Convertible childproof to non-childproof bottle and method of opening same

Abstract

A convertible childproof to non-childproof bottle comprising a container that has a mouth opening, a lid selectively movable between a closed position in which it closes the container mouth opening and an opened position in which it clears the container mouth opening for allowing access into the container, complementary interlocking and releasable first container and lid locking elements respectively located on the container and the lid engageable to releasably lock the lid in the closed position, and complementary interlocking and releasable second container and lid locking elements engageable to additionally releasably lock the lid in the closed position. The second container and lid locking elements can be permanently disabled to convert the bottle from a childproof mode where the lid is releasably locked in the closed position by both the first and second container and lid locking elements to a non-childproof mode where the lid is releasably locked in the closed position by the first container and lid locking elements only.

1 . A convertible childproof to non-childproof bottle comprising:
 a container comprising a mouth opening;   a lid selectively movable between a closed position in which it closes said container mouth opening and an opened position in which it clears said container mouth opening for allowing access into said container;   complementary interlocking and releasable first container and lid locking elements respectively located on said container and said lid engageable to releasably lock said lid in said closed position;   complementary interlocking and releasable second container and lid locking elements respectively located on said container and said lid engageable to additionally releasably lock said lid in said closed position;   
       wherein said second container and lid locking elements can be permanently disabled to convert said bottle from a childproof mode where said lid is releasably locked in said closed position by both said first and second container and lid locking elements to a non-childproof mode where said lid is releasably locked in said closed position by said first container and lid locking elements only. 
     
     
         2 . A bottle as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said second container and lid locking elements comprise a first deflectable tab attached to one of said container and said lid and at a first complementary shoulder provided on the other of said container and said lid, said first deflectable tab being movable from a locking position wherein it engages said first shoulder and prevents said lid from being removed from said container and a released position in which it clears said first shoulder to allow said lid to be removed from said container, with said first deflectable tab being continuously biased towards said locking position. 
     
     
         3 . A bottle as defined in  claim 2 , wherein said first deflectable tab can be removed from said one of said container and said lid so as to be removable to permanently disable said second container and lid locking elements. 
     
     
         4 . A bottle as defined in  claim 3 , wherein said first deflectable tab is attached to said container and can be sheared off from said container, and said first shoulder is provided on said lid. 
     
     
         5 . A bottle as defined in  claim 4 , wherein said first deflectable tab comprises a main body and a bridge spacedly linking said main body to said container, said main body having a hook portion extending away from said bridge and an actionable portion extending away from said bridge in a direction opposite said hook portion, said hook portion for engagement with said first shoulder, with said bridge being frangible to allow said first flexible tab to be permanently removed from said container. 
     
     
         6 . A bottle as defined in  claim 5 , wherein said lid comprises a first protective fin that forms a loop in which said first deflectable tab is at least partly housed when said lid is in said closed position for preventing said first deflectable tab from being removed from said container when said lid is in said closed position, said first deflectable tab consequently being removable from said container when said lid is moved away from said closed position. 
     
     
         7 . A bottle as defined in  claim 6 , wherein said second container and lid locking elements comprise a second deflectable tab attached to said container and a second complementary shoulder provided on said lid, said second deflectable tab being movable from a locking position wherein it engages said second shoulder and prevents said lid from being removed from said container and a released position in which it clears said second shoulder to allow said lid to be removed from said container, with said second deflectable tab being continuously biased towards said locking position; wherein said second deflectable tab comprises a main body and a bridge spacedly linking said main body to said container, said main body having a hook portion extending away from said bridge and an actionable portion extending away from said bridge in a direction opposite said hook portion, said hook portion for engagement with said shoulder, with said bridge being frangible to allow the removal of said second flexible tab from said container; and wherein said lid comprises a second protective fin that forms a loop in which said second deflectable tab is at least partly housed when said lid is in said closed position for preventing said second deflectable tab from being removed from said container when said lid is in said closed position, said second deflectable tab consequently being removable from said container when said lid is moved away from said closed position. 
     
     
         8 . A bottle as defined in  claim 7 , wherein said first container and lid locking elements comprise a deflectable tongue on one of said container and said lid and a complementary lip on the other of said container and said lid, said deflectable tongue being movable from a locking position wherein it engages said lip and releasably locks said lid in said closed position and a released position in which it clears said lip said lid to be moved away from said closed position and towards said opened position, with said deflectable tongue being continuously biased towards said locking position. 
     
     
         9 . A bottle as defined in  claim 8 , wherein said deflectable tongue is provided on said lid and said lip is provided on said container. 
     
     
         10 . A bottle as defined in  claim 9 , wherein said lid is pivotally attached to said container with a hinge. 
     
     
         11 . A method of using a convertible childproof to non-childproof bottle comprising a container that defines a mouth opening and a lid selectively movable between a closed position in which it closes said container mouth opening and an opened position in which it clears said container mouth opening for allowing access into said container, said bottle further comprising complementary interlocking and releasable first container and lid locking elements respectively located on said container and said lid and releasably locking said lid in said closed position, and complementary interlocking and releasable second container and lid locking elements respectively located on said container and said lid and additionally releasably locking said lid in said closed position, said method comprising either one of:
 using the bottle in childproof mode, comprising opening said bottle by simultaneously releasing said first and second container and lid locking elements to allow said lid to be moved away from said closed position and towards said opened position; and   using the bottle in non-childproof mode, comprising permanently disabling said second container and lid locking elements and thereafter opening said bottle by releasing said first container and lid locking elements to allow said lid to be moved away from said closed position and towards said opened position.   
     
     
         12 . A method as defined in  claim 11 , wherein said second container and lid locking elements comprise a first deflectable tab attached to one of said container and said lid and a first complementary shoulder provided on the other of said container and said lid, said step of releasing said second container and lid locking elements to allow said lid to be moved away from said closed position and towards said opened position comprising moving said first deflectable tab from an engaged position wherein it engages said first shoulder to a released position in which it clears said first shoulder, with said first deflectable tab being continuously biased towards said engaged position. 
     
     
         13 . A method as defined in  claim 12 , wherein the step of permanently disabling said second container and lid locking elements comprises removing said first deflectable tab from said one of said container and said lid. 
     
     
         14 . A method as defined in  claim 13 , wherein said first deflectable tab is attached to said container and said first shoulder is provided on said lid, the step of removing said first deflectable tab from said one of said container and said lid comprises shearing off said first deflectable tab from said container. 
     
     
         15 . A method as defined in  claim 14 , wherein said first deflectable tab comprises a main body and a frangible bridge spacedly linking said main body to said container, said main body having a hook portion extending away from said bridge and an actionable portion extending away from said bridge in a direction opposite said hook portion, the step of releasing said second container and lid locking elements comprising disengaging said hook portion of said first deflectable tab from said first shoulder, and the step of shearing off said first deflectable tab from said container comprising shearing said bridge of said first deflectable tab. 
     
     
         16 . A method as defined in  claim 15 , wherein said lid comprises a first protective fin that forms a loop in which said first deflectable tab is at least partly housed when said lid is in said closed position for preventing said first deflectable tab from being removed from said container when said lid is in said closed position, said step of permanently disabling at least one of said second container and lid locking elements being preceded by first simultaneously releasing said first and second container and lid locking elements and moving said lid away from said closed position, then accomplishing the step of shearing off said first deflectable tab from said container, with the step of thereafter releasing said first container and lid locking elements to move said lid away from said closed position and towards said opened position becoming available once said lid is once again moved into its closed position. 
     
     
         17 . A method as defined in  claim 16 , wherein said second container and lid locking elements comprise a second deflectable tab attached to said container and a second complementary shoulder provided on said lid, said step of releasing said second container and lid locking elements to allow said lid to be moved away from said closed position and towards said opened position comprising moving said second deflectable tab from an engaged position wherein it engages said second shoulder to a released position in which it clears said second shoulder, with said second deflectable tab being continuously biased towards said locking position; wherein said second deflectable tab comprises a main body and a bridge spacedly linking said main body to said container, said main body having a hook portion extending away from said bridge and an actionable portion extending away from said bridge in a direction opposite said hook portion, said hook portion for engagement with said shoulder, with said bridge being frangible, the step of releasing said second container and lid locking elements comprising disengaging said hook portion of said second deflectable tab from said second shoulder, and the step of shearing off said first deflectable tab from said container comprises shearing said bridge of said second deflectable tab; and wherein said lid comprises a second protective fin that forms a loop in which said second deflectable tab is at least partly housed when said lid is in said closed position for preventing said second deflectable tab from being removed from said container when said lid is in said closed position, said step of permanently disabling at least one of said second container and lid locking elements being preceded by first simultaneously releasing said first and second container and lid locking elements and moving said lid away from said closed position, then accomplishing the step of shearing off both said first and second deflectable tabs from said container, with the step of thereafter releasing said first container and lid locking elements to move said lid away from said closed position and towards said opened position becoming available once said lid is once again moved into its closed position. 
     
     
         18 . A method as defined in  claim 17 , wherein said first container and lid locking elements comprise a deflectable tongue on one of said container and said lid and a complementary lip on the other of said container and said lid, said step of releasing said first container and lid locking elements comprising moving said deflectable tongue from an engaged position wherein it engages said lip and releasably locks said lid in said closed position to a released position in which it clears said lip to allow said lid to be moved away from said closed position and towards said opened position, with said deflectable tongue being continuously biased towards said locking position. 
     
     
         19 . A method as defined in  claim 18 , wherein said deflectable tongue is provided on said lid and said lip is provided on said container. 
     
     
         20 . A method as defined in  claim 19 , wherein said lid is pivotally attached to said container with a hinge.