Closure Removal Causes Portion Thereof To Remain With Receptacle Patents (Class 215/258)
  • Patent number: 11970311
    Abstract: A synthetic-resin container lid having tamper-evident characteristics, which is not separated in its entirety from a mouth-neck portion of a container even after the mouth-neck portion of the container is unsealed, is manufactured rapidly and inexpensively. A plurality of scores (26, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38) are formed, as post-processing, at predetermined positions in an incomplete container lid formed with no scores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: NIPPON CLOSURES CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shin Nakamura
  • Patent number: 11873141
    Abstract: A tamper evidence closure is provided for rotatably engaging with a finish of a container to seal contents within the interior of the container. A multiplicity of thin connections attach a tamper evidence band to a circumference of the tamper evidence closure. A segmented cam extends around the circumference of the tamper evidence band. An angled lower surface of the cam facilitates passing the tamper evidence band over a tamper evidence ledge of the finish during assembly of the tamper evidence closure onto the container. An upper surface of the cam engages with the tamper evidence ledge to break the thin connections and retain the tamper evidence band positioned on the finish during loosening of the tamper evidence closure. Multiple overhang portions above the cam press against an upper portion of the tamper evidence ledge to ensure that the tamper evidence band remains engaged with the tamper evidence ledge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Niagara Bottling, LLC
    Inventor: Jay Clarke Hanan
  • Patent number: 11807436
    Abstract: The present invention relates to tethered plastic stopper having a closure shell and a tamper band connected to the closure shell by bridges that connect a bottom edge of the closure shell to a top edge of the tamper band. The stopper includes a ridge forming a link that separably connects the closure shell and the tamper band by a weakness line containing a plurality of first bridges and the at least one second bridge. The at least one second bridge has a cross-sectional area greater than the cross-sectional area of the first bridges. The link is formed by a separation line made along the bottom of the link and the top remaining material of the tamper band, the link remaining attached to the tamper band by the at least one second bridge when the plurality of first bridges is broken.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Inventor: Richard Lamoureux
  • Patent number: 11787609
    Abstract: A hinged flip-top cap with a tamper-evident inner ring includes a base portion, which extends into a pourer portion, and a flip-top lid. A hinge arrangement connects the flip-top lid to the base portion and is foldable with respect to said base portion, so that flip-top lid can be tilted with respect to the base portion and moved between a closed position above the base portion and an open position detached and rotated from the base portion. The inner ring is position inwardly of the flip-top lid and the base portion and operates as a tamper-evident element that reveals whether a first opening between the flip-top lid and the base portion has been made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Inventors: Silvia Ferrari, Guglielmo Ferrari
  • Patent number: 10912918
    Abstract: A rigid package or container for a sterile pre-lubricated, ready to use female-length catheter with enhanced gel receptacles and simple constructions. A main body of the rigid container has a hollow interior which may receive a gel receptacle defining an inner cavity filled with a lubricating gel. The gel receptacle partly inserts into the main body and a tube of the catheter inserts through the gel receptacle into the main body with a proximal outlet projecting out of the gel receptacle so as to be graspable. Alternatively, the gel may be provided within the hollow interior of the main body. A rigid and closed cap seals to either the main body or the gel receptacle and closes the hollow interior of the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Cure Medical LLC
    Inventor: Timothy A. Palmer
  • Patent number: 10427823
    Abstract: A lightweight neck finish includes a retaining structure that interacts with a tamper band to cause frangible connectors between the tamper band and closure to break upon initial removal of the closure from the neck finish. An upper retention portion of the retaining structure has a profile with a reduced footprint as compared to a conventional retaining structure. A lower support portion of the retaining structure has an outermost diameter similar in size to an outermost diameter of a conventional retaining structure. However, the lower support of the lightweight neck finish is formed with one or more circumferentially extending slots and/or one or more vertical slots. The reduced footprint of the retention portion and the slots of the support portion minimize the amount of material, weight, and time and cost required to make the lightweight neck finish, while providing for increased tamper evidence visibility as compared to conventional neck finishes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Silgan White Cap LLC
    Inventor: Sungsuk Steve Kim
  • Patent number: 9010555
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cap (1) that comprises a circular skirt (12), said cap including an irremovable portion (12-2) fixedly attached about the neck of a vessel (2) and a removable portion (12-1) removably attached to the neck, the irremovable and removable portions being separated by a first weakening line (20). In order to maintain the removable portion of the skirt attached to the irremovable portion of the skirt after the first opening, the skirt is provided with a second peripheral weakening line (34). It is also provided that the first weakening line extends less than 360°, while the two ends (34A, 34B) of the second weakening line are located along the periphery of the skirt respectively between a first (28A) of the two ends of a linking portion of the skirt and the hasp (26-1) closest to said first end, and between the second end (28B) of the linking portion and the hasp (26-6) closest to said second end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A.
    Inventors: Michel Luzzato, Jerome Mezerette
  • Patent number: 8991634
    Abstract: A seal ring for sealing a container. A seal ring has a base and a longitudinal axis extending therethrough, a radially outer portion, and an inner seal. The radially outer portion has a locking band that is configured to lock beneath an external engagement element of a container so as to secure the seal ring thereto. The inner seal is configured to be biased into sealing engagement with an inner finish surface of the container. The seal ring may be part of a package that also includes a container having a finish that comprises a sealing lip, an external engagement element, and an inner surface, and a foil sealingly and removably coupled to the base of the seal ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Owens-Brockway Glass Container Inc.
    Inventors: Edward A. Grant, Brian J. Chisholm
  • Patent number: 8944292
    Abstract: A fluid dispenser including, a fluid reservoir with a neck externally threaded and that internally defines an opening that communicates with the inside of the reservoir, the neck forming at least one helical thread; and a dispenser head that is mounted on the neck by a fastener member in engagement both with the threaded neck and with the dispenser member. The fastener member includes a ring, the ring forming: a reception mechanism for receiving the dispenser member; an annular ledge; and a skirt that is in engagement with the threaded neck. The ring includes a rupture mechanism between the ledge and the skirt so as to separate the ledge from the skirt by turning the ring on the threaded neck, in such a manner as to remove the dispenser member from the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Aptar France SAS
    Inventor: Francis Moreau
  • Patent number: 8839971
    Abstract: This device comprises an elastomer stopper (501) and a cap (502) suitable for covering both the neck (12) of a container and the stopper in position in this neck. The cap comprises a ring (503) provided with means (503G) for locking it to the neck and an operating member (504). The operating member (504) is fitted with at least one deformable part (506C) for transmitting a thrust load (f2) parallel to a central axis (X503) of the ring (503), between two portions (505, 506) of this member (504) or between an external material (301) and this member (504). The load transmitting part (506C) is deformable between a first configuration in which its length (L506) parallel to the central axis (X503) is a first value and a second configuration in which this parallel length is a second value that is less than the first value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: West Pharmaceutical Services Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Antoine Aneas
  • Publication number: 20140263156
    Abstract: A product includes a container including a neck, and a ring non-removably secured to the neck of the container. The ring may be used to non-removably couple a fitment to the container and/or may be adapted irreversibly to change a characteristic of the ring that is visible from outside of the container to advise a user that the package has been opened.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Daniel L. Newsom, Roger P Smith, Jessica R Bryant, Oleg Feygenson, Igor Kachko, Vladimir Vasikyev
  • Patent number: 8733567
    Abstract: A bottle capping assembly including a “C” member having an upper arm, a lower arm, a stem section extending between the upper and lower arms, and having a laterally opening concavity formed by the arms and stem; a ceiling member, the ceiling member incorporating the “C” member's lower arm; and a frangible channel incorporated operatively into the ceiling member, the frangible channel being adapted for, upon an application of an upward force to the “C” member's upper arm, segmenting the ceiling member to form a fluid outlet port; the assembly further including a cylindrical wall fixedly attached to and extending downwardly from the ceiling member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Inventor: Daniel A. Dopps
  • Patent number: 8720716
    Abstract: A closure for a container has an integral tether section of the closure skirt attached to a tamper band at frangible sections. In the open position, the tether section has a free length providing for a plurality of resiliently docked closure positions retaining the closure on the container and not interfering with the transfer of contents therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Inventor: Phillip John Campbell
  • Patent number: 8703265
    Abstract: A holographic sealing member for a container including a heat actuated sealant or adhesive layer that secures the sealing member to a container. The sealing member also includes a metal foil sealing layer over and covering and bonded to the heat actuated sealant or adhesive layer, a holographic layer over and covering and bonded to the metal foil layer having an upper plastic layer and a lower embossed image layer, and a tab over and covering and bonded to the upper plastic layer. The tab may be pulled to remove the tab and the plastic layer from a container, thereby exposing the lower embossed image layer which may then be perforated to gain access to the contents of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Selig Sealing Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert William Thorstensen-Woll, Joseph Smelko
  • Patent number: 8695822
    Abstract: A container for preventing a container cap from being lost and for preventing unintended rotation thereof about a mouth of the container. Maintaining a stable posture of the an opened container cap to enhance use of an opened container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Inventor: Si-Joong Kwon
  • Patent number: 8684203
    Abstract: A screw closure (10) has a screw cap (1) and a tamperproof band (5). The screw cap (1) has a head plate (2) with a cylindrical lateral cap surface (3,provided with an internal thread (4) and wherein the tamperproof band (5) has a flexible band (6) and is connected to the lower periphery of the lateral cap surface (3) via one or more easy-tear elements (7). In order to create a screw closure which has a flexible band and, even with relatively large tolerance deviations between the closure and container neck, still ensures that the tamperproof band can be reliably torn off is thus providing enhanced functional reliability. The flexible band (6) is a continuously encircling flexible band which, distributed over its circumference, has portions (8) which can be extended easily and, therebetween, portions (9) which are less easy to extend.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Bericap GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Günter Krautkrämer
  • Patent number: 8596476
    Abstract: A container assembly includes a container having an unthreaded finish portion and a closure having a downwardly depending sidewall and blocking structure provided at a lower end of the sidewall for securing the closure on to the unthreaded finish portion. The sidewall is provided with a predetermined area of weakness so that in the event that an attempt is made to remove the closure from the container the predetermined area of weakness will rupture, leaving the closure with insufficient structural integrity to be successfully reapplied to the container. The container assembly has particular utility for use in packaging brand-name comestibles such as ketchup for restaurant use. It will frustrate efforts by the restaurant to replenish the brand-name comestible with a cheaper replacement within a dispensing container that is still labeled with the brand of the original product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Inventors: Craig Caldwell, Joseph P. Labadie, Lance J. Novotny, Richard R. Johnston
  • Patent number: 8584874
    Abstract: A closure is provided for connection to a container. The closure includes a cap and a tamper band. The tamper band includes retention tabs that retain the tamper band to the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Berry Plastics Corporation
    Inventor: Mark N. Russell
  • Patent number: 8528757
    Abstract: A cap is provided with a guarantee seal. The guarantee seal has guarantee portions which have an engagement portion and a connecting portion. The seal further has bridges for connecting adjacent guarantee portions to one another and a safety portion that makes the engagement portion integral with the handling portion. The safety portion is structurally suitable for keeping the engagement portion constrained in the broken seal configuration, for preventing the forming of dangerous spikes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Guala Pack S.p.A.
    Inventor: Luigi Bisio
  • Patent number: 8517201
    Abstract: Heat-sealable seal including a support bonded to an inner seal by a temporary adhesive is provided. The inner seal has a pull-tab which is folded back once on the surface of the inner seal in contact with the corresponding surface of the support. The inner seal includes a laminate having a reinforcing layer and a sheet of a conducting material, to the lower surface of which is applied a heat-sealing film. The temporary adhesive is applied to the whole surface of the inner seal once the pull-tab is folded back. The seal is characterized in that the laminate has over its entire thickness a notch from which the pull-tab emerges, and a fold line formed by the pull-tab once the pull-tab is folded back, the fold line having a shorter length than the length of the notch. Methods of producing the seal are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Manufacture Generale de Joints
    Inventors: Stephane Triquet, Remy Bischoff
  • Patent number: 8517194
    Abstract: A tamper-indicating closure that includes a base wall having a cylindrical skirt for removably engaging a container finish. A tamper band is frangibly connected to the skirt, and a plurality of wings extend inwardly from an inner surface of the tamper band for engagement with a container finish. The wings are resiliently flexibly connected to the inner surface of the band along lines that are disposed at a counterclockwise angle with respect to the axis of the skirt as viewed from inside the skirt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Berry Plastics Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth S. Bloom, Stephen A. Eilertson, Wendell D. Willingham
  • Patent number: 8490805
    Abstract: This method makes it possible to fabricate a stopper (1) starting from a tubular skirt (12) suitable for surrounding a container neck, and provided both with retainer means for retaining it permanently around the neck, and also with fastener means for fastening it removably to the neck. In this method, the skirt and a blade (110) are moved in rotation relative to each other about the axis (X-X) of the skirt so that the blade cuts a peripheral line of weakness in the skirt, which line of weakness is made up firstly of through notches and secondly, between said notches around the periphery of the skirt, of breakable bridges that interconnect, in the same direction as the axis, a non-removable portion of the skirt, which portion is provided with the retainer means, and a removable portion of the skirt, which portion is provided with the fastener means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A.
    Inventors: Jean-Luc Giraud, Michel Luzzato, Jerome Mezerette, Fabien Flamand
  • Patent number: 8469213
    Abstract: [Problems to be Solved] In a synthetic resin container closure of a type which includes a body and a tamper evident bottom portion connected to the body via a plurality of breakable bridge portions arranged with spacing in a circumferential direction, and in which the body continues to be connected via unbroken connecting pieces to the tamper evident bottom portion continuously mounted on a mouth-and-neck portion of a container even after the bridge portions are broken to remove the body from the mouth-and-neck portion of the container, an improvement is made so that the container closure can be applied, without posing problems, even when the ascent distance of the body when removed is relatively long. [Means to Solve the Problems] Each of the unbroken connecting pieces is in such a form as to include two tilting portions whose tilting directions are opposite to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Japan Crown Cork Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Osamu Ishii, Takashi Kimura, Seiji Fukushi
  • Patent number: 8453859
    Abstract: A tamper-evident bottle closure has a ring element affixable to a bottle neck and a cap unit manufactured separately from the ring element and being coupled with the ring element externally to a bottle. The ring element of a coupled closure is affixable to a bottle neck prior to a first time opening of the bottle to retain a contained product in a confirmed sealed condition, yet the cap unit is irreversibly separable from the ring element when unscrewed for a first time to indicate that the bottle has been opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Inventor: Tzvi Akiva Rozenberg
  • Patent number: 8439213
    Abstract: The closure assembly (1) comprises: a pourer unit (2) having a lower portion (3) for fixing to the mouth of the container and an upper pouring portion (4), a removable cap (6) provided with a resiliently deformable peripheral lip portion (7), and an outer covering (8, 9) including: an upper sleeve element (8) and a lower sleeve element (9. The arrangement is such that, after the first opening of the closure assembly (1), the lip portion (7) is arranged in the opened-out condition in which it extends radially outside of the lower sleeve element (9) but permits subsequent re-fitting of the cap (6) on the pourer unit (2) as far as the closure position in which the lower sleeve element (9) and the upper sleeve element (8) once more extend the predetermined distance (d) apart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Alplast S.p.A.
    Inventors: Francesco Goria, Fabio Caporaletti, Flavio Rainero
  • Patent number: 8353413
    Abstract: A tamper-evident closure and container combination identifies a compromised seal when a severable ring has been detached from a closure upon a first opening of the container. Successful detachment of the severable ring is improved whereby a lower neck portion of a container is angled or arced downwardly and outwardly from a point immediately adjacent an annular ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Phoenix Closures, Inc.
    Inventor: Len Ekkert
  • Patent number: 8317042
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a package that includes (i) a container with a body and a neck, a container opening with an opening diameter (d), a screw thread, and a flange extending outwardly and having a flange diameter (D), and (ii) a removable closure adapted to be unscrewed from the screw threads of the container, with the closure having a top, a skirt and a tamper-evident ring attached to the lower edge of the skirt and is adapted to catch the flange of the container's neck when the closure is first screwed onto the neck. The ring is detachable from the skirt upon first removal of the closure from the neck. The container has a top load resistance inferior or equal to 30 daN, and the height h between the neck top edge and the lower part of the flange is such that it satisfies the relationship h?(d/3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Nestlé Waters Management and Technology
    Inventor: Jean-Paul Cerveny
  • Patent number: 8302794
    Abstract: A closure is provided for connection to a container. The closure includes a cap and a tamper band. The tamper hand includes retention tabs that retain the tamper band to the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Berry Plastics Corporation
    Inventor: Mark N. Russell
  • Patent number: 8297458
    Abstract: A cap includes a cap main body and a gasket, and the gasket includes an inner leg, a bent part, and a flange part. A portion of the gasket connected to an inner circumferential side of the inner leg is positioned lower than a portion of the gasket connected to an outer circumferential side of the inner leg. The top plate of the gasket includes a flange part disposed between the inner leg and the bent part, and the flange part is thinner than a portion of the top plate that is contiguous with the inner circumferential side of the inner leg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Nihon Yamamura Glass Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuaki Sumimiya, Hiroshi Hamana
  • Patent number: 8281944
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an anti-tamper closure (1, 1?) for threaded bottles (100, 100?) comprising an outer cap (20, 20?) and an outer skirt (22, 22?) which is connected to the outer cap (20, 20?) prior to initial opening, and an inner cap (30, 30?) and an inner annular element (32, 32?) which is connected to the inner cap (30, 30?) prior to initial opening, in which the inner annular element (32, 32?) is connected to the inner cap (30, 30?) with respect to both rotation and translation by inner connection means (31, 31?) which render the inner annular element (32, 32?) free to rotate and to translate relative to the inner cap (30, 30?) after initial opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Guala Closures S.p.A.
    Inventor: Piero Battegazzore
  • Patent number: 8225954
    Abstract: Heat-sealable seal including a support bonded to an inner seal by a temporary adhesive is provided. The inner seal has a pull-tab which is folded back once on the surface of the inner seal in contact with the corresponding surface of the support. The inner seal includes a laminate having a reinforcing layer and a sheet of a conducting material, to the lower surface of which is applied a heat-sealing film. The temporary adhesive is applied to the whole surface of the inner seal once the pull-tab is folded back. The seal is characterized in that the laminate has over its entire thickness a notch from which the pull-tab emerges, and a fold line formed by the pull-tab once the pull-tab is folded back, the fold line having a shorter length than the length of the notch. Methods of producing the seal are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Manufacture Generale de Joints
    Inventors: Stephane Triquet, Remy Bischoff
  • Publication number: 20120152884
    Abstract: The invention relates to a stopper assembly, and more particularly, to an improved stopper to prevent a sloshing of an its liquefied content when a bottle is tilted to allow a predetermined amount of the content to be poured and to allow the content to be easily discharged. A stopper assembly includes a inner cap 20 coupled to an inlet of a bottle 10, an outer cap 30 coupled openly and closely to an outer side of the inner cap 20 to seal the inlet of the bottle 10, wherein the inner cap 20 includes a cylindrical shaped body 21 coupled to the inlet of the bottle 10; a protrusion 22 forming slope 22a extending toward a center of an upper side of the body 21 from an edge of an lower end of the body 21 and forming an plurality of exit holes 22b around the slope 22a.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2009
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Inventors: Jin Hwan Hwan Lee, Sung Kyu Cho, Kwang Soo Park
  • Publication number: 20120055900
    Abstract: The invention relates to a so-called “anti-drip” cap (10) for a flexible bottle (12) including a base (16), in communication with the bottle, covered by a cover (26), including an outlet opening (30), the cover (26) being movable between a bottom blocking position and a top dispensing position, characterised in that the cover (26) is mobile between a first angular position associated with the bottom blocking position and a second angular position, in which the cover (26) is mobile under the pressure of a product feeding the base, between an intermediate position for venting the bottle (12) and the top dispensing position, an elastic return element (38) with a predetermined stiffness being inserted in the second angular position between the cover and the base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2010
