US4257537A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Child resistant sifter type closure
Assignee: Graham Packaging Plastic Products Inc
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Filing: 1979-08-20
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Granted: 1981-03-24
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Expires: 1999-08-20
Abstract
Abstract An improved child resistant sifter fitment and closure for containers of harmful products includes an inverted cup-shaped body member formed of resilient plastic material and an integrally molded locking flap connected by an integral hinge to the periphery of the panel portion of the body member. The locking flap folds into a conforming recess in the top surface of the panel, and, in its folded position, all edges of the locking flap are flush with the adjacent top surfaces of the panel. Co-operating locking surfaces are provided on the flap and the body portion to retain the locking flap in its folded position, and to permit limited longitudinal movement of the locking flap relative to the panel. Dispensing openings are provided in the panel underlying the locking flap and an equal number of apertures are provided in the locking flap which are alignable with the dispensing openings by a longitudinal movement of the locking flap relative to the panel. Such longitudinal movement is produced by providing an upwardly opening recess in the portion of the side wall of the closure which underlies the hinged end of the locking flap, thus permitting the side wall portion to be moved inwardly by a compression action of the fingers to shift the locking flap longitudinally relative to the panel and align the dispensing openings.
Inventors
- 👤 Albert R. Uhlig
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 23:27
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D47/00; B65D47/04; B65D47/06; B65D47/08; B65D47/0804; B65D47/0833; B65D47/0838; B65D50/00; B65D50/02; B65D50/04; B65D50/045; B65D2255/00; B65D2255/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
200 words
A sifter fitment and closure for a container neck comprising an inverted cup-shaped body formed of resilient plastic material and having a generally circular top panel portion and an integral annular side wall, means on said side wall for detachably securing the fitment to a container neck, a locking flap connected to a peripheral portion of said panel by an integral hinge and being foldable into an overlying position relative to said panel, a set of co-operating locking surfaces on said locking flap and said panel for securing said locking flap in said overlying position, but permitting linear movement of said locking flap relative to said panel in the direction of its longitudinal axis, that portion of the annular side wall underlying said integral hinge being inwardly depressible whereby said wall portion may be inwardly depressed by compressing action exerted by the fingers to shift said locking flap longitudinally, and at least one dispensing opening formed in said panel beneath said locking flap and communicating with the interior of the container, said locking flap having an aperture therethrough which is aligned with said dispensing opening only when said locking flap is shifted longitudinally by depressing of said outer wall segment.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
200 words
A sifter fitment and closure for a container neck comprising an inverted cup-shaped body formed of resilient plastic material and having a generally circular top panel portion and an integral annular side wall, means on said side wall for detachably securing the fitment to a container neck, a locking flap connected to a peripheral portion of said panel by an integral hinge and being foldable into an overlying position relative to said panel, a set of co-operating locking surfaces on said locking flap and said panel for securing said locking flap in said overlying position, but permitting linear movement of said locking flap relative to said panel in the direction of its longitudinal axis, that portion of the annular side wall underlying said integral hinge being inwardly depressible whereby said wall portion may be inwardly depressed by compressing action exerted by the fingers to shift said locking flap longitudinally, and at least one dispensing opening formed in said panel beneath said locking flap and communicating with the interior of the container, said locking flap having an aperture therethrough which is aligned with said dispensing opening only when said locking flap is shifted longitudinally by depressing of said outer wall segment.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The sifter fitment of claim 1 plus means for resiliently locking said locking flap in a longitudinally shifted position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The sifter fitment of claim 1 wherein said co-operating locking surfaces comprise laterally extending projections on said locking flap and undercut longitudinally extending grooves formed in the side walls of said recess and receiving said projections.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
63 words
The sifter fitment of claim 1 plus a locking surface formed in the panel remote from said integral hinge, and a locking projection formed on the free end of said locking flap engageable with said locking surface only when said locking flap is longitudinally shifted to align the flap aperture with the dispensing opening, thereby locking the fitment in its open dispensing position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
223 words
A sifter fitment and closure for a container neck comprising an inverted cup-shaped body formed of resilient plastic material and having a generally circular top panel portion and an integral annular side wall, means on said side wall for detachably securing the fitment to a container neck, a locking flap connected to a peripheral portion of said panel by an integral hinge and being foldable into an overlying position relative to said panel, said panel having a recess in its top surface conforming to the configuration of said locking flap to receive said locking flap and said panel for securing said locking flap in said recess, but permitting linear movement of said locking flap relative to said panel in the direction of its longitudinal axis, that portion of the annular side wall underlying the hinged end of the locking flap having a top opening recess formed therein whereby the outer wall segment of said recess may be inwardly depressed by compressing action exerted by the fingers to shift said locking flap longitudinally, and at least one dispensing opening formed in the bottom surface of said recess and communicating with the interior of the container, said locking flap having an aperture therethrough which is aligned with said dispensing opening only when said locking flap is shifted longitudinally by depressing of said outer wall segment.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
223 words
A sifter fitment and closure for a container neck comprising an inverted cup-shaped body formed of resilient plastic material and having a generally circular top panel portion and an integral annular side wall, means on said side wall for detachably securing the fitment to a container neck, a locking flap connected to a peripheral portion of said panel by an integral hinge and being foldable into an overlying position relative to said panel, said panel having a recess in its top surface conforming to the configuration of said locking flap to receive said locking flap and said panel for securing said locking flap in said recess, but permitting linear movement of said locking flap relative to said panel in the direction of its longitudinal axis, that portion of the annular side wall underlying the hinged end of the locking flap having a top opening recess formed therein whereby the outer wall segment of said recess may be inwardly depressed by compressing action exerted by the fingers to shift said locking flap longitudinally, and at least one dispensing opening formed in the bottom surface of said recess and communicating with the interior of the container, said locking flap having an aperture therethrough which is aligned with said dispensing opening only when said locking flap is shifted longitudinally by depressing of said outer wall segment.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
72 words
The sifter fitment defined in claim 5 wherein the bottom portion of said panel recess is provided with an elongated slot and said locking flap is provided with a depending protuberance insertable in said slot when said locking flap is inserted in said recess, said slot and said protuberance co-operating to limit the longitudinal movement of said locking flap relative to said recess produced by inward depression of said annular wall segment.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
63 words
The sifter fitment of claim 5 plus a locking surface formed in the panel remote from said integral hinge, and a locking projection formed on the free end of said locking flap engageable with said locking surface only when said locking flap is longitudinally shifted to align the flap aperture with the dispensing opening, thereby locking the fitment in its open dispensing position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
104 words
The sifter fitment defined in claim 3 wherein the free end of said locking flap is in engagement with an end surface of said panel recess in the closed position of said locking flap, and the portion of said panel recess underlying the free end of said locking flap is recessed below the normal plane of the bottom surface of said locking flap to permit the free end of said locking flap to be depressed through the application of a vertical force to said free end to release the free end of the locking flap from its abutting engagement with the recess end surface.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
110 words
The sifter fitment defined in claim 8 wherein the free end of said locking flap has an inclined surface formed on the top portion thereof and said end wall of said recess has a similarly inclined surface on the bottom portions thereof, whereby the depression of said free end of the locking flap followed by compression of said portion of the annular side wall produces a longitudinal movement of the locking flap to its open position and concurrently a downward movement of the free end of the locking flap into the said recess portion, and means for resiliently securing the free end of the locking flap in said depressed position.
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) | 1984-03-23 | 1984-09-22 | 1985-03-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-03-23 | 1988-09-22 | 1989-03-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-03-23 | 1992-09-22 | 1993-03-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |