CA2134911A1 - Safety maze closure - Google Patents
Safety maze closureInfo
- Publication number
- CA2134911A1 CA2134911A1 CA002134911A CA2134911A CA2134911A1 CA 2134911 A1 CA2134911 A1 CA 2134911A1 CA 002134911 A CA002134911 A CA 002134911A CA 2134911 A CA2134911 A CA 2134911A CA 2134911 A1 CA2134911 A1 CA 2134911A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- neck
- cap
- bottle
- gaps
- spaced
- 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.)
- Abandoned
Links
Classifications
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- 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
- B65D50/06—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 different actions in succession
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- 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
- B65D1/00—Containers having bodies formed in one piece, e.g. by casting metallic material, by moulding plastics, by blowing vitreous material, by throwing ceramic material, by moulding pulped fibrous material, by deep-drawing operations performed on sheet material
- B65D1/02—Bottles or similar containers with necks or like restricted apertures, designed for pouring contents
- B65D1/0223—Bottles or similar containers with necks or like restricted apertures, designed for pouring contents characterised by shape
- B65D1/023—Neck construction
Abstract
A novel safety closure cap/container system is pro-vided herein. The system includes the combination of a bottle having a projecting neck, and a cap having a hollow well adapted to be engaged over the neck. The interior of the cap has a plurality, e.g., a pair of circumferentially, spaced-apart, inwardly-projecting stubs of any geometrical shape, e.g., round, spaced, e.g., 180° apart. The neck of the bottle has an upper rim and at least three parallel, encircling outwardly projecting ribs, each of the upper rim and the ribs being provided with a plurality, e.g., two, circumferentially, spaced-apart gaps therein, the gaps being spaced-apart by the circumferential spacing between the stubs. The gaps are offset from rim to rib to rib, so as to provide a maze channel. The space between the last rib and the bottom of the neck of the bottle includes cooperative members to lock the stubs to the bottle neck.
Alternatively, the neck of the bottle may be provided with the stubs, and the inside of the cap of the bottle may be provided with the ribs.
Alternatively, the neck of the bottle may be provided with the stubs, and the inside of the cap of the bottle may be provided with the ribs.
Description
213~911 The present invention relates to safety caps or closures.
The closures are particularly useful for medicinal bottles or containers and phials for keeping drugs or other preparations out of the hands of children. Such closures may be of the so-called "child-proof" or child-resistant-type, suitable for packaging pharmaceutics and the like.
Additionally, the closures are especially useful for per-sons with decreased manual dexterity, possibly caused by many crippling diseases or from birth.
A very common occurrence is that of a young child opening a bottle containing some harmful substance and exposing the contents, thereby inviting potentially hazar-dous situations. It has been recognized that child-resis-tant packages are necessary in the handling of pharmaceu-ticals and the like to deter children from opening the package. Additionally, adults occasionally mistake a con-tainer of some harmful substance for one which is not, by failing to read the label. In the packaging of harmful and/or lethal products, especially for the protection of small children, a locking form of closure is now widely recognized as an important safety factor in reducing the number of accidental poisonings. Various kinds of friction gripping and compression locking screws have been tried with some success.
Various types of containers are now provided which may be opened by relatively simple manipulation procedures.
With screw containers, a relatively ready turning of the cap frees the container even though the end of the screw may have provided some form of locking means. In addition, snap-type plastic caps or bottle tops have been used to keep children from obtaining the contents of medicine bottles. These assemblies basically comprised a cap made of resilient material, e.g., plastic, having a locking rib which normally engaged under a bead on the container neck.
In some instances, the cap had a discrete locking tab which registered with a gap in the bead on the container in the removal position for the cap. In each case visible, exposed indicia means were provided for registering the locking tab with the gap in the bead on the container neck.
Numerous safety vials have been proposed which include relatively complex caps having rotatable rings therein which were formed with notches that must be appropriately indexed with respect to lugs carried on the container in order to remove the cap from the container.
other combination containers have been proposed that included a first continuous flange disposed around its neck and a second flange which was formed with peripheral notches. A cap assembly was provided which included a cap liner that had a cap shell rotatably assembled therewith.
The cap liner included resilient flanges which hooked below the continuous flange and were normally held in engagement therewith by the cap shell, which included lugs engaged below the notched flange. The cap shell was rotatable to a release position for releasing the fingers. When the liner was properly indexed with respect to the container, 213~91 1 the lugs passed upwardly through the notches in the notched flange to release the cap assembly for removal. Still other such combination containers included a cap that cooperated to define a precautionary arrangement directed to preventing children from removing the cap from the container.
The patent literature also attempted to provide a solution to this problem.
U.S. Patent No. 2,947,431 patented August 2, 1960 by D.A. Haynes provided locks of the combination type for container covers, whereby to remove the cover from the container it is necessary to rotate the cover in opposite directions to predetermined positions. The patentee claimed to have provided a combination lock for a container cover comprising a container having an opening surrounded by an annular wall with a cover for the opening having an annular wall arranged in coaxial telescoping relationship with the first wall. One of the walls had a plurality of axially-spaced-apart parallel grooves therein extending in a circumferential direction at least partially around the wall and opening toward the other wall. The side walls of the grooves had axially-registering gaps therein. A ring was rotatably-mounted on the other wall, the ring having a detent thereon located in one of the grooves which was adapted to pass through the gaps when in registry there-with. A fixed lug was provided on the wall on which the ring was mounted, that lug extending into another of the grooves. The lug was adapted to pass through the gaps when in registry therewith. A stop was provided on the one wall for limiting the rotary movement of the ring relative to one wall. One of the walls of the groove in which the detent was located had a helically-extending portion which was engagable by the detent on the ring in that groove.
The detent and lug were selectively positionable in regis-try with the gaps by rotation of the cover in opposite directions to predetermined positions.
U.S. Patent No. 2,994,447 patented August 1, 1961 by D.A. Haynes also provided locks for container covers of the combination type, wherein to remove the cover from the con-tainer it is necessary to rotate the cover to predetermined positions in opposite directions. The patentee claimed to have provided a combination lock for a container cover com-prising a container having an opening therein surrounded byan annular wall with a cover for the opening having an annular wall surrounding the first wall and which was rotatable therearound. One of the walls had a plurality of grooves therein extending at least partially around the wall. The side walls of the grooves had axially-extending gaps therein. A plurality of axially-spaced rings, equal in number to the grooves, was mounted on the other wall for rotary movement relative thereto. The rings normally were carried by the other wall for rotation therewith. The rings had detents thereon which extended radially into the respective grooves and which were adapted to pass through the gaps when in registry therewith. Stops were formed in the respective grooves of one wall for abutting engagement 213~911 with the detents incident to rotary movement of the annular walls. The detents were selectively positionable in regis-try with the gaps by rotation of the cover in opposite directions relative to the container to predetermined posi-tions.
U.S. Patent No. 3,402,842 patented September 24, 1968 by J.J. Millian described a container particularly designed to carry medicaments which should be kept out of reach or availability to children. The patentee claimed to have provided a safety closure system comprising a container with an upstanding cylindrical circular mouth serving as an inlet and an outlet. The mouth had a ridge at its upper end consisting of peripheral interrupted projections with interrupted recesses therebetween, and a spiral continuous peripheral uninterrupted oblique circular ridge spaced sub-stantially below the interrupted projections, with a free space intervening between the projections and the spiral ridge. The container also had a base stop shoulder and a cylindrical cap closure fitting over and telescoping upon the mouth. The cap closure had an interior diameter sub-stantially greater than the exterior diameter of the mouth, a top base and a depending skirt. Inwardly projecting interrupted oblique spiral ridges were also provided with successive recesses and projections on the interior face of the skirt. The interrupted recesses were of a size to per-mit passage of the skirt projections and the interrupted projections being of a size to pass through the skirt recesses when coinciding with one another. This permitted 213~911 placement and telescoping of the cap upon the mouth when the cap was rotated to a predetermined position and after-wards locking the cap in position when the cap in teles-coped position was rotated from the predetermined position.
The spiral circular ridges on the mouth and on the cap enabled the cap to be tightened in position against the base stop shoulder.
U.S. Patent No. 3,407,954 patented October 29, 1968 by A. Millis provided a container having a neck portion and a cap portion that fit together in a way to make it difficult to separate the two. This patentee claimed to have pro-vided a container including a bottle having a neck and a male thread on the neck. A neck extension tube was pro-vided having one end with a female thread to match the thread of the neck, the one end of the tube being fixed to the neck, the tube having a male thread at its upper end.
