Safety cap and container

Abstract

A safety cap and container is disclosed which is resistant to accidental opening. Such a cap and container include cooperating ratchet means on the cap and the container which normally hold the cap against undesired movement with respect to the container. A tapered internal surface is provided in the container and an internal resilient dependent member is provided on the cap so as to engage the tapered surface. Such engagement normally holds the ratchet means so that the cap cannot be moved with respect to the container. When, however, pressure is applied to the cap above the dependent member, this member is deflected by the tapered surface so as to allow movement of the cap so as to disengage the ratchet means, permitting the cap to be removed from the container.

I claim: 
     
       1. A safety package comprising: a container having a mouth portion with an annular rim;   a one-piece cap having a base with a peripheral flange projecting axially therefrom for receiving said mouth portion;   interengageable locking elements on the outer wall of the mouth of the container and inner wall of the flange of the cap, the cap locking elements being spaced peripherally from each other and engageable with and disengageable from the container locking elements by combined axial and rotative motion of the cap relative to the container;   a resilient flexible member formed on the base of the cap having an inner annular end joined integrally to the base of the cap and extending axially therefrom and terminating in an outer annular free end, said inner annular end at the juncture with the base having a diameter at least as large as that of the outer annular free end;   said outer annular free end being engageable with the container to exert a biasing force in an axial direction between the cap and container when the locking elements are engaged.   
     
     
       2. A safety package as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said container has an internal sloping surface adjacent to said mouth portion   and said outer annular free end engages said sloping surface so as to exert said biasing force when the locking elements are engaged.   
     
     
       3. A safety package as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said container has an internal conical surface adjacent to said mouth portion   and said outer annular end engages said conical surface to exert said biasing force when the locking elements are engaged.   
     
     
       4. A safety package as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said container has an internal conical surface adjacent to said mouth portion,   said outer annular end has a cylindrical shape prior to engagement with the container,   and said outer annular end engages said conical surface and is deflected inwardly thereby to exert said biasing force when the locking elements are engaged.   
     
     
       5. A safety package as claimed in claim 3 wherein: said resilient flexible member comprises a continuous, imperforate wall including said outer annular end;   and said outer annular end forms a seal with said conical surface whereby said cap tightly seals said container against contaminants when said locking elements are engaged.   
     
     
       6. A safety package as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said resilient flexible member is a thin-walled, hollow cylinder.   
     
     
       7. A safety package as claimed in claim 6 wherein: said container has an internal conical surface adjacent to said mouth portion;   said hollow cylinder is imperforate, and said annular outer end forms a seal with said conical surface whereby said cap tightly seals said container against contaminants when said locking elements are engaged.   
     
     
       8. A safety package comprising: a container having a mouth portion with an annular rim, and having an internal conical surface adjacent to said mouth portion;   a cap having a base with a peripheral flange projecting axially therefrom for receiving said mouth portion;   interengageable locking elements on the outer wall of the mouth of the container and inner wall of the flange of the cap, the cap locking elements being spaced peripherally from each other and engageable with and disengageable from the container locking elements by combined axial and rotative motion of the cap relative to the container;   a resilient flexible member joined to the base of the cap, having a hollow, imperforate, annular wall extending axially therefrom and terminating in an outer annular free end; the inner end of said annular wall at the juncture with the base having a diameter at least as large as that of the outer annular free end;   said outer annular end being engageable with said conical surface to exert a biasing force in an axial direction between the cap and container when the locking elements are engaged;   and said outer annular end engaging said conical surface in sealing relation when the locking elements are engaged, whereby said cap defines an effective liquid tight and airtight seal with the mouth of said container.   
     
     
       9. A safety package as claimed in claim 8 wherein: said annular wall is dimensioned that said outer annular end is deflected inwardly by said conical surface, when said locking elements are engaged, to exert said biasing force and to effect said sealing. .Iadd.   
     
     
       10.  A safety package comprising: a container having a mouth portion with an annular rim, and having an internal annular sloping surface adjacent to said mouth portion;   a one piece cap having a base with a peripheral flange projecting axially therefrom for receiving said mouth portion;   interengageable locking elements on the outer wall of said container mouth portion and on the inner wall of said cap flange, the cap locking elements being spaced peripherally from each other and engageable with and disengageable from the container locking elements by combined axial and rotative motion of the cap relative to the container;   a member joined to said cap base, providing a resilient, flexible, annular wall extending generally axially therefrom and terminating in an outer annular free end; the inner end of said annular wall being joined integrally to said cap base; said outer annular free end being engageable with said container sloping surface and being deflected radially inward thereby, to exert a biasing force in an axial direction between said cap base and said container effective to maintain said locking elements engaged; and said annular free end of said annular wall being the only portion of said cap engaging said container to exert said axial biasing force. .Iaddend. .Iadd.11. A safety package as claimed in claim 10   said annular wall of said member being a continuous, imperforate annular wall; said member and cap defining a sealing closure for the container mouth;   and said outer annular end of said annular wall engaging said sloping surface in sealing relation, when said locking elements are engaged, whereby said cap defines an effective liquid tight and airtight seal with   
     
     
        the mouth of said container. .Iaddend. .Iadd.12.  A safety package as claimed in claim 10 said outer annular end having a generally cylindrical shape prior to engagement with said container. .Iaddend. .Iadd.13. A safety package as claimed in claim 10   said member comprising a generally cylindrical, thin walled member. .Iaddend.