Reusable tamperproof cap for aerosol dispensing containers

Claim 2

For use on a container having dispensing or spray means positioned in a cylindrical well maintained in the top of the container, the well having an annular crown rising aBove the top of the container, a vertical wall and first interlocking means in its interior located in the vertical wall, a re-usable tamperproof cap formed of resilient plastic adapted to be pried from the container by a suitable prying tool, comprising: a generally cylindrical body having an upper closed d intergral therewith, the external diameter of said body being substantially smaller than the diameter of said body being adapted to cover the spray means and protect same; an annular rim having an external diameter sufficiently large to close off a substantial portion of the entrance to the well and having a portion of its circumference cut away; annular skirt means attached to said annular rim and adapted to be wedged tightly within the well; second interlocking means on said skirt means adapted to engage the first interlocking means in the vertical wall of the well whereby the cap may be rendered tamperproof; and the cut away portion of the circumference of the annular rim providing tool access means, for said prying tool and being adapted to permit the prying tool to be inserted vertically downwardly into the well between the said vertical wall of the well and cap whereby the exertion of a prying force on the prying tool rotating from a vertical to a horizontal disposition causes said second interlocking means to disengage from the first interlocking means in the well and effects the removal of the cap from the container.

Claim 3

A re-usable tamperproof cap, as claimed in claim 1, comprising a generally horizontal annular rim attached to and extending generally radially from the exterior surface of said body and an annular skirt attached to the underside of said rim and depending therefrom into the well when the cap is in its tamperproof position.

Claim 4

A re-usable tamperproof cap, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the external diameter of said annular rim is greater than the diameter of the well and said skirt is positioned on the underside of said rim radially inwardly of its outer edge, said rim being adapted to seat upon the upper edge of said vertical wall and to close off substantially the entire entrance to the well; and said tool access means comprise a vertical access opening formed in said skirt means that extends inwardly from the outer edge of said annular rim to a point radially inward of the said vertical wall of the well and extends downwardly from the upper surface of the rim past the upper edge of the said vertical wall and into said skirt.

Claim 5

A re-usable tamperproof cap, as claimed in claim 3, wherein said body extends downwardly past the rim substantially to the bottom of the well and has a slot formed therein aligned with the vertical access opening in the skirt means whereby a prying tool inserted through said vertical access opening may be extended through said slot and into the interior of the cap as a prying force is exerted on the prying tool.

Claim 6

A re-usable tamperproof cap as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said first interlocking means comprise an annular groove in said vertical wall; and said second interlocking means comprise an annular bead on the outside of the lower portion of said skirt, said bead being positioned so as to fit into the groove when the cap is in its tamperproof position; and said vertical access opening extends downwardly in the skirt to a point adjacent to the top of said bead.

Claim 7

A re-usable tamperproof cap, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said tool access means comprises a bevelled surface on the upper portion of said annular rim and skirt, said bevelled surface extending outwardly and downwardly from a line in the top of said rim and skirt adjacent the body to the vertical exterior surface of said skirt along a line below the top of the wall of the well, whereby said bevelled surface guides and provides an entrance for the insertion of the prying tool into the vertical, annular space between the said vertical wall of the well and the exterior surface of said skirt.

Claim 8

A re-usable, tamperproof cap, as claimed in claim 6, wherein: said annular rim is attached to and extends generally radially from the exterior surface of said body and said annular skirt is attached to the underside of said rim and depends therefrom into the well when the cap is in its tamperproof position; and said bevelled surface extends from the body adjacent the point of attachment of the rim to the body downwardly and outwardly to the outside of the skirt, passing adjacent the innermost point of attachment of the skirt to the rim.

Claim 9

A re-usable tamperproof cap, as claimed in claim 7, wherein said bevelled surface comprises a narrow transverse thinned part along the innermost point of attachment of the skirt to the rim, whereby the portion of the skirt adjacent the prying tool may be deflected easily by the exertion of a prying force on the prying tool in order to remove the cap from the container.

Claim 10

A re-usable tamperproof cap, as claimed in claim 7, wherein: said first interlocking means comprise an annular receiving groove formed in the interior of the well its vertical wall; and said second interlocking means comprise an annular bead attached to the exterior surface of said depending skirt below the point of intersection of said bevelled surface therewith, said annular bead extending generally radially from the exterior surface of said skirt and being adapted to snap into the receiving groove in the well, whereby the cap may be rendered tamperproof.

Claim 11

For use on a container having spray or dispensing means positioned in a cylindrical well maintained in the top of the container, the well having an annular crown rising above the top of the container and a circular, radially outwardly extending receiving groove in the interior of the well located in its vertical wall adjacent its bottom a re-usable tamperproof cap, formed of resilient plastic, adapted to be pried from its tamperproof position on the container by suitable prying means, the cap comprising: a generally cylindrical body, having an upper closed end integral therewith, the external diameter of said body being substantially smaller than the diameter of the well, said body being adapted to fit over the spray means positioned in the well to cover and protect same when the cap is in its tamperproof position; an annular rim having an external diameter substantially larger than the diameter of the well, said rim being adapted to seat upon the annular crown of the well when the cap is in its tamperproof position and to close off a substantial portion of the entrance to the well and having a portion of its circumference cut away to provide an entrance for suitable prying means to be inserted into the well; a generally cylindrical, vertically depending skirt attached to the underside of said rim adjacent its outer edge, said skirt having an outer diameter slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the well and being adapted to fit tightly within the well when the cap is in its tamperproof position, said skirt surrounding, but spaced from the portion of said body below said rim and having a bevelled surface beneath the cut-away portion of said rim, said bevelled surface extending from a line in the top of said skirt adjacent its point of attachment to said rim generally outwardly and downwardly so as to intersect the vertical exterior surface of said skirt at a line below the crown of the well when the cap is in its tamperproof position, said bevelled surface being adapted to provide a guide and entrance for the insertion of prying means into the well; an annular bead, connected to the exterior surface of said skirt below the intersection of said bevelled surface therewith extending generally radially outwardly therefrom, said bead being adapted to snap into the receiving groove in the interior of the well whereby the cap is in a tamperproof relationship with the container; and wherein the cut-away portion of said annular rim and said bevelled surface are adapted to permit suitable prying means to be wedged into the axial annular space between the prying means to be wedged into the axial annular space between the vertical wall of the well and the exterior surface of said cylindrical skirt positioned within the well whereby the pivotal rotation of the prying means about the crown as a fulcrum temporarily deforms said skirt in the direction of the axis of the cap and causes said annular bead to be pulled from the receiving groove in the well to permit removal of the cap from its tamperproof position and permit its separation from the container.

Claim 12

For use on a container having spray or dispensing means positioned in a cylindrical well maintained in the top of the container, the well having an annular crown rising above the top of the container and a circular, radially outwardly extending receiving groove in the interior of the well located in its vertical wall adjacent its bottom a re-usable tamperproof cap, formed of resilient plastic, adapted to be pried from its tamperproof position on the container by suitable prying means, the cap comprising: a generally cylindrical body, having an upper closed end integral therewith, the external diameter of said body being substantially smaller than the diameter of the well, said body being adapted to fit over the spray means positioned in the well to cover and protect same when the cap is in its tamperproof position; an annular rim having an external diameter substantially larger than the diameter of the well, said rim being adapted to seat upon the annular crown of the well when the cap is in its tamperproof position and to close off a substantial portion of the entrance to the well and having a portion of its circumference cut away to provide an entrance for suitable prying means to be inserted into the well; a generally cylindrical, vertically depending skirt attached to the underside of said rim adjacent its outer edge, said skirt having an outer diameter slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the well and being adapted to fit tightly within the well when the cap is in its tamperproof position, said skirt surrounding, but spaced from the portion of said body below said rim and having a bevelled surface beneath the cut-away portion of said rim, said bevelled surface extending from a line in the top of said skirt adjacent its point of attachment to said rim generally outwardly and downwardly so as to intersect the vertical exterior surface of said skirt at a line below the crown of the well when the cap is in its tamperproof position, said bevelled surface being adapted to provide a guide and entrance for the insertion of prying means into the well; an annular bead, connected to the exterior surface of said skirt below the intersection of said bevelled surface therewith extending generally radially outwardly therefrom, said bead being adapted to snap into the receiving groove in the interior of the well whereby the cap is in a tamperproof relationship with the container; and wherein the cut-away portion of said annular rim and said bevelled surface are adapted to permit suitable prying means to be wedged into the axial annular space between the prying means to be wedged into the axial annular space between the vertical wall of the well and the exterior surface of said cylindrical skirt positioned within the well whereby the pivotal rotation of the prying means about the crown as a fulcrum temporarily deforms said skirt in the direction of the axis of the cap and causes said annular bead to be pulled from the receiving groove in the well to permit removal of the cap from its tamperproof position and permit its separation from the container.

