Safety container closure

Claim 2

A closure for a container having a portion open at one end, said portion having first means on the exterior surface thereof and adjacent said one end for threadingly engaging a member, and second means on the exterior surface thereof and axially spaced from said first means for threadingly engaging another member, said first and second means having opposite hands: said closure comprising a cap member for closing said open end of said portion and having third means thereon for threadingly engaging said first means, at least one resilient element depending from said cap member in closely spaced relationship with said portion and having a distal end spaced between said first and second means, and a locking member depending from said cap member in closely spaced relationship with the side of said element remote from said portion, said locking member having fourth means thereon for threadingly engaging said second means, said cap member having means receiving a portion of said locking member for accommodating axial movement of said locking member between a first position with said fourth means disposed intermediate said distal end of said element and said second means, and a second position with said fourth means engaging said second means, and for accommodating relative rotation of said cap and locking member, said locking member and element having cooperating locking means thereon for inhibiting disengagement of said first and third means and removal of said cap member from said portion when said locking member is in said second position thereof.

Claim 3

The closure of claim 1 wherein said locking member is annular and has axially spaced first and second ends, said fourth means being adjacent said first end, said receiving means comprising an annular slot formed in said cap member concentric with and spaced radially outwardly from said third means and element, said second locking member end being received in said slot.

Claim 4

The closure of claim 1 wherein said first and second means comprise external threads and said third and fourth means comprise internal threads.

Claim 5

The closure of claim 1 wherein said element is integrally formed on said cap member.

Claim 6

The closure of claim 1 wherein there are a plurality of said elements, elements being axially elongated and circumferentially spaced to form segments of a cylinder.

Claim 7

The closure of claim 1 wherein said portion has means for forming a circumferentIal groove in its outer surface intermediate said first and second means, said element having a projection formed thereon adjacent said distal end thereof and facing said groove, said locking means including means for biasing said distal end of said element toward said neck and said projection into said groove in response to movement of said locking member from said first to said second position thereof.

Claim 8

The closure of claim 1 wherein said locking member has axially spaced first and second ends and an inner surface facing the outer surface of said element, said fourth means being adjacent said first end and said receiving means receiving said second end, said locking means comprising a projection formed on said inner surface of said locking member intermediate said ends, and a shoulder on said element, said projection and shoulder engaging in said second position of said locking member.

Claim 9

The closure of claim 7 wherein said shoulder is defined by a projection on said outer surface of said element adjacent said distal end thereof.

Claim 10

The closure of claim 7 wherein said shoulder is defined by one side of a slot formed in said outer surface of said element, said slot having an axial length to accommodate axial movement of said projection upon movement of said locking member between said first and second positions thereof.

Claim 11

The closure of claim 7 wherein at least said projection includes cam means for biasing said distal end of said element inwardly thereby to permit said projection to pass said shoulder upon initial assembly of said locking member over said element.

Claim 12

The closure of claim 1 wherein said first and second means comprise external threads and said third and fourth means comprise internal threads, said locking member being annular and having axially spaced first and second ends, said fourth means being adjacent said first end, said receiving means comprising an annular slot formed in said cap member concentric with and spaced radially outwardly from said third means and element, said second locking member end being received in said slot, there being a plurality of said elements, said elements being axially elongated and circumferentially spaced to form segments of a cylinder concentrically surrounding said portion, said elements being integrally formed on said cap member and depending therefrom intermediate said slot and third means, said locking member concentrically surrounding said elements and having an inner surface closely spaced from the outer surface thereof, said locking means comprising an annular projection on said inner surface of said locking member intermediate said ends, and annular shoulders on said outer surface of said elements adjacent said distal ends thereof and facing said cap member, said projection and shoulders engaging in said second position of said locking member, said projection having a cam surface formed on its side facing said second end of said locking member for biasing said distal ends of said elements inwardly to permit said projection to pass said shoulders upon initial assembly of said locking member over said elements.

Claim 13

The closure of claim 11 wherein said cap member and elements, and said locking member are formed of plastic material.

Claim 14

The closure of claim 11 wherein said portion is generally cylindrical, said portion having an annular groove formed in its outer surface intermediate said first and second means, said elements respectively having annular projections formed on their inner surfaces adjacent said distal ends thereof and in radial alignment with said groove, said projection having a second cam surface formed on its side facing said first end of said locking member, said shoulders being cam surfaces cooperating with said second cam surface to bias said distal ends of said elements toward said neck and said projection into said groove in response to movement of said locking member from said first to said second position.

Claim 15

In combination a container having portion open at one end, saiD portion having first means on the exterior surface thereof and adjacent said distal end for threadingly engaging a member, and second means on the exterior surface thereof axially spaced from said first means for threadingly engaging another member, said first and second means having opposite hands, said portion having means for forming a circumferential groove in said outer surface thereof intermediate said first and second means, and a closure for said container comprising a cap member for closing said open end of said portion and having third means thereon for threadingly engaging said first means, at least one resilient element depending from said cap member in closely spaced relationship with said portion and having a distal end adjacent said groove-forming means, and a locking member depending from said cap member in closely spaced relationship with the side of said element remote from said portion, said locking member having fourth means thereon for threadingly engaging said second means, said cap member having means receiving a portion of said locking member for accommodating axial movement of said locking member between a first position with said fourth means disposed intermediate said distal end of said element and said second means, and a second position with said fourth means engaging said second means, and for accommodating relative rotation of said cap and locking members, said element having a projection formed therein adjacent said distal end thereof and facing said groove, said locking member and element having cooperating locking means thereon for inhibiting disengagement of said first and third means and removal of said cap member from said portion when said locking member is in said second position thereof, said locking means including means for biasing said distal end of said element toward said portion and said projection into said groove in response to movement of said locking member from said first to said second position thereof.

Claim 16

In combination a container having portion open at one end, saiD portion having first means on the exterior surface thereof and adjacent said distal end for threadingly engaging a member, and second means on the exterior surface thereof axially spaced from said first means for threadingly engaging another member, said first and second means having opposite hands, said portion having means for forming a circumferential groove in said outer surface thereof intermediate said first and second means, and a closure for said container comprising a cap member for closing said open end of said portion and having third means thereon for threadingly engaging said first means, at least one resilient element depending from said cap member in closely spaced relationship with said portion and having a distal end adjacent said groove-forming means, and a locking member depending from said cap member in closely spaced relationship with the side of said element remote from said portion, said locking member having fourth means thereon for threadingly engaging said second means, said cap member having means receiving a portion of said locking member for accommodating axial movement of said locking member between a first position with said fourth means disposed intermediate said distal end of said element and said second means, and a second position with said fourth means engaging said second means, and for accommodating relative rotation of said cap and locking members, said element having a projection formed therein adjacent said distal end thereof and facing said groove, said locking member and element having cooperating locking means thereon for inhibiting disengagement of said first and third means and removal of said cap member from said portion when said locking member is in said second position thereof, said locking means including means for biasing said distal end of said element toward said portion and said projection into said groove in response to movement of said locking member from said first to said second position thereof.

Claim 17

The combination of claim 14 wherein said element is integrally formed on said cap member, said first and second means comprising external threads and said third and fourth means comprising internal threads, said locking member being annular and having axially spaced first and second opposite ends, said fourth means being adjacent said first end, said receiving means comprising an annular slot formed in said cap member concentric with and spaced radially outwardly from said third means and element, said second end being received in said slot.

Claim 18

The combination of claim 15 wherein there are a plurality of said elements, said elements being axially elongated and circumferentially spaced to form segments of a cylinder concentrically surrounding said portion, said locking member concentrically surrounding said elements and having an inner surface closely spaced from the outer surface thereof, said locking means comprising an annular projection on said inner surface of said locking member intermediate said ends and annular shoulders on said outer surface of said elements, said projection and shoulders engaging in said second position of said locking member, said biasing means comprising cooperating cam surfaces on said projection and shoulders, said projection having another cam surface thereon for biasing said distal ends of said elements inwardly to permit said projection to pass said shoulders upon initial assembly of said locking member over said elements.