Abstract:
This invention is generally a safety cap with a corresponding container wherein the cap cannot simply be removed by pulling or twisting due to an inherent resistive force tending to hold the cap in its position.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present utility application claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application No. 60/978127 entitled “Safety Cap and Container System” and filed on Oct. 7, 2007. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not applicable. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    1. Field of Invention 
         [0004]    The present application is in the field of safety caps and containers. 
         [0005]    2. Background of the Invention 
         [0006]    Many hazardous substances are useful around the home, office, work space, and/or garage. Ideally, these substances would be readily accessible for capable users, while at the same time inaccessible to others unable to handle the responsibilities associated with such substances (for example, small children). 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    Accordingly, it is an objective of the present application to provide a safety cap and container which resists opening by children. Specifically, it is the object of the invention to provide a safety cap which cannot be simply pulled apart or removed by a simple rotation. 
         [0008]    It is a further object of the present application to provide a safety cap having an optional compression member which increases the axial force required to remove the cap from a cooperating container. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES  
         [0009]    Other objectives of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art once the invention has been shown and described. The manner in which these objectives and other desirable characteristics can be obtained is explained in the following description and attached figures in which: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a cross-section of the cooperating container  100  and safety cap  600  disassociated to permit access to a contained substance. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a cross-section of the cooperating container  100  and safety cap  600  intimately interlocked to prevent routine access to a contained substance. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a cross-section of the cooperating container  100  and safety cap  600  compressed in transition between the  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  positions. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a side perspective view of the adapter  2  of the cooperating container  100 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a side perspective view of the inner cap  3  of the safety cap  600 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a side perspective view of the inner cap  3  depicted in  FIG. 5 , rotated by 90 degrees. 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a cross-section of the cooperating container  100  and cap  600  of  FIG. 1  with the additional feature of a compressible member  4 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is the exploded cooperating container  100  and cap  600  of  FIG. 7 .  FIG. 8  is meant to illustrate and inventory some of the individual components of the cap  600  and container  100  system, while also representing a plan for fitting various components together to construct the safety cap  600  and container  100  of  FIG. 7 . 
       
    
    
       [0018]    It is to be noted, however, that the appended figures illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments that will be appreciated by those reasonably skilled in the relevant arts. Also, figures are not necessarily made to scale but are representative. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0019]      FIG. 1  illustrates the cooperating container  100  and safety cap  600  dissociated to allow access to a contained substance. Typically, the container  100  features a body  1  with an adapter  2  assembled therein. The adapter  2  provides an exit  14  for a contained substance, and features a number of circumferentially spaced radially recessed projections which have notches  6  therein. In the present embodiment, the safety cap  600  is primarily defined by two structures: (1) an outer cap  5  suitably defined by a one piece hollow cylinder having an open base  7  with a closed top  8 , a hollow  15 , a number of circumferentially spaced lugs  9  extending radially inward at the cap hollow  15 , and a rigid axial extension  17  at the inside of the top  8 ; and, (2) an inner cap  3  which is typically configured at one end  11  to accommodate the exit  14  when the adapter  2  is inserted therein, and defined at the other end by a flexor  10  and acceptor  18  which are separated by an inside cavity  400 . The inner cap  3  is fixedly and slidably assembled concentrically within the outer cap  5  at the hollow  15  by interaction between the extension  17  and the acceptor  18 . The flexor  10  features vents  13  which produce a spring force when the flexor  10  is compressed. The interaction between the extension  17  and acceptor  18  is typically such that the flexor  10  abuts the inside of top  8  and can be electively compressed thereagainst or fully extended therefrom. However, while in equilibrium, the flexor  10  will usually be fully extended due to the spring force provided by the vents  13  against compression. 
         [0020]    Routine access to a contained substance usually occurs when a cap may be simply pulled or rotated for removal (or any other non-prophylactic cap removal method).  FIG. 2  illustrates a container  100  and safety cap  600  intimately interlocked to prevent routine access to a contained substance. In this figure, the safety cap  600  is situated over the exposed end of the adapter  2  with the body  1  extending distally. As discussed further below, the lugs  9  on the inside of the outer cap  5  are cooperating with the corresponding notches  6  to prevent cap  600  removal by twisting (radial cap  600  movement) or pulling (axial cap  600  movement away from the body  1 ). The exit  14  on the adapter  2  is covered by the adapted end  11  of the inner cap  3  and the flexor  10  is partially compressed. The spring force delivered by vents  13  as a result of the partial flexor  10  compression, pushes the adaptor  2  at the adapted end  11  of the inner cap  3 , and pulls lugs  9  on the outer cap  5  against the notches  6  in the adapter  2 . Thus, the existence of space  500  and a constant resistance to axial cap  600  movement toward the body  1 . The adapted end  11  of the inner cap  3  may suitably contain a number of ribs  12  to support compressive forces. 
         [0021]      FIG. 3  illustrates the container  100  and safety cap  600  of  FIGS. 1 and 2  wherein the flexor  10  is compressed while cap  600  is displaced axially toward the body  1 . Such flexor compression may be accomplished by asserting an axial external force at the body toward the cap  600  (which acts primarily on the inner cap  3 ), and by applying an opposing force at the cap top  8  (which acts primarily on the outer cap  5 ), whereby the resulting force is sufficient to overcome the spring force of the vents  13  to result in flexor  10  compression. As discussed in greater detail below, when a compression force sufficiently depletes space  500 , cap  600  may be torqued relative to the adapter  2  to effectuate cap  600  removal. When such compressing force is dissipated without cap  600  removal, the spring force delivered by vents  13  returns the cap  600 /container  100  system to the  FIG. 2  position. 
         [0022]      FIG. 4  is a side view of adapter  2 , and when viewed in conjunction with  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3  illustrate safety cap  600  placement and removal. Beginning with  FIGS. 1 and 4 , cap placement is accomplished as follows: cap  600 , in equilibrium, is positioned over adapter  2  such that lugs  9  align to engage the corresponding lug paths  200  and exit  14  is accepted by adapted end  11  of the inner cap  3 ; a torque and compressive force are simultaneously applied to the system whereby the adapter  2  presses on the inner cap  3  to compress flexor  10 , and whereby lugs  9  traverse the tapered lug paths  200  until the cap  600  and container are in the  FIG. 3  position; the compressive force is released, thereby allowing the spring force of the flexor  10  to drive the system to its  FIG. 2  position. The notches  6  prevent cap  600  removal from simple pulling, and the stop  300  prevents cap  600  rotation. Beginning with  FIGS. 2 and 4 , cap  600  removal is accomplished as follows: a compressive force is applied to the system whereby the adapter  2  presses on the inner cap  3  to compress flexor  10  to the  FIG. 3  position; a torque is added simultaneous with the release of the compressive force, whereby the spring force of the flexor  10  drives the cap  600  along the lug paths  200  until the flexor  10  achieves equilibrium; the exit  14  is removed from the inner cap and the cap  600  and container  100  are separated. 
         [0023]      FIGS. 5 and 6  are a side view of the inner cap of the present embodiment rotated by 90 degrees with respect to each other. These figures depict the dichotomy between the first end  11  adapted to receive the adapter exit  14  and the flexor  10  in the inner cap  3 . These figures also depict a suitable embodiment of flexor  10  and the associated vents  13 . When the flexor  10  is compressed, gap(s) A is substantially shut. The inner cap  3  is made from a suitable plastic material which provides the desired flexibility and resiliency. Such material will be readily apparent to those skilled in the applicable art. 
         [0024]      FIG. 7 , like  FIG. 2 , illustrates a container  100  and safety cap  600  intimately interlocked to prevent routine access to a contained substance. However,  FIG. 7  contains the additional feature of a compression member  4  positioned between the flexor  10  and acceptor  18  at the inside cavity  400 . The compression member  4  is sandwiched between to inside of the external cap top  8  and the top of the internal cap  3 . The compression member  4  supplements flexor  10  and adds additional resistance to flexor  10  depression. Accordingly, a cap  600  featuring a compression member increases the axial force necessary to remove the cap  600  when in a  FIG. 7  position. Other than the increased resistance to flexor  10  depression, cap  600  placement and removal are accomplished in substantially the same manner discussed above. 
         [0025]      FIG. 8  is an exploded view of a typical cap  600  and container  100  embodiment contemplated by the present application. This figure is meant to provide an inventory of necessary components, and provide a crude assembly guide. The figure includes a compressible member  4 , but embodiments not featuring such compressible member are assembled in substantially the same manner. Following the dashed line generally from the bottom left to the top right of the figure, assembly is accomplished as follows: the rigid axial extension  17  is masculinely inserted into the compression member  4  (A to A′); the acceptor  18  in the internal cap  3  masculinely inserts into the compression member  4  (B to B′), but femininely receives the rigid axial extension  17  (A to A″)until the flexor  10  abuts the inside of the external cap top  8 ; the body, femininely receives the male end of adapter  2  (C to C′); and, Finally, the cap  600  is positioned or removed as discussed above (D to D′). 
         [0026]    In general then, the invention of the present application is a cap comprising a compressible member, and a means for electively coupling said cap over the opening of an affiliated container, said means activated via compression of said compressible member.