U.S. patent number 3,865,267 [Application Number 05/426,534] was granted by the patent office on 1975-02-11 for child-proof and pharmacist-assisting reversible closure for containers.
Invention is credited to Glenn H. Morris.
United States Patent |
3,865,267 |
Morris |
February 11, 1975 |
CHILD-PROOF AND PHARMACIST-ASSISTING REVERSIBLE CLOSURE FOR
CONTAINERS
Abstract
A unitary reversible closure for containers of medicine and the
like is applied in one position to the container to render the
container child-resistant and in such position requires a complex
manipulation of the closure to release it from the container. In a
second position of application to the same container, the closure
seals the container but requires only a simple manipulation by the
pharmacist to release it from the container, thereby lessening
irritation and discomfort to the pharmacist's fingers cause by
manipulating closures or caps over a period of time and saving the
pharmacist considerable time in removing closures over a period of
time to fill the containers.
Inventors: |
Morris; Glenn H. (Chattanooga,
TN) |
Family
ID: |
23691190 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/426,534 |
Filed: |
December 20, 1973 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
215/206; 215/223;
215/214; 215/224 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D
50/061 (20130101); Y02W 30/80 (20150501); B65D
2251/09 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B65D
50/00 (20060101); B65D 50/06 (20060101); B65d
055/02 (); B65d 085/56 (); A61j 001/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;215/206,211,214,217,223,224 ;220/42C,6R |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Hall; George T.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Brady, O'Boyle & Gates
Claims
I claim:
1. A closure for containers defeating entry thereto by children and
relieving finger discomfort by pharmacists who must separate
closures from containers during container filling operations
comprising a reversible closure body having first and second use
positions on the same container, the first use position protecting
the interior of the container from contamination and the second use
position allowing the closure to defeat entry by children, a first
retainer means on a portion of the closure which is coupled to the
container in said first use position and being releasable therefrom
by single simple manipulation of the closure, and a second retainer
means on another portion of the closure which is coupled to the
container in said second use position and requiring a complex
manipulation of the closure consisting of at least two types of
movement before separation of the closure from said container may
be effected.
2. A closure for containers as defined by claim 1, wherein said
first retainer means is a friction means which releases easily from
the container by a simple force application, and said second
retainer means is a positive interlocking detent means on the
closure which cooperates with a positive locking element on a
container and requires a movement of the closure to a position on
the container where the detent means is aligned with a release
passage in the locking element on the container before separation
of the closure from the container can be effected with the closure
in the second use position.
3. A closure for containers as defined by claim 2, wherein the
first retainer means is a plug element on said closure body adapted
to enter the mouth of a container and to be readily removable
therefrom, and said second retainer means comprises a skirt section
on the closure body appliable over the mouth of a container
externally of the mouth, and interlocking lugs on the interior of
said skirt section movable into positive locking engagement with
said positive locking element on the container and separable
therefrom by said movement of the closure to cause alignment of one
of said lugs with said release passage.
4. The structure of claim 3, wherein said interlocking lugs are a
pair of diametrically opposed lugs of unequal size with the smaller
of said lugs only adapted to pass through said release passage,
both lugs adapted for positive interlocking engagement with said
locking element on the container when the closure is rotated to a
position where the smaller lug is unaligned with said release
passage.
5. The structure of claim 3, wherein the plug element is a
substantially circular element which completely plugs the mouth of
the container when placed therein.
6. The structure of claim 3, wherein the plug element is an
elongated bar-like element rising from one end of said closure body
and spanning a container mouth diametrically and only partially
plugging it.
7. The structure of claim 2, wherein said first retainer means
comprises a substantially annular skirt extension on the end of the
closure which is remote from the second retainer means and said
skirt extension appliable over the exterior of a container mouth to
cover said mouth while the closure is in said first use position
and while the second retainer means is in an inactive position.
8. The structure of claim 7, and yielding internal detent means on
said skirt extension to interlock with said locking element on a
container.
9. The structure of claim 8, and said internal detent means
comprising an internal annular bead on said skirt extension.
10. The structure of claim 8, and said internal detent means
comprising a pair of opposed lugs on the interior of the skirt
extension.
11. The structure of claim 7, wherein said skirt extension is a
thin walled annular extension adapted to snugly embrace and conform
to the shape of said locking element on a container.
12. The structure of claim 2, wherein said first retainer means on
the closure comprises a friction plug element on the end of the
closure which is remote from the second retainer means and a
substantially annular skirt extension on the last-named closure end
surrounding the plug element.
13. The structure of claim 12, and the plug element consisting of a
bar-like formation extending substantially diametrically on the
closure.
14. The structure of claim 1, wherein the closure body comprises
first and second separated container coupling parts, said first
retainer means being on the first coupling part and the second
retainer means being on the second coupling part.
15. The structure of claim 14, and a transverse divider wall
separating the first and second coupling parts of the closure and
said divider wall adapted to abut the end face of a container when
the closure body is in said first or second use positions.
16. The structure of claim 4, wherein said lugs additionally
comprise screw-threading elements on the closure adapted to
cooperate with thread elements on a container inwardly of said
container positive locking element.
17. A reversible closure having two positions of use on a container
comprising a first coupling part on said closure adapted to engage
a container in one use position of the closure wherein the closure
protects the interior of the container from contamination, the
first coupling part separating from the container by application
thereto of a simple force, and a second coupling part on the
closure having positive interlocking engagement with the container
in the second position of use of the closure on the container, the
second coupling part being releasable from the container only
following a compound movement thereto relative to the container.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A new Federal law requires medicine containers to be equipped with
child-resistant caps or closures to avoid injury or death to
curious children who seek access to the contents of containers.
Generally, the child-resistant closures which have been developed
to satisfy the requirements of the law require a complex
manipulation to release them from the containers, so that normally
only an adult will be able to open the container of medicine or the
like. The required complex manipulation of the closure is usually a
plural step movement thereof, such as turning, aligning and
lifting, or pressing inwardly, turning and lifting, or some similar
combination of manipulative steps. A typical example of the
patented prior art relating to child-resistant closures for
medicine containers is U.S. Pat. No. 3,432,058 of Mar. 11, 1969
which exhibits a closure or cap for medicine bottles which must
first be rotated to align an internal lug thereof with a notch
provided in a flange on the neck of the container, followed by a
lifting of one side of the cap while the lug is aligned with the
notch. Quite a large number of arrangements have been devised in
the prior art to satisfy the requirements for a child-resistant
closure for medicine containers and the above-identified patent is
merely an illustrative example of the prior art.
It is customary in the interest of convenience and cleanliness of
containers to supply medicine containers to pharmacists with the
closure elements in place thereon. This avoids separation and loss
of the parts and assures that the interiors of the containers are
in a clean condition at the time of being filled. In the case of
child-resistant closures, a rather serious problem has arisen in
connection with the necessity for the pharmacist to constantly
remove the safety closure from the container prior to filling the
latter with medicine and reclosing it. This problem concerns
increasing opening time and discomfort and irritation of the
fingers of the pharmacist who must manipulate the closures during
an entire working day. Because the child-resistant closures require
a series of movements or steps to release them, and are purposely
made difficult to manipulate for the protection of children, it
takes the pharmacist longer to remove the safety closures from the
containers and the pharmacist's fingers by the end of the day are
frequently very sore and uncomfortable to the extent that some of
the skin may actually be damaged and this slows him up even more in
opening the containers and substantially reduces the number of
containers he can fill in a day. This condition has led to many
complaints by pharmacists and thus far no satisfactory solution to
this annoying problem has come forth. With the safety closures a
pharmacist can no longer fill the same number of medicine
containers in a day as he could in the past and this is causing an
increase in medicine cost to the consumer.
Accordingly, it is the objective of this invention to completely
and satisfactorily solve the above-discussed problems of lost time
and finger irritation through the provision of a uniquely
constructed reversible or combination closure for medicine
containers which is first applied to the container so as to seal
the same against the entry of contamination and to maintain the
container and its closure in assembled relationship prior to use.
