Child-resistant closure for a container and method of making same

Abstract

A child-resistant container may include a container body having a central longitudinal axis, a closed base, and an open top; and a cap assembly configured to couple to the container body for closing the container. The cap assembly may include an inner cap having an inner cap sidewall with an annular groove formed between an inner cap top surface and an inner cap open bottom and an outer cap covering the inner cap and having an outer cap sidewall having with annular ridge formed between an outer cap top surface and an outer cap open bottom. The inner cap may be configured to couple to the container body and seal the container body via the open top. The outer cap may be configured to couple to the inner cap with the annular ridge nested within the annular groove.

1 . A child-resistant container, comprising:
 a container body having a central longitudinal axis, a closed base, and an open top; and   a cap assembly configured to couple to the container body for closing the container, the cap assembly including:
 an inner cap having an inner cap top surface, an inner cap open bottom, and an inner cap sidewall, the inner cap sidewall having an annular groove formed between the inner cap top surface and the inner cap open bottom; 
 an outer cap covering the inner cap and having an outer cap top surface, an outer cap open bottom, and an outer cap sidewall, the outer cap sidewall having an annular ridge formed between the outer cap top surface and the outer cap open bottom; 
   wherein each of the inner cap top surface and the outer cap top surface include engagement features such that the inner cap and the outer cap can be selectively engaged for coaxial rotation about the central longitudinal axis;   wherein the inner cap is configured to couple to the container body and seal the container body via the open top; and   wherein the outer cap is configured to couple to the inner cap with the annular ridge nested within the annular groove.   
     
     
         2 . The child-resistant container of  claim 1 , wherein the engagement features include one or more protrusions from the inner cap top surface and one or more corresponding engagement elements of the outer cap top surface. 
     
     
         3 . The child-resistant container of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more protrusions from the inner cap top surface each include a sloped surface such that continued engagement of the outer cap and the inner cap during rotation requires an applied force pressing the outer cap towards the inner cap along the central longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         4 . The child-resistant container of  claim 1 , wherein the outer cap is prevented from being removed from a position covering the inner cap by interference between the annular ridge and the annular groove. 
     
     
         5 . The child-resistant container of  claim 1 , wherein the annular groove and the annular ridge extend circumferentially around the inner cap and the outer cap respectively. 
     
     
         6 . The child-resistant container of  claim 5 , wherein the annular ridge protrudes inwardly from the outer cap sidewall toward the annular groove. 
     
     
         7 . The child-resistant container of  claim 4 , wherein a clearance exists between the annular ridge and the annular groove sufficient to allow the outer cap to rotate freely about the central longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         8 . The child-resistant container of  claim 7 , wherein the outer cap sidewall covers the inner cap sidewall completely while the annular ridge is nested within the annular groove. 
     
     
         9 . The child-resistant container of  claim 2 , wherein the protrusions from the inner cap top surface and the engagement elements of the outer cap top surface are each positioned in a cross arrangement about the central longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         10 . A cap assembly for a child-resistant container, comprising:
 an inner cap having an inner cap top surface, an inner cap open bottom, and an inner cap sidewall, the inner cap sidewall having an annular groove formed between the inner cap top surface and the inner cap open bottom;   an outer cap covering the inner cap and having an outer cap top surface, an outer cap open bottom, and an outer cap sidewall, the outer cap sidewall having an annular ridge formed between the outer cap top surface and the outer cap open bottom;   wherein each of the inner cap top surface and the outer cap top surface include engagement features such that the inner cap and the outer cap can be selectively engaged for coaxial rotation about a central longitudinal axis;   wherein the inner cap is configured to couple to a container body and seal the container body via an open top; and   wherein the outer cap is configured to couple to the inner cap with the annular ridge nested within the annular groove.   
     
     
         11 . The cap assembly for a child-resistant container of  claim 10 , wherein the engagement features include one or more protrusions from the inner cap top surface and one or more corresponding engagement elements of the outer cap top surface. 
     
     
         12 . The cap assembly for a child-resistant container of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more protrusions from the inner cap top surface each include a sloped surface such that continued engagement of the outer cap and the inner cap during rotation requires an applied force pressing the outer cap towards the inner cap along the central longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         13 . The cap assembly for a child-resistant container of  claim 10 , wherein the outer cap is prevented from being removed from a position covering the inner cap by interference between the annular ridge and the annular groove. 
     
     
         14 . The cap assembly for a child-resistant container of  claim 10 , wherein the annular groove and the annular ridge extend circumferentially around the inner cap and the outer cap respectively. 
     
     
         15 . The cap assembly for a child-resistant container of  claim 14 , wherein the annular ridge protrudes inwardly from the outer cap sidewall toward the annular groove. 
     
     
         16 . The cap assembly for a child-resistant container of  claim 13 , wherein a clearance exists between the annular ridge and the annular groove sufficient to allow the outer cap to rotate freely about the central longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         17 . The cap assembly for a child-resistant container of  claim 16 , wherein the outer cap sidewall covers the inner cap sidewall completely while the annular ridge is nested within the annular groove. 
     
     
         18 . The cap assembly for a child-resistant container of  claim 11 , wherein the protrusions from the inner cap top surface and the engagement elements of the outer cap top surface are each positioned in a cross arrangement about the central longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         19 . A cap assembly for a child-resistant container, comprising:
 an inner cap configured to couple to a container body and having an inner cap top surface, an inner cap open bottom, and an inner cap sidewall, wherein the inner cap sidewall includes an annular groove formed between the inner cap top surface and the inner cap open bottom, and wherein the inner cap top surface includes a plurality of protrusions extending therefrom;   an outer cap covering the inner cap and having an outer cap top surface, an outer cap open bottom, and an outer cap sidewall, wherein the outer cap sidewall includes an annular ridge formed between the outer cap top surface and the outer cap open bottom, and wherein the outer cap top surface includes a plurality of engagement elements configured to receive the plurality of protrusions;   wherein the outer cap is coupled to and covers the inner cap with the annular ridge nested within the annular groove; and   wherein the outer cap is configured to be selectively engaged with the inner cap such that when engaged the outer cap and inner cap are collectively rotatable about a central longitudinal axis and when disengaged the outer cap is independently rotatable about the central longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         20 . The cap assembly for a child-resistant container of  claim 19 , wherein the plurality of protrusions each include a sloped surface such that engagement of the outer cap and the inner cap during rotation requires an applied force pressing the outer cap towards the inner cap along the central longitudinal axis; and
 wherein a clearance exists between the annular ridge and the annular groove sufficient to allow the outer cap to rotate freely about the central longitudinal axis absent the applied force.