US3888375A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Safety closure assembly
Assignee: VCA Corp
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Filing: 1973-12-17
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Granted: 1975-06-10
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Expires: 1993-12-17
Abstract
Abstract A safety closure assembly for containers, such as bottles and the like, whereby unauthorized removal of the closure from the container is prevented. More particularly, the invention relates to a closure unit comprising an inner or closure cap which is used to close the open end of the container cooperatively connected to an outer or actuator cap superimposed over the inner cap and in which the top walls of the inner and outer caps have interengaging means to permit simultaneous rotation of the inner cap with the rotation of the outer cap in one direction so that the inner cap forms a closure for the container and in which the skirt portion of the outer cap has a radially deflectable surface, deflectable by manual pressure, the inside of said deflectable surface having a rib or ribs engaging the rib or ribs on the skirt portion of the inner cap so that a rotation of the outer cap in an opposite direction when said deflectable surface is manually radially deflected will simultaneously rotate the inner cap to effect an unscrewing of the inner cap as a closure member, yet when said deflectable radial surface is not manually radially deflected, the top interengaging means and the ribs on the skirts will override and no counterclockwise rotation or unscrewing action will be imparted to the inner cap and it will remain in a closure position on the bottle or container.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard G Gerk
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 12:31
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D50/00; B65D50/02; B65D50/04; B65D50/041
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
366 words
A safety closure assembly comprising an inner closure cap having a top portion to cover the mouth of the container and a skirt to fit over the container immediately adjacent the opening, means on said inner closure skirt for engagement with members on the container, an outer cap of a size to receive said inner closure, said outer cap having a top portion and a skirt, with the skirt having a continuous and uninterrupted annular bottom edge, the underside of said top wall of said outer cap having spaced radially extending members and thE top wall of said inner cap having spaced radially extending members adapted to be engaged by the spaced radially extending members of the outer cap when the outer cap is rotated in one direction to simultaneously rotate said inner cap to effect a closure of said inner cap with respect to said container and to permit a free rotation of said outer cap with respect to said inner cap when said outer cap is rotated in an opposite direction, said outer cap having a pair of spaced vertical slots extending from adjacent the top portion to adjacent the continuous and uninterrupted annular bottom edge to provide a skirt panel which is substantially the height of the skirt and which is radially deflectable inwardly by manual pressure, said deflectable skirt panel having means on the inside thereof which engage means on the skirt of said inner cap when said outer skirt panel is radially deflected so that when the said means are interengaged a rotation of the outer cap in the opposite direction will simultaneously rotate said inner cap to effect an unscrewing of said inner cap with respect to the container and when said outer skirt panel is not deflected rotation of said outer cap in said opposite direction will not impart rotation to said inner cap, said deflectable skirt panel being connected to said annular continuous and uninterrupted bottom edge, the inside of said annular continuous and uninterrupted bottom edge having a continuous inwardly extending lip which engages the bottom edge of the skirt of the inner closure cap to prevent separation of the inner cap relative to the outer cap.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
366 words
A safety closure assembly comprising an inner closure cap having a top portion to cover the mouth of the container and a skirt to fit over the container immediately adjacent the opening, means on said inner closure skirt for engagement with members on the container, an outer cap of a size to receive said inner closure, said outer cap having a top portion and a skirt, with the skirt having a continuous and uninterrupted annular bottom edge, the underside of said top wall of said outer cap having spaced radially extending members and thE top wall of said inner cap having spaced radially extending members adapted to be engaged by the spaced radially extending members of the outer cap when the outer cap is rotated in one direction to simultaneously rotate said inner cap to effect a closure of said inner cap with respect to said container and to permit a free rotation of said outer cap with respect to said inner cap when said outer cap is rotated in an opposite direction, said outer cap having a pair of spaced vertical slots extending from adjacent the top portion to adjacent the continuous and uninterrupted annular bottom edge to provide a skirt panel which is substantially the height of the skirt and which is radially deflectable inwardly by manual pressure, said deflectable skirt panel having means on the inside thereof which engage means on the skirt of said inner cap when said outer skirt panel is radially deflected so that when the said means are interengaged a rotation of the outer cap in the opposite direction will simultaneously rotate said inner cap to effect an unscrewing of said inner cap with respect to the container and when said outer skirt panel is not deflected rotation of said outer cap in said opposite direction will not impart rotation to said inner cap, said deflectable skirt panel being connected to said annular continuous and uninterrupted bottom edge, the inside of said annular continuous and uninterrupted bottom edge having a continuous inwardly extending lip which engages the bottom edge of the skirt of the inner closure cap to prevent separation of the inner cap relative to the outer cap.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
A safety closure assembly as set forth in claim 1 in which the outer cap has a pair of diametrically positioned deflectable skirt panels, each of which has a rib engaging a rib on the skirt of the inner cap.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
A safety closure assembly as set forth in claim 1 in which the inside of the top wall of the outer cap and the top wall of the inner cap have interfitting means to maintain said outer and inner caps in axial alinement.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
76 words
A safety closure assembly as set forth in claim 2 in which the lower portion of the skirt adjacent the bottom edge of the inner cap has a flared annular portion which nests within the skirt of the outer cap and which permits the inner cap to be inserted into the outer cap past the continuous inwardly extending lip of the outer cap when the inner cap is first inserted and snapped into the outer cap.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
A safety closure as set forth in claim 2 in which the inner and outer caps are molded of plastic material and in which the outer surface of the deflectable skirt panels have ridges for manual engagement.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
A safety closure as set forth in claim 2 in which the rib on the deflectable skirt panel is adjacent the upper portion of the panel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
A safety closure assembly as set forth in claim 1 in which the inner and outer caps are molded of plastic material and in which the outer cap is formed of a material having a greater resiliency than the inner cap.
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) | 1978-06-09 | 1978-12-09 | 1979-06-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-06-09 | 1982-12-09 | 1983-06-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-06-09 | 1986-12-09 | 1987-06-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |