Liquid proof safety package

Claim 2

A safety closure and container assembly comprising: a container having a mouth portion with a plurality of container locking elements spaced peripherally from each other on the outer surface of said mouth portion; a cap having an end wall with a skirt projecting therefrom and a plurality of cap locking elements on said skirt; said cap locking elemnts being engageable with and disengageable from said container locking elemnts by an axial motion followed successively by a rotative motion of said cap relative to said container; means biasing said cap against axial movement from locked engagement with said container comprising a one piece plastic body having a bell shaped plunger portion overlying the mouth of said container and an annular sealing portion engaging said mouth portion, said plunger portion including a base portion engaging the end wall of said cap, an annular side wall extending from said base portion and having a diameter at its end opposite said base portion that is less than the inner diameter of said sealing portion, and a resilient spring portion projecting radially outwardly from said end of said side wall opposite said base portion at an angle with respect to said side wall and extending to the inner periphery of said sealing portion such that axial movement of said plunger portion relative to said sealing portion causes flexure of said spring portion.

Claim 3

An assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cap locking elements comprises a plurality of spaced lugs projecting inwardly from the inner surface of said skirt; and wherein said container locking elements each comprises a socket member projecting from the outer surface of said mouth portion with a socket formed therein for receiving one of said lugs; saId socket member having an inclined cam surface engageable by a lug as the cap is applied to the container; and said lugs each having an inclined surface complementary with the inclined surfaces of said socket members to provide a sliding contact between the lug and socket member as the lug moves toward the socket of said socket member.

Claim 4

An assembly as claimed in claim 2 wherein each socket of said socket members includes a pair of spaced axially extending side surfaces and an end surface extending between said side surfaces, at least a portion of said end surface being inclined complementary with the inclined surfaces of said lugs.

Claim 5

An assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the end wall of said cap is resiliently yieldable upon engagement and disengagement of said cap locking elements from said container locking elements to permit said engagement and disengagement without complete flexure of said spring portion.

Claim 6

An assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said side wall increases progressively in diameter from said base portion to said spring portion.

Claim 7

An assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said spring portion is of reduced thickness with respect to said side wall.

Claim 8

An assembly as claimed in claim 6 wherein said sealing portion includes an axially extending seal projecting into the mouth of the container and engaging the inner surface of the mouth portion of the container.

Claim 9

A safety closure and container assembly comprising: a container having a mouth portion with a plurality of container locking elements spaced peripherally from each other on the outer surface of said mouth portion; a cap having an end wall with a skirt projecting therefrom and a plurality of cap locking elements on said skirt; said cap locking elements being engageable with and disengageable from said container locking elements by an axial motion followed successively by a rotative motion of said cap relative to said container; means biasing said cap against axial movement from locked engagement with said container comprising a plastic body having a plunger portion overlying the mouth of said container, and a sealing portion engaging said mouth portion, said plunger portion including a base portion engaging the end wall of said cap, and an annular side wall extending from said base portion and terminating in an outwardly extending resilient spring portion joined to the inner periphery of said sealing portion, said spring portion being of reduced thickness with respect to said side wall and including an axially extending seal projecting into the mouth of the container and engaging the inner surface of the mouth portion of the container; and further including abutment means extending between said sealing portion and the end wall of said cap operable to force said sealing portion into sealing engagement with the container upon axial movement of the cap toward the container after predetermined deflection of said spring portion.

Claim 10

A safety closure and container assembly comprising: a container having a mouth portion with a plurality of container locking elements spaced peripherally from each other on the outer surface of said mouth portion; a cap having an end wall with a skirt projecting therefrom and a plurality of cap locking elements on said skirt; said cap locking elements being engageable with and disengageable from said container locking elements by an axial motion followed successively by a rotative motion of said cap relative to said container; means biasing said cap against axial movement from locked engagement with said container comprising a plastic body having a plunger portion overlying the mouth of said container, and a sealing portion engaging said mouth portion, said plunger portion including a base portion engaging the end wall of said cap, and an annular side wall extending from said base portion and terminating in an outwardly extending resilient spring portion joined to the inner periphery of said sealing portion, said spring portion being of reduced thickness with respect to said side wall and including an axially extending seal projecting into the mouth of the container and engaging the inner surface of the mouth portion of the container; and further including abutment means extending between said sealing portion and the end wall of said cap operable to force said sealing portion into sealing engagement with the container upon axial movement of the cap toward the container after predetermined deflection of said spring portion.

Claim 11

An assembly as claimed in claim 8 wherein said abutment means comprises a cylindrical rib projecting from said sealing portion toward the end wall of said cap.

Claim 12

An assembly as claimed in claim 9 wherein said sealing portion includes a radially projecting sealing flange overlying the rim of the container.

Claim 13

An assembly as claimed in claim 10 wherein the free end of said rib is spaced from the end wall of said cap in the unstressed condition of said spring portion a distance less than the axial length of said axially extending seal from said sealing flange.

Claim 14

An assembly as claimed in claim 11 wherein the end wall of said cap is resiliently yieldable such that said radially projecting sealing flange can be seated against the container rim during engagement and disengagement of said sealing flange without engagement of the free end of said rib with the end wall of said cap.

Claim 15

An assembly as claimed in claim 11 including an axial opening in said base portion, and a stem projecting from the end wall of said cap through said opening.

Claim 16

An assembly as claimed in claim 13 including an enlarged retaining nipple formed on the end of said stem opposite said end wall for securing said plunger portion to said cap.

Claim 17

A safety closure and container assembly comprising: a container having a mouth portion with a plurality of container locking elements spaced peripherally from each other on the outer surface of said mouth portion; a cap having an end wall with a skirt projecting therefrom and a plurality of cap locking elements on said skirt; said cap locking elements being engageable with and disengageable from said container locking elements by an axial motion followed successively by a rotative motion of said cap relative to said container; a sealing member comprising a plastic body having a biasing portion and a sealing portion with an axially extending seal for sealing engagement with the inner surface of the mouth of said container; and abutment means extending between said sealing member and the end wall of said cap operable after predetermined deflection of said biasing portion upon axial movement of said cap toward said container to force said axially extending seal to project into the mouth of said container into sealing engagement therewith.

Claim 18

A safety closure and container assembly comprising: a container having a mouth portion with a plurality of container locking elements spaced peripherally from each other on the outer surface of said mouth portion; a cap having an end wall with a skirt projecting therefrom and a plurality of cap locking elements on said skirt; said cap locking elements being engageable with and disengageable from said container locking elements by an axial motion followed successively by a rotative motion of said cap relative to said container; a sealing member comprising a plastic body having a biasing portion and a sealing portion with an axially extending seal for sealing engagement with the inner surface of the mouth of said container; and abutment means extending between said sealing member and the end wall of said cap operable after predetermined deflection of said biasing portion upon axial movement of said cap toward said container to force said axially extending seal to project into the mouth of said container into sealing engagement therewith.

Claim 19

An assembly as claimed in claim 15 wherein said abutment means comprises a cylindrical rib on said sealing member projecting from said sealing portion toward the end wall of said cap.

Claim 20

An assembly as claimed in claim 16 wherein said biasing portion engages the end wall of said cap, and wherein said end wall is resiliently yieldable when the cap is pressed axially toward the container.

Claim 21

An assembly as claimed in claim 16 wherein said biasing portion overlies the mouth of said container and includes a plunger having a base portion engaging the end wall of said cap.

Claim 22

An assembly as claimed in claim 18 wherein said plunger includes an annular side wall extending from the periphery of said base portion and terminating in an outwardly extending resilient spring portion joined to the inner periphery of said sealing portion.

Claim 23

An assembly as claimed in claim 19 wherein said spring portion is of reduced thickness with respect to said side wall portion.

Claim 24

An assembly as claimed in claim 20 wherein said biasing portion engages the end wall of said cap, and wherein said end wall is resiliently yieldable when the cap is pressed axially toward the container.

Claim 25

A safety closure assembly comprising: a cap having an end wall with a skirt projecting therefrom and bayonet locking means formed on the skirt adapted to be engaged with and disengaged from complementary bayonet locking means on a container by combined axial and rotary motion of the cap relative to such container; a sealing member carried by said cap, said sealing member comprising a plastic body having an annular sealing portion and a biasing portion; said biasing portion including a bell-shaped plunger having a base portion secured to the end wall of said cap, a side wall depending from said base portion and having a diameter at its end opposite said base portion that is less than the inner diameter of said sealing portion, and a resilient spring portion projecting radially outwardly from the end of said side wall opposite said base portion at an angle with respect to said side wall and extending to the inner periphery of said sealing portion such that axial movement of said plunger portion relative to said sealing portion causes flexure of said spring portion.

Claim 26

A safety closure assembly comprising: a cap having an end wall with a skirt projecting therefrom and bayonet locking means formed on the skirt adapted to be engaged with and disengaged from complementary bayonet locking means on a container by combined axial and rotary motion of the cap relative to such container; a sealing member carried by said cap, said sealing member comprising a plastic body having an annular sealing portion and a biasing portion; said biasing portion including a bell-shaped plunger having a base portion secured to the end wall of said cap, a side wall depending from said base portion and having a diameter at its end opposite said base portion that is less than the inner diameter of said sealing portion, and a resilient spring portion projecting radially outwardly from the end of said side wall opposite said base portion at an angle with respect to said side wall and extending to the inner periphery of said sealing portion such that axial movement of said plunger portion relative to said sealing portion causes flexure of said spring portion.

Claim 27

An assembly as claimed in claim 22 wherein said spring portion is of reduced thickness with respect to said side wall.

Claim 28

An assembly as claimed in claim 23 wherein said sealing portion includes an axially extending seal adapted to engage the inner surfae of the mouth of a container.

Claim 29

A safety closure assembly comprising: a cap having an end wall with a skirt projecting therefrom and bayonet locking means formed on the skirt adapted to be engaged with and disengaged from complementary bayonet locking means On a container by combined axial and rotary motion of the cap relative to such container; a sealing member carried by said cap, said sealing member comprising a plastic body having an annular sealing portion and a biasing portion, said biasing portion including a plunger having a base portion secured to the end wall of said cap, and a side wall depending from said base portion and terminating in an outwardly extending resilient spring portion joined to the inner periphery of said sealing portion, said side wall being annular in cross section and said spring portion being of reduced thickness with respect to said side wall; said sealing portion including an axially extending seal adapted to engage the inner surface of the mouth of a container; and further rincluding abutment means extending between said sealing member and the end wall of said cap operable to force said sealing portion to project into the mouth of a container into sealing engagement with the inner surface thereof after predetermined deflection of said spring portion.

Claim 30

A safety closure assembly comprising: a cap having an end wall with a skirt projecting therefrom and bayonet locking means formed on the skirt adapted to be engaged with and disengaged from complementary bayonet locking means On a container by combined axial and rotary motion of the cap relative to such container; a sealing member carried by said cap, said sealing member comprising a plastic body having an annular sealing portion and a biasing portion, said biasing portion including a plunger having a base portion secured to the end wall of said cap, and a side wall depending from said base portion and terminating in an outwardly extending resilient spring portion joined to the inner periphery of said sealing portion, said side wall being annular in cross section and said spring portion being of reduced thickness with respect to said side wall; said sealing portion including an axially extending seal adapted to engage the inner surface of the mouth of a container; and further rincluding abutment means extending between said sealing member and the end wall of said cap operable to force said sealing portion to project into the mouth of a container into sealing engagement with the inner surface thereof after predetermined deflection of said spring portion.

Claim 31

An assembly as claimed in claim 25 wherein said abutment means comprises a cylindrical rib projecting from said sealing portion toward the end wall of said cap.

Claim 32

An assembly as claimed in claim 26 including an axial opening in said base portion, and a stem projecting from said end wall through said opening to rotatably secure said base portion to said cap.

Claim 33

An assembly as claimed in claim 27 wherein said sealing portion includes a radially projecting sealing flange for overlying the rim of a container.

Claim 34

A safety closure assembly comprising: a cap having an end wall with a skirt projecting therefrom and bayonet locking means formed on the skirt adapted to be engaged with and disengaged from complementary bayonet locking means on a container by combined axial and rotary motion of the cap relative to such container; a sealing member carried by said cap and surrounded by said skirt, said sealing member comprising a plastic body having a sealing portion and a biasing portion, said sealing portion including a radially projecting sealing flange for overlying the rim of a container and an axially extending seal adapted to engage the inner surface of the mouth portion of such container, said biasing portion extending between said sealing portion and said end wall and biasing said sealing portion to a position spaced axially from said end wall; and abutment means extending between said spring member and said end wall, said abutment means being engageable between said spring member and said end wall after predetermined deflection of said biasing portion in a direction to move said sealing portion toward said end wall.

Claim 35

A safety closure assembly comprising: a cap having an end wall with a skirt projecting therefrom and bayonet locking means formed on the skirt adapted to be engaged with and disengaged from complementary bayonet locking means on a container by combined axial and rotary motion of the cap relative to such container; a sealing member carried by said cap and surrounded by said skirt, said sealing member comprising a plastic body having a sealing portion and a biasing portion, said sealing portion including a radially projecting sealing flange for overlying the rim of a container and an axially extending seal adapted to engage the inner surface of the mouth portion of such container, said biasing portion extending between said sealing portion and said end wall and biasing said sealing portion to a position spaced axially from said end wall; and abutment means extending between said spring member and said end wall, said abutment means being engageable between said spring member and said end wall after predetermined deflection of said biasing portion in a direction to move said sealing portion toward said end wall.

Claim 36

An assembly as claimed in claim 29 wherein the central portion of said end wall is resiliently yieldable when pressure is applied to the periphery of said end wall against the force of said biasing member.

Claim 37

An assembly as claimed in claim 29 wherein said abutment means comprises a cylindrical rib projecting from said sealing portion toward the end wall of said cap.

Claim 38

An assembly as claimed in claim 31 wherein the free end of said rib is spaced from the end wall of said cap in the unstressed condition of said biasing portion a distance less than the axial length of said axially extending seal.

Claim 39

An assembly as claimed in claim 32 wherein said biasing portion includes a plunger having a base portion engaging the end wall of said cap, and an annular side wall extending from the periphery of said base portion and terminating in an outwardly extending resilient spring portion joined to the inner periphery of said sealing portion.

Claim 40

An assembly as claimed in claim 33 wherein said spring portion is of reduced thickness with respect to said side wall.

Claim 41

An assembly as claimed in claim 34 including an axial opening in said base portion, a stem projecting from the end wall of said cap through said opening, and an enlarged retaining nipple formed on the end of said stem securing said base portion to said Cap.

Claim 42

A safety closure and container assembly comprising: a container having a mouth portion with a plurality of container locking elements spaced peripherally from each other on the outer surface of said mouth portion; a cap having an end wall with a skirt projecting therefrom and a plurality of spaced cap locking elements projecting from the inner surface of said skirt; said cap locking elements being engageable with and disengageable from said container locking elements by an axial motion followed successively by a rotative motion of said cap relative to said container; means biasing said cap against axial movement from locked engagement with said container, said means comprising a plastic body having a plunger portion overlying the mouth of said container, and a sealing portion engaging said mouth portion, said plunger portion including a base portion engaging the central portion of the end wall of said cap, an annular side wall extending from said base portion and terminating in an outwardly extending resilient spring portion joined to the inner periphery of said sealing portion; at least the central portion of aid end wall of said cap being resiliently yieldable when pressure is applied to the periphery of said end wall against the force exerted by said base portion to prevent overstressing of said spring portion.

Claim 43

A safety closure and container assembly comprising: a container having a mouth portion with a plurality of container locking elements spaced peripherally from each other on the outer surface of said mouth portion; a cap having an end wall with a skirt projecting therefrom and a plurality of spaced cap locking elements projecting from the inner surface of said skirt; said cap locking elements being engageable with and disengageable from said container locking elements by an axial motion followed successively by a rotative motion of said cap relative to said container; means biasing said cap against axial movement from locked engagement with said container, said means comprising a plastic body having a plunger portion overlying the mouth of said container, and a sealing portion engaging said mouth portion, said plunger portion including a base portion engaging the central portion of the end wall of said cap, an annular side wall extending from said base portion and terminating in an outwardly extending resilient spring portion joined to the inner periphery of said sealing portion; at least the central portion of aid end wall of said cap being resiliently yieldable when pressure is applied to the periphery of said end wall against the force exerted by said base portion to prevent overstressing of said spring portion.

Claim 44

An assembly as claimed in claim 36 including a cylindrical rib projecting from said sealing portion toward the end wall of said cap operable to engage the end wall of said cap upon predetermined deflection of said spring portion.

Claim 45

A resilient plastic biasing member for use with safety caps and containers comprising: a one piece molded plastic body having a cap engaging portion and an annular container engaging portion; said cap engaging portion comprising a bell shaped plunger having a base portion including an axial opening therein, an annular side wall extending from said base portion and having a diameter at its end opposite said cap engaging portion that is less than the inner diameter of said container engaging portion, and a resilient spring portion projecting outwardly from the end of aid side wall opposite said base portion at an angle with respect to said side wall and extending to the inner periphery of said container engaging portion such that axial movement of said plunger relative to said container engaging portion causes flexure of said spring portion.

Claim 46

A resilient plastic biasing member for use with safety caps and containers comprising: a one piece molded plastic body having a cap engaging portion and an annular container engaging portion; said cap engaging portion comprising a bell shaped plunger having a base portion including an axial opening therein, an annular side wall extending from said base portion and having a diameter at its end opposite said cap engaging portion that is less than the inner diameter of said container engaging portion, and a resilient spring portion projecting outwardly from the end of aid side wall opposite said base portion at an angle with respect to said side wall and extending to the inner periphery of said container engaging portion such that axial movement of said plunger relative to said container engaging portion causes flexure of said spring portion.

Claim 47

A biasing member as cliamed in claim 38 wherein said spring portion is of a reduced thickness with respect to said side wall.

Claim 48

A biasing member as claimed in claim 39 wherein said container engaging portion includes an axially extending sealing portion adapted to project into the mouth of a container.

Claim 49

A biasing member as claimed in claim 39 wherein said container engaging portion includes a radially projecting sealing flange adapted to overly the rim of a container.