Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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~` 106038S
~ This invention relates generally to ch~ldproo safety
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closures and container assemblies and is particularly concerned
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with safety closuring container assemblies of the type wherein
~' it is necessary to apply combined axial and rotary motions in
` ~ 5 order to remove the cap or closure from the container in order
~, to obtain access to the contents of the container.
~¦ The number of accidentàl poisonings resulting from
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young children having access to unsafe medicines, drugs, house-
hold chemicals and other products has reached unacceptable pro-
10 portions. There has consequently been a considerable amount of
q activity toward developing a childproof safety package, including
a container closure that requires a type of manipulation in order
` ~ ~ to gain access to the contents of the container that a young
~ child is incapable of performing. It has been found that young
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15 children are ~ncapable of manipulating a cap mounted on a con-
`~ ~ tainer with bayonet-type locking means, that is, a type of lock-
``~ ing means that requires that a cap be pushed axially relative t~
the container and then rotated relative to the container in order
to separate the cap from the container. The cap must be pushed
axially toward the containe~ against the biasing force of a
n~ spring in order to disengag\e the bayonet locking means. See, for
~ ~ example, Hedgewick Canadian Patent 870,963 of May 18, 1971.
. ~
Canadian Patent 872,640 of June 8, 1971 discloses a
safety package including a container having a neck, or mouth
~5 portion with an annular rim; a one~piece cap having a base with
a peripheral flange projecting axially therefrom for receiving
~x ~ the mouth portion; interengageable locking elements on the outer
wall of the mouth of the container and inner wall of the flange
of the cap, the cap locking elements being spaced peripherially
from each other and engagable.with and disengagable from the
container locking elements by combined axial and rotat~ve motion
; of the cap relative to the container. A resilient flexible
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member is formed on the base of the cap, the resilient flexible
member having an inner annular end joined integrally to the base
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of the cap. The resilient flexible member extends axially from
the base of the cap and terminates in an outer, annular free end,
~-~ S the inner annular end at the juncture with the base having a
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`` ` diameter at least as large as that of the outer annular free end,
` the outer annular free end being engageable with the container to
exert a biasing force in an axial direction between the cap and
container when the locking elements are engaged.
The present invention çonstitutes a variation on the
invention of Canadian Patent 872,640 in that the base portion of
~; ~ the cap is annular with the cylindrical outer flange of the cap
project~ng from thè outer periphery of the annular base portion
to fit over the mouth portion, or neck, of the container in
telescoped relationship therewith, and the axially depending
resilient flexible member for-exerting a biasing force between
the cap and container being integrally joined to the inner per-
; iphery of the annular base portion. The resilient flexible mem-
ber of the cap according to the present invention has f~rst and
second annular ends spaced from each other, the first annular end
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being integrally joined to th~ inner periphery of the annular base
portion. Means in the form of a substantially flat disc is
integrally ~oined at its periphery to th,e second annular ena to
closQ the second annular end of the resilient flexible member.
2~ In one embodiment o th~ invention, the second annular
end of the resilient flexible member is located in substantially
co-planar relationship with the first annular end when the
resilient flexible member is in an unstressed cond~tion. Conse-
quently, the closure member joined to the periphery of the second
annular end defines a part of the base portion such that the base
of the cap includes a peripheral annular portion which surrounds
a central disc-like portion, the central disc-like portion being
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~` . 106()385
the closure mem~er ~oined $ntegrally to the second annular end of
the res~l~ent flexible member. In this embodiment, the resilient
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flexible member is of dished cross section such that the resil-
ient flexible member has spaced inner and outer wall portions
~oined respectively to the peripheral annular portion of the base
and the central portion of the base.
In another embodiment of the invention, the second
annular end of the resilient flexible member is of smaller dia-
meter than the first annular end and is spaced axially from the
first annular end, the resilient flexible member comprising a
relatively thin, radially yieldable frusto-conical member extend-
ing between the first and second annular ends. When the cap is
applied to the container in locked relationship therewith, the
;` i frusto-conical resilient flexible member projects into the mouth
portion of the container and is engaged intermediate the first
` and second annular ends of the-inner edge of the rim of the con-
~` ~ tainer and is radially yieldably compressed thereby to exert a
`~ ` biasing force in an axial direction between the cap and the
container.
~`` 20 The objects, advantages and features of the i ~ ention
will become apparent from the following description taken in
connection with the accompanying drawings in which:
FIGUR~ 1 is a sectional view of a safety cap and con-
` tainer according to a first form of the invention;
FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 with the cap
shown in a different position;
\ FIGURE 3 is a sectional view of a safety cap and con-
`~ tainer embodying the invention in a second form; and
FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 with the cap in
a different position.
. FIGURES 1 and 2 illustrate a safety pac~age including a
container 2 having a neck or mouth psrtion 4 with an annular rim
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r 6. The nec~ of the container 2 19 formed with container locking
elements or formations 8a and 8b, there being a pair of diametri-
~,
;~ cally opposed locking elements 8a and a pair of diametrically
opposed locking elements 8b, each locking elements 8a being
5 located 90 from an adjacent locking element 8b. Each locking
`~ element 8a is formed with a cam surface 10, a side wall 12, and
a top wall 14. The locking elements 8b are identical to the
locking elements 8a except that a stop wall 16 depends from the
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`~j top wall 14 on the opposite end thereof from the side wall 12.
The loc~ing elements 8b thus~are formed with notches, the notches
being defined by the vertical surfaces 12 and 16 and the top,
horizontal surface 14. Alternatively, all of the locking forma-
`~` ` ~ tions may be identical to the locking formations 8b as is the
`, case in, for example, U.S. Patent 3,613,928.
~`I 15 Mounted on container 2 is a one-piece, molded plastic
safety cap designated collectively by reference numeral 18. The
~ cap 18 comprises an annular base portion 20, and an axially ex-
`~ ~ tending cylindrical outer flange 22 projecting from the outer
periphery of the annular base portion 20 and sized to fit over
20 the neck 4 of the container 2 in telescoped relationship there-
¦ with. A plurality of spaced cap locking elements or formations
24 project inwardly from the inner surface of the outer flange 22
;~ for cooperation with the complementary formations 8a, 8b on the
` container 2 such that combined axial and rotary motion is requir-
. . .
ed when the cap is applied to and removed from the container 2.
~ An axially depending resilient flexible member 24 is enGlosed by
-~ the outer flange 22 for engaginq the container when the cap is
applied thereto, and for exerting a biasing force between the cap
and container. The resilient flexible member 24 has first and
`'` `~`? ~
~`? 30 second annular ends 26 and 28 respectively, spaced from each
other, the first annular end 26 being integrally joined to the
J inner periphery of the annular base portion. Means 30 in the
`"`1 4
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form of a substantially flat disk is integrally ~oined at its
periphery to the second annular end 28.
In order to apply the cap 18 to the container 2, the
neck or mouth portion 4 of the container is inserted into the
cylindrical flange 22 of the cap with the cap locking elements
i 24 aligned with the spaces between the container locking elements
8a and 8b. The lower, free end 25 of the resilient flexible
` I m~mber 24 engages the annular rim 6 of the container to resil-
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¦ ~ently resist further axial movement of the cap locking elements
24 in a direction toward the collar 18 formed on the container 2.
