US20250368405A1

US20250368405A1 - Two-Part Mountable Child-Resistant Vial

Info

Publication number: US20250368405A1
Application number: US19/218,443
Authority: US
Inventors: Sandrine Milante
Original assignee: Ecolopharm Inc
Current assignee: Ecolopharm Inc
Priority date: 2024-05-29
Filing date: 2025-05-26
Publication date: 2025-12-04

Abstract

A two-part vial assembly includes a one-piece container and a one-piece cap assembly that allows the container to be filled prior to attachment of the cap, thereby preventing the cap from obstructing the filling operation. The cap assembly comprises a mounting portion that is permanently attachable to the container, and a cap integrally formed with the mounting portion. The cap is pivotably mounted to the mounting portion for selectively closing the container in a sealed and lockable manner when the cap assembly is mounted on the container.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/652,778, filed on May 29, 2024, the content of which is incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD

The present invention relates to child-resistant vials.

BACKGROUND

Various types of vials are commonly used to dispense prescription medications. One of the simplest types includes a container with a separate cap that is removably mounted to the container, allowing the cap to be detached by simply pulling it off.
Child-resistant vials have been known for some time and exist in various forms. In one type, the container includes a cap that is pivotally mounted to the container and automatically locks into place when closed. These vials generally include a latching mechanism that requires two simultaneous user actions to open, thereby limiting access by children.
A drawback of such child-resistant vials is that they are typically not compatible with automated filling systems. In particular, the cap, when open, may obstruct the container opening or interfere with the filling mechanism during the filling process.

SUMMARY

The problem of a pivotable cap of a child-resistant vial being in the way during the automatic filling of such vials is solved by providing a two-part vial assembly, where the cap is permanently attachable to the container after the filling thereof.
According to an illustrative embodiment, there is provided a child-resistant vial comprising:

- a one-piece container having a top peripheral edge and a first cooperating part; and
- a one-piece cap assembly including
- a second cooperating part engageable with the first cooperating part for fixedly mounting the cap assembly to the container at the top peripheral edge thereof,
- a first latching part, and
- a cap, that is pivotably mounted to the second cooperating part, for selectively closing the container when the second cooperating part is fixedly mounted to the container; the cap including a second latching part for cooperating with the first latching part to lock the cap onto the container when the cap closes the container;
- wherein the cap being unlockable from the container by simultaneously moving the cap away from the container and moving the first and second latching parts relatively to one another.

According to another illustrative embodiment, there is provided a one-piece cap assembly for a child-resistant vial comprising:

- an annular cooperating part that is permanently attachable to a top peripheral edge of a container for fixedly mounting the cap assembly to the container;
- a first latching part, and
- a cap, that is pivotably mounted to the second cooperating part, for selectively closing the container when the second cooperating part is fixedly mounted to the container; the cap including a second latching part for cooperating with the first latching part to lock the cap onto the container when the cap closes the container; the first and second latching parts being further configured so that the cap being unlockable from the container by simultaneously moving the cap away from the container and moving the first and second latching parts relatively to one another.

According to yet another illustrative embodiment, there is provided a vial comprising:

- a one-piece container having a top peripheral edge and a rim at the top peripheral edge; and
- a one-piece cap assembly including:
- an annular cooperating part configured to engage the rim and permanently mount the cap assembly to the container at the top peripheral edge;
- a first latching part disposed on the annular cooperating part; and
- a cap pivotably mounted to the annular cooperating part, the cap including a second latching part configured to cooperate with the first latching part to lock the cap onto the container when the cap is in a closed position.

