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

Abstract

A package having child-resistant and non-child-resistant modes of operation includes a plastic container having a cylindrical finish and at least one external thread on the finish spaced from the open end of the finish. An external circumferentially extending first engagement element is provided on the finish between the external thread and the open end of the finish, and has an outside diameter that is less than that of the external thread. A manually deflectable release element is externally cantilevered from the finish on a side of the thread remote from the open end. A plastic closure has a base wall and a peripheral skirt with at least one internal thread for engagement with the at least one external thread on the finish in a child-resistant mode of operation. There is at least one locking lug on the skirt for releasable engagement with the release element on the container in the child-resistant mode of operation. An annular wall extends from the base wall in a direction opposite from the skirt. A second engagement element is disposed on the inner surface of the annular wall for engagement with the first engagement element on the container finish in an inverted non-child-resistant mode of operation of the closure. In disclosed embodiments of the invention, the engagement elements may comprise circumferential beads or circumferential threads on the container finish and the annular wall of the closure.

1 . A package having child-resistant and non-child-resistant modes of operation, which includes: 
 a plastic container having a cylindrical finish and an open end, at least one external thread on said finish, an external circumferentially extending first engagement element on said finish between said at least one external thread and said open end, said first engagement element having an outside diameter that is less than that of said external thread, and a manually deflectable release element externally cantilevered from said finish on a side of said at least one thread remote from said open end, and    a plastic closure having a base wall, a peripheral skirt with at least one internal thread for engagement with said at least one external thread on said finish in a child-resistant mode of operation, at least one locking lug on said skirt for releasable engagement with said release element in the child-resistant mode of operation, an annular wall extending from said base wall in a direction opposite from said skirt, said annular wall being disposed radially inwardly from said skirt, and a second engagement element on an inner surface of said annular wall for engagement with said first engagement element on said finish in an inverted non-child-resistant mode of operation of said closure.    
     
     
         2 . The package set forth in  claim 1  wherein said finish has a first portion adjacent to said open end on which said first engagement element is disposed and a second portion spaced from said open end on which said at least one external thread is disposed, said second portion having an outer diameter that is greater than that of said first portion.  
     
     
         3 . The package set forth in  claim 2  wherein said first engagement element on said finish has an external diameter that is equal to said external diameter of said second portion of said finish.  
     
     
         4 . The package set forth in  claim 2  wherein said first engagement element includes an external bead on said finish, and said second engagement element includes an internal bead on said annular wall.  
     
     
         5 . The package set forth in  claim 1  wherein said first engagement element includes at least one second external thread on said finish, and said second engagement element includes at least one internal thread on said annular wall.  
     
     
         6 . A package having child-resistant and non-child-resistant modes of operation, which includes: 
 a plastic container having a cylindrical finish with an open end, at least one external thread on said finish, an external circumferential bead on said finish adjacent to said open end, said bead having an outside diameter that is less than the outside diameter of said at least one external thread, and a manually deflectable release element cantilevered from said finish on a side of said at least one external thread remote from said end, and    a plastic closure having a base wall, a peripheral skirt with at least one internal thread for engagement with said at least one external thread on said finish in a child-resistant mode of operation, at least one locking lug on said skirt for releasable engagement with said release element in the child-resistant mode of operation, an annular wall extending from said base wall in a direction opposite from said skirt, said annular wall being disposed radially inwardly from said skirt, and an internal bead on said annular wall for engagement with said external bead on said container finish in an inverted non-child-resistant mode of operation of said closure.    
     
     
         7 . The package set forth in  claim 6  wherein said finish has a first portion adjacent to said open end on which said external bead is disposed and a second portion spaced from said open end on which said at least one external thread is disposed, said second portion having an outer diameter that is greater than the outer diameter of said first portion.  
     
     
         8 . The package set forth in  claim 7  wherein said bead has an outer diameter equal to said outer diameter of said second portion of said finish.  
     
     
         9 . The package set forth in  claim 6  wherein said annular wall is resiliently flexible radially outwardly when said internal bead on said annular wall is received over said external bead on said container finish in said non-child-resistant mode of operation.  
     
     
         10 . A package having child-resistant and non-child-resistant modes of operation, which includes: 
 a plastic container having a cylindrical finish with an open end, at least one first external thread on said finish spaced from said open end, at least one second external thread on said finish adjacent to said open end, said second external thread having an outside diameter that is less than the outside diameter of said first external thread, and a manually deflectable release element cantilevered from said finish on a side of said first external thread remote from said end, and    a plastic closure having a base wall, a peripheral skirt with at least one first internal thread for engagement with said at least one first external thread on said finish in a child-resistant mode of operation, at least one locking lug on said skirt for releasable engagement with said release element in the child-resistant mode of operation, an annular wall extending from said base wall in a direction opposite from said skirt, said annular wall being disposed radially inwardly from said skirt, and at least one second internal thread on said annular wall for engagement with said at least one second external thread on said container finish in an inverted non-child-resistant mode of operation of said closure.    
     
     
         11 . The package set forth in  claim 10  wherein said finish has a first portion adjacent to said open end on which said at least one second external thread is disposed and a second portion spaced from said open end on which said at least one first external thread is disposed, said second portion having an outer diameter that is greater than the outer diameter of said first portion.  
     
     
         12 . The package set forth in  claim 11  wherein said at least one second external thread has an outside diameter equal to said outside diameter of said second portion of said finish.  
     
     
         13 . A container that includes: 
 a body having a cylindrical finish with an open end,    said finish having a first portion adjacent to said open end with a first outside diameter and a second portion spaced from said open end with a second outside diameter greater than said first outside diameter,    at least one external thread on said second portion of said finish,    an external engagement element on said first portion of said finish and having an outside diameter that is less than the outside diameter of said at least one external thread, and    a release element cantilevered from said finish on a side of said external thread remote from said open end.    
     
     
         14 . The container set forth in  claim 13  wherein said engagement element comprises an external bead.  
     
     
         15 . The container set forth in  claim 13  wherein said engagement element comprises at least one second external thread.  
     
     
         16 . 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 skirt with at least one internal thread,    at least one locking lug adjacent to 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 of said closure,    an annular wall extending from said base wall in a direction opposite from said skirt, and    a circumferentially extending engagement element on an inside surface of said annular wall for engagement with a complementary engagement element on a container finish in a non-child-resistant mode of operation of said closure.    
     
     
         17 . The closure set forth in  claim 16  wherein said engagement element on said annular wall comprises an internal circumferential bead.  
     
     
         18 . The closure set forth in  claim 17  wherein said annular wall is disposed radially inwardly from said skirt and is radially resiliently flexible.  
     
     
         19 . The closure set forth in  claim 16  wherein said engagement element on said annular wall comprises at least one internal thread.  
     
     
         20 . 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 cylindrical finish and an open end, at least one external thread on said finish, an external circumferentially extending first engagement element on said finish between said at least one external thread and said open end, said first engagement element having an outside diameter that is less than that of said external thread, and a manually deflectable release element externally cantilevered from said finish on a side of said at least one thread remote from said open end, and    (b) providing a closure having a base wall, a peripheral skirt with at least one internal thread for engagement with said at least one external thread on said finish in a child-resistant mode of operation, at least one locking lug on said skirt for releasable engagement with said release element in the child-resistant mode of operation, an annular wall extending from said base wall in a direction opposite from said skirt, said annular wall being disposed radially inwardly from said skirt, and a second engagement element on an inner surface of said annular wall for engagement with said first engagement element on said finish in an inverted non-child-resistant mode of operation of said closure.