Indicator cap
AssigneeSenetics, Inc.
InventorsAllen Barker, Gage Garby
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for counting the number of times a container has been opened or some other event has occurred, with particular usefulness in medicine bottles and the like. An outer cover portion with a set of teeth holds an indicator wheel with an engaging pawl and another set of teeth and a ratchet wheel with a another pawl. The pawls and teeth in combination with a slot for engaging the ratchet wheel result in a lost motion drive in which the outer cover will turn relative to the indicator wheel each time the container is opened or closed or some other event occurs. Various embodiments of the invention include means for using the cap with child-resistent containers, means for attaching the cap to containers and means to facilitate the manufacture and assembly of the device.
Claims10
An indicator device for mounting to a closure for a container, to indicate the opening or closing of the container, comprising:
- (a) an outer cover comprising a top piece with an indicator window therein and a depending skirt extending axially downward from the top piece;
- (b) a retainer rotatably attached to the outer cover whereby the outer cover can rotate a predetermined number of degrees before causing rotation of the retainer;
- (c) an indicator device mount for mounting the indicator device to said closure;
- (d) an indicator wheel disposed between said outer cover top piece and said retainer, having indicating symbols visible through the indicator window;
- (e) a rotation mechanism engaging said indicator wheel to said outer cover for causing rotation of the indicator wheel with the outer cover upon rotation of the outer cover in a first direction;
- and
- (f) an antirotation mechanism engaging said retainer to said indicator wheel for preventing rotation of the indicator wheel with outer cover upon rotation of the outer cover in a second direction opposite said first direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.