Selectively Openable Closure for a Container

Abstract

A closure for a container, and more specifically a closure that is selectively openable and/or lockable providing, for example, one or more child resistant opening features is disclosed.

That which is claimed: 
     
         1 . A package, comprising:
 a container defining a product storage region; and   a closure coupled to the container and having an opening in the closure that is in communication with the product storage region to allow contents of the product storage region to be dispensed through the closure opening;   wherein the closure includes a lid and a base, wherein the lid is selectively openable and closeable relative to the base by a first user input; and   a tab coupled to the base and having a tab attachment portion that forms a locked position with a lid locking protrusion coupled to the lid;   wherein the tab includes a pair of tab stems defining a tab aperture disposed between the tab stems, and the tab aperture is configured to receive the lid locking protrusion when the closure is in the closed and locked positions;   wherein the tab attachment portion is movable by a second user input from the locked position to an unlocked position in which the lid is movable from a closed position to an open position relative to the base; and   wherein the tab attachment portion is moved from the locked position to the unlocked position by deflecting the tab stems, and the tab stems are biased toward the locked position from the unlocked position.   
     
     
         2 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the lid is coupled to the base by a hinge that allows rotational movement of the lid relative to the base. 
     
     
         3 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the lid locking protrusion is disposed between a first bumper and a second bumper. 
     
     
         4 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein at least one lip extends in a vertical direction on at least one side of the tab. 
     
     
         5 . The package of  claim 4 , including a first lip and a second lip that are flush with an outer circumference of the closure base, extend in the vertical direction, and are disposed on opposite sides of the tab. 
     
     
         6 . The package of  claim 5 , wherein the first lip and second lip extend upwardly from the base. 
     
     
         7 . The package of  claim 6 , wherein the first lip partially blocks the first bumper when in the closed position. 
     
     
         8 . The package of  claim 7 , wherein the second lip partially blocks the second bumper when in the closed position. 
     
     
         9 . The package of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of ribs adjacent the closure opening. 
     
     
         10 . The package of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of ribs is configured to funnel a pill away from the closure skirt and toward the closure opening. 
     
     
         11 . A closure, comprising:
 a lid and a base, wherein the lid is selectively openable and closeable relative to the base by a first user input;   an opening in the base that is configured to allow contents of a container to be dispensed through the opening; and   a tab coupled to the base and having a tab attachment portion that forms a locked position with a lid locking protrusion coupled to the lid;   wherein the tab includes a pair of tab stems defining a tab aperture disposed between the tab stems, and the tab aperture is configured to receive the lid locking protrusion when the closure is in the closed and locked positions;   wherein the tab attachment portion is movable by a second user input from the locked position to an unlocked position in which the lid is movable from a closed position to an open position relative to the base; and   wherein the tab attachment portion is moved from the locked position to the unlocked position by deflecting the tab stems, and the tab stems are biased toward the locked position from the unlocked position.   
     
     
         12 . The closure of  claim 11 , wherein the lid is coupled to the base by a hinge that allows rotational movement of the lid relative to the base. 
     
     
         13 . The closure of  claim 11 , wherein the lid locking protrusion is disposed between a first bumper and a second bumper. 
     
     
         14 . The closure of  claim 11 , wherein at least one lip extends in a vertical direction on at least one side of the tab. 
     
     
         15 . The closure of  claim 14 , including a first lip and a second lip that are flush with an outer circumference of the closure base, extend in the vertical direction, and are disposed on opposite sides of the tab. 
     
     
         16 . The closure of  claim 15 , wherein the first lip and second lip extend upwardly from the base. 
     
     
         17 . The closure of  claim 16 , wherein the first lip partially blocks the first bumper when in the closed position. 
     
     
         18 . The closure of  claim 17 , wherein the second lip partially blocks the second bumper when in the closed position. 
     
     
         19 . The closure of  claim 11 , further comprising a plurality of ribs adjacent the closure opening, wherein the plurality of ribs is configured to funnel a pill away from the closure skirt and toward the closure opening. 
     
     
         20 . A package, comprising:
 a container defining a product storage region; and   a closure coupled to the container and having an opening in the closure that is in communication with the product storage region to allow contents of the product storage region to be dispensed through the closure opening;   wherein the closure includes a lid and a base, wherein the lid is selectively openable and closeable relative to the base by a first user input; and   a tab coupled to the base and having a tab attachment portion that forms a locked position with a lid locking protrusion coupled to the lid;   wherein the tab attachment portion is movable by a second user input from the locked position to an unlocked position in which the lid is movable from a closed position to an open position relative to the base; and   wherein the tab attachment portion is moved from the locked position to the unlocked position by deflecting the tab, and the tab is biased toward the locked position from the unlocked position.