US3547295A

US3547295A - Tamper-proof closure construction

Info

Publication number: US3547295A
Application number: US18119A
Authority: US
Inventors: William James Landen
Original assignee: Eyelet Specialty Co Inc
Current assignee: Eyelet Specialty Co Inc
Priority date: 1970-03-10
Filing date: 1970-03-10
Publication date: 1970-12-15
Anticipated expiration: 1987-12-15
Also published as: CA934705A; JPS5149269B1; DE2107644A1; GB1344371A

Description

United States Patent [72] Inventor William James Landen Cheshire, Conn. [21] Appl. No. 518,119 [22] Filed March 10, 1970 [45] Patented Dec. 15, 1970 [73] Assignee Eyelet Specialty Company Wallinglord, Conn. a corporation of Delaware [54] TAMPER-PROOF CLOSURE CONSTRUCTION 27 Claims, 9 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl. 215/9, 215/46, 215/40 [51] Int. Cl A6lj 1/00, 865d 55/02 [50] Field olSearch 215/9, 46, 43, 40, 95

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,510,021 5/1970 Silver 215/9 3,514,003 5/ 1970 Fitzgerald 215/9 Primary Examiner-George T. Hall Attorney-Sandoe, Hopgood & Calimafde ABSTRACT: The invention contemplates selectively openable closure means that is tamper-proof, in the sense that a correct sequence of two deliberate and independent movements of different elements is necessary in order to achieve access to the contents of the bottle or the like which is protected by the closure.

The specific construction that is described involves a bottle with a neck having a locating circumferential bead and a reduced threaded end. A closure cap with a radially outward base flange is selectively threaded to the neck. A sleeve surrounds and overlaps the flange of cap (when closed) and the bead on the bottle neck, and the sleeve includesradially inwardly projecting means in axially interfering relation with both the bead and the flange, to normally block access to the bottle merely by attempted unthreading of the cap. The sleeve is axially shiftable and has such deforming cammed engagement with the neck during such axial shift that one of the interfering relations is thereby relieved, thus freeing the cap for unthreading removal.

mimmnm slam 3547295 INVENTOR M4 UAWUQMQ'AA/VMW TT RNEY TAMPER-PROOF CLOSURE CONSTRUCTION This invention relates to tamper-proof selectively openable closure devices, as for closure of bottles containing liquid or solid matter that might be injurious when in unauthorized hands.

With recent growth in the use of drugs, pills, and the like, each with its specific prescribed purpose for a particular member of a household, there has been a corresponding increase in the chances for unauthorized access, .particularly access by small children. And it has become increasingly difficult, if not impossible, to supervise children enough to assure against their access to materials that cari be harmful to them.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a tamper-proof feature in containers for materials of the character indicated.

A specific object is to achieve the above-stated object with a construction in which a correct sequence of independent motions of two different parts is a prerequisite for access to the contents of the container.

Another object is to achieve the foregoing objects with a simple construction, involving the addition of only one part, beyond the container and its closure.

It is also an object to achieve the foregoing objects with a construction which lends itself optionally a to two-part use (meaning, the container and its closure alone) when the container is filled with harmless material, or b to use of one further part, coacting with the said two parts to provide the tamper-proof feature, when the container is filled with material which may be harmful.

A still further object is to achieve the stated objects with a construction which lends itself to full automation, namely, to automated filling, to automated closure, and to automated assembly with the tamper-proof feature.

It is a general object to provide a tamper-proof closure which is basically inexpensive and reliable and'which incorporated automatic reset of the tamper-proof feature, as a necessary consequence of applying the closure and driving it to closed position on the container. 7

Other objects and various further features of novelty and invention will be pointed out or will occur to those skilled in the art from a reading of the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In said drawings, which show, for illustrative purposes only, preferred forms of the invention:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary view in elevation showing the neck end of a bottle, to which closure means of the invention is applied and is shown partly broken away and in longitudinal section;

FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 are, respectively, similar views of each of the three parts of the assembly of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are views similar to FIG. 1 to illustrate different parts relationships; 7

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 2 to illustrate a modification;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an insert-forming part of the combination of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 2 to illustrate a further modification.

'Briefly stated, the invention contemplates selectively openable closure means that is tamper-proof, in the sense that a correct sequence of two deliberate and independent movements of different elements is necessary in order to achieve access to the contents of the bottle or thelike which is protected by the closure.

The specific construction that is described involves a bottle with a neck having a locating circumferential bead and a reduced threaded end. A closure cap with a radially outward base flange is selectively threaded to the neck. A sleeve surrounds and overlaps the flange of cap (when'closed) and the bead on the bottle neck, and the sleeve includes radially inwardly projecting means in axially interfering relation with both the bead and the flange, to normally block access to the bottle merely by attempted unthreading of the cap. The sleeve is axially shiftable and has such deforming cammed engagement with the neck during such axial shift that one of the interfering relations is thereby relieved, thus'freeing the cap for unthreading removal.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4 of the drawings, the invention is shown in application to a bottle 10, the open end of which has a projecting neck 11 with a reduced threaded length 12. Bottle 10 may be of glass, metal or plastic, and may conveniently be of blow-molded polyvinylchloride. The neck construction is shown to include a substantially cylindrical length 13 in which a continuous circumferential bead 14 is formed; and a convergent conical section 15 and radial shoulder 16 connect the cylindrical length 13 to the threaded end 12. The closure 17 for bottle 10 is a cup-shaped cap internally threaded at 18 for engagement with threads 12 and having a short radially outward flange 19 at its open end, which may be seated on the shoulder 16 when in closed position (FIG. 1); alternatively, the closed end of the cap 17 may be lined with a conventional pad (not shown) which may seat against the end of the bottle to determine the fully closed position. Cap 17 may be of any suitable material, as for example of thermoset or thermoplastic material, injection or compression molded; a polypropylene is satisfactory, and if desired, finger-grip flutings 20 or other decorative and functional formations may be provided in the exterior of cap 17.

For many purposes, the described structure will be all that is needed, being a completely functional and effective bottle with screwcap closure. However, in accordance with the invention, both these bottle and cap parts 10-17 have elements which cooperate with a third member or sleeve 21 whenever it is desired to add tamper-proofing as a feature of the closure.

The sleeve 21 is sufficiently elongated to overlap both the headed and flanged parts 14-19 of the neck 11 and cap 17, when the cap is in closed position. Sleeve 21 includes radially inwardly extending means in axial interfering relation with both the beaded and flanged parts 14-19, so that if mere unthreading is attempted, the interferences via sleeve 21 will frustrate the attempt. As shown, an inward bead or flange 22 is at the lower end of a counterbore 23, for interference with the neck head 14, and at its other end sleeve 21 includes a radially inward flange or abutment 24, for interference with the cap flange 19. The interfering edges of the sleeve and cap at 19- -24 are shown negatively raked or undercut, for positive axial locking, to effectively frustrate attempted mere unthreading of cap 17. In view of certain transient resilient deformations to which sleeve 21 is subjected, sleeve 21 must be of a material having reasonably good memory to restore to original or normal shape (FIG. 1, FIG. 3); sleeve 21 may thus suitably be injection-molded of such plastic materials as acetyls, nylon, Noryl, and certain grades of polypropylene. A rugged continuous radially outward flange 25 is shown at the base of sleeve 21, for finger-engagement and for reinforcement against yielding deformation of bead 23.

In accordance with the invention, the respective locales of axial interference, at 19-24 and at 14-23, define limits of axial lost motion in the assembly of sleeve 21'to the neck 11 and cap 17. The extent of this lost motion, considered in its extreme for the case of the tightly capped normal situation in FIG. 1, is designated X in FIG. 1, where full outlines delineate the upper sleeve position (interference at 14-23) and phantom outline 25' suggests the lower sleeve position (interference at 19-24). The lost motion distance X is utilized to develop a cammed reaction between neck 11 and a deformable part of sleeve 21, whereby one of the indicated axial interferences is relieved; in the form shown, it is the interference at 19-24 that is thus relieved, so that sleeve 21 stays with the bottle 10 whenever the cap 17 is removed.

As shown, sleeve 21 is rendered deformable at its upper end by providing plural longitudinal slits or slots 26 at angularly spaced locations. Each such slit 26 extends a substantial fraction of the available length of the sleeve and terminates short of interfering with the necessary circumferential retention function of flange 25; if desired, a circular base or cutout 27 for each slit 26 may provide relief from stress concentrations that might otherwise result from a too sharply defined base end of each slit. The slits 26 are seen to define plural angularly spaced fingers 28 extending upwardly from the region of flange 25, four or five such fingers 28 being adequate for a construction in which the bore diameter at the lower end of sleeve 21 is in the order of one inch. The abutment flange 24 is thus provided as an inward lug, alike for the radially inner edge of the movable end of each finger 28. As indicated, the material of sleeve 21 is such as to provide memory of original shape and to pennit resilient deformation. Preferably, such deformation is relatively stiff in action, and the stiffness factor is'aided by the generally arcuate formation of each of the fingrs 28. Since the abutments 24 are at the most reduced end 'of sleeve 21, the fingers 28 are there characterized by the shortest radius of their generally arcuate shape, so that the predominant deformation which characterizes cammed deflection of fingers 28 occurs at the extended larger-radius region 29.

B y forming cap flange 19 with a diameter D, (FIG. 2) which is less than the diameter D of the cylindrical neck portion 13 (FIG. 4), the difference between these diameters can be utilizedto generate cammed outward displacement of fingers 28, in.tl 1e course of shifting sleeve 21 downwardly over the lost motion or sleeve-shift distance X. Thus, the sleeve bore may include a tapering section 30 for interference with the upper limit of the cylindrical neck surface 13, whereby further shifted displacement of sleeve 21 outwardly cams or spreads the fingers 28, to relieve the interference 19-24. Alternatively,,the tapering neck section 15 may be so positioned with respect to an interfering radially inward portion 30 of the sleeve bore as to effect the same result. In the form shown, smoother cam action is achieved by reacting both tapering sections 15-30 against each other in the course of the downward shift of sleeve 21. It will be understood that the inherent resilience and memory characteristics of sleeve 21 are such that reaction at 15-30 will normally urge these cam surfaces in their disengaging direction, i.e., unless flange 25 is deliberately held down, sleeve 21 will normally be resiliently positioned at an elevated location, within the lost motion range X.

In FIG. 1, the distance X, short of the available lost motion displacement X, suggests the lesser displacement needed for the indicated cam actuation, and the still lesser distance X" suggests the maximum tolerable axial spread between raked lips of abutments 19-24, in order to assure such spread of fingers 28 as will enable cap-unthreading. Preferably, even though the indicated axial distances have the relation:

0001 NO CARD FOR THIS ILLUSTRATION. Athese distances are as close as feasibleto each other, in order that even the finger-spreading function can be frustrated, should the cap 17 not be initially substantially fully secured, in seated relation against shoulder 16 (or otherwise).

FIG. 5 is useful to illustrate the relationship of the described parts when sleeve 21 has been down-shifted to spread fingers 28 enough to relieve the interference 19-24. This figure also d icts a subsequent instant of time when the cap 17 has been tin hreaded sufficiently to clear the interference and to permit s to the bottle upon completed unthreading of the cap. lt will be understood that when the cap clears the ends of fingers 28,;the inherent stiffly compliant nature of their construction aiiii of their transient displacement is such as to return them to their normal unstressed positioning (FIG. 1).

i/IFLIG. 6 is useful to illustrate the total frustration which results from unauthorized tampering. Attempted mere cap uh threading has done nothing but positively lock the raked edges of abutment means 19-24, and the cap has thus become firmly axially referenced to the bottle neck 11, via the 'sle'eve-to-neck interference 14-23.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate a slight modification which is useful when the bottle 10 contains a liquid or a volatile material. In FIG. 7, the cap 17' is internally recessed at 33, so that the er end of the threads 18"may accommodate and retain an "f erted, resiliently suspended seal 34. Seal 34 is shown to comprise a disc 35, such as a suitable composite of cork and vinyl, bonded to a plate from which plural feet 37 have been struck up. The unstressed axial offset of feet 37 from the rest of plate 36'should exceed the available axial extent of the recess 33, and the feet 37 should be sufficiently compliant to provide a consistent axially loaded liquid-sealing engagement of seal disc 35 against the open end of bottle 10, for all possi ble cap positions, as dictated by lost motion retention of sleeve 21. Thus, the plate 36 may be blanked from thin metal, of suitable spring temper.

