Bottles and jars – Closures – Having warning means or means impeding closure removal
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-10
2001-08-28
Shoap, Allan N. (Department: 3727)
Bottles and jars
Closures
Having warning means or means impeding closure removal
C215S252000, C215S216000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06279766
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to safety closures for use on containers. More particularly, the present invention relates to a safety closure for use on a container, wherein the safety closure and the container are each provided with locking means which cooperate to inhibit access to the container by an individual of tender years, and wherein the safety closure locking means is reinforced to resist tampering therewith.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is known in the prior art to affix a closure to a container over a dispensing orifice thereof to prevent unwanted spillage of the contents of the container therefrom. It is also known in the prior art for the closure to be provided with locking means, wherein the closure locking means are engageable with locking means provided on the container to inhibit removal of the closure from the container by an individual of tender years, and to inhibit access of the container contents by the individual thereby. Thus, it is desirable to provide a safety closure for use on a container, wherein the safety closure is provided with locking means, wherein the closure locking means are engageable with locking means provided on the container to inhibit removal of the safety closure from the container.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,572,385 to Luker teaches a child-resistant closure threadingly affixable onto a container neck portion, wherein the closure includes an inwardly-deflectable tab which seats behind a lock abutment provided on the container when the closure is fully threaded onto the container neck portion. The engagement of the tab and the lock abutment inhibits unthreading of the closure therefrom without the user's first unseating the tab from the lock abutment. The user removes the closure from the container by squeezing the tab towards the closure a sufficient distance such that the tab is permitted to pass inwardly of the lock abutment when the user unthreads the safety closure from the container. However, tabs typically provided on safety closures of this type are oftentimes susceptible to permanent deformation thereto as a result of the user's tampering with or otherwise bending the tab outwardly away from the closure. In many cases, permanently deforming the locking tab defeats the locking functionality thereof altogether. Thus, it is furthermore desirable to provide a safety closure having a locking tab with a reinforced portion, wherein the locking tab is not susceptible to permanent damage thereto caused by the user's tampering therewith.
It is also known in the prior art to provide a closure having tamper-indicating means provided thereon. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,040,692 to Julian teaches a closure having a tamper-indicating band detachably molded therewith which remains affixed to a container neck portion to which the closure has been threadingly affixed even after the closure has been removed from the container a first time, thereby providing evidence that the container has been opened at least a first time. However, it is furthermore desirable to provide a safety closure for use on a container, wherein the safety closure includes a deflectable reinforced locking tab and a tamper-indicating band. It is even furthermore desirable to provide a method and apparatus for making a safety closure for use on a container, wherein the safety closure includes a deflectable reinforced locking tab and a tamper-indicating band.
It is also desirable to provide a method and apparatus for forming a safety closure for use on a container, wherein the safety closure includes a deflectable reinforced locking tab, and wherein distortion of the locking tab during forming thereof is minimized.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is for a safety closure for use on a container to inhibit access to the contents of the container by an individual of tender years. The safety closure includes a deflectable reinforced locking tab which engages a cooperating lock abutment provided on the container, thereby preventing unthreading of the closure relative to the container without first deflecting the locking tab towards the safety closure body to overcome the container lock abutment.
The safety closure includes a cap body having a top and a side wall depending downwardly from an outer perimeter of the side wall. An internal thread is provided on an interior surface of the side wall for threadingly engaging an external thread provided on a neck portion of the container. A resilient locking tab is integrally-molded with the side wall and includes an anchored end thereof connected to the side wall at at least two locations thereon and a free end connected to the side wall by a biasing strap. The free end of the locking tab is biased in a first, normally-outward position for engaging a cooperating lock abutment provided on the container neck portion upon threading the safety closure onto the container neck portion a sufficient distance. Engagement of the safety closure locking tab with the container neck portion lock abutment, then, prevents unthreading of the safety closure from the container.
The free end of the locking tab may be deflected, for example, by the user's squeezing the free end of the locking tab inwardly towards the cap body between the user's thumb and fingers. The free end of the locking tab is thereby movable towards the cap body about the anchored end of the locking lug, against the outward bias of the biasing strap, thereby permitting the locking tab to overcome and pass inward of the lock abutment upon unthreading the safety closure from the container and removal therefrom. Once the safety closure has been unthreaded a sufficient distance such that the locking tab is no longer engageable with the container lock abutment, the user may cease squeezing the free end of the locking tab inwardly, at which point, the biasing strap returns the free end of the locking tab to the first position.
As stated above, the anchored end of the locking tab is connected to the side wall at at least two locations thereon, and preferably, at the proximal end thereof and also at a location spaced from the proximal end thereof a predetermined distance towards the free end thereof but not beyond a midpoint of the locking tab. The anchored end of the locking tab may be integral with the side wall at all locations between the first and second connection locations, thereby further reinforcing the locking tab against deformation.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a safety closure for use on a container, wherein the safety closure is provided with locking means, wherein the closure locking means are engageable with locking means provided on the container to inhibit removal of the safety closure from the container.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a safety closure having a locking tab with a reinforced portion, wherein the locking tab is not susceptible to permanent damage thereto caused by the user's tampering therewith.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for making a safety closure for use on a container, wherein the safety closure includes a deflectable reinforced locking tab and a tamper-indicating band.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for forming a safety closure for use on a container, wherein the safety closure includes a deflectable reinforced locking tab, and wherein distortion of the locking tab during forming thereof is minimized.
A safety closure according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a top wall, a side wall depending from the top wall, and a locking tab projecting outwardly from the side wall, the locking tab having a reinforced end integrally connected to the side wall and a free end connected to the side wall by a biasing strap, wherein the reinforced end of the locking tab inhibits movement of the free end of the locking tab in at least an upward direction.
A method of making th
Jones Narda A.
Mathes Todd E.
Minnette Jeffrey C.
Montgomery Gary V.
Shankland William J.
Hylton Robin A.
Middleton & Reutlinger
Rexam Medical Packaging Inc.
Salazar John F.
Shoap Allan N.
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