WO1983002262A1

WO1983002262A1 - Safety and tamper-resistant closure and closure-container combination

Info

Publication number: WO1983002262A1
Application number: PCT/US1982/001800
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jeffrey Sandhaus
Original assignee: Jeffrey Sandhaus
Priority date: 1981-12-28
Filing date: 1982-12-28
Publication date: 1983-07-07
Also published as: EP0097707A1

Abstract

A safety closure (10) of the type having a unitary construction with a closed top (16) from which an interiorly threaded skirt (18) depends and a container (14) having an exteriorly threaded neck (12) on which the closure is mounted in sealing relationship. The safety closure has at least one locking member (28) formed integrally therewith which is movable under the action of actuating apparatus between a non-locking position and a locking position in which the locking members engage appropriate corresponding locking elements (42) provided on the neck (12) of the container (14). The actuating apparatus is constituted by the top of the closure which has a dish-like configuration formed such that the application of a sufficient finger pressure on the top will result in the movement of the locking members from the locking to the non-locking position. The construction and mode of operation of the safety closure renders it especially suited to the incorporation of a device for providing a visual indication of the initial unlocking actuation of the closure thereby indicating a possible unauthorized tampering with the contents of the container should the device indicate such unlocking actuation prior to the sale of the product to the consumer.

Description

Safety And Tamper-Resistant Closure And Closure-Container Combination

Technical Field The present invention relates generally to closures or caps and, more particularly, to safety / closures and tamper-resistant closures.

Background Art

It is of course desirable to provide for the closing of bottles or containers in a manner which will prevent access to dangerous or poisonous substances contained therein. For example, various types of pharmaceuticals including pills and liquids are packaged .in bottles or containers which are stored on shelves in medicine cabinets or the like within easy reach of children. Moreover, many toxic household substances are packaged in bottles or cans which are stored within easy reach of children. In order to prevent or at least discourage children from gaining access to such dangerous substances, safety closures or caps have been suggested which are intended to close a bottle or container in a manner so as to make it difficult for a child to remove the cap from the bottle, either inten¬ tionally or through inadvertence. Such known safety closures generally must be manipulated in a certain fashion in order to unlock the same from the bottle to permit it subsequent removal. For example, reference is made to the safety closures disclosed in U.S. Patents 3,182,840 to Polzin, 3,514,003 to Fitzgerald, and 4,106,651 to Lemons.

OMPI However, none of the known safety closures are entirely satisfactory in use, and for this reason, many dangerous substances can still be found packaged in bottles or containers which are not provided with safety closures.

In general, a safety closure should have certain desirable features from both the standpoint of operation as well as from the standpoint of economy in manufacture. One important feature is that the opening of the bottle should be accomplished without any com¬ plicated or difficult maneuvers being required in order to permit ready access to the contents of the container for legitimate use. In this connection, it is important that the closure be readily removable not only by healthy adults but also by the elderly or infirm. Indeed, a significant problem restricting the wide adoption of presently available safety closures is the great degree of difficulty encountered by elderly or infirm individuals in performing the complicated and difficult manipulations required to remove such safety closures. On the other hand, however, the safety closure must be designed so as to present at least a minimum degree of difficulty to its being unlocked and removed in order to prevent young children from obtain- ing access to the contents. In this respect, it is especially desirable for the safety closure to be designed in a manner such that the degree of difficulty in removing the same from the bottle can be adjustably varied during manufacture to suit specific requirements. It is also desirable that an option be provided whereby the safety closure can be used in either a so-called safety or locking mode wherein unauthorized removal from the container is prevented and a non-locking mode wherein the cap can be removed from the container

Pl in the same manner as conventional so-called non-safety closures, i.e., by merely unscrewing the cap from the bottle. For example, it may be desired in households where there are no young children to permanently dispense with the necessity of manipulating the closure to unlock the same from the bottle every time access to the contents thereof is indicated.

Another desirable feature of a safety closure is that a visible or other easily discemable signal be provided which will readily indicate whether the closure is locked or lockable to the container or is in an unlocked or unlockable condition wherein the closure can be removed from the container in the same manner as conventional non-safety closures without the need for an unlocking manipulation. Such a feature is especially beneficial where the closure is operated by an individual whose vision is impaired.

The safety closure should be readuly adaptable for use with a wide range of container types and sizes thereby enabling closure of the great preponderance of packaging styles for both drugs as well as household substances.

In connection with the manufacture of the safety closure, it is desirable that the basic design thereof be relatively simple, namely, a one-piece or unitary structure, which requires no special materials for its construction.

The closure member should meet all requirements for reliably preserving and storing pharmaceutical and household substances in both liquid and solid form and have a configuration which is both attractive and which facilitates being grasped by the user.

Another desirable feature of a closure, whether of the safety type or otherwise, is that means

be incorporated therein for inhibiting unauthorized tampering with the contents of the container prior to the first legitimate removal of the closure therefrom. Thus, recent incidents of undetected malicious tampering with over-the-counter pharmaceuticals and other products prior to their sale to the consumer have emphasized the importance of providing effective means for preventing unauthorized tampering with the contents of containers prior to the containers being legitimately opened for the first time. Accordingly, it is desirable to incorporate a feature in a closure or cap for a container which will provide a readily visual indication or signal of any previous unauthorized removal of the closure from the container prior to the sale of the product and the initial legitimate opening thereof. Such a readily visual indication of prior removal of the cap from the container will effectively inhibit tampering with the contents of the container since a purchaser perusing various products on retail shelves will immediately become aware that the closure may have been removed from the container merely by a quick visual inspection of the product.

Disclosure of Invention

Accordingly, it is a main object of the present invention to provide new and improved closures having one or more of the desirable features enumerated above and which overcome the disadvantages of the prior art closures.

More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved safety closure for a container in which a dangerous substance is packaged which will reliably prevent unauthorized access to the container contents yet which does not require complicated or difficult manipulations to unlock the closure from the bottle.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved safety closure which can be used in either a so-called safety or locking mode or in a non-locking mode wherein the closure can be removed from the bottle in the same manner as a so-called non-safety closure, i.e., by merely untwisting the cap from the bottle. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved safety closure wherein a visual, audible and/or palpable signal is provided which indicates that the closure is locked to or has been unlocked from the container and/or is in a locking or non-locking mode.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved safety closure having a design whereby the degree of difficulty encountered in removing the closure from the bottle can be adjustably varied during manufacture in order to suit specific requirements.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved safety closure having a unitary or one-piece construction which is economical in manufacture, capable of closing a wide variety of types of containers and bottles in which liquid or solid substances are contained and which is attractive in appearance.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved tamper- resistant closure or cap for a container. In particular, it is an object of the invention to provide a closure which incorporates a device which will provide a readily visual indication that the closure has at some time

OMPI already been removed from the container and therefore which will indicate by a casual visual inspection the possibility that the contents of the container have been tampered with, e.g., should the device indicate such removal prior to the sale of the product to the consumer.

Briefly, in accordance with the present invention, certain ones of these and other objects are attained by providing an improved safety closure or cap of the type having a unitary or one-piece construction with a closed top from which an interiorly threaded skirt depends and which is mounted in sealing position on a threaded neck of a bottle by positioning the cap over the bottle neck and twisting or rotating the cap until its top closes the open bottle end. ^" Conversely, the closure is removed by untwisting the cap over the bottle neck.

According to the invention, the safety closure is constructed of a substantially rigid but resilient material and with at least one locking means being formed integral therewith which is movable under the action of certain actuating means between a non-locking position and a locking position in which the locking means are engaged with or disengaged from appropriate corresponding locking elements provided on the bottle neck. The actuating means are constituted by the top of the closure which has a normally convex dish-like or dome-like shape and which is formed with the closure member in a particular manner such that the application of a sufficient finger pressure on the cap will result in movement of the locking means from the locking to the non-locking position. The cap is thus threaded onto the bottle by twisting until the cap is in sealing position at which time the locking means engages a

" corresponding locking element on the bottle neck to prevent the cap from being rotated in the opposite direction and thereby removed. However, when it is desired to reach the contents of the bottle, the top of the closure is depressed by applying a sufficiently large finger pressure thereto whereupon the locking means disengage from the locking elements allowing the cap to be untwisted from the bottle.

The threshold finger pressure on the closure top required to actuate the movement of the locking means can be selected through suitable design of the closure such, for example, as by slightly varying material thicknesses or the like. It is believed that a threshold actuation pressure of 8 pounds is satisfac- tory to preclude most young children from unlocking the closure except with the most concerted effort.

In accordance with the present invention, a tamper-resistant closure or cap is also provided. The tamper-resistant closure construction is applicable to any type of closure or cap whose contour or configuration must be altered or changed in connection with effecting its removal from the associated container. For example, a tamper-resistant closure in accordance with the invention may be incorporated in a twist-type threaded safety cap, such as described above, or may be incor¬ porated in a non-safety closure construction such as a conventional "snap-fit" construction. In an illustrated embodiment the tamper-resistant closure is formed with a top having a normally convex dish-like or dome-like shape formed of a resilient material so as to be depress- able by the application of suitable finger pressure in connection with the removal of the cap from the container. Thus, the tamper-resistant closure may be incorporated in the safety closure construction described above or, for example, in a cap of the type disclosed in U.S. Patent 4,187,953 to Turner which comprises a snap-type cap having a dome-shaped top which is depressed in connection with removing the cap from the container. In one embodiment of a tamper-resistant closure according to the invention, a non-pliable, readily frangible substance, such as a thin film of lacquer or the like, is applied to the upper surface of the top of the closure which will provide a visual indication of the occurrence of the first or initial depression of the closure top and thereby provide a visual indication of the possible removal of the closure from the container. More particularly, the initial depression of the dome-like top of the closure to effect this disengagement of the locking means from the locking elements (in the case where the tamper-proof construction is incorporated in the safety closure described above) will result in a visible fracture, splitting, cracking, spidering or separation of the applied non-pliable substance which thus provides a visual indication that the closure has possibly at some time already been removed from the container. According¬ ly, it will be readily apparent to a consumer inspecting a container having a closure according to the invention, prior to the purchase thereof, whether that container has already been opened and the contents thereof possibly tampered with. Other embodiments of tamper indicating means in accordance with the invention are disclosed. For example, a strip of foil or tape can be fixed to the dome-shaped top of the closure in a manner such that the initial depression of the closure top will cause the strip to rupture thereby providing a readily visual indication that the cap may have been previously removed from the container.

OMPI The present invention also comprises a combina¬ tion of the safety closure and the container associated therewith.

Other advantages provided by the closure and combination of the invention, several embodiments of which are disclosed hereinbelow, will become apparent from the description which follows.

Brief Description of Drawings

A more complete appreciation of the present invention and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a first embodiment of a safety closure in accordance with the present invention in association with a container;

Fig. 2 is a section view taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section view taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1-3 illustrating the operation of the present invention;

Fig. 5 is a section view taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a section view taken along line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a second embodiment of a safety closure in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 8 is a section view taken along line 8-8 of Fig. 7; Fig. 9 is a section view taken along line 9-9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view illustrating the operation of the embodiment of the invention illus- trated in Figs. 6-9;

Fig. 11 is a section view taken along line • 11-11 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a top plan view of a third embodiment of a safety closure according to the present invention in sealing position on a bottle or container.

Fig. 13 is a section view along line 13-13 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 14 is a development view illustrating the inner surface of the peripheral skirt of the closure embodiment of Fig. 12;

Fig. 15 is a development view illustrating the upper region of the outer surface of the bottle of Fig. 12;

Fig. 16 is a plan view of the bottle or container of Fig. 12;

Fig. 17 is a section view taken along line 17-17 of Fig. 13;

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 13 and illustrating the unlocking of the closure from the bottle;

Fig. 19 is a section view taken along line 19-19 of Fig. 18;

Fig. 20 is a plan view similar to Fig. 12 and illustrating a fourth embodiment of a closure and closure-bottle combination according to the present invention wherein provision is made for returning the closure to its locking mode during the untwisting rotation of the cap; Fig. 21 is a section view taken along line 21-21 of Fig. 20;

Fig. 22 is a section view taken along line 22-22 of Fig. 21; Fig. 23 is a view similar to Fig. 18 illustrat¬ ing the unlocking of the closure illustrated in Fig. 20;

Fig. 24 is a section view taken along line 24-24 of Fig. 23; Fig. 25 is a view similar to Fig. 24 illustrat¬ ing the return of the closure to its locking mode during the untwisting operation;

Fig. 26 is a plan view of a fifth embodiment of a closure and closure bottle combination according to the present invention;

Fig. 27 is a section view taken along line 27-27 of Fig. 26;

Fig. 28 is a view similar to Fig. 27 and illustrating the unlocking operation of the closure; Fig. 29 is a plan view of the neck of a bottle forming a part of a closure-bottle combination according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 30 is a bottom plan view of a closure forming a part of the embodiment of the closure-bottle combination of Fig. 29;

Fig. 31 is a fragmentary view illustrating the locking operation of the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 29 and 30;

Fig. 32 is a view taken in the direction of line 32-32 of Fig. 31;

Fig. 33 is a fragmentary perspective view of the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 29-32 with the closure being locked to the bottle;

OMPI Fig. 34 is a section view taken along line 34-34 of Fig. 33;

Fig. 35 is a fragmentary view of the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 29-34 during the unlocking of the closure from the bottle;

Fig. 36 is a view taken in the direction of line 36-36 of Fig. 35;

Fig. 37 is a perspective view of a seventh embodiment of a closure and closure-bottle combination in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 38 is a section view taken along line 38-38 of Fig. 37;

Fig. 39 is a section view taken along line 39-39 of Fig. 38; Fig. 40 is a view similar to Fig. 38 illus¬ trating the closure in its unlocked position on the bottle neck;

Fig. 41 is a section view along line 41-41 of Fig. 40; Fig. 42 is a view similar to Fig. 39 illus¬ trating a modification of the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 37-41;

Fig. 43 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a tamper-resistant cap in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 44 is a section view taken along line 44-44 of Fig. 43;

Fig. 45 is a top plan view of the cap of Fig. 43 after the top thereof has been depressed; Fig. 46 is a section view taken along line

46-46 of Fig 45;

Fig. 47 is a top plan view of a second embodiment of a tamper-resistant cap in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 48A and 48B are section views taken along line 48-48 of Fig. 47, Fig. 48A being a view prior to the intial depression of the top of the closure and Fig. 48B being a view subsequent to the initial depression;

Fig. 49 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a tamper-resistant closure in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 50 is a partial perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a tamper-resistant closure in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 51 is a partial side elevation view of an eighth embodiment of a safety closure cap in accor¬ dance with the present invention; Fig. 52 is a section view taken along line

52-52 of Fig. 51, showing the closure positioned on a container;

Fig. 53 is a view similar to Fig. 52 illustrat¬ ing the unlocking of the closure from the container; Fig. 54 is a partial perspective view of the neck of the container and illustrating a locking element for use with the embodiment of the closure shown in Figs. 51-53; and

Fig. 55 is a view similar to Fig. 54 illustrat- ing another embodiment of a locking element for use with the closure shown in Figs. 51-53.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to Figs. 1-6, a first embodiment of a closure in accordance with the present invention is generally designated 10. Closure member 10 is illus¬ trated as being threadedly fastened onto the neck 12 of a container 14. Although the container 14 may house contents of any type, the present invention has particular applicability to closing containers which house medicine or the like.

Closure member 10 is formed of a deformable material such, for example, as a resilient polymer composition. For example, a polyolefin such as poly¬ ethylene may be utilized.

Closure member 10 is a unitary member and has a top 16 and an integral skirt 18 downwardly depending from the periphery of the top 16.

The closure member skirt 18 has screw threads 20 formed on the inwardly facing surface 22 thereof which are adapted to threadedly cooperate with screw threads 24 formed on the outer surface 26 of the container neck 12. The outer surface of the peripheral skirt 18 may be fluted or knurled in order to facilitate rotation thereof as is common.

According to the present invention, a locking member 28 is integrally formed with the closure member 10. The locking member 28 is constituted by a segment 30 of the peripheral skirt 18 itself of closure member 10. Thus, the peripheral skirt segment 30 comprises a segment of the skirt which has been separated from the skirt itself so as to be movable with respect thereto. Moreover, the locking member 28 is further constituted by a radial segment 32 of the top 16 of closure member 10. Thus, the radial closure top segment 32 is integral with and forms a continuation of the peripheral skirt segment 30 and is at least partially separated from the major portion of the closure member top 16 so as to be movable with respect thereto.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1-6, the locking member 28 is integrally connected to the closure member 10 only at the top 16

OMPI thereof as best seen in Fig. 4. More particularly, the locking member 28 is formed having a pair of side surfaces 34 and a lower or bottom surface 36 extending between the side surfaces 34 formed within the skirt 18. It is therefore seen that the locking member 28 can be thought of as constituting a "cutout" from the closure member 10 with the side and bottom surfaces 34 and 36 being formed by cutting or slitting the closure member itself at the locations illustrated in the drawings.

A locking member 28 is formed with a locking portion 38 which extends inwardly towards the interior space defined by the peripheral skirt 18. In the illustrated embodiment, the locking portion 38 is formed by enlarging the thickness of the portion of the skirt 18 which constitutes the skirt segment 30 of locking member 28. This thickness is enlarged suffi¬ ciently such that the locking portion 38 when in a first position illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 extends into the interior space defined by skirt 18 inwardly of the closure member screw threads 20, i.e., inwardly beyond the inwardly facing surface 22 of skirt 18. As noted above, the locking member 28 is connected to the closure member 10 at the top 16 thereof. More particularly, the radially innermost region o.f the top segment 32 merges with the major portion of top 16 at a connecting region 40 which acts as a so-called "living hinge". Thus, the locking member 28 is pivotally movable from its first position illustrated in Figs. 1-3 wherein the locking portion 38 extends into the interior space defined by the skirt inwardly of the screw threads 20 to a second position illustrated in Figs. 4-6 wherein the locking portion 38 is withdrawn from the interior space. The threaded neck 12 of container 14 is formed with a slot or recess 42 preferably communicating with the upper edge 44 thereof. The slot 42 is formed at an appropriate location such that when the closure member 10 is threadedly fastened onto the neck 12 of container 14 so that the top 16 of the closure member closes the opened end of the container, the locking portion 38 of locking meber 28 is in or can be brought into alignment with slot 42. It is therefore seen that when the closure member 10 has been threadedly fastened onto the neck 12 of container 14, the locking member 28 can be moved onto its first position (Figs. 1-3) wherein the locking portion 38 is received within the slot 42. In this manner, the closure member 10 will be prevented from being rotated relative to the container neck by virtue of the locking portion 38 being received within slot 42. When it is desired to unscrew the closure member 10 from the container neck 12, the locking member 28 is moved to its second position (Figs. 4-6) whereupon the locking portion 38 is withdrawn from the slot 42 thereby permitting the closure member to be rotated with respect to the container neck 12 to unscrew the former from the latter. Of course, when the closure member 10 is being rotatably screwed onto the container neck 12, the locking member 28 is in its second position with the locking portion 38 being withdrawn from the interior space defined inwardly of the peripheral skirt 18.

Still referring to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1-6, the closure member top 16 has a central dome-shaped portion 46 which defines at its outermost region an inwardly facing cam surface 48. Cam surface 48 is located so as to abut the upper edge 44 of the container neck 12 when the closure member 10 has been threadedly fastened onto the container neck as best seen in Figs. 2 and 5. The connecting region 40 where the locking member 28 is connected to the closure member 10 is situated proximate to a portion of the cam surface 48. By depressing the central dome-shaped portion of top 16 as seen in Figs. 4 and 5, a camming action is obtained against the upper edge 44 of neck 12 and the locking member 28 is pivotally moved from its first or locking position to its second or unlocking position. Thus, the dome-shaped configura¬ tion of the top 16 of closure member 10 functions as a means for moving the locking member between the first and second positions.

The locking portion 38 of locking member 28 is at least partially defined by side surfaces which in the illustrated embodiment constitute continuations of the side surfaces 34 of locking member 28. A detent portion constituted by a protuberance 50 extends lateral¬ ly from each of the side surfaces 34 so as to be located adjacent to the inwardly facing surface 22 of skirt 18 when the locking member 28 is in its first position as seen in Fig. 3. The detent protuberances 50 thereby serve to releasably hold the locking member 28 in its first or locking position. However, the detent pro- tuberances 50 are formed of deformable material so that when sufficient force is exerted on the dome-shaped central portion 46 of top 16, the locking member 28 will be pivotally moved towards its second position, i.e., the detent protuberances 50 will be deformed so as to allow outward movement of locking member 28. A pair of recesses 52 in the side surfaces of skirt 18 which extend outwardly from the inwardly facing surface 22 thereof contiguous with the locking member 28 at a ^• position such that the recesses 52 will receive the laterally extending detent protuberances 50 when the locking member 28 has moved to its second position, i.e., after the locking portion 38 has been withdrawn from the interior space defined within skirt 18. In this manner, the locking member 28 will be releasably held in its second position. After the closure member 10 with the locking member 28 in its second position has been rotatably screwed onto the neck 12 of container 14, it is only necessary to apply in inwardly radial force to the locking member 28 to release the detent protuberances 50 from within the recesses 52 and thereby move the locking member 28 back to the first position whereupon the locking portion 38 is received within the slot 42 to lock the closure member 10 onto the neck of the bottle 14.

Referring now to Figs. 7-11, a second embodiment of a closure member in accordance with the present invention is illustrated. The various elements of the second embodiment of the closure member which correspond to analogous elements discussed above in connection with the first embodiment will be designated by the same reference numeral, primed. The closure member 10' is illustrated in use with the same container 14 described in connection with the previously discussed embodiment. The closure member 10' illustrated in Figs.

7-11 corresponds to the previously discussed embodiment in that the same is formed of a deformable material and includes a top 16' and a downwardly depending peripheral skirt 18' . Screw threads 20' are formed on the inwardly facing surface 22' of skirt 18' so that closure member 10' can be threadedly fastened to the threaded neck 12 of container 14.

Closure member 10' is formed with an integral locking member 28' which is constituted by a segment 30' of skirt 18' and an integral radial segment 32' of top 16' , the top segment 32' forming an integral continuation of the peripheral skirt segment 30'. The embodiment illustrated in Figs. 7-11 differs from that illustrated in Figs. 1-6 in that the locking member 28' constituted by the integral peripheral skirt and radial top segments 30' and 32' is integrally connected to the closure member 10' only on the skirt 18' thereof. Thus, it is seen that the radial top segment 32' is completely separated from the closure member top 16' while the peripheral skirt segment 30' integrally merges with the skirt 18' at a lower connect¬ ing region 54 which functions as a so-called "living hinge". In order to move the locking member 28' from its first position illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8 wherein the locking portion 38' extends into the slot 42 of the container neck 12 to its second position illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11 wherein the locking portion 38' is withdrawn from the slot 42, the radial top segment 32' is merely moved radially outwardly in the direction of the arrow 55 illustrated in Figs. 7 and 10. In order to retain the top segment 32' in the same plane as the top 16' of closure member 10', the side surfaces 56 (Fig. 9) of the top segment 32 extend downwardly and outwardly while the contiguous side surfaces of top 16' are similarly configured thereby creating a dovetail arrangement which restrains the movement of the closure top segment 32' with respect to the top except in the radial direction.

A detent protuberance 50' extends laterally from the side surface of locking portion 28' so as to removably retain the locking member 28' in the first position by engaging the inwardly facing surface 22'

OMPI when locking member 28' is in the first position as seen in Fig. 8. Similarly, detent protuberances 50' releasably hold the locking member 28' in the second or unlocked position by engaging the outwardly facing surface of skirt 18' when the locking member is in its second or unlocked position as best seen in Figs. 10 and 11.

It will be appreciated that with respect to either of the illustrated embodiments of the invention, a child-resistant closure member is provided which permits access to the contents of the container in two distinct but easily performed maneuvers, namely, the movement of the locking member from its first or locked position to its second or unlocked position and subsequent rotation of the closure member to unscrew the same from the neck of the container. This operation is relatively simple and can be easily accomplished by the elderly or debilitated yet is sufficiently complicated to prevent access to the contents of the container by infants or young children. By varying the sizes of the detent protuberances, the pressure necessary to move the locking member from the first to the second position can be suitably varied. Furthermore, other embodiments of the invention are possible such, for example, as an embodiment wherein the locking member comprises only a segment of the skirt although the structure described above where the locking member is constituted by integral segments of both the top and the skirt is preferred.

As noted above, a recess may be utilized in lieu of the slot 42 formed in the neck of the container. Thus, a recess which does not extend completely through the thickness of the container neck and which opens onto the outer surface thereof may be utilized to obtain the benefits of the present invention. Moreover, the use of a recess enables the container, when closed with the closure member of the present invention, to hold a liquid without the possibility of leakage. It will thus be understood that the term "slot means" designates either a slot extending completely through the container neck or a recess which extends only partially therethrough.

Referring now to a third embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 12-19, a safety closure or cap, generally designated 10, is shown mounted on the neck 12 of a bottle or container 14. Referring in particular to Figs. 12-14, the illustrated embodiment of the safety closure 10 has a unitary or one-piece construction including a closed top 16 from which a peripheral skirt 18 depends. The closure is formed of a substantially rigid but resilient material, such as plastic, preferably by conventional injection molding techniques. Threads are formed on the interior surface of skirt 18 adapted to mate with corresponding threads formed on the exterior surface of the bottle neck 12. Although in the illustrated embodiment the thread struc¬ ture comprises three flights 22 (only two shown in Fig. 14) equally spaced from each other around the circumfer¬ ence of skirt 18 and three corresponding equally spaced flights 23 (only two shown in Fig. 15) on the bottle neck 12, it is understood that conventional helical thread structure may be utilized. The lower end of the skirt 18 is formed with a thickened rib portion 26 for purposes which will be made clearer hereinbelow. The upper edge region of skirt 18 extends upwardly beyond the peripheral edge region of the top

16 and is integrally connected thereto by a web portion 28 which itself extends between junctions 30 and 30a which have a reduced thickness relative to that of the skirt and top. A number of slots 32 are formed through the skirt 18, each of which extends downwardly from the web portion 28. In the illustrated embodiment, three such slots 32 are formed which are equally spaced from each other by 120° center-to-center intervals. A correspond¬ ing number of tab-like locking members 34 are integrally joined to the peripheral edge region of top 16, each of the locking members being aligned with and receivable within a respective one of the slots 32. Thus, in the illustrated embodiment, three locking members 34 spaced at 120° center-to-center intervals from each other are integral with and extend downwardly from the top 16 of cap 10. As best seen in Fig. 13 wherein the cap 10 is illustrated in its so-called locked mode such that removal from the bottle neck is prevented, the locking members extend downwardly from the top 16 and are displaced radially inwardly with respect to the skirt 18, the web portion 28 serving to space the skirt somewhat outwardly with respect to the peripheral edge region of top 16. A bead 36 is formed on the under- surface of top 16 to sealingly engage the upper edge of the bottle neck 12.

Referring to Figs. 15 and 16, the bottle neck 12 has a number of protuberances formed thereon situated over the threads 24 and preferably corresponding in number and spacing to the number and spacing of locking member 34. Each of the protuberances 38 presents a substantially radial abutment surface 40 facing the clockwise direction when viewed in Fig. 16, and an angled surface 42 facing the counterclockwise direction.

In mounting the cap 10 on the bottle neck 12, the cap is situated over the neck and twisted or rotated in a clockwise direction with the corresponding threads mating until the cap descends to a point where bead 36 comes into sealing engagement with the upper edge surface 44 of neck 12 as seen in Fig. 13. During rotation, the locking members 34 in their locking positions illustrated in Figs. 13 and 17 engage the angled surfaces 42 of protuberances 38 and by virtue of the resilient nature of the material from which the cap is formed, flex outwardly to the extent necessary so that the locking members will ride over the protuberances. As seen in Figs. 13 and 17, the cap and bottle are suitably configured such that when the cap reaches the position wherein the sealing bead 36 engages the surface 44 of the neck 12, the trailing edge 46 (relative to clockwise rotation of cap 10) of each locking member 34 is contiguous with an abutment surface 40 of a corre- sponding protuberance 38. It will be readily appreciated that should removal of the cap be attempted by rotating the cap in the counterclockwise direction, the edges 46 of the locking members will abut against and engage the abutment surfaces 40 so that counterclockwise rotation is obstructed. Thus, when the cap according to the invention is tightened over the bottle neck with the locking members in their locking position, it is not possible to untwist the cap by virtue of the construction - described above. According to the present invention, actuating means are provided for moving the locking members 34 from the locking positions illustrated in Figs. 13 and 17 to non-locking positions illustrated in Figs. 18 and 19, i.e., to positions wherein the edges 46 of locking members 34 are displaced outwardly from the abutment surfaces 40 of protuberances 38 to thereby permit a counterclockwise rotation and removal of the closure. More particularly, the top 16 of cap 10 has a substan¬ tially dish or dome-shaped configuratiqn which when the locking members 34 are in their locking positions extends upwardly in the direction from the peripheral edge region of top 16 to a central region thereof. Thus, the top 16 has a normally convex dish-like construction as best seen in Fig. 13. A hinge groove 48 is formed in the lower surface of top 16 extending around a central portion thereof.

The construction of closure 10 is such that when a downward force greater than a certain minimum force is applied to the central region of top 16, such as by application of finger pressure, the latter will flex and "snap" into a concave or depressed configura¬ tion as seen in Fig. 18, the top flexing in the regions of the reduced thickness junctions 30 and 30a, which act as hinges, and the hinge groove 48. Moreover, the closure is preferably constructed as shown so that the top will remain in the depressed or concave configuration after being snapped into that position. Thus, the peripheral region of the top 16 will flex with respect to the hinge portions 30 and 30a while the central region of the top will flex about the hinge groove 48 with respect to the outer portion of top 16. The structural rigidity of the skirt which is provided by the hinge structure in addition to the reinforcing rib portin 26 acts to produce this over-center or "oil-can" type action of the top 16 which is advantageous for reasons made clear below.

Thus, when the central region of the top 16 in its convex configuration is depressed with a force greater than a certain minimum force, it will snap into the position shown in Fig. 18. At the same time the locking members 34 will flex in the direction of arrow 50 (Figs. 18 and 19) through respective slots 32 whereby the edge 46 of each locking member will move to a

OMPI disengaged or unlocking position out of alignment with the corresponding abutment surface 50 thereby permitting the cap to be unscrewed from the bottle neck. It should be understood that such flexure does not depend on any camming action between the bead 36 and any structure related to the neck 12.

When the finger pressure is released, the top will remain in its concave configuration so that the locking members 34 remain in their unlocking positions. This is advantageous in the case where it is desired to use the closure in the same manner as a conventional non-locking type closure, i.e., with the locking feature of the closure permanently disengaged. This may be desired in households where there are no young children. In such a case, the top 16 is always left in its depressed or concave configuration so that the locking members will never be obstructed by the protuberances 38 so that the cap can be merely screwed on and off the bottle as desired in a conventional manner. A lever 51, shown in phantom in Figs. 12, 13 and 18, may extend from the top 16 which may be manipulated by the user when it is desired to return the cap to its locking mode, i.e., to snap the top back to its convex configura¬ tion. It should also be apparent that the minimum pressure to be applied to the top 16 of cap 10 can be suitably selected during manufacture by appropriate design modifications such, for example, as increasing or decreasing the thickness of the top or the junction 30. The minimum force to actuate movement of the locking member 34 should be at least 8 pounds and preferably in the range of about 10 to 12 pounds which is small enough that elderly or infirm people will have little difficulty in operating the same but which is sufficiently large so that small children will not be able to accomplish an unlocking of the cap.

Another advantage provided by the structure of the invention is that visually, audible and palpable signals are simultaneously provided when the top of the cap is depressed from its locking to its non-locking position. Thus, the fact that the cap is in its non¬ locking mode will be clearly visually apparent from the concave configuration of the top. Similarly, this configuration is readily apparent by touch which is advantageous for individuals whose vision is impaired. Moreover, when the top snaps from the locked to the unlocked position an audible noise is generated indica¬ tive of the condition of the closure. The safety closure described above may be formed such that after the top 16 has been depressed into its concave configuration (Fig. 18) and the depress¬ ing finger pressure removed, the top 16 will tend to immediately return to its initial convex configuration. For example, the closure top will tend to snap back to its initial configuration immediately after it has been depressed if the hinge structure or top itself is formed with a reduced thickness. However, it is desirable in such a case to provide means for holding at least the locking members in their non-locking positions even should the dome-shaped top return to its original configuration and, indeed, it is preferable to maintain the top in the depressed configuration in order to permit the cap to be removably rotated at least until the cap has been unscrewed to an extent such that the locking members will clear the abutment surfaces after moving back to their locking position. Thus, in the absence of such locking means, it would be necessary to maintain a continual manual depressing force on the

^- E T

OMPI closure top resisting the tendency thereof to return to its original configuration until the locking members have cleared the abutment surfaces.

Referring to Figs. 51-55 an embodiment of a safety closure of the present invention is illustrated wherein the top tends to return from its depressed configuration to its original convex configuration immediately after removing the finger pressure from the closure top and which is further provided with means for holding the locking members in their non-locking positions and the top in the depressed configuration, at least until the cap has been unscrewed to an extent such that the locking members will clear the abutment surfaces after moving back to their locking positions, at which time the locking members will automatically return to their locking position and the top will snap back to its undepressed state. The cap 10a is constituted substantially similarly to the cap 10 of Figs. 12-19 in that it includes a dome-shaped top 16a integrally formed with an interiorly threaded skirt 18a through a web portion 28a. At least one tab-like locking member 34a is integrally joined to the peripheral edge region of top 16a and is aligned with and receivable within a corresponding slot 32a formed through the skirt 18a as in the case of the embodiment discussed hereinabove. A detention flap 150 extends upwardly partially into the slot 32a from the bottom edge thereof and is formed with a reduced thickness so that it is easily deflectable. As seen in Figs. 51 and 52, the detention flap 150 projects upwardly into the slot 32a so that it is positioned directly outwardly of the lower region of locking member 34a. It is noted that the lower edge of locking member 34a is preferably formed with a downwardly and inwardly bevelled camming surface 152. Referring now to Figs. 54 and 55, the bottle neck 12a is formed with locking elements corresponding in number to the number of tab-like locking members provided on the closure. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 54, the locking element comprises a protuberance 38a which, like the protuberance 38 of Figs. 12-19, presents a substantially radial abutment surface 40a facing the clockwise direction when viewed in Fig. 54 and an angled surface 42a facing the counterclockwise direction. The terminal edge of abutment 40a is bevelled as at 41a. However, the protuberance 38a further includes a circumferentially extending retaining portion 154 which is situated such that it is positioned inwardly of the detention flap 150 when the closure has been screwed tightly onto the container neck 12a. Alterna¬ tively, the locking element may be formed in the thread of the container neck as seen in Fig. 55 so as to present an abutment surface 40a' and a releasing portion 154'. In operation, when it is desired to unlock the closure 10a, the top 16a is depressed in the manner described above by applying a sufficient finger pressure thereto whereupon the locking member 34a is pivoted outwardly so as to move out of engagement with the radial abutment surface 40a, 40a'. The locking member 34a engages the detention flap 150 during its outward movement whereupon the flap 150 deflects to permit the locking member 34a to pass to the opposite side thereof whereby the flap 150 becomes situated between the locking member and the retaining portion 154, 154'.

Upon release of the finger pressure, the top 16a will tend to return or snap back to its original convex dome-shaped configuration. However, the locking member 34a is prevented from returning to its locking position -29-

by the detention flap 150^*. ^"Thus, - as seen n'Fig.•; 53..- the locking member 34a engages the detention flap 150 which is prevented from deflecting_inwardly ,by.virtue of the retaining portion 154, 154' engaged by it. 5 Accordingly, the locking member 34a is held in its non-locking configuration despite the fact that the top 16a has returned to its convex configuration. Moreover, the top 16a is retained in its depressed state in the same manner. The cap is then unscrewed and as soon as 10 it is rotated to^: a-position"^:where. the- lap.;150c is disengaged from the retaining portion 154,- 154', the locking member 34a can return to its locking position by deflecting the flap to pass inwardly thereof , where¬ upon the top 16a will return to its convex configuration. 15 Referring now to Figs. 20-25, another embodi¬ ment of a safety closure according to the present invention, generally designated 52, is illustrated. The same reference numerals are used in the description of this embodiment as were used to designate correspond- 20 ing parts in the previously described embodiment.

The closure 52 has essentially the same construction as closure 10 wherein the top will remain in the depressed configuration after release of finger pressure. However in the embodiment of Figs. 20-25, 25 means are provided whereby after the locking members 34 are moved to their unlocking position in connection with the removal of cap 10 from the bottle neck 12, the locking members' 34 will.be automatically returned to their locking positions as the cap is untwisted from 30 the bottle. Accordingly, it is not ncessary for the user to remember to "snap" the dish-shaped top back from its concave non-locking configuration into its locking configuration every time the cap is removed from the bottle. To this end a finger 54 extends downwardly from the undersur ace of top 16 of cap 10 such that it extends within the neck 12 of the bottle when the cap is mounted thereon. Moreover, a protuberance 56 is formed on the inner surface of neck 12 extending radially inwardly a limited distance. As seen in Figs. 20-22, when the cap is in its locked mode, i.e., with the top 16 in its convex configuration, the finger 54 extends away from the inner surface of the neck 12 in the downward direction so as to be spaced a sufficient distance therefrom such that the finger 54 will not engage the protuberance 56 as the cap is rotated as seen in Figs. 20-22. Thus, as seen in Figs. 20-22, when the cap 10 is in its locked mode with the locking members 34 in their locking positions, a clockwise or tightening rotation thereof will mount the cap on the bottle in the same manner as described above in connection with Figs. 12-19. The finger 54 will not engage the protuberance 56 during such tightening rotation. Fig. 22 depicts the cap-bottle combination with the cap 10 sealingly locked to the bottle neck 12.

When access to the contents of the container is desired, the top 16 is depressed through the applica¬ tion of at least the minimum force required as seen in Fig. 23 so that the top 16 "oil-cans" to the position illustrated. At the same time, the finger 54 which is attached to the lower surface of top 16 moves to the position illustrated in Figs. 23 and 24 as indicated by arrow 58 as the locking members 34 flex to their non- locking positions designated by arrows 60. It is therefore seen that, with the locking members 34 in their unlocked position, the finger 58 has moved closer to the inner surface of the bottle neck 12. Thus, a subsequent counterclockwise untightening rotation of the cap, which is permitted by virtue of the locking •• 1 members 34 having been moved out of alignment with the ^; abutment surface 40 of protuberance 38, will result in the finger 54 engaging the protuberance 56 at the point designated 62 (Fig. 25). The protuberance 56 is so shaped that continued rotation of the cap results in a camming action urging the finger 54 in an inward direction as designated by arrow 64 causing the top 16 to flex towards its locked or convex configuration. When the top flexes to a sufficient degree, it will snap to its_;. _t locked configuration causing the locking members 34 to' move into their locked positions as designated by arrows 66 in Fig. 25.

It is therefore seen that the embodiment of the safety closure illustrated in Figs. 20-25 has a feature whereby the cap will return to its locked mode from its unlocked condition in an automatic fashion as it is untightened from the bottle neck. Thus, the cap is in condition for being remounted on the bottle neck in its locking configuration as soon as it is removed from the bottle.

Another embodiment of a closure according to the present invention which provides an automatic return of the locking members to their locked positions as the cap is rotated to untighten the same from the bottle neck is illustrated in Figs. 26-28. Again, the same reference numearls are used in the description of this embodiment as were used to designate corresponding parts in the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 12-19. The safety closure, designated 68, has essentially the same structure as cap 10 except as follows. The top 70 has a modified form relative to the top 16 such that when depressed to the concave or unlocked configuration illustrated in Fig. 28 and the

-^ SLEXl finger pressure removed therefrom, the top 70 will - ^ normally spring back to its convex locked configuration illustrated in Fig. 27. In other words, unlike the top 16 of the previously described embodiments, the top 70 is formed such that, when the finger pressure is removed after flexing the top 70 to its unlocked configuration, the top will noimally return unless otherwise restrained in the position illustrated in Fig. 27. Such return action is achieved by reducing the depth of the hinge groove 48, for example.

According to this embodiment, the outer ' region of the upper edge surface 44 of bottle neck 12 is beveled as at 72 and the bead 36 is formed with an inwardly facing planar surface 74. In operation, with the cap 68 in its tightened condition wherein it is locked to the bottle neck 12 as seen in Fig. 27, the top 70 is depressed by a finger force in excess of the minimum required force whereupon the locking members 34 move from their locked position to their unlocking position illustrated in Fig. 28. At the same time, the bead 36 moves radially outwardly on the upper edge surface 44 of bottle neck 12 until the axial surface 74 of the bead engages the beveled edge surface 72 of the bottle neck. The engagement of the bead surface 74 and beveled edge surface 72 acts to restrain the top 70 from returning to the unflexed locked configuration of Fig. 27. Thus, the user can remove pressure from the top 70 and with the locking mem¬ bers 34 being held in their non-locking positions untwist the cap. However, when the cap has been unscrewed to an extent whereby the axial surface of bead 74 becomes dis¬ engaged from the beveled edge surface 72, all restraints tending to hold the top in its depressed condition are removed whereupon the top will automatically return to its locking configuration illustrated in Fig. 27. Thus, it is recognized that in this embodiment, as well as the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 20-25, the user can release the pressure on the top of the cap after depres¬ sing the same since the cap will remain in its unlocked configuration whereupon the cap can be untwisted and that during such untwisting the cap will automatically return to its locking configuration. Referring now to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 29-36, a safety closure, generally designated 76, comprising yet another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The closure 76 is similar to the embodiment described hereinabove in that locking means are formed integrally with the safety closure which are movable between non-locking and locking positions in the latter of which the locking means engage appropriate corresponding locking elements provided on the bottle neck and wherein actuating means are provided for moving the locking means which comprise a normally convex dome or dish-shape top of the closure. However, the closure 76 differs from the previously described embodiments in that the locking means are integrally formed with the closure cap in a manner so as to extend within the interior space defined by the bottle neck and cooperate with locking elements formed on the inwardly facing surface of the bottle neck.

More particularly, the closure 76 includes a peripherally extending interiorly threaded skirt 78 and an integral top 80 having a dome or dish-shaped con¬ figuration as seen in Figs. 32 and 33. A pair of locking members 82 extend downwardly from the dome-shaped portion of top 80 terminating at their lower ends with outwardly extending portions 84 which will be located

substantially contiguous with the inner surface of the bottle neck 12 when the cap is being tightened thereon. The leading edge 84a in the clockwise or twisting direction is curved as seen in Figs. 30, 31 and 34 while the trailing edge 84b is substantially radial. It is noted that one or more such locking members 82 may be provided, two being shown in the illustrated embodiment.

A corresponding number of inwardly extending substantially L-shaped locking elements 86 are provided on the inner surface of bottle neck 12. Thus, each locking element 86 includes an axially extending portion 86a and a circumferentially extending portion 86b.

The function of the element described above will be readily understood from a description of the operation of this embodiment of the safety closure. In order to tighten the closure 76 on the bottle neck 12, the closure is situated over the bottle neck and rotated in a clockwise direction as indicated by arrow 88 in Fig. 31. Eventually, the curved leading edges 84a of the catch portions 84 engage the axially extending portions 86a of the locking element 86. However, further rotation in this direction is possible by virtue of the fact that the catch portions 84 will be cammed inwardly as designated by arrow 90 in -Fig. 31 so that the cap can be fully tightened over the bottle neck. When the cap reaches its tightened position on the bottle neck, the catch portions 84 of locking members 82 have snapped into the position illustrated in Figs. 33 and 34 relative to the locking elements 86. It will be seen that a counterclockwise or untwisting rotation of the cap 76 will be prevented by virtue of the abutment of the trailing edge 84b of the catch portions 84 with the axially extending portion 86a of the locking elements 86.

^•^JRl ^

OMPI When it is desired to gain access to the bottle, the dome-shaped top 80 of the cap 76 is depressed as seen in Fig. 35. When this occurs the lower surface 84c which is curved as seen in Fig. 33 cams outwardly and downwardly in the direction designated by arrow 90 in Figs. 35 and 36 wherein the axially extending portions 86a of locking elements 86 no longer present an obstacle to the counterclockwise untwisting rotation of cap 76. Thus, the cap 76 can then be removed from the bottle neck 12. When the cap is unscrewed from the bottle neck, the dome-shaped top 80 will resume its original shape in preparation for being mounted again on the bottle neck.

Another embodiment of a safety closure, designated 92, according to the present invention is illustrated in Figs. 37-41. This embodiment of the closure is similar to the embodiments described above in that it comprises a normally dish or dome-shaped top 94 which constitutes actuating means for moving locking means integrally formed as part of the closure between a non-locking position and a locking position in which the locking means engage locking elements provided on the bottle neck.

More particularly, the closure 92 includes a peripherally extending skirt 96 having a lower circum- ferentially extending fluted portion 96a and an upper portion 96b formed by a plurality of locking segments 98. Each of the locking segments 98 is integrally joined with the top 94 at an upper groove hinge 100 and to the lower fluted portion 96a of the skirt by a second groove hinge 103. However, adjacent locking segments 98 are separated from each other as seen in the figures. Thus, as seen in Fig. 39, locking segments 98a, 98b and 98c have respective adjoining side surfaces. Moreover, a plurality of inwardly extending teeth 102 are formed on the inwardly facing surface of each locking segment 98. The teeth 102 preferably have a saw-tooth configuration as best seen in Figs. 39 and 41, each tooth having an angled leading edge 102a in the clockwise direction and a substantially radial trailing edge 102b. The upper end of the bottle neck 12 is provided with a tooth rim 104 having a plurality of correspondingly shaped teeth 106 extending outwardly therefrom.

In operation, the closure 92 is applied to the bottle neck with the top 94 in its locking position as illustrated in solid lines in Fig. 38. In this configuration, the locking segments 98 are in their' respective locking positions as illustrated in Fig. 38. The cap is rotated in a clockwise direction until it is tightened on the bottle neck with the bead 108 engaging the upper edge surface of the bottle neck. During such clockwise rotation, the teeth 102 of the locking segments 98 engage the teeth 106 of the toothed rim 104. However, continued rotation is possible due to the camming action between engaging surfaces of the respective teeth by virtue of the saw-tooth construction described above. However, when the cap is fully tightened over the bottle neck, a counterclockwise untightening rotation is prevented by virtue of the abutment of the radial edges of the respective teeth 102 and 106.

When it is desired to unscrew the closure 92 from the bottle neck, the top 94 is depressed with sufficient force to move the same to a horizontal position as shown in Fig. 40. This results in the peripheral edge regions of the dome-shaped top 94 being moved radially outwardly thereby causing the locking segments 98 to pivot about the first and second groove hinges 100 and 103 as best seen in Fig. 40. Consequently, the locking segments 98 are moved outwardly in the direction of arrow 110 (Figs. 40 and 41) whereupon the teeth 102 and 106 are disengaged so that a counterclock- wise untwisting rotation of the cap is possible. It is noted that, unlike the embodiments previously described, the top 94 of closure 92 when in its non-locking position will extend substantially horizontally and not snap into a concave configuration. One advantage of this embodiment is that the top 94 of closure 92 may be normally positioned with a concave configuration when in its so-called locking position as indicated in phantom in Fig. 38. In this connection, a handle 110 may be formed on the upper surface of the top 94 so that, when it is desired to move the locking segments to their non-locking positions, it is only necessary to grasp the handle 110 and raise the top 94 to its horizontal position. This is advan¬ tageous in that the top cannot be inadvertently depressed, such as during shipping, by placing objects on top of the closure.

Referring to Fig. 42, a modification of the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 37-41 is shown. In this modification, the locking segments are formed with inwardly extending locking fingers 114 which engage a gear tooth rim 116 provided at the upper end of the bottle neck. It is understood that in the case of such modification, the cap must be in its non-locking mode when screwed onto the bottle neck. Referring now to Figs. 43-46, a first embodi¬ ment of a tamper-resistant closure according to the invention is illustrated wherein the safety closure 10b of the invention has incorporated therewith means for providing a visual indication that the closure has at some time already been detached or removed or at least unlocked from the neck 12 of the container. It is understood, however, that the tamper-resistant feature of the present invention can be applied to other types of closures than of the safety type as described below. More particularly, the tamper-resistant features of the invention are applicable to any type of closure whose contour or configuration must be altered in connection with effecting the removal of the cap from the associated container. Such provision will signal a possible unauthorized tampering with the contents of the container, for example, when removal or unlocking of the closure prior, to the sale of the product to the consumer is indicated. In the illustrated embodiment, referring to

Figs. 43 and 44, a thin coating 200 of a non-pliable, brittle and readily frangible substance, such as lacquer or the like, is adhered to the upper surface of the top 15b of closure 10b. The coating is preferably applied to the central region of top 10 as shown in the figures and may constitute other materials than lacquer, such as paraffin, a resin-like substance, adhesive backed coated paper, tape and the like. The coating is prefer¬ ably applied by the manufacturer after the container has been filled and the closure associated with the container. In the case where the closure can be associated with the container without depressing the top 16 thereof, the coating can be applied prior to screwing the closure onto the container neck. Prior to the first or initial depression of the closure top in connection with unlocking the closure from the container neck, the coating 200 has a smooth, uninterrupted texture which is readily apparent both visually and palpably.

- JRlΛ Referring now to Figs. 45 and 46, upon the top 16b being depressed for the first time to move the locking member 34b to its unlocked position, the frangible coating 200 is cracked or fractured due to the deforma- tion or change in contour of the top, the latter constituting a substrate to which the coating 200 is adhered. The fracturing of coating 200 results in the formation of web-like fracture lines or spidering 202 therein which are visually and palpably apparent from even a casual inspection of the closure 10. In fact, depression of the top 16 may result in entire portions of the coating 200 being separated from the underlying top. Thus, should the closure have ever been removed from the container, such as prior to the consumer purchasing the product, this fact will be readily apparent from the cracking of coating 200. Accordingly, a consumer will be wary to purchase only products where the original smooth and uninterrupted texture of coating 200 appears and tampering with the contents of the container prior to the sale thereof will be prevented or at least be readily apparent to the consumer.

Although the coating 200 has been shown as applied to the central region of the closure top, it will be understood that the same beneficial results are obtained where a coating of non-deformable material is adhered to the surface of any visible portion of a cap which is deformed or whose contour or configuration is altered in connection with the removal of the cap from the container. For example, the coating may be applied in the hinge region designated 201 in Fig. 43. Alterna¬ tively, a coating of material may be applied to the region 202 (Fig. 43) extending between the skirt 18b and the locking member 34b. In this case the coating material will be fractured the first time that the locking member moves to its non-locking position.

OMPI Referring now to Figs. 47 and 48, another embodiment of a tamper-resistant closure is illustrated. Like the embodiment of Figs. 43-46, this embodiment is applied in connection with a safety closure 10c which is similar to that described above in connection with Figs. 12-19. In this embodiment, a strip or ribbon 210 of relatively non-elastic, rupturable or tearable material such, for example, as paper, metal foil or the like, is fixed to the cap 10c by securing the same at its ends to diametrically opposed upper regions of the skirt 18c and at its central portion to the central region of the upper surface of top 16c. As in the case of the embodiment shown in Figs. 43-46, the strip may be applied by the manufacturer after the closure has been associated with the container or in the case where the closure can be associated with the container without depressing the top thereof, the strip can be applied prior to associating the cap with the container. Thus, as best seen in Fig. 48A, the strip 210 in a taut condition has its end 212 irremovably affixed to opposed upper regions of skirt 18c while the central portion 214 thereof is irremovably affixed to the central region of top 16c. Such affixation may be by a suitable adhesive or by thermal bonding where appropriate, it only being essential that the affixed portions of the strip 210 cannot be separated from the cap without tearing or rupturing the strip.

The operation of this embodiment is clearly apparent from the figures. Upon depressing top 16c to unlock the closure 10c from the container, the distances between the central region and opposed upper skirt regions of the cap increase causing the strip 210 to rupture in the two regions which extend from its central portion 214 to the respective ends 212 as seen in Fig. 48B. Thus, a strip applied to a cap in this manner by the manufacturer will provide a readily visual indication as to whether the top of the cap has been depressed and the cap possibly removed from the container, a ruptured tape being indicative thereof.

It will also be understood that the strip 210 may be applied to extend only between one upper skirt region and the central top region or for that matter between any two regions of the cap the distance between which will increase upon deformation of the cap in connection with its removal from the container with the same beneficial effects obtained.

Referring to the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 49, a sheet or film 250 of relatively inelastic, rupturable or tearable material, such as a suitable plastic, is stretched tautly over the top of a closure lOd, similar to caps 10b and 10c, and securely sealed or fixed to the perimeter of the skirt at its upper portion 18' and to the central region 252 of the top 16d. As in the case of the strip 210, the sheet 250 is secured to the cap region in a manner such that it cannot be separated therefrom without destroying the sheet. It will be readily understood that, when the top of the cap is depressed to unlock the same, the sheet 250 will rupture thereby providing a clear indication that the cap has been unlocked and possibly removed from the container.

The embodiments of tamper-resistant closures described above substantially incorporate the construction of the safety cap illustrated in Figs. 12-19 hereof. However, it is understood that the tamper-resistant closure may also incorporate the construction of the other embodiments of the safety closures described herein. Such tamper-resistant safety closures therefore uniquely combine the advantages provided by the safety closure construction of the present invention with the capability of providing a readily visual indication as to whether the closure has at some time been unlocked and possibly removed from the container.

Moreover, it is understood that the tamper- resistant features of the present invention may be applied to closures of other types. For example, a non-deformable coating can be applied to the surface of the dome-shaped deformable top of the cap disclosed in U.S. Patent 4,187,953 to Turner which cap is of the "snap-fit" type or indeed to any cap which is deformed or whose contour or configuration is altered in connection with the removal thereof from the container. Thus, the tamper-proof features of the invention are not limited except to the extent indicated to any particular cap construction or type.

Referring now to Fig. 50, still another embodiment of a tamper-resistant closure is illustrated. Unlike the embodiment of Figs. 43-49, this embodiment is specifically adapted for use in conjunction with a safety closure cap lOe of the type illustrated in Figs. 12-19 herein.

A strip 300 of relatively inelastic rupturable or tearable material, for example, of the same type as the material of which strip 210 (Fig. 47) or sheet 250 (Fig. 49) is formed, is securely fixed to the skirt 18e of cap lOe so as to extend over the slot 32e directly outwardly of the locking member 34e. It will be under- stood that when the closure top 16e is depressed the locking member 34e will begin to pivot outwardly through the slot until it contacts the strip 300 which prevents the locking member from reaching the fully pivoted unlocking-position. The strip is so construced that when a sufficient depressing force is applied to the closure top, such force being greater than the normal force required for merely depressing the top 16e, the locking member will bear against the strip with a force sufficient to rupture the same whereupon the locking member can then complete its movement to the unlocking position. A ruptured strip 300 thus provides a readily visible indication that the cap has been unlocked and possibly removed from the container. It is also seen that the strip 300 provides the additional function of normally preventing an inadvertent unlocking of the cap prior to sale since a normal depressing force applied to the top of the closure will be insufficient to cause rupture of the strip 300. Obviously, numerous modifications and varia¬ tions of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the claims appended hereto, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically disclosed herein.

Claims

1. In a unitary closure member formed of a deformable material and having a top and an integral peripheral skirt, said closure member being adapted to be threadedly fastened onto the neck of a container so that said top closes the open end of the container, the improvement comprising: said closure member skirt has screw threads formed on the inwardly facing surface thereof adapted to threadedly cooperate with screw threads formed on the outer surface of the neck of a container to allow said closure member to be rotatably screwed onto the container neck, and a locking member integrally formed with said closure member and having a locking portion, said locking member being movable between a first position wherein said locking portion extends into an interior space defined by said skirt inwardly of said screw threads and a second position wherein said locking portion is withdrawn from said interior space; and means formed integrally with said closure member for moving said locking member between said first and second positions.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said locking member is constituted at least in part by a segment of said peripheral skirt, and wherein said locking portion constitutes a protuberance extending inwardly from said skirt segment, said peripheral skirt segment being at least partially separated from said skirt so as to be movable relative to said skirt between said first position wherein said protuberance extends into said interior space and said second position wherein said protuberance is withdrawn from said interior space. -45-

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said locking member is further constituted by a radial segment of said closure top, said radial closure top segment being integral with and forming a continuation

5 of said peripheral skirt segment and being at least partially separated from said top so as to be movable with respect thereto.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said locking member constituted by said integral peripheral

10 skirt and radial top segments is integrally connected to said closure member only at said top thereof.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said closure member top has a central dome-shaped portion defining an inwardly facing cam surface at its periphery

15 adapted to abut the upper edge surface of the container neck when the closure member is threadedly fastened onto the neck of the container, and wherein said locking member is connected to said closure member proximate to at least a portion of said cam surface, whereby said

20 dome-shaped portion constitutes said locking member moving means and said locking member is pivotally movable from said first to said second position by depressing said central dome-shaped portion of said top.

25 6. The combination of claim 3 wherein said locking member constituted by said integral peripheral skirt and radial top segments is integrally connected- to said closure member only on said skirt thereof.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said

30 closure top segment of said locking member and said closure top include cooperating means for restraining the movement of said closure top segment with respect to said top except in the radial direction, whereby -. said .closure top. segment constitutes said locking -46-

member moving means and said locking means is movable from said first to said second position by moving said closure top segment radially outwardly.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein said cooperating means include side surfaces of said closure top segment and side surfaces of said top contiguous thereto, and wherein said respective contiguous side surfaces are dovetailed to restrain the movement of said closure top segment with respect to said top except in the radial direction.

9. The combination of claim 3 wherein said locking portion of said locking member is at least partially defined by side surfaces and wherein a detent portion is formed on at least one side surface of said locking portion which extends laterally from said side surface and adjacent to the inwardly facing surface of said skirt when said locking member is in said first position, said at least one detent portion thereby releasably holding said locking member in said first position.

10. The combination of claim 9 wherein said skirt has a pair of side surfaces extending outwardly from said inwardly facing surface contiguous with said locking member and wherein a recess is formed in at least one of said skirt side surfaces adapted to receive said lateral detent portion when said locking member is in said second position to releasably hold said locking member in said second position.

11. In a combination of a container and a ^* unitary closure member therefor, said closure member being formed of a deformable material and having a top and an integral peripheral skirt, said closure member being adapted to be threadedly fastened onto the neck of the container so that said top closes the open end of the container, the improvement comprising: -47-

said closure member skirt has screw threads formed on the inwardly facing surface thereof adapted to threadedly cooperate with screw threads formed on the outer surface of the neck of a container to allow 5 said closure member to rotatably screw onto the container neck, and a locking member integrally formed with said closure member and having a locking portion, said locking member being movable between a first position wherein said locking portion extends into an interior 10 space defined by said skirt inwardly of said screw threads and a second position wherein said locking portion is withdrawn from said interior space; means formed integrally with said closure member for moving said locking member between said 15 first and second positions; and a container formed with a neck having screw threads provided on the outwardly facing surface thereof adapted to threadedly cooperate with screw threads formed on the inwardly facing surface of said closure 0 member skirt, and slot means formed in said neck for receiving said locking portion of said closure member locking member when the closure member is threadedly fastened on the neck of the container so that said top closes the open end of the container and when the 5 locking member is in said first position, whereby said closure member is prevented from rotating on the container neck when said locking member is in said first position with said locking portion received in said slot means and said closure member is 0 free to rotate on said container neck when said locking member is in said second position with said locking portion withdrawn from said slot means.

12. In a combination of a container and a unitary closure member, said closure member being -48-

formed of a deformable material and having a top and an integral peripheral skirt, said closure member being adapted to be threadedly fastened onto the neck of the container so that said top closes the open end of the 5 container, the improvement comprising: said neck of said container having screw threads provided on the outwardly facing surface thereof, and at least one locking means being formed on a segment of said container neck, said locking means including a

10 locking surface portion; said closure member skirt having screw threads formed on the inwardly facing surface thereof adapted to threadedly cooperate with said screw threads formed on the outer surface of said neck of said container,

15 and wherein said closure member further includes

(a) at least one locking member integrally connected with a peripheral region of said top of said closure member, said closure member including a downward¬ ly depending segment contiguous with said skirt, said

20 downwardly depending segment having an inwardly extending locking portion; and

(b) means formed integrally with said closure member for moving said locking member between a first position wherein said locking portion of said locking

25 member is in engaging relationship with said locking surface portion of said locking means formed on said container neck when said closure member has been screwed onto said neck to close said container and a second position wherein said locking portion is removed from

30 said engaging relationship, said moving means comprising a resilient dome-shaped portion of said top or said closure member, whereby when said dome-shaped portion is in - its normal -position, said locking member is in said first position and when said dome-shaped portion is deformed by urging the same downwardly, said peripheral region of said closure member top is deformed to move said locking member to said second position.

13. A safety closure having a unitary or one-piece construction comprising: a closed top having a peripheral edge region; an interiorly threaded skirt integral with and depending from the peripheral edge region of said top; locking means formed integrally with said closure and movable under the action of actuating means from a locking position to a non-locking position; and actuating means for moving said locking means from the locking position to the non-locking position, said actuating means being constituted by said top .of said closure which has a substantially dish-shaped locking configuration such that the application of a pressure on said top in excess of a certain minimum required pressure will deform said top into a non-locking configuration and result in movement of said locking means from the locking to the non-locking position.

14. The combination of claim 1 wherein said top is configured such that, after the same is deformed from its locking configuration to its non-locking configuration, it will remain in its non-locking position.

15. The combination of claim 1 wherein said locking means are constituted by at least one tab-like locking member, each of which is integrally joined to the peripheral edge region of said top.

16. The combination of claim 3 wherein at least one slot is formed through said skirt, each of

which extends downwardly from an upper region of said skirt, and wherein each of said tab-like locking members is aligned with and receivable within a respective one of said slots. - 17. The combination of claim 16 wherein three locking members and three corresponding slots are spaced at about 120° intervals from each other.

18. The combination of claim 16 wherein said skirt has an upper edge region which extends upwardly beyond the peripheral edge region of the top and which is integrally connected thereto by a web portion at a junction having a reduced thickness relative to the thickness of the skirt and the top.

19. The combination of claim 18 wherein the locking members extend generally downwardly from said top and are displaced radially inwardly with respect to said skirt, said web portion serving to space said skirt outwardly with respect to the peripheral edge region of said top.

20. The combination of claim 13 wherein said top of said closure has a convex dish-shaped configura¬ tion which extends upwardly in the direction from the peripheral edge region of the top to a central region thereof when the locking means are in the locking position.

21. The combination of claim 20 wherein said skirt is integrally connected to said top at a junction having a reduced thickness relative to the thickness of the skirt and top, and wherein a hinge groove is formed in a lower surface of said top extending around a central portion thereof, such that when a pressure is applied on said top which is in excess of a certain minumum required pressure, said top will snap into a concave configuration, said top flexing about said reduced thickness junction which acts as a hinge and said hinge groove, whereupon said locking means move to the non-locking position.

22. The combination of claim 21 wherein the snapping of said top creates an audible noise indicative of the movement of said locking means from the locking to the non-locking position.

23. The combination of claim 13 wherein said locking means is constituted by at least one locking member extending downwardly from the undersurface of a dish-shaped portion of said top and spaced inwardly from said skirt so as to be adapted to be situated within the neck of a bottle or container with which the closure is. associated.

24. The combination of claim 23 wherein each of said locking members terminates at its lower end with an outwardly extending catch portion.

25. The combination of claim 13 wherein said skirt includes a lower circumferentially extending portion and an upper circumferentially extending portion, said upper skirt portion being formed by a plurality of locking segments, each of said locking segments being integrally joined with said top and with said lower skirt portion and separated from each other at adjoining side surfaces, and wherein said locking means comprise said locking segments and locking members formed on said locking segments.

26. The combination of claim 25 wherein each of said locking segments is integrally joined with said top at an upper groove hinge and is integrally joined- with said lower skirt portion at a lower groove hinge.

27. The combination of claim 25 wherein said locking members comprise tooth structure formed integral¬ ly with and extending inwardly from said locking segments.

28. The combination of claim 27 wherein each tooth of said tooth structure is defined by an angled leading edge and a substantially radial trailing edge.

29. The combination of claim 25 wherein said locking members comprise locking fingers extending inwardly from said locking segments.

30. The combination of claim 25 wherein said top of said closure has a dish-shaped configuration when said locking means are in the locking position and a substantially planar configuration when the locking means are in the non-locking position.

31. The combination of claim 30 wherein said top of said closure has a convex dish-shaped configura¬ tion which extends upwardly in the direction from the peripheral edge region of the top to the central region thereof when the locking means are in the locking position.

32. The combination of claim 30 wherein said top of said closure has a concave dish-shaped configura- tion which extends downwardly in the direction from the peripheral edge region of the top to the central region thereof when the locking means are in the locking position.

33. The combination of claim 32 wherein a handle is provided on the central region of said closure top.

34. The combination of claim 13 wherein said minimum required pressure to deform said top from its locking configuration to its non-locking configuration is at least about 8 pounds.

35. The combination of claim 34 wherein said minimum required pressure to deform said top from its locking configuration to its non-locking configuration is in the range of about 10 to 12 pounds. -53-

36. A safety closure and container combination, comprising: a safety closure including a closed top having a peripheral 5 edge region; an interiorly threaded skirt integral with and depending from the peripheral edge region of said cap, said skirt adapted to threadedly mate with an externally threaded 10 neck of said container means; locking means formed integrally with said closure and movable under the action of actuating means from a locking position in which the locking means are in 15 engaging relationship with at least one locking element provided on the neck of said container means to a non-locking position in which the locking means are in non-engaging relationship with said at least one locking 20 element; and actuating means for moving said locking means from the locking position to the non-locking position, said actuating means being constituted by said top of said 5 closure which has a substantially dish-shaped locking configuration such that the application of a finger pressure on said top in excess of a certain minimum required pressure will deform said top into a non-locking configura- 0 tion and result in movement of said locking means from the locking to the non-locking position; and container means including -54-

an exteriorly threaded neck; and at least one locking element provided on said neck adapted to engage said locking means when the closure is tightened on said 5 neck with said locking means in the locking position and wherein rotation of said closure in an untightening direction is attempted.

37. The combination of claim 36 wherein said at least one locking element is formed on the outer

10 surface of said neck of said container means.

38. The combination of claim 37 wherein said locking means are constituted by at least one tab-like locking member, each of which is integrally joined to the peripheral edge region of said top, and wherein

15 said at least one locking element is constituted by a protuberance formed on the exterior surface of said neck of said container means, said protuberance present¬ ing a substantially radial surface facing in the tighten¬ ing direction of said closure and adapted to engage

20 said locking member when the latter is in its locking position and the closure is rotated in the untightening direction.

39. The combination of claim 38 wherein said protuberance further includes an angled surface facing

25 in the untightening direction of rotation of said closure.

40. The combination of claim 36 wherein said combination further includes means for automatically moving said locking means from the non-locking position

30 to the locking position only after the initation of the rotation of said safety closure in an untightening direction from said neck of said container means.

41. The combination of claim 40 wherein said automatic means is constituted by said closure top which is configured such that after the same is deformed from its locking configuration to its non-locking configuration, it will remain in its non-locking position, and means for urging said closure top back to its locking configuration after the initiation of the rotation of said safety closure in an untightening direction from said neck of said container means.

42. The combination of claim 41 wherein said urging means include a finger extending downwardly from the undersurface of said top of, said closure such that it extends within said neck when said closure is mounted thereon, and a protuberance formed on the inner surface of said neck extending radially inwardly for a limited distance, and wherein said finger extends from the undersurface of said top such that when said top is in its locking configuration said, finger is spaced a sufficient distance from the inner surface of the neck that it will not engage said protuberance as said closure is rotated in a tightening direction onto the neck, and such that when said top is in its non-locking configuration said finger is closer to the inner surface of the neck and will engage said protuberance as said closure is rotated in an untightening direction from said neck, whereby said top is flexed towards its locking configuration,

43. The .combination of claim 40 wherein said automatic means is constituted by said closure top which is configured such that, after the same is deformed from its locking configuration to its non-locking configuration, it will spring back to its locking configuration unless otherwise restrained, and means for restraining said closure top in its non-locking configuration until after the initiation of the rotation of said safety closure-in an untightening direction from said neck of said container means.

44. The combination of claim 43 wherein said neck of said container means has an upper edge surface and said safety closure includes bead means adapted to sealingly engage said upper edge surface of said neck when said closure is tightened on said neck, and wherein said restraining means comprise a bevelled outer region of said upper edge surface of said neck and an inwardly facing planar surface formed on said bead means, whereby when said top is tightened on said neck and deformed to its non-locking configuration, said inwardly facing planar surface engages said bevelled outer region to frictionally restrain said top from returning to its locking configuration and as said closure is rotated in an untightening direction said planar surface will become disengaged from said bevelled outer region whereupon all restraints tending to hold the top in its non-locking configuration are removed so that said top will spring back to its locking configuration.

45. The combination of claim 36 wherein said at least one locking element is formed on the inner surface of said neck of said container means.

46. The combination of claim 45 wherein said safety closure locking means are constituted by at least one locking member extending downwardly from the under surface of a dish-shaped portion of said top and spaced inwardly from said skirt so as to be situated within said neck of said container means as said closure is tightened thereon, and wherein said locking element is provided on the inner surface of said neck, said locking member and element being formed such that when said top is in its locking configuration and the closure is tightened on said neck, said locking member engages said locking element to prevent rotation of said closure - in an untightening direction and when said top is deformed to its non-locking configuration, said locking member is disengaged from said locking element thereby permitting rotation of said closure in the untightening direction.

47. The combination of claim 46 wherein each of said locking members terminates at its lower end with an outwardly extending catch portion having a curved leading surface in the tightening direction and wherein each of said locking elements comprises a substantially L-shaped locking element.

48. The combination of claim 36 wherein said skirt includes a lower circumferentially extending portion and an upper circumferentially extending portion, and upper skirt portion being formed by a plurality of locking segments, each of said locking segments being integrally joined with said top and with said lower skirt portion and separated from each other at adjoining side surfaces, and wherein said locking means comprise said locking segments and tooth structure formed on said locking segments and wherein said locking element comprises an outwardly extending toothed rim formed on said neck of said container means.

49. A safety closure having a unitary con¬ struction comprising: a top having a peripheral edge region; an interiorly threaded skirt integral with and depending from the peripheral edge region of said "top; locking means formed integrally with siad closure and movable under the action of actuating means from a locking position to a non-locking position; actuating means for moving said locking means from the locking position to the non-locking position, said actuating means being constituted by said top of -58-

said closure which has a substantially dish-shaped locking configuration such that the application of a pressure on said top in excess of a certain minimum required pressure will deform said top into a non- 5 locking configuration and result in movement of said locking means from the locking to the non-locking position; and means for positively retaining said locking means in said non-locking position after movement 10 thereto from said locking position.

50. The combination of claim 49 wherein at least one slot is formed through said skirt, and wherein said locking means are constituted by at least one tab-like locking member, each locking member being

15 integrally joined to the peripheral edge region of said top and aligned with and receivable within a respective one of said slots.

51. The combination of claim 50 wherein said means for retaining said locking means in said non- 20 locking position includes detention means integrally formed with said closure, said detention means extending into said slot for engaging said locking member after the latter has moved to said locking position.

52. The combination of claim 51 wherein said 25 detention means include a flexible flap integrally formed with said closure, said flap partially extending from a lower edge of said slot into said slot outwardly of the respective locking member aligned therewith when said locking member is in said locking position, whereby 30 said locking member upon moving to said unlocking position, engages and deflects said flexible flap so that in its unlocking position, said locking member is positioned outwardly of said flap. -59-

53. A safety closure and container combination, comprising: a safety closure, including a top having a peripheral edge region; an interiorly threaded skirt integral with and depending from the peripheral edge region of said cap, said skirt adapted to threadedly mate with an externally threaded neck of said container means; locking means formed integrally with said closure and movable under the action of actuating means from a locking position in which the locking means are in engaging relationship with at least one locking element provided on the neck of said container means to a non-locking position in which the locking means are in non-engaging relationship with said at least one locking element; and actuating means for moving said locking means from the locking position to the non-locking position, said actuating means being constituted by said top of said closure which has a substantially dish-shaped locking con¬ figuration such that the application of a finger pressure on said top in excess of a certain minimum required pressure will deform said top into a non-locking configuration and result in movement of said locking means from the locking to the. non-locking position; container means, including an exteriorly threaded neck; and at least one locking element provided on said neck adapted to engage said locking means when the closure is tightened on said neck with said locking means in the locking position and wherein rotation of said closure in an untighten- ing direction is attempted; and means for positively retaining said locking means in said non-locking position after movement from said locking position and until said closure is rotated so that said locking means are in non-engaging relationship with said locking element.

54. The combination of claim 53 wherein at least one slot is formed through said skirt, and wherein said locking means are constituted by at least one tab-like locking member, each locking member being integrally joined to the peripheral edge region of said top and aligned with and receivable within a respective one of said slots, and wherein said at least one locking element is constituted by a protuberance formed on the exterior surface of said neck of said container means, said protuberance presenting a substantially radial surface adapted to engage a corresponding locking member when the latter is in its locking position and the closure is rotated in the untightening direction.

55. The combination of claim 54 wherein said means for retaining said locking means in said non¬ locking position includes detention means integrally

- formed with said closure extending into said slot for -61-

engaging said locking member after the latter has moved to said locking position and retaining means integrally formed on the external surface of said container means neck situated inwardly of said detention means when the closure is screwed tightly onto said container means neck.

56. The combination of claim 55 wherein said detention means include a flexible flap integrally formed with said closure, said flap partially extending from a lower edge of said slot into said slot outwardly of the respective locking member aligned therewith when said locking member is in said locking position, whereby said locking member upon moving to said unlocking position, engages and deflects said flexible flap so that in its unlocking position, said locking member is positioned outwardly of said flap.

57. The combination of claim 56 wherein said retaining means comprises a portion of said protuberance constituting said locking element.

58. The combination of claim 56 wherein said protuberance constituting said locking means and said retaining means comprise a portion of the threads formed on the neck of said container means.

59. The combination of claim 53 wherein said top tends to return to said locking configuration upon removal of the finger pressure therefrom and said locking means retaining means further constitute means for retaining said top in said non-locking position until said closure is rotated so that said locking means are in non-engaging relationship with said locking element.

60. A tamper-resistant closure comprising: a top portion; -62-

a peripheral portion integrally formed with said top portion including means for attaching said closure to a container; at least an actuating region of said closure 5 having a configuration or contour which is adapted to be altered to effect detachment of said closure from the container; and means operatively associated with said region of said closure for providing a visual indication that 10 the closure has at some time been detached from the container.

61. The combination of claim 60 wherein said visual indication means comprises a coating of a non- pliable substance adhered to at least said actuating 15 region of said closure, whereby upon the configuration or contour of said actuating region being altered in connection with detaching said closure from the container, said coating is split, fractured or separated from said region. 20

62. The combination of claim 61 wherein said non-pliable substance is selected from the group consist¬ ing of lacquer, paraffin, a resin-like substance, adhesive backed coated paper and tape.

63. The combinatin of claim 61 wherein said 25 closure top portion comprises said actuating region, said top being formed of a resilient deformable material.

64. The combination of claim 60 wherein said visual indication means comprises a strip of substan¬ tially non-elastic material, a first portion of which

30 is secured to said actuating region of said closure and at least a second portion of which is secured to a non-actuating region of said closure which has a con¬ figuration or contour which is not altered in connection with the detachment of said closure from the container so that the length of said strip extending between said first and second portions thereof is in a taut condition when said actuating region is in an undeformed condition, whereby upon altering the contour or configuration of said actuating region in connection with detaching said closure from the container, said strip is ruptured.

65. The combinatin of claim 64 wherein said closure top portion comprises said actuating region, said top being formed of a resilient deformable material.

66. The combination of claim 60 wherein said closure top portion comprises said actuating region and said visual indication means comprise a sheet of substan¬ tially inelastic material tautly stretched over said top portion, one portion of said sheet being secured to said top portion and another portion of said sheet being secured to another region of said closure, whereby upon deformation of said top portion in connection with detaching said closure from the container, said sheet is ruptured.

67. A combination safety and tamper-resistant closure comprising: a top having a peripheral edge region; an interiorly threaded skirt integral with and depending from the peripheral edge region of said top; locking means formed integrally with said closure and movable under the action of actuating means from a locking position to a non-locking position; actuating means for moving said locking means from the locking position to the non-locking position, said actuating means being constituted by said top of said closure which has a substantially dish-shaped locking configuration such that the application of a pressure on said top in excess of a certain minimum required pressure will deform said top into a non-locking configuration and result in movement of said locking means from the locking to the non-locking position; and means operatively associated with said closure for providing a visual indication that at some tome said locking means have moved from said locking position to said non-locking position.

68. The combination of claim 67 wherein said visual indication means are operatively associated with said deformable top.

69. The combination of claim 68 wherein said visual indication means comprises a coating of a non- pliable substance adhered to at least said resilient deformable region of said top portion, whereby upon deformation of said top portion in connection with detaching said closure from the container, said coating is split, fractured or separated from said deformable region.

70. The combination of claim 69 wherein said non-pliable substance is selected from the group consist¬ ing of lacquer, paraffin, a resin-like substance, adhesive backed coated paper and tape.

71. The combination of claim 68 wherein said visual indication means comprises a strip of substantial- ly non-elastic material, a first portion of which is secured to said deformable region of said top portion and at least a second portion of which is secured to another region of said closure so that the portion of the strip extending between said first and second portions thereof being in a taut condition when said top is in an undeformed condition, whereby upon deforma¬ tion of said top portion in connection with detaching said closure from the container, said strip is ^"ruptured.

72. The combination of claim 68, wherein said visual indication means comprise a sheet of sub¬ stantially inelastic material tautly stretched over said top portion, one portion of said sheet being secured to said deformable region of said top portion and another portion of said sheet being secured to another region of said closure, whereby upon deformation of said top portion in connection with detaching said closure from the container, said sheet is ruptured.

73. The combination of claim 67 wherein at least one slot is formed through said skirt, and wherein said locking means are constituted by at least one tab-like locking member, each locking member being integrally joined to the peripheral edge region of said top and aligned with and receivable within a respective one of said slots.

74. The combination of claim 73 wherein said visual indication means comprises a strip of substantial¬ ly inelastic material affixed to said skirt so as to extend over said slot directly outwardly of said locking member, whereby upon said closure top being depressed, said locking member will pivot outwardly and engage and rupture said strip.