US2752060A - Container closure - Google Patents

Description

June 26, 1956 W. N. MARTIN CONTAINER CLOSURE Filed Feb. 16, 1955 INVENTOR. fl a/v'e/r M Mar/f4? United States Patent CONTAINER CLOSURE Warren N. Martim lrairie Village, Kans.

Application February 16, 1955, Serial No. 488,587

Cla ((1 15- 1).

This invention relates generally to the field of containers and closures therefor, and more particularly, to an improved form of bottle and cap therefor.

Many serious and needless accidents have occurred through children gaining access to containers in which poisons, medicines, which are harmful when taken in improper dosage, and similar materials are packaged. The packaging of such materials in conventional containers having conventional closures makes it possible for children large enough to gain access to such packages but too small to recognize the consequences of consuming the materials contained therein to remove the conventional closures from the containers and to partake of the dangerous contents. of'the package. Other serious accidents frequently occur in which an adult inadvertently takes the wrong package or container from a shelf during the night when it is dark or simply due to in'sufficient attention and mistakenly consumes the harmful contents of a package or container other than that whose contents he intended to consume.

It is the primary object of this invention to provide. an improved form of container therefor which overcomes all of the above-mentioned disadvantages and dangers, while still presenting structure which is convenient to manipulate for an adult intending to gain access to the contents of such container.

Another important object of the invention is, to provide such container and closure structure therefor which includes means for positively preventing. removal of the closure or cap from the container or bottle by either simple turning of the cap upon the bottle, or simple pulling of the cap relative to the bottle, or a combination of such forces, but which permits easy removal of the cap from the bottle upon first turning the cap relative to the bottle and then squeezing the cap to distort thesame from its normal configuration in predetermined manner.

Another important object of this invention is to providea container and a closure therefor which are, adapted to. resist the effects of vibration, iarring or the like during shipping or transportation and to remain locked in sealed condition despite the presence of such forces.

Still other important objects of this invention, including important details 01. construction, will be made clear or become apparent as the following description of the invention progresses. In the accompanyingdrawing:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view, partially in. perspective and partially in cross section, showing. a threaded bottlehaving one embodiment of the improved cap contemplatedlby this invention implaced thereon, the cap being also illustrated in dotted lines in the position it; would assume immediately before removal by-one versed in the manner of operating the structure;

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view takenon line II'-ll' of Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken on line III-H1 of- Fig. l and, showing the cap in thepositionsame occupies-whendisposedas illustrated in solidilinesin Fig l.

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view taken on line III-411 of Fig, 1 showing the cap in substantially the position same occupies when disposed as illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 1 but after same has been squeezed prior to re.- moval. I

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view similar to that of'Fig. 4 but illustrated a modified embodiment of cap with its position when in unsqueezed or normal configuration in dotted lines and its position after being squeezed in solid lines;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view, partiallyhin perspective and partially in cross section, i llustrating a modified form of bottle and cap; and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view, partially in perspective and partially in cross section, illustrating a second modified form ofbottleand cap;

Referring now to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, thenumeral 10 generally designates a container or bottle having amain body 12 and an open-topped,elongated neck 14 provided with anoutturned, annular shoulder orrim 16 intermediate its ends and a set of integral,external threads 18 formed betweenshoulder 16 and the open top (designated 2%) of theneck 14 0f bottle 14). A substantially'frusto-conical, hollow closure or cap designated 22 is provided for bottle it) and illustrated in place thereon in the drawing; Cap 22'has anend Wall 24, a frusto-conical side wall 26 and a pair of; inturned, opposed flanges ornibs 23 and 38 extending toward each other fromside wall 26 at the openv end of the latter in predetermined, spaced relationship. from the end wall- 24. Thecap 22 is provided with a set of integral;internal threads 32 inside wall 26,adjacent end wall 24 and in predetermined, spaced relationship fromflanges 23 and 30.

Acircular gasket 34 is; provided within cap 2d and is disposed upon the inner side ofend wall 24 for sealing theopen top 20 of bottle It whencap 22 is tightly implaced; thereon.

Bottle 10' may, of course, be formed of" any suitable material suchas glass, metal: or the like; cap. 22 is preferably formed of a resilient plastic material, although certain' metals: could be used; and,gasket 34 is preferably formed of paper, plastic or other material normally usedin comparable applications. It is further noted that, as will hereinafter become apparent, the invention is by no means limited to containers having a configuration such as illustrated by the bottle lll it being apparent that the principles of the invention would apply equally well to a container having a uniform diameter throughout its length except for the shoulder-Maud thethreads 18; containers of such substantially cylindrical configuration are, of course, relatively common for use in the packaging of prescriptions and'medicinal products.

. Referring particularly to Figs. 2 and 3 and the position of thecap 22 as shown in solid lines in Fig. I, it will. be observed, that with thethreads 32 ofcap 22 screwed fully upon, thethreads 18 ofbottle 10,theflanges 28 and 3tl. will. be spaced below shoulder 16 a distance sufficient topermiiunscrewing ofthecap 22. uponbottle 10. to- -a point of freeingthreads 32; from.threads 18 before theflanges 28' and 30, come in contact with the lowermost face. (designated 36 ofshoulder 16. it will, therefore, be clear that with this. embodiment of the invention a. child, for instance, cou ld proceed toward the, removal. ofcap 22 from bottle; lllthrough the; process ofunscrewing cap 22.. from threads; 18 ofbottle;1ll-and then pulling thecap 22 relative tobottle; 19. tov the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1. At this juncture, however, theflanges 28. and 30 will firmly abut against the face 36 ofshoulder 16 to prevent further outward movementof thecap 22 and its, emoval; from thebottle 10. This embodiment of the invention is, accordingly, well adapted for use with medicines and other products of a granular or solidified nature, for example, aspirin.

In order to complete the removal ofcap 22 frombottle 1%) it is'necessary for one-understanding the functioning of the structure to exert opposite forces, as indicated by the arrows at 38 and 40 in Fig. 4, tosqueeze thecap 22 at opposed zones (designated 42 and 44) ofside wall 26 ofcap 22,zones 42 and 44 being angularly displaced from theflanges 28 and 38 and substantially midway between the latter on theside wall 26. As illustrated in Fig. 4, the exertion of squeezing force as at 38 and 40 uponzones 42 and 44 ofside wall 26 will distort the latter from its normal configuration of circular cross section to a configuration of elliptical crosssection moving flanges 28 and 30 apart a distance suflicient to clearshoulder 16 of bottlelt). Obviously, after such squeezing thecap 22 can be lifted free of thebottle 10 to permit access to theopen top 20 ofbottle 10 for delivery of the contents of the latter therefrom. Upon releasing thesqueezing forces 38 and 40 fromcap 22, the latter will, by virtue of its resilient nature, return to its original configuration.

In replacing thecap 22 upon thebottle 10, the steps outlined for removal may be simply reversed, theside Wall 26 ofcap 22 being initially squeezed to moveflanges 28 and 30 apart so that thecap 22 can be irnplaced uponbottle 10 with theflanges 28 and 30 betweenshoulder 16 andmain body 12 ofbottle 10, and thecap 22 may then be screwed uponbottle 10 until the engagement betweenthreads 18 and 32 have moved thegasket 34 to a position tightly sealing theopen top 20 ofbottle 10. Preferably, however, the lower surfaces offlanges 28 and 30 are rounded as at 31 to permit simply snapping theflanges 28 and 30 overrim 16 without squeezing ofcap 22, the upper surface 17 ofrim 16 also being preferably rounded for this purpose.

Referring next to Fig. 5, parts numbered the same as in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive will be understood to be the same, and parts having numbers exceeding those of parts illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive by 100 will be understood to correspond generally to the latter. The embodiment of Fig. contemplates a modifiedcap 122 of generally the same configuration ascap 22 previously described, except that theside wall 126 thereof is of greater thickness throughout thearcuate portions 159 and 152 thereofadjacent flanges 128 and 130 than the thickness ofsuch side wall 126 atzones 142 and 144 thereof. This permits easier squeezing ofzones 142 and 144 and, accordingly, easier distortion ofwall 126 from its normal configuration to moveflanges 128 and 130 apart, while at the same time strengthening the mounting forflanges 128 and 130. It may also be noted in Fig. 5 that the normal configuration ofside wall 126 ofcap 122 is such that the inner diameter betweenportions 150 and 152 is somewhat less than the inner diameter betweenzones 142 and 144. Inother words, thecap 126 is normally of slightly elliptical cross section with theflanges 128 and 130 disposed on the minor axis and thezones 142 and 144 disposed on the major axis. As was the case withside wall 26 ofcap 22, when the squeezingforces 138 and 140 are applied,cap 126 will distort to a configuration of elliptical-cross section having theflanges 128 and 130 disposed on its major axis and moved apart to clear theshoulder 16. Such distorted configuration of the cap .126 is shown in solid lines in Fig. 5 while its normal configuration is illustrated in dotted lines.

' Referring now to the modified: embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 6, parts numbered the same as in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive will be understood to be the same, and parts having numbers exceedingthose of parts illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive by 200 will be understood to correspond generally to the latter. .Bottle 210 has aneck 214 provided withexternal threads 18 and with an external, integral, annu1arshoulder'216, the

latter being spaced fromthreads 18 by a substantial distance greater than that utilized in thebottle 10 of Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive. The reason for such spacing of shoulder 216 a predetermined, substantial distance below threads 13 will shortly become apparent. A cap generally designated 222 may be essentially the same as eithercap 22 orcap 122 above described. Theside wall 226 ofcap 222 is so dimensioned in the spacing offlanges 228 and 230 from end wall'224' that theflanges 228 and 230 just fit between shoulder orrim 216 andmain body 212 ofbottle 210 when thecap 222 is fully screwed upon thethreads 18. This form of the invention is obviously Well adapted for use withcontainer 210 containing liquids, as well as with those containing solid materials, since theopen top 220 ofbottle 210 will be tightly sealed bygasket 34 when theflanges 228 and 230 are in their locked position beneathshoulder 216. It is also the embodiment of the invention best suited for useinpreventing loosening of thecap 222 from thebottle 210 during shipping or transporting. The manner of operating this embodiment of the invention to removecap 222 frombottle 210 is similar to that above described for the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, except that theside wall 226 ofcap 222 must be initially squeezed and maintained in squeezed condition while thecap 222 is being rotated sufliciently forflanges 228 and 280 to clear face. 236 ofrim 216. However, in replacing thecap 222 uponbottle 210 it is merely rotated until thethreads 232 are fully screwed uponthreads 18, whereupon by virtue of the rounding offlanges 228 and 230 as at 231, theflanges 228 and 230 will snap overshoulder 216 to engage thelower face 236 thereof for locking thecap 222 in place. a

The embodiment illustrated and described in connection with Fig. .6 actually constitutes the preferred embodiment from an operational point' of view. However, the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive is deemed important in view of the fact that conventional containers now in use and available are commonly provided with ashoulder 16 disposed essentially as illustrated and described in connection with thebottle 18; this permits the immediate use of this invention to receive the benefits thereof by simply supplying a cap or closure made in accordance with that described forcap 22. Although the change required for manufacturing containers in a form having a shoulder disposed as that at 216 onbottle 210 would be slight, it is to be understood that the invention may well find widest commercial application through the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive and that such eventuality is clearly contemplated. It may be pointed out that the necessity for some spacing of theflanges 228 and 230 from thethreads 232 is due to the.

fact that the inner diameter ofcap 222 adjacent theflanges 228 and 230 must be sufficient to permit squeezing ofzones 42 and 44 toward each other without imme diate engagement with theshoulder 16 or 216.

Referring now to the second modified form of theinand 366 therebetween. A shoulder orrim 316 is, in this instance, provided on neck 314 in closer proximity to theopen top 320 thereof thanthreads 318, therim 316 illustrated actually being atop the neck 314 adjacent theopening 320 ofbottle 310. It may be noted that the outer diameter ofrim 316 is either equal to or slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the threads- 318. The modifiedcap 322 may, but need not be, and is not illustrated as being, frusto-conical in configuration. As

shown,cap 322 is substantially cylindrical in form with acylindrical side wall 326 having anend wall 324 closing one end thereof and opposed flanges or nibs 323 and 330 integrally formed at the extremity thereofopposite end wall 324. As will be clear from the drawing, theflange 328 is adapted to ride within groove 356 and the flange 330 is adapted to ride withingroove 364 of thethreads 318. Theflanges 328 and 366 thus serve the same function as or in lieu of, thethreads 32 and 232 provided in the other forms of the invention. In operating the embodiment of Fig. 7 toren c 322 frombottle 310, it will be clear that thecap 322 is first rotated to unscrewflanges 328 and 339 fromthreads 318, and then theside wall 326 is squeezed in the same manner as hereinabove described to move flanges 323 and 330 apart sutficiently toclear rim 316. in replacing thecap 322 on the bottle 319, the procedure may be simply reversed or theflanges 328 and 33% may simply be snapped over the roundedupper surface 317 or"shoulder 316. It will be at once recognized that the form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 7 is ideally suited for use with existing containers provided with threads and a rim substantially comparable tothreads 318 andrim 316 just described. An additional advantage of the embodiment of Fig. 7 will be perceived to reside in the fact that, although the engagement offlanges 328 and 33%) withthreads 318 can be utilized to screw thecap 322 tightly upon bottle 315) for sealing open top 32!) by means ofgasket 34, thecap 322 may be completely removed merely by initially squeezing theside wall 326 in the manner described and, similarly, thecap 322 can be quickly replaced by squeezing theside wall 326 and pressing thecap 322 upon the bottle 314} so far as same will go and then rotating thecap 322 as may be necessary to further tighten the same to the desired degree.

It will now be apparent that this invention is well adapted for accomplishing all of the objects set forth above by means of structure which is positive in operation, simple in construction and economical to manufacture. It will be readily appreciated that many minor changes, variations and modifications could be made from the exact structures disclosed for illustrative purposes without departing from the true spirit and intention of the invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the invention shall be deemed limited only within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. Packaging structure comprising a container having a substantially cylindrical portion open at one extremity thereof and provided with an external, annular shoulder thereon, a part of said portion being provided with external threads; and a cap of resilient material threadably mounted on said threads of the portion, said cap having a tubular side wall, an end wall closing one extremity of the side wall and a pair of opposed, inturned flanges on the other extremity of the side wall, the distance between said flanges being less than the outer diameter of the shoulder when the cap is in its normal configuration, said cap being distortable from said normal configuration upon application of a squeezing force thereto to a temporary configuration disposing said flanges in positions spaced from each other a distance greater than said diameter of the shoulder, whereby the cap may be removed from closing disposition upon the container by the application of said force and rotation of the cap relative to the portion.

2. In the structure as set forth inclaim 1, wherein said flanges are adapted to intermesh with said threads, and said shoulder is disposed on said portion between said threads and said one extremity of the portion.

3. In the structure as set forth in claim l, wherein said threads on the portion are between said shoulder and said one extremity, and said cap is provided with internal threads thereon between said flanges and said end wall adapted to intermesh with said threads on the portion.

4. In the structure as set forth in claim 3, wherein said shoulder is spaced from said threads on the portion a predetermined distance such that said flanges abut against the shoulder oppositely to said threads on the portion when the cap is screwed to one limit of its extent of travel on the bottle disposing the cap in closing relationship to said one extremity of the portion.

5. In the structure as set forth in claim 3, wherein said flanges are spaced from said threads on the cap a distance at least equal to the distance between the extremity of said threads on said portion nearest said one extremity of the latter and the extremity of said shoulder furthest from said one extremity of said portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,612,015 Hammer Dec. 28, 1926

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