Dual-action child-resistant package and child-resistant closure for such a package

Abstract

A dual-action child-resistant package includes a container having a neck finish with an open mouth, at least one external thread segment, and at least one external lug spaced from the thread segment and having an angled cam surface facing axially toward the open mouth. A closure has a peripheral skirt, at least one internal thread segment for engagement with the external thread segment on the container neck finish, an internal angled cam surface on the skirt, at least one internal lug on the skirt for engagement with the external lug on the neck finish, and a flexible resilient spring for engaging the neck finish and biasing the closure away from the neck finish. The closure is threaded onto the neck finish until the internal lug on the skirt moves over the external lug on the neck finish to resist unthreading of the closure from the neck finish. The closure is removable from the neck finish by: (1) squeezing the skirt to ovalize the skirt such that the internal lug on the skirt moves radially outwardly from the external lug on the neck finish whereupon the closure can be unthreaded from the neck finish, and (2) pushing the closure over the neck finish against the spring until the cam surface on the external lug engages the internal angled cam surface on the skirt to ovalize the skirt until the internal lug on the skirt moves radially outwardly from the external lug on the neck finish whereupon the closure can be unthreaded from the neck finish.

1 . A dual-action child-resistant package that includes:
 a container having a neck finish with an open mouth, at least one external thread segment, and at least one external lug spaced from said external thread segment and having an angled cam surface facing axially toward said mouth, and   a closure having a peripheral skirt, at least one internal thread segment for engagement with said at least one external thread segment on said neck finish, an internal angled cam surface on said skirt, at least one internal lug on said skirt for engagement with said at least one external lug on said neck finish, and a flexible resilient spring for engaging said neck finish and biasing said closure away from said neck finish,   said closure being threadable onto said container neck finish until said internal lug on said skirt moves over said external lug on said neck finish to resist unthreading of said closure from said neck finish,   said closure being removable from said neck finish by: (1) squeezing said skirt to ovalize said skirt such that said at least one internal lug on said skirt moves radially outwardly from said at least one external lug on said neck finish whereupon said closure can be unthreaded from said neck finish, and (2) pushing said closure over said neck finish against said spring until said cam surface on said at least one external lug engages said internal cam surface on said skirt to ovalize said skirt until said at least one internal lug on said skirt moves radially outwardly from said at least one external lug on said neck finish whereupon said closure can be unthreaded from said neck finish.   
   
   
       2 . The package set forth in  claim 1  wherein said peripheral skirt includes a first portion on which said at least one internal thread segment is disposed, and a second portion extending from said first portion on which said internal cam surface and said at least one internal lug are disposed. 
   
   
       3 . The package set forth in  claim 1  wherein said internal cam surface on said skirt is conical. 
   
   
       4 . The package set forth in  claim 3  wherein said at least one internal lug on said skirt includes a pair of lugs on said skirt angularly spaced from each other to receive said at least one external lug when said closure is threaded onto said neck finish. 
   
   
       5 . The package set forth in  claim 4  wherein one of said pair of internal lugs has an angled cam surface to cam said one lug over said external lug during threaded application of said closure to said neck finish. 
   
   
       6 . The package set forth in  claim 3  wherein said neck finish has a pair of said external lugs diametrically spaced from each other on said neck finish, and said closure has a pair of said internal lugs diametrically spaced from each other on said skirt. 
   
   
       7 . A closure that includes a one-piece plastic shell having a flexible resilient annular skirt with a first portion having at least one internal thread segment, a second portion extending from said first portion and having an internal cam surface angled away from said first portion, at least one internal lug on said second portion of said skirt, and a flexible resilient spring for engaging a container neck finish when said closure is threaded onto the neck finish. 
   
   
       8 . The closure set forth in  claim 7  wherein said cam surface is conical. 
   
   
       9 . The closure set forth in  claim 8  wherein said at least one internal lug includes diametrically opposed internal lugs on said skirt. 
   
   
       10 . The closure set forth in  claim 9  wherein said skirt includes a pair of diametrically opposed external finger pads at 90° spacing to said internal lugs. 
   
   
       11 . A child-resistant package that includes:
 a container having a mouth, at least one external thread segment and a pair of diametrically opposed external lugs on a side of said at least one external thread segment remote from said mouth, and   a plastic closure that includes a base with a dispensing opening, at least one internal thread segment for engagement with said at least one external thread segment on said neck finish, a flexible resilient peripheral skirt with a pair of diametrically opposed internal lugs for engagement with said external lugs to prevent unthreading of said closure from said neck finish, said skirt being squeezable to ovalize said skirt and move said internal lugs out of engagement with said external lugs and permit unthreading of said closure from said neck finish, a lid coupled to said base by a hinge for movement between a closed position overlying said dispensing opening and an open position spaced from said dispensing opening, and a child-resistant latch between said lid and said base to permit opening of said lid with respect to said base,   said package being operable in two child-resistant modes of operation: (1) by squeezing and turning said peripheral skirt, and (2) by unlatching said child-resistant latch and opening said lid.   
   
   
       12 . The package set forth in  claim 11  wherein said skirt includes a pair of diametrically opposed external finger pads at 90° spacing to said internal lugs. 
   
   
       13 . The package set forth in  claim 11  wherein said at least one internal thread segment is disposed on said peripheral skirt. 
   
   
       14 . A closure that includes a one-piece plastic shell having:
 a base with a dispensing opening, at least one internal thread segment, a flexible resilient skirt with a pair of diametrically opposed internal lugs, said skirt being squeezable to ovalize said skirt,   a lid coupled to said base by a hinge for movement between a closed position overlying said dispensing opening and an open position spaced from said dispensing opening, and   a child-resistant latch between said lid and said base to permit opening of said lid with respect to said base.   
   
   
       15 . The closure set forth in  claim 14  wherein said skirt includes a first portion on which said at least one internal thread segment is disposed and a second portion extending from said first portion on which said internal lugs are disposed. 
   
   
       16 . The closure set forth in  claim 15  wherein said skirt includes a pair of diametrically opposed external finger pads at 90° spacing to said internal lugs.