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US3901400A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Childproof closure

Assignee: Continental Can Co Inc
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Filing: 1974-02-04
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Granted: 1975-08-26
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Expires: 1994-02-04
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Abstract

Abstract This disclosure relates to a novel childproof closure combination in which a generally annular fitment is secured to a container finish and a closure is secured to the fitment by a cooperative bead and groove with means to achieve disengagement of the bead and groove upon relative rotation between the closure and fitment. In the absence of such relative rotation the application of opening force to the closure rotates the closure and fitment in unison thereby precluding inadvertent access to the container contents.

Inventors

  • 👤 James E Westfall

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-30 06:02
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D50/00; B65D50/02; B65D50/04

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim 211 words
A childproof closure combination comprising a closure and a cooperative annular fitment, said annular fitment being adapted for encircling engagement about an associated container, said closure having an end panel and a depending peripheral skirt, means carried by said peripheral skirt, for securing said closure to an associated container, first cooperative means between and formed as portions of said peripheral skirt and said annular fitment for releasably interlockingly coupling the same to each other, second cooperative means between and formed as portions of said peripheral skirt and said annular fitment for uncoupling said first cooperative coupling means upon relative rotation between said closure and fitment, said second cooperative coupling means being defined by cam and cam follower means of said peripheral skirt and fitment, said cam and cam follower means being defined by a cam surface of said fitment opposing a cam follower surface of said peripheral skirt, and said cam and cam follower surfaces being disposed along a portion of the periphery of said fitment and peripheral skirt, respectively, and being circumferentially inclined whereby upon relative rotation between said fitment and closure said cam and cam follower surfaces create axial forces between said closure and fitment causing axial motion therebetween resulting in the uncoupling of said first cooperative coupling means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 211 words
A childproof closure combination comprising a closure and a cooperative annular fitment, said annular fitment being adapted for encircling engagement about an associated container, said closure having an end panel and a depending peripheral skirt, means carried by said peripheral skirt, for securing said closure to an associated container, first cooperative means between and formed as portions of said peripheral skirt and said annular fitment for releasably interlockingly coupling the same to each other, second cooperative means between and formed as portions of said peripheral skirt and said annular fitment for uncoupling said first cooperative coupling means upon relative rotation between said closure and fitment, said second cooperative coupling means being defined by cam and cam follower means of said peripheral skirt and fitment, said cam and cam follower means being defined by a cam surface of said fitment opposing a cam follower surface of said peripheral skirt, and said cam and cam follower surfaces being disposed along a portion of the periphery of said fitment and peripheral skirt, respectively, and being circumferentially inclined whereby upon relative rotation between said fitment and closure said cam and cam follower surfaces create axial forces between said closure and fitment causing axial motion therebetween resulting in the uncoupling of said first cooperative coupling means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 29 words
The childproof closure combination as defined in claim 1 wherein said first cooperative coupling means is a bead of said periphEral skirt interlocked in a groove of said fitment.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 53 words
The childproof closure combination as defined in claim 1 including means carried by said fitment for securing said fitment to an associated container, and said fitment securing means are a plurality of radially inwardly directed hollow resilient lugs carried by said fitment for preventing axial removal of said fitment from an associated container.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 30 words
The childproof closure combination as defined in claim 2 wherein said groove in radial cross-section has a closed bottom portion of a size greater than a top entrance portion thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 53 words
The childproof closure combination as defined in claim 2 including means carried by said fitment for securing said fitment to an associated container, and said fitment securing means are a plurality of radially inwardly directed hollow resilient lugs carried by said fitment for preventing axial removal of said fitment from an associated container.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 53 words
the childproof closure combination as defined in claim 4 including means carried by said fitment for securing said fitment to an associated container, and said fitment securing means are a plurality of radially inwardly directed hollow resilient lugs carried by said fitment for preventing axial removal of said fitment from an associated container.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 263 words
A childproof closure combination comprising a closure and a cooperative annular fitment, said closure having an end panel and a peripheral skirt, means carried by said peripheral skirt for securing said closure to an associated container, first cooperative means between and formed as portions of said peripheral skirt and said annular fitment for interlockingly coupling the same to each other, second cooperative means between and formed as portions of said peripheral skirt and said annular fitment for uncoupling said cooperative coupling means upon relative rotation between said closure and said fitment, said cooperative coupling means being defined by a bead carried by said peripheral skirt interlocked with a groove in said fitment opening axially in a direction toward said end panel, said cooperative uncoupling means being defined by a cam of one of said peripheral skirt and fitment in cooperative circumferential sliding relationship with a portion of the other of said peripheral skirt and fitment, said cam being inclined circumferentially relative to said peripheral skirt and fitment, said portion also being a cam, one of said cams being defined by a notch in said peripheral skirt defining an axially inclined circumferentially extending cam surface of said closure, the other of said cams being defined by an axially inclined circumferentially extending cam surface of said fitment, and said cam surfaces are in mating like contoured relationship in the coupled condition of said closure and fitment whereby upon relative rotation therebetween in a predetermined direction said cam surfaces impart axial relative movement between said closure and fitment to cause uncoupling of said cooperative coupling means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 263 words
A childproof closure combination comprising a closure and a cooperative annular fitment, said closure having an end panel and a peripheral skirt, means carried by said peripheral skirt for securing said closure to an associated container, first cooperative means between and formed as portions of said peripheral skirt and said annular fitment for interlockingly coupling the same to each other, second cooperative means between and formed as portions of said peripheral skirt and said annular fitment for uncoupling said cooperative coupling means upon relative rotation between said closure and said fitment, said cooperative coupling means being defined by a bead carried by said peripheral skirt interlocked with a groove in said fitment opening axially in a direction toward said end panel, said cooperative uncoupling means being defined by a cam of one of said peripheral skirt and fitment in cooperative circumferential sliding relationship with a portion of the other of said peripheral skirt and fitment, said cam being inclined circumferentially relative to said peripheral skirt and fitment, said portion also being a cam, one of said cams being defined by a notch in said peripheral skirt defining an axially inclined circumferentially extending cam surface of said closure, the other of said cams being defined by an axially inclined circumferentially extending cam surface of said fitment, and said cam surfaces are in mating like contoured relationship in the coupled condition of said closure and fitment whereby upon relative rotation therebetween in a predetermined direction said cam surfaces impart axial relative movement between said closure and fitment to cause uncoupling of said cooperative coupling means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 52 words
The childproof closure combination as defined in claim 7 including means carried by said fitment for securing said fitment to an associated container, and said fitment securing means are a plurality of radially inwardly directed resilient lugs carried by said fitment for preventing axial removal of said fitment from an associated container.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 232 words
A childproof closure combination comprising a closure and a cooperative annular fitment, said closure having an end panel and a peripheral skirt, means carried by said peripheral skirt for securing said closure to an associated container, first cooperative means between and formed as portions of said peripheral skirt and said annular bitment for interlockingly coupling the same to each other, second cooperative means between and formed as portions of said peripheral skirt and said annular fitment for uncoupling said cooperative means upon relative rotation between said closure and said fitment, said cooperative uncoupling means being definEd by a cam of one of said peripheral skirt and fitment in cooperative circumferential sliding relationship with a portion of the other of said peripheral skirt and fitment, said cam being inclined circumferentially relative to said peripheral skirt and fitment, said portion also being a cam, one of said cams being defined by a notch in said peripheral skirt defining an axially inclined circumferentially extending cam surface of said closure, the other of said cams being defined by an axially inclined circumferentially extending cam surface of said fitment, and said cam surfaces are in mating like contoured relationship in the coupled condition of said closure and fitment whereby upon relative rotation therebetween in a predetermined direction said cam surfaces impart axial relative movement between said closure and fitment to cause uncoupling of said cooperative coupling means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 232 words
A childproof closure combination comprising a closure and a cooperative annular fitment, said closure having an end panel and a peripheral skirt, means carried by said peripheral skirt for securing said closure to an associated container, first cooperative means between and formed as portions of said peripheral skirt and said annular bitment for interlockingly coupling the same to each other, second cooperative means between and formed as portions of said peripheral skirt and said annular fitment for uncoupling said cooperative means upon relative rotation between said closure and said fitment, said cooperative uncoupling means being definEd by a cam of one of said peripheral skirt and fitment in cooperative circumferential sliding relationship with a portion of the other of said peripheral skirt and fitment, said cam being inclined circumferentially relative to said peripheral skirt and fitment, said portion also being a cam, one of said cams being defined by a notch in said peripheral skirt defining an axially inclined circumferentially extending cam surface of said closure, the other of said cams being defined by an axially inclined circumferentially extending cam surface of said fitment, and said cam surfaces are in mating like contoured relationship in the coupled condition of said closure and fitment whereby upon relative rotation therebetween in a predetermined direction said cam surfaces impart axial relative movement between said closure and fitment to cause uncoupling of said cooperative coupling means.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3656645A Cited
US3811589A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1978-08-25 1979-02-24 1979-08-26 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1982-08-25 1983-02-24 1983-08-26 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1986-08-25 1987-02-24 1987-08-26 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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