WO1997003914A1

WO1997003914A1 - A set of parts

Info

Publication number: WO1997003914A1
Application number: PCT/GB1996/001739
Authority: WO
Inventors: Julian Davidson Taylor
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-07-21
Filing date: 1996-07-19
Publication date: 1997-02-06
Anticipated expiration: 1998-01-21
Also published as: GB9514998D0; AU6526396A

Abstract

The invention relates to a set of parts (1) comprising a closure device (2) for a container (3) having a cylindrical screw-threaded opening, and a manually grippable tool (14) which is engageable with the closure device (2) whereby to operate same to unscrew it from the container (3). The tool (14) is a one-piece plastic tool which has a relatively large diameter flat body (15) and a spigot or boss projecting therefrom for applying a lever force to the closure device (2) to unscrew it. This is particularly useful for assisting aged or infirm people. The tool (14) may include indicator means for indicating the time of last opening of the container. There is also a tamper evident ring (19).

Description

A SET OF PARTS

The invention relates to a set of parts, particularly comprising a closure device for a container having a cylindrical opening.

Generally closure devices such as screw-threaded caps of containers with a screw-threaded opening such as a neck can be removed relatively easily by unscrewing. This can be dangerous when the container houses drugs, dangerous chemicals and the like and a child for example unscrews the closure device and gains access to the contents and then takes the contents with possibly harmful or even fatal results.

Closure devices which seek to provide for safer or authorised opening of the container have been proposed, but they are generally complex and expensive. Moreover, elderly or infirm people can have difficulty in opening such closure devices, particularly if the threads become damaged, crossed or where the closure device becomes firmly stuck because the contents of the container are sticky, as can be the case with some medicines.

Another problem which the elderly often experience is difficulty in remembering when, or whether, they last took their prescribed, or other, medication.

It is an object of the invention to seek to mitigate these disadvantages.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a set of parts, comprising a first means being a closure device for a container having a cylindrical opening, the device having an inner and outer closure member each respectively comprising an end member and a skirt member, there being drive means of the inner and outer closure members which are operable so that those members are generally rotatable in unison in one sense only, the outer member having actuating means of its end member, and second means being a manually operable tool for engaging the actuating means, whereby when assembled with the tool engaged with the actuating means, the two means of the set are operable to rotate the closure device in a sense opposite the one sense.

The tool may comprise a hand grippable body part and a drive part projecting from one side thereof for actuating engagement with the actuating means of the outer member. This provides for ease of operation.

The grippable body part may comprise a substantially flat surface opposite the side from which the drive part projects. This also provides for ease of operation, particularly as the body part may comprise a substantially palm- sized part.

The body part may comprise a boundary edge with means for enhancing manual gripping of the tool.

The gripping enhancing means comprise a scalloped peripheral edge. The construction provides for gripping of the hand tool.

The actuating means and drive part may each have a substantially square configuration in cross-section.

The second means may comprise indicator means operable to indicate a time of opening of the closure device. This provides a useful aide memoir, particularly as the indicator means may comprise means to record the time at which the container was last opened.

The indicator means may comprise a rotary member which can be turned to any of a plurality of positions and these positions may have associated with them indicia to represent corresponding times.

There may be detent means arranged to locate the indicator means in each position. This provides inadvertent movement of the indicator means.

The positions may correspond to hourly intervals, preferably twenty four hourly intervals.

The rotary member may be mountable on the upper side of the second means. This provides for ease of viewing, and operation.

The second means and indicator means may have interengageable means.

The interengageable means may comprise spigot means and socket means. This provides for ease of manufacture.

The indicator means may comprise electronic indicator means, which may comprise an LCD device. This provides for ease of viewing.

The set of parts may comprise a warning device.

The warning device may comprise an audible warning device.

The indicator means may comprise a time indicator. The indicator means may comprise a counter for counting the number of times the closure device has been operated.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided an assembly of a set of parts as hereinbefore defined.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided an assembly of a set of parts as hereinbefore defined, mounted on a container.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided a device comprising a manually grippable body part and a drive part projecting therefrom for engaging with a closure device for a container having a cylindrical opening, whereby to operate same.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention there is provided a device, comprising a manually grippable body part and a drive part projecting therefrom for engaging with a closure device for a container having a cylindrical opening, the device having indicator means to indicate a time of opening of the container.

Using the invention it is possible to provide a closure device which can be screwed or unscrewed positively onto or from a container yet which provides a safety closure as it cannot readily be removed by an unauthorised person. The closure members are preferably cylindrical.

The inner closure member is engaged in the outer one by a push fit, and a peripheral lip of the inner member may engage behind an inwardly projecting lip of the outer closure member, to retain the two closure members in an assembled condition. A set of parts and a tool embodying the invention are hereinafter described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figures IA and IB show respectively a plan view from below and elevational view of an inner closure member of a closure device;

Figures 2A and 2B show respectively a sectional view (in line X-X of Figure 2B) and an underneath plan view of an outer closure member of a closure device;

Figures 3 A and 3B show respectively a plan view and a sectional view of a closure device assembled from the closure member of Figures IA - 2B;

Figures 4A, B and C show respectively a top plan view, sectional view and underneath plan view of a hand tool; and

Figure 5 shows a side elevational view of use of the device of Figures 3A and B and tool of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a plan view of a further closure device in accordance with the invention;

Figure 7 is a side view of the device shown in Figure 6;

Figure 8 is an underside view of the device shown in Figure 6;

Figure 9 is a plan view of the rotary indicator of the device shown in Figures 6 to 8; Figure 10 is a side view of the rotary indicator shown in Figure 9; and

Figure 11 is a plan view of the body member of the device, shown with the rotary indicator removed.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a set of parts 1 (assembled in Figure 5) comprising a first means being a closure device 2 for a container 3 having a cylindrical opening, the device 2 having an inner and an outer (as viewed and in use) closure member 4 and 5 each comprising a respective end member 6,7 and a respective skirt member 8,9, there being drive means 10,11 of the inner and outer closure members 4,5 which are operable so that the members 4,5 are generally rotatable in unison in one sense only, the outer closure member also having actuating means 12 of its end member 7, and second means 14 (Figures 4A, 4B and 4C), of the set of parts, which second means is in the embodiment a manually operable tool for engaging the actuating means 12, whereby when assembled with the tool 14 engaged with the actuating means 12, the two means 2,14 of the set are operable to rotate the closure device in a sense opposite to the one sense.

The tool 14 of the set comprises hand grippable body part 15, suitably flat on its upper (in use) surface and which is of generally palm-size so that it fits comfortably in the palm of the average user, there being a peripheral edge having a profile as for example provided by scalloping 16 which profile provides a purchase so that a user can with relative comfort and ease operate the tool. Projecting from the underside (the side opposite the flat side), is a substantially centrally arranged projection in the form of a drive part 17. The drive part 17 has a complementary external shape to the internal shape of the actuating means 12 of the outer closure member 4. The inner and outer closure members 4,5 are engaged with a push fit, a peripheral rim of the inner member snap-engaging behind an inwardly projecting lip of the outer member, the rim and lip being at or adjacent the free lower (in use) edge of the skirts of the respective inner and outer closure members.

The actuating means 12 of the end member of the outer closure member is substantially centrally arranged, and is in the embodiment in the form of a blind orifice in a boss 18 upstanding from the end member of the outer closure member 5.

The inner member has at the free end of the skirt a frangible tamper evident ring 19 which is in place on first assembly of the closure device but which is torn off on a first opening operation, to indicate that there has been an opening attempt made.

