US3857508A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Safety closure and container
Assignee: Alcoa Corp
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Filing: 1973-10-03
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Granted: 1974-12-31
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Expires: 1993-10-03
Abstract
Abstract An internally threaded safety closure and a container-closure combination are provided in which the container has screw threads on its neck and at least one upwardly projecting tooth adjacent the neck, and the threaded closure has an integral resiliently deflectable ring rigidly connected to its skirt through at least one bridge and having at least one downwardly projecting ratchet tooth on the ring for engaging the tooth on the container to prevent removal of the closure from the container without first flexing the ring by squeezing it or lifting it to disengage the teeth.
Inventors
- 👤 R Labarge
- 👤 C Leftault
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 18:40
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D50/00; B65D50/02; B65D50/04; B65D50/045; B65D50/046; B65D55/00; B65D55/02; B65D55/022
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
179 words
A molded plastic safety closure adapted to close a container having a neck portion with an opening therein, inclined closure retaining means on the exterior of the neck portion and detent means adjacent the neck portion having at least one substantially vertical surface disposed in a plane extending substantially radially of the container neck, said closure comprising a top end wall for closing the opening in the container neck, a depending skirt with internal means for engaging the inclined retaining means on the container neck to secure the closure on the container, and an integral resiliently deflectable annular band around the bottom of said closure and rigidly connected to said closure skirt by at least one relatively narrow bridge, said band having at least one downwardly projecting ratchet tooth thereon for engagement against the vertical surface on the detent means on the container when the closure is closed on the container whereby said engagement prevents counter-clockwise rotation of said closure with respect to said container unless said band is deflected upwardly to disengage said tooth from said detent means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
179 words
A molded plastic safety closure adapted to close a container having a neck portion with an opening therein, inclined closure retaining means on the exterior of the neck portion and detent means adjacent the neck portion having at least one substantially vertical surface disposed in a plane extending substantially radially of the container neck, said closure comprising a top end wall for closing the opening in the container neck, a depending skirt with internal means for engaging the inclined retaining means on the container neck to secure the closure on the container, and an integral resiliently deflectable annular band around the bottom of said closure and rigidly connected to said closure skirt by at least one relatively narrow bridge, said band having at least one downwardly projecting ratchet tooth thereon for engagement against the vertical surface on the detent means on the container when the closure is closed on the container whereby said engagement prevents counter-clockwise rotation of said closure with respect to said container unless said band is deflected upwardly to disengage said tooth from said detent means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
A closure as set forth in claim 1 in which said band includes a depending flange outwardly of said ratchet tooth to substantially conceal said tooth from view when the closure is closed on a container.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
A closure as set forth in claim 1 in which said band comprises a ring which extends completely around said closure skirt.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
A closure as set forth in claim 3 in which said ring is connected to said closure skirt by two bridges on opposite sides of the closure and has ratchet teeth on the ring at opposite locations substantially equal distance between such connections.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A closure as set forth in claim 1 which includes a series of at least three ratchet teeth on said band.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
A closure as set forth in claim 1 in which the inside diameter of said band is equal to or greater than the maximum outside diameter of said closure skirt.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
54 words
A closure as set forth in claim 1 in which the closure skirt has an annular upwardly outwardly facing surface near the bottom of its skirt and said ring has an annular downwardly inwardly facing surface adjacent said upwardly outwardly facing surface for engagement therwith to cam the ring upwardly when it is squeezed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
174 words
A safety container-closure combination which resists opening by a child, including a conTainer having a neck portion with an opening therein, inclined closure retaining means on the exterior of the neck portion and detent means adjacent said neck portion having at least one substantially vertical surface disposed in a plane extending substantially radially of the container neck, and further including a molded plastic closure having a top end wall for closing the opening in said neck, a depending skirt with internal means therein engaging said inclined closure retaining means on the container neck and thereby securing the closure on the container, and an integral resiliently deflectable annular band around the bottom of the closure and rigidly connected to said skirt by at least one relatively narrow bridge, said band having at least one downwardly projecting ratchet tooth thereon engaged against said vertical face on said detent means to prevent counter-clockwise rotation of said closure with respect to said container without first deflecting said resilient band upwardly to disengage said tooth from said detent means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
174 words
A safety container-closure combination which resists opening by a child, including a conTainer having a neck portion with an opening therein, inclined closure retaining means on the exterior of the neck portion and detent means adjacent said neck portion having at least one substantially vertical surface disposed in a plane extending substantially radially of the container neck, and further including a molded plastic closure having a top end wall for closing the opening in said neck, a depending skirt with internal means therein engaging said inclined closure retaining means on the container neck and thereby securing the closure on the container, and an integral resiliently deflectable annular band around the bottom of the closure and rigidly connected to said skirt by at least one relatively narrow bridge, said band having at least one downwardly projecting ratchet tooth thereon engaged against said vertical face on said detent means to prevent counter-clockwise rotation of said closure with respect to said container without first deflecting said resilient band upwardly to disengage said tooth from said detent means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
A combination as set forth in claim 8 in which said band is a ring which is connected to said closure at two substantially diametrically opposed locations.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
57 words
A combination as set forth in claim 8 in which an outwardly facing inwardly-upwardly inclined surface is provided on the container inwardly of and adjacent to said detent means on the container whereby inward force applied against said band will cam the band upwardly to disengage the tooth or teeth on the band from the detent means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
A combination as set forth in claim 8 in which said band has a series of teeth on it.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
65 words
A combination as set forth in claim 11 in which said detent means on container has two substantially vertical surfaces for engaging the teeth on said band and said surfaces are spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the spacing between the first and last tooth in said series so that only one tooth will be engaged with either of said surfaces at any time.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
A combination as set forth in claim 8 in which the inside diameter of said band is equal to or greater than the outside diameter of said closure skirt.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
54 words
A closure as set forth in claim 8 in which the closure skirt has an annular upwardly outwardly facing surface near the bottom of its skirt and said ring has an annular downwardly inwardly facing surface adjacent said upwardly outwardly facing surface for engagement therewith to cam the ring upwardly when it is squeezed.
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) | 1977-12-30 | 1978-07-01 | 1978-12-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-30 | 1982-07-01 | 1982-12-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-30 | 1986-07-01 | 1986-12-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |