GB2031856A

GB2031856A - Safety closure

Info

Publication number: GB2031856A
Application number: GB7839425A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Ug Closures & Plastics Ltd
Current assignee: Ug Closures & Plastics Ltd
Priority date: 1978-10-05
Filing date: 1978-10-05
Publication date: 1980-04-30
Also published as: GB2031856B

Abstract

There is disclosed a container and a cap therefor, wherein the container has a screw-threaded neck and the cap has a skirt 5 which is sufficiently deformable to place normally engageable elements on the container and cap out of engagement with each other, thereby allowing the cap to be removed from the container; in which the deformation of the skirt of the cap is resisted until a band 20, removably attached to the lower end of the skirt 5, has been removed therefrom. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Safety closure This invention relates to containers and closure caps, and is especially concerned with the provision of a child-resistant closure cap/container combination, for use with, for example, medicines and poisonous materials.

Many types of child-resistant closure caps are available and many more have been proposed.

Typical amongst these is the type of cap, often a two-piece cap, which requires the application of both downward pressure and unscrewing torque for its removal. Such caps may be referred to for convenience as "press-and-turn" caps, and an example of such a cap is that described in U.S. Patent Specification No. 3055524. Another known form of childresistant cap is that which may conveniently be referred to as a "squeeze-and-turn" cap, and which requiresforopening the squeezing of the cap skirt, to deform the skirt and thus disengage coacting retaining members on the cap skirt and container neck, and the simultaneous turning of the cap in the unscrewing direction. Examples of "squeeze-andturn" caps are those described in U.S. Patent Specification No.2827193, U.K. Patent Specification No. 1521201, and our U.K. Patent Application No.

491/78.

Afurther example of a "squeeze-and-turn" cap is described in our Provisional Specification 38896/77, wherein there is described a container and a closure cap therefor, wherein the neck of the container is screw-threaded and is provided with at least one lug beneath the screw thread, the closure cap comprising a top, a screw-threaded depending skirt and an annular band attached to the skirt by spaced bridges, the annular band being provided with one or more fins adapted to engage the lug(s) on the container neck, the annular band being deformable by radial pressure at positions spaced from the fin(s) to increase the diameter of the band in the region of the fin(s) such thatthe fin(s) do not engage the lug(s) on the container neck.Most "squeeze-and-turn" caps operate on this basic principle, i.e. the deforming of the skirt or of a band attached thereto to bring engaging members on the cap and container neck out of engagement.

It is an object of the present invention to render caps of the "squeeze-and-turn" type tamperproof, and to this end there is provided a security ring at the lower margin of the skirt or of an annular band attached thereto, whereby the skirt or annular band may not be deformed by radial pressure until the security ring has been at least partially removed.

In one embodiment the security ring comprises a simple ring attached to the skirt or auxiliary annular band by a series of spaced frangible bridges. The ring may be continuous, or it may be provided with a small gap to assist removal.

Preferably the security ring, when the cap is on the container, bears against a plinth or annular shoulder formed on the container neck, so that the security ring itself may not be deformed by radial pressure applied in the direction of the centre of the cap. Since the lower margin of the cap skirt is situated directly above the security ring, it also cannot be deformed until such time as the security ring is removed, or partially so. When the security ring has a small gap for easy removal, the plinth on the containermay be relieved in the area of that gap so as to provide easy access.

The cap is suitably moulded from plastics material, as described for example in Provisional Specification 38896/77, the security ring being integraliy moulded therewith. Preferably the frangible bridges joining the security ring to the skirt or annular band will be positioned at the point where the skirt or annular band is to be squeezed, to release the cap, once the security ring has been removed. Thus, in the preferred embodiment two diametrically opposed frangible bridges join the security ring to the skirt or annular band. Additional bridges may also be included.

The cap may be applied to the container in the normal way, i.e. by screwing it on. In orderto remove it from the container, the skirt or annular band must be squeezed, as explained in the abovementioned Specifications. Such squeezing cannot be performed, however, until the security ring, bearing against the plinth or shoulder on the container neck, has been removed or partially removed. Removal or partial removal of the security ring allows the skirt or annular band to be deformed, and consequently the cap removed.

One embodiment of the present invention, which is a modification of the cap described in our Specification No. 38896/77, is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure lisa sectional view of a cap according to the invention screw-threadedly attached to the neck ofa container; Figure 2 is an elevation thereof; Figure 3 is a plan view thereof; and Figure 4 is a plan view of the container neck.

Referring to the drawings, the cap is basically similar to that described in our Specification 38896/ 77, in that it comprises a top 1 and an internally screw-threaded skirt 2 attached at its lower end, by four spaced bridges 4, to an annular band 5. Band 5 is provided with internal fins 7, for engagement with lugs 12 on the container neck, as described in the earlier Specification referred to.

In accordance with the present invention an additional band, designated 20, is removably attached to the lower end of annular band 5. This may be effected by means of two or more spaced frangible bridges joining bands 5 and 20, or by a continuous tearable web joining the bands, or by a continuous or interrupted score line between the bands.

The container neck is provided with an annular shoulder or plinth 21 the maximum diameter of which is only slightly smaller than the internal diameter of band 20.

When the cap is screwed onto the container, the band 20 on the cap lies in close proximity to the plinth 21 on the container, such that little or no deformation of band 20, and hence adjacent band 5, is possible upon application of finger pressure at points X. The fins 7 and lugs 12 cannot therefore be disengaged.

In order for such deformation and consequent disengagement to occur, band 20 must firstly be removed from the remainder of the cap. This will suitably be achieved by tearing, and for this purpose band 20 is not a full annulus but is instead provided with a small gap 22, which enables adjacent portions 23 of the band to be easily grasped and used as tear tabs.

As seen in Figure 4, plinth 21 is suitably relieved at lands 24, to assist the grasping of tear tabs 23. Lands 24 are situated at right angles to those positions on the cap at which deforming pressure is to be applied, i.e. they are situated directly below lugs 12.

When bands 5 and 20 are joined by frangible bridges, two such bridges are preferably positioned at approximately the pressure points X, i.e. where band 5 is "squeezed" to disengage fins 7 from lugs 12. Additional frangible bridges may be positioned on either side of gap 22, and diametrically opposite that gap.

Claims

1. The combination of a container and a cap therefor, wherein the container has a screwthreaded neck and the cap has a skirt which is sufficiently deformable to place normally engageable elements on the container and cap out of engagement with each other, thereby allowing the cap to be removed from the container; in which the deformation ofthe skirt of the cap is resisted until a band, removably attached to the lower end of the skirt, has been removed therefrom.

2. Acombination as claimed in claim 1 wherein said band is an annular ring.

3. A combination as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein said band is attached to the skirt by means of a series of frangible bridges.

4. A combination as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 wherein a shoulder is provided on the container adjacent said band.

5. A combination as claimed in claim 4 wherein said shoulder is an annular shoulder.

6. A combination as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5 wherein the skirt of the cap is provided with one or more lugs and a complementary lug or lugs are provided on the container neck.

7. A combination as claimed in claim 6 wherein the lugs on the skirt are provided on an annular band attached to the remainder of the skirt by a series of spaced bridges.

8. A container/cap combination, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.