Child-resistant closure and container package

Abstract

A child-resistant package includes a container having an end with an open mouth surrounded by a container wall having a central axis. An external ledge extends around the container wall at a position spaced from the open mouth. The ledge has an axially facing surface that adjoins a radially outwardly facing surface of the container wall, and closure securement structure on the ledge including at least one pocket. A closure includes a base wall, a peripheral skirt coupled to the base wall, at least one internal lug on the skirt for receipt in the at least one pocket on the container, and an annular wall that extends from the base wall for plug-sealing receipt within the container mouth when the skirt is received over the end of the container. At least one spring element extends from the base wall of the closure adjacent to the skirt radially inwardly and axially within the skirt. The spring element is adapted to engage the axially facing surface of the ledge and to slide radially inwardly along the ledge surface as the closure lug is moved into the pocket on the container to bias the lug into the pocket. The radially outwardly facing surface of the container wall adjacent to the ledge axially facing surface functions as a stop to prevent over-compression of the spring element, and to prevent engagement of the spring element with the annular wall on the closure and thereby affect the plug seal function of the annular wall.