U.S. patent application number 10/496964 was filed with the patent office on 2005-06-23 for safety cap and container with safety cap.
Invention is credited to Goto, Takayuki, Iizuka, Shigeo, Mizushima, Hiroshi.
Application Number | 20050133475 10/496964 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26621312 |
Filed Date | 2005-06-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050133475 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Goto, Takayuki ; et
al. |
June 23, 2005 |
Safety cap and container with safety cap
Abstract
There is provided a safety cap which requires manual dexterity
for a cover opening operation and is difficult for an infant or the
like to open a cover, in which a safety function can be released,
as necessary. In the safety cap configured such that a part of an
outer circumferential wall (11) of a cap main body (2) is formed on
an inward elastically deformable operating plate (6), a pair of
engaging means (7) and (22) engageable with each other are provided
on a peripheral wall of a cover (2) connected to the upper portion
of the cap main body (2) via a hinge and at the upper portion of
the operating plate (6), respectively, and the engagement is
released by elastically deforming the operating plate inward so as
to open the cover, the operating plate (6) can be fixed to the cap
main body (2) or a neck portion (52) of the container except for
the operating plate by the fixing member (14) in the inward
deformed state.
Inventors: |
Goto, Takayuki; (Koto-Ku,
JP) ; Iizuka, Shigeo; (Koto-Ku, JP) ;
Mizushima, Hiroshi; (Koto-Ku, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
OLIFF & BERRIDGE, PLC
P.O. BOX 19928
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22320
US
|
Family ID: |
26621312 |
Appl. No.: |
10/496964 |
Filed: |
February 7, 2005 |
PCT Filed: |
August 30, 2002 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP02/08831 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
215/237 ;
220/259.1; 220/835; 222/556 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 55/02 20130101;
B65D 50/046 20130101; C04B 38/0077 20130101; C04B 35/18 20130101;
C04B 35/10 20130101; C04B 38/08 20130101; B65D 2251/20 20130101;
C04B 35/447 20130101; C04B 35/565 20130101; B65D 2251/1058
20130101; B65D 47/0814 20130101; C04B 38/009 20130101; C04B 38/009
20130101; C04B 38/08 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
215/237 ;
220/835; 220/259.1; 222/556 |
International
Class: |
B65D 043/14; B65D
043/18 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 30, 2001 |
JP |
2001-261788 |
Aug 31, 2001 |
JP |
2001-264559 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A safety cap for disposing a container comprising: a cap main
body (2) having a top plate (3) with an pouring hole (4), and an
outer circumferential wall (11) and an inner circumferential wall
(10) for attachment to a container neck portion, said outer and
inner circumferential walls extending downwardly from the top
plate, and a part of the outer circumferential wall (11) being
formed in an inward elastically deformable operating plate (6), at
a peripheral edge of which a separation line is cut except its
lower end or vicinity thereof remaining as a connection portion
(13); a cover (20) connected to an upper portion of the cap main
body via a hinge such that the cover is capable of putting thereon
and removing therefrom; wherein a pair of engaging means (7) and
(22) engageable with each other are disposed at a peripheral wall
of the cover and the operating plate (6), respectively, and
further, the cover can be opened by releasing an engagement between
the engaging means (7) and (22) by elastically deforming the
operating plate inward, wherein the operating plate (6) can be
fixed to the container neck portion (52) or the cap main body (2)
except for the operating plate by a fixing member (14) for fixing
the operating plate in an inward deformed state.
2. A safety cap according to claim 1, wherein a lower end of the
operating plate (6) is formed into the connection portion (13)
serving as a fixing end, around which the operating plate can be
disposed in a freely inward swingable manner as a whole.
3. A safety cap according to claim 2, wherein the fixing member
(14) includes an engaging piece (15) disposed at the operating
plate (6), and an engaging piece receiver (16) disposed at the cap
main body (2) except for the operating plate.
4. A safety cap according to claim 3, wherein the engaging piece
serves as an upper end (15a) of the operating plate, and further,
the engaging piece receiver is a projection (16a) formed at an
undersurface of the top plate outward of the inner circumferential
wall (10).
5. A safety cap according to claim 3, wherein the engaging piece
serves as an upper end (15a) of the operating plate, and further,
the engaging piece receiver (16) is disposed in an elastically
bending plate (32) formed at an end of the top plate (3) near the
operating plate in such a manner as to engage with the engaging
piece (6) when the elastically bending plate is bent downward.
