US 8,308,010 B2Granted

Tamper evident, child resistant container

AssigneeLetica Corporation

InventorsAnton Letica, Arthur W. Habitz, John R. Selina

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Abstract

A molded plastic container/closure combination providing a tamper evident feature, a child resistant feature and a removal facilitation feature. The closure has radially extending bayonets extending from the outer skirt which fit into horizontal slots in a beam molded integrally with the sidewall of the container. Rotation of the closure in one direction brings the bayonets into the slots for locking purposes. Rotation in the opposite direction unlocks the closure and continued rotation lifts the closure relative to the container to facilitate removal. A resiliently mounted release tab must be depressed before unlocking rotation is permitted. A latch prevents depression of the release tab until anchors on the sides of the latch are fractured. Serrations acting between the tab and the bayonets provide an audible indication of rotation.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A tamper-evident container/closure combination comprising:

an open top molded plastic container having a top rim and an annular, radially set-off beam proximate said rim to define an annular groove;
a plurality of angularly spaced horizontal one-way locking slots uniformly arranged around and within the groove;
a molded plastic closure having a center portion surrounded by an annular rim having an outer skirt defining an inverted U-shaped channel which can be fit over said rim such that the skirt fits into said groove;
a plurality of angularly spaced, radially extending bayonets formed on said closure which can be rotated into said locking slots by turning the closure on the container, the spacing between said slots and the circumferential dimensions of said bayonets being such that the bayonets can be rotated out of said slots for removal of said closure from said container;
a release tab resiliently attached to said container and having a first position between said slots to interferingly prevent rotation of said closure and a second deflected position which allows rotation of said closure;
a latch proximate said tab to prevent said tab from being moved to said second deflected position;
and
at least one frangible connection formed between said latch and said container, said frangible connection exhibiting reduced structural strength to facilitate fracture thereof so that said latch can be at least partially removed to allow movement of said tab to said deflected position but to leave physical evidence of such at least partial removal.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.