Safety closure for vials

Claim 2

In a safety closure for a mouth on a container, the combination comprising: a cap adapted to be mounted on the mouth, said cap having a top portion and an annular side portion depending therefrom, said side portion having an outer peripheral recess and an opening extending through said side portion in register with said recess; and latch means for latching said cap to said mouth, said latch means comprising an arcuate member encircling said side portion and having a projection in register with said cap opening, said arcuate member further having end portions adjacent one another, and cooperating latch elements on said end portions, said arcuate member being movable between a latched position, in which said latch elements are releasably secured together causing said projection to extend through said opening and cooperate with the container mouth to prevent removal of the cap, and an unlatched position, in which said latch elements are released and said projection is adapted to be moved out of said opening.

Claim 3

In a releasable safety closure for a tubular mouth on a container or the like in which the mouth has an outer peripheral rim, the combination comprising; a cap adapted to be mounted on the mouth, said cap having a top portion and an annular side portion depending therefrom, said side portion having an opening extending therethrough and a first latch element adjacent said opening; and latch means for latching said cap to said mouth, said latch means comprising an arcuate member mountable in said opening and having a projection, said arcuate member having one end pivotally connecteD to said cap and a second latch element on its opposite end, said arcuate member being movable between a latched position, in which said first and second latch elements are releasably secured together causing said projection to extend through said opening and cooperate with the container mouth to prevent removal of the cap, and an unlatched position, in which said latch elements are released and said projection is adapted to be moved out of said opening.

Claim 4

In a releasable safety closure for a tubular mouth on a container or the like in which the mouth has an outer peripheral rim, the combination comprising; a cap adapted to be mounted on the mouth, said cap having a top portion and an annular side portion depending therefrom, said side portion having an opening extending therethrough and a first latch element adjacent said opening; and latch means for latching said cap to said mouth, said latch means comprising an arcuate member mountable in said opening and having a projection, said arcuate member having one end pivotally connecteD to said cap and a second latch element on its opposite end, said arcuate member being movable between a latched position, in which said first and second latch elements are releasably secured together causing said projection to extend through said opening and cooperate with the container mouth to prevent removal of the cap, and an unlatched position, in which said latch elements are released and said projection is adapted to be moved out of said opening.

Claim 5

In a releasable safety closure for a tubular mouth on a container or the like in which the mouth has an outer peripheral rim having a plurality of first radially extending spaced projections defining first recesses therebetween, and further has a threaded portion, the combination comprising: a cup-shaped cap adapted to be mounted on the mouth over the rim thereof and having a thread engageable with said threaded portion on the mouth, said cap having an opening extending therethrough, and a plurality of second radially extending spaced projections adapted to pass through said first recesses, said second projections defining second recesses therebetween through which said first projections are adapted to pass; and latch means for said cap having a third projection in register with said cap opening, said latch means being movable between a latched position, in which said third projection is locked in a position extending through said opening beneath and in alignment with the rim to prevent removal of the closure from the mouth, and in unlatched position, in which said third projection is unlocked and may be moved radially outwardly to permit removal of the closure from the mouth.

Claim 6

In a releasable safety closure for a tubular mouth on a container or the like in which the mouth has an outer peripheral rim having a plurality of first radially extending spaced projections defining first recesses therebetween, and further has a threaded portion, the combination comprising: a cup-shaped cap adapted to be mounted on the mouth over the rim thereof and having a thread engageable with said threaded portion on the mouth, said cap having an opening extending therethrough, and a plurality of second radially extending spaced projections adapted to pass through said first recesses, said second projections defining second recesses therebetween through which said first projections are adapted to pass; and latch means for said cap having a third projection in register with said cap opening, said latch means being movable between a latched position, in which said third projection is locked in a position extending through said opening beneath and in alignment with the rim to prevent removal of the closure from the mouth, and in unlatched position, in which said third projection is unlocked and may be moved radially outwardly to permit removal of the closure from the mouth.

Claim 7

The invention according to claim 1 wherein said latch elements comprises a tooth on one of said end portions engageable with a tooth on the other of said end portions.

Claim 8

The invention according to claim 1 wherein said recess has a depth substantially equal to the thickness of said side portion has a peripheral recess in which said arcuate member is mounted, and said arcuate member.

Claim 9

The invention according to claim 2 wherein said latch elements comprises a tooth on one of said end portions engageable with a tooth on the other of said end portions.

Claim 10

The invention according to claim 3 wherein said third projection in said latched position of said latch means is adjacent one of said second projections, and said second and third projections are unable to pass through any of said first recesses whereby said cap cannot be removed from the mouth.

Claim 11

The invention according to claim 3 wherein said cap has a top and an annular side portion depending therefrom having a peripheral recess and an opening extending through said side portion in register with said recess, said latch means comprises an arcuate member mountable in said recess with said third projection radially extending therefrom.

Claim 12

The invention according to claim 8 wherein said third projection in said latched position of said latch means is adjacent one of said second projections, and said second and third projections are unable to pass through any of said third recesses whereby said cap cannot be removed from the mouth.