CA1143339A - Child-resistant closure and container assembly including improved outer cap - Google Patents
Child-resistant closure and container assembly including improved outer capInfo
- Publication number
- CA1143339A CA1143339A CA000366729A CA366729A CA1143339A CA 1143339 A CA1143339 A CA 1143339A CA 000366729 A CA000366729 A CA 000366729A CA 366729 A CA366729 A CA 366729A CA 1143339 A CA1143339 A CA 1143339A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- cap
- caps
- dome
- outer cap
- members
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D50/00—Closures with means for discouraging unauthorised opening or removal thereof, with or without indicating means, e.g. child-proof closures
- B65D50/02—Closures with means for discouraging unauthorised opening or removal thereof, with or without indicating means, e.g. child-proof closures openable or removable by the combination of plural actions
- B65D50/04—Closures with means for discouraging unauthorised opening or removal thereof, with or without indicating means, e.g. child-proof closures openable or removable by the combination of plural actions requiring the combination of simultaneous actions, e.g. depressing and turning, lifting and turning, maintaining a part and turning another one
- B65D50/041—Closures with means for discouraging unauthorised opening or removal thereof, with or without indicating means, e.g. child-proof closures openable or removable by the combination of plural actions requiring the combination of simultaneous actions, e.g. depressing and turning, lifting and turning, maintaining a part and turning another one the closure comprising nested inner and outer caps or an inner cap and an outer coaxial annular member, which can be brought into engagement to enable removal by rotation
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Closures For Containers (AREA)
Abstract
CHILD-RESISTANT CLOSURE AND CONTAINER
ASSEMBLY INCLUDING IMPROVED OUTER CAP
ABSTRACT
A safety closure and container assembly including a container and a closure comprising outer and inner caps which may be attached to the container by conventional capping machines. In first, second, third and fourth embodiments of the invention, the inner cap is formed with a circular dome-shaped top panel with a skirt portion pro-jecting axially therefrom, The projecting skirt portion is threaded on its interior surface for engagement with a conventionally threaded con-tainer finish. A plurality of upwardly extend-ing and spaced apart drive members are integrally molded with the periphery of the top panel.
plurality of ramped ratchet lugs also extend upwardly from the upper surface of the top panel.
The outer cap has a circular end wall with an axially projecting second skirt portion. In the fourth embodiment of the outer cap, the end wall has an annular portion having a smaller thickness than the remainder of the end wall. The second skirt portion loosely encompasses the first skirt portion to allow relative rotary movement between the inner and outer caps. Integrally formed on the interior of the end wall are a plurality of inclined ramped ratchet lugs. In the fourth-embodiment of the outer cap a plurality of spaced, sloping ratchet projections are integrally formed on the interior of the end wall. The re-duced thickness of the annular portion and the ratchet projections facilitate slippage of the outer cap over the inner cap to prevent removal of the closure unless the inner and outer caps are first aligned and then the outer cap is pressed down to overcome the bias of the dome-shaped top panel. A plurality of drive lugs extend downwardly from the periphery of the interior of the end wall.
ASSEMBLY INCLUDING IMPROVED OUTER CAP
ABSTRACT
A safety closure and container assembly including a container and a closure comprising outer and inner caps which may be attached to the container by conventional capping machines. In first, second, third and fourth embodiments of the invention, the inner cap is formed with a circular dome-shaped top panel with a skirt portion pro-jecting axially therefrom, The projecting skirt portion is threaded on its interior surface for engagement with a conventionally threaded con-tainer finish. A plurality of upwardly extend-ing and spaced apart drive members are integrally molded with the periphery of the top panel.
plurality of ramped ratchet lugs also extend upwardly from the upper surface of the top panel.
The outer cap has a circular end wall with an axially projecting second skirt portion. In the fourth embodiment of the outer cap, the end wall has an annular portion having a smaller thickness than the remainder of the end wall. The second skirt portion loosely encompasses the first skirt portion to allow relative rotary movement between the inner and outer caps. Integrally formed on the interior of the end wall are a plurality of inclined ramped ratchet lugs. In the fourth-embodiment of the outer cap a plurality of spaced, sloping ratchet projections are integrally formed on the interior of the end wall. The re-duced thickness of the annular portion and the ratchet projections facilitate slippage of the outer cap over the inner cap to prevent removal of the closure unless the inner and outer caps are first aligned and then the outer cap is pressed down to overcome the bias of the dome-shaped top panel. A plurality of drive lugs extend downwardly from the periphery of the interior of the end wall.
Description
3;339 CHILD-RESISTANT CLOSURE AND CONTAINER
ASSEMBLY INCLUDI~G IMpROVED OUTER CAP
TECHNICAL ~IELD
This învention relates generally to sa~ety closure and container assemblies and is particularly concerned with safety closures which may be applied to containers having standard finishes with conventional capping machines, BACKGROUND ART
In order to reduce the number of acci~
: dental poisonings resulting from young children having access to unsafe medicines, drugs, house-: ~ hold chemicals and other products, there has been considerabIe activity in recent years toward the -. ~ 15 development of clo.sures and containers in which a type of manipulation between the cap and container is required in order to gain access to the-con-tents of the container that a young child is in~ :-capable of~performing,~.~For~example, lt~:has been 20~ ~found that young'children are generally incapable of~manipulating~a cap~mounted on a container~
bayonet~type::locking means ~ a type of~locking means whi~ch~requires~that~the cap be~pushed rela~
;:tive to~the~container:and~:then rotates:relative to 25~ the container in order to~ separate ~the:cap from the container. ;The cap must be pushed axially toward~the:~container against the biasing force of a spring-like~element~in order to disengage the bayonet~ locking~means~ See~ for example, Hedge~ick ",~ 3Q:-:~ U,S~ Re~ssue~Patent:27~156.
are _ nF caps of the typ- h.avlDg ' . ~' :: ; ;
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~9L33~9 an inner cap adapted to threadedly engage the neck portion of a container and an outer cap fixedly attached over the inner cap to prevent external access thereto~ The outer cap is generally spring~biased away from the cap to pro~ide rela~
tively free rotation therebetween Upon pushing the outer cap toward the inner cap, the two caps ` en~age in some manner so as to produce rotation of the inner cap with the outer cap and allow unthreading thereof. Examples of such caps are disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos, 2,964,207~ 3,374, 912, 3,394,829, 3,396,864, 3,764,033, 3,853,236, 3,857,505 and 3,944,102, A problem with many of such closures is that they cannot be applied w~th conventional capping machinery, Another problem is that it is diffi-cult to produce-such closures by mass production molding and assembly techniques because of their structural design. Other problems result when the two parts forming the closure include un-necessary~material. If the two parts do not fit correctly with~respect~to eàch-other, cocking occurs and the closure will often fail as the mating and/or engaging portions of the inner 25~ and outer;~caps become~excessively worn.
Other~patents to which this~invention generally~relates are U S Patent Nos. 3,432,065, 3,7S3,510,~4,0Q2,2S9~and~4~032,028 DISCLOSURE~OF~THE INVENTION
;30~ The~present~invention is concerned ~ith a~child-resistant~closure and container assembly w~th~standàrd~ container~finishes formed on the ~333~
exterior of the container, The closure includes an outer cap and an inner cap, the inner cap havin~ a dome-shaped top panel and a skirt por-tion project~ng ax~ally therefrom~ Ratchet lug means are disposed on.the top surface of the dome~
shaped top panel in a circular arrangement for engagement by a plurality of inclined detent mem-bers arranged in a similar fashion on the inner surface of the outer cap~ The dome-shaped top lQ panel provides a biasing force to maintain the ~nner and outer caps normally in a second axial pos~tion, In this position the detent members engage the ratchet lug means to drive the inner and outer caps as a unit in the closure tighten-~ng d~rection but will slip over the ratchetlug means freely in the unt~htening direction to prevent removal of the. inner cap from the container finish portion~ Downward pressure on the outer---cap w~ overcome the bias of-the dome~
~ 20 shaped top panel to place the inner and outer ; : ~: . caps in a first axial position wherein the inner ;and outer caps are coupled thereby al1Owing ro-tation of the inner and outer caps in unison to : allow remo~al of the closure~
2S A preferred embodiment of a safety cIosure assembly includes an inner cap having a dome-shaped top panel with a skirt portion pro-jecting axially therefrom~ The depending skirt portion has cap locking means formed on the : 30 inner surface thereof which is adapted to engage with. and disengage from complementary conta~ner ; .:lockin~ means on a container, The outer cap has an~end wall w1th a skirt portion projecting ,~ .~
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: ' 11~3339 P-384 -4a-axially from the periphery thereof. The end wall has an annular portion having a smaller thickness than the remainder of the end wall. The second skirt portion loosely encompasses the first skirt portion to allow relative rotary movement between the inner and outer caps. Clutch means operatively assocated with the inner surface of the outer cap and the outer surface of the inner cap couple the inner and outer caps in one position of axial displacement of the inner and outer caps and uncouple the inner and outer caps in a second axial position of the inner and outer caps.
Ratchet lug means are circularly disposed on one of the inner and outer caps and interposed the caps. A plurality of spaced inclined detent members are circularly disposed on one of the inner and outer caps and interposed the caps.
The dome-shaped top panel provides a biasing force to maintain the inner and outer caps in the second axial position. The detent members drivingly engage the ratchet lug means in the second axial position to drive the inner and outer caps as a unit in the tightening direc*ion of the closure and slip over the ratchet lug means in the untightening direction to prevent un-screwing of the inner cap. Downward axial pres-sure on the outer cap overcomes the bias of the dome-shaped panel by causing a portion of the ` outer cap to deform the dome-shaped panel to place the inner and outer caps in a first axial position. Retaining means loosely retain the inner cap within the outer cap.
A preferred embodiment of an inner cap ,~ .
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~' ~143339 P-384 -4b-member adapted to be loosely retained within an outer cap member of a safety closure to allow relative ro-tary movement therebetween includes a dome-shaped top panel having a skirt portion projecting axially therefrom. The depending skirt portion has cap locking means formed on the inner surface thereof and is adapted to be engaged with and disengaged from complementary container locking means on the container.
Coupling means are disposed on the outer surface of the inner cap member and adapted for coupling the in-ner and outer cap members in one position of axial displacement of the inner and outer cap members and uncoupling the inner and outer cap members in a second axial position of the inner and outer cap members.
The dome-shaped top panel is adapted to provide a biasing force to maintain the inner and outer cap members in a second axial position. Ratchet lug means are circularly disposed on the outer surface of the inner cap member and are adapted to be driven by a driving portion of the outer cap member in a second axial position to drive the outer and inner cap members as a unit in the tightening direction of the closure and allow the driving portion of the outer cap member to slip thereover in the un-tightening direction to prevent unlocking of theinner cap member. The dome-shaped top panel is adapted to be deformed in response to downward axial pressure at its outer surface to place the outer and inner cap members in the first axial ; 30 position.
A preferred embodiment of an outer cap mem-ber adapted to loosely retain an inner cap mem-ber of a safety closure therein to allow relative . .
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114333~
P-384 -4c-rotary movement therebetween includes an end wall having a skirt portion projecting axially there-from. The end wall has an annular portion having a smaller thickness than the remainder of the end wall. Clutch means is disposed on the inner sur-face of the outer cap member and is adapted for coupling the inner and outer cap members in one position of axial displacement of the inner and outer cap members and uncoupling the inner and outer cap members in a second axial position of the inner and outer cap members. A plurality of spaced in-clined detent members are circularly disposed on the inner surface of the outer cap member and is adapted to drive a driven portion of the inner cap member in the second axial position to drive the inner and outer cap members as a unit in the tigh-tening direction of the closure and is adapted to slip over the driven portions of the inner cap member in the untightening direction to prevent unlocking of the inner cap member. The annuIar portion allows the end wall to deform in the un-tightening direction to lessen the amount of fric-tion between the detent members and the driven portion of the inner cap member.
A preferred embodiment of a safety closure and container assembly includes a container having a mouth portion with an annular rim and container locking means formed on the outer surface of the mouth portion. An inner cap has a top dome-shaped panel with a skirt portion projecting axially there-' from. The depending skirt portion has cap locking Y-- means formed on the inner surface thereof. An outer cap has an end wall with the second skirt portion ' ' ~
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P-384 -4d-projecting axially from the periphery thereof~ A
second skirt portion loosely encompasses the first skirt portion to allow relative rotary movement between the inner and outer caps. Clutch means are operatively associated with the inner surface of the outer cap and the outer surface of the inner cap to couple the inner and outer caps in one posi-tion of axial displacement of the inner and outer caps and uncouple the inner and outer caps in a second axial position of the inner and outer caps.
Ratchet lug means are circularly disposed on one of the inner and outer caps and interposed the caps.
A plurality of inclined detent members are circu-larly disposed on one of the inner and outer caps and interposed the caps. The dome-shaped panel pro-vides a biasing force to maintain the inner and outer caps in a second axial position. The detent members drivingly engage the ratchet lug means in the second axial position to drive the inner and outer caps as a unit in the tightening direction of the closure and slip over the ratchet lug means in the untightening direction to prevent unscrewing of the inner cap. Downward axial pressure on the outer cap overcomes the bias of the dome-shaped panel by causing a portion of the outer cap to de-` form the dome-shaped panel to place the inner and outer caps in the first axial position. The cap lcoking means are disengageable from the container by combined axial and rotary motion of the outer cap relative to the container. Retaining means loosely retain the inner cap within the outer cap in a radial direction.
Both the inner and outer caps are .. , ~ , .
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prefer~bly molded out of plastic by molding apparatus Als-o preferably, the inner cap has a plurality of upwardly extendin~ stop ribs to pre-vent the outer cap from collapsing the dome~shapedtop panel during shipment of the assembl~es Other advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the followin~
description taken in connection with the accompany~
ing drawings/
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGURE 1 is a sectional view of the safety closure and container assembly embodying the invention;
FIGURE 2 is a sectional view of the safety closure assembly held under axial downward force on the container;
FIGURE 3 is a top fragmentary view taken on lines 3-3 of FIGURE l;
2Q FIGURE 4 is an exploded, fragmentary perspective view of the safety closure assembly;
: FIGURE 5 is a sectional view of a second embodiment of the invention;
: FIGURE 6 is an exploded, fragmentary : : 25 perspective view of the second embodiment;
FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of the inner cap of the third embodiment of the inven~
: : tion;
~: ~ FIGURE 8 is a top view of the inner cap of FIGURE 7 with the drive l~gs of the outer cap shown in phantom;
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FIGURE 9 is a sectional, fragmentary view of the assembled inner and outer caps of the third embodlment;
FIGURE 10 is a sectional~ ~ra~mentary v;ew of the assembled ~nner and outer caps of a fourth embodiment; and FIGURE 11 is a perspective view of the outer cap of the fourth embod~ment of the inven-tion.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
In the drawinys reference numeral 10 collectively designates a first embodiment of a safety closure and container assembly of the present invention as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, The assembly 10 comprises a closure including an outer cap 12, and an inner cap 14 and a con~
tainer-16~ The ~nner cap 14 is loosely encom-passed within the outer cap 12 to allow relati~e rotary movement between the outer and inner caps :~ 2Q 12 and 14, respectively. The inner and outer caps 12 and 14 are coupled together so that they mo~e together as a unit in the tightening direc-tion of the:closure and the outer cap 12 rotate$
: freely of:the inner cap 14 when the outer cap 12 25~ is~rotated in`the untightening direction to prevent unscrewing of the inner cap 14 from the :container 16. Downwardly axial pressure on the : ; : outer cap 12 couples the inner and outer caps 14 and 12 togeth~r so that when the outer cap 12 30~ ls rotated~in the untightening direction the inner - ca~ l4:is unscrewed~from the containex 16, :With reference to FIGU~ES I and 2 the .
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, , outer cap 12 is formed with a circular end wall 18 ~ntegrally molded with a depending skirt por-- tion 20, Molded into the underside of the end wall 18 and extending into the interior of th2 outer cap 12 are a plurality of detent members or in-clined ramped ratche~ lugs 22, as best shown in FIGURE 4, The ratchet lugs 22 are integrally formed and circularly disposed about an annular stop member 24 which is also molded into the under-lQ side of the end wall 18. Both the ratchet lugs22 and the stop member 24 are concentrically arranged about the center of the circular end wall 18.
The embodiment shown in FIGURE 4 shows five ratchet lugs 22, but as few as two ratchet lugs will operate satisfactorily and m~re than five ratchet lugs may be employed if desired, $he angle of inclination of the ratchet lugs may.
be varied so long as the ratcheting function to be described hereinbelow may be properly per-: formed.
In addition to ~he ratchet lugs 22, aplurality of drive lugs 26 are also molded into : : the underside of the end wall 18 and depend down-wardly. The drive lugs 26 are preferably located : adjacent to the extreme outer portion of the in-side diameter of the outer cap 12 adjacent to the depending skirt portion 20~ The illustration of four drive lu~s 26 is simply by way of illustra-3a tion and a single drive lug would functionproperly but multiple drive lugs are preférred to allow a number of different removal engagement :
: ~ :
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~ 8 ~
positions as will be described hereinbelow.
A recess 28 and a retention means inthe ~orm of an annular, radially inwardly ex~
tending lip 30 are molded into the interior wall of the skirt portion 20, The lip 30 is continu~
ous about the entire circumference of the skirt portion 20.
The outer cap 12 may be manufactured of any material sufficiently strong to stand up . 10 under wear. Materials which have proven success~
ful for this purpose are modified styrene and polypropy-lene, The inner cap 14 is also formed as an integral unit and has a dome-shaped top panel 32 and a depending skirt portion 34 attached there-.
to at its outer peripher~, The interior of the skirt portion 34 may be provided with threads 36 for engagement with a threaded exterior finish.
portion 38 of the conventional container 16, Pro.~
jecting vertically out from and integrally attached to the top panel 32 are a plurality of inclined ramped ratchet lugs 40. In the embodiment shown in FIGURE 4, there are five ratchet lugs, each ~: :of which has an inclined ramped upper surface 42 The beginnings of the upper surfaces 42 are in a plane slightly above the plane of the top panel :~ : 32. The ends of the upper surfaces 42 terminate ~ ; at an elevation such that the ratchet lugs 22 of :; ~the outer cap 12 engage the lugs 40~ This ~; 30. occurrence takes place when the inner cap 14 is assembled within the outer cap 12 and its pre~
: cise ~unction will he descrihed in detail ' .
1~3339 hereinbelow.
The do~e~shaped top panel 32 incluaes a dome portion 44 having a cylindrical base por-.
tion 46 which is concentric with the stop member 24. The base portion 42 engages and is biased against the outer surface of the stop member 24 by an annular web-like portion 47 of the dome portion 44. The web-like portion 47 flares out-wardly in a bell-shaped configuration from the lQ outer periphery of the base portion 46 to the inner periphery of the flange 48~ The stop mem-ber 24 cooperates with the base portion 46 to maintain the inner sap 15 centered with respect to the outer cap 12, The top panel 32 also includes a flange 48 integrally formed at the outer periphery of the dome por*ion 44 and projecting radially out-wardly therefrom~ -The fiange 48 is also integrally formed with the skirt portion 34 which downwardly depends therefrom, The upper peripheral portion o~ the inner cap 14 includes an outer ring wall 50 which rises above the plane of the flange 48~ Spaced at intervals around the outer ring wall 50 are upwardly extending drive members 52, In the : assembled closure assembly the drive lugs 26 on the interior of the outer cap 12 are dimensioned : such that they may mesh into the openings between : the drive members 52~ This imparts driving force to the inner cap 14 so that it may be driven with the outer cap 12, A retention bead 54 is molded into the :: :
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exterior surface of the depending skirt portion 34~ The retention bead 54 extends about the entire circumference of the skirt portion 34 and is of a diameter greater than that of the retention lip 30 formed on the skirt portion 20 of the outer cap 12.
Also formed at the upper peripheral portion of the inner cap 14 is an inner ring wall 56 which also projects above the plane of the flange 48. The inner ring wall 56 is spaced radially inwardly from the outer ring wall 50.
A plurality of radially extending reinforcing ribs 58 are formed on the upper surface of the flange 48 and interconnects the inner ring wall 56 with the outer ring wall 50 at the drive members 52.
