United States Patent [19]
`Wheeler
`
`[11]
`
`[45]
`
`4,043,475
`Aug. 23, 1977
`
`[54] CAPS AND CONTAINERS
`[75]
`Inventor: Eric Charles Wheeler, Bexleyheath,
`England
`[73] Assignee: Glyndon Plastics Limited, London,
`England
`[21] Appl. No.: 732,896
`[22] Filed:
`Oct. 15, 1976
`[51]
`Int. Cl.2 ...................... B65D 55/02; B65D 85/56;
`A61J 1/00
`[52] U.S. Cl •.................................... 215/223; 215/206;
`215/224; 215/256; 222/546
`[58] Field of Search ............... 215/206, 223, 224, 256;
`222/546
`
`[56]
`
`3,877,598
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`4/1975 Hazard ................................. 215/224
`
`3,980,194
`
`9/1976 Costa .................................... 215/223
`
`Primary Examiner-George T. Hall
`
`[57]
`ABSTRACf
`A cap and container assembly which is both tamper(cid:173)
`proof and child-resistant comprises a container neck
`with fIrst and second external beads, the fIrst bead ex(cid:173)
`tending only part way round the neck and having a lug
`midway between its ends, and the cap has an internal
`bead with a gap in it matching the lug and also has a
`tear-off strip connected to a shoulder that engages
`under the second bead on the neck so that even after
`removal of the strip the cap still has to be turned to
`bring the gap opposite the lug before it can be removed.
`The shoulder may be on an anchor band which fIts
`permanently under the second bead. The cap may be
`permanently joined to this anchor band by a hinge web.
`
`7 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures
`
`CLARIANTX 1023 Page 1
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`u.s. Patent Aug. 23, 1977
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`Sheet 1 of 2
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`4,043,475
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`7
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`I
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`FIG.3.
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`14
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`4a
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`FIG. 4.
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`6
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`- - - - - -
`~------~ 10
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`13 17 15
`FIG. 6.
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`2
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`6
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`A
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`1
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`FIG2.
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`FIG.5.
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`CLARIANTX 1023 Page 2
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`

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`u.s. Patent Aug. 23, 1977
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`Sheet 2 of 2
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`4,043,475
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`/
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`FIG.7
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`\1 1'",
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`I
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`FIG,a.
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`CLARIANTX 1023 Page 3
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`

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`1
`
`CAPS AND CONTAINERS
`
`4,043,475
`
`This invention relates to containers, for. example for
`pills or medicines, and caps for fitting to such contain- 5
`ers.
`It is known to make closures on containers tamper(cid:173)
`proof by providing an integral tear-off strip on the cap,
`this strip having to be tom off before the cap can be
`removed. Various proposals have also been made, espe- 10
`cially in recent years, to make closures for containers
`for pills or medicines child-resistant by arranging that
`the cap is secured in a way that a child's hand is incapa(cid:173)
`ble of disengaging, or that requires the user to read
`instructions. The aim of the present invention is to pro- 15
`vide a novel kind of cap and container assembly which
`is both tamper-proof and child-proof, i.e. in which, even
`after removal of the tear off strip, the cap can only be
`removed with ease by an adult.
`According to the invention there is provided a cap 20
`and container assembly comprising a container having a
`cylindrical neck portion on the outside of which are
`provided two annular beads, the one nearer to the rim
`of the mouth extending only partially around the cir(cid:173)
`cumference of the neck, there being an outwardly pro- 25
`jecting lug on the neck, at the level of the partial bead,
`substantially mid-way between the ends of the partial
`bead, and a cap having a top wall portion and a depend(cid:173)
`ing skirt, the skirt having near its lower edge an in(cid:173)
`wardly directed bead designed to engage, when the cap 30
`is fitted onto the neck to close the container, under the
`partial bead on the neck of the container and under the
`lug, this inwardly directed bead having in it a circum(cid:173)
`ferential gap equal in length to slightly more than the
`circumferential length of the lug, the shape in profIle of 35
`the partial bead, the lug and the inwardly directed bead
`and the resilience of the material of at least the skirt of
`the cap being such that when the cap is forcibly applied
`to the neck of the container in any relative angular
`position the inwardly directed bead will snap over the 40
`partial bead and the lug to retain the cap in position on
`the container, the cap being thereafter removable only
`if it is first turned to an angular position in which the
`gap in the inwardly directed bead is aligned with the
`lug, in which position the adjacent region of the cap can 45
`be flexed upwards sufficiently to allow the inwardly
`directed bead to be disengaged progressively from the
`partial bead, the lower edge of the skirt of the cap being
`furthermore joined by a frangible web or webs to a
`circumferentially extending tear-off strip which is con- 50
`nected directly or indirectly to an inwardly directed
`circumferentially extending shoulder which, when the
`cap is first fitted to the container, engages under the
`second bead on the neck of the container to prevent
`removal of the cap, regardless of its angular position in 55
`relation to the container, until the tear-off strip is at least
`partially detached.
`The tear-off strip may have the shoulder provided on
`its own inside surface, for example immediately adja(cid:173)
`cent to the frangible web. Alternatively the shoulder 60
`may be provided on an anchor ring which encloses the
`neck of the container under the second bead and is
`joined to the tear-off strip by a further frangible web or
`webs; thus the tear-off strip forms a connecting link
`between the anchor band and the cap, and on detach- 65
`ment of the strip the anchor ring remains in place. Ac(cid:173)
`cording to a further feature of the invention the cap and
`the anchor ring remain connected together by a web
`
`2
`that forms a hinge, after detachment of the tear-off strip.
`In that case the anchor ring must be sufficiently loose on
`the neck of the container to allow the cap and anchor
`ring to be turned by the user to the required angular
`position for opening the cap.
`According to a further feature of the invention co(cid:173)
`operating marks on the outside of the cap and on the
`neck of the container indicate to the adult user the re(cid:173)
`quired angular position, and the mark on the neck is
`concealed by the tear-off strip until the strip is detached.
`The mark on the cap may be formed by an outwardly
`projecting tab provided to facilitate lifting of the cap,
`this tab being at the same circumferential position on the
`cap as the gap in the bead inside.
`To reduce the chance of a child unconsciously detect(cid:173)
`ing the required angular position for release by rotating
`the cap whilst maintaining an upward load on the cap,
`so that the lug on the neck enters the gap in the bead or
`the cap, the mouth of the gap may be bridged by a
`shallow rib of a height sufficient to prevent such entry
`under light loading, but not sufficient to prevent pas(cid:173)
`sage of the lug when a determined lifting action is ex(cid:173)
`erted on that part of the cap by an adult user who knows
`he has turned the cap to the right position.
`The invention will now be further explained by way
`of example with reference to the accompanying draw(cid:173)
`ings, which show two embodiments. In the drawings:
`FIG. 1 is a three-quarter view from above of the cap
`of a first embodiment;
`FIG. 2 is a three-quarter view of the container of this
`embodiment;
`FIG. 3 is a plan view of the cap from above;
`FIG. 4 is a plan view of the container from above;
`FIG. 5 is an inverted plan view of the cap, after re-
`moval of the tear-off strip;
`FIG. 6 is a section through the cap on the line 6-6 in
`FIG. 5;
`FIG. 7 is a vertical section through the upper part of
`a container and cap in accordance with a second em(cid:173)
`bodiment, before the cap is fitted to the container; and
`FIG. 8 shows the container and cap of FIG. 7 after
`opening.
`Referring first to FIGS. 1 to 6, a container 1, for
`example for pills, has a cylindrical neck portion 2 with
`a rim 3 and, just below the rim, two circumferentially
`extending beads 4 and 5. The bead 4, nearer the rim 3 is
`only a partial one, extending just under half way round
`the neck and, as shown in FIG. 4, it tapers away
`smoothly at its two ends 4a. Midway between these two
`ends and at the same level, i.e. the same distance from
`the rim 3, is an outwardly projecting lug 6, of substan(cid:173)
`tially the same radial extent as the bead 4. The second
`bead 5 is unbroken and has a downwardly facing saw(cid:173)
`tooth profIle.
`A cap 7 has a substantially flat top wall 8 and a de(cid:173)
`pending skirt 9. On the inside surface of the skirt is an
`inwardly directed bead 10, continuous except for a gap
`11 (FIG. 5) slightly greater in circumferential extent
`than the lug 6 referred to above. Extending across the
`gap 11 is a shallow bridging rib 12, of much smaller
`radial depth than the bead 10.
`Joined to the lower edge of the skirt 9 is a circumfer(cid:173)
`entially extending tear-off strip 13, provided with a tab
`14 for the user to grasp to detach it. The connection
`between the skirt and the tab may be in accordance with
`our British Patent Specification No. 1,377,616, in which
`the weakened line is formed by the intersection of a
`circumferential groove on one side of the wall with a
`
`CLARIANTX 1023 Page 4
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`

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`4,043,475
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`45
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`3
`series of circumferentially spaced notches on the other
`side. However preferably the groove, shown at 15, and
`the notches 16 do not quite intersect.
`The cap 7 is of material, preferably a synthetic resin
`such as polyethylene, that is sufficiently resilient to 5
`allow it to be forced onto the container by automatic
`machinery. The bead 10 engages under the upper bead
`4 on the neck of the container and a shoulder 17 at the
`upper edge of the tear-off strip 13 engages under the
`saw-tooth profile of the lower bead 5.
`In this condition the cap cannot be removed, regard(cid:173)
`less of its angular position. First the user must grasp the
`tab 14 to pull off the strip 13. The integrity of this strip
`assures the user that up until he tears it off, the contents
`of the container have not been touched. In the example 15
`shown, the tab 14 is joined to the cap by breakable webs
`14a (FIG. 3).
`However, even after removal of the strip 13 the cap
`still cannot be removed until it is first turned to an angu-
`lar position, in relation to the container, such that the 20
`gap 11 in its internal bead 10 is brought into alignment
`with the lug 6. The beads are, of course invisible, but an
`arrow A or other index mark provided on the outside of
`the neck 2 below the lower bead 5 to show the position
`of the lug 6. This mark is concealed by the strip 13 until 25
`that strip is removed. Written instructions on the top of
`the cap indicate to the user that to open the container he
`has to tum the cap to bring an external lug 18 on the cap
`into alignment with this mark. A small child, unable to
`read the instructions, will not be able to remove the cap 30
`unless by chance it happens to be in the right angular
`position. If a child is turning the cap and at the same
`time pressing upwards on the lug 18 he might find the
`gap 11 by chance were it not for the presence of the rib
`12. This rib prevents accidental entry of the lug 6 into 35
`the gap. Yet when a user knows he has turned the cap to
`the right position, a determined upward push on the lug
`18 will force the lug 6 past the rib 12. The cap will flex,
`and that half of it in which the gap 11 lies can come
`clear of the container easily because of the absence of 40
`the bead 4 on the part of the container neck below this
`half. By the time the cap is half off, the cap can move
`laterally, allowing the bead 10 to disengage itself from
`the bead 4, (this being assisted by the tapering of the
`ends 4a of that bead) and the cap comes free.
`It will be understood that the shape and radial depth
`of the beads 10 and 4 and the flexibility of the material
`of the cap 7 are selected to ensure easy removal without
`making it so easy.that the bead 10 could be forced over
`the bead 4 by the application of an upward force at a 50
`point remote from the lug 18.
`Fluid tightness of the cap is assured by an inclined
`surface 19 on the inside of the cap, designed to engage
`tightly the mouth of the neck 2.
`It is important to note that, after removal, the cap 7 55
`can be snapped back onto the container in any angular
`position and so even if no positive action is taken by the
`user to tum the cap in order to ensure that it is child(cid:173)
`resistant thereafter, the chances are high that the lug 6
`and gap 11 are not in line, making the child-resistance 60
`automatic.
`FIGS. 7 and 8 show an alternative embodiment in
`which the same reference numerals; but with indices
`added, have been used for parts which correspond to
`those in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 6. The chief 65
`difference is that there is an anchor band 21 which
`remains permanently in position by virtue of a shoulder
`17' on it engaging under the lower bead 5' on the neck
`
`.4
`of the container. A tear-off strip 13' has its upper edge
`detachably connected to the skirt 9 of the cap and its
`lower edge similarly connected to the anchor ring 21.
`Moreover the strip 13' does not extend all the way
`round the cap; on the contrary there is a gap that is
`bridged by a hinge web 22 which permanently connects
`the cap 7' to the ring 21, even after removal of the strip
`13', at a point diametrically opposite the lug 18' and the
`gap 11'. The construction as far as the strip 13' and
`10 hinge web 22 are concerned may be similar to that
`shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,990,077.
`The behaviour of the embodiment of FIGS. 7 to 8 is
`similar to that of the first embodiment except that the
`cap remains hinged to the container at all times. This
`means that when he closes the cap it will generally be in
`the same angular position in relation to the container as
`it was when opened, so after closing the cap the user has
`to take a positive step to make it child-resistant thereaf(cid:173)
`ter, namely he has to tum it (complete with the anchor
`ring 21) by an arbitrary amount to bring the gap 11' out
`of line with the lug 6'.
`It would, of course, be possible to tum the anchor
`ring on the container while the cap is open, and if that
`is done it is still possible, as in the earlier embodiment, to
`close the cap onto the container regardless of its angular
`position.
`In the embodiment of FIQS. 7 and 8 the fluid-tight-
`ness is achieved by a downwardly extending integral
`internal flange 19' on the cap, with a bead 20' on the
`outside of its lower end to seal inside the mouth of the
`neck 2'. Such a sealing arrangement could also be used
`in the version of FIGS. 1 to 6, instead of, or in addition
`to, the surface 19.
`I claim:
`1. A cap and container assembly comprising a con(cid:173)
`tainer having a cylindrical neck portion on the outside
`of which are provided first and second annular beads,
`said first bead being nearer to the rim of said neck than
`said second bead and extending only partially around
`the circumference of said neck, there being an out(cid:173)
`wardly projecting lug on said neck, at the level of said
`first bead, substantially midway between the ends of
`said first bead, and a cap having a top wall portion and
`a depending skirt, said skirt having near the lower edge
`thereof an inwardly directed third bead designed to
`engage, when said cap is fitted onto the neck to close
`said container, under said first bead on said neck of said
`container and under said lug, said third bead having
`therein a circumferential gap equal in length to slightly
`more than the circumferential length of said lug, the
`shape in profile of said first bead, said lug and said third
`bead and the resilience of the material of at least the
`skirt of said cap being such that when said cap is forci(cid:173)
`bly applied to the neck of said container in any relative
`angular position said third bead will snap over said first
`bead and said lug to retain said cap in position on said
`container, the cap being thereafter removable only if it
`is first turned to an angular position in which said gap in
`said third bead is aligned with said lug, in which posi(cid:173)
`tion the adjacent region of the cap can be flexed up(cid:173)
`wards sufficiently to allow said third bead to be disen-
`gaged progressively from said first bead, the lower edge
`of the skirt of said cap being furthermore joined by
`frangible web means toa circumferentially extending
`tear-off strip which is connected· directly or indirectly
`to an inwardly directed circumferentially extending
`shoulder which,. when said cap is first fitted to said
`container, engages under said second bead on the neck
`
`CLARIANTX 1023 Page 5
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`

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`5
`
`5
`of the container to prevent removal of said cap, regard(cid:173)
`less of the angular position thereof in relation to said
`container, until said tear-off strip is at least partially
`detached.
`2. The cap and container assembly set forth in claim 1
`wherein said shoulder is provided on said tear-off strip
`itself and after removal of said strip said cap can be
`completely detached from said container.
`3. The cap and container assembly set forth in claim 1 10
`wherein said shoulder is provided on an anchor strip
`which remains on the neck of said container after re(cid:173)
`moval of said tear-off strip.
`4. The cap and container assembly set forth in claim 3
`wherein said cap remains attached to said anchor ring
`by a hinge web after removal of said tear-off strip, said
`hinge web lying diametrically opposite said gap in said
`third bead, and said anchor ring, complete with the cap,
`is capable of being turned with respect to the neck of 20
`said container.
`
`15
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`4,043,475
`
`6
`5. The cap and container assembly set forth in claim 1
`wherein co-operating marks are provided on said cap
`and on the neck of said container to indicate the angular
`position to which said cap must be brought to allow
`removal thereof and wherein said mark on the neck of
`said container is concealed by said tear-off strip until
`said strip is detached.
`6. The cap and container assembly set forth in claim 1
`wherein the resilience of the material of said cap and the
`shape and radial depth of said first bead on the neck of
`the container and said third bead in the cap are such that
`said cap can be fitted onto said container in any relative
`angular position.
`7. The cap and container assembly set forth in claim 1
`wherein said gap in said third bead is bridged by a rib
`which is radially shallower than said third bead but
`which prevents entry into said gap by said lug on the
`neck of the container except in the presence of a sub(cid:173)
`stantial force applied to said cap at the appropriate
`position.
`
`* * * * *
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`CLARIANTX 1023 Page 6