Child resistant closure with energy planes

Abstract

A child resistant dispensing closure of the type having a cap and a spout mounted thereon for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis. The upper surface of the cap is provided with a pattern of ribs. The upper surface of the spout is provided with a plurality of ribs, each of which has a distinct energy plane. All but one of the energy planes fails to allow sufficient purchase on their respective ribs and fails to produce the proper force vector required in order to initiate rotation of the spout when a manual force is applied to the latter energy planes. Only one of the energy planes is adapted so as to allow sufficient purchase and to produce the proper force vector required in order to initiate rotation of the spout when a manual force is applied to said one plane. The plurality of ribs provided on the spout, in conjunction with the pattern of ribs provided on the cap, blend together and serve to distract and confuse a child or other individual of reduced mental capacity, thereby effectively reducing to negligible the probability that the child or other individual would inadvertently discover the sole energy plane capable of realizing rotation of the spout while exploring the dispensing closure with the fingers, fingernails, teeth or other objects. The spout may be mounted on the cap in such a manner as to require relatively little rotational torque for rotation, thereby making the dispensing closure convenient and easy to utilize by adults, even those not possessing normal physical strengths.