Child-resistant closure

Abstract

A child-resistant, squeeze-and-turn closure for a container is provided. The closure comprises a body having a side skirt and locking means carried on or by the skirt for releasably locking the closure on to the container. The closure further comprises one or more regions of reduced stiffness in the vicinity of the locking means.

1 .- 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A child-resistant squeeze-and-turn closure for a container, said closure comprising:
 (a) a body, said body further comprising:
 (i) a side skirt open at one end; and 
 (ii) an annular child-resistant band passing around said open end, said band comprising:
 (A) a pair of pressing pads; and 
 (B) locking means circumferentially positioned between said pair of pressing pads for releasably locking said closure onto said container; 
 
 said side skirt being connected to said band only in the region of said pair of pressing pads to define a gap circumferentially between said pair of pressing pads which provides a region of reduced stiffness in the vicinity of said locking means. 
   
     
     
         18 . A closure, according to  claim 17 , in which said side skirt comprises one or more ribs. 
     
     
         19 . A closure, according to  claim 18 , in which said side skirt comprises a side wall and each of said one or more ribs is carried on or by said side wall. 
     
     
         20 . A closure, according to  claim 18 , in which said one or more ribs are connected to said pair of pressing pads. 
     
     
         21 . A closure, according to  claim 17 , in which said body is generally dome-shaped. 
     
     
         22 . A closure, according to  claim 19 , in which said closure further comprises a top plate from which said side wall depends. 
     
     
         23 . A closure, according to  claim 22 , in which said closure comprises:
 a bore seal depending from said top plate.   
     
     
         24 . A container, said container comprising a child-resistant, squeeze-and-turn closure, said closure comprising a body, said body further comprising:
 (a) a side skirt open at one end, and wherein said side skirt comprises a side wall;   (b) an annular child-resistant band passing around said open end, said band comprising:
 (i) a pair of pressing pads; and 
 (ii) locking means circumferentially positioned between said pair of pressing pads for releasably locking said closure onto said container; 
   said side skirt being connected to said band only in the region of said pair of pressing pads to define a gap circumferentially between said pair of pressing pads which provides a region of reduced stiffness in the vicinity of said locking means.   
     
     
         25 . A container, according to  claim 24 , in which said closure further comprises a top plate from which said side wall depends. 
     
     
         26 . A container, according to  claim 24 , in which said closure comprises a bore seal depending from said top plate. 
     
     
         27 . A container, according to  claim 24 , wherein:
 (a) said closure further comprises a shoulder, and wherein said shoulder is provided with two portions of reduced thickness characterized by a pair of diametrically opposed interior grooves; and   (b) said diametrically opposed interior grooves are arcuate and extend over approximately 45° of the circumference of said container.   
     
     
         28 . A closure for a container, said closure comprising a body, said body further comprising:
 (a) a side skirt open at one end, and wherein said side skirt further comprises:
 (i) a side wall; and 
 (ii) one or more ribs, wherein said one or more ribs are carried on or by said side wall; 
   (b) an annular child-resistant band passing around said open end of said side skirt, said band comprising:
 (i) a pair of pressing pads; and 
 (ii) locking means circumferentially positioned between said pair of pressing pads for releasably locking said closure onto said container; 
   said side skirt being connected to said band only in the region of said pair of pressing pads to define a gap circumferentially between said pair of pressing pads which provides a region of reduced stiffness in the vicinity of said locking means.   
     
     
         29 . A container, according to  claim 28 , in which said closure further comprises a top plate from which said side wall depends. 
     
     
         30 . A container, according to  claim 28 , in which said closure comprises a bore seal depending from said top plate. 
     
     
         31 . A container, according to  claim 28 , wherein said closure is connected to a container neck, wherein said container neck comprises an external screw thread formation for engaging a set of corresponding threads on said closure. 
     
     
         32 . A container, according to  claim 28 , wherein said closure further comprises a set of locking lugs. 
     
     
         33 . A container, according to  claim 32 , wherein said container neck further comprises a pair of diametrically opposed abutment lugs positioned so as to engage said set of locking lugs. 
     
     
         34 . A container, according to  claim 28 , wherein a second set of one or more ribs extends across said side wall perpendicular to said one or more ribs so as to give a crisscross, lattice-like rib structure, and wherein said one or more ribs and said second set of one or more ribs connect to said band. 
     
     
         35 . A container, according to  claim 28 , wherein said closure further comprises a shoulder, and wherein said shoulder is provided with two portions of reduced thickness characterized by a pair of diametrically opposed interior grooves. 
     
     
         36 . A container, according to  claim 35 , wherein said diametrically opposed interior grooves are arcuate and extend over approximately 45° of the circumference of said container.