US3733001A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Child-proof container and closure unit
Assignee: Silgan Plastic Food Containers Corp
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Filing: 1972-04-05
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Granted: 1973-05-15
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Expires: 1992-04-05
Abstract
Abstract An improved container and child-proof closure therefor. The container has a neck surrounding an opening. At least two flanges project from the neck. Each flange has a spirally expanding first camming surface and a downwardly directed helical second camming surface which terminates at an inwardly directed end surface. The closure comprises outer and inner members. The outer member includes lugs for engaging the second camming surface as the cap is rotated on the container neck to a locked position for holding the closure on the neck. The inner member includes resilient means which ride over the first camming surfaces and abut the flange end when the closure is rotated to the locked position to prevent removal of the closure. Movement of the inner closure member against spring means within the outer closure member permits the closure to be rotated from the locked position for removal from the container. In one embodiment, means is provided for further tightening the closure on the container after it is in the locked position.
Inventors
- 👤 P Gach
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 09:08
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D41/00; B65D41/02; B65D41/04; B65D41/06; B65D50/00; B65D50/02; B65D50/04; B65D50/045; B65D50/046
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
356 words
A child-proof container and closure unit comprising, in combination, a container including a body having a neck defining a container opening, at least two flanges projecting from said neck, said flanges each having a spirally expanding outer edge defining a first camming surface, a helical lower edge defining a second camming surface and an inwardly directed end extending between said first and second camming surfaces and said neck, and a closure unit comprising inner and outer members, said outer member having a generally tubular shape and an internal cross-web defining an upper cavity adapted to receive said inner member and a lower cavity adapted to receive said bottle neck, means retaining said inner member in said upper cavity for axial movement between first and second positions, biasing means for urging said inner member to said first position, said inner member having at least two resilient arms which project through openings in said cross-web for receiving said bottle neck and said flanges therebetween, said arms having first lugs for engaging said first camming surfaces when said inner member is in said first position for deflecting said resilient arms outwardly as said closure unit is rotated on said bottle neck toward a locked position, each of said resilient arms moving past said flange end and having inwardly as said closure unit is rotated on said bottle neck to the locked position whereby said first lugs abut said flange ends to prevent rotation of said closure unit in an opposite direction, said first lugs on said arms being moved below said flanges when said inner member is moved to said second position, and at least two second lugs on said outer member projecting inwardly into said lower cavity, said second lugs being positioned to receive said container neck therebetween and to engage said second camming surfaces when said closure unit is rotated on said container neck to the locked position for camming said closure unit to a position closing the container opening, whereby said closure unit can be rotated from the locked position for removal from said container neck only when said inner member is in said second position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
356 words
A child-proof container and closure unit comprising, in combination, a container including a body having a neck defining a container opening, at least two flanges projecting from said neck, said flanges each having a spirally expanding outer edge defining a first camming surface, a helical lower edge defining a second camming surface and an inwardly directed end extending between said first and second camming surfaces and said neck, and a closure unit comprising inner and outer members, said outer member having a generally tubular shape and an internal cross-web defining an upper cavity adapted to receive said inner member and a lower cavity adapted to receive said bottle neck, means retaining said inner member in said upper cavity for axial movement between first and second positions, biasing means for urging said inner member to said first position, said inner member having at least two resilient arms which project through openings in said cross-web for receiving said bottle neck and said flanges therebetween, said arms having first lugs for engaging said first camming surfaces when said inner member is in said first position for deflecting said resilient arms outwardly as said closure unit is rotated on said bottle neck toward a locked position, each of said resilient arms moving past said flange end and having inwardly as said closure unit is rotated on said bottle neck to the locked position whereby said first lugs abut said flange ends to prevent rotation of said closure unit in an opposite direction, said first lugs on said arms being moved below said flanges when said inner member is moved to said second position, and at least two second lugs on said outer member projecting inwardly into said lower cavity, said second lugs being positioned to receive said container neck therebetween and to engage said second camming surfaces when said closure unit is rotated on said container neck to the locked position for camming said closure unit to a position closing the container opening, whereby said closure unit can be rotated from the locked position for removal from said container neck only when said inner member is in said second position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
82 words
A child-proof container and closure unit, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said means retaining said inner member in said upper cavity comprises a plurality of downwardly facing steps in the interior wall of said outer member, one of said steps being adjacent each arm receiving opening in said cross-web, and a catch on each of said arms, said catches engaging said steps when said inner member is in said first position to reTain said inner member in said upper cavity.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
88 words
A child-proof container and closure unit, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said biasing means comprises a plurality of downwardly directed resilient tabs on said inner member, and a like plurality of ramps formed in said upper cavity of said outer member, said tabs abutting said ramps when said inner member is in the first position and said ramps deflecting said resilient tabs as said inner member is moved to the second position whereby the resiliency of said tabs urges said inner member to the first position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
A child-proof container and closure unit, as set forth in claim 1, and including a gasket attached to said cross-web in said lower cavity, said gasket closing the container opening when said closure unit is in the locked position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
A child-proof container and closure unit, as set forth in claim 1, and including means on said container neck for limiting the maximum rotation of said closure unit on said container neck.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
A child-proof container and closure unit, as set forth in claim 5, wherein said rotation limiting means comprises a stop formed on said container neck, said stop abutting one of said second lugs when said closure unit is in the locked position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
106 words
A child-proof container and closure unit, as set forth in claim 1, and including at least two additional downwardly facing surfaces on said container neck with one of said additional surfaces adjacent the end of each flange for engaging an upwardly facing surface on each of said first lugs when said closure unit is in the locked position, and means for preventing slippage between said additional surfaces and said first lugs whereby said closure unit may be rotated for tightening while in the locked position and, when said closure unit is tightened, said first lugs engage said additional surfaces to prevent loosening of said closure unit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
A child-proof container and closure unit, as set forth in claim 7, and including a gasket attached to said cross-web in said lower cavity, said gasket sealing the container opening when said closure unit is tightened.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3604582A
Cited
US3648872A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-05-14 | 1976-11-13 | 1977-05-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-05-14 | 1980-11-13 | 1981-05-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-05-14 | 1984-11-13 | 1985-05-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |