Childproof closures of the pull-push type

Claim 2

An adjunct useful with a dispensing closure of the pull-push type for a container for a hazardous substance potentially injurious to small children, the closure having a substantially cylindrical fixed part including a skirt and means to attach the closure to the container and a substantially cylindrical movable part shiftable axially manually with respect to the fixed part between ''''on'''' and ''''off'''' positions, first passage means in the fixed part and second passage means in the movable part and valve means common to both said passage means whereby, upon actuation of the movable part to ''''on'''' position provides for flow from the container to atmosphere, and vice versa, said adjunct comprising a first sleeve substantially coextensive with said fixed part attaching means, said first sleeve comprising material which is resilient and generally shape-retaining, a second sleeve extending from the first sleeve extending outwardly from the preventing access to the movable part, means interconnecting said first and second sleeves adapted for joint axial movement, ears on said first sleeve engageable with the fixed part to retain the adjunct on the closure, said ears adapted to be freed in an outward radial direction from said first sleeve upon radially-applied force at two diametrically opposite points of the first sleeve to ovalize the same whereby the ears are cleared for movement past the skirt and the valve opened concurrently, said adjunct comprising resilient but generally shape-retaining material.

Claim 3

A childproof closure of the pull-push type for use with a container for a hazardous substance potentially injurious to small children comprising a fixed part having means for attaching the closure to the container and a movable part slidably mounted on the fixed part for movement between ''''on'''' and ''''off'''' positions, said parts having a common axis, means on the fixed part constituting one part of a valve and means on the movable part constituting the other part of the valve, said ''''on'''' and ''''off'''' conditions corresponding to open and closed conditions of the valve, a passage in the fixed part providing fluid communication between the interior of the container and one side of the valve and a passage in the movable part in fluid communication with the other side of the valve and atmosphere through which the substance flows when the parts are ''''on'''' and termination of flow when the parts are ''''off'''', a third part having a sleeve engaged with the fixed part and provided with a shield surrounding the movable part to preclude access to the movable part for actuation of the same, means forming part of the sleeve constraining relative axial displacing movement between the sleeve and fixed part, said sleeve comprising resilient but generally shape-retaining material to be deformed by digital pressure, said shield and movable part being adapted for joint axial movement, means intermediate the fixed part and third part releasable by digital pressure radially applied to the sleeve to permit the third part to be displaced axially.

Claim 4

A childproof closure of the pull-push type for use with a container for a hazardous substance potentially injurious to small children comprising a fixed part having means for attaching the closure to the container and a movable part slidably mounted on the fixed part for movement between ''''on'''' and ''''off'''' positions, said parts having a common axis, means on the fixed part constituting one part of a valve and means on the movable part constituting the other part of the valve, said ''''on'''' and ''''off'''' conditions corresponding to open and closed conditions of the valve, a passage in the fixed part providing fluid communication between the interior of the container and one side of the valve and a passage in the movable part in fluid communication with the other side of the valve and atmosphere through which the substance flows when the parts are ''''on'''' and termination of flow when the parts are ''''off'''', a third part having a sleeve engaged with the fixed part and provided with a shield surrounding the movable part to preclude access to the movable part for actuation of the same, means forming part of the sleeve constraining relative axial displacing movement between the sleeve and fixed part, said sleeve comprising resilient but generally shape-retaining material to be deformed by digital pressure, said shield and movable part being adapted for joint axial movement, means intermediate the fixed part and third part releasable by digital pressure radially applied to the sleeve to permit the third part to be displaced axially.

Claim 5

In combination, a dispensing closure of the pull-push type for a container for a hazardous substance potentially injurious to small children and an adjunct to preclude opening of the closure by a child of tender years, the closure comprising a fixed part having means attaching the same to the container and a movable part operatively mounted on the fixed part for reciprocating movement between ''''on'''' and ''''off'''' positions for flow of contents from the container and termination of flow respectively, the fixed part having a passage in fluid communication with the interior of the container aNd the movable part having a passage for exit of the substance from the container, a valve intermediate said passages which, upon movement of the movable part to ''''on'''' position connects the passages for flow therethrough, the movable part having an actuating head and a stem extending therefrom into the fixed part to constitute the movable part of the valve, the adjunct having first means for attachment of the adjunct to the fixed part and second means cooperative with the head of the movable part of the closure for joint movement therewith, said second means including guard means normally preventing access to the head for actuation of the valve, said guard means comprising a sleeve of resilient but generally shape-retaining material around the head capable of being digitally squeezed against the head to couple said guard and head to open the valve.

Claim 6

In combination, a dispensing closure of the pull-push type for a container for a hazardous substance potentially injurious to small children and an adjunct to preclude opening of the closure by a child of tender years, the closure comprising a fixed part having means attaching the same to the container and a movable part operatively mounted on the fixed part for reciprocating movement between ''''on'''' and ''''off'''' positions for flow of contents from the container and termination of flow respectively, the fixed part having a passage in fluid communication with the interior of the container aNd the movable part having a passage for exit of the substance from the container, a valve intermediate said passages which, upon movement of the movable part to ''''on'''' position connects the passages for flow therethrough, the movable part having an actuating head and a stem extending therefrom into the fixed part to constitute the movable part of the valve, the adjunct having first means for attachment of the adjunct to the fixed part and second means cooperative with the head of the movable part of the closure for joint movement therewith, said second means including guard means normally preventing access to the head for actuation of the valve, said guard means comprising a sleeve of resilient but generally shape-retaining material around the head capable of being digitally squeezed against the head to couple said guard and head to open the valve.

Claim 7

The combination in accordance with claim 3 further characterized in that the fixed part and adjunct have respective interengageable means to limit the stroke of the adjunct upon movement of the head and adjunct to ''''on'''' position.

Claim 8

The combination in accordance with claim 3 in which the fixed part attaching means is a cylindrical shell and the adjunct has an inwardly extending projection which, upon movement of the adjunct to ''''on'''', abuts the lower end of the shell to limit the movement of the adjunct and assembly thereof with the closure is maintained.

Claim 9

The combination in accordance with claim 5 wherein the projection is resilient to enable momentary displacement thereof by the fixed part attaching portion upon initial assembly of the adjunct with the closure.

Claim 10

The combination in accordance with claim 6 wherein said first means is a sleeve comprising resilient but generally shape-retaining material and the projection extends inwardly below the fixed part attaching means, said projection being so spaced relative to the lower edge of the skirt to allow axial movement of the adjunct a distance at least equal to the stroke of the movable part between ''''on'''' and ''''off'''' positions.

Claim 11

The combination in accordance with claim 7 further characterized in that the lower sleeve of the adjunct is radially flexible to enable manual deformation thereof from a cylindrical to an ovalized configuration, the projection lying on the major axis of the oval whereby, upon squeezing force being applied on the minor axis the projection is radially outwardly displaced to a position clearing the skirt.

Claim 12

In combination with a dispensing closure for use with the pouring neck of a container, said closure having a base part including means to attach the closure to the neck and a movable part mounted on said base part for translational movement with respect thereto, said base part and movable part being of substantially cylindrical form and on a common axis, said base part having a skirt including means to attach the closure to the container, said base part and movable part having respective means together constituting a valve having an inlet side and an outlet side operable between ''''on'''' and ''''off'''' positions, passage means in the base part providing fluid communication between the interior of the container and the inlet side of the valve and passage means in the movable part providing fluid communication between the outlet side of the valve and atmosphere, said movable part having a head including an embossment exteriorly thereof to facilitate digital actuation of the movable part between its two positions, an adjunct to preclude such actuation by a child of tender years comprising resilient but generally shape retaining material, said adjunct adapted to be combined with the closure by thrusting the same over the same, said adjunct comprising a cylindrical lower sleeve fitting over the skirt with annular clearance therebetween and a cylindrical upper sleeve surrounding the head and spaced therefrom normally avoiding frictional coupling of the head and upper sleeve upon axial movement of The adjunct, the sleeve being digitally deformable by a squeezing force applied radially thereto to couple the head and upper sleeve for joint movement to open the valve, the lower sleeve, when squeezed by a digitally applied, radially-directed force, being converted from a transverse annular cross section to a transverse substantially elliptical cross section, the lower sleeve having at least one inwardly directed projection which, in the circular condition of the lower sleeve, underlies the skirt to limit axial movement of the lower sleeve and, in the ovalized condition of the same, is clear of the skirt to enable separation of the adjunct and closure.

Claim 13

In combination with a dispensing closure for use with the pouring neck of a container, said closure having a base part including means to attach the closure to the neck and a movable part mounted on said base part for translational movement with respect thereto, said base part and movable part being of substantially cylindrical form and on a common axis, said base part having a skirt including means to attach the closure to the container, said base part and movable part having respective means together constituting a valve having an inlet side and an outlet side operable between ''''on'''' and ''''off'''' positions, passage means in the base part providing fluid communication between the interior of the container and the inlet side of the valve and passage means in the movable part providing fluid communication between the outlet side of the valve and atmosphere, said movable part having a head including an embossment exteriorly thereof to facilitate digital actuation of the movable part between its two positions, an adjunct to preclude such actuation by a child of tender years comprising resilient but generally shape retaining material, said adjunct adapted to be combined with the closure by thrusting the same over the same, said adjunct comprising a cylindrical lower sleeve fitting over the skirt with annular clearance therebetween and a cylindrical upper sleeve surrounding the head and spaced therefrom normally avoiding frictional coupling of the head and upper sleeve upon axial movement of The adjunct, the sleeve being digitally deformable by a squeezing force applied radially thereto to couple the head and upper sleeve for joint movement to open the valve, the lower sleeve, when squeezed by a digitally applied, radially-directed force, being converted from a transverse annular cross section to a transverse substantially elliptical cross section, the lower sleeve having at least one inwardly directed projection which, in the circular condition of the lower sleeve, underlies the skirt to limit axial movement of the lower sleeve and, in the ovalized condition of the same, is clear of the skirt to enable separation of the adjunct and closure.

Claim 14

The combination in accordance with claim 9 further characterized by a flexible connection between the two sleeves for joint actuation of the head and upper sleeve independently of the lower sleeve.

Claim 15

The combination in accordance with claim 9 in which the projection is spaced below the skirt an amount at least equal to the stroke of the movable part of the closure.

Claim 16

The combination in accordance with claim 9 further characterized by a plurality of embossments on the interior of the lower sleeve having a sliding fit with the exterior of the fixed part of the closure to preclude cocking of the adjunct when the same is assembled with the closure.