US3027000A

US3027000A - Container with safety closure

Info

Publication number: US3027000A
Application number: US837529A
Authority: US
Inventors: Abraham H Kantrow
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1959-09-01
Filing date: 1959-09-01
Publication date: 1962-03-27
Anticipated expiration: 1979-03-27

Description

March 27, 1962 A. H. KANTROW CONTAINER WITH SAFETY CLOSURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 1, 1959 March 27, 1962 A. H. KANTROW 3,027,000

CONTAINER WITH SAFETY CLOSURE Filed Sept. 1, 1959 2 Sheets-Shee t 2 "61;; ziwew United States Patent Ofiice 3,027,000 CONTAINER WITH SAFETY CLOSURE Abraham H. Kantrow, 50 Intervale, Roslyn Estates, N.Y. Filed Sept. 1, 1959, Ser. No. 837,529 3 Claims. (01. 206-42) The present invention relates to containers, such as medicine bottles, or the like, and more particularly to containers having provision to prevent children of preschool age from gaining access to the contents thereof.

Thousands of cases of poisoning in pre-school age children occur yearly in the United States due to the accidental ingestion of candy aspirin tablets, sleeping pills, or the like. A number of such cases of poisoning terminate in fatalities. For example, in New Cork city alone, during the year 1957, there were hundreds of cases of accidental aspirin poisoning in children which required hospitalization.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a combination container and safety closure of improved construction so that only one who is thoroughly familiar with such construction can properly gain access to the contents of said container.

Another object is the provision of a container adapted to dispense medicinal articles and having a pair of compartments with an auxiliary closure therebetween, and a discharge opening for dispensing said articles one at a time, said container being provided with a closure member which is operative to open said discharge opening only when saidauxiliary closure is closed and to open said auxiliary closure only when the discharge opening is closed, whereby only one familiar with the construction of said container and safety closure can properly dispense the contents thereof.

Another object is the provision of a container adapted to dispense a single medicinal tabletat the time and provided with an improved closure having means to prevent the subsequent removal of the closure from the container without the mutilation of parts of the container or closure.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of this invention will be fully understood from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings of the presently preferred embodiment of this invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view, broken away and partly in section, showing the preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional elevation view thereof, on a larger scale, showing the closure member in one position thereof;

FIG. 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a section t aken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 2, illustrating the manner of transferring one tablet to the upper compartment;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but showing the closure member in another position thereof;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 3, but corresponding to the closure member position of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 4, but corresponding to the closure member position of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 6, showing the manner of dispensing the captive pill from the container;

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of another embodiment, according to the invention;

3,027,000 Patented Mar. 27, 1962 FIG. 11 is a vertical cross section thereof, taken on the line 1111 of FIG. 12;

FIG. 12 is a section taken on the line 12-12 of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a partial vertical section thereof, showing the manner in which the tablets are passed to the inside of the closure member;

FIG. 14 is a view similar to FIG. 12, but showing the closure member in position to discharge the tablets therefrom; and

FIG. 15 is a partial vertical section showing the manner in which the tablets are discharged from the closure member.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 9 of the drawings in detail, the reference character 10 indicates the preferred embodiment of the container and safety closure according to the invention. As shown, said preferred embodiment comprises a container 12, such as a bottle, adapted to contain therein a plurality of pills, tablets or the like, as shown at 14. A safety closure 16 'is insertable in container 12 for permanent securement thereto. As will hereinafter be described in great detail, the combination of transparent container 12 and safety closure 16 is of such construction and arrangement of parts that only one thoroughly familiar therewith, other than by chance, can properly dispense the contents of the container, one tablet at the time.

Container 12 comprises a circular base 18 and a pcripheral sidewall 20 extending upwardly therefrom. A flat segment 22 projects perpendicularly from the inner surface of sidewall 20, inwardly 'of the container 12 to define within said container a lower compartment 24 therebelow and an upper compartment 26 thereabove. It will be noted that segment 22 is smaller in area than the circular cross-sectional area of container 12 thus defining a passageway 28 between said upper and lower compartments. Sidewall 20 is provided with an opening 30 immediately above segment 22 to define a discharge opening for upper compartment 26.

Sidewall 20 is provided adjacent the upper edge thereof with an internal annular groove 32, and the inner surface of said sidewall tapers outwardly from groove 32 to upper edge 34 of said sidewall, as shown at 36. A stop 38 is provided in groove 32 for reasons which will be made clear hereinafter.

Closure member 16 comprises a cylindrical bonnet portion 40 having a knurled peripheral surface, a solid cylindrical shank portion 42 having a diameter substantially equal to the inside diameter of container 12, an arcuate wall 44 extending downwardly from said shank portion and contiguous therewith, and a planar segment 46 defining a bottom wall for said arcuate wall 44 and having an edge 48 extending between the opposite side edges 49 thereof. It is thus seen that arcuate wall 44 and segment 46 collectively define a compartment 50 having an access opening 52 defined between the side edges 49 of said arcuate wall. Segment 46 is spaced from shank 42 a distance slightly larger than the diameter of tablets 14.

A beveled flange 54 extends circumferentially about shank portion 42 and is spaced from bottom surface 56 of bonnet 40 a distance substantially equal to the spacing between groove 32 and upper edge 34 of container 12. As shown, beveled flange 54 extends peripherally about shank 42 an arcuate length slightly less than between the end edges 58 and 60 thereof.

It is thus apparent that, due to the beveled configuration at the upper part of the container, closure member 16 can easily be inserted therein, and by applying a slight downward pressure on the closure member, resilient beveled flange 54 will be compressed sufiiciently to permit it to move downwardly until it snaps into complementary groove 32 on the container, upper edge 34 of the container defining a seat for bottom surface 56. It will be understood that the closure member 16 is oriented relative the container 12 so that stop 38 in groove 32 is clear of the path of flange 54, when the closure member is inserted in the container. It will be apparent that, due to the beveled configuration of flange 54, while closure member 16 is easily insertable into container 12, the former cannot be removed without multilating parts of the container or of the closure member,

Closure member 16 is rotatable in container 12 from a maximum counter-clockwiseposition (viewing FIG. 1) in' which edge 60 of the flange 54 abuts fixed stop 38 in groove 82, to a maximum clockwise position in which edge 58 of the flange abuts fixed stop 38.

Referring now to FIGS. 2-5, there is shown container 12 and the closure member 16 when the latter has been rotated to its maximum counter-clockwise position, in which edge 60 of flange 54 is in abutment with stop 38. In said position, it will be seen that segment 46 of the closure member is in overlying relation with segment 22 and a passageway 62 between lower compartment 24 and upper compartment 26 is thereby defined between edge 48 of segment 46 and the confronting portion of sidewall 20. The dimensions of segment 46 are such that the distance between edge 48 thereof andsaid confronting portion of sidewall 20 is, just slightly larger than the thickness of a tablet 14 so that only one of said tablets can pass through passageway v62 at the time. Also in: said position of the closure member, discharge opening 30 on the containeris closedby arcuate wall 44. v

When closure member IZisin its maximum counterclockwise position thereof, described above, the container is tilted and gently tapped'to permit only a-single tablet 14 to slide from compartment 28 into compartment 26 through passageway 62 which is disposed lowermost as shown in FIG. 5. Closure member 16 is now rotated to its maximum clockwise position in which edge 58 f flange 54 abuts against stop 38 in groove 32. In said maximum clockwiseposition, best shown in FIGS. 6-8, segment 46 completely closes up passageway 28 thereby preventing further communication between the upper and lower compartments of the container. At the same time, access opening 52 in the closure member is moved into registry with discharge opening 30 thereby permitting the captive pill 14 to be dischargeclby turning the container around approximately 180, as shown in FIG. 9. It will be noted (see FIG. that passageway 62 and discharge opening30 are disposed in diametrically opposite relation. Accordingly, there is no danger that the captive pill will automatically fall out when the access opening 52 is moved into registry with discharge opening 30 since the latter will be uppermost and the captive tablet lowermost, as best shownin FIG. 6.

According'to another embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. l0 through 15, there is provideda containerv or receptacle 70, an intermediate lower member 72 adapted to move in unison with container 70, an upper intermediatemember 74 adapted to have relative rotational movement with respect to lower intermediate member 72, and aclosure member '76 with which upper intermediate member 74 is adapted to move in unis-on. Container 70 defines a lower compartment for the device and is provided with a peripheral ridge 78 adjacent the upper edge 80 thereof, and said upper edge80 is provided with a small recess 82. Lower intermediate member 72 is provided with a fiat base 84 and a sidewall 86 upstandingtrom said base. Upstand ing wall 86 is not continuous for the entire periphery of the member 72 and is interrupted to define a passageway 88 through said sidewall 86. Part of the upper edge of sidewall 86 is recessed to define vertically extending

