Child-proof dispensing container and cover assembly

Claim 2

A child-proof container and cover assembly for pills and the like comprising: a container member having a base with concentric inner and outer side walls projecting axially therefrom; a cover member rotatably mounted on said container member; a dispensing opening in said cover member sequentially movable to positions in which a pill can be removed from the container member through said dispensing opening; said cover member having an end wall with a skirt projecting axially therefrom; said skirt and outer side wall being disposed in telescopic relationship with respect to each other; locking means on said container and cover members having a locked position in which said cover member is locked against rotation with respect to said container member and an unlocked position in which said cover member can rotate with respect to said container member; said locking means being movable between said locked and unlocked positions by axial movement of said cover member with respect to said container member; and resilient biasing means formed integrally on said container member; a retaining post projecting axially from said base; a pair of arcuate slots formed in said base between said inner side wall and retaining post; a pair of strips extending diametrically between said retaining post and inner side wall and separating said arcuate slots; said biasing means comprising a spring member in each of said arcuate slots; each of said spring members having an inner end joined integrally to said inner side wall and projecting therefrom toward said retaining post and terminating in a free end spaced from said retaining post; and a plunger on said cover member projecting into the space between said inner side wall and retaining post into engagement with said spring members.

Claim 3

A child-proof container and cover assembly for pills and the like comprising: a container member having a base with concentric inner and outer annular side walls projecting axially therefrom; a cover member rotatably mounted on said container member; a dispensing opening in said cover member sequentially movable to positions in which a pill can be removed from the container member through said dispensing opening; said cover member having an end wall with a skirt projecting axially therefrom; said skirt and side wall being disposed in telescopic relationship with respect to each other; locking means on said container and cover members having a locked position in which said cover member is locked against rotation with respect to said container member and an unlocked position in which said cover member can rotate with respect to said container member; said locking means being movable between said locked and unlocked positions by axial movement of said cover member with respect to said container member; locking means comprising a plurality of cover locking elements spaced from each other on said cover member and a plurality of container locking elements spaced from each other on said container member, said container and cover locking elements being intermeshed in the locked position to prevent relative rotation between said container and cover members, and being axially displaced from each other in the unlocked position; resilient biasing means formed integrally on said container member, said cover member including a plunger projecting axially from said end wall and received in the space enclosed by said inner side wall, a flange projecting outwardly from said plunger; a retaining post projecting axially from said base and received by said plunger, a pair of arcuate slots formed in the base of said container member, a pair of strips extending diametrically between said retaining post and the inner side wall of said container member and separating said arcuate slots, said biasing means comprising a spring member in at least one of said slots jOined integrally to said inner side wall and projecting therefrom toward said retaining post and terminating in a free end spaced from said retaining post, a flange projecting outwardly from said retaining post into the path of the flange on said plunger to prevent axial separation of said cover and container members, said plunger engaging the free end of said spring member, said flange on said plunger being biased to engage said flange on said retaining post by said spring member; the engagement of said spring member and plunger biasing said locking means to the locked position such that said cover member can be rotated with respect to said container member only subsequent to axial movement of said cover member with respect to said container member against the biasing force of said spring member.

Claim 4

A child-proof container and cover assembly for pills and the like comprising: a container member having a base with concentric inner and outer annular side walls projecting axially therefrom; a cover member rotatably mounted on said container member; a dispensing opening in said cover member sequentially movable to positions in which a pill can be removed from the container member through said dispensing opening; said cover member having an end wall with a skirt projecting axially therefrom; said skirt and side wall being disposed in telescopic relationship with respect to each other; locking means on said container and cover members having a locked position in which said cover member is locked against rotation with respect to said container member and an unlocked position in which said cover member can rotate with respect to said container member; said locking means being movable between said locked and unlocked positions by axial movement of said cover member with respect to said container member; locking means comprising a plurality of cover locking elements spaced from each other on said cover member and a plurality of container locking elements spaced from each other on said container member, said container and cover locking elements being intermeshed in the locked position to prevent relative rotation between said container and cover members, and being axially displaced from each other in the unlocked position; resilient biasing means formed integrally on said container member, said cover member including a plunger projecting axially from said end wall and received in the space enclosed by said inner side wall, a flange projecting outwardly from said plunger; a retaining post projecting axially from said base and received by said plunger, a pair of arcuate slots formed in the base of said container member, a pair of strips extending diametrically between said retaining post and the inner side wall of said container member and separating said arcuate slots, said biasing means comprising a spring member in at least one of said slots jOined integrally to said inner side wall and projecting therefrom toward said retaining post and terminating in a free end spaced from said retaining post, a flange projecting outwardly from said retaining post into the path of the flange on said plunger to prevent axial separation of said cover and container members, said plunger engaging the free end of said spring member, said flange on said plunger being biased to engage said flange on said retaining post by said spring member; the engagement of said spring member and plunger biasing said locking means to the locked position such that said cover member can be rotated with respect to said container member only subsequent to axial movement of said cover member with respect to said container member against the biasing force of said spring member.

Claim 5

An assembly as claimed in claim 2 wherein said cover locking elements comprise a plurality of spaced lugs projecting radially from said skirt and said container locking elements comprise a plurality of spaced lugs projecting radially from said outer side wall, said cover locking elements having parallel top and bottom surfaces joined by parallel end surfaces, and said container locking elements having parallel top and bottom surfaces joined by parallel end surfaces, and said container locking elements having chamfered surfaces at corresponding corners operable to cam the cover locking elements downwardly after initial axial and rotative motion of the cover with respect to the container.