Claims
- 1. A child resistant container comprising:
- a container body wherein said container body has means to rotatably couple a ring to said container body; said container body has a guide which forms part of the container body's rotatable means;
- a ring, said ring having means for rotatably coupling itself to said container body;
- a support forming part of said ring's rotatable means, said support traversing a path along an inner surface of said ring;
- a ring protrusion disposed on an outer surface of said ring, said ring protrusion traversing a path along the outer surface of said ring, said ring protrusion has at least one gap therein, wherein each gap in said protrusion divides the protrusion into segments;
- at least one segment disposed on said ring, said segment has a frustoconical bottom surface which slopes upward from the ring's outer surface, said bottom surface forming an angle of greater than 90.degree. with the outer surface of the ring;
- a closure, said closure sized to be coupled to said ring, said closure having a closure protrusion, said closure protrusion traversing a path along an inner surface of said closure, said closure protrusion has at least one gap therein, wherein each gap in said closure's protrusion divides the closure protrusion into segments;
- at least one segment disposed on said closure, said segment has a frustoconical top surface which slopes downward from the closure's inner surface, said top surface forming an angle of greater than 90.degree. with the inner surface of said closure;
- an amount of segments on said closure equal in number to an amount of gaps in said ring protrusion;
- an amount of gaps in said closure protrusion equal in number to an amount of segments on said ring;
- said closure and said ring, when coupled, having a position relative to one another so that upon uncoupling of the closure from the ring each segment of said amount of segments disposed on said closure will pass through a different one of said amount of gaps in said ring protrusion, and each gap of said amount of gaps in said closure protrusion will allow passage of a different one of said amount of segments disposed on said ring.
- 2. The child resistant container of claim 1 wherein said ring protrusion comprises a plurality of gaps wherein a first pair of gaps of said plurality have different arc lengths and are adjacent and wherein a second pair of gaps of said plurality have different arc lengths and are adjacent, said first pair of gaps of different arc lengths being exclusive of said second pair of gaps of different arc lengths.
- 3. The child resistant container of claim 1 comprising a plurality of gaps in said ring protrusion, said plurality of gaps having at least four different arc lengths.
- 4. The child resistant container of claim 1 wherein said amounts of gaps in said ring protrusion have a combined arc length of between 225.degree. and 235.degree..
- 5. The child resistant container of claim 1 wherein said amount of segments disposed on said ring have a combined arc length of between 110.degree. and 120.degree..
- 6. The child resistant container of claim 1 further comprising:
- a plurality of segments on said ring wherein each segment of said plurality has an arcuate center;
- an arc length measured from the arcuate center of a segment of said plurality to the arcuate center of an adjacent segment, said arc length measured being a center-to-center arc on said ring; and
- a plurality of center-to-center arcs on said ring, said plurality of center-to-center arcs having at least four different arc lengths.
- 7. The child resistant container of claim 1, wherein said ring protrusion comprises a plurality of gaps therein, and wherein a first pair of gaps of said plurality have a same arc length and are adjacent to each other.
- 8. The child resistant container of claim 7 wherein said plurality of gaps in said ring protrusion comprises a first pair of gaps having different arc lengths, said first pair having different arc lengths being adjacent to each other, said first pair of gaps having the same arc length being exclusive of said first pair of gaps having different arc lengths.
- 9. The child resistant container of claim 7 wherein said plurality of gaps in said ring protrusion comprises a second pair of gaps having a same arc length, said second pair having the same arc length being adjacent to each other, said second pair of gaps having the same arc length being exclusive of said first pair of gaps having the same arc length.
- 10. The child resistant container of claim 9 wherein said plurality of gaps in said ring protrusion comprises a first pair of ring gaps having different arc lengths, said first pair of gaps having different arc lengths being adjacent to each other, said first pair of gaps having different arc lengths being exclusive of both of said first pair and second pair of gaps having the same arc length.
- 11. The child resistant container of claim 1 further comprising:
- a plurality of segments on said ring wherein each segment of said plurality has an arcuate center;
- an arc length measured from the arcuate center of a segment of said plurality to the arcuate center of an adjacent segment of said plurality, said arc length measured being a center-to-center arc on said ring;
- a plurality of center-to-center arcs on said ring; and
- a first pair of center-to-center arcs on said ring having a same arc length, said first pair being adjacent to each other.
- 12. The child resistant container of claim 11 wherein said plurality of center-to-center arcs on said ring comprises: a second pair of center-to-center arcs having a same arc length, said second pair of center-to-center arcs having the same arc length being adjacent to each other, said second pair of center-to-center arcs being exclusive of said first pair of center-to-center arcs, said first pair of center-to-center arcs each having a same arc length as said second pair.
- 13. The child resistant container of claim 11 wherein said plurality of center-to-center arcs on said ring comprises a second pair of center-to-center arcs having a same arc length, said second pair of center-to-center arcs having the same arc length not being adjacent to each other, said first pair of center-to-center arcs being exclusive of said second pair of center-to-center arcs, said first pair of center-to-center arcs each having a different length from said second pair.
- 14. The child resistant container of claim 13 wherein said plurality of center-to-center arcs on said ring comprises: a third pair of center-to-center arcs, said third pair being exclusive of said first and second pair, and said third pair of center-to-center arcs each having a different arc length from said first and second pairs.
- 15. A child resistant container comprising:
- a container body wherein said container body has a coupling portion and a guide disposed on said coupling portion, said guide being for rotatably coupling said container body to a ring;
- said ring having means to rotatably couple itself to said container;
- a ring protrusion disposed on an outer surface of said ring, said ring protrusion traversing a path around the outer surface of said ring, said ring protrusion has a vertical surface only extending along an axial length of said ring protrusion;
- said ring protrusion having at least one gap therein, wherein each gap in said ring protrusion divides said ring protrusion into segments;
- a ring support forming part of said ring's rotatable means, said ring support traversing a path along an inner surface of said ring, said ring support has a vertical surface only extending along an axial length of the ring support, said ring support vertical surface at a vertical height exclusive of said ring protrusion vertical surface;
- a closure, said closure sized to be coupled to said ring, said closure having a protrusion, said closure's protrusion traversing a path along an inner surface of said closure, said closure's protrusion having at least one gap therein, wherein each gap in said closure's protrusion divides the protrusion into segments;
- an amount of segments on said closure equal in number to an amount of gaps in said ring's protrusion;
- an amount of gaps in said closure's protrusion equal in number to an amount of segments on said ring;
- said closure and said ring, when coupled, having a position relative to one another so that upon uncoupling of said closure and ring, each segment of said amount of closure segments will pass through a different one of said amount of gaps in said ring's protrusion, and each gap of said amount of gaps in said closure's protrusion will allow passage of a different one of said amount of ring segments.
- 16. The child resistant container of claim 15 wherein said coupling portion is a neck, said neck having a neck protrusion, a first guide protrusion, a second guide protrusion axially spaced from said first guide protrusion, wherein said guide is formed by said first and second guide protrusions and wherein said neck protrusion is exclusive of said guide.
- 17. The child resistant container of claim 15 wherein said ring's support has a bottom surface, said bottom surface remains free of contact from said container body during a rotation of said ring around said container body.
- 18. The child resistant container of claim 15 wherein said guide provides a horizontal support for a bottom surface of said ring.
- 19. The child resistant container of claim 15 wherein said ring has a top surface, said ring protrusion also has a top surface, said ring protrusion's top surface being below said ring's top surface and axially spaced therefrom.
- 20. The child resistant container of claim 15 wherein said closure includes a wall, said wall has an interior portion which contacts the outer surface of said ring, said interior wall portion contacting said ring's outer surface above a side surface of said ring protrusion.
- 21. The child resistant container of claim 15 wherein said closure includes a wall, and said wall includes a bottom annular end wall, and wherein said amount of segments disposed on said closure each include a bottom surface, and wherein said annular end wall is below said segments' bottom surfaces and axially spaced therefrom.
- 22. The child resistant container of claim 15 wherein said ring further comprises:
- an upper and a lower ring portion, said upper ring portion extends concentrically upwards from the lower ring portion; and
- an annular upper ledge surface between a top of the upper ring portion and a bottom of the lower ring portion.
- 23. The child resistant container of claim 22 further comprising:
- a plurality of projections along a vertical outer surface of said upper ring portion, said projections spaced vertically between said annular upper ledge surface and said ring segments;
- a frictional coupling between said projections and said closure when said closure is disposed on said ring and said closure segments are positioned below said ring segments.
- 24. A container comprising:
- a container body wherein said container body has a coupling portion and a guide disposed on said coupling portion, said guide being for rotatably coupling said container body to a ring;
- a ring, said ring having means to rotatably couple itself to said container;
- a ring protrusion disposed on an outer surface of said ring, said ring protrusion traversing a path around the outer surface of said ring, said ring protrusion has a vertical surface only extending along an axial length of said ring protrusion;
- said ring protrusion having at least one gap therein, wherein each gap in said ring protrusion divides said ring protrusion into segments;
- a ring support forming part of said ring's rotatable means, said ring support traversing a path along an inner surface of said ring, said ring support has a vertical surface only extending along an axial length of the ring support, said ring support vertical surface at a vertical height exclusive of said ring protrusion vertical surface;
- a closure, said closure sized to be coupled to said ring, said closure having a protrusion, said closure's protrusion traversing a path along an inner surface of said closure, said closure's protrusion having at least one gap therein, wherein each gap in said closure's protrusion divides the protrusion into segments;
- an amount of segments on said closure equal in number to an amount of gaps in said ring's protrusion;
- an amount of gaps in said closure's protrusion equal in number to an amount of segments on said ring;
- said closure and said ring, when coupled, having a position relative to one another so that upon uncoupling of said closure and ring, each segment of said amount of closure segments will pass through a different one of said amount of gaps in said ring's protrusion, and each gap of said amount of gaps in said closure's protrusion will allow passage of a different one of said amount of ring segments.
