Squeezable closures

Abstract

Squeezable closures. Container systems, closure systems, and methods that include such closures.

1 . A closure configured to be rotatable around a rotation axis, the closure comprising:
 a top wall,   an inner skirt depending from said top wall, said inner skirt comprising connecting features configured to allow for selective connectable engagement with a container;   an outer skirt depending from said top wall and located radially outward from said inner skirt,
 said outer skirt comprising at least a first push pad and at least a first locking tab,
 wherein pressing said first push pad radially inward causes said 
 first locking tab to move from a first position to a second position, 
 
 said outer skirt further comprising a second push pad; 
   wherein said inner skirt and said outer skirt are connected at at least a first intersection point that is circumferentially spaced from said first push pad,   wherein the top wall has an area of increased thickness compared to a region of the top wall away from the area, wherein the area of increased thickness is a continuous area of increased thickness along an axis connecting the first and second push pads, and wherein the area of increased thickness is continuous at least to the rotation axis.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . The closure according to  claim 1 , wherein said first push pad is circumferentially spaced about 45° to about 180° apart from said second push pad. 
     
     
         4 . The closure according to  claim 1 , wherein said outer skirt further comprises a second locking tab. 
     
     
         5 . The closure according to  claim 4 , wherein said first locking tab is substantially in radial alignment with said first push pad, and wherein said second locking tab is substantially in radial alignment with said second push pad. 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . The closure according to  claim 1 , wherein said inner skirt and said outer skirt are additionally connected at at least a second intersection point that is circumferentially spaced from said first push pad and said first intersection point. 
     
     
         8 . The closure according to  claim 7 , wherein said first intersection point is diametrically opposed to said second intersection point. 
     
     
         9 . The closure according to  claim 7 , wherein said first intersection point is circumferentially spaced between said first and second push pads, and wherein said second intersection point is circumferentially spaced between said first and second push pads. 
     
     
         10 . The closure according to  claim 1 , wherein said first locking tab is substantially in radial alignment with said first push pad. 
     
     
         11 . The closure according to  claim 1 , wherein said first intersection point is circumferentially spaced from about 45° to about 135° from said first push pad. 
     
     
         12 . The closure according to  claim 1 , wherein said first push pad comprises a panel formed by at least one slot in said outer skirt. 
     
     
         13 . The closure according to  claim 12 , wherein said slot is a longitudinal slot extending from a lower edge of said outer skirt toward said top wall. 
     
     
         14 . The closure according to  claim 1 , wherein said top wall has a major axis of a first length and a minor axis of a second length, therein said first length is greater than said second length. 
     
     
         15 . The closure according to  claim 14 , wherein said first push pad is located along the major axis of the top wall. 
     
     
         16 . The closure according to  claim 14 , wherein said first intersection point is located along the minor axis of the top wall. 
     
     
         17 . The closure according to  claim 14 , wherein said first length is from about 70 mm to 130 mm. 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . The closure according to  claim 1 , wherein the area of increased thickness is located along a major dimension of said top wall, adjacent a perimeter of said inner skirt, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The closure according to  claim 1 , wherein the closure is characterized by at least one of the following:
 a) a major axis of the top wall has a length of from about 70 mm to 130 mm;   b) a minor axis of the top wall has a length of from about 50 mm to about 120 mm;   c) a ratio of the major axis to the minor axis of the top wall is from about 2:1 to about 1:1;   d) a height of the closure is from about 5 mm to about 50 mm;   e) a ratio of closure height to the major axis of the closure's top wall is from about 10:1 to about 1:15;   f) a span length is from about 50 mm to about 130 mm; or   g) any combination of a)-f).   
     
     
         21 . A container system comprising:
 a container, and   the closure according to  claim 1  that is connectably engageable with said container.   
     
     
         22 . The container system according to  claim 21 , wherein said container comprises at least a first locking lug configured to engage said first locking tab of said closure when said closure is engaged with said container in a closed position, wherein said engagement of said first locking lug and said first locking tab prevents said closure from being rotated in an opening direction until said first push pad is pressed radially inward. 
     
     
         23 . The container system according to  claim 22 , wherein said container comprises a second locking lug configured to engage a second locking tab of said closure when said closure is in said closed position, wherein said engagement of said second locking lug and said second locking tab prevents said closure from being rotated in the opening direction until said second push pad is pressed radially inward. 
     
     
         24 . The container system according to  claim 23 , wherein said container comprises a container body and a shroud connectably engageable with said container body, and said closure is connectably engageable with said shroud. 
     
     
         25 . The container system according to  claim 24 , wherein said shroud comprises at least said first locking lug configured to engage said first locking tab of said closure when said closure is engaged with said shroud in a closed position, wherein said engagement of said first locking lug and said first locking tab prevents said closure from being rotated in an opening direction until said first push pad is pressed radially inward. 
     
     
         26 . The container system according to  claim 21 , wherein said inner skirt of said closure comprises at least one thread that connectably engages with a neck of the container. 
     
     
         27 . The container system according to  claim 21 , wherein said container comprises an interior volume that comprises a composition, wherein said composition is in the form of articles, wherein said articles comprise a water-soluble film that encapsulates said composition in at least one compartment.