Safety Closure

Abstract

A closure and plug for a container is provided with elements interengaging with other elements on the mouth of the container, to secure it against opening by young children. In one modification, the closure is provided with a combination safety plug and measuring device; the measuring device is provided with a more versatile structure, and a means of accurately varying the measured quantity, the closure is also improved.

Description

My invention relates to a one-piece safety closure so simple in design and structure that it can be made as inexpensively as a high percentage of ordinary closures now on the market; plus a container-plugging device that prevents access to most of the container's contents while at the same time doubling as a measuring device. Further, the container can be opened as easily as any present ordinary container by a knowledgeable individual, yet should be beyond the capacity of a young child of 5 or 6 years or younger; the age group most affected by accidental poisonings. The object of this invention is to prevent accidental ingestion of toxic materials, whether medicinal or household, and to do so in as simple and inexpensive a means as is possible. A further object is to provide a measuring means by simple inversion of the container. Simple design has been maintained so that manufacturing costs will not interfere with its generalized use. To this end, the safety cap or closure is designed completely separate from the one-piece container plugging and measuring device. In this way, they can be used together as a combination unit, or each can be used separately according to the discretion of the manufacturer or user, and the use to which it is to be put, such as the dangers and toxicity of the contents, or its susceptibility to potentially accidental use. The channel pathways have been improved to provide for the inaccuracies inherent in the commercial glassblowing process, and to take present commercial capping machine operations at usual capping speeds. The combination plug and measuring device has been improved to handle liquids with varying viscosity, to measure various preset quantities, or to be able to adjust it to any specific amount desired by the user. The closure also has been changed and improved to effectively function as a safety closure, a liquid and gastight seal, and to provide the upward torque necessary to insure that the closure seeks the locked or closed channel preventing removal of the closure until attempted by properly instructed personnel; all in a new simple one-piece design.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 represents an exploded view in perspective of the closure and upper portion of a container.

FIG. 2 is a view in plan of the closure illustrating one-piece construction embodying combination closure, seal, and spring tension.

FIG. 3 is a view in plan of the container neck and improved closure plug and measuring device.

FIG. 4 is a view in perspective of the container neck and plugging device, illustrating improved, stronger plug-lifting fingers.

FIG. 5 is a view in plan of the plug measuring device modified to selectively measure two or more different preset quantities.

FIG. 6 is a view in cross section of a two-piece adaptation of the safety plug and measuring device providing selective variation of measured amounts.

FIG. 7 is a view in cross section showing the bottle rim extending beyond the outer edge of the insert lip, so that it can seal the bottle against loss of liquid through the space between the inside bottleneck, and the outside surface of the insert measuring plug.

The following detailed description referring to the accompanying drawings will illustrate the operation of the invention. In FIGS. 1 and 2, the cap 4 is molded of one-piece resilient material such as polyethylene. It has three or four protuberances divided equally around the circumference, and designed to engage correspondingly placed channels in the container neck, FIG. 1, 11. In a right turn to close cap, the first side of the channel mold is dropped below the upper rim of the neck of the container, while the second side begins at or nearer the rim, so that when machine capped, the turning motion will catch one of the cap protuberances 6, and guide it down the closing pathway of channel 11 in FIG. 1, until the bottle is sealed closed at some point about 18. Molded into the cap in the illustration in FIGS. 1 and 2 are three or more elongated V-shaped strips with a common base that runs circumferentially around the inside of the cap exactly in line with the rim of the container. When cap is secured on container, protuberance 6 is in position 18, these V-shaped strips will be tightly compressed against container rim 8 in FIGS. 1 and 2. Since they are of a resilient material, they will force protuberance 6 to take channel 16 in FIG. 1, if cap is rotated to be removed, for the V-shaped strips are creating a firm upward torque on the cap. This channel 16 is a locked, or closed end channel, thereby preventing removal of the cap or obtaining access to container contents.

To remove the cap, specific knowledge is required. When the cap and container marks FIG. 1, 7 and 9 are aligned, downward pressure as well as turning motion must be applied to clear the bight 14, and thus enter the opening channel FIG. 1, 11; or as can be seen from a glance at the illustration, continued downward pressure while turning to open will also force the protuberance FIG. 1, 6 into the open channel 11, and thus effect removal of the cap. The shape and size of the V-like projections are such FIG. 2, 2 that they will still be in firm contact with container rim, maintaining a seal and preventing leakage from container, while cap is in any position in the locked channel FIG. 1, 16.

In FIGS. 3 and 4, I have illustrated the improved container safety plug and measuring device. This is a one-piece molded cylindrical hollowed insert shaped to fit the container neck. Around the circumference are a series of holes or entry ports FIG. 3, 29, of round, rectangular, or other shape, so placed that when the cap is on, the openings 28 are below the inner shoulder 36, of the container, and if container is inverted fluid contents will enter the plug through holes in position at 28. If then the container is returned to upright position, all fluid above the openings 28 will flow back into the container. Thus the fluid remaining in the insert will always be the same amount for any given insert size. This constitutes the accurate measurement feature. When the cap is removed fingerlike projections molded as part of the rim 22 of the insert in FIG. 4, raise the measuring insert plug by exerting downward pressure against the upper rim 8 of the neck of the container. This raises the insert plug in the container neck, bringing the holes 28, up until they are in position 29, FIG. 3. In this position they are above the shoulder, and closed to the container contents. At the same time, the circular wedge-shaped band 30, completely encircling the insert plug below the holes 29 is brought up against the lower shoulder of the container FIG. 3, 36, and thereby prevents any fluid in the container from leaving if inverted, so that the fluid poured out will be the measured contents only. By using a continuous wedge shape or other shape, such as half moon, etc., a good closure is effected, thereby making possible a loosely fitting insert with more space between its cylindrical wall FIG. 3, 26, and the inner neck wall of the container. The section from the top of the insert to a point equal to the vertical motion possible for the cap to move when in locked position, the trapped position, or trapping channel; cannot be loose fitting or some fluid will leak out if container is inverted while closure is in locked or trap channel. If it is desirous to make the entire insert loose fitting, it is necessary to have the top rim of the insert FIG. 7, 22, a little narrower than the rim of the container, FIG. 7, 60. This will leave an edge to be firmly contacted by the outermost V-like projection of the closure cap, FIG. 2, 2, and thereby "seal off" any leakage. This, plus the stronger, more forceful finger lifting design, makes possible its successful use with larger volumes to be measured, and, or, more viscous fluids.

When compressed, by screwing the cap on tight, these fingers fit against and flush with spacing blocks FIG. 4, 42, or there can be sufficient number around the circumference so that they fit flush against one another. There should remain intact, with an unbroken ring, a solid narrow ring, that will prevent any leakage when the cap is on tight. This ring is on the undersurface, and it will make possible the use of the insert as both a sealing closure, and to provide the upward thrust necessary to insure the closure's protuberance riding in the locked channel if access is attempted by unauthorized individual. By using this method, the closure cap can be made one piece of any material that will serve as a cap, and need not be of resilient material, for the insert will have taken over all but the protective functions.

FIG. 5, represents a modification of the insert plug so constructed that it can be made to selectively measure two or three different quantities. It would be molded of one piece with a rounded or oval bottom, to which is attached a center stick with a catchlike mechanism at the end, FIG. 5, 48. The lower portion would have a thinner wall 50, than the main body 26, changing at a spot 51. By catching FIG. 5, 46 with a key or other appropriate hooking device, and pulling up to position 48, the bottom wall will be inverted upward to a new position 44. By controlling the position of the change point FIG. 5, 51, in relation to the diameter and depth of the insert, it can readily be seen it is possible to make two exact predetermined measurements. By using two bands and two changes in wall thickness, three exact predetermined measurements are possible. If desired, the entire wall can be of the same thickness, and the band spots FIG. 5, 51 can be thinner. This will make the measurement device equally effective with less material used.

If more than three measurements are desirable, I suggest the use of a variable measurement device illustrated in FIG. 6. This is essentially similar to the basic insert measuring plug illustrated by FIG. 3, except that it is molded of two pieces. The outer cylindrical area has screw threads molded into the inside surface of the area beneath the intake hole FIG. 6, 28. The bottom is movable, having threaded ends that make it possible to move up and down in the insert plug. There is a slotted area or other engaging surface FIG. 6, 54, so that a screwdriver, household knife, or other object can be inserted into the slot, and it turned up or down by a screwing motion. There is a partial bottom at FIG. 6, 32, so that it cannot be inadvertently screwed out entirely, and its position at any given time in relation to the intake holes will determine its measuring capacity at that position. As always in the liquid version, the space between the bottom and the intake holes or ports represents the measuring capacity. Indicators along the sidewall of the insert can advise of the capacity at any given point, or the movable bottom can be provided with an indicator stick molded as a part of the bottom, and its position along the sidewall indicates the quantity being measured in that position. Such a device would be highly desirable for dispensing household products in particular.

Although the description and drawings have primarily referred to bottle and cap, this is not meant to be construed or interpreted as limiting the invention or its application in any way. It can be used with any type of container or closure, and any material or method of construction; as well as any shape, and is so intended. Many variations in design, material, shape, etc., are possible and the design and description here presented are merely illustrative, and not intended to be limiting in any way.

Claims

I claim:

1. A container and safety closure combination, the closure having a cylindrical inner surface on whose inner skirt appear protuberances that mesh with appropriately placed pathways on the outer neck of the container, one of these pathways or channels having an open pathway capable of receiving the correspondingly placed protuberance and rotating in a circular and downward direction, and being connected at a bight with a second channel riding above the said first channel, and rotating directionally above the first channel in a circumferential manner, but having the upper end of said second channel closed so that the protuberances of the closure are unable to leave the channel by this closed end, thereby forming a trap and preventing the removal of the closure, said closure having in addition a resilient circular extension from the upper inner surface, this extension aligning with the rim of the container neck, and exerting pressure forced on this rim in such manner that, when the protuberance of said closure is at the bight of the two channels, pressure upon the closure is necessary concomitant with circular rotation to be able to disengage closure and container, and using other than circular shape would require only that the parts mesh properly in the prescribed manner, said circular extension of the closure comprises a number of tips that form concentric rings that exert pressure upon the rim of the container neck in such manner as to effectively close the container to the passage of liquid, solid and/or gaseous material, in any position in which protuberance remains in a channel, and container and closure remain engaged.