Compressible safety closure

Claim 2

A safety closure or an opening in a container comprising: a. an overcap to cover the opening of said container; b. a resilient skirt having a first section and a second section alongside said first section, said second section flaring outwardly with respect to said first section; c. locking means associated with said overcap and said first section of said skirt for releasably securing said overcap to said skirt, said locking means being adapted to unlock when inward compressive force is applied to said second section of said skirt, yet remain locked when inward compressive force is similarly applied to said first section of said skirt; d. means for sealing the opening of said container; and e. means for fastening said closure to said container.

Claim 3

The device of claim 1 wherein said locking means comprises a groove on the inner surface of said first portion of said skirt and a member depending from said overcap for cooperating with said groove.

Claim 4

The device of claim 1 wherein said locking means comprises an inwardly projecting flange on the inner surface of said first portion of said skirt and a member depending from said overcap, said member extending beneath said flange when said overcap is in a locked position on said skirt.

Claim 5

The device of claim 1 including a resilient hinge interconnecting said skirt and said overcap, said hinge being attached to said skirt at a position substantially opposite to said first portion.

Claim 6

The device of claim 1 wherein said sealing means comprises a soft liner integral with said overcap.

Claim 7

The device of claim 1 wherein said sealing means comprises a resilient sealing member depending from said overcap, said sealing member flaring inwardly toward the center of said overcap and forming a seal along the inner periphery of the sidewall defining the opening of said container.

Claim 8

The device of claim 1 wherein the overcap has a substantially horizontally projecting tab to facilitate removal of said overcap.

Claim 9

The device of claim 1 wherein said fastening means is associated with the inner surface of said skirt and the outer surface of said container, said fastening means comprising a protruding bead on one of said surfaces, and a cooperating depression in the other of said surfaces for receiving the bead on deforming one of said surfaces.

Claim 10

The device of claim 7 wherein sAid skirt has a projecting orientation member connected to the inner surface of said skirt, said projecting orientation member being adapted to cooperate with a corresponding protrusion on the outer surface of said container when said skirt is rotated with respect to said container while fastened thereon.

Claim 11

The device of claim 7 wherein said skirt has a registration slot at the upper peripheral edge of said skirt for receiving said tab.

Claim 12

A safety closure for for the opening of a container comprising: a. an overcap to cover the opening of said container; b. a resilient skirt having two opposing substantially vertical sections and two opposing outwardly flaring sections intermediate said vertical sections, said sections forming a generally circular lower portion and a generally oval upper portion in said skirt; c. locking means comprising a member depending from said overcap and a cooperating groove on the inner surface of said skirt near one end of the minor axis of said oval portion, said hooklike member being adapted to frictionally engage a surface forming said groove and to disengage from said groove surface when inward compressive force is applied to the outer surface of said skirt near the major axis of said oval portion, yet remain locked when inward compressive force is similarly applied near said minor axis of said oval portion and to said circular portion of said skirt; d. a resilient hinge interconnecting said skirt and said overcap, said hinge being attached to said skirt at a position substantially opposite to said groove; e. means for sealing he opening of said container; and f. means for fastening said closure to said container.

Claim 13

A safety closure for for the opening of a container comprising: a. an overcap to cover the opening of said container; b. a resilient skirt having two opposing substantially vertical sections and two opposing outwardly flaring sections intermediate said vertical sections, said sections forming a generally circular lower portion and a generally oval upper portion in said skirt; c. locking means comprising a member depending from said overcap and a cooperating groove on the inner surface of said skirt near one end of the minor axis of said oval portion, said hooklike member being adapted to frictionally engage a surface forming said groove and to disengage from said groove surface when inward compressive force is applied to the outer surface of said skirt near the major axis of said oval portion, yet remain locked when inward compressive force is similarly applied near said minor axis of said oval portion and to said circular portion of said skirt; d. a resilient hinge interconnecting said skirt and said overcap, said hinge being attached to said skirt at a position substantially opposite to said groove; e. means for sealing he opening of said container; and f. means for fastening said closure to said container.