SENIOR FRIENDLY CHILD RESISTANT CLOSURE

Abstract

A child-resistant closure for a container having an externally threaded neck finish includes an assembly of an inner cap and an outer shell. The inner cap includes internal threads for engaging the externally threaded neck finish of the container. The inner cap and outer shell include mutually engageable stops to allow closing rotation of the closure relative to the container and prohibit opening rotation of the closure relative to the container. The inner cap and outer shell also include mating components that, when aligned and engaged, will allow opening rotation of the closure relative to the container when a compressive force is applied to a flexible area on the outer shell.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to container closures and, more particularly, to a closure for use on, for example, a container capable of holding, for example, liquids, powders and solids including, for example, capsules, caplets, tablets, and gel caps.

Safety or child resistant closures are used to reduce the risk of children accessing and ingesting dangerous or toxic items, including prescription and non-prescription drugs, pool chemicals and any other contents of a container that is regulated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission or U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Prior attempts at designing and engineering a safety or child resistant closures to prevent access to the contents in a container are either insufficiently childproof or too difficult for an older adult to open. For example, existing child resistant closures require a simultaneous push down and turn manipulation with one hand holding the container and the other hand pushing down on the closure while turning the closure in the unscrewing direction. Another example requires holding the container in one hand and with the other hand squeezing the skirt from the opposite sides and simultaneously unscrewing the closure from the container. These prior attempts, however, require an interaction between the neck finish of a container and a closure where the container may require a lug or some special safety feature to interact with the closure. Also, these prior attempts are insufficient for larger diameter bottles because a senior has difficulty holding larger bottle, such as a container holding pool chemicals, and push down and turn the top at the same time. Generally, the prior attempts require dexterity and strength for users to open the containers, and provide stress on the container itself. There is, therefore, a need for a child resistant closure that is easier for seniors to open.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The shortcomings of the prior art are overcome and additional advantages are provided through use of a cap constructed in accordance with one or more principles of the present invention. The closure constructed in accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention may be used with any type of container containing, for example, but not limited to, liquids, powders and solids including, for example, capsules, caplets, tablets, and gel caps. Additionally, other uses may be made of the invention that fall within the scope of the claimed invention but when are not specifically described below.

In one aspect of the invention, there is provided a closure for a container having threads and an open end. The closure comprises an inner cap and an outer shell. The inner cap includes a top for covering the open end of the container and a sidewall. The sidewall includes a lower edge portion and extends between the top and the lower edge portion. The sidewall also includes an outer surface and an inner surface. A portion of the inner surface is threaded. The inner cap is detachably securable to the container by rotational engagement of the threads of the container and the threaded portion of the inner surface of the inner cap sidewall. The inner cap resides within the outer shell. The outer shell includes a sidewall. The outer shell sidewall includes a bendable or flexible area, an outer surface and an inner surface. The inner surface facing, at least in part, the outer surface of the inner cap sidewall. The inner cap and the outer shell include mutually engageable stops preventing opening rotation of the inner cap relative to the container without compression of the bendable area. When compression is applied to the bendable area, the inner surface of the outer shell sidewall engages with the outer surface of the inner cap sidewall to allow opening rotation of said closure relative to the container.

In one embodiment, the mutually engageable stops include a ratchet tooth on the inner surface of the outer shell sidewall and a ratchet tooth on the outer surface of the inner cap sidewall. Rotation of the outer shell in one direction relative to the inner cap engages the ratchet tooth on the inner surface of the outer shell sidewall and the ratchet tooth on the outer surface of the inner cap sidewall and rotation of the outer shell in an opposite direction relative to the inner cap does not engage the ratchet tooth on the inner surface of the outer shell sidewall and the ratchet tooth on the outer surface of the inner cap sidewall.

In another embodiment, the inner surface of the outer shell sidewall and the outer surface of the inner cap sidewall include mating components. When the mating components are aligned and engaged by compression applied to the flexible or bendable area, the closure is more easily rotated opened relative to the container than when the mating components are not aligned and engaged by compression applied to the flexible or bendable area. In one example, the mating components comprise a dovetail on the inner surface of the outer shell sidewall opposite the flexible of bendable area and a pin notch formed in the outer surface of the inner cap sidewall. In another example, the mating components comprise a lug on the inner surface of the outer shell sidewall opposite the flexible or bendable area and a notch formed in the outer surface of the inner cap sidewall

Additional features and advantages are realized through the techniques of the present invention. Other embodiments and aspects of the invention are described in detail herein and are considered a part of the claimed invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

One or more aspects of the present invention are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed as examples in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and objects, features, and advantages of one or more aspects of the invention are apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of an embodiment of a closure constructed in accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention;

FIG. 2 depicts a perspective view of another embodiment of a closure constructed in accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention;

FIG. 3 depicts a longitudinal cross sectional view of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 depicts a cross section view of the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3 taken along the plane A-A showing an example of a child resistant safety feature;

FIG. 5 depicts a cross section view of the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3 taken along the plane B-B showing one example of a child resistant safety feature;

FIG. 6 depicts a cross section view of the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3 taken along the plane B-B showing another version of the child resistant safety feature illustrated in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 depicts an enlarged detailed cross section view of the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3 taken along the plane B-B showing another version of the child resistant safety feature illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6;

FIG. 8 depicts a top perspective view of an embodiment of a closure constructed in accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention illustrating one example of alignment of alignment indicators.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of a closure designed and constructed in accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments, or examples, illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe these. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modifications in the described embodiments, and any further applications of the principles of the invention as described herein are contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the closure invention relates.

Presented herein is a closure comprising, in one embodiment, multiple features that may be attached to or integrated into the closure to, for example, prevent access of the contents of a container to a child while making it easier for a senior to operate. Generally, in one aspect, the closure includes a two piece assembly that mounts onto and closes the open end of a container having, for example, a threaded raised neck finish. To ensure that a child cannot simply unscrew the closure from the container, opening of the container may require proper orientation and alignment of one or more corresponding features of the closure assembly, as well as, application of pressure to the sides and turning of the closure assembly to disengage by, for example, unscrewing the closure assembly from the top of the container.

A closure assembly constructed in accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention is mounted onto a neck of conventional container to cover the open end of a container. Container neck may include a series of external threads which extend around the outer circumference of a container neck. Container neck is typically substantially cylindrical and of unitary construction with the remainder of container. For purposes of this invention, the size and shape of the container, container neck and opening of the container is not critical. A closure constructed in accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention can be used on, for example, a large diameter bottle such as, for example, a container holding pool chemicals where conventional closures that require a push down and turn procedure for removing the closure are impractical due to the size of the container.

A closure constructed in accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention may be formed in a variety of different sizes and shapes, as illustrated in the examples depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2, to accommodate the container neck and opening. In one embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, closure 100 may be tall to provide, for example, more surface area for a senior to grip, while moving the activation or squeeze areas, as described herein, further away from the top of the closure to keep children from opening with their small hands or using their teeth to open. A closure assembly constructed in accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention may be mounted onto any container capable of holding, for example, liquids, powders and solids including, for example, capsules, caplets, tablets, and gel caps, and also including prescription and non-prescription drugs, without requiring any safety features or a special neck finish on the container itself.

In one example, FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 depict a closure assembly 100 constructed in accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention. Closure assembly 100 includes an inner cap 110 and an outer shell 150. Inner cap 110 is concentrically located within outer shell 150. Inner cap is retained within outer shell 120 in one embodiment by, for example, a snap bead connection 180. When assembled, inner cap 110 and outer shell 150 cooperate with each other in order to achieve child-resistant capabilities.

Referring to FIG. 3, inner cap 110 includes a top 113 with a downwardly extending side wall 111. Side wall 111 includes an outer peripheral surface 120 and an inner surface 112. Inner surface 112 of side wall 111 of inner cap 110 includes internal threads 114 formed in inner surface 112 that, when mounted to a container, engage the externally threaded neck of container in a conventional manner. When proper closed, an upper wall 116 of inner cap 110 seals, abuts against or is in close proximity with an upper edge forming the opening in a container prohibiting access to the contents of container.

Outer shell 150 of closure assembly 100 includes a side wall 151 having an inner surface 152 and an outer surface 154. In one embodiment, outer shell 150 is a unitary, molded plastic cap of a substantially cylindrical shape with an annular top wall 156 completely covering top 113 of inner cap 110. In an alternative embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, a circular center portion of top wall 156 of outer shell 150 is open, leaving an annular ring portion 158 extending radially inwardly from sidewall 151 of outer shell 150 and over a portion of top 113 of inner cap 110.

One of the child resistant features in accordance with one aspect of the present invention is provided by mutually engageable stops associated with inner cap 110 and outer shell 150 preventing counterclockwise or opening rotation of inner cap 110 in relation to container. In one embodiment providing this feature illustrated in FIG. 4, a ratchet teeth engagement is employed including one or more ratchet-like teeth 122 protruding radially from outer surface 120 of inner cap 110 engaging one or more ratchet-like teeth 160 protruding radially inward from inner surface 152 of outer shell 150. In one example, closure assembly includes a circumferential series of ratchet teeth 122 on outer surface 120 that engage a circumferential series of ratchet teeth 160 on inner surface 152 of outer shell 150. Each tooth 122 may include a wedge-like or triangular shape in the axial direction including an axial wall 124 and an inclined ramp portion 126. Each tooth 160 also includes a wedge-like shape in the axial direction including an axial wall 162 and an inclined ramp portion 164. The wedge-like shape of each tooth 122 of inner cap 110 is oriented with inclined ramp portion 126 in the opposite axial direction as inclined ramp portion 164 of each tooth 160.

The ratchet tooth engagement embodiment permits free rotation of outer shell 150 in one direction in relation to inner cap 110 due to the orientation of ratchet teeth 122 and teeth 160 while causing outer shell 150 and inner cap 110 to rotate together in the opposite direction. For example, when rotated counter clockwise, the inclined ramp portions 164 of teeth 160 skip past or pass over each axial wall 124 of teeth 122 to allow outer shell 150 to rotate and inner cap 110 not to rotate. However, any clockwise rotation of outer shell 150 results in abutment of the corresponding axial walls 124, 162 of ratchet teeth 122 and 160, respectively, thereby allowing outer shell 150 and inner cap 110 to rotate together, and therefore, allowing closure assembly to be rotated onto a container neck. The orientation of teeth 122 and 160 may also be reversed in other examples where the design permits free clockwise rotation of outer shell 150 in relation to inner cap 110.

In an alternative embodiment, the ratchet-tooth engagement may be employed with, for example, teeth 160 being formed, instead, as an annular series of receiving wedge-like or triangular depressions being molded into inner surface 152 of outer shell 150 for receiving teeth 122 of inner cap 110. In this embodiment, the wedge-like depressions would be oriented in the same direction as teeth 122 to permit free rotation of outer shell 150 in the counter clockwise direction in relation to inner cap 110 while rotating outer shell 150 and inner cap 110 together with clockwise rotation. Alternatively, teeth 122 may be molded down into outer surface 120 of inner cap 110 for receiving teeth 160 of outer shell 150.

Another child resistant feature in accordance with another aspect of the present invention is provided by another engagement of inner cap 110 and outer shell 150. One example of this aspect is illustrated in FIG. 5. In accordance with this aspect of the present invention, closure assembly 100 includes one or more squeeze, bendable or flexible areas 190, such as, for example, designated squeeze area 190, on outside surface 154 of outer shell 150. Designated squeeze, bendable or flexible areas 190 on outside surface 154 of outer shell 150 allow inward compression or pressure by the manual application of inwardly directed compressive forces or pressure which are substantially 180 degrees apart from sidewall 151 of outer shell 150. In one embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, squeeze, bendable or flexible areas 190 are partially severed between a pair of vertical cuts in outer shell sidewall 151. In alternative embodiments depicted in FIGS. 6 and 7, flexible or bendable areas 190 may include a portion of outer shell sidewall where the wall thickness is thinner than other portions allowing deflection inward upon application of pressure or compressive force. When such compressive forces are applied to designated squeeze areas 190, outer shell 150 and inner cap 110 are permitted to rotate together counterclockwise, superseding the ratchet teeth engagement of outer shell 150 and inner cap 110 described above, to remove closure assembly 100 from a container neck and allow access to the contents of the container.

In one embodiment utilizing this child resistant feature, mating components associated with inner surface 152 of the outer shell sidewall and outer surface 120 of peripheral wall 111 of inner cap 110 may be used to assist a user to more easily rotate closure assembly 100 open in relation to a container to gain access to the contents of a container. In one example depicted in FIG. 5, outer shell 150 includes at least one lug 170 protruding radially inward from inner surface 152 of outer shell 150 opposite the designated squeeze area 190 towards outer surface 120 of inner cap 110. In one example, lug(s) 170 are wedge or triangular shaped and each include an axial wall 172, an inclined wall 174 and outer wall 176. However, lugs 170 may be formed in other shapes and sizes. Outer surface 120 of inner cap 110 forms at least one corresponding notch 180 for receiving lug 170 when an inward compressive force or pressure is applied to flexible or bendable area(s) 190. Notch 180 formed in outer surface 120 of peripheral wall 111 includes an axial wall 182, recessed wall 184 and inclined surface 186. In alternative embodiments, lugs may project from outer surface 120 of inner cap 110 and corresponding notches may be formed in inner wall 152 of outer shell 150.

When notch 180 and lug 170 are aligned and inward compressive force or pressure is applied to the designated squeezing or flexible or bendable areas 190, lug 170 is received by notch 180 until outer wall 176 of lug 170 contacts recessed surface 184 of notch 180 and, if rotated counterclockwise, axial wall 172 of lug 170 engages axial wall 182 of notch 180. The compressive forces on the designated squeeze areas 190 ovalizes the sidewalls of outer shell 150 and, as a result, places the two oppositely disposed recessed wall 184 and outer wall 176 in contact or at least close proximity with each other to allow, with frictional force in a radial direction between the contacting surfaces to remove, by unscrewing, the closure assembly, e.g. inner cap, from the neck of a container.

In another embodiment depicted in FIG. 6, lug 300 is surrounded by two recesses 302 formed in inner wall 152 of outer shell 150 and notch 310 is formed in outer surface 120 of peripheral wall 111 of inner cap 110. Lug 300 includes axial walls 304 and outer wall 306. Lug 300 is received by notch 310 formed in the outer surface 120 of inner cap 110 when lug 300 is aligned with notch 310 and the designated squeezing or flexible or bendable areas 190 are compressed. Notch 310 includes axial walls 312 and recessed wall 314. In one embodiment, outer side walls 322 of recesses 320 are inclined to prevent outer shell from catching on notch 310 during rotation without compression or squeezing. In an alternative embodiment, lug(s) 300 may project radially outward from inner surface 152 of outer shell 150 and include inclined axial walls. While this lug and notch engagement is not ratchet tooth engagement because it is not unidirectional in nature, it is still helpful and lessens to some degree the extent of compressive forces which are required in order to obtain sufficient frictional contact for inner cap 110 to be removed by the counterclockwise rotation of outer shell 150.

In yet another embodiment depicted in FIG. 7, the mating components associated with inner surface 152 of the outer shell sidewall and outer surface 120 of peripheral wall 111 of inner cap 110 may be a dovetail lock mechanism. In this embodiment, outer shell 150 includes at least one dovetail 700 protruding radially inward from inner surface 152 of outer shell 150 opposite the designated squeeze area towards outer surface 120 of peripheral wall 111 of inner cap 110. In one example, dovetail(s) 700 are trapezoidal shaped having outer surfaces 702, angled or sloped outer walls 704, and a space 706 between resilient projections 708 that are capable of spreading or flaring outwardly when compressed against a surface. Outer surface 120 of inner cap 110 forms at least one corresponding pin area or notch 710 shaped to receive dovetail 700. Pin area or notch 710 formed in outer surface 120 of peripheral wall 111 includes recessed wall 710 and inclined side surfaces 714 angled to receive sloped outer walls 704 of dovetail 700. When dovetail 700 is aligned with pin area or notch 710 and an inward compressive force or pressure is applied to designated squeeze or flexible or bendable area 190, pin area or notch 710 receives dovetail 700. When outer surfaces 702 of dovetail 700 contacts and compresses against recessed wall 712 of pin area or notch 710, resilient projections 708 of dovetail 700 spread or flare axially outward until angled or slope outer walls 704 of dovetail 700 engage inclined side surfaces 714 of pin area or notch 710. The engagement of angled or slope outer walls 704 of dovetail 700 with inclined side surfaces 714 of pin area or notch 710 allows a user to more easily rotate closing assembly 100 open in relation to container 200. In one embodiment, dovetail 700 may be recessed into inner surface 152 of outer shell 150 with a portion of inner surface 152 also recessed on either side of dovetail 700. In alternative embodiments, dovetail(s) may project from outer surface 120 of inner cap 110 and corresponding pin area(s) or notch(es) may be formed in inner wall 152 of outer shell 150.

Conventional squeeze or push down and turn closure designs require an interaction and engagement between the neck finish of a container and the closure. For example, a conventional push down and turn closure design requires a bottle or container be capable of handling the downward pressure or force on its neck. Also, these conventional containers may require a special lug or some other safety feature be incorporated into the neck finish or on the container itself to interact with the closure. By incorporating the safety features, such as, for example, the ratchet-like teeth and/or mating engagements, on outer surface 120 of inner cap 110 and on inner surface 152 of outer shell 150 instead of the conventional placement of one series of corresponding ratchet-like teeth or lug/notch on the neck finish of a container, there is no need to require a special neck finish on a container to function since squeezing outer shell 150 engages inner cap 120 when removing closure assembly 100 from the container 200. Accordingly, a closure constructed in accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention may be used or fit on conventional containers that do not have any special neck finishes or safety features incorporated therein or on.

By incorporating the safety features on outer surface 120 of inner cap 110 and on inner surface 152 of outer shell 150 instead of the conventional placement of some safety features on the neck finish of a container, a closure constructed in accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention can be used on thin or soft walled containers without risk of collapsing or pressurizing the container by the application of compression or downward vertical pressure on the container itself.

Since inner cap 110 is not loosened or opened by simply counterclockwise turning of outer shell 150, closure assembly 100 constructed in accordance with aspects of the present invention is made child-resistant. While there is a way to remove closure assembly 100 from a container, e.g. removing inner cap 110 from a container neck by way of outer shell 150 and thereby open container 200, the manual manipulations which are required to perform this task are not able to be performed by children. Closure assembly 100 constructed in accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention also requires limited strength to remove the closure, thus making it a better system for seniors. Due in part to hand size limitations and due in part to strength limitations, the required opening procedures are something which children cannot normally perform. While the age of the child is a consideration, the older the child, presumably, the more mature and the risks of improper opening are less.

Closure assembly 100 may be childproof because the application of inward compressive force, pressure or squeezing outer shell 150 is required to engage inner cap 110 allowing inner cap 110 to be unscrewed from a container. Closure assembly 100 also may include a ratchet mechanism between outer surface 120 of inner cap 110 and inner surface 152 of outer shell 150 for tightening closure assembly 100 onto a container while preventing opening of the same. In operation, a closure assembly 100 is installed onto a container by mating and screwing threaded portion 114 on inner surface 112 of inner cap 110 onto a threaded neck finish of a container. The ratchet tooth mechanism, or alternative embodiments described herein or known to those of skill in the art, associated with inner surface 154 of outer shell sidewall 152 and outer surface 120 of inner cap sidewall 111 prevent closure assembly from being unscrewed from a container. In order to remove closure assembly 100 from a container, compressive forces or pressure are applied to designated squeezing or flexible or bendable areas 190 such that inner surface 154 of the outer shell sidewall 152 engages outer surface 120 of the inner cap sidewall 111. In one embodiment, the alignment of lug(s) 170 with mating recess(es) 180 or dovetails 710 with mating pin notches 710 when inward compressive force or pressure is applied to designated squeezing, bendable or flexible area 190 provides assistance in allowing a user to more easily rotate the closure assembly in relation to the container.

A closure assembly 100 constructed in accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention may also include alignment indicators to assist a senior in aligning the mating components discussed above. Examples of some alignment indicators 800 are illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 8. Alignment indicators 900 provide visual and/or tactile indication of alignment of mating components associated with the inside surface of the outer shell sidewall and the outer surface of the inner cap sidewall illustrated, for example, in FIGS. 5-7. In one embodiment depicted in FIG. 1, inner cap 110 may include an optional flange 900 extending radially outward from the base of peripheral wall 111 outside of outer shell 150. Flange 900 may include one or more indicators of alignment 800 such as, for example, a tab or arrow, that aligns with corresponding indicators 800 on the outside of outer shell 150 at the point(s) where lug(s) 170 is aligned with recess(es) 180, illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, or where dovetail 700 aligns with pin notch 710, illustrated in FIG. 7, to alert a user that compressive forces may be applied to designated flexible or bendable areas 190 in order to remove the closure assembly from a container. In this embodiment, flange 900 should be small enough to prevent being held by a user to unscrew the closure assembly from the container by surpassing the safety mechanisms.

While the invention has been described in detail in connection with only a limited number of embodiments, it should be readily understood that the invention is not limited to such disclosed embodiments. Rather, the invention can be modified to incorporate any number of variations, alterations, substitutions or equivalent arrangements not heretofore described, but which are commensurate with the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, while various embodiments of the invention have been described, it is to be understood that aspects of the disclosure may include only some of the described embodiments. Accordingly, the invention is not to be seen as limited by the foregoing description, but is only limited by the scope of the appended claims.

This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal language of the claims.

Claims

1. A closure for a container having threads and an open end, said closure comprising: an inner cap, said inner cap including a top for covering the open end of the container and a sidewall, the sidewall including a lower edge portion and extending between the top and the lower edge portion, the sidewall including an outer surface and an inner surface, wherein a portion of the inner surface is threaded, said inner cap being detachably securable to the container by rotational engagement of the threads of the container and the threaded portion of the inner surface of the inner cap sidewall;an outer shell, said inner cap residing within said outer shell, said outer shell including a sidewall, the outer shell sidewall including a bendable area, an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface facing, at least in part, the outer surface of the inner cap sidewall,wherein said inner cap and said outer shell include mutually engageable stops preventing opening rotation of said inner cap relative to the container without compression of the bendable area, and wherein compression of the bendable area engages the inner surface of the outer shell sidewall with the outer surface of the inner cap sidewall to allow opening rotation of said closure relative to the container.

2. The closure of claim 1, wherein said inner cap is concentrically mounted and retained within said outer shell by a snap bead formed on the inner surface of said outer shell.

3. The closure of claim 1, wherein said outer shell includes a lower edge portion and the bendable area is in close proximity to the lower edge portion of said outer shell.

4. The closure of claim 3, wherein the lower edge portion of said outer shell is radially opposite the lower edge portion of said inner cap.

5. The closure of claim 1, wherein said outer shell includes a top portion, wherein the top portion of said outer shell covers a portion of the top of said inner cap.

6. The closure of claim 1, wherein said mutually engageable stops of said inner cap and said outer shell include a ratchet tooth on the inner surface of the outer shell sidewall and a ratchet tooth on the outer surface of the inner cap sidewall, wherein rotation of said outer shell in one direction relative to said inner cap engages the ratchet tooth on the inner surface of the outer shell sidewall and the ratchet tooth on the outer surface of the inner cap sidewall and rotation of said outer shell in an opposite direction relative to said inner cap does not engage the ratchet tooth on the inner surface of the outer shell sidewall and the ratchet tooth on the outer surface of the inner cap sidewall.

7. The closure of claim 1, wherein the inner surface of the outer shell sidewall and the outer surface of the inner cap sidewall include mating components, wherein when the mating components are aligned and engaged by compression applied to the bendable area, the closure is more easily rotated opened relative to the container than when the mating components are not aligned and engaged by compression applied to the bendable area.

8. The closure of claim 1, wherein the mating components comprise a dovetail on the inner surface of the outer shell sidewall opposite the bendable area and a pin notch formed in the outer surface of the inner cap sidewall.

9. The closure of claim 1, wherein the mating components comprise a lug projecting from the inner surface of the outer shell sidewall opposite the bendable area and a notch formed in the outer surface of the inner cap sidewall.

10. The closure of claim 1, wherein a flange extends radially outward from the inner cap sidewall below the lower edge portion of the outer shell sidewall, the flange including a first indicator and a lower edge portion of the outer shell sidewall including a second indicator, wherein alignment of the first indicator with the second indicator provides indication of a location where mating components of the inner surface of the outer shell sidewall and the outer surface of the inner cap sidewall are aligned and engageable when compression is applied to the bendable area to assist in rotating said closure in relation to the container.

11. A closure for a container, said closure comprising: an inner cap, said inner cap including a top and a sidewall, the sidewall including a lower edge portion and extending between the top and the lower edge portion, the sidewall including an outer surface and an inner surface, wherein a portion of the inner surface is configured to engage with a container to prevent access to contents within the container;an outer shell, said inner cap residing within said outer shell, said outer shell including a top portion and a sidewall extending between the top portion and a lower edge portion, the outer shell sidewall including an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface facing, at least in part, the outer surface of the inner cap sidewall,wherein said inner cap and said outer shell include mutually engageable stops allowing rotation of said inner cap relative to said outer shell in one direction and preventing rotation of said inner cap relative to said outer shell in an opposite direction when compression is not applied to the outer shell sidewall outer surface, and wherein, when compression is applied to the outer shell sidewall outer surface, the inner surface of the outer shell sidewall engages with the outer surface of the inner cap sidewall to allow rotation of said inner cap and said outer shell together in the opposite direction.