The inner cap 14 is an independent clo-sure in itself for a container. The inner cap 14 may be made of any suitable material and need not necessarily be the same material as that of the outer cap 12. It has been found that a thermo~
plastic material such as polypropylene or poly~
thene is particularly well-adapted for the manu-: facture of the inner cap 14, :: ~ 25 The closure is formed by assembling the outer cap 12 and the inner cap 14, To assemble :~: : the completed closure assembly, the retention lip 30 is forced over the retention bead 54, the pro~
cess causin~ the skirt portion 20 of the outer ~: 3Q cap 12 to spring slightly outwardly, Once the retention lip 30 has passed over the retention bead 54, the skirt portion 2~ springs back in-wardl~:trapping the inner cap 14 within the outer cap 12~ As shown in FIGU~E 1, the it between the outer cap 12 and the inner cap 14 is not t~gh.t ~n ~ rad~al direction since there is an apprec~able gap bet~een the interior of the . 5 skirt portivn 20 and the exterior of the skirt portion 34. However, the it between the outer cap 12 and the ~nner cap 14 is tight in an ax~al direction since there is no gap between the top panel 32 and the stop member 24 nor bet~een the retention iip 30 and the retention bead 54.
As shown in FIGURE 1, engagement of the base portion 46 with the stop member 24 and engagement of the retention bead 54 and the re~
tention lip 30, provides a known spring force to keep the inner cap 14 separated from the outer cap 12 about the outer periphery of the inner cap 14, ~
A sealing disc~(not shown~ may be pro -.
vided between the upper surface of the finish portion 38 and the lower portion of the flange 48, The sealing disc may,comprise any material :: suitable for sealing the contents of the con~
~: tainer. The sealing disc may be mounted on the lower surface of the flange 48 by a suitable :
: ~ ~ : 25 adhesive, The completed closure assembly may be screwed onto the finished portion 38 of the con-: tainer 16~s~nce rotation of the outer cap 12 ~ill cause the ratchet lugs 22 of the outer cap I2 to drivingIy engage the ratchet.lugs 40 formed on the upper~surface of the dome portion 44 and ~ consequently~,~turn the outex cap 12 and the innex .~ ~ cap~l4 às'a::unit in the tightening direction, . . ~ :
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~3339 ~ 12 -Conversely~ it may be seen that if the outer cap 12 were rotated in the opposite direction or in the normally, unscrewin~ direction~ the r~tchet lugs 22 of the outer cap 12 would slip over the ratchet lugs 40 of the inner cap 14. The outer cap 12 thus can rotate freely with respect to the inner cap 14 in the loosening direction.
It is this feature which makes the closure assembly-10 child-resistant since it is impossible to unscrew the entire assembly 10 without additIonal motion. Furthermore, the gap between the skirt portion 20 of the outer cap 12 and the skirt portion 34 of the inner cap 14 makes it unlikely that a child could compress the outer cap 12 by squeezing it against the inner cap 14 sufficiently to be able to unscrew the inner cap 14 from the finish portion 38 of the container 16 To remove the closure assembly from the finish portion 38 of th~ container 16, the outer 2Q cap 12 must be compressed downwardly over the inner cap 14 as shown in FIGURE 2. The configura~
: tion o~ FIGURE 1 may be considered one position : of axial displacement of the outer cap 12 and : the inner cap 14, while the configuration of FIGURE 2 may be considered a second position of axial displacement of the outer cap 12 and inner cap 14. The dome portion 44 serves to normally keep the outer cap 12 and the inner cap 14 in the relationship shown ;n FIGURE l, in which configura : ~ 30 tion removal of the closure assembly from the container 16 is not possible~ Howevex, in utiliz~
` in~ the spring function of the dome portion 44 : :
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the outer cap 12 may be pressed downwardly over the inner cap 14~ The downward displacement of the outer cap 12 brings the drive lugs 26 into the space between the guide members 52. Althouqh the al~gnment of the drive lugs 26 in the spaces between the drive members 52 may not be perfect at the time the outer cap 12 is pressed downwardly, slight rotation of the outer cap 12 in the loosen~
ing direction will bring the dri~e lugs 26 into proper drive engagement~ ~ith the drlve lugs 26 properly engaged, the outer cap 12 may ~e rotated and the inner cap 14 will rotate with it as a unit throughout this driving engagement.
Once the closure assembly is removed from the container 16 and the downward pressure on the outer cap 12 is released, the closure assembly will spring back to the configuration shown in FIGURE 1 under the springing influence of the dome port~on 44. The closure assembly is again ;n a configuration suitable for reappl~
: cation to the container 16.
The closure assembly assembled from the inner cap 14 and the outer cap 12 may be applied by conventional capping machinery since there is 25 : n~ need for any manipulation of the closure :assembly during the tightening-proceduse, With reference to FIGURE 5 there i~
shown a:second embodiment of a safety closure : and container assembly of the present invention which~is collectively indic~ted at 10', The :assembly lQ~ ~includes a container 16~. The ;clo5ure~assembly~1One~is shown in FIGU~E~6 and -~ "
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3~9 includes an outer cap 12~ and an inner c~p 14~ as in the first embodiment. Those elements of the second embodiment which have the same or similar structure and~or function as the elements of the first embodiment, have the same reference numeral, but are primed to distinguish those elements from the elements of the first embodiment, Only those elements which are substantially different in structure and/or function will be described here-inbelow, Referring initially to the outer cap 12'as shown in FIGURE 6, a plurality of drive nibs 26' comprising fi~e in number, are molded into the undersiae of an ena wall 18~ of the outer c~p 12 and depend downwardly, A single drive nib will function as described hereinbelow, but multiple drive nibs 26' are preferred to allow a number of different removal-engagement positions~--Ratchet lugs 22' of the outer cap 12' are circularly disposed about an annular stopmember 24'. Each of the ratchet lugs 22~ is formed separate from the other ratchet lugs 22', The outer cap 12' can be manufactured of any material sufficiently strong to stand up under operation. A material which has been proved to be successful for this purpose is polypropylene, : : The inner cap 14' of the closure assembly of the second embodiment includes five inclined ramped ratchet lugs 40l circularly 3Q disposed on the outer peripheral portion 132 of a relatively ri~id central base portion 46 of the dome-shaped top pa~el 32' of the inner :
cap 14~ The base portion 46' projects inwardly from the bottom surface of the top panel 32~ and has a bottom surface where a sealing disc 130 ma,y be adhesively securedt The sealing disc 130 may comprise any suitable mater;al for sealing the contents of the container 16' therei,n, A web-like portion 47' of the top panel 32' flares outwardly from the base portion 46, in a bell-shaped configuration in the same ~ashion as the web-like portion 47 of the first embodiment.
~ flange 48' of the top panel 32' ex-tends radially outwardly from the periphery of the web-like port~on 47 t and includes a plurality of upwardly extending nibs 52' comprising five in number, In the assembled closure assembly the drive nibs 26' on the interior of the outer cap 12~ engage--the nibs 52~ when the combined.axial ............. '.
and unscrewing driving forces are imparted to the outer cap 12~ to unscrew the inner cap 14' from the container 16'.
; ~ ' When the base portion 46 is pushed: in a downward direction at the ratchet lugs 40~
on the peripheral portion 132 by the ratchet lugs : 25 22' of the outer cap 12', the web-like portion 47' flexes or deforms to allow.drive nibs 26' to engage the nibs 52'. The base portion 32' including the peripheral portion 132 do not de-: form but rather cause the sealing disc 130 to 3Q flex inwardly ~nto th.e container 16', , : With reference to FIGURES 7, 8 and 9 there;`~s:~sh.o~n a thixd embodiment of an:outer cap
ASSEMBLY INCLUDI~G IMpROVED OUTER CAP
TECHNICAL ~IELD
This învention relates generally to sa~ety closure and container assemblies and is particularly concerned with safety closures which may be applied to containers having standard finishes with conventional capping machines, BACKGROUND ART
In order to reduce the number of acci~
: dental poisonings resulting from young children having access to unsafe medicines, drugs, house-: ~ hold chemicals and other products, there has been considerabIe activity in recent years toward the -. ~ 15 development of clo.sures and containers in which a type of manipulation between the cap and container is required in order to gain access to the-con-tents of the container that a young child is in~ :-capable of~performing,~.~For~example, lt~:has been 20~ ~found that young'children are generally incapable of~manipulating~a cap~mounted on a container~
bayonet~type::locking means ~ a type of~locking means whi~ch~requires~that~the cap be~pushed rela~
;:tive to~the~container:and~:then rotates:relative to 25~ the container in order to~ separate ~the:cap from the container. ;The cap must be pushed axially toward~the:~container against the biasing force of a spring-like~element~in order to disengage the bayonet~ locking~means~ See~ for example, Hedge~ick ",~ 3Q:-:~ U,S~ Re~ssue~Patent:27~156.
are _ nF caps of the typ- h.avlDg ' . ~' :: ; ;
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~9L33~9 an inner cap adapted to threadedly engage the neck portion of a container and an outer cap fixedly attached over the inner cap to prevent external access thereto~ The outer cap is generally spring~biased away from the cap to pro~ide rela~
tively free rotation therebetween Upon pushing the outer cap toward the inner cap, the two caps ` en~age in some manner so as to produce rotation of the inner cap with the outer cap and allow unthreading thereof. Examples of such caps are disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos, 2,964,207~ 3,374, 912, 3,394,829, 3,396,864, 3,764,033, 3,853,236, 3,857,505 and 3,944,102, A problem with many of such closures is that they cannot be applied w~th conventional capping machinery, Another problem is that it is diffi-cult to produce-such closures by mass production molding and assembly techniques because of their structural design. Other problems result when the two parts forming the closure include un-necessary~material. If the two parts do not fit correctly with~respect~to eàch-other, cocking occurs and the closure will often fail as the mating and/or engaging portions of the inner 25~ and outer;~caps become~excessively worn.
Other~patents to which this~invention generally~relates are U S Patent Nos. 3,432,065, 3,7S3,510,~4,0Q2,2S9~and~4~032,028 DISCLOSURE~OF~THE INVENTION
;30~ The~present~invention is concerned ~ith a~child-resistant~closure and container assembly w~th~standàrd~ container~finishes formed on the ~333~
exterior of the container, The closure includes an outer cap and an inner cap, the inner cap havin~ a dome-shaped top panel and a skirt por-tion project~ng ax~ally therefrom~ Ratchet lug means are disposed on.the top surface of the dome~
shaped top panel in a circular arrangement for engagement by a plurality of inclined detent mem-bers arranged in a similar fashion on the inner surface of the outer cap~ The dome-shaped top lQ panel provides a biasing force to maintain the ~nner and outer caps normally in a second axial pos~tion, In this position the detent members engage the ratchet lug means to drive the inner and outer caps as a unit in the closure tighten-~ng d~rection but will slip over the ratchetlug means freely in the unt~htening direction to prevent removal of the. inner cap from the container finish portion~ Downward pressure on the outer---cap w~ overcome the bias of-the dome~
~ 20 shaped top panel to place the inner and outer ; : ~: . caps in a first axial position wherein the inner ;and outer caps are coupled thereby al1Owing ro-tation of the inner and outer caps in unison to : allow remo~al of the closure~
2S A preferred embodiment of a safety cIosure assembly includes an inner cap having a dome-shaped top panel with a skirt portion pro-jecting axially therefrom~ The depending skirt portion has cap locking means formed on the : 30 inner surface thereof which is adapted to engage with. and disengage from complementary conta~ner ; .:lockin~ means on a container, The outer cap has an~end wall w1th a skirt portion projecting ,~ .~
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: ' 11~3339 P-384 -4a-axially from the periphery thereof. The end wall has an annular portion having a smaller thickness than the remainder of the end wall. The second skirt portion loosely encompasses the first skirt portion to allow relative rotary movement between the inner and outer caps. Clutch means operatively assocated with the inner surface of the outer cap and the outer surface of the inner cap couple the inner and outer caps in one position of axial displacement of the inner and outer caps and uncouple the inner and outer caps in a second axial position of the inner and outer caps.
Ratchet lug means are circularly disposed on one of the inner and outer caps and interposed the caps. A plurality of spaced inclined detent members are circularly disposed on one of the inner and outer caps and interposed the caps.
The dome-shaped top panel provides a biasing force to maintain the inner and outer caps in the second axial position. The detent members drivingly engage the ratchet lug means in the second axial position to drive the inner and outer caps as a unit in the tightening direc*ion of the closure and slip over the ratchet lug means in the untightening direction to prevent un-screwing of the inner cap. Downward axial pres-sure on the outer cap overcomes the bias of the dome-shaped panel by causing a portion of the ` outer cap to deform the dome-shaped panel to place the inner and outer caps in a first axial position. Retaining means loosely retain the inner cap within the outer cap.
A preferred embodiment of an inner cap ,~ .
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~' ~143339 P-384 -4b-member adapted to be loosely retained within an outer cap member of a safety closure to allow relative ro-tary movement therebetween includes a dome-shaped top panel having a skirt portion projecting axially therefrom. The depending skirt portion has cap locking means formed on the inner surface thereof and is adapted to be engaged with and disengaged from complementary container locking means on the container.
Coupling means are disposed on the outer surface of the inner cap member and adapted for coupling the in-ner and outer cap members in one position of axial displacement of the inner and outer cap members and uncoupling the inner and outer cap members in a second axial position of the inner and outer cap members.
The dome-shaped top panel is adapted to provide a biasing force to maintain the inner and outer cap members in a second axial position. Ratchet lug means are circularly disposed on the outer surface of the inner cap member and are adapted to be driven by a driving portion of the outer cap member in a second axial position to drive the outer and inner cap members as a unit in the tightening direction of the closure and allow the driving portion of the outer cap member to slip thereover in the un-tightening direction to prevent unlocking of theinner cap member. The dome-shaped top panel is adapted to be deformed in response to downward axial pressure at its outer surface to place the outer and inner cap members in the first axial ; 30 position.
A preferred embodiment of an outer cap mem-ber adapted to loosely retain an inner cap mem-ber of a safety closure therein to allow relative . .
j. :
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114333~
P-384 -4c-rotary movement therebetween includes an end wall having a skirt portion projecting axially there-from. The end wall has an annular portion having a smaller thickness than the remainder of the end wall. Clutch means is disposed on the inner sur-face of the outer cap member and is adapted for coupling the inner and outer cap members in one position of axial displacement of the inner and outer cap members and uncoupling the inner and outer cap members in a second axial position of the inner and outer cap members. A plurality of spaced in-clined detent members are circularly disposed on the inner surface of the outer cap member and is adapted to drive a driven portion of the inner cap member in the second axial position to drive the inner and outer cap members as a unit in the tigh-tening direction of the closure and is adapted to slip over the driven portions of the inner cap member in the untightening direction to prevent unlocking of the inner cap member. The annuIar portion allows the end wall to deform in the un-tightening direction to lessen the amount of fric-tion between the detent members and the driven portion of the inner cap member.
A preferred embodiment of a safety closure and container assembly includes a container having a mouth portion with an annular rim and container locking means formed on the outer surface of the mouth portion. An inner cap has a top dome-shaped panel with a skirt portion projecting axially there-' from. The depending skirt portion has cap locking Y-- means formed on the inner surface thereof. An outer cap has an end wall with the second skirt portion ' ' ~
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11~333~
P-384 -4d-projecting axially from the periphery thereof~ A
second skirt portion loosely encompasses the first skirt portion to allow relative rotary movement between the inner and outer caps. Clutch means are operatively associated with the inner surface of the outer cap and the outer surface of the inner cap to couple the inner and outer caps in one posi-tion of axial displacement of the inner and outer caps and uncouple the inner and outer caps in a second axial position of the inner and outer caps.
Ratchet lug means are circularly disposed on one of the inner and outer caps and interposed the caps.
A plurality of inclined detent members are circu-larly disposed on one of the inner and outer caps and interposed the caps. The dome-shaped panel pro-vides a biasing force to maintain the inner and outer caps in a second axial position. The detent members drivingly engage the ratchet lug means in the second axial position to drive the inner and outer caps as a unit in the tightening direction of the closure and slip over the ratchet lug means in the untightening direction to prevent unscrewing of the inner cap. Downward axial pressure on the outer cap overcomes the bias of the dome-shaped panel by causing a portion of the outer cap to de-` form the dome-shaped panel to place the inner and outer caps in the first axial position. The cap lcoking means are disengageable from the container by combined axial and rotary motion of the outer cap relative to the container. Retaining means loosely retain the inner cap within the outer cap in a radial direction.
Both the inner and outer caps are .. , ~ , .
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prefer~bly molded out of plastic by molding apparatus Als-o preferably, the inner cap has a plurality of upwardly extendin~ stop ribs to pre-vent the outer cap from collapsing the dome~shapedtop panel during shipment of the assembl~es Other advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the followin~
description taken in connection with the accompany~
ing drawings/
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGURE 1 is a sectional view of the safety closure and container assembly embodying the invention;
FIGURE 2 is a sectional view of the safety closure assembly held under axial downward force on the container;
FIGURE 3 is a top fragmentary view taken on lines 3-3 of FIGURE l;
2Q FIGURE 4 is an exploded, fragmentary perspective view of the safety closure assembly;
: FIGURE 5 is a sectional view of a second embodiment of the invention;
: FIGURE 6 is an exploded, fragmentary : : 25 perspective view of the second embodiment;
FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of the inner cap of the third embodiment of the inven~
: : tion;
~: ~ FIGURE 8 is a top view of the inner cap of FIGURE 7 with the drive l~gs of the outer cap shown in phantom;
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FIGURE 9 is a sectional, fragmentary view of the assembled inner and outer caps of the third embodlment;
FIGURE 10 is a sectional~ ~ra~mentary v;ew of the assembled ~nner and outer caps of a fourth embodiment; and FIGURE 11 is a perspective view of the outer cap of the fourth embod~ment of the inven-tion.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
In the drawinys reference numeral 10 collectively designates a first embodiment of a safety closure and container assembly of the present invention as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, The assembly 10 comprises a closure including an outer cap 12, and an inner cap 14 and a con~
tainer-16~ The ~nner cap 14 is loosely encom-passed within the outer cap 12 to allow relati~e rotary movement between the outer and inner caps :~ 2Q 12 and 14, respectively. The inner and outer caps 12 and 14 are coupled together so that they mo~e together as a unit in the tightening direc-tion of the:closure and the outer cap 12 rotate$
: freely of:the inner cap 14 when the outer cap 12 25~ is~rotated in`the untightening direction to prevent unscrewing of the inner cap 14 from the :container 16. Downwardly axial pressure on the : ; : outer cap 12 couples the inner and outer caps 14 and 12 togeth~r so that when the outer cap 12 30~ ls rotated~in the untightening direction the inner - ca~ l4:is unscrewed~from the containex 16, :With reference to FIGU~ES I and 2 the .
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, , outer cap 12 is formed with a circular end wall 18 ~ntegrally molded with a depending skirt por-- tion 20, Molded into the underside of the end wall 18 and extending into the interior of th2 outer cap 12 are a plurality of detent members or in-clined ramped ratche~ lugs 22, as best shown in FIGURE 4, The ratchet lugs 22 are integrally formed and circularly disposed about an annular stop member 24 which is also molded into the under-lQ side of the end wall 18. Both the ratchet lugs22 and the stop member 24 are concentrically arranged about the center of the circular end wall 18.
The embodiment shown in FIGURE 4 shows five ratchet lugs 22, but as few as two ratchet lugs will operate satisfactorily and m~re than five ratchet lugs may be employed if desired, $he angle of inclination of the ratchet lugs may.
be varied so long as the ratcheting function to be described hereinbelow may be properly per-: formed.
In addition to ~he ratchet lugs 22, aplurality of drive lugs 26 are also molded into : : the underside of the end wall 18 and depend down-wardly. The drive lugs 26 are preferably located : adjacent to the extreme outer portion of the in-side diameter of the outer cap 12 adjacent to the depending skirt portion 20~ The illustration of four drive lu~s 26 is simply by way of illustra-3a tion and a single drive lug would functionproperly but multiple drive lugs are preférred to allow a number of different removal engagement :
: ~ :
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-: ' " ' ~L4333~
~ 8 ~
positions as will be described hereinbelow.
A recess 28 and a retention means inthe ~orm of an annular, radially inwardly ex~
tending lip 30 are molded into the interior wall of the skirt portion 20, The lip 30 is continu~
ous about the entire circumference of the skirt portion 20.
The outer cap 12 may be manufactured of any material sufficiently strong to stand up . 10 under wear. Materials which have proven success~
ful for this purpose are modified styrene and polypropy-lene, The inner cap 14 is also formed as an integral unit and has a dome-shaped top panel 32 and a depending skirt portion 34 attached there-.
to at its outer peripher~, The interior of the skirt portion 34 may be provided with threads 36 for engagement with a threaded exterior finish.
portion 38 of the conventional container 16, Pro.~
jecting vertically out from and integrally attached to the top panel 32 are a plurality of inclined ramped ratchet lugs 40. In the embodiment shown in FIGURE 4, there are five ratchet lugs, each ~: :of which has an inclined ramped upper surface 42 The beginnings of the upper surfaces 42 are in a plane slightly above the plane of the top panel :~ : 32. The ends of the upper surfaces 42 terminate ~ ; at an elevation such that the ratchet lugs 22 of :; ~the outer cap 12 engage the lugs 40~ This ~; 30. occurrence takes place when the inner cap 14 is assembled within the outer cap 12 and its pre~
: cise ~unction will he descrihed in detail ' .
1~3339 hereinbelow.
The do~e~shaped top panel 32 incluaes a dome portion 44 having a cylindrical base por-.
tion 46 which is concentric with the stop member 24. The base portion 42 engages and is biased against the outer surface of the stop member 24 by an annular web-like portion 47 of the dome portion 44. The web-like portion 47 flares out-wardly in a bell-shaped configuration from the lQ outer periphery of the base portion 46 to the inner periphery of the flange 48~ The stop mem-ber 24 cooperates with the base portion 46 to maintain the inner sap 15 centered with respect to the outer cap 12, The top panel 32 also includes a flange 48 integrally formed at the outer periphery of the dome por*ion 44 and projecting radially out-wardly therefrom~ -The fiange 48 is also integrally formed with the skirt portion 34 which downwardly depends therefrom, The upper peripheral portion o~ the inner cap 14 includes an outer ring wall 50 which rises above the plane of the flange 48~ Spaced at intervals around the outer ring wall 50 are upwardly extending drive members 52, In the : assembled closure assembly the drive lugs 26 on the interior of the outer cap 12 are dimensioned : such that they may mesh into the openings between : the drive members 52~ This imparts driving force to the inner cap 14 so that it may be driven with the outer cap 12, A retention bead 54 is molded into the :: :
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exterior surface of the depending skirt portion 34~ The retention bead 54 extends about the entire circumference of the skirt portion 34 and is of a diameter greater than that of the retention lip 30 formed on the skirt portion 20 of the outer cap 12.
Also formed at the upper peripheral portion of the inner cap 14 is an inner ring wall 56 which also projects above the plane of the flange 48. The inner ring wall 56 is spaced radially inwardly from the outer ring wall 50.
A plurality of radially extending reinforcing ribs 58 are formed on the upper surface of the flange 48 and interconnects the inner ring wall 56 with the outer ring wall 50 at the drive members 52.
The inner cap 14 is an independent clo-sure in itself for a container. The inner cap 14 may be made of any suitable material and need not necessarily be the same material as that of the outer cap 12. It has been found that a thermo~
plastic material such as polypropylene or poly~
thene is particularly well-adapted for the manu-: facture of the inner cap 14, :: ~ 25 The closure is formed by assembling the outer cap 12 and the inner cap 14, To assemble :~: : the completed closure assembly, the retention lip 30 is forced over the retention bead 54, the pro~
cess causin~ the skirt portion 20 of the outer ~: 3Q cap 12 to spring slightly outwardly, Once the retention lip 30 has passed over the retention bead 54, the skirt portion 2~ springs back in-wardl~:trapping the inner cap 14 within the outer cap 12~ As shown in FIGU~E 1, the it between the outer cap 12 and the inner cap 14 is not t~gh.t ~n ~ rad~al direction since there is an apprec~able gap bet~een the interior of the . 5 skirt portivn 20 and the exterior of the skirt portion 34. However, the it between the outer cap 12 and the ~nner cap 14 is tight in an ax~al direction since there is no gap between the top panel 32 and the stop member 24 nor bet~een the retention iip 30 and the retention bead 54.
As shown in FIGURE 1, engagement of the base portion 46 with the stop member 24 and engagement of the retention bead 54 and the re~
tention lip 30, provides a known spring force to keep the inner cap 14 separated from the outer cap 12 about the outer periphery of the inner cap 14, ~
A sealing disc~(not shown~ may be pro -.
vided between the upper surface of the finish portion 38 and the lower portion of the flange 48, The sealing disc may,comprise any material :: suitable for sealing the contents of the con~
~: tainer. The sealing disc may be mounted on the lower surface of the flange 48 by a suitable :
: ~ ~ : 25 adhesive, The completed closure assembly may be screwed onto the finished portion 38 of the con-: tainer 16~s~nce rotation of the outer cap 12 ~ill cause the ratchet lugs 22 of the outer cap I2 to drivingIy engage the ratchet.lugs 40 formed on the upper~surface of the dome portion 44 and ~ consequently~,~turn the outex cap 12 and the innex .~ ~ cap~l4 às'a::unit in the tightening direction, . . ~ :
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~3339 ~ 12 -Conversely~ it may be seen that if the outer cap 12 were rotated in the opposite direction or in the normally, unscrewin~ direction~ the r~tchet lugs 22 of the outer cap 12 would slip over the ratchet lugs 40 of the inner cap 14. The outer cap 12 thus can rotate freely with respect to the inner cap 14 in the loosening direction.
It is this feature which makes the closure assembly-10 child-resistant since it is impossible to unscrew the entire assembly 10 without additIonal motion. Furthermore, the gap between the skirt portion 20 of the outer cap 12 and the skirt portion 34 of the inner cap 14 makes it unlikely that a child could compress the outer cap 12 by squeezing it against the inner cap 14 sufficiently to be able to unscrew the inner cap 14 from the finish portion 38 of the container 16 To remove the closure assembly from the finish portion 38 of th~ container 16, the outer 2Q cap 12 must be compressed downwardly over the inner cap 14 as shown in FIGURE 2. The configura~
: tion o~ FIGURE 1 may be considered one position : of axial displacement of the outer cap 12 and : the inner cap 14, while the configuration of FIGURE 2 may be considered a second position of axial displacement of the outer cap 12 and inner cap 14. The dome portion 44 serves to normally keep the outer cap 12 and the inner cap 14 in the relationship shown ;n FIGURE l, in which configura : ~ 30 tion removal of the closure assembly from the container 16 is not possible~ Howevex, in utiliz~
` in~ the spring function of the dome portion 44 : :
~ : :
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the outer cap 12 may be pressed downwardly over the inner cap 14~ The downward displacement of the outer cap 12 brings the drive lugs 26 into the space between the guide members 52. Althouqh the al~gnment of the drive lugs 26 in the spaces between the drive members 52 may not be perfect at the time the outer cap 12 is pressed downwardly, slight rotation of the outer cap 12 in the loosen~
ing direction will bring the dri~e lugs 26 into proper drive engagement~ ~ith the drlve lugs 26 properly engaged, the outer cap 12 may ~e rotated and the inner cap 14 will rotate with it as a unit throughout this driving engagement.
Once the closure assembly is removed from the container 16 and the downward pressure on the outer cap 12 is released, the closure assembly will spring back to the configuration shown in FIGURE 1 under the springing influence of the dome port~on 44. The closure assembly is again ;n a configuration suitable for reappl~
: cation to the container 16.
The closure assembly assembled from the inner cap 14 and the outer cap 12 may be applied by conventional capping machinery since there is 25 : n~ need for any manipulation of the closure :assembly during the tightening-proceduse, With reference to FIGURE 5 there i~
shown a:second embodiment of a safety closure : and container assembly of the present invention which~is collectively indic~ted at 10', The :assembly lQ~ ~includes a container 16~. The ;clo5ure~assembly~1One~is shown in FIGU~E~6 and -~ "
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3~9 includes an outer cap 12~ and an inner c~p 14~ as in the first embodiment. Those elements of the second embodiment which have the same or similar structure and~or function as the elements of the first embodiment, have the same reference numeral, but are primed to distinguish those elements from the elements of the first embodiment, Only those elements which are substantially different in structure and/or function will be described here-inbelow, Referring initially to the outer cap 12'as shown in FIGURE 6, a plurality of drive nibs 26' comprising fi~e in number, are molded into the undersiae of an ena wall 18~ of the outer c~p 12 and depend downwardly, A single drive nib will function as described hereinbelow, but multiple drive nibs 26' are preferred to allow a number of different removal-engagement positions~--Ratchet lugs 22' of the outer cap 12' are circularly disposed about an annular stopmember 24'. Each of the ratchet lugs 22~ is formed separate from the other ratchet lugs 22', The outer cap 12' can be manufactured of any material sufficiently strong to stand up under operation. A material which has been proved to be successful for this purpose is polypropylene, : : The inner cap 14' of the closure assembly of the second embodiment includes five inclined ramped ratchet lugs 40l circularly 3Q disposed on the outer peripheral portion 132 of a relatively ri~id central base portion 46 of the dome-shaped top pa~el 32' of the inner :
cap 14~ The base portion 46' projects inwardly from the bottom surface of the top panel 32~ and has a bottom surface where a sealing disc 130 ma,y be adhesively securedt The sealing disc 130 may comprise any suitable mater;al for sealing the contents of the container 16' therei,n, A web-like portion 47' of the top panel 32' flares outwardly from the base portion 46, in a bell-shaped configuration in the same ~ashion as the web-like portion 47 of the first embodiment.
~ flange 48' of the top panel 32' ex-tends radially outwardly from the periphery of the web-like port~on 47 t and includes a plurality of upwardly extending nibs 52' comprising five in number, In the assembled closure assembly the drive nibs 26' on the interior of the outer cap 12~ engage--the nibs 52~ when the combined.axial ............. '.
and unscrewing driving forces are imparted to the outer cap 12~ to unscrew the inner cap 14' from the container 16'.
; ~ ' When the base portion 46 is pushed: in a downward direction at the ratchet lugs 40~
on the peripheral portion 132 by the ratchet lugs : 25 22' of the outer cap 12', the web-like portion 47' flexes or deforms to allow.drive nibs 26' to engage the nibs 52'. The base portion 32' including the peripheral portion 132 do not de-: form but rather cause the sealing disc 130 to 3Q flex inwardly ~nto th.e container 16', , : With reference to FIGURES 7, 8 and 9 there;`~s:~sh.o~n a thixd embodiment of an:outer cap
2~ ~ ~ nd~a''`~nner~cap~14~ a :: ~: : :
~ : :
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-~3339 second embodiments, Those elements of the third embodiment which h~ve the same or similar structure and/or function as the elements of the first embodiment have the same reference numeral, but are double~primed to disting~ish those elements from the elements of the first embodiment, Only those elements which are sub-stantially different in structure and/or func~
tion will be descr~bed hereinbelow, Referring initially to the outer cap 12 " , a plurality of drive nibs'26~' preferably ~' comprising six in number are molded into the underside of an end wall 18'' of the outer cap 12" and depend downwardly. The outer cap 12 "
also includes ratchet lugs 22~' which are circu-larly disposed about an ~nnular stop member 24~'.
Each of the ratchet lugs 22' is formed separate from the other ratchet,lugs~22 ". The outer cap 12~' can be manufactured of any material suffi~
2~ ciently strong,~,to stand up under operation. One - such material is polypropylene.
The inner cap 14 ~ of the closure assembly of the third embodiment preferably in-cludes six inclined ramped ratchet lugs 40 "
circularly disposed on the outer peripheral portion 1321' of a relatively rigid base portion 46" of a dome-shaped top panel 32" . The base ,portion 46 " projects inwardly from the bottom surface of the top panel 32~'.
A web-like portion 47 " of the top panel 32~ flares outwardly from the base portion 7,~ 'S ~ . 46~ in a bell-shaped configuration in the same .
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:
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--. 17 --fashion as the web-like portion 47 of the first embodiment.
A flange 48" of the top panel 32~' ex~
tends radially outwardly from the periphery of the web like port~on 47" and inclu~es a plurality of upwardly extenaing nibs 52 " comprising six in number. Integrally formed with the nibs 52 "
are an equal number of upwardly extending stop ribs 140 which support the outer cap 12 " at its drive lugs or nibs 26~ when the inner cap 14'' is positioned within the oute~ cap 12 " and downward pressure is exerted at the top surface of the outer cap 121l such as during shipping.
The stop ribs 140 thereby prevent the ratchet lugs 22'' of the outer cap 12 " from overstres~
s-ing and permanently deforming the dome-shaped top panel 32~' cf the inner cap 14~ IGURE 8 ~- shows the relative position of the arive nibs 26~' when the ratchet lu~s 40~ and 22 " are en~
2Q ~aged fo~ screwin~ the inner cap 14~ on a con-tainer (not shown).
Rotation of the outer cap 12~ with respect to the inner cap 141' after shipping allows~the drive nibs 26'' on the interior of 25 :the outer cap 12~ ' to engage the nibs 52" to ; permit combined axial and unscrewing dri~ing forces imparted to the outer cap 12~' to unscrew the inner cap 14 " from its container.
When the base portion 46'' is pushed ;3~0 ~in a downward dixection at the ratchet lugs 40 "
on ~he~p~ripheral portion 32 " by the ratchet dcform~ to allow the ' ., . . ' ' . . .
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drive nibs 26~' to engage the nibs 52 " . The base portion 32 " including the peripheral portion 132 " flex inwardly toward the containex, A sealing disc is not needed since the lower surface of the flange 48 " includes a plurality of beads 150 which may be hal~-rouna, ~-shaped or of any other desired configuration, The beads 150 may be accommodated with an annular, complementary recess formed on the top surface of the container, In this way the bottom surface of the flange 48'' and the top surface of the container come ~nto interfacing sealing relation-sh~p, With reference to FIGURES 10 and 11 there is shown a fourth and preferred embodiment of an outer cap 212 and an inner cap 214 which is substantially the same as the inner cap 14'l..
Referr~g--init~all~ to the outer.cap ---212 a plurality of arive nibs-226 comprising five : 20 - in number-are molded~into the unaerside of an .
~ end-wall 218 of the outer cap 212 and depend down-~ ` :
wardly. The outer cap 212 also includes spaced, sloping, ratchet projections 222 which are in-tegrally formed on the interior of the end wall 218, ~The ratchet projections 222 preferably comprise five in number and are circularly dis;
posed radially inwardly from an annular portion - 260 of the end wall 218. The annular portion 260 has a smaller thickness than the remainder of the end wall 218 to facilitate slippage of h~ the outer cap 212 over~an inner cap 214 lsub-inner cap l4'') by allowing : ~ : :
-- ' ' '' : ' '' ' ~
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-~1~3~339 the part 249 of the end wall 218 circumscribedby the annular portion 260 to deform or deflect, In this way, the friction caused by movement of the ratchet projections 222 over the driven members formed on the outer surface of the inner cap 214, is minimized.
Each of the ratchet projections 222 is formed separate and spaced from the other ratchet projections 222. The relatively small amount of surface area of the ratchet projections 222 which engages the driven portions of the inner cap 214 minimizes the frictional effects between the projections 222 and the driven portions. In this way, slippage of the outer 15 cap 212 over the inner cap 214 is facilitated to prevent removal of the closure unless the inner and outer caps 214 and 212, respectively, are first aligned and then the outer cap 212 is pressed down to overcome the bias of the dome-20 shaped top panel 232 of the inner cap 214.
The outer cap 212 can be manufactured of any material sufficiently strong to stand up under operation. One such material is poly-propylene.
The inner cap 214 of the closure assembly ;~ ~ of the fourth embodiment preferably includes five inclined, ramped ratchet lugs 240, circularly disposed on the outer peripheral portion 232 of a relatively rigid base portion 246 of the dome-shaped top,panel 232~
A web-like portion 247 of the top panel "~ 232 flares outwardly from the base portion 246 in ~ ~ :
,.. , ~ , . . ~ ~ - , - ,, : :
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-1~ ~333~3 a bell~shaped configuration in the same fashion as the web-like portion 47 and 47" of the first and third embodiments, respectively.
A flange 248 of the top panel 232 ex-tends radially outwardly from the periphery of the web-like portion 247 and includes a plurality of upwardly extending nibs 252 comprising five in number. Integrally formed with the nibs 252 are an equal number of upwardly extending stop ribs 340 which support the outer cap 212 at its drive lugs or nibs 226 when the inner-cap 214 is positioned within the outer cap 212 and downward pressure is exerted at the top surface of the outer cap 212 such as during shipping. The stop ribs 340 thereby prevent the projections 222 of the outer cap 212 from overstressing and permanently deforming the top panel 232 of the inner cap 214.
The combined effect of relatively small, spaced, ratchet projections 222 and the annular portion 260 of reduced thickness is to minimize friction between the downward projec-tions 222 and the ratchet lugs 240 and to pre-vent inadvertent removal of the closure from the container. In other words, the reduced amount of surface area of the ratchét projections 222 and the ability of the part 249 of the end wall 218 circumscribed by the annular portion 260 to deform, reauces frict~on between the projec-tions 222 and the ratchet lugs 240 to allow the part 24g to move upwardly~ thereby allowing additional slippage between the ratchet ~ . . ' ' ' .
-~3339 projections 222 and the ratchet lugs 240.
While specific forms of the invention have been illustrated and described, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the exact constructions shown~ but various alterations and modifications in the construc-tions and arrangements of parts will be possible without departing `from the scope and spirit of the invention~
.
.
~ ~ .
~ : :
,~.:: , .
. .
-~3339 second embodiments, Those elements of the third embodiment which h~ve the same or similar structure and/or function as the elements of the first embodiment have the same reference numeral, but are double~primed to disting~ish those elements from the elements of the first embodiment, Only those elements which are sub-stantially different in structure and/or func~
tion will be descr~bed hereinbelow, Referring initially to the outer cap 12 " , a plurality of drive nibs'26~' preferably ~' comprising six in number are molded into the underside of an end wall 18'' of the outer cap 12" and depend downwardly. The outer cap 12 "
also includes ratchet lugs 22~' which are circu-larly disposed about an ~nnular stop member 24~'.
Each of the ratchet lugs 22' is formed separate from the other ratchet,lugs~22 ". The outer cap 12~' can be manufactured of any material suffi~
2~ ciently strong,~,to stand up under operation. One - such material is polypropylene.
The inner cap 14 ~ of the closure assembly of the third embodiment preferably in-cludes six inclined ramped ratchet lugs 40 "
circularly disposed on the outer peripheral portion 1321' of a relatively rigid base portion 46" of a dome-shaped top panel 32" . The base ,portion 46 " projects inwardly from the bottom surface of the top panel 32~'.
A web-like portion 47 " of the top panel 32~ flares outwardly from the base portion 7,~ 'S ~ . 46~ in a bell-shaped configuration in the same .
.
:
:' .
--. 17 --fashion as the web-like portion 47 of the first embodiment.
A flange 48" of the top panel 32~' ex~
tends radially outwardly from the periphery of the web like port~on 47" and inclu~es a plurality of upwardly extenaing nibs 52 " comprising six in number. Integrally formed with the nibs 52 "
are an equal number of upwardly extending stop ribs 140 which support the outer cap 12 " at its drive lugs or nibs 26~ when the inner cap 14'' is positioned within the oute~ cap 12 " and downward pressure is exerted at the top surface of the outer cap 121l such as during shipping.
The stop ribs 140 thereby prevent the ratchet lugs 22'' of the outer cap 12 " from overstres~
s-ing and permanently deforming the dome-shaped top panel 32~' cf the inner cap 14~ IGURE 8 ~- shows the relative position of the arive nibs 26~' when the ratchet lu~s 40~ and 22 " are en~
2Q ~aged fo~ screwin~ the inner cap 14~ on a con-tainer (not shown).
Rotation of the outer cap 12~ with respect to the inner cap 141' after shipping allows~the drive nibs 26'' on the interior of 25 :the outer cap 12~ ' to engage the nibs 52" to ; permit combined axial and unscrewing dri~ing forces imparted to the outer cap 12~' to unscrew the inner cap 14 " from its container.
When the base portion 46'' is pushed ;3~0 ~in a downward dixection at the ratchet lugs 40 "
on ~he~p~ripheral portion 32 " by the ratchet dcform~ to allow the ' ., . . ' ' . . .
' ' ' '~ ' . ' ~ '' . " , ~
.
' ' ' " "
~' ' '' ' ~, '' . ' ' ' ' ' ' ~ ' ' .~' ' , 33~
drive nibs 26~' to engage the nibs 52 " . The base portion 32 " including the peripheral portion 132 " flex inwardly toward the containex, A sealing disc is not needed since the lower surface of the flange 48 " includes a plurality of beads 150 which may be hal~-rouna, ~-shaped or of any other desired configuration, The beads 150 may be accommodated with an annular, complementary recess formed on the top surface of the container, In this way the bottom surface of the flange 48'' and the top surface of the container come ~nto interfacing sealing relation-sh~p, With reference to FIGURES 10 and 11 there is shown a fourth and preferred embodiment of an outer cap 212 and an inner cap 214 which is substantially the same as the inner cap 14'l..
Referr~g--init~all~ to the outer.cap ---212 a plurality of arive nibs-226 comprising five : 20 - in number-are molded~into the unaerside of an .
~ end-wall 218 of the outer cap 212 and depend down-~ ` :
wardly. The outer cap 212 also includes spaced, sloping, ratchet projections 222 which are in-tegrally formed on the interior of the end wall 218, ~The ratchet projections 222 preferably comprise five in number and are circularly dis;
posed radially inwardly from an annular portion - 260 of the end wall 218. The annular portion 260 has a smaller thickness than the remainder of the end wall 218 to facilitate slippage of h~ the outer cap 212 over~an inner cap 214 lsub-inner cap l4'') by allowing : ~ : :
-- ' ' '' : ' '' ' ~
. ~ ` .
-~1~3~339 the part 249 of the end wall 218 circumscribedby the annular portion 260 to deform or deflect, In this way, the friction caused by movement of the ratchet projections 222 over the driven members formed on the outer surface of the inner cap 214, is minimized.
Each of the ratchet projections 222 is formed separate and spaced from the other ratchet projections 222. The relatively small amount of surface area of the ratchet projections 222 which engages the driven portions of the inner cap 214 minimizes the frictional effects between the projections 222 and the driven portions. In this way, slippage of the outer 15 cap 212 over the inner cap 214 is facilitated to prevent removal of the closure unless the inner and outer caps 214 and 212, respectively, are first aligned and then the outer cap 212 is pressed down to overcome the bias of the dome-20 shaped top panel 232 of the inner cap 214.
The outer cap 212 can be manufactured of any material sufficiently strong to stand up under operation. One such material is poly-propylene.
The inner cap 214 of the closure assembly ;~ ~ of the fourth embodiment preferably includes five inclined, ramped ratchet lugs 240, circularly disposed on the outer peripheral portion 232 of a relatively rigid base portion 246 of the dome-shaped top,panel 232~
A web-like portion 247 of the top panel "~ 232 flares outwardly from the base portion 246 in ~ ~ :
,.. , ~ , . . ~ ~ - , - ,, : :
- -.
-1~ ~333~3 a bell~shaped configuration in the same fashion as the web-like portion 47 and 47" of the first and third embodiments, respectively.
A flange 248 of the top panel 232 ex-tends radially outwardly from the periphery of the web-like portion 247 and includes a plurality of upwardly extending nibs 252 comprising five in number. Integrally formed with the nibs 252 are an equal number of upwardly extending stop ribs 340 which support the outer cap 212 at its drive lugs or nibs 226 when the inner-cap 214 is positioned within the outer cap 212 and downward pressure is exerted at the top surface of the outer cap 212 such as during shipping. The stop ribs 340 thereby prevent the projections 222 of the outer cap 212 from overstressing and permanently deforming the top panel 232 of the inner cap 214.
The combined effect of relatively small, spaced, ratchet projections 222 and the annular portion 260 of reduced thickness is to minimize friction between the downward projec-tions 222 and the ratchet lugs 240 and to pre-vent inadvertent removal of the closure from the container. In other words, the reduced amount of surface area of the ratchét projections 222 and the ability of the part 249 of the end wall 218 circumscribed by the annular portion 260 to deform, reauces frict~on between the projec-tions 222 and the ratchet lugs 240 to allow the part 24g to move upwardly~ thereby allowing additional slippage between the ratchet ~ . . ' ' ' .
-~3339 projections 222 and the ratchet lugs 240.
While specific forms of the invention have been illustrated and described, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the exact constructions shown~ but various alterations and modifications in the construc-tions and arrangements of parts will be possible without departing `from the scope and spirit of the invention~
.
.
~ ~ .
Claims (22)
1. A safety closure assembly com-prising: an inner cap having a dome-shaped top panel with a skirt portion projecting axially therefrom, said depending skirt portion having cap locking means formed on the inner surface thereof and adapted to be engaged with and disengaged from complementary container locking means on a container; an outer cap having an end wall with a second skirt portion project-ing axially from the periphery thereof, said second skirt portion loosely encompassing the first skirt portion to allow relative rotary movement between the inner and outer caps; clutch means operatively associated with the inner sur-face of the outer cap and the outer surface of the inner cap and coupling the inner and outer caps in one position of axial displacement of said inner and outer caps and uncoupling the inner and outer caps in a second axial position of said inner and outer caps; ratchet lug means circularly disposed on one of said inner and outer caps and interposed said caps; a plurality of inclined detent members circularly disposed on on of said inner and outer caps and inter-posed said caps; said dome-shaped top panel pro-viding a biasing force to maintain the inner and outer caps: in said second axial position;
said detent members drivingly engaging said ratchet lug means in said second axial position to drive the inner and outer caps as a unit in the tightening direction of the closure and slipping over said ratchet lug means in the un-tightening direction to prevent unscrewing of said inner cap; downward axial pressure on said outer cap overcoming the bias of said dome-shaped top panel by causing a portion of said outer cap to deform the dome-shaped panel to place the inner and outer caps in the first axial position; and retaining means for loosely re-taining said inner cap within said outer cap in a radial direction.
said detent members drivingly engaging said ratchet lug means in said second axial position to drive the inner and outer caps as a unit in the tightening direction of the closure and slipping over said ratchet lug means in the un-tightening direction to prevent unscrewing of said inner cap; downward axial pressure on said outer cap overcoming the bias of said dome-shaped top panel by causing a portion of said outer cap to deform the dome-shaped panel to place the inner and outer caps in the first axial position; and retaining means for loosely re-taining said inner cap within said outer cap in a radial direction.
2. The assembly as. defined in claim 1 wherein said dome-shaped panel includes a central base portion and a web-like annular portion extend-ing radially outwardly from the periphery of the base portion, and wherein said ratchet lug means is integrally molded on the outer periphery of said base portion, said annular portion providing said bias of said dome-shaped panel.
3. The assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said dome-shaped panel includes a base portion and a web-like annular portion extending radially outwardly from the periphery of said base portion and wherein said ratchet lug means is integrally molded on said annular portion, said annular portion providing said bias of said dome-shaped panel.
4. The assembly as defined in claim 2 or claim 3 wherein said ratchet lug means comprise at least two inclined ramped ratchet lugs integrally molded on the upper surface of the top panel and wherein said detent members are formed on the inner surface of the outer cap and deform the dome-shaped panel at the ratchet lugs.
5. The assembly as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3 wherein said detent members comprise at least two inclined ramped ratchet lugs integrally molded on the interior of said end wall.
6. The assembly as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3 wherein said clutch means includes at least two upwardly extending, spaced apart drive members integrally molded with the periphery of said dome-shaped top panel.
7. The assembly as claimed in claim 6 wherein said clutch means further includes at least one downwardly directed drive lug integrally formed on the interior of the end wall, said drive lug being positioned in the space between the drive members in the first position of axial displacement and being disengaged therefrom in the second position of axial displacement.
8. The assembly as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3 wherein said cap locking means com-prises threads.
9. An inner cap member adapted to be loosely retained within the outer cap member of a safety closure to allow relative rotary move-ment therebetween, the inner cap member having a dome-shaped top panel with a skirt portion projecting axially therefrom; said depending skirt portion having cap locking means formed on the inner surface thereof and adapted to be engaged with and disengaged from complementary container locking means on a container; coupling means disposed on the outer surface of the inner cap member adapted for coupling the inner and outer cap members in one position of axial displacement of the inner and outer cap members and uncoupling the inner and outer cap members in a second axial position of the inner and outer cap members; said dome-shaped top panel being adapted to provide a biasing force to maintain the inner and outer cap members in said second axial position; ratchet lug means circularly disposed on the outer surface of the inner cap member and adapted to be driven by a driving portion of the outer cap member in the second axial position to drive the inner and outer cap members as a unit in the tightening direction of the closure and allowing the driving portion of the outer cap member to slip thereover in the untightening direction to pre-vent unlocking of the inner cap member; wherein the dome-shaped top panel is adapted to be de-formed in response to downward axial pressure at its outer surface to place the outer and inner cap members in the first axial position.
10. The inner cap member as defined in claim 9 wherein said dome-shaped panel in-cludes a central base portion and a web-like annular portion extending radially outwardly from the periphery of the base portion, and wherein said ratchet lug means is integrally molded on the outer periphery of said base portion, said annular portion providing said bias of said dome-shaped panel.
11. The inner cap member as defined in claim 9 wherein said dome-shaped panel includes a central base portion and a web-like annular portion extending radially outwardly from the periphery of the base portion, and wherein said ratchet lug means is integrally molded on said annular portion, said annular portion providing said bias of said dome-shaped panel.
12. The inner cap member as claimed in claim 10 or claim 11 wherein said ratchet lug means comprises at least two inclined ramped ratchet lugs integrally molded on the outer sur-face of the dome-shaped panel, spaced radially inwardly from the perimeter of the outer surface of the dome-shaped top panel.
13. The inner cap member as claimed in claim 10 or claim 11 wherein said coupling means includes at least two axially extending, spaced apart drive members integrally molded with the periphery of said dome-shaped top panel and adapted to receive a portion of the outer cap member in the space between the drive members in the first position of axial displacement.
14. The inner cap member as claimed in claim 10 or claim 11 wherein said coupling means includes at least two axially extending, spaced apart drive members and wherein said dome-shaped panel includes a flange projecting radially out-wardly from said annular portion and connected to said drive members.
15. The inner cap member as claimed in claim 10 or claim 11 including a plurality of radially outwardly projecting support ribs in-tegrally formed on the outer surface of said dome-shaped panel at the outer periphery thereof.
16. The inner cap member as claimed in claim 10 and claim 11 wherein said cap locking means comprises threads.
17. A safety closure and container assembly comprising: a container having a mouth portion with an annular rim and container locking means formed on the outer surface of said mouth portion; an inner cap having a top dome-shaped panel with a skirt portion projecting axially therefrom, said depending skirt portion having cap locking means formed on the inner surface thereof; an outer cap having an end wall with a second skirt portion projecting axially from the periphery thereof, said second skirt portion loosely encompassing the first skirt portion to allow relative rotary movement between the inner and outer caps; clutch means operatively associated with the inner surface of the outer cap and the outer surface of the inner cap and coupling the inner and outer caps in one position of axial displacement of said inner and outer caps and un-coupling the inner and outer caps in a second axial position of said inner and outer caps; ratchet lug means circularly disposed on one of said inner and outer caps and interposed said caps; a plurality of inclined detent members circularly disposed on one of said inner and outer caps and inter-posed said caps; said dome-shaped panel provid-ing a biasing force to maintain the inner and outer caps in said second axial position; said detent member drivingly engaging said ratchet lug means in said second axial position to drive the inner and outer caps as a unit in the tightening direction of the closure and slipping over said ratchet lug means in the untightening direction to prevent unscrewing of said inner cap; downward axial pressure on said outer cap overcoming the bias of said dome-shaped panel by causing a portion of said outer cap to deform the dome-shaped panel to place the inner and outer caps in the first axial position, said cap locking means being disengageable from said container by combined axial and rotary motion of said outer cap relative to the container;
and retaining means for loosely retaining said inner cap within said outer cap in a radial direction.
and retaining means for loosely retaining said inner cap within said outer cap in a radial direction.
18. The invention as claimed in claim 1 or claim 9 or claim 17 including stop means for selectively preventing said deforma-tion of said dome-shaped top panel.
19. A safety closure assembly com-prising: an inner cap having a dome-shaped top panel with a skirt portion projecting axially therefrom, said depending skirt portion having cap locking means formed on the inner surface thereof and adapted to be engaged with and disengaged from complementary container locking means on a container; an outer cap having an end wall with a second skirt portion project-ing axially from the periphery thereof, said second skirt portion loosely encompassing the first skirt portion to allow relative rotary movement between the inner and outer caps; to thereby allow the inner and outer caps to move between locking and unlocking positions; clutch means operatively associated with the inner sur-face of the outer cap and the outer surface of the inner cap and coupling the inner and outer caps in one position of axial displacement of said inner and outer caps and uncoupling the inner and outer caps in a second axial position of said inner and outer caps; ratchet lug means circularly disposed on one of said inner and outer caps and interposed said caps; a plurality of inclined detent members circularly disposed on one of said inner and outer caps and inter-posed said caps; said dome-shaped top panel providing a biasing force to maintain the inner and outer caps in said second axial position;
said detent members drivingly engaging said ratchet lug means in said second axial position to drive the inner and outer caps as a unit in the tightening direction of the closure and slipping over said ratchet lug means in the un-tightening direction to prevent unscrewing of said inner cap; downward axial pressure on said outer cap overcoming the bias of said dome-shaped top panel by causing a portion of said outer cap to deform the dome-shaped panel to place the inner and outer caps in the first axial position; retaining means for loosely retaining said inner cap within said outer cap in a radial direction; and stop means for preventing deformation of said dome-shaped top panel in the locking position due to downward axial pressure on said inner cap and for allow-ing coupling of the inner and outer caps in the unlocking position to thereby allow the unscrew-ing of said inner cap.
said detent members drivingly engaging said ratchet lug means in said second axial position to drive the inner and outer caps as a unit in the tightening direction of the closure and slipping over said ratchet lug means in the un-tightening direction to prevent unscrewing of said inner cap; downward axial pressure on said outer cap overcoming the bias of said dome-shaped top panel by causing a portion of said outer cap to deform the dome-shaped panel to place the inner and outer caps in the first axial position; retaining means for loosely retaining said inner cap within said outer cap in a radial direction; and stop means for preventing deformation of said dome-shaped top panel in the locking position due to downward axial pressure on said inner cap and for allow-ing coupling of the inner and outer caps in the unlocking position to thereby allow the unscrew-ing of said inner cap.
20. The assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said stop means comprises at least one curved rib operatively associated with said clutch means.
21. A safety closure assembly compris-ing: an inner cap having a dome-shaped top panel with a skirt portion projecting axially there-from, said depending skirt portion having cap locking means formed on the inner surface and adapted to be engaged with and disengaged from complementary container locking means on a con-tainer; an outer cap having an end wall with a second skirt portion projecting axially from the periphery thereof, said second skirt portion lcosely encompassing the first skirt portion to allow relative rotary movement between the inner and outer caps; said end wall having an annular portion having a smaller thickness than the remainder of the end wall; clutch means operatively associated with the inner surface of the outer cap and the outer surface of the inner cap and coupling the inner and outer caps in one position of axial displacement of said inner and outer caps and uncoupling the inner and outer caps in a second axial position of said inner and outer caps; ratchet lug means circularly disposed on one of said inner and outer caps and interposed said caps; a plurality of spaced, inclined detent members circularly disposed on one of said inner and outer caps and inter-posed said caps; said dome-shaped top panel providing a biasing force to maintain the inner and outer caps in said second axial position;
said detent members drivingly engaging said ratchet lug means in said second axial position to drive the inner and outer caps as a unit in the tightening direction of the closure and slipping over said ratchet lug means in the un-tightening direction to prevent unscrewing of said inner cap; downward axial pressure on said outer cap overcoming the bias of said dome-shaped top panel by causing a portion of said outer cap to deform the dome-shaped panel to place the inner and outer caps in the first axial position; and retaining means for loosely re-taining said inner cap within said outer cap in a radial direction.
said detent members drivingly engaging said ratchet lug means in said second axial position to drive the inner and outer caps as a unit in the tightening direction of the closure and slipping over said ratchet lug means in the un-tightening direction to prevent unscrewing of said inner cap; downward axial pressure on said outer cap overcoming the bias of said dome-shaped top panel by causing a portion of said outer cap to deform the dome-shaped panel to place the inner and outer caps in the first axial position; and retaining means for loosely re-taining said inner cap within said outer cap in a radial direction.
22. An outer cap member adapted to loosely retain an inner cap member of a safety closure therewithin to allow relative rotary movement therebetween, the outer cap member having an end wall with a skirt portion project-ing axially therefrom; said end wall having an annular portion having a smaller thickness than the remainder of the end wall; clutch means disposed on the inner surface of the outer cap member adapted for coupling the inner and outer cap members in one position of axial displace-ment of the inner and outer cap members and un-coupling the inner and outer cap members in a second axial position of the inner and outer cap members; a plurality of spaced, inclined detent members circularly disposed on the inner surface of the outer cap member and adapted to drive a driven portion of the inner cap member in the second axial position to drive the inner and outer cap members as a unit in the tightening direction of the closure and adapted to slip over the driven portion of the inner cap member in the untightening direction to prevent unlock-ing of the inner cap member; wherein the annu-lar portion allows the end wall to deform in the untightening direction to lessen the amount of friction between the detent members and the driven portion of the inner cap member.
Applications Claiming Priority (6)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US10330879A | 1979-12-13 | 1979-12-13 | |
| US103,308 | 1979-12-13 | ||
| US18709680A | 1980-09-24 | 1980-09-24 | |
| US187,096 | 1980-09-24 | ||
| US206,411 | 1980-11-14 | ||
| US06/206,411 US4319690A (en) | 1979-12-13 | 1980-11-14 | Child-resistant closure and container assembly including improved outer cap |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1143339A true CA1143339A (en) | 1983-03-22 |
Family
ID=27379514
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000366729A Expired CA1143339A (en) | 1979-12-13 | 1980-12-12 | Child-resistant closure and container assembly including improved outer cap |
Country Status (7)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP0030830A1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JPS56106754A (en) |
| AR (1) | AR224428A1 (en) |
| AU (1) | AU6499580A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1143339A (en) |
| NZ (1) | NZ195765A (en) |
| ZA (1) | ZA807591B (en) |
Families Citing this family (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4353474A (en) * | 1981-06-10 | 1982-10-12 | Sunbeam Plastics Corporation | Load bearing closure |
| JPS61107746U (en) * | 1984-12-20 | 1986-07-08 | ||
| DE3838450A1 (en) * | 1988-11-12 | 1990-05-17 | Stihl Maschf Andreas | Closure cap (stopper) for a fuel tank |
| ES2084290T3 (en) * | 1991-07-30 | 1996-05-01 | Wellcome Found | LID FOR A CONTAINER. |
| EP3887276B1 (en) * | 2018-11-27 | 2024-06-26 | Rieke LLC | Lightweight, child resistant closure with tamper evident, combustion resistant, and/or strip-torque resistant features |
Family Cites Families (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3472411A (en) * | 1968-03-04 | 1969-10-14 | Basic Products Dev Co | Safety closure for a bottle |
| US3623623A (en) * | 1969-09-05 | 1971-11-30 | Reflex Corp Canada Ltd | Childproof safety package |
| US3638819A (en) * | 1970-07-22 | 1972-02-01 | Kerr Glass Mfg Corp | Child-safe closure |
| US3830390A (en) * | 1972-03-22 | 1974-08-20 | Sunbeam Plastics Corp | Safety closure for medicine bottles or the like |
| US3797688A (en) * | 1972-06-14 | 1974-03-19 | Federal Tool & Plastics | Safety cap unit |
| CH594535A5 (en) * | 1975-05-30 | 1978-01-13 | Sas Trading | A two=piece cap for a childproof bottle closure |
| US4032028A (en) * | 1976-09-13 | 1977-06-28 | Apl Corporation | Safety cap |
-
1980
- 1980-12-02 AU AU64995/80A patent/AU6499580A/en not_active Abandoned
- 1980-12-04 ZA ZA00807591A patent/ZA807591B/en unknown
- 1980-12-05 NZ NZ195765A patent/NZ195765A/en unknown
- 1980-12-05 EP EP80304398A patent/EP0030830A1/en not_active Ceased
- 1980-12-12 JP JP17568980A patent/JPS56106754A/en active Pending
- 1980-12-12 AR AR283615A patent/AR224428A1/en active
- 1980-12-12 CA CA000366729A patent/CA1143339A/en not_active Expired
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| ZA807591B (en) | 1981-11-25 |
| AR224428A1 (en) | 1981-11-30 |
| NZ195765A (en) | 1984-11-09 |
| AU6499580A (en) | 1982-06-10 |
| JPS56106754A (en) | 1981-08-25 |
| EP0030830A1 (en) | 1981-06-24 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |