GB2261657A

GB2261657A - Safety closure device

Info

Publication number: GB2261657A
Application number: GB9224355A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Matthew Gibson Evans-Teush
Original assignee: ACW Ltd
Current assignee: ACW Ltd
Priority date: 1991-11-20
Filing date: 1992-11-20
Publication date: 1993-05-26
Anticipated expiration: 2012-11-20
Also published as: GB9224355D0; GB2261657B; GB9124619D0

Abstract

A safety closure for a container for hazardous liquids eg bleach comprises a main body portion 8 adapted to be received about a container neck and having an aperture 16 from which liquid may flow from the container when a passageway 26 of a nozzle 24 is in alignment therewith (Fig. 9). The nozzle 24 is pivotally mounted on the closure at hinge (22, 30, Figs 2 & 5) for movement between an open and a closed position. A contoured projection 32 extends from the side of the nozzle 24 and is provided with a stiffly resilient tongue 38, a rib 40 of which engages with an upstanding retaining edge (20, Fig 2) of the device in the closed position. To open the device, the user must use an action which comprises two combined directional movements (A, B Figs 6-8), that is lifting tongue 38 and then pivoting the nozzle about hinge (27, 30 Figs 2 & 5). <IMAGE>

Description

SAFETY CLOSURE DEVICE The invention is concerned with improvements in or relating to safety closure devices for containers particularly but not exclusively comprising a child-proof operating portion adapted to permit outflow of hazardous liquids.

In a domestic or similar environment there is often need to store hazardous liquids such as household bleach and the like. While every effort may be made to put containers out of reach of children, there are instances where this proves not to be possible. It is therefore desirable to provide a closure which is at least difficult and preferably almost impossible for a child to open.

However, when the container is to be opened by an authorised person it is desirable to avoid contact of the liquid with the person's fingers.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a safety closure device which incorporates a child-proof operating portion which also reduces the risk of contact with the user's hands by the contents of a container closed by the device.

The invention provides a safety closure device for use with a container suitable for containing hazardous liquids, comprising a main body portion adapted to be received about a neck portion of the container so as to enclose lip portions of said neck portion, said body portion comprising an aperture for outflow from the container, and a nozzle portion, hinge means being provided which mount the nozzle portion in a pivotal manner on the body portion to allow movement of the nozzle portion between an open position in which a passageway of the nozzle portion is in alignment with said aperture and a closed position in which the aperture is closed by a surface of the hinge means, wherein there is provided a stiffly resilient extension portion projecting from the nozzle portion and comprising engagement means adapted to engage with the body portion when the nozzle portion is in the closed position so as to prevent movement thereof into its open position, the construction and arrangement being such that the extension portion is movable out of engagement with the body portion in a first direction concomitantly with the initiation of a lengthwise movement of the extension portion in a second, differing, direction by which lengthwise movement the nozzle portion is caused to pivot from its closed position into its open position.

Advantageously the extension portion may be in the form of a resilient tongue projecting from a finger-engaging protrusion provided on the nozzle portion, the protrusion and the tongue being adapted to be grasped between thumb and finger tip during continuation of said lengthwise movement in order to open the nozzle portion.

Conveniently the finger-engaging protrusion may comprise a contoured portion protruding from a side portion of the nozzle portion.

Thus, the nozzle portion may be moved to its opened position with an action comprising two differing but co-ordinated movements beyond the capability of an averagechild, and at the same time provide an adult with a device which can be used with the minimum risk of contamination to the user's hand.

There will now be described an example of a device according to the invention. It will be understood that the description, which is to be read with reference to the drawings, is given by way of example only and not by way of limitation.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side view in longitudinal section of a device according to the invention in a closed condition; Figure 2 is a plan view of a main body portion of the device; Figure 3 is a view in longitudinal section of the main body portion of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a sectional view in side elevation of a nozzle portion provided with an extension portion; Figure 5 is a top plan view of the nozzle portion; and Figures 6 to 9 illustrate stages in an opening movement of the device.

Figure 1 shows a neck portion 2 of a container, provided with an external ridge 4. Secured about the neck portion 2 is a safety closure device 6 in a closed condition.

The device comprises a main body portion 8 shown also in Figures 2 and 3, which is provided with projections 10 which engage over the ridge 4 to secure the device fixedly in place. An annular flange 12 is a close fit within lip portions of the neck portion 2.

The flange 12 is formed on the underside, as viewed in Figures 1 and 3, of a wall portion 14 in which is formed an aperture 16. The wall portion 14 is formed on its upper surface with a recess 18 and a retaining edge portion 20. Two recesses 22 are arranged to comprise hinge means as will be explained below.

Received with the recess 18 in its closed condition, is a nozzle portion 24 comprising a liquid flow passageway 26 and a cylindrical hinge portion 28 having dome-shaped end portions 30 adapted to be received in the two recesses 22 for pivotal movement between the closed position shown in Figure 1 in which the hinge portion 28 covers over the operative 16 of the main body portion and an open, operative, position in which the passageway 26 is in alignment with the aperture 16.

A protrusion 32 is provided on the nozzle portion, which extends upwardly from the region of the passageway 26 and is provided with a finger-engaging upper surface 34. Extending from the protrusion 32 is a stiffly resilient tongue 38 which projects outwardly and downward from the protrusion, as viewed in Figure 1, in which a rib 40 provided on the underside of the tongue 38 is shown engaging the retaining edge portion 20. Since the tongue is deflected upwardly by its engagement with the portion 20, there is firm location of the portion 20 against the rib 40 so as to prevent the hinge means pivoting to move the nozzle portion from the recess 14.

The release operation required to open the container is shown in stages in Figures 6 to 9, requiring the alignment of the passageway 26 of the nozzle portion 24 with the operation 16.

In order to free the tongue 38 from the wall portion 20, it is first necessary to lift the tongue as shown in Figure 6 by arrow A. While the tongue is being lifted, a movement is required to pivot the nozzle member 26 about the hinge means 30,22. This is shown by arrow B. Thus, a person wishing to open the closure by aligning the passageway 26 with the aperture 16 must apply a finger 44 to the tongue 38 in a first direction (A) and a thumb 46 to the surface 34 in a second, differing, direction (B), an action requiring co-ordination not readily achieved by other than adults.

Once the tongue 38 is lifted so that the rib 40 is clear of the wall portion 20, resumed movement in the direction B as in Figures 7 and 8 results in the completion of the pivotal movement of the nozzle portion 24 to the position shown in Figure 9, in which outflow from the container is possiblethrough an exit path provided by said passageway 26. It will be observed that the contact by the user with the nozzle is simply by the use of finger and thumb on a protrusion extending away from the nozzle itself and therefore the risk of spillage onto the user's fingers is minimised.

Various modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A safety closure device for use use with a container suitable for containing hazardous liquids, comprising a main body portion adapted to be received about a neck portion of the container so as to enclose lip portions of said neck portion, said body portion comprising an aperture for outflow from the container, and a nozzle portion, hinge means being provided which mount the nozzle portion in a pivotal manner on the body portion to allow movement of the nozzle portion between an open position in which a passageway of the nozzle portion is in alignment with said aperture and a closed position in which the aperture is closed by a surface of the hinge means, wherein there is provided a stiffly resilient extension portion projecting from the nozzle portion and comprising engagement means adapted to engage with the body portion when the nozzle portion is in the closed position so as to prevent movement thereof into its open position, the construction and arrangement being such that the extension portion is movable out of engagement with the body portion in a first direction concomitantly with the initiation of a lengthwise movement of the extension portion in a second, differing, direction by which lengthwise movement the nozzle portion is caused to pivot from its closed position into its open position.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the extension portion comprises a resilient tongue projecting from a finger-engaging protrusion provided on the nozzle portion, the protrusion and the tongue being adapted to be grasped between thumb and finger tip during continuation of said lengthwise movement in order to open the nozzle portion.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the finger-engaging protrusion comprises a contoured portion protruding from a side portion on the nozzle portion.

4. A device as claimed in either one of claims 2 and 3 wherein the resilient tongue is provided with a rib means adapted to engage with a retaining edge portion of the body portion.

5. A device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said passageway of the nozzle portion extends in an exit path from said hinge means to an outlet of said nozzle means and said resilient tongue extends from the projection in a direction at least substantially opposed to that of said exit path.

6. A safety closure device for use with a container suitable for containing hazardous liquids, constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference described with reference to and as shown in the drawings.