US2162752A - Tamperproof closure - Google Patents

Description

2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY W INVENTOR. BY

June 20, 1939. A. SCHAUER TAMPERPROOF CLOSURE Original Filed Oct. 19 1934 June 20, 1939. v A, H R 9 2,162,752

TAMPERPROOF CLOSURE Original Filed Oct. 19, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 w INVENTOR.

Patented June 20, 1939 ATENT OFFICE TAMPERPROOF CLOSURE Adolf Schauer, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to John Hamberger, Richmond Hill, N. Y.

Application October 19, 1934, Serial No. 748,997 Renewed October 25, 1938 17 Claims.

This invention relates to tamperproof closures.

One object of the invention is to provide a tamperproof closure comprising an indicator member and a locking spring therefor so coordinated with the closure and container that the spring aids or causes breakage of the indicator member upon removal of the closure.

Heretofore it has been known to provide indicator members breakable as by impact with a hammer or by means of cams or locking teeth upon angular movement of the indicator member, or by subjecting the latter to a torsional stress. These structures have certain disadvantages in the first case because a separate tool ,was required; in the second case, because the cams or locking teeth rendered assembling difiicult in that proper angular positioning of the parts in the alined relation thereof was necessary.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide improved tamperproof closures which shall avoid these defects.

Another object of the invention is to furnish a tamperproof closure the parts whereof are ar- 25 ranged in an improved manner for simple and rapid axial assembling in interlocked relation.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a tamperproof closure such that the indicator member may, if desired, be broken by the action 80 of cams or teeth acting in cooperation with the locking spring.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tamperproof closure wherein the closure and indicator member are so coordinated that the 35- latter c'annotbe angularly moved to and fro to loosen the closure, as in those cases where the indicator member completely conceals the closure.

It will be appreciated that the objects of the invention, unless otherwise stated, relate to ring 40 as well as cap type indicators, and that the spring may be separate or a part of the closure, and connected to the closure or to the container.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tamperproof closure having few and simple 45 parts, and which is inexpensive to make and assemble on a quantity production basis, and which is neat, highly compact, and durable,.reliable, convenient, safe and efficient in use.

Other objects and advantages of the invention 50 will become. apparent as the specification proceeds.

With the aforesaid objects in view, the invention consists in the novel combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described in 55 their preferred embodiments, pointed out in the subjoined claims, and illustrated in the annexed drawings, wherein like parts are designated by the same reference characters throughout the several views.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in vertical section showing a tamperproof' closure embodying the invention.

Figs. 2 and 3 are sectional viewstaken respectively on the lines 2-2 and 3--3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional fragmentary view of a modified form of the invention.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view of a third modification of the invention.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional View of a fourth modification of the invention.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on line 1-7 of Fig. 6. n

Fig. 8 is a. vertical sectional view of a fifth modification of the invention.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on line 99 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional view of a sixth modification of the invention.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken on line I l--l I of Fig. 10.

The advantages of the invention as here on lined are best realized when all of its features and instrumentalities are combined in one and the same structure, but, useful devices may be produced embodying less than the whole.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, that the same may be incorporated in .several different constructions. The accompanying drawings, there fore, are submitted merely as showing the preferred exemplification of the invention.

As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the container neck [I] has a shoulder or head I I, said bead carrying a plurality of toothor wedge-like circumferential projections l2 and said projections being integral with the bead and, a column like upward extension of the container, with the projections l2 interlocking with similar inwardly directed projections E3 of the outer indicator caps Hi. The lower portion of the wall or skirt H) of said outer cap is outwardly and downwardly extended for the purpose of suitably housing its integrally formed inward extending projections I3.

The underside of said projections l3, being flush with the edge of the wall or skirt normally substantially rest on top of bead II.

The closure cap 16 is preferably a screw cap which engages the thread I! of the container by means of the inner thread l8. 7

The top of the cap l6 compresses an elastic sealing disc or liner IQ of suitable material against the sealing surface or top of the wall of the container neck to produce a liquidand airtight seal.

A spring ring 25, located between the edge of the skirt of the closure cap and a circular shelflike top 2| or" said column-like upward extension of the container, has a fiat portion provided with a plurality of wedges 22, adapted to engage or to be pressed into similarly shaped notches 23 in the shelf-like top H of the container.

Said fiat portion of the spring ring 20 has outwardly and angularly downward bent lips or prongs 25 adapted to engage or grip with an inwardly directed interrupted or continuous projection or shoulder 25 of the cover cap, said shoulder being of triangular shape in cross section.

Said outer cap, if made of moldable plastic material, may have the upper portion of'its wall contracted as shown to permit easier molding.

In use, the ring spring is, first brought in place, so that its wedges engage the notches in the shelflike top of the container, but with a clearance being provided between the shelf-like top and the underside of the fiat portion of the spring ring to allow for variation in dimensions of the parts. If new the inner seal cap is screwed into place it will contact with the flat portion of the spring and press its wedges down into the notches in the shelf-like top of the container and thus lock the spring against movement in any direction.

Then the outer or indicator cap is applied to cause its tooth-like projections l3 to register with the spacing between said projections [2. The indicator cap will then drop until its shoulder 2d contacts with the spring lips 25. A pressure exerted upon the top of said indicator cap will cause deflection of the spring lips sufficient to permit the engagement of said lips with the upper face or" the shoulder 24 to thus cause the indicator cap to be locked against axial movement and also against rotary movement through the interlocking tooth-like projections.

By looking against a movement is meant locking against any substantial movement, allowing for ordinary clearance and play. This may apply'to axial and rotary movements.

After engagement, the spring lips, having sufficient elasticity, will normally move upward or spring back against the inner Wall of the indicator cap and thereby produce enough friction with the wall to prevent any play or slight rattling of said indicator cap.

If now an attempt is made to remove the indicator cap by turning same in either direction, its lower portion will be expanded over the circumferential projections l2 and break, tear or burst the indicator cap to form a tell-tale evidence of an attempt made to gain access to the inner seal cap.

In attempting to remove the indicator cap, an axial pull may be exerted thereon instead of a turning movement, or the indicator cap may be subjected simultaneously to such axial and torsional stresses. The axial movement referred to will cause upward and outward deflection of the outer spring tongues 25. Since the edges of these tongues bear against the side wall of the indicator cap at its junction with the shoulder 24, the spring imparts an expanding bursting stress to the indicator member to readily break the same. Hence a person who is not conversant with the operation of the device, will experience no dilhculty in opening the closure, because he can remove the indicator cap by either axial or turning movements, and with particular ease by a combined axial and turning motion. This spring action is provided for in all forms. of the invention hereinafter described, whether the upward stress on the spring be produced by the indicator member as in Figs. 5, 6 and 8, or by the closure cap in the normal unscrewing of the latter, as in Figs. i and 10. Hence by using my spring together with looking teeth the indicator member may be broken in turning, by cam action or by simple torsional stress, depending on the thinness or weakness of different parts of the indicator wall. Should the indicator be thus broken above the spring, the lower part of the indicator may remain locked in place as a permanent indicator. If the breakage occurs below the spring, the break must be sufficient to release the entire indicator from the spring.

In certain cases, it is desirable to nonrotat ably interconnect the closure and indicator members, as in response to relative axial assembling movement. Hence the closure cap may have external axially extending irregularities such as circumferential knurling M5, the indicator member having like irregularities lill' for registering therewith, the circular pitch of these irregularities being substantially smaller than that of the breaking teeth l2, l3, and the elements iii? being engageable for only a short distance with the elements H35, in order that the teeth i2, it shall interengage as above stated, prior to interengagement of the elements I05, i 37. This assures easy and rapid assembling and prevents any backlash in the teeth l2, l3 from being utilized to angularly move the indicator member to and fro in order in turn to angularly shift the spring or the closure cap, whichever happens to be in direct contact with the indicator member. In other words, a person cannot have his patience rewarded by the steady working of the indicator member to surreptitiously remove the contents of the container. When the elements 505, It? are used, the wedge engagement of the spring at 22, 23 may be eliminated, with the closure cap being spaced from the indicator member. The principle of the elements 985, l! is further disclosed in Fig. 6.

In Figure 4, I have shown a modified form of the bottle closure. The bead 45 of the bottle neck may carry the ring or band 46 of breakable material. The lower portion of the band is circumferentially widened as at l! and carries at its inner lower end a ratchet tooth-like annular projection or shoulder 48.

The upper end of the ring or band has an inwardly directed flange it adapted to engage the lower outwardly directed continuous shoulder 50 of the seal cap i. The neck part has also an outer threaded part 52 to be engaged by a similar inner thread 53 of the seal cap, while a liner 54 provides a liquidand air-tight seal with the aperture of the container.

A conically shaped spring 55 is provided having inwardly and outwardly directed prongs or tongues 56, 5?, the lower of which engage the ratchet tooth-like shoulder 38 of the band, while the upper prongs or tongues 55 are snapped into the groove like recess formed underneath the circumferential shoulder 58 which may be formed with interruptions or spaces for the insertion of a tool. The flat solid middle portion of the substantially conically shaped spring ring rests against a bevelled shoulder 59 of the bottle neck.

The widened lower portion of band 46 is mainly for the purpose of allowing its ratchet toothlike shoulder 48 to clear the'shoulder 50 of the seal cap.

In Figure 5, the usual shoulder-like bead II of the container serves to substantially support the outer indicator cap I2, with its outwardly and downwardly extended lower portion 13 being provided for the purpose of having the ,in-

wardly directed projections I4 formed. therein. Said projections 14 mate with the tooth-like projections of the container. I

Above the projections 14, the inner wall of the indicator cap has a ratchet-tooth-like inwardly directed annular shoulder "I6 which may be continuous or interrupted for the purpose of gripping or engaging with the outer prongs 11 of a spring ring '38, the inner prongs I9 of which engage with a clamping action in the groove 80 forrned by a bevelled shoulder 8| of the container neck.

Said spring is modified in this case by having its middle solid panel fiat instead of conically shaped as before described so as to give a better seating of the spring on the container shoulder, and at the same time the plane portion of the spring enables easier application of the same by means of a suitable tool.

The container neck is threaded as at 82 to engage the inner thread 83 of the sealing closure cap 85 having liner 85 of any suitable composition to effect a liquid and air-tight seal. Said inner seal cap or closure may thereby be of any type or description independent of the outer indicator cap. a

In Figures 6 and 7, the bead or shoulder 08 may serve as a support for the lower edge of the outer or indicator cap 99, said cap having at its lower outwardly and downwardly extended por tion I00 inwardly directed tooth-like projections Iii! mating with wedgeor cam-like projections Above said projections of the indicator cap the same is equipped with an inner ratchet-toothlike shoulder I03 which is engaged by the lips or prongs I04 of the downwardly and outwardly 1 extending portion of the inner seal cap I05, which is preferably of metal. Said cap I05 has at its upper portion projecting knurls or corrugations I06 mating with similarly shaped corrugations I0? on the inside of the indicator cap near its upper part, and this arrangement may be used in other modifications as in Fig. 1 and in ac.

cordance with the objects of the invention.

Between the top part of the indicator capand of the inner cap a concaved plate similar to a diaphragm I08 is interposed to prevent play of the indicator cap.

Below the upper edge or rim of the container and the inner cap, a liner I09 of any suitable material is interposed.

When mounting the device, the inner cap is screwed down first, and the diaphragm is placed on top of said cap, and then the outer indie catcr is placed on the bottle neck and its extreme bottom end will ride on top of the cam-like projections of the container until'the projections are aligned with the recesses sothat the indicator cap automatically drops, and witha slight pressure exerted upon its ratchet-tooth-like projections I03 will snap under the lips I04 of the inner cap I05 and-so lock the outer. cap 09 to the container both caps and container are now locked against relative movement in all directions. It is noted that the circular pitch of the knurl teeth I06, I0! is substantially smaller than that of the teeth or irregularities IOI, I02 and the teeth IOI, I02 engage prior to the knurl teeth I06, I01.

When it is attempted to remove the indicator cap, by turning the same in either direction, the tooth-like projections will distend or expand. the lower portion of the indicator cap so that it will split. a

In the form of my invention illustrated in Figures 8 and 9 the shoulder-like bead IIO of the container serves as a support for the indicator cap I I I that is made of breakable material.

The lower portion of the indicator cap II I is outwardly and downwardly extended, a's at'II2 for the purpose of having inwardly directed camor wedge-like projections II3 which engagevwith similar tooth-like projections II4 forming an integral part ofthe container.

Above said projections of the indicator cap, the same is formed with inner angularly spaced ratchet-tooth-like shoulders H5 for the purpose of engaging underneath the edge I I6 of the continuous circular flared spring part II! of the inner seal cap II8 which may be a metal screw cap and provided with circumferentially extending corrugations or knurls H9 for the purpose of conveniently handling the cap. Said screw cap engages the container with its thread I20. A liner or gasket m'ray seal the outlet of the container as in Fig. 6, at I119.

The tamperproof closure is assembled by first tightly screwing down the cap I I8, and then forcibly axially applying the indicator cap, I II so that its ratchet-tooth-like shoulders II5 will deflect the flared part I I1 and snap underneath the flaring portion of the seal cap. Now the part I I! returns to circular form and looks with the shoulders 5 I5. Since the teeth I I3, I I4 have been initially correctly positioned relative to each other, they will directly interengage.

If an attempt is made to remove the indicator cap by turning the same in either direction, the locking projections of the indicator cap will wedge with the projections of the container and ride along their lateral angular sides and will thereby expand especially the lower portion of the indicator cap wall and break or burst the same. I

In the form of my invention illustrated in Figures 10 and 11 the beaded shoulder I62 of the container serves to prevent access to the spring from underneath the indicator band.

The construction of this frangible band is nearly the same as shown in Figure 4, with the exception that its flange I64 need not be tapered. Said flange I64 engages the beaded portion I 65 of a metal screw cap I66. The inner surface of said flange may be knurled similar to the shape of the knurls I61 in the upper portion of the screw cap, for the purpose of gaining an additional gripping surface if necessary.

The threaded part or neck I68 of the container engages similar threads I69 of thecap.

Asusual-said caphas a liner Ill) of suitable material to seal the outlet of the container airand liquid-tight.

As in Figure 4, the band I63 is held in place by 5: a substantially conically shaped spring ring with inner and outer lips I1 I, H2,

The-outer lips engage the inwardly directed bevelled shoulder H3 of the indicator band. The inner lips 'IH of the spring grip or clamp into a lo roove or recess underneath a bevelled shoulder 514 of the container.

Said shoulder I14 may be discontinuous for the insertion of a suitable tool to force the spring ring into-place. In all such cases using a similar 15 type of conveniently shaped spring there may be also used an expanding and collapsible tool tapered similar to the upper bevelled portion of shoulder lid to mount such a spring.

The band with its flange Hid locks the seal cap against removal.

'The middle solid panel I75 of the spring rests against or is'seated on a bevelled shoulder of the container as shown.

'In mounting the closure, the locking spring I 75 is first placed upon the neck and forced over its shoulder H4 into the recess by means of a suitable tool, so that the inner lips ill of the spring snap into engagement with the neck of the container, and then the metal seal cap is applied and screwed tight. Then the brittle indicator band is applied over said seal cap to pass the knurls of the cap and it will drop down freely until it contacts with the locking spring. A suitable hollowed tool will be used to engage the flange I64 of the band and press the indicator down into engagement with the outer lips of the locking spring.

If an attempt is made to remove the seal cap for opening the closure, and the screw cap is unscrewed in the usual manner, it will rise gradually with the helix of the thread and its lower beaded portion I65 will lift the indicator band. The latter in turn will upwardly deflect the outer lips 172, of the locking spring, thereby "expanding the same diametrically and this will cause the band to crack or burst.

The seal cap may obviously be of any type, either with or without threads.

Having thus described my invention what I 'claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A device including a container, a tamperproof closure for the container comprising a flanged seal cap threaded upon the container, a

ing a plurality of inwardly and outwardly directed fingers, the outwardly directed fingers engaging said ratchet teeth like projections to prevent linear movement of the band, and the inwardly directed fingers engaging in the groove of said column to prevent linear uplift of'the spring itself, said inner lips acting as pivot point for said spring upon the lifting of the band to spread and break the ring band, said spring having a solid middle panel bearing against said lower m 'tbevelled shoulder, said .upper bevelledvshoulder having cut-away portions forthe introduction oi a suitable tool.

2. A'tamperproof device for a container having a shelf-like bead thereon, comprising an outer frangible cap separable from the container and having alower' widened portion normally supported by 'saidbead; tooth-like inwardly directed projections formed within said widened portion, a'container having the said shelf-like bead thereon, similar projections formed with the container locking with the projections of the cap to prevent circular movement of the same with respect to the container, an inner sealing closure for the container, a column-like upwardly directed extension-on said container, and means engaging said outer cap and container to normally lock the outer cap and thereby to efiect a breaking of the outer cap on its intended removal.

3. A tamper-proof device for containers, comprisinga shelf-like bead, an outer frangible cap having a lower widened portion normally resting onsaid'bead, inwardly directed projections formed within said widened portion, a container, similar projections formed with the container locking with the projections of the cap to prevent circular movement of the same with respect to the container, an inner seal closure for the container, a column-like upward extending portion formed with said bead on said container having an annular groove and seat formed with the top part thereof, an annular tooth-like projection formed with the cap, an annular spring having a flat approximately horizontal middle portion seated'on an annular seat formed with said column, and inwardly and outwardly directed fingers or lips, the inner lips engaging in said groove and the outer lips engaging said toothlike projections, the top part of said column being drawn in to clear the flat portion of the spring and a bevelled shoulder on the top of said column in whichsaid groove is formed, to facilitate the mounting of the spring, said projections on the container adjacent to the column-like extension adjoining the bead having laterally engaging sides, the correspondingly formed projections of the cap and container co-cperating to break the cap on an attempt to remove said cap.

4. A device including a container having a threaded neck, an annular shelf-like bead, a band normally suported by said bead, an inwardly directed annular ledge-like projection formed with said bandat its widened lower portion and having a sectional profile similar to a ratchet-tooth with its face turned up, an inwardly directed annular flange formed at the upper portion of said band, a sealing closure screwed on the threaded neck of the container, a bead formed with the lower edge of the skirt of the sealing closure, engaged by the'annular flange of said band toprevent movement, a sealing disk compressedby the inner top of said sealing closure against the top wall of the container, to produce a liquid and airtight seal, notched annular shoulders formed with the container, said notches for the insertion of a tool to facilitate mounting of said spring, said shoulders forming an annular groove and bevelled seat underneath, a conically shaped metallic spring ring resting on said bevelled'seat, inner and outer tongues, or lips formed with said spring ring, the inner lips engaging the annular groove, and the outer lips engaging the ledge-like projections of the band to preventuplift or linear movement, said seal closure raising the band by its flange, during unscrewing, the inner lips of the spring .then acting as pivot raising the spring through the engagement with the ledge of said'band and hereby spreading the ring to expand and break the band through the engagement with the ratchet-toothlike projection.

5. A container and closure means including a container having annular external retaining means, an annular ring member annularly secured by said external means, said container hav ing an opening coaxial with said means, a device secured to the container for controlling said opening, said device having an annular breakable skirt having an inwardly directed annular shoulder adapted to pass below the ring member upon axially applying the device to the container, said ring member having a series of angularly spaced downwardly and outwardly projecting free ended prongs adapted to be downwardly inwardly deformed by said device on applying the same to the container, to cause said prongs to pass said shoulder and snap over the same, said prongs being outwardly and upwardly deformed upon exerting an axial pull on the device, and said prongs having their free ends bearing downwardly and outwardly at a substantial angle on said shoulder and against said skirt to cause the prongs to be outwardly deflected to break the skirt upon causing upward movement of the said device.

