Abstract: A container and stopper assembly with the container having a head comprising a neck connected by a shoulder to a body of the container. The stopper and the head have respective complementary locking portions for locking by rotation. The locking portions are an elastically flexible axial blade carried by the stopper and axial portions carried by the shoulder. The axial portions include a first portion for catching and retaining the blade and a second portion for abutment of the blade ensuring that it is retained by the first portion and between the two portions.

Abstract: A child resistant, snap on, twist off closure container package which is open by squeezing and deflecting diametrically opposed side portions of the closure to bring cam followers into engagement which cams on the container so that subsequent turning causes axial displacement and opening movement of the closure from the container. Guide members prevent deforming of the closure to maintain sealing surfaces and adjoining surfaces of the closure and container in alignment with each other and prevent distortion on to expose surfaces which can be gripped by the fingers or teeth in an effort to open the closure and container in a manner other than the intended method of squeezing and twisting of the closure relative to the container.

Abstract: A child resistant closure wherein a ratchet-type cap is threadably mounted on the neck of a container having a ring member integral therewith. A resilient tab having a ratchet tooth thereon is integral with the ring and engageable with ratchet teeth on the cap. The ratchet tooth on the tab and cooperating ratchet teeth on the cap are hidden from view to render the closure more child resistant.

Abstract: A closure for a container, comprising a lower closure part and a screw cap. The lower closure part has a pouring spout and can be connected with a container opening by a base element. The screw cap comprises a cap bottom and a cap shell having an interior thread. The screw cap can be screw-fastened and unfastened from the pouring spout, which is provided with an exterior thread. The screw cap is secured against being unfastened by engaged connections. The screw cap can be released for being unfastened by releasing the engaged connections. A child safety device is provided by a special design of the engaged connections between the screw cap and the lower closure part, so the body of the container is no longer a part of the child safety device and therefore can be optimally adjusted to its specific function.

Abstract: The child-resistant nozzle cover is used to cover a nozzle cap of a nozzle assembly for a trigger sprayer having a body, the nozzle assembly including a nose bushing at a front end of the body, the nozzle cap being rotatably mounted on the nose bushing of the sprayer, and the nozzle cap having a proximal end, a distal end including a generally annular rear edge, and an outer surface. The cover comprises a generally annular hood substantially covering the outer surface of the nozzle cap, being rotatable about the nozzle cap and nose bushing and having a proximal end, a distal end, an outer peripheral surface and an inner generally annular surface. Retaining structure is provided at the proximal end of the hood for retaining the hood on the nozzle assembly.

Abstract: A child resistant closure or cap for use on a container having a threaded, shouldered neck is disclosed. Complimentary locking means on the cap and container shoulder and a resilient release tab are provided. In one embodiment the cap includes an internally threaded cylindrically-shaped skirt having a radially extending flange portion at a bottom edge. The container shoulder has a recess formed therein and is adapted to be adjacent the cap flange portion when the cap is fully threaded onto the container neck. A downwardly extending protrusion is formed on a bottom surface of the flange portion and cooperatively engages the recess when the cap is fully threaded onto the container neck to prevent rotational removal of the cap. The protrusion is located on the resilient release tab which is formed by a circumferential slit and a perpendicular slit, whereby the release tab is upwardly or axially deflectable to disengage the protrusion from the recess and permit rotational removal of the cap.

Abstract: A safety locking screw cap and container having locking projections on the container that are registerable with a flexible flange arm extending from the screw cap to prevent rotation and removal of the cap relative the container. The cap may be removed from the container by flexing the flanged arm away from the cap by pressing on a portion of the flanged arm thus clearing the locking projection allowing removal rotation of the cap on the threaded neck of the container.

Abstract: A bottle having an open neck with an outer surface. The neck includes a thread finish formed on the outer surface thereof having a predetermined thickness along its length. A cap having an inner surface releaseably threadable on the neck includes at least one pivotable arm with a thread thereon facing the inner surface of the cap and selectively engageable with the thread finish on the neck when the cap is threaded on the bottle. The arm is pivotable between a first position where the thread is positioned adjacent the inner surface of the cap and a second position where the thread is moved outwardly away from the inner surface. The thread is captured below the thread finish when the cap is threaded on the neck to lock the cap on the bottle. The thread finish includes at least a first reduced thickness region sized to permit the thread to bypass the reduced thickness region when the arm is pivoted to its second position to permit the cap to be removed from the bottle.

Abstract: A container for transporting and storing vessels containing hazardous liquids and a method for making such a container. The container has a cylindrical housing and a cap that screws into the mouth of the housing and is locked by a latch. When the cap is screwed into place, an elastomeric sealing ring on the cap is compressed against the housing to provide a liquid-tight seal between the housing and cap. Interlocking hook-shaped members that project from the housing and from a central location of the latch act as a fulcrum on which the latch can be pivoted. Under the bias of a serpentine tongue, a locking member that projects from an end of the latch protrudes through a bore in the housing and is adapted to be received by a hole in the cap, thus locking the cap until the other end of the lever is depressed to disengage the locking member from the hole of the cap.

Abstract: A container closure and locking system, allowing authorized access to the container when indicia on the locking system is correctly aligned. The container closure and locking system, for selectively allowing access to a container having a lip, comprising a container cap having an upper cap and lower cap. The lower cap comprises a main body having a main body bore. Latches mounted within the main body have a tail end, a hook that grips the lip, and a fulcrum between the tail end and hook. The tail end of each latch extends directly below the main body bore. The upper cap is rotatable to an unlocked position. The upper cap has a rotatable disk, having a plunger that can extend downward through the main body bore when the upper cap is in the operable position, to pivot each latch about its fulcrum, freeing its hook from the lip.

Abstract: A container closure assembly having a container neck and a closure for said container neck. The closure is retained on the container neck by a screw thread on at least one of the closure and the container neck. A sealing mechanism is provided for forming a seal between the closure and the container neck when the closure is at a sealing position on the container neck. Furthermore, there is an urging mechanism co-operating between the closure and the container neck when the closure is near the sealing position to urge the closure into the sealing position independently of whether an external closing torque is being applied to the closure, and thereafter the urging mechanism maintains the closure in the sealing position until a sufficient external release force is applied to the closure.

Abstract: A child resistant package including a plastic container having a finish with an external thread and a plastic closure having a base wall and an internal thread thereon for engaging the thread on the container. The container includes diametrically opposed integral tabs extending from the container. Each tab has substantially uniform thickness such that it is capable of flexing relative to said container. The skirt of the closure has a free edge with diametrically opposed projections thereon engagable by the radial tabs. The tabs are manually deflectable to disengage from said projections on the skirt to permit manual rotation of the closure to unthread said closure from the container.

Abstract: A child resistant attachment for containers used for storing and dispensing potentially dangerous materials, such as medicament tablets or the like, the attachment being resistant to opening by children but readily openable by adults, particularly adults having impaired manual dexterity of their hands and/or fingers. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the attachment comprises a finish portion including thread ring with an integrally molded annular tab ring or collar generally concentric to the thread ring and a closure which is releasably secured to the thread ring by means of complementary screw threads. The tab ring or collar preferably includes a pair of resiliently deformable spring-like pushtabs containing vertical extensions which engage interlocking pawls on the innermost surface of the closure skirt when the closure is fully assembled onto the finish portion.

Abstract: A child-resistant closure for a container includes a cap constructed and dimensioned such that it can be gripped and moved to open the container by the hand of the size of an adult but not of a child.

Abstract: A threaded closure and container arrangement having complementary annular surfaces on the closure and container which engage each other during threading and unthreading to guide the closure and container into axial alignment and to shape the relatively flexible neck opening of the container into an accurate circular shape so that complementary sealing surfaces are brought into accurate engagement with each other and so that the complementary surfaces maintain an axial force tending to maintain the closure and container in sealing relationship during at least initial unthreading movement of the closure from a fully closed position on the container

Abstract: A space saving rectangular container having a child resistant lid assembly wherein the rectangular container has a rectangular closure provided with a central opening. The child resistant lid assembly is removably mounted on the closure to close the opening and is positioned inwardly of the container side walls so that when placing a plurality of the containers having child resistant lid assemblies thereon in a stacked or side-by-side relationship, the child resistant lid assembly is positioned inwardly from the side wall of an adjacent container to thereby prevent damage to the lid assembly by the adjacent container during shipment and storage.

