Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~ ~ ~7~ 3
L Case EPC-4579
CHILD RESISTANT CONTAINER COVER
Field of the Invention
This invention is in the field of closures for
containers for consumer products. More particularly, the
invention deals with closure devices for achieving child
resistant characteristics.
Background and Prior Art
Many child-resistant caps and closures have been
suggested in recent years because of the greater
activity directed towards insuring that dangerous and
poisonous materials be packaged in con~ainers which
are significantly dificult for small children to open.
Exemplary of the containers and closures developed
by the art in response to this need is the closure and
container shown in U. S. Patent No. 3,888,376. This
container and closure is in the class of child-resistant
packages which feature latching and unlatching means
carried by the threads of ~he closure and the container.
Generally, this class is beset by the problem of requiring
very exact container and closure manufacture so that
registration of the latching structure can be predictably
efected. The manufacturing standards required are
oftentimes dificult to achieve when it is considexed that
the packager oftentimes purchases the containers from
sources separate from the cl~sures.
~74~3
Desplte these difficulties, however, this class of
child-resistant closure and container is highly desirable in
that the locking mechanism is carried internaï to the package
when the closure is fitted to the container. Other classes
of child-resistant closures and con-tainers which rely upon
exterior locking systems oftentimes are not entirely satis-
factory as a c~ild i5 free to a-ttack the lockin~ structure.
Therefore, it is an object of this invention to
provide a container and closure which is child-resistant,
which is in the class of containers and closures which have
the locking systems carried by the threads of the containers
and closures, and which is able to achieve its child-resistant
locking position when manufacturing tolerances are main-
tained. Furthermore, it is an object of the invention to
provide a container and closure combination in which the
closure can be oriented to a predetermined position on the
container~
Description of the Invention
This invention relates to a safety closure for
containers having a threaded neck portion, the closure pro~
viding a multi~licity of threads cooperativeLy engaging the
threads on the neck portion. The neck portion has means
for stopping the threading rotation of the closure onto the
threaded neck portion a~ a predetermined positionO The
closure also uses a resilient liner means interposed between
the underside o-E the top of the closure and the top of the
neck portion.
More particularly, this invention relates to a child-
resistant package co~prising a container, having about its
neck, a plurality of interrupted helical threads and a
closui~ having, about the inside .surface of its annular side~
wall, a like number of helical thread segments, which
e~ù -2-
~ ~ ~7~:~ 3
interrupted threads and thread segments have dimensions
and confi~urations for cooperation with one another to effect
child-resistant f.i-tment of the closure to the container.
Each of the closure thread segments have at their
start end an arrowhead portion which terminates in an
inwardly projecting latitudinally extending surface which
is substantially parallel to the center axis of the closure.
From this surface the thread continues to its finish end and
has a conventional thread configurationO
The container interrupted threads are preferably even
in number, e.g. 2, 4, 6, 8 etc. In any c~se, at least two of
the container threads, which are generally opposite one
another, will have a conventional configuration at their
start end but have at their finish ends gaps which are
dimensioned for receipt of the arrowhead portion o~ the
closure thread. The portion of each gap most proximate the
start end of the container thread is defined by an outwardl~
projecting latitudinally extending surface which is substan-
tially parallel to the center axis of the container. At the
~0 distal end of each gap, there is provided, in association
with the container thread or as a part thereof, a stopping
surface which limits the travel of the closure thread segment
associated with the container thread.
The remaining threads, i.e. those not having the
gap-stop conriyuration, are of a general conventional con-
figuration. At their finish ends, they can have a surface
similar in configuration to the before-described proximate
surface which is associated with each gap.
Threading of the closure onto the cooperating
container neck threads is performed in a conventional manner.
The arrowhead portion of the closure threads will ride on
the underside of the container thread until they fall into
.. ,-.;~
/`.~13 3
~ ~ ~7~1 3
the gaps, as would be the case when the particular closure
thread is associated with a container thread having a gap,
or until they run off of the thread, as is the case when a
non-gapped container thread is involved. When the arrowhead
portion is in a gap, the beEore-described latitudinal
surfaces, i.e. the surface which defines the terminal end
of the arrowhead portion and the latitudinal surface which
defines the proximate end oE the gap, will be in face-to-
face abutment. This abutment acts as a lock to prevent
removal rotation of the closure. To maintain the lock and
to provide release of the lock/ there is provided a spring
structure, e.g. a resilient liner, which acts to maintain
u~ward axial spring tension against the -top of closure
when the lock position is achieved. This tension keeps the
arrowhead portion in the gap. To release the lock r axial
downward force is applied to the closure which compresses
or flexes the spring structure and aliows the closure to move
àxially downward. This downward motion results in the
arrowhead portion being moved out of the gap thus avoiding
the before-described surface-surface abutment. With this
accomplished, removal rotation is permissible.
An advantage of the container and closure of this
invention is a low application torque, ability to glve a
tight seal r and easy opening for adults. In a preferred
form a ~esilient disc liner acts as both a spring to main
tain required vertical pressure and as a high fidelity seal
against a vacuum and normal environmental atmosphere.
Another advantage is that an odd shaped cap can be oriented
to match a conforming container, e.g., a square cap can be
aIigned with the sides of a square container~
These and o-ther features contributing to satisfaction
in use and economy in manufacture will be more fully under-
.,.~.~.~ .
sd~ 4-
11~7~î3
stood from the Eollowin~ description of a preferred
embodiment of the invention when taken in conneckion with
the accompanying drawings wherein identical numerals refer
to identical parts and in which:
FIGURE 1 is a top view of a container of thls
invention;
FIGURE 2 is a side view of a container of this
invention;
FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view of a closure
of this invention;
FIGURE 4 is a bottom view taken of the closure shown
in Figure 3;
FIGURE 5 is a side view of the container shown in
Figure 2 rotated to show another view of the threads;
FIGURE 6 is a partly cut-away side elevational
view of the closure attached to the container shown; and,
FIGURE 7 is an enlarged, cut-away, partly sectional
view of the top of the neck of the container.
Referring now to the drawings, a conventional
container 10 is provided which, while preferably made of
plastic, may be made of glass or suitable material. The
container has the usual neck portion 11 provided with
threads 12 and 12a, which when the container is made of
plastic, may be molded. Threads 12 and 12a have trailing
edges 17 and 17a, respectively, which are generally parallel
to -the center line of the closure.
As can be seen in the drawings, the two threads 12a
have a stop 13 at the end thereof which together with
surface 17a define gap 13a whereas the two threads 12 do
not have a stop at the end thereof, although they do have
surface 17 which contacts surface 16a in the locked position.
The sidewall of closure 14 has four harpoon-shaped
sd/~ -5-
4 ~ 3
threads ]5 equally spaced at approximately 90 degrees
apart. The harpoon-shaped -threads 15 have an arrowhead
portion 16 thereon, the surface 16a behind the arrowhead
16 being generally parallel -to the center:Line of the closure
and being designed to interlock in gap 13a as shown in
Figure 6 in the "ghosted" thread 15. The surface line of
the top 16b of arrowhead portion 16 is generally parallel
to the hottom 12b of threads~2 and 12a to reduce thread
damage, as is the tail of thread 15.
The top of the neck has the usual bearing surface 18.
The underside of closure 14 has a depressed top portion 19
which can be molded in the closure when it is made of plastic
or embossed in the closure when the closure is made of metal.
Lying between the top 18 of the neck 11 and the depressed
portion of the closure 14 is a liner 200 Liner 20 is made
of a suitable resilient material which in conjunction with
the depressed portion 19 of closure 14 seals the top 18 of
the container 10 to prevent any fluids flowing ~herefromO
The top 18 of container 1.0 preferably includes a
sealing surface 18a ~see Figure 7). Sealing surface 18a
includes a flat portion 18b and a curved or radiused surface
18c. Both 18b and 18c cooperate to assure a tight seal.
In assembling the closure to the neck of the container
- it is merely necessary to manually turn the closure in a
manner to screw the closure onto the neck of the container.
Closures made in accordance with the invention can be
attached to the container with a torque as low as 10 to 12
inch~pounds. The leading edge of the threads 12a and 12 has
a tapered su.face 21 which acts in conjunction with arrowhead
portion 16 of threads 15 to insure ease of threading. When
the closure is fitted on the neck of the containex ancl
released, the action caused by the depressed member 19
sd ~ 6 -6-
~ 3 ~74~ 3
bearing on the liner 20 will cause the closure to move to a
slight degree upwardly to securely lock the arrowhead
portion 1~ in gap 13a.
In order to open -the closure it is necessary to
exert a downward pressure against the action of the member
19 and the liner 20 whereupon the arrowhead 16 will be
forced downward and out of gap 13a and in the same movement
the closure may be turned to unscrew the closure from the
neck of the container. Thus, it may be seen that the
present invention provides a one-piece safety closure
obtaining a positive lock against inadvertent openingO
Preferably two sealing bands 25 and 26 are provided
at the bottom of neck 11. These sealing bands 25 and 26
provide several unctions. They help prevent the container
from going out-of-round during high application torques and
they serve as a bac-teria baffle.
As can be seen from the above, an odd-shaped
container having a corresponding odd-shaped closure is
feasible in accordance with the present invention because
the closure can be orlented and aligned with the sides of
the container to make the combined closure and container
symmetric and esthetically pleasing. For example, a square
closure can be fitted to a square container by positioning
stops 13-13 in the appropriate place on neck 11~
While the invention has been described in detail in
connection with one embodiment thereof, the description and
illustration -thereof are in no way intended to limit the
scope of the invention.
,, . ~
sd/~ 7_
1 3
SUPPLEMENTARY D:ESC OSURE
The foregoing describes the preferred embodiment of
the present invention. Ilowever, it is possible to revise
the structure of the closure insofar as the manner in which
the liner is captivated between the top of the closure and
the top of the neck of the container. Thus, in other
embodiments the closure may utilize a planar top wall with
a boss depending therefrom so that the boss will engage the
liner and exert the axial force on the liner so as to trap
it between the boss and the top of the neck when the closure
is fitted to the neck.
The additional embodiments of the present inv ntion
will now be described with reference to the following
drawings wherein:
FIGURE 8 is a cross-sectional view of another
closure of this invent.ion;
FIGURE 9 is a bottom view of the closure shown in
Figure 8;
FIGURE 10 is a cross-sectional view of another
closure of this invention;
FIGURE 11 is a bottom view of the closure shown in
Figure 10;
FIGURE l2 is a cross-sectional view of another
closure of this invention; and
FIGURE 13 is a bottom view of the closure shown in
Figure 12.
The additional embodiments of the closure of this
invention are shown in Figures 8-13. These embodiments
feature a planar top wall which will provide more labeling
space than is provided by the first-described embodiment
shown in Figures 3 and 4. Achievement of the axial action
. ~ .
sd~b -8- .
1 1 67~ 1 3
provided by liner 20 and depressed portion 19 of the first~
described embodiment is realized, for the embodiments of
Figures 8-13, by the utilization of structure downwardly
extendin~ from the closure top wall and which acts against
the liner in the same manner as depressed por-tion 19. Except
for the top wall configuration and the presence of the
structure which extends downwardly from the top wall, the
closures of Figures 8-13 are substantially identical in
configuration and operational function as the first-
described closure. Also, these last-described closures can
be made of metal or thermoplastic material, with the latter
being preerred due to the ease in obtainment of the depicted
configurations by the use of thermplastic injection molding
techniques.
The embodiment shown in Figures 8 and 9 features a
closure 40 having a planar circular top wall 42 which has
dependent therefrom, downwardly extending annular sidewall 44.
About the inside surface of annular sidewall 44 are a
plurality of helical thread segments 49 which segments are
identical in configuration ar~d functisn as ~he before-
described thread segments 15. ~ownwardly dependent and
integral with top wall 42 is annular boss 46, which has
positioned at its distal end, liner 20. Note that annular
boss 46 is dimensioned so as to have a diameter less than
the outside diameter of container 10 and such that it
overlies radiused surface 18c of container 10. By overlying
this surface vertical movement of closure 40 acting against
the resiliency of liner 48 is possible. If armular boss 46
overlay flat portion 18b~ such vertical motion would be
stymied since annular boss,46 and liner 48 would be in non-
yieldable abutment with flat portion 18b. Since vertical
room for flexing can also be provided by having annular boss 46
sd/~J~6
1 ~ 6~
with a diameter smaller than the inside diameter oE container
lO, this positional relatlonship is also functionally
operative. Determination of the optimum diameter of annular
boss 46 will be dependent, for the most par-t, on the diameter
of closure 40 and the material of construction for liner 48,
e.g. metal, xesilient plastics, etc.
The embodiment shown in Figures lO and ll features
a closure 50 with a planar circular top wall 52 and a down-
wardly depending annular sidewall 54. About the inside
surface of annular sidewall 54, there is a plurality of
helical thread segments 59 which are identical to helical
thread segments 15. Downwardly dependent and integrally
ormed with top wall 52 are a plurality of annularly
positioned bosses 56. These bosses are preferably equi-
angularly positioned and indicate a circle having a diameter
which is in the same relationship with the top 18 of
container 10 as described for the diameter of annular boss
46 of the embodiment shown in Figures 8 and 9~ 1iner 58
serves the same functlon for this embodiment as for the
other embo~iments.
In Figures 12 and 13, another closure of this inven-
tion is shown. This closure 60 features a planar circular
top wall 62 and annular sidewall 64 which is downwardl~
dependent therefrom. As is the case for the prior described
embodiments, helical thread segments having an arrowhead
portion at their start end are positioned about the inside
surface of the closure sidewall. For -this embodiment, these
segments are labeled with the number 69. Depending down-
wardly from the inside surface of top wall 62 is annular
boss 66.
To provide closure top wall rigidity this embodiment
utilizes two suppor-t walls which intersect at 90 and at the
.~ .
sd/~ ~lO-
1 3 67~ 3
center of the circle defined by annular boss 66. The inter-
secting walls, labeled 61 and 63, each extend fully across
annular boss 66. The diameter of annular boss 66 is deter-
mined by the same considerations used for the other embodi~
ments. Liner 68 is positioned adjacent the distal end of
annular boss 66 and contributes to the axial spring function
previously described for the other embodiments.
The closures of Figures 8-13 can be utilized on a
container having a neck finish as shown in Figure ~. The
manner of operation, to achieve fitment of the closure to the
container and the child-resistant lock, and to achieve the
release if that lock is the same as described or the
embodiment shown in Figures 3-4.
While the invention has been described in detail in
connection with the depicted embodiments thereof, the
descri.ptions and illustrations are in no way intended to
limit the scope of the invention.
:
.,,~ ",. .
sd/~
