Child-resistant indicator cap

Claim 2

A closure for a container to indicate the removal or replacement of the closure on the container, comprising: an indicator mechanism; and an indicator mechanism actuator which actuates the indicator mechanism only upon an application of an external force urging the closure toward or away from the container; a cap attachable and detachable to the container to close the container, the cap being detachable from the container only upon said application of said external force; the cap being engageable and disengageable with the indicator mechanism, the cap being engageable with the indicator mechanism to detach the cap from the container only upon said application of said external force; the cap being rotatably attached to the indicator mechanism, one of the indicator mechanism and cap including protrusions and the other of the indicator mechanism and cap including mating protrusions to releasably engage with the protrusions, and the indicator mechanism including a spring to apply an internal force urging at least part of the indicator mechanism toward the cap so that when attaching the cap to the container the protrusions mate with the mating protrusions and the indicator mechanism engages the cap; the protrusions and mating protrusions being configured such that the spring exerts sufficient internal force to maintain the protrusions and mating protrusions in engagement when attaching the cap to the container but the spring does not exert sufficient internal force to maintain the protrusions and mating protrusions in engagement when detaching the cap from the container, so that an additional external force must be applied between the indicator mechanism and the cap to maintain the protrusions and mating protrusions in engagement when detaching the cap from the container; the indicator mechanism including an outer cover having a top and an outer cover depending skirt; an indicator wheel positioned below the outer cover and rotatably engaged with the outer cover; indication symbols on one of the outer cover and indicator wheel and an indicator to indicate said symbols on the other of the outer cover and indicator wheel; and a retainer positioned below the indicator wheel and rotatably engaged with the indicator wheel; the retainer being engaged with the counter cover to allow limited rotation of the outer cover in relation to the retainer; one of the retainer and outer cover including a set of limited motion grooves and the other of the outer cover and retainer including a set of mating limited motion tabs, whereby the outer cover can rotate a limited degree in relation to the retainer by the limited motion tabs sliding through the limited motion grooves.

Claim 3

The closure of claim 1 wherein the limited motion grooves include a tab lock to prevent sliding of the limited motion tabs in the limited motion grooves until the application of said external force.

Claim 4

The closure of claim 2, wherein the limited motion grooves have a first end and a second end opposite the first end and a groove length between the first end and second end for accepting the limited motion tabs, and the limited motion tabs have a first end and a second end opposite the first end and a tab body between the first end and second end, the tab body being shorter than the groove length so that the limited motion tabs can slide through the limited motion grooves.

Claim 5

The closure of claim 3, wherein the tab lock is a portion of the groove length that is widened to receive the limited motion tabs.

Claim 6

A closure for a container to indicate the removal or replacement of the closure on the container, comprising: an indicator mechanism; and an indicator mechanism actuator which actuates the indicator mechanism only upon an application of an external force urging the closure toward or away from the container; a cap attachable and detachable to the container to close the container, the cap being detachable from the container only upon said application of said external force; the cap being engageable and disengageable with the indicator mechanism, the cap being engageable with the indicator mechanism to detach the cap from the container only upon said application of said external force; the cap being rotatably attached to the indicator mechanism, one of the indicator mechanism and cap including protrusions and the other of the indicator mechanism and cap including mating protrusions to releasably engage with the protrusions, and the indicator mechanism including a spring to apply an internal force urging at least part of the indicator mechanism toward the cap so that when attaching the cap to the container the protrusions mate with the mating protrusions and the indicator mechanism engages the cap; the protrusions and mating protrusions being configured such that the spring exerts sufficient internal force to maintain the protrusions and mating protrusions in engagement when attaching the cap to the container but the spring does not exert sufficient internal force to maintain the protrusions and mating protrusions in engagement when detaching the cap from the container, so that an additional external force must be applied between the indicator mechanism and the cap to maintain the protrusions and mating protrusions in engagement when detaching the cap from the container; the indicator mechanism including an outer cover having a top and an outer cover depending skirt; an indicator wheel positioned below the outer cover and rotatably engaged with the outer cover; indication symbols on one of the outer cover and indicator wheel and an indicator to indicate said symbols on the other of the outer cover and indicator wheel; and a retainer positioned below the indicator wheel and rotatably engaged with the indicator wheel; and the spring including at least one leaf spring on the retainer urging the retainer away from the indicator wheel and toward the cap.

Claim 7

A closure for a container to indicate the removal or replacement of the closure on the container, comprising: an indicator mechanism; and an indicator mechanism actuator which actuates the indicator mechanism only upon an application of an external force urging the closure toward or away from the container; a cap attachable and detachable to the container to close the container, the cap being detachable from the container only upon said application of said external force; the cap being engageable and disengageable with the indicator mechanism, the cap being engageable with the indicator mechanism to detach the cap from the container only upon said application of said external force; the cap being rotatably attached to the indicator mechanism, one of the indicator mechanism and cap including protrusions and the other of the indicator mechanism and cap including mating protrusions to releasably engage with the protrusions, and the indicator mechanism including a spring to apply an internal force urging at least part of the indicator mechanism toward the cap so that when attaching the cap to the container the protrusions mate with the mating protrusions and the indicator mechanism engages the cap; the protrusions and mating protrusions being configured such that the spring exerts sufficient internal force to maintain the protrusions and mating protrusions in engagement when attaching the cap to the container but the spring does not exert sufficient internal force to maintain the protrusions and mating protrusions in engagement when detaching the cap from the container, so that an additional external force must be applied between the indicator mechanism and the cap to maintain the protrusions and mating protrusions in engagement when detaching the cap from the container; the indicator mechanism including an outer cover having a top and an outer cover depending skirt; an indicator wheel positioned below the outer cover and rotatably engaged with the outer cover; indication symbols on one of the outer cover and indicator wheel and an indicator to indicate said symbols on the other of the outer cover and indicator wheel; and a retainer positioned below the indicator wheel and rotatably engaged with the indicator wheel; and the spring including at least one leaf spring on the retainer urging the retainer away from the indicator wheel and toward the cap.

Claim 8

The closure of claim 5, wherein the leaf spring is positioned within a cutout in the retainer so that the leaf spring can flex into the cutout.

Claim 9

The closure of claim 6, wherein there are a plurality of leaf springs circumferentially spaced on the retainer.

Claim 10

A closure for a container to indicate the removal or replacement of the closure on the container, comprising: an indicator mechanism; and an indicator mechanism actuator which actuates the indicator mechanism only upon an application of an external force urging the closure toward or away from the container; a cap attachable and detachable to the container to close the container, the cap being detachable from the container only upon said application of said external force; the cap being engageable and disengageable with the indicator mechanism, the cap being engageable with the indicator mechanism to detach the cap from the container only upon said application of said external force; the cap being rotatably attached to the indicator mechanism, one of the indicator mechanism and cap including protrusions and the other of the indicator mechanism and cap including mating protrusions to releasably engage with the protrusions, and the indicator mechanism including a spring to apply an internal force urging at least part of the indicator mechanism toward the cap so that when attaching the cap to the container the protrusions mate with the mating protrusions and the indicator mechanism engages the cap; the protrusions and mating protrusions being configured such that the spring exerts sufficient internal force to maintain the protrusions and mating protrusions in engagement when attaching the cap to the container but the spring does not exert sufficient internal force to maintain the protrusions and mating protrusions in engagement when detaching the cap from the container, so that an additional external force must be applied between the indicator mechanism and the cap to maintain the protrusions and mating protrusions in engagement when detaching the cap from the container; the indicator mechanism including an outer cover having a top and an outer cover depending skirt; an indicator wheel positioned below the outer cover and rotatably engaged with the outer cover; indication symbols on one of the outer cover and indicator wheel and an indicator to indicate said symbols on the other of the outer cover and indicator wheel; and a retainer positioned below the indicator wheel and rotatably engaged with the indicator wheel; the cap including a circumferential bottom, and the indicator wheel, container, and cap being held in a nesting relationship with the outer cover by an annular bead extending radially inward from the skirt of the outer cover; and the indicator wheel having a central hole, the outer cover has an outer cover central hub extending into the indicator wheel central hole with a recessed end and the retainer has a retainer central hub extending into the outer cover central hub recess.