According to still another illustrative embodiment, there is provided a two-part vial assembly comprising a one-piece container; and a one-piece cap assembly including i) a mounting portion that is permanently attachable to the container, and ii) a cap pivotably mounted to the mounting portion for selectively closing the container in a sealed and lockable manner when the cap assembly is mounted to the container.
It is believed that the meaning of the expression “child-resistant” is well known in the art. It should therefore not be limited herein in any way. The expression “child-resistant” as used herein characterizes an object having a function that cannot be executed by a typical child or by a typical person having limited abilities with their hands, such as arthritics. This includes, without limitation, functions which can only successfully be performed by combining at least two actions.
The expressions ‘permanently attachable’, ‘permanently mounted’, ‘mounted in a permanent fashion/manner’ are to be construed as being attachable or mounted in such a way that it cannot be detached unless it is broken or damaged.
Other objects, advantages and features of embodiments of a child-resistant vial and of a cap assembly therefor will become more apparent upon reading of the following non-restrictive description of illustrative embodiments thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the appended drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a two-part mountable child-resistant vial, according to a first illustrative embodiment; the vial being shown with its cap closed;

FIG. 2 is perspective view similar to FIG. 1 , showing the cap open;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the vial from FIG. 2 , showing the cap assembly thereof before being attached to the container;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are cross-sectional close-up views taken respectively along line 4-4 and line 5-5 on FIG. 1 ; the vial being shown with the cap closed;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional close-up view similar to FIG. 5 , showing the vial with its cap open;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a two-part mountable child-resistant vial, according to a second illustrative embodiment; the vial being shown with its cap closed;

FIG. 8 is perspective view similar to FIG. 1 , showing the cap open;

FIGS. 9 and 10 are respectively top and bottom exploded perspective views of the vial from FIG. 7 , showing the cap assembly thereof before being attached to the container;

FIGS. 11 and 12 are cross-sectional close-up views taken respectively along line 11-11 and line 12-12 on FIG. 1 ; the vial being shown with the cap closed; and

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional close-up view similar to FIG. 12 , showing the vial with its cap open.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, similar features in the drawings have been given similar reference numerals, and in order not to weigh down the figures, some elements are not referred to in some figures if they were already identified in a precedent figure. Herein, it shall further be noted that, for avoiding unnecessary details obscuring the invention, only device structures and/or processing steps closely relevant to schemes according to the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings while omitting other details less relevant to the invention.
The use of the word “a” or “an” when used in conjunction with the term “comprising” in the claims and/or the specification may mean “one”, but it is also consistent with the meaning of “one or more”, “at least one”, and “one or more than one”. Similarly, the word “another” may mean at least a second or more.
As used in this specification and claim(s), the words “comprising” (and any form of comprising, such as “comprise” and “comprises”), “having” (and any form of having, such as “have” and “has”), “including” (and any form of including, such as “include” and “includes”) or “containing” (and any form of containing, such as “contain” and “contains”), are inclusive or open-ended and do not exclude additional un-recited elements.
A two-part mountable child-resistant vial 10, according to a first illustrative embodiment, will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6 .
According to the first illustrative embodiment, the child-resistant vial 10 is assembled from only two molded parts (see in FIG. 3 ): a container 12 and a cap assembly 14. Once assembled, the two parts form a child-resistant vial 10 (see for example in FIGS. 1 and 2 ), that is equipped with a hinged cap 16 that is closable onto the container 12 in a child-resistant manner.
The two molded parts 12 and 14 are obtained through a conventional molding process using a polymeric material such as copolymeric polypropylene. Other materials can also be used, which can further be, for example, biodegradable.
With reference more specifically to FIG. 3 , the container 12 is a one-piece body that includes a cylindrical wall 18 closed by a bottom 22 near a first longitudinal end 20 thereof.
With reference now more specifically to FIGS. 3 and 4 , the container 12 further includes a first cooperating part in the form of a rim 24 at the second longitudinal end 25 thereof. The rim 24 is formed of by a radially outwardly extending portion 26, and a flange portion 28 extending downwardly from the portion 26.
In addition to the cap 16, the cap assembly 14 comprises an annular element 29, which includes a second cooperating part 30 that is configured to engage with the first cooperating part 24 in a locking manner for fixedly mounting the cap assembly 14 to the container 12 on the top peripheral edge thereof in a permanent manner. The cap 16 is integral to the annular element 29 via a hinge 31.
As will be described hereinbelow in more detail, the annular element 29 and the cap 16 includes respective first and second latching elements 32 and 34, which can be seen for example in FIG. 2 .
With reference more specifically to FIG. 3 , the second cooperating part 30 of the first annular element 29 is in the form of a vertical annular ring 36, which is provided with a series of equidistant teeth 38, protruding from the ring 36 towards the center of the annular element 29. Each tooth 38 includes, at its bottom edge, a generally vertical beveled hook portion 40.
The first annular element 29 further includes a skirt 42 which extends downwardly from the vertical annular ring 36 and is further radially distanced therefrom by a horizontal annular bridge 44.
The height of the annular ring 36 gradually increases from the hinge 31 to the second latching element 32, while the height of the skirt 42 inversely decreases along the same portions, yielding a constant height of the annular element 29.
The vertical annular ring 36 and the teeth 38 are configured and sized to allow annular snap-fit of the ring 36 around the rim 24, the hook portion 40 of the teeth 38 sliding along the rim 24 until they are positioned thereunder, thereby locking the annular ring 36 onto the rim 24 in a permanent fashion.
The mounting of the annular element 29 of the cap assembly 14 onto the rim 24 is eased by the beveled configuration of the hook portion 40 of the teeth 38 and the inward flexibility of the ring 36 relative to the skirt 42, considering their relative attachment via the annular bridge 44.
According to the first illustrative embodiment, the teeth 38 are relatively spaced apart along the annular ring 36, yielding gaps 46 in the annular ring 36 to save on plastic, thereby reducing manufacturing costs.
As can be seen in FIG. 3 , the teeth 38 are also tapered downwardly to further save on plastic and to meet manufacturing constraints.
According to another illustrative embodiment (not shown), the number and/or configuration of the teeth 38 are different than illustrated.
As described hereinabove, and with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 , the first annular element 29 further comprises the first latching element 32, in the form of a tab that is attached near its upper edge 48 to the outer skirt 42 at a position diametrically opposite the hinge 31.
More specifically, the tab 32 extends from the upper edge 48 of the annular part 29 via a bridge 50 formed by an increase thickness along the upper edge of the tab 32. A slit 52 is provided within the bridge 50, therealong, to increase the range of movement of the tab 32 towards the container 12.
The tab 32 further includes an ergonomic oval thumb-receiving recess 54 on its outward or front side 56 near the bottom edge thereof 58. The bottom portion 58 of the tab 32 is recessed along its width, defining a shoulder 60.
With now reference more specifically to FIGS. 1, 2, 5 and 6 , the cap 16 will now be described in more detail.
The cap 16 is in the form of a disk including concentric inner and outer skirts 60 and 62, and a small seal ring 64 therebetween. The diameters and radial positions of the skirts 60-62 and seal ring 64 are such that, when the cap 16 is closed onto the annular element 29, i) the inner skirt 60 is slightly inserted within the container 12 in a snugly fit manner, ii) the free edge 66 of the outer skirt 62 rests onto an annular shoulder 68 formed by a radially-recessed portion 70 in the outer skirt 42 of the annular element 29, and iii) the seal ring 64 abuts onto the upper edge of the annular ring 26.
The second latching element 34 is defined on the outer skirt 62 a) by a longer portion 72 thereof, which is positioned diametrically opposite the hinge 31, and b) a trapezoid cut 74 therein, which is configured for complementary receiving the tab 32 therethrough. The cut 74 is slightly greater than the tab 32 to allow tilting movements of the tab 32 within the cut 74 towards the peripheral wall 18 of the container 12 about the bridge 50.
The enlarged portion 72 is so configured and sized that a portion 75 thereof that is below the cut 74 rests on the recessed bottom edge 58 of the tab 32, when the cap 16 is closed.
A lip 76 is provided on the enlarged portion 72 below the cut 74, perpendicularly therefrom, which defines a gripping element on the second latching element 34, to help a user lifting the cap 16 while they push the tab 32 to release it from the cut 74, allowing opening the vial 10.
Both the inner and outer skirts 60 and 62 are slightly tapered from the enlarged portion 72 to the hinge 31, which eases the closing of the cap 16 by its pivoting about the hinge 31.
In operation, after assembly of the two parts 12 and 14, the vial 10 is closed by pivoting the cap 16 towards the container 12 until the cut 74 is moved about the tab 32, which causes the automatic child-resistant and sealingly locking of the cap 16 onto the container 12. In this position, the trigger 32 is prevented from being accessed from all its side, except from its front face, and can only be pushed towards the container wall 18. Thereby, only the combined actions of pushing on the tab 32 and lifting the cap 16 allows releasing the tab 32 from the cut-out 74 to open the vial 10.
A person skilled in the art will appreciate that removing the tab 32 by jiggling or cutting it, when the cap 16 is open, allows converting the vial 10 from child-resistant to easy to open.
According to some embodiments, the portion of the container 12 behind the tab 32 is provided with writing, marks, symbols, or other (not shown) to indicate to the user that a child safety feature of the vial has been removed. Such an indication can be in the form of a symbol, text, etc. and can be molded on the container, engraved, or affixed thereon using a sticker thereto.
According to such an embodiment, the presence of the tab 32 hides such an indication, and its removal reveals it.
The first and second cooperating parts are not limited to the illustrative embodiments. For example, the first cooperating part, on the container 12, can be in the form of an annular ring (not shown) similar to the ring 36, provided with teeth 38 or with other locking elements, and the second cooperating part, on the annular element of the cap assembly, can be in the form of an annular ring or a skirt.
Also, the first and second latching elements can be reversed, i.e., that the first latching element, on the annular part 29, is in the form of a portion of a skirt having a cut-out therein (not shown) or, more generally, of a female cooperating part, and the second latching element, on the cap 16, is in the form of a tab, or of any male cooperating part.
According to still another illustrative embodiment, the vial is not child-resistant, and the latching elements are omitted.
According to still another illustrative embodiment, a seal ring is provided on the annular part of the cap assembly or omitted.
It is to be noted that many modifications could be made to the vial 10 described hereinabove and illustrated in the appended drawings. For example:

