US3722748A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Child safe actuator overcap
Assignee: Risdon Manufacturing Co
•
Filing: 1972-03-23
•
Granted: 1973-03-27
•
Expires: 1992-03-23
Abstract
Abstract A closure assembly is disclosed for the valved end of an aerosol container, incorporating an actuator-overcap member and a cooperating ring or collar to render the actuator inoperative in respect to the dispensing valve unless a specific relationship between the actuator-overcap and ring member is first established by rotating one relative to the other. Each member is provided with a keying element which, when in axial registry with the other, interfit to permit depression of the actuator, and each member is provided with means enabling an adult to visually recognize such registry as indicative of operative condition of the aerosol container while minimizing the change of a small child so recognizing or achieving such condition. In the preferred embodiment, registration can be effected only visually; no mechanical indication of registration is provided.
Inventors
- 👤 A Wakeman
- 👤 P Kotuby
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 13:07
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D83/00; B65D83/14; B65D83/16; B65D83/22; B65D2215/00; B65D2215/04; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S220/00; Y10S220/915
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
337 words
A generally cylindrical closure assembly closed at one end and open at the other for attachment to the end of an aerosol container equipped with a dispensing valve and valve actuating stem projecting axially of the container, said assembly comprising in combination: I. an overcap member for substantially enclosing the valved end of the container, said member having means for attaching it to such end of the container to resist axial separation therefrom while permitting rotation relative thereto, said overcap member being formed to provide an aperture in its closed end; II. a valve actuating member received in said overcap member to provide a finger portion accessible through said overcap aperture, said actuating member having: 1. a discharge orifice opening exteriorly of said overcap, a socket opening interiorly thereof and adapted to receive the projecting end of the valve stem, and a passage connecting said discharge orifice and socket internally of said member, 2. a keying element formed on said member, said keying element being oriented to extend generally axially of the closure assembly, III. a collar member having means for mounting it on portions of the valved end of the aerosol container to position said member concentrically of said container, said collar member having: 1. an upstanding peripheral wall, 2. a keying element incorporated into said upstanding wall complementary to the keying element of said actuator member and permitting interfitting in a generally axial direction of said elements when aligned; said valve actuating and said collar members being freely rotatable relative to each other except when said actuating member is depressed relative to said overcap in the interFitting relation of said keying elements; one of said overcap and valve actuating members being formed to provide a sighting aperture through which a portion of said collar which incorporates said keying element is visible upon rotating said overcap about the axis of the container to align said keying elements; said keying elements, except when thus aligned, cooperating to block depression of said actuating member relative to said overcap.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
337 words
A generally cylindrical closure assembly closed at one end and open at the other for attachment to the end of an aerosol container equipped with a dispensing valve and valve actuating stem projecting axially of the container, said assembly comprising in combination: I. an overcap member for substantially enclosing the valved end of the container, said member having means for attaching it to such end of the container to resist axial separation therefrom while permitting rotation relative thereto, said overcap member being formed to provide an aperture in its closed end; II. a valve actuating member received in said overcap member to provide a finger portion accessible through said overcap aperture, said actuating member having: 1. a discharge orifice opening exteriorly of said overcap, a socket opening interiorly thereof and adapted to receive the projecting end of the valve stem, and a passage connecting said discharge orifice and socket internally of said member, 2. a keying element formed on said member, said keying element being oriented to extend generally axially of the closure assembly, III. a collar member having means for mounting it on portions of the valved end of the aerosol container to position said member concentrically of said container, said collar member having: 1. an upstanding peripheral wall, 2. a keying element incorporated into said upstanding wall complementary to the keying element of said actuator member and permitting interfitting in a generally axial direction of said elements when aligned; said valve actuating and said collar members being freely rotatable relative to each other except when said actuating member is depressed relative to said overcap in the interFitting relation of said keying elements; one of said overcap and valve actuating members being formed to provide a sighting aperture through which a portion of said collar which incorporates said keying element is visible upon rotating said overcap about the axis of the container to align said keying elements; said keying elements, except when thus aligned, cooperating to block depression of said actuating member relative to said overcap.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
a keying element formed on said member, said keying element being oriented to extend generally axially of the closure assembly, III. a collar member having means for mounting it on portions of the valved end of the aerosol container to position said member concentrically of said container, said collar member having:
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
a keying element formed on said member, said keying element being oriented to extend generally axially of the closure assembly, III. a collar member having means for mounting it on portions of the valved end of the aerosol container to position said member concentrically of said container, said collar member having:
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
126 words
a keying element incorporated into said upstanding wall complementary to the keying element of said actuator member and permitting interfitting in a generally axial direction of said elements when aligned; said valve actuating and said collar members being freely rotatable relative to each other except when said actuating member is depressed relative to said overcap in the interFitting relation of said keying elements; one of said overcap and valve actuating members being formed to provide a sighting aperture through which a portion of said collar which incorporates said keying element is visible upon rotating said overcap about the axis of the container to align said keying elements; said keying elements, except when thus aligned, cooperating to block depression of said actuating member relative to said overcap.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
126 words
a keying element incorporated into said upstanding wall complementary to the keying element of said actuator member and permitting interfitting in a generally axial direction of said elements when aligned; said valve actuating and said collar members being freely rotatable relative to each other except when said actuating member is depressed relative to said overcap in the interFitting relation of said keying elements; one of said overcap and valve actuating members being formed to provide a sighting aperture through which a portion of said collar which incorporates said keying element is visible upon rotating said overcap about the axis of the container to align said keying elements; said keying elements, except when thus aligned, cooperating to block depression of said actuating member relative to said overcap.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
A closure assembly as defined in claim 1, which further includes indicia means on said collar member, said indicia means when in registry with said sighting aperture providing visual indication of alignment of said keying elements.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
A closure assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said keying element on said actuating member is an axially disposed rib and said keying element on said collar member is an axially disposed slot.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
A closure assembly as defined in claim 3, wherein the width of said slot is only slightly greater than the width of said rib.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
A closure assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said collar member is formed to frictionally engage portions of the dispensing valve of the container to resist rotation of the collar relative thereto.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
A closure assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said collar member is formed to be loosely received on portions of the dispensing valve of the container so as to be freely rotatable relative thereto.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
66 words
A closure assembly as defined in claim 6, wherein said collar is formed to provide a radial arm extending outwardly therefrom, a target being formed at its outer end and constituting indicia means, and said overcap member is apertured at a point such that, when said overcap is rotated to make said indicia means visible through said aperture, said keying elements are in axially aligned condition.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
53 words
A closure assembly as defined in claim 7, which further includes an elongated plug member removably retained in said overcap aperture, said plug extending inwardly of said overcap sufficiently to engage said radial arm and cause rotation of said collar with rotation of said cap, whereby to prevent registration of said keying elements.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
79 words
A closure assembly as defined in claim 6, wherein said collar member has a radially extending lever and said overcap member has an aperture through which said lever extends, said aperture having a stepped configuration and wherein said keying elements are so positioned on their respective members that they are in nonregistry when said lever is positioned on one step of said aperture but are in registration when said lever is positioned on a different step of said aperture.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
43 words
A closure assembly as defined in claim 2, wherein said valve actuating member is formed with said sighting aperture through which said collar member is visible, and said indicia means on said collar member is positioned substantially diametrically opposite the keying element thereon.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
A closure assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said actuator member is physically connected to and carried by said overcap member.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
47 words
A closure assembly as defined in claim 11, wherein said actuator member comprises a tab integrally formed in said overcap member, being integrally joined at one end to said overcap to lie normally substantially in the plane of said aperture in the closed end of said overcap.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-03-26 | 1976-09-25 | 1977-03-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-03-26 | 1980-09-25 | 1981-03-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-03-26 | 1984-09-25 | 1985-03-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |