US3581925A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Safety latching ring for cylindrical containers
Assignee: THORNTON Manufacturing CO
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Filing: 1969-06-09
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Granted: 1971-06-01
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Expires: 1989-06-09
Abstract
Abstract A latching ring for medicine vials and the like to prevent opening of such vials by young children. A ring is preferably molded from a plastic material for slipping onto a standard cylindrical vial from the bottom thereof to receive and latch the usual laterally projecting grasping tab of the standard snap-on cover for such a vial when either such cover or the vial is rotated in an appropriate direction relative to the other. Depression of a resiliently formed and difficult-of-access latching member, positioned in a tab-receiving enlargement of the ring, effects unlatching and permits rotation of either cap or ring in the opposite direction to release the ring from the cap and to enable the ring to drop down from the cap and permit normal opening of the vial.
Inventors
- 👤 Theodore Wayne Thornton
- 👤 George M Thornton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 01:41
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D50/00; B65D50/02; B65D50/04; B65D50/045
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
184 words
A latching ring for containers provided with closure caps having annular bottom rims and laterally projecting tabs, said ring comprising a lower annular member; an upper annular member, whose inside diameter is greater than that of the lower annular member to provide a shoulder for engaging the bottom rim of the cap of a container of the type concerned; an outward enlargement of the latching ring along a portion of the circumferential extent of said ring, defining a latch recess for receiving the tab of the closure cap, said recess having its top closed along a portion of its length and open along an adjacent portion of its length to define a tablatching chamber, an entry for said tab, and limited access to a latch member; a latch member within said latch recess and below said entry at the entrance to said tab-latching chamber; resilient means normally maintaining said latch member in a position closing said entrance; and means accessible to a user of the container through said limited access for depressing said latch member and thereby opening said entrance to the tab-latching chamber.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
184 words
A latching ring for containers provided with closure caps having annular bottom rims and laterally projecting tabs, said ring comprising a lower annular member; an upper annular member, whose inside diameter is greater than that of the lower annular member to provide a shoulder for engaging the bottom rim of the cap of a container of the type concerned; an outward enlargement of the latching ring along a portion of the circumferential extent of said ring, defining a latch recess for receiving the tab of the closure cap, said recess having its top closed along a portion of its length and open along an adjacent portion of its length to define a tablatching chamber, an entry for said tab, and limited access to a latch member; a latch member within said latch recess and below said entry at the entrance to said tab-latching chamber; resilient means normally maintaining said latch member in a position closing said entrance; and means accessible to a user of the container through said limited access for depressing said latch member and thereby opening said entrance to the tab-latching chamber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
A latching ring as defined by claim 1, wherein the latch member is elongate and mounted as a cantilever at one end of the latch recess below the limited access and extending under the tab entry.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
A latching ring as defined by claim 2, wherein the resilient means provides the cantilever mounting for the latch member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
A latching ring as defined by claim 3, wherein all the component parts are of a plastic material and are wholly integral one with the others.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
A latching ring as defined by claim 4, wherein a portion of the length of the latch member adjacent the root of the cantilever is formed as an open loop.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
58 words
A latching ring as defined by claim 5, wherein a portion of the length of the latch member underlying the limited access is formed as an upstanding knob that defines one end of the tab entry and is adapted to be pushed down by the finger nail of a finger of the user for unlatching the latching ring.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
In combination, a container, a cap, and a latching ring, all as defined by claim 1.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
The combination defined by claim 7, wherein the container is cylindrical with an open end and an outwardly projecting rim surrounding said open end; the cap is of snap-on type; and the tab projects laterally from the rim of the cap.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
97 words
A latching ring for containers provided with closure caps having laterally projecting tabs, comprising an annular body adapted to closely surround a closure cap of the type concerned when said cap is installed on a container as a closure therefor; a latch recess formed internally of said body and open to the inner periphery thereof; means defining a latching chamber within said latch recess for receiving said tab; entry means to said latching chamber for said tab; latch means controlling said entry means; and means for operating said latch means, said operating means being difficult of access.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
97 words
A latching ring for containers provided with closure caps having laterally projecting tabs, comprising an annular body adapted to closely surround a closure cap of the type concerned when said cap is installed on a container as a closure therefor; a latch recess formed internally of said body and open to the inner periphery thereof; means defining a latching chamber within said latch recess for receiving said tab; entry means to said latching chamber for said tab; latch means controlling said entry means; and means for operating said latch means, said operating means being difficult of access.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-05-31 | 1974-11-30 | 1975-06-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-05-31 | 1978-11-30 | 1979-06-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-05-31 | 1982-11-30 | 1983-06-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |