Safe container

• US 4,453,636 A
• Filed: 05/03/1983
• Issued: 06/12/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Barbara A. Meadows, Bernard A. Meadows, Larry A. Meadows
• Original Assignee: Barbara A. Meadows, Bernard A. Meadows, Larry A. Meadows
• Inventors: Meadows, Bernard A., Meadows, Barbara A., Meadows, Larry A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Moy, Joseph Man-Fu
• Application Number:
  US06/491,855
• Time in Patent Office: 406 Days
• Field of Search: 206/459, 206/807, 206/221, 206/534, 215/366, 215/DIG. 8
• US Class Current: 206/534
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 55/02 Locking devices; Means for discouraging or indicating unauthorised opening or removal of closure B65D41/32 takes precedence; protective covers for bottles B65D23/08; protective cap-like outer covers for bottle or jar closures B65D41/62; pressure-applying means B65D45/00; closures with means for discouraging unauthorised opening or removal of closures B65D50/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 206/807 Tamper proof
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 215/08 Mixing

Abstract

A medicine bottle is formed of transparent plastic including a cylindrical container, a peripheral wall, a bottom wall, and an intermediate wall positioned above the bottom wall to define an inaccessible view chamber. A removable cap assembly is mounted on the upper end extent of the peripheral wall and an elongated rod has one end fixedly connected to the removable cap and has an opposite end extending through the intermediate wall and terminating in the view chamber. An indicator disc is threaded on the end of the elongated rod and becomes disconnected from the elongated rod in response to rotation of the rod caused by opening rotation of the cap to provide a subsequent indication of prior removal of the cap from the container.

Claims

1. A storage assembly comprising:

a container including a peripheral wall, a bottom wall, and an intermediate wall positioned above said bottom wall to define an inaccessible view chamber bounded by a portion of said peripheral wall, said intermediate wall and said bottom wall at least one of which walls is transparent so as to make said view chamber visible;

a removable cap assembly mounted on the upper extent of said peripheral wall;

an elongated rod having one end connected to said removable cap and having an opposite end extending through said intermediate wall and terminating in said view chamber;

indicator means connected to said opposite end of said elongated rod; and

means for disconnecting said indicator means from said elongated rod in response to rotation of said rod so as to provide a subsequent indication of prior removal of the removable cap from the container.

2. A storage assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said indicator means comprises a threaded member threadably mounted on threads provided on said opposite end of said elongated rod and further including an external cap threadably positioned on said peripheral wall so as to enclose said removable cap.

3. A storage assembly as recited in claim 2 wherein said means for disconnecting said indicator means includes coil spring means positioned between said indicator means and said intermediate wall and said removable cap assembly includes an upper cap and a rod carrier sleeve connected thereto by one-way drive means.

4. A storage assembly as recited in claim 3 additionally including lug means extending from said intermediate wall and engageable with said threaded member for preventing rotation of said threaded member.

5. A storage assembly as recited in claim 4 wherein said peripheral wall is of cylindrical configuration and said elongated threaded rod extends axially thereof.

6. A storage assembly as recited in claim 5 wherein said elongated threaded rod extends through an axial opening in said intermediate wall when said cap is mounted on the upper extent of said peripheral wall.

9. A storage assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said indicator means comprises a disc threaded on the opposite end of said elongated rod and having inwardly extending radial slots on opposite sides;

and

further including protrusion lug means extending downwardly from said intermediate wall and positioned in said slots for precluding rotation of said disc.

10. A storage assembly as recited in claim 9 wherein said means for disconnecting said indicator means includes coil spring means positioned between said indicator means and said intermediate wall.

11. A storage assembly as recited in claim 10 wherein said peripheral wall is of cylindrical configuration and said elongated threaded rod extends axially thereof.

12. A storage assembly as recited in claim 11 wherein said elongated threaded rod extends through an axial opening in said intermediate wall when said removable cap is mounted on the upper extent of said peripheral wall.

13. A storage assembly as recited in claim 12 wherein said container is formed of transparent plastic.

14. A storage assembly as recited in claim 13 additionally including a downwardly protruding cylindrical lug positioned axially on the intermediate wall and wherein said coil spring is mounted in said cylindrical lug.

15. The invention of claim 9 wherein said means for disconnecting said indicator means comprises a coil spring attached to said disc and positioned in a compressed state between said disc and said intermediate wall and wherein said coil spring has a length when in its uncompressed relaxed condition which is greater than the length of the portion of the elongated rod positioned in the view chamber when the cap is threaded on the container.

16. A storage assembly as recited in claim 15 wherein said peripheral wall is of cylindrical configuration and said elongated threaded rod extends axially thereof.

7. A storage assembly as recited in claim 7 wherein said container is formed of transparent plastic.

8. A storage assembly as recited in claim 8 additionally including a downwardly protruding cylindrical lug positioned axially on the intermediate wall and wherein said coil spring is mounted in said cylindrical lug.