US3753510A

US3753510A - Liquid proof safety package

Info

Publication number: US3753510A
Application number: US00123645A
Authority: US
Inventors: P Hedgewick; L Bauer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Pac-Tec Inc
Priority date: 1971-03-12
Filing date: 1971-03-12
Publication date: 1973-08-21
Anticipated expiration: 1990-08-21

Abstract

A liquid proof safety closure and container assembly including a cap and container having complementary bayonet locking means with a sealing member interposed between the container and the end wall of the cap for resiliently maintaining the cap and container in locked engagement, and for providing a seal for the contents of the container. The sealing member comprises a one-piece plastic body having a plunger portion overlying the mouth of the container and a sealing portion engaging the mouth portion of the container. The plunging portion includes a base portion engaging the cap with a side wall portion extending from the periphery of the base portion and terminating in a resilient, outwardly extending spring portion joined to the inner periphery of the sealing portion. The sealing portion includes an axially extending seal for sealing engagement with the inner surface of the mouth of the container and a cylindrical rib projects from the spring member toward the end wall of the cap and is operable after predetermined deflection of the spring portion to force the sealing portion into sealing engagement with the container upon further axial movement of the cap toward the container.

Description

United States Patent [1 1 Hedgewick et al.

[ Aug. 21, 1973 LIQUID PROOF SAFETY PACKAGE [76] Inventors: Peter Hedgewick, 3691 Victoria St.;

Lothar J. Bauer, 306 Partington, Apt. 105, both of Windsor, Ontario, Canada 22 Filed: Mar. 12, 1971 21 Appl. NO.; 123,645

Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 73,821, Sept. 21

1970, abandoned.

[52] U.S. Cl. 215/9, 215/40 [51] Int. Cl B65d 41/06, B65d 55/02 [58] Field of Search 215/9, 44, 40

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,169,656 2/1965 Wieckmann 215/40 3,244,308 4/1966 Esposito 220/245 X 3,006,513 10/1961 Collins.... 222/542 3,432,065 3/1969 Bugla 215/9 UX 3,348,717 10/1967 Treanor 215/9 2,776,066 l/l957 Thornton.... 215/9 X 3,339,772 9/l967 Miller 215/73 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 554,765 2/1957 Belgium 215/40 84,814 5/1958 Denmark 215/40 Primary Examiner-Donald F. Norton Attorney-McGlynn, Reising, Milton & Ethington [5 7] ABSTRACT A liquid proof safety closure and container assembly including a cap and container having complementary bayonet locking means with a sealing member interposed between the container and the end wall of the cap for resiliently maintaining the cap and container in locked engagement, and for providing a seal for the contents of the container. The sealing member comprises a one-piece plastic body having a plunger portion overlying the mouth of the container and a sealing portion engaging the mouth portion of the container. The plunging portion includes a base portion engaging the cap with a side wall portion extending from the periphery of the base portion and terminating in a resilient, outwardly extending spring portion joined to the inner periphery of the sealing portion. The sealing portion includes an axially extending seal for sealing engagement with the inner surface of the mouth of the container and a cylindrical rib projects from the spring member toward the end wall of the cap and is operable after predetermined deflection of the spring portion to force the sealing portion into sealing engagement with the container upon further axial movement of the cap toward the container.

41 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENIEDAuw ma SHEU 1 0f 3 m r wm W vn aw Z 2M V. B

PATENTEllAuszl ms 3.753.510

sum 2 BF 3 I NVENTORS l fer Had ezwc/r 6 Koi/mr Bauer AT TORNEYS PATENTED AUG 21 I875 SHEEI 3 BF 3 lilllllrln Iii-Il a! rlilnll lullll-u.

INVENTORS Rafa! Hedgezuick 6 Loi/zar .ZBauer ATTORNEYS LIQUID PROOF SAFETY PACKAGE This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 73,821 filed Sept. 21, 1970, entitled LIQ- UlD PROOF SAFETY PACKAGE, now abandoned.

This invention relates generally to safety closures and container assemblies and is particularly concerned with safety closure and container assemblies for liquids wherein it is necessary to provide a liquid and moisture proof seal for the contents of the container.

The number of accidental poisonings resulting from young children having access to unsafe medicines, drugs, household chemicals and other products has reached unacceptable proportions. There has consequently been a considerable amount of activity towards developing a child-proof safety container and closure that requires a type of manipulation between the cap and container in order to gain access to the contents of the container that a yound child is incapable of performing. It has been found that young children are incapable of manipulating a cap mounted on a container with bayonet type locking means, that is, a type of locking means that requires that the cap be pushed axially relative to the container and then rotated relative to the container in order to separate the cap from the container. The cap must be pushed axially toward the container against the biasing force of a spring in order to disengage the bayonet locking means. See, for example, l-ledgewick U.S. Pat. No. 3,344,942.

When the contents of the container is liquid, the safety closure must be capable of maintaining an adequate seal under a variety of conditions. The contents of the container may be a liquid medicine or the like that requires vigorous shaking before being used, or the contents may be of the type that causes a pressure buildup within the container over a period of time. Furthermore, a tight seal is necessary in order to prevent the undesired escape of the contents from the container, and because the entrance of moisture into the container may cause deterioration of the contents.

In order to maintain a good seal against the entrance or escape of moisture, it is desirable to be able to provide a seal that projects into the mouth of the container and engages the inner surface of the container mouth with a tight fit. While the spring force on the cap should be sufficient to prevent children from gaining access to the contents, it should not be so great as to make it unduly difficult for adults to manipulate the cap. Accordingly, a tight seal must be maintained by the closure without at the same time making it too difficult for adults to manipulate the closure. Since the closure must be applied to and removed from the container many times, the spring member must be capable of many cycles of deflection and relaxation without rupture. It is therefore necessary that the spring action be such that a minimum amount of circumferential or hoop stresses is developed in the material of the spring to minimize the likelihood of fatigue cracks developing.

It is therefore one object of this invention to provide a safety closure having a plastic sealing member formed with a sealing portion for sealing engagement with the mouth portion of a container, and a spring portion that will resiliently flex by curling and uncurling the material of the spring portion without causing'the material being flexed to bow or pucker.

Another object is to provide a bayonet safety closure assemlby including a cap and a sealing member, the sealing member having an axially extending seal that projects into a container for tight fitting engagement with the inner surface of the container mouth, the closure assembly having abutment means engageable between the sealing member to assist in forcing the axially extending seal into the container mouth, and toprevent the seal from becoming disengaged from the container mouth in response to any build-up of pressure within the container.

A further object of this invention lies in the provision of an efficient, economical construction for a plastic sealing member for a bayonet type safety closure assembly wherein the biasing force for maintaining the closure and container in locked engagement, and for resisting removal of the closure from the container, is applied by resiliently folding or curling the material of a spring portion formed integrally with the sealing member in such a manner that bowing or puckering of the material during flexure is maintained at a minimum to reduce the likelihood of fatigue cracks resulting from excessive circumferential stresses.

A still further object is to provide a safety closure assembly including a cap of the type adapted to be applied to and removed from a container by combined axial and rotative motion of the.cap relative to such container, and a one-piece plastic sealing member received in the skirt of the cap, such sealing member including a sealing portion for engagingthe mouth of a container and a biasing portion for overlying the mouth of the container, the biasing portion including an outwardly extending annular resilient spring portion joined to the sealing portion for biasing the cap toward locked engagement with the container and at the same time providing a sealing pressure for the sealing portion against the mouth of the container.

The foregoing, and other objects are achieved by the provision of a safety closure and container assembly wherein the container has a neck or mouth portion with a plurality of bayonet locking elements spaced peripherally from each other on the outer surface thereof, and a cap having an end wall with a skirt projecting therefrom with a plurality of complementary bayonet look ing elements on the skirt. The cap locking elements are thus engageable with and disengageable from the container locking elements by combined axial and rotative motion of the cap relative to the container. A sealing member biases the cap against axial movement from locked engagement with the container. In accordance with one feature of the invention, the sealing member comprises a one-piece plastic body having a sealing portion engaging the mouth portion of the container,

and a biasing portion extending between the sealing portion and the end wall of the cap. The biasing port-ion includes a plunger formed with a base portion engaging the end wall of the cap, and a side wall extending from the periphery of the base portion and terminating at a resilient outwardly extending s'pring flexure portion integrally joined to the inner periphery of the sealing portion. When the cap is pushed axially toward the container, the base portion moves toward the sealing portion to cause the spring portion to resiliently curl or fold. The end wall of the cap may be resiliently yieldable at least at the central portion thereof so that when a force is applied at the periphery of the cap toward the container against the base portion of the plunger, the central portion of the cap will resiliently yield thereby providing a double spring action with the spring portion resulting in less flexure of the spring portion.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, an axially extending seal is provided on the sealing member for sealing engagement with the inner surface of the neck or mouth portion of the container, and abutment means extends between the sealing member and the end wall of the cap which is operable after predetermined deflection of the spring portion member to force the axially extending seal to project into the container into tight fitting engagement therewith. The disclosed abutment means is in the form of a cylindrical rib formed on the spring member that projects from the sealing portion toward the end wall of the cap. The length of the cylindrical rib is such that with the free end of the cylindrical rib in engagement with the end wall of the cap, the axially extending seal is still in sealing engagement with the inner surface of the mouth of the container so that a pressure build-up of the contents of the container cannot break the seal.

Other objects, advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a safety closure and container assembly embodying the present invention;

FlG. 2 is a sectional view taken along lines 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the mouth portion of the container of the assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the container of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the safety closure shown in FIG. I removed from the container;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the safety closure and container assembly of FIG. 1 illustrating the configuration of the closure as it is being applied to or removed from the container; and

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a safety closure and container assembly embodying the invention in another form.

With reference primarily to FIG. 1, a safety closure and container assembly according to the illustrated embodiment includes a container designated generally by reference numeral 2 and having a neck or mouth portion 4 with an annular rim 6. Formed on the outer surface of the mouth portion 4 is a plurality of container locking elements 8, of the bayonet type, which are spaced peripherally from each other on the outer surface of the mouth portion. The container locking elements 8 may be spaced socket members projecting from the mouth portion 4 of the configuration disclosed in Hedgewick U.S. Pat. No. 3,344,942 including a socket or notch 10 formed between a cam surface 14 and a depending stop portion 12.

The safety closure assembly for container 2 in the illustrated embodiment includes a cap 16 having an end wall 18 with a peripheral skirt 20 projecting axially therefrom for receiving the mouth portion 4 of container 2. A plurality of cap locking elements 22 are spaced peripherally from each other on the inner surface of skirt 20. The cap locking elements 22 are in the form of radially inwardly projecting lugs integrally molded with the skirt 20.

The upper surfaces of lugs 22 of the cap may be.

dimensions that are as large as or larger than the corresponding dimensions of the respective underlying lug 22.

The cap locking elements 22 are complementary to the container locking elements 8 such that the locking elements or lugs 22 are engageable with the notches 10 in the conatiner locking elements 8. The cap locking elements 22 are engageable with and disengageable from the container locking elements 8 by an axial motion followed successively by a rotative motion of the cap relative to the container. In order to apply the cap 16 to the container 2, the cap locking elements 22 are aligned with the spaces between the adjacent container locking elements 8 with the mouth portion 4 received in the skirt 20. Rotation of the cap relative to the container 2 causes the cap locking elements 22 to engage the respective cam surfaces 14 until the locking elements 22 come into axial alignment with the respective notches 10.

With the upper surfaces of the cap locking elements 22 engaged with the upper surface of the respective notch 10, the end wall 18 of cap 16 has a fixed axial position relative to rim 6 since the cap locking elements are located an equal axial distance from the end wall 18 on skirt 20, and the container locking elements 8 are located an equal axial distance from rim 6. Cap 16 is biased against axial movement from locked engagement with the container, and a liquid-proof seal is maintained for the contents of the container, by a plastic sealing member designated collectively by reference numeral 24.

The sealing member 24 is comprised of a one-piece molded plastic body having an annular sealing portion designated generally by reference numeral 28 engaging the mouth portion of the container with an upwardly projecting plunger portion 26 resiliently mounted on the sealing portion 28. The plunger 26 in the illustrated embodiment is hollow and includes a base portion 30 engaging the end wall 18, and a depending side wall 32 which extends from the periphery of the base portion 30. The lower end of the side wall 32 is integrally joined to the inner periphery of a resilient annular spring portion 34 projecting radially outwardly from the plunger 26. The outer periphery of the spring portion 34 is integrally joined to the inner periphery of the sealing portion 28.

The side wall 32 has an annular cross section, and the inner and outer surfaces 32a and 32b, respectively, of the side wall are flat as shown in FIG. 2. In the illustrated embodiment, the side wall 32 increases progressively in diameter from the base portion 30 to the spring portion 34 such that the plunger portion 26 is of generally frusto-conical configuration between the base portion and spring portion. As shown in the drawing, the spring portion 34 is of reduced thickness with respect to the side wall 32. The plunger base portion 30 and side wall 32, together with the spring portion 34, constitute a biasing portion for maintaining the cap locking elements 22 in locked engagement with the container locking elements 8.

The sealing portion 28 includes an axially extending cylindrical seal 36 which engages the inner surface of the mouth portion of the container as shown in FIGS. 1 and 6. The outer surface of the free end of the axially extending seal 36 is tapered inwardly as indicated at 37 to assist in locating the seal 36 in the mouth of the container when the cap is being installed onto the container. Abutment means 38 extend between the spring member 26 and the end wall 18 of the cap for limiting the deflection of the spring portion, and for forcing the sealing portion into sealing engagement with the container upon axial movement of the cap toward the container after a predetermined amount of axial movement of the plunger portion. The abutment means is in the form of a cylindrical rib 38 projecting from the sealing portion 28 toward the end wall 18 of the cap. The base portion 30 projects beyond the free end of the cylindrical rib 38 in the unstressed condition of the biasing portion 26.

The sealing portion also includes a radially projecting sealing flange 40 for overlying the rim 6 of the container. The free end of rib 38 is spaced from the end wall of the cap in the unstressed condition of the biasing portion a distance less than the axial length of the axially extending seal 36. Consequently, the outer surface of the seal 36 can be in sealing engagement with the inner surface of the container mouth portion even when the free end of the cylindrical rib 38 is in engagement with the end wall 18 of cap 16.

Formed in the base portion 30 is an axial opening 42, and a stem 44 projects from the end wall of the cap through the opening 42 and is in sealing engagement with the surface of opening 42. A enlarged retaining nipple 46 is formed on the end of stem 44 on the side of base portion 30 opposite the cap to secure the sealing member 24 to cap 16.

Stem 44 is formed integrally with cap 16 in the phantom line configuration shown in FIG. 1. When the sealing member 24 is installed on the cap by inserting the stem 44 through opening 42, the outer end of the stem is defomed by heat to form the nipple 44 and secure the sealing member to the cap. As pointed out in the preceding paragraph, a liquid-tight seal is provided between the wall of opening 42 and the outer surface of the stem. Consequently, even in the event that the retaining nipple 44 is accidentally broken from the stem, the liquid-tight seal is not destroyed.

The configuration of the spring portion 34 when the assembly of the cap and sealing member are' removed from the container is shown in FIG. 5. In this condition, the spring portion 34 is in its unstressed or relaxed configuration and extends radially outwardly in a general horizontal plane to merge with the inner periphery of the annular sealing portion 28. The thickenss of the spring portion 34 progressively decreases from its junction with the lower end of the side wall 32 until it approaches the sealing portion, whereupon the upper surface 34a curves upwardly to merge with the sealing portion, and the lower surface 34b curves downwardly to merge with the inner periphery of seal 36.

The cap is placed onto the container by positioning each of the cap locking elements 22 between a pair of the container locking elements 8 and inserting the free end 37 of the axial seal 36 into the mouth of the container 2. As the cap is rotated in a clockwise direction as viewed from the top of FIGS. 1, 5 and 6, lugs 22 engage the respective cam surfaces 14 of the container locking elements 8 and are cammed downwardly thereby. The frictional engagement of the seal 36 with the container surface is such that the sealing member 24 remains stationary with respect to the container as the cap is rotated, the stem 44 rotating in the opening 42. As the cap moves axially toward the container, the plunger portion 26 causes the spring portion 34 to deflect in such a manner that it resiliently curls or folds as its outer periphery moves upwardly toward the end wall 18 of the cap. As the lugs 22 approach the low point on surfaces 14, the end wall 18 of the cap engages the upper free end of rib 38 so that any further axial movement of the cap toward the container rim 6 forces the seal 36 fully into the mouth of the container until the sealing flange engages rim 6. The cap is rotated until the cap locking elements engage the respective stop members 12, that is, until the cap locking elements 22 come into axial alignment with the respective notches l0, whereupon the cap can be released and elements 22 will snap into the notches as shown in FIG. 1 dueto the resiliency of the spring portion 34. In FIG. I, the spring portion is deflected from its unstressed condition of FIG. 5 with the result that a biasing force is exerted between the cap and container to maintain the

locking elements

8 and 22 engaged.

To remove the cap 16 from the container, the cap must be depressed axially toward the container against the biasing force of spring portion 34 until the lugs 22 clear the notches 10, after which the cap is rotated in a direction such that the lugs 22 move away from the respective stop portions 12. When the lugs 22 move into the spaces between adjacent pairs of container locking elements 8, the cap can be axially separated from the container.

As pointed out above, when the cap is rotated with respect to the container, either to remove the cap or to install the cap onto the container, the frictional engagement of the cylindrical seal 36 with the inner surface of the mouth of the container is substantially greater than the frictional engagement between the opening 40 and stem 42 so that the spring member 24 remains stationary with respect to the container to maintain a good seal while the cap rotates with respect to the container and the spring member 24.

The cap 16 is molded from relatively hard plastic, such as polystyrene so that the lugs 22 can provide a secure lock with the notches 10. The sealing member 24, on the other hand, is molded from relatively soft plastic, such as polyethylene, so that the sealing flange 40 and cylindrical seal 36 have good sealing or corking characteristics, and can readily conform to the surfaces of the container with which they are engaged.

