Closure assembly

Abstract

A single-piece closure for a container having an inner cap substantially concentrically located with a larger diameter outer cap, and a relatively thin flexible membrane sandwiched between the caps so that the outer cap can move relative to the inner cap. The container has an opening with threads located closest to the opening and a ring with a sawblade-like periphery located proximate the threads. The inner cap has a skirt with mating threads on the interior surface of the skirt. The treads on the inner cap's skirt mate with the treads on the container so that the cap can seal the opening on the container. The outer cap also has a skirt with a plurality of engagement means on the inner surface of the outer cap's skirt that are designed to cooperate with the sawblade ring on the container. The closure is applied to the container by twisting it onto the container so that the threads of the inner cap mate with the threads of the container. When the closure is screwed onto the container, the engagement means slide over and eventually lock into position about the sawblade-shaped ring. The closure can be released by depressing the outer cap (which moves axially and independently with respect to the inner cap thereby moving the engagement means below the saw-shaped ring and unlocking the closure) while simulataneously twisting the cap.

1 . A container assembly for storing and securing a product, the assembly comprising: 
 a container for storing the product, the container having a threaded open end;    a ledge that projects radially outward from the outer surface of the container proximate said open end, the perimeter of the ledge having a sawblade shape;    a one-piece closure for closing the open end of the container, the closure having an inner top portion concentrically located with an outer top portion, the inner top portion having a smaller diameter than the outer top portion;    an outer skirt depending from the perimeter of the outer top portion;    an inner skirt depending from the perimeter of the inner top portion, said inner skirt having threads that mate with said threaded open end of the container, the inner skirt being slightly shorter in length than the length of the outer skirt;    a flexible, movable membrane positioned between at least both top portions, said membrane connecting said inner top portion to said outer top portion so that when the outer top portion is rotated, the inner top portion also rotates, but when axial pressure is placed on said outer top portion, the outer top portion and outer skirt move in an axial direction with respect to the inner top portion and inner skirt;    an engagement means attached to the inner side of said outer skirt and that communicates with the sawblade portion of the ledge for securing and preventing the opening of the container assembly by preventing the closure from unscrewing from the container;    said engagement portion releases from the sawblade portion of the ledge when axial pressure is applied to the closure so that when the closure is rotated with respect to the container, the threads on the inner skirt are able to unscrew from the threads of the open end.    
   
   
       2 . The container assembly of  claim 1  wherein said engagement portion is a plurality of lugs.  
   
   
       3 . The container assembly of  claim 2  further comprising a flexible membrane skirt that depends from the top membrane and positioned between said inner skirt and said outer skirt for improving the communication between said inner top portion and said outer top portion, and for allowing a degree of movement in the horizontal direction for the outer top portion and outer skirt portion and inner skirt.