NZ217640A - Container with locking screw cap: axially deflectable ring upon cap carries locking lugs engageable with abutting lugs upon container neck - Google Patents

Description

New Zealand Paient Spedficaiion for Paient Number £17640 21764*0 NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT 1953 No.: Divided out of application 200770 Date: 27 May 1982 Oiiier the provWons of RegtH lation 23 (I) the _t _ Specification has been ante-dated fto I9?3.._ % . yxi^TWro^Ci >' 19SEP 1986 ( COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to Closure Systems We, AHI OPERATIONS LIMITED, a company duly incorporated under the laws of New Zealand of 640 Great South Road, Manukau City, Auckland, New Zealand hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: 217640 This invention relates to closure systems.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a closure system for a container and/or a method of providing a closure system and/or a container including a closure system which will at least provide the public with a useful choice.

Accordingly the invention consists in a closure system comprising a closure provided with a female thread arranged for engagement with a male thread about the neck of a container said y closure having a lower skirt with a ring joined to said skirt by a plurality of flexible webs and said ring having a plurality of j teeth projecting from the lower surface thereof, a collar $ -jj w constructed and arranged for non-rota table mounting or said { j neck; said collar having a plurality of protrusions arranged to > i engage said teeth on said ring so that when it is desired to t | rotate said closure relative to said collar, said ring is lifted ; against the resilience of said flexible webs to free said teeth from rotation resisting engagement with said protrusions.

I i In a further aspect the invention consists in a necked | container having a male threaded section about the neck adjacent -'i the aperture in the container and a closure system as set forth in the preceding paragraph.

To those skilled in the art to which this invention relates, many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. The disclosures and the descriptions herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any V-/ o d j i # 217640 sense limiting.

One preferred form of the invention will now be described with reference to the drawings accompanying the provisional specification in which: Figure 1 is a scrap view partly in section of a closure system according to the invention mounted on a container; Figure 2 is an elevation partly in section of a cap forming part of a closure system according to the invention; Figure 3 is an underneath view of the cap shown in figure 2; Figure 4 is a plan view of an interlinking system; Figure 5 is a cross section of the construction shown in figure 4; Figure 6 is a scrap view showing interengagement of the interlinking means with the cap; Figure 7 is a plan view of a container having protrusions around the neck thereof; Figure 8 is an elevation of the construction shown in figure 7; Figure 9 is a further scrap view showing the engagement of details shown in figures 4 and 7; Figures 10 and 11 show the manner in which interengagement occurs; Figure 12 is a cross section of an alternative construction; Figure 13 is an elevation of the construction of figure 12; Figure 14 is an elevation of a container to receive the cap of figure 13; and Figure 15 is a plan view of closure shown in figure 12.

According to the invention a closure system is provided for 217640 a necked container. In further aspects the invention provides a method of providing a closure for a necked container and/or a container complete with closure system.

Referring now to the drawings a closure 1 preferably in the form of a screw cap having an internal female thread is provided for fitment to the neck 2 of a container in order to effect sealing of the container in the conventional manner.

In accordance with the invention a collar or locking ring 3 is provided which is preferably moulded from a thermoplastics material such as polypropylene or polyethylene. In use the collar is fixed about the container neck 2 spaced from the orifice of the container as can be seen in figure 1. While the collar 3 may be constructed and arranged to frictionally engage the neck 2, the collar is preferably provided with radially inwardly aligned projections 5 (figures 4 and 9) which engage with radially outwardly aligned projections 4 (figures 7> 8 and 9) extending about the periphery of the neck 2 to prevent rotation of the collar 3 with respect to the neck 2.

The inter engaging means is preferably formed and provided integrally with the collar 3 and as shown comprises a plurality of flexible lugs 6 extending upwardly from the base surface of the locking ring 3 and arranged to be deflected down toward the plane of the base of collar 3 when the cap 1 is screwed onton the neck 2. It will be seen from figures 2 and 3 that the lower edge of the cap 1 is provided with spaced peripheral notches 7 and it will be appreciated from figure 10 that when the closure 1 is screwed onto the neck the lugs 6 on the collar will be 2 17640 deflected down each lug hinging on a radial line towards the base of the collar 3 and ratcheting over the notches 7 but, as shown in figure 11, when an attempt is made to unscrew the cap, the lugs 6 will engage in and intermesh with the notches 7 and prevent further rotation of the closure 1 in a direction which would disengage the closure from the container.