- the first and second latching elements 32 and 34 can be positioned at other locations than diametrically opposite the hinge 31;
- the tab 32 can be configured differently than illustrated. For example, it can extend upwardly from the bottom edge of the outer skirt 42;
- the angle of the skirts 42, 60 and/or 62 relative to the container wall 18 can be different than illustrated;
- the hinge 31 can be configured differently than illustrated, for example to further bias the cap 16 towards or away the container 12;
- anyone or both finger-receiving portions 54 and 76 can take other forms, or be omitted;
- the cap 16 can be provided with any configuration of friction elements to improve the grip thereon;
- the number and configuration of sealing members between the cap 16 and container 12 may be different than illustrated herein or omitted; and
- the dimensions or proportions of the vial 10 may vary depending, for example, on the application.

Turning now to FIGS. 7 to 14 , a two-part mountable child-resistant vial 80 according to a second illustrative embodiment will now be described. Since the vial 80 is similar to the vial 10, only the differences therebetween will be described herein in more detail for concision purposes.
As a first difference, the rim 84 of the container part 82 is made thinner than the rim 24. This yields an increased flexibility of the rim 84, which facilitates the insertion of the teeth 106 thereunder, and more specifically of the hook portion 107 thereof, and then the movement of the rim 84 towards its neutral position, to lock the teeth 106 in place after mounting of the cap assembly 86.
In addition to the cap 88, the cap assembly 86 comprises an annular element 90 providing with i) a container-engaging portion 92, which is configured to engage the rim 84 for permanently mounting the cap assembly 86 to the container 82, and ii) a first latching portion 32, to cooperate with a second latching element 96 on the cap 88.
The container-engaging portion 92 includes inner and outer sides 97 and 98, extending between top and bottom ends 100-102, a small inwardly extending flange 104 at the top edge 100 thereof, a plurality of equidistant teeth 106 that protrudes from the inner side 97 thereof, and an outwardly extending flange 108 at the bottom edge thereof.
Compared to the teeth 38 according to the first illustrative embodiment, the teeth 106 are wider, shorter in height, and less tapered.
The inner side 97 of the container-engaging portion 92 is further provided with a recessed portion 109 near the hinge 110, which allows both meeting manufacturing constraints and saving on material, thereby minimizing manufacturing costs.
Compared to the hinge 31, the hinge 110 spans a larger portion of the periphery of the vial 80. The hinge 110 is also leveled with the flange 108 and extends therefrom. Those characteristics of the hinge 110 contribute to increasing its rigidity.
The outer side 98 of the container-engaging portion 92 defines a skirt 112 that ends with the flange 108.
Contrarily to the skirt 42 of the annular portion 29, which includes a recessed portion 70, the skirt 112 is regular. Also, the skirt 112 further extends behind the tab 32. The portion 114 of the skirt that is behind the tab 32 allows receiving writing, marks, symbols, or other (not shown) to indicate to the user that a child safety feature of the vial has been removed, as described hereinabove with reference to the first illustrative embodiment. Contrarily to the first illustrative embodiment, where a user must radially align the position of the tab 32 with the portion of the container with such an indication when mounting the cap assembly 14 to the container 12, the presence of the portion 114 insures such an alignment. Also the portion 114 further strengthens the mounting of the cap assembly 86 unto the container part 84.
The two concentric inner and outer skirts 116-118 of the cap 88 are longer than the corresponding inner and outer skirts 60-62 of the cap 16 according to the first illustrative embodiment, and the inner skirt 116 includes diametrically opposite cut-out portions 119 near a) the hinge 110 and b) the cut 74 of the second latching element 34. The lip 118 extends along nearly the full width of the second latching element 34, to improve the grip thereon.
The outer skirt 118 is configured and sized to generally complement the skirt 112 of the annular element 90, and so that its edge 120 contacts the flange 108 when the cap 88 is closed.
As can be seen for example in FIGS. 8 and 11 , both the skirt 112 and the inner side of the outer skirt 118 are provided with diametrically opposite lateral ribs 122 and 124 respectively, that are so spaced apart to cooperate in a snap-fit manner when the cap 88 is closed, to create a further latching cooperation between the cap 88 and the annular element 90. Such latching cooperation becomes the main latching cooperation between the cap 88 and the annular element 90 when the tab 32 is removed, as described hereinabove.
Since the operation of the vial 80 is similar to the vial 10, it will not be described in more detail for concision purposes.
Although a two-part, mountable child-resistant vial described hereinabove has been described hereinabove by way of illustrated embodiments thereof, they can be modified. It is therefore to be understood that numerous modifications may be made to the illustrative embodiments and that the scope of the claims should not be limited by the preferred embodiment but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the description as a whole.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A child-resistant vial comprising:

a one-piece container having a top peripheral edge and a first cooperating part; and

a one-piece cap assembly including

i) a second cooperating part engageable with the first cooperating part for fixedly mounting the cap assembly to the container at the top peripheral edge thereof,

ii) a first latching part, and

iii) a cap, that is pivotably mounted to the second cooperating part, for selectively closing the container when the second cooperating part is fixedly mounted to the container; the cap including a second latching part for cooperating with the first latching part to lock the cap onto the container when the cap closes the container;

wherein the cap being unlockable from the container by simultaneously moving the cap away from the container and moving the first and second latching parts relatively to one another.

2. The child-resistant vial as recited in claim 1, wherein the second cooperating part includes an annular element.

3. The child-resistant vial as recited in claim 2, wherein the first cooperating part is a rim; the second cooperating part includes at least one tooth extending from the annular element; the at least one tooth being so positioned on the annular element as to be forced under the rim when the cap assembly is mounted to the one-piece container.

4. The child-resistant vial as recited in claim 3, wherein the at least one tooth includes a bottom edge and a beveled hook portion at the bottom edge.

5. The child-resistant vial as recited in claim 2, wherein the first latching part is mounted to the annular element.

6. The child-resistant vial as recited in claim 2, wherein the annular element includes a first outer skirt and the cap includes a second outer skirt to cover the first outer skirt at least partially when the cap is moved to close the vial.

7. The child-resistant vial as recited in claim 6, wherein one of the first and second latching parts is a tab that is part of one of the first and second outer skirts respectively, and the other one of the first and second latching parts is a cut in another one of the first and second outer skirts respectively.

8. The child-resistant vial as recited in claim 6, wherein the first latching part is a tab that is part of the first outer skirt, and the second latching part is a cut in the second outer skirt.

9. The child-resistant vial as recited in claim 8, wherein the tab extends from the annular element via a breakable bridge;

whereby, the tab is removable to convert the vial from a child-resistant vial to a non-child-resistant vial.

10. The child-resistant vial as recited in claim 9, wherein the annular element includes safety-related indication behind the tab.

11. The child-resistant vial as recited in claim 2, wherein the cap is in the form of a disk-shaped body that includes inner and outer concentric skirts extending on one side of the disk-shaped body so as to receive the annular element therebetween when the cap closes the container.

12. The child-resistant vial as recited in claim 11, further comprising a seal ring so positioned between the inner and outer concentric skirts as to contact the annular element when the cap closes the container.

13. The child-resistant vial as recited in claim 1, wherein the cap is pivotably mounted to the second cooperating part via a hinge.

14. The child-resistant vial as recited in claim 1, wherein the second cooperating part is configured to be mounted onto the one-piece container in a snap-fit manner.

15. The child-resistant vial as recited in claim 1, wherein both the one-piece container and one-piece cap assembly are molded from a polymeric material.

16. The child-resistant vial as recited in claim 1, wherein the first cooperating part is a rim at the top peripheral edge.

17. A one-piece cap assembly for a child-resistant vial comprising:

an annular cooperating part that is permanently attachable to a top peripheral edge of a container for fixedly mounting the cap assembly to the container;

a first latching part, and

a cap, that is pivotably mounted to the second cooperating part, for selectively closing the container when the second cooperating part is fixedly mounted to the container; the cap including a second latching part for cooperating with the first latching part to lock the cap onto the container when the cap closes the container; the first and second latching parts being further configured so that the cap being unlockable from the container by simultaneously moving the cap away from the container and moving the first and second latching parts relatively to one another.

18. The one-piece cap assembly as recited in claim 17, wherein the annular cooperating part includes at least one tooth configured to be moved under a rim of the container when the annular cooperating part is mounted to the container.

19. The one-piece cap assembly as recited in claim 18, wherein the at least one tooth includes a plurality of teeth spaced-apart along the annular cooperating part.

20. The one-piece cap assembly as recited in claim 17, wherein the cap is pivotably mounted to the second cooperating part via a flexible hinge.

21. A vial comprising:

a one-piece container having a top peripheral edge and a rim at the top peripheral edge; and

a one-piece cap assembly including:

(i) an annular cooperating part configured to engage the rim and permanently mount the cap assembly to the container at the top peripheral edge;

(ii) a first latching part disposed on the annular cooperating part; and

(iii) a cap pivotably mounted to the annular cooperating part, the cap including a second latching part configured to cooperate with the first latching part to lock the cap onto the container when the cap is in a closed position.

22. A two-part vial assembly comprising a one-piece container; and a one-piece cap assembly including i) a mounting portion that is permanently attachable to the container, and ii) a cap pivotably mounted to the mounting portion for selectively closing the container in a sealed and lockable manner when the cap assembly is mounted to the container.