In this first applied position of the closure element, only a very
quick and simple release procedure by the pharmacist is required
for separating it from the container. This may consist of a simple
pulling or twisting or lifting movement, such as that customarily
required to remove a bottle stopper or simple snap or screw cap
from a container. Such a procedure, even when repeated many times
during the day, will not tend to cause any noticeable discomfort to
the fingers, will not slow down the pharmacist, and will permit him
to fill as many containers with safety caps as he has been able to
fill in the past with non-safety caps.
In a second use position of the same closure on the same container
following the removal of the closure in its first-applied position
and the filling of container with medicine, the closure becomes a
child-resistant safety closure which requires a more complex
manipulation in order to separate it from the container. Thus, by
means of the invention, a simply unitary reversible cap or closure
alleviates the annoying problems of lost pharmacist time and finger
irritation as commonly caused by the constant handling of
child-proof or safety caps. At the same time, due to the easy
reversibility of the closure, the advantageous practice of
furnishing containers and closures to pharmacists in assembled
relationship is retained, and all of this without any appreciable
cost increase. Additionally, in situations where no children are
present, the combination cap embodying the invention has the added
capability of being used as a simple stopper or cap without the
safety feature.
It is a further object of the invention to provide any form of
child-resistant medicine bottle closure with means for applying the
closure to a container in a non-safety position for the stated
purpose of eliminating finger irritation and discomfort and lost
time in opening containers on the part of the pharmacist who must
manipulate the closures time after time while filling
prescriptions. In essence, therefore, the closure of the invention
is a two-position closure for use on the same container which in a
first position of use is easy and quick to separate from the
container and in a second position of use is more difficult to
separate from the container while providing the required
child-resistant features.
Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent
during the course of the following description.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING FIGURES
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view, partly in cross section,
showing a closure element embodying the invention and a coacting
container.
FIG. 2 is a central vertical section showing the closure applied to
the container in a first use position.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the closure applied in a
second use position to thereby constitute a child-resistant
closure.
FIG. 4 is a central vertical section through the closure and
container as shown in FIG. 3 and depicting in broken lines the
removal of the child-resistant closure.
FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a modified form of
closure and container involving a combination screw-thread and
snap-on mode of operation.
FIG. 6 is a central vertical section showing the assembled
relationship of the closure and container of FIG. 5.
FIG. 7 is a similar sectional view illustrating the removal of the
child-resistant closure from the coacting container.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a modified form of cap or closure
which may be utilized instead of the caps illustrated in FIGS. 1
and 5.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view, partly in section, showing a modified
type of reversible closure for medicine containers in accordance
with the invention.
FIG. 10 is an exploded sectional view of the closure shown in FIG.
9 and a coacting container.
FIG. 11 is a further cross sectional view showing the closure of
FIG. 9 assembled with the container in the first non-safety use
position.
FIG. 12 is a central vertical section showing a further modified
form of closure embodying the invention.
FIG. 13 is a bottom plan view of the closure shown in FIG. 12.
FIGS. 14 and 15 are similar cross sectional views showing two
additional modifications of the invention.
FIG. 16 is a perspective view, partly broken away, of a closure
embodying a further modification of the invention.
FIG. 17 is a central vertical section taken through the closure of
FIG. 16 with the same inverted.
FIG. 18 is a vertical section taken on line 18--18 of FIG. 17.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring initially to FIGS. 1 to 4 of the drawings, there is
illustrated a reversible closure or cap 20 for a container 21 of a
type adapted to receive medicines. The particular container 21
illustrated is of the general type disclosed in the aforementioned
U.S. Pat. No. 3,432,058 and the invention embodied in the closure
20 has its child-resistant or safety aspect disclosed substantially
in terms of the construction shown in said patent. However, it
should be clearly understood that the invention which involves a
two position reversible closure for the same container may employ
as a part thereof any one of a variety of types of child-resistant
constructions in combination with one or more of the structures
according to the invention which adapt the closure for a non-safety
application to the container for the convenience and comfort of the
pharmacist who must manipulate the same.
