Abstract
In an attempt to show that the design of child resistant closures requires some fresh new thinking, this paper points out the magnitude of the problem involving injuries to children from ingestion and contact with harmful products. The Poison Prevention Packaging Act of 1970 is discussed in some detail. The nature of children under five years of age is developed from both a physiological and psychological point of view. This leads to the writing of design criteria for future closure designs. Present closure devices are critically analyzed and a number of new directions in closure design are illustrated and discussed.