Abstract:
Disclosed is an encoding tool used to encode a programmable combination locking cap. The encoding tools disclosed have an angled blade and alignment mechanisms so that a combination cap is easily encoded and placed on a container that optionally has an angled blocker so that the angled blocked efficiently blocks the combination of the programmable combination locking cap.

Description:
CROSS-REFERNECE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is based upon and claims priority to U.S. provisional application Serial No. 61/981,950, filed Apr. 21, 2014, entitled “Encoding Tool for a Combination Cap,” which application is specifically incorporated herein by reference for all that it discloses and teaches. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    A resistant mechanism on containers may be effective in restricting access to the contents of the container. Restricting access to the contents of a container by children, teenagers, drug addicts and others can be an effective way to protect these contents. Containers, such as prescription bottles, are very common in today&#39;s world. Unauthorized access to the containers may pose a safety concern. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    An embodiment of the present invention may therefore comprise an encoding tool for a combination cap comprising: an angled blade; a blade holder; a cap alignment fin; a base; an encoding container secured on the base so that the combination cap is aligned with the cap alignment fin and the angled blade, held securely by the blade holder, so that the angled blade removes encoding tabs located on an interior portion of the combination cap when the combination cap is pushed down on the encoding container, so that the combination cap is encoded by the encoding tool. 
         [0004]    An embodiment of the present invention may further comprise a method of encoding a combination cap using an encoding tool comprising: mounting an angled blade securely on a blade holder on an encoding container; forming a cap alignment fin on the encoding container; attaching the encoding container to a base; aligning the combination cap with the cap alignment fin; removing encoding tabs located on an interior portion of the combination cap by pushing the combination cap on the encoding container, so that the angled blade on the encoding container removes encoding tabs on an interior portion of the combination cap to the encoding tool. 
         [0005]    An embodiment of the present invention may further comprise an encoding tool for a combination cap comprising: a base; a pivoting arm having alignment flanges that hold the combination cap in a predetermined orientation, the pivoting arm being rotatably mounted to the base; fins located on an interior portion of the alignment flanges that engage with outer grooves located on the combination cap, so that the alignment flanges securely and releasably hold the combination cap in the predetermined orientation; an encoding container mounted on the base; an angled blade; a blade holder mounted on the encoding container that holds the angled blade in a position so that the angled blade removes encoding tabs located on an interior portion of the combination cap when the pivoting arm is pressed onto the encoding container. 
         [0006]    An embodiment of the present invention may further comprise a method of encoding a combination cap using an encoding tool comprising: attaching a pivoting arm having alignment flanges to a base so that the pivoting arm is rotatably mounted to the base; engaging fins located on an interior portion of the alignment flanges with outer grooves located on the combination cap, so that the alignment flanges securely hold the combination cap in a predetermined orientation; securing an angled blade with a blade holder on an encoding container, so that the encoding container is securely held by the base; pressing downwardly on the combination cap, so that the angled blade removes encoding tabs located on an interior portion of the combination cap when the combination cap is held in the predetermined orientation, and the combination cap is encoded by the encoding tool. 
         [0007]    An embodiment of the present invention may further comprise an encoding tool for a combination cap comprising: a hand depressor; an angled blade; a blade holder that securely holds the angled blade; an encoding tool canister; an internal spring located inside the encoding tool canister, so that the internal spring compresses when force is applied to the hand depressor and the internal spring retracts back to an original position when the force is removed from the hand depressor; canister fins located on the encoding tool canister, so that the canister fins align with alignment grooves located on an interior portion of the combination cap; a cap holder having fins located on an interior portion of the cap holder, so that the combination cap is securely held by the cap holder and the encoding tool can properly encode the combination cap by removing encoding tabs located on an interior portion of the combination cap when force is applied to the hand depressor and the encoding tabs are collected in an opening located on the encoding tool canister. 
