Safety closure for beverage containers

Abstract

A safety closure for a beverage container that prevents an infant from ingesting the closure. The closure includes a cylindrical cap body to be releasably securable to a beverage container. The cap body includes lateral projections extending from the cylindrical cap that are sufficiently long so as to prevent an infant from ingesting the cap. The projections are provided to also facilitate rotation of the cap releasably secure the body to a container.

1 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A safety closure for a beverage container comprising:
 a cylindrical cap body that is adapted to be releasably secured to a beverage container;   at least one lateral projection extending from the cylindrical cap body that is constructed and arranged to assist in turning the closure and is of sufficient size to prevent an infant from ingesting the closure.   
     
     
         19 . A safety closure as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein at least two lateral projections extend from the cap body in diametrically opposite directions. 
     
     
         20 . A safety closure as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the lateral projections are aligned in the same plane and are symmetrical with respect to each other. 
     
     
         21 . A safety closure as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the lateral projections are joined together by a lab to define an opening between the lateral projections and the tab. 
     
     
         22 . A safety closure as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the opening is positioned above the cap. 
     
     
         23 . A safety closure as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the cap body has a central axis and the opening is symmetrically disposed about the axis of the cap body. 
     
     
         24 . A safety closure as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the thickness of the lateral projections increase as the lateral projections extend from the cap body. 
     
     
         25 . A safety closure as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the lateral projections of the tab are substantially configured and will approximate the shape of an isosceles triangle. 
     
     
         26 . A safety closure as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the lateral projections and the tab form a substantially triangular projection with each side being a length in the range of 2.5 cm to 6 cm. 
     
     
         27 . A safety closure as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein the thickness of the projections and tab is greater at the periphery thereof. 
     
     
         28 . A safety closure as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the width and height of the closure are in the range of 2.5 cm and 6 cm. 
     
     
         29 . A safety closure as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the cap has threads on the inner surface to permit the cap to be rotatable and releasably secured to a container. 
     
     
         30 . A safety closure as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the cap body, the lateral projections and the tab are all constructed of a polymer from the group comprising PE, PP, a PP copolymer, a PP-PE copolymer or a PP-PE blend. 
     
     
         31 . A safety closure as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the cap and projections are made of a biodegradable material. 
     
     
         32 . A safety closure as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the cap body includes a locking mechanism.