We claim:
1. A convertible child resistant closure for use with a container having an engaging means and an axis extending therethrough about which the closure is rotatable, the closure comprising:
an inner cap and an outer cap,
wherein the inner cap comprises:
an upper wall; and
a first circumferential side wall extending from the upper wall and having a first inner surface with a first engaging means for rotateable engagement of the engaging means of the container, and a first outer surface having a first child resistant portion comprising a series of angular abutments extending thereabout and a first non-child resistant portion axially offset from the first child resistant portion and including a second engaging means for engaging the outer cap; and
wherein the outer cap comprises:
an upper surface; and
a second circumferential side wall extending axially from the upper surface and having a second inner surface provided with a second child resistant region including a plurality of angular abutment surfaces complementary to the series of angular abutments on the inner cap and a second non-child resistant region axially offset from the second child resistant region and including a third engaging means for engaging the second engaging means of the inner cap,
the inner cap being coaxially positioned and nested within the outer cap and axially movable between the second child resistant region and the second non-child resistant region, wherein the second child resistant region and the second non-child resistant region are positioned such that the inner cap moves from the second child resistant region to the second non-child resistant region by movement parallel to the second circumferential side wall in the direction of the upper surface of the outer cap and the inner cap moves from the second non-child resistant region to the second child resistant region by movement parallel to the second circumferential side wall in the direction of the lower surface of the outer cap, and when in the second child resistant region the plurality of angular abutment surfaces engage the series of angular abutments upon rotation of the outer cap to rotate the inner cap in a closing direction and in the absence of an axial force, cam over and past the series of angular abutments upon rotation of the outer cap member in an opening direction to prevent rotation of the inner cap, and when in the second non-child resistant region the third engaging means fixably engages with the second engaging means of the inner cap so that upon rotation of the outer cap in both the opening and closing directions the inner cap turns.
2. The closure of claim 1, wherein the outer cap further comprises griping means having a plurality of knerlments disposed about an outer surface of the outer cap.
3. The closure of claim 1, wherein the upper surface of the outer cap surrounds a central opening to expose the inner cap.
4. The closure of claim 3, wherein the central opening is large enough to permit access therethrough to the inner cap.
5. The closure of claim 1, wherein the angular abutments of the plurality of angular abutment surfaces of the outer cap comprise a first sloped side and a second vertical side, wherein the first sloped side and second vertical side define a first angle in a range of about 30 degrees to about 60 degrees.
6. The closure of claim 5, wherein the first angle is about 45 degrees.
7. The closure of claim 1, wherein the angular abutments of the series of angular abutments of the inner cap comprise first sloped side and a second vertical side, wherein the first sloped side and a second vertical side define a second angle with the axial in a range of about 30 degrees to about 60 degrees.
8. The closure of claim 7, wherein the second angle is about 45 degrees.
9. The closure of claim 5, wherein the angular abutments of the series of angular abutments of the inner cap comprise first sloped side and a second vertical side, wherein the first sloped side and a second vertical side define a second angle with the axial in a range of about 30 degrees to about 60 degrees.
10. The closure of claim 9, wherein the first angle is substantially complementary but not equal to the second angle.
11. The closure of claim 1, wherein the second inner surface of the outer cap further comprises a lip positioned below the second child resistant region to define a limit of movement for the inner cap.
12. A convertible child resistant container and closure system comprising:
a container having an engaging means and an axis extending therethrough about which the closure is rotatable; and
a closure comprising:
an inner cap and an outer cap,
wherein the inner cap comprises:
an upper wall; and
a first circumferential side wall extending from the upper wall and having a first inner surface with a first engaging means for rotateable engagement of the engaging means of the container, and a first outer surface having a first child resistant portion comprising a series of angular abutments extending thereabout and a first non-child resistant portion axially offset from the first child resistant portion and including a second engaging means for engaging the outer cap; and
wherein the outer cap comprises:
an upper surface; and
a second circumferential side wall extending axially from the upper surface and having a second inner surface provided with a second child resistant region including a plurality of angular abutment surfaces complementary to the series of angular abutments on the inner cap and a second non-child resistant region axially offset from the second child resistant region and including a third engaging means for engaging the second engaging means of the inner cap,
the inner cap being coaxially positioned and nested within the outer cap and axially movable between the second child resistant region and the second non-child resistant region, wherein the second child resistant region and the second non-child resistant region are positioned such that the inner cap moves from the second child resistant region to the second non-child resistant region by movement parallel to the second circumferential side wall in the direction of the upper surface of the outer cap and the inner cap moves from the second non-child resistant region to the second child resistant region by movement parallel to the second circumferential side wall in the direction of the lower surface of the outer cap, and when in the second child resistant region the plurality of angular abutment surfaces engage the series of angular abutments upon rotation of the outer cap to rotate the inner cap in a closing direction and in the absence of an axial force, cam over and past the series of angular abutments upon rotation of the outer cap member in an opening direction to prevent rotation of the inner cap, and when in the second non-child resistant region the third engaging means fixably engages with the second engaging means of the inner cap so that upon rotation of the outer cap in both the opening and closing directions the inner cap turns.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A device comprising:
an upper module cover;
a lower module cover;
an outer frame;
an actuator having a movable frame, the movable frame being at least partially disposed intermediate the upper module cover and the lower module cover;
a hinge flexure interconnecting the outer frame and the movable frame such that the movable frame is rotatable with respect to the outer frame; and
wherein at least one of the upper module cover and the lower module cover is adapted to limit a movement of the movable frame.
2. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein both the upper module cover and the lower module cover are adapted to limit movement of the movable frame.
3. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the movement of the movable frame is limited such that double bending of the hinge flexure is mitigated.
4. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the movement of the movable frame is limited such that double bending of the hinge flexure cause by a shock is mitigated.
5. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the upper module cover and the lower module cover cooperate to substantially enclose the actuator.
6. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the upper module cover, the lower module cover, the outer frame, the actuator, and the hinge flexure cooperate to define an actuator module.
7. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the upper module cover, the lower module cover, the outer frame, the actuator, and the hinge flexure cooperate to define an actuator module that is adapted to be received with a lens barrel of a miniature camera.
8. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the upper module cover, the lower module cover, the outer frame, the actuator, and the hinge flexure cooperate to define a substantially round actuator module.
9. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the outer frame, the actuator, and the hinge flexure are of monolithic construction.
10. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the hinge flexure is X-shaped.
11. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the outer frame, the actuator, and the hinge flexure at least partially define a MEMS device.
12. An electronic device comprising the device of claim 1.
13. A system comprising:
a lens barrel;
an upper module cover;
a lower module cover;
an outer frame;
an actuator;
a hinge flexure;
wherein the upper module cover, the lower module cover, the outer frame, the actuator, and the hinge flexure cooperate to define an actuator module that is disposed substantially within the lens barrel; and
wherein at least one of the upper module cover and the lower module cover are adapted to limit a movement of the movable frame.
14. The system as recited in claim 13, further comprising a miniature camera to which the lens barrel is attached.
15. An electronic device comprising the system of claim 13.
16. A method comprising:
forming an upper module cover;
forming a lower module cover;
forming an outer frame;
forming an actuator having a movable frame;
forming a hinge flexure interconnecting the outer frame and the movable frame such that the movable frame is rotatable with respect to the outer frame;
positioning the outer frame, the actuator, and the hinge flexure at least partially intermediate the upper module cover and the lower module cover; and
wherein at least one of the upper module cover and the lower module cover are adapted to limit a movement of the movable frame.
17. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein forming the outer frame, forming the actuator, and forming the hinge flexure comprise forming the outer frame, the actuator, and the hinge flexure of monolithic construction.
18. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein forming the outer frame, forming the actuator, and forming the hinge flexure comprise forming the outer frame, the actuator, and the hinge flexure using MEMS techniques.
19. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein forming the outer frame, forming the actuator, and forming the hinge flexure comprise forming the outer frame, the actuator, and the hinge flexure of silicon.
20. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein forming the upper module cover and forming the lower module cover comprise forming the upper module cover and forming the lower module cover of plastic.
21. A method comprising:
limiting movement of a movable frame of an actuator using at least one of an upper module cover and a lower module cover; and
wherein limiting movement of the movable frame mitigates double bending of a hinge flexure that interconnects an outer frame of the actuator with a movable frame of the actuator during a shock.
22. The method as recited in claim 21, wherein limiting movement of the movable frame comprises limiting movement of the movable frame using both the upper module cover and the lower module cover.
23. The method as recited in claim 21, further comprising moving the movable frame to effect at least one of focusing a miniature camera, zooming a miniature camera, and optically stabilizing an image of a miniature camera.
24. A device comprising:
an outer frame;
an actuator having a movable frame;
a hinge flexure interconnecting the outer frame and the movable frame such that the movable frame is rotatable with respect to the outer frame; and
means for limiting the movement of the movable frame with respect to the fixed frame.
25. The device as recited in claim 24, wherein the means limits vertical movement of the movable frame with respect to the fixed frame.
26. The device as recited in claim 25, wherein the means comprises a plurality of flaps.
27. The device as recited in claim 25, wherein the means comprises a plurality of flaps that cooperate with an adhesive bonding agent.
28. The device as recited in claim 25, wherein the means comprises a plurality of flaps that cooperate with epoxy.