US3893582A

US3893582A - Child proof closure

Info

Publication number: US3893582A
Application number: US403736A
Authority: US
Inventors: John J Kowalik
Original assignee: Continental Can Co Inc
Current assignee: Continental Can Co Inc
Priority date: 1973-10-05
Filing date: 1973-10-05
Publication date: 1975-07-08
Anticipated expiration: 1992-07-08
Also published as: AU6810774A; ZA741091B; FI291074A; SE7412440L; JPS5065845U; NO743600L; DK523174A; JPS553091Y2; CA1030488A

Abstract

A childproof closure comprising a cap which may be threaded or snapped onto a complementary finish on a neck of a container, the cap having a flexible slotted lower skirt portion provided with inwardly projecting lugs which are adapted to snap under an annular shoulder at the lower end of the finish, the lugs lock beneath the shoulder when the cap is closed and snap out from under the shoulder when the cap is unscrewed or lifted. An auxiliary locking ring is movable and locked over the slotted skirt portion to prevent the lugs from releasing and is movable off the slotted portion to permit release of the lugs and opening of the container.

Description

Kowalik 1 CHILD PROOF CLOSURE [75] inventor: John J. Kowalik, Glenview, Ill.

[73] Assignee: Continental Can Company, Inc.,

New York, N.Y.

[22] Filed: Oct. 5, 1973 [21] Appl. N0.: 403,736

[52] 0.5. Cl 215/221; 215/274 [51] Int. Cl. 865d 55/02; B65d 85/56; A61j 1/00 [58] Field of Search 215/9, 221, 216, 225, 274

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,738,523 6/1973 Linkletter 215/221 3,773,204 11/1973 Stroud .1 3,779,412 12/1973 Kirton 215/9 Primary Examiner-George T. Hall Attorney, Agent, or Firm-John J. Kowalik; Joseph E. Kerwin; William A. Dittmann [5 7] ABSTRACT A childproof closure comprising a cap which may be threaded or snapped onto a complementary finish on a neck of a container, the cap having a flexible slotted lower skirt portion provided with inwardly projecting lugs which are adapted to snap under an annular shoulder at the lower end of the finish, the lugs lock beneath the shoulder when the cap is closed and snap out from under the shoulder when the cap is unscrewed or lifted. An auxiliary locking ring is movable and looked over the slotted skirt portion to prevent the lugs from releasing and is movable off the slotted portion to permit release of the lugs and opening of the container.-

11 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures CHILD PROOF CLOSURE DISCUSSION OF THE PRIOR ART Various forms of childproof closures have been devised requiring that several pieces of a cap be displaced to permit opening. However, those known to applicant provide a part which is attached to the neck of the bot tle and the cap then fits onto such part. One of the problems with such a structure is that the entire cap assembly rotates on the neck and thus a good seal cannot be maintained particularly for isotropic contents. Furthermore, in the multiple piece constructions it is usually necessary for the user to hold one part while manipulating the other so that it is either tedious or impossible to close or open by the infirm.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is directed to a novel cap which is relatively easily closed and opened by an adult, but which would frustrate a young child.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel closure cap assembly having an inner cap portion and an outer locking ring portion which is adapted to be selectively positioned in locking or unlocking position to the cap portion.

A different object of the invention is to provide a cap assembly which has means for interlocking with the bottle finish and releasable supplementary means are provided to hold the interlocking means in locking position.

More specifically the invention comprehends the provision of a cap assembly having an inner radially spreadable screw-on or snap-on portion for mounting of the bottle finish and a locking member which sleeves over the inner portion in one position preventing spreading and in another position permitting the inner portion to spread and release from the finish.

A still further object is to provide a novel cap structure in which a locking ring is sleeved over a cap and the locking ring and cap are so constructed that the user may with one hand apply or remove the cap with respect to the container by applying suitable forces to the locking ring.

These and other objects and advantages inherent in the invention will become more apparent from the specification and the drawings wherein:

FIG. I is a perspective view of a portion of a bottle with the novel cap structure applied thereto;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged axial sectional view of the cap structure shown applied to a bottle neck finish with the parts in locked position;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, showing the parts in unlocked position removed from the container;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view partly broken away and showing the parts in locked position taken substantially on line 4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4A is an enlargement of a portion of FIG. 4.

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on line 5-5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing another embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 7 show a still further embodiment;

FIG. 7 being a side elevational view partly broken away;

FIG. 8 being a bottom view;

FIG. 9 being a fragmentary axial sectional view taken substantially on line 9 9 of FIG. 7, showing the parts in locked position; and

FIG. 10 being a view similar to FIG. 9 showing the parts in reclosed position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT OF FIGURES l 5 The novel cap structure of generally designated 1 is shown in association with a more or less standard bottle finish 2 on a neck portion 3 of a bottle or container 4. The neck is cylindrical and has an upper end opening 5 defined by an annular lip 6 which in the closed position of the inner portion or cap 7 of the closure structure is engaged by a seal 8 on the interior of the top wall 9 of the cap.

The cap 7 is provided with a cylindrical skirt I0 integral with the top wall 9 and the skirt has a rigid upper portion 11 and a slotted lower portion I2. An internal thread 13 is provided on the skirt which threads onto a mating thread 13a formed on the finish. The slotted lower portion of the skirt comprises a plurality of cir' cumferentially spaced flexible fingers 14 which in static condition as best seen in FIG. 3 are spread out to facili tate removal and application of the cap structure with respect to the neck of the container. The cap structure (including the locking ring hereinafter described) are made of suitable plastic such as nylon, polyethylene or polypropylene or copolymers of these materials. Such material has inherent resiliency particularly in the finger portions which are adapted to flex radially with respect to the axis of the cap.

Each finger as best seen in FIG. 5 is of arcuate crosssection and adjacent fingers define axially elongated slots 15 15. Each finger has, at its lower end, an inwardly directed locking lug l7, which provides an upper locking edge 18 which in the locked position as seen in FIG. 2 is generally normal to the axis of the neck and engages or locks under a flat bottom edge 19 of an annular shoulder 20 formed on the container at the base of the neck, the shoulder being dimensioned to fit into a groove 21 formed in the finger above the leg 17. The skirt is molded in such a manner that the upper portion thereof is relatively rigid and the lower portion flexible with the fingers normally in spread position as shown in FIG. 3.

After the cap is threaded onto the finish it is locked by a supplementary plastic locking ring generally designated 25 which is sleeved over the skirt and comprises a cylindrical body section 26 with a plurality of circumferentially spaced deflectible locking lugs 27, one for each ramp 28 formed on the exterior sides of the fingers. Each locking lug 27 is of quadrilateral shape in cross-section as seen in FIG. 4A and has a forward guide edge 28 and an upper diagonal cam edge 29. The guide edge is adapted to engage with the rear cam edge 30 on the adjacent ramp and attendant to turning of the ring guide the ring to move downwardly while closing the fingers about the neck to grasp the locking shoulder on the neck, whereupon the lower locking lugs 17 em gage under the shoulder.

The ring which is made of suitable plastic material such as polyethylene or polypropylene and the like is further rotated until the upper cam edge 29 of each lug 27 deflects and passes under a detent 32 formed at the lower end of the associated ramp and then enters into a locking notch 33 formed in the ramp ahead of the detent. A bayonet type interlock is effected between the ring and the skirt preventing the rotation of the ring except when the ring is rotated with sufficient force in a counterclockwise direction (FIG. 5). Clockwise rotation of the ring is limited by stops 34 formed on the tingers and engageable with the locking lug 29 therebehind.

The ring is shown in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5 in locked position whereat it embraces the fingers and prevents their being spread apart. Thus the lower locking lugs on the fingers are prevented from escaping from under the locking shoulder.

It will also be noted that the ramps are tapered at 35 in an upward direction as best seen in FIGS. 2 and 4A so as to enhance the flexibility of the fingers and at the same time the thicker lower sections 36 (FIG. 4) rigidify those regions of the fingers in proximity to the lower locking lugs 17 so as to minimize the flexibility of the section 37 of the fingers in the region of the shoulder receiving groove 21. Furthermore, in locking position the ring lugs 27 are disposed in radial alignment with the groove 21 thus preventing the locking lugs 17 from springing out from under the shoulder when the ring is in locking position and the container closed as seen in FIG. 2 when attempt is made to unscrew the cap.

To open the container, that is to remove the cap, the adult user grasps the ribbed outer surface 37a of the locking ring and by rotating the same in a counterclockwise direction causes the corners 38 of the lugs 27 to deflect or temporarily deform accommodating the lug 27, with some deflection, to ride under the downwardly convexed edge 39 of the detent to a released position behind the ramp. In this position the outward bias of the fingers hold the ring in the lowered position and the user must then move the ring axially upwardly until the upper edges of the lugs 17 abut the undersides 40 of ledges 41 which are formed as circumferential continuations of the upper narrow ends of the ramps. The ring in the upper released position clears the fingers which spring outwardly as best seen in FIG. 3, thus disengaging the locking lugs 17 from the shoulder 20.

Rotation of the ring in a counterclockwise direction is limited by a pair of

stops

44, 44 formed at diametrically opposed sides of the skirt adjacent to the fingers for abutment by the back edges 45 of the correspondingly positioned locking lugs 27 on the ring, all of Said lugs 27 also abutting the ledges 41. By turning the ring counterclockwise, the cap interlocked therewith is unscrewed. disengaging the sealing ring 8 secured to the bottom of the top wall of the cap in axial alignment with the lip 6.

It will be observed that the ring and cap may be separated by positioning the ring approximately midway between or intermediate the top and bottom positions and aligning the locking lugs 27 with passages 47 (FIG. 4) located between the lower edges of the stop lugs 44 and the upper edges of the lower portions 36 of the respective ramps. The ring in this position is rotated in a counterclockwise direction while the cap is held.

The locking lugs exit into guide passage 49 which are defined by forward diagonal edges 50 of the ramps and the ring is lifted up off the cap. The edge 50 serves to guide the respective lug 27 into the passage 47 during assembly of the ring with the cap which may be suitably held, whereupon the ring is rotated in a clockwise direction deforming the lug 27 through the slot 47 into assembled interlocked relation with the cap.

EMBODIMENT OF FIG. 6

The embodiment of FIG. 6 is identical with the previous embodiment except that in lieu of threads being formed on the interior of the skirt, the interior surface is cylindrical to fit on a cylindrical finish of a bottle 76 whereby the cap merely snaps onto the bottle. All other parts are the same as in the previous embodiment and identical parts are identified by the same reference numerals. In this embodiment. however, it is necessary for the user to hold the cap when tightening or loosening the cap. Also in this embodiment the fingers are not formed to separate, but are formed in a cylindrical form as a continuation of the upper skirt portion, so that when the cap is forced onto the neck of the bottle the locking lugs have their lower inwardly curved edges 77 engaged with the top edge 78 of the shoulder 20 and upon further forcible downward movement of the cap the lugs spread out sliding on their edges 77 on the shoulder until the lugs 27 pass the shoulder and then snap under, thus locking the securing ring to prevent the fingers from spreading and thus completing the do sure. To open, the locking ring is rotated in a counterclockwise direction and then lifted to axially displaced upper position relative to the fingers whereupon further lifting unsnaps the lugs 27 from shoulder 20 and the cap then may be easily removed.

EMBODIMENT OF FIGS. 7 10 In this embodiment, parts identical with those of the previous embodiments will be similarly numbered. The cap comprises a top wall 9 with a sealing gasket 8 on its underside for sealing with the lip 6 of the bottle 4 fragmentarily shown in FIG. 9. The cap comprises a cylindrical skirt generally indicated 10 which has internal threads 13 for mating engagement with complementary threads 13a on the finish of the neck 3 of the bottle.

The rigid upper portion of the skirt is continuous circumferentially and the lower portion 12 flares outwardly downwardly in static condition and comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced

fingers

112, 112 with intervening inverted V-shaped notches I13, 113.

Each finger is provided with an inwardly directed locking lug 114 which has a top locking edge 115 adapted to engage the bottom edge 19 of shoulder 20 of the bottle in locked position as herein after explained. The fingers have a groove 117 receiving the shoulder or annulus 20 therein in closed position.

The cap is adapted to be threaded onto the neck 3 until the gasket tightly seals against the lip. At this time the grooves 117 align radially with the annulus 20 and the locking lugs 114 are below the annulus but spaced outwardly therefrom.

In order to lock the cap onto the container a locking ring 120 is provided which is sleeved over the lower finger portion of the skirt. The ring has a cylindrical body portion 121 with a reinforcing or stiffening edging or bead 122 along its lower edge. Internally the body is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced locking lugs 123 which are generally triangular in side elevation and dimensioned to fit into the inverted V- shaped slots or apertures 113, there being one slot for each lug. The lugs 123 are equally spaced as are the slot 113 and are adapted in the released position to fit into respective slots whereby the fingers are free to spring outwardly and release the lugs 114.

To lock the ring from released position. the ring is rotated clockwise (FIG. 8) while the cap is tight on the neck. The leading edges 125 of the lugs I23 slide over the leading cam surfaces 126 on the fingers causing the fingers to swing inwardly engaging the lugs H4 thereon under the shoulder 20. Rotation of the ring is stopped by stops 127 on diametrically opposite fingers engaging the leading edges of the respective lugs 123. The apical edges 130 of the lugs 123 ride under a toothed profile 131 having downwardly directed teeth with forward catch surfaces 132 against which the back edges 133 of the upper apical portion of the lugs are engaged. These are held in engaged position by the spreading action of the fingers which tend to wedge the ring upwardly.

It will be noted that the securing ring is formed with an external reinforcing bead 122 at its lower edge and the bead is integrated with a series of gussets 137 which merge with the external periphery 136 of the body portion of the ring. These gussets taper upwardly so as to preserve the resiliency of the fingers and also provide an interrupted surface contour with abutments to prevent the fingers of the user from slipping around the peripheral surface during turning of the ring.

The ring has an inturned upper flange 138 abuttable with an annulus 139 formed on the external peripheral surface of the cap skirt fingers intermediate the top and bottom of the cap above the fingers to prevent the ring from accidentally slipping off downwardly when not in use and upward release is prevented by the locking lugs being trapped in the respective slots as best seen in FIG. 10. To assemble the ring with the cap, the locking lugs of the ring are merely forced over the flange 138 deflecting the same.

Having described several forms of the invention, it will be noted that various embodiments will now become apparent and within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A childproof plastic closure for a container having a neck and a locking shoulder at the base of the neck comprising:

a cap having a skirt with an upper cylindrical portion and splayed fingers forming the lower portion; means on the fingers for interlocking engagement with the shoulder;

holding means mounted on the cap and movable to release and locking positions and in said locking position closing the fingers about the neck and thereby forcing said interlocking means into locking relation with the shoulder to prevent removal of the cap from the associated container;

and supplementary means for releasably securing said locking means in locking and unlocking positions with the cap, said holding means comprising a ring sleeved over the skirt and movable axially and circumferentially thereon over and off said fingers;

said supplementary means comprising interengaging cam means on the ring and the external sides of said fingers, said cam means on the fingers extending diagonally axially and circumferentiaily of the cap, and means axially spaced of the cap and being disposed at the ends of the cam means on the fin- 6 gers and offset circumferentially from each other, said cam means effective to guide said ring into and out of locking position attendant to rotation of the ring in conventional manner to lock and unlock the closure. l

2. The invention according to claim 1 and said interlocking means comprising inwardly directed lugs at the lower ends of said fingers.

3. The invention according to claim 1 and said supplementary means comprising a bayonet-type lock on the ring and at least certain of said fingers.

4. The invention according to claim I and said cap having neck-thread engaging threads in said skirt.

5. The invention according to claim 1 and said fingers defining slots therebetween, and lugs on the ring spaced on the order of said slots and attendant to rotation of the ring adapted to enter respective slots in release position and in locked position to be positioned in backing relation to respective fingers.

6. The invention according to claim 5 and said ring having teeth overlying the lugs for engagement by the lugs to selectively releasably hold the same in locked and release positions.

7. The invention according to claim I and said fingers being inherently resilient and biased radially outwardly of the skirt for holding said supplementary means in locking and in locked positions.

8. The invention according to claim 1 and said supplementary means comprising a band encircling said skirt and movable axially thereof to an upper release position whereat said fingers are spread outwardly and to a lower locking position moving said fingers inwardly to locking position.

9. A childproof container closure comprising:

a cap having a top wall and an integral skirt including a cylindrical upper portion and a lower portion comprising a plurality of radially deflectible fingers depending from said skirt;

container-lip engaging sealing means within said cap on the bottom of said top wall;

securing means on the fingers projecting inwardly thereof for engagement with a locking shoulder of an associated container; and

releasable locking means disposable in locking embracing relation to said fingers to hold the same from deflecting outwardly and disengaging said securing means;

said locking means comprising a ring sleeved over said skirt and movable axially on said skirt between said upper and lower portions of said skirt;

said ring movable circumferentially on the cap between said locking position and an unlocking position displaced from said fingers;

said locking means comprising cam ribs spiraled about said lower portion and projecting outwardly from respective fingers, lugs on the interior of the ring cooperatively associated with respective ribs, a set of latching means at the axial ends of said ribs, one set being adjacent the cylindrical portion for interlocking engagement with respective lugs for holding said ring in elevated position out of engagement with the fingers and the other set located for securing the ring in locking position of the fingers.

10. A childproof container closure comprising:

ger. said fingers defining slots therebetween of complemental shape to said locking elements for receiving the same in the unlocked position of the ring whereby the fingers may spring outwardly between said locking elements, the apical ends of said elements and slots being disposed adjacent to said cylindrical portion.

H. The invention according to claim 10 and said skirt having a toothed means formed thereon for lockit) ing engagement with the apical ends of respective locking elements in the locked position thereof for releasably constraining the ring against rotation.

Claims

1. A childproof plastic closure for a container having a neck and a locking shoulder at the base of the neck comprising: a cap having a skirt with an upper cylindrical portion and splayed fingers forming the lower portion; means on the fingers for interlocking engagement with the shoulder; holding means mounted on the cap and movable to release and locking positions and in said locking position closing the fingers about the neck and thereby forcing said interlocking means into locking relation with the shoulder to prevent removal of the cap from the associated container; and supplementary means for releasably securing said locking means in locking and unlocking positions with the cap, said holding means comprising a ring sleeved over the skirt and movable axially and circumferentially thereon over and off said fingers; said supplementary means comprising interengaging cam means on the ring and the external sides of said fingers, said cam means on the fingers extending diagonally axially and circumferentially of the cap, and means axially spaced of the cap and being disposed at the ends of the cam means on the fingers and offset circumferentially from each other, said cam means effective to guide said ring into and out of locking position attendant to rotation of the ring in conventional manner to lock and unlock the closure.

4. The invention according to claim 1 and said cap having neck-thread engaging threads in said skirt.

7. The invention according to claim 1 and said fingers being inherently resilient and biased radially outwardly of the skirt for holding said supplementary means in locking and in locked positions.

9. A childproof container closure comprising: a cap having a top wall and an integral skirt including a cylindrical upper portion and a lower portion comprising a plurality of radially deflectible fingers depending from said skirt; container-lip engaging sealing means within said cap on the bottom of said top wall; securing means on the fingers projecting inwardly thereof for engagement with a locking shoulder of an associated container; and releasable locking means disposable in locking embracing relation to said fingers to hold the same from deflecting outwardly and disengaging said securing means; said locking means comprising a ring sleeved over said skirt and movable axially on said skirt between said upper and lower portions of said skirt; said ring movable circumferentially on the cap between said locking position and an unlocking position displaced from said fingers; said locking means comprising cam ribs spiraled about said lower portion and projecting outwardly from respective fingers, lugs on the interior of the ring cooperatively associated with respective ribs, a set of latching means at the axial ends of said ribs, one set being adjacent the cylindrical portion for interlocking engagement with respective lugs for holding said ring in elevated position out of engagement with the fingers and the other set located for securing the ring in locking position of the fingers.

10. A childproof container closure comprising: a cap having a top wall and an integral skirt including a cylindrical upper portion and a lower portion comprising a plurality of radially deflectible fingers depending from said skirt; container-lip engaging sealing means within said cap on the bottom of said top wall; securing means on the fingers projecting inwardly thereof for engagement with a locking shoulder of an associated container; and releasable locking means disposable in locking embracing relation to said fingers to hold the same from deflecting outwardly and disengaging said securing means; said locking means including a ring movable circumferentially on the cap between said locking position and an unlocking position displaced from said fingers; said locking ring having a plurality of inverted V-shaped locking elements therein, one for each finger, said fingers defining slots therebetween of complemental shape to said locking elements for receiving the same in the unlocked position of the ring whereby the fingers may spring outwardly between said locking elements, the apical ends of said elements and slots being disposed adjacent to said cylindrical portion.

11. The invention according to claim 10 and said skirt having a toothed means formed thereon for locking engagement with the apical ends of respective locking elements in the locked position thereof for releasably constraining the ring against rotation.