Claim 11

A closure for a container to indicate the removal or replacement of the closure on the container, comprising: an indicator mechanism; and an indicator mechanism actuator which actuates the indicator mechanism only upon an application of an external force urging the closure toward or away from the container; a cap attachable and detachable to the container to close the container, the cap being detachable from the container only upon said application of said external force; the cap being engageable and disengageable with the indicator mechanism, the cap being engageable with the indicator mechanism to detach the cap from the container only upon said application of said external force; the cap being rotatably attached to the indicator mechanism, one of the indicator mechanism and cap including protrusions and the other of the indicator mechanism and cap including mating protrusions to releasably engage with the protrusions, and the indicator mechanism including a spring to apply an internal force urging at least part of the indicator mechanism toward the cap so that when attaching the cap to the container the protrusions mate with the mating protrusions and the indicator mechanism engages the cap; the protrusions and mating protrusions being configured such that the spring exerts sufficient internal force to maintain the protrusions and mating protrusions in engagement when attaching the cap to the container but the spring does not exert sufficient internal force to maintain the protrusions and mating protrusions in engagement when detaching the cap from the container, so that an additional external force must be applied between the indicator mechanism and the cap to maintain the protrusions and mating protrusions in engagement when detaching the cap from the container; the indicator mechanism including an outer cover having a top and an outer cover depending skirt; an indicator wheel positioned below the outer cover and rotatably engaged with the outer cover; indication symbols on one of the outer cover and indicator wheel and an indicator to indicate said symbols on the other of the outer cover and indicator wheel; and a retainer positioned below the indicator wheel and rotatably engaged with the indicator wheel; the cap including a circumferential bottom, and the indicator wheel, container, and cap being held in a nesting relationship with the outer cover by an annular bead extending radially inward from the skirt of the outer cover; and the indicator wheel having a central hole, the outer cover has an outer cover central hub extending into the indicator wheel central hole with a recessed end and the retainer has a retainer central hub extending into the outer cover central hub recess.

Claim 12

A closure for a container to indicate the removal or replacement of the closure on the container, comprising: an indicator mechanism; and an indicator mechanism actuator which actuates the indicator mechanism only upon an application of an external force urging the closure toward or away from the container; a cap attachable and detachable to the container to close the container, the cap being detachable from the container only upon said application of said external force; the cap being engageable and disengageable with the indicator mechanism, the cap being engageable with the indicator mechanism to detach the cap from the container only upon said application of said external force; the cap being rotatably attached to the indicator mechanism, one of the indicator mechanism and cap including protrusions and the other of the indicator mechanism and cap including mating protrusions to releasably engage with the protrusions, and the indicator mechanism including a spring to apply an internal force urging at least part of the indicator mechanism toward the cap so that when attaching the cap to the container the protrusions mate with the mating protrusions and the indicator mechanism engages the cap; the protrusions and mating protrusions being configured such that the spring exerts sufficient internal force to maintain the protrusions and mating protrusions in engagement when attaching the cap to the container but the spring does not exert sufficient internal force to maintain the protrusions and mating protrusions in engagement when detaching the cap from the container, so that an additional external force must be applied between the indicator mechanism and the cap to maintain the protrusions and mating protrusions in engagement when detaching the cap from the container; the indicator mechanism including an outer cover having a top and an outer cover depending skirt; an indicator wheel positioned below the outer cover and rotatably engaged with the outer cover; indication symbols on one of the outer cover and indicator wheel and an indicator to indicate said symbols on the other of the outer cover and indicator wheel; and a retainer positioned below the indicator wheel and rotatably engaged with the indicator wheel; wherein the protrusions are spaced around one of the upper surface of the cap and lower surface of the indicator mechanism, each protrusion having a first side inclined to said surface.

Claim 13

A closure for a container to indicate the removal or replacement of the closure on the container, comprising: an indicator mechanism; and an indicator mechanism actuator which actuates the indicator mechanism only upon an application of an external force urging the closure toward or away from the container; a cap attachable and detachable to the container to close the container, the cap being detachable from the container only upon said application of said external force; the cap being engageable and disengageable with the indicator mechanism, the cap being engageable with the indicator mechanism to detach the cap from the container only upon said application of said external force; the cap being rotatably attached to the indicator mechanism, one of the indicator mechanism and cap including protrusions and the other of the indicator mechanism and cap including mating protrusions to releasably engage with the protrusions, and the indicator mechanism including a spring to apply an internal force urging at least part of the indicator mechanism toward the cap so that when attaching the cap to the container the protrusions mate with the mating protrusions and the indicator mechanism engages the cap; the protrusions and mating protrusions being configured such that the spring exerts sufficient internal force to maintain the protrusions and mating protrusions in engagement when attaching the cap to the container but the spring does not exert sufficient internal force to maintain the protrusions and mating protrusions in engagement when detaching the cap from the container, so that an additional external force must be applied between the indicator mechanism and the cap to maintain the protrusions and mating protrusions in engagement when detaching the cap from the container; the indicator mechanism including an outer cover having a top and an outer cover depending skirt; an indicator wheel positioned below the outer cover and rotatably engaged with the outer cover; indication symbols on one of the outer cover and indicator wheel and an indicator to indicate said symbols on the other of the outer cover and indicator wheel; and a retainer positioned below the indicator wheel and rotatably engaged with the indicator wheel; wherein the protrusions are spaced around one of the upper surface of the cap and lower surface of the indicator mechanism, each protrusion having a first side inclined to said surface.

Claim 14

The closure of claim 9, wherein each said protrusion has a second side opposite the first side, said second side being substantially perpendicular to said surface, where the protrusion first sides urge the indicator mechanism and cap apart upon rotating said indicator mechanism in a first rotational direction, and the protrusion second sides do not urge the indicator mechanism and cap apart upon rotating said indicator mechanism in a second rotational direction, said second rotational direction being opposite from said first rotational direction.

Claim 15

A closure for a container to indicate the removal or replacement of the closure on the container, comprising: an indicator mechanism; and an indicator mechanism actuator which actuates the indicator mechanism only upon an application of an external force urging the closure toward or away from the container; a cap attachable and detachable to the container to close the container, the cap being detachable from the container only upon said application of said external force; the cap being engageable and disengageable with the indicator mechanism, the cap being engageable with the indicator mechanism to detach the cap from the container only upon said application of said external force; wherein the indicator mechanism includes a bottom surface having one of a set of protrusions and mating protrusions and the cap includes a top surface and a depending skirt attached to said top surface, the top surface having the other of a set of protrusions and matching protrusions wherein the protrusions mate the mating protrusions so that the indicator mechanism engages with the closure upon said application of said external force.

Claim 16

A closure for a container to indicate the removal or replacement of the closure on the container, comprising: an indicator mechanism; and an indicator mechanism actuator which actuates the indicator mechanism only upon an application of an external force urging the closure toward or away from the container; a cap attachable and detachable to the container to close the container, the cap being detachable from the container only upon said application of said external force; the cap being engageable and disengageable with the indicator mechanism, the cap being engageable with the indicator mechanism to detach the cap from the container only upon said application of said external force; wherein the indicator mechanism includes a bottom surface having one of a set of protrusions and mating protrusions and the cap includes a top surface and a depending skirt attached to said top surface, the top surface having the other of a set of protrusions and matching protrusions wherein the protrusions mate the mating protrusions so that the indicator mechanism engages with the closure upon said application of said external force.

Claim 17

The closure of claim 11, wherein the cap is detachable from the container by rotating the cap relative to the container in a first direction of rotation, and wherein the cap is attachable to the container by rotating the cap relative to the container in a second direction of rotation opposite the first direction of rotation.

Claim 18

The closure of claim 12 wherein the skirt of the cap includes threads and the container includes mating threads so that the cap is threadably attachable to and detachable from the container.