6. A container and closure means including a container, the latter having a generally annularly extending recessing portion providing a seat, a ring member having angularly spaced resilient projections along its inner and outer edges and having a seat portion intermediate of said edges, said ring member being adapted to receive the container with the inner projections sprung into the recessing portion and projecting upward and inward therein, the seat portion of the ring member bearing downward on the seat of the recessing portion, and a device for controlling an opening of the container, said device having a wall providing an annular recessed portion into which the outer projections are adapted to be sprung upon relative downward movement of the device, said outer projections extending downwardly and outwardly to prevent upward movement and removal of said device from the container. i

7. A container and closure means including a container, the latter having a generally annularly extending recess providing a bottom wall, an annular member having a portion for seating on said bottom wall, said annular member having a seat portion and having resilient means projecting upward and inward of said recess for securing the annular member against release from the container, said annular member having resilient means projecting outward and downward in relative proximity to said bottom wall,

a the bottom wall of the recess being of larger diameter than the upper wall thereof to upwardly support said seat portion, and the annular member being so coordinated with said walls as to be adapted to be positionedin said recess by a downward force exerted on the seating portion and means for controlling an opening of the container engageable by said downward and outward projecting means.

8. A container closure means characterized by a breakable indicator portion, including an element having an opening, and means for controlling said opening including an inner member and an outer member, the inner member constituting a closure for the opening, said members being freely axially independently movable toward said opening for engagement in assembly relation with said element, the closure member being connectible to the element by an angular movement relative thereto, means for engaging the outer member in different angular positions thereof to prevent axial removal thereof from assembly relation, except upon breakage of said breakable portion, said means being inoperativeto prevent rotation of the outer member, and two difi'erent means for restricting angular movements, one of said means comprising a series of axially freely interengaging irregularities on the element and outer member, the other of said means comprising a series of axially freely intereng'aging irregularities on the closure and outer member, one of said series having the pitch of its irregularities substantially smaller than that of the other series of irregularities, the different series being so related to each other that in normally axially moving the outer member into assembly relation, the series having the smaller pitch engages subsequently to the series having the greater pitch.

9. A device including a container member, a

closure member therefor, a generally annular locking and breaking means secured in assembly relation by one of said members, and an indicator element having a preformed breakable portion and coacting with the closure member to prevent removal thereof without breaking the breakable portion, said means having downwardly and outwardly projecting portions, the indicator element having a shoulder and being axially applied to the container to cause the said portions to be downwardly inwardly deformed so as to snap over the shoulder and hold the indicator element against removal, with said portions extending downwardly and outwardly male assembled position of the indicator element, and the indicator element causing said portions to be upwardly and outwardly deformed to expand and break the breakable portion upon exerting an upward stress on the indicator element to thus permit release of the closure, said portions being at a substantial angle with the axis of the indicator element in the assembled relation with the latter so as to be adapted to cause the said breaking action.

'10. A device comprising a container, a shelflike bead thereon, a breakable indicator element havinga lower widened portion normally supported by said bead, a closure for the container disposed within the indicator element, tooth-like inwardly directed projections formed within said widened portion, a column-like upright extension on the container similar projections formed on the extension'to interlock'with the projections on the indicator element and prevent rotation beyond a predetermined degree of the same relative to the container, the said projections causing breakage of the indicator element upon forcibly rotating the latter, and means engaging the indicator element and secured over the columnlike extension to lock the indicator element against removal from the container except upon breaking the indicator element.

11. A container and closure means including a container having annular external engaging means, an annular ring member annularly en gaged by said external means, said container having an opening coaxial with said means, a device secured to the container for controlling said opening, said device having an annular breakable skirt having an inwardly directed annular shoulder adapted to pass below the ring member upon axially app-lying the device to the container, said ring member having a series of angularly spaced downwardly and outwardly projecting free ended prongs adapted to be downwardly inwardly deformed by said device on applying the same to the container, to cause said prongs to pass said shoulder and snap over the same, said prongs being outwardly and upwardly deformed upon exerting an axial pull on the device, and said prongs having their free ends bearing downwardly and outwardly at a substantial angle on said shoulder-and against said skirt to cause the prongs to be'outwardly deflected to break the skirt upon causing upward movement of the said device, said container and device having angularlyspaced projections interengaged by the axial application of the device to the container and serving in conjunction with the ring member to break the breakable skirt upon combined upward and angular movement of said device.

12. An annular locking ring including a ring member of resilient material and having angularly spaced inner and outer free ended projections, the inner projections extending inwardly and upwardly, the outer projections extending outwardly and downwardly.

13." A device including a container section having a generally annularly extending engagement portion, a ring member having angularly spaced inner and outerprojections, the inner projections extending inward and upward and the outer projections extending outward and downward, said ring member being adapted to receive the container section with the inner projections engaged by the said engagement portion to hold the ring member against removal from the container section and to resist further downward movement of the ring member, and 'a device for controlling an opening of the container section, said device having an engagement portion adapted to receive the ring member upon downward axial movement of the device to cause the outer projections to snap over and interlockwith the engagement portion of the device to prevent removal thereof from the container section.

14. A device including a container having an opening, means for controlling said opening, said means including an indicator element having a preformed lateral breakable portion, locking means on the'container responsive to an axial application of the indicator element to the container, said locking means including a resilient downward and outward extending portion; the indicator element having an inward extending portion over which said resilient portions snaps to thus lock the indicator element upon the axial application ofthe same to the container, said resilient portion having its free edge in bearing engagement with the preformed breakable portion, said resilient portion being at a substantial angle to the axis of the indicator element, suflicient to cause the resilient portion to deflect upward and outward to cause a lateral breaking of the breakable portion upon exerting'an upward stress on the indicator element, and a closure for the said opening threadedly connected tothe container and projecting upward through the indicator element, said closure having engagement with the indicator element so that the former cannot be removed without breaking the latter and with the closure causing an upward axial movement of the indicator element upon rotation of the closure.

15. A device including a container having an opening, means for controlling said opening, said means including an indicator element having a preformed lateral breakable portion, locking means on the container responsive to an axial application of the indicator element to the container, said locking means including a resilient downward and outward extending portion, the indicator element having an inward uniformly annularly extending portion over which said resilient portion snaps to thus rotatably lock the indicator element upon the axial application of the same to the container, said resilient portion having its free edge in bearing engagement with the preformed breakable portion, said resilient portion being at a substantial angle to the axis of the indicator element, sufficient to cause the resilient portion to deflect upward and outward to cause a lateral breaking of the breakable portion upon exerting an upward stress on the indicator element.

16. In combination, a container means having a recess providing a seat, a ring member having an inner portion extending inward'and upward, said inner portion being received in said recess so as to cause the ring member to be supported on said seat, said ring member having a plurality of spaced outer portions projecting outward and downward, and a device for controlling the opening up of the container, said device having a wall providing a recess into which said outer portions are adapted to be sprung upon relative downward movement of the device to thus lock the latter on the container means.

17. A container and closure means comprising in combination a container member having an opening, a closure member secured to'the container to close saidopening, a concealed resilient means seated on the container, said means being axially assembled with the container and being retained thereon by one of the two named members,'and a preformed, externallyvisible readily breakable indicator member structurally separate from the closure member and at least partly covering it to prevent removal of the closure member, said indicator having an internal ledge integral therewith adapted to deflect said resilient means downwardly and'inwardly upon movement of said indicator member into its assembled position on the container so as to cause the resilient means to automatically engage and snap over said ledge and thereby lock the indicator member to one of the other two named members to prevent removal of it out of its normal assembled position, said indicator member being adapted to cause said resilient means to deflect upwardly and spread outwardly to exert thereby a radial outward thrust upon the indicator member to break the same upon subjecting the indicator member to an axial upward movement, and cam means on thevcontainer member and cam means on'one of the other two named members interengaging one another, said cam means on the container adapted to cause said means to cause radial outward stress upon the indicator member to break the same upon a relative movement between container and at least oneof the other two named members for releasing the closure member from the indicator member.

ADOLF SCHAUER.

Images