Method and apparatus for closing cylindrical containers

This invention is a method, and apparatus for practicing said method, wherein cylindrical containers may be closed in an unusual and highly controllable manner, especially by persons who may have difficulty using their fingers in normal fashion, by means of first specially designed container chamber portion connectable to a second chamber closing portion wherein the two different pieces of apparatus are so constructed and so interact that by appropriate turning and the formation of the two parts the two parts can be caused to safely interlock, but at the same time can be formed for relative ease of opening. Included are the method for closing by a deformation together with twisting action and two matching portions which can operate cooperatively as described.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
I. Field of the Invention 
This invention is in the general field of closures for cylindrical 
containers and is more particularly related to a deformable cylindrical 
container which, upon proper manipulation, can be caused to be closed by a 
cooperating cap portion which portion is also deformable and the two 
portions have means to firmly lock the two in a closed condition when 
desired. The invention further related to the method of so locking two 
deformable portions of a container together and unlocking them. 
II. Description of the Prior Art 
There is no prior art known to me which would be directly readable upon 
this invention. I have previously worked in the field of closures for 
containers and I have obtained U.S. Pat. No. 3,187,794 which describes a 
unique iris type closure arrangement. In developing that item there were 
some of the thoughts in mind for the present invention, but the present 
invention now incorporates a cap having different features than that in my 
patent, particularly as to the locking ability, and the cap could 
conceivably be used with an iris type closure such as I described in my 
said U.S. Pat. No. 3,187,794, but it is of much broader and wider use in 
that it can customary cap as is shown and illustrated in this particular 
application, capable of being used on any type of cylindrical container. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The field of containers, particularly for medicines and other materials is 
quite large and over the years there have been many developments directed 
at closures which can be relatively tamper proof for children but which 
can be utilized by adults without too great an effort. Unfortunately 
virtually all of the tamper proof type containers are difficult to 
manipulate for persons with arthritis or other such ailments. 
Likewise, many of the so called tamper proof items require a simple 
pressure on their top or similar type action which is easily understood by 
and utilized by children to defeat the tamper proof thought. 
My previously referred to U.S. Pat. No. 3,187,794 was a partial answer to 
some closures for such containers. 
However, even my invention left a wide void in the art of closures for such 
containers which needed to be filled. Thus, I have continued to develop 
and invent along these lines until I have finally discovered a most 
important element for satisfactory closure embodying my unique principles. 
I have discovered that by forming a semi rigid type container and cap 
portion with a special mating relationship I can achieve excellent locking 
closure results, heretofore not possible. I am able to form a locking 
relationship between the two parts of the bottle on which the locking 
mechanism may be easily locked and unlocked by an adult with reasonable 
intelligence while most children of the ages desired to be kept away from 
the contents of the container will not quite understand nor easily 
activate the cap when in locked position. 
The tubular closure member being formed the way it is as hereinafter 
described is suitable to be used to close the top of a container on to the 
bottom of a container for a wide variety of purposes of containment of 
medicinal of other articles. 
I have accomplished the desired results, as mentioned, by deformable 
portions which have interlocking devices and which can incorporate either 
a ramp like arrangement to reach the closure or can alternately be used 
without the ramp type arrangement. 
It is an object of this invention to provide a closure for medicinal 
bottles, containers and the like wherein the closure may be easily locked 
in position in such manner that it can not readily be unlocked. 
Another object of this invention is to provide such an apparatus as 
described, together with a method for closing containers wherein persons 
with arthritis or other ailments effecting their fingers can still easily 
operate the apparatus. 
Another object of this invention is to provide such a method and apparatus 
as is described wherein it may be alternately caused to lock and unlock 
completely by the incorporation of a turning movement or without such 
turning movement.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
FIG. 1 illustrates a cap 10 comprising a cylindrical portion 11 with an 
enlarged upper edge 13 for easy gripping having knurled or otherwise 
shaped exterior for easy gripping, and a top 12. 
A hole 14, or two holes 14 and 17 may be provided as indicated. The lower 
portion of the container generally 20 will have its main body portion 22 
and a reduced thickness area 21 having a protruding boss 24 and if desired 
a second protruding boss 25. Normally this apparatus will have a marking 
of some type at 23 to indicate the possibility of deforming by pressing at 
that portion. The interior of the container 26 will contain whatever 
material are desired to be contained in the item. 
FIG. 2 is a section which illustrates the top 12 of the cap, the enlarged 
portion 13, the main portion 11, and the hole 14. The interior of the cap 
portion is indicated at 16. The container itself consisting of main body 
portion 22 and reduced thickness 21 are illustrated with the boss 24 which 
will become inserted into the hole 14. The reduced thickness area and a 
portion of the main area of the container is shown in phantom the reduced 
portion 21 a showing how it is deformed when pressure is applied to the 
pressure point 23 so that the cap 10 can slip over the container 20 and 
when pressure is released from pressure point 23 the boss 24 will enter 
the hole 14. 
The condition when closed completely is shown at FIG. 3 with all of these 
elements appropriately in place. 
In operation, the container is pressed at its pressure point 23 and if 
there are two of the locking devices 24 and 25 then of course the pressure 
will be across from both sides of the container and the situation 
illustrated in FIG. 2 can occur at both sides of the container. The cap is 
then placed appropriately over the deformed opening of the container after 
which the bosses are allowed to slip into their respective receiving holes 
when the pressure is released. 
Another way by which this can be accomplished, and one which can make for 
greater ease of application but at the same time complicate the process 
for children or the like trying to open the container is illustrated in 
FIGS. 4 and 5. In this case the cap consisting of body portion 111 top 112 
enlarged portion 113 locking hole 114 and a tapered receiving ramp 117 
comprise the entire cap portion 110. The bottom portion is essentially the 
same as that shown in the previous illustration comprising main body 122, 
reduced thickness portion 121 having a boss 124 and an indication of a 
position to press at 123. The opening of this entire lower portion of the 
container 126 has been indicated. Thus the entire portion 120 becomes 
quite similar to the previously illustrated portions 20. 
The FIG. 5 is shown how through the tapered ramp 117, the cap can be 
inserted over the boss 124 and then by turning boss 124 will be led 
through the tapered ramp 117 until it slips into the receiving hole 114 at 
which point it is locked. For removal it will be necessary to not only 
apply the pressure and force the boss 124 out of its receiving hole 114, 
but also to turn the cap 110 so as to remove it from the container portion 
120. 
While the embodiments of this invention shown and described are completely 
capable of achieving the objects and advantages desired, it is to be 
understood that such embodiments have been set forth for the sole purpose 
of illustration and are not for purposes of limitation.