More particularly, the closure 20 which is unitary and formed of a
tough plastic, such as polystyrene, comprises a crowned generally
cylindrical, although slightly tapered, plug or stopper section 22
having a flat end wall 23. The side wall of plug section 22 is
preferably provided with an external annular bead 24 to promote a
snug engagement and snap action when the plug section 22 is forced
into the open mouth of container 21, as shown in FIG. 2.
The reversible closure 20 additionally comprises an enlarged flat
annular wall 25 at the base of plug section 22 and projecting
outwardly therefrom substantially at right angles to the side wall
of the plug section. This wall 25 abuts the end face 26 of
container 21 when the closure is applied thereto in either of its
two use positions depicted in FIGS. 2 and 4. An annular cylindrical
marginal wall 27 is attached integrally to the wall 25 in right
angular relationship thereto and is concentric with the plug or
stopper section 22, as shown. If desired, the exterior face of the
wall 27 may be grooved or knurled to facilitate grasping and
twisting of the closure 20.
On the interior of the annular wall 27 and close to the open end of
the hollow closure 20, there is provided a pair of diametrically
opposed radially narrow arcuate lugs 28 and 29, the former of which
is somewhat shorter circumferentially than the latter, for a reason
to be described. Adjacent to the shorter lug 28, the closure 20 is
equipped on the exterior of its wall 27 at its open end with a lift
tab 30. In alignment with this lift tab and the adjacent shorter
lug 28, an indicator 31 such as an arrow or dot is visibly marked
on the end wall 23 of the closure for alignment during the removal
of the child-resistant closure with a cooperating indicator 32
provided on the side wall of container 21.
This container, which may be cylindrical, is equipped adjacent to
its open end with an exterior preferably tapered flange 33 having a
single release notch 34 formed therein. A second annular flange 35
may be formed on the container 21 in axially spaced relation to the
flange 33, the latter flange constituting the means for retaining
the child-resistant closure in its position shown in FIGS. 3 and 4,
prior to release of the closure by a series of relatively complex
movements.
In use, the medicine container 21 and child-resistant closure 20 is
supplied to the pharmacist in assembled relationship, with the plug
or stopper section 22 pressed into the neck of the container as
shown in FIG. 2. In such position, the closure seals the container
and excludes contamination and the two parts are retained together
to avoid misplacement or loss. In this first use position of the
closure on the container 21, only a simple single manipulation by
the pharmacist is required to separate the parts and this can be
done without inconvenience and without discomfort to the fingers
even where the operation must be repeated a large number of times
during a working day. A mere twisting or lifting force exerted on
the closure 20 will be sufficient to separate it from the container
in this first applied position shown in FIG. 2.
After filling the container with medicine, the pharmacist inverts
the closure 20 from its first use position and after aligning the
indicators 31 and 32, simply presses the closure 20 down onto the
container. The longer retainer lug 29 will easily engage under the
retainer flange 33, and with the parts positioned as described, the
shorter lug 28 will pass through the notch 34 and the wall 27 may
bottom on the flange or shoulder 35. Following this, the closure 20
is rotated to shift the lug 28 out of alignment with the release
notch 34. In order to remove the child-resistant closure from the
second applied position shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, it is necessary to
first rotate the closure to realign the lug 28 with the notch 34
and then to lift the adjacent side of the closure, utilizing the
lift tab 30, and the closure will then separate from the container
by rocking or pivoting around the lug 29 which is engaged below the
flange 33. The lug 29 is too long to pass through the notch 34 and
therefore the closure can be removed from the container only after
adjustment to a rather precise location and after two separate and
distinct types of manipulation. Children ordinarily will be unable
to remove such a safety closure. However, the pharmacist can very
simply separate the closure 20 from the container when the closure
is in its initial use position without any discomfort or damage to
the fingers. Thus the invention consists of a unitary reversible
closure having two essential use or application positions on the
same container, the first of these positions being a simple release
position to avoid discomfort to the fingers of the pharmacist, and
the second use position of the closure being a more difficult or
complex release position to protect small children from
poisoning.