~ The cap is then rotated relative to thè container until the cap
.~r~ ` locking elements 24 engage~ the cam surfaces 10 on the container
, locking elements 8a and 8b. Further rotation of the cap causes
the cap locking elements 24 to follow the cam surface 10 to re-
siliently deflect the resilient flexible member 24 to the approx-
imate position shown in FIGVRE 2 until the cap locking elements 24
` ~ clear the lowermost point of the cam surface 10, after which,
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release of the cap results in the cap locking elements 24 being
~-~d biased upwardly into engagement with the top surfaces 14 of the
respective container locking formations 8a, 8b due to the resil-
~' ient action of the resiliant flexible member 24. Rotation of the
`'~ cap 18 relative to the container is blocked by the stop surfaces
16 and 12 on the container locking elements 8b. Thus, in order
to remove the cap 18 from the container, it is necessary to again
depress the outer cylindrical wall 22 to the position shown in
FIGURE 2 until the cap locking elements 24 clear ~he junction be-
~ ~,
,j tween the surfaces 12 and 10 of the container locking elements
8a, 8b. The cap may then be rotated in a direction to move the
cap locking elements 24 away from the stop wall until the cap
locking elements 24 are again aligned with the spaces between the
" ~¦ container locking elements permitting axial withdrawal of the cap
¦ from the container.
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In the embodiment of FIGURES 1 and 2, the second
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- annular end 28 of the resilient flexible member 24 is of smaller
diameter than the first annular end 26, and is located in sub-
.-. stantially co-planar relationship with the first annular end 26
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5 when the resilient flexible member is in its unstressed condi-
tlon as shown approximately in FIGURE 1. The disk 30 thus may
t be said to define a part of the base or end wall of the cap 18,
the base or end wall consisting of a central disk-like portion
30 and a peripheral annular base portion 20 surrounding the cen-
10 tral portion 30 and being spaced therefrom, and the resilient
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flexible member can be said to have spaced inner and outer wall
portions joined together at the outer annular free end 25, the
; outer wall portion`being joined at its inner end 26 to the inner
periphery of the peripheral annular portion 20 of the base, the
inner wall portion bein~ joined at its inner end to the peri- -
~ phery of the central portion 30 of the base. The resilient
`~` flexible member 24, in the embodiment of FIGURES 1 and 2, com- -
.
n j prises a relatively thin member of generally dished configura-
~-~ ~ tion in cross section which extends between the first and second
ends 26 and 28.
~`¦ The resiliency and deformability of the member 24
`' establishes both a resiliently preloaded seal against the rim 6
of the container as well as preloaded lo,cking action to render
; ¦ ~ t~e contents of the container 2 inaccessible to young children.
The annular base portion 20 is formed with openings 21
each of which overrides one of the cap locking elements 24. The
upper surfaces of the lugs, or locking elements 24, may be formed
flat by pins inserted through the base portion 20 during the mold-
ing of the cap at 18 as is disclosed in Canadian Patent 870,963.
. 30 FIGURES 3 and 4 disclose a safety package including a
` container 102 having a mouth portion, or neck 104, and an annular
rim 106. The container is formed with container loc~ing elements
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or formations 108 which project outwardly from the outer surface
of the neck 104 and include a cam portion 110, and a notch de-
fined by a top wall 114, a side wall 112, and a stop portion 116.
The locking elements 108 may be identical to the container lock-
ing elements disclosed in Canadian Patent 870,963, for example.
Mounted on the container 102 is a one-piece, molded
plastic saety cap 118 including an annular base portion 120,
an axially extending cylindrical outer flange 122 projecting
from the outer periphery of the annular base portion 120 to fit
over the neck 104 of the container 102 in telescoped relation-
ship ~herewith. A plurality of spaced cap locking elements or
formations 124 project inwardly from the inner surface of the
outer flange 122 for cooperation with the complementary forma-
tions 108 on the container neck 104 such that combined axial
and rotary motion is required when the cap is applied to and
removed from the container 102. The cap 118 is formed with an
axially depending resilient flexible member 125 enclosed by the
outer flange 122 for engaging the container 102 when the cap
is applied thereto and for exerting a biasing force between the
cap and container. The resilient flexible member 125 has first
and second annular ends 126 and 128 spaced from each other, the
first annular end 126 being integrally joined to the inner
periphery of the annular base portion 120. Means in the form
~f a substantially flat disk 130 is integrally joined at its
periphery to the second annular end 128 to close the second
annular end 128.
As is apparent from FIGURES 3 and 4, the second
annular end 128 of the resilient flexible member 125 is of
smaller diameter than the first annular end 126, and the second
annular end 128 is spaced axially from the first annular end
126, the resilient flexible member 125 comprising a relatively
thin, radially yieldable frusto-conical member 125 extending
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between the first and second annular ends 126 and 128.
In order to place the cap 118 onto the container 102
the container neck 104 is inserted into the peripheral outer
flange 122 with the cap locking elements 124 aligned with the
5 spaces between the adjacent container locking elements 108.
The lower end of the tapered frusto-conical resilient flexible
member 125 is received in the mouth portion of the container,
the outer surface of t~e frusto-conical member 125 engaging the
inner edge of the rim 106. Rotation of the cap relative to the
container causes the cap locking elements 124 to engage the cam
portions 110 of the respective container locking elements 108
such that continued rotation causes the cap locking elements
124 to ride down the cam surface 110 until the cap locking
element clears the junction between the surface 112 and cam
surface 110. The downward movement of the cap locking elements
along the cam surface 110 causes the resilient flexible member
to yield radially inwardly as illustrated in FIGURE 4 to exert
a biasing force in an axial direction between the cap and con-
tainer. When the container locking elements 124 are aligned
20 with the notches defined by the surfaces 112~ 114 and 116, the
locking elements 124 are urged into engagement with the top sur-
face 114 as illustrated in FIGURE 3.
Thus, FIGURES 3 and 4 illustrate a safety package
comprising a container 102 having a mouth portion 104 with an
~5 annular rim 106; a one-piece cap 118 having a base 120 with a
peripheral flange 122 projecting axially therefrom for receiving
the mouth portion 104; interengageable locking elements 108,124
on the outer wall of the mouth of the container 102 and inner
wall of the flange 122 of the cap 118, the cap locking elements
30 124 being spaced peripherally from each other and engageable
with and disengageable from the container locking elements 108 by
combined axial and rotary motion of the cap relative to the
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container, a resilient flexible member 125 formed on the base 120
of the cap 118 having an inner annular end 126 joined integrally
to the base 120 of the cap 118 and extending axially therefrom
and terminating in an outer annular free end-128, said inner an-
nular end 126 at the juncture with the base 120 having a diameter
at least as large as that of the outer annular free end 128 there-
of, and a disk-like closure portion 130 having its periphery
joined to the outer free end 128 of the flexible member 125, the
resilient flexible member 125 being engageable with the container
to exert a biasing force in an axial direction between the cap
and container when the locking elements are engaged.
The resilient flexible member 125 of the embodiment
o FIGURES 3 and 4 thus comprises a generally downwardly con-
verging tapering section at an acute an~le to the direction of
axis of the container neck, with the disk 130 comprising a
closure of the bottom end of the tapering section. When the
cap is applied to the container, the tapering section defined
by the resilient flexible member 125 has an initial interfer-
ence with the circular neck opening o the container prior to
achieving the ultimate axial overlap which represents full
securing of the cap to the neck, whereby when fully secured the
tapering section 125 is resiliently and radially inwardly
stressed into closing and sealing contact with the neck. The
resilient flexible member 125 may also be defined as a generally
downward and converging tapering flange at an acute angle to the
axis of the cap, the disk 130 comprising an integral closure of
the bottom end of the tapering flange, and the base portion 120
may also be defined as a flange extending inwardly from the
upper end of the cylindrical annular wall to connect the outer
wall 122 with the upper axial end of the tapering flange.
Obviously, modifications and variations of the present
invention are possible and it will be- understood ~y those skilled
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in the art that the invention is not limited to the exact con-
struction shown in the illustrated embodiments and described in
the foregoing specification.
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