Locking closure device for a container

Abstract

The present invention relates to a locking closure device for use with air-tight storage containers. The locking closure device has a closure member that is removably mounted to the container to removably seal the opening of the container. A lock, operable between locked and unlocked positions, is operably mounted to both the closure member and the container. When the lock is in the locked position, it both limits an access to the opening of the container and optimizes the seal existing between the closure member and the container. The location of the lock in relation to the closure device ensures that the seal around the opening of the container is optimized when the lock is in the locked position. To ensure that an operation of the lock occurs, the lock is biased in the locked position and moves to the locked position automatically during the association between the closure member and the container. A release is used move the lock from the locked to the unlocked position.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to a locking closure device for a storage container, the device having a locking rotational engagement that both optimizes the air-tight seal between the device and the container and prevents an unauthorized access to the interior of the container through the device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Various storage containers have been devised to maintain the freshness of the perishable product stored therein. These containers prevent the stored product from degrading or losing freshness due to an exposure to ambient environmental conditions, to include an exposure to air and moisture. The containers are thus typically air-tight and include a mechanism for maintaining a modified atmosphere within the container's interior. For example, the atmosphere may be maintained under negative pressure to reduce the oxygen and moisture content within the interior of the container. The atmosphere may also be maintained under a positive pressure, with the interior of the container being pressurized with an oxygen depleted gas, to include nitrogen, argon, or carbon dioxide.

[0003] When a modified atmosphere is created and maintained within a container, especially under positive or negative pressure conditions, it is important that the container be sealed to maintain it's air-tight state. Complications arise, however, because such containers should be opened for a variety of reasons. The containers, of course, are opened to deposit product into the container and or to remove product therefrom. The containers may also be opened to enable access to the product itself or for maintenance reasons, to include cleaning the interior of the container, taking environmental readings of the container's interior or any similar reason. Removable, air-tight closure devices have thus been devised for these containers.

[0004] These closure devices typically include a collar or frame that is sealingly affixed to the container around the container's opening, and a lid or cover that engages the collar in an air-tight manner. The lid may also engage the container itself, thus eliminating the need for a collar or frame. A common method for engaging the lid to a collar or frame, or directly to the container itself, is threaded engagement. With threaded engagement, threads are molded, cut into, or affixed to a lid or cover. These threads then engage corresponding threads molded, cut into or affixed to an engaging surface of the collar or container itself to removably affix the lid to the collar or container.

[0005] Depending on the material composition of the lid and collar or container, and depending on the tolerance of the threaded fit between the two, an air-tight seal may be created via the threaded engagement of the lid to the collar or container. Where an air-tight seal is not achieved between the lid and collar or container, a gasket may be placed between the two to create the seal. The gasket, typically made of a deformable, elastomeric material, deforms between the lid and collar or container to fill any voids that air would otherwise leak through. Of course, the use of air-tight, threaded lids and gaskets to seal containers is commonly known in the art.

[0006] However, a problem common to such closure devices exists where they are removed from the container by personnel not having the authority to do. Although various closure devices have been developed that deter one from gaining access to the contents of a given container, these devices are typically applicable in deterring children from gaining access to medicine containers and thus lack any air-tight features. Furthermore, while the features of a child-proof medicine bottle may suffice in deterring children from accessing the contents of the given container, the features are inapplicable when applied to containers where its desirable to deter the more sophisticated adult from accessing the contents of the container.

[0007] Another problem common to such threaded lids and gaskets is the fact that the air-tight seal that they provide may not be optimized because the lid may be “under-tightened” in relation to the container. Such an under-tightened condition may result where the lid is not fully engaged in relation to the container or where the gasket, if used, is not compressed sufficiently to fill any air leaks that may exist in relation to the lid.

[0008] Thus, there is a need for a closure device that prevents the unauthorized access to the contents or interior of a container. There is also need for a for a closure device that ensures that an air-tight seal is created and maintained between the lid and collar or container. The present invention satisfies these needs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The present invention relates to a locking closure device for use with air-tight storage containers. As these containers may maintain a modified atmosphere within their interiors to preserve the freshness of the container's contents, the closure device provides an air-tight seal to ensure that the modified interior atmosphere is not compromised. Of course, while the closure device provides an air-tight seal for the container, the device can nonetheless be opened to allow for access to the interior of the container or the contents therein.

[0010] The present invention has the advantage in that the seal created by its closure is optimized via the location of the lock on the device which ensures that the closure device is properly engaged and sealed when locked. The present invention also has the advantage in that the locking mechanism of the device also prevents an unauthorized access to the contents or interior of the container, thus locking the closure device and container.

[0011] The locking closure device has a closure member that is removably mounted to the container or a frame attached to the container to removably seal the opening of the container. A lock, operable between locked and unlocked positions, is operably mounted to both the closure member and the container or frame. The locking closure device includes stop surfaces and optionally a gasket located between the closure member and the container or frame that sealingly contact one another when the closure member is mounted to the container or frame. When the lock is in the locked position, it both limits an access to the interior of the container and optimizes the seal between the closure member and the container or frame. The location of the lock in relation to the closure device ensures that the seal around the opening of the container is optimized when the lock is in the locked position.

[0012] To ensure that an operation of the lock occurs, the lock is biased in the locked position and moves into the locked position automatically during the engagement of the closure member to the container or frame. Furthermore, the lock requires a release to move it from the locked to the unlocked position. A magnetic field is used to move the pin, which is part of the lock, from the locked to the unlocked position. The pin may be made of a ferro-magnetic material and the release can be a magnet to apply the magnetic field. Alternatively, the pin can include a magnet and the release can be a ferro-magnetic material, which can include another magnet. The requirement of the release thus ensures that only authorized personnel can remove the closure member to gain access to the interior of the container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] In the drawings:

[0014] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an air-tight storage container having the closure device located at its top end;

[0015] FIG. 2 is an assembly view of the closure device and its components;

[0016] FIG. 3 is an exploded sectional view of one embodiment the closure member and frame of FIG. 2;

[0017] FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the leading and trailing thread stop surfaces and of another embodiment of the closure member and frame; and

[0018] FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the lock 25 of the closure device of FIG. 2

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] The present invention generally relates to a locking closure device for use with air-tight storage containers. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an air-tight container 5 illustrating the basic components of one embodiment of the present invention. The container 5 stores a product within its interior and includes an air-tight dispenser 10 attached at a bottom end for dispensing the product stored therein. Because it is desirable to maintain the freshness of the product stored within the container 5, a modified atmosphere may be maintained within the container's interior. Such a modified atmosphere may thus require that the interior of the container 5 be maintained under a positive pressure, as when an inert, oxygen-depleted gas is maintained, or a negative pressure, as when an oxygen-depleted vacuum is maintained, all to preserve the freshness of the stored product. Maintenance of these modified conditions thus requires that the container 5 be sealed in an air-tight manner while at the same time allowing access to the contents or interior of the container. A closure device 15 is thus located at the top end of the container 5 to facilitate these needs.

[0020] While FIG. 1 shows closure device 15 located at the top end of the storage container 5, it is understood that the closure device can be located at the bottom end of the container 5 as well, thus replacing the dispenser 10. Furthermore, it is understood that the closure device 15 need not be positioned horizontally in relation to the container 5. It thus may be positioned vertically, angled in relation to the container 5, or positioned in relation to the container 5 in any way dictated by the location of the container's opening, where ever located.

[0021] FIGS. 2 and 3 show an assembly view and a sectional view, respectively, of one embodiment of the closure device 15 of the container 5 illustrated in FIG. 1. The locking closure device 15 has a closure member 20 that is adapted to be removably mounted to the container 5 to removably seal the opening of the container. While the closure member 20 may be removably mounted to the container 5 directly, it is mounted to the container 5 in the preferred embodiment of the invention via a frame 30, to be discussed further. A lock 25, operable between locked and unlocked positions, is operably mounted to both the closure member 20 and the container 5.

[0022] Like closure member 20, although the lock 25 can be operably mounted to the container 5 directly, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, it is operably mounted to the container 5 via the frame 30, as illustrated in FIG. 2. The lock 25 limits an access to the interior of the container 5 only to those individuals having the authority to unlock the lock 25 because it requires a release that utilizes a magnetic field, to be discussed further, to move it from the locked to the unlocked position. Presumably, only individuals having the authority to access the container 5 would have possession of the release.

[0023] The locking closure device includes stop surfaces and optionally a gasket, to be discussed further, located between the closure member and container or frame that sealingly contact one another when the lock is in the locked position. The location of the lock 25 in relation to the closure member 20 ensures that the seal created by the stop surfaces and or gasket is optimized when the lock 25 is in the locked position. To ensure that the seal is optimized and that the prevention of unauthorized access is automatically imposed, the lock 25 is biased in the locked position and moves to the locked position automatically during the mounting of the closure member 20 to the frame 30 or container 5.

[0024] Again referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the closure member 20 is comprised of a round disk 21 having a lower surface defining a first stop 24 and a downwardly directed wall 22 located at its outer periphery. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, closure member 20 is made of plastic. However, it is understood that closure member 20 may also be made out of wood, non-ferrous metal (to be discussed further), or any other non-ferrous material having similar rigidity and air-tight qualities. Closure member 20 has one or more closure member threads 23 located on the inner surface of wall 22 to facilitate the threaded engagement of the member 20 with the other components of the device. While the closure member threads 23 are located on the inner wall 22 of closure member 20, it is understood that the closure member threads 23 can also be located on the outer surface of the wall 22 as well, so long as they engage the threads located on the other components of the device.

[0025] While it is understood that the closure member may be mounted directly to the container 5, in the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the mounting of the closure member 20 to the container 5 is defined by the threaded engagement between the closure member 20 and frame 30. Frame 30 is comprised of an annulus 31, with a cylindrical extension 32 directed upwardly therefrom, the extension having an upper surface defining a second stop 36. Frame threads 33 are located on the outer surface of cylindrical extension 32 for engagement with the closure member threads 23. Frame 30, in turn, is connected to the container by any conventional means, to include heat welding, glue, interference fit, or snap-fit. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, frame 30 is circumscribed by a depending flange 34 extending downwardly from the annulus 31 to form a groove 37 to receive an insertion of the peripheral end of the container 5 therein. In assembly, an elastomeric compound, adhesive, or other bonding agent is provided in the groove to both seal and affix the frame 30 to the container 5. Regardless of the method of attaching the frame 30 to the container 5, the fit between the two should be air-tight.

[0026] Alternatively, leading and trailing thread stop surfaces 29 and 39 may also be integrated into the threads 23 and 33 of the same components. FIG. 4 is an illustration of the closure member 20 threadedly engaged with the frame 30. To better illustrate the relationship between the threads 23 of the closure member 20 and the threads 33 of the frame 30, a portion of the wall 22 of the closure member 20 has been removed to provide a sectional view. In the embodiment of the closure device illustrated in FIG. 4, the leading and trailing thread stop surfaces 29 and 39 are located at the leading and training ends of threads 33 and 23, respectively, of the closure member 20 and frame 30. With this configuration, leading thread stop surface 29, located at the leading end of the thread 33, contacts the trailing thread stop surface 39, located at the trailing end of thread 23, during the threaded engagement of the closure member 20 to the frame 30.

[0027] Although not illustrated, it is understood that in another embodiment of the invention, the leading thread stop surface 29 could be located at the leading end of thread 23 of the closure member 20 while the trailing thread stop surface 39 is located at the trailing end of thread 33 of the frame 30, with the stop surfaces contacting one another during the threaded engagement of the closure member to the frame 30. Regardless of the thread stop configuration utilized, the leading and trailing thread stop surfaces 29 and 39, if used in addition to the first and second stop surfaces 24 and 36, are rotationally oriented about the closure member 20 and frame 30 to ensure that they contact one another when the first and second stop surfaces 24 and 36 contact one another and a gasket, if utilized.

[0028] Like the airtight connection between the frame 30 and container 5, the engagement between the closure member 20 and frame 30 should also be air-tight. In one embodiment of the invention, the closure member 20 is threadedly rotated onto the frame 30 until the first stop surface 24 of the closure member sealingly engages the second stop surface 36 of the frame 30 to form a sealing contact therewith. The air-tight connection between the two components may thus be facilitated if their respective structures are designed to engage one another under close tolerances. For example, in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, if the first stop surface 24 and the closure member threads 23 of closure member 20 have a close tolerance to sealingly contact the second stop surface 36 of the frame 30, any spaces or gaps existing between these components during the threaded engagement between closure member 20 and frame 30 are minimized, thus creating an air-tight seal between the two.

[0029] If the tolerances between the components are not sufficiently close to create an air-tight seal, then a gasket 38 (FIG. 3) can optionally be placed between the closure member 20 and frame 30 prior to their threaded engagement to one another. The gasket is generally ring-shaped, made of a deformable, elastomeric material, and has a pre-determined thickness to ensure that an interference fit exists between the closure member 20 and frame 30 when the two are threadedly engaged to one another.

[0030] In the preferred embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 3, the gasket 38 is attached to the upper end of the cylindrical extension 32 of the frame 30 within ring 35 to engage the first stop surface 24 of the closure member 20. The gasket can be secured within ring 35 by adhesive, resistance fit, or similar means. With the gasket 38 located within ring 35 of the frame 30, the first stop surface 24 of the closure member 20 sealingly contacts the gasket 38 and or the second stop surface 36 to create an air-tight seal between the closure member 20 and frame 30 when the two are threadedly engaged to one another. While ring 35 and gasket 38 are illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 as being located on the frame 30 for engagement with first stop surface 24 located on the closure member 20, it is understood that the gasket 38 and ring 35 could be located on the closure member 20 as well so that the second stop surface 36 of the frame 30 sealingly contacts the gasket 38 and or first stop surface 24 during the engagement of the closure member 20 to the frame 30. It is further understood that the gasket 38 can be located between the closure member 15 and container 5 directly if the frame 30 is not utilized.

[0031] The seal created between the closure member 20 and frame 30 is important to maintaining the air-tight state of the container 5. As such, it would be detrimental to any product stored within the container if the seal between the closure member 20 and frame 30 was not optimized. The air-tight seal between the closure member 20 and frame 30 may be not be optimized due to an under-tightening of the closure member 20 to the frame 30. This under-tightening may compromise the air-tight seal between the closure member 20 and frame 30 of the container 5 where the under-tightening operation causes the first stop surface 24 of the closure member to not fully engage the second stop surface 36 of the frame 30.

[0032] An under-tightening of the closure member 20 to the frame 30 may also compromise the air-tight seal between the two where the under-tightening operation causes the first stop surface 24 of the closure member to not sealingly contact the gasket 38, in addition to the second stop surface 36 of the frame 30. A less than sealing contact between the two causes the elastomeric gasket 38 to not compress sufficiently to fill any voids existing between the first stop surface 24 of closure member 20 and the gasket of the frame 30 or container 5. Air may leak through these voids thus compromising the modified atmosphere within container 5.

[0033] An under-tightening operation between the closure member 20 and frame 30 is prevented and the seal is optimized by the lock 25 because the lock 25 will engage only when the first stop surface 24 of the closure member 20 sealingly contacts the second stop surface 36 of frame 30 and gasket 38, if utilized. Alternatively, if the gasket 38 is located on the closure member 20 instead of the frame 30, the lock 25 will engage, thus also avoiding an under-tightening operation, when the second stop surface 36 of the frame 30 sealingly contacts the first stop surface 24 and gasket 38, if utilized, of the closure member 20. It is noted that the leading and trailing thread stop surfaces 29 and 39, if utilized, contact one another as well when the lock is in the locked position.

[0034] The lock 25 of FIGS. 2 and 3 comprises a housing 40 attached to the closure member 20, a pin 60, movably attached to the housing 40 between locked and unlocked positions, and a receiver 70 attached to the frame 30 for engaging the pin 60. Housing 40, as illustrated in FIG. 2, is a cylindrically shaped lobe attached to the outer periphery of the closure member 20. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the lobe is integral with the plastic closure member 20. However, it is understood that the lobe can be a separate component attached to the outer periphery of closure member 20 as well. It is further understood that the housing 40 could be mounted to the inner structure of the closure member 20 as well. It is noted that the housing 40, like the closure member 20, is made out of a non-ferrous material. The non-ferrous composition of the housing 40 and closure member 20 is important because of the operation of the pin 60, to be discussed further.

[0035] Now turning to FIGS. 2, 3 and 5, which show the components of the lock 25, the housing 40 of the lock 25 includes a through bore 42 defining upper and lower housing openings 43 and 44, respectively. Bore 42, oriented axially perpendicular in relation to the rotational engagement of closure member 20 and frame 30, is dimensioned to accept an insertion of the pin 60 therein. The pin is substantially cylindrical in shape and includes upper and lower ends 63 and 64. Pin 60 is slidably movable along the axis defined by bore 42 of the housing 40 between locked and unlocked positions. When pin 60 is in the unlocked position, the pin's lower end 64 is located concentrically within and preferably axially coincident with the lower housing opening 44. When pin 60 is in the locked position, the lower end 64 of pin 60 protrudes axially out of the lower housing opening 44 to engage the receiver 70, to be discussed further.

[0036] Referring now to FIG. 5, the locked position of pin 60 is defined by peripheral flange 65. The peripheral flange 65 is located around the outer periphery of pin 60 to define a concentric segment of the pin 60 having a larger diameter than that the remainder of the pin. The flange 65 is preferably axially located proximal to the pin's top end 63. The flange 65 of pin 60 coacts with a peripheral face 45 located within housing bore 42. The peripheral face of bore 42 is defined by a housing first counter-bore 46, which has an outer diameter larger than that of bore 42. The first counter-bore 46 extends axially from housing upper opening 43 towards approximately the axial center of bore 42 by a distance preferably equivalent to that of the lower end of the pin 60 pin when protruding out of lower housing opening 44 when in the locked position.

[0037] Thus, when pin 60 is in the locked position, the peripheral flange 65 of pin 60 abuts with the peripheral face 45 within bore 42, with the lower end 64 of the pin extending out of the lower opening 44 of the housing to engage the receiver 70. When pin 60 is in the unlocked position, the pin's peripheral flange 65 is axially displaced from the bore's peripheral face 45 by a distance required to make the pin's lower end 64 fall preferably concentrically coincident with the lower opening 44 of the housing.

[0038] Pin 60 is held within housing 40 by barrier 47, which fits within second counter-bore 48. Second counter-bore 48, preferably located at housing upper opening 43, has a diameter to accept an insertion of the barrier 47 therein. The barrier 47 can be fixably attached within second counter-bore 48 via adhesive, resistance fit, heat welding, or similar means. Once barrier 47 is attached to the second counter-bore 48 of housing 40, pin 60 is effectively prevented from exiting the bore 42 through opening 43.

[0039] Referring again to FIGS. 2, 3 and 5, when in the locked position, the pin 60 engages the receiver 70 of lock 25. The receiver 70, similar to the housing 40, is a cylindrically shaped projection attached to the outer periphery of the frame 30. In the preferred embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 2, the projection is integral with the plastic frame 30. However, it is understood that the projection be can be a separate component attached to the outer periphery of the frame 30 as well. It is further understood that the receiver 70 could be mounted to the inner periphery of the frame 30 as well. It is noted that the receiver 70, frame 30 and closure member 20, are made out of a non-ferrous material. The non-ferrous composition of the housing 40 and closure member 20 is important because of the operation of the pin 60, to be discussed.

[0040] The receiver 70 of the lock 25 includes a void 72 defining an upper receiver opening 73 within an upper surface 75. Void 72, preferably oriented axially perpendicular in relation to the rotational engagement of closure member 20 and frame 30, is dimensioned to accept an insertion of the pin 60 therein. It is noted that when the pin 60 is in the locked position, the pin 60 is centered over the receiver 70. The lower end 64 of pin 60 is located within the void 72 of the receiver 70 while the remainder of the pin is located within the housing 40, thus fully enclosing the pin 60. With the pin being fully enclosed while in the locked position, the pin is not susceptible to tampering in an attempt to gain unauthorized access to the interior of the container 5.

[0041] The receiver 70 also includes at least one ramp 76 that extends laterally from the leading side of the surface 75. Ramp 76, oriented laterally and approximately concentric with the outer periphery of the frame 30, has an upper edge that lies parallel with and joins the receiver surface 75. The lower edge of the ramp lies a predetermined distance below the upper edge to ensure that the lower edge falls below the lower end 64 of pin 60 when protruding from the lower opening 44 of the housing 40. The configuration of the ramp 76, having a lower edge lying below the lower end 64 of pin 60 and an upper edge parallel with surface 75, thus guides the lower end 64 of pin 60 upwardly towards surface 75 and into void 72 when the closure member is rotated to threadedly engage frame 30.

[0042] With regard to the application of the lock 25 to the closure member of the container 5, it is noted that the receiver of the lock 25, to include the void 72 and ramps 76 and 77, can be mounted directly to the container itself if frame 30 is not utilized. With this configuration, closure member 20 would engage threads located on the container 5 itself, with any gasket utilized located between the two. The upper components of the lock 25 that are located on the closure member 20, to include the housing 40 and pin 60, would thus operably engage the receiver 70 attached directly to the container itself in lieu of the frame 30.

[0043] In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3 and 5, pin 60 is biased towards the locked position by the forces of gravity. A gravity-induced bias is possible because the pin 60 is freely slidable within housing bore 42, with the locked position being located downwardly of the unlocked position. However, it is understood that the locked position may also occur upwardly of the unlocked position (i.e. if the closure member 20 and frame are positioned upside-down in relation to container 5), with a spring thus being substituted for the force of gravity to bias the pin 60 into the locked position. For example, a compression coil spring (not shown) could be located within counter-bore 46 of the housing 40 between the barrier 47 and pin upper end 63 to influence the pin 60 into the locked position. Similarly, a magnet (not shown) could be located within the void 72 of the receiver 70 to bias the pin 60 towards the locked position by drawing the end 64 of the pin, made of a ferro-magnetic material, into the void.

[0044] To unlock the closure device 15, a release 8 (FIG. 1) is utilized to move the pin 60 from the locked position to the unlocked position. In one embodiment of the invention, the pin 60 is made of a ferro-magnetic material that can be influenced by the force of a magnetic field, with the release 8 comprising a magnet to induce pin 60 from the locked to the unlocked position. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 1, the magnetic release 8 is held proximal to the barrier 47 of housing 40 to slide the pin upwardly within the bore 42 to the unlocked position. Of course, the magnetic force of the magnetic release 8 should exceed the weight of the pin 60 to make the unlocking operation possible. If a spring, however, is used in place of the force of gravity to bias pin 60 towards the locked position, the magnetic force of the magnetic release 8 would exceed the compressive force of the spring as well to move the pin 60 into the unlocked position. Similarly, if a magnet is used within the receiver to bias the pin 60 towards the locked position, the magnetic force of the release 8 should exceed that of the magnet within the receiver 70 to move the pin towards the unlocked position.

[0045] In another embodiment of the invention, the pin 60 itself comprises a magnet with the release 8 made from a ferro-magnetic material, again utilizing the force of a magnetic field to induce pin 60 from the locked to the unlocked position. This has the advantage that the release 8 need only be made of a ferro-magnetic material such as a pocket knife or other readily available steel object. Alternatively, both the pin 60 and the release 8 can be made of ferro-magnetic materials that are also magnets. Similar to the above embodiment of the invention, the ferro-magnetic release 8 is held proximal to the barrier 47 of housing 40 to slide the pin upwardly within the bore 42 to the unlocked position. However, in this embodiment, the magnetic force of the pin 60 should exceed the pin's weight to make the unlocking operation possible. Likewise, if a spring, is used in place of the force of gravity to bias pin 60 towards the locked position, the magnetic force of the magnetic pin would exceed the compressive force of the spring as well to move the pin 60 into the unlocked position.

[0046] The locations of the housing 40 and receiver 70 of the lock 25 in relation to the closure member 20 and frame 30 (or container), respectively, are important to optimizing the seal created by the threaded engagement of the closure member 20 and frame 30. The peripheral locations for the housing 40 and receiver 70 are determined based upon the type and pitch of the closure member and frame threads 23 and 33, and their relation to the first and second stop surfaces 24 and 36 of the closure member 20 and frame 30, respectively. The housing and receiver locations are also related to the locations of the leading and trailing thread stop surfaces 29 and 39, if utilized, on the closure member 20 and frame 30. The peripheral locations of the housing 40 and receiver 70 may also be determined by the thickness and material composition of the gasket 38, if a gasket is utilized between the closure member 20 and frame 70.

[0047] Based upon the thread type and pitch, or based upon the thickness and composition of the gasket 38, the closure member 20 can be rotated to a rotational location in relation to frame 30 until the first stop surface 24 of the closure member 20 sealingly contacts the second stop surface 36 of the frame 30 or the second stop surface 36 and gasket 38, if utilized. Alternatively, if the gasket 38 is located on the closure member 20 instead of the frame 30, the closure member 20 can be rotated to a rotational location in relation to frame 30 until the second stop surface 36 of the frame 30 sealingly contacts the fist stop surface 24 and gasket 38, if utilized, of the closure member 20. At these locations, the seal is optimized between the closure member 30 and frame 70 and the closure member 20 is not under-tightened in relation to the frame 30 or container 5. Also at this location, leading and trailing thread stop surfaces 29 and 39, if utilized, contact one another. It is at this location that the lock 25 is placed peripherally in relation to the closure member 20 and frame 30, with the housing 40 peripherally located on the closure member and the receiver 70 peripherally located on the frame 30 to ensure that the housing and receiver bores 42 and 72 are axially aligned to facilitate a locking of the pin 60 between the two.

[0048] Once the pin 60 rotationally secures the closure member to the frame 70, the seal existing between the two is optimized and maintained. Furthermore, with the pin 60 located in the locked position to prevent rotation from occurring between the closure member 20 and frame 30, the closure device 15 is effectively locked until the release 8 is applied to move the pin 60 from the locked to the unlocked position.

[0049] In operation, a frame of the closure device, if utilized, is sealingly secured to the container proximal to the container's opening. A gasket may be placed within the ring of the frame if desired. Contents may then be deposited into the container through the container's opening and through the frame of the closure device. The closure member is then placed onto the frame of the closure device for rotational engagement with the frame. It is noted that prior to the threaded engagement between the closure member and frame, the pin of the lock is biased to protrude from the lower opening of the housing. As the closure member is threadedly engaged with the frame, the lower end of the pin is guided up the ramp to the receiver's upper surface, and into the void of the receiver. When the pin is located within the void of receiver, the first stop surface of the closure member sealingly contacts the second stop surface of the frame and gasket, if a gasket is utilized, to form an air-tight seal between the closure member and frame. Alternatively, the second stop surface could sealingly contact the first stop surface and gasket, if utilized, to form the air-tight seal. Also, the leading and trailing thread stop surfaces, if utilized, contact one another. With the pin located in the receiver, the closure member is effectively locked to the frame, thus preventing an unauthorized access to the interior of the container through the closure device. To unlock the closure device, the release is placed above the lock, proximal to the upper end of the housing. The release then utilizes the force of a magnetic field to move the pin from the locked to the unlocked position to again facilitate the rotation of the closure member and to allow access to the interior of the container.

Claims

1. A locking closure device for a container comprising:

a closure member adapted to be removably mounted to the container by rotation and defining a first stop surface that contacts a second stop surface defined by the container when the closure member is in a closed position;

a lock operably mounted to the closure member and container and having a pin enclosed by the lock, the pin being biased towards a locked position and movable to the locked position through the rotation of the closure member, the pin located in the locked position when the closure member is in the closed position and movable to an unlocked position through the use of a magnetic field; and

a release operably associated with the magnetic field to move the pin from the locked position to the unlocked position.

2. The closure device of claim 1 wherein the lock includes a housing mounted to the closure member with the pin movably mounted within the housing, the lock further including a receiver mounted to the container and having a surface defining a void for receiving a lower end of the pin when in the locked position, the receiver having at least one ramp operable with the surface for guiding the lower end of the pin to the void during the rotation of the closure member.

3. The closure device of claim 1 wherein the pin includes a ferro-magnetic material and the release includes a magnet.

4. The closure device of claim 1 wherein the pin includes a magnet and the release includes a ferro-magnetic material.

5. The closure device of claim 2 wherein the first and second stop surfaces contact one another when the pin is centered over the receiver.

6. The closure device of claim 5 further including leading and trailing thread stop surfaces located between the closure member and container that contact one another when the lock is in the locked position.

7. The closure device of claim 1 further including a gasket located between the closure member and container, the first stop surface in contact with the gasket when the lock is in the locked position.

8. The closure device of claim 7 further including leading and trailing thread stop surfaces located between the closure member and container that contact one another when the lock is in the locked position.

9. The closure device of claim 1 further including a gasket located between the closure member and container, the second stop surface in contact with the gasket when the lock is in the locked position.

10. The closure device of claim 9 further including leading and trailing thread stop surfaces located between the closure member and container that contact one another when the lock is in the locked position.

11. The closure device of claim 1 wherein the bias of the lock towards the locked position is gravity induced.

12. A locking closure device for a container comprising:

a closure member having a first stop surface and adapted to be removably mounted by rotation to a frame attached to the container and defining a second stop surface, the first stop surface in contact with the second stop surface when the closure member is in a closed position;

a lock operably mounted to the closure member and frame and having a pin enclosed by the lock, the pin being biased towards a locked position and movable to the locked position through the rotation of the closure member, the pin located in the locked position when the closure member is in the closed position and movable to an unlocked position through the use of a magnetic field; and

a release operably associated with the magnetic field to move the pin from the locked position to the unlocked position.

13. The closure device of claim 12 wherein the lock includes a housing mounted to the closure member with the pin movably mounted within the housing, the lock further including a receiver mounted to the frame and having a surface defining a void for receiving a lower end of the pin when in the locked position, the receiver having at least one ramp operable with the surface for guiding the lower end of the pin to the void during the rotation of the closure member.

14. The closure device of claim 12 wherein the pin includes a ferro-magnetic material and the release includes a magnet.

15. The closure device of claim 12 wherein the pin includes a magnet and the release includes a ferro-magnetic material.

16. The closure device of claim 13 wherein the first and second stop surfaces contact one another when the pin is centered over the receiver.

17. The closure device of claim 16 further including leading and trailing thread stop surfaces located between the closure member and frame that contact one another when the lock is in the locked position.

18. The closure device of claim 12 further including a gasket located between the closure member and frame, the first stop surface in contact with the gasket when the lock is in the locked position.

19. The closure device of claim 18 further including leading and trailing thread stop surfaces located between the closure member and frame that contact one another when the lock is in the locked position.

20. The closure device of claim 12 further including a gasket located between the closure member and frame, the second stop surface in contact with the gasket when the lock is in the locked position.

21. The closure device of claim 20 further including leading and trailing thread stop surfaces located between the closure member and frame that contact one another when the lock is in the locked position.

22. A method for removably applying a closure device to a container comprising:

rotatably moving a closure member on the container in a first direction;

moving a lower end of a ferro-magnetic pin operably mounted to a housing on the closure member into the housing with a receiver mounted to the container through further rotation of the closure member in the first direction;

creating a seal between the closure member and container and moving the lower end of the pin into a void located in the receiver through further rotation of the closure member in the first direction;

moving the lower end of the pin from the void to into the housing with a magnetic field; and

rotatably moving the closure member on the container in a second direction.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the seal is created by contacting first and second stop surfaces located between the closure member and container.

24. The method of claim 22 wherein the seal is created by contacting a first or second stop surface with a gasket located between the closure member and container.