Claims
- 1. A container comprising:a body having an opening; screw threads located on said body around said opening; a cap assembly, said cap assembly comprising: a retainer sized and shaped to be selectively secured to said body, said retainer having screw threads that are adapted to be selectively engaged with said screw threads of said body; a shell surrounding said retainer, said shell being rotatable with respect to said retainer; at least one grasping member located on said shell, said at least one grasping member being pivotal between a disengaged position, wherein said shell freely rotates with respect to said retainer, and an engaged position, wherein said shell engages with said retainer so that both said shell and said retainer rotate together with respect to said body, pivotal movement of said at least one grasping member from said disengaged position to said engaged position automatically forcing said shell into engagement with said retainer; and a spring bias to encourage said at least one grasping member to said disengaged position.
- 2. The container, according to claim 1, wherein said shell includes a flat upper surface and said at least one grasping member extends upwardly from said flat upper surface.
- 3. The container, according to claim 1, wherein said at least one grasping member comprises two opposing grasping members pivotally attached to said shell, said opposing grasping members being apart from each other in said disengaged position and generally adjacent to each other in said engaged position.
- 4. The container, according to claim 3, further comprising a handle rigidly attached to said shell, said handle being positioned between said two opposing grasping members.
- 5. The container, according to claim 3, further comprising a locking element selectively positioned between said two opposing grasping members, said locking element preventing pivotal movement of said grasping members from said disengaged position to said engaged position.
- 6. The container, according to claim 1, further comprising a handle which is rigidly attached to said shell, said handle being positioned so that when said grasping member is in said engaged position, said grasping member lies generally adjacent to said handle.
- 7. A closure for a threaded container comprising:a retainer sized and shaped to be selectively secured to said container, said retainer having screw threads that are adapted to be selectively engaged with said screw threads of said container; a shell surrounding said retainer, said shell being rotatable with respect to said retainer; at least one grasping member located on said shell, said at least one grasping member being pivotal between a disengaged position, wherein said shell freely rotates with respect to said retainer, and an engaged position, wherein said shell engages with said retainer so that both said shell and said retainer rotate together with respect to said body, pivotal movement of said at least one grasping member from said disengaged position to said engaged position automatically forcing said shell into engagement with said retainer; and a spring bias to encourage said at least one grasping member to said disengaged position.
- 8. The closure according to claim 7, wherein said shell includes a flat upper surface and said at least one grasping member extends upwardly from said flat upper surface.
- 9. The closure according to claim 7, wherein said at least one grasping member comprises two opposing grasping members pivotally attached to said shell, said opposing grasping members being separated from each other in said disengaged position and generally adjacent to each other in said engaged position.
- 10. The closure according to claim 9, further comprising a handle rigidly attached to said shell, said handle being positioned between said two opposing grasping members.
- 11. The closure according to claim 9, further comprising a locking element selectively positioned between said two opposing grasping members, said locking element preventing pivotal movement of said grasping members from said disengaged position to said engaged position.
- 12. The closure according to claim 7, further comprising a handle which is rigidly attached to said shell, said handle being positioned so that when said grasping member is in said engaged position, said grasping member lies generally adjacent to said handle.
- 13. A closure for use with a bottle, comprising:a retainer having screw threads for selective securement to said bottle, said screw threads being positioned about a first axis; an outer shell positioned around said retainer, said outer shell being sized and shaped to allow free rotational displacement of said shell about said retainer, said shell including an engagement portion which is displaceable with respect to said retainer along said first axis between an engaged position wherein said shell and said retainer are mechanically engaged to each other, and a disengaged position wherein said shell may freely rotate about said retainer; and means for translating a laterally applied force that is directed along a second axis to linearly displace said engagement portion of said shell along said first axis to said engaged position, said second axis being generally perpendicular to said first axis.
- 14. The closure according to claim 13, wherein said translation means includes a pair of generally L-shaped grasping members which are pivotally connected to said shell.
- 15. The closure according to claim 14, wherein said grasping members are formed integrally with said shell.
- 16. The closure according to claim 13, wherein said engagement portion of said shell includes downwardly directed engagement projections and said retainer includes upwardly directed engagement projections, said engagement projections of said retainer and said shell interlocking when said shell is displaced to its engaged position.
Parent Case Info
This patent application claims the priority of U.S. provisional patent application No. 60/080,263, filed Apr. 1, 1998 (entitled: “Child-Resistant/Senior-Friendly Container”), which is incorporated herein by reference.
US Referenced Citations (9)
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60/080263 |
Apr 1998 |
US |