Container having a locking closure

Abstract

A package including a closure engaged with a container. The closure has one or more tabs that abut one or more abutments. The tabs can be displaced towards the longitudinal axis and the closure can be rotated in the disengagement direction to dislodge the closure from the container.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A package comprising:
 a closure engaged with a container, wherein said closure comprises:   a threaded collar and a peripheral wall extending from said threaded collar, wherein said peripheral wall extends around a longitudinal axis and has an engagement rotation direction in which said threaded collar engages with said container and a disengagement rotation direction in which said thread collar disengages with said container;   a tab outboard of and spaced apart from said peripheral wall and connected to said peripheral wall by a deformable first arm extending from a first arm attachment location on said peripheral wall to said tab and deformable second arm extending from a second arm attachment location on said peripheral wall to said tab, wherein said second arm attachment location is radially offset from said first arm attachment location by from about 2 degrees to about 30 degrees in the engagement rotation direction, wherein said first arm attachment location is radially offset from said tab by from about 0.5 degrees to about 20 degrees in the engagement rotation direction, wherein said tab has a tab width orthogonal to said longitudinal axis;   wherein said container comprises;   an open end about said longitudinal axis; and   an abutment projecting above said open end and outboard of said open end and spaced apart from said peripheral wall by a clearance distance, wherein said clearance distance is greater than or equal to said tab width, and wherein said tab is abutted against said abutment.   
     
     
         2 . The package according to  claim 1 , wherein said tab has a first position abutting said abutment and a second position in which said tab is inboard of said abutment and rotatable in said disengagement rotation direction past said abutment. 
     
     
         3 . The package according to  claim 2 , wherein said second arm attachment location is radially offset from said first arm attachment location by from about 2 degrees to about 20 degrees. 
     
     
         4 . The package according to  claim 3 , wherein said first arm attachment location is radially offset from said tab by from about 0.5 degrees to about 15 degrees. 
     
     
         5 . The package according to  claim 4 , wherein said tab has an engaged portion abutting said abutment, wherein said engaged portion has a height, wherein said threaded collar comprises threads having a pitch, wherein said pitch is at least twice said height. 
     
     
         6 . The package according to  claim 5 , wherein said closure comprises two said tabs positioned radially opposite one another about said longitudinal axis and said container comprises two said abutments positioned radially opposite one another about said longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         7 . The package according to  claim 6 , wherein said open end comprises a spout fitment engaged with a container body. 
     
     
         8 . The package according to  claim 7 , wherein said spout fitment is a drain back spout fitment. 
     
     
         9 . The package according to  claim 8 , wherein said threaded collar comprises threads oriented away from said longitudinal axis and said spout fitment comprises complementary threads oriented towards said longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         10 . The package according to  claim 9 , wherein said spout fitment comprises a spout projecting into said closure and a portion of said spout is positioned between said peripheral wall and said longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         11 . The package according to  claim 1 , wherein said threaded collar is continuous about said longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         12 . The package according to  claim 1 , wherein said threaded collar is discontinuous about said longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         13 . The package according to  claim 1 , wherein said tab has a first position abutting said abutment and a second position in which said tab is inboard of said abutment and rotatable in said disengagement rotation direction past said abutment. 
     
     
         14 . The package according to  claim 1 , wherein said threaded collar, said peripheral wall, tab, deformable first arm and said deformable second arm are unitary with one another. 
     
     
         15 . The package according to  claim 1 , wherein said threaded collar, said peripheral wall, said tab, said deformable first arm and said deformable second arm are unitary with one another and comprised of plastic. 
     
     
         16 . The package according to  claim 1 , wherein said closure comprises two said tabs positioned radially opposite one another about said longitudinal axis and said container comprises two said abutments positioned radially opposite one another about said longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         17 . The package according to  claim 1 , wherein said tab has an engaged portion abutting said abutment, wherein said engaged portion has a height, wherein said threaded collar comprises threads having a pitch, wherein said pitch is at least twice said height. 
     
     
         18 . The package according to  claim 1 , wherein said container contains a liquid fabric care product. 
     
     
         19 . A process for opening the package of  claim 1  comprising the steps of:
 pressing said tab towards said longitudinal axis to dislodge said tab from said abutment; 
 rotating said closure in said disengagement rotation direction to move said tab past said abutment. 
 
     
     
         20 . A process for opening the package of  claim 1 , wherein said closure comprises two said tabs positioned radially opposite one another about said longitudinal axis and said container comprises two said abutments positioned radially opposite one another about said longitudinal axis, wherein said process comprises the steps of:
 pressing said tabs towards said longitudinal axis to dislodge said tabs from said abutments;   rotating said closure in said disengagement rotation direction to move said tabs past said abutments.