Abstract A safety closure particularly adapted for single use containers. The safety closure includes an internally threaded main body. A flexible skirt is attached to the lower portion of the main body by a flexible circumferential ring. The skirt includes a plurality of inwardly directed interior projections. An annular locking ring is molded as a part of the closure, the locking ring being formed below the skirt and attached thereto by frangible ribs. In use, the locking ring is pushed upward to surround the skirt, fracturing the frangible ribs in the process. When the closure is placed on a container with the locking ring in place, the projections on the skirt will cooperate with external projections on the container finish to define a one-way ratchet drive. So long as the locking ring remains in place, the closure cannot be removed. When the locking ring is pushed off of the skirt, the skirt can flex sufficiently to allow disengagement of the one-way ratchet drive, thus allowing removal of the closure from the container.
Inventors
👤 William E Fillmore
Bibliographic Details
Application Number—
JurisdictionUS
Data Sourcegoogle_patents
Last Synchronized2026-10-26 18:25
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D41/00; B65D41/32; B65D41/34
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
148 words
A safety closure for a container, said container including a finish portion having threads formed on the exterior thereof and a plurality of external projections located below and adjacent to said threads, said safety closure comprising, in combination: a main body member having threads formed in the interior thereof for engagement with the threads of said container finish; a flexible skirt, attached to the lower portion of said main body member by a flexible circumferential ring, which is formed with a plurality of interior, inwardly directed projections; and locking means, integrally formed with said main body member and said flexible skirt, for stiffening said flexible skirt when engaged therewith to prevent removal of said closure from said container when said internal and external projections are engaged, said locking means being movable out of engagement with said flexible skirt to thereby allow removal of said closure from said container.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
148 words
A safety closure for a container, said container including a finish portion having threads formed on the exterior thereof and a plurality of external projections located below and adjacent to said threads, said safety closure comprising, in combination: a main body member having threads formed in the interior thereof for engagement with the threads of said container finish; a flexible skirt, attached to the lower portion of said main body member by a flexible circumferential ring, which is formed with a plurality of interior, inwardly directed projections; and locking means, integrally formed with said main body member and said flexible skirt, for stiffening said flexible skirt when engaged therewith to prevent removal of said closure from said container when said internal and external projections are engaged, said locking means being movable out of engagement with said flexible skirt to thereby allow removal of said closure from said container.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The closure of claim 1 wherein said locking means includes: an annular locking ring formed in a position below said flexible skirt; and a plurality of frangible ribs joining said annular ring to said flexible skirt.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The closure of claim 2 wherein said locking means further includes: a radially extending flange integrally formed at the outer peripheral edge of said locking ring.