Child proof closure assembly

Claim 2

A child proof closure assembly comprising: an adapter having a central opening and a mounting portion adapted to be secured to an aerosol container or the like, a container locking portion extending axially with respect to said central opening, a plurality of container locking elements spaced from each other on said container locking portion, and container mounting means for securing said adapter to a container; a cap having an end wall, a peripheral skirt projecting from said end wall for receiving said container locking portion, and a plurality of cap locking elements spaced peripherally from each other on 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 adapter; and biasing means engageable between said cap and adapter for biasing said cap locking elements toward locked engagement with said container locking elements, said biasing means including radially projecting spring means integrally formed on one of said cap and adapter and plunger means integrally formed on the other of said cap and adapter, said plunger means being engaged with said spring means with the cap and container locking elements are in locked engagement with each other such that the cap and container locking elements are biased against movement from locked engagement with each other by the engagement of said plunger means with said spring means; said cap and container locking elements being axially disengageable by axial movement of said cap toward said adapter to cause said plunger means to deflect said spring means.

Claim 3

An assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said radially projecting spring means is formed on said adapter, and said plunger means is formed on said cap.

Claim 4

An assembly as claimed in claim 2 wherein said spring means comprises a plurality of peripherally spaced flanges projecting radially outwardly from said adapter.

Claim 5

An assembly as claimed in claim 2 wherein said spring means comprises a radially projecting spring member surrounding said opening.

Claim 6

An assembly as claimed in claim 4 wherein aaid spring member comprises an annular flange with an inner annular end molded integrally to said adapter and a resiliently deflectable annular free end.

Claim 7

An assembly as claimed in claim 5 wherein said spring member projects radially into said central opening.

Claim 8

An assembly as claimed in claim 5 wherein the free end of said spring member projects radially outwardly with respect to said central opening.

Claim 9

An assembly as claimed in claim 1 further including interengageable stop elements on said cap and adapter for limiting the axial motion of said cap toward said adapter.

Claim 10

An adapter as claimed in claim 8 wherein said biasing means comprises integral spring means projecting radially from said collar.

Claim 11

An adapter as claimed in claim 9 wherein said container mounting collar includes an inwardly projecting resilient shoulder for securing the collar to a container cover.

Claim 12

An adapter as claimed in claim 9 whErein said biasing means comprises integral spring means projecting radially from said collar.

Claim 13

An adapter as claimed in claim 11 wherein said spring means project radially inwardly from said collar.

Claim 14

An adapter as claimed in claim 9 wherein said spring means projects radially outwardly from said collar.

Claim 15

An adapter as claimed in claim 13 wherein said spring means comprises an annular, outwardly projecting flange.

Claim 16

An adapter as claimed in claim 13 wherein said spring means comprises a plurality of peripherally spaced flanges projecting outwardly from said collar.

Claim 17

An adapter as claimed in claim 9 including a top wall portion projecting outwardly from said collar, and a side wall depending from the periphery of said top wall portion and defining said container locking portion.

Claim 18

An adapter as claimed in claim 16 wherein said side wall includes a plurality of inwardly recessed portions spaced from each other along the periphery of said top wal portion, said container locking elements being located on said recessed portions.

Claim 19

An adapter as claimed in claim 17 wherein each container locking elements projects outwardly from one of the recessed portions, and a slot is defined between each container locking element and one edge of the associated recessed portion to permit entry of a cap locking element into said recessed portion.

Claim 20

An adapter as claimed in claim 9 wherein said collar includes a radially inwardly extending top portion, and an axially extending side portion, said side portion defining said container locking portion, said container locking elements each projecting from said side portion adjacent the upper edge thereof, and said biasing means comprising integral spring flange means projecting outwardly from the lower edge of said side portion.

Claim 21

An adapter as claimed in claim 19 wherein said spring flange means includes a plurality of spring flanges, each being located between an adjacent pair of said container locking elements.

Claim 22

A child proof closure assembly comprising: an adapter having a container mounting collar for securing said adapter to a container; a container locking portion carried by said collar, and a plurality of container locking elements spaced from each other on said container locking portion; a safety cap having an end wall, a peripheral skirt projecting from said end wall for receiving said container locking portion, a plurality of cap locking elements spaced peripherally from each other on 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 adapter; and biasing means engageable between said cap and adapter for biasing said cap locking elements toward locked engagement with said container locking elements, said biasing means comprising at least one resilient biasing element on said collar and a plunger on said cap engageable with said resilient biasing element and cooperable therewith to urge said cap locking elements into engagement with said container locking elements, said resilient biasing element comprising an integral flange projecting radially from said collar.

Claim 23

A child proof closure assembly comprising: an adapter having a container mounting collar for securing said adapter to a container; a container locking portion carried by said collar, and a plurality of container locking elements spaced from each other on said container locking portion; a safety cap having an end wall, a peripheral skirt projecting from said end wall for receiving said container locking portion, a plurality of cap locking elements spaced peripherally from each other on 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 adapter; and biasing means engageable between said cap and adapter for biasing said cap locking elements toward locked engagement with said container locking elements, said biasing means comprising at least one resilient biasing element on said collar and a plunger on said cap engageable with said resilient biasing element and cooperable therewith to urge said cap locking elements into engagement with said container locking elements, said resilient biasing element comprising an integral flange projecting radially from said collar.

Claim 24

An assembly as claimed in claim 21 wherein said flange projects radially outwardly from said collar.

Claim 25

An assembly as claimed in claim 21 wherein said flange projects radially inwardly from said collar.

Claim 26

An assembly as claimed in claim 21 wherein said adapter includes a top wall portion projecting outwardly from said collar, and a side wall depending from the periphery of said top wall portion and defining said container locking portion.

Claim 27

An assembly as claimed in claim 24 wherein said side wall includes a plurality of inwardly recessed portions spaced from each other along the periphery of said top wall portion, said container locking elements being located on said recessed portions.

Claim 28

An assembly as claimed in claim 25 Wherein each container locking element projects outwardly from one of the recessed portions, and a slot is defined between each container locking element and one edge of the associated recessed portion to permit entry of a cap locking element into said recessed portion.

Claim 29

An assembly as claimed in claim 21 wherein said collar includes a radially inwardly extending top portion, and an axially extending side portion, said side portion defining said container locking portion, said container locking elements each projecting from said side portion adjacent the upper edge thereof, and said biasing means comprising integral spring flange means projecting outwardly from the lower edge of said side portion.

Claim 30

An assembly as claimed in claim 27 wherein said spring flange means includes a plurality of spring flanges, spring means integrally formed on one of said cap and adapter and plunger means integrally formed on the other of said cap and adapter, said plunger means being engaged with said spring means when the cap and container locking elements are in locked engagement with each other such that the cap and container locking elements are biased against movement from locked engagement with each other by the engagement of said plunger means with said spring means; said cap and container locking elements being axially disengageable by axial movement of said cap toward said adapter to cause said plunger means to deflect said spring means.

Claim 31

An assembly as claimed in claim 21 further including interengageable stop elements on said cap and adapter for limiting the axial motion of said cap toward said adapter.

Claim 32

An assembly as claimed in claim 29 wherein said interengageable stop elements comprises a radially extending stop section on the skirt of said cap, and an upwardly projecting rim on the container locking portion of said adapter engageable by said stop section upon predetermined movement of said cap toward said adapter and corresponding predetermined deflection of said spring member.

Claim 33

An assembly as claimed in claim 29 wherein said interengageable stop elements comprises a cylindrical extension projecting axially from the free end of the skirt of said cap, and a shoulder on said adapter engageable by said extension upon predetermined movement of said cap toward said adapter and corresponding deflection of said spring member.

Claim 34

A safety closure and container assembly comprising: a container having an annular retaining rim, said rim having a top surface and a side surface depending from said top surface; a molded plastic safety cap adapter mounted on said container; said adapter comprising an annular collar with a generally axially extending surface engaging the side surface of said rim and an annular shoulder projecting beneath the side surface of said rim to restrain said adapter against axial withdrawal from said rim, said adapter further including a container locking portion, a plurality of spaced container locking elements on said container locking portion; a cap having a skirt receiving said container locking portion, and a plurality of cap locking elements spaced from each other on 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 adapter; and further including biasing means engageable between said cap and adapter for biasing said cap locking elements toward locked engagement with said container locking elements, said biasing means including radially projecting spring means integrally formed on one of said cap and adapter and resiliently deflectable in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said container, and plunger means integrally formed on the other of said cap and adapter, said plunger means being engaged with said spring means when the cap and container locking elements are in locked engagement with each other such that the cap and container locking elementS are biased against movement from locked engagement with each other by the engagement of said plunger means with said spring means; said cap and container locking elements being axially disengageable by axial movement of said cap toward said adapter to cause said plunger means to deflect said spring means.

Claim 35

A safety closure and container assembly comprising: a container having an annular retaining rim, said rim having a top surface and a side surface depending from said top surface; a molded plastic safety cap adapter mounted on said container; said adapter comprising an annular collar with a generally axially extending surface engaging the side surface of said rim and an annular shoulder projecting beneath the side surface of said rim to restrain said adapter against axial withdrawal from said rim, said adapter further including a container locking portion, a plurality of spaced container locking elements on said container locking portion; a cap having a skirt receiving said container locking portion, and a plurality of cap locking elements spaced from each other on 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 adapter; and further including biasing means engageable between said cap and adapter for biasing said cap locking elements toward locked engagement with said container locking elements, said biasing means including radially projecting spring means integrally formed on one of said cap and adapter and resiliently deflectable in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said container, and plunger means integrally formed on the other of said cap and adapter, said plunger means being engaged with said spring means when the cap and container locking elements are in locked engagement with each other such that the cap and container locking elementS are biased against movement from locked engagement with each other by the engagement of said plunger means with said spring means; said cap and container locking elements being axially disengageable by axial movement of said cap toward said adapter to cause said plunger means to deflect said spring means.