Tamper-Indicating and Child Resistant Cap and Container Assemblies

This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Prov. No. 63/641,555 filed May 2, 2024.

The present disclosure relates to tamper-indicating and child resistant cap and container assemblies.

Tamper-indicating cap and container assemblies typically include a component, such as a band, which is frangibly connected to a portion of the container such as the cap. The frangibly attached band provides an indication that the cap has been opened when the frangible connections are broken.

Child resistant cap and container assemblies of the art include those of a push-type, or a squeeze type.

Cap and container assemblies which are both tamper-indicating and child-resistant tend to be cumbersome and include many components, such as a liner component within the cap. This renders such assemblies complicated to manufacture and assemble, and less easy to recycle.

Therefore, there is a need for cap and container assemblies which overcome or reduce at least some of the above-described problems.

Certain aspects and embodiments of the present technology overcome or reduce at least some of the problems of tamper-free and child resistant cap and container assemblies.

Broadly, according to certain aspects and embodiments of the present technology, there is provided a tamper-indicating and child resistant cap and container assembly, comprising: a cap configured to engage with a neck of a container, the cap comprising: a cap top wall; a cap skirt depending from the cap top wall, the cap skirt having an inner wall and an outer wall, the inner wall being at least partially threaded, and the outer wall having at least one squeezing location; at least one tamper-indicating band frangibly connected to a free end of the cap, the at least one tamper-indicating band having defined therethrough an opening; at least one tongue extending from the free end of the cap skirt, the at least one tongue being circumferentially spaced from the at least one squeezing location; the container having an open end and a neck, an outer wall of the neck being at least partially threaded and configured to cooperate with the at least partially threaded inner wall of the cap; at least one protrusion extending from the outer wall of the container neck and configured to be received in the opening of the at least one tamper-indicating band. The at least one tongue and the at least one protrusion are configured such that when the at least one tamper-indicating band is moved away from the at least one protrusion to release the protrusion from the opening, rotation of the cap on the container neck is delimited by abutment of the at least one tongue and the at least one protrusion, and the cap can further rotate on the container neck by squeezing the cap skirt at the at least one squeezing location to translate the at least one tongue away from the at least one protrusion.

In certain embodiments, the at least one tamper-indicating band comprises a first tamper-indicating band having a first opening and a second tamper-indicating band having a second opening.

In certain embodiments, the first tamper-indicating band and the second tamper-indicating band are circumferentially spaced from one another.

In certain embodiments, the at least one tongue comprises a first tongue and a second tongue, the first tongue and the second tongue circumferentially separating the first tamper-indicating band and the second tamper-indicating band.

In certain embodiments, the first tamper-indicating band and the second tamper-indicating band are fully removable from the cap skirt when the frangible connections are broken.

In certain embodiments, each of the first tamper-indicating band and the second tamper-indicating band has a pull-tab disposed at one end thereof.

In certain embodiments, the at least one protrusion comprises a first protrusion and a second protrusion, the first and second protrusions configured to be received in the first and second openings, respectively, of the first and second tamper-indicating bands.

In certain embodiments, the at least partially threaded portion of the inner wall is at an upper portion of the cap.

In certain embodiments, the at least partially threaded portion of the container neck is at an upper portion of the container neck.

In certain embodiments, the cap and container assembly further comprise a raised band on the neck from which the protrusion extends.

In certain embodiments, the cap and container assembly further comprise a sealing ring extending from the cap top wall and configured to engage with the neck when the cap is screwed on the container.

In certain embodiments, the neck has a support ledge extending around the neck and spaced further from the open end of the container than the at least one protrusion.

In certain embodiments, an external diameter of a portion of the neck from which the protrusion extends is larger than an external diameter of a portion of the neck disposed closer to the open end of the container.

In certain embodiments, when the cap is screwed on the container, the inner wall of the cap is spaced from the outer wall of the container neck at the at least one squeezing location.

In certain embodiments, the at least one squeezing location is between the at least partially threaded portion of the cap and the free end of the cap skirt.

In certain embodiments, when the cap is crewed on the container, the at least one squeezing location of the cap is aligned with a portion of the neck between the at least partially threaded portion of the container neck and the at least one protrusion.

In certain embodiments, the at least one squeezing location on the cap comprises a first squeezing location and a diametrically opposed second squeezing location.

In certain embodiments, the outer wall of the cap skirt comprises a plurality of ribs.

From another aspect, there is provided cap for a tamper-indicating and child resistant cap and container assembly, the cap comprising: a cap top wall; a cap skirt depending from the cap top wall, the cap skirt having an inner wall and an outer wall, the inner wall being at least partially threaded, and the outer wall having at least one squeezing location; at least one tamper-indicating band frangibly connected to a free end of the cap, the at least one tamper-indicating band having defined therethrough an opening; and at least one tongue extending from the free end of the cap skirt, the at least one tongue being circumferentially spaced from the at least one squeezing location.

From yet another aspect, there is provided a container for a tamper-indicating and child resistant cap and container assembly, the container comprising: an open end; and a neck having an outer wall, the outer wall being at least partially threaded; at least one protrusion extending from the outer wall of the container neck and configured to be received in an opening of at least one tamper-indicating band of the cap.

It must be noted that, as used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular form “a”, “an” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

The present disclosure is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The disclosure is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including”, “comprising”, or “having”, “containing”, “involving” and variations thereof herein, is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter as well as, optionally, additional items. In the following description, the same numerical references refer to similar elements.

Broadly, referring to, there is provided a container and cap assembly, comprising a containerand a cap, that is tamper-evident and child proof. The container and cap assemblycomprises two components: the containerand the cap. The container and cap assemblydoes not include an insert for the cap. The tamper-evident aspect of the container and cap assemblyis a tamper-evident band, and the child resistant aspect of the container and cap assemblyis that is of a squeeze-type, such that the capmust be squeezed in order for its removal from the container.

The capis configured to engage with a neckof the containerto close the container. The capcomprises a cap top walland a cap skirtdepending from the cap top wall. The capis substantially cylindrical. The cap skirthas an inner walland an outer wall. As best seen in, the inner wallcomprises threadsat an upper portionthereof, proximate the cap top wall. The outer wallincludes a plurality of ribs, which may help a user to grip the cap.

Two squeezing locationsare provided on the cap, which in the embodiments illustrated herein, are diametrically opposed to one another. The squeezing locationsare identified as raised and non-ribbed regions in the otherwise ribbed outer wall. The squeezing locationsare disposed at a level of the capwhich is between the threadsat the upper portionof the capand a free endof the cap. In other embodiments, the plurality of the ribsmay be omitted. The squeezing locationsmay be indicated in any other manner, such as by other markings and/or colourings. Referring to the cross-section of, it can be seen that an inner diameterof the capat the squeezing locationsis larger than an inner diameterof the capat the upper portion.

The capfurther includes two tamper-indicating bandswhich are frangibly connected to the free endof the capby frangible connections (not shown). In other embodiments, there may be provided a single tamper-indicating bandor more than two tamper indicating bands. Each tamper-indicating bandhas defined therethrough an opening. The openingcomprises a window through the tamper-indicating band. Each tamper-indicating bandis elongate and substantially rectangular. Each tamper-indicating bandterminates in a pull-tabwhich is configured to be manipulated by a user to grip the tamper-indicating bandin order to break the frangible connections and to separate it from the cap. Each pull-tab, in these embodiments, is a planar projection which extends outwardly from the tamper-indicating band. Two pull-tabsare provided which are disposed on a plane extending through the longitudinal axisof the cap. In other embodiments, the pull-tabmay be disposed at another position along the tamper-indicating bandinstead of at an endthereof. The tamper-indicating bandsare fully removable from the cap skirtwhen the frangible connections are broken. It will be appreciated that, in other embodiments, the tamper-indicating bandsmay be configured to remain connected to the caponce the frangible connections are broken.

The capfurther includes two tonguesextending from the free endof the cap. The two tonguesare circumferentially disposed between the squeezing locations, and are circumferentially spaced from one another. The tonguesseparate the tamper-indicating bandsfrom one another. A longitudinal axisof each tongueis parallel to a longitudinal axisof the cap(). The longitudinal axisof each tongueis substantially perpendicular to a planeof the cap top wall.

As best seen in, the capfurther comprises a sealing ringextending from the cap top walland configured to engage with the neckof the containerwhen the capis screwed on the container. This can help to hermetically seal the container. The sealing ringmay comprise walls that flail outwardly.

Turning now to the container, best seen in, the containercomprises the neckand has an open end. The neckis substantially cylindrical. An outer wallof the neckcomprises threads (i.e. is threaded) at an upper portionthereof. The threadsof the neckand the threadsof the capare configured to engage with one another. The capand the neckmay have more or less number of thread turns than as illustrated in the figures.

At a lower portionof the neck, spaced from the threadsat the upper portion, there are provided two protrusionsextending from the outer wall. The protrusionsare circumferentially spaced from one another, and are oppositely facing. Each protrusionis sized and shaped to be received in the corresponding openingof the tamper-indicating band. Each protrusionis wedge-shaped, meaning that it has a height of extension(best seen in) which is variable. A maximum heightof the protrusionis more than a depth() of the openingsuch that when the protrusionis received in the openingof the tamper-indicating band, a portion of the protrusionextends outwardly from the opening. The wedge shape of the protrusionmay be useful during assembly of the caponto the containerin that it can permit rotation of the capin one direction for positioning of the protrusioninto the opening. However, it could also block a counter-rotation of the capnecessary for opening of the cap. Other configurations of the protrusionare within the scope of the present technology. For example, the protrusionsneed not be wedge shaped but may be rectangular. There may be any number of protrusionsprovided in order to match the number of tamper-indicating bandsthat are provided.

The portion of the outer wallof the neckfrom which the protrusionsextend comprises a raised band. In other words, an external diameterof a portion of the neckfrom which the protrusionsextend is larger than an external diameterof a portion of the neckdisposed closer to the open endof the container(). Together with the feature of the inner diameterof the capat the squeezing locationsbeing wider than the inner diameterof the capat the upper portion, this helps to define a spacingbetween the neckand the cappermitting the cap skirtto be squeezed inwardly at the squeezing locations. The spacingalso permits sufficient deformation of the cap skirtto cause movement of the tonguesoutwardly, away from each other, when the squeezing locationsare squeezed towards each other. The cap skirtmay be made of any suitable material permitting such deflections. When the capis screwed on the container, the squeezing locationof the capis aligned with a portion of the neckbetween the threads of the neckand the protrusions.

The neckhas a support ledgeextending around the neckand spaced further from the open endof the containerthan the protrusions.

The containeris configured to house any substance in any form such as fluids, powder, granules, tablets, pellets, tablets and may have any suitable size, shape or volume. In the illustrated embodiments, the containerhas a square base and hence a square cross-sectional profile across its length, transitioning to a circular cross-sectional profile at the neck. In certain embodiments, the container has a 30 ml, 60 ml, 75 ml or 100 ml volume. Any other volume is within the scope of the present technology. The containermay be made of any suitable material, such as polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene or high density polyethylene, and may have any colour such as black, brown, blue, red or white. The containermay be transparent, semi-transparent or opaque. The neck, at the open end, may have any suitable diameter, such as 32 mm.

When the capis disposed on the neckwith the tamper-indicating bandsintact and the threads,of the capand the neckengaged, the protrusionsare received in the openingof the tamper-indicating bands. The capcannot be rotated relative to the necknor can it be moved parallel to a longitudinal axisof the container.

When the tamper-indicating bandsare removed, the capcan be rotated relative to the neck. However, the rotation is limited by an abutment of the protrusionof the neckagainst the tongueof the cap. This prevents further rotation of the capand its removal from the container. Further rotation for cap removal, can be effected by squeezing the cap skirtat the squeezing locationswhich causes the tonguesto be moved away from the neckand the protrusions, permitting further rotation of the capand its removal.

Referring to, there is shown another embodiment of the cap. Capofdiffers from the capofin that it has two pull-tabswith a different configuration than the pull-tabsof the cap. Each pull-tabof the caphas a hook-shaped configuration. Unlike the pull-tabsof the cap, the pull-tabsof the capare not planar. Each pull-tabhas a first portionextending from the tamper-indicating band. The first portionsof the pull-tabslie on a plane extending through the longitudinal axisof the cap. A second portionextends substantially transversely from an end of the first portion. The second portionis thus spaced from the tamper-indicating bandby a distance defined by the first portion. This configuration of the pull-tabcan provide ease of manipulation by a user.

A tongueof the capis wider than the tongueof the cap.

As best seen in, the caphas a sealing ringwhich differs from the sealing ringof the capin that it has walls that do not flail outwardly.

Turning now to, there is shown another embodiment of the containerof. Containerhas a protrusionwhich differs from the protrusionof the containerin that it has a maximum heightwhich is larger than the maximum heightof the protrusion. The containermay be used with the capor the cap, or any other embodiments of the caps,.

Variations and modifications will occur to those of skill in the art after reviewing this disclosure. The disclosed features may be implemented, in any combination and subcombinations (including multiple dependent combinations and subcombinations), with one or more other features described herein. The various features described or illustrated above, including any components thereof, may be combined or integrated in other systems. Moreover, certain features may be omitted or not implemented. Examples of changes, substitutions, and alterations are ascertainable by one skilled in the art and could be made without departing from the scope of the information disclosed herein.

It should be appreciated that the invention is not limited to the particular embodiments described and illustrated herein but includes all modifications and variations falling within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.