Child proof closure

Claim 2

A childproof plastic closure for a container having a neck and a locking shoulder at the base of the neck comprising: a cap having a skirt with an upper cylindrical portion and splayed fingers forming the lower portion; means on the fingers for interlocking engagement with the shoulder; holding means mounted on the cap and movable to release and locking positions and in said locking position closing the fingers about the neck and thereby forcing said interlocking means into locking relation with the shoulder to prevent removal of the cap from the associated container; and supplementary means for releasably securing said locking means in locking and unlocking positions with the cap, said holding means comprising a ring sleeved over the skirt and movable axially and circumferentially thereon over and off said fingers; said supplementary means comprising interengaging cam means on the ring and the external sides of said fingers, said cam means on the fingers extending diagonally axially and circumferentially of the cap, and means axially spaced of the cap and being disposed at the ends of the cam means on the fingers and offset circumferentially from each other, said cam means effective to guide said ring into and out of locking position attendant to rotation of the ring in conventional manner to lock and unlock the closure.

Claim 3

The invention according to claim 1 and said interlocking means comprising inwardly directed lugs at the lower ends of said fingers.

Claim 4

The invention according to claim 1 and said supplementary means comprising a bayonet-type lock on the ring and at least certain of said fingers.

Claim 5

The invention according to claim 1 and said cap having neck-thread engaging threads in said skirt.

Claim 6

The invention according to claim 1 and said fingers defining slots therebetween, and lugs on the ring spaced on the order of said slots and attendant to rotation of the ring adapted to enter respective slots in release position and in locked position to be positioned in backing relation to respective fingers.

Claim 7

The invention according to claim 5 and said ring having teeth overlying the lugs for engagement by the lugs to selectively releasably hold the same in locked and release positions.

Claim 8

The invention according to claim 1 and said fingers being inherently resilient and biased radially outwardly of the skirt for holding said supplementary means in locking and in locked positions.

Claim 9

The invention according to claim 1 and said supplementary means comprising a band encircling said skirt and movable axially thereof to an upper release position whereat said fingers are spread outwardly and to a lower locking position moving said fingers inwardly to locking position.

Claim 10

A childproof container closure comprising: a cap having a top wall and an integral skirt including a cylindrical upper portion and a lower portion comprising a plurality of radially deflectible fingers depending from said skirt; container-lip engaging sealing means within said cap on the bottom of said top wall; securing means on the fingers projecting inwardly thereof for engagement with a locking shoulder of an associated container; and releasable locking means disposable in locking embracing relation to said fingers to hold the same from deflecting outwardly and disengaging said securing means; said locking means comprising a ring sleeved over said skirt and movable axially on said skirt between said upper and lower portions of said skirt; said ring movable circumferentially on the cap between said locking position and an unlocking position displaced from said fingers; said locking means comprising cam ribs spiraled about said lower portion and projecting outwardly from respective fingers, lugs on the interior of the ring cooperatively associated with respective ribs, a set of latching means at the axial ends of said ribs, one set being adjacent the cylindrical portion for interlocking engagement with respective lugs for holding said ring in elevated position out of engagement with the fingers and the other set located for securing the ring in locking position of the fingers.

Claim 11

A childproof container closure comprising: a cap having a top wall and an integral skirt including a cylindrical upper portion and a lower portion comprising a plurality of radially deflectible fingers depending from said skirt; container-lip engaging sealing means within said cap on the bottom of said top wall; securing means on the fingers projecting inwardly thereof for engagement with a locking shoulder of an associated container; and releasable locking means disposable in locking embracing relation to said fingers to hold the same from deflecting outwardly and disengaging said securing means; said locking means comprising a ring sleeved over said skirt and movable axially on said skirt between said upper and lower portions of said skirt; said ring movable circumferentially on the cap between said locking position and an unlocking position displaced from said fingers; said locking means comprising cam ribs spiraled about said lower portion and projecting outwardly from respective fingers, lugs on the interior of the ring cooperatively associated with respective ribs, a set of latching means at the axial ends of said ribs, one set being adjacent the cylindrical portion for interlocking engagement with respective lugs for holding said ring in elevated position out of engagement with the fingers and the other set located for securing the ring in locking position of the fingers.

Claim 12

A childproof container closure comprising: a cap having a top wall and an integral skirt including a cylindrical upper portion and a lower portion comprising a plurality of radially deflectible fingers depending from said skirt; container-lip engaging sealing means within said cap on the bottom of said top wall; securing means on the fingers projecting inwardly thereof for engagement with a locking shoulder of an associated container; and releasable locking means disposable in locking embracing relation to said fingers to hold the same from deflecting outwardly and disengaging said securing means; said locking means including a ring movable circumferentially on the cap between said locking position and an unlocking position displaced from said fingers; said locking ring having a plurality of inverted V-shaped locking elements therein, one for each finger, said fingers defining slots therebetween of complemental shape to said locking elements for receiving the same in the unlocked position of the ring whereby the fingers may spring outwardly between said locking elements, the apical ends of said elements and slots being disposed adjacent to said cylindrical portion.

Claim 13

A childproof container closure comprising: a cap having a top wall and an integral skirt including a cylindrical upper portion and a lower portion comprising a plurality of radially deflectible fingers depending from said skirt; container-lip engaging sealing means within said cap on the bottom of said top wall; securing means on the fingers projecting inwardly thereof for engagement with a locking shoulder of an associated container; and releasable locking means disposable in locking embracing relation to said fingers to hold the same from deflecting outwardly and disengaging said securing means; said locking means including a ring movable circumferentially on the cap between said locking position and an unlocking position displaced from said fingers; said locking ring having a plurality of inverted V-shaped locking elements therein, one for each finger, said fingers defining slots therebetween of complemental shape to said locking elements for receiving the same in the unlocked position of the ring whereby the fingers may spring outwardly between said locking elements, the apical ends of said elements and slots being disposed adjacent to said cylindrical portion.

Claim 14

The invention according to claim 10 and said skirt having a toothed means formed thereon for locking engagement with the apical ends of respective locking elements in the locked position thereof for releasably constraining the ring against rotation.