Safety dispensing closure

Claim 1

In a dispensing closure having a closure body adapted to be secured to a container so as to be incapable of being removed from said container during the normal use of said closure and having a closure member movably mounted on said closure body so as to be incapable of being removed from said closure body during the normal use of said closure, said closure member being capable of being moved linearly relative to said closure body between a closed position in which an opening in said closure body is covered by said closure member and an open position in which said opening is uncovered so that material is capable of being moved through said opening and said closure member in which the improvement comprises: interengaging means upon said closure member and said closure body for securing said closure member against direct movement from said closed position to said open position during engagement of said interengaging means, said interengaging closure means comprising at least one projection on one of said closure parts and a groove having at least one notch leading from its interior on the other of said closure parts, said projection being capable of fitting within said notch and said groove in bringing said interengaging means into and out of engagement with one another, said closure member being capable of being rotated when in said closed position in order to position said interengaging means relative to one another so that said interengaging means are engaged to secure said closure member against direct movement from said closed position to said open position and in order to position said interengaging means so that said closure member may be moved from said closed position to said open position at least one enlargement in said groove, said projection on said one of said closure parts being capable of fitting in said enlargement so as to prevent movement serving to disengage said interengaging means and spring means biasing said closure parts so as to hold said projection in said enlargement, said enlargement and said spring means serving as a co-acting latch means for preventing separation of said interengaging means except when said closure member is moved in still another manner than the manner in which it must be moved to disengage said interengaging means and the manner necessary to move said closure member from said closed position to said open position.