Child resistant and tamper evident cap

Abstract

A cap for use on a bottle or other container provides child resistant features and tamper evident features while simplifying packaging. The cap includes a collar that will slide over a bead of the container and resist removal after installation. The outer diameter of the collar is preferably substantially the same diameter as that of the bottom of an outer cap element to provide an aesthetically pleasing appearance.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A container comprises:
 a body including a bottom and sidewalls extending upward therefrom;   a neck formed at a top of the sidewalls;   a locking bead extending outward around the neck; and   a cap mounted on top of the neck, the cap including:
 an inner element releasably secured to the neck; 
 an outer element mounted on the inner element and selectively rotatable relative thereto, wherein the outer element rotates with the inner element when downward pressure is applied to the outer element while rotating; and 
 a collar releasably connected to the inner element and positioned at least partially below the locking bead, the collar configured to slide downward over the locking bead while resisting upward movement over the locking bead. 
   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the collar further comprises at least one protrusion extending inward from an inner surface thereof and flexible in an upward direction only. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the collar further comprises a flange extending inward from an inner surface thereof and flexible in an upward direction only. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the collar has an inner diameter slightly larger than an outer diameter of the locking bead. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the outer diameter of the collar is substantially the same as the outer diameter of the outer element of the cap. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a blocking bead formed around an outer surface of the inner element of the cap; and   a mating lip formed around an inner surface of the outer element below the blocking bead such that the blocking bead is adjacent to the mating lip, the outer element is freely rotatable relative to the inner element.   
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 6 , wherein the outer element rotates with the inner element when the mating lip is separated from the blocking bead by downward pressure on the outer element. 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the inner element further comprises a top surface with at least one recess formed therein and positioned adjacent to an open center portion thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 8 , wherein the outer element further comprises at least one tooth extending downward from a top surface thereof such that downward pressure on the outer element moves the tooth into the recess and the inner element and outer element rotate together when a rotational force is applied to the outer element. 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the inner element further comprises at least one post extending upward therefrom around an open center portion thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 10 , wherein the outer element further comprises at least one tooth extending downward from a top surface thereof such that downward pressure on the outer element moves the at least one tooth toward the at least one upward extending post such that the inner element and outer element rotate together when a rotational force is applied to the outer element. 
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 10 , wherein the inner element further comprises at least one flexible and resilient tab extending upward from a top surface thereof and in contact with the bottom surface of the outer element and the outer element further comprises at least one tooth extending downward from a top surface thereof such that downward pressure on the outer element bends the at least one flexible and resilient tab and moves the at least one tooth toward the at least one upward extending post such that the inner element and outer element rotate together when a rotational force is applied to the outer element. 
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one tooth is ramp-shaped and the at least one recess is ramp shaped and receives the at least one tooth. 
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one tooth is rectangular in shape and the at least one recess is rectangular in shape and receives the at least one tooth. 
     
     
         15 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the inner element is connected to the collar via at least on rib, wherein the rib is visible from an exterior of the container and is disconnected from one of the collar and the inner element after the inner element rotates. 
     
     
         16 . A cap for use on a container including a body with a bottom and sidewalls extending upward therefrom, a neck formed at a top of the sidewalls and a locking bead extending outward around the neck, the cap comprising:
 an inner element releasably secured to the neck;   an outer element mounted on the inner element and selectively rotatable relative thereto, wherein the outer element rotates with the inner element when downward pressure is applied to the outer element while rotating; and   a collar releasably connected to the inner element and positioned at least partially below the locking bead, the collar configured to slide downward over the locking bead while resisting upward movement over the locking bead.   
     
     
         17 . The cap of  claim 16 , wherein the collar further comprises at least one protrusion extending inward from an inner surface thereof and flexible in an upward direction only. 
     
     
         18 . The cap of  claim 16 , wherein the collar further comprises a flange extending inward from an inner surface thereof and flexible in an upward direction only. 
     
     
         19 . The cap of  claim 16 , wherein the collar has an inner diameter slightly larger than an outer diameter of the locking bead. 
     
     
         20 . The cap of  claim 16 , wherein an outer diameter of the collar is substantially the same as an outer diameter of the outer element of the cap. 
     
     
         21 . The cap of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a blocking bead formed around an outer surface of the inner element; and   a mating lip formed around an inner surface of the outer element below the blocking bead such that when the blocking bead is adjacent to the mating lip, the outer element is freely rotatable relative to the inner element.   
     
     
         22 . The cap of  claim 21 , wherein the outer element rotates with the inner element when the mating lip is separated from the blocking bead by downward pressure. 
     
     
         23 . The cap of  claim 16 , wherein the inner element further comprises a top surface with at least one recess formed therein. 
     
     
         24 . The cap of  claim 23 , wherein the outer element further comprises at least one tooth extending downward from a top surface thereof such that downward pressure on the outer element moves the tooth into the at least one recess of the inner element and the inner element and outer element rotate together when a rotational force is applied to the outer element. 
     
     
         25 . The cap of  claim 16  further comprising at least one post extending upward therefrom around an open center portion thereof. 
     
     
         26 . The cap of  claim 25 , wherein the outer element further comprises at least one tooth extending downward from a top surface thereof such that downward pressure on the outer element moves the at least one tooth toward the at least one upward extending post such that the inner element and outer element rotate together when a rotational force is applied to the outer element. 
     
     
         27 . The cap of  claim 25  wherein the inner element further comprises at least one flexible and resilient tab extending upward from a top surface thereof and in contact with the bottom surface of the outer element and the outer element further comprises at least one tooth extending downward from a top surface thereof such that downward pressure on the outer element bends the at least one flexible and resilient tab and moves the at least one tooth toward the at least one upward extending post such that the inner element and outer element rotate together when a rotational force is applied to the outer element. 
     
     
         28 . The cap of  claim 23 , wherein the at least one tooth is ramp-shaped and the at least one recess is ramp shaped and receives the at least one tooth. 
     
     
         29 . The cap of  claim 23 , wherein the at least one tooth is rectangular in shape and the at least one recess is rectangular in shape and receives the at least one tooth. 
     
     
         30 . The cap of  claim 16 , wherein the inner element is connected to the collar via at least on rib, wherein the rib is visible from an exterior of the container and is disconnected from one of the tamper ring and the inner element after the inner element rotates.