Child-resistant cap torque evaluator

Claim 1

A method for loading and conducting testing on a container which is sealed with a child resistant cover, so as to subject said container to cover-opening testing, comprising the following steps: securing said container about its cover by a first clamping means thereby orienting and posturing said container for subjecting it to cover-opening tests; securing said container by a second clamping means the radial force center of which is coaxial with said first clamping means; translating said first and second clamping means towards each other along their common axis while rotating said clamping means relative to each other about said common axis; and recording the forces and combinations thereof resulting from said translating while rotating step, whereby said first and second securing steps comprise the laoding of said container, and said translating while rotating and said recording steps comprise its testing.

Claim 2

A method for loading and conducting testing on a container which is sealed with a child resistant cover, so as to subject said container to cover-opening testing, comprising the following steps: securing said container about its cover by a first clamping means thereby orienting and posturing said container for subjecting it to cover-opening tests; securing said container by a second clamping means the radial force center of which is coaxial with said first clamping means; translating said first and second clamping means towards each other along their common axis while rotating said clamping means relative to each other about said common axis; and recording the forces and combinations thereof resulting from said translating while rotating step, whereby said first and second securing steps comprise the laoding of said container, and said translating while rotating and said recording steps comprise its testing.

Claim 3

A method for determining the forces required for actuating child-resistant caps with respect to the containers upon which they are mounted, comprising: applying a specified resilient force to a cap which is secured to a container, urging it towards said container while continuously recording said resilient force being applied; rotating said cap a pre-set amount in a direction to open it and continuously monitoring the rotating force while applying said resilient force; reverse-rotating said cap at a low torquing level while monitoring for critical rotation of cap; and repeatedly applying, rotating, and reverse-rotating steps incrementally until, immediately following said reverse-rotating step, monitoring of the reverse-rotating force indicates critical rotation of at least one third, whereby it shall be determinable from said monitoring and recording that said resilient and rotating forces immediately preceding said critical rotation are representative of the totality of forces required for actuating said child-resistant cap.

Claim 4

A method for determining the forces required for actuating child-resistant caps with respect to the containers upon which they are mounted, comprising: applying a specified resilient force to a cap which is secured to a container, urging it towards said container while continuously recording said resilient force being applied; rotating said cap a pre-set amount in a direction to open it and continuously monitoring the rotating force while applying said resilient force; reverse-rotating said cap at a low torquing level while monitoring for critical rotation of cap; and repeatedly applying, rotating, and reverse-rotating steps incrementally until, immediately following said reverse-rotating step, monitoring of the reverse-rotating force indicates critical rotation of at least one third, whereby it shall be determinable from said monitoring and recording that said resilient and rotating forces immediately preceding said critical rotation are representative of the totality of forces required for actuating said child-resistant cap.

Claim 5

An apparatus for positioning a container and determining the forces required to remove from said container a child-resistant cap comprising: a first securing means, adjustable and disposable opposite a second securing means; a second securing means, adjustable and mounted to a base means; engaging means for translating said first securing means toward said second securing means and for rotating one with respect to the other; sensing means for determining forces applied through translation and rotation of said first and second securing means; and control means to sequence said securing and engaging means through a predetermined operation.

Claim 6

An apparatus for positioning a container and determining the forces required to remove from said container a child-resistant cap comprising: a first securing means, adjustable and disposable opposite a second securing means; a second securing means, adjustable and mounted to a base means; engaging means for translating said first securing means toward said second securing means and for rotating one with respect to the other; sensing means for determining forces applied through translation and rotation of said first and second securing means; and control means to sequence said securing and engaging means through a predetermined operation.