Abstract: A child-resistant closure is provided with a base having a deck with a discharge aperture. A lid having a bottom surface for engaging the base is hingedly connected to the base. The base has a resilient locking lever that projects the base deck at a location inwardly of the periphery of the base. The lever defines a shoulder. The lid has a central cover panel defining an aperture inwardly of the periphery of the lid for receiving the lever when the lid is closed. The lid defines a latch surface adjacent the aperture for confronting the base lever shoulder when the lid is closed. The periphery of the lid defines a finger-engaging surface laterally offset relative to the lid aperture, and the finger-engaging surface extends progressively outwardly with increasing distance from the lid bottom surface. The portion of the base that extends from the hinge connection is configured to project peripherally outwardly at least as far as the lid bottom surface when the lid is closed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a child resistant container suitable for packaging of medicines and the like wherein a bottom portion designed to hold the product and a cover member have first and second cooperative locking devices with the first locking device permitting a certain limited movement while maintaining a locked position such that when the second locking device is moved to an unlocked position, the first locking device remains locked until a second step or operation is performed thereon. Operation of the second locking device to unlock it tends to reinforce the locking action to the first locking device to prevent simultaneous unlocking of both locking devices.

Abstract: The present invention is a dropper bottle assembly (30) with a dispensing closure (34) having a base (48) adapted to be secured to the bottle 32) and an elongated dropper spout (64) extending from the base (48) to a distal open end (72) and with a separate cap (36, 236) defining a cavity (76) sized to receive the spout (64) therein wherein the cap (36, 236) and closure (34) share cooperating hinge (80, 84) and lock structures (130, 132, 264) for pivotably mounting the cap (36, 236) about a fixed axis and locking the cap (36, 236) closed with the spout opening (72) closed off. The lock (130) and hinge (84) structure are formed on the spout (64) below the opening (72) thereof but spaced from the closure base (48).

Abstract: An apparatus for counting the number of times a container has been opened or some other event has occurred, with particular usefulness in medicine bottles and the like. An outer cover portion with a set of teeth holds an indicator wheel with an engaging pawl and another set of teeth and a ratchet wheel with a another pawl. The pawls and teeth in combination with a slot for engaging the ratchet wheel result in a lost motion drive in which the outer cover will turn relative to the indicator wheel each time the container is opened or closed or some other event occurs. Various embodiments of the invention include means for using the cap with child-resistent containers, means for attaching the cap to containers and means to facilitate the manufacture and assembly of the device.

Abstract: A tubular container with a non-removable workable cap, by means of which the cap itself is provided with a limitation in its closure on the tube. To do this, the cap is equipped with a vertical rib (7) which originates from the front internal face of the cap and from its inner side surface, which is interrupted at a certain distance from the free end of the outer skirt (9) of the cap. This cap makes contact, when it is turned in both directions, with a protrusion (8) made on the tube and is limited in the closure position by an L-shaped protrusion (3) on the tube itself.

Abstract: A fitment attached around an aperture in a container has a flange from which extends a spout closed by an initially integrally molded externally threaded plug. So long as the fitment and plug are in their original position after molding, the combination is tamper-evident. The plug is moved axially into the spout, with a liquid-tight fit. The plug has an outward extending tab formed with a slot and the fitment has an upward extending finger aligned with the slot in the tab and formed with tangs which lock the finger and tab together as the plug is moved into the spout, thereby making the device tamper-evident. A characteristic of the invention is that a tether interconnects the plug and the upper edge of the spout to prevent disconnection of the one from the other. As a further feature of the invention, an over-size foil seal extends across the bottom of the flange and is welded or otherwise adhered to the bottom of the flange.

Abstract: A molded tamper-evident closure for use with a container having a neck. The closure includes a generally planar top portion with an outer peripheral edge, an annular skirt depending from the peripheral edge and having a lower edge margin, an annular breakaway band having a top surface and a bottom surface, the top surface including a plurality of spaced frangible bridge formations integrally joined to the lower edge margin of the skirt. An outer surface of the breakaway band is provided with a plurality of support formations such as gusset members for preventing distortion of the breakaway band as the closure is applied to the container. The closure may also be provided with a plurality of specially configured recess formations for engaging ratchet formations on the neck of the container to provide an anti-backoff feature.

Abstract: A plastic reaction vessel for small liquid volumes is provided with a lid for closure of the opening of the vessel. The lid is held in the closed position by a securing device which comprises a flexible backing tab and a securing peg.

Abstract: A safety container having an array of ratchet teeth cooperating with a pawl stop is provided. The cover of the container can only be removed by counterclockwise rotation while the pawl is urged out of engagement with the ratchet teeth.

Abstract: A closure for a container, including means for counting and indicating the number of times the closure has undergone a cycle of closing and opening the container, and further including means for incorporating the closure into means for resisting the opening of the container by a child.

Abstract: A dropper bottle assembly with a dispensing closure having a base adapted to be secured to the bottle and an elongated dropper spout extending from the base to a distal open end and with a separate cap defining a cavity sized to receive the spout therein wherein the cap and closure share cooperating hinge and lock structures for pivotably mounting the cap about a fixed axis and locking the cap closed with the spout opening closed off. The lock and hinge structure are formed on the spout below the opening thereof but spaced from the closure base. The lock mechanism includes cooperating teeth and an index finger or a cooperating spring-arm and a grip bar. The spout is sealed by a surface of the cap or a compliant mat on that surface, the latter being held in place by a rib within the cap.

Abstract: An adaptor for use with an indicator device, comprising a ring-shaped element having an inner circumference for attaching to the indicator device and an outer circumference for grasping by the user in order to manipulate the indicator device. The inner circumference has an upper radial lip and lower radial lip that maintain the indicator device therebetween, and the outer circumference may have grasping-enhancing elements such as a set of circumferential knobs.

Abstract: A closure is provided for a container having an externally threaded neck and a plurality of locking teeth. The closure has a first outer side wall, a second inner side wall, and projections within the outer side wall for engaging the locking teeth of the container, to prevent removal by children and the like. The outer side wall can be distorted to displace the locking projections, for opening the container. For forming a seal with the neck of a container, one or both of a textured finish on an annular sealing surface within the second inner side wall, and an internal sealing lip are provided. This eliminates the requirement for a separate sealing liner.

Abstract: A child resistant attachment for containers used for storing and dispensing potentially dangerous materials, such as medicament tablets or the like, the attachment being resistant to opening by children but readily openable by adults, particularly adults having impaired manual dexterity of their hands and/or fingers. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the attachment comprises a finish portion including thread ring with an integrally molded annular tab ring or collar generally concentric to the thread ring and a closure which is releasably secured to the thread ring by means of complementary screw threads. The tab ring or collar preferably includes a pair of resiliently deformable spring-like pushtabs containing vertical extensions which engage interlocking pawls on the innermost surface of the closure skirt when the closure is fully assembled onto the finish portion.

Abstract: An adaptor and a closure are formed with cooperating child resistant elements so that the adaptor can be applied to any type of container and the closure can be removed from the adaptor only by manipulation of the child resistant stops. Both the adaptor and closure are molded with precision surfaces as by injection molding so that the closure can be sealingly attached to the adaptor without the use of excessive force.

Abstract: A container neck (14) and a container closure comprises a first thread (15) on one of the neck and the closure, a complementary second thread on the other of the neck and the closure such that the closure is moveable from fully disengaged from the neck to fully closed by turning the closure relative to the neck by less than 360.degree.

Abstract: A dispenser for liquids, e.g., ophthalmic liquids, is provided with a movable top that pivots open to expose a recessed dispensing tip and pivots closed to cover and seal the dispensing tip.

Abstract: There is disclosed a child resistant cap and container assemblage comprising a container and a cap member that is secured to the container so that it can not be removed without either breaking the cap member or damaging the seal that joins the cap member to the container. The cap member is provided with a nozzle having an internal locking means so that the contents of the container can not be accessed when the container is in its normal upright position. To access the contents in the container, the assemblage is titled to disengage the locking means enabling the nozzle to be opened and permitting a user to access the contents of the container using only one hand.

Abstract: A flask is closed by a closing device comprising a closing cap cooperating with the neck of the flask. The device includes two open ramps diametrically opposite provided on the neck of the flask and in the center of which is formed an axially extending projection, the closing cap including a cylindrical skirt formed inside with two diametrically opposite latching studs and each carrying a housing which cooperates with one of the projections.

Abstract: A fitment and cap therefor are integrally molded with lugs interconnecting the part. The fitment has a flange to be attached to a container and an internally threaded spout. The cap has an externally threaded skirt. The lugs are diametrically spaced and interconnect the bottom edge of the skirt and upper edge of the spout. After molding, force is applied to break the lugs and snap the skirt inside the spout, the threads slipping past each other and inter-engaging. A temper-evident band extends around the skirt and is connected thereto by frangible bridges. At diametrically spaced locations vertically projecting fingers extend down from the tamper evident band and are received in sockets on the fitment flange shaped so that the band fingers prevent unscrewing the cap without removing the tamper-evident band. A pull tab and thumb tab assist the consumer in removing the tamper evident band so that the cap may be unscrewed from the fitment.

Abstract: A child resistant closure for a medicine bottle wherein an outer cap is freely rotatable on an inner cap. A latch assembly including a slidable latch member and a latch post are positioned between the top walls of the inner and outer caps. An aperture is provided in the top wall of the cap for observing the position of the post preparatory to sliding the latch member into engagement with the latch post for interconnecting the inner and outer caps for removal of the closure from the bottle. The inner cap is provided with a cam surface engageable with the slidable latch member for automatically moving the latch member out of engagement with the post during the securing of the closure to the bottle, and a tamper evident tab is removably connected to the outer cap to prevent the unauthorized manipulation of the latch member.

Abstract: A container-closure assembly comprises a container molded of relatively soft plastic and a closure cap molded of relatively hard plastic and having a top wall and a continuous side wall. Threads are formed on both the finish of the container and inward on the side wall of the cap. The threads on the cap comprise three threaded segments spaced about the inner circumference of the side wall. The segments include an inward upwardly sloping rib, the upper surface of which is formed with a plurality of wedge-shaped teeth. In use, the closure is screwed on to the top of the container finish and the teeth dig onto the underside of the threads on the finish causing the instantaneous elastic deformation of the plastic of the finish to anchor the cap against removal.

Abstract: A child resistant closure adapted to be used with a container to provide a child resistant package comprising a closure having a base wall and a peripheral skirt with internal threads adapted to engage complementary threads on the container. The closure is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced flexible fins which frictionally engage the apex only of an annular bead on the container to provide resistance to closure back off in order to resist unthreading of the closure from the container. The closure is to be provided with a tab which is engageable with a projection on the container to prevent unthreading of the closure except when the tab is depressed. In another form, a cylindrical surface on the skirt frictionally engages solely the apex of the annular bead on the container. The cylindrical surface may be a continuous surface or a series of closely spaced annular serrations and alternating fine grooves.

Abstract: Reducing wear and achieving an even more exact position, in particular with containers (1) of soft plastics, is achieved in a container (1) for cosmetics comprising at least one stop shoulder (8) and a return stop (10) for fixing a screw closure cap (14) in a defined end position. The extent (E) of the angle at circumference of the return stop (10) in relation to the position of the start of the thread and the thread pitch and the position of the stop shoulder at the container shoulder (3) are chosen in such a way that in the course of closing, the catch projection on the screw closure cap (14) contacts the top of the return stop (10) and from there arrives in the stop position in the course of essentially downward movement.

Abstract: A safety container having an array of ratchet teeth cooperating with a pawl stop is provided. The cover of the container can only be removed by counterclockwise rotation while the pawl is urged out of engagement with the ratchet teeth.

Abstract: A container with a body and a closure which is held captive to the body and which is is disengageable therefrom by urging the closure towards the body to deflect a deformable member on the closure or the body. This opens a pathway along which a retaining member can move, as the closure is rotated relatively to the body.

Abstract: A package is provided in the form of a container and closure assembly which incorporates a system for providing a positive orientation of the container closure so as to align external features of the closure and container. The container has a neck defining an opening to the container interior, an external screw thread, and a protuberance. The protuberance has generally oppositely facing abutment surfaces and at least one cam surface extending between the abutment surfaces. The closure has a skirt defining an internal screw thread for engaging the container external screw thread. The skirt defines a recess for receiving a protuberance. The recess is defined at opposite ends by spaced-apart engaging surfaces for confronting the protuberance abutment surfaces.

Abstract: This invention is directed towards improvements in snap hinge dispensing closures for molded plastic bottles. In particular, snap hinge closures of single walled construction are provided with means for positively aligning with the front of the bottle, and a relatively deeper thumb recess for facilitating lifting of a snap hinge closure lid. Means are also disclosed to prevent reverse rotation of the closure once positive alignment is achieved. Other disclosed features include a plug to prevent leakage of the bottle contents and means for preventing axial pivoting of the closure.

Abstract: A connecting assembly for mounting a fluid dispensing assembly onto a container comprises a cap for receiving and connecting the dispensing device onto the container and a cylindrical neck finish on top of the container for receiving the cap. The cap as well as the cylindrical neck finish have threads for mutual engagement.Furthermore, the cap has an orifice within its top wall for receiving the fluid dispensing device.Ratchet teeth inside the cap and corresponding ratchet teeth outside the cylindrical neck finish engage mutually to prevent the cap from being unlocked accidently. The ratchet teeth inside the cap have a rearwardly extending short back face and a forwardly extending long front face whereby the short back face and the long front face form an acute but almost rectangular angle. The short back face of one ratchet tooth extends of the bottom of a long front face of an adjacent ratchet tooth. The ratchet teeth inside the cap are uniformly distributed.

Abstract: A child resistant container with a flush latched closure includes a container with a resilient latch tongue member hinged thereto, the tongue including upper and lower pawls forming a latch recess therebetween. A closure or cap is hinged to the container and includes a latch bar sized and shaped to be flushly received within the latch recess to prevent gripping access to the latch bar. The cap hinge is of such a configuration that the cap cannot be separated from the container body with the cap latched closed. The latch is released by flexing the latch tongue toward the container which moves the upper pawl out of the way of the latch bar and moves the lower pawl beneath the latch bar to expose a gripping edge of the latch bar to allow a fingernail or the like to be used to open the cap. The latch tongue is positionable in such a manner as to avoid use of the latch to close the container, and the cap and container body are cooperatively sized to seal the container without the cap being latched thereto.

Abstract: A convertible child-resistant closure assembly is described herein. It includes a closure and shell. The shell mounts a latching key and the closure provides a complementary latch. An alignment structure provides for aligning the latch and key for movement of the latching key from a mode in which the key is inactive to a mode in which it engages the latch to inactive the child-resistant function of the closure. In that position the shell and closure are corotatable in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions. Spring fingers may be provided to elevate the shell relative to the closure to provide an additional child-resistant function. The latching key may be hingedly or slideably secured to the shell.

Abstract: A child-resistant screw-on closure is provided with the closure having a closure state indicating pattern and formed as a three-element closure. The outer cap is arranged for rotation relative to the centrally located middle cap and cooperates in a torquing manner with the middle cap so that, as the closure is rotated to close the container, an indication of full sealing is viewable through a window of the outer cap only when such sealing is complete. Similarly, during rotative unsealing or opening of the container, the outer cap is the first to move relative to the remainder of the closure so that the indication of complete sealing of the container is no longer viewable through the window just as soon as rotative opening of the container has begun. Thus, the closure provides the user with a readily apparent indication as to whether the container closure is in its fully closed or container-sealing condition.

Abstract: A stoppering device non-removably attached to the flanged neck of a container has a base (8) projecting beyond the neck of the container, with at least two arcuate surface sections extending from the base and disposed along a circle having a diameter slightly greater than that of the outer surface of the flanged neck (5). Each arcuate surface section (16) is extended on at least one of its sides in the circumferential direction by a locking foot (17). Each foot is integral with the arcuate surface at the end of the section opposite to the base (8) and is inclined inward from the end integral with the arcuate surface section (16) to a free end of the foot located toward the base (8). Each foot abuts the flanged neck (5) and holds the stoppering device securely onto the container.

Abstract: A captive key release closure structure includes a base ring for connection to a rim of a container, a closure member or cap integrally hinged to the base ring, latch indentations on an outer surface of a neck wall of the base ring, and latch pawls on an inner surface of a depending circumferential wall of the cap and aligned with the indentations. A key slot is formed in the cap wall at a position opposite the hinge, and a key receiving recess is formed in the base ring. The latch indentations and pawls are positioned in sets on opposite sides of the key slot and key recess. The closure structure is opened by insertion of a small keylike tool, such as a coin, spoon, or the like, and twisting against the surfaces forming the key slot and recess to separate and thereby release the pawls from the indentations.