Reversible child resistant cap and combination of a container and a reversible child resistant cap

• US 7,070,063 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2004
• Issued: 07/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Altium Healthcare Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Tri State Distribution Incorporated (Loews Corporation)
• Inventors: Miceli, Joseph A., Miceli, David A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ngo, Lien M.
• Application Number:
  US10/986,948
• Publication Number:
  US 20050236354A1
• Time in Patent Office: 599 Days
• Field of Search: 215/228, 215/222, 215/332, 215/201, 215/211, 215216-220, 215/342, 215/341
• US Class Current: 215/228
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2215/02 requiring the combination of simultaneous actions
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2251/09 Reversible caps or lids, e.g. with threads on one side and a plug on the other
• 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 41/36 with bayonet cams , i.e. removed by first pushing axially to disengage the cams and then rotating
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 50/043 the closure comprising a screw cap whose threads are shaped to accommodate blocking elements and the closure is removed after first applying axial force to unblock it and allow it to be unscrewed

Abstract

The present invention relates to a reversible child resistant cap and a closure system having two positions, the first being a child resistant position and the other being a non-child resistant position. The cap is characterized in that it has a closure plane, a circumferential outer skirt for engaging a container, and a circumferential resilient depending inner member.

Claims

1. A reversible child resistant cap for use with a container, the cap having a child resistant mode when applied to the container in a first child resistant position and having a non-child resistant mode when applied to the container in a second non-child resistant position, the cap comprising:

a closure plane;

a circumferential outer skirt comprising an upper portion extending in an upward direction from the closure plane, a lower portion extending in a downward direction from the closure plane;

an inner skirt inside the circumferential outer skin, the inner skirt having an upper end and a lower end;

a non-child resistant engaging means far engaging the container and positioned above the closure plane; and

wherein the inner surface of the lower portion of the circumferential outer skirt comprises a child resistant engaging means for engaging the container.

2. The cap in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

the upper portion of the circumferential outer skirt includes an upper end; and

the upper end of the inner skirt is positioned at substantially the same distance from the closure plane as the upper end of the circumferential outer skirt.

3. The cap in accordance with claim 1, wherein the upper end of the inner skirt is closed and the lower end of the inner skirt is open.

4. The cap in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

the upper portion of the circumferential outer skirt including an inner surface; and

an annular gap between the upper end of the inner skirt and the inner surface of the upper portion of the circumferential outer skirt.

5. The cap in accordance with claim 1, wherein the upper end of the inner skirt comprises the non-child resistant engaging means.

6. A reversible child resistant cap for use with a container having an opening with an opening diameter, the cap having a child resistant mode when applied to the container in a first child resistant position and having a non-child resistant mode when applied to the container in a second non-child resistant position, the cap comprising:

a closure plane;

a cap upper portion extending an upward direction from the closure plane and including an upper circumferential outer skirt, a non-child resistant engaging closure for engaging the container, and an upper inner skirt inside the upper circumferential outer skirt;

a cap lower portion extending in a downward direction from the closure plane and including a lower circumferential outer skirt, a lower inner skirt inside the lower circumferential outer skirt, and a child resistant engaging closure for engaging the container;

wherein the lower circumferential outer skirt includes an inner surface and the child resistant engaging closure is positioned on the inner surface of the lower circumferential outer skirt; and

wherein the upper circumferential outer skirt includes an inner surface and the inner surface of the upper circumferential outer skirt includes a non-child resistant engaging closure means for engaging the container.

7. A reversible child resistant cap for use with a container having an opening with an opening diameter, the cap having a child resistant mode when applied to the container in a first child resistant position and having a non-child resistant mode when applied to the container in a second non-child resistant position, the cap comprising:

a closure plane;

a cap upper portion extending an upward direction from the closure plane and including an upper circumferential outer skirt, a non-child resistant engaging closure for engaging the container, and an upper inner skirt inside the upper circumferential outer skirt;

a cap lower portion extending in a downward direction from the closure plane and including a lower circumferential outer skirt, a lower inner skirt inside the lower circumferential outer skirt, and a child resistant engaging closure for engaging the container; and

wherein the upper circumferential outer skirt includes an inner surface and the inner surface of the upper circumferential outer skirt includes a non-child resistant engaging closure means for engaging the container.

8. A reversible child resistant cap for use with a container having an opening, the cap having a child resistant mode when applied to the container in a first child resistant position and having a non-child resistant mode when applied to the container in a second non-child resistant position, the cap comprising:

a closure plane;

a circumferential outer skirt including an upper portion extending in an upward direction from the closure plane end a lower portion extending in a downward direction from the closure plane;

an depending inner member inside the circumferential outer skirt, the depending inner member having an upper end extending in an upward direction from the closure plane and a lower end extending in a downward direction from the closure plane;

a non-child resistant engaging means positioned above the closure plane for engaging the container; and

a child resistant engaging means positioned below the closure plane for engaging the container.

9. The cap in accordance with claim 8, wherein the non-child resistant engaging means is positioned on the upper portion of the circumferential outer skirt.

10. The cap in accordance with claim 8, wherein the child resistant engaging means is positioned on the lower portion of the circumferential outer skirt.

11. The cap in accordance with claim 8, wherein the upper end of the depending inner member plugs the opening of the container when in the second non-child resistant position.

12. The cap in accordance with claim 8, wherein the lower end of the depending inner member plugs the opening of the container when in the first child resistant position.