US3485403A

US3485403A - Safety cap and container

Info

Publication number: US3485403A
Application number: US713414A
Authority: US
Inventors: Peter Hedgewick; George E Howell
Original assignee: Reflex Corp of Canada Ltd
Current assignee: Reflex Corp of Canada Ltd; Pac-Tec Inc
Priority date: 1968-03-15
Filing date: 1968-03-15
Publication date: 1969-12-23
Anticipated expiration: 1986-12-23
Also published as: BE727493A; DE1903814A1; GB1259119A; CA927780A; NO122901B; NL6901343A; CH501529A

Description

Dec. 23, 1969 P. HEDGEWICK ET 3,435,403

SAFETY CAP AND CONTAINER Filed March-15, 1968 "r" I I/ INVENTOR-F M YMXMCM A TTORWEYS United States Patent Ofiice 3,485,403 Patented Dec. 23, 1969 US. Cl. 215-9 13 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The container disclosed herein comprises a cylindrical plastic body which is molded in one piece and has circumferentially spaced radially extending projections on the upper end thereof that have notches therein. The cap comprises a one-piece plastic body having a base and a peripheral flange with circumferentially spaced lugs extending radially inwardly for engagement with the notches. A first annular integral flexible web is provided on the inner surface of the base and extends downwardly and outwardly. An annular integral rib on the inner surface of the base overlies the annular flexible web and serves as a stop to prevent overflexing of the web. A second annular integral flexible web extends downwardly from the inner surface of the base. A liner having a deformable outer surface is interposed between the annular flexible webs and the lugs for engagement with the upper end of the container. The base of the cap includes circumferential openings which facilitate its manufacture as a onepiece plastic cap but do not interfere with the sealing action of the annular Web. The cap is applied to the container by a rotating movement. The cap can only be removed from the container by applying an axial force on the periphery of the cap and thereafter rotating the cap.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to safety caps and containers.

In the patent to Hedgewick 3,344,942, issued Oct. 3, 1967 there is disclosed and claimed a novel cap and container structure which cannot be readily opened by children, which is relatively simple and inexpensive and wherein the cap and container can each be molded in one piece.

Among the objects of the present invention are to provide a cap and container construction which is similar to that shown in the Hedgewick Patent 3,344,942 but in addition produces a moisture and vapor-tight seal.

SUMMARY Basically, the container comprises a cylindrical plastic body which can be molded in a one-piece mold and has circumferentially spaced radially extending projections on the upper end thereof that have notches therein. The cap embodying the invention comprises a one-piece plastic body having a base and a peripheral flange with circumferentially spaced lugs extending radially inwardly for engagement with the notches. A first annular integral flexible web is provided on the inner surface of the base and extends downwardly and outwardly. An annular integral rib on the inner surface of the base overlies the annular flexible web and serves as a stop to prevent overflexing of the web. A second annular integral flexible web extends downwardly from the inner surface of the base. A liner having a deformable outer surface is interposed between the annular flexible webs and the lugs for engagement with the upper end of the container. The base of the cap includes circumferential openings which facilitates its manufacture as a one-piece plastic cap but do not interfere with the sealing action of the annular web. The cap is applied to the container by a rotating movement. The cap can only be removed from the container by applying an axial force on the periphery of the cap and thereafter rotating the cap.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a cap and container embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing the relative positions of the cap and container as the cap is being removed from the container.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the container.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the container.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a portion of the upper end of the container.

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the cap.

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the cap.

Referring to FIGS. 1-7, the invention comprises a cap 10 that is adapted to be applied to the upper end of a container C, each of which is molded by injecting plastic into a cavity.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 6 and 7, the cap 10 includes a base 11 and a peripheral flange 12 extending axially of the axis of the cap. A plurality of radially inwardly extending lugs 13 are provided on the inner surface 14 of the flange 12 adjacent the lower end thereof. Spring means in the form of a first integral flexible resilient annular web 15 extends generally axially and radially outwardly from the inner surface 16 of the base 11 and is formed with an enlarged rib 17 on the free end thereof that is adapted to engage the upper end of the container C. The Web 15 has a lesser cross section intermediate its ends so that it will flex intermediate its ends upon application of an axial force. An integral annular rib 18 extends axially from the inner surface 16 of the base 11 in generally overlying relation to the free end of the web 15. An abutment member in the form of a second integral flexible resilient annular web 27 extends axially downwardly from the inner surface 16 of base 11.

The container C is generally cylindrical at least at the upper end and preferably throughout so that it can be made in a single cavity one-piece mold. The container C is formed at its upper end with a plurality of outwardly extending radial projections 19. As shown in FIG. 5, each radial projection 19 is formed with a first portion 20 and a circumferentially spaced second portion 21 to define a notch 22. The lower surface 23 of the first portion 20 is tapered gradually downwardly and circumferentially to blend in a smooth curve with the side wall 24 of the notch 22. The second portion 21 extends axially a greater distance from the upper end of the container to define the side 25 of the notch 22. The upper end of the container 11 is formed with an upwardly extending rib 26.

As further shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the cap 10 is formed with a plurality of axially extending openings in the base 11 which overlie the lugs 13 and result from the apparatus for manufacture of the cap.

As shown in FIG. 1, a liner or sealing member 30 is interposed between the free edge of the annular web and the lugs. The liner 30 has a deformable surface 31 which conforms with the rib 26 on the mouth or upper end of the container as presently described.

In order to assemble the cap 10 on the container C, the cap is applied to the mouth or upper end of the container with the liner 30 engaging rib 26. The cap is then rotated to bring the lugs 13 into engagement with the tapered surfaces 23 of the projections 19. Further rotation of the cap causes the lugs to follow the surfaces 23 producing a flexing of the web 15 intermediate its free edge and its base until the lugs engage the notches 22. In this position, the cap 10 is locked on the container C by the spring force of the web 15 and the bead '17 of the web 15 is in sealing engagement with the upper surface 26 of the container C as shown in FIG. 1. The base 11 of the cap is of such a thickness that it will flex if a force is applied at the center of the base 11. The area of juncture of the base of the web and the base 11 of the cap substantially overlies the upp r end of the container.

The cap cannot be removed by a simple rotation so that children are deterred, if not prevented, from removing the cap. In order to remove the cap, an axial force must be provided on the periphery of the cap in the direction of the arrow as shown in FIG. 2 to cause a flexing of the web 15 and permit the lugs 13 to move axially and thereby clear the portion of the projections. After this axial force is applied, the cap can be turned in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 2 to permit its removal. Because of the flexible nature of the base 11 of the cap, the axial force must be provided on the eriphery of the cap and not at the center of the cap. This force is most conveniently applied by pressing the container against the palm of the hand. In both applying and removing the cap, the rib 18 prevents overflexing of the spring means 15 beyond the elastic limit which might cause a loss of resiliency or spring action of the web. In applying the cap, the greater axial extent of the portion 21 prevents turning the cap beyond the notch 22. In removing the cap, the greater axial extent of the portion 21 prevents rotating the cap in the wrong direction for removal.

During application and removal of the cap, the spring means 15 flexes intermediate its ends d wnwardly as shown in FIG. '2. During this flexing action, the inter mediate portion engages the liner along an annuiar area spaced inwardly from the periphery of the liner and applies a force on the inner surface of the liner that forces the liner downwardly in an axial direction and radially outwardly into conformity with the rib 26 on the upper end of the container. Since during the engagement and disengagement of the cap there is also a rotary move-- ment, this tends to smooth out deformable surface 31 of the liner 30 facilitating the moisture and vapor seal that is formed between the liner and the rib of the container.

When the cap is on the container, the free edge of the abutment member 27 engages the upper surface of the liner 30 as shown in FIG. 1. By this arrangement, any tendency of the liner 30 to lift off the upper edge of the container when the liquid contents of the container are agitated is prevented. The free edge of the web 27 is spaced vertically above the free edge of the web 15 when the cap is off the container and the webs are untensioned. The distance between the free edges is preferably equal to one half the distance flexed by the free edge of the web 15.

When the cap is being removed, the second web 27 flexes inwardly as shown in FIG. 2. The second web 27 performs the further function of facilitating the tendency of the first web to smooth out the deformable surface 31 of the liner during application and removal of the cap.

The cap 10 is made of a suitable plastic material which provides the desired flexibility of the integral web 15. A preferred material comprises polypropylene although other materials such as polyethylene can be used. The container C is also preferably made of a plastic. A preferred plastic material comprises a high impact styrene.

Satisfactory results have been achieved by utilizing a liner having a thickness of 0.025" and comprising a cardboard base having a thickness of 0.02", a paperbacked aluminum foil coated with vinyl adhered to the cardboard and having a thickness of 0.00035" and a layer of wax over the vinyl-coated foil having a thickness of 0.00015.

What is claimed is:

1. A cap adapted to be appl ed to a container comprising: a base; a peripheral flange extending axially from said base for receiving the mouth of a container to which the cap is to be applied; a plurality of radially inwardly projecting lugs on the inner wall of said flange; a generally flat sealing member carried by said cap, said sealing member being received in said flange and having a peripheral portion overlying said lugs; spring means between the base and the sealing member urging the sealing member toward engagement with said lugs; and means on said base for engaging said sealing member to limit deformation of the sealing member toward said base.

2. A cap as claimed in claim 1 wherein said last named means comprises an abutment m mber projecting axially from said base for engaging said sealing member radially inwardly of the engagement of said sealing member by said spring means.

3. A cap as claimed in claim 2 wherein said abutment member is resilient to yieldably resist deformation of said sealing member toward said base.

4. A cap as claimed in claim 3 wherein said abutment member includes an inner annular end engaged with said base and extends axially therefrom and terminates in an outer annular free end engageable with said sealing memher.

5. A cap as claimed in claim 4 wherein the diameter of the outer annular end of said abutment member is the same as the diameter of the inner annular end thereof.

6. A cap as claimed in claim 5 wherein said abutment member has a uniform cross section from the inner annular end to the outer annular free end.

7. A cap as claimed in claim 6 wherein the inner annular end of said abutment member is joined integrally to said base.

8. A cap as claimed in claim 7 wherein said spring means has an inner annular end joined to said base and extends axially therefrom and terminates in an outer annular free end engaging the sealing member, the. inner annular end of said spring means being larger than the inner anular end of said abutment member.

9. A cap as claimed in claim 8 wherein the outer annular free end of said spring means is spaced axially from said base a greater distance than the outer annular free end of said abutment member when said spring means is unstressed.

10. A cap as claimed in claim 9 wherein the diameter of the outer annular free end of said spring means is larger than the diameter of the inner annular end thereof.

11. A cap as claimed in claim 10 wherein said base, peripheral flange, lugs, abutment member and spring means are integrally molded together to form a one-piece cap.

12. A safety package for medicines and the like comprising: a container having a mouth portion with an annular rim; a cap having a base with an integral peripheral flange projecting axially therefrom for receiving the mouth portion of said container; interengageable locking elements on the inner wall of the flange of the cap and the outer Wall of the mouth of the container, the cap locking elements projecting inwardly from the inner wall of the flange and being engageable with and disengageable from the container locking elements by axial motion of the cap relative to the container followed by rotative motion of the cap relative to the container; hollow cylindrical abutment means surrounded by said flange and having an inner annular end formed integrally with said base and projecting axially therefrom and terminating in an outer annular free end having an outer diameter less than the inner diameter of the mouth of the container; and resilient means carried by said cap reacting against said annular rim for biasing the cap against axial motion relative to said container to resiliently resist disengagement of the cap and container locking elements.

13. In a safety cap of the type having a base with a peripheral flange extending axially therefrom and adapted to receive the mouth of a container with a plurality of inwardly projecting cap locking elements Spaced peripherally from each other on the inner wall of the flange and located an equal axial distance from the base adapted for interlocked engagement with and disengagement from container locking elements spaced peripherally from each other on the outer wall of the mouth of such container only by axial motion of the cap relative to the container followed by rotative motion of the cap relative to the container and wherein the cap is biased to a fixed axial position relative to the container to resiliently maintain the cap locking elements engaged with the container locking elements and resiliently resist axial movement of the cap toward the container, the improvement comprising: hollow cylindrical abutment means surrounded by said flange and having an inner annular end joined integrally to said base and projecting axially therefrom and terminating in an outer annular free end; and a generally flat disc member received in said flange between the cap locking elements and free end of said abutment means and unconnected with said abutment means with its periphery overlying said locking elements, said outer annular free end having a diameter less than the inner diameter of the container to which the cap is adapted to be applied such that the disc member is adapted to be flexed between its periphery and the portion thereof engaged by the abutment means when the cap is interlocked with a container.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,514,337 11/1924 Rappenecker 215-44 X 1,978,946 10/1934 Horner 215--40 2,138,376 11/1938 Griswold 215-40 X 2,387,439 10/1945 Grabus. 2,397,589 4/1946 Barnby 21540 2,419,304 4/1947 Warth 215-40 X 2,776,066 1/1957 Thornton 215-9 X 3,151,757 10/1964 Martin 2l541 3,255,907 6/1966 Eddy 21540 3,344,942 10/1967 Hedgewick 215-9 3,348,717 10/1967 Treanor 2159 FOREIGN PATENTS 850,871 9/1939 France.

1,018,172 10/1952 France.

JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 15 0