Security container with locking closure and method for locking a closure

Abstract

The present invention relates to a container that can hold tablets or liquids, for example, for use in the pharmaceutical, chemical and food industries and in particular to a child resistant locking arrangement for a container. The object of the invention is to ensure that the container is easy to open, in particular, for elderly and disabled persons and that the container is child resistant and can be sealed to prevent excessive ingress of water vapour. The container comprises a hollow body holding solid or liquid contents and a closure, which closes the container. A locking ring is provided between the body and closure, which can rotate between body and closure. An indicator arrow is located on body and an indicator arrow is located on closure. The locking ring also carries an indicator arrow and it is only when the indicator arrow is aligned, by turning the locking ring, with the indicator arrows and that the closure can be opened by lifting or flipping the projecting edge of the closure.

1 - 37 . (canceled)  
   
   
       38 . A container comprising a hollow body that comprises a first containment volume, a closure movable between a closed condition and an open condition, a locking part for securing the closure in the closed condition, the locking part being moveable between a locking position and an unlocked position, and actuator means for moving the locking part from the unlocked position to the locking position as the closure is transferred between the respective conditions.  
   
   
       39 . A container of  claim 38  wherein the arrangement is such that as the closure is moved to the open condition the actuator means moves the locking part to the locked position.  
   
   
       40 . A container of  claim 38  wherein the arrangement is such that as the closure is moved to the closed condition the actuator means moves the locking part to the locked position.  
   
   
       41 . A container of  claim 39  wherein the closure and the locking part comprise respective cooperating locking elements, the arrangement being such that in use as the closure is removed from the body to open the container, the actuator means moves one of the locking elements relative to the other locking element.  
   
   
       42 . A container of  claim 40  wherein the arrangement of the cooperating locking elements located on the closure and the locking part is such that as the closure is pushed back onto the body to close the container, the actuator means moves one of the locking elements relative to the other locking element.  
   
   
       43 . A container of  claim 41  wherein the cooperating locking elements are located on the body and the locking part, the arrangement being such that when the closure is removed from the body to open the container, the actuator means moves one of the locking elements relative to the other locking element and the arrangement of the cooperating locking elements located on the body and the locking part is such that when the closure is pushed back onto the body to close the container, the actuator means moves one of the locking elements relative to the other locking element.  
   
   
       44 . A container of  claim 38  wherein the locking part is a locking ring.  
   
   
       45 . A container of  claim 38  wherein the actuator means comprises an elongate member disposed on the inside of the closure, and the locking ring comprises a ramp, the ramp being sloped such that when the elongate member makes contact with the ramp and is slid progressively along a surface of the ramp, rotation of the locking ring results such that the indicators on the body and/or closure and the locking part are no longer aligned.  
   
   
       46 . A container of  claim 45  wherein the arrangement of the elongate member and the ramp is such that when the closure is removed from the body to open the container, the elongate member makes contact with a first surface of the ramp and rotation of the locking ring results such that the indicators on the body and/or closure and the locking part are no longer aligned.  
   
   
       47 . A container of  claim 45  wherein the arrangement of the elongate member and the ramp is such that when the closure is placed back onto the body to close the container and the indicators are aligned, the elongate member makes contact with a second surface of the ramp and rotation of the locking ring results such that the indicators on the body and/or closure and the locking part are no longer aligned.  
   
   
       48 . A container of  claim 45  wherein the ramp protrudes from a radially inner surface of the locking ring.  
   
   
       49 . A container of  claim 45  wherein in the ramp is a channel formed in the wall of locking ring, the central axis of the channel being at an angle from the axis of the ring.  
   
   
       50 . A container of  claim 45  wherein the elongate member is a flexible cantilever.  
   
   
       51 . A container of  claim 45  wherein the elongate member is hook shaped cantilever, extending from the inside surface of the closure.  
   
   
       52 . A container of  claim 38  wherein the locking part is located between the body and the closure.  
   
   
       53 . A container of  claim 52  wherein the cooperating locking element located on the closure is a lug.  
   
   
       54 . A container of  claim 41  wherein the cooperating locking element located on the locking part is a circumferential flange on the inside surface of the locking part and the lug is formed on the elongate member, the flange being formed with a recessed portion through which the lug can pass during opening and closing of the closure.  
   
   
       55 . A container of  claim 54  wherein the ramp is disposed axially below the circumferential flange and generally inline with the recessed portion of the flange, the arrangement being such that there is a gap between the uppermost part of the ramp and the circumferential flange.  
   
   
       56 . A container of  claim 41  wherein the cooperating locking element located the locking part is a circumferential track attached to the inside surface of the locking part and the lug is formed with a distal head part, the lug extends from an inner surface of the closure, the track being formed with an access hole through which the head of the lug can pass during opening and closing of the closure.  
   
   
       57 . A container of  claim 56  wherein the ramp is preferably disposed axially above the circumferential track.  
   
   
       58 . A container of  claim 56  wherein the arrangement of the ramp and the flange is such that upon rotation of the locking part in one direction the lug first passes through the gap and generally aligns with the recessed portion of the flange before the elongate member makes contact with the ramp.  
   
   
       59 . A container of  claim 38  wherein the body has an outlet, which can be sealed by a sealing element located on the closure.  
   
   
       60 . A container of  claim 53  wherein the lug comprises a member formed with a barbed distal end.  
   
   
       61 . A container of  claim 38  wherein the container comprise a second containment volume.  
   
   
       62 . A container of  claim 61  wherein the container comprises a third containment volume.  
   
   
       63 . A container of  claim 62  wherein at least one of the further containment volumes is disposed at the upper volume of the body.  
   
   
       64 . A container of  claim 62  wherein at least one of the further containment volume is sealed by the closure.  
   
   
       65 . A method for locking a closure to a container according claim  1  comprising moving a locking part from an unlocked position to a locking position as a closure is transferred between respective conditions.  
   
   
       66 . A method of  claim 65  wherein as the closure is moved to the open condition the actuator means moves the locking part to the locked position.  
   
   
       67 . A method of  claim 65  wherein as the closure is moved to the closed condition the actuator means moves the locking part to the locked position  
   
   
       68 . A method of  claim 65  wherein the method comprises automatically moving a locking part from an unlocked position to a locking position as a closure is transferred between respective conditions.