US3735887A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Safety cap for medicine containers and the like
Assignee: Graham Packaging Plastic Products Inc
•
Filing: 1972-03-14
•
Granted: 1973-05-29
•
Expires: 1992-03-14
Abstract
Abstract A safety cap for protecting children from contact with the contents of medicine bottles or containers of poison features a screw-threaded cap on the neck of a bottle or container which cannot be completely removed until an associated plunger is depressed to cause releasing of a locking means in the neck of the bottle or other container.
Inventors
- 👤 G H Chattanooga Morris
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 10:34
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D50/00; B65D50/02; B65D50/04; B65D50/045; B65D50/046
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
126 words
A safety closure for medicine containers and the like comprising a screw-threaded closure cap engageable with external threads on a container, said container having internal locking projections, a reciprocatory locking plunger unit for the safety closure movable axially relative to said closure cap but held against rotation relative thereto, said plunger unit having a manually depressable part at the top of the cap and having a rigid locking part at the bottom of the plunger unit entering the container, said rigid locking part adapted to interlock with said internal projections of the container to resist rotation of the closure cap and plunger unit relative to the container, and a spring engaging the plunger unit and holding it in an undepressed position relative to said closure cap.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
126 words
A safety closure for medicine containers and the like comprising a screw-threaded closure cap engageable with external threads on a container, said container having internal locking projections, a reciprocatory locking plunger unit for the safety closure movable axially relative to said closure cap but held against rotation relative thereto, said plunger unit having a manually depressable part at the top of the cap and having a rigid locking part at the bottom of the plunger unit entering the container, said rigid locking part adapted to interlock with said internal projections of the container to resist rotation of the closure cap and plunger unit relative to the container, and a spring engaging the plunger unit and holding it in an undepressed position relative to said closure cap.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
The structure of claim 1, and a first means locking said plunger unit against rotation relative to the closure cap, and a second means on said plunger unit engageable with said internal locking projections and locking the plunger unit against rotation relative to said container.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
67 words
The structure of claim 2, and said first means comprising a disc on the plunger unit movable therewith and having splined engagement with an interior part of the closure cap, and the second means comprising a transverse member on the lower end of the plunger unit and extending into the neck of the container and being rotatable and axially movable therein when disengaged from said internal projections.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
74 words
The structure of claim 3, and said closure cap including an elevated crown portion above the mouth of said container forming a housing for said disc and said spring, said spring bearing on the bottom of said disc and urging said plunger unit outWardly relative to the container mouth, said crown portion having an opening rendering the top of the plunger unit accessible for manually depressing said unit against the force of said spring.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
83 words
The structure of claim 4, and a cup element in the interior of said crown portion and secured therein against rotation and having a splined bore slidably receiving the splined disc for axial movement, the cup element having a bottom wall forming a support for one end of said spring, and a seal carried by the plunger unit and having sealing engagement with said bottom wall when the plunger unit is in its normal outward position under the biasing influence of said spring.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
97 words
The structure of claim 2, and said first means comprising an internal transverse member locked to said closure cap and held against rotation relative to the cap and slidably engaging the plunger unit to allow axial reciprocation thereof while locking the plunger unit against rotation relative to the closure cap, said second means comprising another member on the lower end of the plunger unit extending transversely thereof and being disposed in the neck of the container and being rotatable therein with said cap when released from engagement with said internal projections by depression of said plunger unit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
85 words
The structure of claim 6, and said internal transverse member locked to said closure cap comprising a disc seated in an internal groove of the closure cap and held against rotation in said groove, said disc having an opening with at least one straight edge portion, and the plunger unit including a shaft member received slidably by said disc opening and having the same cross sectional shape as the disc opening, whereby the shaft member is movable axially in said opening but is non-rotatable therein.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
88 words
The structure of claim 7, and a push button element on the top end of said shaft member engageable manually for depressing said plunger unit, said closure cap having a top opening adjacent the push button element, and a compression spring mounted inside of the closure cap between the push button element and said disc, said spring serving to maintain said another member on the lower end of the plunger unit in interlocking engagement with said internal projections but releasable therefrom by manual depression of the plunger unit.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
The structure of claim 6, and said second means comprising a toothed disc on the lower end of the plunger unit and the teeth of said disc having circumferential interfitting engagement with said internal projections of the container.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
The structure of claim 9, and said internal projections comprising a plurality of circumferentially equidistantly spaced teeth-like projections in the bore of the container neck substantially at the mouth of said neck.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
The structure of claim 8, and said push button element comprising a depressed concave plate element having a conical periphery, said cap having a conical bore portion opening through its top and forming a seat for said push button element.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
The structure of claim 1, and said closure cap having an annular lateral shoulder above the screw-threads of the cap adapted to abut the open end of the container when the cap is completely engaged therewith.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
68 words
The structure of claim 2, and said first means comprising a disc on the plunger unit movable therewith and having axial moving engagement with an interior part of the closure cap, and the second means comprising a transverse member on the lower end of the plunger unit and extending into the neck of the container and being rotatable and axially movable therein when disengaged from said internal projections.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
49 words
The structure of claim 13, and said closure cap including an elevated crown portion above the mouth of said container forming a housing for said disc and said spring, said spring bearing on the bottom of said disc and urging said plunger unit outwardly relative to the container mouth.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
82 words
The structure of claim 14, and a cup element in the interioR of said crown portion and secured therein against rotation and having a splined bore slidably receiving the disc for axial movement, the cup element having a bottom wall forming a support for one end of said spring, and a seal carried by the plunger unit and having sealing engagement with said bottom wall when the plunger unit is in its normal outward position under the biasing influence of said spring.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-05-28 | 1976-11-27 | 1977-05-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-05-28 | 1980-11-27 | 1981-05-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-05-28 | 1984-11-27 | 1985-05-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |