US 3,958,708 AGranted

Oversized safety cap

AssigneeSunbeam Plastics Corporation

InventorMichel A. Le Brun, Jr.

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A safety cap for sealing a container is disclosed. The cap is adapted to a container having a sidewall and annular upper shoulder extending to a neck portion that is threaded. In the vicinity of the neck portion is a cam member having a lug recess in the vicinity of the eccentric portion of the cam. The cap comprises an inner cup member with an integral continuous sidewall for sealing the container. On the inner cup member's interior surface, threads are formed to mate with the threads on the container. The sidewall has at least one downwardly projecting lug adapted to contact the recess on the cam member when the cap is in its sealing position. Alternatively, the inner cup member can include an inner cup with threads and a middle cup with lugs. Connected to the inner cup member or molded in one piece is an over cup that has a diameter equal to the span of an adult's hand. This cup is located so that when a force is exerted against it, it transversely deforms and translates the force to the inner cup member. The inner cup member in turn transversely deforms to disengage the projecting lugs from the lug recess on the cam member.

Claims8

Dependent claims

A safety cap forming a closure member for a container having an integral bottom, continuous sidewall and annular upper shoulder extending up to a neck portion whose upper end forms the opening to said container, said neck including thread means formed thereon adjacent to said upper end opening, a cam member having at least one recess adjacent to the eccentric portion of said cam member constructed on said neck portion in the vicinity of said shoulder and the lower end of said neck threads;

said cap having an inner cup means for sealing said container, including a top integral with a continuous depending sidewall means, one portion of said depending sidewall means having threads formed thereon adapted to mate with the neck threads of said container, at least one downwardly projecting lug formed on another portion of said depending sidewall means adapted to contact said cam member when said threaded portion of said cap is adjacent to its sealing position on said neck, and a lower portion of said depending sidewall means extending sufficiently below said cam member and laterally spaced from said neck portion to permit said projecting lug portion to clear said recess of said cam member for disengagement of said safety cap from said container;
and
an over cup member, larger in diameter than the span of a child's hand so that a child is unable to open said safety cap, substantially surrounding said inner cup means having a top and integral side;
said over cup member connected to said inner cup means, so that when a force is exerted against said over cup member to said inner cup means at predetermined positions, said inner cup means and said over cup member are transversely deformed to disengage said projecting lug portion from said recess of said cam member.

1 more element

A child-proof over a cap for container having a cylindrical body, with an integral bottom and an open upper end, complementary thread means on said upper open end of said container, and a locking element connected to said container in the vicinity of said container's upper open end, said child-proof cap comprising:

a first inverted cup-shaped cover for closing said upper open end of said container;
thread means on said first inverted cover for screwing said first inverted cup-shaped cover onto said complementary thread means on said upper open end of said container;
a second inverted cup-shaped cover, larger in diameter than said first inverted cover, wherein said second inverted cover is connected to said first inverted cover;
a complementary locking element on said second inverted cup-shaped cover so as to engage said locking element in the vicinity of said upper open end of said container;
whereby when said second inverted cover is squeezed at predetermined places said complementary locking element of said second inverted cover and the locking element of said upper open end are disengaged so that said first inverted cover is unscrewable from said upper end;
a third inverted cup-shaped cover connected to said second inverted cover so that said complementary locking element of said second inverted cover and the locking element of said upper open end are disengagable only when said third cover is squeezed by an adult-sized hand at predetermined locations on said third inverted cover;
auxiliary means for directing the squeeze of said adult-sized hand applied to said third inverted cover to said second inverted cover at predetermined places, resulting in said complementary locking element of said second inverted cover to disengage the locking element of said container so that said first inverted cover is unscrewable from said upper open end;
and
means for draining said third inverted cover so that said third cup means is unusable as a drinking cup when not used as a cap for said container.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 05/574,790Filed 5 May 1975
Granted: 25 May 1976
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification11 codes

B65D 50/046
Where one action elastically deforms or deflects at least part of the closure, the container or an intermediate element, e.g. a ring: and such…
B29C 49/04104
Extrusion blow-moulding: extruding the material discontinuously
B29C 49/06
Combined blow-moulding and manufacture of the preform or the parison: injection blow-moulding
B29C 51/08
Shaping by thermoforming , i.e. shaping sheets or sheet like preforms after heating, e.g. shaping sheets in matched moulds or by deep-drawing;…:…