Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CLOSURE DEVICE
This invention relates to a closure device for a
container having a screw-threaded cylindrical opening
or neck.
Various closure devices for bottles or other
containers have been devised which are resistant to
being opened by children, so that these bottles are
suitable for holding e.g. medicines or pills.
Generally such closures comprise an inner cap which is
screw-threaded to engage the screw-threaded cylindrical
opening or neck of the bottle, and an outer member
which serves for driving the inner member; in order
to remove the closure from the bottle, the outer
member must be pushed in to engage with the inner
member and then turned to unscrew the inner member
from the opening of the bottle. However it is often
difficult, especially for the elderly or those who
suffer from arthritis, to push the outer member in and
turn it at the same time. Also, some medicines are
very sticky with the result that the inner member
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becomes stuck firmly to thP opening of the container,
again making it difficult to unscrew the closure.
I have now devised a closure device which
overcomes the problems outlined above.
In accordance with this invention there is
provided a closure device for a container having a
screw-threaded opening,
the closure device comprising an inner member in
the form of a screw-threaded cap
and an outer member in the form of a cap into
which the inner member fits,
the outer member operably engaging with the inner
member for turning the latter in a closing direction,
but being able to turn in an opening direction without
operably engaging with the inner member,
characterised in that the outer member has an
opening which enables a portion of the inner member to
be operably engaged from outside, and that said
portion can be operably engaged, for example by means
of a spoon handle or coin, from outside for turning
the inner member to unscrew it from the container.
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Thus, the inner member can be rotated more easily
by the elderly and infirm without the need for
applying excessive torque. A spoon handle in
particular enables the necessary torque to be applied
very easily.
Generally the inner member portion will project
out through the opening in the outer member, but this
is not essential. If the aperture is large enough the
spoon handle can be inserted in through the hole.
Preferably the said portion of the inner member
is formed with a slot which can be engaged for turning
the inner member.
Preferably the said portion of the inner member
is formed with two slots substantially at right angles
to each other.
Preferably the closure device comprises a cover
which covers the opening in the outer member and is
releasably attached thereto to provide a tamper
evident feature.
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An embodiment of this invention will now be
described by way of example only and wi~h reference to
the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a section through a closure device in
accordance with the invention;
Figure 2 is a section through an inner member of
the device;
Figure 3 is a view of the top of the inner
member;
Figure 4 is a section through an outer member of
the closure device;
Figure 5 is a view of the top of the outer
member;
Figure 6 is a section through a separate cover
member for the opening in the top of the outer member
of the closure device; and
Figure 7 is a view of the top of the separate
cover member of Figure 6.
Referring to the drawings, there is shown a
closure device for the screw-threaded cylindrical
opening or neck of a glass bottle or other container.
The closure device comprises an inner member 10 in the
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form of a cap having a top and a depending cylindrical
skirt 12 formed with an internal screw-thread 14. The
closure device further comprises an outer member 16 in
the form of a cap having a flat top 18 and a depending
S cylindrical skirt 20. The top 18 of the outer member
16 is formed with a circular aperture 22 in its
centre, which aperture is closed by a cap-shaped cover
portion 19 integral with the outer member 16 and
frangibly connected thereto by e.g four spaced webs
21. The top of the inner member is formed with a
cylindrical extension portion 24 which is formed with
two slots 26, 28 at right angles to each other in its
outer end.
The inner member 10 is received within the outer
member 16 so that the extension portion 24 of the
inner member 10 projects through the circular aperture
22 in the top of the outer member 16 and into the
cover portion 19, the latter being formed with a
2.0 single channel 23 in its top. This channel also
serves as a feature which can be engaged by a coin or
other object for removal, but should be so wide that
it cannot slot into the slots underneath. The inner
member 10 is held captive within the outer member 16
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by snap-engagement of its outer rim past an annular
ridge 30 on the inside of the skirt 20 of the outer
member.
The cover portion forms a tamper-evident feature
for the closure device. It can be gripped and torn
off by hand, or it can be forced off by pushing the
outer member 16 axially inwards relative to the inner
member 10 and towards the container, so that the
extension portion 24 of the inner member is caused to
project further out through the aperture 22.
Four flexible fingers 32 project from the inside
of the top of the outer member 16 in a peripheral
direction. When the outer member 16 is turned in the
clockwise direction, these fingers 32 abut respective
abutments or dogs 34 on the top of the inner member,
to correspondingly turn the inner member for
tightening it onto the container next. Onc0 the cover
portion 19 has been removed, then when the outer
member 16 is turned in the opposite i.e.
counterclockwise direction, the flexible fingers 32
ride over the top of the abutments 34 and the outer
member 16 turns freely relative to the inner member
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10. However, if the outer member 16 is pushed in the
axial direction towards the container, the outer
member slides on the inner member (the fingers 32
being urged towards the underside of the top of the
outer member). Now if the outer member is turned in
the counterclockwise direction, abutments 36 on the
underside of the top of the outer member engage the
abutments 34 on the top of the inner member, to turn
the inner member and so unscrew it from the container.
However, for those who find difficulty in
pressing the outer member in and at the same time
turning it in the counterclockwise or unscrewing
direction, the slots 26, 28 provide an alternative
means of loosening the closure device. Thus, a coin
or other convenient article e.g a spoon, can be
inserted into either slot 26 or 28 and twisted to turn
the inner member 10 directly and unscrew it from the
container.
The cover portion may be forrned as a separate
cap-shaped member 119 as shown in Figures 6 and 7
having e.g four radial projections 120 spaced around
its rim. The cover portion can then be inserted into
XC)3~3~7
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the aperture 22 in the outer member 16 from the
interior of the latter before the inner member 10 is
inserted, the projections 120 preventing the cover
from passing right through the aperture. However, the
S cover can be pulled by hand through the aperture when
desired, or forced off by pushing the other member
axially inwards relative to the inner member and
container.
The closure device may be provided without the
tamper-evident cover portion 19 or cover member 119 if
desired.