Claim 13

A re-usable tamperproof cap as claimed in claim 10 wherein said cap is formed of resilient polyethylene.

Claim 14

A re-usable tamperproof cap for a container wherein a spray or dispensing nozzle is mounted in an annular well in the top of the container with said well having a circular upper edge comprising an annular crown, said cap comprising: an inverted cup-shaped body that covers the spray nozzle and fits within the annular crown; an annular rim attached to the body that extends outwardly therefrom and having an external diameter sufficiently large to close off a substantial portion of the entrance to the well, said rim having a portion of its circumference cut away to form a vertical opening therein that extends from the outer edge of the rim to a point inward of the annular crown, such that a prying tool may be inserted vertically downwardly into the well through said opening between said point and the annular crown; an annular skirt having an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the annular crown, said skirt being attached to the rim so as to extend downwardly into the well; and interlocking means attached to the portion of the skirt that extends into the well, said means being adapted resiliently to hold the cap in the well when the skirt is extended into the well, said interlocking means being further adapted to release the cap from the container whenever a prying tool is inserted into the well through the vertical opening in the rim and a prying force is exerted on the prying tool using the annular crown as a fulcrum.

Claim 15

A re-usable tamperproof cap for a container wherein a spray or dispensing nozzle is mounted in an annular well in the top of the container with said well having a circular upper edge comprising an annular crown, said cap comprising: an inverted cup-shaped body that covers the spray nozzle and fits within the annular crown; an annular rim attached to the body that extends outwardly therefrom and having an external diameter sufficiently large to close off a substantial portion of the entrance to the well, said rim having a portion of its circumference cut away to form a vertical opening therein that extends from the outer edge of the rim to a point inward of the annular crown, such that a prying tool may be inserted vertically downwardly into the well through said opening between said point and the annular crown; an annular skirt having an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the annular crown, said skirt being attached to the rim so as to extend downwardly into the well; and interlocking means attached to the portion of the skirt that extends into the well, said means being adapted resiliently to hold the cap in the well when the skirt is extended into the well, said interlocking means being further adapted to release the cap from the container whenever a prying tool is inserted into the well through the vertical opening in the rim and a prying force is exerted on the prying tool using the annular crown as a fulcrum.

Claim 16

A re-usable tamperproof cap, as claimed in claim 12, wherein: an opening is formed in the skirt immediately below the opening in the rim, said opening extending downwardly from the rim to a point adjacent the interlocking means; and said body extends downwardly past the rim substantially to the bottom of the well when the cap is in its tamperproof position, said body having a slot formed therein aligned with the openings in the rim and the skirt, with said slot extending upwardly from the bottom of the body to the rim, whereby a prying tool inserted through the opening in the rim will extend through said slot into the interior of the cap as the prying tool is fulcrummed on the annular crown.

Claim 17

A re-usable tamperproof cap, as claimed in claim 13, wherein: said rim extends beyond the inner edge of the annular crown, such that the opening in the rim is the only means by which a tool may be inserted downwardly into the well; and said interlocking means comprise an annular groove in the well below the annular crown and an annular bead on the outside of the lower edge of the skirt, said bead being formed so as to fit into said groove when the cap is in its tamperproof position.

Claim 18

A re-usable tamperproof cap for a container wherein a dispensing mechanism is surrounded by an annular crown, said cap comprising: a body that covers the dispensing mechanism; an annular rim attached to the body that extends radially outwardly therefrom so as to cover the annular crown and having an external diameter sufficiently large to close off a substantial portion of the entrance to the well and having a portion of its circumference cut away; an annular skirt having a smaller diameter than the annular crown, said skirt being attached to the underside of the rim and extending downwardly therefrom past the annular crown; interlocking means attached to the skirt below the annular crown, said means being adapted resiliently to hold the cap on the top of the container; and the cut away portion of the circumference of the annular rim providing a vertical tool access opening in the top of the rim, said opening being sufficiently large to permit the entry of prying tool downwardly through said opening adjacent the inner wall of the annular crown, whereby the cap may be removed by exerting a prying force on the prying tool, using the annular crown as a fulcrum for the application of this force.

Claim 19

A re-usable tamperproof cap for a container wherein a dispensing mechanism is surrounded by an annular crown, said cap comprising: a body that covers the dispensing mechanism; an annular rim attached to the body that extends radially outwardly therefrom so as to cover the annular crown and having an external diameter sufficiently large to close off a substantial portion of the entrance to the well and having a portion of its circumference cut away; an annular skirt having a smaller diameter than the annular crown, said skirt being attached to the underside of the rim and extending downwardly therefrom past the annular crown; interlocking means attached to the skirt below the annular crown, said means being adapted resiliently to hold the cap on the top of the container; and the cut away portion of the circumference of the annular rim providing a vertical tool access opening in the top of the rim, said opening being sufficiently large to permit the entry of prying tool downwardly through said opening adjacent the inner wall of the annular crown, whereby the cap may be removed by exerting a prying force on the prying tool, using the annular crown as a fulcrum for the application of this force.

Claim 20

A re-usable tamperproof cap for an aerosol container wherein a spray nozzle is mounted in a recessed well in the top of the container, with the well having a circular upper edge comprising annular crown and with the well comprising an annular groove below the annular crown, said cap being formed of a resilient plastic and comprising: a generally cylindrical body, having a closed upper end integral therewith, the external diameter of said body being smaller than the diameter of the well, said body being adapted to fit over the spray nozzle and extend downwardly substantially to the bottom of the well when the cap is in its tamperproof position; an annular rim having an external diameter larger than the internal diameter of the annular crown, said rim being attached to said body at a position such that the rim seats upon the annular crown of the well when the cap is in its tamperproof position thereby closing off the interior of the well, said rim further comprising vertical opening therein that extends from the outer edge of the rim inwardly to a point sufficiently inward of the annular crown to permit the insertion of a prying tool vertically downwardly into the well through said opening a generally cylindrical, vertically depending skirt attached to the underside of said rim adjacent its outer edge, said skirt having an outer diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the well such that the skirt fits tightly within the well when the cap is in its tamperproof position and said skirt having an inner diameter such that said skirt surrounds but is spaced from the portion of said body below said rim, said skirt further comprising an opening therein beneath the opening in the rim, said opening extending downwardly from the rim to a lower portion of the skirt; an annular bead connected to the exterior surface of the lower portion of said skirt, said bead being positioned such that the bead fits into the groove in the well when the cap is in its tamperproof position; and the portion of said body extending into the well comprises a slot formed therein aligned with the openings in the rim and skirt, said slot extending from the bottom of the body upwardly to the rim and being adapted to permit a prying tool inserted into said opening in said rim to be extended through said slot and into the interior of the cap as a prying force is exerted on the prying tool.

Claim 21

A re-usable tamperproof cap for an aerosol container wherein a spray nozzle is mounted in a recessed well in the top of the container, with the well having a circular upper edge comprising annular crown and with the well comprising an annular groove below the annular crown, said cap being formed of a resilient plastic and comprising: a generally cylindrical body, having a closed upper end integral therewith, the external diameter of said body being smaller than the diameter of the well, said body being adapted to fit over the spray nozzle and extend downwardly substantially to the bottom of the well when the cap is in its tamperproof position; an annular rim having an external diameter larger than the internal diameter of the annular crown, said rim being attached to said body at a position such that the rim seats upon the annular crown of the well when the cap is in its tamperproof position thereby closing off the interior of the well, said rim further comprising vertical opening therein that extends from the outer edge of the rim inwardly to a point sufficiently inward of the annular crown to permit the insertion of a prying tool vertically downwardly into the well through said opening a generally cylindrical, vertically depending skirt attached to the underside of said rim adjacent its outer edge, said skirt having an outer diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the well such that the skirt fits tightly within the well when the cap is in its tamperproof position and said skirt having an inner diameter such that said skirt surrounds but is spaced from the portion of said body below said rim, said skirt further comprising an opening therein beneath the opening in the rim, said opening extending downwardly from the rim to a lower portion of the skirt; an annular bead connected to the exterior surface of the lower portion of said skirt, said bead being positioned such that the bead fits into the groove in the well when the cap is in its tamperproof position; and the portion of said body extending into the well comprises a slot formed therein aligned with the openings in the rim and skirt, said slot extending from the bottom of the body upwardly to the rim and being adapted to permit a prying tool inserted into said opening in said rim to be extended through said slot and into the interior of the cap as a prying force is exerted on the prying tool.

Claim 22

A re-usable tamperproof cap or aerosol container wherein a spray nozzle is mounted in a recessed well in the top of the container, with the well having a circular upper edge comprising an annular crown and with the well comprising an annular groove below the annular crown, said cap being formed of a resilient plastic and comprising: a generally cylindrical body, having a closed upper end integral therewith, the external diameter of said body being smaller than the diameter of the well, said body being adapted to fit over the spray nozzle and extend downwardly substantially to the bottom of the well when the cap is in its tamperproof position; an annular rim having an external diameter larger than the internal diameter of the annular crown, said rim being attached to said body at a position such that the rim seats upon the annular crown of the well when the cap is in its tamperproof position thereby closing off the interioR of the well, said rim further comprising a vertical opening therein that extends from the outer edge of the rim inwardly to a point sufficiently inward of the annular crown to permit the insertion of a prying tool vertically downwardly into the well through said opening; a generally cylindrical, vertically depending skirt attached to the underside of said rim adjacent its outer edge, said skirt having an outer diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the well such that the skirt fits tightly within the well when the cap is in its tamperproof position and said skirt having an inner diameter such that said skirt surrounds but is spaced from the portion of said body below said rim, an annular bead connected to the exterior surface of the lower portion of said skirt, said bead being positioned such that the bead fits in the groove in the well when the cap is in its tamperproof position, said skirt further comprising an opening therein beneath the opening in the aligned therewith, said opening extending downwardly from the rim to a lower portion of the skirt and being adapted to permit a prying tool to be inserted into said vertical opening in said rim and said opening in said skirt.

Claim 23

A re-usable tamperproof cap or aerosol container wherein a spray nozzle is mounted in a recessed well in the top of the container, with the well having a circular upper edge comprising an annular crown and with the well comprising an annular groove below the annular crown, said cap being formed of a resilient plastic and comprising: a generally cylindrical body, having a closed upper end integral therewith, the external diameter of said body being smaller than the diameter of the well, said body being adapted to fit over the spray nozzle and extend downwardly substantially to the bottom of the well when the cap is in its tamperproof position; an annular rim having an external diameter larger than the internal diameter of the annular crown, said rim being attached to said body at a position such that the rim seats upon the annular crown of the well when the cap is in its tamperproof position thereby closing off the interioR of the well, said rim further comprising a vertical opening therein that extends from the outer edge of the rim inwardly to a point sufficiently inward of the annular crown to permit the insertion of a prying tool vertically downwardly into the well through said opening; a generally cylindrical, vertically depending skirt attached to the underside of said rim adjacent its outer edge, said skirt having an outer diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the well such that the skirt fits tightly within the well when the cap is in its tamperproof position and said skirt having an inner diameter such that said skirt surrounds but is spaced from the portion of said body below said rim, an annular bead connected to the exterior surface of the lower portion of said skirt, said bead being positioned such that the bead fits in the groove in the well when the cap is in its tamperproof position, said skirt further comprising an opening therein beneath the opening in the aligned therewith, said opening extending downwardly from the rim to a lower portion of the skirt and being adapted to permit a prying tool to be inserted into said vertical opening in said rim and said opening in said skirt.