Safety cap and container

• US 5,938,055 A
• Filed: 03/12/1997
• Issued: 08/17/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Berry Plastics Corporation (Berry Global Group Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Kerr Group, Inc. (Berry Global Group Inc.)
• Inventors: Philips, Terry, Croke, Stephen
• Primary Examiner(s): Cronin, Stephen K.
• Application Number:
  US08/815,538
• Time in Patent Office: 888 Days
• Field of Search: 215/206, 215/222, 215/230, 220/377
• US Class Current: 215/222
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2251/023 Ribs or recesses
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 41/06 with bayonet cams , i.e. removed by first pushing axially to disengage the cams and then rotating
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/245 provided with decoration, information or contents indicating devices, labels B65D81/366 takes precedence

Abstract

A sealable container is disclosed in which a cap is provided having a circumferential outer skirt for engaging a container and having a circumferential resilient depending inner member spaced from and extending substantially parallel to the outer skirt. The cap is substantially light-transmissive over at least a portion of the visible spectrum, so as to permit viewing through the cap. A container is provided having a rigid side wall for engagement with the resilient inner member of the cap internally thereof. The side wall has an end fitting within the resilient inner member of said cap and spaced radially inwardly therefrom when the cap is secured to the container. The side wall is tapered. Structures are provided on the container remotely from the end of the rigid wall. Cooperative structures are provided on the cap for preventing the cap from being removed from the container without depression of the cap on the container and rotation of the cap on the container.

Claims

1. A sealable container comprising:

a cap having a circumferential outer skirt for engaging a container and having a circumferential resilient depending inner member spaced from and extending substantially parallel to said outer skirt, wherein the cap is substantially light-transmissive over at least a portion of the visible spectrum, so as to permit viewing through the cap;

a container having a rigid side wall for engagement with the resilient inner member of said cap internally thereof, said side wall having an end fitting within the resilient inner member of said cap and spaced radially inwardly therefrom when the cap is secured to the container, said side wall being tapered; and

means disposed on said container remotely from said end of said rigid wall and cooperative means on said cap for preventing said cap from being removed from said container without depression of said cap on said container and rotation of said cap on said container;

wherein the container is a vial having a closed end and an open end, and wherein the side wall is substantially cylindrical, wherein the means disposed on said container is at least one lug on the cylindrical wall substantially proximate to the open end; and

wherein the cap comprises a substantially flat top portion formed integrally with said circumferential outer skirt, wherein said circumferential resilient depending inner member is formed integrally with said top portion and extends therefrom; and

wherein said cooperative means comprises at least one retaining structure formed on the outer skirt for cooperating with the lug to retain the cap in engagement with the vial; and

wherein the top portion includes an internal surface substantially adjacent to the open end of the vial, and wherein the top portion includes molded indicia formed on the internal surface, which can be viewed from an external surface of the top portion.

2. The sealable container of claim 1 wherein the indicia are reverse-molded text formed as a mirror image to permit normal reading as viewed from the external surface.

3. The sealable container of claim 1 wherein the cap and container conform to the light-transmissivity standards specified in USP 23 <

661>

while being sufficiently transmissive in the remainder of the visible spectrum to permit a user to view the vial'"'"'s contents.

4. A cap for sealing the open end of a vial, wherein the cap is substantially light-transmissive over at least a portion of the visible spectrum, so as to permit viewing through the cap, wherein the cap comprises:

a substantially flat top portion including an internal surface having molded indicia formed thereon, said molded indicia can be viewed from an external surface of the top portion;

an inner seal member formed integrally on the top portion to seal the open end of a vial upon engagement;

a substantially cylindrical side portion having at least one retaining structure formed thereon for retaining the cap in engagement with the vial.

5. The cap of claim 4 wherein the indicia are reverse-molded text formed as a mirror image to permit normal reading as viewed from the external surface.

6. The cap of claim 4 wherein the side portion the cap includes a plurality of slots extending through the sidewall.

7. The cap of claim 4 wherein the cap conforms to the light-transmissivity standards specified in USP 23 <

661>

while being sufficiently transmissive in the remainder of the visible spectrum to permit a user to view the vial'"'"'s contents.