edges

90 and 92, which in turn define stops as will hereinafter be seen in greater detail. Lower intermediate member 72 is also provided with a downwardly extending projecting tongue 94 which is received in recess 82 of container 70. Accordingly, when tongue 94 is seated in recess 82, lower member 72 is fixed in a horizontal plane relative to container 70. Base 86 of lower intermediate member 72 is provided with a cutout 96 to define an aperture in said base. Closure member 76 comprises a top wall 98 and a peripheral wall 100 extending downwardly from the peripheral edge of the top wall 98. Sidewall 100 is not continuous for the entire periphery of the closure member and is interrupted to define a passage 102 therein. Top wall 96 and sidewall 100 define an upper compartment, and, the latter is also provided with an internal groove 104 adapted to receive ridge 78 in the container. Closure member100 is also provided with a projection 106 extending inwardlvfrom the inside surface of wall 100, adjacent top wall 98. Upper intermediate member 74 comprises a base 108 having a cutout 110 similar to cutout 96, said base 108 also having an upwardly extending wall 112 having a recess at the upper edge thereof, as at 114. I

The unit is assembled by placing member 72 on top of container70, with tongue 94 seated in recess 82. Mem ber 7'4 isthen inserted in member 72 with base 108 resting on base 84, the latter being of slightly larger diameter than the former, and with wall 112 in position between stops 90 and 92. Closure member 100 is then placed over the assembly obtained so far so that projection 106 thereofpasses through recess 114and so that ridge 78 of container 70 is forced into groove 104 in closure 76. When closure member 76 is so snapped on to the container, the closure member is rotatable relative to the container, but is fixed in vertical relation to the containenand cannot be removed without destroying either the container or the closure, or both.

When the unit is so assembled, it will be noted that rotation of the closure member with respect to the container will cause upper intermediate member 74 to similarly rotate with respect to the closure member, since projection106 of the closure member will cause intermediate member 74 to move in unison therewith. Also, due to the fact that lower intermediate member 72 has tongue 94. seatedin recess 82 of container 70, the latter two are fixed with respect to each other so that rotation of the closure member with respect to the container automatically causes rotation of the upper intermediate member 74 with respect to lower intermediate member 72. As assembled, it will be noted that the closure member is movable with respect to the container between the two extreme positions, namely one extreme position in which projecting member 106 engages stop 90, and the other extreme position in which projecting member 106 cugages stop 92.

.FIG. 12 shows the position of the respective parts assembled as described above, when projecting member 106 is in engagement with stop 90. In this position, it will be noted that cutout 96in lower intermediate member 72 isin registry with cutout 110 in upper intermediate member 74 ,wherebythere is an open passageway between the containerand the closure member, so that the contents of the container may be passed through said passage into the closure member, in the manner shown in FIG. 13. In this position, however, it will be noted that passage 88 inlower intermediate member 72 is covered by sidewall 100 of the closure member so that it is impossible to discharge thecontents from inside of the closure member. When the closure member is rotated to its other extreme position, shown in FIG. 14, in which projecting member 106 is in engagement with stop 92, the cutouts 96 and110 areoutof registry, thereby preventing any passage between the container and the inside of the closure member, but passage 88 is in registry with passage 102 in the closure member so that the contents inside the closure member may be discharged, as best shown in FIG. 15.

Thus it is seen that according to the embodiment shown in FIGS. through 15, it is impossible to discharge any tablets from the inside of the closure member when passage is established between the closure member and the container, and it is not until passage between the inside of the closure member and the container has been blocked that the contents of the inside of the closure member can be discharged.

It will be noted that

cutouts

96 and 110 are adjacent the inside wall of the device so as to facilitate the passage of the contents of the container to the inside of the closure member. It will be noted that the embodiment in FIGS. 10 through is of extremely simple construction and comprises only four simple parts, each of which can be molded in one piece. Accordingly, said embodiment is extremely easy to manufacture and can be done so at a substantial saving in cost.

It will thus be apparent that the preferred embodiment of the invention described in connection with FIGS. l9, as well as the embodiment described in connection with FIGS. 10-15 are eminently suitable to accomplish the objects of the invention, namely the provision of a container adapted to hold therein pills, tablets, or the like, and having a safety closure whereby the tablets can be dispensed therefrom only by one familiar with its construction, and thus prevent pre-school age children from gaining access to said tablets which may be harmful or even fatal to them.

It will further be apparent that while the present invention has been described in connection with the dispensing of pills, that they could equally well be used for dispensing liquids. In this connection, it will be apparent, that the construction described can easily be provided with well known means for rendering them fluid tight.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my United States application Serial No. 757,540, filed August 27, 1958.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it will be understood that various changes may be made in the present invention Without departing from the underlying idea or principles of the invention within the scope of the appended claims.

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

l. A safety dispenser comprising, an open top container defining a first compartment, medication in the form of pills or tablets provided in said first compartment, a first intermediate member carried by said container for movement in unison therewith and defining a cover for said container, said first intermediate member having an aperture defining a passagewey for said first comporatment through said cover, a second intermediate member adapted to be rotatably moved relative said first intermediate member and having an aperture adapted to be moved into and out of registry with the aperture in said first intermediate member, a closure member adapted to be mounted by said container defining a second compartment and having a discharge opening, means for moving said second intermediate member and said closure member in unison relative to said container and said first intermediate member, said closure member being movable from one position in which the apertures in said first and second intermediate members are in registry and in which said discharge opening is closed to a second postiion in which the apertures in said first and second intermediate members are out of registry and said disch rg ope ng s p n, wher y the med c t o n s id first compartment is transferable to said second compart, ment only when said discharge opening is closed and said medication is dischargeable from said second compartment only when the passageway between said first and second compartments is closed, and means for limiting the rotational movement of said closure member when said closure member is in said first and second positions thereof, respectively.

2. A safety dispenser comprising, an open top containtainer defining a first compartment, medication in the form of pills or tablets provided in said first compartment, 2. first intermediate member carried by said container for movement in unison therewith and defining a cover for said container, said first intermediate member having an aperture defining a passageway for said first compartment through said cover, a second intermediate member adapted to be rotatably moved relative said first intermediate member and havig an aperture adapted to be moved into and out of registry with the aperture in said first intermediate member, a closure member adapted to be mounted by said container defining a second compartment and having a discharge opening, means for moving said second intermediate member and said closure member in unison relative to said container and said first intermediate member, said closure member being movable from one position in which the apertures in said first and second intermediate members are in registry and in which said discharge opening is closed to a second position in which the apertures in said first and second intermediate members are out of registry and said discharge opening is open, whereby the medication in said first compartment is transferable to said second compartment only when said discharge opening is closed and said medication is dischargeable from said second compartment only when the passageway between said first and second compartments is closed, and cooperating means on said closure member and said first intermediate member limiting the rotational movement of said closure member when said closure member is in said first and second positions thereof, respectively.

3. A safety dispenser comprising an open top container defining a first compartment, medication in the form of pills or tablets provided in said first compartment, a first intermediate member comprising a base adapted to cover the opening of said container and a vertical wall upstanding from the peripheral edge of said base, said base having an aperture adjacent the periphery thereof, means for moving said first intermediate member in unison with said container, a second intermediate member comprising a base adapted to be positioned above the base of said first intermediate member and rotatably movable relative thereto, the base of said second intermediate member having an aperture therein whereby rotational movement of said second intermediate member relative said first intermediate member will cause the apertures in said respective bases to come into and out of registry, a closure member having a top wall and a peripheral Wall extending downwardly from the peripheral edge of the top wall, said closure member defining a second compartment and said peripheral wall having an opening which defines a discharge opening for said second compartment, said closure member being adapted to be mounted on said container for rotational movement rela tive therewith, means on said closure member for causing said second intermediate member to move in unison therewith, said closure member being movable from one position in. which the apertures in said respective bases are in registry and in which the discharge opening in said closure member is closed by the vertical wall of said first intermediate member to another position in which said apertures are out of registry and said discharge opening 1 open, whereby the medication in said first compartment is transferable to said second compartment only when said discharge ope ing is closed and said medication is dischargeable from said second compartment only when the p s ge ay bet een s id first and e o d co p re ments is closed, and cooperating means on said closure mb r nd said fir t intermediate member limiting rotational movement of said closure member when the lat- 7 ter is in said first and second positions thereof, respectively, said cooperating means comprising a projecting memberon the closure member and a stop defining recess provided on the upper edge of said first intermediate member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 928,052 Hirsch July 13, 1909 8 Apfelbaum July 18, 1944 Haag Jan. 9, 1945 Holt et a1. Dec. 25, 1951 Weir Mar. 17, 1959 Lermer May 12, 1959 Worth Sept. 15, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS Germany Nov. 23, 1912 All