Safety Closure And Container

Abstract

An internally threaded safety closure and a container-closure combination are provided in which the container has screw threads on its neck and at least one upwardly projecting tooth adjacent the neck, and the threaded closure has an integral resiliently deflectable ring rigidly connected to its skirt through at least one bridge and having at least one downwardly projecting ratchet tooth on the ring for engaging the tooth on the container to prevent removal of the closure from the container without first flexing the ring by squeezing it or lifting it to disengage the teeth.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to closures and containers, and in particular to a closure and a closed container which resists opening by small children.

2. Description of the Prior Art

There is a great public concern over the many young children who are accidentally poisoned each year through the ingestion of substances such as household cleanser, insecticide furniture polish and the like which are found in most homes. Many containers of such substances are closed with closures that can be opened by small children and the contents of the containers accidentally ingested by the children. Accordingly, there is a need for closures for containers which resist opening by small children. Some such closures are presently available, but many of them are unsatisfactory for reasons such as high cost, lack of reliability, poor sealing capabilities, and undue difficulty of opening by adults. For liquid substances, childproof closures should be hermetically sealable and are preferably made in one piece in order to minimize costs. The patent art discloses a number of one piece, hermetically sealable closures in which teeth on a closure engage teeth on a container to lock the closure on the container until either the container or closure is flexed in some way to disengage the teeth and permit unscrewing the closure from the container. Closures of this type are disclosed in the following U.S. Pat Nos. Martin 2,752,060 and 2,827,193, Whiteman, Jr. 3,101,856, Polzin 3,182,480, Sharp 3,185,333, Jessop 3,233,769, Schaefer 3,360,147, Steiner 3,399,796, Quackenbush 3,422,978, Cilluffo 3,445,022, Miller 3,698,584 and Bagguley 3,700,133 among others.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention provides an internnally threaded plastic safety closure and a safety container-closure combination in which the container has detent means thereon adjacent its neck and the closure has a resiliently deflectable annular band on it extending around at least a portion of the closure and rigidly connected to the closure skirt by at least one bridge, and with at least one downwardly projecting ratchet tooth on the band for engaging the detent means on the container to prevent removal of the closure without first flexing band to disengage the tooth or teeth from the detent means.

Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide a one piece hermetically sealable safety closure for a container.

Another object of this invention is to provide a safety container-closure assembly in which the closure has an integral resiliently deflectable band thereon which is rigidly connected to the closure skirt and at least one downwardly projecting ratchet tooth on the band for engaging a detent means on a container to prevent removal of the closure from a container by a small child.

A further object of the invention is to provide a molded plastic safety closure with a resiliently deflectable locking means thereon which must be lifted or squeezed to disengage it from a detent means on a container on which the closure is sealed.

The above and other objects and advantages of this invention will be more fully understood and appreciated with reference to the following description and the drawings attached hereto.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a closure of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of a container adapted to have the closure of FIG. 1 sealed thereon.

FIG. 3 is a cross section through a container-closure assembly of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an alternate container adapted to have a closure of the invention sealed thereon.

FIG. 5 is a side view of another alternative container which may be closed in accordance with this invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of the container of FIG. 5 with an alternative embodiment of a closure of the invention secured thereon.

FIG. 7 is a partial elevation of the teeth in the closure illustrated in FIG. 6 as viewed from within the closure.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, a safety closure of the invention is illustrated as comprising an internally threaded screw cap 10 molded from plastic material and having an integral resiliently deflectable ring 12 rigidly secured to the closure skirt 14 by means of integral bridges 16. Screw cap 10 has a top end wall 18 for closing an opening in a container neck and preferably has a liner or sealing gasket (FIG. 3) against the undersurface of such top end wall for forming a seal between the closure and container finish. Screw cap 10 may further have vertical corrugations 20 in the exterior surface of skirt 14 to facilitate gripping the closure to turn it when either applying it to or removing it from a container.