6. A safety cap according to claim 3, wherein the engaging piece
serves as a tenon (15c) protruding inward from an upper end of the
operating plate (6) and being wider at its intermediate portion
than a base end and a tip end thereof, and further, the engaging
piece receiver serves as a tenon groove (16c) having a shape in
conformity with the tenon, cut out at an end of the top plate (3)
near the operating plate.
7. A safety cap according to claim 2, wherein the fixing member
(14) is formed of an engaging projection (15d), which is
longitudinally disposed at either one of an inner surface of the
operating plate (6) and an opposite outer surface of the inner
circumferential wall (10), and an engaging groove (16d), which is
disposed at the other and can engage with the engaging projection
(15d).
8. A container with a safety cap having the top-opened neck portion
(52) extending upwardly and the safety cap (1) disposed at the neck
portion according to claim 1, the safety cap comprising a pair of
the connecting portions (13) and the fixing member (14), the pair
of connecting portions (13) being disposed at both side edges of
the operating plate (6) near the lower end of the operating plate
with a distance from the lower end thereof, the fixing member (14)
being a first and a second projections (54), (18), the second
projection (18) being attached to the inner surface of the
operating plate under the connecting portion, the first projection
(54) being formed at a base outer surface of the neck portion with
a distance from the second projection in a circumferential
direction; wherein the second projection rides on the first
projection when the cap main body (2) is rotated about the neck
portion (52), so that the operating plate (6) is displaced inward
against elasticity, so as to release the engagement between the
engaging means (7) and (22).
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] The present invention relates to a safety cap, in
particular, a cap with a cover which cannot be opened without
performing any predetermined cover opening operation, and a
container with the cap.
[0002] There has been conventionally proposed a cap comprising a
cylindrical main body to be fitted to the outer surface of a top
opened neck portion and a cover for covering the upper surface of
the main body as a cap for a container for containing therein
various kinds of contents in addition to drink. Such a cap has an
advantage that anyone can easily open the cap, but to the contrary,
an infant or the like mischievously opens the cap, thereby
resulting in a possibility that the contents spill around or is
unjustly drained out.
[0003] In order to eliminate the above-described inconvenience,
there has been proposed a safety cap requiring a difficult cover
opening operation for others than an adult having some degree of
manual dexterity: for example,
[0004] (1) A safety cap having an inner cap screwed at an outer
surface of a neck portion of a container and an outer cap covering
the outer surface of the inner cap in a not-pullable and rotatable
manner, wherein the outer cap is idly rotated with respect to the
inner cap so as to prevent the outer cap from being screwed out at
all times even if the outer cap is rotated in an opening direction,
the cap comprising a ball type torque transmission mechanism which
is interposed between the inner and outer caps and is operated only
when the outer cap is rotated in a closing direction and when the
outer cap is rotated in the opening direction and the container is
tilted in a certain direction (see Japanese Utility Model
Application Publication No. 56-28939);
[0005] (2) A safety cap comprising an engaging pin, which
penetrates through respective top plates of inner and outer caps,
disposed in a detachable manner in place of the ball type torque
transmission mechanism in the safety cap disclosed in the above
item (1) (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No.
2000-335610);
[0006] (3) A safety cap comprising engaging means, which engage
with each other when an outer cylinder is rotated in a closing
direction while disengage from each other when the outer cylinder
is rotated in an opening direction, formed between a rotating
cylinder fitted to the outer surface of a neck portion of a
container in a not-pullable manner and the outer cylinder having a
top, screwed at the outer surface of the rotating cylinder except
for a lower end, wherein the outer cylinder is disposed in such a
manner as to be idly rotated with respect to the rotating cylinder
in a disengaging state and the outer cylinder can be de-screwed
from the rotating cylinder since the engagement is released when a
part of the lower end of the rotating cylinder is pressed (see
Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2000-335611);
[0007] (4) A safety cap in which a cover is connected, via a hinge,
to a rear portion of a cap main body having an pouring hole formed
at a top plate, an operating plate suspended down from a cover
front portion is inserted into a fixing tool formed into a U shape,
as viewed from above, attached to the front surface of the main
body, and the upper half of the operating plate separatably engages
with the fixing tool by pressing the upper half of the operating
plate rearward against the lower half of the operating plate (see
Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 9-86550); and
[0008] (5) A safety cap in which locking pieces are formed on right
and left side walls of a circumferential wall of a cap main body
having a cover connected to the rear portion thereof via a hinge by
boring a split groove in substantially an inverted U shape except
for the lower end thereof, and the upper end of the locking piece
separatably engages with the cover circumferential wall by pressing
the locking piece inward (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-open
No. 10-264953 and Japanese Patent No. 3,273,359).
SUMMARY
[0009] The structures of the safety caps disclosed in the above
items (1) to (3) have a restriction of application only to a type
screwed to the neck portion of the container. For example, a type
having the cover connected to the cap main body via the hinge is
used as a cap for a squeeze type container containing detergent and
the like therein in such a manner as to facilitate an
opening/closing operation. As the safety cap applicable to such a
type has been proposed the safety cap disclosed in the above item
(4), in which since the lower portion of the operating plate is
exposed to the outside as a depressing button in the configuration
of the cap, there may occur a disadvantage depending on the use of
the cap for the reason of degradation of the outside appearance of
the cap or adhesion of dust to the lower portion of the operating
plate. In order to eliminate such a disadvantage, in the cap
disclosed in the above item (5), the locking piece for maintaining
a cover closed state is formed as a part of the cover peripheral
wall (specifically, the right and left sides). In the case of this
cap, the locking piece must be pushed inward of the cap, and at the
same time, the cover front portion must be rotated in the opening
direction, and therefore, the cover opening operation becomes
slightly complicated in comparison with the cap disclosed in the
above item (4) in which the cover is released simply by pressing up
the lower portion of the operating plate at the time of the inward
pressing. Although this is advantageous in view of prevention of
any unexpected release caused by a mischief by a baby or an infant,
the cover must be opened every time in the case where an adult
repeatedly uses the container in a situation in which there is no
such fear as unexpected release, and therefore, a user cannot stand
the repetitive operations with inconvenience.
[0010] A first object of the present invention is to provide a
container with ease of use for an adult while keeping the function
of preventing unexpected or unjust use of a safety cap by an infant
or the like.
[0011] In order to achieve the above-described object, according to
the present invention, in a safety cap for disposing a container
including:
[0012] a cap main body having a top plate with an pouring hole, and
an outer circumferential wall and an inner circumferential wall for
attachment to a container neck portion, said outer and inner
circumferential walls extending downwardly from the top plate, and
a part of the outer circumferential wall being formed in an inward
elastically deformable operating plate, at a peripheral edge of
which a separation line is cut except its lower end or vicinity
thereof remaining as a connection portion;
[0013] a cover connected to the upper portion of the cap main body
via a hinge such that the cover is capable of putting thereon and
removing therefrom;
[0014] wherein a pair of engaging means and engageable with each
other are disposed at a peripheral wall of the cover and the
operating plate, respectively, and further, the cover can be opened
by releasing the engagement between the engaging means by deforming
the operating plate inward, wherein the operating plate can be
fixed to the container neck portion or the cap main body except for
the operating plate by a fixing means for fixing the operating
plate in an inward deformed state.
[0015] Here, it is preferable that the lower end of the operating
plate should be formed into the connection portion serving as a
fixing end, around which the operating plate can be disposed in a
freely inward swingable manner as a whole while.
[0016] Furthermore, it is preferable that the fixing member should
be constituted of an engaging piece disposed at the operating
plate, and an engaging piece receiver disposed at the cap main body
except for the operating plate.
[0017] A second object of the present invention is to provide a
convenient safety cap capable of releasing engagement of the
engaging means and fixing an operating plate by a single operation
of pushing the operating plate inward.
[0018] In order to achieve the above-described object, according to
the present invention, in the safety cap according to the
above-described first invention, there is proposed that the
engaging piece serves as an upper end of the operating plate, and
further, the engaging piece receiver is a projection formed at an
undersurface of the top plate outward of the inner circumferential
wall.
[0019] A third object of the present invention is to provide a
safety cap in which the operating plate is fixed by two operations.
Consequently, the operating plate is fixed only when a user intends
to fix the operating plate.
[0020] In order to achieve the above-described object, according to
the present invention, in the safety cap according to the
above-described first object, there is provided the safety cap in
which the engaging piece serves as an upper end of the operating
plate, and further, the engaging piece receiver is disposed in an
elastically bending plate formed at an end of the top plate near
the operating plate in such a manner as to engage with the engaging
piece when the elastically bending plate is bent downward.
[0021] A fourth object of the present invention is to fix the
operating plate to the cap main body by an easy operation, and
further, to achieve good appearance in the fixed state.
[0022] In order to achieve the above-described object, according to
the present invention, in the safety cap according to the
above-described first object, there is proposed that the engaging
piece serves as a tenon protruding inward from the upper end of the
operating plate and being wider at its intermediate portion than a
base end and tip end thereof, and further, the engaging piece
receiver serves as a tenon groove having a shape in conformity with
the tenon, cut out at an end of the top plate near the operating
plate.
[0023] A fifth object of the present invention is to conceal the
fixing means from a user by fixing the operating plate inside of
the cap main body, and further, to facilitate operations for fixing
and detaching the operating plate to and from the cap main
body.
[0024] In order to achieve the above-described object, according to
the present invention, in the safety cap according to the
above-described first object, there is provided the safety cap in
which the fixing member is formed of an engaging projection, which
is longitudinally disposed at either one of an inner surface of the
operating plate and an opposite outer surface of the inner
circumferential wall, and an engaging groove, which is disposed at
the other and can engage with the engaging projection.
[0025] A sixth object of the present invention is to provide a
container with a safety cap by constituting an operating plate in a
manner freely fixed inward of the cap main body by operation for
rotating the safety cap about the axis of the neck portion of the
container, so as to achieve easy and secure fixture.
[0026] In order to achieve the above-described object, according to
the present invention, there is proposed a container with a safety
cap having the top-opened neck portion extending upwardly and the
safety cap disposed at the neck portion according to the
above-described first object, the safety cap comprising a pair of
the connecting portions (13) and the fixing member (14), the pair
of connecting portions (13) being disposed at both side edges of
the operating plate (6) near the lower end of the operating plate
with a distance from the lower end thereof, the fixing member (14)
being a first and a second projections (54), (18), the second
projection (18) being attached to the inner surface of the
operating plate under the connecting portion, the first projection
(54) being formed at a base outer surface of the neck portion with
a distance from the second projection in a circumferential
direction;
[0027] wherein the second projection rides on the first projection
when the cap main body (2) is rotated about the neck portion (52),
so that the operating plate (6) is displaced inward against
elasticity, so as to release the engagement between the engaging
means (7) and (22).
[0028] Other objects of the present invention will be obvious from
explanation of best mode for carrying out the invention, described
later.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0029] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a safety cap in a first
embodiment according to the present invention.
[0030] FIG. 2 is a half longitudinal cross-sectional view showing a
container having the safety cap shown in FIG. 1 disposed therein,
although a cover is omitted.
[0031] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing essential parts
during an operating plate fixing operation in the safety cap shown
in FIG. 1.
[0032] FIG. 4 is a half longitudinal cross-sectional view showing
the safety cap shown in FIG. 1 in an operating plate fixing state,
although the cover is omitted.
[0033] FIG. 5 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing a
safety cap in a second embodiment according to the present
invention, although a cover is omitted.
[0034] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the safety cap shown in
FIG. 5, although the cover is omitted.
[0035] FIG. 7 is a half longitudinal cross-sectional view showing
the safety cap shown in FIG. 5 in an operating plate fixing state,
although the cover is omitted.
[0036] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing essential parts in
the state shown in FIG. 7.
[0037] FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the safety cap in the
state shown in FIG. 7, although the cover is omitted.
[0038] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a safety cap in a
third embodiment according to the present invention.
[0039] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the safety cap shown
in FIG. 10 in an operating plate fixing state.
[0040] FIG. 12 is a half longitudinal cross-sectional view showing
a safety cap in a fourth embodiment according to the present
invention.
[0041] FIG. 13 is a lateral cross-sectional view taken along a line
X-X of FIG. 12.
[0042] FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing the safety cap shown
in FIG. 12.
[0043] FIG. 15 is a half longitudinal cross-sectional view showing
the safety cap shown in FIG. 14 in an operating plate fixing
state.
[0044] FIG. 16 is a lateral cross-sectional view showing the safety
cap, taken along a line Y-Y of FIG. 15.
[0045] FIG. 17 is an exploded perspective view showing a container
with a safety cap in a fifth embodiment according to the present
invention.
[0046] FIG. 18 is a perspective view showing the container shown in
FIG. 17 in a cap opening state.
[0047] FIG. 19 is a perspective view showing an operating plate in
an inward pushed state from the state shown in FIG. 18.
[0048] FIG. 20 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the
container shown in FIG. 17.
[0049] FIG. 21 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing a
state corresponding to the state shown in FIG. 19.
[0050] FIG. 22 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing a
modification of the container in the fifth embodiment.
[0051] FIG. 23 is a perspective view showing the container shown in
FIG. 22 in an operating plate inward pushed state.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0052] FIGS. 1 to 4 show a first embodiment according to the
present invention. In the present specification, the concepts "back
and forth" and "right and left" are used, as required, in order to
express the mutually positional relationships between members.
[0053] Reference numeral 1 designates a safety cap, which is
constituted of a cap main body 2 and a cover 20.
[0054] In the cap main body 2, the upper end of an outer
circumferential wall 11 is formed into a small-diameter portion 11a
via an upward step 11b, and then, the upper surface of the
small-diameter portion is closed by a top plate 3. Moreover, an
inner circumferential wall 10 fittable to the outer surface of a
neck portion 52 of a container 51 is suspended down from the
undersurface of the top plate, and further, a part of the top plate
inward of the inner circumferential wall is raised in a
semispherical shape, so that a pouring hole 4 is formed at the top
of the raised portion. Otherwise, a seal cylinder to be fitted to
the inner surface of the neck portion 52 may be suspended down from
the surroundings of the pouring hole.
[0055] On the outer circumferential wall 11 is disposed at least
one operating plate 6 (or a pushbutton). Preferably, a pair of
operating plates should be disposed on both sides on the outer
circumferential wall 11 in the cap main body with substantially
equal intervals from a hinge, described later, as shown in FIGS. 1
to 4. The operating plate 6 is defined by a generally inverted
U-shaped split groove 5 (or a separating line), so that the
operating plate is formed in an inward elastically deformable
manner while its lower end being fixed. The split groove 5 is
extending vertically from the small-diameter portion 11a on the
outer circumferential wall to a vertically intermediate portion of
the same. And further, engaging means 7 is additionally formed at
the outer surface at a portion 6a at which the small-diameter
portion is formed. The lower end of the operating plate 6 as a
connecting portion 13 is continuous to the lower portion of the
outer circumferential wall 11. Alternatively, the engaging means 7
may be an engaging projection oriented in a circumferential
direction.
[0056] In the preferred embodiment, as viewed from the top in FIG.
1, the inverted U-shaped split groove 5 may extends from the right
and left ends of the top plate 3 toward an intermediate portion of
the outer circumferential wall 11 through the small-diameter
portion 11a. In addition, the upper portion of the split groove
serves as a cutout 8, which is cut out toward the center of the top
plate.
[0057] In the preferred embodiment, the operating plate 6 gradually
becomes thicker upward from the lower end, and is disposed in such
a manner as to protrude outward from the outline of the outer
surface of the outer circumferential wall 11 except for the
operating plate 6, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Consequently, the
position of the operating plate 6 can be recognized by a touch with
a finger without visual perception.
[0058] In the cap main body 2 is provided with a fixing member 14
for fixing the operating plate, which is constituted of an engaging
piece 15 and an engaging piece receiver 16. In the preferred
embodiment, the engaging piece serves as an upper end 15a of the
operating plate 6, as shown in FIG. 2. Moreover, the cutout 8 is
formed in such a manner that the upper end is loosely fitted, and
further, a projection 16a serving as the engaging piece receiver is
formed at the lower surface of the peripheral edge of the cutout.
As shown in FIG. 3, the outer surface of the projection is inclined
down inward, so that the operating plate upper end 15a rides over
the projection 16a to thus engage with and be locked to the inner
surface of the projection when the operating plate 6 is elastically
deformed inward.
[0059] In the cover 20, engaging slots as engaging means 22 on the
side of the cover are formed at both of the right and left of a
peripheral wall 21 whose lower portion can detachably engage with
the small-diameter portion 11a formed at the cap main body 2. The
engaging projections serving as the engaging means 7 on the side of
the operating plate are formed in such a manner as to be freely
fitted into the engaging slots. Moreover, an engaging cylinder 24
which can detachably engage with the outer surface of the raised
portion with the pouring hole 4, described already, is suspended
from the center of the lower surface of a cover plate 23 for
closing the upper surface of the peripheral wall 21.
[0060] Additionally, a mouth on the peripheral wall 21 is connected
to the periphery of the upward step at the cap main end via a hinge
25. It is preferable that the hinge should consist of a thin hinge
and tension springs positioned on right and left sides of the
hinge. The tension spring functions to hold the cover 20 in an open
state shown in FIG. 1.
[0061] Here, in FIG. 1, reference numeral 26 designates an elastic
locking plate projecting from the outer surface of the front
portion of the small-diameter portion 11a on the outer
circumferential wall in the cap main body. And reference numeral 27
designates a stopper formed at the outer surface of the front
portion on the peripheral wall 21 of the cover. Furthermore,
reference numeral 28 designates an engaging portion additionally
formed at the inner surface of the lower end of the front portion
on the peripheral wall of the cover, wherein the engaging portion
28 can engage with the locking plate 26 by closing the cover.
[0062] With the above-described configuration, since the engaging
means 7 and 22 engage with each other in the cover closing state
indicated by a imaginary line in FIG. 2, the cover 20 cannot be
opened in an opening direction, thereby preventing any improper
use.
[0063] In order to open the cover, the upper portions of the right
and left operating plates 6 are pressed inward to be thus
elastically deformed, so that the engaging means 7 on the side of
the operating plate are separated inward from the engaging means 22
on the side of the cover, and then, the cover 20 is rotated upward.
Incidentally, the operating plate is stopped to be pressed at the
time of abutment in normally opening the cover since the upper end
15a is formed in such a manner as to freely abut against the outer
surface of the projection 16a when the operating plate 6 is pressed
inward.
[0064] In the case where there is no possibility of improper use,
the operation by the operating plate 6 in opening the cover is
cumbersome. In order to eliminate such a cumbersome task, the
engaging means 7 on the side of the operating plate are separated
inward all the time from the engaging means 22 on the side of the
cover. For the purpose of such separation, as shown in FIGS. 3 and
4, the operating plate 6 is pressed inward more strongly than when
the cover is normally opened, so as to forcibly ride over the
projection 16a. In this manner, the upper end 15a of the operating
plate is made to engage with the inner surface of the projection.
Furthermore, in order to prevent another improper use, the
operating plate 6 is separated from the projection 16a.
Incidentally, in the present embodiment, it is possible to release
the engagement between the engaging means 7 and 22 and allow the
operating plate upper end 15a to engage with the projection 16a by
the single operation of pushing the operating plate 6 inward, thus
achieving excellent ease of use.
[0065] Hereinafter, a description will be given below of another
embodiment according to the present invention. Here, the same
constituents as those in the first embodiment are designated by the
same reference numerals, and therefore, the explanation will be
omitted.
[0066] FIGS. 5 to 9 show a second embodiment according to the
present invention.
[0067] The configuration of an engaging piece receiver 16 in fixing
member 14 mainly is varied in the present embodiment. That is to
say, as shown in FIG. 6, a pair of narrow cutouts 30 are formed at
right and left ends of a top plate 3 in a cap main body in a manner
corresponding to vertical groove portions of split grooves 5. Each
of base ends at the top plate on both cutouts is formed as a thin
bending line 31, the top plate between the cutouts is formed as an
elastically bending plate 32, which can be bent downward, as
indicated in FIG. 8. Furthermore, a slot 16b serving as an engaging
piece receiver is bored at the bending plate. The slot is located
at a position at which an engaging piece formed as an upper end 15a
of the operating plate can be locked only when the elastically
bending plate is bent and an operating plate 6 is elastically
deformed inward.
[0068] With the above-described configuration, since engaging means
7 and 22 engage with each other in a cover closing state indicated
by a imaginary line in FIG. 5 in the same manner as in the first
embodiment, a cover 20 can be prevented from being opened, whereby
the operating plate need be pushed inward in a cover opening
operation.
[0069] In the case where there is no possibility of improper use,
as shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, the operating plate upper end 15a may be
loosely fitted into the slot 16b by bending the elastically bending
plate 32 while pushing both of the operating plates 6 inward, so
that the engaging means 7 on the side of the operating plate is
held in a state separated from the engaging means 22 on the side of
the cover. In the present embodiment, two operations, that is, the
operation of pushing the operating plate inward and the operation
of bending the elastically bending plate 32 are required in order
to release the engagement between the engaging means 7 and 22 all
the time. As a consequence, it is possible to prevent the engaging
means 7 and 22 from being separated at all times, which may occur
against a user's will due to carelessness of the user.
[0070] FIGS. 10 and 11 show a third embodiment according to the
present invention.
[0071] The configurations of an engaging piece 15 and an engaging
piece receiver 16 in the first embodiment are varied in the present
embodiment. That is to say, cutouts 8, each having a width
substantially corresponding to the upper end of an operating plate
6, are formed at right and left ends of a top plate 3,
respectively, such that the upper end of the operating plate 6 is
loosely fitted into the cutout. A tenon 15c projects inward from
the intermediate portion in a width direction at the upper end of
the operation plate and is so formed as to be narrower at its
(tenon's) intermediate portion than a base end and a tip end. And a
tenon groove 16c formed into a shape in conformity with the
projection and disposed at a corresponding position of the cutout 8
in the width direction. In the present embodiment, the tenon 15c is
formed into a plate-like projection having the outline of a C shape
(or an arcuate shape), as viewed from the top. When the tenon is
pushed into the tenon groove 16c in a horizontal direction in a
state shown in FIG. 10, the intermediate portion of the tenon
elastically pushes and enlarges its opening outwardly sideways of
the tenon groove, to be thus snapped, as shown in FIG. 11.
[0072] With the above-described configuration, since engaging means
7 and 22 engage with each other in a cover closing state in the
same manner as in the first embodiment, a cover 20 can be prevented
from being opened.
[0073] In the case where there is no possibility of improper use,
the tenon 15c abuts against the opening of the tenon groove 16c by
pushing each of the operating plates 6 inward, and then, is fitted
into the tenon groove. Moreover, for the purpose of prevention of
another improper use, the tenon is detached outward of the tenon
groove. Here, conveniently in the present embodiment, the
engagement between the engaging means 7 and 22 can be released and
the tenon 15c can be fitted into the tenon groove 16c by a single
operation of pushing the operating plate 6 inward, like in the
first embodiment. Additionally, the upper end of the operating
plate 6 and the top plate 3 in a cap main body are integrally
continuous to each other via the tenon and the tenon groove which
are formed into complementary shapes, thereby achieving the good
outside appearance of the cap in the cover opening state.
[0074] FIGS. 12 to 16 show a fourth embodiment according to the
present invention. In the present embodiment, an engaging piece 15
and an engaging piece receiver 16 are formed inward of an outer
circumferential wall 11 of a cap main body 2. The engaging piece 15
and the engaging piece receiver 16 are formed at the inner surface
of an operating plate 6 and the outer surface of an inner
circumferential wall 10 facing the inner surface, respectively. In
the preferred embodiment, as shown in FIG. 13, an engaging
projection 15d formed into a T-shape in cross section and
longitudinally disposed at the outer surface of the inner
circumferential wall 10 serves as the engaging piece, and further,
an elastically deformable longitudinal rib 41 formed into a Y-shape
in cross section is disposed at the inner surface of the operating
plate, so that an engaging groove 16d additionally formed at the
tip end of the longitudinal rib serves as the engaging piece
receiver. However, the engaging projection 15d may be formed on the
operating plate 6 while the engaging groove 16d may be formed on
the inner circumferential wall 10, and otherwise, the engaging
groove 16d may be formed directly at the outer surface of the inner
circumferential wall 10 or the inner surface of the operating plate
6. In the present embodiment, the upper end of the operating plate
6 serving as a finger hook 42 projects upward of the top plate in
the cap main body.
[0075] With the above-described configuration, in the case where
there is no possibility of improper use, the engaging projection
15d abuts against the opening of the engaging groove 16d by pushing
the operating plate 6 inward, and then, the engaging projection 15d
is fitted into the engaging groove 16d by further pushing the
operating plate 6. Moreover, for the purpose of prevention of
another improper use, a finger is hooked on the finger hook 42,
thereby pushing outward and re-rotating the operating plate.
