US2793777A - Safety cap - Google Patents

Description

May 28, 1957 H. LEWIS 2,793,777

SAFETY CAP Filed June 7, 1955 ATTORNEYS SAFETY CAP Harry Lewis, North Hollywood, Calif.

Application June 7, 1955, Serial No. 513,748

2 Claims. (Cl. 215---9) This invention relates to a cap or closure, and more particularly to a safety cap for a container such as a bottle.

The object of the invention is to provide a safety cap which is constructed so that children can not accidentally or readily partake of the contents of the containerpas when the container holds poison, medicine or the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide a safety cap which can be readily manipulated so as to permit the contents of the container to be removed therefrom, and whereby the cap can be moved to a closed position so that a child or the like cannot accidentally remove the contents of the container.

A further object of the invention is to provide a safety cap which is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view illustrating the present invention mounted on a bottle or container, and with parts of the container broken away, and showing the cap in closed position. I

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, but showing the sleeve in open position so that the body member can be removed from the container.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3' of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4--4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a sectional view showing the parts of the safety cap disassembled or separated.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral designates a container which may be a bottle or the like, and the container 10 is provided with a neck 11 of reduced diameter, and the neck 11 is threaded exteriorly.

The present invention is directed to a safety cap which is adapted to be mounted on the neck 11 so that children or the like will be prevented from accidentally gaining access to the contents of the container 10 as when the container 10 holds medicines, poisons or the like.

The safety cap of the present invention includes a body member 12 which can be made of any suitable material such as plastic, and the body member 12 includes a cylindrical side wall 14 and an end wall or top wall 15, Figure 2. The side wall 14 is threaded interiorly as at 16 for engagement with the threaded exterior portion of th neck 11.

The cap of the present invention further includes a bushing or sleeve 17 which includes a cylindrical side section 18 and a top section 19.

Snugly seated within the body member 12 and abutting the end wall and secured thereto is a washer 20 which may be made of yieldable material, and the washer 20 is provided with a slot 21 that registers with a slot 22 in the end wall 15. The upper surface of the end wall 15 is provided with a recess 23 which is arranged at right angles with respect to the slot 22, the slots 21 and 22 registering with each other. Depending from the top section 19 and secured thereto or formed'integral therewith, is a shank or stem 24 of cylindrical shape, and I secured to the lower end of the shank 24 or formed integral therewith is a transverse rib 25. The rib 25 is adapted to seat in the recess 23 when the parts are in the position shown in Figure 2. However, by'rotating the bushing 17, the rib 25 can be passed through the registering slots 22 and 21 as when the'bushing is being moved to the position shown in Figure l. e

Projecting outwardly from the top of the body member 12 and secured thereto or formed integral therewith is an annular flange 26. A disc or ring 27 is adapted to be secured to the lower edge of the bushing'17 after the bushing has been mounted on the body member 12, and the ring 27 is adapted to abut the flange 26 so as to prevent the bushing 17 from being pulled all of the way off of the body member 12. The ring 27 can be secured to the lower end of the bushing 17 in any'suitable manner, as for example by means of a suitable adhesive 1 3." From the foregoing it is apparent that there has been provided a safety cap which will help prevent children or the like from harming themselves by gaining access to contents of containers or bottles such as the container 10 which may hold poison or medicine therein. In use, when the container is not being used the parts can be arranged as shown in Figure 1. Then, when it is desired to remove some of the contents from the container 10, it

is necessary to rotate the bushing 17 so that the rib 25 registers with the slot 21 and slot 22. Then, the bushing ,17 can be moved upwardly away from the body member 12, since the rib 25 will pass through the registering slots 21 and 22. After the bushing 17 has been moved to its raised position it can again be rotated slightly so that the rib 25 seats in the recess 23 in the top wall 15. With the rib 25 seated in the recess 23 as shown in Figure 2, the bushing 17 will be maintained in its raised position. Then, the persons fingers can be arranged in engagement with the side wall 14 of the body member 12 so that the body member 12 can be readily rotated to disengage the body member from the container 10. Since it is necessary that the bushing 17 be rotated to a particular angular position so that the rib 25 registers with the slots'21 and 22, then it will be extremely diflicult if not impossible for a child to accomplish this movement, although of course it is to be understood that an adult can readily figure out the proper position to move the bushing 17 so as to permit the fingers to be arranged in engagement with the body member 12. After the desired quantity of material has been removed from the container 10, the body member 12 can be screwed on the neck 11 and then the bushing 17 can be returned from the position shown in Figure 2 to the position shown in Figure 1 so that the container is again safely left in the home, medicine cabinet or the like. With the present invention tragedies in the home will be prevented since children will be unable to accidentally swallow medicine or poison or the like. The body member 12 serves to close the container 10, while the bushing 17 acts as a safety feature. The yieldable washer 20 insures that there will be an air or water tight connection between the parts. With the bushing 17 in the position shown in Figure l, the bushing 17 rotates freely on the body member 12. The device can be made of any suitable material and in any desired shape and size. The container may hold medicines, insecticides, pills, alcohol, or other material.

I claim:

1. In a safety cap for a container of the type provided with an exteriorly threaded neck, a body member including a cylindrical side wall provided with interior threads engaging the neck of said container, an end wall extending across the top of said side wali, -there being registering rectangular slots in said end wall and in a washer snugly seated within said body member, there being a recess in the upperportion of said end wall communicating with and arranged at right angles with respect to the slot in said end Wall, a bushing including a cylindrical side section surrounding the side wallof said body member, ,a top portion extending across thetop of said side section, a cylindrical shank depending .from said top portionand projecting through the slot linlsaid washer and end wall, and a transverse rib secured .to the lower end of said shank and projecting beyond the peripheryof said shank, said rib being mounted for movement into and out of engagement with .said recess and whereby by rotating the bushing, the rib can be passed through the registering slots.

2. In a safetycap fora container of the type provided with an exteriorly threaded neck, a body member including a cylindrical side wallprovided with interior threads engaging the neck of said container, anuend wallextending across the top of said side wall, there being registering rectangular slots in said end wall and inta washer snugly seated within said body member, there being a recess in the upper portion of said end wall communieating with and arranged at right angles with respect to the slot in said end wall, a bushing including a cylindrical side section surrounding the side wall of said body memher, a top portion extending across the top of said side section, a cylindrical shank depending from said top portion and projecting through the slot in said washer and end wall, and a transverse rib secured to the lower end of said shank and projecting beyond the periphery of said shank, said rib being of a size permitting its passage through said slots and permitting it to fit within said recess, said rib being mounted for movement into and out of engagement with said recess and whereby by rotating the bushing, the rib can be passed through the registering slots, a disc secured to the lower end of said bushing for at times abutting a flange extending outwardly from the upper portion of said body member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,381,207 Coleman Aug. 7, 1945 2,597,307 Elkind May 20, 1952 2,710,701 Hale June 14, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 459,511 Great Britain Jan. 8, 1937 677,311 Great Britain Aug. 13, 1952

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