Safety Closure

Abstract

A safety closure for a threaded container includes a first cap having a first top wall with a peripheral edge and, a first skirt extending transversely from the peripheral edge with first and second flexible contact tabs. The interior surface of each of the tabs has a protrusion extending radially inwardly. A second cap has a second top wall with a peripheral edge and a second skirt extending transversely from the peripheral edge. A plurality of circumferentially extending recesses are disposed on the exterior surface of the second skirt. A corresponding plurality of lugs extend radially outwardly from the exterior surface of the second skirt adjacent each recess. Each lug includes an angled lug ramp intersecting with a generally flat face. The second cap is positioned within the first cap in nested coaxial relationship. Simultaneously rotating the first cap in a counter-clockwise direction when viewing the first top wall and applying a radially inwardly extending force to the tabs causes the protrusions to engage the recesses and the first cap and the second cap to rotate collectively in a counter-clockwise direction.

1 . A safety closure, comprising: 
 a first cap having a first top wall with a peripheral edge, an exterior surface and an interior surface, a first skirt extending generally transversely from the peripheral edge of the first top wall, the first skirt including first and second flexible contact tabs extending from a terminal end of the first skirt toward the first top wall, each tab having an exterior surface and an interior surface, the interior surface of the tabs having a protrusion extending radially inwardly proximate a terminal end of the tab; and    a second cap having a second top wall with a peripheral edge and a second skirt extending generally transversely from the peripheral edge of the second top wall, the second skirt having an exterior surface and an interior surface, the interior surface of the second skirt including a screw thread, a plurality of circumferentially extending recesses disposed on the exterior surface of the second skirt adjacent a juncture of the second skirt and the second top wall, and a corresponding plurality of lugs extending radially outwardly from the exterior surface of the second skirt adjacent each recess, each lug including an angled lug ramp intersecting with a generally flat face, the second cap being positioned within the first cap in nested coaxial relationship, wherein    simultaneously rotating the first cap in a counter-clockwise direction when viewing the first top wall and applying a radially inwardly extending force to the tabs causes the protrusions to engage the recesses, the engagement causing the first cap and the second cap to rotate collectively in a counter-clockwise direction;    rotating the first cap in a clockwise direction when viewing the first top wall without applying the radially inwardly extending force to the tabs causes a corner of the protrusions to engage the lug faces, the engagement causing the first cap and the second cap to rotate collectively in a clockwise direction; and    rotating the first cap in a counter-clockwise direction when viewing the first top wall without applying the radially inwardly extending force to the tabs causes the protrusions to slide over the lug ramps such that the first cap rotates and the second cap remains stationary.    
   
   
       2 . The safety closure of  claim 1 , wherein a first ring extends radially inwardly from a terminal end of the first skirt and a second ring extends radially outwardly from a terminal end of the exterior surface of the second skirt.  
   
   
       3 . The safety closure of  claim 2 , wherein the first ring interacts with the second ring to retain the second cap within the first cap.  
   
   
       4 . The safety closure of  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of spacers extend from the interior surface of the first top wall toward the second top wall to limit physical contact between the first top wall and the second top wall.  
   
   
       5 . The safety closure of  claim 1 , wherein each recess further comprises a recessed face extending inwardly from the exterior surface of the second skirt and a step disposed at one end of the recessed face where the recessed face recedes from the exterior surface of the second skirt.  
   
   
       6 . The safety closure of  claim 5 , wherein each lug is disposed at an opposite end from the step.  
   
   
       7 . A safety closure, comprising: 
 a first cap having a first top wall with a peripheral edge, an exterior surface and an interior surface, a first skirt extending generally transversely from the peripheral edge of the first top wall, the first skirt including a plurality of lugs extending radially inwardly from the interior surface of the first skirt, each lug comprising a first segment disposed proximate a juncture of the first skirt and the first top wall and a second segment extending from a position proximate the juncture of the first skirt and the first top wall towards a terminal end of the first skirt; and    a second cap having a second top wall with a peripheral edge, an exterior surface and an interior surface, and a second skirt extending generally transversely from the peripheral edge of the second top wall, the second skirt having an exterior surface and an interior surface, the interior surface of the second skirt including a screw thread, a plurality of recesses disposed on the exterior surface of the second skirt, each recess extending from a position proximate a juncture of the second skirt and the second top wall towards a terminal end of the second skirt, the second cap being positioned within the first cap in nested coaxial relationship, wherein    simultaneously rotating the first cap in a clockwise direction when viewing the first top wall and applying a force to the exterior surface of the first top wall towards the second top wall causes the first segment of the lugs to engage the recesses, the engagement causing the first cap and the second cap to rotate collectively in a clockwise direction,    simultaneously rotating the first cap in a counter-clockwise direction when viewing the first top wall and applying a radially inwardly extending force to the exterior surface of the first skirt causes the second segment of the lugs to engage the recesses, the engagement causing the first cap and the second cap to rotate collectively in a counter-clockwise direction; and    rotating the first cap in a clockwise direction or counter-clockwise direction when viewing the first top wall without applying a force to the exterior surface of the first top wall or a radially inwardly extending force to the exterior surface of the first skirt causes the lugs of the first cap to slide freely over the recesses of the second cap such that the first cap rotates and the second cap remains stationary.    
   
   
       8 . The safety closure of  claim 7 , wherein a first ring extends radially inwardly from a terminal end of the first skirt and a second ring extends radially outwardly from a terminal end of the exterior surface of the second skirt.  
   
   
       9 . The safety closure of  claim 8 , wherein the first ring interacts with the second ring to retain the second cap within the first cap.  
   
   
       10 . The safety closure of  claim 8 , wherein the first ring includes a plurality of cutouts extending from the interior surface of the first skirt towards the exterior of the first skirt.  
   
   
       11 . The safety closure of  claim 7 , wherein a plurality of flexible spacers extend from the interior surface of the first top wall towards the second top wall to limit physical contact between the first top wall and the second top wall.  
   
   
       12 . The safety closure of  claim 7 , wherein the first segment of each lug comprises an angled ramp intersecting with a generally flat face and the second segment of each lug comprises another angled ramp intersecting with another generally flat face extending generally transversely from a position proximate the juncture of the first skirt and the first top wall towards a terminal end of the first skirt.  
   
   
       13 . The safety closure of  claim 7 , wherein each recess comprises a recessed face extending inwardly from the exterior surface of the second skirt and a step disposed at one end of the recessed face where the recessed face recedes from the exterior surface of the second skirt.  
   
   
       14 . A safety closure, comprising: 
 a first cap having a first top wall with a peripheral edge, an exterior surface and an interior surface, a plurality of protrusions extending generally transversely from the interior surface of the first top wall, the protrusions formed by a first segment extending transversely from the interior surface of the first top wall and a second segment extending radially outwardly and generally perpendicular to the first segment, a first skirt extending generally transversely from the peripheral edge of the first top wall, the first skirt including a plurality of lugs extending radially inwardly from the interior surface of the first skirt, each lug extending from a position proximate a juncture of the first skirt and the first top wall towards a terminal end of the first skirt; and    a second cap having a second top wall with a peripheral edge, a generally circular opening extending through the second top wall and having a circumferentially extending rim and a second skirt extending generally transversely from the peripheral edge of the second top wall, the second skirt having an exterior surface and an interior surface, the interior surface of the second skirt including a screw thread, a plurality of recesses disposed on the exterior surface of the second skirt, each recess extending from a position proximate a juncture of the second skirt and the second top wall towards a terminal end of the second skirt, and a corresponding plurality of angled ramps extending radially outwardly from the exterior surface of the second skirt adjacent each recess and adjacent a terminal end of the second skirt, each angled ramp intersecting with a generally flat face, the second cap being positioned within the first cap in nested coaxial relationship, wherein    simultaneously rotating the first cap in a counter-clockwise direction when viewing the first top wall and applying a radially inwardly extending force to the exterior surface of the first skirt causes the lugs to engage the recesses, the engagement causing the first cap and the second cap to rotate collectively in a counter-clockwise direction;    rotating the first cap in a clockwise direction when viewing the first top wall without applying the radially inwardly extending force to the exterior surface of the first skirt causes a corner of the lugs to engage the flat faces of the angled ramps, the engagement causing the first cap and the second cap to rotate collectively in a clockwise direction; and    rotating the first cap in a counter-clockwise direction when viewing the first top wall without applying a radially inwardly extending force to the exterior surface of the first skirt causes the lugs to slide over the angled ramps such that the first cap rotates and the second cap remains stationary.    
   
   
       15 . The safety closure of  claim 14 , wherein the second segment of the protrusions of the first cap engage the rim of the second cap to retain the second cap within the first cap.  
   
   
       16 . The safety closure of  claim 14 , wherein each recess further comprises a recessed face extending inwardly from the exterior surface of the second skirt.