said closure and toward said shoulder releasing said first locking lug from engagement with said second locking lug and permitting unthreading of said closure from said finish,    axial abutment of said release element with said shoulder preventing over-flexure of said release element with respect to said finish beyond an elastic limit of connection of said release element to said finish,    said closure being adapted to be inverted and secured to said container finish in a non-child-resistant mode of operation with said annular wall secured to said container finish.    
     
     
         8 . The package set forth in  claim 7  wherein said finish has a first circumferential bead and said annular wall has a second circumferential bead adapted to be received by snap fit over said first bead in said non-child-resistant mode of operation.  
     
     
         9 . The package set forth in  claim 8  wherein said first bead on said finish is an external circumferential bead and said second bead on said annular wall is an internal circumferential bead.  
     
     
         10 . The package set forth in  claim 9  wherein snap fit of said second bead over said first bead brings said base wall into engagement with an end of said finish to seal said package.  
     
     
         11 . The package set forth in  claim 7  wherein said finish includes at least one second external thread adjacent to an open end of said finish, and said closure includes at least one second internal thread on said annular wall for receipt over said second external thread on said finish in a non-child-resistant mode of operation of said package.  
     
     
         12 . A plastic container that includes: 
 a body,    an externally threaded finish having a lesser lateral dimension than said body,    a radially extending shoulder integrally connecting said finish to said body, said shoulder having an external surface facing axially outwardly from said body,    a resilient deflectable release element integrally cantilevered radially outwardly from said body adjacent to but spaced from said shoulder, and    a locking lug on said release element for locking engagement with a skirt of a closure secured to said finish,    spacing between said release element and said external surface of said closure being such that flexure of said release element toward said shoulder to release engagement with a closure skirt is limited by abutting engagement with said external surface to less than an elastic limit of the cantilever connection of said release element to said finish.    
     
     
         13 . The container set forth in  claim 12  wherein said finish has an open mouth and an external bead adjacent to said mouth.  
     
     
         14 . The container set forth in  claim 12  wherein said finish has an open mouth and at least one second external thread around said mouth.  
     
     
         15 . A closure for receipt on a container in child-resistant and non-child-resistant modes of operation, which includes: 
 a base wall having a peripheral internally threaded skirt,    at least one locking lug at an edge of said skirt remote from said base wall for locking engagement with a release element on a container in a child-resistant mode of operation,    an annular wall extending from said base wall in a direction opposite from said skirt, and    an internal circumferential bead or thread extending around said annular wall for receipt over a complementary external bead or thread on a container finish in an inverted non-child-resistant mode of operation of said closure.    
     
     
         16 . The closure set forth in  claim 15  including a seal bead on said base wall within said annular wall for sealing engagement with an end of the container finish.  
     
     
         17 . A method of making a package having child-resistant and non-child-resistant modes of operation, which includes the steps of: 
 (a) providing a container having a body, an externally threaded finish having a lesser lateral dimension than said body, a radially extending shoulder integrally connecting said finish to said body, and having a surface facing axially outwardly from said body, a resiliently deflectable release element integrally cantilevered radially outwardly from an exterior surface of said finish adjacent to said shoulder, and a first locking lug on said release element, and    (b) providing a closure having a base wall, an internally threaded skirt extending from an outer periphery of said base wall, at least one second locking lug on said skirt, and an annular wall extending from said base wall in a direction opposite from said skirt,    said closure being adapted to be secured to said container finish in a child-resistant mode of operation with said skirt threaded onto said finish and said at least one second locking lug in engagement with said first locking lug on said release element,    flexure of said release element away from said closure and toward said shoulder releasing said first locking lug from engagement with said second locking lug and permitting unthreading of said closure from said finish,    axial abutment of said release element with said shoulder preventing over-flexure of said release element with respect to said finish beyond an elastic limit of connection of said release element to said finish,    said closure being adapted to be inverted and secured to said container in a non-child-resistant mode of operation with said annular wall secured to said container finish.