US3915326A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Child-resistant plastic overcap
Assignee: Continental Can Co Inc
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Filing: 1974-07-26
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Granted: 1975-10-28
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Expires: 1994-07-26
Abstract
Abstract A metal screw-cap and deformable plastic overcap are combined to provide a security closure. The overcap in its normal undeformed condition is freely rotatable about the screw-cap. The overcap is deformed by radial pressure to engage its serrations with the knurled screw-cap, thereby allowing removal and reapplication to a container neck. The overcap is provided with strategically placed slits or voids about its periphery which enhance its flexibility. This enables the adult user not only to see the inner cap but also serves to guide him to apply sufficient pressure to achieve a more tightly closed cap. The slits insure that he is adequately gripping the inner cap. The slits also permit the user to see if the overcap is slipping rather than engaging the screw-cap.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul J Hrubesky
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 10:43
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D50/00; B65D50/02; B65D50/04; B65D50/041
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
138 words
A safety closure comprising relatively rotatable telescoped inner and outer caps, said caps each comprising a top and a sidewall depending therefrom, means for interlocking said caps attendant to a radial displacement of said outer cap, said outer cap being flexible and having flexibility-enhancing means comprising peripheral openings reducing structural rigidity in the peripheral portion of said outer cap to accommodate said radial displacement with minimal pressure to engage said means, said peripheral openings serving to provide the user with a means of visual identification of said inner cap and its closure principle while maintaining the child-resistant features of the closure, said openings being dimensioned to admit the nodes of the user''s fingers to enable the user to obtain a limited direct grip on said inner cap attendant to distortion of said outer cap against said inner cap.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
138 words
A safety closure comprising relatively rotatable telescoped inner and outer caps, said caps each comprising a top and a sidewall depending therefrom, means for interlocking said caps attendant to a radial displacement of said outer cap, said outer cap being flexible and having flexibility-enhancing means comprising peripheral openings reducing structural rigidity in the peripheral portion of said outer cap to accommodate said radial displacement with minimal pressure to engage said means, said peripheral openings serving to provide the user with a means of visual identification of said inner cap and its closure principle while maintaining the child-resistant features of the closure, said openings being dimensioned to admit the nodes of the user''s fingers to enable the user to obtain a limited direct grip on said inner cap attendant to distortion of said outer cap against said inner cap.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
An improved safety closure as defined in claim 1 wherein said peripheral openings are symetrically located.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
102 words
A safety closure comprising a metal inner cap and a flexible plastic outer cap encompassing said inner cap and interlocked therewith, said caps being relatively rotatable, each of said caps comprising a top and a skirt, said outer cap skirt being substantially longer than said inner cap skirt thereby enhancing the flexibility of said outer cap skirt, said outer cap skirt having axially extending circumferentially spaced bands spaced apart a distance sufficient to enable the user to press the nodes of his fingers therebetween and thereby obtain a limited direct purchase on said inner cap and thereby achieve a tightly closed cap.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
102 words
A safety closure comprising a metal inner cap and a flexible plastic outer cap encompassing said inner cap and interlocked therewith, said caps being relatively rotatable, each of said caps comprising a top and a skirt, said outer cap skirt being substantially longer than said inner cap skirt thereby enhancing the flexibility of said outer cap skirt, said outer cap skirt having axially extending circumferentially spaced bands spaced apart a distance sufficient to enable the user to press the nodes of his fingers therebetween and thereby obtain a limited direct purchase on said inner cap and thereby achieve a tightly closed cap.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
An improved safety closure as defined in claim 3 wherein said slots are generally rectangular.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
132 words
A safety closure comprising a knurled metal screw-cap and a flexible plastic overcap, said overcap and said screw-cap each comprising a generally horizontal paneL and integral skirt depending therefrom, said overcap skirt being substantially longer than said screw-cap skirt, whereby said greater length serves to increase the flexibility of said overcap skirt, said overcap skirt having a plurality of slots elongated axially of the closure and having terminal ends extending into the overcap top, said slots having a width of an extent enabling the user to insert the nodes of his fingers through said slots and thereby obtain a limited direct grip on said inner cap, and a band of serrations on the inner surface of said overcap skirt engagable with said screw-cap knurling upon radial inward deformation of said overcap skirt.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
132 words
A safety closure comprising a knurled metal screw-cap and a flexible plastic overcap, said overcap and said screw-cap each comprising a generally horizontal paneL and integral skirt depending therefrom, said overcap skirt being substantially longer than said screw-cap skirt, whereby said greater length serves to increase the flexibility of said overcap skirt, said overcap skirt having a plurality of slots elongated axially of the closure and having terminal ends extending into the overcap top, said slots having a width of an extent enabling the user to insert the nodes of his fingers through said slots and thereby obtain a limited direct grip on said inner cap, and a band of serrations on the inner surface of said overcap skirt engagable with said screw-cap knurling upon radial inward deformation of said overcap skirt.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
An improved safety closure as defined in claim 5 wherein said slots extend into the top of said outer cap defining curved openings therein.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
115 words
A safety closure comprising a toothed inner metal threaded cap adapted to be screwed on a threaded container neck and an outer flexible plastic cap encompassing said inner cap, said inner and outer caps each having a skirt and a top, said outer cap skirt being substantially longer than said inner cap skirt and projecting axially beyond one end of the inner cap and defining a supplemental deflection region to enhance the flexibility of said outer cap skirt, said inner and outer caps being relatively rotatable, said outer cap having teeth on its inner surface, adjacent to said deflection enhancing region, engageable with said toothed inner cap upon the radial deformation of said outer cap.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
115 words
A safety closure comprising a toothed inner metal threaded cap adapted to be screwed on a threaded container neck and an outer flexible plastic cap encompassing said inner cap, said inner and outer caps each having a skirt and a top, said outer cap skirt being substantially longer than said inner cap skirt and projecting axially beyond one end of the inner cap and defining a supplemental deflection region to enhance the flexibility of said outer cap skirt, said inner and outer caps being relatively rotatable, said outer cap having teeth on its inner surface, adjacent to said deflection enhancing region, engageable with said toothed inner cap upon the radial deformation of said outer cap.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
An improved safety closure as defined in claim 7 wherein said slots are symetrically located.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
An improved safety closure as defined in claim 8 wherein said slots are generally rectangular.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
77 words
A safety closure comprising relatively rotatable telescoped inner and outer caps, means for interlocking said caps attendant to a radial displacement of said outer cap, said outer cap being flexible and having means for insertion of the nodes of a user''s fingers through the peripheral portion of said outer cap upon gripping the same to provide the user with a limited direct grip on said inner cap thereby enabling the achievement of a more tightly closed cap.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
77 words
A safety closure comprising relatively rotatable telescoped inner and outer caps, means for interlocking said caps attendant to a radial displacement of said outer cap, said outer cap being flexible and having means for insertion of the nodes of a user''s fingers through the peripheral portion of said outer cap upon gripping the same to provide the user with a limited direct grip on said inner cap thereby enabling the achievement of a more tightly closed cap.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
97 words
A safety closure comprising a metal inner can cap, a flexible plastic outer cap encompassing said inner cap, said caps being relatively rotatable, said outer cap comprising a top and a lower rim, said top and said lower rim being connected by a plurality of circumferentially spaced bands defining nodal-insertion areas therebetween wherein the user may insert the nodes of his fingers and thereby obtain a limited direct grip on said inner cap, means for constraining said caps from separating, and means for interlocking said caps for corotation attendant to a radial displacement of said outer cap.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
97 words
A safety closure comprising a metal inner can cap, a flexible plastic outer cap encompassing said inner cap, said caps being relatively rotatable, said outer cap comprising a top and a lower rim, said top and said lower rim being connected by a plurality of circumferentially spaced bands defining nodal-insertion areas therebetween wherein the user may insert the nodes of his fingers and thereby obtain a limited direct grip on said inner cap, means for constraining said caps from separating, and means for interlocking said caps for corotation attendant to a radial displacement of said outer cap.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
63 words
An improved safety closure as defined in claim 2, wherein one of said tops of said caps comprises axially directed spacing means for holding said tops a substantial distance apart and said side wall of said outer cap is considerably longer than that of said inner cap, thereby enhancing the flexibility of said outer cap and minimizing the flexibility of said inner cap.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
An improved safety closure as defined in claim 12, wherein said spacing means comprises an axially directed spacing rod formed on one of said tops and extending to the other.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3722727A
Cited
US3822805A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-10-27 | 1979-04-28 | 1979-10-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-10-27 | 1983-04-28 | 1983-10-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-10-27 | 1987-04-28 | 1987-10-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |