Child resistant overcap for oval container

• US 6,681,945 B1
• Filed: 02/05/2003
• Issued: 01/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Inno-Pak Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Valley Design Corporation
• Inventors: Harrold, John E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ackun, Jacob K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, JAMILA O
• Application Number:
  US10/358,611
• Time in Patent Office: 356 Days
• Field of Search: 215/204, 215/216, 215/217-221, 215/222, 215/277, 215/332, 215/11.6, 220/281, 220/DIG.13
• US Class Current: 215/204
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 50/04 requiring the combination of simultaneous actions, e.g. depressing and turning, lifting and turning, maintaining a part and turning another one B65D55/02 takes precedence; caps or covers secured by rotation with bayonet cams B65D41/06, B65D41/36
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/18 Arrangements of closures with protective outer cap-like covers or of two or more co-operating closures B65D51/247 takes precedence

Abstract

A child resistant overcap and container device is specifically for containers having non-round bodies, at least non-round upper bodies, with round necks, especially oval shaped containers. The container has a round neck for attachment of an inner cap. The shape of the container is such that it is wider than it is deep, to create side to side shoulders. There is also a collar permanently attached to the neck that has an open, central circular portion and a pair of opposite shoulders extending outwardly from side to side above the shoulders of the container. The collar has either at least one J-slot or at least one J-slot tracking protrusion located on at least one of its front and back. There is also an overcap having a front and back and opposing sides, and having a hollow inside. The overcap has an outside footprint substantially corresponding to the footprint of the container. The overcap, relative to the collar, has the other of at least one J-slot and at least one J-slot tracking protrusion located in at least one of the front and the back, corresponding to the collar.

Claims

1. A child resistant overcap and container device, which comprises:

a.) a container having a round neck for attachment of a cap, and having a hollow body, a portion of said hollow body being an upper body, adjacent said round neck, said upper body having a non-circular footprint with a front and a back and opposing sides, said upper body having a predetermined width as measured from side to side, and a predetermined depth as measured from front to back, wherein said predetermined width is greater than said predetermined depth;

b.) a collar permanently attached to said round neck, said collar having an open, central circular portion about said round neck, said central circular portion having front and back and opposing sides, said collar having a pair of opposite shoulders extending outwardly from said central circular portion and above said shoulders of said upper body of said container, said collar having one of at least one J-slot and at least one J-slot tracking protrusion located on at least one of its front and back;

c.) a cap removably attachable to said round neck of said container;

d.) an overcap having a front and a back and opposing sides, and having a hollow inside, and having an outside footprint substantially corresponding to said footprint of said upper body of said container, said overcap, relative to said collar, having the other of at least one J-slot and at least one J-slot tracking protrusion located in at least one of said front and said back;

wherein a user may create a child resistant closure by pushing said overcap downwardly on said collar with said overcap front in alignment so is to cause movement of at least one J-slot for locking engagement thereof wherein said opposite shoulders of said collar push upwardly against said overcap to maintain J-slot and protrusion engagement, and wherein said overcap is removed by complex motion of pushing downwardly and rotating and then lifting upwardly.

2. The child resistant overcap and container device of claim 1 wherein said neck is a threaded neck and said cap is a screwcap.

3. The child resistant overcap and container device of claim 1 wherein said collar shoulder are springs adapted to push upwardly on said overcap when said overcap is attached to said collar.

4. The child resistant overcap and container device of claim 3 wherein said overcap includes spring contacts on its inside sides corresponding to and adapted to engage said collar springs when said overcap is attached to said collar.

5. The child resistant overcap and container device of claim 1 wherein said collar has at least one J-slot and said overcap has at least one J-slot tracking protrusion.

6. The child resistant overcap and container device of claim 5 wherein said at least one J-slot is located on said collar front.

7. The child resistant overcap and container device of claim 5 wherein said collar has at least two J-slots and said overcap has at least two J-slot tracking protrusions.

8. The child resistant overcap and container device of claim 1 wherein said collar has at least one J-slot tracking protrusion and said overcap has at least one J-slot.

9. The child resistant overcap and container device of claim 8 wherein said at least one J-slot tracking protrusion is located on said collar front.

10. The child resistant overcap and container device of claim 8 wherein said collar has at least two J-slot tracking protrusions and said overcap has at least two J-slots.

11. A child resistant overcap and container device, which comprises:

a.) a container having a round neck for attachment of a cap, and having a hollow body, a portion of said hollow body being an upper body, adjacent said round neck, said upper body having an oval footprint with a front and a back and opposing sides, said upper body having a predetermined width as measured from side to side, and a predetermined depth as measured from front to back, wherein said predetermined width is greater than said predetermined depth;

b.) a collar permanently attached to said round neck, said collar having an open, central circular portion about said round neck, said central circular portion having front and back and opposing sides, said collar having a pair of opposite shoulders extending outwardly from said central circular portion and above said shoulders of said upper body of said container, said collar having one of at least one J-slot and at least one J-slot tracking protrusion located on at least one of its front and back;

c.) a cap removably attachable to said round neck of said container;

d.) an overcap having a front and a back and opposing sides, and having a hollow inside, and having an outside footprint substantially corresponding to said footprint of said upper body of said container, said overcap, relative to said collar, having the other of at least one J-slot and at least one J-slot tracking protrusion located in at least one of said front and said back;

wherein a user may create a child resistant closure by pushing said overcap downwardly on said collar with said overcap front in alignment so is to cause movement of at least one J-slot for locking engagement thereof wherein said opposite shoulders of said collar push upwardly against said overcap to maintain J-slot and protrusion engagement, and wherein said overcap is removed by complex motion of pushing downwardly and rotating and then lifting upwardly.

12. The child resistant overcap and container device of claim 11 wherein said neck is a threaded neck and said cap is a screwcap.

13. The child resistant overcap and container device of claim 11 wherein said collar shoulder are springs adapted to push upwardly on said overcap when said overcap is attached to said collar.

14. The child resistant overcap and container device of claim 13 wherein said overcap includes spring contacts on its inside sides corresponding to and adapted to engage said collar springs when said overcap is attached to said collar.

15. The child resistant overcap and container device of claim 11 wherein said collar has at least one J-slot and said overcap has at least one J-slot tracking protrusion.

16. The child resistant overcap and container device of claim 15 wherein said at least one J-slot is located on said collar front.

17. The child resistant overcap and container device of claim 15 wherein said collar has at least two J-slots and said overcap has at least two J-slot tracking protrusions.

18. The child resistant overcap and container device of claim 11 wherein said collar has at least one J-slot tracking protrusion and said overcap has at least one J-slot.

19. The child resistant overcap and container device of claim 18 wherein said at least one J-slot tracking protrusion is located on said collar front.

20. The child resistant overcap and container device of claim 18 wherein said collar has at least one J-slot tracking protrusions and said overcap has at least two J-slots.