U.S. patent application number 13/998490 was filed with the patent office on 2015-05-07 for child resistant closure with improved assembly.
The applicant listed for this patent is Santosh Kumar Das, Sunil Kumar Kaul, Sumanth Kumar Reddy Mettu. Invention is credited to Santosh Kumar Das, Sunil Kumar Kaul, Sumanth Kumar Reddy Mettu.
Application Number | 20150122767 13/998490 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 53006238 |
Filed Date | 2015-05-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150122767 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Mettu; Sumanth Kumar Reddy ;
et al. |
May 7, 2015 |
Child resistant closure with improved assembly
Abstract
The present invention relates to child-resistant closures, and
more particularly to child-resistant closures with multiple caps,
engaged by two oppositely acting locking system, which offer
advantages over the prior art by enabling easier opening, yet
remains child-resistant.
Inventors: |
Mettu; Sumanth Kumar Reddy;
(Hyderabad, IN) ; Das; Santosh Kumar;
(Bhawanipatna, IN) ; Kaul; Sunil Kumar;
(Hyderabad, IN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Mettu; Sumanth Kumar Reddy
Das; Santosh Kumar
Kaul; Sunil Kumar |
Hyderabad
Bhawanipatna
Hyderabad |
|
IN
IN
IN |
|
|
Family ID: |
53006238 |
Appl. No.: |
13/998490 |
Filed: |
November 5, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
215/220 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 50/041
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
215/220 |
International
Class: |
B65D 50/04 20060101
B65D050/04 |
Claims
1. A child-resistant cap assembly, comprising: a) an inner cap
having a dome-shaped top panel having two elevated circular
projections on a base of the outer side, one in the center and one
on periphery, and inner side consisting of elevated threads and, b)
an outer cap having elevated projections complimentary to the
projections of top surface of inner cap, so as to match with each
other leading to a locking arrangement which allows the inner cap
to move by the force applied on the outer cap in clockwise
direction, the elevated projections of outer closure rides over the
gradational elevations of inner cap causing slippage of the outer
closure over the inner closure leading to free movement, wherein
the closure does not contain any stop member; wherein the elevated
projection in the center consists of at least two pieces of helical
structures, which progressively increase in height; wherein
elevated projection on the periphery consists of at least two
arches, wherein one end of the arch is having gradational elevation
in the direction of progressive arches at center and other end form
an angle ranging from 0-180.degree. with the base of the outer side
of inner cap meant for peripheral locking system; wherein the inner
and outer cap are joined by means of two oppositely acting system,
comprising: i) center cam system, which provide easy closing of the
closure on the container without applying much torque and, ii)
outer periphery locking system, which does not allow the children
to open the closure with any force or tampering on the closure in
any direction.
2. The child-resistant cap assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein
the inner cap comprises outer and inner side, and wherein the outer
side is engaged in outer cap and inner side is attached with the
container.
3. The child-resistant cap assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein
the central elevated projection consists of at least two pieces of
helical structures, which progressively increase in height and form
an angle ranging from 0-180.degree. with the base.
4. The child-resistant cap assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein
the peripheral arches are like pockets, which are formed with rigid
border of plastic material having an empty space within the
border.
5. The child-resistant cap assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein
the inner side of outer cap consists of at least two projections at
periphery, wherein each projection is pocket type made with rigid
border of plastic material having an empty space within the border
and further the width of which is less than the gap between the
peripheral arches of top portions of inner cap.
6. The child-resistant cap assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein
the central surface of the inner side of the outer cap consists of
at least two pieces helical structures, which progressively
increase in height and form an angle ranging from 0-180.degree.
with the base.
7. The child-resistant cap assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein
the top portions of the inner cap are convex or dome-shaped in
nature which gives resilient effect and the inner sides of the
inner cap consist of threads which encompasses on the complimentary
threads of container and ensure capping.
8. The child-resistant cap assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein
the downward pressure on the outer cap will overcome the bias of
the dome-shaped top panel to place the inner and outer caps in a
first axial position wherein the inner and outer caps are coupled
thereby allowing rotation of the inner and outer caps in unison to
allow removal of the closure.
9. The child-resistant cap assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein
the child resistant closure has an inner cap adapted to be loosely
retained within the outer cap of a safety closure to allow relative
rotary movement of the inner cap.
10. The child-resistant cap assembly as claimed in any of the
preceding claims 1-7, wherein the child resistant closure are
formed from a plastic material selected from polyvinyl chloride,
low or high density polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene
polyester teraphthalate and nylon.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a Continuation-in-part of application
Ser. No. 12/658, 688 filed on Feb. 13, 2010. This application
claims priority from an Indian Patent Application bearing number IN
331/CHE 2009 filed on Feb. 16, 2009.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] To reduce the number of accidental incidents, which may
result due to access of unsafe medicine by children, containers are
properly closed by means of closures. The most important attribute
of closures is security as it controls access to the product.
Various closures having tamper proof and child resistant features
are developed to control access to the contents of the container by
overcoming accidental incidents and to improve upon existing
features of closures.
[0004] (1) Field of the Invention
[0005] The present invention relates to child-resistant closures,
and more particularly to child-resistant closures with multiple
caps, engaged by two oppositely acting locking system, which offer
advantages over the prior art by enabling easier opening, yet
remains child-resistant.
[0006] (2) Description of Related Art
[0007] Today, child-resistant closures are very important for the
safety of children. As used herein, use of the term
"child-resistant closure" is consistent with 16 CFR 1700 and refers
generally to the inability of a younger child's or person with a
younger child's strength and/or manual dexterity to open a closure
85% of the time within a given amount of time without a
demonstration of how to open the closure, or 80% of the time with
such a demonstration.
[0008] There are many caps of the type having an inner cap adapted
to threadedly engage the neck portion of a container and an outer
cap fixedly attached over the inner cap to prevent external access
thereto. Upon pushing the outer cap toward the inner cap, the two
caps engage in some manner so as to produce rotation of the inner
cap with the outer cap and allow unthreading thereof. Examples of
such caps are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,964,207, 3,374,912,
3,394,829, 3,396,864, 3,764,033, 3,853,236, 3,857,505 and
3,944,102. One problem with many of such closures is that they
cannot be applied with conventional capping machinery.
[0009] The most common closures, which have proven to work well,
are caps, which require two or more concurrent motions in order to
open them. For example, one such design is the "push-and-turn"
closure. This type of closures can only be opened by simultaneously
pushing downward on the cap while turning it.
[0010] Examples of "push-and-turn" designs are disclosed in U.S.
Pat. Nos. 4,319,690 and 4,394,916. These patents describe a typical
two-piece, ramp and ratchet lugs design. A plurality of ratchet
lugs on one cap project towards a plurality of corresponding ramps
on the opposite cap. Generally, the ramps and lugs engage each
other when turned in a fastening direction such that the two caps
turn in tandem. The ratchet lugs are integrally formed and
circularly disposed about an annular stop member. Both the ratchet
lugs and the stop member are concentrically arranged about the
center of the circular end wall.
[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 4,319,690 further describes a closure with a
flange of the top pane extending radially outwardly from the
periphery of the web-like portion and a plurality of upwardly
extending nibs. Integrally formed with the nibs are an equal number
of upwardly extending stop ribs. The stop ribs prevent the ratchet
lugs of the outer cap from overstressing and permanently deforming
the dome-shaped top panel.
[0012] U.S. Pat. No. 4,723,685 discloses a two-piece
child-resistant closure having a molded plastic inner and outer
component, the inner component having a double ended liner
retention bead that projects radially inwardly from the inside of
an annular skirt portion to retain a sealing liner in a position
that is adjacent to the underside of a top panel portion, which
further having a helically extending thread that projects radially
inwardly from the annular skirt portion, the thread having an
uppermost portion with a 0.degree. helical arch.
[0013] U.S. Pat. No. 4,997,096 discloses a child resistant closure
comprising an outer shell having a base wall and a peripheral skirt
and an inner shell having a base wall and a peripheral skirt
telescoped within the outer shell.
[0014] U.S. Pat. No. 6,206,216 discloses a child-resistant cap
assembly, comprising an inner cap with at least one inner cap
projection having a complex angled surface and an outer cap,
wherein said outer cap has a retaining mechanism which engages said
inner cap such that said inner cap and said outer cap are freely
rotatable relative to each other, and wherein said outer cap has at
least one outer cap projection, wherein said outer cap projection
and said inner cap projection engage by radial contact over a
length on said complex angled surface when unfastening the cap
assembly.
[0015] Even though the prior arts disclose child resistant
closures, still there is a need to develop an improved child
resistant closure which is difficult to open by children while
simultaneously allowing others, such as adults, to open easily.
OBJECTIVE OF THE INVENTION
[0016] Accordingly, the main objective of the present invention is
to provide a child-resistant closure, and more particularly
child-resistant closures with multiple caps, which are engaged by
two oppositely acting locking system, and which offer advantages
over the prior art by enabling easier opening, yet remains
child-resistant.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0017] Accordingly, the main embodiment of the present invention is
to provide a child-resistant cap assembly, comprising:
a) an inner cap having a dome-shaped top panel having peripheral
arches and central ratchets with the inner side consisting of
elevated threads, and b) an outer cap having elevated projections
complimentary to the projections of top surface of inner cap, so as
to match with each other leading to a locking arrangement which
allows the inner cap to move by the force applied on the outer cap
in clockwise direction, the elevated projections of outer closure
rides over the gradational elevations of inner cap causing slippage
of the outer closure over the inner closure leading to free
movement, wherein the closure does not contain any stop member.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0018] FIG. 1(a) represents top view of inner cap.
[0019] FIG. 1(b) represents sectional view of the inner cap showing
circularly arranged threads A.
[0020] FIG. 1(c) represents bottom view of inner cap.
[0021] FIG. 1(d) represents the inner cap showing the arrangement
of ratchet lugs.
[0022] FIG. 1(e) represents the 3D view of the inner cap.
[0023] FIG. 2(a) represents the bottom view of outer cap.
[0024] FIG. 2(b) represents the front view of outer cap.
[0025] FIG. 2(c) represents the top view of outer cap.
[0026] FIG. 2(d) represents sectional view of outer cap along with
center of projection A.
[0027] FIG. 3(a) represents closure closing.
[0028] FIG. 3(b) represents closure opening.
[0029] FIG. 4(a) represents bottles closing by means of
closures.
[0030] FIG. 4(b) represents bottles opening by means of
closures.
[0031] FIG. 5(a) represents the outer 3D view of outer cap.
[0032] FIG. 5(b) represents the top view of outer cap by showing
the detail of engraving.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0033] The inner cap comprises outer and inner side, wherein the
outer side is engaged in outer cap and inner side is attached with
the container.
[0034] In another embodiment, the outer side of the inner cap
consists of two elevated circular projections, one in the center
and one on the periphery. The elevated projection at the center
consists of at least two pieces of helical structures, which
progressively increase in height and form an angle ranging from
0-180.degree. with the base called as ratchet lugs which are
arranged circularly to form an inner cam system.
[0035] The elevated projection at the periphery consists of at
least two arches, dimensions of which are equally distributed with
gap between two arches. The arches look like pockets, which are
formed with rigid border of plastic material having an empty space
within the border. One end of the arch has a slope in the direction
of progressive arches at center and other end forms an angle
ranging from 0-180.degree. with the base meant for peripheral
locking system.
[0036] The top portions of the inner cap are convex or dome-shaped
in nature, which give resilient effect. The inner sides of the
inner cap consist of threads, which encompasses on the
complimentary threads of container and ensure capping.
[0037] The dome-shaped top panel provides a biasing force to
maintain the inner and outer caps in a second axial position.
