Child resistant cap with safety ring and ring gap lock

Abstract

A child resistant cap includes: (a) a main closure base; (b) an outer ring unit that functions as a safety collar; (c) a dispensing mechanism on the base; (d) an overcap. The base attaches to a top dispensing container and the horizontally rotatable ring unit is attached to the base. Alternatively, the outer ring unit is fixedly attached to the container. The overcap has protrusions and the ring has corresponding cut outs. There is a ring cut out gap lock that prevents at least one protrusion from passing through a cut out gap, unless it is moved to a release position after alignment of the ring unit and overcap.

Claims

1. A child resistant cap with safety ring and ring gap lock for direct attachment to a container having a rim of greater diameter than its neck, which comprises: a) an outer ring unit having a circular inside wall with a horizontal track thereon for attachment to the rim of a container having a top dispenser and having a rim of greater diameter than its adjacent neck, so as to connect said outer ring unit to said rim so as to be horizontally and freely rotatable thereabout, said outer ring unit having a top with an outwardly biased ledge to permit an overcap to be inserted onto and removed from said outer ring unit, and said ledge having at least one cut out gap thereon; b) at least one moveable ring gap lock located in said at least one cut out gap, said ring gap lock having a first position, being a locked position blocking said at least one cut out gap, and having a second position, being a release position opening said at least one cut out gap and, one of said outer ring unit and said at least one moveable ring gap having a first alignment indicia thereon; c) an overcap having a circular bottom adapted to be inserted over said top dispenser of said container and onto said outer ring unit, said circular bottom having a second alignment indicia, and said overcap having at least two protrusions thereon, at least one of which has a geometry of adequate size to freely move through said at least one cut out gap when said gap lock is in its release position, and of adequate size and geometry to prevent removal of said overcap from said outer ring when said gap lock is in said locked position; d) further wherein said outer ring unit ledge has an underside and said at least two protrusions of said overcap has a top, wherein the underside of said ledge and the top of said at least two protrusions are in frictional contact with one another when said overcap is inserted into said outer ring unit such that when one of said outer ring unit and said overcap are rotated, the other of said outer ring unit and said overcap rotates therewith, and wherein said frictional contact may be overcome manually by holding one of said outer ring unit and said overcap and rotating the other of said outer ring unit and said overcap relative to one another; and, wherein when one of said outer ring unit and said overcap is held, and the other of said outer ring unit and said overcap is rotated to place said first alignment indicia and said second alignment indicia in alignment with one another, and then said gap lock is moved into said release position, said overcap may be removed from said outer ring unit to uncover said top dispenser of said container for use.

2. The child resistant cap with safety ring and ring gap lock of claim 1 wherein said at least one cut out gap is a plurality of cut out gaps.

3. The child resistant cap with safety ring and ring gap lock of claim 1 which further includes an interloper attachment means for positioning between said outer ring unit and a container neck to which it is to be attached, and having container attachment means selected from the group consisting of threading, snap-lock and spring lock.

4. The child resistant cap with safety ring and ring gap lock of claim 1 further having at least two speed bumps located below said outwardly biased ledge adapted to reduce for horizontal movement of an overcap until minor frictional engagement is surpassed by minimal force.

5. The child resistant cap with safety ring and ring gap lock of claim 1 wherein said ring gap lock is selected from the group consisting of a slide lock, a hinge lock and a swing lock.

6. The child resistant cap with safety ring and ring gap lock of claim 1 wherein said ring gap lock is a hinged ring gap lock that may be pressed to move it from said locked position to said release position.

7. The child resistant cap with safety ring and ring gap lock of claim 1 wherein there are at least three protrusions, said protrusions being spaced apart from one another.

8. The child resistant cap with safety ring and ring gap lock of claim 1 wherein said underside of said ledge and said top of said at least one protrusion have non-smooth topographies to enhance said frictional contact.

9. The child resistant cap with safety ring and ring gap lock of claim 1 wherein at least one of said ledge and said at least two protrusions are flexible so as to permit insertion of said overcap onto said outer ring without alignment of said at least two protrusions and said at last two one out gap, and are upwardly inflexible so as to prevent removal of said overcap from said outer ring, except when there is alignment and said gap lock is in its release position.

10. The child resistant cap with safety ring and ring gap lock of claim 1 wherein there are two ring gap locks at two different gaps.

