US3656646A

US3656646A - Safety closure for a container

Info

Publication number: US3656646A
Application number: US49268A
Authority: US
Inventors: Clarence R Taylor
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1970-06-24
Filing date: 1970-06-24
Publication date: 1972-04-18
Anticipated expiration: 1989-04-18

Abstract

A safety closure for a container comprising a split ring mounted on a neck of the container and having at least one lock or detent between the ring and neck. When a cap is screwed on the container in a cap-tightening direction to form a container safety closure, the lock prevents rotation of the ring in only the cap-tightening direction, and when the cap is moved to a tightened position, it cannot be removed from the container upon normal movement in a cap-removing direction. To remove or unscrew the cap from the container, it is necessary in at least one embodiment to deform the ring in response to movement of the cap on the container in one direction, and then to move the cap in a different direction to unscrew it from the container.

Description

United States Patent- Taylor [15] 3,656,646 51 Apr. 18, W72

[54] SAFETY CLOSURE FOR A CONTAINER [72] Inventor: Clarence R. Taylor, Penfield,N.Y. 14526 [22] Filed: June 24, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 49,268

' Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 797,968, Feb. 10, 1969, abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 884,204, Dec. 1 l, 1969. t

52 U.S.C1 ..21s/

[51] Int.Cl. [58] Field of Search 9, 215/83 .....B65d 55/02, A613" 1/00 ..215/9, 83

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,403,803 10/1968 Markowitz ..2l5/9 3,426,931 2/1969 Jensen ..215 9 Primary Examiner-George T. Hall Attorney-Steve W. Gremban [57] ABSTRACT A safety closure for a container comprising a split ring mounted on a neck of the container and having at least one lock ordetent between the ring and neck. When a cap is screwed on the container in a cap-tightening direction to form a container safety closure, the lock prevents rotation of the ring in only the cap-tightening direction, and when the cap is moved to a tightened position, it cannot be removed from the container upon normal movement in a cap-removing direction. To remove or unscrew the cap from the container, it is necessary in at least one embodiment to deform the ring in response to movement of the cap on the container in one direction, and then to move the cap in a different direction to unscrew it from the container.

' 14 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures PATENTEBAPR 18 I972 3,656,646

SHEET 1 0F 3 CLARENCE R- TAYLOR INVENTOR.

lam 40m ATTORNEY PATENTEUAPR 18 :912

SHEET 2 [IF 3 FIG. 7

FIG 9 FIG- 8 TAYLOR CLARENCE R- INVENTOR. k

ATTORNEYS PATENTEDAPR 18 1912 3. 656,646

'sum 3 OF 3 CLARENCE R. LOR

- INVENT ATTORNEY SAFETY CLOSURE FOR A CONTAINER CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS and Method of Assembly", filed Dec. 1 l, 1969 by the same inventor. I

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to safety closures for containers, and more specifically to a container safety closure to prevent removal of a tightened cap from the container when manually turned in a normal cap-removing direction.

2. Description of the Prior Art The great advances made in the field of medicine have been accompanied by a tremendous growth in the variety and types of drugs or medicines available to and stocked by members of the public. Many of these drugs, which are normally dispensed in small capped bottles, are beneficial when taken in the proper recommended dosage, but may be exceedingly dangerous if consumed in quantities that are too large. The simple aspirin tablet, which may be helpful for alleviating headaches, is a good example of such a drug. Also, medicinal liquids are available on the market that may be safe if applied to various parts of the human body, but may be exceedingly dangerous or poisonous if taken internally. The availability of the aforementioned medicinal drugs to small children, who are unaware of the potential danger of these drugs, presents a hazard and a threat to their lives. In this day and age, young children are more exposed to such potentially dangerous drugs than at any other time in history. Since the cap normally used on containers for drugs is of the common threaded, screw on type, it is not difficult for most young children to be able to open these containers and to partake of the contents thereof. It is virtually impossible for adults to sufficiently tighten such caps so that they cannot be removed by a child. Applicants invention is believed to eliminate the aforementioned potential danger to children by providing a safety orifice for a container closure having a cap which an adult may readily tighten or remove from the bottle or container, but once the cap is tightened, it may not be readily removed by a child.

Safety closures for containers are well known in the art and of varied design as shown in the July issue of MODERN PACKAGING on pages 70-75, ranging from the type in which a cap must be depressed downwardly andremoved, or downwardly and turned, to the type in which the cap is removed by thumb pressure exerted upwardly on the cap or by a pull tab integral with the cap. One safety closure comprises an injection molded polypropylene cap with lugs that mesh with notches in the container. The cap is removed by pressing downwardly, preferably with the palm of a hand and simultaneously turning the cap to disengage the lugs from the notches. Other two-piece safety closures are known having a ring rotatably mounted on a container for receiving a cap as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,403,803 and 3,486,654.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention includes within its scope a safety closure for a container in which the container receives a cap of normal type. The closure comprises a split safety ring mounted on a neck of the pouring spout of a container. In one modification of the invention, by virtue of a detent between the ring and neck, it is possible to tighten the cap on the container so that it may not be removed therefrom in the normal way. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the detent is Iatchable when the cap is turned in a direction to tighten the cap and normally unlatched when the cap is turned in the opposite cap-removing direction. The cap may be readily removed from the container in one embodiment of the invention by I an:

depressing the cap in a known way for moving the detent to its latched position, and then turning the cap in a cap-removing direction to remove it from the container while the detent is manually retained in its latched position. In still another embodiment of the invention, the ring is provided with a rim which maybe manually arrested, thereby obviating the necessity of a detent, although one may be provided in any event.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a safety closure for a container for preventing removal of a tightened cap from the closure except upon special manipulation by the person removing the cap.

Another object of the invention is to provide a safety closure for a container comprising a neck, a threaded ring mounted on the neck, and a detent connection therebetween that is latchable when a cap is threaded onto the ring and turned in a cap-tightening direction, and unlatched when the cap is turned in a cap-removing direction to prevent removal of the tightened cap.

Objects and advantages other than those set forth above will be apparent from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the Drawings FIG. I is an exploded, perspective view of a safety container closure of this invention including a cap of normal type;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the safety closure of FIG. 1 in an assembled position;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged section view taken substantially along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged section view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3 showning the cap in a fully tightened position and the ring in its normal underformed condition;

FIG. 4A is a segmental view similar to FIG. 4 showing another form of detent;

FIG. 5 is a segmental view similar to FIG. 4 showing the cap depressed and the ring deformed with the detent in a latched position for removing the cap from the container orifice;

FIG. 6 is side elevational view of a modification of the ring of this invention;

FIG. 7 is an exploded, side elevational view of another embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 showing a modification of the safety closure of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an exploded side elevational view showing the method of assembling the safety closure;

FIG. 10 is a segmental side elevational view partially in section showing still another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 11 is a top plan view of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a section view taken along line 12-12 of FIG. 10 showing the ring in a latched position; and

FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 12 showing the ring in an unlatched position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS With reference to the drawings, a pouring spout 10 of a container 12 is shown having a peripheral groove forming a neck 14, an annular shoulder 16 at one edge of neck 14 and a peripheral rim 18 at the other edge. The neck 14 is substantially circular as seen in FIG. 4 except for a flat surface 20 extending along a chord of the circle. The neck 14 has a lug 22 forming a part of a detent between the neck and a safety ring 28 rotatably mounted on the neck. The lug 22 extends radially outwardly from surface 20 with one edge 24 of lug 22 having a radius to its outermost point substantially equal to the outer radius designated A of neck 14, as seen in FIG. 4. The other edge 26 of lug 22 preferably has a radius slightly smaller than radius A of neck 14 resulting in lug 22 having a slightly tapered end as best seen in FIG. 4. Although only one lug 22 is shown, it should be obvious that a larger number may be provided angularly spaced around the periphery of neck 14.

The safety ring 28 is formed of a plastic material that is readily deformable, particularly in a radial direction. The ring 28 is preferably split as at 30 to facilitate outward deformation and separation of the ends of ring 28 so that it can be moved over rim l8 and onto neck 14 of container 12 as best seen in FIG. 9, the ring then returning to its normal undeforrned condition in which it is prevented from being removed from neck 14 by rim 18. The split in ring 28 further permits the ring to accommodate variations in neck, cap and ring dimensions so that they do not have to be manufactured to close tolerances. The ring 28 has a smooth inner surface of a diameter which in its normal condition is slightly greater than the diameter of neck 14, as best seen in FIG. 4, so that the ring is readily rotatable on neck 14. The outer surface of ring 28 is provided with a conventional screw thread 32. The ring further in at least one embodiment is provided with a notch 34 corresponding to each lug 22 to complete the detent between the ring 28 and neck 14, the notch 34 being slightly larger than the lug so that it may be received therein as explained hereinafter. At least one notch 34 is preferably formed in one of the ends of ring 28. If desirable, the locations of lugs 22 and notches 34 may be reversed also as shown in FIG. 4A, by providing at least one lug 36 on the inner periphery of ring 28 and a corresponding notch 38 on the periphery of neck 14. In addition, in another embodiment of ring 28 a lower laterally extending periphery rim 40 may be provided as seen in FIG. 6. The outer diameter of rim 40 is greater than the outer diameter of cap 42 so that rim 40 extends outside of the periphery of a cap 42, and may be manually engaged to arrest ring 28 to facilitate tightening and removal of cap 42.

The cap 42 for container 12 is of any conventional type having a circular top 44 and a depending annular skirt 46 forming a recess, the skirt having a screw thread 48 on the inner periphery thereof adapted to mesh with screw thread 32 on safety ring 28. A gasket 47 of any suitable material is mounted in the recess of cap 42.

With particular reference to FIGS. l-6, safety ring 28 is initially mounted for rotation on neck 14 of container 12. The cap 42 is screwed onto ring 28, and the ring may be prevented or arrested from rotation by a lock means comprising an edge 49 of notch 34 engaging the edge 24 of lug 22 to permit cap 42 to be screwed thereon in the cap-tightening direction 13 shown in FIG. 4. Interengagement between notch 34 and lug 22 may be facilitated by properly holding the container so that gravity will urge the ring toward lug 22. If desired, arresting rotation of ring 28 may be enhanced by providing a shoulder 50 on rim 18 engageable by a tooth 52 on the outer edge of ring 28, particularly when cap 42 is pulled outwardly following threaded engagement with ring 28. When cap 42 is completely tightened onto ring 28, the upper edge surface of the ring is urged into pressure engagement with the under surface of rim 18 providing a liquid seal. Any attempt to remove or unscrew the tightened cap by turning it in the indicated cap-removing direction B merely causes the cap and ring to rotate as a unit around neck 14 of container 12. During such rotation, each time the leading edge 49 of notch 34 in the cap-removing direction of rotation passes over lug 22, a discemable click may be heard coupled with a possible reduction in the force required to turn cap 42 as lug 22 enters the notch. Due to the tapered end surface of lug 22, the trailing edge 51 of notch 34 will ride over the end of lug 22 and not be arrested thereby. To remove cap 42, it is turned in the cap-removing direction, and stopped when the aforementioned click is heard. Depression of skirt 46 of cap 42 radially inwardly at a point slightly above and in alignment with an index mark 56 on container 12, which mark is in substantial alignment with the trailing edge 26 of lug 22 on neck 14, latches the detent by deforming ring 28 in a radial direction and causing the trailing edge 51 of notch 34 to move behind the trailing edge 26 of lug 22 as seen dotted in FIG. 5. Upon movement of cap 42 in the cap-removing direction, the end 51 of notch 34 engages edge 26 of lug 22 and arrests movement of ring 28 relative to neck 14. Upon further turning of cap 42 in the cap-removing direction, the

cap is unscrewed from arrested ring 28 and from the container 12. In the situation where notch 34 is provided at the end of ring 28, interengagement between the notch edge 51 and lug 22 may be enhanced by molding the ring so that the end thereof is slightly deformed radially inwardly.

Another way of assuring registration of lug 22 and notch 34 for cap removal is to provide a mark 54 on ring 28 in alignment with trailing edge 51 of notch 34. The cap 42 is turned until mark 54 is in alignment with the aforementioned index mark 56 on container 12. When marks 54, 56 are aligned, lug 22 and notch 34 are in register.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 7, parts similar to parts shown in FIGS. 1-6 will be denoted by the same numerals primed. In this embodiment, ring 28 has a recess 58 along its inner periphery at one end provided with a shoulder 60 for receiving one end 62 of a one-way split helical lock spring 64 of any suitable cross-section, such as circular, which nests in a corresponding recess 58. A lock means between ring 28' and neck 14' comprises the opposite end 66 of spring 64 which is engageable with a shoulder 68 along edge surface 16' of neck 14'. In operation, turning a cap 42' in a cap-tightening direction to screw cap 42 onto threaded ring 28' causes ends 62, 66 of spring 64 to engage

shoulders

60, 68 respectively to lock or prevent, turning movement of ring 28 and hence facilitate screwing of the cap onto ring 28'. When cap 42' is turned in the opposite cap-removing direction to remove it from ring 28, ends 62, 66 of spring 64 are cammed together by corresponding sloping

surfaces

70, 72 and ride over

shoulders

60, 68, permitting turning movement of ring 28 and spring 64 in a cap-removing direction. Accordingly, the tightened cap 42, ring 28' and spring 64 will move together in unison and removal of cap 42' will not be possible. As explained heretofore, removal of cap 42 is achieved by pressing cap skirt 46 radially inwardly causing

detent

22, 34 to engage and releasably hold ring 28. In the alternative, pressure may be applied radially to rim 40' to releasably hold rim 28 while cap 42' is turned in a cap-removing direction.

The ring shown in FIG. 8 is denoted by the numeral 28", and other parts of the ring 28" similar to parts shown in FIG. 7 are denoted by the same numerals. In this embodiment, the lock spring 64 of FIG. 7 has been omitted, and a shoulder 66' molded in ring 28" which functions as end 66 of spring 64. When cap 42' is turned in a cap-tightening direction, shoulder 66' engages shoulder 68 and holds rings 28" from turning. When tightened cap 42' is turned in a cap-removing direction, ring 28" turns in unison with the cap and shoulder 66' rides over shoulder 68 and does not prevent rotation of ring 28".

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 10-13, a container 70 is shown having a circular opening 71 and an eccentric outer peripheral surface forming a neck 72 as best seen in FIGS. 12 and 13 onto which the inner peripheral surfaces 73 of a concentric ring 74 is rotatably mounted. A lock means between neck 72 and ring 74 comprises at least one tooth 76 on the outer peripheral surface of neck 72 engageable by at least one tooth 78 on the inner peripheral surface 73 of the ring. The ring 74 is split at 80 to facilitate mounting the ring on neck 72, and the ring is retained on the neck by a rim 82 at one end of the neck and a shoulder 89 of container 70 at the other end of the neck. The ring 74 has a rim 85 at one end and a thread 86 on its outer periphery engageable by a corresponding thread on the inner periphery of any standard cap 87 similar to cap 44 of the previously described embodiments of the invention.

With reference to FIGS. 12 and 13, the dimensions of the inner periphery of ring 74 and outer periphery of neck 72 have been selected such that the largest inner diameter of ring 74 designated ACE is at least equal to the largest neck diameter designated COD, thereby permitting rotation of ring 74 on neck 72 in a counter-clockwise direction.

In the operation of the safety closure of FIGS. 10-13, rotation of the cap in a cap tightening direction, nonnally clockwise, causes ring 74 to rotate along with it due to frictional forces therebetween until a tooth 78 of ring 74 engages a tooth 76 on neck 72 preventing further clockwise rotation of ring 74. The engagement of the

teeth

76, 78 is ensured without any deformation of the cap or ring by virtue of the eccentric neck 72. Following the arrest of ring 74, the cap may be fully tightened on the container. Any effort to remove the cap by rotating it in the counter-clockwise direction merely results in the cap and ring moving together as a unit in a wobbly manner which is not objectionable as the teeth 78 rachet over tooth 76. To remove the cap, the ring 74 must be arrested by manually holding rim 85 or by means of any suitable detent described in relation to previous embodiments of the invention interposed between ring 74 and neck 72.

The method employed in of all of the embodiments of the invention to assemble ring 28 on neck 14 is best depicted in FIG. 9, and involves deforming ring 28 from its normal condition by any suitable apparatus means, not shown, or by hand until the inside diameter of the ring exceeds the outside diameter of rim 18. The deformed ring 28 is moved by any suitable means, not shown, or by hand over rim l8 and into register with neck 14 of bottle 12. When ring 28 is released, it regains its normal condition due to its inherent resiliency enclosing neck 14 as shown in full lines in FIG. 9. This completes orifice which upon reception of cap 42 provides an improved bottle safety closure.

The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention.

lclaim:

1. In a safety closure for a container or the like having a cap threadable thereon and movable in a cap-tightening direction to a tightened position, and normally movable from the tightened position in an opposite cap-removing direction without removing the cap, the combination comprising:

a neck on the container;

ring means rotatably mounted on said neck and having a screw thread for receiving the cap when threaded on said ring means to a tightened position; and

detent means for said neck and said ring means movable from a normal unlatched position, in which said neck and said ring means are unlatched to permit rotation of the tightened cap in a cap-removing direction without removing the cap, to a latched position in response to manual movement of the cap in a direction other than the captightening and cap-removing direction, in which said neck and said ring means are latched together to pennit removal of the cap when rotated in said cap-removing direction.

2. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said detent means comprises a lug notch in said ring means.

3. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said detent means comprises a lug on said ring means, and a corresponding notch in said neck.

4. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said ring means is split to provide adjacent ends and has said screw thread on its outer periphery, and said detent means comprises a radially extending lug on said neck and a corresponding notch in one of said ring ends.

5. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said neck is substantially cylindrical and has a flat chordal surface, said ring means is split to provide adjacent ends and has said screw thread on its outer periphery, and said detent means comprises a lug on said neck extending radially from said flat chordal surface in which the radial distance of the outermost surface on one edge of said lug is substantially equal to the radius of said neck, and the radial distance of the outermost surface on said neck, and a corresponding of the opposite edge of said lug is slightly less than the radius of said neck, said detent means further having a corresponding notch in said ring at one end thereof, and the container further having indicia thereon substantially in alignment with said opposite edge of said lug for indicating the point at which said cag should be moved in said other direction.

. The invention according to claim 5 wherein said other direction of movement of said direction of movement.

7. The invention according to claim 1 and further including lock means for said ring means to prevent rotation of said ring means only in said cap-tightening direction.

8. The invention according to claim 7 wherein said ring means and said neck have first and second shoulders respectively, and said lock means comprises a split helical lock spring encircling said neck and supported by said ring means, said spring having two ends in which one end coacts with said first shoulder and the other end coacts with said second shoulder.

9. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said neck has a circular opening and an eccentric outer peripheral surface for rotatably receiving said ring means, and further includes lock means between said neck and said ring means to prevent rotation of said ring means only in said cap-tightening direction.

10. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said ring means has an inner peripheral surface, and said neck has a circular opening and an eccentric outer peripheral surface for rotatably receiving said inner peripheral surface of said ring means, and further includes lock means between said neck and said ring means to prevent rotation of said ring means only in said cap-tightening direction, said lock means comprising a tooth on said outer peripheral surface of said neck engageable by a tooth on said inner peripheral surface of said ring means.

11. In a safety closure for a container or the like for receiving a cap threadable thereon and movable in a cap-tightening direction to a tightened position, and normally movable from the tightened position in an opposite cap-removing direction without removing the cap, the combination comprising:

a neck on the container;

lock means for said ring means to prevent rotation of said ring means only in said cap-tightening direction.

12. The invention according to claim 11 wherein said ring means and said neck have first and second shoulders respectively, and said lock means comprises a split helical lock spring encircling said neck and supported by said ring means, said spring having two ends in which one end coacts with said first shoulder and the other end coacts with said second shoulder.

13. The invention according to claim 11 wherein said neck has a circular opening and an eccentric outer peripheral surface for rotatably receiving said ring means, and further includes lock means between said neck and said ring means to prevent rotation of said ring means only in said cap-tightening direction.

14. The invention according to claim 11 wherein said ring means has an inner peripheral surface, and said neck has a circular opening and an eccentric outer peripheral surface for rotatably receiving said inner peripheral surface of said ring means, and further includes lock means between said neck and said ring means to prevent rotation of said ring means only in said cap-tightening direction, said lock means comprising a tooth on said outer peripheral surface of said neck engageable by a tooth on said inner peripheral surface of said ring means.

cap is a generally radial

Claims

1. In a safety closure for a container or the like having a cap threadable thereon and movable in a cap-tightening direction to a tightened position, and normally movable from the tightened position in an opposite cap-removing direction without removing the cap, the combination comprising: a neck on the container; ring means rotatably mounted on saId neck and having a screw thread for receiving the cap when threaded on said ring means to a tightened position; and detent means for said neck and said ring means movable from a normal unlatched position, in which said neck and said ring means are unlatched to permit rotation of the tightened cap in a cap-removing direction without removing the cap, to a latched position in response to manual movement of the cap in a direction other than the cap-tightening and cap-removing direction, in which said neck and said ring means are latched together to permit removal of the cap when rotated in said capremoving direction.

2. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said detent means comprises a lug on said neck, and a corresponding notch in said ring means.

5. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said neck is substantially cylindrical and has a flat chordal surface, said ring means is split to provide adjacent ends and has said screw thread on its outer periphery, and said detent means comprises a lug on said neck extending radially from said flat chordal surface in which the radial distance of the outermost surface on one edge of said lug is substantially equal to the radius of said neck, and the radial distance of the outermost surface of the opposite edge of said lug is slightly less than the radius of said neck, said detent means further having a corresponding notch in said ring at one end thereof, and the container further having indicia thereon substantially in alignment with said opposite edge of said lug for indicating the point at which said cap should be moved in said other direction.

6. The invention according to claim 5 wherein said other direction of movement of said cap is a generally radial direction of movement.

11. In a safety closure for a container or the like for receiving a cap threadable thereon and movable in a cap-tightening direction to a tightened position, and normally movable from the tightened position in an opposite cap-removing direction without removing the cap, the combination comprising: a neck on the container; ring means rotatably mounted on said neck and having a screw thread for receiving the cap when threaded on said ring means to a tightened position; and lock means for said ring means to prevent rotation of said ring means only in said cap-tightening direction.