Ring 12 has at least one, and preferably a series, of downwardly projecting ratchet teeth 22 on it for engagement with detent means or teeth on a container. Each tooth 22 has an inclined surface 21 for facilitating screwing of cap 10 on a container, and a substantially vertical surface 23 for locking the cap on the container as will be described later. A second series of teeth, not shown, is preferably provided on ring 12 substantially diametrically opposed to the series of teeth shown in FIG. 1. Bridges 16 which connect ring 12 to closure skirt 14 are preferably on opposite sides of the closure and are located approximately equidistance between the two opposed series of teeth 22 so that the resiliently deflectable ring is not unduly restrained by such bridges. Ring 12 may have vertical corrugations 24 in its outer surface to facilitate gripping the ring during removal of closure 10 from a container. To facilitate molding of cap 10, the innermost surface of ring 12 is preferably disposed either line-or-line with, or outwardly of, the outermost surface of skirt 14 on the cap.

FIG. 2 illustrates the top portion of a container 26 which is adapted to have screw cap 10 secured thereon in accordance with this invention. Container 26 may be made of glass, plastic or other material and has a cylindrical neck 28 with an opening 30 therein and vertically inclined thread means 32 on the exterior of the neck for engagement with internal threads in cap 10. Container 26 further has at least one, and preferably two, diametrically opposed upwardly projecting detent means or teeth 34 adjacent neck 28 for engagement with teeth 22 on ring 12 of screw cap 10. Each tooth 34 preferably has an inclined surface 36 for permitting teeth 22 on screw cap 10 to slide over and move past the tooth, and preferably has a substantially vertical surface 38 for engaging the vertical surfaces on teeth 22 to prevent the closure from being rotated in a counter-clockwise direction with respect to the container. Surfaces 36 and 38 on teeth 22 are disposed in planes which extend substantially radially of the container neck. Surface 38 on each container tooth 34, or surface 23 on each closure tooth 23, or both such surfaces may be angled slightly with respect to vertical and toward the mating surface on the other member to provide more positive locking engagement between the teeth. Container 25 may also have an outwardly facing, upwardly-inwardly inclined surface 40 therearound adjacent teeth 34 to engage teeth 22 on ring 12 and cam the ring upwardly to disengage teeth 22 from teeth 34 when the ring is squeezed as will be explained.

FIG. 3 illustrates an assembly of cap 10 sealed on container 26. The right hand side of FIG. 3 illustrates teeth 22 on ring 12 of cap 10 engaged with teeth 34 on container 26, and the left hand side of the FIG. illustrates ring 12 deflected inwardly with respect to the vertical axis of the closure and container so that inclined surface 40 of the container has cammed or forced the resiliently deflectable ring upward to disengage teeth 22 from teeth 34. When the teeth 22 and 34 are engaged as illustrated on the right hand side of FIG. 3, closure 10 cannot be turned counter-clockwise to remove the cap from the container. Conversely, when ring 12 is deflected inwardly and upwardly to disengage teeth 22 from teeth 34, cap 10 can be unscrewed to remove it from container 26.

Cap 10 can be sealed on container 26 by simply positioning the cap on the container mouth and turning or screwing the cap clockwise with respect to the container. Vertically inclined surfaces 21 and 36 on teeth 22 and 34 slide against one another and deflect the resilient ring 12 upwardly during such clockwise rotation of the closure, and thereby permit securing of the cap on the container. The mating threads on the cap 10 and container 26 draw the cap downward on the container to compress liner 42 between top end wall 18 of the cap and the top sealing surface of the container. When cap 10 is sealed on container 26, surfaces 23 and 38 on the teeth on the cap 10 and container 26 are in opposed facing relation, and the cap cannot be removed from the container without either lifting or sqeezing ring 12 to raise teeth 22 above teeth 34 while simultaneously turning the cap counter-clockwise with respect to the container.

When ring 12 is pressed inwardly at approximately the location of teeth 22, the teeth engage inclined surface 36 on container 26 which cams the ring upwardly to disengage teeth 22 from teeth 34 to permit cap 10 to be unscrewed from the container. Ring 12 can also be raised or lifted directly upward to disengage the teeth and thereby permit unscrewing of the cap. An outwardly projecting flange or flanges not shown may be provided on ring 12 adjacent teeth 22 to facilitate lifting of the ring. Preferably, resilient ring 12 can be released from its inwardly flexed or lifted position after cap 10 has been unscrewed approximately one-half turn or revolution, and teeth 22 and 34 will not again engage or lock against one another when the ring returns to its normal position with respect to the closure skirt. If the ring is released to return to its normal position before cap 10 has been unscrewed approximately one-half turn or 180.degree., teeth 22 and 34 will again engage and prevent further unscrewing of the cap. Since small children usually cannot effect two simultaneous dissimilar motions as is required for removing cap 10 from container 26, the closed container-closure combination of this invention is substantially childproof. However, the closed container can be opened by an adult without undue difficulty.