A peripheral web 8 on the closure l prevents radial spreading of the lugs so that the lugs 6 at all times remain in engagement with notches 7 and upwardly aligned peripheral rim 9 provided on the collar 3 surrounds the lower edge 10 of the closure when the closure is fully engaged with the container neck 2 so that the lugs 6 may not be manually disengaged from notches 7 without visible damage to the ring 3 or closure 1.

The collar 3 also includes two or more frangible links 11 provided on the peripheral rim 9 thereof so that when sufficient torque is applied to closure 1 in a direction so as to unscrew the closure 1, the frangible links 11 fracture thus allowing the collar 3 to be disengaged from the closure and the closure unscrewed. The container may then be opened and closed normally or resealed with a replacement collar 3. This arrangement protects against pilfering until the links 11 are broken.

Referring now to figures 12 to 15, a further variation of the system provides a child resistant closure. In this embodiment a screw closure 12 is moulded from a suitable plastic material such as polypropylene or polyethylene and includes a plurality of flexible webs 15 joining the lower skirt of the closure 12 to a ring 13. A plurality of teeth 14 project from 21764© the lower surface of the ring 13 and these teeth 14 may be of a rectangular profile or may, as shown, be "ramped" on one face 18 to facilitate engagement of the closure with protrusions 16 on a container.

Referring now to figure 14, the container neck 17 is surrounded at its base by a collar having the protrusions 16 arranged to engage with the teeth 14 projecting from the lower edge of the closure 12. The collar having the protrusions 16 may be moulded integrally with the container or may be provided as part of a separate collar which is fixed about the base of container neck 17. However provided, the protrusions 16 are preferably ramped on one face 19 so that when closure 12 is being screwed onto neck 17> teeth 14 will engage with protrusions 16 by contacting ramped faces 18 on ramped faces 19. As the faces 18 and 19 contact one another, faces 18 will slide up faces 19, lifting ring 13 against the material resilience of the flexible webs.. Further rotation of closure 12 will allow teeth 14 to drop behind protrusions 16 where upon the engagement of the teeth resist attempts to unscrew closure 12.

Removal of the closure may be readily effected by lifting ring 13 against the resilience of lugs 15 to clear teeth 14 from protrusions 16 and thereafter rotating the closure and ring together.

Over the years there have been many closures and closure systems developed to provide both protection against pilfering or tampering and protection against opening by children. Many of these have been and are effective in economical use, but all

Claims (7)

2176 4D) have advantages and disadvantages. The closure herein described at least in the preferred form offers advantages in efficiency, low cost and versatility in use. The system was originally developed to add tamperproof ing facilities to a range of industrial containers, but it has become obvious that it will also provide a simple and effective child resistant option. -7- 2 J 764V WHAT Wfc. CLAIM ISti

1. A closure system comprising a closure provided with a female thread arranged for engagement with a male thread about the neck of a container said closure having a lower skirt with a ring /lil joined toysaid skirt by a plurality of flexible webs and said ring having a plurality of teeth projecting from the lower surface thereof, a collar constructed and arranged for non-rotatable mounting on said neck; said collar having a plurality of protrusions arranged to engage said teeth on said ring so that when it is desired to rotate said closure relative roUCtn-cje- to said collar, said ring is lifted against the resilient - of said flexible webs to free said teeth from rotation resisting engagement with said protrusions.

2. A closure system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said teeth are ramped on one face to facilitate screwing of the closure onto the neck of the container.

3. A closure as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said protrusions are ramped on one face to facilitate screwing of the closure onto the neck of the container.

4. A closure system when constructed arranged and operable substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to figures 12 and 15 of the drawings accompanying the provisional specif ica tion.

5. A necked container having a male threaded section about the neck adjacent the aperture in said container and a closure system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims associated th er ewith. -8- ' . *"* 2 176 40

6. A necked container as claimed in claim 5 wherein said protrusions are provided integrally with said container.

7. A necked container as claimed in claim 5 wherein said protrusions are provided as part of a separate collar fixed about the neck of the container. DATED THIS DAY OF A. J. PARK & SON PER AGENTS FOR THE APPLICANT