US3881623A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Safety closure device
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-05-24
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Granted: 1975-05-06
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Expires: 1994-05-24
Abstract
Abstract The invention contemplates a safety closure cap having threaded engagement to a bottle or the like neck, with the feature of ratchet-lock engagement between (a) parts of a compliant integral tab on the cap and (b) a circumferential succession of ratchettooth serrations at the base end of the neck. Plural ratcheting elements on the tab span an arcuate succession of the neck serrations, so that plural ratchet-engagement relations are offered at any one time, and yet a single compliant displacement of the tab simultaneously disengages all ratchet locking, to permit unthreading of the cap from the bottle. By having the tooth formations on the respective ratchet elements at other than integer multiples of the basic tooth spacing of neck serrations, it is further possible to offer more ratchet-lockable angular positions, per revolution of the cap, than there are serrations on the neck.
Inventors
- 👤 William James Landen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 19:14
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D50/00; B65D50/02; B65D50/04; B65D50/045; B65D50/046
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
164 words
In combination, a bottle or the like having a body with an externally threaded neck, and a safety cap wIth a body having a threaded bore to removably engage said neck, said neck having beneath said threads a circumferentially extending plurality of spaced ratchet serrations, and said cap including a radially outwardly extending tab having compliant integral connection to said body; the underside of said tab including a plurality of angularly spaced finger elements having independent compliant integral connection to said tab at locations radially offset from said cap body, and an arcuate succession of ratchet-tooth formations on said finger elements and positioned for compliant ratcheting interference with said neck serrations in approach to and at the location of fully threaded cap-to-neck engagement, whereby plural independent ratchet-lock relationships are obtained for the fully engaged position and yet a single deflection of said tab against the compliance of its connection to the cap body will disengage all ratchet-lock relationships, to permit cap-unthreading from said neck.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
164 words
In combination, a bottle or the like having a body with an externally threaded neck, and a safety cap wIth a body having a threaded bore to removably engage said neck, said neck having beneath said threads a circumferentially extending plurality of spaced ratchet serrations, and said cap including a radially outwardly extending tab having compliant integral connection to said body; the underside of said tab including a plurality of angularly spaced finger elements having independent compliant integral connection to said tab at locations radially offset from said cap body, and an arcuate succession of ratchet-tooth formations on said finger elements and positioned for compliant ratcheting interference with said neck serrations in approach to and at the location of fully threaded cap-to-neck engagement, whereby plural independent ratchet-lock relationships are obtained for the fully engaged position and yet a single deflection of said tab against the compliance of its connection to the cap body will disengage all ratchet-lock relationships, to permit cap-unthreading from said neck.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
The combination of claim 1, in which the spacing of ratchet-tooth formations of adjacent fingers is other than in conformance with the ratchet-tooth spacing of said serrations, whereby the number of ratchet-locked positions attainable per turn of threaded cap-to-neck engagement is greater than the number of neck serrations.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
The combination of claim 1, in which at least two ratchet teeth are provided on each finger element, the spacing between the two ratchet teeth of each finger element being substantially equal to the spacing of adjacent teeth of said neck serrations.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
84 words
The combination of claim 1, in which said bottle or the like is of molded construction with semi-cylindrical symmetry about a parting-line plane which includes the axis. of said neck, the neck serration on each side of the parting line being characterized by equal angular separation of all outer corners and by tooth-face slopes which form no greater than a 90-degree angle to the parting-line plane; and in which the maximum overall effective angular spread of tab-mounted ratchet-tooth formations is in excess of 90*.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The combination of claim 4, in which said maximum effective angular spread is approximately 120*.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The combination of claim 1, in which the number of finger elements is four.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
73 words
The combination of claim 3, in which the two teeth of one finger element are spaced in conformance with a first uniformly spaced succession of serrated-tooth locations and in which the two teeth of another finger element are spaced in conformance with a second and like succession, said successions being angularly offset with respect to each other to the extent of a fraction of the space between adjacent teeth of said neck serrations.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The combination of claim 7, in which said angular offset is substantially one half the space between adjacent teeth of said neck.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
91 words
As an article of manufacture, a safety cap with a body having a threaded bore for removable closure of a threaded bottle or the like neck, said cap including a radially outwardly extending locking tab having compliant integral connection to said body, the underside of said tab including a plurality of angular spaced finger elements having independent compliant integral connections to said tab in an array that is generally arcuate about the axis of the cap body, and an arcuate succession of radially inwardly facing ratchet-tooth formation on said finger elements.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
91 words
As an article of manufacture, a safety cap with a body having a threaded bore for removable closure of a threaded bottle or the like neck, said cap including a radially outwardly extending locking tab having compliant integral connection to said body, the underside of said tab including a plurality of angular spaced finger elements having independent compliant integral connections to said tab in an array that is generally arcuate about the axis of the cap body, and an arcuate succession of radially inwardly facing ratchet-tooth formation on said finger elements.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3698584A
Cited
US3831797A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-05-05 | 1978-11-04 | 1979-05-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-05 | 1982-11-04 | 1983-05-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-05 | 1986-11-04 | 1987-05-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |