US3554366A - Child-safe actuating device for normally sealed containers - Google Patents

Child-safe actuating device for normally sealed containers Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US3554366A
US3554366A US790727A US3554366DA US3554366A US 3554366 A US3554366 A US 3554366A US 790727 A US790727 A US 790727A US 3554366D A US3554366D A US 3554366DA US 3554366 A US3554366 A US 3554366A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
child
actuator
enclosure
finger
tube
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US790727A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
James A Corll
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3554366A publication Critical patent/US3554366A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D83/00—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents
    • B65D83/14—Containers for dispensing liquid or semi-liquid contents by internal gaseous pressure, i.e. aerosol containers comprising propellant
    • B65D83/16—Actuating means
    • B65D83/20—Actuator caps
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D83/00—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents
    • B65D83/04—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents for dispensing annular, disc-shaped, spherical or like small articles, e.g. tablets or pills
    • B65D83/0481—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents for dispensing annular, disc-shaped, spherical or like small articles, e.g. tablets or pills the articles passing through a small opening or passage, without additional dispensing devices and without retaining means for the following article
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2215/00—Child-proof means
    • B65D2215/06—Child-proof means based on the difference in size between children's and adults' hands
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S206/00—Special receptacle or package
    • Y10S206/807—Tamper proof

Definitions

  • the device includes a curved hollow tube having the length and diameter of an adult finger that extends to a dangerous article actuator, such as a container opening lever, an aerosol bomb push button, an electrical appliance switch, etc.
  • a dangerous article actuator such as a container opening lever, an aerosol bomb push button, an electrical appliance switch, etc.
  • the length of the tube prevents operation of the actuator by a child's finger while permitting operation of the actuator by an adults finger.
  • the diameter of the tube prevents entry of a childs hand into the tube.
  • the curve of the tube prevents operation of the actuator by foreign objects that a child might employ.
  • PAIENIED 12191
  • an adult finger A has ample length when inserted through the end 22 of the tube I7 and bent palmwardly along a line roughly paralleling palmwardly I curved wall 18 to contact and operate the actuator 15 posioperation of the actuator by either a childs finger or other obf DESCRIPTION'OF TI-IE DRAWING Am ore' complete' unde'rstanding'of the invention may be had by referring to the following'detail'ed description when taken in conjunction with the drawing wherein:
  • FIG. 1 is aperspective view ofone'embodiment of the invention
  • FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the device shown in FIG. l
  • FIG. '3 is a partial sectional view similar to FIG.'2 showing the operation of the device
  • FIG. 4 is a side view of the device shown-in FIG. 1 in which certain parts 'have been broken away more clearly to illustrate the operation of the device; i
  • FIG. 5 is a-sectional view of a second embodiment of the invention taken through the center thereof. 7
  • the dispenser 10 includes a secure container 11 which may be of any desired size and which is provided with an opening 12 for passing pills or other material in and out.
  • the opening 12 is normally sealed by a sliding member 13 which is also provided with an opening 14.
  • the opening 14 is normally offset from opening 12, and the opening l2'is thereby sealed, by the action of a curved spring actuator 15 integrally formed with the sliding member 13.
  • the actuator 15 is positioned tioned at the end 23 of the tube 17, Operation of actuator I5 by the fingerA moves the sliding member 13 to the right. As is shown in FIG.
  • this action positions the opening 14 in alignment with the opening 12 of container 11, thereby unsealing the container.
  • the ,enclosure 16 is only slightly larger than the adult fingerVQLz-This sizerelationship permits insertion of even very large-adultfingers into the tube 17 while preventing insertion of even a very small shilds child s hand.
  • FIG. 4 a composite illustration shows how theconstruetion of the dispenser 10 prevents operation of the actuator I5 by a child. If the child inserts its finger B into the enclosure I6 to the depth permitted by engagement of the webs between the childs fingers with the sides 21 of the tube 17, the finger B is unable to contact, and therefore co cannot operate, the actuator 15. If, on the other hand, the child inserts a straight, rigid object C, such as a pencil or stick, into the enclosure 16 the object C is prevented from contacting the actuator l5 by the obstacle created by the palmwardly curve of the wall 18 of the tube 17 between the end 22 and the end 23 containing the actuator 15.
  • a straight, rigid object C such as a pencil or stick
  • the dispenser 10 is conveniently gripped between a finger and the palm of an adult hand. This leaves the thumb and other fingers of the hand free to grasp the dispenser 10 thus making the use of the dispenser I0 :1 One-handed operation.
  • the dispenser fits naturally into the palm of the hand with most of the grasping being done quite easily by the palmwardly bent finger in the enclo- .sure l6pressing the container 10 into the palm so that the dispenser 10 can be considered a one-finger operated device.
  • the dispenser 10 may be formed from any desired material,
  • the enclosure 16 should be formed from a material of sufficient rigidity that the actuator 15 cannot be operated by collapsing the tube 17. If the enclosure 16 is formed from a relatively tough material such as polyethylene, it can be cut by an without danger of its being cut by children. Then, the tube 17 can be trimmed along an appropriate one of a plurality of cutoff lines 24 shown in FIG. 1 thereby permitting access to the actuator I5 to a specific adult while forbidding access thereto to a specific child Referring now to FIG. 5, there is shown an alternate embodiment of the invention comprising an enclosure I6 mounted on a typical aerosol spray container 27.
  • the enclosure 16 is illustrated as an attachment to an existing container; however, the enclosure, actuator, and container could be constructed as a single assembly with similar cooperation between the parts and exactly the same resulting function.
  • the enclosure 16 includes a palmwardly curved adult finger length hollow tube 17' including an opening 22' andan opening 23' through which a pushdown actuator 15' for the container 27 extends.
  • a housing 30 having closed sides extends from the member 17' to surround the opening 23 and prevent finger access to the actuator 15'.
  • the lower open end 31 of housing 30 is rigidly attached to the container 27 such that it would be impossible for a small child to remove the enclosure 16'.
  • a narrow vertical slot 34 is provided at the end 23' of enclosure 16' and is designed to allow spray to exit from the enclosure as the actuator is depressed downwardly.
  • the portion of the tube 17' adjacent the end 23' isprovided with a plurality of cutoff lines 24 which may be used to adjust the length of the tube 17, if desired.
  • the assembly shown in FIG. accomplishes the same child-safe results through basically the same structure as the medicine dispenser shown in FIGS. 1-4.
  • FIG. 6 still another alternate embodiment of the invention is shown as applied to an electrical switch such as an ON-OFF switch for a power saw or other potentially hazardous home appliance.
  • a switch 37 having an ON- OFF actuator is mounted on a cover plate 38.
  • a boxlike enclosure 16" is secured to the plate 38 to cover the ON side of actuator 15', thefOFF side protruding through a hole 39 provided in plate 38 and being readily accessible outside the enclosure.
  • An opening 22" for insertion of a finger is provided in cover plate 38 and is positioned with respect to the actuator 15" such that the ON side of the actuator 15" can be engaged by an adults finger inserted through the opening 22" but cannot be reached by a relatively short childs finger inserted through the opening 22".
  • the finger length discrimination which characterizes this invention is not the fine scale discrimination typical of ring sizes and the like but rather is a gross discrimination intended to distinguish between the relatively short fingers typical of children below the age of about 8 and the relatively long fingers typical of teenagers and adults. It should also be understood that the invention is not limited to the uses disclosed but is capable of many other uses, for example, in cabinet latches, gas and water valves, etc. where operation by children is to be prohibited. In fact, the dispenser shown in FIG. 1 can even be used in nonchild-safety applications, such as by ganging several dispensers into a multiple unit and then employing the multiple unit for one-handed control of the dispensing of a variety of parts, one contained in each dispenser of the multiple unit.
  • a child-safe device comprising:
  • actuator means extending into the enclosure for opening the outlet upon engagement by an adult finger positioned in the enclosure, and for rescaling the opening upon release by the adult finger.
  • the child-safe device according to claim 1, further including a ridge formed in the enclosure adjacent the actuator means for preventing engagement of the actuator means by flexible objects inserted through the aperture.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Dispersion Chemistry (AREA)
  • Containers And Packaging Bodies Having A Special Means To Remove Contents (AREA)
  • Nozzles (AREA)
US790727A 1969-01-13 1969-01-13 Child-safe actuating device for normally sealed containers Expired - Lifetime US3554366A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US79072769A 1969-01-13 1969-01-13

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3554366A true US3554366A (en) 1971-01-12

Family

ID=25151584

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US790727A Expired - Lifetime US3554366A (en) 1969-01-13 1969-01-13 Child-safe actuating device for normally sealed containers

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US3554366A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
JP (1) JPS505626B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DE (1) DE2000712A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
FR (1) FR2030139A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (2) GB1303049A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3698543A (en) * 1971-02-25 1972-10-17 Frank A Trotta Safety container
US3773215A (en) * 1971-06-16 1973-11-20 Tiros Plastics Corp Pill dispenser with resilient, integral, extended wall portion forming a sliding gate
US3786968A (en) * 1972-08-18 1974-01-22 Seaquist Valve Co Childproof safety adaptor
US3885717A (en) * 1972-08-18 1975-05-27 Seaquist Valve Co Child safety closure for aerosol containers
US4017009A (en) * 1973-04-19 1977-04-12 Seaquist Valve Company, Div. Of Pittway Corporation Child safety closure (Method III)
US4053090A (en) * 1974-08-22 1977-10-11 Vca Corporation Cap and valve actuator for spray dispensers
US4109785A (en) * 1977-11-21 1978-08-29 Bristol-Myers Company Child resistant package
FR2441557A1 (fr) * 1978-11-16 1980-06-13 Leer Koninklijke Emballage Fermeture de securite a l'egard des enfants pour un recipient
USRE31101E (en) * 1977-11-21 1982-12-14 Bristol-Myers Company Child resistant package
CN112141223A (zh) * 2019-06-27 2020-12-29 保时捷股份公司 机动车辆前端
US11459165B2 (en) * 2019-09-30 2022-10-04 Purdue Research Foundation Devices and methods for storing and transporting substances

Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1828698A (en) * 1930-04-01 1931-10-20 Berry Louin Match box
FR1246429A (fr) * 1959-12-18 1960-11-18 Boîte de sécurité pour allumettes et médicaments
US3097756A (en) * 1960-01-18 1963-07-16 Dennis B Dorsey Safety closure
US3109900A (en) * 1961-07-28 1963-11-05 Harry B Van Ilook Protective guard for actuating devices
US3137414A (en) * 1962-06-14 1964-06-16 Eastern Cap And Closure Compan Aerosol can assembly and the activator cap for completely dispensing the contents
US3164277A (en) * 1963-08-20 1965-01-05 Oscar W Reading Safety bottle cap
US3209953A (en) * 1964-04-27 1965-10-05 Avon Prod Inc Container dispensing
US3240397A (en) * 1964-04-01 1966-03-15 Valve Corp Of America Actuator cap for spray dispensers
US3266651A (en) * 1964-05-14 1966-08-16 Walter V Triglavcanin Accident preventing bottle cap

Patent Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1828698A (en) * 1930-04-01 1931-10-20 Berry Louin Match box
FR1246429A (fr) * 1959-12-18 1960-11-18 Boîte de sécurité pour allumettes et médicaments
US3097756A (en) * 1960-01-18 1963-07-16 Dennis B Dorsey Safety closure
US3109900A (en) * 1961-07-28 1963-11-05 Harry B Van Ilook Protective guard for actuating devices
US3137414A (en) * 1962-06-14 1964-06-16 Eastern Cap And Closure Compan Aerosol can assembly and the activator cap for completely dispensing the contents
US3164277A (en) * 1963-08-20 1965-01-05 Oscar W Reading Safety bottle cap
US3240397A (en) * 1964-04-01 1966-03-15 Valve Corp Of America Actuator cap for spray dispensers
US3209953A (en) * 1964-04-27 1965-10-05 Avon Prod Inc Container dispensing
US3266651A (en) * 1964-05-14 1966-08-16 Walter V Triglavcanin Accident preventing bottle cap

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3698543A (en) * 1971-02-25 1972-10-17 Frank A Trotta Safety container
US3773215A (en) * 1971-06-16 1973-11-20 Tiros Plastics Corp Pill dispenser with resilient, integral, extended wall portion forming a sliding gate
US3786968A (en) * 1972-08-18 1974-01-22 Seaquist Valve Co Childproof safety adaptor
US3885717A (en) * 1972-08-18 1975-05-27 Seaquist Valve Co Child safety closure for aerosol containers
US4017009A (en) * 1973-04-19 1977-04-12 Seaquist Valve Company, Div. Of Pittway Corporation Child safety closure (Method III)
US4053090A (en) * 1974-08-22 1977-10-11 Vca Corporation Cap and valve actuator for spray dispensers
US4109785A (en) * 1977-11-21 1978-08-29 Bristol-Myers Company Child resistant package
USRE31101E (en) * 1977-11-21 1982-12-14 Bristol-Myers Company Child resistant package
FR2441557A1 (fr) * 1978-11-16 1980-06-13 Leer Koninklijke Emballage Fermeture de securite a l'egard des enfants pour un recipient
CN112141223A (zh) * 2019-06-27 2020-12-29 保时捷股份公司 机动车辆前端
US11459165B2 (en) * 2019-09-30 2022-10-04 Purdue Research Foundation Devices and methods for storing and transporting substances

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR2030139A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1970-10-30
DE2000712A1 (de) 1970-07-23
GB1303049A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1973-01-17
JPS505626B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1975-03-05
GB1303050A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1973-01-17

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US3554366A (en) Child-safe actuating device for normally sealed containers
US6036036A (en) Adult friendly child-resistant package
US5462182A (en) Screws-on child resistant consumer-friendly closure
US6021901A (en) Child-resistant container
DK176192B1 (da) Börnesikker beholder og lukke
US6612450B1 (en) Reversible cap
US4561544A (en) Child resistant container
US4345691A (en) Child resistant bottle closure
US10232990B2 (en) Child resistant storage container
US3918614A (en) Childproof actuator cap
US4437566A (en) Child proof container
US20230142224A1 (en) Child-resistant package
BR9305802A (pt) Fixação resistente á criança favorável a adulto para recipientes usados para armazenar materiais potencialmente perigosos
US8360281B2 (en) Child resistant container with inverting cap top key for spray activation
US3263868A (en) Sampler-type tamper-proof actuator cap
EP0751078B1 (en) An adult friendly child-resistant package
US20130270298A1 (en) Child resistant container with inverting cap bottom lift for vertical nozzle push container
US3422997A (en) Dispensing cap
US3712515A (en) Child-safe aerosol spray container
MXPA98000198A (en) Children resistant container, easily manipulated by an adu
US3698543A (en) Safety container
US3788517A (en) Child-safe pill dispenser
US20090200332A1 (en) Child Resistant Dispenser
US3913805A (en) One-piece dispenser cap and childproof actuator
US3863795A (en) Safety container