Child-proof safety locking device

Claim 1

A safety locking device adapted for use in selectively locking an aerosol type valve assembly on aerosol container having a movable valve stem connected to a push-button actuator head which stem is slidable within a valve pedestal formed on the valve assembly to thereby prevent depression of the actuator head such that the contents of the container cannot be dispensed comprising, in integral combination, at least a pair of first and second locking means formed adjacent opposite ends of said locking device, said first locking means being adapted to be removably secured to the valve pedestal, and said second locking means being movable between locked and unlocked positions wherein whenever in the locked position it is interposed between the actuator head and the valve pedestal to prevent depression of the actuator head toward the valve pedestal, and wherein, in the unlocked position permits depression of the actuator head toward the valve pedestal, and biased hinge means having said first and second locking means respectively connected therewith for biasing said second locking means with respect to said first locking means such that whenever said first locking means is secured to the valve pedestal said second locking means is biased to the locking position, and for automatically returning said second locking means from said unlocked position to said locked position whenever application of force sufficient to overcome the bias of said biased hinge means for urging said second locking means toward the unlocked position is released, said second locking means includes a second locking member which defines therethrough a generally elliptical opening of sufficient dimension to permit the passage therethrough of the push-button actuator head whenever said second locking means is in the unlocked position, said second locking member also defining an obstruction portion which whenever said second locking means is in the locked position said obstruction portion is so situated to obstruct movement of the push-button actuator head towards the valve pedestal, said obstruction portion being defined by an integral V-shaped portion which gradually tapers upwardly towards the apex thereof for facilitating ranges of valve stem and push-button actuator head heights above said second locking means, said obstruction portion also being formed with a plurality of discrete generally parallel grooves for preventing side slip of said second locking member in response to downward movement of the push-button actuator head towards the valve pedestal whenever said second locking means is in said locked position.