A first ring was fixed to the exterior of the tube below the tube male thread, the first ring having a gap therein which was small in comparison to its length, the first ring gap being located around the tube at a position below the space between portions of the tube male thread. A second ring was fixed to the exterior of the tube below the first ring, the second ring having a gap therein which was small in comparison to its length, the second ring gap being located around the tube at a position below the first ring gap. A cap which was provided on the tube included upper, intermediate and lower sections. The upper and lower sec-tions were rotatably-mounted on the intermediate section.
The upper section had a pair of inwardly-extending projec-tions to fit in between the tube male thread portions. The intermediate section had an inwardly-extending projection to fit the gap in the first ring. The lower section had an inwardly-extending projection to fit the gap in the second ring. The rings were spaced vertically apart, a distance which was sufficient to allow the intermediate section pro-jection to rotate around the tube therebetween. A mark was provided on the tube in the gaps which extended downwardly below the lower cap section when the cap is assembled to the tube. A series of indicia extended around the exterior of the lower and intermediate cap sections.
U.S. Patent No. 3,587,896 patented June 28, 1971 by G.M. Graff provided a combination closure apparatus. The patentee claimed to have provided combination closure appa-ratus comprising a container formed on its top end with an opening. A first lug was disposed adjacent the opening.
A rotatable locking ring surrounded the opening and was formed with a second lug. A coupler coupling the ring to the container for rotation with respect thereto. A cover which was provided for covering the opening, was formed with a pair of spaced-apart peripheral flanges which were formed with aligned notches for free passage therethrough of the lugs. Perceptible indexing was provided on the con-tainer ring and cover for indicating when the lugs are inalignment with one another and the notches are in alignment with one another and the notches are in alignment there-with. The ring may be rotated relative to the container to dispose the second lug in alignment with the first lug, the cover placed in position with the legs passing through the notches, the cover and ring rotated relative to the con-tainer to move the lugs into random disposition out of alignment with the notches and engaged under the flanges, in order to lock the cap to the container. When the cover was to be removed it could be rotated to align the notches with the second lug and the ring could be rotated to align the first lug with the notches to enable the cover to be removed from the container.
U.S. Patent No. 3,656,647 patented April 18, 1972 by M.A. Swinn provided a safety bottle with a so-called "child-proof" closure. The patentee claimed to have pro-vided a safety container comprising a container with a cylindrical open end having longitudinally-spaced, circum-ferential, channel-like grooves in the exterior thereof, with walls separating the channel-like grooves, and with gaps in the walls. A closure included a cylindrical skirt with circumferentially-spaced, inwardly directed, radial lugs near the bottom of the skirt. The lugs were of a thickness and depth corresponding with the depth and width of the grooves in the container and were of a length corresponding with the length of the gaps in the walls separating the grooves. The lugs were of different lengths. The respective gaps in the walls between succes-sive grooves were of corresponding lengths.
U.S. Patent No. 3,669,296 patented June 13, 1972 by D.H. Drew et al provided a metal aerosol-type canister, the 21~911 -top of which was cylindrical and which was provided with three annular grooves forming three annular ribs, each of which ribs had a narrow gap, all three of which gaps were aligned axially. A mark was provided on the canister body which was aligned with the gaps and which was low enough to be exposed to view when a safety cap was applied to cover the canister top. This cap was a hollow cylinder having an internal lug which was aligned with the gaps in order for the cap to be applied to or removed from the canister.
Such alignment was facilitated by an external mark on the cap which was radially aligned with the lug. Above the lug, the cap was provided with an annular internal recess for holding a pair of plastic rings which were snapped in place in the recess so as to be trapped therein, in end-to-end relation. Semi-annular slots were formed in the cap in the area of the recess to accommodate two finger-engaging lugs, one of which extended radially-outwardly from each ring for use in manually rotating the rings independently of each other. Each ring also had a locking lug extending radially-inwardly therefrom. These lugs must both be axially-aligned with the mark on the cap and the mark on the canister for the cap to be applied to or removed from the canister. Code marks were circumferentially-spaced on the rings and outwardly exposed through the semi-annular slots for enabling a person who understands the code com-bination to set the rings properly to align the internal ring lugs for facilitating applying the cap to or removing it from the container.
213~911 U.S. Patent No. 3,822,027 patented July 2nd, 1974 by S. Cherba provided a container with a cap which cannot be readily removed by small children. The patentee claimed to have provided, in the combination of a container and a safety closure member rotatable on the container and adapted selectively to be locked thereon to inhibit ready removal therefrom, a particular improvement, of a neck and a closure member. The neck had an axially-directed periph-eral surface. The neck had an axially-directed dispensing passage therethrough. The closure member was a cap having an axially-directed skirt adapted to be telescoped over the neck of the container and a transverse top disposed end of the neck and closing the dispensing passage when the cap is applied thereto. The cap and neck had interacting cap-locking formations on their axially-directed peripheral surfaces. One of such formations included a transverse annular flange having an annular end surface which was disposed axially inwardly of the neck when the cap was fully applied to the neck. The flange had at least a part-helical groove extending radially inwardly from the peri-pheral surface of the flange and through the flange from its axially inner annular surface to the axially outer surface thereof. The other of the interacting cap-locking formations included a land which was adapted to be received in the groove. The land lay axially-inwardly of, and was contiguous to, the axially-inwardly disposed end surface of the flange. The cap was freely rotatable with respect to the container neck when the cap was fully applied to the 213~911 neck. The land was able to enter the groove only when the cap was turned to a predetermined angular position relative to the neck. Then the land entered the groove when the cap was pulled axially-outwardly along the neck. The cap was then able to be removable from the neck by turning the cap relative to the neck, so that the land travelled axially-outwardly along the helical groove.
U.S. Patent No. 4,071,156 patented January 31, 1978 by A.D. Love provided a closure for a container. The patentee claimed to have provided a closure for a container having a neck with an access opening therein, and a locking rib on the outer surface of the neck interrupted by at least two circumferentially-spaced locations to define gaps therein of predetermined differing arcuate dimensions. The closure included a cap having a top, a skirt depending from the outer edge of the top and at least a pair of primary locking lugs projecting radially inwardly from the skirt to engage under the locking rib to secure the cap in place.
The primary locking lugs were of an arcuate span and were of sufficient circumferential spacing to register with the gaps in one position. At least one auxiliary releasable locking lug of a shallower radial projection than the primary lugs engaged under the bead when the cap was in one position. The auxiliary lug was operable to snap over the bead in one position when the cap was tilted relative to the neck of the container.
U.S. Patent No. 4,095,718 patented June 20, 1978 by C.T. Kong provided a cap for closing a container. The patentee claimed to have provided a cap for a container.
The cap of the container included a cover wall and a side wall integral with the cover wall and projecting therefrom to define a container-receiving recess. Supplementary locking means were located on the interior of the side wall at a position spaced from the cover wall, to engage with the container locking means to ensure that the cap can be separated from the container only when the cap was aligned in predetermined angular relationship with the container.
Adjustable stopping means included a member that occupied a position within the recess to act as a stop limiting travel of the container into the recess. The side wall included a gripping surface which was adapted releasably to secure the cap to the container. The member on the adjust-able stopping means was movable from a position to enablefurther travel of the container into the recess to engage the locking means.
U.S. Patent No. 4,375,859 patented March 8, 1983 by W.E. Fillmore provided a child-resistant package comprising a container and a snap-on closure. The patentee claimed to have provided a child-resistant package with a snap-on closure comprising: a container having a neck finish, the neck finish including a first upper annular retaining bead, a second lower annular retaining bead spaced axially beneath the first annular bead and a flange extending radially outwardly and being axially-spaced below the second head. The first annular bead had a notch therein with the second annular bead being continuous. A closure -had a top and a peripheral skirt, the skirt having a lift-ing tab on the outer surface thereof. A first radially inwardly-extending locking lug was provided on the inner surface thereof adjacent the external lifting tab, the skirt having at least one second radially inwardly-extending locking lug located generally diametrically opposite from the lifting tab and axially below the plane of the first locking lug. The first locking lug was located below the first retaining bead and the second locking lug was located beneath the second retaining bead, and when the first locking lug is brought into registry with the notch, the closure can be recovered by upward force on the lifting tab.
