Bottles and jars – Closures – Having warning means or means impeding closure removal
Patent
1987-01-16
1988-11-08
Marcus, Stephen
Bottles and jars
Closures
Having warning means or means impeding closure removal
215253, B65D 5502
Patent
active
047829656
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
West Germany Published Application No. 3,315,548 discloses a childproof closure for containers, in particular bottles with a threaded inside cap and an outside cap which is axially displaceable relative to the inside cap, a crown of elastic tongues being located at the cover plate of one of the caps, and where the elastic tongues are oblique relative to the plane of the cover plate.
In this known closure, both when closing and opening, both a torque and an axial force directed toward the mouth must be exerted. For that purpose a coupling is provided between a threaded inner cap and an outer cap, comprising at least one elastically flexible element which is inactive in the rest position and is deformed only when subject to an axial force directed from the outer cap toward the threaded cap. In the process there is enough friction between the two caps so that the outer caps can drag along the inner one. As shown by FIGS. 8 or 9 of West German Published Application No. 3,315,548 the coupling element may be a hollow frustrum of a cone present at the inner cap and directed toward the annular corner between the surface and the cover plate of the outer cap. When the outer cap is pressed against the inner cap, the frustoconical membrane is bent against the cover plate of the inner cap and is clamped against the annular projection or the inside wall of the inner cap surface, whereby a torque then may be applied from the outer cap to the inner one.
In the rest position, the elastic membrane ensures that the cover plates of the inner and outer caps are pushed apart so that the outer cap can freely rotate relative to the inner one.
In every case, the elastic membrane is so deformed by an axial force exerted by the outer cap on the inner one that a friction lock takes place which is adequate to drag along the inner cap in either direction of screwing. Accordingly the outer cap must be foced axially against the inner cap both when opening the container (which is required for child safety) but also when tightening it, which is irrelevant to child safety while however demanding special procedures in sealing machines.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to create a childproof closure allowing opening by screwing only when exerting an axial force just as in the above cited prior application but not requiring an axial force when screwing the closure tight.
This object is achieved by a childproof container closure, in particular for bottles, with a threaded inner cap and with an opposite, axially displaceable outer cap, a coupling with at least one elastically flexible coupling element being provided between these caps, characterized by the following features:
(a) a crown of elastic coupling elements in the form of spring tabs mounted on the cover plate of the outer or of the inner cap;
(b) the spring tabs extend obliquely to the plane of the cover plate of one of the caps and toward an annular support at the other cap;
(c) in such a manner, that
(c1) upon rotation of the outer cap in the direction of screwing tight, the inner cap is dragged along by the spring tabs,
(c2) upon reaching a torque larger than that required to screw tight and of which the magnitude is predetermined by the shapes, sizes and materials of the spring tabs, and of the support, the tips of the tabs will slip on the support;
(c3) upon rotation of the outer cap in the direction of unscrewing and while applying an axial force directed from the outer cap onto the inner cap, the spring tabs are bent elastically against the cover plate of the cap on which they are located, the free ends of these tabs resting on the support and the inner cap being dragged along by the spring tabs; and
(c4) upon rotation of the outer cap in the direction of unscrewing and in the absence of an axial force directed from the outer cap onto the inner cap, the outer cap shall freely rotate relative to the spring tabs.
According to feature (a) the elastic coupling elements assume the shape of spring tabs. These may be made i
REFERENCES:
patent: 3944102 (1976-03-01), Grau
patent: 4037747 (1977-07-01), Acton et al.
patent: 4314656 (1982-02-01), Kessler
patent: 4570809 (1986-02-01), Archer
patent: 4624377 (1986-11-01), Wassilieff
Marcus Stephen
Stucker Nova
Wells Gilbert L.
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