US20030136753A1 - Child resistant cap - Google Patents
Child resistant cap Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20030136753A1 US20030136753A1 US10/331,084 US33108402A US2003136753A1 US 20030136753 A1 US20030136753 A1 US 20030136753A1 US 33108402 A US33108402 A US 33108402A US 2003136753 A1 US2003136753 A1 US 2003136753A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- finger
- tab
- child resistant
- resistant cap
- cap
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D50/00—Closures with means for discouraging unauthorised opening or removal thereof, with or without indicating means, e.g. child-proof closures
- B65D50/02—Closures with means for discouraging unauthorised opening or removal thereof, with or without indicating means, e.g. child-proof closures openable or removable by the combination of plural actions
- B65D50/06—Closures with means for discouraging unauthorised opening or removal thereof, with or without indicating means, e.g. child-proof closures openable or removable by the combination of plural actions requiring the combination of different actions in succession
- B65D50/067—Closures with means for discouraging unauthorised opening or removal thereof, with or without indicating means, e.g. child-proof closures openable or removable by the combination of plural actions requiring the combination of different actions in succession using integral or non-integral accessories, e.g. tool, key
- B65D50/069—Closures with means for discouraging unauthorised opening or removal thereof, with or without indicating means, e.g. child-proof closures openable or removable by the combination of plural actions requiring the combination of different actions in succession using integral or non-integral accessories, e.g. tool, key the closure being provided with a retractable element whereby the closure is removed by extending or raising the retractable element and exerting a lifting force on this element
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D50/00—Closures with means for discouraging unauthorised opening or removal thereof, with or without indicating means, e.g. child-proof closures
- B65D50/02—Closures with means for discouraging unauthorised opening or removal thereof, with or without indicating means, e.g. child-proof closures openable or removable by the combination of plural actions
- B65D50/06—Closures with means for discouraging unauthorised opening or removal thereof, with or without indicating means, e.g. child-proof closures openable or removable by the combination of plural actions requiring the combination of different actions in succession
- B65D50/061—Closures with means for discouraging unauthorised opening or removal thereof, with or without indicating means, e.g. child-proof closures openable or removable by the combination of plural actions requiring the combination of different actions in succession being disengageable from container only after rotational alignment of closure, or other means inhibiting removal of closure, with container, e.g. tortuous path type
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D51/00—Closures not otherwise provided for
- B65D51/24—Closures not otherwise provided for combined or co-operating with auxiliary devices for non-closing purposes
- B65D51/243—Closures not otherwise provided for combined or co-operating with auxiliary devices for non-closing purposes combined with an opening device
Abstract
A child resistant cap for a bottle includes a cover portion with a periphery having a wall with an internal surface surrounds the neck when the cap is positioned on the bottle. The bottle includes a neck, an opening and a rib with a gap. A finger and a locking lug extend from the internal surface. The finger has a length less than a length of the gap. The locking lug has a length greater than the length of the gap. The locking lug and the finger engage the rib and permit a rotation between a first position, where the finger and gap are aligned and a series of second positions, where the finger and gap are not aligned. A tab extends from the cover portion for applying a force to the cover when the cap is in the first position to remove the cap from the bottle.
Description
- This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/345,679, filed Dec. 27, 2001, entitled “Child Resistant Cap.”
- The present invention is directed to a child resistant cap for a bottle. The child resistant cap resists removal from a neck of the bottle when a locking lug and a finger on an inner surface of the cap are matingly engaged with a rib on an outer surface of the neck of the bottle. The child resistant cap may be removed from the neck of the bottle when the finger is aligned with a gap in the rib of the bottle. More particularly, the child resistant cap has a tab positioned on an outside cover portion of the cap in alignment with the finger such that a force applied by a user's thumb against the tab generally perpendicularly with respect to the top of the cap and upwardly/away from the cap aids in the removal of the cap from the bottle when the finger and the gap are aligned.
- The general concept of a child resistant cap having a circumferentially extending finger and a circumferentially extending locking lug which mate with a rib having a gap on the neck of a bottle to resist removal of the child resistant cap from the bottle is generally well known. U.S. Pat. No. 3,627,160 discloses such a child resistant cap and is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. The finger of the child resistant cap is sized such that its length is less than the length of the gap and the locking lugs are sized such that their length is greater than the length of the gap. The finger, locking lug and gap are sized in this manner to resist removal of the child resistant cap from the neck of the bottle when the finger and gap are not in alignment. In contrast, the finger, locking lug and gap permit removal of the child resistant cap from the bottle when the finger and the gap are in alignment. A child resistant cap configured in this manner reduces the likelihood that a curious child may remove the cap from a bottle, which contains dangerous medicines or like hazardous materials and become injured after ingesting the hazardous contents.
- However, child resistant caps configured in this manner may be difficult for certain individuals to remove from the neck of a bottle, such individuals may have a limited range of motion in their fingers due to arthritis, injury or age. These conventional child resistant caps may, in effect, deny access to the contents of the bottle to individuals with a limited range of motion in their fingers. The present invention provides a tab connected to the child resistant cap, which is relatively simple for an individual with limited range of motion in their fingers to manipulate. The tab may be used to apply a force to and remove the child resistant cap from the bottle when the finger and gap are in alignment.
- More particularly, the child resistant cap of the present invention provides a ring shaped tab hingedly attached to the child resistant cap. The tab permits a user to slide a finger through an aperture in the tab to apply a force to the child resistant cap. A user initially aligns the finger of the child resistant cap with the gap on the neck of the bottle. The tab may then be rotated to a working position with the user's finger positioned within the aperture to disengage the child resistant cap from the neck of the bottle. The ring shaped tab eliminates the need for an individual with limited motor skills in their fingers to apply a force with the tip of one of their fingers to an edge of the child resistant cap adjacent to the finger when the finger and the gap are aligned. In a conventional child resistant cap configuration, similar to that of U.S. Pat. No. 3,627,160, the space for applying a removal force is strictly limited. The limited space and awkward direction in which a force must be applied to the conventional child resistant cap is difficult for an individual with limited motor skills to accomplish.
- Briefly stated, the present invention is directed to a child resistant cap for a bottle. The bottle has a neck defining an opening and a rib located adjacent to the opening extending almost entirely around a circumference of the neck except for a gap having a length. The child resistant cap is comprised of a cover portion having a periphery, which is sized to cover the opening of the bottle. A wall extending from a first side of the periphery surrounds the neck when the cap is positioned on the bottle. A circumferentially extending finger is located on an internal surface of the wall having a length that is less than the length of the gap. A circumferentially extending locking lug is located on an opposing side of the internal surface of the wall from the finger and has a length, which is greater than the length of the gap. The locking lug and the finger engage the rib of the bottle and guide a rotary movement of the child resistant cap on the neck of the bottle between a first position, where the finger and the gap are aligned and a series of second positions, where the finger and the gap are not aligned. A tab extends from the cover portion away from the wall and adjacent to the finger for applying a force generally perpendicularly and away from the cover when the cap is in the first position to readily remove the cap from the neck of the bottle.
- The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings an embodiment which is presently preferred. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. In the drawings:
- FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a child resistant cap positioned above the neck of a bottle in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention;
- FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the child resistant cap, shown in FIG. 1, positioned on the neck of the bottle showing a tab pivoted out of facing engagement with the cap to a working position;
- FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the child resistant cap shown in FIG. 1 taken along line3-3 of FIG. 1;
- FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a child resistant cap positioned above the neck of a bottle in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention;
- FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the child resistant cap, shown in FIG. 4, positioned on the neck of the bottle showing the tab pivoted out of facing engagement with the cap to a working position;
- FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the child resistant cap shown in FIG. 4 taken along line6-6 of FIG. 4; and
- FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a child resistant cap in accordance with a third preferred embodiment of the present invention.
- Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenience only and is not limiting. The words “right,” “left,” “lower” and “upper” designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The words “inwardly” and “outwardly” refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of a child resistant cap and designated parts thereof. The terminology includes the words above specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof and words of similar import. Additionally, the word “a,” as used in the claims and in the corresponding portions of the specification, means “at least one.”
- Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein like numerals indicate like elements throughout, there is shown in FIGS. 1 through 3 a first preferred embodiment of the child resistant cap, generally designated10, for covering an
opening 13 of abottle 12 in accordance with the present invention. Thebottle 12 has aneck 12 a defining anopening 13 with arib 12 b located adjacent to theopening 13 which extends almost entirely around a circumference of theneck 12 a except for agap 12 c having a length L1. - In the first preferred embodiment, the child
resistant cap 10 is constructed of a unitarily molded, rigid polymeric material. One skilled in the art will realize that the childresistant cap 10 is not limited to constructions using rigid polymeric materials and may be constructed of any material which may take on the general shape and perform the functions of the childresistant cap 10 as described hereinafter, such as metal, wood or like materials. - In the first preferred embodiment, the child
resistant cap 10 includes acover portion 14 having aperiphery 14 a, which is sized to cover the opening 13 of thebottle 12. Awall 16 extends from a first side of theperiphery 14 a to surround theneck 12 a when the childresistant cap 10 is positioned on thebottle 12. Thewall 16 has aninternal surface 16 a. A circumferentially extendingfinger 18 is located on theinternal surface 16 a. Thefinger 18 has a length (not shown) that is less than the length L1 of thegap 12 c. Theexternal surface 16 b of thewall 16 includes a series of vertically extendingridges 16 c which facilitate gripping thecap 10 for purposes of rotating the same. - A circumferentially extending
locking lug 20 is located on an opposing side of theinternal surface 16 a from thefinger 18 and has a length that is greater than the length L1 of thegap 12 c. Thelocking lug 20 and thefinger 18 engage therib 12 b of thebottle 12 and guide a rotary movement of the childresistant cap 10 on theneck 12 a of thebottle 12 between a first position, where thefinger 18 and thegap 12 c are aligned (as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2) and a series of second positions (not shown), where thefinger 18 and thegap 12 c are not aligned. The second positions would be any relative position between the childresistant cap 10 and theneck 12 a of thebottle 12, except for the first position. The lockinglug 20 and thefinger 18 engage therib 12 b such that the childresistant cap 10 resists removal from theneck 12 a of thebottle 12 when thefinger 18 is not in the first position. Thefinger 18 and the lockinglug 20 of the childresistant cap 10 are able to resist removal from theneck 12 a of thebottle 12, in the second positions, by engaging alower surface 22 of therib 12 b with anupper surface 24 of thefinger 18 and the lockinglug 20. In the second positions, an opposing force is generated between theupper surface 24 of thefinger 18 and the lockinglug 20 and thelower surface 22 of therib 12 b which resists removal of the childresistant cap 10 from theneck 12 a when a force is applied to the childresistant cap 10 in a direction away from thebottle 12. - For example, the child
resistant cap 10 may be positioned on theneck 12 a such that anupper surface 24 of thefinger 18 is engaged with thelower surface 22 opposite thegap 12 c and the lockinglug 20 is engaged with thelower surface 22 while spanning thegap 12 c. In this position, a force applied to the childresistant cap 10 away from thebottle 12 is resisted by an equal and opposite force created between therib 12 b and the combination of thefinger 18 and the lockinglug 10. Thefinger 18, lockinglug 20 andrib 12 b are able to avoid removal of the childresistant cap 10 from thebottle 12 until the unlikely event wherein thefinger 18, lockinglug 20 orrib 12 b break or thewall 16 or theneck 12 a flexes sufficiently to permit thefinger 18 or the lockinglug 20 to slide over therib 12 b. In the above described manner, the childresistant cap 10 resists removal from theneck 12 a of thebottle 12 in the second positions. - In the first preferred embodiment, a
tab 26 extends from thecover portion 14 away from thewall 16 adjacent thefinger 18 for applying a force generally perpendicularly and away from thecover portion 14 when the childresistant cap 10 is in the first position to readily remove the childresistant cap 10 from thebottle 12. That is, thetab 26 is positioned on the childresistant cap 10 adjacent thefinger 18 such that the force readily removes the childresistant cap 10 from thebottle 12. Thetab 26 may be positioned anywhere on an opposing side of thecover portion 14 or thewall 16 from the lockinglug 20 as long as a pivoting moment is created between a base 26 a of thetab 26 and the lockinglug 20 when the lockinglug 20 is engaged with therib 12 b. The pivoting moment urges thefinger 18 to slide through thegap 12 c thus disengaging the childresistant cap 10 from the bottle. - In the first preferred embodiment, the
tab 26 has a generally ring shape with a minor diameter D1 defining anaperture 27, which is large enough to permit passage of a human finger (not shown) partially therethrough. Thetab 26, is preferably, pivotally connected to thecover portion 14 adjacent to thefinger 18 such that thetab 26 pivots with respect to thecover portion 14 from a resting position in facing engagement with the cover portion 14 (see FIG. 1) and a series of working positions (see FIG. 2) spaced from thecover portion 14. In the preferred embodiment, the minor diameter D1 is approximately one inch (1″) but may be smaller or larger to accommodate larger orsmaller bottles 12 without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. - In the first preferred embodiment, the
tab 26 is connected to thecover portion 14 with a livinghinge 28 adjacent to thefinger 18. The living hinge 28 permits a user to pivot thetab 26 from the resting position to the working positions, thereby taking full advantage of a force that a user may apply to thetab 26 to dislodge the childresistant cap 10 from thebottle 12 when the childresistant cap 10 is in the first position. The use of the livinghinge 28 simplifies the unitary molding process of the childresistant cap 10 because the livinghinge 28 material is compatible with conventional molding processes. Unitarily molding the childresistant cap 10 reduces manufacturing costs and complexity by simplifying the production of the childresistant cap 10. - However, one skilled in the art will realize from this disclosure that the child
resistant cap 10 is not limited to the use of a livinghinge 28 to pivot thetab 26 from the resting position to the working positions. The livinghinge 28 may be comprised of a door like hinge, butterfly hinge or any like hinge or spring like material (not shown) which permits thetab 26 to pivot to and from the resting position and working positions. In addition, thetab 26 may be rigidly secured to thecover portion 14 at any position where a pivoting moment is created between the base 26 a, and the lockinglug 20 engaged with therib 12 b, when a force is applied to thetab 26 without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. - In the first preferred embodiment, the
tab 26 has aterminal end 30, which extends beyond the periphery of thecover portion 14 when thetab 26 is in the resting position. Theterminal end 30 has a hookedsection 30 a which grips anoverhang 14 a of the cover portion to removably secure thetab 26 in afirst groove 34 in facing engagement with thecover portion 14 in the resting position. The extension of theterminal end 30 beyond the periphery of thecover portion 14 permits a user to slide a finger underneath theterminal end 30 to disengage the hookedsection 30 a from theoverhang 14 a by applying a force to a lower surface of theterminal end 30 away from thecover portion 14. Once thetab 26 is disengaged from the resting position, the user is able to pivot thetab 26 to one of the working positions and position the childresistant cap 10 in the first position. The childresistant cap 10 is disengaged from thebottle 12 when thefinger 18 slides through thegap 12 c by rotating at an opposing side of theneck 12 a at the engagement of the lockinglug 20 and therib 12 b. The use of theterminal end 30, thetab 26 and the livinghinge 28 permits persons having limited motor skills with their fingers due to age, injury or arthritis to readily remove the childresistant cap 10 from thebottle 12 compared to the arduous removal of a conventional child resistant cap from a bottle. - In the first preferred embodiment, the
tab 26 has a generally thin ring shape with a major diameter D2 which is slightly smaller than a cover portion diameter D and a minor diameter D1, which defines anaperture 27 large enough to accommodate the insertion of part of a human finger. In the first preferred embodiment, the major diameter D2 is approximately one and two-tenths inches (1.2″) and is secured in thefirst groove 34 in its resting position. The diameter D is approximately one and four-tenths inches (1.4″) in the preferred embodiment. Thetab 26 is shielded by thefirst groove 34 from access to any portion of thetab 26 except for at itsterminal end 30 in the resting position. In this manner, thetab 26 is protected from being inadvertently dislodged from its resting position. One skilled in the art will realize that the childresistant cap 10 is not limited to the dimensions disclosed above and may be sized appropriately to accommodate larger orsmaller bottles 12 without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. - In use, the child
resistant cap 10 is placed on theneck 12 a of thebottle 12 by aligning thefinger 18 and thegap 12 c in the first position (as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2). The childresistant cap 10 may then be rotated through a series of second positions (not shown) where thefinger 18 and thegap 12 c are not aligned. The rotation of the childresistant cap 10 is guided by the slidable mating of theupper surface 24 of thefinger 18 and lockinglug 20 to thelower surface 22 of therib 12 b. In addition, the slidable mating of thefinger 18 and the lockinglug 20 to therib 12 b, resists removal of the childresistant cap 10 from thebottle 12 when the childresistant cap 10 is in one of the second positions. Thefinger 18, lockinglug 20 andrib 12 b resist removal of the childresistant cap 10 from thebottle 12 by generating an opposing force between theupper surface 24 of thefinger 18 and the lockinglug 20 and thelower surface 22 of the rib 21 b when a force is applied to the childresistant cap 10 in a direction away from thebottle 12. - In the first preferred embodiment, the child
resistant cap 10 is removed from thebottle 12 by initially aligning thefinger 18 and thegap 12 c in the first position. A user then slides a finger underneath theterminal end 30 of thetab 26 and applys a force away from thebottle 12 to disengage thehook section 30 a of thetab 26 from theoverhang 14 a of thecover portion 14. Once thetab 26 is disengaged from the resting position, a user pivots thetab 26 about the livinghing 28 to a working position generally perpendicular to the upper surface of thecover portion 14. A users finger (not shown) is then inserted through theaperture 27 in thetab 26 and pulls on an inner surface of thetab 26 defined by the minor diameter D1. Pulling on thetab 26, creates a pivoting moment between the base 26 a of thetab 26 and the lockinglug 20. The pivoting moment causes thefinger 18 to slide through thegap 12 c, thereby disengaging the childresistant cap 10 from thebottle 12. One skilled in the art will realize that the above described movements of a user's fingers for disengaging the childresistant cap 10 from thebottle 12 are simpler and require less brute strength than the removal of a conventional child resistant cap as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,627,160. Therefore, the first preferred embodiment is particularly suited for use by persons having limited motor skills in their fingers due to age, injury or arthritis. - In FIGS.4-6 there is shown a second preferred embodiment of a child
resistant cap 10′. The childresistant cap 10′ in accordance with the second preferred embodiment is very similar to the first preferred embodiment. Accordingly, a complete description of like elements is not repeated herein. Instead, like elements between the first and second embodiments have been given the prime designation in the second preferred embodiment. Only the differences between the first and second embodiments are described below. - In the second preferred embodiment, the
cover portion 14′ includes adepression 36 extending under thetab 26′ in the resting position. Thedepression 36 is large enough to receive a tip of a human finger under thetab 26′ to disengage thetab 26′ from its resting position. Disengaging thetab 26′ from the resting position permits a user to pivot thetab 26′ from its resting position to one the working positions. - In use, in the second preferred embodiment, the
tab 26′ is releasably positioned in asecond groove 38 of thecover portion 14′ in the resting position by atab lock 40, which circumferentially extends from awall 38 a of thesecond groove 38. Thetab lock 40 releasably engages an upper surface of thetab 26′ when thetab 26′ is in the resting position. A user releases thetab 26′ from its resting position by sliding a finger (not shown) into thedepression 36 and under thetab 26′ and applying a force to the lower surface of thetab 26′ away from thebottle 12, thereby forcing thetab 26′ past thetab lock 40. Thetab lock 40 and thetab 26′ are flexible and are sized such that a user may readily disengage thetab 26′ from its resting position with a minimal amount of finger force. Thetab 26′ may then be pivoted to one of the working positions and the childresistant cap 10′ may be disengaged from thebottle 12 as described above in connection with the first preferred embodiment. - In the second preferred embodiment, the child
resistant cap 10′ is removed from thebottle 12′ in much the same manner as described above in the first preferred embodiment. The difference between the first preferred embodiment and the second preferred embodiment is the manner in which thetabs tab 26′ is removably secured in thesecond groove 38 on an upper surface of thecover portion 14′ by the mating of thetab lock 40 with an upper surface of thetab 26′. A user removes thetab 26′ from the resting position by inserting a finger (not shown) into thedepression 36 under thetab 26′ and applying a force at the lower surface of thetab 26′ away from thebottle 12. The user then pivots thetab 26′ about the livinghinge 28′ to a working position generally perpendicular to thecover portion 14′. The childresistant cap 10′ is then disengaged from thebottle 12′ in the same manner as described in the first preferred embodiment. One skilled in the art will realize that the above described movements of a user's fingers for disengaging the childresistant cap 10′ from thebottle 12′ are simpler and require less brute strength than the removal of a conventional child resistant cap from a bottle as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,627,160. Therefore, the second preferred embodiment is particularly suited for use by persons having limited motor skills with their fingers due to age, injury or arthritis. - In FIG. 7 there is shown a third preferred embodiment of a child
resistant cap 10″. The childresistant cap 10″ in accordance with the third preferred embodiment is very similar to the first and second preferred embodiments of the invention. Accordingly, a complete description of like elements is not repeated herein. Instead, like elements between the first and second embodiments have been given a double prime designation in the third preferred embodiment. Only differences between the third preferred embodiment and the first and second preferred embodiments are described below. - In the third preferred embodiment, the
tab 26″ includes afirst finger 26 c and asecond finger 26 d extending perpendicularly from amain shaft 26 e. Disengaging thetab 26″ from the resting position permits a user to pivot thetab 26″ from its resting position to one of the working positions. - In use, in the third preferred embodiment, the
tab 26″ is pivoted to one of the working positions and the childresistant cap 10″ is aligned for removal from thebottle 12″ (not shown) as described above in the first preferred embodiment. A user then positions a finger (not shown) on either side of themain shaft 26 e adjacent thefirst finger 26 c andsecond finger 26 d. An upward force is applied to thefirst finger 26 c and thesecond finger 26 d, thereby creating a moment, which releases the childresistant cap 26″ from thebottle 12″ as described above in the first preferred embodiment. One skilled in the art will realize that the above described movements of a user's fingers for disengaging the childresistant cap 10″ from thebottle 12″ are simpler and require less brute strength than the removal of a conventional child resistant cap from a bottle as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,627,160. Therefore, the third preferred embodiment is particularly suited for use by persons having limited motor skills with their fingers due to age, injury or arthritis. U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/345,679, filed Dec. 27, 2001, is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. - Those skilled in the art will appreciate that changes could be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed. This disclosure is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.
- It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but it is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.
Claims (10)
1. A child resistant cap for a bottle having a neck defining an opening, a rib extending almost entirely around a circumference of the neck except for a gap having a length, the rib being located adjacent the opening, said cap comprising:
a cover portion sized to cover said opening and having a periphery;
a wall extending from a first side of said periphery to surround said neck when the cap is positioned on the bottle, said wall having an internal surface;
a circumferentially extending finger located on said internal surface having a length that is less than the length of the gap;
a circumferentially extending locking lug located on an opposing side of said internal surface from said finger and having a length greater than the length of the gap, said locking lug and said finger engaging the rib of the bottle and guiding a rotary movement of the child resistant cap on the neck of the bottle between a first position wherein the finger and gap are aligned and a series of second positions wherein said finger and gap are not aligned; and
a tab extending from said cover portion away from said wall and adjacent said finger for applying a force generally perpendicularly and away from said cover portion when said cap is in said first position to readily remove said cap from the bottle.
2. The child resistant cap of claim 1 wherein said tab has a generally ring shape with a minor diameter defining an aperture which is large enough to permit passage of a human finger partially therethrough, said tab being pivotally connected to said cover adjacent to said finger such that said tab is permitted to pivot with respect to said cover from a resting position in facing engagement with said cover and a series of working positions spaced from said cover.
3. The child resistant cap of claim 2 wherein said tab is connected to said cover with a living hinge.
4. The child resistant cap of claim 2 wherein said tab has a terminal end which extends beyond said periphery of said cover when said tab is in a resting position in facing engagement with said cover.
5. The child resistant cap of claim 2 wherein said cover portion includes a depression extending under said tab when said tab is in said resting position, said depression being large enough to receive a tip of a human finger.
6. The child resistant cap of claim 5 wherein the tab is comprised of a main shaft extending from an attachment between the tab and the cover and a first finger and a second finger extending from the main shaft.
7. The child resistant cap of claim 1 wherein the child resistant cap is constructed of a unitarily molded, rigid polymeric material.
8. The child resistant cap of claim 1 wherein said tab has a generally thin ring shape with a major diameter slightly smaller than a diameter of said cover and a minor diameter defining an aperture large enough to accommodate the insertion of part of a human finger, said tab being pivotally connected to said cover near said periphery and adjacent to said finger to permit said tab to pivot from a resting position in facing engagement with said cover to a working position spaced from said cover.
9. The child resistant cap of claim 1 wherein said locking lug and said finger engage the rib such that the child resistant cap resists removal from the neck of the bottle when said finger is not in said first position.
10. The child resistant cap of claim 1 wherein said cap is generally T-shaped.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US10/331,084 US20030136753A1 (en) | 2001-12-27 | 2002-12-27 | Child resistant cap |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US34567901P | 2001-12-27 | 2001-12-27 | |
US10/331,084 US20030136753A1 (en) | 2001-12-27 | 2002-12-27 | Child resistant cap |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20030136753A1 true US20030136753A1 (en) | 2003-07-24 |
Family
ID=26987575
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US10/331,084 Abandoned US20030136753A1 (en) | 2001-12-27 | 2002-12-27 | Child resistant cap |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20030136753A1 (en) |
Cited By (15)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20060024205A1 (en) * | 2004-07-27 | 2006-02-02 | Giusti David C | Flip top cap |
US20060180566A1 (en) * | 2005-01-26 | 2006-08-17 | Mataya Marc J | Closure cap for a container having time-date indicators |
US20070170191A1 (en) * | 2006-01-20 | 2007-07-26 | Lars Arvidsson | Container |
US20080000799A1 (en) * | 2006-06-30 | 2008-01-03 | Lars Arvidsson | Container 389 |
US7546931B2 (en) * | 2005-07-08 | 2009-06-16 | Becton, Dickinson And Company | Flip top cap |
US20110174759A1 (en) * | 2010-01-19 | 2011-07-21 | Titherington Philip D | Senior-Friendly Child-Resistant Cap |
JP2011219112A (en) * | 2010-04-06 | 2011-11-04 | Daiwa Can Co Ltd | Sealing structure for screw type cap |
WO2012004667A1 (en) * | 2010-07-06 | 2012-01-12 | Obrist Closures Switzerland Gmbh | A snap on closure with a pull member |
USD756234S1 (en) | 2014-09-10 | 2016-05-17 | Celgene Corporation | Bottle with cap |
USD756776S1 (en) | 2014-09-10 | 2016-05-24 | Celgene Corporation | Bottle cap |
USD767405S1 (en) | 2015-09-21 | 2016-09-27 | Celgene Corporation | Bottle with cap |
WO2016174089A1 (en) * | 2015-04-28 | 2016-11-03 | Novembal Usa Inc. | Stopper for a container neck |
USD778160S1 (en) | 2015-09-21 | 2017-02-07 | Celgene Corporation | Bottle cap |
US20230055070A1 (en) * | 2021-08-19 | 2023-02-23 | Closure Systems International Inc. | One-piece closure |
US11873133B2 (en) | 2021-04-20 | 2024-01-16 | Drug Plastics & Glass Company, Inc. | Bottle, injection blow molding core rod for the bottle and related method |
Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3848762A (en) * | 1973-06-18 | 1974-11-19 | Bristol Meyer Co | Container - snap-on closure assembly |
US3866782A (en) * | 1973-12-10 | 1975-02-18 | Continental Can Co | Composite closure |
US5358129A (en) * | 1993-06-24 | 1994-10-25 | Mcneil-Ppc, Inc. | Child resistant bottle |
US5636756A (en) * | 1995-01-12 | 1997-06-10 | Lermer Packaging Corp. | Childproof closure with means for facilitating authorized removal |
US5791505A (en) * | 1997-01-16 | 1998-08-11 | Dennis Bloom | Cap-carried external extractor for wadding filler in medicine bottles |
-
2002
- 2002-12-27 US US10/331,084 patent/US20030136753A1/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3848762A (en) * | 1973-06-18 | 1974-11-19 | Bristol Meyer Co | Container - snap-on closure assembly |
US3866782A (en) * | 1973-12-10 | 1975-02-18 | Continental Can Co | Composite closure |
US5358129A (en) * | 1993-06-24 | 1994-10-25 | Mcneil-Ppc, Inc. | Child resistant bottle |
US5636756A (en) * | 1995-01-12 | 1997-06-10 | Lermer Packaging Corp. | Childproof closure with means for facilitating authorized removal |
US5791505A (en) * | 1997-01-16 | 1998-08-11 | Dennis Bloom | Cap-carried external extractor for wadding filler in medicine bottles |
Cited By (21)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US7717284B2 (en) * | 2004-07-27 | 2010-05-18 | Becton, Dickinson And Company | Flip top cap |
US20060024205A1 (en) * | 2004-07-27 | 2006-02-02 | Giusti David C | Flip top cap |
US20060180566A1 (en) * | 2005-01-26 | 2006-08-17 | Mataya Marc J | Closure cap for a container having time-date indicators |
US7661384B2 (en) | 2005-01-26 | 2010-02-16 | Marc J Mataya | Closure cap for a container having time-date indicators |
US7546931B2 (en) * | 2005-07-08 | 2009-06-16 | Becton, Dickinson And Company | Flip top cap |
US8251251B2 (en) * | 2006-01-20 | 2012-08-28 | Astrazeneca Ab | Container |
US20070170191A1 (en) * | 2006-01-20 | 2007-07-26 | Lars Arvidsson | Container |
AU2007206116B2 (en) * | 2006-01-20 | 2010-10-14 | Astrazeneca Ab | A child resistant locking arrangement for a container |
US20080000799A1 (en) * | 2006-06-30 | 2008-01-03 | Lars Arvidsson | Container 389 |
US20110174759A1 (en) * | 2010-01-19 | 2011-07-21 | Titherington Philip D | Senior-Friendly Child-Resistant Cap |
JP2011219112A (en) * | 2010-04-06 | 2011-11-04 | Daiwa Can Co Ltd | Sealing structure for screw type cap |
WO2012004667A1 (en) * | 2010-07-06 | 2012-01-12 | Obrist Closures Switzerland Gmbh | A snap on closure with a pull member |
USD756234S1 (en) | 2014-09-10 | 2016-05-17 | Celgene Corporation | Bottle with cap |
USD756776S1 (en) | 2014-09-10 | 2016-05-24 | Celgene Corporation | Bottle cap |
WO2016174089A1 (en) * | 2015-04-28 | 2016-11-03 | Novembal Usa Inc. | Stopper for a container neck |
FR3035644A1 (en) * | 2015-04-28 | 2016-11-04 | Novembal Usa Inc | CAP FOR A COLLAR OF CONTAINER |
US10562683B2 (en) | 2015-04-28 | 2020-02-18 | Novembal Usa Inc. | Stopper for a container neck |
USD767405S1 (en) | 2015-09-21 | 2016-09-27 | Celgene Corporation | Bottle with cap |
USD778160S1 (en) | 2015-09-21 | 2017-02-07 | Celgene Corporation | Bottle cap |
US11873133B2 (en) | 2021-04-20 | 2024-01-16 | Drug Plastics & Glass Company, Inc. | Bottle, injection blow molding core rod for the bottle and related method |
US20230055070A1 (en) * | 2021-08-19 | 2023-02-23 | Closure Systems International Inc. | One-piece closure |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
CA2443315A1 (en) | Child resistant cap | |
US20030136753A1 (en) | Child resistant cap | |
US4925041A (en) | Closure for container | |
US4809874A (en) | Hinged closure for containers | |
US5765705A (en) | Child resistant closure | |
US10398841B2 (en) | Adapter for a syringe | |
US4192422A (en) | Pill package | |
US4984686A (en) | Sharps container closure and needle extractor assembly | |
US8459312B2 (en) | Press in bottle adapter | |
US6582397B2 (en) | Needle safety device with antiremoval protection | |
US8029463B2 (en) | Needle protection assembly | |
US5230433A (en) | Adult friendly child-resistant attachment for containers used to store potentially dangerous materials | |
US5819967A (en) | Child-resistant, senior friendly container | |
US6070748A (en) | Break away overcap | |
EP0056286A1 (en) | Improved safety containers | |
JPH02104369A (en) | Combined syringe and needle shield apparatus and production thereof | |
CN1541123A (en) | Needle shield assembly having hinged needle shield and flexible cannula lock | |
WO2021113604A1 (en) | Safety-cap bottle assembly | |
US5342322A (en) | Needle cover assembly for syringes | |
EP1244481B1 (en) | Needle cover assembly | |
US4787525A (en) | Child-resistant closures | |
US5706962A (en) | Thumb tab child resistant closure | |
CN109562870A (en) | Container with the lid with guiding snap close piece | |
GB1590862A (en) | Container closures | |
EP0428513B1 (en) | Container with screw cap |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: DRUG PLASTICS & GLASS COMPANY, INC., PENNSYLVANIA Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:BIESECKER, FREDERICK N.;SPRISHEN, GREGORY;REEL/FRAME:013878/0815 Effective date: 20030310 |
|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |