Child resistant closure for beverage containers

Abstract

The present invention provides a closure for a container having a generally planar top adapted to enclose the opening of a container, a sealable opening, a closure adapted to seal the opening and hingedly movable between a first sealed position and a second opened position, a generally planar tab having a first end pivotably connected to the planar top and axially rotatable between a first position where the planar tab is aligned to generally occlude the sealable opening and a generally opposed second position, such that the planar tab is secured in the first position and the planar tab can be axially rotatable between the first position and the second position upon application of an axial rotational force to the second end of the planar tab.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A closure for a container, the closure comprising:
 a generally planar top having an upper surface and a lower surface, the top adapted to enclose the opening of a container,   a sealable opening extending through the planar top,   a closure adapted to seal the opening, the closure hingedly connected to a perimeter of the sealable opening, the closure hingedly movable between a first sealed position and a second opened position, and   a generally planar tab having a first end and the second end, the first end of the planar tab pivotably connected to the upper surface of the planar top, the planar tab axially rotatable about the first end between a first position where the second end of the planar tab is aligned to generally occlude the sealable opening and a generally opposed second position,   
       wherein the planar tab is secured in the first position, and 
       wherein the planar tab can be axially rotatable between the first position and the second position upon application of an axial rotational force to the second end of the planar tab. 
     
     
         2 . The closure of  claim 1  wherein once the planar tab is moved to the second position it is further movable from a flat position to an angularly oriented opened position, such that when the planar tab is moved to the angularly oriented opened position it outwardly pivots about a transverse axis located adjacent the first end of the planar tab and a leading edge of the first end of the planar tab is positioned to depress the closure thereby hingedly moving the closure from the first sealed position to the second opened position. 
     
     
         3 . The closure of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one upwardly projecting detent, the at least one upwardly projecting detent projecting upwardly from the upper surface of the planar top and positioned laterally adjacent to the planar tab, wherein the second end of planar tab must be forcibly moved in a vertical direction away from the upper surface of the planar top to provide clearance for the at least one upwardly projecting detent as the planar tab is rotatably moved from the first position to the second position. 
     
     
         4 . The closure of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one upwardly projecting detent, the at least one upwardly projecting detent projecting upwardly from the upper surface of the planar top and positioned laterally adjacent to the planar tab, the at least one upwardly projecting detent is frangible upon application of a predetermined horizontal force to the at least one upwardly projecting detent by the second end of the planar top as the as the planar tab is rotatably moved from the first position to the second position. 
     
     
         5 . The closure of  claim 1 , wherein the planar tab is secured in the first position by at least one frangible detent that abuts the second end of the planar tab and secured to the upper surface of the planar top, the at least one frangible detent being frangible upon application of a predetermined horizontal force to the at least one frangible detent by the second end of the planar top as the as the planar tab is rotatably moved from the first position to the second position.