US3926328A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Safety closure
Assignee: Kerr Group Inc
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Filing: 1972-09-28
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Granted: 1975-12-16
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Expires: 1992-09-28
Abstract
Abstract A safety closure formed with nested inner and outer caps has ramp lugs on facing end walls of each cap for driving engagement with each other when turned in the closure applying direction without first having to be shifted axially. This facilitates threading of the closure onto containers by automatic capping apparatus. The ramp lugs slide past one another when the outer cap is turned in the removal direction and this prevents a child from removing the closure with a simple turning of the outer cap. The outer cap has a flexible skirt which can be deflected inwardly to engage driving surfaces on the inner and outer caps. Such deflection when accompanied by a simultaneously applied torque in the removal direction, unscrews the inner cap from the container.
Inventors
- 👤 David R Cistone
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 19:01
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D50/00; B65D50/02; B65D50/04; B65D50/041
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
362 words
A safety closure for a container comprising: an inner cap having an upper end and a generally cylindrical skirt extending downwardly from the periphery of the outer edge of the upper end, said inner cap being adapted to be threadably secured on said container for effectuating a closure thereof, said upper end having a plurality of upstanding lugs located on the upper surface thereof and an outer cap coaxially aligned with and generally overlaying said inner cap, said outer cap having an upper end and a generally cylindrical skirt extending downwardly from the periphery of the outer edge of its upper end, a plurality of downwardly projecting lugs located on the inner surface of said outer cap, said lugs on said inner and outer caps being aligned in a substantially common plane and having substantially vertically extending drive surfaces for abutting and for causing said inner cap and said outer cap to rotate in unison when said outer cap is rotated in a closure direction, said lugs having inclined ramp surfaces for abutting and sliding over each other when said outer cap is rotated in an unlocking direction so that rotation of said outer cap in an unlocking direction does not rotate said inner cap, said lugs on at least one of said caps touching the end wall of said other cap to hold said flat end portion of said outer cap against downward movement, said drive lugs riding over each other to flex said flat end portion upwardly when said outer cap is turned in said reverse direction, cooperable drive surfaces formed on said skirts of said inner and outer caps, said outer cap skirt being made of a resilient material and adapted to be resiliently deformed inward by hand applied compression for causing said drive surface on said outer cap skirt to move from an ineffective position to an effective position for driving engagement with the drive surface on said inner cap skirt, said inner and outer caps rotating in unison when a torque is applied in the unlocking direction and said outer cap skirt is deformed inwardly to said effective position to cause driving engagement between said drive surfaces.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
362 words
A safety closure for a container comprising: an inner cap having an upper end and a generally cylindrical skirt extending downwardly from the periphery of the outer edge of the upper end, said inner cap being adapted to be threadably secured on said container for effectuating a closure thereof, said upper end having a plurality of upstanding lugs located on the upper surface thereof and an outer cap coaxially aligned with and generally overlaying said inner cap, said outer cap having an upper end and a generally cylindrical skirt extending downwardly from the periphery of the outer edge of its upper end, a plurality of downwardly projecting lugs located on the inner surface of said outer cap, said lugs on said inner and outer caps being aligned in a substantially common plane and having substantially vertically extending drive surfaces for abutting and for causing said inner cap and said outer cap to rotate in unison when said outer cap is rotated in a closure direction, said lugs having inclined ramp surfaces for abutting and sliding over each other when said outer cap is rotated in an unlocking direction so that rotation of said outer cap in an unlocking direction does not rotate said inner cap, said lugs on at least one of said caps touching the end wall of said other cap to hold said flat end portion of said outer cap against downward movement, said drive lugs riding over each other to flex said flat end portion upwardly when said outer cap is turned in said reverse direction, cooperable drive surfaces formed on said skirts of said inner and outer caps, said outer cap skirt being made of a resilient material and adapted to be resiliently deformed inward by hand applied compression for causing said drive surface on said outer cap skirt to move from an ineffective position to an effective position for driving engagement with the drive surface on said inner cap skirt, said inner and outer caps rotating in unison when a torque is applied in the unlocking direction and said outer cap skirt is deformed inwardly to said effective position to cause driving engagement between said drive surfaces.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A safety closure as defined in claim 1 wherein said drive surfaces on said inner and outer caps comprise spline surfaces.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
A safety closure as defined in claim 2 wherein said spline drive surface on said inner cap is disposed adjacent the upper flat end thereof and extends longitudinally along the annular skirt portion thereof a distance less than one-half length the longitudinal of said annular skirt portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
A safety closure as defined in claim 1 wherein said inner cap is metallic and wherein at least the upper end of said outer cap is made of transparent plastic.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
A safety closure as defined in claim 4 wherein the upper outer surface of said end portion of said inner cap has operating instructional indicia thereon visible through said end portion of said outer cap.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-12-15 | 1979-06-16 | 1979-12-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-12-15 | 1983-06-16 | 1983-12-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-12-15 | 1987-06-16 | 1987-12-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |