CA1213569A - Child-resistant and tamper indicating overcap - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

A child-resistant and tamper indicating overcap for a pressurized container, such as an aerosol can, having a valve with an axially protruding discharge nozzle which must be depressed to actuate the valve for discharging the contents of the container. The overcap includes a valve guard slidable between a radially outer position in which a portion of the guard overlies the nozzle for preventing actuation thereof and an inner position in which the nozzle can be depressed.
A removable tamper indicating tab is connected to the guard to prevent movement of the guard to an actuating position untill it is removed. The overcap includes a resilient por-tion of the guard which biases the guard toward its outer position and which must be overcome in order to move the guard to its inner position and which returns the guard to its outer position when the guard is released.

Description

This invention relat~s to caps or overcaps for pressurized containers and more particularly for overcaps -- having child-resistant and tamper indicating featuxes.
Because so many products commonly used in house-holds, such as paints, insect sprays, deodorants, room fresheners, etc., are packaged in pressurized containers having readily actuatable dispensing va~ves, it is impoxtant that containers of this type be provided with means for rendering them child-resistant.
It has been customary for many years to equip . pressurized containers of this ~ype with what are called "overcaps" many of them having central finger depressions which guide a user's finger to a position for depressing the centrally located valve-actuating and spray directing no~zle to dischar~e the contents from the can. Therefore, many of the suggested child-resistant overcaps have generally followed this same construction with added elements to provide the child-r~sistant feature.
Most of the child-resistant overcaps, for example, the cap disclosed in Corba United States Patent No. 4,171,758, require what Corba calls "O... a conscious action to re~urn the actuator to a child~sae condi.tion".
A number of other overcaps for containers of this type have included members which obs-truct access to the valve-actuating nozzle except by fingers of length or width greater than those usually possessed by a small child of tender years, say, five or six. It is apparent, however, that some of these -1- ~

ac-tuators could not be utilized by even an adult or an older child who had small hands with short or narrow fingers.
In addition to the child-resistant fea-tures, it is desirable also to provide a tamper indicatiny feature so that any attempt to open the container once it has been filled is indicated by some means which can be observed. Also it is desirable tha~ the child-resistant features remain operable for repeated openings and cl~sings whereas the tamper indi~
cating arrangement is required ~o operate only the first time that the container is opened.
Wi-th respect to such tamper indica-ting means, the prior art has man~ different arrangements including those with portions oE the cap that must be removed in order to complete the opening sequence. In none of these arrangements, does the removable portion have any utilitarian purposes other than the indicating operation.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a child-resistant overcap for pressurized containers in which tamper indicating means prevent placing the overcap in a con-

2~ dition by which the contents of the container can be dispensed until the tamper indicating means are removed.
S-till another object of the invention is to provide an overcap in which the tamper indicating means are positioned to obstruct the dispensing passages from the container.
Another object of the invention is to provide a child-resistant and tamper indicating closure in which the tamper indicating means are moved closer to the dispensing passage to form a greater obstruction and to more completely conceal the passage.

Another object of the instant lnvention is to pro-vide a child resistant overcap for a pressurize~ container comprising a valve guard which is movable between valve-guarding position and valve-actuating position and which in-cludes resilient means biasing the valve guard toward guarding position whereby~ after movement to valve-actuating position by an adult or older child, the valve yuard automatically is restored to valve-guarding or child-resistant position without the necessity for a conscious action on the part of the user.
It is yet another object of the instan-t invention to provide an overcap for a pressurized container having a cen-trally located and upwardly extending valve nozzle which com-prises a valve guard that is radially movable between an outer, valve-guarding or child resistant position and an inner valve-actuating position~ and an integral resilient means which biases the valve guard toward the outer valve-guarding or child-resistant position.
A further object of the instant invention is to pro-vide such a child-resistant overcap for a pressurized container with a valve guard, a tamper indicating tab and resilient means, all of which are integral with the overcap structure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a view in perspec-tive of an overcap embodying the invention with its parts shown in the position in which they initially are molded;
Figure 2 is a top plan view of the overcap embodying the invention as illustrated in Figure 1 and shown on a smaller scale;
Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