U.S. Patent No. 4,991,729 patented February 12, 1991 lS by R.M. Hunter provided a child-resistant container and closure cap combination comprising a container part and a closure cap part. One of the two parts movably supported a single movable member that was frictionally-engaged by a selected part. The movable member was engaged and moved relative to the frictionally-engaged part by means on the other part to at least one indexed position relative to the selected part. Movement of the parts in the opposite direction frictionally carried the movable member relative to the other part to a position relative to the other part that allowed access to the container contents solely by relative movement of the two parts.
Thus, in summary, currently available child-resistant closures may be relatively simple to operate in some cases, 213~911 -but very often require a combination, or several combina-tions of wrist, hand and/or finger dexterity strength or ability to withstand pressure, sight, and mental alertness or rationality. Commonly such arrangements require rota-tion of a cap relative to a container and then applicationof force of some type in a designated place to remove the cap. In some structures of this type even the rotation can be difficult because the structures are not easily rotated.
However, in most instances the problem comes with having to use fingers in a way particularly awkward or difficult for older people, or people with some sort of manual disabi-lity.
In prior containers, which required the use of both a notch, and hand/finger strength, it was necessary for a user to use sight and/or feel, and strength. The whole hand was thus subjected to pressure which may cause pain.
Bayonet-type-connections generally did not give satis-factory protection since they could easily be removed. On the other hand, locking devices rendered it extremely dif-ficult to replace the cap or even to remove the cap, withthe result that the container could not be adequately closed after usage or, if safely closed, would not there-after be accessible because of the difficulty of opening the cap. In no instance can it be considered satisfactory if tools are necessary to enable removal of the cap.
Many containers are objectional because they were both prohibitive to manufacture and required a high degree of dexterity to operate.
213~911 Although precautionary arrangements are advantageous in circumstances where the need for safety existed, they constitute a nuisance in other circumstances. It is known that a characteristic of such a precautionary arrangement was that a complex manipulation was required to remove the cap from the container. Typically such a complex mani-pulation involved, firstly, rotating the cap relative to the container until two or more position indicators, on the cap and the container, were brought into alignment, and then, secondly, lifting the cap off the container. More-over, many elderly people rarely have small children in their homes. As with many difficult-to-open/close con-tainers, such persons would often leave the cover either completely off or not closed enough to engage the safety feature, thus eliminating any child resistance altogether.
Moreover, owing to their age or to an affliction, e.g., arthritis, such older people may be lacking in manual dexterity and accordingly may find it difficult and sometimes impossible to remove the cap from the container so that they can take the medicine they need. In addition, the pharmacists who dispense the medicine filled many con-tainers during a working day and were continually removing and replacing the caps. Owing to the complex manipulation described above, done repeatedly, the pharmacists suffered discomfort and irritation of their fingers and hands.
It was found, however, that the snap-cap assemblies were likewise difficult to remove in some instances, even by adults, and furthermore, that the alignment of the indicia means can be deciphered in some cases even by children.
None of the above patented containers provided a truly tamper-proof container assembly which was virtually impos-sible for children to open and which nevertheless was rela-tively easily manipulatable by adults to position for open-ing when it is desired to gain access to the contents of the container. They did not provide a low-cost package system that was child-resistant. They did not provide a closure which was easier for older people or people with physical disability to open but which was also inexpensive and child-resistant. Moreover an unauthorized person attempting to gain access thereto could determine the rotational position required for release of the cap shell and liner by feel as the shell and liner were rotated to the release positions. Other of the above-described devices required difficult manipulation both for operating and closing the container.
Accordingly, it is an object of one aspect of the present invention to provide a novel safety closure or cap for containers normally positioned in the kitchen or bath-room cabinets which might contain drugs, poisons, pills or medicaments which should not be readily available to chil-dren or even to adults who might not be fully awake.
An object of another aspect of the present invention is to provide a safety or anti-removal cap or closure which will not be too complicated in usage for an adult but, at the same time, will require sufficient skill as would not be readily available in a young child and which would pro-tect the contents against inadvertent usage by minors or children without supervision.
An object of yet another aspect of the present inven-tion is to provide a simple, readily-manufactured and applied safety closure cap which may be manufactured by automatic machinery and then readily applied by such auto-matic machinery without manual intervention and which will adequately cover the top of a medicament or pharmaceutical container or bottle to prevent inadvertent opening or removal of the cap or closure.
An object of yet still another aspect of the present invention is to provide a closure apparatus which is rela-tively easy to operate so it can be operated by sick and feeble patients, yet which makes it highly difficult for unauthorized persons to gain access hereto.
An object of a further aspect of this invention is to provide a safety container with a closure that for lock-on and removal application to the container must be moved through a specific series of movements both longitudinally and rotatably with respect to the container without visible indicators or other indicators of the necessary removal procedure.
The present invention now provide structures enabling adult-accessible, child-resistant packaging closures. More specifically, the present invention provides cap and con-tainer cooperative components which can be easily manipu-213~911 lated by simple movements into a position in which the cap and container may be separated.
The present invention provides, as one broad aspect, the combination of a bottle having a projecting neck, and a cap having a hollow well adapted to be engaged over the neck, wherein: a) the interior of the cap has a plurality of circumferentially, spaced-apart, inwardly-projecting stubs; b) the neck of the bottle has an upper rim and a plurality of parallel, encircling ribs or grooves, each of the upper rim and the ribs or grooves being provided with a similar plurality of circumferentially, spaced-apart gaps therein, the gaps being spaced-apart by the circumferential spacing between the stubs, the gaps further being offset from rim to rib to rib, so as to provide a maze channel, the last rib preferably including cooperative members operatively associated with the neck of the bottle to lock the stubs to the bottle neck.
By one variant thereof, there are two stubs which may be round or have any other geometric shape, i.e., square cross-section which are preferably spaced-apart by 180.
By another variant, three ribs or three grooves are provided on, or in, the neck of the bottle.
By yet another variant, alternate ribs or grooves and the upper rim have the gaps vertically aligned.
By a variant thereof, the gaps in the ribs or grooves are staggered so that a top gap and a bottom gap are aligned, with an intermediate gap, i.e., a middle gap being offset therefrom.
By another variant, the cap is provided with a plur-ality of external, circumferential finger grips.
By one variant of this invention, the cooperative members comprise a pair of spaced-apart, downwardly-depending, locking projections on a selected rib, or in a selected groove, preferably, the last rib or groove.
By another variant of the invention, the cooperative members comprise a pair of spaced-apart, downwardly-depending, locking projections on a selected rib or in a selected groove, preferably, the last rib or groove, in cooperation with a ridge on the lowest portion of the neck of the bottle at the region of the space between the locking projections.
By yet another variant of the invention, the coopera-tive members comprise a pair of spaced-apart, downwardly-depending, locking projections on a selected rib or in a selected groove, preferably, the last rib or groove, in cooperation with a depression in the lowest portion of the neck of the bottle at the region of the space between the locking projections.
By a still further variant of the invention, the cooperative members comprise two spaced-apart, hemi-cylin-drical columns extending between the last rib or last groove and the lowest portion of the neck of the bottle.
By still another variant of the invention, at least one of the gaps is provided with at least one of upstream and downstream stop notches depending from an associated rib or groove, adjacent the gap.
By a still further variant of the invention, the inside periphery of the cap is defined by a guiding tapered portion cooperating with a similar portion on the upper rim.
In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is an exploded isometric view of the con-tainer/cap of one embodiment of this invention;
Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal cross-section through an assembled cap and container neck of the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the lower portion of the neck of the bottle showing one embodiment of a cooperative locking arrangement between the cap and the neck of the bottle;
lS Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of the lower portion of the neck of the bottle showing another embodiment of a coopera-tive locking arrangement between the cap and the neck of the bottle;
Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of the lower portion of the neck of the bottle showing yet another embodiment of a cooperative locking arrangement between the cap and the neck of the bottle;
Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of the lower portion of the neck of the bottle showing an auxiliary locking arrangement which may be used with any embodiment of cooperative locking arrangements depicted above;
213~911 Fig. 7 is an enlarged view of the upper portion of the neck of the bottle and the lower portion of the cap showing the cooperative guiding arrangement;
Fig. 8 is a central longitudinal cross-section through an assembled cap and container neck of another embodiment of the invention shown; and Fig. 9 is an exploded isometric view of the con-tainer/cap of yet another embodiment of this invention.
As seen in the drawings, the container/cap combination 10 includes a cap 20 and a container 40. The cap 20 includes a depending outer skirt 21, defining an internal well 22. The outer periphery of the skirt 21 is provided with a plurality of finger-grips 23. The internal well 22 is provided with two spaced-apart, round or other geome-tric-shaped, e.g., square cross-section, lugs 24. While two lugs are shown spaced 180 apart, other spacings from, e.g., 20 to 180 apart may be provided. Furthermore, while two lugs 24 are shown, any number of spaced-apart lugs may be provided, e.g., four lugs 24 spaced goo apart.
The container 40 includes a main cylindrical vessel 41 and an upstanding neck 42 having an axial access opening 43. The neck includes an upper rim 44, and a plurality, in this case, three, encircling ribs, namely an upper rib 45, an intermediate rib 46 and a lower rib 47. The inter-ribular spaces are designated 48, 49, 50, 51, with the lowest portion of the neck below the lower rib 47 being designated 52. Each of the rim 44 and ribs 45, 46, 47 is provided with spaced-apart slots 53 providing gaps in the -rim 44 and in the ribs 45, 46, 47. These slots 53 are equal in number to the number of lugs 24 on the interior of the cap 20, and are spaced-apart by the same angular spac-ing as the lugs 24. The slots 53 in alternative rims 44 and ribs 45, 46, 47 are generally offset from one another.
It is not essential that such offset be angularly-equidis-tant. However, if it is, the alternate slots 53 should aligned with one another.
Features of embodiments of the invention are the pro-vision of the various cooperative locking arrangements to be described hereinafter. An angularly, spaced-apart pair of locking projections is provided as one embodiment shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. As seen in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, such projections 60, 61 depend from the lower face of the bottom rib 47 into the inter-ribular space 51. When the cap 20 is placed fully over the neck 42 of the bottle 40, the lugs 24 lock into place between the two adjacent, but spaced-apart locking projections 60,61.
While two sets of such locking projections 60,61 are provided, the number and the angular spacing thereof will be equal to the number and the angular spacing of the lugs 24.
Fig. 3 shows another embodiment of such locking coop-eration. As shown, there are two, spaced-apart V-shaped projections 361,362 depending from the lower face of the bottom rib 47 into the inter-ribular space 51. The upper face 62 of the lowest portion 52 of the neck 42 of the bottle 40 is provided with a projection having an upper 213~911 semi-globular depression 363 therein, in the space between projections 361,362. The locking operation is the same as previously described, but the projection 364 provides addi-tional resistance to the movement of the lug 24 from between the projections 361,362.
Fig. 4 shows yet another embodiment of such locking cooperation. As shown, there are two, spaced-apart V-shaped projections 461,462 depending from the lower face of the bottom rib 47 into the inter-ribular space 51. The upper face 62 of the lowest portion 52 of the neck 42 of the bottle 40 is provided with a semi-globular depression 463 in the space between projections 461,462. The locking operation is the same as previously described, but the depression 464 provides additional resistance to the move-ment of the lug 24 from between the projections 461,462.
Fig. 5 shows still another embodiment of such locking cooperation. As shown, there are two, spaced-apart hemi-cylindrical vertical ribs 561,562 projecting radially out-wardly from the peripheral face of the lowest inter-ribular sphere 51. The locking operation is the same as previously described, but the hemi-cylindrical ribs 561,542 provide additional resistance to the movement of the lug 24.
Fig. 6 shows an auxiliary drag arrangement which can be used with any of the locking cooperative embodiments shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive. In this embodiment, at least one of the gaps 53, which is shown in rib 46, but which can be in any or all of the encircling ribs 45,46,47, is provided with an upstream and/or a downstream downwardly -projecting V-shaped projection 670 or projections 670,671 extending into the inter-ribular space 50. In operation, the drag provided by these projection or projections 670 and/or 671 make it necessary to apply additional torque to rotate the cap 20.
Fig. 7 shows another auxiliary embodiment to provide ease of operation. The cap 20 is provided with an inner frusto-conical taper 772. This guides the lug 24 into engagement with the first gap 53, and helps place the cap 20 onto the neck 42 of the bottle 40.
Fig. 8 shows another embodiment within the principles of the present invention. In this embodiment, a rubber, or equivalent, sealing disc 865 is secured to the inner bottom face 25 of the cap. When the cap is secured to the neck of the bottle, the sealing disc 865 is somewhat flattened and seals the cap 20 to the neck 42 of the bottle 40.
The embodiment of Fig. 9 is the inverse of the other embodiments, in that the grooves are in the inner face of the cap, while the lugs are on the outer circumference of the neck of the bottle.
Specifically, the container/cap combination 910 includes a cap 920 and a container 940. The cap 920 includes a depending outer skirt 921, defining an internal well 922. The outer periphery of the skirt 921 is provided with a plurality of finger-grips 923. The internal well 922 is provided with a plurality, in this case, three, encircling ribs, namely an upper rib 945, an intermediate rib 946 and a lower rib 947. The inter-ribular spaces are 213491i designated 948, 949, 950, 951. Each of the ribs 945, 946, 947 is provided with spaced-apart slots 53 providing gaps in the ribs 945, 946, 947. There may be two or more such slots 953 spaced 180 apart may, however, be provided.
Furthermore, while two slots 953 are shown, any number of spaced-apart slots may be provided, e.g., four slots 953 spaced 90 apart. The slots 953 in alternative ribs 945, 946, 947 are generally offset from one another. It is not essential that such offset be angularly-equidistant.
However, if it is, the alternate slots 953 should be aligned with one another.
The container 940 includes a main cylindrical vessel 941 and an upstanding neck 942 having an axial access opening 943. The neck includes an upper rim 944, and two spaced-apart, round or other geometric-shaped, e.g., square cross-section, lugs 924. While two lugs 924 are shown, the lugs 924 are equal in number to the number of slots 953 in the ribs 945, 946, 947 and are spaced-apart by the same angular spacing as the slots 923.
The various locking and sealing features shown in Figs. 1 to 8 may equally be provided in association with the inverse embodiment of Fig. 9.
In order to place the cap 20 on the neck 42 of the container 40, in the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2, the lugs 24 are aligned with the slots 53 in the rim 44. Then the cap 20 is urged downwardly while simultaneously rotating the cap 20, either continuously in one direction or alter-nately in opposite directions, until the lug 24 follows the 213~91i slots 53 in the ribs 45, 46 and 47 respectively. The cap 20 is then turned until the lugs 24 are locked within the locking projections 49.
To remove the cap 20 from the neck 42 of the bottle 40, the reverse procedure is followed.
The structural features broadly recited above provide significant advantages with respect to simplicity of con-struction, and ease of use. It is sufficiently simple and inexpensive to make commercialization an economic possibi-lity. It will also be appreciated that a closure system inaccordance with aspects of the present invention provides advantages with respect to maintaining sanitary conditions during shipping and handling of the cap/container combination with which it is used.
In one embodiment, the invention also provides a tight seal between the container and the cover so as to prevent leakage of the contents, if in liquid form, by providing means for pulling the cover down onto the container much as in the manner of the ordinary screw-on cover, and by providing the sealing disc.
The container and closure of aspects of the present invention lend themselves to mass production techniques and the cap and container are designed to be assembled by auto-matic equipment. Thus, the assembly is truly economical.
Further, the tolerance to provide a truly child resistant assembly which is comparatively easy for adults to under-stand and operate are not as critical as in prior assem-blies discussed above.
The closures are particularly useful for medicinal bottles or containers and phials for keeping drugs or other preparations out of the hands of children. Such closures may be of the so-called "child-proof" or child-resistant-type, suitable for packaging pharmaceutics and the like.
Additionally, the closures are especially useful for per-sons with decreased manual dexterity, possibly caused by many crippling diseases or from birth.
A very common occurrence is that of a young child opening a bottle containing some harmful substance and exposing the contents, thereby inviting potentially hazar-dous situations. It has been recognized that child-resis-tant packages are necessary in the handling of pharmaceu-ticals and the like to deter children from opening the package. Additionally, adults occasionally mistake a con-tainer of some harmful substance for one which is not, by failing to read the label. In the packaging of harmful and/or lethal products, especially for the protection of small children, a locking form of closure is now widely recognized as an important safety factor in reducing the number of accidental poisonings. Various kinds of friction gripping and compression locking screws have been tried with some success.
Various types of containers are now provided which may be opened by relatively simple manipulation procedures.
With screw containers, a relatively ready turning of the cap frees the container even though the end of the screw may have provided some form of locking means. In addition, snap-type plastic caps or bottle tops have been used to keep children from obtaining the contents of medicine bottles. These assemblies basically comprised a cap made of resilient material, e.g., plastic, having a locking rib which normally engaged under a bead on the container neck.
In some instances, the cap had a discrete locking tab which registered with a gap in the bead on the container in the removal position for the cap. In each case visible, exposed indicia means were provided for registering the locking tab with the gap in the bead on the container neck.
Numerous safety vials have been proposed which include relatively complex caps having rotatable rings therein which were formed with notches that must be appropriately indexed with respect to lugs carried on the container in order to remove the cap from the container.
other combination containers have been proposed that included a first continuous flange disposed around its neck and a second flange which was formed with peripheral notches. A cap assembly was provided which included a cap liner that had a cap shell rotatably assembled therewith.
The cap liner included resilient flanges which hooked below the continuous flange and were normally held in engagement therewith by the cap shell, which included lugs engaged below the notched flange. The cap shell was rotatable to a release position for releasing the fingers. When the liner was properly indexed with respect to the container, 213~91 1 the lugs passed upwardly through the notches in the notched flange to release the cap assembly for removal. Still other such combination containers included a cap that cooperated to define a precautionary arrangement directed to preventing children from removing the cap from the container.
The patent literature also attempted to provide a solution to this problem.
U.S. Patent No. 2,947,431 patented August 2, 1960 by D.A. Haynes provided locks of the combination type for container covers, whereby to remove the cover from the container it is necessary to rotate the cover in opposite directions to predetermined positions. The patentee claimed to have provided a combination lock for a container cover comprising a container having an opening surrounded by an annular wall with a cover for the opening having an annular wall arranged in coaxial telescoping relationship with the first wall. One of the walls had a plurality of axially-spaced-apart parallel grooves therein extending in a circumferential direction at least partially around the wall and opening toward the other wall. The side walls of the grooves had axially-registering gaps therein. A ring was rotatably-mounted on the other wall, the ring having a detent thereon located in one of the grooves which was adapted to pass through the gaps when in registry there-with. A fixed lug was provided on the wall on which the ring was mounted, that lug extending into another of the grooves. The lug was adapted to pass through the gaps when in registry therewith. A stop was provided on the one wall for limiting the rotary movement of the ring relative to one wall. One of the walls of the groove in which the detent was located had a helically-extending portion which was engagable by the detent on the ring in that groove.
The detent and lug were selectively positionable in regis-try with the gaps by rotation of the cover in opposite directions to predetermined positions.
U.S. Patent No. 2,994,447 patented August 1, 1961 by D.A. Haynes also provided locks for container covers of the combination type, wherein to remove the cover from the con-tainer it is necessary to rotate the cover to predetermined positions in opposite directions. The patentee claimed to have provided a combination lock for a container cover com-prising a container having an opening therein surrounded byan annular wall with a cover for the opening having an annular wall surrounding the first wall and which was rotatable therearound. One of the walls had a plurality of grooves therein extending at least partially around the wall. The side walls of the grooves had axially-extending gaps therein. A plurality of axially-spaced rings, equal in number to the grooves, was mounted on the other wall for rotary movement relative thereto. The rings normally were carried by the other wall for rotation therewith. The rings had detents thereon which extended radially into the respective grooves and which were adapted to pass through the gaps when in registry therewith. Stops were formed in the respective grooves of one wall for abutting engagement 213~911 with the detents incident to rotary movement of the annular walls. The detents were selectively positionable in regis-try with the gaps by rotation of the cover in opposite directions relative to the container to predetermined posi-tions.
U.S. Patent No. 3,402,842 patented September 24, 1968 by J.J. Millian described a container particularly designed to carry medicaments which should be kept out of reach or availability to children. The patentee claimed to have provided a safety closure system comprising a container with an upstanding cylindrical circular mouth serving as an inlet and an outlet. The mouth had a ridge at its upper end consisting of peripheral interrupted projections with interrupted recesses therebetween, and a spiral continuous peripheral uninterrupted oblique circular ridge spaced sub-stantially below the interrupted projections, with a free space intervening between the projections and the spiral ridge. The container also had a base stop shoulder and a cylindrical cap closure fitting over and telescoping upon the mouth. The cap closure had an interior diameter sub-stantially greater than the exterior diameter of the mouth, a top base and a depending skirt. Inwardly projecting interrupted oblique spiral ridges were also provided with successive recesses and projections on the interior face of the skirt. The interrupted recesses were of a size to per-mit passage of the skirt projections and the interrupted projections being of a size to pass through the skirt recesses when coinciding with one another. This permitted 213~911 placement and telescoping of the cap upon the mouth when the cap was rotated to a predetermined position and after-wards locking the cap in position when the cap in teles-coped position was rotated from the predetermined position.
The spiral circular ridges on the mouth and on the cap enabled the cap to be tightened in position against the base stop shoulder.
U.S. Patent No. 3,407,954 patented October 29, 1968 by A. Millis provided a container having a neck portion and a cap portion that fit together in a way to make it difficult to separate the two. This patentee claimed to have pro-vided a container including a bottle having a neck and a male thread on the neck. A neck extension tube was pro-vided having one end with a female thread to match the thread of the neck, the one end of the tube being fixed to the neck, the tube having a male thread at its upper end.
A first ring was fixed to the exterior of the tube below the tube male thread, the first ring having a gap therein which was small in comparison to its length, the first ring gap being located around the tube at a position below the space between portions of the tube male thread. A second ring was fixed to the exterior of the tube below the first ring, the second ring having a gap therein which was small in comparison to its length, the second ring gap being located around the tube at a position below the first ring gap. A cap which was provided on the tube included upper, intermediate and lower sections. The upper and lower sec-tions were rotatably-mounted on the intermediate section.
The upper section had a pair of inwardly-extending projec-tions to fit in between the tube male thread portions. The intermediate section had an inwardly-extending projection to fit the gap in the first ring. The lower section had an inwardly-extending projection to fit the gap in the second ring. The rings were spaced vertically apart, a distance which was sufficient to allow the intermediate section pro-jection to rotate around the tube therebetween. A mark was provided on the tube in the gaps which extended downwardly below the lower cap section when the cap is assembled to the tube. A series of indicia extended around the exterior of the lower and intermediate cap sections.
U.S. Patent No. 3,587,896 patented June 28, 1971 by G.M. Graff provided a combination closure apparatus. The patentee claimed to have provided combination closure appa-ratus comprising a container formed on its top end with an opening. A first lug was disposed adjacent the opening.
A rotatable locking ring surrounded the opening and was formed with a second lug. A coupler coupling the ring to the container for rotation with respect thereto. A cover which was provided for covering the opening, was formed with a pair of spaced-apart peripheral flanges which were formed with aligned notches for free passage therethrough of the lugs. Perceptible indexing was provided on the con-tainer ring and cover for indicating when the lugs are inalignment with one another and the notches are in alignment with one another and the notches are in alignment there-with. The ring may be rotated relative to the container to dispose the second lug in alignment with the first lug, the cover placed in position with the legs passing through the notches, the cover and ring rotated relative to the con-tainer to move the lugs into random disposition out of alignment with the notches and engaged under the flanges, in order to lock the cap to the container. When the cover was to be removed it could be rotated to align the notches with the second lug and the ring could be rotated to align the first lug with the notches to enable the cover to be removed from the container.
U.S. Patent No. 3,656,647 patented April 18, 1972 by M.A. Swinn provided a safety bottle with a so-called "child-proof" closure. The patentee claimed to have pro-vided a safety container comprising a container with a cylindrical open end having longitudinally-spaced, circum-ferential, channel-like grooves in the exterior thereof, with walls separating the channel-like grooves, and with gaps in the walls. A closure included a cylindrical skirt with circumferentially-spaced, inwardly directed, radial lugs near the bottom of the skirt. The lugs were of a thickness and depth corresponding with the depth and width of the grooves in the container and were of a length corresponding with the length of the gaps in the walls separating the grooves. The lugs were of different lengths. The respective gaps in the walls between succes-sive grooves were of corresponding lengths.
U.S. Patent No. 3,669,296 patented June 13, 1972 by D.H. Drew et al provided a metal aerosol-type canister, the 21~911 -top of which was cylindrical and which was provided with three annular grooves forming three annular ribs, each of which ribs had a narrow gap, all three of which gaps were aligned axially. A mark was provided on the canister body which was aligned with the gaps and which was low enough to be exposed to view when a safety cap was applied to cover the canister top. This cap was a hollow cylinder having an internal lug which was aligned with the gaps in order for the cap to be applied to or removed from the canister.
Such alignment was facilitated by an external mark on the cap which was radially aligned with the lug. Above the lug, the cap was provided with an annular internal recess for holding a pair of plastic rings which were snapped in place in the recess so as to be trapped therein, in end-to-end relation. Semi-annular slots were formed in the cap in the area of the recess to accommodate two finger-engaging lugs, one of which extended radially-outwardly from each ring for use in manually rotating the rings independently of each other. Each ring also had a locking lug extending radially-inwardly therefrom. These lugs must both be axially-aligned with the mark on the cap and the mark on the canister for the cap to be applied to or removed from the canister. Code marks were circumferentially-spaced on the rings and outwardly exposed through the semi-annular slots for enabling a person who understands the code com-bination to set the rings properly to align the internal ring lugs for facilitating applying the cap to or removing it from the container.
213~911 U.S. Patent No. 3,822,027 patented July 2nd, 1974 by S. Cherba provided a container with a cap which cannot be readily removed by small children. The patentee claimed to have provided, in the combination of a container and a safety closure member rotatable on the container and adapted selectively to be locked thereon to inhibit ready removal therefrom, a particular improvement, of a neck and a closure member. The neck had an axially-directed periph-eral surface. The neck had an axially-directed dispensing passage therethrough. The closure member was a cap having an axially-directed skirt adapted to be telescoped over the neck of the container and a transverse top disposed end of the neck and closing the dispensing passage when the cap is applied thereto. The cap and neck had interacting cap-locking formations on their axially-directed peripheral surfaces. One of such formations included a transverse annular flange having an annular end surface which was disposed axially inwardly of the neck when the cap was fully applied to the neck. The flange had at least a part-helical groove extending radially inwardly from the peri-pheral surface of the flange and through the flange from its axially inner annular surface to the axially outer surface thereof. The other of the interacting cap-locking formations included a land which was adapted to be received in the groove. The land lay axially-inwardly of, and was contiguous to, the axially-inwardly disposed end surface of the flange. The cap was freely rotatable with respect to the container neck when the cap was fully applied to the 213~911 neck. The land was able to enter the groove only when the cap was turned to a predetermined angular position relative to the neck. Then the land entered the groove when the cap was pulled axially-outwardly along the neck. The cap was then able to be removable from the neck by turning the cap relative to the neck, so that the land travelled axially-outwardly along the helical groove.
U.S. Patent No. 4,071,156 patented January 31, 1978 by A.D. Love provided a closure for a container. The patentee claimed to have provided a closure for a container having a neck with an access opening therein, and a locking rib on the outer surface of the neck interrupted by at least two circumferentially-spaced locations to define gaps therein of predetermined differing arcuate dimensions. The closure included a cap having a top, a skirt depending from the outer edge of the top and at least a pair of primary locking lugs projecting radially inwardly from the skirt to engage under the locking rib to secure the cap in place.
The primary locking lugs were of an arcuate span and were of sufficient circumferential spacing to register with the gaps in one position. At least one auxiliary releasable locking lug of a shallower radial projection than the primary lugs engaged under the bead when the cap was in one position. The auxiliary lug was operable to snap over the bead in one position when the cap was tilted relative to the neck of the container.
U.S. Patent No. 4,095,718 patented June 20, 1978 by C.T. Kong provided a cap for closing a container. The patentee claimed to have provided a cap for a container.
The cap of the container included a cover wall and a side wall integral with the cover wall and projecting therefrom to define a container-receiving recess. Supplementary locking means were located on the interior of the side wall at a position spaced from the cover wall, to engage with the container locking means to ensure that the cap can be separated from the container only when the cap was aligned in predetermined angular relationship with the container.
Adjustable stopping means included a member that occupied a position within the recess to act as a stop limiting travel of the container into the recess. The side wall included a gripping surface which was adapted releasably to secure the cap to the container. The member on the adjust-able stopping means was movable from a position to enablefurther travel of the container into the recess to engage the locking means.
U.S. Patent No. 4,375,859 patented March 8, 1983 by W.E. Fillmore provided a child-resistant package comprising a container and a snap-on closure. The patentee claimed to have provided a child-resistant package with a snap-on closure comprising: a container having a neck finish, the neck finish including a first upper annular retaining bead, a second lower annular retaining bead spaced axially beneath the first annular bead and a flange extending radially outwardly and being axially-spaced below the second head. The first annular bead had a notch therein with the second annular bead being continuous. A closure -had a top and a peripheral skirt, the skirt having a lift-ing tab on the outer surface thereof. A first radially inwardly-extending locking lug was provided on the inner surface thereof adjacent the external lifting tab, the skirt having at least one second radially inwardly-extending locking lug located generally diametrically opposite from the lifting tab and axially below the plane of the first locking lug. The first locking lug was located below the first retaining bead and the second locking lug was located beneath the second retaining bead, and when the first locking lug is brought into registry with the notch, the closure can be recovered by upward force on the lifting tab.
U.S. Patent No. 4,991,729 patented February 12, 1991 lS by R.M. Hunter provided a child-resistant container and closure cap combination comprising a container part and a closure cap part. One of the two parts movably supported a single movable member that was frictionally-engaged by a selected part. The movable member was engaged and moved relative to the frictionally-engaged part by means on the other part to at least one indexed position relative to the selected part. Movement of the parts in the opposite direction frictionally carried the movable member relative to the other part to a position relative to the other part that allowed access to the container contents solely by relative movement of the two parts.
Thus, in summary, currently available child-resistant closures may be relatively simple to operate in some cases, 213~911 -but very often require a combination, or several combina-tions of wrist, hand and/or finger dexterity strength or ability to withstand pressure, sight, and mental alertness or rationality. Commonly such arrangements require rota-tion of a cap relative to a container and then applicationof force of some type in a designated place to remove the cap. In some structures of this type even the rotation can be difficult because the structures are not easily rotated.
However, in most instances the problem comes with having to use fingers in a way particularly awkward or difficult for older people, or people with some sort of manual disabi-lity.
In prior containers, which required the use of both a notch, and hand/finger strength, it was necessary for a user to use sight and/or feel, and strength. The whole hand was thus subjected to pressure which may cause pain.
Bayonet-type-connections generally did not give satis-factory protection since they could easily be removed. On the other hand, locking devices rendered it extremely dif-ficult to replace the cap or even to remove the cap, withthe result that the container could not be adequately closed after usage or, if safely closed, would not there-after be accessible because of the difficulty of opening the cap. In no instance can it be considered satisfactory if tools are necessary to enable removal of the cap.
Many containers are objectional because they were both prohibitive to manufacture and required a high degree of dexterity to operate.
213~911 Although precautionary arrangements are advantageous in circumstances where the need for safety existed, they constitute a nuisance in other circumstances. It is known that a characteristic of such a precautionary arrangement was that a complex manipulation was required to remove the cap from the container. Typically such a complex mani-pulation involved, firstly, rotating the cap relative to the container until two or more position indicators, on the cap and the container, were brought into alignment, and then, secondly, lifting the cap off the container. More-over, many elderly people rarely have small children in their homes. As with many difficult-to-open/close con-tainers, such persons would often leave the cover either completely off or not closed enough to engage the safety feature, thus eliminating any child resistance altogether.
Moreover, owing to their age or to an affliction, e.g., arthritis, such older people may be lacking in manual dexterity and accordingly may find it difficult and sometimes impossible to remove the cap from the container so that they can take the medicine they need. In addition, the pharmacists who dispense the medicine filled many con-tainers during a working day and were continually removing and replacing the caps. Owing to the complex manipulation described above, done repeatedly, the pharmacists suffered discomfort and irritation of their fingers and hands.
It was found, however, that the snap-cap assemblies were likewise difficult to remove in some instances, even by adults, and furthermore, that the alignment of the indicia means can be deciphered in some cases even by children.
None of the above patented containers provided a truly tamper-proof container assembly which was virtually impos-sible for children to open and which nevertheless was rela-tively easily manipulatable by adults to position for open-ing when it is desired to gain access to the contents of the container. They did not provide a low-cost package system that was child-resistant. They did not provide a closure which was easier for older people or people with physical disability to open but which was also inexpensive and child-resistant. Moreover an unauthorized person attempting to gain access thereto could determine the rotational position required for release of the cap shell and liner by feel as the shell and liner were rotated to the release positions. Other of the above-described devices required difficult manipulation both for operating and closing the container.
Accordingly, it is an object of one aspect of the present invention to provide a novel safety closure or cap for containers normally positioned in the kitchen or bath-room cabinets which might contain drugs, poisons, pills or medicaments which should not be readily available to chil-dren or even to adults who might not be fully awake.
An object of another aspect of the present invention is to provide a safety or anti-removal cap or closure which will not be too complicated in usage for an adult but, at the same time, will require sufficient skill as would not be readily available in a young child and which would pro-tect the contents against inadvertent usage by minors or children without supervision.
An object of yet another aspect of the present inven-tion is to provide a simple, readily-manufactured and applied safety closure cap which may be manufactured by automatic machinery and then readily applied by such auto-matic machinery without manual intervention and which will adequately cover the top of a medicament or pharmaceutical container or bottle to prevent inadvertent opening or removal of the cap or closure.
An object of yet still another aspect of the present invention is to provide a closure apparatus which is rela-tively easy to operate so it can be operated by sick and feeble patients, yet which makes it highly difficult for unauthorized persons to gain access hereto.
An object of a further aspect of this invention is to provide a safety container with a closure that for lock-on and removal application to the container must be moved through a specific series of movements both longitudinally and rotatably with respect to the container without visible indicators or other indicators of the necessary removal procedure.
The present invention now provide structures enabling adult-accessible, child-resistant packaging closures. More specifically, the present invention provides cap and con-tainer cooperative components which can be easily manipu-213~911 lated by simple movements into a position in which the cap and container may be separated.
The present invention provides, as one broad aspect, the combination of a bottle having a projecting neck, and a cap having a hollow well adapted to be engaged over the neck, wherein: a) the interior of the cap has a plurality of circumferentially, spaced-apart, inwardly-projecting stubs; b) the neck of the bottle has an upper rim and a plurality of parallel, encircling ribs or grooves, each of the upper rim and the ribs or grooves being provided with a similar plurality of circumferentially, spaced-apart gaps therein, the gaps being spaced-apart by the circumferential spacing between the stubs, the gaps further being offset from rim to rib to rib, so as to provide a maze channel, the last rib preferably including cooperative members operatively associated with the neck of the bottle to lock the stubs to the bottle neck.
By one variant thereof, there are two stubs which may be round or have any other geometric shape, i.e., square cross-section which are preferably spaced-apart by 180.
By another variant, three ribs or three grooves are provided on, or in, the neck of the bottle.
By yet another variant, alternate ribs or grooves and the upper rim have the gaps vertically aligned.
By a variant thereof, the gaps in the ribs or grooves are staggered so that a top gap and a bottom gap are aligned, with an intermediate gap, i.e., a middle gap being offset therefrom.
By another variant, the cap is provided with a plur-ality of external, circumferential finger grips.
By one variant of this invention, the cooperative members comprise a pair of spaced-apart, downwardly-depending, locking projections on a selected rib, or in a selected groove, preferably, the last rib or groove.
By another variant of the invention, the cooperative members comprise a pair of spaced-apart, downwardly-depending, locking projections on a selected rib or in a selected groove, preferably, the last rib or groove, in cooperation with a ridge on the lowest portion of the neck of the bottle at the region of the space between the locking projections.
By yet another variant of the invention, the coopera-tive members comprise a pair of spaced-apart, downwardly-depending, locking projections on a selected rib or in a selected groove, preferably, the last rib or groove, in cooperation with a depression in the lowest portion of the neck of the bottle at the region of the space between the locking projections.
By a still further variant of the invention, the cooperative members comprise two spaced-apart, hemi-cylin-drical columns extending between the last rib or last groove and the lowest portion of the neck of the bottle.
By still another variant of the invention, at least one of the gaps is provided with at least one of upstream and downstream stop notches depending from an associated rib or groove, adjacent the gap.
By a still further variant of the invention, the inside periphery of the cap is defined by a guiding tapered portion cooperating with a similar portion on the upper rim.
In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is an exploded isometric view of the con-tainer/cap of one embodiment of this invention;
Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal cross-section through an assembled cap and container neck of the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the lower portion of the neck of the bottle showing one embodiment of a cooperative locking arrangement between the cap and the neck of the bottle;
lS Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of the lower portion of the neck of the bottle showing another embodiment of a coopera-tive locking arrangement between the cap and the neck of the bottle;
Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of the lower portion of the neck of the bottle showing yet another embodiment of a cooperative locking arrangement between the cap and the neck of the bottle;
Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of the lower portion of the neck of the bottle showing an auxiliary locking arrangement which may be used with any embodiment of cooperative locking arrangements depicted above;
213~911 Fig. 7 is an enlarged view of the upper portion of the neck of the bottle and the lower portion of the cap showing the cooperative guiding arrangement;
Fig. 8 is a central longitudinal cross-section through an assembled cap and container neck of another embodiment of the invention shown; and Fig. 9 is an exploded isometric view of the con-tainer/cap of yet another embodiment of this invention.
As seen in the drawings, the container/cap combination 10 includes a cap 20 and a container 40. The cap 20 includes a depending outer skirt 21, defining an internal well 22. The outer periphery of the skirt 21 is provided with a plurality of finger-grips 23. The internal well 22 is provided with two spaced-apart, round or other geome-tric-shaped, e.g., square cross-section, lugs 24. While two lugs are shown spaced 180 apart, other spacings from, e.g., 20 to 180 apart may be provided. Furthermore, while two lugs 24 are shown, any number of spaced-apart lugs may be provided, e.g., four lugs 24 spaced goo apart.
The container 40 includes a main cylindrical vessel 41 and an upstanding neck 42 having an axial access opening 43. The neck includes an upper rim 44, and a plurality, in this case, three, encircling ribs, namely an upper rib 45, an intermediate rib 46 and a lower rib 47. The inter-ribular spaces are designated 48, 49, 50, 51, with the lowest portion of the neck below the lower rib 47 being designated 52. Each of the rim 44 and ribs 45, 46, 47 is provided with spaced-apart slots 53 providing gaps in the -rim 44 and in the ribs 45, 46, 47. These slots 53 are equal in number to the number of lugs 24 on the interior of the cap 20, and are spaced-apart by the same angular spac-ing as the lugs 24. The slots 53 in alternative rims 44 and ribs 45, 46, 47 are generally offset from one another.
It is not essential that such offset be angularly-equidis-tant. However, if it is, the alternate slots 53 should aligned with one another.
Features of embodiments of the invention are the pro-vision of the various cooperative locking arrangements to be described hereinafter. An angularly, spaced-apart pair of locking projections is provided as one embodiment shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. As seen in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, such projections 60, 61 depend from the lower face of the bottom rib 47 into the inter-ribular space 51. When the cap 20 is placed fully over the neck 42 of the bottle 40, the lugs 24 lock into place between the two adjacent, but spaced-apart locking projections 60,61.
While two sets of such locking projections 60,61 are provided, the number and the angular spacing thereof will be equal to the number and the angular spacing of the lugs 24.
Fig. 3 shows another embodiment of such locking coop-eration. As shown, there are two, spaced-apart V-shaped projections 361,362 depending from the lower face of the bottom rib 47 into the inter-ribular space 51. The upper face 62 of the lowest portion 52 of the neck 42 of the bottle 40 is provided with a projection having an upper 213~911 semi-globular depression 363 therein, in the space between projections 361,362. The locking operation is the same as previously described, but the projection 364 provides addi-tional resistance to the movement of the lug 24 from between the projections 361,362.
Fig. 4 shows yet another embodiment of such locking cooperation. As shown, there are two, spaced-apart V-shaped projections 461,462 depending from the lower face of the bottom rib 47 into the inter-ribular space 51. The upper face 62 of the lowest portion 52 of the neck 42 of the bottle 40 is provided with a semi-globular depression 463 in the space between projections 461,462. The locking operation is the same as previously described, but the depression 464 provides additional resistance to the move-ment of the lug 24 from between the projections 461,462.
Fig. 5 shows still another embodiment of such locking cooperation. As shown, there are two, spaced-apart hemi-cylindrical vertical ribs 561,562 projecting radially out-wardly from the peripheral face of the lowest inter-ribular sphere 51. The locking operation is the same as previously described, but the hemi-cylindrical ribs 561,542 provide additional resistance to the movement of the lug 24.
Fig. 6 shows an auxiliary drag arrangement which can be used with any of the locking cooperative embodiments shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive. In this embodiment, at least one of the gaps 53, which is shown in rib 46, but which can be in any or all of the encircling ribs 45,46,47, is provided with an upstream and/or a downstream downwardly -projecting V-shaped projection 670 or projections 670,671 extending into the inter-ribular space 50. In operation, the drag provided by these projection or projections 670 and/or 671 make it necessary to apply additional torque to rotate the cap 20.
Fig. 7 shows another auxiliary embodiment to provide ease of operation. The cap 20 is provided with an inner frusto-conical taper 772. This guides the lug 24 into engagement with the first gap 53, and helps place the cap 20 onto the neck 42 of the bottle 40.
Fig. 8 shows another embodiment within the principles of the present invention. In this embodiment, a rubber, or equivalent, sealing disc 865 is secured to the inner bottom face 25 of the cap. When the cap is secured to the neck of the bottle, the sealing disc 865 is somewhat flattened and seals the cap 20 to the neck 42 of the bottle 40.
The embodiment of Fig. 9 is the inverse of the other embodiments, in that the grooves are in the inner face of the cap, while the lugs are on the outer circumference of the neck of the bottle.
Specifically, the container/cap combination 910 includes a cap 920 and a container 940. The cap 920 includes a depending outer skirt 921, defining an internal well 922. The outer periphery of the skirt 921 is provided with a plurality of finger-grips 923. The internal well 922 is provided with a plurality, in this case, three, encircling ribs, namely an upper rib 945, an intermediate rib 946 and a lower rib 947. The inter-ribular spaces are 213491i designated 948, 949, 950, 951. Each of the ribs 945, 946, 947 is provided with spaced-apart slots 53 providing gaps in the ribs 945, 946, 947. There may be two or more such slots 953 spaced 180 apart may, however, be provided.
Furthermore, while two slots 953 are shown, any number of spaced-apart slots may be provided, e.g., four slots 953 spaced 90 apart. The slots 953 in alternative ribs 945, 946, 947 are generally offset from one another. It is not essential that such offset be angularly-equidistant.
However, if it is, the alternate slots 953 should be aligned with one another.
The container 940 includes a main cylindrical vessel 941 and an upstanding neck 942 having an axial access opening 943. The neck includes an upper rim 944, and two spaced-apart, round or other geometric-shaped, e.g., square cross-section, lugs 924. While two lugs 924 are shown, the lugs 924 are equal in number to the number of slots 953 in the ribs 945, 946, 947 and are spaced-apart by the same angular spacing as the slots 923.
The various locking and sealing features shown in Figs. 1 to 8 may equally be provided in association with the inverse embodiment of Fig. 9.
In order to place the cap 20 on the neck 42 of the container 40, in the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2, the lugs 24 are aligned with the slots 53 in the rim 44. Then the cap 20 is urged downwardly while simultaneously rotating the cap 20, either continuously in one direction or alter-nately in opposite directions, until the lug 24 follows the 213~91i slots 53 in the ribs 45, 46 and 47 respectively. The cap 20 is then turned until the lugs 24 are locked within the locking projections 49.
To remove the cap 20 from the neck 42 of the bottle 40, the reverse procedure is followed.
The structural features broadly recited above provide significant advantages with respect to simplicity of con-struction, and ease of use. It is sufficiently simple and inexpensive to make commercialization an economic possibi-lity. It will also be appreciated that a closure system inaccordance with aspects of the present invention provides advantages with respect to maintaining sanitary conditions during shipping and handling of the cap/container combination with which it is used.
In one embodiment, the invention also provides a tight seal between the container and the cover so as to prevent leakage of the contents, if in liquid form, by providing means for pulling the cover down onto the container much as in the manner of the ordinary screw-on cover, and by providing the sealing disc.
The container and closure of aspects of the present invention lend themselves to mass production techniques and the cap and container are designed to be assembled by auto-matic equipment. Thus, the assembly is truly economical.
Further, the tolerance to provide a truly child resistant assembly which is comparatively easy for adults to under-stand and operate are not as critical as in prior assem-blies discussed above.
Claims (16)
1. A safety closure container comprising the com-bination a bottle having a projecting neck, and a cap having a hollow well adapted to be engaged over the neck, wherein: a) the interior of the cap has at least two cir-cumferentially, spaced-apart, inwardly-projecting stubs;
and wherein b) the neck of the bottle has an upper rim and a plurality of parallel, encircling ribs, each said upper rim and said ribs being provided with at least two cir-cumferentially, spaced-apart gaps therein, said gaps being spaced-apart by the circumferential spacing between said stubs;
said gaps further being offset from rim to rib to rib, so as to provide a maze channel on the neck of said bottle.
and wherein b) the neck of the bottle has an upper rim and a plurality of parallel, encircling ribs, each said upper rim and said ribs being provided with at least two cir-cumferentially, spaced-apart gaps therein, said gaps being spaced-apart by the circumferential spacing between said stubs;
said gaps further being offset from rim to rib to rib, so as to provide a maze channel on the neck of said bottle.
2. The safety closure container of claim 1 wherein said last rib includes cooperative members operatively-associated with the neck of the bottle to lock said stubs to said neck of said bottle.
3. The safety closure container of claim 1 wherein two said stubs and two said gaps in said rim and ribs or grooves are provided.
4. The safety closure container of claim 1 wherein three ribs or grooves are provided.
5. The safety closure container of claim 3 wherein said stubs are circumferentially spaced 180° apart.
6. The safety closure container of claim 1 wherein alternative vertically, spaced-apart gaps are vertically-aligned.
7. The safety closure container of claim 1 wherein there are three sets of said gaps which are staggered so that a top set of gaps and a bottom set of gaps are aligned, with a middle set of gaps being offset therefrom.
8. The safety closure container of claim 1 including a plurality of external, circumferential finger grips.
9. The safety closure container of claim 1 wherein said cooperative members comprise a pair of spaced-apart, locking projections depending downwardly from said lower-most rib.
10. The safety closure container of claim 9 including a cooperative projection in the lowest portion of the neck of the bottle, provided with a depression therein, disposed below said locking projections, but between said locking projections.
11. The safety closure container of claim 9 including a cooperative depression in the lowest portion of the neck of the bottle, disposed below said locking projections, but between said locking projections.
12. The safety closure container of claim 1 wherein said cooperative members comprise two spaced-apart, hemi-cylindrical columns extending between the last rib and the lowest portion of the neck of the bottle.
13. The safety closure container of claims 9 or 12 wherein at least one of said gaps is provided with at least one of upstream and downstream stop notches depending from an associated rib adjacent said gap.
14. The safety closure container of claim 1 wherein the inside periphery of the cap at its opening is defined by a guiding tapered frusto-conical portion.
15. The safety closure container of claim 1 wherein the base of the interior of said cap is provided with a sealing disc thereon, for cooperation with the upper sur-face of said rim of the neck of said bottle.
16. A safety closure container comprising the com-bination of a bottle having a projecting neck, and a cap having a hollow well adapted to be engaged over the neck, wherein: a) the interior of said cap has a plurality of parallel, encircling ribs, each said rib being provided with at least two circumferentially, spaced-apart gaps therein; and b) said neck of said bottle has an upper rim and at least two circumferentially, spaced-apart, inwardly-projecting stubs, said stubs being spaced-apart by the circumferential spacing between said gaps;
said gaps further being offset from rib to rib, so as to provide a maze channel in said cap.
said gaps further being offset from rib to rib, so as to provide a maze channel in said cap.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002134911A CA2134911A1 (en) | 1994-11-02 | 1994-11-02 | Safety maze closure |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002134911A CA2134911A1 (en) | 1994-11-02 | 1994-11-02 | Safety maze closure |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2134911A1 true CA2134911A1 (en) | 1996-05-03 |
Family
ID=4154577
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002134911A Abandoned CA2134911A1 (en) | 1994-11-02 | 1994-11-02 | Safety maze closure |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2134911A1 (en) |
-
1994
- 1994-11-02 CA CA002134911A patent/CA2134911A1/en not_active Abandoned
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Discontinued |