The drive means between the skirt members 8,9 are co-operable to drive the two closure members 4,5 in unison in one sense, a closing sense, an attempt to rotate the closure device 2 as a whole in the reverse, opening or opposite sense, resulting in the drive means 11 of the outer closure member 5 riding or "clicking" over the drive means 10 of the inner closure member 4. The closure device 2, when it is in position on the (screw-threaded) neck of a closure such as a medicine bottle, cannot then be turned to open. To activate opening and thus removal from the neck, the outer closure member is normally pushed down to overcome bias of the means 11, which are resilient means in the form of flexible webs or tongues and normally urge the end members 6,7 apart, so that second driving means 20,21 of the device 2 can engage. The second driving means 20,21 comprise a respective series of formations in the form of castellations, in the embodiment shown, which castellations comprise two sets, one on the outer wall of the skirt 8 of the inner cap 4 and one on the inner wall of the skirt 9. The closure device 2 can then be removed from a container by turning in the opposite sense to the opening sense, providing the pushing action is maintained that is axially downwardly bodily towards the top 6 of the inner member 4 in order for the outer closure member 5 to "flatten" the members 11 and engage the formations 20,21 simultaneously to the rotation in the opposite sense (opening sense) being applied. However, this is a disadvantage, particularly for an aged or infirm, particularly arthritic, person, a young person and /or if the closure device is stuck onto the neck, for example because of "sticky" contents of the containers. To overcome this, the tool 14 is offered up to the closure device 2 so that the projection enters 17 the complementary-shaped recess or drive means in the boss 18 on the outer member 5. The projection and recess have a snug push-fit and the respective diameter of the body part 15 is large compared to the width of the drive means 17,18 (60mm to 5mm, i.e. 10:1) so that there is a large lever effect. Because the castellations are engaged, they form a firm cooperative temporary locking engagement between the inner and outer closure members with no slip. Thus the castellations, or teeth, provide a full, or virtually 100% in the embodiment, application of the lever force achieved by the turning moment or lever effect of the hand tool 14. There are in the embodiment sixteen castellations on the inner and outer closure members, providing this firm interengagement. Thus while still pushing down on and rotating the tool, the whole closure device is rotated in the opposite sense for opening, and for removal of the closure device 2 from the container. There may be more or fewer castellations or teeth, as desired.

When open (i.e. the closure member is removed from the bottle) the tool and closure device can be separated. Moreover, the closure device 2 is child¬ proof or resistant because even if ihe tool and closure device are combined, a child does not know how to operate the combination. He does not know whether to push and turn. Also, the boss 18 may be a spigot which sits into a socket in drive part 17.

Referring to Figures 6 to 11, there is shown a modified tool 14 for use in opening a child-resistant closure like that 2 of Figures 1-5. The modified tool 14 can also be used to indicate the time at which the closure was last opened. The device 14 comprises as before a body member 15, which is in the form of a flat disc or handwheel having a circumferential edge which is profiled or scalloped to facilitate being gripped by the hand and turned, in the example shown, the circumferential edge being formed with a series of scallops to receive the user's fingers. At the centre of its underside, the body 15 is formed with a square-section projection 17 for use in opening a child-resistant closure.

An indicating means in the form of a rotary indicator 22 is carried on the upper side of the body 15. Referring to Figures 9 to 11, the rotary indicator 22 comprises a flat disc 23 having a spindle 24 projecting from its underside as viewed. A bar 25 is formed on the upper side (as viewed) of the indicator 22, across a diameter thereof, and one end 26 of the bar 25 is pointed, so that the bar 25 can be used as a pointer. The indicator 22 is fitted to the body member 15 with the spindle 24 received in an axial bore 28 in the body member 15 and the disc 23 of the indicator resting flat on the upper side of the body member 15. The underside of the disc 23 of the indicator is formed with a small, rounded projection or pip 27, arranged to detent into any one of twelve complementary recesses or dimples 29 in the upper side of the body member 15. A spring biassing arrangement (not shown) is provided and cooperates between the spindle 24 and its receiving bore 28, to urge the indicator axially towards the body member 15. The upper side of the body spacing around the periphery of the indicator disc 23, arranged so that the pointed end 26 of the indicator bar 25 will point to one or other of these numbers, according to the angular position in which it is detented.

The device 14 which is shown in Figures 6 to 11 is particularly for use in opening a closure which has an inner member in the form of a cap screw- threaded onto a container as described with reference to Figures 1 to 5.

Once the user has taken the required dose of medicine or required pills from the container, the closure can be screwed on again. Thus, the user can rotate the indicator 22 to point to one of the series of numbers 1 to 12, corresponding to the time of day. Accordingly, when the user returns to the container at a later time, he or she can check, by inspecting the indicator, at what time he or she previously tool medication.

It will be understood that the indicating means may take the form of an indicator or warning device that can warn or indicate to a user or doctor that the closure device has been used. Thus the "clock-like" device of Figures 6 to 11 may be replaced by indicator or warning means such as an electronic device, suitably one with an LCD display. The display can be in the top or the outer closure member of the closure device, and can have a setting device to show a particular time of "last opening", as in Figures 6 to 11. There may also be an audible alarm device, again electronic, which buzzes or bleeps, or gives any other audible alarm, should the bottle not be opened after a set time elapse since last opening. Furthermore there can be a simple counter, mechanical or electronic, which indicates the number of times medicament has been taken. This can warn a doctor or user of a potentially missed taking of a medicament. In all embodiments, "first use" or tampering is indicated by rupture of a tamper ring on the inner closure member which is ruptured when the closure device is first operated.

It will be understood that the closure device and tool, in all embodiments, can be made of a suitable material such as plastic. Also, the recess in the boss 18 and boss 17, or vice versa, may be of any suitable configuration other than square.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A set of parts, comprising a first means being a closure device for a container having a cylindrical opening, the device having an inner and outer closure member each respectively comprising an end member and a skirt member, there being drive means of the inner and outer closure members which are operable so that those members are generally rotatable in unison in one sense only, the outer member having actuating means of its end member, and second means being a manually operable tool for engaging the actuating means, whereby when assembled with the tool engaged with the actuating means, the two means of the set are operable to rotate the closure device in a sense opposite the one sense.

2. A set of parts according to claim 1, the tool comprising a hand grippable body part and a drive part projecting from one side thereof for actuating engagement with the actuating means of the outer member.

3. A set of parts according to claim 2, the grippable body part comprising a substantially flat surface opposite the side from which the drive part projects.

4. A set of parts according to Claim 3, the body part comprising a substantially palm-sized part.

5. A set of parts according to Claim 4, the body part comprising a boundary edge with means for enhancing manual gripping of the tool.

6. A set of parts according to Claim 5, the gripping enhancing means comprising a scalloped peripheral edge. 7. A set of parts according to any of claims 2 to 6, the actuating means and drive part each having a substantially square configuration in cross- section.

8. A set of parts according to any preceding claim, the second means comprising indicator means operable to indicate a time of opemng of the closure device.

9. A set of parts according to Claim 8, the indicator means comprising means to record the time at which the container was last opened.

10. A set of parts according to Claim 8 or Claim 9, the indicator means comprising a rotary member which can be turned to any of a plurality of positions, these positions having associated with them indicia to represent corresponding times.

11. A set of parts according to Claim 10, there being detent means arranged to locate the indicator means in each position.

12. A set of parts according to Claim 11, the positions corresponding to hourly intervals.

14. A set of parts according to Claim 13, the intervals being twenty four hourly intervals.

15. A set of parts according to any of Claims 10 to 14, the rotary member being mountable on the upper side of the second means.

16. A set of parts according to Claim 15, the second means and indicator means having interengageable means.

17. A set of parts according to Claim 16, the interengageable means comprising spigot means and socket means.

18. A set of parts according to either of Claims 8 or 9, the indicator means comprising electronic indicator means.

19. A set of parts according to Claim 18, the electronic indicator means comprising an LCD device.

20. A set of parts according to Claim 18 or Claim 19, comprising a warning device.

21. A set of parts according to Claim 20, the warning device comprising an audible warning device.

22. A set of parts according to any of Claims 18 to 21, the indicator means comprising a time indicator.

23. A set of parts according to any of Claims 18 to 21, the indicator means comprising a counter for counting the number of times the closure device has been operated.

24. An assembly of a set of parts according to any preceding claim.

25. An assembly of a set of parts according to any of Claims 1 to 23, mounted on a container. 26. A device comprising a manually grippable body part and a drive part projecting therefrom for engaging with a closure device for a container having a cylindrical opening, whereby to operate same.

27. A device, comprising a manually grippable body part and a drive part projecting therefrom for engaging with a closure device for a container having a cylindrical opening, the device having indicator means to indicate a time of opening of the container.