Patents Assigned to Phoenix Closures, Inc.
  • Patent number: 5927530
    Abstract: A liner for use with a threaded closure cap is formed of a relatively thin, flexible material having a central portion configured for placement in the cap abutting a top wall thereof. The liner has at least one tab extending therefrom. The tab has a leading edge portion that is formed so as to define an angle relative to a tangent line adjacent to a juncture of the tab and the central portion. The angle of the tab is configured to be the same as the angle of the threads in the closure cap so that the tab rests fully against the threads prior to application of the closure to an associated container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Phoenix Closures, Inc.
    Inventor: David N. Moore
  • Patent number: 5915601
    Abstract: A dispensing liner for a container includes a seal element having a sealing edge and a central portion. The sealing edge is engaged with and sealed to a land portion of a container to close the opening in the container. The seal element includes a preferentially formed score line having a first frangible portion and a second portion defining a removable tab. The first frangible portion and the second portion are formed within the central portion of the liner with the second portion in spaced relation and adjacent to the sealing edge. The liner is opened along at least the first frangible portion to define a dispensing port. The periphery of the liner, at the sealing edge, forms a seal with the cap when the cap is engaged with the container after the liner is opened. The tab can be removed from the liner leaving the sealing edge in place to effect a seal between the liner and the cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Assignee: Phoenix Closures, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey F. Ullrich, Walter L. Johnson
  • Patent number: 5853097
    Abstract: A closure for use with an associated container having a finish with an external securing member formed thereon, includes a closure cap having an enlarged top wall portion defining an outermost edge and an annular skirt portion depending from the top wall portion inwardly of the outermost edge. The skirt portion has an outer wall and an inner wall having an internal securing member engageable with the container external securing member. The closure cap includes a plurality of parallel, spaced apart, tapered ribs. At least some of the ribs extend between the top wall portion and the skirt outer wall. Each rib defines an outer edge and tapers inwardly or thins from the closure cap to the outer edge to define a region adjacent to a juncture of each rib and the closure cap having a cross-sectional area that is greater than a cross-sectional area at the outer edge of each respective rib. The ribs can taper in one or more directions. The ribs are separated from one another by parallel recessed regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1998
    Assignee: Phoenix Closures, Inc.
    Inventor: Len Ekkert
  • Patent number: 5799838
    Abstract: A dual opening dispensing closure for use with an associated container includes a closure cap having a circular top wall portion and a depending annular skirt portion depending from the top wall portion. The top wall portion defines a pair of open dispensing regions. The cap includes a pair of flap-like cover portions. Each cover portion is adapted to cover a respective one of the dispensing regions. Each cover portion is connected to the top wall portion by a respective hinge region. Each hinge region defines a hinge line. The hinge lines are in spaced relation to one another and are separated from one another by a secant line extending across the cap. The hinge lines can be parallel to one another and formed generally perpendicular to the secant line. The cover portions are pivotable between an open position and a closed position independent of one another, and can be configured to pivot between the open and closed positions without interfering with pivoting of the other cover portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Assignee: Phoenix Closures, Inc.
    Inventor: Albert R. Miller
  • Patent number: 5797509
    Abstract: A liner for use with a closure package and an associated container includes a pull tab that is crimped so that the tab remains in place during assembly of the closure package. The closure package includes a cap having a top wall portion and a depending skirt portion. The cap has an engaging element formed therein, that is engageable with an engaging portion of the container. The liner is formed of a laminate having a resilient material and an adhesive layer. The liner includes a central portion configured for placement in the cap abutting the top wall portion and a tab extending from the central portion. The tab is folded over so as to rest, at least in part, on the central portion. The tab and central portion define a hinge region which defines a hinge line at a juncture of the tab and the central portion. The hinge region has a deformation area formed therein, in at least two directions relative to the hinge line, to lock the tab in position resting, at least in part, on the central portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1998
    Assignee: Phoenix Closures, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Crim Fitch
  • Patent number: 5792414
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a container, wherein less material is required to produce the container, the container has a more uniform wall thickness, and malformations around the neck of the container are significantly reduced. The method includes forming plastic into a parison and blowing it into a mold having a tapered neck portion and a body portion, which join to form an annular corner for contacting the parison. A blow pin blows air into the mold and parison, causing the parison to expand and conform to the inner contour of the mold. The taper of the neck portion and the annular corner thereby formed, cool the plastic at that point and more uniformly form the parison into the container, the amount of material wasted and required in manufacturing the container is substantially reduced, as is malformations and warping which usually occur about the neck of the finished container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1998
    Assignee: Phoenix Closures, Inc.
    Inventor: Len Ekkert
  • Patent number: 5755346
    Abstract: A tamper indicating closure for use with an associated container includes a closure cap having a circular top wall portion, and a depending annular skirt portion depending from the top wall portion. The skirt portion has an internal thread formed therein adapted to threadedly engage a thread formed on an outer surface of the container. The container includes a an annular interference ring located axially under the thread formation. The closure includes a separable, annular tamper indicating band depending from the skirt portion. The band is detachably connected to the skirt portion by a plurality of circumferentially spaced, frangible bridge-like connectors extending between the skirt portion and the band. The band includes first and second axially spaced apart, inwardly extending camming projections extending inwardly therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Phoenix Closures, Inc.
    Inventor: Len Ekkert
  • Patent number: 5720401
    Abstract: An inner seal for sealing containers by heat induction, especially when the inner seal may be in contact with the contents of the container during sealing. The inner seal includes a metallic foil layer which heats up almost instantaneously, and a foam layer which thermally insulates the foil layer from the contents of the container which may be in contact with the inner seal. The foam layer is compressed, and is consequently a poorer thermal insulator, where it contacts the land area of the neck of the container to which it is being sealed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1998
    Assignee: Phoenix Closures, Inc.
    Inventor: David N. Moore
  • Patent number: 5680968
    Abstract: A container closure system having a closure cap with a cover and a depending skirt with container engaging threads and a projecting post at the center of the underside of the closure cover. The system also includes a perforated fitment having a disk-like membrane with a plurality of apertures distributed across the membrane and an aperture of the plurality of apertures located at the center of the membrane for receiving the post. The fitment further includes a lip at the outer edge of the membrane for frictionally engaging a container at its rim when the system is applied to the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1997
    Assignee: Phoenix Closures, Inc.
    Inventor: David N. Moore
  • Patent number: 5667089
    Abstract: A closure having an inner retaining area for receiving a closure liner. The liner circumferentially contacts the land surface of the container to cover the mouth of the container upon application of the closure to the container. A well, formed around the outer peripheral edge on the inside of the closure is dimensioned to receive the land surface of the closure. The well includes an upper surface having integrally depending flexible teeth. The walls of the well together with the teeth provide a directional force against the liner causing the liner to wrap around the land surface to increase the amount of liner to land surface contact and thereby counter the effects of irregularities on the land surface. The teeth also provide a localized compression force down against the liner to further increase the sealing contact between the liner and the land surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1997
    Assignee: Phoenix Closures, Inc.
    Inventor: David N. Moore
  • Patent number: 5579943
    Abstract: A dispensing closure lid having a tear-away tab for use with a container. The tab itself is configured with an outwardly extending grasping member. The pull tab is defined by a distinct sequence of slits and perforations. The slits have a greater length than the perforations. The specific sequence of slits and perforations facilitates removal of the tab from the container mouth and provides for a clean separation of the tab from the land surface of the container and the remaining lid without tearing into the lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1996
    Assignee: Phoenix Closures, Inc.
    Inventor: Walter L. Johnson
  • Patent number: 5551608
    Abstract: A closure assembly configured for use with a container having a neck with a land surface at its uppermost end defining a mouth. The closure assembly includes a cap, a liner, and a fitment with a dispensing surface dimensioned to span the mouth of the container. A plurality of liner tabs center the liner in the cap during assembly, and retain the liner and the fitment within the cap prior to placing the cap on a container. One or more tabs may extend through slots in the fitment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1996
    Assignee: Phoenix Closures, Inc.
    Inventors: David N. Moore, Jeffrey F. Ullrich
  • Patent number: D371074
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1996
    Assignee: Phoenix Closures, Inc.
    Inventors: Bridgett Zemlo, Len Ekkert
  • Patent number: D389062
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1998
    Assignee: Phoenix Closures, Inc.
    Inventors: Len Ekkert, Jeffrey Ullrich, David N. Moore
  • Patent number: D405695
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1999
    Assignee: Phoenix Closures, Inc.
    Inventor: Bridgette Zelmo
  • Patent number: D405696
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1999
    Assignee: Phoenix Closures, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey L. Ullrich
  • Patent number: D407978
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1999
    Assignee: Phoenix Closures, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard J. Petro
  • Patent number: D407979
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1999
    Assignee: Phoenix Closures, Inc.
    Inventor: Bridgett Zemlo
  • Patent number: D409089
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1999
    Assignee: Phoenix Closure, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Nguyen
  • Patent number: D409491
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1999
    Assignee: Phoenix Closures, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Ullrich, Len Ekkert, Bridgett Zemlo