Safety Closure

Abstract

A safety closure consisting of a container and a cap comprising a core and flexible deformable base having a downwardly opening chamber enclosing the container mouth and an upwardly opening chamber to receive the core; the core is moveable relative to the core receiving chamber between a lock position interfering with certain inward deformation of the base, and an unlock position not interfering with such inward deformation of the base; when the core is in the unlock position, the base may be deformed inwardly to retract certain radial projections on the base from corresponding radial recessions in the container to permit removal of the base from the container -- such projections, when fitted in said recessions, normally prevent removal of the base; and, in one embodiment, the base having one upwardly inclined surface defining the inner surface which, when pressure is applied to the outside of the base adjacent such surface, tends to force the core upwardly out of the base; and, in other embodiments, various other core designs requiring different core removal.

Parent Case Text

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 807,326, filed Mar. 14, 1969, now abandoned.

Description

This invention relates to safety closures and to safety caps for safety closures, and more particularly to safety closures and safety caps therefor for holding medicines, drugs or the like which are difficult for small children to open.

In the past, safety closures for drugs and the like have been physically difficult to open so that even though children could not open them, they were also quite difficult for an adult to open, and often impossible for a person with arthritis for instance.

Other safety closures have been easier to operate and yet, while children have been unable to open them, the cost of manufacturing such closures has been relatively great and they have not been acceptable to industry as a result.

The object of this invention is to provide a safety closure which cannot be readily opened by small children, so that when the unit is used for holding dangerous substances, such as drugs or medicines, there will be less liklihood of children gaining access to them.

Another object of the invention is to provide safety closures wherein the procedure employed to remove the cap is not obvious and thereby reduces the possibility of children opening or removing the cap.

A further object of the invention is to provide a safety closure wherein at least two separate steps must be following in order to remove the cap from the container thereby making the procedure for removing the cap from the container relatively unobvious to small children.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a safety closure wherein the cap is easy to remove from the container if the method of doing so is known to the user but difficult to remove if the method is unknown.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a safety closure which is inexpensive to manufacture.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a safety closure wherein the cap cannot be forced from the container by a child.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a safety closure which can be manufactured in one piece to facilitate assembly during production and maintain costs within acceptable limits.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings where like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout the same:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a safety cap and container in accordance with the principles of the present invention, showing the cap's central core in its "lock" position.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the safety cap and container of FIG. 1, but showing the cap's central core rotated through 90.degree. to its "unlock" position.

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the safety cap and container of FIG. 1 with parts broken away and shown in section, showing the cap's central core in its lock position.

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the safety cap and container of FIG. 1 with parts broken away and shown in section, showing the cap's central core in its unlock position.

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of the safety cap and container of FIG. 1 with parts broken away and shown in section, and illustrating how, when the cap's central core is in unlock position, the cap may be manually deformed for removal from the container.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the safety cap of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is an elevational view of a further embodiment of a safety cap and container in accordance with the present invention with parts broken away and shown in section, and showing the cap's central core in lock position.

FIG. 8 is a sectional elevational view of the cap of FIG. 7, showing the cap's central core in unlock position.

FIG. 9 is a perspective exploded view of the cap of FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is an elevational view, with parts broken away and shown in section, of a further embodiment of a safety cap in accordance with the principles of the present invention, showing the central core in lock position.

FIG. 11 is a partially sectioned view of the cap of FIG. 10, showing the central core in unlock position.

FIG. 12 is a plan view of the cap of FIG. 10, showing the central core in its lock position.

FIG. 13 is an elevational sectioned view of a further embodiment of a safety cap in accordance with the principles of the present invention, showing the central core in the lock position.

FIG. 14 is a partially sectioned view of the cap of FIG. 13, showing the central core being removed from its lock position to unlock the cap.

FIG. 15 is an elevational view in section of a further embodiment of a safety cap in accordance with the principles of the present invention, showing the central core in lock position.

FIG. 16 is a plan view of the cap of FIG. 15, with the central core in lock position.

FIG. 17 is an elevational view, with parts broken away and shown in section, of a further embodiment of a safety container and cap in accordance with the present invention, wherein the core portion is hinged to the base portion, and showing the core in its unlocked position.

FIG. 18 is a sectional elevational side view of the cap and a portion of the container of FIG. 17, showing the cap's core in its lock position.

FIG. 19 is a plan view of the cap shown in FIG. 17.

FIG. 20 is a sectional end view of the cap and container taken along the lines 20--20 of FIG. 19.

FIG. 21 is a side elevational view, with parts broken away and shown in section, of a further embodiment of a safety closure in accordance with the principles of the present invention, wherein the core is hinged to the base and wherein the core is provided with an annular rim to provide a snap fit of the core within the base, showing the core in its unlock position.

FIG. 22 is a side elevational view, with parts broken away and shown in section, of a further embodiment of a safety closure in accordance with the principles of the present invention, wherein the core is provided with a slot for insertion of a tool to facilitate removal of the core from the base, and showing the core in lock position.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawings in greater detail:

The first embodiment of the present invention is a safety cap 1 and container 2 for use with such cap 1 as shown in FIGS. 1-6 wherein the container 2 has an opening 3 in its upper end and a neck portion 4 in which the container opening 3 is formed. The neck 4 is provided with an annular lip portion 5 extending radially outwardly. The cap 1 is adapted for mounting on the neck 4 in a manner closing the container opening 3 and is comprised of a unitary deformable base 6 having a core receiving chamber 7 in its upper end and a core 8 movable between a lock position (e.g. as illustrated in FIG. 3) in the core receiving chamber 7 and an unlock position (e.g. as illustrated in FIG. 4).

The unitary deformable base 6 is comprised of a lower skirt portion 9 and an upper wall portion 10. The lower skirt portion 9 of the unitary deformable base 6 extends downwardly to form a downwardly opening chamber 11 to receive the container neck 4. The upper wall portion 10 extends upwardly to form the upwardly opening chamber which is the core receiving chamber 7.

The lower skirt portion 9 is formed to substantially encircle the container neck 4 and has a portion 14 adapted to engage the container neck 4 to prevent removal of the base 6 from the container neck 4 when the core 8 is in lock position in the core receiving chamber 7. In the instant embodiment, where the container 2 has an outwardly projecting lip portion 5, the neck engaging portion 14 of the base's lower skirt 9 is comprised of an inwardly projecting rib 14 adapted to extend beneath the container's aforesaid outwardly projecting lip portion 5. The upper wall portion 10 of the base 6 has a surface region 13 adapted for manual engagement, hereinafter referred to as the "finger engaging surface 13", located directly above the neck engaging portion 14 of the lower skirt portion 9. The base 6 is deformable in a manner such that when sufficient finger pressure is applied to the finger engaging surface 13, the base 6 deforms to assume a release configuration characterized by substantial inward deformation of the upper wall portion 10 at the finger engaging surface 13 into the center of the core receiving chamber 7, thereby causing the neck engaging portion 14 of the skirt portion to be retracted away from the center of the neck receiving chamber 11 and permitting the base 6 to be disengaged from the container neck 4 and removed from the container 2.

The base 6 has a central flexible transverse web portion 15 extending from its interior surface at the intersection of the upper wall portion 10 and the lower skirt portion 9 to separate the core receiving chamber 7 from the neck receiving chamber 11. The core receiving chamber 7 is essentially cylindrical in form and the core member 8 has an outer diameter generally corresponding to the inner diameter of the core receiving chamber 7.

The core 8 is disposed in the core receiving chamber 7 and rotatable relative to the base 6 between a locked position (see FIG. 3) and an unlocked position (see FIG. 4). The core 8 has opposed off-set portions 16 in its side surfaces.

When the core 8 is in lock position, the off-set portions 16 are disposed generally 90.degree. away from the finger engaging portions 13 so that finger pressure on the finger engaging surface 13 tending to deform the upper wall portion 10 toward the center of the core receiving chamber 7 will not so deform base 6 due to obstruction provided by the core 8.

When the core 8 has been rotated from the lock position into the unlock position, the unlock position is characterized by alignment of the off-set core portion 16 with the finger engaging surface 13 of the base 6. When the core 8 is in unlock position, finger pressure applied to the finger engaging surface 13 of the base 6 deforms the base 6 inwardly at that point without interference or obstruction of the core 8. Thus, when the core 8 is in unlock position, the base 6 may be deformed to assume the aforesaid release configuration (characterized by substantial inward deformation of the upper closure member wall 10 at the finger engaging surface 13 so that the base wall 10 deforms into the core receiving chamber 7; and further characterized by the outward deformation of the neck engaging portion 14 of the base skirt 9 away from the container neck 4 to permit disengagement of the base 6 from the container neck 4 and allow removal of the base 6 therefrom).

The base 6 is of unitary construction and may be constructed of a variety of materials including polyethylene. The base 6 is constructed so that the portions comprising the finger engaging surface 13 and the neck engaging portion 14 are fairly rigid, and perhaps more rigid than other portions of the base 6, so that when pressure is exerted inwardly on the finger engaging surface 13 in the aforesaid manner, the base 6 will deform at the sides and at the web 15 before it deforms rather than at the finger engaging surface 13.

The core 8 may be constructed of any suitable material including polyethylene, however, it should have a relatively rigid construction.

Proper deformation of the base 6 into the release configuration is facilitated by providing a cut-away portion 17 to relieve the sides of the lower skirt 9 during deformation as shown in FIG. 5.

The core 8 has a connector 18 extending from the center of the core's lower surface and provided with an enlarged end portion 20. The connector 18 extends through an aperture 19 formed in the base web 15 and is anchored there by the enlarged connector end 20.

Referring now to the second embodiment of the present invention, illustrated in FIGS. 7-9, there is shown a container 21 having a neck portion 22 with the container opening 23 in the neck portion 22 and with lip portions 24 extending in an annular fashion radially outwardly from the neck portion 22. The safety cap 25 is adapted to fit securely upon the neck of the container 21 to close the container opening 23. The safety cap 25 is comprised of a unitary deformable base member 26 having a core receiving chamber 27 in its upper end and a core 28 received in the core receiving chamber 27 and movable between a lock position and an unlock position. The unitary deformable base 26 comprises a lower skirt portion 29 and an upper wall portion 30. The lower skirt portion 29 encircles the neck 22 of the container 21 and forms a downwardly opening neck receiving chamber 31. The base skirt 29 has neck engaging portions 32 which are comprised of opposed inwardly projecting rib portions 24 of the container neck 22. The upper wall portion 30 of the base 26 opens upwardly and forms the core receiving chamber 27. The upper wall portion 30 is provided with a finger engaging surface 33 located directly above the neck engaging portion 32 of the skirt 29. The base 26 is deformable to assume a release configuration in response to finger pressure applied to the finger engaging surface 33 where such pressure is sufficient to deform the upper wall portion 30 so that the finger engaging surface 33 moves substantially towards the center of the core receiving chamber 27, thereby deforming the neck engaging portion 32 of the skirt 29 away from the center of the neck 22. When the neck 22 is received in the neck receiving chamber 31, deformation of the base 26 into the release configuration disengages the neck engaging portion 32 from the container neck 22 and permits removal of the base 26 therefrom.

The base 26 is further comprised of a central transverse web portion 34 extending from its interior surface at the intersection of the upper wall 30 and lower skirt portion 29 of the base 26 to separate the core receiving chamber 27 from the neck receiving chamber 31. The web 34 is provided with a central aperture 35 for receiving the core connector 36.

The core 28 of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7-9 has a generally cylindrical body portion 37 with threaded sides 38 corresponding to the inner side 39 of the base's upper side wall 30 which is also threaded. The core 28 has cut-away grip portions 40 to permit manual rotation of the core 28 within the core receiving chamber 27. When rotated, the core 28 moves screw-like between a lock position (shown in FIG. 7) and an unlock position (shown in FIG. 8) where the core 28 is withdrawn from the base 26. The core 28 is further provided with an elongated connector 36 having an enlarged anchor portion 41 on its opposed end. The core connector 36 is received in the web's central aperture 35 and extends down into the neck receiving chamber 31 beneath. The enlarged end portion 41 anchors the core 28 in the aperture 35 so that when the core 28 is unscrewed from the core chamber 27, as shown in FIG. 8, the core 28 remains attached to the base 26. In addition, the enlarged end 41 of the core 28 fits tightly into the container opening 23 at a reduced portion 42 of the container neck 22. While this added sealing feature is optional, it causes the cap 25 to draw up tight on the container neck 22, providing a positive seal which may be desired for bottles intended to contain liquids and otherwise provides a snug fit.

FIG. 10-12 are illustrative of a third embodiment of the present invention wherein a safety cap 50, suited for use with a container (not shown) similar to that previously illustrated and discussed, is comprised of a unitary deformable base 51 having a core receiving chamber 52 formed in its upper region and a core member 53 received therein and movable relative thereto between a locked position and an unlocked position. The deformable base 51 is comprised of a lower skirt portion 54 forming a chamber 55 to receive a container neck and an upper wall portion 56 forming the core receiving chamber 52. The deformable base 51 is further comprised of a central transverse web portion 57 spanning the base interior to generally separate the core receiving chamber 52 from the neck receiving chamber 55. The lower skirt portion 54 is adapted to encircle a container neck and has a neck engaging portion 58 comprised of an inwardly projecting ribs 58 adapted to extend beneath the container lip. The base's upper wall portion 56 has a finger engaging surface 59 located above the neck engaging portion 58 of the skirt 54. The base 51 is deformable to assume a release configuration in response to finger pressure applied to the finger engaging surface 59 where the pressure is sufficient to deform the upper wall portion 56 to move the finger engaging surface 59 substantially inward toward the core receiving chamber 52 and to deform the neck engaging portion 58 of the skirt portion 54 away from the center of the neck receivin chamber 56 so that it will disengage a container neck and permit its removal therefrom.

The upper wall portions 56 of the base 51 are provided with two opposed inwardly extending flanges 60 which extend only part of the distance around the interior of the upper wall portion 56.

