US3892325A

US3892325A - Child proof container closure

Info

Publication number: US3892325A
Application number: US351963A
Authority: US
Inventors: Daniel J Maguire
Original assignee: CLOSURE IND Inc
Current assignee: CLOSURE IND Inc
Priority date: 1973-04-16
Filing date: 1973-04-16
Publication date: 1975-07-01
Anticipated expiration: 1992-07-01

Abstract

A child proof container closure for use with threaded caps including a plastic cover having a configuration to closely overfit the cap and to be normally rotative with respect thereto. The plastic cover is provided with internal ridges and external serrations which cooperate to facilitate urging the cover internal ridges into tight engagement with the cap when the cover is squeezed so that the cap may be unscrewed by employing external squeezing pressures.

Description

United States Patent Maguire July 1, 1975 CHILD PROOF CONTAINER CLOSURE 3,679,085 7/1972 Gach 2l5/220 l t:Dl.M ,Bl BILP. [751 i or ame J agulfe ue e a Primary Examiner-George T. Hall Asslgneei Closure Industries -1 Brooklyn Attorney, Agent, or FirmWeiser, Stapler & Spivak [22] Filed: Apr. 16, 1973 [57] ABSTRACT [21] Appl. No.: 351,963 A child proof container closure for use with threaded caps including a plastic cover having a configuration to closely overfit the cap and to be normally rotative i with respect thereto. The plastic cover is provided 58] 'g 215/9 220 with internal ridges and external serrations which cooperate to facilitate urging the cover internal ridges [56] References Cited into tight engagement with the cap when the cover is squeezed so that the cap may be unscrewed by em- UNITED STATES PATENTS ploying external squeezing pressures. 3,027.035 3/l962 Farago 2l5/9 3,468,444 9/1969 Martin, Jr. 215 219 3 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures llllll lll Ill wwwvwrnguu ms 3 3.892.325

SHEET 1 FIG. 4

wrgm muu SHEET FIG FIG.

1 CHILD PROOF CONTAINER CLOSURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to the field of container closures, and more particularly, is directed to a closure designed to prevent unintentional opening of a container by a small child.

It has been found that many items commonly employed in the house can be dangerous to children, expecially extremely small children. Materials such as medicines, cleaning compounds, insecticides, and the like, while useful in the home, have on occasion proved dangerous when untentionally opened by small children. Due to the inherent danger to children, the Poison Prevention Packaging Act of I970 (Public Law 9l60l) was enacted Dec. 30, I970 to authorize the Commissioner of Food and Drugs to promulgate standards for special packaging to thereby protect children.

As a result of this authorization, the Department of Health, Education and Welfare, Food and Drug Administration, published regulations for special packaging in the Federal Register, Vol. 36, No. I39, Page I335 to establish standards for special packaging.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to a child proof closure suitable to meet the criteria established by Federal regulations under the Poison Prevention Packaging Act of 1970.

The present invention comprises a cover preferably fabricated of a resilient plastic material such as polyethylene plastic which is suitable for use with existing metallic or hard plastic screw caps to thereby render existing metallic or hard plastic screw caps substantially child proof in accordance with the regulations established by the Food and Drug Administration.

The plastic cover includes a bottom, inwardly facing peripheral groove which is a sliding, rotary engagement with the bottom finish of a conventional metallic container closure cap. The cover is generally hollow, cylindrical in configuration and includes a pair of diametrically opposed, interior projections which cooperate with the knurled outer surface of a conventional screw cap. The projections are spaced apart a sufficient distance to rotate about the knurled section of the metallic cap without engagement thereupon under normal conditions. By squeezing the exterior of the cover, the projections can be squeezed into contact with the knurled section of the cap. By simultaneously rotating and squeezing the cover with the projections engaged in the knurled section of the cap, the cap may be readily removed from the container nozzle in conventional manner. Should the cover be rotated, such as by a child, without simultaneously urging into engagement with the knurled section, the container cap will not rotate relative to its nozzle and therefore, the container will not open.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved, child proof container closure of the type set forth.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel child proof container closure which includes a plastic cover which is rotative relative to a metallic closure cap.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel child proof container closure for use with a conventional screw cap which incorporates an in wardly opening peripheral groove which is of size to receive and be rotative relative to the bottom finish of the cap.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel child proof container closure fabricated of polyethylene plastic which is normally rotative relative to an associated metallic cap and which may be squeezed to engage the metallic cap to rotatively separate the cap from its associated nozzle.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel child proof container closure suitable for use with a metallic container closure cap which incorporates a cover which rotates relative to the cap without engaging the cap and further includes means to engage the cap for cap rotative purposes when the cover is peripherally squeezed.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel child proof container closure that is inexpensive in manufacture, simple in construction and trouble free when in use.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention will be had by referring to the following description and claims of a preferred embodiment thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views and in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a side elevational view of a cover in place upon a nozzle cap in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded, perspective view of the nozzle, cap and cover of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, side elevational view of a child proof container closure cover.

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of a cover taken along Line 44 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along Line 55 of FIG. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along Line 6-6 of FIG. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows and showing the cover in the unsqueezed position.

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 and showing the covei"- in the squeezed position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION Although specific terms are used in the following description for the sake of clarity, these terms are intended to refer only to the particular structure of my invention, selected for illustration in the drawings and are not intended to define or limit the scope of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, I show in FIG. 1 a container 10 which terminates upwardly in a conventional nozzle 12 which is preferably fabricated of metal and is threaded to receive a conventional, threaded, screw cap I4 in threaded engagement therewith. A resilient cover 16 is preferably molded of polyethylene plastic and is fabricated to suitable dimensions and configuration to overfit the screw cap 14 and to be rotative relative thereto.

As seen in FIG. 2, the container nozzle 12 is conventionally fabricated to provide an external thread 18 which threadedly receives the cap 14 thereon. The screw cap 14 is conventionally formed to provide a cooperating intemal thread 20 which turns upon the nozzle external thread 18 in the usual manner for container closure purposes. If desired, the cap may be provided with internal gasketing material 22 to prevent leakage from the container when the cap 14 is fully turned upon the nozzle 12. The cap bottom edge 24 is downwardly finished in a peripheral, outwardly projecting lip 26 which serves the dual purpose of providing a smooth, finished edge for the cap 14 and also for providing a convenient means for rotatively, sliding engaging the cover 16 in the manner hereinafter more fully set forth. The outer periphery of the cap sidewall 28 is knurled or otherwise roughened near the top 40 in conventional manner such as by inwardly pressing a plurality of peripherally spaced grooves to provide an upper, peripheral knurled section 30. The knurled section 30 serves to provide a convenient area which may be grasped by the fingers (not shown) of the user to both tighten and loosen the cap 14 relative to the threaded nozzle 12.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the cover 16 is fabricated to a generally hollow, cylindrical configuration having an open bottom 32 and a partially closed top. The cover sidewall 34 extends from the open bottom 32 to the partially closed top 36. The top preferably is inte grally molded with the sidewall 34 to an annular configuration defining a central opening 38 therein. The screw cap top 40 is visible through the opening 38 so that it is relatively easy to determine whether or not the cap 14 rotates when the cover 16 is turned.

lmmediately adjacent the partially closed top 36 of the cover and extending downwardly therefrom, a pair of diametrically

opposed projections

42, 44 are integrally molded or otherwise formed with the sidewall 34 to project inwardly into the interior space 46 which is defined by the sidewall 34. The diametrical distance between the

projections

42, 44 is normally slightly greater than the greatest diametrical distance across the cap 14 at the knurled section 30 thereof so that the cover 16 may be turned relative to the cap 14 without the

projections

42, 44 engaging upon the knurled section 30. lf desired, portions of the exterior periphery of the sidewall 34 can be knurled or otherwise roughened adjacent the

projections

42, 44 to form diametrically opposed

grasping areas

48, 50 to provide a convenient place for grasping and turning the cover 16 in the manner hereinafter more fully set forth. An inwardly opening peripheral groove 52 is formed in the cover sidewall 34 immediately adjacent the open bottom 32 thereof. The groove 52 is sized to overfit the projecting lip 26 of the screw cap 14 and to be in rotary, sliding engagement therewith. The groove 52 serves to retain the cover 16 in rotary engagement over the cap 14. See FIG. 5.

In order to use the invention, the screw cap 14 is conventionally threadedly engaged over the nozzle 12 and tightened to retain the contents (not shown) within the container 10 as in FIG. 1. The cover 16 is then applied over the cap 14 until the projecting lip 26 of the cap is peripherally engaged within the groove 52 of the cover 16 so that the parts assume the relationship as illus trated in FIG. 5. With no external forces applied inwardly upon the cover 16, the

projections

42, 44 ride over the surface of the knurled section 30 of the screw cap 14. As illustrated in FIG. 6, in the unstressed condition, the cover 16 is free to turn in the direction of the arrow 54 without causing any turning forces to be applied to the screw cap 14. Thus, should a child attempt to open the container 10 by turning the cover 16, the cover 16 will turn relative to the screw cap 14, but the screw cap 14 will remain tightly sealed against the container nozzle 12 so that the contents can not become available to the child. The interaction of the screw cap lip 26 within the cover peripheral groove 52 prevents the cover 16 from being removed from the cap 14, but still permits rotative movement of the cover relative to the cap.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, when the fingers (not shown) of the user are applied externally to the diametrically opposed grasping areas 48, and radially inwardly directed squeezing forces are imposed, the resilient material of the cover 16 will yield and press the

projections

42, 44 inwardly until they engage upon the knurled section 30 of the screw cap 14. By simultaneously applying diametrically opposed, radially inward forces upon the cover 16, such as by squeezing with the fingers, and by rotating the cover 16 in the direction indicated by the arrow 56, the

projections

42, 44 will be engaged upon the knurled section 30 of the cap 14 to thereby cause the cap 14 to simultaneously turn with the cover in the direction of the arrow 58.

Thus it is seen that two conscious motions on the part of the user are necessary to operate the closure of the present invention. First, the cover 16 must be squeezed inwardly with sufficient force to cause the cover material to deform until the

projections

42, 44 tightly engage upon the knurled section 30 of the cap. Then a second motion, namely a rotative motion in the correct direction must be applied to cause simultaneous rotations of both the cover 16 and the cap 14, to unscrew the cap 14 relative to the nozzle 12 to thereby gain access to the container contents. If either the rotative forces or the radially inward squeezing forces are relaxed prior to complete separation, the cap 14 will not turn relative to the nozzle and will remain in place to prevent access to the container contents.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that l have shown an inexpensive, uncomplicated and relatively simple method of providing a child proof container closure which requires both peripherally applied rotative and inwardly directed squeezing forces to be simultaneously continuously imposed in order to remove a container cap from the container nozzle. These forces can be readily applied by adults and older children with very little instruction. However, so far as young children are concerned, without additional instruction, the very class of persons desired to be protected will find the closure too complicated for easy opening and therefore will be protected from unintentional exposure to the container contents.

Although I have described the present invention with reference to the particular embodiments herein set forth, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the scope of the invention should not be limited by the foregoing specification, but rather only by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. In a child proof container closure, the combination of A. a cap threadedly engaged upon the container,

1. said cap including a generally cylindrical sidewall,

6 2. said sidewall terminating downwardly in a peposed pair of projections extending inwardly ripheral lip and upwardly in a cap top, from the cover sidewall, a. said lip projecting outwardly beyond the pea. the projections defining a diametrical distance riphery of the said sidewall. therebetween that is normally slightly greater a Portion of the sidewall the p being 5 than the diametrical distance across the cap at knurled continuously about the periphery for the knurled portion thereof whereby the cover jfE Purposes; may be turned relative to the cap without the cover oferfimng the y projections engaging upon the knurled section, 1. the said cover being normally rotative relative to the projections being positioned in the cover sidewall adjacent the said cover top and ex- 2. said cover including a generally cylindrical sldetending downwardly herd-mm,

wall, the cover sidewall terminating downwardly c the projections radially outwardly overlying at in an open bottom and upwardly in a cover top; C. cap engaging means provided in the cover to hold the cover in rotative association with the cap, l. the cap engaging means being formed in the cover sidewall,

2. the cap engaging means including an inwardly open peripheral groove, a. the said groove being outwardly closed by a peripheral groove bottom,

3. the groove receiving the peripheral lip therein,

4. the groove being of sufficient diameter to overfit and receive therein the cap lip in a rotary sliding engagement, said cap and said cover having no least part of the knurled portion of the cover to engage therein for cover turning purposes,

2. said gripping means including diametrically opposed grasping areas provided in the exterior of the cover,

a. each grasping area being in radial alignment with a projection wherein the application of radially inwardly directed forces upon the cover at the grasping areas causes the cover sidewalls to deform until the projections engage any portion of the knurled portion of the cap.

2. The child proof container closure in accordance relative a i l m v th b d with claim 1 wherein the cap is fabricated of non- D. gripping means formed in the cover to grip the resilient ateria knurled portion of the cap upon the application of 3. The child proof container closure in accordance radially inwardly directed forces upon the cover, with claim 2 wherein the cap is fabricated of metal. l.said gripping means includingadiametrically op-

Claims

1. In a child proof container closure, the combination of A. a cap threadedly engaged upon the container, 1. said cap including a generally cylindrical sidewall, 2. said sidewall terminating downwardly in a peripheral lip and upwardly in a cap top, a. said lip projecting outwardly beyond the periphery of the said sidewall, 3. a portion of the sidewall near the top being knurled continuously about the periphery for turning purposes; B. a resilient cover overfitting the cap, 1. the said cover being normally rotative relative to the cap, 2. said cover including a generally cylindrical sidewall, the cover sidewall terminating downwardly in an open bottom and upwardly in a cover top; C. cap engaging means provided in the cover to hold the cover in rotative association with the cap, 1. the cap engaging means being formed in the cover sidewall, 2. the cap engaging means including an inwardly open peripheral groove, a. the said groove being outwardly closed by a peripheral groove bottom, 3. the groove receiving the peripheral lip therein, 4. the groove being of sufficient diameter to overfit and receive therein the cap lip in a rotary sliding engagement, said cap and said cover having no relative axial movement therebetween; and D. gripping means formed in the cover to grip the knurled portion of the cap upon the application of radially inwardly directed forces upon the cover, 1. said gripping means including a diametrically opposed pair of projections extending inwardly from the cover sidewall, a. the projections defining a diametrical distance therebetween that is normally slightly greater than the diametrical distance across the cap at the knurled portion thereof whereby the coveR may be turned relative to the cap without the projections engaging upon the knurled section, b. the projections being positioned in the cover sidewall adjacent the said cover top and extending downwardly therefrom, c. the projections radially outwardly overlying at least part of the knurled portion of the cover to engage therein for cover turning purposes, 2. said gripping means including diametrically opposed grasping areas provided in the exterior of the cover, a. each grasping area being in radial alignment with a projection wherein the application of radially inwardly directed forces upon the cover at the grasping areas causes the cover sidewalls to deform until the projections engage any portion of the knurled portion of the cap.

2. said gripping means including diametrically opposed grasping areas provided in the exterior of the cover, a. each grasping area being in radial alignment with a projection wherein the application of radially inwardly directed forces upon the cover at the grasping areas causes the cover sidewalls to deform until the projections engage any portion of the knurled portion of the cap.

2. said cover including a generally cylindrical sidewall, the cover sidewall terminating downwardly in an open bottom and upwardly in a cover top; C. cap engaging means provided in the cover to hold the cover in rotative association with the cap,

2. said sidewall terminating downwardly in a peripheral lip and upwardly in a cap top, a. said lip projecting outwardly beyond the periphery of the said sidewall,

2. The child proof container closure in accordance with claim 1 wherein the cap is fabricated of non-resilient material.

3. The child proof container closure in accordance with claim 2 wherein the cap is fabricated of metal.

3. a portion of the sidewall near the top being knurled continuously about the periphery for turning purposes; B. a resilient cover overfitting the cap,

3. the groove receiving the peripheral lip therein,

4. the groove being of sufficient diameter to overfit and receive therein the cap lip in a rotary sliding engagement, said cap and said cover having no relative axial movement therebetween; and D. gripping means formed in the cover to grip the knurled portion of the cap upon the application of radially inwardly directed forces upon the cover,