Cap for a container

Abstract: A (1) cap for a container having a screw threaded opening comprising an inner part (3) in the form of a screw threaded cap, an outer part (2), the inner part (3) being axially displaceable relative to the outer part (2) and biased therefrom between an unlocking and locking position, resilient biasing means (17) between the inner and outer parts, a boss (6), and engagement means (15) adapted to engage with the boss (6) upon depression of the outer part (2), such that turning the cap will unscrew it from the container, wherein one of the boss (6) or engagement means (15) is located on the top surface of the inner part (3) and the other is located on the inner top surface of the outer part (2).

Description: This invention relates to a cap for a container, particularly a pharmaceutical container. GB-A-2167050 relates to a two part child resistant pharmaceutical bottle cap which includes a hexagonal boss on the upper surface of the inner part which on depression of the outer part, locks into a hexagonal aperture in the top of the outer part. Twisting of the outer part in this locked position then releases the cap from the bottle. In the unlocked (child safety) position, however, there is a slight overlap between the uppermost edge of the boss and the innermost edge of the wall of the aperture, so that rotation of the outer part wears and rounds the comers of the boss eventually making it more difficult to lock with the aperture and thus release the cap. In addition, some medicines are viscous which can result in the inner part becoming firmly stuck to the container. This leads to additional force being required to open the container which can speed up the wearing process. Similarly, AU-B-46 30 73 and US-A-4527701 relate to a two piece tamper evident safety closure which includes a frangible panel that is displaced and/or broken when the cap is depressed to allow opening of the safety closure. Both citations are concerned with the provision of a child-resistant clsoure of the "press-and-twist" type and the stated intention of each citation is to provide a closure that will indicate that the closure has been opened, or put into a position for opening. There is, however, no appreciation in either citation of any of the problems surrounding the provision of only one means of engaging the inner and outer parts of the closure, such as the problem mentioned above, or of a possible solution by using two means of engaging the inner and outer parts of the closure. Thus, the present invention seeks to avoid the above problems, and according to the present invention there is provided a cap for a container having a screw threaded opening comprising an inner part in the form of a screw threaded cap, an outer part, the inner part being axially displaceable relative to the outer part and biased therefrom between an unlocking and locking position, resilient biasing means between the inner and outer parts, a boss, and engagement means adapted to engage with the boss upon depression of the outer part, a plurality of projections and a second engagement means adapted to engage with said plurality of projections upon depression of the outer part, such that turning the cap will unscrew it from the container, wherein one of the boss or engagement means is located on the top surface of the inner part, and the other is located on the inner top surface of the outer part, and wherein one of the plurality of projections or second engagement means is located on the top surface of the inner part and the other is located on the inner top surface of the outer part. In an embodiment of the invention, the boss is located on the inner part and the engagement means is located on the outer part. In another embodiment, the boss is hexagonal and the engagement means consists of a plurality of spaced corner pieces. In yet another embodiment, the second engagement means consists of a plurality of dogs associated with the resilient biasing means. In a further embodiment the outer part of the cap has a substantially central aperture covered by a tamper evident cover connected to the outer part by a hinge portion and at least one frangible portion, and the boss carries a spigot which upon depression of the outer part projects through the aperture with sufficient force to break the least one frangible portion. In a still further embodiment of the present invention the boss is located on the inner part, and the engagement means is in the form of a substantially central aperture in the outer part into which the boss is received upon depression of the outer part, such that the boss engages with the aperture on unscrewing the cap. The boss may be hexagonal and the aperture can be covered by a tamper evident cover connected to the outer part by a hinge portion and at least one, frangible portion, such that on depression of the outer part, the at least one frangible portion is broken by projection of the boss into the aperture. In addition, it has been found that coating at least one of the outer or inner parts with silicone can aid the effectiveness of the invention. Preferably the inner part is substantially coated with silicone. This coating reduces torque allowing the biasing means to be made of thicker and/or stronger material. It may also aid in reducing "gumming up" of the cap by viscous liquids. Finally, it also reduces the chance that the outer part can be pinched hard against the inner part resulting in engagement and opening. The container cap of the present invention is preferably made of plastics material. In another aspect the invention relates to containers equipped with a container cap of the invention, preferably pharmaceutical containers. The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a cap of the invention in its unlocked position (right-hand side) and locked position (left-hand side); Figure 2 is an underneath plan view of the outer part of the cap of Figure 1 showing parts of the internal mechanism thereof; Figure 3 is further cross-sectional axial view of the cap in the locked position; Figure 4 is a plan view of cap of Figure 1 but not showing any internal mechanism; Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the invention; Figure 6 shows the outer part of the cap of Figure 5 in underneath plan view; Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of another cap of the invention; Figure 8 shows the outer part of the cap of Figure 7 in underneath plan view. In Figure 1 it can be seen that the cap comprises a hollow inner part 1 receivable within an outer (shell), part 2 in a snap fit manner. The inner part 1 comprises a planar circular top 3 with a depending annular skirt 4 having an inner screw thread 5. A central hexagonal boss 6 extends upwardly from the top 3 of the inner part 1 and a plurality of spaced studs 7 are arranged therearound adjacent respective corners of the hexagonal boss 6. A spigot 8 projects from boss 6 and a linear wad 9 is located against the lower surface of the top 3 of the inner part 1. The outer part 2 also comprises a planar circular top 10a with a depending circular skirt 10b having a circular bead 11 around its lower inner edge, over which the lower edge of the inner piece snap fits. A small central aperture 12 is provided on the top of the outer part 10 and is covered by a tamper evident cover piece 13 held in place at diametrically opposed positions by a hinge 14a and a frangible web 14b. On depressing the outer part 2 for the first time the spigot 8 projects into the aperature 12 with sufficient force to rupture the frangible portion 14b, thus providing tamper evidence. Spaced outwardly from the central aperture 12 and extending downwardly from, and formed integrally with, the inner surface of the top 10 of the outer part 2 are a plurality of corner pieces 15 conforming in outline to the hexagonal boss 6 in a formation of three diametrically opposed pairs. Each corner piece 15 is formed from two limbs of a wall angled at about 120° to neatly receive the corresponding corner of the hexagonal boss 6. In depth each corner-piece 15 is about the same, or about twice the thickness of the top wall of the outer piece 2, and the spacing is about half the length of a limb (although this is not critical and it can be e.g. a third, three-quarters of a length spacing). In this embodement, there is an overlap between the upper edge of the boss 6 and the lower edge of the corner-pieces 15. Six resilient tongues 17 forming biasing means also depend at an angle from the inner surface of the top of the outer part 2 and are serially arranged in a circular fashion between the corner-pieces 15 and the skirt 10b. Extending downwardly adjacent the root of each tongue 17, is a corresponding abutment or dog 18. In operation when the outer part 2 is rotated clockwise, the free ends of the tongues 17 abut the respective studs 7 on the top of the inner part 3 to screw it and the whole cap onto the bottle. If, however, the outer part 2 is turned in a counter clockwise direction without also pressing down, the outer part will turn freely relative to the inner member 3 with the free ends of the tongues 17 riding over the tops of the studs 7 of the inner part 2. Furthermore on counter-rotation, even though there is a slight overlap between the inner edges of the corner-pieces 15 and the boss 6, the wear on the corners of the boss 6 is considerably reduced as a result of the gaps between the corner-pieces 15 (that is the area of contact which previously wore the corners, has been reduced). On depression of the outer part 2 the corners of the boss 6 are received neatly into the corner-pieces 15 in a gripping fashion so that the top of the boss 6 lies adjacent or abuts the inner surface of the top 10 of the outer part 2and the spigot 8 abuts against the tamper evident cover piece 13 breaking the frangible connecting web 14b and hinging open the cover piece 13 (as shown in the left handside of Figure 1). In this position the abutments or dogs of the outer part 2 are locked behind the studs 7 of the inner part 1 to release/unscrew the cap from the bottle on clockwise rotation. If, however, this first opening mechanism fails (e.g. due to gumming up of the studs by a pharmaceutical substance), then the boss 6 which is now locked into the corner-pieces 15 will still be available (as a second opening mechanism) for releasing the cap 1. In Figure 2 the relationship between the spaced corner pieces 15 around the aperature 12 can be more clearly seen. The gaps between the corner pieces 15 greatly reduce wear on the boss received therein. Also the arrangement of the biasing tongues 17 and the abutments or dogs 18 is shown. Thus, the two separate engagement mechanisms and their relationship is portrayed. Figure 3 simply shows the cap of Figure 1 in the unlocked position, i.e. before depression of the outer cap 2. Figure 4 shows the exterior upper surface of the cap 1 before the container has been opened for the first time. Thus, the frangible portion 14b is intact and the tamper evident cover 13 is still in place. In Figure 5 another embodiment of the invention is shown. Once again a hollow inner part 101 is received within an outer (shell) part 102 in a snap fit manner. The inner part 101 comprises a planar circular top 103 with a depending annular skirt 104 having an inner screw thread 105. A central hexagonal boss 106 extends upwardly from the top 103 of the inner part 101 and a plurality of spaced studs 107 are arranged therearound adjacent respective corners of the hexagonal boss 106. A linear wad 109 is located against the lower surface of the top 103 of the inner part 101. The outer part 102 also comprises a planar circular top 10a with a depending circular skirt 10b having a circular bead 111 around its lower inner edge, over which the lower edge of the inner piece snap fits. A hexagonal aperture 112 is provided on the top of the outer part 102 and is covered by a tamper evident cover piece 113 held in place at diametrically opposed positions by a hinge 114a and a frangible web 114b. Six resilient tongues 117 forming biasing means depend at an angle from the inner surface of the top of the outer part 102 and are serially arranged in a circular fashion. Extending downwardly adjacent the root of each tongue 117, is a corresponding abutment or dog 118. In operation when the outer part 102 is rotated clockwise, the free ends of the tongues 117 abut the respective studs 107 on the top of the inner part 103 to screw it and the whole cap onto the bottle. If, however, the outer part 102 is turned in a counter clockwise direction without also pressing down, the outer part will turn freely relative to the inner member 103 with the free ends of the tongues 117 riding over the tops of the studs 107 of the inner part 102. On depression of the outer part 102 the boss 106 is received in the aperture 112 such that the boss 106 abuts the sides of the aperture 112, and against the tamper evident cover piece 113 breaking the frangible connecting web 114b and hinging open the cover piece 113. In this position the abutments or dogs 118 of the outer part 102 are locked behind the studs 107 of the inner part 102 to release/unscrew the cap from the bottle on clockwise rotation. In this cap the locking of the boss 106 into the aperture 112 and the studs/abutments opening means provide back up to each other for opening the cap. In Figure 6 it can be seen that in this embodiment the arrangement of the resilient tongues 117 and abutments/dogs 118 is essentially the same as for the outer part of the cap shown in Figure 1. Here however instead of corner pieces there is provided a hexagonal aperture 112 adapted to receive the boss 106. Figures 7 and 8 show a further embodiment of the invention in which there is no tamper evident cover provided. In this embodiment the inner part 202 is provided with a boss 206 which is received within a plurality of spaced corner pieces 215 located on the under surface of the outer part 202. Similarly resilient tongues 217 depend downwards from the outer part 202 and have abutments/dogs 218 associated with them which lock behind studs 207 located on the inner piece 203. This cap operates in the same way as the cap shown in Figure 1 except that no tamper evidence is provided. It will be appreciated that other shapes of the boss could be used, such as for example a square or a triangle, although a hexagonal boss 6 is a preferred embodiment because it has more gripping points/corners. Furthermore there does not have to be a corresponding number of corner-pieces as corners as long as they are strategically positioned to sufficiently grip and rotate the inner part without putting too much stress on the corner-pieces (i.e. to damage them). In the case of a symmetrical shaped boss such as a square or hexagon, preferably each corner-piece 215 is substantially opposite another corner-piece 215. Thus for a hexagonal boss 206 although an opposed pair of corner-pieces 215 may be used preferably there are two opposed pairs, most preferably three opposed pairs.

Claims: A cap (1) for a container having a screw threaded opening comprising an inner part (3) in the form of a screw threaded cap, an outer part (2), the inner part being axially displaceable relative to the outer part and biased therefrom between an unlocking and locking position, resilient biasing means (17) between the inner and outer parts (3,2), a boss (6), and engagement means (15) adapted to engage with the boss (6) upon depression of the outer part (2), a plurality of projections (7) and a second engagement means (18) adapted to engage with said plurality of projections (7) upon depression of the outer part (2), such that turning the cap will unscrew it from the container, wherein one of the boss (6) or engagement means (15) is located on the top surface of the inner part (3), and the other is located on the inner top surface of the outer part (2), and wherein one of the plurality of projections (7) or second engagement means (18) is located on the top surface of the inner part (3) and the other is located on the inner top surface of the outer part (2). A cap as claimed in claim 1, wherein the boss (6) is located on the inner part and the engagement means (5) is located on the outer part, and/or the plurality of projections (7) is located on the inner part (3) and the second engagement means (18) is located on the outer part (2). A cap as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the boss (6) is hexagonal and the engagement means (15) consists of a plurality of spaced corner pieces. A cap as claimed in claim 3, wherein there are two or three pairs of substantially opposed corner pieces, adapted to receive and engage with the boss (6). A cap as claimed in claim 4, wherein the second engagement means (18) consists of a plurality of dogs associated with the resilient biasing means (17). A cap as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the outer part (2) has a substantially central aperture (12) covered by a tamper evident cover (13), connected to the outer part by a hinge portion (14a) and at least one frangible portion (14b), and the boss (6) carries a spigot (8) which, upon the depression of the outer part (2), projects through said aperture (12) with sufficient force to break at least one frangible portion (14b). A cap (101) as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the boss (106) is located on the inner part (103), and the engagement means is in the form of a substantially central aperture (112) in the outer part (102) into which the boss (106) is received upon depression of the outer part, such that boss (106) engages with the aperture (112) on unscrewing the cap. A cap (101) as claimed in claim 7, wherein the boss (106) is hexagonal and the aperture (112) is covered by a tamper evident cover (113) connected to the outer part (102) by a hinge portion (114a) and at least one frangible portion (114b), such that upon depression of the outer part (102), at least one frangible portion (114b) is broken by projection of the boss (106) into the aperture (112). A cap as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein at least one of the outer surface of the inner part and the inner surface of the outer part is substantially coated with silicone. A cap as claimed in claim 9, wherein the outer surface of the inner part is substantially coated with silicone. A cap as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, which is made of plastics material. A container equipped with a cap as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11. A container as claimed in claim 12 which is a pharmaceutical container.

Inventors: OGDEN BRIAN LESLIE, OGDEN, BRIAN LESLIE
Applicants: WELLCOME FOUND, THE WELLCOME FOUNDATION LIMITED
Application year: 1992
Main classification: B65D55
IPC codes: B65D55, B65D50, B65D41