Abstract A common twist or screw on cap for a bottle or like container is converted to a security closure by the addition of a rigid cover member, which may be moved up and down between two axial positions. In one position, the closure is secured because the cover member will rotate freely in either direction without turning the cap. In the other position, closure is non-secured because a band of parallel knurling on the side of the cap is aligned with and engaged by a complementary band of knurling on the inside surface of the sidewall of the cover member such that rotation of the cover member will be transmitted to rotate the cap. The cover member may be snapped axially from the non-secured position to the secured position and vice versa. Alternatively, the knurling may extend diagonally within the bands whereby the cover member will be automatically cammed into the engaged position when turned in one direction, and into the disengaged position when turned in the opposite direction. In this embodiment, the closure may be removed by both twisting and pressing the cover member axially downwardly at the same time.
A security closure for a container comprising a screw cap member having generally cylindrical side walls and a cover member surrounding the cap, said screw cap having a band of knurling extending circumferentially around the side walls of the cap member, said band of knurling on the cap member comprising parallel ridges and grooves extending diagonally thereon, said cover member having a band of inwardly extending protrusions for engaging the knurling of said cap member, said band of inward protrusions on said cover member is complementary to the ridges and grooves of the knurling on said cap member, said cover member being movable axially from a non-secured position to a secured position, said band of inward protrusions being axially translated and disengaged from the band of knurling when the cover member is moved axially to the secured position whereby the cover member will rotate freely with respect to the cap member, said band of ridges and grooves being operable by cam action when said cover member is rotated about said cap member to move the cover member into the secured position wherein the band of protrusions is disengaged from the band of knurling, and wherein a simultaneous axial force and rotational force must be applied to the cover member to counteract the cam action and to unscrew the cap member from the container.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
223 words
A security closure for a container comprising a screw cap member having generally cylindrical side walls and a cover member surrounding the cap, said screw cap having a band of knurling extending circumferentially around the side walls of the cap member, said band of knurling on the cap member comprising parallel ridges and grooves extending diagonally thereon, said cover member having a band of inwardly extending protrusions for engaging the knurling of said cap member, said band of inward protrusions on said cover member is complementary to the ridges and grooves of the knurling on said cap member, said cover member being movable axially from a non-secured position to a secured position, said band of inward protrusions being axially translated and disengaged from the band of knurling when the cover member is moved axially to the secured position whereby the cover member will rotate freely with respect to the cap member, said band of ridges and grooves being operable by cam action when said cover member is rotated about said cap member to move the cover member into the secured position wherein the band of protrusions is disengaged from the band of knurling, and wherein a simultaneous axial force and rotational force must be applied to the cover member to counteract the cam action and to unscrew the cap member from the container.