Safety closure assembly with a sheet metal overcap

Abstract

A safety closure is disclosed for use with a container having a threaded neck. The closure includes an inner cap with a plurality of teeth on its top wall and internal threads for cooperatively engaging with the threaded neck of the container. The closure also includes a sheet metal overcap which overlies and is loosely mounted on the inner cap. The overcap has a plurality of louvers in its top wall which are adapted for cooperative engagement with the teeth of the inner cap. Each of the louvers of the overcap includes a flange portion which projects downwardly at an angle from the top wall of the overcap to a terminal edge defined by a slit in the top wall. An integral supporting arch portion connects each side of the flange portion to the top wall between the terminal edge and the junction of the flange portion and the top wall. A downwardly directed minimal force may be applied to the overcap while turning it in the closure-applying direction to engage the louvers of the overcap with the teeth of the inner cap and thereby screw the closure onto the container neck. A downwardly directed removing force must be applied to the overcap while turning it in the closure-removing direction to engage the louvers of the overcap with the teeth of the inner cap and thereby unscrew the closure from the container neck.