Child-proof and pharmacist-assisting reversible closure for containers

Abstract

A unitary reversible closure for containers of medicine and the like is applied in one position to the container to render the container child-resistant and in such position requires a complex manipulation .[.of the closure.]. to release it from the container. In a second position of application to the same container, the closure seals the container but requires only a simple manipulation by the pharmacist to release it from the container, thereby lessening irritation and discomfort to the pharmacist's fingers cause by manipulating closures or caps over a period of time and saving the pharmacist considerable time in removing closures over a period of time to fill the containers.

I claim: 
     
       1. A closure for containers defeating entry thereto by children and relieving finger discomfort by pharmacists who must separate closures from containers during container filling operations comprising a reversible closure body having first and second .Iadd.independent .Iaddend.use positions on the same container, the first use position protecting the interior of the container from contamination and the second use position allowing the closure to defeat entry by children, a first retainer means on a portion of the closure which is coupled to the container in said first use position and being releasable therefrom by single simple manipulation of the closure, and a second retainer means on another portion of the closure which is coupled to the container in said second use position and requiring a complex manipulation of the closure consisting of at least two types of movement before separation of the closure from said container may be effected. 
     
     
       2. A closure for containers as defined by claim 1, wherein said first retainer means is a friction means which releases easily from the container by a simple force application, and said second retainer means is a positive interlocking detent means on the closure which cooperates with a positive locking element on a container and requires a movement of the closure to a position on the container where the detent means is aligned with a release passage in the locking element on the container before separation of the closure from the container can be effected with the closure in the second use position. 
     
     
       3. A closure for containers as defined by claim 2, wherein the first retainer means is a plug element on said closure body adapted to enter the mouth of a container and to be readily removable therefrom, and said second retainer means comprises a skirt section on the closure body applicable over the mouth of a container externally of the mouth, and interlocking lugs on the interior of said skirt section movable into positive locking engagement with said positive locking element on the container and separable therefrom by said movement of the closure to cause alignment of one of said lugs with said release passage. 
     
     
       4. The structure of claim 3, wherein said interlocking lugs are a pair of diametrically opposed lugs of unequal size with the smaller of said lugs only adapted to pass through said release passage, both lugs adapted for positive interlocking engagement with said locking element on the container when the closure is rotated to a position where the smaller lug is unaligned with said release passage. 
     
     
       5. The structure of claim 3, wherein the plug element is a substantially circular element which completely plugs the mouth of the container when placed therein. 
     
     
       6. The structure of claim 3, wherein the plug element is an elongated bar-like element rising from one end of said closure body and spanning a container mouth diametrically and only partially plugging it. 
     
     
       7. The structure of claim 2, wherein said first retainer means comprises a substantially annular skirt extension on the end of the closure which is remote from the second retainer means and said skirt extension appliable over the exterior of a container mouth to cover said mouth while the closure is in said first use position and while the second retainer means is in an inactive position. 
     
     
       8. The structure of claim 7, and yielding internal detent means on said skirt extension to interlock with said locking element on a container. 
     
     
       9. The structure of claim 8, and said internal detent means comprising an internal annular bead on said skirt extension. 
     
     
       10. The structure of claim 8, and said internal detent means comprising a pair of opposed lugs on the interior of the skirt extension. 
     
     
       11. The structure of claim 7, wherein said skirt extension is a thin walled annular extension adapted to snugly embrace and conform to the shape of said locking element on a container. 
     
     
       12. The structure of claim 2, wherein said first retainer means on the closure comprises a friction plug element on the end of the closure which is remote from the second retainer means and a substantially annular skirt extension on the last-named closure end surrounding the plug element. 
     
     
       13. The structure of claim 12, and the plug element consisting of a bar-like formation extending substantially diametrically on the closure. 
     
     
       14. The structure of claim 1, wherein the closure body comprises first and second separated container coupling parts, .Iadd.on the same closure body .Iaddend.said first retainer means being on the first coupling part and the second retainer means being on the second coupling part. 
     
     
       15. The structure of claim 14, and a transverse divider wall separating the first and second coupling parts of the closure and said divider wall adapted to abut the end face of a container when the closure body is in said first or second use positions. 
     
     
       16. The structure of claim 4, wherein said lugs additionally comprise screw-threading elements on the closure adapted to cooperate with thread elements on a container inwardly of said container positive locking element. 
     
     
       17. A reversible closure having two .Iadd.independent .Iaddend.positions of use on a container comprising a first coupling part on said closure adapted to engage a container in one use position of the closure wherein the closure protects the interior of the container from contamination, the first coupling part separating from the container by application thereto of a simple force, and a second coupling part on the closure having positive interlocking engagement with the container in the second position of use of the closure on the container, the second coupling part being releasable from the container only following a compound movement thereto relative to the container. .Iadd. 18. A reversible closure having two independent positions of use on a container comprising a first coupling part on said closure adapted to engage a container in one use position of the closure wherein the closure protects the interior of the container from contamination, the first coupling part separating from the container by application thereto of a simple force, and a second coupling part on the closure having positive interlocking engagment with the container in the second position of use of the closure on the container and being releasable by complex manipulation, whereby said first coupling part is the only part closing the container in said one use position and said second coupling part is the only part closing the container in the second position of use. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 19. A reversible closure having two independent positions of use on a container and being reusable in each of the two positions, comprising a first portion adapted to engage the container in one position of use and separable therefrom by a simple release manipulation, and a second portion constituting a safety closure having interlocking engagement with the container in a second position of use whereby said first portion is the only portion closing the container in said one position of use and said second portion is the only portion closing the container in the second position of use. .Iaddend..Iadd. 20. A reversible closure as set forth in claim 19 in which said first portion is adapted to plug the mouth of the container and said safety closure portion is adapted for engagement over the mouth of the container exterior of the mouth.