Child resistant and senior friendly can lid

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a can lid that is child resistant, and at the same time senior friendly, and can be initially installed on a can to be removed by an adult, especially a senior adult, and be put back on the can in the same condition where a child could still not be able to easily remove it. The child resistant and senior friendly can lid provided has a replaceable can lid and a locking member, such that when a can is initially opened, it may be readily resealed. The child resistant and senior friendly can lid has tapered, smooth sides to make the lid difficult to grasp and a sealing ledge on the inside surface to grab the seam roll of the upper edge of the can. The lid sealing ledge is relieved in two areas ninety degrees apart leaving a ridge to maintain a seal when the lid is attached to a can. The can lid will be flexible enough to bend for removal by seniors but resistant to removal by children.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A two-piece child resistant/senior friendly can lid comprising:
 a) a lower first piece locking member having an inner portion and an outer portion including a plurality of evenly spaced wedging teeth and restraining teeth along the circumference of said lower first piece inner portion, and further including an external locking trough located around the circumference of said lower first piece outer portion, and including a protruding first indicator section;   b) an upper second piece lid portion having a curved lower edge along the entire circumference of said upper second piece lid portion, and including a second protruding indicator section;   wherein said lower first piece is securely affixable to a seal rolled can top and said upper second piece lid portion is securely affixable to said lower first piece by lining up the first indicator section with the second indicator section and applying downward pressure on said upper second piece lid portion.   
     
     
         2 . The two-piece child resistant/senior friendly can lid according to  claim 1 , wherein said upper second piece lid portion is constructed of a malleable flexible material capable of being flexed upward for removal and of being flexed to expand to affix said upper second piece lid portion. 
     
     
         3 . The two-piece child resistant/senior friendly can lid according to  claim 1 , wherein said external locking trough including a first protruding indicator section includes a relieved area beneath said first protruding indicator section, and said curved lower edge including a second protruding indicator section has a relieved area beneath said second protruding indicator section whereby when said first and second protruding indicator sections are not lined up directly, said upper second piece lid portion cannot readily be removed, thereby creating a child resistant lid. 
     
     
         4 . The two-piece child resistant/senior friendly can lid according to  claim 1 , wherein said external locking trough including a first protruding indicator section includes a relieved area beneath said first protruding indicator section, and said curved lower edge including a second protruding indicator section has a relieved area beneath said second protruding indicator section whereby when said first and second protruding indicator sections are lined up directly, said upper second piece lid portion can be readily be removed, thereby creating a senior friendly lid. 
     
     
         5 . The two-piece child resistant/senior friendly can lid according to  claim 1 , wherein said first protruding indicator section and second protruding indicator section form two opposing arrow shaped indicators. 
     
     
         6 . The two-piece child resistant/senior friendly can lid according to  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of evenly spaced wedging teeth and restraining teeth along the circumference of said lower first piece inner portion includes about 14 to about 25 wedging teeth and restraining teeth. 
     
     
         7 . The two-piece child resistant/senior friendly can lid according to  claim 1 , wherein said includes a third piece comprising:
 a) a lid;   b) a can locking member; and   c) a securing unit.   
     
     
         8 . The two-piece child resistant/senior friendly can lid according to  claim 7 , wherein said lid includes a mating locking inner portion and said can locking portion includes a trough whereby said mating locking inner portion engages said trough to secure said lid to a can. 
     
     
         9 . The two-piece child resistant/senior friendly can lid according to  claim 1 , wherein said lower first piece locking member and said upper second piece lid portion include a rubber seal coating partially applied thereon. 
     
     
         10 . The two-piece child resistant/senior friendly can lid according to  claim 9 , wherein said rubber seal coating partially applied to both said lower first piece locking member and said upper second piece lid portion, thereby create a vacuum sealable can lid which is readily affixed to a seal rolled can. 
     
     
         11 . A method for making a two-piece child resistant/senior friendly can lid comprising the steps of:
 a) providing a lower first piece locking member having an inner portion and an outer portion including a plurality of evenly spaced wedging teeth and restraining teeth along the circumference of said lower first piece inner portion, and further including an external locking trough located around the circumference of said lower first piece outer portion, and including a protruding first indicator section;   b) providing an upper second piece lid portion having a curved lower edge along the entire circumference of said upper second piece lid portion, and including a second protruding indicator section;   wherein said lower first piece is securely affixable to a seal rolled can top and said upper second piece lid portion is securely affixable to said lower first piece by lining up the first indicator section with the second indicator section and applying downward pressure on said upper second piece lid portion.   
     
     
         12 . The method for making a two-piece child resistant/senior friendly can lid according to  claim 11 , wherein said upper second piece lid portion is constructed of a malleable flexible material capable of being flexed upward for removal and of being flexed to expand to affix said upper second piece lid portion. 
     
     
         13 . The method for making a two-piece child resistant/senior friendly can lid according to  claim 11 , wherein said external locking trough including a first protruding indicator section includes a relieved area beneath said first protruding indicator section, and said curved lower edge including a second protruding indicator section has a relieved area beneath said second protruding indicator section whereby when said first and second protruding indicator sections are not lined up directly, said upper second piece lid portion cannot readily be removed, thereby creating a child resistant lid. 
     
     
         14 . The method for making a two-piece child resistant/senior friendly can lid according to  claim 11 , wherein said external locking trough including a first protruding indicator section includes a relieved area beneath said first protruding indicator section, and said curved lower edge including a second protruding indicator section has a relieved area beneath said second protruding indicator section whereby when said first and second protruding indicator sections are lined up directly, said upper second piece lid portion can be readily be removed, thereby creating a senior friendly lid. 
     
     
         15 . The method for making a two-piece child resistant/senior friendly can lid according to  claim 1 , wherein said first protruding indicator section and second protruding indicator section form two opposing arrow shaped indicators. 
     
     
         16 . The method for making a two-piece child resistant/senior friendly can lid according to  claim 11 , wherein said plurality of evenly spaced wedging teeth and restraining teeth along the circumference of said lower first piece inner portion includes about 14 to about 25 wedging teeth and restraining teeth. 
     
     
         17 . The method for making a two-piece child resistant/senior friendly can lid according to  claim 11 , wherein said method further includes providing a third piece comprising the steps of:
 a) providing a lid;   b) providing a can locking member; and   c) providing a securing unit.   
     
     
         18 . The method for making a two-piece child resistant/senior friendly can lid according to  claim 17 , wherein said lid includes a mating locking inner portion and said can locking portion includes a trough whereby said mating locking inner portion engages said trough to secure said lid to a can. 
     
     
         19 . The method for making a two-piece child resistant/senior friendly can lid according to  claim 11 , wherein said lower first piece locking member and said upper second piece lid portion include a rubber seal coating partially applied thereon. 
     
     
         20 . The method for making a two-piece child resistant/senior friendly can lid according to  claim 19 , wherein said rubber seal coating partially applied to both said lower first piece locking member and said upper second piece lid portion, thereby create a vacuum sealable can lid which is readily affixed to a seal rolled can.