When the cap is on the container, rib 38 prevents seal 36 from completely withdrawing from the container since the upper free end of rib 38 is spaced from the end wall 18 of the cap a distance less than the distance required to permit seal 36 from withdrawing. The axial length of seal 36 from the lower surface of the sealing flange 40 is substantially greater than the axial length of rib 38 from the upper surface of flange 40. A container with liquid contents can be shaken vigorously without breaking the sealing engagement between seal 36 and theinner surface of the mouth portion of the container. Any pressure rise in the container will, at most, force the sealing portion upwardly until rib 38 engages the end wall of the cap.

It is also within the scope of the present invention to permanently mount member 24 on the container 2 instead of on the cap 16. In this type of arrangement the retaining nipple 46 would be omitted so that when the cap 16 is removed from the container, the contents of the container can be dispensed through the opening 42 if desired. The engagement of the upper surface of the base portion 30 of the plunger with the end wall of the cap, as well as the engagement of the side wall of opening 42 with the stem 44, provides a liquid-tight seal.

In the assembly shown in FIG. 7, cap locking elements in the form of a plurality of spaced lugs 122 project inwardly from the inner surface of skirt 20. Container locking elements each in the form of a socket member 108 project from the outer surface of the mouth portion 4 with a notch or socket 110 formed therein for receiving one of the lugs 122.

The socket member has an inclined cam surface 114 which is engageable by a lug 122 as the cap is applied to the container. Each lug is formed with an inclined surface 116 complementary with the inclined surfaces 114 of the socket member 108 such that when the lug initially contacts the socket member 108 as the cap is placed on the container, the inclined surface 1 16 of the lug 122 will engage the inclined surface 114 of the socket member 108 as shown in the phantom line position of the lug at 122a in FIG. 7. As the lug moves in the direction of arrow 123 to the position shown in broken lines at 122b, the inclined surface 116 of the lug slides along the surface 114 of the socket member. There is, therefore, no engagement of the surface 116 by a sharp edge of the lug which would tend to cause undue wear.

The socket l of each socket member 108 includes a pair of spaced, axially extending

side surfaces

124 and 126 and an end surface 128 extending therebetween and having an inclined portion 130 complementary with the inclined surfaces 1 16 of the lugs 122. The side surface 124 is adjacent the inclined cam surface 114 of the socket member, and the side surface 126 is adjacent the stop member 112.

FIG. 7 also illustrates the deflection of the end wall 18 of the cap 16. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the end wall of the cap is resiliently yieldable so that when the cap is pressed axially toward the container by a pressure applied at the periphery of the end wall as illustrated by arrows 135, the central portion of the end wall 18 will resiliently yield to thereby reduce the amount ofdeflection required by spring portion 34. There is thus a dou ble spring action brought about by the cooperation of the resiliently yieldable end wall 18 and the biasing portion of the sealing member 24. Thus, when pressure is applied at the periphery of cap 16 as indicated by arrows 135 against the force exerted on the central portion of the end wall 18 by the base portion 30, the central portion of the end wall 18 can resiliently deflect as illustrated in FIG. 7 without engaging rib 38 so that complete flexure of spring portion 34 is not required in order to install and remove the cap from the container 2 to obtain a good engagement between the sealing portion 36 and the surface of the container.

While a specific form of the invention has been illustrated and described in the foregoing specification and accompanying drawings, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the exact construction shown but that various alternatives in the construction and arrangement of parts, all falling within the scope and spirit of the invention, will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

I. A safety closure and container assembly comprising: a container having a mouth portion with a plurality of container locking elements spaced peripherally from each other on the outer surface of said mouth portion; a cap having an end wall with a skirt projecting therefrom and a plurality of cap locking elements on said skirt; said cap locking elemnts being engageable with and disengageable from said container locking elemnts by an axial motion followed successively by a rotative motion of said cap relative to said container; means biasing said cap against axial movement from locked engagement with said container comprising a one piece plastic body having a bell shaped plunger portion overlying the mouth of said container and an annular sealing portion engaging said mouth portion, said plunger portion including a base portion engaging the end wall of said cap, an annular side wall extending from said base portion and having a diameter at its end opposite said base portion that is less than the inner diameter of said sealing portion, and a resilient spring portion projecting radially outwardly from said end of said side wall opposite said base portion at an angle with respect to said side wall and extending to the inner periphery of said sealing portion such that axial movement of said plunger portion relative to said sealing portion causes flexure of said spring portion.

2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cap locking elements comprises a plurality of spaced lugs projecting inwardly from the inner surface of said skirt; and wherein said container locking elements each comprises a socket member projecting from the outer surface of said mouth portion with a socket formed therein for receiving one of said lugs; said socket member having an inclined cam surface engageable by a lug as the cap is applied to the container; and said lugs each having an inclined surface complementary with the inclined surfaces of said socket members to provide a sliding contact between the lug and socket member as the lug moves toward the socket of said socket member.

3. An assembly as claimed in claim 2 wherein each socket of said socket members includes a pair of spaced axially extending side surfaces and an end surface extending between said side surfaces, at least a portion of said end surface being inclined complementary with the inclined surfaces of said lugs.

4. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the end wall of said cap is resiliently yieldable upon engagement and disengagement of said cap locking elements from said container locking elements to permit said engagement and disengagement without complete flexure of said spring portion. a

5. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said side wall increases progressively in diameter from said base portion to said spring portion.

6. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said spring portion is of reduced thickness with respect to said side wall.

7. An assembly as claimed in claim 6 wherein said sealing portion includes an axially extending seal projecting into the mouth of the container and engaging the inner surface of the mouth portionof the container.

8. A safety closure and container assembly comprising: a container having a mouth portion with a plurality of container lockingelements spaced peripherally from each other on the outer surface of said mouth portion; a cap having an end wall with a skirt projecting therefrom and a plurality of cap locking elements on said skirt; said cap locking elements being engageable with and disengageable from said container locking elements by an axial motion followed successively by a rotative motion of said cap relative to said container; means biasing said cap against axial movement from locked engagement with said container comprising a plastic body having a plunger portion overlying the mouth of said container, and a sealing portion engaging said mouth portion, said plunger portion including a base portion engaging the end wall of said cap, and an annular side wall extending from said base portion and terminating in an outwardly extending resilient spring portion joined to the inner periphery of said sealing portion, said spring portion being of reduced thickness with respect to said side wall and including an axially extending seal projecting into the mouth of the container and engaging the inner surface of the mouth portion of the container; and further including abutment means extending between said sealing portion and the end wall of said cap operable to force said sealing portion into sealing engagement with the container upon axial movement of the cap toward the container after predetermined deflection of said spring portion.

9. An assembly as claimed in claim 8 wherein said abutment means comprises a cylindrical rib projecting from said sealing portion toward the end wall of said cap.

10. An assembly as claimed in claim 9 wherein said sealing portion includes a radially projecting sealing flange overlying the rim of the container.

11. An assembly as claimed in claim 10 wherein the free end of said rib is spaced from the end wall of said cap in the unstressed condition of said spring portion a distance less than the axial length of said axially extending seal from said sealing flange.

12. An assembly as claimed in claim 11 wherein the end wall of said cap is resiliently yieldable such that said radially projecting sealing flange can be seated against the container rim during engagement and disengagement of said sealing flange without engagement of the free end of said rib with the end wall of said cap.

13. An assembly as claimed in claim 11 including an axial opening in said base portion, and a stern projecting from the end wall of said cap through said opening.

14. An assembly as claimed in claim 13 including an enlarged retaining nipple formed on the end of said stem opposite said end wall for securing said plunger portion to said cap.

15. A safety closure and container assembly comprising: a container having a mouth portion with a plurality of container locking elements spaced peripherally from each other on the outer surface of said mouth portion; a cap having an end wall with a skirt projecting therefrom and a plurality of cap locking elements on said skirt; said cap locking elements being engageable with and disengageable from said container locking elements by an axial motion followed successively by a rotative motion of said cap relative to said container; a sealing member comprising a plastic body having a biasing portion and a sealing portion with an axially extending seal for sealing engagement with the inner surface of the mouth of said container; and abutment means extending between said sealing member and the end wall of said cap operable after predetermined deflection of said biasing portion upon axial movement of said cap toward said container to force said axially extending seal to project into the mouth of said container into sealing engagement therewith.

16. An assembly as claimed in claim 15 wherein said abutment means comprises a cylindrical rib on said sealing member projecting from said sealing portion toward the end wall of said cap.

17. An assembly as claimed in claim 16 wherein said biasing portion engages the end wall of said cap, and wherein said end wall is resiliently yieldable when the cap is pressed axially toward the container.

18. An assembly as claimed in claim 16 wherein said biasing portion overlies the mouth of said container and includes a plunger having a base portion engaging the end wall of said cap.

19. An assembly as claimed in claim 18 wherein said plunger includes an annular side wall extending from the periphery of said base portion and terminating in an outwardly extending resilient spring portion joined to the inner periphery of said sealing portion.

20. An assembly as claimed in claim 19 wherein said spring portion is of reduced thickness with respect to said side wall portion.

21. An assembly as claimed in claim 20 wherein said biasing portion engages the end wall of said cap, and wherein said end wall is resiliently yieldable when the cap is pressed axially toward the container.

22. A safety closure assembly comprising: a cap having an end wall with a skirt projecting therefrom and bayonet locking means formed on the skirt adapted to be engaged with and disengaged from complementary bayonet locking means on a container by combined axial and rotary motion of the cap relative to such container; a sealing member carried by said cap, said sealing member comprising a plastic body having an annular sealing portion and a biasing portion; said biasing portion including a bell-shaped plunger having a base portion secured to the end wall of said cap, a side wall depending from said base portion and having a diameter at its end opposite said base portion that is less than the inner diameter of said sealing portion, and a resilient spring portion projecting radially outwardly from the end of said side wall opposite said base portion at an angle with respect to said side wall and extending to the inner periphery of said sealing portion such that axial movement of said plunger portion relative to said sealing portion causes flexure of said spring portion.

23. An assembly as claimed in claim 22 wherein said spring portion is of reduced thickness with respect to said side wall.

24. An assembly as claimed in claim 23 wherein said sealing portion includes an axially extending seal adapted to engage the inner surfae of the mouth of a container.

25. A safety closure assembly comprising: a cap having an end wall with a skirt projecting therefrom and bayonet locking means formed on the skirt adapted to be engaged with and disengaged from complementary bayonet locking means on a container by combined axial and rotary motion of the cap relative to such container; a sealing member carried by said cap, said sealing member comprising a plastic body having an annular sealing portion and a biasing portion, said biasing portion including a plunger having a base portion secured to the end wall of said cap, and a side wall depending from said base portion and terminating in an outwardly extending resilient spring portion joined to the inner periphery of said sealing portion, said side wall being annular in cross section and said spring portion being of reduced thickness with respect to said side wall; said sealing portion including an axially extending seal adapted to engage the inner surface of the mouth of a container; and further rincluding abutment means extending between said sealing member and the end wall of said cap operable to force said sealing portion to project into the mouth of a container into sealing engagement with the inner surface thereof after predetermined deflection of said spring portion.

26. An assembly as claimed in claim 25 wherein said abutment means comprises a cylindrical rib projecting from said sealing portion toward the end wall of said cap.

27. An assembly as claimed in claim 26 including an axial opening in said base portion, and a stem projecting from said end wall through said opening to rotatably secure said base portion to said cap.

28. An assembly as claimed in claim 27 wherein said sealing portion includes a radially projecting sealing flange for overlying the rim of a container.

29. A safety closure assembly comprising: a cap having an end wall with a skirt projecting therefrom and bayonet locking means formed on the skirt adapted to be engaged with and disengaged from complementary bayonet locking means on a container by combined axial and rotary motion of the cap relative to such container; a sealing member carried by said cap and surrounded by said skirt, said sealing member comprising a plastic body having a sealing portion and a biasing portion, said sealing portion including a radially projecting sealing flange for overlying the rim of a container and an axially extending seal adapted to engage the inner surface of the mouth portion of such container, said biasing portion extending between said sealing portion and said end wall and biasing said sealing portion to a position spaced axially from said end wall; and abutment means extending between said spring member and said end wall, said abutment means being engageable between said spring member and said end wall after predetermined deflection of said biasing portion in a direction to move said sealing portion toward said end wall.

30. An assembly as claimed in claim 29 wherein the central portion of said end wall is resiliently yieldable when pressure is applied to the periphery of said end wall against the force of said biasing member.

31. An assembly as claimed in claim 29 wherein said abutment means comprises a cylindrical rib projecting from said sealing portion toward the end wall of said cap.

32. An assembly as claimed in claim 31 wherein the free end of said rib is spaced from the end wall of said cap in the unstressed condition of said biasing portion a distance less than the axial length of said axially extending seal.

33. An assembly as claimed in claim 32 wherein said biasing portion includes a plunger having a base portion engaging the end wall of said cap, and an annular side wall extending from the periphery of said base portion and terminating in an outwardly extending resilient spring portion joined to the inner periphery of said sealing portion.

34. An assembly as claimed in claim 33 wherein said spring portion is of reduced thickness with respect to said side wall.

35. An assembly as claimed in claim 34 including an axial opening in said base portion, a stem projecting from the end wall of said cap through said opening, and an enlarged retaining nipple formed on the end of said stem securing said base portion to said cap.

36. A safety closure and container assembly comprising: a container having a mouth portion with a plurality of container locking elements spaced peripherally from each other on the outer surface of said mouth portion; a cap having an end wall with a skirt projecting therefrom and a plurality of spaced cap locking elements projecting from the inner surface of said skirt; said cap locking elements being engageable with and disengageable from said container locking elements by an axial motion followed successively by a rotative motion of said cap relative to said container; means biasing said cap against axial movement from locked engagement with said container, said means comprising a plastic body having a plunger portion overlying the mouth of said container, and a sealing portion engaging said mouth portion, said plunger portion including a base portion engaging the central portion of the end wall of said cap, an annular side wall extending from said base portion and terminating in an outwardly extending resilient spring portion joined to the inner periphery of said sealing portion; at least the central portion of aid end wall of said cap being resiliently yieldable when pressure is applied to the periphery of said end wall against the force exerted by said base portion to prevent overstressing of said spring portion.

37. An assembly as claimed in claim 36 including a cylindrical rib projecting from said sealing portion toward the end wall of said cap operable to engage the end wall of said cap upon predetermined deflection of said spring portion.

38. A resilient plastic biasing member for use with safety caps and containers comprising: a one piece molded plastic body having a cap engaging portion and an annular container engaging portion; said cap engaging portion comprising a bell shaped plunger having a base portion including an axial opening therein, an annular side wall extending from said base portion and having a diameter at its end opposite said cap engaging portion that is less than the inner diameter of said container engaging portion, and a resilient spring portion projecting outwardly from the end of aid side wall opposite said base portion at an angle with respect to said side wall and extending to the inner periphery of said container engaging portion such that axial movement of said plunger relative to said container engaging portion causes flexure of said spring portion.

39. A biasing member as cliamed in claim 38 wherein said spring portion isof a reduced thickness with respect to said side wall.

40. A biasing member as claimed in claim 39 wherein said container engaging portion includes an axially extending sealing portion adapted to' project into the mouth of a container.

.41. A biasing member as claimed in claim 39 wherein said container engaging portion includes a radially projecting sealing flange adapted to overly the rim of a container.

t n: a: a yr

Claims

1. A safety closure and container assembly comprising: a container having a mouth portion with a plurality of container locking elements spaced peripherally from each other on the outer surface of said mouth portion; a cap having an end wall with a skirt projecting therefrom and a plurality of cap locking elements on said skirt; said cap locking elemnts being engageable with and disengageable from said container locking elemnts by an axial motion followed successively by a rotative motion of said cap relative to said container; means biasing said cap against axial movement from locked engagement with said container comprising a one piece plastic body having a bell shaped plunger portion overlying the mouth of said container and an annular sealing portion engaging said mouth portion, said plunger portion including a base portion engaging the end wall of said cap, an annular side wall extending from said base portion and having a diameter at its end opposite said base portion that is less than the inner diameter of said sealing portion, and a resilient spring portion projecting radially outwardly from said end of said side wall opposite said base portion at an angle with respect to said side wall and extending to the inner periphery of said sealing portion such that axial movement of said plunger portion relative to said sealing portion causes flexure of said spring portion.

4. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the end wall of said cap is resiliently yieldable upon engagement and disengagement of said cap locking elements from said container locking elements to permit said engagement and disengagement without complete flexure of said spring portion.

7. An assembly as claimed in claim 6 wherein said sealing portion includes an axially extending seal projecting into the mouth of the container and engaging the inner surface of the mouth portion of the container.

8. A safety closure and container assembly comprising: a container having a mouth portion with a plurality of container locking elements spaced peripherally from each other on the outer surface of said mouth portion; a cap having an end wall with a skirt projecting therefrom and a plurality of cap locking elements on said skirt; said cap locking elements being engageable with and disengageable from said container locking elements by an axial motion followed successively by a rotative motion of said cap relative to said container; means biasing said cap against axial movement from locked engagement with said container comprising a plastic body having a plunger portion overlying the mouth of said container, and a sealing portion engaging said mouth portion, said plunger portion including a base portion engaging the end wall of said cap, and an annular side wall extending from said base portion and terminating in an outwardly extending resilient spring portion joined to the inner periphery of said sealing portion, said spring portion being of reduced thickness with respect to said side wall and including an axially extending seal projecting into the mouth of the container and engaging the inner surface of the mouth portion of the container; and further including abutment means extending between said sealing portion and the end wall of said cap operable to force said sealing portion into sealing engagement with the container upon axial movement of the cap toward the container after predetermined deflection of said spring portion.

13. An assembly as claimed in claim 11 including an axial opening in said base portion, and a stem projecting from the end wall of said cap through said opening.

39. A biasing member as cliamed in claim 38 wherein said spring portion is of a reduced thickness with respect to said side wall.

40. A biasing member as claimed in claim 39 wherein said container engaging portion includes an axially extending sealing portion adapted to project into the mouth of a container.

41. A biasing member as claimed in claim 39 wherein said container engaging portion includes a radially projecting sealing flange adapted to overly the rim of a container.