It will be seen that I have provided an improved tamperproof structure meeting the stated objects. The structure requires but one part (the sleeve 21) beyond the two required for any normal container and its closure. This one part performs its functions in cooperation with both the outer parts (11-17). The only way to gain access to the bottle is (I) to make sure that the stopper or cap 17 is sufficiently closed, (2) to grasp flange 25 to down-shift sleeve 21 and relieve the interference 19-24, and then (3) to unthread the cap 17 while (at least initially) holding the relief of the interference 19 -24.

To reclose the container, threaded application of cap 17 to the projecting portion of the neck threads 12 engages the bottom of flange 19 to the top face or axial end of fingers 28, at a time when sleeve 21 is referenced to neck 11 at the tapering sections 15-30. Further cap rotation against the drag of sleeve 21 (at 15-30) drives fingers 28 outwardly enough to permit escapement of flange 19, so that the retaining interferences 19-24 and 14-23 are reestablished. If desired an outer chamfer 38 at the base of flange 19 and an inner chamfer 39 at the upper end of abutment means 24 may be provided to facilitate the cammed displacement of fingers 28 upon reassembly of cap 17 to the sleeve 21 and neck 11.

It has been generally indicated that the invention lends itself to automated filling and capping. In such cases, plural bottles 10 stand erect for automated filling, using conventional apparatus. Next, conventional apparatus is used for threaded application of the caps 17. Finally, if the tamper-proof feature is to be provided, sleeves 21 may be automatically assembled, by bodily axial displacement over cap 17 and the neck 11. In the course of such displacement, strong but nondestructive transient resistence is encountered when passing the bead interference 14-23, and an outside chamfer 40 at the top of cap 17 assures transient outward camming of fingers 28 over the handgrip portion 20. The containers are then tamperproof and ready for shipment.

While the invention has been described in detail for the preferred forms shown, it will be understood that modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the liquid-sealing of the closure cap of FIGS. 7 and 8 may be achieved by the telescoping seal which characterizes the cap of FIG. 9. In FIG. 9, the cap 17" is made from the same basic cap mold as used for cap 17 of FIG. 2, the only difference being the addition of a stud or the like to create a central opening or socket 41 in the closed end'of cap 17". The opening 41 provides means whereby the enlarged end 41 of a stud on a liner or sealer plug 41 may be assembled by snap-detent action into the interior of cap 17". The plug 42 is shown as generally'cup-shaped, having a closed end or base 43 to seat against the closed wall of cap 17", and having an elongated cylindrical wall 44 for telescoping fit within the bore 45 (FIG. 4) in the neck or mouth of the bottle 10. The liner-sealer plug 42 may be of injection-molded polyethylene having a slight interference fit, in the order of l to 5 mils, and preferably 3 mils, in the bore 45; and of course wall 44 should be sufficiently elongated, as shown, to permit sealing effectiveness within the range of cap movement permitted by the sleeve 21. The inherent low-friction character of polyethylene means that the interference fit will not noticeably interfere with manual operation of the closure, as already described.

Iclaim:

1. Tamper-proof selectively openable closure means, comprising a body including a neck with an axial end opening to be selectively opened and closed, said neck comprising a base portion characterized by a first length of substantially uniform cross section and a projecting end length including a portion of inwardly converging cross section, a closure member selectively engageable with said neck and having a circumferentially continuous radially outwardly projecting flange positioned axially outwardly of said convergent portion when in position closing said opening, and a sleeve member axially shiftably carried by said neck, said neck and sleeve member including interengaging means limiting sleeve movement to a predetermined extent of longitudinal lost motion, said sleeve including at its outer longitudinal end radially inwardly extending abutment means in longitudinal interference with said flange, whereby access to said opening by attempted mere removal of said closure member is prevented by said longitudinal interference, said abutment means and said convergent portion having coacting radially-outward camming engagement upon shifting said sleeve member'in the direction toward said body and being operative within the range of said lost motion to relieve said abutment means from said longitudinal interference, whereby only upon the initial deliberate actuation of said sleeve to relieve said interference can said closure member be free enough for a further and different deliberate separating actuation of said closure member to provide access to said opening.

2. Tamper-proof selectively openable closure means, comprising a body including a neck with an axial end opening to be selectively opened and closed, said neck comprising a cylindrical base portion and a reduced threaded end portion, a cap having threaded engagement with said end portion for selectively closing and gaining access to said opening, a continuous radially outward flange on said cap, and a sleeve axially shiftably carried by said neck, said neck and sleeve including interengaging means limiting sleeve movement to a predetermined extent of longitudinal lost motion, said sleeve including a radially movable abutment element at a location of sleeve overlap with said flange when said cap is in closed position, said movable abutment element being resiliently suspended with respect to the remainder of said sleeve and having a normal position in longitudinal interference with said flange, and cam means coacting between said movable abutment element and said neck upon axially inward deliberate shifting of said sleeve to outwardly displace said abutment element out of interference alignment with said flange, whereby upon such inward'displacement said cap may be removed by unthreading from said neck. I

3. Closure means according eo claim 2, wherein said flange and said abutment element include interengageable under cut edges, whereby a positive lock is available to prevent tampering access in the absence of an adequate axially inward shift of said sleeve.

4. Closure means according to claim 2, wherein said abutment element is one of a plurality thereof, in angularly spaced relation about the axis of said sleeve. 7 1

5. Closure means according to claim 2, wherein said sleeve is of stiff resiliently yieldable material and said abutment element is integrally formed therewith,

6. Closure means according to claim 2, wherein said sleeve is longitudinally slitted at angularly spaced locations to integrally define said movable abutment element therebetween.

7. Closure means according to claim 6, wherein said sleeve is longitudinally slitted at at least four equally angularly spaced locations to define a corresponding plurality of angularly spaced abutments in longitudinal interferences relation with said flange.

8. Closure means according to claim 2, wherein said cam means comprises a tapering bore portion of said sleeve having interfering engagement with a part of said neck during the course of inward shifting displacement of said sleeve.

9. Closure means according to claim 8, wherein said sleeve is longitudinally slitted at the region of said tapering bore portion to define a radially cammable sleeve portion, and wherein said abutment is carried by said radially cammable sleeve portion.

10. Closure means according to claim 2, wherein said cam means comprises an inwardly convergent tapering portion of said neck between said cylindrical. base portion and said threaded end portion, the part of said sleeve which carries said abutment element having interfering engagement with said convergent tapering portion during the course of inward shifting displacement of said sleeve.

11. Closure means according to claim 10, wherein said sleeve is longitudinally slitted at the region of the part which has said last-mentioned interfering engagement.

12. Closure means according to claim 2, wherein a portion of said cap projects beyond said sleeve for all possible positions of said sleeve.

13. Closure means according to claim 2, wherein said interengaging means determining said lost motion includes a circumferential bead on said cylindrical base portion, and wherein said sleeve is of stiffly yieldable material having radially inward means interfering with said bead, whereby sleeve assembly over said bead may be accomplished by axially forcing the interference at said bead.

l4. Closure means according to claim 2, wherein said interengaging means determining said lost motion includes a continuous radially inward bead near the axially inner end of said sleeve, and wherein said sleeve is of stiffly yieldable material, said cylindrical base portion including radially outward means interfering with said bead, whereby sleeve assembly over said bead may be accomplished by axially forcing the interference at said bead.

15. Closure means according to claim 14, wherein said movable abutment element is an integral part of said sleeve and wherein said sleeve in longitudinally slitted to render said abutment element movable, said bead being at a location axially inward of said slitted region of said sleeve.

16. The combination of claim 2, in which said cap includes an axially movable seal element contained therein, and resilient means referenced to the bottom of said cap and urging said seal element in sealing relation with the neck opening.

17. The combination of claim 16, in which the axial extent over which said seal element is resiliently displaceable within said cap is sufficient to maintain sealing engagement with the neck opening over the range of cap displacement permitted by the lost motion range of said sleeve.

18. In combination, a bottle with a neck having a cylindrical base portion with a circumferential outward bead, and a reduced threaded end projecting beyond said base portion, a cap threadedly engageable with said threaded end and having a radially outward base flange of lesser diametrical extent than the diameter of said cylindrical base portion, and a sleeve extending into surrounding overlap with said bead and flange when said cap is engaged to said neck, said sleeve including radially inward means at each end thereof and in axial interference with said bead and flange respectively, said sleeve having plural longitudinal slits at angularly spaced locations near one of the ends of said sleeve, and cam means coacting between a part of said neck and part of the slitted region of the bore of said sleeve during an axially inward displacement of said sleeve to outwardly displace said sleeve at the slitted region and thereby relieve the said axial interference at said one end of said sleeve, whereby said cap may be then disengaged by unthreading from said neck.

' 19. The combination of claim 18, wherein said slitted end is the axially outer end, whereby cap removal is unaccompanied by removal of said sleeve.

20. The combination of claim 18, in which said sleeve is of molded plastic construction.

21. The combination of claim 2, in which said neck has a generally cylindrical bore near the open end thereof, and in which said cap includes an axially extending generally cylindrical surface having a liquid-sealing telescoped fit with said bore throughout the range of cap movement between its position fully threaded to said neck and its position limited by engagement with said sleeve.

22. The combination of claim 21, in which said generally cylindrical surface is that of a plug element carried by the closed end of said cap.

23. The combination of claim 22, in which said plug element is separate from said cap and in'which said cap and said plug element include coacting detent means for securing their assembled relation.

24. The combination of claim 2, in which said neck has a smoothly cylindrical surface adjacent the open end thereof, and in which said cap includes an axially extending generally "cylindrical surface having a liquid-sealing telescoped fit with said smoothly cylindrical surface throughout the range of cap movement between its position fully threaded to said neck and its position limited by engagement with said sleeve 25. In combination, a bottle with an open neck including a first smooth cylindrical surface near the open end and including external threads, a cap threadedly engageable with said threads and including an interior member with a second smoothly cylindrical surface having liquid-sealing telescoped fit with said first surface, throughout a range of cap movement between its position fully threaded to said neck and a backedoff position axially removed therefrom, a sleeve overlapping parts of said cap and neck, said sleeve and neck and said sleeve and cap having axially engaging means normally limiting cap movement between said first and second positions, whereby said sleeve is axially shiftable when said cap is threaded to said first position, and whereby regardless of the cap-threaded condition between said positions said bottle has a liquid-sealed closure, said sleeve and neck having coacting means reacting to a sleeve shift and independently of cap rotation for effectively disabling said axially engaging means, whereby in the operated condition of said coacting means said cap may be fully unthreaded to open the bottle.

26. The combination of claim 25, in which said smoothly cylindrical surfaces are respectively the bore of said neck and a plug portion of said cap. 1

27. In combination, a bottle with an open neck and including external threads, a cap threadedly engageable with said threads throughout a range of cap movement between its position fully threaded to said neck and a back-off position axially removed therefrom, a sleeve overlapping parts of said cap and neck, said sleeve and neck and said sleeve and cap having axially engaging means normally limiting cap movement between said first and second positions, whereby said sleeve is axially shiftable when said cap is threaded to said first position, said sleeve and neck having coacting means reacting to a sleeve shift and independently of cap rotation for effectively disabling said axially engaging means, whereby in the operated condition of said coacting means said cap may be fully unthreaded to open the bottle.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No 3,547 295 December 15 197 William James Landen It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In the cover page, "[21] Appl. No. 518,119" should rea H [21] Appl. No. 018,119 .Column 1, line 24, "a", inital should read H (a) in italics; line 26, "b", in italics, s read (b) in italics Column 3, line 48, cancel "0001 NO CARD FOR THIS ILLUSTRATION" and insert Z X X line "Athese" should read these Column 4, line 59, "plug 41" should read M plug 42 Column 5, line 1, "e0" should read to 3 line 4, "interferences" should read interference Signed and sealed this 30th day of March 1971.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. WILLIAM E. SCHUYLE Attesting Officer Commissioner of Pa