The top portion, including the neck and finish, of an alternative embodiment of a container 66 on which cap 10 may be applied is illustrated in FIG. 4. Container 66 has a cylindrical mouth portion 68 with an opening 70 therethrough, inclined thread means 72 on the exterior surface of the neck for securement of a cap thereon, and at least two spaced upwardly projecting teeth 74 adjacent the neck for engagement with downwardly projecting teeth on a resilient ring on a cap. Each tooth 74 has an inclined surface 76 and a substantially vertical surface 78 for engaging and locking with the teeth on a cap. If the cap which is to be sealed on container 66 has two series of teeth on it on its resilient ring, the container will preferably have two additional spaced teeth substantially diametrically opposed to teeth 74 which are shown to engage with the second series of teeth on the cap.

In accordance with this invention, teeth 74 on container 66 are spaced apart a distance approximately equal to the spacing of the first and last teeth in the series of teeth on the closure which is to be sealed on the container. Such a spacing of teeth 74 in relation to the teeth on a cap usually results in the engagement of at least one of the teeth 74 at any one time by a tooth on the cap, and provides substantial tolerance for dimensional variations in the container and closure. Teeth 22 on cap 10 for example will lock with one or the other of teeth 74 on container 66 for any rotational position of the cap extending for approximately two times the arc length of the series of teeth 22. If the teeth 22 on cap 10 extend for an arc of approximately 25.degree. around the cap, the cap would lock on container 66 during approximately 50.degree. of rotation of the cap with respect to the container. This insures that cap 10 can be tightly sealed on container 66 at any position within the 50.degree. of rotation, and the cap will be locked on the container at such position. With prior art container-closure locking assemblies which provide only one or a few locking positions, the closures are sometimes not tightly sealed on their containers when the locking means are engaged. The container-closure combination of this invention substantially eliminates that possibility.

FIG. 5 illustrates the top portion of another alternative container 96 on which a closure of the invention may be secured. Container 96 includes a neck 98 with thread means 100 on it and a plurality of adjacent upwardly projecting ratchet teeth 102 below the container neck. Additional teeth may also be provided on the opposite side of the container neck. To facilitate molding of container 96, teeth 102 are based on an annular surface 104 which is disposed at approximately 45.degree. to vertical, and have surfaces 106 which are angled both to vertical and to horizontal. This angularity of teeth 102 facilitates molding of container 96 in a two piece mold which can be parted to remove the container after molding.

FIG. 6 shows container top 96 with a closure 108 thereon which is made in accordance with this invention. Closure 108 has a resiliently deflectable ring 110 around the base of its skirt 112 and rigidly connected thereto by two bridges, not shown, and the ring has a plurality of adjacent downwardly projecting teeth 114 in it for engaging teeth 102 on container 96. Preferably, two sets of teeth 114 are formed on ring 110 on opposite sides of the ring equidistance between the bridges which connect the ring to the closure skirt. Teeth 114 have angular surfaces 116 (FIG. 7) for facilitating turning of closure 108 on container 96, and substantially vertical surfaces for locking the closure on the container.

Ring 110 further has a depending flange 118 which hides teeth 114 from view when closure 108 is secured on container 96. This flange therefore makes the closed container even more childproof because it conceals the locking means which, if seen by a child, might suggest the manner of opening.

Closure 112 also has an inclined upwardly outwardly facing annular surface 120 on the outside of the bottom of its skirt, and ring 110 has a mating inclined downwardly-inwardly facing surface 122 on its inner edge. When, as is shown in the left hand side of FIG. 6, ring 110 is squeezed adjacent teeth 114 in ring surface 122 engages surface 120 on the closure skirt 112 to cam the ring upwardly and disengage teeth 114 from teeth 102 to permit the closure to be unscrewed from the container. Ring 110 can also be lifted to disengage or unlock the teeth and permit removal of the closure. Since small children usually cannot effect two simultaneous dissimilar motions, container 96 closed with closure 108 is substantially childproof.

It is therefore seen that a safety closure and safety container-closure assembly is provided in which the cap is one piece and is adapted to hermetically seal a container. A small child will find it very difficult, if not impossible, to remove a cap or closure of this invention from the container, but an adult can open the package without undue difficulty.

Although preferred embodiments of this invention have been selected for illustration and description, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous modifications could be made in the preferred embodiments without departing from the invention or the scope of the appended claims. For example, a closure of the invention may include only one-half of a ring or a band disposed approximately 180.degree. around a closure and connected at its ends to the closure skirt by integral bridges or the like. An upwardly or outwardly projecting tab or tabs may also be provided on the flexible ring on a closure of the invention to facilitate squeezing or lifting of the ring.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A molded plastic safety closure adapted to close a container having a neck portion with an opening therein, inclined closure retaining means on the exterior of the neck portion and detent means adjacent the neck portion having at least one substantially vertical surface disposed in a plane extending substantially radially of the container neck, said closure comprising a top end wall for closing the opening in the container neck, a depending skirt with internal means for engaging the inclined retaining means on the container neck to secure the closure on the container, and an integral resiliently deflectable annular band around the bottom of said closure and rigidly connected to said closure skirt by at least one relatively narrow bridge, said band having at least one downwardly projecting ratchet tooth thereon for engagement against the vertical surface on the detent means on the container when the closure is closed on the container whereby said engagement prevents counter-clockwise rotation of said closure with respect to said container unless said band is deflected upwardly to disengage said tooth from said detent means.

2. A closure as set forth in claim 1 in which said band includes a depending flange outwardly of said ratchet tooth to substantially conceal said tooth from view when the closure is closed on a container.

3. A closure as set forth in claim 1 in which said band comprises a ring which extends completely around said closure skirt.

4. A closure as set forth in claim 3 in which said ring is connected to said closure skirt by two bridges on opposite sides of the closure and has ratchet teeth on the ring at opposite locations substantially equal distance between such connections.

5. A closure as set forth in claim 1 which includes a series of at least three ratchet teeth on said band.

6. A closure as set forth in claim 1 in which the inside diameter of said band is equal to or greater than the maximum outside diameter of said closure skirt.

7. A closure as set forth in claim 1 in which the closure skirt has an annular upwardly outwardly facing surface near the bottom of its skirt and said ring has an annular downwardly inwardly facing surface adjacent said upwardly outwardly facing surface for engagement therwith to cam the ring upwardly when it is squeezed.

8. A safety container-closure combination which resists opening by a child, including a container having a neck portion with an opening therein, inclined closure retaining means on the exterior of the neck portion and detent means adjacent said neck portion having at least one substantially vertical surface disposed in a plane extending substantially radially of the container neck, and further including a molded plastic closure having a top end wall for closing the opening in said neck, a depending skirt with internal means therein engaging said inclined closure retaining means on the container neck and thereby securing the closure on the container, and an integral resiliently deflectable annular band around the bottom of the closure and rigidly connected to said skirt by at least one relatively narrow bridge, said band having at least one downwardly projecting ratchet tooth thereon engaged against said vertical face on said detent means to prevent counter-clockwise rotation of said closure with respect to said container without first deflecting said resilient band upwardly to disengage said tooth from said detent means.

9. A combination as set forth in claim 8 in which said band is a ring which is connected to said closure at two substantially diametrically opposed locations.

10. A combination as set forth in claim 8 in which an outwardly facing inwardly-upwardly inclined surface is provided on the container inwardly of and adjacent to said detent means on the container whereby inward force applied against said band will cam the band upwardly to disengage the tooth or teeth on the band from the detent means.

11. A combination as set forth in claim 8 in which said band has a series of teeth on it.

12. A combination as set forth in claim 11 in which said detent means on container has two substantially vertical surfaces for engaging the teeth on said band and said surfaces are spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the spacing between the first and last tooth in said series so that only one tooth will be engaged with either of said surfaces at any time.

13. A combination as set forth in claim 8 in which the inside diameter of said band is equal to or greater than the outside diameter of said closure skirt.

14. A closure as set forth in claim 8 in which the closure skirt has an annular upwardly outwardly facing surface near the bottom of its skirt and said ring has an annular downwardly inwardly facing surface adjacent said upwardly outwardly facing surface for engagement therewith to cam the ring upwardly when it is squeezed.