Safety closure for containers

In a container, a body portion having a threaded mouth, a screw closure for the container rotationally engageable with the threaded mouth and having a circumferentially extending group of locking teeth, and a release element on the side wall of said body portion having a part adapted to interlock with a tooth of said screw closure when the screw closure is applied to said threaded mouth of said body portion, said release element movable toward and away from said side wall and said part interlocking with said tooth and preventing rotational removal of said screw closure when the release element is in an outward position relative to said side wall, said part separating from said tooth and releasing said screw closure for rotational removal when said release element is moved to an inward position relative to said side wall;

• said release element comprising a spring-like bendable element on said side wall below the locking teeth of said screw closure, said part of the release element comprising a single upstanding tooth on the release element and being spaced from said side wall;
• said teeth of the circumferentially extending group being formed substantially radially of the container, whereby substantially radial inward movement of said single upstanding tooth on said release element will effect its separation from said teeth, and a stationary stop element on said side wall below said release element to limit downward displacement of the release element and thereby preventing damage to the release element.

In a container, a body portion having a threaded mouth, a screw closure for the container rotationally engageable with the threaded mouth and having a circumferentially extending group of locking teeth, and a release element on the side wall of said body portion having a part adapted to interlock with a tooth of said screw closure when the screw closure is applied to said threaded mouth of said body portion, said release element movable toward and away from said side wall and said part interlocking with said tooth and preventing rotational removal of said screw closure when the release element is in an outward position relative to said side wall, said part separating from said tooth and releasing said screw closure for rotational removal when said release element is moved to an inward position relative to said side wall;

• said release element comprising a spring-like bendable element on said side wall below the locking teeth of said screw closure, and said part of the release element comprising a single upstanding tooth on the release element and being spaced from said side wall;
• and said teeth of the circumferentially extending group being formed in a substantially axial direction on said screw closure and having lower interior beveled corners, said single upstanding tooth on the release element having a cooperating top exterior beveled corner and said teeth and single upstanding tooth all having cooperating angled side faces which promote ratcheting action when said screw closure is being applied rotationally to said container body portion.