Safety closure

Claim 2

A closure for a container for a fluent substance, comprising a base having means to mount on the container and having a dispensing channel, a valve element in the base movable between a closed position, wherein the valve element blocks the dispensing channel, and an open position, wherein the valve element allows the fluent substance tO flow through the channel, and a locking member mounted on the base and movable relative to the base and to the valve element between locking and release positions, the locking member allowing the valve element to move to its open position when in its release position and obstructing the valve element and retaining the valve element in the closed position when in the locking position, wherein the valve element includes a spool which blocks the dispensing channel when the valve element is in the closed position and the valve element moves axially with respect to the spool, and wherein the locking member and the valve element rotate about axes positioned at an angle relative to one another, and wherein both the locking member and the valve element must be turned to prescribed angular positions before the valve element can be moved axially to its open position.

Claim 3

A closure for a container adapted to hold fluent substances, said closure comprising: a base having means to mount on the container and having a dispensing channel and a cross bore intersecting the channel, the base further having a spindle and the channel being extended through the spindle; a valve element in the cross bore and movable axially therein between an open position wherein the valve element permits fluent substances to flow through the channel and a closed position wherein the valve element blocks the channel; and a cover surrounding the spindle and rotatable between locked and release positions, the cover when in the locked position engaging the valve element and preventing the valve element from moving to its open position and when in the release position allowing the valve element to move to the open position.

Claim 4

A closure for a container adapted to hold fluent substances, said closure comprising: a base having means to mount on the container and having a dispensing channel and a cross bore intersecting the channel, the base further having a spindle and the channel being extended through the spindle; a valve element in the cross bore and movable axially therein between an open position wherein the valve element permits fluent substances to flow through the channel and a closed position wherein the valve element blocks the channel; and a cover surrounding the spindle and rotatable between locked and release positions, the cover when in the locked position engaging the valve element and preventing the valve element from moving to its open position and when in the release position allowing the valve element to move to the open position.

Claim 5

A closure for a container adapted to hold fluid substances, comprising a base having means to mount on the container and having a substantially vertical dispensing channel and a substantially horizontal cylindrical cross bore including an entrance at one side of the base and intersecting the dispensing channel, a valve element in the cross bore having piston-like means therein and having outwardly-projecting manipulating means to twist the valve element and to press it axially inward in said cross bore and thereby to move its piston-like means from a closed position blocking the dispensing channel to an open position, the valve element further having at the inward side of said manipulating means a projection of greater radial extent than the cross bore, groove means in said cross bore entrance to receive said projection when in angular registration therewith and thereby define a single angular alignment for axial movement of the valve element, and a compression spring having one end keyed to the closure base and the other end keyed to the valve element, whereby the manipulating means is normally positioned at a safety angle out of registration with said single angular alignment for axial movement and whereby the valve element cannot be pressed inward without first twisting to said single angular alignment, thereby building up torque in the spring, and whereby on release of inward pressure said spring will first bias the valve element outward and then twist it back to such safety angle position.

Claim 6

A closure for a container adapted to hold fluid substances, comprising a base having means to mount on the container and having a substantially vertical dispensing channel and a substantially horizontal cylindrical cross bore including an entrance at one side of the base and intersecting the dispensing channel, a valve element in the cross bore having piston-like means therein and having outwardly-projecting manipulating means to twist the valve element and to press it axially inward in said cross bore and thereby to move its piston-like means from a closed position blocking the dispensing channel to an open position, the valve element further having at the inward side of said manipulating means a projection of greater radial extent than the cross bore, groove means in said cross bore entrance to receive said projection when in angular registration therewith and thereby define a single angular alignment for axial movement of the valve element, and a compression spring having one end keyed to the closure base and the other end keyed to the valve element, whereby the manipulating means is normally positioned at a safety angle out of registration with said single angular alignment for axial movement and whereby the valve element cannot be pressed inward without first twisting to said single angular alignment, thereby building up torque in the spring, and whereby on release of inward pressure said spring will first bias the valve element outward and then twist it back to such safety angle position.

Claim 7

A closure for a container adapted to hold fluid substances, comprising a base having means to mount on the container, further having an upper surface including a depressed portion, a substantially vertical dispensing channel, and a substantially horizontal cross bore penetrating one side of the base and intersecting said depressed surface portion and further intersecting the dispensing channel, a valve element in the cross bore having piston-like means therein and having outwardly-projecting manipulating means to press the valve element axially inward in said cross bore from a closed position, wherein the piston-like means blocks the dispensing channel, to an open position wherein said means is displaced axially to permit fluent substances to flow through the channel, the valve element further having, between said manipulating means and said piston-like means, a portion of substantially smaller radial extent, compression spring means operable between the closure base and the valve element to bias it outward, and a cover element mounted on the base for angular movement about a substantially vertical axis and having a downward-extending blocking means within said depressed surface portion, whereby angular movement of said cover element interposes said blocking means over said valve element portion of smaller radial extent, thereby to selectively prevent operation of the valve element.

Claim 8

A closure for a container adapted to hold fluid substances, comprising a base having means to mount on the container, further having an upper surface including a depressed portion, a substantially vertical dispensing channel, and a substantially horizontal cross bore penetrating one side of the base and intersecting said depressed surface portion and further intersecting the dispensing channel, a valve element in the cross bore having piston-like means therein and having outwardly-projecting manipulating means to press the valve element axially inward in said cross bore from a closed position, wherein the piston-like means blocks the dispensing channel, to an open position wherein said means is displaced axially to permit fluent substances to flow through the channel, the valve element further having, between said manipulating means and said piston-like means, a portion of substantially smaller radial extent, compression spring means operable between the closure base and the valve element to bias it outward, and a cover element mounted on the base for angular movement about a substantially vertical axis and having a downward-extending blocking means within said depressed surface portion, whereby angular movement of said cover element interposes said blocking means over said valve element portion of smaller radial extent, thereby to selectively prevent operation of the valve element.