US3923181A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Child-resistant closures
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-03-21
•
Granted: 1975-12-02
•
Expires: 1994-03-21
Abstract
Abstract There is disclosed a closure for a container for fluent substances which may be harmful if ingested, especially by a child of tender years. The closure consists of two parts: one is secured to that portion of the container which defines the pouring opening and the other is manipulatable with respect to the first to open and close the opening. The parts have respective elements, at least one of which is helical, adapted to be engaged upon relative rotary movement to open the pouring opening but so arranged and constructed that the rotary movement must be accompanied by sustained digital squeezing force on two opposite sides of the movable part in order that rotary movement results also in axial movement. Such axial movement thereby disengages a bead and groove connection normally maintaining the two parts in fluid-tight relation. Re-engagement is obtained by simple axial thrust of the movable part on to the other. In one aspect the exterior configuration of the movable part is frustoconical to render it more difficult for a child to grasp and pull.
Inventors
- 👤 Sidney M Libit
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 11:15
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D50/00; B65D50/02; B65D50/04; B65D50/045; B65D50/048; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S206/00; Y10S206/807
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
297 words
A closure for attachment to means defining the pouring opening of a container for a fluent substance, said closure comprising a hollow cylindrical neck extending from the periphery of said opening and a cylindrical cap adapted to be engaged with, and disengaged from, said neck to effect open and closed conditions of the container opening, at least the cap being of resilient but generally shape retaining material, said cap having a top wall and a skirt depending from the periphery of said wall, the neck and skirt having respective confronting faces, one of said faces having a helicoid outstanding therefrom and the other of said faces having a cam element outstanding therefrom, adapted to be driven by the helicoid, said helicoid and cam element being in overlapping relation in the closed condition of the closure, said cap and neck having respective bead and groove means which are engaged with a snap fit when the closure is in closed condition to restrain axial movement of the cap in response to force applied axially outwardly of the cap and said bead and groove means are disengaged upon forcible relative axial shifting of the cap and neck, to free the cap for removal, the overlap being such in relation to the tightness of said snap fit that simple rotation of the cap will displace the cam element away from overlapping relation with the helicoid by reason of the elasticity of the material and, upon application of digital, radial, squeezing force to the exterior of the skirt in the region of engagement of the element and helicoid, the displacing force is nullified and the element and helicoid are maintained in driving engagement to translate rotation of the cap into axial displacement of the cap against the bias of the snap fit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
297 words
A closure for attachment to means defining the pouring opening of a container for a fluent substance, said closure comprising a hollow cylindrical neck extending from the periphery of said opening and a cylindrical cap adapted to be engaged with, and disengaged from, said neck to effect open and closed conditions of the container opening, at least the cap being of resilient but generally shape retaining material, said cap having a top wall and a skirt depending from the periphery of said wall, the neck and skirt having respective confronting faces, one of said faces having a helicoid outstanding therefrom and the other of said faces having a cam element outstanding therefrom, adapted to be driven by the helicoid, said helicoid and cam element being in overlapping relation in the closed condition of the closure, said cap and neck having respective bead and groove means which are engaged with a snap fit when the closure is in closed condition to restrain axial movement of the cap in response to force applied axially outwardly of the cap and said bead and groove means are disengaged upon forcible relative axial shifting of the cap and neck, to free the cap for removal, the overlap being such in relation to the tightness of said snap fit that simple rotation of the cap will displace the cam element away from overlapping relation with the helicoid by reason of the elasticity of the material and, upon application of digital, radial, squeezing force to the exterior of the skirt in the region of engagement of the element and helicoid, the displacing force is nullified and the element and helicoid are maintained in driving engagement to translate rotation of the cap into axial displacement of the cap against the bias of the snap fit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The combination in accordance with claim 1 wherein the cam element comprises a pair of projections spaced apart axially a distance which receives the helicoid with a running fit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The combination in accordance with claim 1 wherein the helicoid has a substantially rectangular transverse cross section, two opposite sides of the rectangle being normal to the axis of the neck.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The combination in accordance with claim 1 further characterized in that the exterior of the lateral wall of the skirt is of substantially frusto-conical configuration.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The combination in accordance with claim 1 further characterized in that the thickness of said skirt is uniform, at least in the area coextensive with the helicoid.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
The combination in accordance with claim 1 wherein the bead is at the outer end of the neck and the groove is adjacent the top wall of the cap, the snap fit providing a fluid-tight seal between the cap and neck.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
210 words
A closure for attachment to means defining a pouring opening of a container for a fluent substance, said closure comprising a hollow cylindrical neck extending from the periphery of said opening, and a cylindrical cap adapted to be engaged with, and disengaged from said neck to effect open and closed conditions of the container opening, said cap having a top wall and a skirt depending from the periphery of said wall, said skirt comprising resilient material, a first cam element protruding outwardly from the exterior surface of said neck and a second cam element protruding inwardly from the interior surface of said skirt, said elements being mutually displaceable when the cap is rotated relative to the neck and the skirt is radially unrestrained, said first cam element being a helical flight, said second element riding on the incline of the first element when the cap is rotated and the skirt is radially restrained, as a result of which the cap is moved axially, retaining means on said cap and neck normally preventing relative axial displacement therebetween but capable of being overcome by torque applied to the cap of a degree sufficient to overcome the retaining means whereby separation of the retaining means frees the cap for removal from the neck.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
210 words
A closure for attachment to means defining a pouring opening of a container for a fluent substance, said closure comprising a hollow cylindrical neck extending from the periphery of said opening, and a cylindrical cap adapted to be engaged with, and disengaged from said neck to effect open and closed conditions of the container opening, said cap having a top wall and a skirt depending from the periphery of said wall, said skirt comprising resilient material, a first cam element protruding outwardly from the exterior surface of said neck and a second cam element protruding inwardly from the interior surface of said skirt, said elements being mutually displaceable when the cap is rotated relative to the neck and the skirt is radially unrestrained, said first cam element being a helical flight, said second element riding on the incline of the first element when the cap is rotated and the skirt is radially restrained, as a result of which the cap is moved axially, retaining means on said cap and neck normally preventing relative axial displacement therebetween but capable of being overcome by torque applied to the cap of a degree sufficient to overcome the retaining means whereby separation of the retaining means frees the cap for removal from the neck.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
The combination in accordance with claim 7 wherein the retaining means is a bead on one of the neck and cap and a groove in the other of the neck and cap, said bead and groove being engaged with a snap fit.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
The combination in accordance with claim 8 wherein the bead has a frusto-conical surface on the side which enters the groove to facilitate thrust type re-engagement of the bead and groove upon re-assembly of the cap and neck.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
The combination in accordance with claim 7 further characterized in that the interior face of the top wall of the cap in the closed position abuts the end of the neck in fluid-tight relation.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
The combination in accordance with claim 7 further characterized in that the top wall of the cap is provided with an inwardly extending plug forming a snug fit with the interior of the neck.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The combination in accordance with claim 7 further characterized in that the skirt has a frusto-conical configuration with the larger diameter toward the container.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
The combination in accordance with claim 7 wherein the skirt, in zones where radial inwardly directed squeezing force is applied is flaccid to present low resistance to disengagement of the elements in the absence of such force.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
76 words
The combination in accordance with claim 7 further characterized in that said top wall has a through opening adapted to provide passage for the contents of the container when the closure is in on condition and the neck has a transverse wall at its outer end provided with a perforation, said cap top wall having a plug adapted to intromit the perforation when the closure is in off condition to seal against passage of said contents.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The combination in accordance with claim 14 wherein that end of the plug confronting the perforation is conical.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
56 words
The combination in accordance with claim 7 wherein the skirt of the cap carries at least one flap substantially co-planar with the skirt and radially displaceable relative to the principal plane of the skirt, said second element being carried on the interior of the flap, whereby said radially restraining force may be applied to the flap.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-12-01 | 1979-06-02 | 1979-12-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-12-01 | 1983-06-02 | 1983-12-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-12-01 | 1987-06-02 | 1987-12-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |