U.S. patent application number 10/444309 was filed with the patent office on 2004-01-15 for helical lock closure system.
Invention is credited to Buehler, John D., Manera, David A..
Application Number | 20040007556 10/444309 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 29584426 |
Filed Date | 2004-01-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040007556 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Manera, David A. ; et
al. |
January 15, 2004 |
Helical lock closure system
Abstract
A container-closure assembly comprising a cap of cup-like form
having a circumferentially expending skirt and a circumferentially
extending flange depending from the top and spaced radially
inwardly from the skirt and a series of radially inwardly directed
circumferentially re-spaced lugs on the inner periphery of the
skirt, the container having a neck portion with a discharge
opening, the outer peripheral surface of the container being
tapered upwardly and inwardly whereby the flexible flange engages
the tapered surface when the cap is positioned over the container
means defining a series of circumferentially re-spaced hook
portions only on the container neck including a downwardly facing
notched recess and a tapered face, said lugs position below a plain
through the tip of the taper only hooks when the flexible flange
lightly engages the tapered finish on the neck of the
container.
Inventors: |
Manera, David A.;
(Petersburg, NJ) ; Buehler, John D.; (Bridgeton,
NJ) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Eugene E. Renz, Jr., P.C.
205 North Monroe Street
Post Office Box 2056
Media
PA
19063-9056
US
|
Family ID: |
29584426 |
Appl. No.: |
10/444309 |
Filed: |
May 23, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60382538 |
May 24, 2002 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
215/332 ;
215/222; 215/344 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 41/06 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
215/332 ;
215/222; 215/344 |
International
Class: |
B65D 041/06 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A container-closure assembly comprising a cap of cup-like form
having a circumferentially expending skirt and a circumferentially
extending flange depending from the top and spaced radially
inwardly from the skirt and a series of radially inwardly directed
circumferentially spaced lugs on the inner periphery of the skirt,
the container having a neck portion with a discharge opening, the
outer peripheral surface of the container adjacent said discharge
opening being tapered upwardly and inwardly whereby the flexible
flange engages the tapered surface when the cap is positioned over
the container, means defining a series of circumferentially
extending, spaced hook portions on the container neck having a
downwardly facing notched recess and a tapered face, said lugs
positioned below a plane through the tip of the taper on the hooks
when the flexible flange lightly engages the tapered finish on the
neck of the container.
2. A container-closure assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein at
least the inter-engaging surfaces of the flexible flange and the
beveled container finish are of different plastic materials.
3. A container-closure assembly as claimed in claim 2 wherein one
of said inter-engaging surfaces is propylene and the other surface
is polyethylene.
4. A container-closure assembly as claimed in claim 3 wherein the
hook elements have a downwardly tapered cam surface and wherein the
lugs are disposed below a plane transverse to the axis of the
container extending through the highest point on the cam surfaces
so that the cap only has to be rotated to engage the lugs into the
locking slots to secure the cap to the container.
Description
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application Serial No. 60/382,538, filed May 24, 2002.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to improvements in
container-closure assemblies useful, for example, for use in the
medical field for pills and the like. More specifically, the
container-closure assembly of the present invention is
characterized by novel features of construction and arrangement
providing a child-resistant feature and is configured in a
predetermined way so that it is easy to open and close by adult
users even the elderly and those that are somewhat lame or
handicapped.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Container-closure assemblies of the general type to which
the present invention relates are not new per se. Akers, U.S. Pat.
No. 5,449,078, for COMBINATION OF A CONTAINER AND A SAFETY CAP
THEREFOR, shows a combination container and so-called safety cap
wherein the cap has a resilient depending inner member which
engages a rigid wall of a container, the resilient depending member
and container finish having complementary tapers. The cap and the
container are molded of the same plastic material. The container
finish includes a series of circumferentially spaced camming
latches (36) having a notch (40) and a tapered face leading to the
notch (38) the inner sidewall of the cap has a series of
circumferentially spaced locking lugs (34). When the user wants to
apply the cap, the cap is positioned over the container so the
locking lugs (34) are aligned with the spaces between the camming
latches (36) and then the cap is pressed downwardly and rotated
until the locking lug is engaged in the notch (40). Often times,
the elderly and lame have difficulty in pressing and turning in the
same operation and find it difficult if not impossible to secure
the cap in a locked position on the container. Furthermore, it has
been found that having the cap and container of the same material
produces so-called galling which also contributes to the difficulty
in operating the cap between open and closed positions.
[0004] Other prior art of interest include the patents listed
below:
REFERENCE PATENTS
[0005] HEDGEWICK
[0006] TITLE: SAFETY CAP AND CONTAINER
[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 3,344,942
[0008] DATE: Oct. 3, 1967
[0009] HEDGEWICK, et al.
[0010] TITLE: SAFETY CAP AND CONTAINER
[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 3,478,911
[0012] DATE: Nov. 18, 1969
[0013] LAN DEN
[0014] TITLE: SAFETY-CLOSURE DEVICE
[0015] U.S. Pat. No. 3,613,928
[0016] DATE: Oct. 19, 1971
[0017] JULIAN, et al.
[0018] TITLE: SAFETY CLOSURE FOR A MEDICINE BOTTLE OR THE LIKE
[0019] U.S. Pat. No. 3,716,161
[0020] DATE: Feb. 13, 1973
[0021] DEGAETANO
[0022] TITLE: LIQUID-PROOF SAFETY CLOSURE
[0023] U.S. Pat. No. 3,739,933
[0024] DATE: Jun. 19, 1973
[0025] SANTAGIULIANA
[0026] TITLE: MOLDED PLASTIC CAP FOR DISPENSING LIQUIDS
[0027] U.S. Pat. No. ______ Nov. 4, 1997
[0028] DATE: Nov. 4, 1997
[0029] VON HAGEL
[0030] TITLE: BLOW MOLDED PLASTIC BOTTLE AND PLASTIC CAP
[0031] U.S. Pat. No. 4,301,937
[0032] DATE: Nov. 24, 1981
[0033] HERR
[0034] TITLE: ONE-PIECE MOISTURE TIGHT SAFETY CLOSURE AND
CONTAINER
[0035] U.S. Pat. No. 4,579,238
[0036] DATE: Apr. 1, 1986
[0037] BATCHELOR, et al.
[0038] TITLE: CHILD RESISTANT CONTAINER FOR STORING HAZARDOUS
MATERIALS
[0039] U.S. Pat. No. 5,033,634
[0040] DATE: Jul. 23, 1991
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0041] With the foregoing in mind, it is an object of the present
invention to provide a new and improved container closure assembly
generally of the type described above which overcomes the
disadvantage and drawbacks of the prior art. Thus the cap and
container may be made of a plastic material which are preferably of
different plastic materials. The cap is generally of cup-like form
having a top and a generally cylindrical skirt depending from the
top and a circumferentially extending flexible flange depending
from the top and spaced inwardly from the skirt which has a tapered
inner face preferably disposed at a small angle of about five
degrees (5.degree.) to the longitudinal axis to the cap. The cap
has a series of circumferentially spaced inwardly directed lugs
which cooperate with a slot and hook arrangement on the container
finish for securing the cap on the container. The outer peripheral
wall of the container adjacent the discharge opening is tapered to
complement the flange taper on the cap. The slot and hook
arrangement includes a tip portion with a tapered face and a
notched recess for receiving the lugs on the cap in the locked
position.
[0042] An important feature of the present invention is the
orientation of the lugs and the cap relative to the tapered face of
the hook portion. Specifically when the cap is positioned over the
container, and the taper face of the cap flexible flange and the
beveled outer face of the container finish engage, the lugs on the
cap are positioned in a trackway between the hook arrangements on
the container finish below a plane transverse to the longitudinal
access of the container through the uppermost portion of the
tapered tip of the hook so that it is only necessary to rotate the
cap so that to ride on the cam surface and positions lug in the
notched recess to lock the cap in place. By this arrangement,
elderly and even lame people can easily assemble the cap to the
container when desired without the need for pushing the cap axially
downwardly to engage in the notched recesses.
[0043] Another advantage to the lug arrangement is that it allows
automated capping on existing equipment which were generally built
for screw thread closures and do not have the ability to provide
downward movement/force. They were built to provide rotational
movement only.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0044] FIG. 1A is a top plan view of a container-closure assembly
in accordance with the present invention;
[0045] FIG. 1B is a side elevational view of the container-closure
assembly in accordance with the present invention;
[0046] FIG. 1C is a bottom plan view as viewed along the lines
1C-1C of FIG. 1B;
[0047] FIG. 2 is an exploded side elevational view showing the
closure removed from the container;
[0048] FIG. 3A is an enlarged transverse sectional view of the
closure or cap;
[0049] FIG. 3B is a view looking into the bottom of the cap as
taken along lines 3B-3B of FIG. 3A;
[0050] FIG. 3C is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the
portion of the cap circled in broken lines in FIG. 3A;
[0051] FIG. 4A is a side elevational view partly in section showing
assembly of the cap to the container;
[0052] FIG. 4B is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the
portion of the cap circled in FIG. 4A and identified by the numeral
4B;
[0053] FIG. 5A is a developed view showing the position of the lugs
relative to the trackway and hook configuration on the exterior of
the neck of the container;
[0054] FIG. 5B is a view similar to FIG. 5A showing the cap in a
position before with the lugs partially seated;
[0055] FIG. 5C is a view showing the cap in the lock position on
the container; and
[0056] FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view, showing the position
of the cap lugs when the flexible cap flange initially engages the
container tapered finish.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0057] Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIGS. 1-2
thereof, there is shown a container-closure assembly in accordance
with the with the present invention. The container-closure assembly
may be molded of plastic materials and preferably are of different
plastic materials.
[0058] The container (10) comprises a body portion (12), in the
present instance of generally square cross section and a generally
cylindrical reduced neck portion (14). The neck portion (14) has a
series of camming latches (36) having cam-receiving notches or
pocket and the cap (20) has a series of lugs (34) engageable in the
notched recesses (40).
