Encompassing Closure Removal Obstacle And Closure Engaging For Concurrent Movement Patents (Class 215/219)
  • Publication number: 20040173561
    Abstract: A child-resistant package includes a plastic container having a body, an externally threaded finish, and a shoulder coupling the finish to the body and having an outer axially facing surface. A deflectable release element is integrally cantilevered from an exterior surface of the finish adjacent to the outer axially facing surface of the container shoulder, and a locking lug is provided on the release element. A plastic closure has an internally threaded skirt for receipt over the externally threaded finish and a locking lug on the skirt for engagement with the locking lug on the release element to prevent unthreading of the closure from the finish. Manual flexure of the release element moves the locking lug on the release element out of engagement with the locking lug on the skirt to permit removal of the closure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2003
    Publication date: September 9, 2004
    Inventor: Steven R. Wolfe
  • Publication number: 20040169000
    Abstract: A push-and-turn container and closure cap combination provided. Cap (1) has an inner skirt (3) with H (10) is a screw thread (4) which co-operates with a screw threaded neck (11) of the container, and a sprung outer skirt (5) which surrounds inner skirt (3). Container (10) has a locking ring (15) with two slots (16,17); cap (1) has two lugs (7,8) which engage in slots (16,17) when the cap (1) is fully screwed on to the container (10) and the outer skirt is in a first, rest position thereby preventing the cap from being unscrewed. Outer skirt (5) can be moved to a second, stressed position in which lugs (7,8) disengage from slots (16,17) to allow partial unscrewing until lugs (7,8) are aligned with the opposite slot (17,16). The resilient component of the outer skirt (5) urges it back to the first, rest position and lugs (7,8) pass through slots (16,17) due to axial movement of inner skirt (3) during the partial unscrewing. Thereafter cap (1) can be fully unscrewed from the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2004
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Inventor: Christopher Paul Ramsey
  • Publication number: 20030168423
    Abstract: A container having a neck, a safety closure and a dispenser. The dispenser is a barrier film affixed to the neck so as to seal the opening to the container during shipping and before use by the consumer. The barrier film has an aperture through which the container contents may be dispensed. The aperture is sealed by the manufacturer prior to use by the consumer. The container with safety closure and dispenser is particularly well suited for storing and dispensing potentially harmful products that are prone to leakage from unsealed containers, such as low viscosity hydrocarbons. The device is designed so as to use containers and safety closures known in the art, therefore reducing the cost of adapting safety closure advantages to product containment requiring dispensing means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2003
    Publication date: September 11, 2003
    Applicant: Rexam Medical Packaging Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas M. Williams
  • Patent number: 6609637
    Abstract: A closure cap for closing the opening of a bottle container. A neck of the bottle container includes a latching projection. The closure cap includes a latching arm attached to a ring (R), which circumferentially encircles the neck of the bottle container underneath the latching projection. The ring (R) includes a length store (L) and an undergripping projection. The length store allows the ring (R) to be flexed so that the diameter of the ring is large enough to pass over the latching projection. The undergripping projection is located on the upper side of the ring and sits against the latching projection when the ring (R) is in an unflexed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignee: Alpla Weke Alwin Lehner GmbH & Co.KG
    Inventor: Udo Suffa
  • Patent number: 6561370
    Abstract: A cap with a double function ring is provided, which furnishes the features of showing it has been opened and of being child proof. The ring comprises two pieces of the same size joined to the cap. One of the pieces will be released from the cam when opening the container is attempted, the other piece will remain joined to the cap, when the container is being opened, it will be necessary to press two opposite ends of the double function ring, for the purpose of releasing the movement preventing elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Inventor: Miguel Francisco Escobar-Harrity
  • Publication number: 20020166834
    Abstract: A modified thread design for use with a bottle and child resistant closure combination is described. The thread varies in thickness from the first end of the thread to the second end, but the thread pitch remains constant as the thread thickness varies. The modified thread design affects the rate at which the closure rises or falls along the bottle neck, and in a preferred embodiment, the thicknesses of the thread and the thread pitch are selected to allow the closure to rise at a rate that allows cap lugs on the closure to clear bottle lugs on the neck with no more than one revolution of the closure, and falls at a rate that allows the safety features to be engaged when the cap lugs pass over the bottle lugs one time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2001
    Publication date: November 14, 2002
    Inventors: Mark K. Branson, Narda A. Jones
  • Patent number: 6296130
    Abstract: Screw on caps for bottles that have an anti back off feature formed on a hinged tab of the cap engaging detent teeth below the threads on the bottle. The hinge has a unique configuration that enables the tab to snap into and hold a gripping position while avoiding temporary distortion or creep. The detent teeth are particularly suited for use with blow molded bottles and are capable of restraining a cap within a small angle of a fully tightened position to avoid any significant back off and potential leakage. In one embodiment, the anti back off feature is provided in a child resistant cap while in another embodiment this feature is provided in a simpler continuous thread cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: Weatherchem Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Forsyth, Charles A. Webster, Douglas S. Martin, James P. Black, Bradford R. Seaman
  • Patent number: 6279766
    Abstract: A safety closure including a top wall, a side wall depending from the top wall, and a locking tab projecting outwardly from the side wall, the locking tab having a reinforced end integrally connected to the side wall and a free end connected to the side wall by a biasing strap, wherein the reinforced end of the locking tab inhibits movement of the free end of the locking tab in at least an upward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Rexam Medical Packaging Inc.
    Inventors: Narda A. Jones, Todd E. Mathes, Jeffrey C. Minnette, Gary V. Montgomery, William J. Shankland
  • Patent number: 6202869
    Abstract: A child-resistant/senior-friendly container includes a cap assembly having a retainer that is adapted to thread onto the container, and an outer skirt loosely fitted around the retainer. The skirt includes at least one grasping member which is pivotal between a disengaged position wherein the skirt may freely rotate with respect to the retainer and an engaged position wherein the skirt engages the retainer. In the engaged position, both the skirt and the retainer may be rotated and removed from the container. The retainer cannot be rotated when the grasping member is located in the disengaged position. A handle may be attached to the skirt, between two opposing and pivotal grasping members so provide leverage in rotating the cap from the container when the grasping members are in the engaged position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Inventor: Scott L Sullivan
  • Patent number: 6176381
    Abstract: A child resistant container system includes an open top container having screw threads cooperating with screw threads on a closure cap. The cap is locked in the screwed on position by a reciprocating or pivotal latch mounted to the container which slides or pivots into a recess on the cap. Preferably a stop element, such as a stop ring, having a recess cooperating with the cap recess, is also provided, the latch moving into the aligned recesses on the cap and stop element to securely preclude rotation of the cap with respect to the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Inventor: Stanley C. Mader
  • Patent number: 6112779
    Abstract: The capsule (11), which can be screwed onto the threaded neck (3) of the bottle, coaxially forms the cylinder (15) of the syringe device; an element (21) inside the capsule (11) and surrounding the cylinder (15) forms an annular leaktight seal (21A) which can be tightened onto the edge (3B) of the neck (3) and fits inside the bottle neck by means of a shaped extension piece (21B); said element (21) accommodates, via a central hole, the cylinder (15) of the syringe device and surrounds it with an annular lip (21C) which extends toward the center of the bottle so as to wipe the outer surface of the cylinder as the capsule is fitted with a safety cap (29) and a seal (33).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: Project s.a.s.di Massimo Menichelli & C.
    Inventor: Maffei Camilla
  • Patent number: 6036036
    Abstract: The child-resistant package (100) can be readily opened by an adult with a one-hand operation. The pushtab (123, 123'), which together with the interlocking tooth (119) form the child-resistant feature of the package, is placed on the closure (120). Therefore, an adult user may easily depress said pushtab and at the same time disengage said closure to open said package by using only one hand for both operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Nady Bilani, Johan Willy Declerck, Jelle Dankert Vuijk, Maurizio Pucci
  • Patent number: 6016930
    Abstract: An adapter band for use on a closure, the closure being threadingly engageable with a container neck portion, the container neck portion having at least one locking ramp projecting therefrom, the adapter band providing an annular ring having a groove on an inner surface thereof, the groove being sized to receive an annular lip projecting outwardly from a lower end of the closure; a locking lug extending downwardly from the groove mateable with a recess in the annular lip; and, at least one locking tab projecting from the annular ring, the at least one locking tab being engageable with the at least one locking ramp provided on the container neck portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2000
    Assignee: Rexam Plastics Inc.