In FIGS. 5 through 7, a modification of the invention is shown
wherein the reversible two position closure, while in the child
protecting position, is engaged with the container through a
compound retaining means involving screw-threads in addition to the
interlocking means already described relative to lugs 28 and 29 and
the flange 33. More particularly, in FIGS. 5 to 7, a container 36
having the aforementioned retainer flange 33 and release notch 34
is additionally equipped below the flange with screw-threads or
partial screw-threads 37. A cooperating closure 38 has a plug or
stopper section 39 which is identical in construction and operation
to the previously-described plug section 22 of closure 20. In the
present embodiment, the exterior cylindrical wall 40 of the closure
38 is somewhat longer axially than the corresponding wall 27 in the
prior embodiment and is provided internally with the identical lugs
28 and 29 which cooperate with the flange 33 and notch 34 in
exactly the same manner described in the prior embodiment.
However, in connection with the embodiment in FIGS. 5 to 7, when
the closure 38 is applied in the child-resistant position on the
container 36, after the shorter lug 28 has been passed through the
notch 34 and the closure engaged with the retainer flange 33, the
same two lugs 28 and 29 coact with the screw-threads 37 when the
closure is rotated to establish a threaded connection between the
two parts, as shown in FIG. 6. To remove the safety closure, the
same must be reversely turned to separate the threaded elements and
the closure will then be released from the threads to the position
shown in FIG. 7 where it is still retained by the lugs 28 and 29 in
the same manner described in the prior embodiment. As in the prior
embodiment, to separate the closure 38 from container 36, the
closure must again be rotated to align the narrower lug 28 with the
notch 34, FIG. 7, and then by lifting the tab 30, as previously
described, the closure or cap will separate from the container. It
will be understood that when the closure 38 is inverted, its plug
portion 39 will enter the bore of the container in the identical
manner shown and described in FIG. 2, and the resulting advantages
of the invention in terms of child safety and relief of the
pharmacist from finger discomfort are identical to the previous
embodiment.
FIG. 8 shows a modified cap or closure 41 which may be utilized in
either form of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, or 5 to 7. In
this connection, the cylindrical body portion 42 of the closure may
be constructed as illustrated to interlock with the container 21,
or if preferred can be constructed to interlock with the container
36 having screw-threads. In either case, the generally cylindrical
plug or stopper portion 22 or 39 is replaced by a bar-type
generally rectangular plug portion 43 having bead segments 44 on
its opposite ends to serve the same function as the annular bead
24. The plug portion 43 may have an indicator marking 45 or may be
tapered itself to point toward the tab 30 and the cooperating
indicator marking 32 on the container. When applied to the
container in the first use position corresponding to FIG. 2, the
bar-shaped element 43 engages within the mouth of the container in
the manner shown in FIG. 2 and the end wall 46 of body portion 42
abuts the end face 26 of the container. In the second use position
for rendering the container child-resistant, the closure 41
functions in the manner described for the closure 20 or the closure
38, depending upon which embodiment of the safety structure is
incorporated in the body portion 42. Actually as illustrated in
FIG. 8, the body portion 42 contains the safety structure of the
initial embodiment, FIGS. 1 through 4.
FIGS. 9 to 11 illustrate another form of closure cap 47 embodying
the invention and being applicable reversely or in two positions to
the previously-described container 21. In the safety or
child-resisting position of the closure, not shown in FIGS. 9 to
11, the construction and operation is substantially identical to
the initial embodiment. More particularly, the closure 47 comprises
a cylindrical side wall 48 divided into two oppositely facing
sections by a transverse wall or partition 49. On one side of this
partition, the closure 47 is equipped with the previously-described
elements 28, 29 and 30 which coact with the described elements 33
and 34 of the container 21 in the manner shown in FIGS. 1 to 4. On
the other side of the partition 49, the closure 47 has its
cylindrical wall provided with an internal annular bead 50 which is
located close to the adjacent end of the closure. This bead is
adapted to snap over the retainer bead 33 of the container whereby
the wall 49 will abut the end of the container and the two parts
will be assembled for easy separation by the pharmacist without
finger discomfort. When the closure is reversed and applied on the
same container 21, in the child-defeating mode, its removal will be
more complicated, as described.
FIG. 12 shows a further modification of the invention wherein a
container closure 51 constructed simiarly to the closure 47
possesses the same elements 28, 29, 30 and 49 already described.
These elements coact with the container 21 to defeat child entry
into the container as described previously. The opposite end of the
container 51, however, in lieu of the bead 50, possesses a pair of
equally sized diametrically opposed internal lugs 52 of slightly
lesser radial thickness than the lugs 28 and 29. The thickness of
the lugs 52 or the diametrical distance between them is such that
the two lugs may snap over the flange 33 of the container when the
closure 51 is applied thereto in the use position for easy release
illustrated in FIG. 11 for the similar closure 47 having the snap
bead 50.
FIG. 13 illustrates the face of the divider wall 49 remote from the
safety structure and this face is visible to the user when applying
the safety cap to a container or removing it. Consequently, this
face of the wall 49 carries an alignment indicator 53 for the
smaller lug 28 and suitable instruction indicia 54, if desired.
FIG. 14 shows a slight variation in a closure 55 of the
construction in FIG. 12. In FIG. 14, the cylindrical wall portion
56 of the closure on the side of divider wall 49 remote from the
safety structure is formed thin so as to be relatively flexible. In
this instance, the two opposed identically-sized lugs 57 are
relatively thicker radially than the lugs 52 although still thinner
than the safety lugs 28 and 29. When applied over the container 21
or flange 33 as illustrated in FIG. 11, the thin wall portion 56
will yield to allow the lugs 57 to snap into easily releasable
interlocking engagement with the flange 33.
FIG. 15 shows another modified cap or closure 58 whose safety
section and components are also identical to the
previously-described forms and therefore need not be redescribed.
In this form of the invention, the means to retain the closure 58
in the first or non-safety use position for the convenience of the
pharmacist, FIG. 11, consists of a relatively thin elastic
cylindrical wall 59 on the side of the divider wall 49 remote from
the safety structure. When applied over the flange 33 of the
container, the thin wall 59 will bulge outwardly and form a snug
but readily separable connection with the container so that the
pharmacist can separate the closure easily from the container
without finger discomfort. The instructional indicia 54 and
indicator 53 shown in FIG. 13 is also applicable to the two
embodiments of the closure shown in FIGS. 14 and 15.
FIGS. 16 to 18 show a further form of container closure possessing
the same basic combination of the invention. More particularly, in
these figures, the cap or closure 60 is equipped at one end with
the described elements 28, 29 and 30, which form the essence of the
child-defeating mode of operation. On the other end of the closure
divided by a transverse wall 61, there is provided a bar-like plug
or stopper element 62 similar to the element 43 in FIG. 8 and
serving the same purpose as the element 43 during use in the manner
illustrated by FIG. 2. In addition to the plug element 62, the same
end of the closure 60 has an annular skirt or wall 63 provided with
an internal annular bead 64 and these elements surround the
bar-like plug 62 in spaced relation thereto as shown in the
drawings. This arrangement enables the closure 60 to be applied to
the container 21 in the first use position with the plug element 62
inside of the container neck, FIG. 2, and the skirt 63 external to
the neck, FIG. 11, with the bead 64 engaged below the retainer
flange 33. Again, the pharmacist may separate the closure from the
container by a simple manipulation to save his or her fingers from
discomfort.
The terms and expressions which have been employed herein are used
as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no
intention, in the use of such terms and expressions, of excluding
any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions
thereof but it is recognized that various modifications are
possible within the scope of the invention claimed.
* * * * *