         [0008]    An embodiment of the present invention may further comprise a method of encoding a combination cap using an encoding tool comprising: exerting a force upon a hand depressor; securing an angled blade within a blade holder that securely holds the blade; providing an encoding tool canister; exerting force on an internal spring located inside the encoding tool canister, so that the internal spring compresses when force is applied to the hand depressor and the internal spring retracts back to an original position when the force is removed from the hand depressor; forming canister fins located on the encoding tool canister, so that the canister fins align with alignment grooves located on an interior portion of the combination cap; aligning a cap holder having fins located on an interior portion of the cap holder, so that the combination cap is securely held by the cap holder and the encoding tool can properly encode the combination cap by effectively removing encoding tabs located on an interior portion of the combination cap when force is applied to the hand depressor and the encoding tabs are collected in an opening located on the encoding tool canister. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is an isometric side view of an embodiment of an encoding tool. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is an isometric side view of the angled blade of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is an isometric bottom view of the encoding tool of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is an isometric cross-sectional side view of the encoding tool of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is an isometric bottom view of the encoding tool, as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is an isometric cross-sectional view of the encoding tool of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is an isometric bottom view of the encoding tool of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is an isometric cross-sectional side view of the encoding tool of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is an isometric side view of the encoding tool of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  is an isometric side view of the encoding tool of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 11  is an isometric side view of the encoding tool of  FIG. 1  with the combination cap fully engaged in the encoding tool. 
           [0020]      FIG. 12  is an isometric side view of another embodiment of an encoding tool. 
           [0021]      FIG. 13  is an isometric side view of the encoding tool of  FIG. 12  that is fully engaged by a combination cap. 
           [0022]      FIG. 14  is an isometric side view of the encoding tool of  FIG. 12  without a combination cap. 
           [0023]      FIG. 15  is an isometric exploded side view of another embodiment of an encoding tool. 
           [0024]      FIG. 16  is an isometric side, transparency view of the encoding tool disclosed in  FIG. 15 . 
           [0025]      FIG. 17  is an isometric side view of the combination cap disposed on a container. 
           [0026]      FIG. 18  is an isometric side view of an embodiment of a container. 
           [0027]      FIG. 19  is an isometric cross-sectional view of the container of  FIG. 18 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0028]      FIG. 1  is an isometric side view of an embodiment of an encoding tool  100  that is used to encode a combination cap  102 , as disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 61/533,691, entitled “Container Having a Programmable Combination Locking Cap,” filed Sep. 12, 2011, which is incorporated herein by reference for all that it discloses and teaches. Encoding tool  100  is used to encode combination cap  102 . Combination cap  102  is aligned with cap alignment fin  110  located on encoding container  106 , so that angled blade  104  is able to encode combination cap  102 . Blade holder  112  securely encompasses angled blade  104 , located on encoding container  106 , so that encoding tool  100  can encode combination cap  102  by cutting tabs from an interior portion of the combination cap  102 , as disclosed more fully below. 
         [0029]      FIG. 2  is an isometric side view of angled blade  104  that is disclosed in  FIG. 1 . Angled blade  104  employs anti-slip grooves  202 , so that angled blade  104  is securely held in blade holder  112 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 3  is an isometric bottom view of encoding tool  100 . In operation, combination cap  102  has an alignment channel  300 , has an alignment channel  300  that properly aligns combination cap  102  on the encoding container  106 . When combination cap  102 , is pressed downward toward angled blade  104 , the encoding tabs  302  are cut from combination cap  102  and encoding tabs  302  fall inside encoding container  106 . In this manner, encoding tool  100  encodes combination cap  102  by removing encoding tabs  302  ( FIG. 4 ) from the inside of the combination cap  102  by providing gaps where the encoding tabs have been removed. 
         [0031]      FIG. 4  is an isometric cross-sectional side view showing encoding container  106 , angled blade  104 , and encoding tabs  302 . Encoding tabs  302  are located on the interior of combination cap  102 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . In operation, angled blade  104  removes encoding tabs  302 , so that encoding tabs  302  are disposed inside encoding container  106  and provide gaps at the encoding locations on the combination cap  102 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 5  is an isometric bottom view of encoding tool  100  with combination cap  102  disposed on encoding tool  100 . When combination cap  102  is properly aligned with cap alignment fin  110 , located on encoding container  106 , angled blade  104  removes encoding tabs  302  located on the interior portion of combination cap  102 , as the combination cap  102  is pushed down on the encoding tool  100  with the desired code placed in the combination cap  102 . The encoding tabs that are cut from the combination cap  102  fall into the interior portion of encoding container  106 , so that a user does not have to clean up encoding tabs  302 . In other words, encoding tabs  302  are neatly contained inside encoding container  106 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 6  is an isometric cross-sectional side view of encoding tool  100 .  FIG. 6  further shows encoding tool  100  in operation. As shown in  FIG. 6 , combination cap  102  is partially pushed down on encoding container  106 , so that angled blade  104  can successfully remove encoding tabs  302  and encoding tool  100  can successfully encode combination cap  102 , leaving gaps where encoding tabs used to be located. 
         [0034]      FIG. 7  is an isometric bottom view of encoding tool  100 .  FIG. 7  further demonstrates encoding tool  100  in operation. In other words, combination cap  102  is pushed downward toward base  108 , so that encoding tab  302 , shown in  FIGS. 3 ,  4 ,  5  and  6 , are removed and fall inside encoding container  106 , so that combination cap  102  is properly encoded by removing encoding tabs  302  from the inside of the combination cap  102  by providing gaps where the encoding tabs  302  have been removed. 
         [0035]      FIG. 8  is an isometric cross-sectional side view of encoding tool  100 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , encoding tabs  302  are properly cut by angled blade  104  and neatly disposed inside encoding container  106 .  FIG. 8  also shows the interior portion of combination cap and alignment channel  300  that was shown and described in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0036]      FIG. 9  is an isometric bottom view of encoding tool  100 .  FIG. 9  is the same embodiment as shown in  FIG. 1 . However,  FIG. 9  shows employing blade guard  900  that covers angled blade  104  disclosed in previous drawings, so that a user is protected from angled blade  104 . 
         [0037]      FIG. 10  is an isometric side view of encoding tool  100  in operation. In other words, combination cap  102  is pushed down toward base  108  along encoding container  106  and blade guard  900  protects a user from angled blade  104 , as described previously. 
         [0038]      FIG. 11  is an isometric side view of encoding tool  100  with the combination cap  102  fully engaged in the encoding tool  100 . In other words,  FIG. 11  shows combination cap  102  fully pushed down toward base  108 , so that encoding container  106  encodes the combination cap  102  by removing the tabs on the inside surface of the encoding cap  102 . The inside of encoding container  106  was shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0039]      FIG. 12  is another embodiment of an encoding tool  1200  that encodes a combination cap  102 .  FIG. 14  is an isometric view of encoding tool  1200 . Encoding tool  1200  has a spring loaded stapler arm  1202 , alignment hands  1204 , and an encoding container  106  that is attached to a base  1206 . In operation, outer grooves  1208 , that are located between outer rings  1210  of combination cap  102 , are properly aligned with fins  1400  (shown in  FIG. 14 ) that are located on an interior portion of alignment hands  1204 . Downward force is then applied to the top of combination cap  1212  and alignment hands  1204 , toward base  1206 , so that combination cap  1202  is encoded in accordance with the code entered into outer rings  1206  by encoding tool  1200 . 
         [0040]      FIG. 13  is an isometric view of encoding tool  1200  shown in  FIG. 12  that is fully engaged by combination cap  102 . In other words,  FIG. 13  shows encoding tool  1200  with the combination cap encoded in accordance with the code entered into the encoding rings on the combination cap  102 . Combination cap  102  is securely held by alignment flanges  1204 , so that combination cap  102  is pushed downwardly by pivoting arm  1202  toward base  1206 , which encodes combination cap  102  by removing tabs from the interior part of the combination cap  102 . 
         [0041]      FIG. 14  is an isometric view of encoding tool  1200 , which specifically shows how alignment flanges  1204  are able to securely hold combination cap  102 , as shown in  FIG. 12 . In other words, the interior portion of alignment flanges  1204  show fins  1400  that protrude and properly align with the outer grooves  1208  located between outer rings  1210  on combination cap  102 , as was shown and described in  FIG. 12 . In other words, combination cap  102  has outer rings  1210  that are rotated to a specific, chosen code. When the rings are properly aligned, the outer grooves  1208  are also properly aligned and can engage with protruding fins  1400  to hold the combination cap  102  in a predetermined orientation that corresponds to the selected code and in alignment with the encoding container  106 . This allows alignment hands  1204  to securely hold combination cap  102  with the chosen code during the encoding process of removing tabs. 
         [0042]      FIG. 15  is another embodiment of an encoding tool  1500  that encodes a combination cap  102 .  FIG. 15  is an isometric view of encoding tool  1500 , combination cap  102 , and cap holder  1502 . Encoding tool  1500  has a hand depressor  1506 , an angled blade  104  (held by blade holder  112 ), an encoding tool canister  1508 , which has canister fins  1516 , and a canister opening  1510 . In operation, canister fins, located on encoding tool  1500 , are properly aligned with alignment grooves  1518  on the interior portion of combination cap  102 . Outer rings  1210  are rotated on combination cap  102  with the desired code, so that outer grooves  1208  (located on combination cap  102 ), are properly aligned with fins  1504  (located on the interior portion of cap holder  1502 ). This allows combination cap  102  to be held securely inside cap holder  1502 . In operation, canister fins  1516  are aligned with and slide into alignment grooves  1518  and outer grooves  1208  of combination cap  102  are aligned with and slide into fins  1504  of cap holder  1502 . In this manner, the encoding tool canister  1508  is slid inside combination cap  102 , and combination cap  102  slides inside cap holder  1502 . Hand depressor  1506  is then depressed in a downward motion, so that angled blade  104  can remove encoding tabs  302  (located on combination cap  102 ). When encoding tabs  302  are removed from the inside of combination cap  102 , the encoding tabs  302  fall into a lower portion of canister opening  1510 , located on encoding tool  1500 . To remove combination cap  102  from encoding tool  1500  and cap holder  1502 , encoding tool  1500  is lifted out of cap holder  1502 , so that combination cap  102  is encoded, providing gaps at the encoding locations inside combination cap  102 . 
         [0043]      FIG. 16  is an isometric, transparent view of encoding tool  1500 .  FIG. 16  shows an internal spring  1600  located inside encoding tool canister  1508 . The internal spring  1600  utilizes spring loaded action to allow cutting of tabs in combination cap  102 . When force is applied to hand depressor  1506 , internal spring  1600  compresses and springs into a compressed state, which causes the blade to cut the tabs in the interior of the combination cap  102 . When pressure is removed from hand depressor  1506 , the canister and hand depressor  1506  withdraw from the combination cap  102 . In other words, when encoding tool  1500  is properly aligned with combination cap  102  by aligning canister fins  1516  with alignment grooves  1518  of combination cap  102 , the internal spring  1600  bounces back to a non-compressed position after hand depressor  1506  has been released. 
         [0044]      FIG. 17  is an isometric side view of the combination cap  102  disposed on a container  1702 . After combination cap  102  is properly encoded with the selected code, gaps are provided at the encoding locations inside combination cap  102 . With the proper combination, combination cap  102  is slid down on container  1702  and locking tabs  1704  slide into the gap that is provided by the removal of the encoding tabs  302 . Outer rings  1210  can be rotated causing encoding tabs  302  to engage with locking tabs  1704 , so that combination cap  102  is locked onto container  1702 . In other words, combination cap  102  can be removed from container  1702  only when outer rings  1210  are properly aligned with the proper code. The proper code of combination cap  102  aligns the gaps that were provided inside combination cap  102  with locking tabs  1704  and combination cap  102  can be removed from container  1702 . Angled blocker  1706  is employed on container  1702 , so that a user is unable to rotate outer ring  1210  of combination cap  102  and see which tabs have been removed. 
         [0045]      FIG. 18  is an isometric side view of container  1702  showing locking tabs  1704  and angled blocker  1706 . Angled blocker  1706  prevents a user from viewing tabs  1704 . 
         [0046]      FIG. 19  is an isometric cross-sectional view showing container  1602 . Angled blocker  1606  obstructs the view of locking tabs  1604  and the removed tabs from combination cap  102 . 
         [0047]    The foregoing description of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, and other modifications and variations may be possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the appended claims be construed to include other alternative embodiments of the invention except insofar as limited by the prior art.