Convertible child resistant closure

Abstract

A convertible child resistant closure for use with a container having a neck portion has an engaging means and an axis extending therethrough about which the closure is rotatable. The closure includes an inner cap and an outer cap, wherein the inner cap includes an upper wall and a first circumferential side wall extending from the upper wall and having a first inner surface with a first engaging means for rotateable engagement of the engaging means of the container, and a first outer surface having a first child resistant portion comprising a series of angular abutments extending thereabout and a first non-child resistant portion axially offset from the first child resistant portion and including a second engaging means for engaging the outer cap. The outer cap of the closure includes an upper surface, a lower surface, and a second circumferential side wall extending axially from the upper surface. The second circumferential side wall has a second inner surface provided with a second child resistant region including a plurality of angular abutment surfaces complementary to the series of angular abutments on the inner cap and a second non-child resistant region axially offset from the second child resistant region and including a third engaging means for engaging the second engaging means of the inner cap. The inner cap is coaxially positioned and nested within the outer cap and is axially movable between the second child resistant region and the second non-child resistant region, wherein the second child resistant region and the second non-child resistant region are positioned such that the inner cap moves from the second child resistant region to the second non-child resistant region by movement parallel to the second circumferential side wall in the direction of the upper surface of the outer cap and the inner cap moves from the second non-child resistant region to the second child resistant region by movement parallel to the second circumferential side wall in the direction of the lower surface of the outer cap, and when in the second child resistant region the plurality of angular abutment surfaces engage the series of angular abutments upon rotation of the outer cap to rotate the inner cap in a closing direction and in the absence of an axial force, cam over and past the series of angular abutments upon rotation of the outer cap member in an opening direction to prevent rotation of the inner cap, and when in the second non-child resistant region the third engaging means fixably engages with the second engaging means of the inner cap so that upon rotation of the outer cap in both the opening and closing directions the inner cap turns.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A convertible child resistant closure for use with a container having an engaging means and an axis extending therethrough about which the closure is rotatable, the closure comprising: 
 an inner cap and an outer cap,    wherein the inner cap comprises: 
 an upper wall; and  
 a first circumferential side wall extending from the upper wall and having a first inner surface with a first engaging means for rotateable engagement of the engaging means of the container, and a first outer surface having a first child resistant portion comprising a series of angular abutments extending thereabout and a first non-child resistant portion axially offset from the first child resistant portion and including a second engaging means for engaging the outer cap; and  
   wherein the outer cap comprises: 
 an upper surface; and  
 a second circumferential side wall extending axially from the upper surface and having a second inner surface provided with a second child resistant region including a plurality of angular abutment surfaces complementary to the series of angular abutments on the inner cap and a second non-child resistant region axially offset from the second child resistant region and including a third engaging means for engaging the second engaging means of the inner cap,  
   the inner cap being coaxially positioned and nested within the outer cap and axially movable between the second child resistant region and the second non-child resistant region, wherein the second child resistant region and the second non-child resistant region are positioned such that the inner cap moves from the second child resistant region to the second non-child resistant region by movement parallel to the second circumferential side wall in the direction of the upper surface of the outer cap and the inner cap moves from the second non-child resistant region to the second child resistant region by movement parallel to the second circumferential side wall in the direction of the lower surface of the outer cap, and when in the second child resistant region the plurality of angular abutment surfaces engage the series of angular abutments upon rotation of the outer cap to rotate the inner cap in a closing direction and in the absence of an axial force, cam over and past the series of angular abutments upon rotation of the outer cap member in an opening direction to prevent rotation of the inner cap, and when in the second non-child resistant region the third engaging means fixably engages with the second engaging means of the inner cap so that upon rotation of the outer cap in both the opening and closing directions the inner cap turns.    
     
     
         2 . The closure of  claim 1 , wherein the outer cap further comprises griping means having a plurality of knerlments disposed about an outer surface of the outer cap.  
     
     
         3 . The closure of  claim 1 , wherein the upper surface of the outer cap surrounds a central opening to expose the inner cap.  
     
     
         4 . The closure of  claim 3 , wherein the central opening is large enough to permit access therethrough to the inner cap.  
     
     
         5 . The closure of  claim 1 , wherein the angular abutments of the plurality of angular abutment surfaces of the outer cap comprise a first sloped side and a second vertical side, wherein the first sloped side and second vertical side define a first angle in a range of about 30 degrees to about 60 degrees.  
     
     
         6 . The closure of  claim 5 , wherein the first angle is about 45 degrees.  
     
     
         7 . The closure of  claim 1 , wherein the angular abutments of the series of angular abutments of the inner cap comprise first sloped side and a second vertical side, wherein the first sloped side and a second vertical side define a second angle with the axial in a range of about 30 degrees to about 60 degrees.  
     
     
         8 . The closure of  claim 7 , wherein the second angle is about 45 degrees.  
     
     
         9 . The closure of  claim 5 , wherein the angular abutments of the series of angular abutments of the inner cap comprise first sloped side and a second vertical side, wherein the first sloped side and a second vertical side define a second angle with the axial in a range of about 30 degrees to about 60 degrees.  
     
     
         10 . The closure of  claim 9 , wherein the first angle is substantially complementary but not equal to the second angle.  
     
     
         11 . The closure of  claim 1 , wherein the second inner surface of the outer cap further comprises a lip positioned below the second child resistant region to define a limit of movement for the inner cap.  
     
     
         12 . A convertible child resistant container and closure system comprising: 
 a container having an engaging means and an axis extending therethrough about which the closure is rotatable; and    a closure comprising: 
 an inner cap and an outer cap,  
 wherein the inner cap comprises: 
 an upper wall; and  
 a first circumferential side wall extending from the upper wall and having a first inner surface with a first engaging means for rotateable engagement of the engaging means of the container, and a first outer surface having a first child resistant portion comprising a series of angular abutments extending thereabout and a first non-child resistant portion axially offset from the first child resistant portion and including a second engaging means for engaging the outer cap; and  
 wherein the outer cap comprises: 
 an upper surface; and  
 a second circumferential side wall extending axially from the upper surface and having a second inner surface provided with a second child resistant region including a plurality of angular abutment surfaces complementary to the series of angular abutments on the inner cap and a second non-child resistant region axially offset from the second child resistant region and including a third engaging means for engaging the second engaging means of the inner cap,  
 the inner cap being coaxially positioned and nested within the outer cap and axially movable between the second child resistant region and the second non-child resistant region, wherein the second child resistant region and the second non-child resistant region are positioned such that the inner cap moves from the second child resistant region to the second non-child resistant region by movement parallel to the second circumferential side wall in the direction of the upper surface of the outer cap and the inner cap moves from the second non-child resistant region to the second child resistant region by movement parallel to the second circumferential side wall in the direction of the lower surface of the outer cap, and when in the second child resistant region the plurality of angular abutment surfaces engage the series of angular abutments upon rotation of the outer cap to rotate the inner cap in a closing direction and in the absence of an axial force, cam over and past the series of angular abutments upon rotation of the outer cap member in an opening direction to prevent rotation of the inner cap, and when in the second non-child resistant region the third engaging means fixably engages with the second engaging means of the inner cap so that upon rotation of the outer cap in both the opening and closing directions the inner cap turns.