11. A child resistant cap with safety ring and ring gap lock for direct attachment to a container having a rim of greater diameter than its neck, which comprises: a) an outer ring unit having a circular wall with a horizontal track thereon for attachment to the rim of a container having a top dispenser and having a rim of greater diameter than its adjacent neck, so as to connect said outer ring unit to said rim so as to be horizontally fixed thereon, said outer ring unit having a top with an outwardly biased ledge to permit an overcap to be inserted onto and removed from said outer ring unit, and said ledge having at least one cut out gap thereon; b) at least one moveable ring gap lock located in said at least one cut out gap, said ring gap lock having a first position, being a locked position blocking said at least one cut out gap, and having a second position, being a release position opening said at least one cut out gap and, one of said outer ring unit and said at least one moveable ring gap having a first alignment indicia thereon; c) an overcap having a circular bottom adapted to be inserted over said top dispenser of said container and onto said outer ring unit, said circular bottom having a second alignment indicia, and said overcap having at least two protrusions thereon, at least one of which has a geometry of adequate size to freely move through said at least one cut out gap when said gap lock is in its release position, and of adequate size and geometry to prevent removal of said overcap from said outer ring when said gap lock is in said locked position; d) further wherein said outer ring unit ledge has an underside and said at least two protrusions of said overcap have a top, wherein the underside of said ledge prevents the top of said at least two protrusions from passing over said ledge, except when in the gap position when said at least one moveable ring gap lock is moved to said release position to permit at least one of said at least two protrusions to pass therethrough; and, wherein when one of said outer ring unit and said overcap is held, and the other of said outer ring unit and said overcap is rotated to place said first alignment indicia and said second alignment indicia in alignment with one another, and then said gap lock is moved into said release position, said overcap may be removed from said outer ring unit to uncover said top dispenser of said container for use.

12. The child resistant cap with safety ring and ring gap lock of claim 11 wherein said at least one cut out gap is a plurality of cut out gaps.

13. The child resistant cap with safety ring and ring gap lock of claim 11 which further includes an interloper attachment means for positioning between said outer ring unit and a container neck to which it is to be attached, and having container attachment means selected from the group consisting of threading, snap-lock and spring lock.

14. The child resistant cap with safety ring and ring gap lock of claim 11 further having at least two speed bumps located below said outwardly biased ledge adapted to reduce for horizontal movement of an overcap until minor frictional engagement is surpassed by minimal force.

15. The child resistant cap with safety ring and ring gap lock of claim 11 wherein said ring gap lock is selected from the group consisting of a slide lock, a hinge lock and a swing lock.

16. The child resistant cap with safety ring and ring gap lock of claim 11 wherein said ring gap lock is a hinged ring gap lock that may be pressed to move it from said locked position to said release position.

17. The child resistant cap with safety ring and ring gap lock of claim 11 wherein there are at least three protrusions, said protrusions being spaced apart from one another.

18. The child resistant cap with safety ring and ring gap lock of claim 11 wherein said underside of said ledge and said top of said at least one protrusion have non-smooth topographies to enhance said frictional contact.

19. The child resistant cap with safety ring and ring gap lock of claim 11 wherein at least one of said ledge and said at least two protrusions are flexible so as to permit insertion of said overcap onto said outer ring without alignment of said at least two protrusions and said at last two cut out gaps, and are upwardly inflexible so as to prevent removal of said overcap from said outer ring, except when there is alignment and said gap lock is in its release position.

20. The child resistant cap with safety ring and ring gap lock of claim 11 wherein there are two ring gap locks at two different gaps.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention and together with the detail description serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings:

(2) FIG. 1 is an oblique drawing of one embodiment of the present invention child resistant safety cap on a container, and includes the safety ring and ring gap lock, with the overcap removed;

(3) FIG. 2 shows an oblique view of the present invention child resistant safety cap as shown in FIG. 1, but with the overcap in place;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a bottom view of the overcap used in a present invention child resistant safety cap shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

(5) FIG. 4 shows a top view of a present invention child resistant safety cap, including the ring gap lock, that is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

(6) FIG. 5 shows a side oblique view of an alternative embodiment outer ring unit for a present invention child resistant cap outer ring unit with two different cutout gaps, one with and one without a ring gap lock;

(7) FIG. 6 shows a side oblique view of an overcap for use with the alternative embodiment outer ring unit of FIG. 5;

(8) FIG. 7 shows a side oblique view of an alternative embodiment outer ring unit for a present invention child resistant cap outer ring unit with two different cutout gaps, each having a ring gap lock;

(9) FIG. 8 illustrates a diagrammatic representation of one group of present invention child resistant safety caps wherein the outer ring unit is fixedly attached to a container; and,

(10) FIG. 9 illustrates a diagrammatic representation of one group of present invention child resistant safety caps wherein the outer ring unit is movably attached to a container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

(11) Referring now in detail to the drawings wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, various embodiments of the present invention are shown.

(12) FIG. 1 is an oblique drawing of one embodiment of the present invention child resistant safety cap 1 on a container 3, with the overcap removed. Safety cap 1 includes an outer ring unit 10 and a top dispenser 21. Here, main closure base 5 of outer ring unit 10 is shown attached to container 3. This attachment may be a force fit snap on attachment, a locking ratchet mechanism, a lock thread attachment, or any other known attachment mechanism. Base 5 includes a circular recess 11 and an outwardly biased ledge 9. There is a gap that is cut out from ledge 9, shown as gap 23. There is also a ring gap lock 13 positioned in cut out gap 23 that has a first locked position, as shown here. Also, ring gap lock 13 has an arcuate recess 15 and an outwardly biased ledge 17 that mimic same components (recess and ledge) of the other ring unit 10.

(13) Ring gap lock 13 is movable within cut out gap 23 and it includes alignment indicia 19. When an overcap is snapped onto ledge 9, it cannot be removed unless two steps are takenfirst, the overcap needs to aligned with alignment indicia 19, and, second, ring gap lock 13 needs to be depressed. Thus, a user may press at indicia 19 so as to move ledge 17 toward center to an unlock position for overcap release.

(14) Top dispenser 21 has an internal connection to the nozzle tube of container 3, which also connects to dispensing nozzle 27. Top dispenser 21 is moveably and hingedly connected to top 7 of ledge 9 at hinge 25. When a user presses grips 29, top dispenser 21 tilts and content is released from container 3 at dispensing nozzle 27. While the dispenser 21 is with a pressurized container and dispenser nozzle, it could alternatively be a push-pull dispenser, a screw cap, a pump dispenser or any other dispenser known. The purpose of the present invention is to create a strong child resistant feature that requires two distinct steps for removal, yet doesn't require significant strength. The two steps are: rotate to align, and release lock to remove overcap.

(15) In any present invention embodiment, the container to which the child resistant safety cap is attached may have any dispensable flowable material such as liquid, sprayable liquid, gel, foam or the like. The dispensing component of the container may generally be referred to as a nozzle and could be any type of known dispenser, as mentioned. For example, a spray nozzle that is push activated or otherwise activated, a push-pull dispenser, a screw cap and open neck or a tilt dispenser could be used. The main container base may simply have an opening for the nozzle or include functional parts that may connect to or otherwise come and contact with a nozzle or nozzle activator. In some preferred embodiments of the present invention child resistant safety cap, the nozzle and the outer ring unit may be separately created and in other embodiments may be integrally formed, such as from a single mold. The present invention outer ring unit is attached to the container by known conventional means and may include crimping, heat sealing, force fitting, irreversible threading or any other known attachment means.

(16) FIG. 2 shows an oblique view of the present invention child resistant safety cap as shown in FIG. 1, but with the overcap in place and FIG. 3 shows a bottom view of only overcap 20. The reference numerals that are the same in FIGS. 1 and 2 and 3, and relate to the same components in all Figures. This is likewise true of FIG. 4, described further below.

(17) Overcap 20 has sidewall 31, with indicia 35 thereon for alignment with ring unit indicia 19, as shown. It has an open bottom, and strategically positioned and sized inwardly projecting protrusions, shown in FIG. 3 as protrusions 37 and 39. While in FIG. 2 it is in the firing position, i.e., properly aligned by the indicia positioning, it can still not be opened unless ring gap lock 13 is moved to the release position. FIG. 4 shows a top view of the FIG. 1 outer ring unit 10 with identical components identically numbered. Taking all of FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4 collectively, it can be seen that the overcap 20 may be snapped onto ledge 9 in any position and it cannot be removed until proper alignment, as represented by FIG. 2, and then pressing or otherwise moving the lock into the release position, followed by lifting of the overcap. (Note that the overcap 20 has two internal protrusions yet there is only one cut out gap in ring unit 10. This is functional, as once one protrusion is released through the unlocked gap and the overcap is tilted, the second protrusion will slide out from the ledge of the ring unit.

(18) FIG. 5 shows a side oblique view of an alternative embodiment outer ring unit for a present invention child resistant cap outer ring unit with two different cutout gaps, one with and one without a ring gap lock and FIG. 6 side oblique view of an overcap for use with the alternative embodiment outer ring unit of FIG. 5. In FIG. 5, safety cap 50 includes an outer ring unit 60 and a top dispenser 70. The main closure base 51 of outer ring unit 50 is shown attachable to any container for which it is designed. This attachment may be a force fit snap on attachment, a locking ratchet mechanism, a lock thread attachment, or any other known attachment mechanism. Base 51 includes a circular recess 53 and an outwardly biased ledge 55. There is a gap that is cut out from ledge 55, shown as gap 57. There is also a ring gap lock 61 positioned in cut out gap 57 that has a first locked position, as shown here. Also, ring gap lock 61 has an arcuate recess under outwardly biased ledge 65 that mimics the same components (recess and ledge) of the outer ring unit 60. There is a second cut out gap 59 that has no lock.

(19) Ring gap lock 61 is movable within cut out gap 57 and it includes combined push tab/alignment indicia 63. In this case, the living hinge is a lateral (horizontal) hinge 67 whereas in the prior embodiment, the hinge was at the base of the lock. When an overcap with three protrusions (FIG. 6 below) is snapped onto ledge 55, it cannot be removed unless two steps are takenfirst, the overcap needs to aligned with alignment indicia, and, second, ring gap lock 61 needs to be pushed in. Thus, a user may press at indicia 63 so as to move ledge 65 toward center to an unlock position for overcap release. Two of the three protrusions of the overcap will have open gaps (one with no lock and one with a released lock) and the third will then slip out from the ledge to permit overcap removal.

(20) FIG. 6 shows the overcap 80 with sidewall 81, top 83 and open bottom 93. There are three protrusions 87, 89 and 91 and two will line up with the gaps of outer ring unit 50 of FIG. 5 when the alignment indicia are aligned with one another, as described above.

(21) FIG. 7 shows a side oblique view of an alternative embodiment safety cap 100 for a present invention child resistant cap outer ring unit with two different cutout gaps, each having a ring gap lock. Safety cap 100 includes an outer ring unit 105 with ledge 109 and bevel 107 and an underneath recess (not shown), as well as a dispenser 111. Dispenser 111 has a dispenser nozzle 127 and a depression actuator 129, as shown, but could instead have any type of dispenser, as mentioned above. Also, gaps 123 and 135 and ring gap locks 113 and 133 are opposite one another, but could be offset so as to have only one open position instead of two, as is the case here. Thus, ring gap locks 113 and 133 sit in gaps 123 and 135 respectively, and are discussed respectively here in parallel. They include indicia 119 and 139, although one indicia would be sufficient. They also include ledges 123 and 137 and are push-in type locks such as is described with respect to FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 above. Dispenser 111 in integrally formed with the ring unit 105, but could be separately cast or otherwise formed without exceeding the scope of the present invention. Here, dispenser 111 is connected to the ring unit 105 by living hinges such as hinge 125. As above, when a snap overcap (two or three protrusion will work here) is in place, the user must (1) align the indicia; (2) depress one or both of the locks (depending on whether the overcap has two or three protrusions); and (3) lift, to access the dispenser.

(22) Top dispenser 21 has an internal connection to the nozzle tube of container 3, which also connects to dispensing nozzle 27. Top dispenser 21 is moveably and hingedly connected to top 7 of ledge 9 at hinge 25. When a user presses grips 29, top dispenser 21 tilts and content is released from container 3 at dispensing nozzle 27. While the dispenser 21 is with a pressurized container and dispenser nozzle, it could alternatively be a push-pull dispenser, a screw cap, a pump dispenser or any other dispenser known. The purpose of the present invention is to create a strong child resistant feature that requires two distinct steps for removal, yet doesn't require significant strength. The two steps are: rotate to align, and release lock to remove overcap.

(23) While the embodiment with three protrusions and two gaps is described above, as well as other embodiments, other combinations of protrusions and gaps and locks are now contemplated, depending upon the widths of the protrusions and the diameter of the ring and on the positioning of the protrusions relative to one another (e.g., evenly spaced apart or not). Table 1 below lists some possibilities (numbers of these components larger than those shown in Table 1 are also within the scope of the present invention:

(24) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Some Component Combination Possibilities Overcap Protrusions Cut Out Gaps Cut Out Gap Locks Two One One Two Two One Two Two Two Three One One Three Two One Three Two Two Three Three One Three Three Two

(25) Typically, those embodiments above that have one or more open gaps (no locks) would have varying width protrusions and frictional engagement with the ring unit.

(26) As mentioned, the ring unit may be fixed so as to not rotate relative to the container or may be rotatable on the container and frictionally engaged with the overcap. If fixed, it is a matter of tightness and/or locking of the attachment with the container, such as one-way ratchets, force fit connection, crimping, gluing, heat welding or any other technique used to prevent a container top from rotating. If the outer ring unit is to rotate, then the attachment may be any that allows for rotation, such as a snug but not tight snap-on flange.

(27) FIG. 8 illustrates a diagrammatic representation of one group of present invention child resistant safety caps wherein the outer ring unit is for being fixedly attached to a container. The details are set forth in the frames 201, 203, 205, 207, 209, 211 and 213, respectively.

(28) FIG. 9 illustrates a diagrammatic representation of one group of present invention child resistant safety caps wherein the outer ring unit is movably attached to a container. The details are set forth in the frames 301, 303, 305, 307, 309, 311 and 313, respectively.

(29) Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to those particular embodiments, and that various changes and modifications may be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims. For example, components may reverse the male and female aspects without exceeding the scope of the invention. The overcap may snap into the inside of a ring instead of on its outside with the track of the ring being on an inside surface instead of an outside surface. Also, for example, the protrusions and cut outs could be reversed and located on the ring and overcap, respectively.