Child resistant cap and container incorporating same

A child resistant container apparatus includes a container for containing a substance and having an opening; a first inner cap member for removably covering the opening; first threads for rotationally engaging the first cap with the opening in a first direction of rotation; a second outer cap member for removably covering the first cap; and second threads for rotationally engaging the second cap with the first cap in a second direction of rotation, wherein the first direction of rotation is opposite to the second direction of rotation. The first and second direction are selected to provide opening of the container through rotation in an unexpected direction.

CROSS REFERENCE TO DISCLOSURE DOCUMENT 
This application is related to U.S. Disclosure Document No. 371,950 filed 
Mar. 6, 1995 with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The invention relates to a closure device and, more specifically, to a 
child resistant cap and container incorporating same. 
Numerous proposals and disclosures have been made regarding "child proof" 
or child resistant caps or containers for containing various articles such 
as medication and the like which are intended to prevent unauthorized or 
unsupervised access of children to potentially hazardous materials while 
allowing adults or intended users to easily access them. 
Existing devices typically include complicated structures requiring 
complicated operations to open, and can lead to extreme frustration even 
with adult users. Further, the complicated structures of such devices add 
to the cost of the container and, therefore, to the overall cost of the 
product contained therein. 
It is clear that the need remains for a simple and effective child 
resistant cap and container incorporating same which is effective in 
resisting child access, yet easily operable by adults and other intended 
users. 
It is therefore the primary object of the present invention to provide a 
child resistant cap and container incorporating same which is both child 
resistant and user friendly. 
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a child 
resistant cap and container incorporating same which is simple and 
inexpensive to manufacture. 
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a child 
resistant cap and container incorporating same which is readily adaptable 
to a wide variety of different packages or containers. 
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear 
hereinbelow. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In accordance with the invention, the foregoing objects and advantages have 
been readily attained. 
According to the invention, a child resistant container apparatus is 
disclosed which comprises container means for containing a substance and 
having an opening; a first inner cap member for removably covering the 
opening; first means for rotationally engaging the first cap with the 
opening in a first direction of rotation; a second outer cap member for 
removably covering the first cap; and second means for rotationally 
engaging the second cap with the first cap in a second direction of 
rotation, wherein the first direction of rotation is opposite to the 
second direction of rotation. 
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the container and the 
first or inner cap are the same color and/or made of the same material. In 
accordance with each of the foregoing preferred embodiments, the inner cap 
is made to appear as though it is a portion of the container, thereby 
disguising or camouflaging the actual nature thereof. 
In accordance with a still further embodiment of the present invention, the 
second cap is a different color and/or material than the first cap so as 
to further enhance the intended image that the first cap is a portion of 
the container. 
In accordance with a still further preferred embodiment of the invention, 
the first direction of rotation for engaging the first cap with the 
container is counter clockwise, while the second direction of rotation for 
engaging the second cap with the first cap is clockwise. This structural 
combination serve to provide removal of the second cap only when the 
second cap is turned in the expected counter clockwise direction for 
opening, thereby leaving the inner cap in place blocking access to the 
container as desired.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
The invention relates to a child resistant cap and a container 
incorporating same. In accordance with the invention, a cap is provided 
which, when attempted to be opened in a conventional way, results in 
removal of an outer cap portion leaving an inner cap portion in place on 
the container blocking access thereto. In accordance with the invention, 
the inner cap portion is preferably designed to have the appearance of an 
integral portion of the container as will be discussed below so as to 
discourage further attempts to open the container. 
Referring to the drawings, a container assembly incorporating a child proof 
cap assembly in accordance with the present invention is referred to 
generally by reference numeral 10. As shown in the drawing, container 
assembly 10 preferably includes a container portion 12 defining an 
interior space 14 for holding a material such as medication and the like 
or any other substance or article to which restricted access is desirable. 
Container portion 12 has an opening 16 typically having an outwardly 
threaded portion 18 for receiving a cap. 
In FIG. 1, the child resistant cap assembly of the present invention is 
referred to generally by reference numeral 20. Cap assembly 20 includes an 
inner cap member 22 and an outer cap member 24. According to the 
invention, inner cap 22 preferably has inner threads 26 and outer threads 
28, and outer cap 24 preferably has inner threads 30, the function of 
which will be discussed below. 
In accordance with the invention, threaded portion 18 of opening 16 of 
container 12 and inner threads 26 of inner cap 22 are designed to 
rotationally engage one another in a first direction of rotation. Further, 
outer threads 28 of inner cap 22 and inner threads 30 of outer cap 24 are 
preferably adapted to rotationally engage one another in a second 
direction of rotation. In accordance with the invention, and 
advantageously, the direction of rotation for engagement of inner cap 22 
with container 12 is opposite to the direction of rotation for engagement 
of outer cap 24 with inner cap 22. According to the invention container 
assembly 10 is adapted as will be discussed below so as to encourage an 
unintended user to rotate outer cap 24 out of engagement with inner cap 
22, thereby removing outer cap 24 and leaving inner cap 22 in place 
blocking unintended access to objects within container 12. 
As shown in FIG. 1, the first direction of rotation for engagement of inner 
cap 22 with container 12 is preferably rotation in a counter-clockwise 
direction as indicated by arrow A. The second direction of rotation for 
engagement of outer cap 24 with inner cap 22 is preferably a clockwise 
direction as indicated by arrow B. In this manner, advantageously, 
rotation of outer cap 24 in the expected counter clockwise direction, 
relatively standard for removal of a cap, serves to remove only outer cap 
24, leaving inner cap 22 in place on container 12 and blocking access to 
interior space 14 as desired in accordance with the present invention. 
FIG. 2 shows a top view of outer cap 24 which, in accordance with a 
preferred embodiment of the invention, is preferably provided with indicia 
32, preferably textual indicia, for indicating to an adult or intended 
user how to properly open container assembly 10 by indicating the proper 
direction of rotation for removal of both caps 22, 24. Customarily, 
threaded caps are removed through counter clockwise rotation as indicated 
by arrow C in FIG. 2. In accordance with the present invention, rotation 
of outer cap 24 in a counter clockwise direction results in removal only 
of outer cap 24 as described above leaving inner cap 22 in place. However, 
rotation of outer cap 24 in accordance with the instructions of indicia 32 
results in complete engagement of outer cap 24 with inner cap 22 and 
subsequent disengaging rotation of inner cap 22 relative to container 12 
so as to remove both inner cap 22 and outer cap 24 from opening 16 as 
desired in accordance with the present invention. 
FIG. 3 shows a top view of container assembly 10 with outer cap member 24 
removed and inner cap 22 still in place. As shown, inner cap 22 has a flat 
closed top surface 34 which serves to cover opening 16 of container 12 and 
prohibit access to a user who fails to follow the instructions given by 
indicia 32. 
FIG. 4 shows a top view of container 12 with both outer cap 24 and inner 
cap 22 removed so as to show opening 16 and allow access to articles 36 
within interior space 14 of container 12. 
Referring to FIG. 5, a cross-sectional view is provided showing container 
12 with inner cap 22 in position covering opening 16. In accordance with a 
preferred embodiment of the invention, outer threads 28 of inner cap 22 
are preferably provided having sharp ridges or points 38 which serve in 
accordance with the invention to deter the manual grasping of inner cap 22 
with outer cap 24 removed. Advantageously, in accordance with the 
invention, sharp ridges 38 serve to discourage persons such as children 
attempting to access container 12 from attempting to grasp and remove 
inner cap 22 after outer cap 24 has been removed. As shown in the 
drawings, the sharp radially extending structure is easily incorporated 
into threads 28. However, any sharpened radially extending structure for 
deterring the grasping of inner cap 22 is suitable in accordance with the 
present invention. 
In accordance with another preferred embodiment of the invention, inner cap 
22 is preferably adapted to have the appearance of an integral part or 
portion of container 12. In accordance with this embodiment, inner cap 22 
and container 12 are preferably made of the same material, and further are 
preferably the same color, so that upon removal of outer cap 24 leaving 
inner cap 22 in place, inner cap 22 has the appearance of being an 
integral portion of container 12, thereby discouraging further attempts to 
open the container. Further, to highlight the above "camouflage" of inner 
cap 22, outer cap 24 may preferably be provided of a different material 
having a different color from inner cap 22 and container 12. 
As set forth above, threads 18 and 26 serve to provide for rotational 
engagement of inner cap 22 with opening 16, and outer threads 28 and inner 
threads 30 serve to provide for rotational engagement of outer cap 24 with 
inner cap 22. It is desirable according to the invention to provide 
threads 18, 26, 28 and 30 having a desired pitch or rate of advance, and 
made from materials having desired relative frictional engagement, so as 
to allow relative rotation of threads 28, 30 with a smaller force than is 
required for relative rotation of threads 18, 26. In this way, a user not 
knowing that outer cap 24 must be rotated in a certain direction such as 
indicated by arrow A in FIG. 1 or indicia 32 would be encouraged to rotate 
outer cap 24 in the direction of arrow C (FIG. 2) resulting in removal of 
outer cap 24 only. 
According to the invention, container assembly 10 is used by an authorized 
user as follows. Rotation of outer cap 24 in a clockwise direction as 
indicated by indicia 32 results in outer cap 24 engaging inner cap 22 and, 
when rotation of outer cap 24 relative to inner cap 22 is no longer 
possible, caps 22, 24 turn together, still in the clockwise direction, 
until both caps 22, 24 of cap assembly 20 are removed and access to 
container 12 is provided as desired. It is noted that this configuration 
of the preferred embodiment allows opening of container 12 only by 
rotating outer cap 24 in the non-standard direction for opening a 
container. 
When container 12 is to be closed, cap assembly 20 is threaded back on to 
container 12 until inner cap 22 is fully engaged with opening 16, and 
outer cap 24 begins to rotate relative to inner cap 22. 
It is desirable to ensure that caps 22, 24 do not become over tightened 
which can lead these elements to seize against one another and thereby 
interfere with proper operation. Referring to FIG. 6, an exploded view of 
a container 12 and cap assembly 20 is provided illustrating several 
embodiments which provide enhanced operation and help to prevent over 
tightening and/or seizing. As shown, outer cap 24 may include a shim or 
gasket 40 for example positioned on an inside top surface 42 of outer cap 
24. Gasket 40 serves to contact top or upper surface 34 of inner cap 22 
when outer cap 24 is completely engaged with inner cap 22 so as to prevent 
seizing between these parts. Gasket 40 may suitably be a flexible member 
to prevent seizing, or may be an enhanced slip member made of a friction 
reducing material such as teflon for facilitating rotation of outer cap 24 
out of complete engagement with inner cap 22. 
Still referring to FIG. 6, inner cap 22 may also be provided with a gasket 
44 positioned on inside top surface 46 so as to contact upper edge 48 of 
opening 16 of container 12 and thereby prevent seizing similarly to gasket 
40. 
Container 12 may also be provided with a gasket, preferably a ring member 
50 positioned around opening 16 to contact a lower edge 52 of inner cap 22 
and prevent seizing in a similar manner to gaskets 40, 44. It is noted 
that any one or more of gaskets 40, 44 and ring 50 may be provided so as 
to enhance the proper opening and closing operations of cap assembly 20 
according to the invention. 
It is also noted that one or more gaskets 40, 44 and ring 50 may be 
provided so as to enhance the seal between cap assembly 20 and opening 16 
of container 12, especially for applications wherein a liquid or fluid is 
to be stored within container 12. In this embodiment, gaskets 40, 44 
and/or ring 50 are preferably provided from a sealing material so as to 
provide a good seal between caps 22, 24 and opening 16 without excessive 
tightening while preventing leakage of the fluid from container 12 as 
desired. 
It should be noted that cap assembly 20 in accordance with the present 
invention is suitable for use with a wide variety of containers, bottles 
and the like, so long as the container is adapted for threaded engagement 
of a cap. Further, outer cap 24 may be provided of various size and shape 
so as to enhance the user friendly nature of cap assembly 20. For example, 
outer cap 24 may be provided with wings, grooves, flanges and the like to 
assist in proper opening and closing of container assembly 10 in 
accordance with the invention. 
It should also be noted that the above disclosure and drawings show threads 
18, 26, 28 and 30 all as continuous thread members. It should be noted 
that at least some of these members could alternatively be provided as 
partial threads within the scope of the present invention, so long as caps 
22, 24 engage one another and inner cap 22 engages opening 16 in a 
rotational manner. Also, threads 18, 26, 28 and 30 may be provided having 
any number of turns as appropriate for a particular application. 
Thus provided is a child resistant cap or closure for a container, and a 
container incorporating such a cap or closure, which is simple in 
manufacture, user friendly for users understanding indicia 32, and 
resistant to child users unable to read indicia 32, all as desired in 
accordance with the present invention. 
It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the 
illustrations described and shown herein, which are deemed to be merely 
illustrative of the best modes of carrying out the invention, and which 
are susceptible of modification of form, size, arrangement of parts and 
details of operation. The invention rather is intended to encompass all 
such modifications which are within its spirit and scope as defined by the 
claims.