    Inventors: Todd E. Mathes, Randall G. Bush
  • Patent number: 5947310
    Abstract: A combination bottle and screw closure for containing wine therein. The bottle includes internally disposed threads within a lower portion of the neck of the bottle for receiving the external threads of the lower end of a screw closure which is inserted into the opening of the bottle and rotated for securement therein. The positioning of the threads in the lower portion of the neck of the bottle affords a smooth and consistent pour of the wine from the bottle. In an alternative embodiment, the opening of the bottle and the screw closure are provided with a tamper resistant features to prevent opening of the bottle by a child. In a third embodiment, an insert and complementary screw closure are provided for retrofitting existing wine bottles not having internally disposed threads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Inventor: David C. Wagner
  • Patent number: 5927527
    Abstract: The present closure and container combination comprises a child resistant squeeze and turn closure having a tamper indicating band which is removed from the closure after the first removal of the closure from the container. The closure has dual squeeze pads located opposite one another on the outer wall of the closure. Formed at 90 degrees from the squeeze pads are two child resistant lugs which extend inwardly from the closure lower skirt wall. The child resistant lugs extend downwardly below the lowermost edge of the annular skirt of the closure. Frangible webs are positioned at 45 degrees from the external tabs and the squeeze pads and retain the tamper indicating band onto the closure side wall. A first and a second child resistant container lug contacts the closure lugs and are placed on the neck of the container above the tamper indicating bead. The child resistant feature of the closure needs to be overcome before the tamper indicating band is fractured from the closure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Rexam Plastics, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary V. Montgomery, Elizabeth Rudolph, Mark K. Branson, Jeffrey C. Minnette, C. Ed Luker
  • Patent number: 5918752
    Abstract: A tamper-evident squeeze-and-turn child-resistant closure includes separate inner and outer caps each of integral monolithic plastic composition. The inner cap comprises a skirt with internal threads having application and removal lugs extending radially outwardly therefrom. The outer cap comprises an outer skirt having application lugs extending radially inwardly therefrom for engagement with the application lugs on the inner skirt to thread the closure onto a container. A pair of diametrically opposed tabs on the outer skirt have inwardly extending removal lugs for engagement with the removal lugs on the inner skirt to unthread the closure from the container. The tabs are resiliently joined at one end to the skirt, and are joined to the skirt at an opposing end by frangible links that rupture upon first inward movement of the tabs to indicate possible tampering with the closure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1999
    Assignee: Owens-Illinois Closure Inc.
    Inventor: Todd W. Meyer
  • Patent number: 5915576
    Abstract: A double wall squeeze-and-turn child-resistant safety closure wherein skirt flexure stiffening web ribs are integrally molded into the closure so as to extend radially between the mutually facing wall surfaces of the skirts. The ribs are arranged in two sets of diametrically opposed web pairs generally angularly registered with an associated one of the pair of diametrically opposed outer wall squeeze zones. Each rib is also integrally joined to the closure base wall and protrudes therefrom axially of the closure a predetermined distance greater than the axial thickness of the peripheral region of the closure base wall that is joined to the ribs to thereby shift the outer skirt wall flexure swing point. Each pair of ribs is angularly spaced from one another on the closure base wall one on either side of and closely adjacent to a plane oriented at about 90 degrees to a plane intersecting the closure CR lugs to further localize the squeeze zone area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Assignee: Owens-Illinois Closure Inc.
    Inventor: Philip J. Robinson
  • Patent number: 5893473
    Abstract: A child-resistant closure includes an inner cap threadable mountable to a container, and an outer cap attached to the inner cap and freely rotatable relative to the inner cap during a child-resistant mode, and interconnected with the inner cap for removal of the closure from the container when the closure is in a non-child-resistant mode. An intermediate member is rotatably mounted between the inner cap and the outer cap and movable between a first position prohibiting the inner and outer caps from being interconnected for removal from the container and a second position permitting the manipulation of the outer cap relative to the inner cap for interconnecting the inner and outer caps for removal of the closure from the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1999
    Inventor: Glenn H. Morris, Sr.
  • Patent number: 5865330
    Abstract: A child-resistant cap and container including an inner and an outer skirt depending downwardly from the top wall of the cap. The inner skirt has an internally threaded surface for engagement with the externally threaded neck of the container. The outer skirt has a pair of longitudinal slots defined in the bottom portion of the outer skirt for forming a flexible tab therebetween. A tooth is radially spaced from the container neck for edgewise engagement with the tab when the cap is in its locked position. The locked cap can be removed from the container only by depressing the tab inwardly to clear the tooth as the cap is rotated in a retrograde or opening direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignee: Van Blarcom Closures, Inc.
    Inventor: Caetano Buono
  • Patent number: 5794803
    Abstract: A child-resistant closure and dispensing container package in which the measuring cup has a second, exterior annular wall forming threads engageable with threads on the neck of a container and child-resistant lock means at a lower portion of the wall engageable with complementary lock means on the container in a locked position to prevent unthreading of the closure from the container until the annular wall is deflected to move the complementary lock means out of engagement with each other to permit rotation of the closure in an unthreading direction. Also a seal is provided to prevent leakage during unthreading movement of the closure between fully closed and a locked position of the closure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Assignee: Rexam Closures, Inc.
    Inventor: William Douglas Sprick
  • Patent number: 5788098
    Abstract: A container with a tamper-resistant closure system has a minimum umber of simple parts yet effectively has a tamper-resistant function. A container neck has an annular flange spaced from an upper opening. A locking ring is positioned surrounding the neck below the annular flange and has a hook element that extends upwardly past the annular flange. A cap closes the upper opening of the neck and has an annular lip at an open end, a notch formed in the lip having a width slightly greater than the width of the hook element. The hook element passes through the notch and then engages the annular lip to prevent detachment of the cap unless the hook element and notch are aligned. The locking ring may have an inwardly-extending radial flange which passes through a cut-out in the annular flange to allow the locking ring to be moved into position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1998
    Inventor: Stanley C. Mader
  • Patent number: 5779072
    Abstract: A child resistant package includes a plastic container and a plastic closure. The container includes a body and a finish having an opening. The closure includes a base wall, an outer flexible peripheral skirt and an inner peripheral skirt. Interengaging retaining means on the finish of the container and the inner skirt of said closure restrict relative movement between said container and closure to rotary movement. The plastic closure also includes opposed flexible portions on said outer skirt and opposed lugs on the inner surface of the outer skirt. The container has opposed lugs on the finish engaging said lugs on said closure precluding rotation of said closure unless said flexible portions of said skirt are squeezed. A portion of the base wall of the closure is hinged to the base wall and normally lies in the same plane as the base wall. The container has a securing bead on the finish and the top portion has means engaging the securing bead. The container includes an inclined ramp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Assignee: Owens-Illinois Closure Inc.
    Inventor: John D. Krebs
  • Patent number: 5749484
    Abstract: A child-resistant, tamper-evident closure for a container having an externally threaded neck finish includes a combination of inner and outer caps. The inner cap includes a tamper-evident band which is connected to the inner cap by frangible elements. The inner cap includes folded ratchet-like tabs which are locked in position behind an annular bead. The tabs are arranged so as to engage an annular lip on the neck finish. The outer cap snaps over the inner cap and includes a series of ratchet-like lugs which are directed toward the inner cap. The top surface of the inner cap includes a series of cooperating ratchet-like lugs. So long as a downward force is not exerted on the outer cap, the child-resistant arrangement permits the outer cap to turn relative to the inner cap in a counterclockwise direction. However, when a sufficient downward force is applied, the lugs of the outer cap are drawn into abutment with the cooperating lugs of the inner cap and the outer cap is used to remove the inner cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1998
    Assignee: Rieke Corporation
    Inventor: Stanley D. Trout
  • Patent number: 5743419
    Abstract: A child resistant container closure assembly having a container neck and a container closure where the container closure has an inner part and an outer part. A first set of castellations are located on the inner part. A second set of castellations are located on the outer part and arranged to inter-engage the first set of castellations on the inner part when the outer part is moved axially towards the inner part to permit full torque to be applied to the inner part. A set of resilient blades extend from a first of the inner and outer parts towards a second of the inner and outer parts, the resilient blades bearing against the second of the inner and outer parts to urge the outer part axially in a direction away from the inner part such that the first and second sets of castellations are normally held out of inter-engagement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1998
    Assignee: Beeson and Sons Limited
    Inventor: Roger M. King
  • Patent number: 5711442
    Abstract: A child resistant package including a container having an open end and multiple threads on the external surface of the container adjacent the upper end. A closure having a base wall and a peripheral skirt has an inner surface formed with multiple threads corresponding in number to the multiple threads on the container for engaging the threads on the container. A release element formed integrally on the exterior surface of the container below the threads. The release element includes an integral axial lug extending upwardly toward the open end of the container. The closure has a plurality of circumferentially spaced stops on the inner surface of the skirt of the closure below the threads corresponding in number to the threads on the closure and the number of threads on the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1998
    Assignee: Owens-Illinois Prescription Products Inc.
    Inventor: Maximillian Kusz
  • Patent number: 5706963
    Abstract: The child resistant closure of the present invention comprises a cap having a first skirt portion adapted to be threaded on the neck of a container, and a second skirt portion having a pair diametrically disposed tabs provided with depending lugs adapted to engage a pair of diametrically disposed upwardly extending lugs integral with a ring molded integral with the neck of the container below the thread portion thereon. The lugs on the ring are positioned in proximity to the outer peripheral edge of the ring and are configured so that when screwing the cap onto the container the tab lugs will deflect radially outwardly when ratcheting over the ring lugs. When turning the cap in the opposite direction, the tab lugs engage the ring lugs to prevent removal of the cap. To remove the cap, the tabs are manually pressed radially inwardly away from the ring lugs while the cap is being turned in a direction to unscrew it from the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1998
    Inventor: Frank V. Gargione
  • Patent number: 5687863
    Abstract: A squeeze and turn child resistant package including a container having a finish and a closure having a base wall and an outer peripheral flexible wall depending from the base wall. The wall has an internal thread on the inner surface thereof, the finish has an external thread thereon. The closure has an internal surface with spaced flexible chordal lugs extending circumferentially in the direction of removal of the closure. The container finish has opposed radially extending abutments. Each abutment includes a radial abutting surface. The finish of the container includes an integral radial projection adjacent the radial abutting surface of the abutment which has a lesser radial extent than the abutment. The radial projection has a chordal surface extending to the intersection of the radial abutting surface on he finish such that the chordal lug on the closure is forced toward the intersection when a closure is rotated in a retrograde direction to remove the closure without flexing the peripheral wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1997
    Assignee: Owens-Illinois Closure Inc.
    Inventor: Maximillian Kusz
  • Patent number: 5638970
    Abstract: A closure for a container including an indicator mechanism to record the removal of the closure from the container and a child-resistant mechanism to resist the removal of the closure from the container by a child. A spring in the indicator mechanism urges the indicator mechanism toward the child-resistant mechanism to provide sufficient force to engage the child-resistant mechanism for the attachment of the closure to the container, but not sufficient force to engage the child-resistant mechanism for the removal of the closure from the container, so that an additional external force must be applied to engage the child-resistant mechanism for the removal of the closure from the cap. The additional, external force is also necessary to engage the indicator mechanism, so that the mechanism cannot be inadvertently advanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1997
    Assignee: Senetics, Inc.
    Inventors: Gage L. Garby, Homer J. Brown, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5609262
    Abstract: A child-resistant, tamper-evident closure for sealing an open-topped container having an external thread formed on a neck finish includes a combination of inner and outer caps where the inner cap includes a tamper-evident band which is connected to the remainder of the inner cap by a series of frangible elements. The inner cap further includes a series of folded ratchet-like tabs which are in a locked position behind an annular bead. The tabs are arranged so as to engage an annular lip on the neck finish. The outer cap snaps over the inner cap and includes a series of ratchet teeth which are directed toward the inner cap. The top surface of the inner cap includes a series of depressions which are sized and arranged for engagement with the series of ratchet teeth. The child-resistant arrangement permits the outer cap to turn relative to the inner cap in a counterclockwise direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1997
    Assignee: Rieke Corporation
    Inventor: Stanley D. Trout
  • Patent number: 5590799
    Abstract: A container neck and child-resistant closure for the neck are disclosed. The closure includes an inner part and an outer part, and castellations on the parts which mate when the outer part is displaced axially, to lock the parts together for rotation. A ratchet mechanism including ratchet ramps and cantilever leaf springs biases the inner and outer parts axially and rotationally apart, and allows relative rotation of the parts in one direction of rotation, when the castellations are not engaged. The angle through which outer part has to be turned to enable the castellations to be engaged may be less than 45.degree. and preferably less than 25.degree.. The closure may be moved between fully opened and closed positions by rotation through less than 360.degree. and preferably about 90.degree.. A tamper-evident ring, and a retaining means for retaining the closure in the closed position, may also be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Assignee: Beeson and Sons Limited
    Inventor: Roger M. King
  • Patent number: 5588545
    Abstract: A container neck and child-resistant closure for the neck are disclosed. The closure includes an inner part and an outer part, and castellations on the parts which mate when the outer part is displaced axially, to lock the parts together for rotation. A ratchet mechanism including ratchet ramps and cantilever leaf springs biases the inner and outer parts axially and rotationally apart, and allows relative rotation of the parts in one direction of rotation, when the castellations are not engaged. The angle through which outer part has to be turned to enable the castellations to be engaged may be less than 45.degree. and preferably less than 25.degree.. The closure may be moved between fully opened and closed positions by rotation through less than 360.degree. and preferably about 90.degree.. A tamper-evident ring, and a retaining means for retaining the closure in the closed position, may also be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1996
    Assignee: Beeson and Sons Limited
    Inventor: Roger M. King
  • Patent number: 5579934
    Abstract: A convertible child resistant closure for use with a container having a threaded portion adjacent the container opening, e.g. the container neck, to allow a user to select between a child resistant closure and an easily openable closure depending upon the use and contents of the container. The closure includes coaxial inner and outer caps. The inner cap is defined by a cover wall and a side wall or skirt depending from the cover wall. The side wall includes an inner surface having a threaded portion for engagement with the threaded neck portion of the container, and an outer surface including a child resistant portion comprising a series of angular abutments extending thereabout and a non-child resistant portion axially offset from said child resistant portion and preferably in the form of a row of longitudinally extending knurlings. The outer cap is also defined by a cover wall and a side wall depending from the cover wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1996
    Assignee: Van Blarcom Closures, Inc.
    Inventor: Caetano Buono
  • Patent number: 5524779
    Abstract: The safety closure includes an outer closure member having cylindrical interior walls, and an inner cylinder. The inner cylinder is nested within the interior walls of the outer closure member, and permits normally free rotation of the outer closure member relative to the inner cylinder. Complementary screw threads connect the inner cylinder to a mouth of the container, and cooperate with the outer closure member to lock the safety closure onto the container. A key is permanently secured to the safety closure for unlocking engagement of the complementary screw threads. The key is manipulated by a user to prevent the normally free rotation of the outer closure member relative to the inner cylinder, thus permitting the safety closure to be removed from the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1996
    Inventor: Curtis E. Faile
  • Patent number: 5477989
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1995
    Assignee: AFA Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Wilhelmus J. J. Maas, Petrus L. W. Hurkmans
  • Patent number: 5445283
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a plastics screw cap for container closures which is child-proof, with an inner cap (1) with an internal thread (13) which can be screwed onto a neck or a connecting piece of a container for receiving a closure, and an outer cap (2) which is freely rotatable with respect to the inner cap (1) at least in the direction of opening, wherein between the inner and outer caps (1, 2) engaging elements (7, 8, 9, 10) are provided which can only be engaged in an interference fit when a not exclusively tangential force is applied in the direction of opening, in addition to the tangential force effecting the opening moment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1995
    Assignee: Jacob Berg GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Gunter J. Krautkramer
  • Patent number: 5433329
    Abstract: A child-resistant cap with independent open and close ratchet sets. It includes an inner cap having a top and side walls and having inside surfaces and outside surfaces and an open bottom, and structure for attachment to a container. It also has a flanged base extending outwardly from its side walls, with the flanged base having one-way ratchet members thereon for engagement with an outer collar for locked rotation of an outer collar with the inner cap in a circular, first direction. It also has ratchets located on the outside surface of the top for engagement with an outer cap for rotation of an outer cap with the inner cap in a circular, second direction opposite from said first direction. There is an outer cap having a top and side walls and an open bottom and having inner surfaces and outer surfaces. It is rotatably attached to the inner cap and has ratchets on its inside surface of its top for engagement with the inner cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1995
    Assignee: Primary Delivery Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Jack Weinstein
  • Patent number: 5344035
    Abstract: A child resistant closure for a container wherein an outer cap is freely rotatable on an inner cap. A pair of oppositely extending latch tabs extend through passageways provided in the inner cap into recesses provided in the outer cap to couple the inner and outer caps for removal of the closure from the container. The latch tab members are connected to a manually rotatable hub so that the latch tab members are simultaneously moved to the coupled position. The recesses in the outer cap are provided with cam surfaces engagable with the latch tabs for automatically moving the latch tabs to the released position into the passageways during the securing of the closure to the bottle. Indicia are provided on the outer cap and hub member to indicate when the passageways and recesses are aligned and when the latch tabs have been extended into the recesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1994
    Assignee: Comar Inc.
    Inventor: David A. Manera
  • Patent number: 5299701
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1994
    Assignee: Senetics, Inc.
    Inventors: Allen Barker, Gage Garby
  • Patent number: 5265744
    Abstract: A tamper-proof cap for containers, bottles and the like comprising a first driven member and a second drive member concentrically mounted on the first member and having a window through which a visible signal may be observed by a viewer. A rupturable capsule containing signal media is supported on the first driven member and displays a signal of first characteristic through the window. Upon opening the cap by causing the drive member to engage the driven member, the capsule ruptures causing the signal media to display a signal of a second characteristic through the window indicative of the fact that an attempt had been made to open the cap. In an alternative embodiment, a lens mounted on the window portion of the drive member enables viewing of the signal characteristic when the containers bearing the caps of the invention are stored on a relatively high shelf.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1993
    Inventors: Billy Duty, Ellen McClanahan, Randy Newberry
  • Patent number: 5246123
    Abstract: A conversion device for use with a child-resistant container closure of the type including a two-piece housing including a ratchet-type mechanism which is effective to cause the two housing members to turn together as a single unit when the outer housing member is depressed and rotated simultaneously, the conversion device comprising an annular element which is inserted into the open end of the closure and snapped into place to maintain a relative position between the two housing members in which the ratchet mechanism is continuously engaged. The conversion device is mounted on a card member which facilitates assembly of the device with a container closure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1993
    Inventors: Steven G. Kramer, Arthur Lutz
  • Patent number: 5228583
    Abstract: The present invention involves a child resistant closure for containers with threaded necks. It involves an inner cap and an outer cap which engages with one another by ratchets in order to close but these ratchets do not engage when an attempt is made to open the closure. The inner cap and the outer cap are generally cylindrical and have sides and a top, although the outer cap may have an open top. The inner cap has threads on its inside and is adapted to non-removably receive the outer cap so that the outer cap is rotatably engaged therewith. The outer cap is non-removably but rotatably mounted on an engaged with the inner cap. Atleast one keyway slot is located either on the outside of the inner cap or the inside of the outer cap and there is atleast one keyway protrusion extending toward the keyway slot and located on which ever of the inner cap and outer cap does not contain the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1993
    Assignee: Primary Delivery Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Jack Weinstein
  • Patent number: 5217130
    Abstract: The present invention involves a child resistant closure for containers with threaded necks. It involves a cylindrical inner and outer cap which engage with one another by ratchets to close the closure. These ratchets do not engage when an attempt is made to open the closure. The inner cap has threads on its inside and is adapted to non-removably receive the outer cap in that the outer cap is rotatably engaged therewith. The outer cap is non-removably but rotatably mounted on and engaged with the inner cap. At least two biased keyway slots are used and each may be located either on the outside of the inner cap or the inside of the outer cap. There are at least two biased keyway protrusions, one corresponding to each slot, and each protrusion extends toward its corresponding keyway slot. Each is located on which ever of the inner cap and outer cap does not contain the corresponding slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1993
    Assignee: Primary Delivery Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Jack Weinstein
  • Patent number: 5170900
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1992
    Assignee: Comar, Inc.
