Bottles and jars – Closures – Having warning means or means impeding closure removal
Patent
1990-09-25
1991-09-10
Marcus, Stephen
Bottles and jars
Closures
Having warning means or means impeding closure removal
B65D 5118, B65D 5502
Patent
active
050466291
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to a container comprising a mouth with an external thread covering only part of the periphery of the mouth to provide at least one axially extending thread-free zone, a screw cap for onscrewing onto the thread and means for preventing an unwanted unscrewing of the screw cap, said container also comprising a latching tooth which extends into the thread-free zone when the screw cap is in its closing position.
More particularly the invention relates to a so-called child-proof medicine bottle, i.e. a medicine bottle with a screw cap and safety means which must be disengaged before the screw cap can be unscrewed from the medicine bottle.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,739,934 describes a container of the above-described type, wherein the safety means consist of a flexible latching strip, one end of said latching strip being secured to the screw cap at the centre thereof and the other end of said latching strip having a downwardly projecting latching tooth which is positioned in the thread-free zone when the screw cap in its closing position and prevents the cap from being unintensionally unscrewed.
In case of intended unscrewing of the cap, the external end of the latching strip is raised whereby the latching tooth is retracted from the thread-free zone and when simultaneously turning the screw cap the latter can be unscrewed from the thread.
Such a child-proof closure is difficult to operate for elderly or handicapped people with weak fingers and/or reduced motoricity.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,514,003 describes a container of the above-described type wherein the safety means consists of a segment of the cap. The segment constitutes a part of the skirt of the screw cap and is defined by two slots extending axially away from the free edge of the skirt and by a hinge connection extending between the inner ends of the slots. A locking element or projection is provided on the inner surface of the segment. In the locked condition of the screw cap, the projection of the segment engages the thread-free zone and the segment is secured in the locked position by means of a rubber band arranged in a groove which extends around the skirt of the cap and along the outer surface of the segment so as to hold the segment in continuation of the remainder of the skirt. When the cap is to be unscrewed, the rubber band is moved to another groove positioned further away from the edge of the skirt. The segment is now released from the tension of the rubber band and occupies a natural position in which it stands away from the remainder of the cap with the projection withdrawn from the thread-free zone. Such screw cap is also difficult to operate for people of the kind referred to above.
It is an object of this invention to provide a container of the above-described type with safety means which are easy to operate for people as referred to above, but at the same time are sufficiently complicated to prevent small children from disengaging them.
Still more particularly the present invention relates to a container comprising a mouth with an external thread covering only part of the periphery of the mouth to provide at least one axially extending thread-free zone, a screw cap having a skirt for onscrewing onto the thread and comprising a safety element which is hinge-connected to the screw cap and is provided with a projection which by swinging the safety element about the hinge may be moved into and out of engagement with the thread-free zone. According to the present invention the container is characterized in that the safety element is hinge-connected to the exterior side of the screw cap near the free end of the skirt of the screw cap, that a hole for the projection is provided in the skirt in the area adjacent the position at which the safety element is hinge-connected to the skirt and that the safety element is so adapted that it can be swung over and be engaged with the free end of the screw cap with a part of the safety element protruding outside the periphery of the screw cap distally of the position at which the safety element is
REFERENCES:
patent: 3399796 (1968-09-01), Steiner
patent: 3514003 (1990-05-01), Fitzgerald
patent: 3739934 (1973-06-01), Bruno
patent: 3743127 (1973-07-01), Morceau
patent: 4106651 (1978-08-01), Lemons
A/S Dumex
Marcus Stephen
Stucker Nova
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