Patent ID: 6722513
Filing Date: 2004-04-20
Classification: A61J

Abstract:
A child resistant closure comprising:(a) an inner screw cap 3 threadably mountable on a container; (b) an outer operating ring cap 2 mounted on said inner cap 3, said outer operating ring cap 2 having a circumferential retaining rim 21 on a lower end thereof: said retaining rim 21 for retaining said inner cap within said outer cap; (c) said outer operating ring cap 2 having a plurality of downwardly-projecting nibs 20 disposed on an inside top surface thereof; (d) said inner screw cap 3 having a circumferential engagement ring 24 on an upper surface of said screw cap 3; said engagement ring 24 having a top surface 29 and plurality of radially disposed ramped notches 28 therein; said notches 28 each respectively comprising a depressed floor 29A, a vertical boundary wall 31 running between said floor 29A and said top surface 29 on one side of said notch 28 and a ramp 30 running between said floor 29A and said top surface 29 on another side of said notch 28; (e) said nibs 20 for engaging ramped notches 28 in ratchet fashion to permit tightening of inner screw cap 3 when nibs 20 engage vertical boundary wall 31 when outer operating ring cap 2 is rotating in the screw-on direction; and (f) said nibs 20 for engaging ramped notches 28 in ratchet fashion to permit free rotation of outer operating ring cap 2 in the screw-off direction about inner screw cap 3 when nibs 20 engage ramp 30 without user compressive force; and (g) said nibs 20 for engaging ramps 30 to permit effective screw-off torque contact between said nibs 20 of said outer operating ring cap 2 and said ramps 30 of said inner screw cap 3 when adult-user compressive force is applied to outer operating ring cap 2 while turning in the screw-off direction; said simultaneous compressive force and screw-off turning effecting screw-off loosening of said inner screw cap 3 from threaded engagement on a container; (h) said circumferential retaining rim 21 grasping inner screw cap 3 upon adult-user application of upward force while turning in the screw-off direction subsequent to screw-off loosening of said inner screw cap 3; said grasping of loosened inner screw cap 3 by retaining rim 21 providing for relatively effortless and convenient adult-user unscrewing of inner screw cap 3, wherein i. said inner screw cap 3 is threadably mountable on containers comprising standard-thread baby bottles; j. said inner screw cap 3 has a central aperture to accept a baby bottle nipple mounted therethrough.