Source: http://www.sumobrain.com/patents/wipo/Overcap-container/WO2018014971A1.html
Timestamp: 2020-01-20 23:16:48
Document Index: 722502673

Matched Legal Cases: ['art(2', 'art 2', 'art 3', 'art 3', 'art 3', 'art 2', 'art 3', 'art 2', 'art 3', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 3', 'art 2', 'art 9', 'art 9', 'art 2', 'art 11', 'art 2', 'art 9', 'art 9', 'art 3', 'art 3', 'art 2', 'art 3', 'art 11', 'art 3', 'art 3', 'art 2', 'art 3', 'art 2', 'art 3', 'arts 15', 'art 2', 'art 3', 'art 3', 'art 2', 'art 3', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 3', 'art 2', 'art 3', 'art 2', 'art 3', 'arts 2', 'art 11', 'art 3', 'art 2', 'art 3', 'art 2', 'arts 9', 'art 2', 'art 3', 'art\n4', 'art\n11', 'art\n15', 'art\n16', 'art\n17']

AN OVERCAP FOR A CONTAINER - COSTER TECNOLOGIE SPECIALI S.P.A.
WIPO Patent Application WO/2018/014971
An overcap (1) is provided for a container (5) such as pharmaceutical bottle or similar that may be a spray container. The overcap (1) comprises a collar part (3) adapted for securement to the container (5) and a cap part (2) removably secured to the collar part (3), for example by screwing. The cap part (2) comprises at least one and preferably two pivotally mounted levers (7) that are each pivotally mounted about a fulcrum (8) intermediate its length with a detent (12) on one side of the fulcrum (8). The detent (12) cooperates with a portion (13, 14) of the collar part (3) when the lever (7) is in a first position and is disengaged from the portion (13, 14) when the lever (7) is moved into a second position by pressure applied to a part (9) of the lever (7) on the other side of the fulcrum (8). Hence, in the first position of the lever (7) the cap part (2) cannot be pulled or twisted off the collar part (7) but in the second position of the lever (7) detachment of cap part (3) from the collar part (2) is possible. Preferably, pressure applied to the part (9) of the lever (7) elastically deforms the fulcrum (8) to move the lever (7) into the second position whereby the lever (7) returns to its first position when no or an insufficient pressure is applied to the part (9). Preferably also, the cap part(2) and the collar part (3) define mutually engaging screw-threaded parts (15, 16) and said portion (13, 14) of the collar part (3) comprises a protrusion that cooperates with the detent (12) when the lever (7) is in its first position in order to prevent twisting of the cap part (2) relative to the collar part (3) in a direction tending to unscrew the cap part (2) from the collar part (3).
SCHMID, Loris (Via Maso Pianezza 44, Pergine Valsugana, 38057, IT)
PELZ, Mattia (Via alla Pelegrina 9, Cognola, 38121, IT)
EP2016/067547
COSTER TECNOLOGIE SPECIALI S.P.A. (Viale Trento No. 2, Calceranica al Lago, 38050, IT)
B65D50/04; B65D83/40
US20140284299A1 2014-09-25
US20150321804A1 2015-11-12
POPP, Eugen (P.O. Box 86 06 24, München, 81633, DE)
1. An overcap (1) for a container (5) comprising a collar part (3) adapted for securement to the container (5) and a cap part (2) removably secured to the collar part (3), the cap part (2) comprising a lever (7) pivotally mounted about a fulcrum (8) intermediate its length and with a detent (12) on one side of the fulcrum (8) that cooperates with a portion (13, 14) of the collar part (3) when the lever (7) is in a first position such that the cap part (2) cannot be pulled or twisted off the collar part (7), the lever (7) being movable into a second position wherein the detent (12) is disengaged from the portion (13, 14) of the collar part (3) to allow detachment of cap part (3) from the collar part (2) by pressure applied to a part (9) of the lever (7) on the other side of the fulcrum (8).
2. An overcap (1) as claimed in Claim 1, wherein pressure applied to the part (9) of the lever (7) elastically deforms the fulcrum (8) to move the lever (7) into the second position whereby the lever (7) returns to its first position when no or an insufficient pressure is applied to the part (9).
3. An overcap (1) as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the lever (7) and the fulcrum (8) are integrally formed from a resilient material.
4. An overcap (1) as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the cap part (2) and the collar part (3) define mutually engaging screw-threaded parts (15, 16) whereby the cap (2) part may be screwed off the collar part (3) when the lever (7) is in its second position.
5. An overcap (1) as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 4, wherein said portion (13, 14) of the collar part (3) comprises a protrusion that cooperates with the detent (12) when the lever (7) is in its first position in order to prevent twisting of the cap part (2) relative to the collar part (3) in at least one direction.
6. An overcap (1) as claimed in Claim 5 when dependent on Claim 4, wherein the protrusion (13, 14) cooperates with the detent (12) to prevent twisting of the cap part (2) relative to the collar part (3) in a direction tending to unscrew the cap part (2) from the collar part (3).
7. An overcap (1) as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the protrusion (13, 14) defines a shoulder (14) against which the detent (12) bears when the cap part (2) is turned in a direction tending to unscrew the cap part (2) from the collar part (3).
8. An overcap (1) as claimed in Claim 7, wherein a side (17) of the protrusion (13) opposite the shoulder (14) has a smooth curving profile.
9. An overcap (1) as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 8, wherein the cap part (2) defines a channel (10) into which the part (9) of the lever (7) locates when the lever (7) is in its second position.
10. An overcap (1) as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 9, wherein the detent (12) comprises a ridge that projects from an inner surface of the lever (7) on said one side of the fulcrum (8).
11. An overcap (1) as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 10, wherein the cap part (2) comprises a second pivotally mounted lever (7) with a detent (12) that cooperates with a second portion (13) of the collar part (3) in a similar manner to said aforementioned pivotally mounted lever (7) and wherein the pivotally mounted levers (7) are located on opposite sides of the cap part (2) from one another.
12. An overcap (1) as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 11, wherein the cap part (2) is moulded in one piece from a resilient plastics material.
The present invention relates to an overcap for a container and, in particular, to one that is "tamper-proof or resistant to unauthorized opening by a young child or infant.
Pharmaceuticals and household products that may be dangerous to children are usually supplied to consumers with child-resistant closures. If the container comprises a bottle or similar, caps of the "squeeze and turn" type or "press and turn" type are common. However, these can be difficult to operate by adults. In the former case, the cap must be physically deformed before it can be unscrewed and in the latter a spring bias arranged in the cap can be difficult to overcome.
An aim of the present invention to provide an overcap that is child-resistant but that is easier to open by an adult than the afore-mentioned caps.
According to the present invention there is provided an overcap for a container comprising a collar part adapted for securement to the container and a cap part removably secured to the collar part, the cap part comprising a lever pivotally mounted about a fulcrum intermediate its length and with a detent on one side of the fulcrum that cooperates with a portion of the collar part when the lever is in a first position such that the cap part cannot be pulled or twisted off the collar part, the lever being movable into a second position wherein the detent is disengaged from the portion of the collar part to allow detachment of cap part from the collar part by pressure applied to a part of the lever on the other side of the fulcrum.
Further preferred but non-essential features of the present invention are described in the dependent claims appended hereto.
The present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an overcap according to the present invention when levers thereof are in a first position and when secured to a spray pump;
Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but when said levers are in a second position;
Fig. 3 is a perspective view from one side of a collar part of the overcap;
Fig. 4 is a perspective view from one side and below of the collar part shown in Fig. 3;
Fig. 5 is a longitudinal, part sectional view of the overcap when secured to a container and when said levers thereof are in the first position as shown in Fig. 1;
Fig. 6 is a longitudinal, part sectional view of the overcap when secured to a container and when said levers thereof are in the second position as shown in Fig. 2;
Fig. 7 is a transverse section along the line A-A in Fig. 5; and
Fig. 8 is a transverse section along the line B-B in Fig. 6.
An embodiment of an overcap 1 in accordance with the invention is shown in the drawings and comprises a cap part 2 and a collar part 3. Such an overcap 1 is primarily intended for use with pharmaceutical products, such as spray products, and may form part of an assembly that, for example, includes a spray pump 4. However, it will be appreciated that the spray pump 4 does not form part of the invention and that the overcap 1 may be used to close containers for products other than pharmaceutical products, for example household products such as cleaning products, bleach, lubricating fluids and the like, which are intended for spray or other application. The collar part 3 is adapted to be permanently secured to a container 5, for example by a permanent snap-fitment or other conventional means. The spray pump 4, if required, is therefore secured to the collar part 3 in a conventional manner. In contrast, the cap part 2 is adapted for removable securement to the collar part 3 so that a spray actuator
6 of the spray pump 4 may be accessed to dispense the contents of the container 5. However the overcap 1 incorporates a child-resistant mechanism with a view to thwarting access to the spray actuator or the contents of the container 5 generally by an infant or young child as will now be described.
The cap part 2 comprises at least one and advantageously two pivotally mounted levers
7 that are preferably located on opposite sides of the cap part 3 from one another. While two such levers 7 are preferably provided, it will be appreciated that the invention is workable if a single lever 7 is provided. Each lever 7 is pivotally mounted to the cap part 2 intermediate its length at a fulcrum 8 and is adapted such that it is movable from a first into a second position by pressure applied to it on one side of the fulcrum 8. When each lever 7 is in its first position, as shown in Figs 1, 5 and 7, the cap part 2 cannot be pulled or twisted off the collar part 3, as further described below. Here, the levers 7 tend to lie flush with the adjacent parts of the cap part 2. However, when pressure is applied to an upper part 9 of each lever 7 above the fulcrum 8 the lever 7 pivots into its second position, as shown in Figs, 2, 6 and 8. In this position the upper part 9 of the lever 7 relative to and above the fulcrum 8 locates in an adjacent channel 10 defined by the cap part 2 and a lower part 11 of the lever 7 relative to and below the fulcrum 8 projects outward so that it no is no longer flush with adjacent portions of the cap part 2.
Each lever7 and its respective fulcrum 8 are preferably integrally formed from a resilient material, for example a resilient plastics material. Normally, each lever 7 adopts the first position but when pressure is applied to the part 9 of the lever 7 the fulcrum 8 is elastically deformed and the lever 7 is moved into the second position. Hence, when no or an insufficient pressure is applied to the part 9, the lever 7 will automatically return to its first position. As shown in Figs. 5 to 8, each lever 7 has a detent 12 that cooperates with a portion 13 of the collar part 3 when the lever 7 is in its first position and that is moved out of engagement with the collar part 3 when the lever 7 is in a second position to allow detachment of cap part 2 from the collar part 3. The detent 12 is located on the lower part 11 of the lever 7 and comprises a ridge that projects from an inner surface the lever 7 towards the collar part 3. The portion 13 of the collar part 3 with which the detent 12 cooperates comprises a protrusion that defines a shoulder 14 against which the flat surface of the ridge forming the detent 12 bears when the cap part 2 is turned towards it relative to the collar part 3.
In the present embodiment, the cap part 2 and the collar part 3 are removably secured together by virtue of mutually engaging screw- threaded parts 15 and 16 defined by each respectively whereby the cap part 2 may be screwed off the collar part 3. However, this can only take place when the levers 7 are both in their second position. It will be appreciated that when each lever 7 is in its first position, the adjacent shoulder 14 on the collar part 3 is arranged to cooperate with the detent 12 of the lever 7 to prevent unscrewing of the cap part 2 from the collar part 3. Turning of the cap part 2 in the opposite direction to move the detent 12 away from the shoulder 14 only screws the cap part 2 down more tightly on the collar part 2 and would, in any event, bring the detent 12 into contact with the other side 17 of the protrusion 13 opposite the shoulder 14. This side 17 of the protrusion is given a smooth curving profile, however, so that the inner surface of the levers 7 can readily travel over it when the levers 7 are in their first position and the cap part 2 is being screwed down onto the collar part 3. It can be seen in Fig. 8, in particular, that when the levers 7 are in their second position their detents 12 are moved to a position clear of the shoulders 14 of the protrusion 13 in order that the cap part 2 can be freely turned to unscrew it from the collar part 3.
Although in the embodiment described above, the cap part 2 and the collar part 3 are screwed together, it will be appreciated that the present invention may be employed if these parts 2, 3 are removably secured together in other ways, for example by a snap-fit, push-pull arrangement. In this case, the detent 12 on the lever 7 may be orientated transversely across the lower part 11 of the lever 7 in order to engage a protrusion on the collar part 3 if an attempt is made to pull the cap part 2 off the collar part 3 when the lever 7 is in its first position but which travels over the protrusion when the lever 7 is in its second position.
In addition to the levers 7 and their respective fulcrums 8 being integrally formed, the whole cap part 2 may be moulded in one piece from a suitable resilient plastics material.
It will be appreciated that the overcap 1 of the invention is child-resistant but readily openable by an adult or older child capable of exerting the required pressure in to the parts 9 of the levers 7. This pressure must be maintained whilst the cap part 2 is being detached from the collar part 3 otherwise the levers 7 will return to their first position. It will be appreciated that the ease with which the fulcrum 8 is elastically deformed by the pressure applied is dependent on the size and thickness of the fulcrum 8 and the resilience of the material from which it is made, both of which can be controlled as required to a level that would be difficult for a young child or infant to apply.
1 Overcap generally
3 Collar part
4 Spray pump
6 Spray actuator
9 Upper part of lever
10 Channel in cap part
11 Lower part of lever
13 Protrusion on collar part
15 Screw thread on cap part
16 Screw thread on collar part
17 Curved side of protrusion
Previous Patent: DRIFT CORRECTION IN A WIRELESS NETWORK
Next Patent: DEVICES AND METHODS FOR SOFTWARE DEFINED NETWORKS