Child-resistant, molded plastic closure, package incorporating same and container therefor

Abstract

A molded plastic closure ( 10 ) that is adapted to be removably affixed to a neck ( 42 ) of a container ( 40 ). The closure is of the squeeze and turn, C/R type with a top panel ( 12 ) an outer sidewall ( 14 ) and an inner sidewall ( 16 ) that is radially spaced from the outer sidewall. The outer sidewall is provided with an opposed pair of locking lugs ( 20 ) each of which has a free end ( 20 a ) with a generally U-shaped indentation ( 20 b ) therein, to thereby form a radially innermost finger ( 20 c ) that is adapted to flex inwardly under load with respect to other portions of the locking lug. The closure ( 10 ) also has an opposed pair of squeeze pads ( 22 ) that are circumferentially offset from the locking lugs, and squeezing of the closure at the locations of the squeeze pads tends to ovalize the closure to facilitate radial movement of the locking lugs outwardly beyond the extent of locking lugs ( 46 ) of the associated container ( 40 ) to thereby permit removal of the closure ( 10 ) from the container in a C/R manner.

1 . A molded plastic, C/R squeeze and turn closure comprising, in combination: 
 a top panel;    an outer peripheral sidewall joined at an end to said top panel and extending to a lower free end;    diametrically opposed squeeze pressure application pads on said outer peripheral sidewall;    an inner sidewall also joined at an end to said top panel and concentrically spaced radially inwardly of said outer sidewall;    an inwardly projecting and helically extending thread on an inner surface of said inner sidewall, said thread being adapted to engage a complimental, outwardly projecting and helically extending thread on a neck of an associated container to permit the closure to be applied to the container by a turning action and removed from the container by a reverse turning action; and    a set of diametrically opposed and inwardly projecting locking lugs on an inner surface of said outer sidewall adjacent said lower free end, said locking lugs being adapted to engage locking lugs on the container and being angularly offset from said squeeze pads of said outer sidewall, each of said locking lugs of said closure having a free end that is adapted to face a radially extending side of a locking lug of the container, the free end of the locking lug of the closure having a generally U-shaped recess or indentation extending throughout the full axial height of said locking lug, said recess or indentation forming a finger on a radially innermost portion of said free end that is flexible under load with respect to other portions of the locking lug of the closure.    
   
   
       2 . A molded plastic closure according to  claim 1  wherein such closure is molded in a single piece from a squeezeable thermoplastic material.  
   
   
       3 . A molded plastic closure according to  claim 2  wherein such squeezeable thermoplastic material is a polypropylene-based material.  
   
   
       4 . A molded plastic closure according to  claim 1  wherein a portion of said outer sidewall that joins said top panel is tapered inwardly with respect to an underlying portion of said outer sidewall.  
   
   
       5 . A molded plastic closure according to  claim 4  wherein a portion of said outer sidewall that underlies said underlying portion of said outer sidewall tapers outwardly, said diametrically opposed squeeze pressure application pads extending upwardly from said portion of said outer sidewall that tapers outwardly.  
   
   
       6 . A molded plastic closure according to  claim 5  wherein said portion of said outer sidewall that tapers outwardly is radially thicker than said underlying portion of said outer sidewall.  
   
   
       7 . A package comprising: 
 a container having a body portion, a neck, a finish on said neck, said finish having an outwardly projecting and helically extending thread, a shoulder extending between said body portion and said neck, and a spaced pair of ramp-shaped locking lugs extending outwardly from the outer surface of said neck of said container, each of said locking lugs having a tapered side and a radially extending side, said radially extending side extending from a radially outermost exterior inwardly to meet said neck outer surface; and    a molded plastic, C/R squeeze and turn closure removably affixed to said neck of said container, said closure comprising; 
 a top panel;  
 an outer peripheral sidewall joined at an end to said top panel extending to a lower free end; and  
 diametrically opposed squeeze pressure application pads on said outer peripheral sidewall,  
 an inner sidewall joined at an end to said top panel and concentrically spaced radially inwardly of said outer sidewall,  
 an inwardly projecting and helically extending thread on an inner surface of said inner sidewall, said thread on said inner sidewall being complimental to said thread on said finish of said container and removably engaging said thread on said neck of said container,  
 a set of diametrically opposed and inwardly projecting lugs on an inner surface of said outer sidewall adjacent said lower free end, said locking lugs being positioned to contact said ramp-shaped locking lugs of said container and being angularly offset from said squeeze pads of said outer sidewall, each of said locking lugs of said closure having a free end that faces the radially extending side of the locking lug of the container, the free end of the locking lug of the closure having a generally U-shaped recess or indentation therein, said recess or indentation forming a finger on a radially innermost portion of said free end that is flexible under load with respect to other portions of the locking lug of the closure.  
   
   
   
       8 . A package according to  claim 7  wherein said closure is molded in a single piece squeezeable thermoplastic material.  
   
   
       9 . A package according to  claim 8  wherein said squeezeable thermoplastic material is a polypropylene-based material.  
   
   
       10 . A package according to  claim 8  wherein said body portion of said container is oval is cross-section, and wherein said locking lugs of said container are positioned in diametrically opposed locations on a minor diameter of said body portion.  
   
   
       11 . A package according to  claim 7  and further comprising: 
 a gasket positioned between an underside of said top panel of said closure and a rim at and an end of said neck of said container, said gasket sealingly engaging the rim when the closure is affixed to said neck of the container to permit dry products to be packaged in said package.    
   
   
       12 . A unitary, one-piece molded plastic container, said container comprising: 
 a body portion, said body portion being oval-shaped in cross-section, a neck with a closure receiving finish on an outer surface of said neck, a shoulder extending between said body portion and said neck, and a diametrically opposed pair of ramp-shaped locking lugs extending outwardly from said neck portion of said container, each of said locking lugs of said container having a tapered side and a radially extending side extending directly from said outer surface of said neck, said locking lugs being positioned on said neck with the radially extending side of each of the locking lugs being parallel to a minor diameter of said body portion.    
   
   
       13 . A container according to  claim 12  and further comprising an outwardly projecting and helically extending thread on said neck of said container, said thread being positioned between a rim at a free end of said neck and said locking lugs.