[0076] In the present embodiment, since the engaging piece 15 and
the engaging piece receiver 16 are disposed inside of the outer
circumferential wall 11 of the cap main body, it is possible to
prevent the engagement with the engaging piece receiver from being
released due to abutment of other members against the engaging
piece. In addition, it is convenient because the engagement can be
released only by operating the finger hook 42.
[0077] FIGS. 17 to 22 show a fifth embodiment according to the
present invention. The present embodiment is configured such that
an operating plate 6 is fixed to a container 51.
[0078] As shown in FIGS. 17 to 22, in a cap main body 2, a pair of
connecting portions 13 for connecting the operating plate to the
cap main body except for the operating plate are disposed at both
edges of the operating plate near the lower end of the operating
plate 6 with a predetermined distance from the lower end, and
further, a second projection 18 is additionally formed at the inner
surface and the like of the operating plate under the connecting
portion. When the second projection is pushed outwardly sideways,
the operating plate 6 is rotated about a horizontally rotational
axis connecting the connecting portions to each other against the
elasticity of the connecting portion, and thus, the operating plate
located above the connecting portion is displaced inward.
[0079] In the container 51, a first projection 54 is additionally
formed at a base outer surface of a top opened neck portion 52 with
a space in a circumferential direction at substantially the same
position as the second projection 18. A distance from the center
axis of the neck portion to the outer surface of the first
projection 54 is longer than that from the center axis of the cap
main body 2 to the inner surface of the second projection 18. As
indicated by an arrow in FIG. 18, when a safety cap 1 is rotated
about the neck portion 52, the second projection 18 can ride on the
tip end of the first projection 54. In the present embodiment, the
first projection 54 and the second projection 18 constitute fixing
member 14.
[0080] Particularly in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 20,
the neck portion 52 is standing upwardly from the inner
circumference of an inward flange 53 attached to the upper end of a
body, and further, the pair of first projections 54 and 54 are
additionally formed at the back and forth portions of the inward
flange (that is, at positions deviated at 90? from the operating
plates), respectively. Incidentally, the first projections may be
formed at the back and forth portions of a raised portion 55 by
raising the periphery of the inward flange. It is desirable that
the inward flange 53 should be disposed in such a manner as to abut
against or approach the lower end of an outer circumferential wall
11 when the cap main body is attached to the neck portion 52.
[0081] As shown in FIG. 20, a first engaging projection 56 is
circumferentially disposed at the outer surface of the neck portion
52, and further, a second engaging projection 57 is
circumferentially disposed at the inner surface of the inner
circumferential wall, thereby allowing the second engaging
projection 57 to engage with the lower surface of the first
engaging projection 56 in the engaging state of the inner
circumferential wall with the outer surface of the neck portion, so
as to prevent any withdrawal of the cap. Otherwise, marks 58 and 58
may be formed under the first projections 54 and 54, respectively,
or rotating range regulating means for the cap with respect to the
container may be disposed, so that the second projection rides over
the outer surface of the first projection when the cap is rotated
up to one end of the regulating means.
[0082] With the above-described configuration, as shown in FIGS. 18
and 20, since engaging means 7 and 22 can engage with each other in
the state in which the first and second projections 54 and 18 are
located at different positions in the circumferential direction, a
cover 20 cannot be opened.
[0083] Unless such a safety device as described above is required,
the lower portion of the operating plate 6 is pushed outward
against the elasticity of the connecting portion 13 and the upper
portion of the operating plate is pushed inward to be thus kept in
a state disengaged from the engaging means by allowing the second
projection 18 to ride over the outer surface of the first
projection 54 by rotating the cap, thereby opening the cover 20
without performing the above-described operation.
[0084] In the present embodiment, since the cap main body need be
rotated with respect to the neck portion of the container in order
to secure the operating plate at an inward displaced position, a
user cannot release the above-described safety device by erroneous
operation. Furthermore, since the fixing member 14 is disposed
inward of the outer circumferential wall 11 of the cap main body,
the fixed state cannot be released by abutment of other members
against the fixing means.
[0085] FIGS. 22 and 23 show a modification of the present
embodiments, wherein a single operating plate 6 is disposed on an
outer circumferential wall 11 of a cap main body on an opposite
side in a diametrical direction with respect to a hinge 25.
* * * * *