- 25. The container of claim 24 comprising:
- said container body has a container closed end and a neck portion, said neck portion having a container open end opposite said container closed end;
- said neck portion having a means to receive and rotatably hold said ring thereon whereby said ring will be maintained on said neck portion during use of the container, said ring being rotatable about the axis of and relative to said neck portion;
- said ring being substantially cylindrical, said ring having upper and lower concentric cylindrical portions, said upper ring portion extends concentrically upwardly from said lower ring portion;
- said ring having an annular upper ledge surface, said annular upper ledge surface being between a top surface of said upper ring portion and a bottom surface of said lower ring portion; and
- said closure having a closure open end and a side wall, said side wall having a closure end wall, said end wall being sized to contact said upper ledge surface when said closure is snapped on said ring.
- 26. The container of claim 25 wherein a plurality of key protrusions extend upwardly from the upper ledge surface, said closure end wall has a plurality of key grooves, said key grooves being adapted to receive said key protrusions when said closure is snapped onto said ring to provide simultaneous rotation of the ring and closure;
- said key grooves and key protrusions being sized to permit relative rotation of said closure and said ring, when the ring and closure are held separately and rotated relative to one another.
- 27. The container of claim 25 further comprising:
- a plurality of projections along a vertical outer surface of said upper ring portion, said projections spaced vertically between said annular upper ledge surface and said ring segments;
- a frictional coupling between said projections and said closure when said closure is disposed on said ring and said closure segments are positioned below said ring segments.
- 28. The container of claim 25 wherein said neck portion comprises:
- a first annular guide protrusion forming part of a guide for said ring, said first annular guide protrusion extending from the outer wall of said neck and axially spaced from said container open end;
- a second annular guide protrusion forming part of said guide for said ring, said second annular guide protrusion extending from the outer wall of said neck and axially spaced from said first guide protrusion, said first guide protrusion being between said container open end and said second guide protrusion;
- an annular neck protrusion extending from an outer wall of said neck and axially spaced from said container open end, said neck protrusion being between said container open end and said first annular guide protrusion, said annular neck protrusion axially spaced from said guide formed by said first and second annular guide protrusions.
- 29. The container of claim 21 wherein said second annular guide protrusion has a plurality of cutout sections therein.
- 30. A container comprising:
- a container body, said container body having a container closed end and a neck portion, said neck portion having a container open end opposite said container closed end;
- said neck portion having a means to receive and rotatably hold a ring thereon whereby said ring will be maintained on said neck portion during use of the container, said ring being rotatable about an axis of and relative to said neck portion;
- said ring being substantially cylindrical, said ring having upper and lower concentric cylindrical portions, said upper ring portion extends concentrically upwardly from said lower ring portion;
- said ring having an annular upper ledge surface, said annular upper ledge surface being between a top surface of said upper ring portion and a bottom surface of said lower ring portion;
- an annular ring protrusion extends radially outwardly from an outer surface of said upper ring portion, said ring protrusion lying in a horizontal plane, said ring protrusion being divided into a plurality of at least six ring segments spaced a predetermined distance apart to provide at least six ring segment gaps;
- a snap-on closure sized for coupling to said upper ring portion, said closure having an annular closure protrusion extending radially inwardly from an inner surface of said closure, said annular closure protrusion lying in a horizontal plane, said closure protrusion being divided into a plurality of at least six closure segments spaced a predetermined distance apart to provide at least six closure segment gaps;
- said ring segments and closure segments being sized so that said closure will snap on said upper ring portion with said closure segments being in a position below said ring segments when said closure is snapped on said ring;
- said closure having a closure open end and a side wall, said side wall having a closure end wall, said closure end wall being sized to contact said upper ledge surface when said closure is snapped on said ring;
- said at least six closure segments and said at least six ring segments being sized and spaced from one another to provide a removal position wherein said closure segments may axially pass between said ring segments,
- a first annular guide protrusion forming part of a guide for said ring, said first annular guide protrusion extending from the outer wall of said neck and axially spaced from said container open end;
- a second annular guide protrusion forming part of said guide for said ring, said second annular guide protrusion extending from the outer wall of said neck and axially spaced from said first guide protrusion, said first guide protrusion being between said container open end and said second guide protrusion; and
- an annular neck protrusion extending from an outer wall of said neck and axially spaced from said container open end, said neck protrusion being between said container open end and said first annular guide protrusion, said annular neck protrusion axially spaced from said guide formed by said first and second annular guide protrusions,
- said second annular guide protrusion has a plurality of cutout sections therein.
Parent Case Info
The present application is a continuation in part of application 08/699,475 filed Aug. 19, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,791,504 for a child resistant container.
US Referenced Citations (11)
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
699475 |
Aug 1996 |
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