    Inventor: David A. Manera
  • Patent number: 5158194
    Abstract: A child-resistant, two-piece closure is formed with a resilient wedge in the outer cap member which can be pressed into interlocking relationship with an upstanding locking lug element of the inner cap member to facilitate rotational movement in the closure loosening direction by a healthy adult. An aperture is provided in the outer cap member so that a pencil may be radially inserted therein and into contact with the upstanding locking lug element so as to interlockingly couple the outer cap member and inner cap member for rotational movement in the closure loosening direction with the pencil by an elderly or handicapped individual. The child-resistant closure serves as a duel function device by allowing push-in and turn closure removal by healthy adults and easy removal with an inserted pencil or the like by elderly or handicapped adults while still being resistant to removal by young children.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1992
    Assignee: Glaxo Inc.
    Inventors: Mark A. Sirgo, Robert M. Wygant, Charles F. Woodward, Paul V. Engelmann
  • Patent number: 5154702
    Abstract: A variable dosage dropper system improves upon the conventional dropper assembly (container, cap, pipette, bulb) by providing an annular overcap housing which completely encloses the cap and bulb to provide tamper resistant protection and has a locking collar at its lower end to secure the cap within the housing. A plunger slidably, rotatably, and sealingly mates with the housing. The plunger contacts and compresses the bulb when pushed downward toward the housing a predetermined distance corresponding to various dosages and allows the bulb to return to its decompressed position when released. The system is also adapted to resist undesired opening of the container by children.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1992
    Assignee: Wheaton Industries
    Inventor: Mark L. Foyil
  • Patent number: 5147052
    Abstract: A two-piece child resistant closure having projections on the top of the inner cap. These projections are accessible through the open center of the outer cap top to assist the user in unthreading the container. This provides a user friendly closure for the elderly and arthritically impaired while still maintaining the usual child resistant opening feature, which can, for example, require a simultaneous push and turn movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1992
    Assignee: Sunbeam Plastics Corporation
    Inventor: Jeffrey C. Minette
  • Patent number: 5115928
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1992
    Inventor: Archie G. Drummond, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5115929
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1992
    Inventor: Caetano Buono
  • Patent number: 5082130
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a child resistance container and lid which utilizes a semi-flexible ring. The snap lid which is utilized in the present invention container is substantially set into the top of the container and this lid has one component of either an extended lift member or an indented lift guide. The ring has the other component of either the extended lift member or the indented lift guide. When the ring is rotated, the snap lid cannot be opened. The snap lid can only be opened when the ring is simultaneously squeezed and rotated. In an alternative embodiment, the two component lift system is utilized wherein both components extend outwardly rather than one extending outwardly and one indented. They have geometric configurations so that one first slides past the other and then, in their reverse motion, one lifts the other so as to lift up a lid during operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1992
    Assignee: Primary Delivery Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Jack Weinstein
  • Patent number: 5058754
    Abstract: A container for storing a hazardous product, a lock ring and a safety closure placed over the lock ring and threaded to the container. An extending tab portion of the lock ring extends from the bottom of an annular slot in the neck portion of the container. An extending neck portion of the container and a peripheral wall of the lock ring positioned over it, both have an offset axis displaced about the same distance from a central axis of the mating threads on the closure and the container. These offset axes are positioned in alignment to permit closure removal when an alignment bar portion of lock ring is in contact with a shoulder of the annular slot in the neck portion of the container. Serrations on the outside serrated surface of the lock ring and the inside serrated surface of the closure, are concentric with the threads on the closure and the container when the offset axes are in alignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1991
    Inventor: Frederick R. Hickerson