Downward pressure on the outer cap will overcome the bias of the
dome-shaped top panel to place the inner and outer caps in a first
axial position wherein the inner and outer caps are coupled thereby
allowing rotation of the inner and outer caps in unison to allow
removal of the closure.
[0038] The outer cap comprises outer side and inner side, wherein
the inner side of the outer cap is fixed with the outer side of the
inner cap.
[0039] In another embodiment, the inner side of outer cap consists
of at least two projections at periphery, wherein each projection
is pocket type made with rigid border of plastic material having an
empty space within the border and further the width of which is
less than the gap between the peripheral arches of top portions of
inner cap. The central surface of the inner side of the outer cap
consists of at least two pieces helical structures, which
progressively increase in height and form an angle ranging from
0-180.degree. with the base called as ratchet lugs which are
arranged circularly to form an outer cam system. Further, the outer
cap has serrations running circularly in the outer diameter in
front side of the outer cap. In another embodiment of the present
invention, serrations lead to knurling on the outer surface in the
front side of the outer cap which helps in gripping the cap while
closing and opening the bottle.
[0040] The closure assembly can be done either by fixing the inner
component inside the outer component or by fixing the outer
component to the top of inner component.
[0041] Yet another embodiment, the child resistant closure has two
oppositely acting locking system i.e. outer periphery locking
system and center cam system. Center cam system has been used to
provide easy closing of the closure on the container without
applying much torque. Similarly, while opening, specially designed
outer periphery locking system doesn't allow the children to open
the closure with any force or any kind of tampering to be done on
the closure in any direction.
[0042] In an embodiment of the present invention, there is a
provided a child resistant closure that has an inner cap adapted to
be loosely retained within the outer cap of a safety closure to
allow relative rotary movement between the inner cap member. The
inner cap having a dome-shaped top panel comprising six
peripherally arranged arches which are equally distributed in the
gap between the two arches and six centrally placed helical
progressive structures or ratchet lug which progressively increase
in height and form right angle with the base and arranged
circularly to form central cam system. Similarly, the outer cap
comprises six projection or arches at periphery, the width of which
are less than the gap between the peripheral arches of top portion
of inner cap and six helical progressive structures called as
ratchet lug, which are complimentary to the projection present in
the inner cap, wherein the closure does not contain stop
member.
[0043] The inner cap and outer cap are joined by means of two
oppositely acting system, i.e. [0044] i) center cam system, which
provide easy closing of the closure on the container without
applying much torque and [0045] ii) specially designed outer
periphery locking system, which doesn't allow the children to open
the closure with any force or tampering on the closure in any
direction.
[0046] Accordingly with reference to FIG. 1(a) the inner cap 20
shows two circular projections arranged in two circular surface 1
and 2, which comprise peripherally arranged six piece in arches or
pockets 3 which are equally distributed with gap between two arches
and arranged within first circular surface 1 and centrally placed
six helical progressive structures or ratchet lugs 4 which are
arranged in progressively increase in height in the second circular
surface 2 called as center cam. The ratchet lugs progressively
increase in height and form a right angle with the base as shown in
FIG. 1(d). The bottom part of the inner cap comprises outer
diameter 5, which further comprises notches 6 and thread 7 as shown
in FIG. 1(c).
[0047] With reference to FIG. 1(e), one end of the peripherally
arranged arches or pockets 3 of the inner cap 20 has a gradational
elevation with the base of the outer side of inner cap 20 in the
direction of progressive arches 4 at center, wherein the
gradational elevation has a vertical portion 42 and a slope portion
43 and the slope portion is not directly from the base but after
some vertical portion from the base of the outer side of the inner
cap 20 and the other end of the peripherally arranged arches or
pockets 3 forms an angle ranging from 0-180.degree. with the base
of the outer side of inner cap 20. Similarly, with reference to
FIG. 2 (a) the outer cap 30 shows an outer circle 8 where six
projections 10 are arranged peripherally having rotator rib,
wherein the width of each projection is less than the gap between
the two complementary projections present in the top portion of the
inner cap and further the inner circle 9 has six centrally arranged
helical progressive structures or ratchet lugs 11, which is
complementary to outer side of the inner cap and attached with the
inner cap by the application of pressure at the top of the closure.
The cap further contains inner rotating ring 12 arranged circularly
in the inner surface of the outer cap. The outer cap further
comprises outer serration 13 arranged circumferrally in the outer
side of the outer cap as shown in FIG. 2(c).
[0048] The inner cap 20 and outer cap 30 are fixed together by
applying pressure to form an assembly of outer and inner cap
represented by 40 as shown in FIG. 3(a). To close the container
with the cap, the assembled cap needs to be placed into the
container neck and force (torque) is applied at the top of the
closure in clock wise direction leading to the engagement of the
complimentary elevations which then engage to the container threads
and ensure closing or locking of the cap. While attempting to open
the closure as shown in FIG. 3 (b) that is by unscrewing the
closure in anti-clock wise direction, the elevated projections of
outer closure rides over the slope portion 43 of the gradational
elevations of inner cap causing slippage of the outer closure over
the inner closure leading to free movements; the coupling between
outer side of inner closure and inner side of outer closure occurs
only when downward pressure is exerted on the top of the outer
closure encompassing the inner closure to move on the threads of
the container leading to unscrewing of the closure while rotating
in anti-clockwise direction with simultaneous downward pressure on
the top of the outer closure. The convex nature of the top surface
of the inner closure has a spring type action which holds the outer
cap at a specified height so that the outer cap will rotate freely
when children try to open the bottle. Due to convexity of the top
surface of the inner closure and the resilient effect, the
engagement/coupling between the inner side of outer closure and
outer side of inner closure will occur only when certain amount of
pressure is exerted, which is difficult for the children to apply
and thus avoids accidental opening of the cap. The design of the
closure ensures that the engagement of the coupling projections
will not occur until right amount of downward pressure is exerted
simultaneously with the rotational anti-clockwise movement which
makes it more effective in terms of making the design difficult to
open for children.
[0049] With reference to FIG. 3(b), when the downward pressure is
exerted on the outer cap 30 simultaneously with the rotational
anti-clockwise movement, the elevated projections 10 on the
periphery of the outer cap 30 will couple with the vertical portion
42 of the gradational elevation of the peripheral arches or pockets
3 of the inner cap 20. This coupling will lead to movement of
thread of inner cap on the threads of the container thereby leading
to the removal of cap assembly 40 from the container 41.
[0050] FIG. 4 (a) represents an outer cap and inner cap assembly
40, which has suitably, configured threads that can be mounted on
the container 41.
[0051] The closure is molded as outlined wall/partially filled to
fully filled with materials.
[0052] The child resistant closures are mainly formed from a
plastic material such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), though differing
materials such as low or high density polyethylene, polypropylene,
polystyrene, polyester teraphthalate (PET), nylon and the like may
be similarly substituted.
[0053] Further, according to various alternative aspects of the
present invention, inner cap and outer cap may each suitably be
formed from differing materials. For example, it may be desirable
to form outer cap from a more rigid material than inner cap so that
outer cap is more easily gripped by the user or so that inner cap
has the ability to resiliently deform as desired when cap assembly
is used.
[0054] In yet another embodiment of the present invention is
provided an opening instruction on the outer part of the outer cap
in the form of written text as well as representation in pictorial
form. The opening instruction is debossed in English language and
also the same opening instruction is represented in pictorial
format which is advantageous to a non English speaking user who can
be communicated through the pictorial representation as shown in
FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b).
[0055] The present invention provides child-resistant closures
particularly with multiple caps, which are engaged by two
oppositely acting locking system. The child-resistant closures
offer advantages by enabling easier opening for adults but yet
remain child-resistant.
[0056] The specific designs exemplified in the invention are
various illustrative embodiments and are not intended to limit the
scope of the invention. It is obvious to those skilled in the art
to find out various alternations and modifications in the
construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the
scope and spirit of the invention.
* * * * *