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US3889852A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Container safety dispensing closure

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-08-06
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Granted: 1975-06-17
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Expires: 1993-08-06
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Abstract

Abstract This invention relates to a child proof safety dispensing closure for containers of drugs and other dangerous products. The closure has an outer cap with a dispensing aperture therethrough which is permanently fixed to the container before or after the products are inserted into the container. An inner cap is positioned within the outer cap above the rim of the container. The inner cap is rotatable relative to the outer cap, and in a preferred embodiment has a dispensing aperture which may be aligned with the dispensing aperture in the outer cap. A separate opening tool having a manually rotatable vertically extending shaft with an eccentrically located cylindrical boss on its lower end is wall mounted in a location inaccessible to children. In the assembled position, a torsional spring continuously biases the inner cap toward a closed position in which the two dispensing apertures are not in alignment. In order to rotate the inner cap to the open position, the container is manually raised beneath the opening tool to a position wherein the shaft is inserted through a circular hole in the top of the outer cap and the eccentric boss is snuggly received in a smaller circular seat eccentrically located in the inner cap beneath the circular hole. Manual rotation of the opening tool by a handle causes the inner cap to rotate relative to the outer cap to the open position in which the two dispensing apertures are in alignment thereby providing a passageway for the contents of the container. A depressible pushbutton member with a flat inner surface which is positioned in a seat opening in the outer cap opposite the dispensing aperture is manually depressed while the inner cap is in this open position to have its flat inner surface engage a flat vertical outer segment on the inner cap. This maintains the inner cap in the open position, allowing the container to be removed from the opening tool and the contents to be dispensed therefrom by tilting the container in a conventional manner. Upon release of the pushbutton member, the inner cap automatically returns to the closed position under the influence of the torsional spring to seal in the contents of the container.

Inventors

  • 👤 Peter Strefford

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-07 14:42
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D50/00; B65D50/02; B65D50/04; B65D50/045

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim 434 words
A container safety dispensing closure comprising: a. a hollow outer cap having a generally cylindrically shaped outer wall and a flat top, the wall having an inwardly opening circumferential slot on a lower portion thereof, the outer cap adapted to be securely fixed to the container by a retaining ring cooperatively received by said slot and a matching outwardly opening circumferential slot on the container, the wall having a first dispensing aperture extending therethrough substantially diametrically opposite a seat opening, the flat top having a circular central hole extendinG therethrough; b. a hollow generally cylindrically shaped inner cap rotatably received within the outer cap in sliding contact with an upper rim of the container, the inner cap having a second dispensing aperture adapted to be aligned with the first dispensing aperture in the outer cap, the inner cap having a circular seat located beneath the circular hole in the top of the outer cap, the circular seat being smaller in diameter and in eccentric alignment with the circular hole, the inner and outer caps adapted to be engaged by a separate wall mounted opening tool having a manually rotatably cylindrical shaft with a smaller diameter cylindrical boss eccentrically located on one end thereof, the said circular seat adapted to receive the said end of the shaft and the circular seat adapted to receive the eccentric boss in an engaged position wherein manual rotation of the shaft correspondingly rotates the inner cap within the outer cap whereby the inner cap may be rotated from a closed position wherein the second dispensing aperture is covered by the wall of the outer cap to an open position wherein the first and second dispensing apertures are in alignment, thereby providing a passage for dispensing of the contents of the container by tilting the container, the inner cap having a flat vertical outer segment radially opposite the second dispensing aperture; c. a torsional spring located between the inner and outer caps with one end engaging the inner cap and the other end engaging the other cap whereby the inner cap is subjected to a continuous rotational bias towards the closed position; d. a pushbutton member horizontally reciprocatingly received in the seat opening in the outer cap, the pushbutton member having a flat inner surface adapted to be brought into bearing contact with the flat outer segment of the inner cap by depressing the pushbutton member to manually retain the inner cap in the open position following disengagement of the opening tool, the torsional spring immediately returning the inner cap to the closed position upon release of the pushbutton member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 434 words
A container safety dispensing closure comprising: a. a hollow outer cap having a generally cylindrically shaped outer wall and a flat top, the wall having an inwardly opening circumferential slot on a lower portion thereof, the outer cap adapted to be securely fixed to the container by a retaining ring cooperatively received by said slot and a matching outwardly opening circumferential slot on the container, the wall having a first dispensing aperture extending therethrough substantially diametrically opposite a seat opening, the flat top having a circular central hole extendinG therethrough; b. a hollow generally cylindrically shaped inner cap rotatably received within the outer cap in sliding contact with an upper rim of the container, the inner cap having a second dispensing aperture adapted to be aligned with the first dispensing aperture in the outer cap, the inner cap having a circular seat located beneath the circular hole in the top of the outer cap, the circular seat being smaller in diameter and in eccentric alignment with the circular hole, the inner and outer caps adapted to be engaged by a separate wall mounted opening tool having a manually rotatably cylindrical shaft with a smaller diameter cylindrical boss eccentrically located on one end thereof, the said circular seat adapted to receive the said end of the shaft and the circular seat adapted to receive the eccentric boss in an engaged position wherein manual rotation of the shaft correspondingly rotates the inner cap within the outer cap whereby the inner cap may be rotated from a closed position wherein the second dispensing aperture is covered by the wall of the outer cap to an open position wherein the first and second dispensing apertures are in alignment, thereby providing a passage for dispensing of the contents of the container by tilting the container, the inner cap having a flat vertical outer segment radially opposite the second dispensing aperture; c. a torsional spring located between the inner and outer caps with one end engaging the inner cap and the other end engaging the other cap whereby the inner cap is subjected to a continuous rotational bias towards the closed position; d. a pushbutton member horizontally reciprocatingly received in the seat opening in the outer cap, the pushbutton member having a flat inner surface adapted to be brought into bearing contact with the flat outer segment of the inner cap by depressing the pushbutton member to manually retain the inner cap in the open position following disengagement of the opening tool, the torsional spring immediately returning the inner cap to the closed position upon release of the pushbutton member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 168 words
A container safety dispensing closure comprising: a. a hollow outer cap adapted to be securely fixed to the container, the outer cap having a first dispensing aperture therein; b. an inner cap rotatably located within the outer cap and having a sealing portion, the inner cap being adapted to be rotated from a first closed position wherein the sealing portion seals the first dispensing aperture in the outer cap to a second open position wherein the first dispensing aperture is unsealed to permit the contents of the container to be dispensed therefrom, the inner cap being rotated by a separate opening tool having a rotatable shaft adapted to mateably engage the inner cap; c. biasing means adapted to bias the inner cap towards the closed position; and d. holding means adapted to permit the inner cap to be manually releasably retained in the open position following disengagement of the engaging means, the biasing means returning the inner cap to the closed position upon release of the holding means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 168 words
A container safety dispensing closure comprising: a. a hollow outer cap adapted to be securely fixed to the container, the outer cap having a first dispensing aperture therein; b. an inner cap rotatably located within the outer cap and having a sealing portion, the inner cap being adapted to be rotated from a first closed position wherein the sealing portion seals the first dispensing aperture in the outer cap to a second open position wherein the first dispensing aperture is unsealed to permit the contents of the container to be dispensed therefrom, the inner cap being rotated by a separate opening tool having a rotatable shaft adapted to mateably engage the inner cap; c. biasing means adapted to bias the inner cap towards the closed position; and d. holding means adapted to permit the inner cap to be manually releasably retained in the open position following disengagement of the engaging means, the biasing means returning the inner cap to the closed position upon release of the holding means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 40 words
A safety dispensing closure as claimed in claim 2 wherein the inner cap has a second dispensing aperture therein, the first and second dispensing apertures being in alignment in the open position and out of alignment in the closed position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 132 words
A safety dispensing closure as claimed in claim 2 wherein the rotatable shaft of the separate opening tool is cylindrical with a smaller diameter cylindrical boss eccentrically located on one end thereof and a manually rotatable handle on the other end, the outer cap having a top with a circular hole extending therethrough adapted to matingly receive the said one end of the opening tool shaft in an engaged position, the inner cap having a circular seat therein in eccentric alignment with the first opening in the outer cap, the seat adapted to matingly receive the said cylindrical boss in an engaged position wherein the inner Cap may be rotated from the closed to the open position by rotation of the opening tool handle while holding the container and outer cap fixed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 155 words
A safety dispensing closure as claimed in claim 2 wherein the rotatable shaft of the separate opening tool is cylindrical with a smaller diameter cylindrical boss eccentrically located on one end thereof and a manually rotatable handle on the other end, the opening tool also having a bracket member adapted to rotatably secure the said shaft in a desired vertical position on a wall, the outer cap having a top with a circular hole extending therethrough adapted to matingly receive the said one end of the opening tool shaft in an engaged position, the inner cap having a circular seat therein in eccentric alignment with the first opening in the outer cap, the seat adapted to matingly receive the said cylindrical boss in an engaged position wherein the inner cap may be rotated from the closed to the open position by rotation of the opening tool handle while holding the container and outer cap fixed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 59 words
A safety dispensing closure as claimed in claim 2 wherein the inner cap has a closure lip portion which covers the first aperture in the closed position, the inner and outer caps being interconnected whereby the closure lip portion is moved to a position not covering the first aperture when the inner cap is rotated to the open position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 153 words
A safety dispensing closure as claimed in claim 6 wherein the rotatable shaft of the separate opening tool is cylindrical with a smaller diameter cylindrical boss eccentrically located on one end thereof and a manually rotatable handle on the other end thereof, the outer cap having a top with a circular hole extending therethrough, the inner cap having an inner cylindrical portion extending above the outer lip portion, the inner cylindrical portion adapted to extend through the opening in the outer cap and to matingly receive the said one end of the opening tool shaft in an engaged position, the inner cylindrical portion having a circular seat eccentrically located therein, the seat adapted to matingly receive the said cylindrical boss in the engaged position wherein the inner cap may be rotated from the closed to the open position by rotation of the opening tool handle while holding the container and outer cap fixed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 83 words
A safety dispensing closure as claimed in claim 7 wherein the inner cylindrical portion of the inner cap has a plurality of outward opening helical slots therein and the top of the outer cap has a corresponding plurality of teeth extending into the hole, the teeth adapted to threadably engage the slots whereby the inner cap is lifted by rotation from the closed to the open position wherein the closure lip portion does not cover the first dispensing aperture in the outer cap.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 51 words
A safety dispensing closure as claimed in claim 7 wherein the biasing means comprises a spring located on the inner cylindrical portion of the inner cap and extending in compression from a trough defined between the inner cylindrical portion and the outer lip portion to the top of the outer cap.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 46 words
A safety dispensing closure as claimed in claim 7 wherein the container has an upper rim with a circular sealing ring secured thereto against which the inner cap is brought into bearing contact in the closed position to provide the container with a liquid tight seal.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US1124742A Cited
US2573624A Cited
US2924393A Cited
US2971681A Cited
US3401843A Cited
US3747807A Cited
US3724724A Cited
US3788523A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1978-06-16 1978-12-16 1979-06-17 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1982-06-16 1982-12-16 1983-06-17 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1986-06-16 1986-12-16 1987-06-17 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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