The core 53 is generally cylindrical and has cylindrical side walls 61 as shown in FIG. 12 with two opposed radially outwardly extending flange portions 62 which extend about only a portion of the core's side surface. When the core 53 is in lock position, the core flanges 62 are located beneath the base flanges 60, so that the core 53 may not be withdrawn from the core chamber 52 without first rotating it to an intermediate position where the core flanges 62 are no longer beneath the base's inwardly extending flanges 60. The core 53 may be withdrawn from the core chamber 52 after having been rotated to such intermediate position. The core 53 is provided with an elongated core connector 63 extending from its lower surface. The core connector 63 is received in an aperture 65 in the base's web 57 and has an enlarged end portion 64 to anchor it there. Thus, when the core 53 is withdrawn from the core chamber 52 (unlock position) as shown in FIG. 11, the core 53 is retained from becoming entirely disengaged from the base 51.

When the core 53 is in lock position, as shown in FIG. 10, the finger engaging surface 59 of the upper closure wall 56 may not be deformed inwardly to any substantial degree and, consequently, the neck engaging portion 58 of the skirt 54 disposed beneath the finger engaging surface 59 may not be retracted away from the neck receiving chamber 55 or away from the container neck and cannot assume the release configuration necessary for removal of the cap 50 from its container.

FIGS. 13 and 14 are illustrative of a fourth embodiment of the present invention wherein a safety cap 70, suited for use with a container (not shown) similar to that previously illustrated and discussed, is comprised of a unitary deformable base 71 having a core receiving chamber 72 in its upper region and a core 73 movable relative to said core receiving chamber 72 between a lock position and an unlock position. The base 71 is comprised of an upper wall portion 74 forming the core receiving chamber 72 and a lower skirt portion 75 forming a container neck receiving chamber 76 and adapted to encircle a container neck of the type described. The base's skirt portion 75 has neck engaging portions 77 on opposed sides and these comprise inwardly projecting ribs 77 adapted to extend beneath the outwardly projecting lip portions of the container neck to prevent removal of the base 71 therefrom. The upper wall protion 74 has finger engaging portions 78 located directly above the neck engaging portions 77 of the skirt 75. The base 71 is deformable to assume a release configuration in response to finger pressure applied to the finger engaging surface 78 to deform the upper wall to move the finger engaging surface 78 and thereby deform the neck engaging portions 77 of the skirt 75 to retract the rib portions 77 from the container neck to permit removal of the base 71 from the container. A central transverse web portion 79 spans the interior of the base 71 and separates the core receiving chamber 72 from the neck receiving chamber 76. The inner surface of the base's upper wall 74 is provided with an annular indentation 80 and the core 73 is provided with a corresponding annular rib 81 on its side wall so that when the core 73 is received in the core receiving chamber 72, the core rib 81 is received in the indentation 80. The core 73 may thus be snap-fitted in the lock position. Suitable grip indentations 82 may be provided in the upper surface of the core so that the core may be removed by hand or, for example, as shown in FIG. 14, by using an instrument or lever-like object 83.

FIGS. 15 and 16 are illustrative of a fifth embodiment of the present invention wherein a safety cap 90, suited for use with a container (not shown) similar to that previously illustrated and discussed, is comprised of a unitary deformable base 91 having a core receiving chamber 92 in its upper region and a core 93 movable relative to said core receiving chamber 92 between a lock position and an unlock position. The base 91 is comprised of an upper wall portion 94 forming the core receiving chamber 92 and a lower skirt portion 59 forming a container neck receiving chamber 96 adapted to enclose the container neck. The base skirt portion 95 has neck engaging portions 97 on opposed sides and these comprise inwardly projecting ribs 97 adapted to extend beneath the outwardly projecting lip portions of the container neck. The upper wall portion 94 has finger engaging portions 98 located directly above the neck engaging portions 97 of the skirt 95. The base 91 is deformable to assume a release configuration in response to finger pressure applied to the finger engaging portion 98. A central web portion 99 spans the interior of the base 91 and separates the core receiving chamber 92 from the neck receiving chamber 96. An annular rim 100 projects a short distance inwardly from the upper edge of the upper wall portion 94. This rim 100 serves to hold the core 93 in the core receiving chamber 92, yet permits core rotation. The core 93 itself is generally disc-like with opposed off-set portions 101 in its side surfaces and the side surfaces are angled slightly inwardly so that the core is slightly wider at the top than at the bottom to facilitate insertion of the core 93 in the core chamber 92 during assembly.

FIG. 17 through 20 inclusive are illustrative of a sixth embodiment of the present invention comprising a safety closure consisting of a one-piece safety cap 110 and container 111. The container 111 is provided with a radial recession 112 on its inner surface at the container mouth. The main elements of the one-piece cap are a base 113, a core 114 and a flexible tab 115 connecting one side of the core 114 to one side of the base 113.

The base 113 has a downwardly opening annular shaped first chamber 116 to enclose the container mouth, and an upwardly opening second chamber 117 having a lower generally cylindrical portion 118 locating in the center of the annular first chamber 116 and an enlarged upper portion 119. The first and second chambers 116 and 117 are separated by a transverse web portion 120 integrally formed in said base 113. The transverse web 120 extends inwardly from the center of the generally cylindrical side wall 121 of the base 113 which consists of an upper wall portion 122 defining the vertical sides of the upwardly opening second chamber 117 and a lower skirt portion 123 defining the vertical sides of the downwardly opening first chamber 116. The transverse web 120 has a radial-horizontal portion 124 joining the sides of the base 113, a vertical portion 125 extending downwardly from the radially inner end of the radial-horizontal portion 124, and a disc-like central portion 126 extending from and joining the lower ends of the vertical web portion 125.

The radially outer surface of the vertical portion 125 of the web 120 has a pair of radially outwardly projecting portions 127, the uppermost of which locates in the radial recession 112 inside the container mouth.

When the core 114 is inserted in the upwardly opening second base chamber 117, the radial projections 127 on the base 113 prevent removal of the cap 110 from the container 111.

When the core 114 is removed from the second base chamber 117, the base 113 may be deformed by radially inwardly directed pressure applied to the outer surface of the upper wall portion 122 of the base 113 above the container 111. When deformed in this manner, the base 113 assumes its release configuration characterized in that the radial base projections 127 are retracted inwardly out of the radial container recessions 112, whereupon the base 113 may be removed from the container 111.

The core 114 is designed to be removably pop-fitted in the second chamber 117. When so fitted the core 114 obstructs radially inward deformation of the base 113 so that it is prevented from assuming the release configuration. The core 114 has a generally cylindrical lower portion 128 which removably locates in the generally cylindrical lower portion of the second base chamber 117, and a generally disc-like upper portion 129 which locates in the enlarged upper portion of the second base chamber 117.

The disc-like upper core portion 129 has relatively narrow vertical side walls 130 adjacent the tab 115 and extending roughly 120.degree. past the tab 115 on either side whereupon the side walls of the disc portion begin to slant inwardly forming a downwardly facing inclined surface 131 for about 120.degree. about the side of the core disc portion 129 opposite the flexible tab 115. In addition, a narrow offset ledge of seat 132 is formed in the core disc portion above the aforesaid inclined side surface 131. The enlarged upper portion 119 of the base's core receiving chamber 117 is correspondingly formed to closely fit the core disc portion 129, such upper chamber portion 119 having vertical side edges 133 for roughly 120.degree. on either side of the flexible tab 115 and then an upwardly facing inclined surface 134 for about 120.degree. about the chamber wall portion opposite the tab 115. In addition, a narrow radially projecting lip portion 135 extends inwardly above such inclined chamber surface 134. When the core 114 is in place in the upper base chamber 119, the inclined core surface 131 rests against and in generally parallel relation to the inclined chamber wall surface 134 and the narrow base lip 135 seats in the offset core seat 132. The lip 135 primarily serves two functions, the first being that it provides a pop-fit tending to hold the core 114 in the chamber 117, and the second being to overlay the undercut core edge surface 131 so that the core 114 cannot be pried out.

In the operation of the safety closure, the cap 110 is removed in two steps. In the first step, finger pressure is is applied radially inwardly at the side of the base 113 above the container 111 on the outer surface of the upper side wall portion 122 adjacent the inclined surface 134 (opposite the flexible tab 115). Inward pressure at that point, transmitted to the core at the inclined core and base surfaces 131 and 134, causes a resultant upward force component tending to force the core 114 upwardly out of the core chamber 117.

Once the core 114 is removed, the second step in removing the cap 110 consists of applying finger pressure radially inwardly at one or more sides of the base 113 above the container 111 on the upper side wall portion 122. Such pressure deforms the cap 110 (to assume release configuration) and retracts at least a portion of the radial core projection 127 out of the radial container recession 112 thereby permitting the cap 110 to be pulled off the container 111. This may not be done while the core 114 is in the core chamber 117 since the core 114 obstructs inward deformation of the base 113.

It will be appreciated that the safety cap 110 shown in FIG. 17-20 is constructed in one piece which facilitates production and assembly, tending to lower production costs, and also prevents loss of the core.

A seventh embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 21 which is a safety closure consisting of a container 140 and safety cap 141 essentially identical to the closure illustrated and described with regard to FIGS. 17-21, except that the lower cylindrical portion of the core 142 is provided with a radially outward projection 143 about its circumference, and the vertical side walls 144 of the lower generally cylindrical portion of the base's core chamber 147 are provided with a corresponding radial recession 145. When assembled, the aforesaid radial projection 143 locates in the radial recession 145 in pop-fitted relation tending to prevent removal of the core 146. The primary function of this added feature is to make removal of the core 146 more difficult so that greater finger pressure must be applied at the side in order to pop the core 146 out of the base core chamber 147. In all other aspects, the construction and operation of this embodiment and that shown in FIGS. 17 to 20 are essentially the same.

An eighth embodiment of the present invention, shown in FIG. 22, is a safety closure essentially identical in form and operation to the closure illustrated in FIG. 21, except that the inclined surfaces of the core and base, the offset core seat and the inwardly projecting base lip are eliminated so that the side 150 of the upper-disc like portion 151 of the core 152 is generally vertical about its entirety (except at the flexible tab 153), are as is the corresponding inner side wall 154 of the upper enlarged portion of the core chamber. A narrow upwardly opening aperture 155 is provided in the upper surface of the core so that a prying tool may be employed to withdraw the core from the core chamber (rather than the finger pressure technique described in connection with the two previous embodiments).

Each of the sixth, seventh and eighth embodiments shown are constructed of a suitable flexible plastic material, such as polyethylene.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the present invention, and since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, the invention is not limited to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A cap adapted for closure of the opening of a container which has a neck portion with the container opening formed therein, said cap comprising

a unitary deformable base comprising a lower skirt portion forming a downwardly opening first chamber to receive the container neck and an upper wall portion forming an upwardly opening second chamber to receive a core, said skirt portion having a neck engaging portion which, when the neck is received in said neck receiving chamber, engages the neck to prevent removal of said base from the neck, said upper wall portion having a finger engaging surface located directly above said neck engaging portion, said base deformable to assume a release configuration in response to inwardly directed pressure applied to said finger engaging surface to deform said finger engaging surface substantially toward the center of said core receiving chamber thereby deforming said neck engaging portion of said skirt portion in a direction away from the center of said neck receiving chamber, so that when the container neck is received in said neck receiving chamber, deformation of said base to assume said release configuration disengages said neck engaging portion from said container neck to permit removal of said base therefrom, a core movable relative to said core receiving chamber between a lock position and an unlock position; and said lock position characterized by location of said core within said core chamber in a position obstructing substantial inward deformation of said wall portion at said finger engaging surface so that said base may not be deformed to assume said release configuration, and said unlock position characterized by location of said core in a position not obstructing substantial inward deformation of said wall portion at said finger engaging surface so that said base may be deformed to assume said release configuration.

2. A cap as recited in claim 1 wherein said core has an offset portion and is rotatable within said core receiving chamber of said base between said lock and said unlock positions, said offset portion of said core aligned adjacent said finger engaging surface of said wall portion of said base when said core is in said unlock position.

3. A cap as recited in claim 1 wherein said core is at least partially withdrawn from said core receiving chamber of said base in said unlock position.

4. A cap as recited in claim 3 wherein the outer surface of said core and the inner surface of said side wall portions are correspondingly helically threaded so that said core may be moved between said lock and unlock position by screw motion.

5. A cap as recited in claim 3 wherein said closure member has at least one flange portion projecting into said core receiving chamber from said upper wall and wherein said core has at least one flange portion projecting outwardly and located beneath said base flange when said core is in lock position so that said core and base are interlocked at said flange portions when said core is in said lock position.

6. A cap as recited in claim 5 wherein said base flange extends about only a portion of the interior surface of said upper wall of said base; wherein said core flange extends about only a portion of the outer surface of said core; and wherein said core is rotatable within said core chamber between said lock position and an intermediate position, said intermediate position characterized by said core flange, not being beneath said base flange so that said core may be withdrawn from said base to assume said unlock position.

7. A cap as recited in claim 5 wherein said cap is deformable in the interlocking region of said base flange and core flange so that said core may be snap-fitted into said lock position, said core movable between said lock and said unlock positions only by deformation of said cap in said interlocking region.

8. A cap as recited in claim 3 wherein said cap further comprises means connecting said core to said base when said core is in said unlock position.

9. A cap adapted for closure of the opening of a container which has a neck portion with the container opening formed therein, said neck provided with a radially outwardly projecting lip portion, said cap comprising

a unitary deformable base comprising a central transverse web portion a lower skirt portion extending downwardly from said transverse web portion to form a downwardly opening first chamber for receiving the container neck, and an upper wall portion extending upwardly from said transverse web portion to form an upwardly opening second chamber for receiving a core, said skirt portion having a radially inwardly projecting rib adapted to extend beneath the outwardly projecting lip portion of the container to prevent removal of said base from the container neck, said upper wall portion having a finger engaging surface located directly above said inwardly projecting rib, said base deformable to assume a release configuration in response to inwardly directed pressure applied to said finger engaging surface to deform said finger engaging surface substantially inwardly thereby deforming said skirt portion to move said inwardly projecting rib outwardly so that when said container neck is received in said neck receiving chamber, deformation of said base to assume said release configuration withdraws said inwardly projecting rib from beneath said outwardly projecting lip portion to permit removal of said base from said container; and

a core movable relative to said core receiving chamber between a lock position and an unlock position, said lock position characterized by location of said core within said core chamber in a position obstructing substantial inward deformation of said wall portion at said finger engaging surface so that said base may not be deformed to assume said release configuration, and said unlock position characterized by location of said core in a position not obstructing substantial inward deformation of said wall portion at said finger engaging surface so that said base may be deformed to assume said release configuration.

10. A cap as recited in claim 9 wherein said core has an offset portion and is rotatable within said core receiving chamber of said base between said lock and said unlock positions, said offset portion of said core aligned adjacent said finger engaging surface of said wall portion of said base when said core is in said unlock position.

11. A cap as recited in claim 9 wherein said core is at least partially withdrawn from said core receiving chamber at said base in said unlock position.

12. A cap as recited in claim 11 wherein the outer surface of said core and the inner surface of said side wall portions are correspondingly helically threaded so that said core may be moved between said lock and unlock positions by screw motion.

13. A cap as recited in claim 11 wherein said base has at least one flange portion projecting into said core receiving chamber from said upper wall and wherein said core has at least one flange portion projecting outwardly and located beneath said base flange when said core is in lock position so that said core and base are interlocked at said flange portions when said core is in said lock position.

14. A cap as recited in claim 13 wherein said base flange extends about only a portion of the interior surface of said upper wall of said base; wherein said core flange extends about only a portion of the outer surface of said core; and wherein said core is rotatable within said core chamber between said lock position and an intermediate position, said intermediate position characterized by said core flange not being beneath said base flange so that said core may be withdrawn from said base to assume said unlock position.

15. A cap as recited in claim 13 wherein said cap is deformable in the interlocking region of said base flange and core flange so that said core may be snap-fitted into said lock position, said core movable between said lock and said unlock positions only by deformation of said cap in said interlocking region.

16. A cap as recited in claim 11 wherein said cap further comprises means connecting said core to said base when said core is in said unlock position.

17. A cap as recited in claim 16 wherein said connecting means is integrally formed with said core, projecting from the lower surface thereof and comprising a narrow elongated body portion and an enlarged tip; and wherein an aperture is formed in the said transverse portion to slidingly receive said connecting means, said aperture being smaller than the tip of said connecting means to anchor said connecting means therein.

18. A closure comprising the combination of the cap and container recited in claim 9.

19. A cap and container combination where the container has a cavity with the opening to the container cavity formed in a container neck portion, and wherein the improvement comprises a cap comprising

a unitary deformable base comprising a lower skirt portion forming a first upwardly opening chamber to receive the container neck and an upper wall portion forming a second downwardly opening chamber for receiving a core, said skirt portion having a neck engaging portion which, when the neck is received in said neck receiving chamber, engages the neck to prevent removal of said base from the neck, said upper wall portion having a finger engaging surface located directly above said neck engaging portion, said base deformable to assume a release configuration in response to inwardly directed pressure applied to said finger engaging surface to deform said finger engaging surface substantially toward the center of said core receiving chamber thereby deforming said neck engaging portion of said skirt portion in a direction away from the center of said neck receiving chamber so that said neck engaging portion is disengaged from said container neck to permit removal of said base from said container; and

a core movable relative to said core receiving chamber between a lock position and an unlock position, said lock position characterized by location of said core within said core chamber in a position obstructing substantial inward deformation of said wall portion at said finger engaging surface so that said base may not be deformed to assume said release configuration, and said unlock position characterized by location of said core in a position not obstructing substantial inward deformation of said wall portion at said finger engaging surface so that said base may be deformed to assume said release configuration.

20. A closure as recited in claim 19 wherein said core has an offset portion and is rotatable within said core receiving chamber of said base between said lock and said unlock positions, said offset portion of said core aligned adjacent said finger engaging portion of said wall portion of said base when said core is in said unlock position.

21. A closure as recited in claim 19 wherein said core is at least partially withdrawn from said core receiving chamber of said base in said unlock position.

22. A closure as recited in claim 21 wherein said cap further comprises means connecting said core to said base when said core is in said unlock position.

23. A closure comprising a cap and a container in combination, where the container has a cavity with the opening to the container cavity formed in a neck portion, and where the improvement comprises

a lip portion projecting outwardly from said neck portion of said container; and

a cap comprising a unitary deformable base comprising a central transverse web portion, a lower skirt portion extending downwardly from said portion to form a first downwardly opening chamber enclosing the container neck, and an upper wall portion extending upwardly from said web portion to form a second upwardly opening chamber for receiving a core, said skirt portion having an inwardly projecting rib extending beneath the outwardly projecting lip portion of the container to prevent removal of said base from the container neck, said upper wall portion having a finger engaging surface located directly above said inwardly projecting rib, said base deformable to assume a release configuration in response to inwardly directed pressure applied to said finger engaging surface to deform said finger engaging surface substantially inwardly thereby deforming said skirt portion to move said inwardly projecting rib outwardly, so that said inwardly projecting rib is withdrawn from beneath said outwardly projecting lip portion to permit removal of said base from said container; and a core movable relative to said core receiving chamber between a lock position and an unlock position, said lock position characterized by location of said core within said core chamber in a position obstructing substantial inward deformation of said wall portion at said finger engaging surface so that said base may not be deformed to assume said release configuration, and said unlock position characterized by location of said core in a position not obstructing substantial inward deformation of said wall portion at said finger engaging surface so that said base may be deformed to assume said release configuration.

24. A closure comprising

a container provided with a radial recession at the container mouth; and

a cap comprising a base having a downwardly opening first chamber enclosing the container mouth, an upwardly opening second chamber, and a radially projecting portion locating in said radial recession in said container tending to prevent removal of said base from said container, said base deformable to assume a release configuration in response to pressure applied radially inwardly at the side of said base above said container, said base deformable to assume a release configuration in response to pressure applied radially inwardly at the side of said base above said container, said release configuration characterized in that said radially projecting portion is retracted from said radial recession to permit removal of said base from said container, and

a core movable relative to said second chamber between a lock position and an unlock position, said lock position characterized by location of said core within said second chamber in a position obstructing deformation of said base to assume said release configuration, and said unlock position characterized by location of said core in a position not obstructing deformation of said base to assume said release configuration.

25. A closure comprising

a container provided with a radial recession on its inner surface at the container mouth; and

a cap comprising a base having a downwardly opening first chamber enclosing the container mouth, an upwardly opening second chamber, and a radially projecting portion locating in said radial recession in said container tending to prevent removal of said base from said container, said base deformable to assume a release configuration in response to pressure applied radially inwardly at the side of said base above said container, said release configuration characterized in that said radially projecting portion is retracted from said radial recession to permit removal of said base from said container; a core removably pop-fitted in said second chamber to obstruct deformation of said base to assume said release configuration so that when said pop-fitted base is removed from said second chamber, said core does not obstruct deformation of said base to assume said release configuration; and a flexible tab integrally connecting one side of said core to one side of said base.

26. A closure as recited in claim 25 wherein said core is provided with a narrow upwardly opening aperture in said core for receiving a prying tool for use in removal of said core from said second chamber.

27. A closure as recited in claim 25 wherein said base is provided with a generally upwardly facing inclined surface forming at least a portion of the side wall surface defining said second chamber, so that when radially inwardly directed pressure is applied to the outer side surface of said base adjacent said inclined surface, said inclined surface tends to force said core upwardly out of said second chamber to facilitate removal of said core from said second chamber.

28. A closure as recited in claim 27 wherein said core is provided with a generally downwardly facing inclined side surface adjacent said upwardly facing inclined surface on said base; wherein said core is further provided with a narrow offset seat directly above said inclined core side surface; and wherein said base is provided with a narrow radially inwardly projecting lip portion fitting said narrow offset seat on said core.

29. A closure comprising

a container provided with a radial recession on its inner surface at the container mouth; and

a cap comprising a base having a downwardly opening annular first chamber enclosing the container mouth, an upwardly opening second chamber having a lower generally cylindrical portion locating in the center of said annular first chamber and an enlarged upper portion and a radially projecting portion locating in said radial recession in said container tending to prevent removal of said base from said container, said base deformable to assume a release configuration in response to pressure applied radially inwardly at the side of said base above said container, said release configuration characterized in that said radially projecting portion is retracted from said radial recession to permit removal of said base from said container; a core removably pop-fitted in said second chamber to obstruct deformation of said base to assume said release configuration so that when said pop-fitted base is removed from said second chamber, said core does not obstruct deformation of said base to assume core does not obstruct deformation of said base to assume said release configuration; and a flexible tab integrally connecting one side of said core to one side of said base.

30. A closure as recited in claim 29 wherein said core is provided with a narrow upwardly opening aperture in said core for receiving a prying tool for use in removal of said core from said second chamber.

31. A closure as recited in claim 29 wherein said base is provided with a generally upwardly facing inclined surface forming at least a portion of the side wall surface defining said upper second chamber portion so that when radially inwardly directed pressure is applied to the outer side surface of said base adjacent said inclined side surface, said inclined surface tends to force said core upwardly out of said second chamber to facilitate removal of said core from said second chamber.

32. A closure as recited in claim 31 wherein said core is provided with a generally downwardly facing inclined side surface adjacent said upwardly facing inclined surface on said base; wherein said core is further provided with a narrow offset seat directly above said inclined core side surface; and wherein said base is provided with a narrow radially inwardly projecting lip portion fitting said narrow offset seat on said core.

33. A closure as recited in claim 26 wherein said core is removably pop-fitted in said second chamber.

34. A closure as recited in claim 27 wherein said core is removably pop-fitted in said second chamber.

35. A closure as recited in claim 28 wherein said core is removably pop-fitted in said second chamber.

36. A closure as recited in claim 28 wherein said core is provided with a radial projection and said base is provided with a radial recession receiving said radial projection on said core to maintain said core removably pop-fitted in said second chamber.

37. A closure as recited in claim 29 wherein said core is provided with a radial projection and said base is provided with a radial recession receiving said radial projection on said core to maintain said core removably pop-fitted in said second chamber.