Patent EP-0285433-A1 (EP)
Inventor: LA VANGE DONALD
IPC: B65D50/06
Filed: 1988-03-31
Abstract: A child resistant dispensing closure of the type comprising a cap base member (12) and a cap lid member (14). The cap base member (12) is provided with a dispensing opening (44), a slot (30), and a cap locking bead (32) adapted to engage a container locking bead provided on the neck of a container. The container locking bead (36) is provided with an interruption (38) which is adapted to be brought into and out of alignment with the slot (30) by manually rotating the cap base member (12) with respect to the neck (34). The cap lid member (14) is provided with a locking prong (50) adapted to be received within the slot (30) when the cap lid member (14) assumes a closed position wherein it closes off the dispensing opening (44). The locking prong (50), when the cap lid member (14) is in the closed position, is adapted to be engaged beneath the continuous portion of the container locking bead (36). The cap lid member (14) is adapted to thereafter assume the open position by a user manually rotating the cap base member (12) with respect to the neck (34) so as to bring the slot (30) into alignment with the interruption (38) in the container locking bead (36) and then manually moving the cap lid (14) member away from the cap base member (12) so as to withdraw the locking prong (50) from the slot (30), thereby presenting an unobstructed dispensing opening (44). Alignment of the slot (30) with the interruption (38) in the bottle bead may be indicated by the alignment of visible indicia (68,70) provided on the dispensing closure and the neck of the container. 
     An alternative embodiment for the closure comprises a cap member and a spout member. The cap member (412) is provided with an exterior skirt (414), a top surface (416) having an elongated groove formed therein, and an interior skirt (418). The interior skirt (418) is provided with a cap locking bead (440) adapted to engage a container locking bead (444) provided on the neck (442) of a container for rotatably mounting the cap member on the neck of the container. The elongated groove has a dispensing opening   and an open area formed therein, and the interior skirt is provided with an interruption (432) at the location of the open area (434) so as to maintain the area unobstructed. The container locking bead (444) is also provided with an interruption. The spout member includes an elongated body having a longitudinal dispensing passage therein and adapted to be mounted at one end in the elongated groove for rotation with respect to the cap member. The spout member is provided with a depending locking prong (468) adapted for insertion into the open area (434). The spout member is adapted to assume an open position wherein the spout member is oriented vertically with respect to the cap member and the dispensing opening and longitudinal passage are in communication. The spout member is capable of being rotated from the open position downwardly toward the cap member to achieve a closed position wherein the locking prong (468) is received within the open area (434) of the cap base member and the interruption (446) in the container locking bead. Realization of the latter position requires that the cap member be rotated, as required, with respect to the neck of the container so as to bring the open area and the interruption into alignment. The closed and locked position for the spout member is achieved by further rotation of the cap member with respect to the neck so that the locking prong is in engagement with an uninterrupted portion of the container locking bead.