r;~ l\ M

Figure 4 is a front view in elevation taken from the position indicated by the line 4-4 of Figure 3;
Figure 5 is a view in perspective, with par-ts broken away, showing an overcap embodying the invention in position on a pressurized container which is fragmentarily shown, wi.th its valve guard elements in valve-yuarding position;
Figure 6 is a view, similar to Figure 5, but showing the valve guard in its valve-actuating position;
Figure 7 is a diametric, vertical sectional view of an overcap embodying the invention in place on a pres-surized container, the overcap and its valve guard being illustrated in the valve-guarding position as also shown in Figure 5;
Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 7 but showing the overcap of the invention with its valve guard in valve-actuating position as also i5 shown in Figure 6;
Figure 9 is a view slmilar to Figure 2 showing another embodiment of the invention incorporating -tamper indicating features;
~igure 10 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 10-10 in Figure 9, Figure 11 is a view of the overcap taken g~nerally on line 11-11 showing the overcap in its assembled condition ready for application to a container; and Figure 12 is an enlargement of a portion of Figuxe 11 showing the details of the tamper indicating means.
An overcap embodying the invention, indicated by -the reference number 10 has a generally cup-shaped body 11, the body 11 having an inner annular skirt 12 at the maryin of .4_ which there is an inwardly extending lip 13. The lip 13 is of such size as to snap over a conventional valve assembly retaining seam 14 (see Figures 5 - 8, inclusive), of a con-ventional pressurized container 15. ~he overcap body ll has a central ver-tical bore 16 which is of such size as to fit around a conventional valve discharge nozzle 17. The over-cap body ll has a configuration which provides a closed top 18 and inner walls defining a finger depression 19 which extends diametrically across the overcap lO and intersects the nozzle bore 16 so that, when -the overcap lO is in posi-tion on the contai.ner 15, the nozzle 17 protrudes upwardly in-to the depression l9. The nozzle 17 has a vertical key way 20 in which a key 21 at the side of the nozzle bore 16 engages to orient the nozzle 17 in the finger depression 19 so that the spray of contents is properly directed as shown in Figure 8.
An overcap embodying the invention comprises a com-bination of the foregoing struc-tural elements which are known in the art with additional elements by which the overcap of the invention is rendered child-resistant in its normal con-d.ition, which readily can be actuated by an adul-t or an older child to provide for actuation of the valve and discharge of the contents of the container and which automatically res-tores itself to child-resistant condition immediately upon disengage ment or release by a user.
The overcap 10 of the invention includes a valve guard 22 integrally molded with a resilient web 23 and integrally connected by the web 23 to -the overcap body ll by a hinge portion 24. The hinge portion 24 extends generally tangentially to the body ll at a level beneath -that of the finyer depression 19. A second hi.nge portion 25 ls also formed at the time of initial molding a-t the junction between the guard 22 and the resilient web 23.
Because the entire overcap 10 consisting of the body 11, guard 22 and web 23 is integral when molded from a suitable tough resilient material, such as polypropylene resin, the fact that the web 23 and guard 22 extend horizon-tally from the body 11 when initially molded results in those parts wishing to return to that position relative to the body 11. As a resul-t, when the guard 22 and resilient web 23 are swung upwardly and to the left (in a counter-clockwise direc-tion) from the position shown in Figure 3, the resilient web 23 biases the guard 22 to return -to the posi-tion shown in Figure 3.
However, the guard 22 has a pair of laterally extend-ing tabs 26 which snap into recessed guide ways 27 formed in inner walls 28 which define the sides of -the finger depression 19. The engagement of the tab 26 in the guide ways 27 serves not only to retain the guard in i-ts operating position, as illustrated in Figures 5 - 8, inclusive, but it also func-tions to guide the guard in its movement radially between the valve-guarding position of Figures 5 and 7 and the valve-actuating positlon of Figures 6 and 8.
The guard 22 has a portion at its free end, indica-ted by the bracket 29, which is the innermost portion of the guard 22 after the guard has been swung up and over into its operative location in the finger depression 19. As best can be seen in Figure 7, this innermost portion 29 of the guard 22 overlies the valve nozzle 17 when the valve guard is in 1-ts outer position. In this position of the guard 22, its side ~,2~ 3~

rails 30 slide on a flat portion 31 of -the bottom of the finger depression 19. As a result, downward move~ent of the innermost portion 29 of the guard 22 is prevented when the guard 22 is in the position shown in Figures 5 and 7.
The guard 22 also has a generally semi-circular depressable portion 32 forming a valve actuator. The valve actuator 32 is depressable in all positions of the guard 22 and it overlies the top of the nozzle 17 to engage it when the guard 22 is in valve-actuating position as illustrated in Figures 6 and 8. A pair of ears 33 are molded on the underside of the depressable portion 32 so that when the por-tion 32 is pressed downwardly by the finger of the user, as shown in Figure 8, the ears 33 engage the top of the nozzle 17 to actuate the valve for the discharge of material.
In order that a user may move the guard 22 from the position shown in Figures 5 and 7 to the valve-actuating posi-tion shown in Figures 6 and 8, the guard 22 also has an ele-ment 34 which extends upwardly when the guard is in opera-ting position and i9 engageable by the end of a finger of a user in order that the user may slide the guard from the valve-guarding position of Figures 5 and 7 to -the valve-actuating position of Figures 6 and 8.
It will be observed by comparing Figures 5 and 7 with Figures 6 and 8, respectively, that when the guard 22 is moved into valve-actuating position, the resi.lient web 23 is flexed inwardly over a sharp edge 35 of a part of the bottom of the finger depression 19.
When the user releases the guard 22 by withdrawing his finger from the position illustrated in Figure 8, the flexure of the resilient web 23 seeking to return to the posi-~ 5'~J~

tion illus-trated in Figures 5 and 7 and its "memory" tending to return it to its ini-tially molded position as shown in Figures 1 - 3, inclusive, causes the guard ~2 to be immediately noved outwardly to valve-guarding position thus restoring the overcap to its child-resistant condition.
Referring now to Figures 9 12, another embodi-ment of the i.nvention is illustrated in which an overcap 50 incorporates the child-resistant features of the overcap 10 and in addition tamper indicating means designated generally at 52. Except for the tamper indicating means 52, the over-cap 50 is identical to the child-resistant overcap 10 illus-trated in Figures 1 - 8.
The tamper indicating means 52 is in the form of a tab 54 molded integrally with the end of guard 22 and is connected thereto through means of frangible hinge elements 56.
The tab element 54 is provided with a pair of lock portions 60 which in the assembled condition of the overcap 50, as viewed in Figure 11, are disposed in the pair ~0 of recesses forming the guide ways 27. Disposition of the lock elements 60 in the guide ways 27 is such that movement of the guard 24 from its valve-guarding position illustra-ted in Figure 11 to a valve-actuating position, as seen in Figure 8, is prevented by the interference of the lock elements 60 with the end walls 61 of -the opening forming the guide ways 27. Under these conditions, the tab 54 is bent downwardly at an angle relative to the remainder of the guard 2~ along a transverse hinge line indicated at 62 in Figure 9 and passing through the hinge elements 56~ Any effort to move the guard 22 to the left, as viewed in Figure 11, is resis-ted by the 5~

lock elements 60 which act along a transverse line indica-ted at 63 in Figure 9 which is spaced from the hinge line 62. The spacing of the lines 62 in which the hinge elements 56 act and the line 63 in which the lock elements 60 act, causes the tab 54 to deflect further and swing in a counter-clockwise direction to the broken line position shown in Figure 12 to move the tab 54 closer to the bore of recess 16 which receives the actuating nozzle 17. The recess 16 extends generally axially of the overcap 50 and is provided with an axially extending dispensing passage disposed diametrically opposite to the key 21. In the condition seen in Figure 11, the tab 5~ obstructs the dispensing passage and also serves to conceal the valve actuating nozzle 17 from view.
Any effort to slide the valve guard 22 to the left, as viewed in Figure 11, is resisted by the lock elements 60 making it necessary to remove the tab 54 prior to placing the container in a condition in which dispensing of the con-tainer contents can occur. This is accomplished by folding the tab 54 upwardly and twisting the frangible hinge elements 56 to separate the tampe~ indicating tab 54 from -the remainder of the overcap 50. In this manner, the overcap is placed in a condition making it possible to actuate the nozzle 17 and dispense contents from the container. At the same -time, an observer is given evidence -that the container has been placed in a condition permitting dispensing of the contents. When a number of containers with overcaps are displayed in retail outlets, any overcap which has the ta~ 5~ removed is easily distinguished from the remainder of the containers and is suspect as having been tampered with and some of its contents possibly used.

A child-resistant and tamper indicating overcap for pressurized containers having an axially movable dis-pensing valve has been provided in which the overcap has a valve guard movable between a valve-guarding and a valve-actuating position and is further provided with an indicator tab which prevents movement of -the valve guard -to the valve-actuating posi-tion until it is removed. Until such time as the tab is removed, it not only prevents actuation of the valve but it also obstruc-ts -the passage from which the con-tents of -the container are dispensed from the nozzle. ~pon removal of the tab, -the valve can be actuated and at the same time there is visible evidence that the overcap has been placed in a condition permit-ting dispensing of the con-ten-ts of the container.

Claims (7)

The embodiments of the invention in which an exlcusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A child-resistant and tamper indicating over-cap for a pressurized container of the type having an axially movable dispensing valve at the center top of the container, said overcap comprising: a generally cup-shaped body having a depending skirt with an annular lip adapted to be fastened to a container, a valve receiving cavity formed in said body, a finger depression extending diametrically across the top of said body and intersecting said valve receiving cavity, a valve guard unitary with said body and slidably mounted in said finger depression for movement between a valve-guarding position and a valve-actuating position, an indicator tab, means connecting said indicator tab to said valve guard, lock means on said tab engageable with said body to prevent movement of said valve guard to said valve actuating position, said means connecting said tab to said guard being frangible to permit detachment of said tab from said guard to permit movement of said guard to said valve-actuating position and evidence of tampering.

2. The child-resistant and tamper indicating over-cap of Claim 1 wherein means connecting indicator tab are hinge elements.

3. The child-resistant and tamper indicating over-cap of Claim 1 and further comprising a dispensing passage extending radially from said valve recess, said tab being disposed at an angle relative to said valve guard to obstruct said dispensing passage when said valve guard is in said valve-guarding position.

4. The child-resistant and tamper indicating overcap of Claim 3 and further comprising complementary guide means on said body and said valve guard, said lock means being engageable with said guide means on said body to deflect said tab to its passage-obstructing position.

5. The child-resistant and tamper indicating overcap of Claim 4 wherein said lock means co-act with said guide means on said body to deflect said tab toward said dispensing passage as said valve guard is urged away from its valve-guarding position.

6. The child-resistant and tamper indicating over-cap of Claim 4 wherein said guide means on said body are a pair of openings at opposite sides of said finger recess, said lock means including a pair of lock elements extending in opposite directions from said tab and into said recesses, respectively.

7. The child-resistant and tamper indicating over-cap of Claim 1 wherein said indicator tab is deflectable along a hinge line extending transversely to the direction of move-ment of said valve guard, said lock means being oppositely extending lock elements engageable with said body member at opposite sides of said finger depression, said lock elements being disposed along a transverse line parallel to and spaced from said hinge line to pivot said indicator tab toward said valve receiving cavity upon movement of said valve guard towards said valve-actuating position.