[0059] Considering now the cap (20) and closure in more specific
detail, the cap (20) as best illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 is of
inverted cup-like shape having a disc-like top (22) and a depending
circumferentially extending skirt (24). The cap (20) also includes
a circumferentially extending flange or fin (26) depending
interiorly from the top (22) which has a feathered configuration.
The fin (26) extends downwardly from the top (22) a shorter axial
distance than the skirt (24). The fin (26) is somewhat flexible and
engages a beveled wall (30) of the container (10) in the manner
shown in FIG. 4B when the cap (20) is assembled to the container
(10).
[0060] The beveled wall (30) is preferably disposed at an angle
theta 0 of less than five degrees (5.degree.) to the longitudinal
axis A-A of the neck portion (14) of the container (10). The
interior side wall (32) has a series of circumferentially
equi-spaced lugs (34) which project radially inwardly from the
interior sidewall (32) of the skirt (24).
[0061] The neck portion (14) of the container (10) is formed with a
series of circumferentially spaced hook elements (36) which have an
inclined camming surface (38) and a locking pocket (40). The hooks
(36) are spaced apart a predetermined distance so that the camming
faces (38) are spaced from the inclined back surface (41) of an
adjacent hook (36) to define a trackway (42) between adjacent hook
elements (36) as best shown in FIGS. 5A-5C. The fin (26) and cam
surface (30) are sized and dimensioned in a predetermined manner so
that when the cap (20) is placed over the neck of the container
(10) and the fin (26) lightly engages the beveled surface (30) on
the neck the lugs (34) are positioned in the trackway (42) so that
it is only necessary to rotate the cap (20) without exertion of any
axial force or pressure on the cap (20) to seat the lugs (34) in
the locking pockets (40). The arrangement provides a child
resistant assembly since in order to release the cap (20), the top
wall of the cap (20) has to be pressed axially inwardly to displace
the lugs (34) downwardly in the trackway (42) to clear the hook so
that the cap (20) can be rotated so that the lugs (34) are
displaced circumferentially from the hook portions (36) and thereby
permit removal of the cap (20).
[0062] The pressure of the fin (26) engaging the beveled surface
(30) in the locked position creates an upward force on the cap (20)
to displace it upwardly when it is rotated to position the lugs
(34) in the trackway (42), the cap (20) is free for removal. The
cap (20) and container (10) are preferably made of different
plastic materials. For example, the cap (20) can be made of a
propylene and the container (10) may be formed of a polyethylene
material. It has been found that this combination facilitates a
good sealing action between the cap (20) and the container (10) and
facilitates relatively easy manipulation of the parts to position
them between locked and released positions. Other combinations are
possible but dissimilar materials provide reduced friction through
elimination of the phenomena known in the industry as galling.
[0063] Considering now operation of a container closure in
accordance with the present invention as described above and assume
that the cap (20) is in a locked position on the container (10) in
the manner shown in FIG. 1B. In this instance, the fin (26) presses
against the beveled wall (30) of the container (10) a seating force
is produced seating and the lugs (34) in the pockets (36).
Specifically, there is an upward force tending to press the lugs
(34) upwardly against the upper face of the pocket (36). Now when
the user desires to remove the cap (20), he needs to press it
downwardly and rotate the cap (20) in a counterclockwise direction
as shown in FIG. 4A until the lugs (34) are positioned in the
trackway between the hook (36) and slanted back surface of the next
adjacent hook (36) in which event the cap (20) is released and can
be withdrawn axially upwardly to access the contents of the
container 10. Now when it is desired to reapply the cap (20), it is
simply positioned loosely over the container (10).
[0064] The cap (20) is then rotated relative to the container (10)
until the lugs (34) are aligned with the space between adjacent
hooks (36) in which event, the cap (20) will drop downwardly until
the lip lightly engages the chamfer surface (30). In this position,
the cap (20) is rotated in a clockwise direction, whereby the lugs
(34) ride down the beveled face (38) of the hooks (36) thereby
pressing the lip (26) against the beveled surface (30) until the
lugs (34) are disposed in the hook pockets. The cap (20) and
closure locking action then is somewhat different from a
conventional push turn closure of the prior art where an axial
pushing force is needed to position the parts in a seated or locked
position. In the present instance, the relationship of the lugs
(34) and the lip (26) and the beveled surface (30) are such that
the user simply rotates the cap (20) until the lugs (34) are
positioned in the trackways (42) and then simply rotated in the
manner described above until the lugs (34) are seated in the
locking pockets. Note that when the cap lugs are aligned with the
entrance to the trackway (42) the top of each lug (34) lies below a
plane P-P transverse to the axis A-A, thus positioning the top edge
(34a) of the lug (34) below the cam face surface (38). Note that
the lugs (34) assume this position when the flange (26) lightly
engages the tapered end face (30) of the container finish. By this
arrangement, the user simply has to rotate the cap (20) whereby the
lugs (34) ride down the tapered face (38) of the hook member and
engage in the notch (40) to lock the cap in place.
[0065] Even though a particular embodiment of the present invention
has been illustrated and described herein, it is not intended to
limit the invention and changes and modifications may be therein
within the scope of the following claims.
* * * * *