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: MAITRISE ET INNOVATION
    Inventor: Daniel De Rosa
  • Patent number: 8061542
    Abstract: A drinking bottle assembly includes a bottle having a cavity for storing a fluid and a neck that forms an opening at a dispensing end of the bottle. A removable collar at least partially covers the bottle neck and provides a generally smooth outer surface for a person's mouth and lips to contact when drinking from the bottle. The collar includes a neck attachment for retaining the collar on the bottle. A removable cap can be selectively attached to the collar for opening and closing the bottle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Murray Waters, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy J. Poupore, Stacey Charlene Gay, Stephen Douglas Armstrong
  • Patent number: 8051997
    Abstract: A daily water bottle consumption system that includes a bottle with a threaded neck and a top opening. Attached to the neck is an intermediate cap with internal threads that selectively connect to the external threads on the bottle's neck. Formed on the intermediate cap is a threaded spout to which a removable lid is attached. The lid includes a cylindrical shaped lid body with a first recessed cavity in which a rotating turn dial is disposed. Disposed between the first recessed cavity and the turn dial is a snap ring that enables the turn dial to be manually turned and click into one of a plurality of coded positions. Formed on the turn dial is a handle which the user grasps and rotates to indicate the number of times the bottle has been filled with a desired liquid in a 24 hour period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Inventor: Michael Buckley
  • Publication number: 20110174760
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cap (1) that comprises a circular skirt (12), said cap including an irremovable portion (12-2) fixedly attached about the neck of a vessel (2) and a removable portion (12-1) removably attached to the neck, the irremovable and removable portions being separated by a first weakening line (20). In order to maintain the removable portion of the skirt attached to the irremovable portion of the skirt after the first opening, the skirt is provided with a second peripheral weakening line (34). It is also provided that the first weakening line extends less than 360°, while the two ends (34A, 34B) of the second weakening line are located along the periphery of the skirt respectively between a first (28A) of the two ends of a linking portion of the skirt and the hasp (26-1) closest to said first end, and between the second end (28B) of the linking portion and the hasp (26-6) closest to said second end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2009
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Applicant: TETRA LAVAL HOLDINGS & FINANCE S.A.
    Inventors: Michel Luzzato, Jerome Mezerette
  • Patent number: 7975863
    Abstract: Beverage bottling plant with a beverage bottle closing machine for applying a screw-top bottle closure to a beverage bottle. The ring portion of the screw-top bottle closure has engaging surfaces which engage with engaging surfaces of the bottle to essentially prevent or minimize the rotation of the ring portion upon unscrewing of the screw-top bottle closure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: KHS Maschinen- und Anlagenbau AG
    Inventor: Volker Till
  • Patent number: 7971739
    Abstract: A closure for a container with a cap connecting to a neck of the container has at least one cutter edge placed around a central axis internal of the neck. The edge cuts through a closure film as axially displaced on a holding sleeve, which is held centrally by the cap with a flexible skirt. The holding sleeve contains a component for mixing with the contents of the container. A screw cap holds an initial non-puncturing position and, a stop position after additional screwing on, at which the film is punctured. The cap remains permanently on the neck of the container, and includes a pouring opening. In the stop position, the container contents flow toward the pouring opening. When the screw cap is back into its initial position, flow to the pouring opening is interrupted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Inventor: Rainer Ammann
  • Patent number: 7927549
    Abstract: A method for accessing the contents of a closed collection device having a cap and a fluid-holding vessel in fixed association. The method includes penetrating one or more materials of the cap with an air displacement pipette, thereby forming one or more passageways for venting air displaced from within the collection device, where the pipette includes structure for forming the one or more passageways. A fluid present in the vessel is drawn into the pipette before the pipette is removed from the collection device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Gen-Probe Incorporated
    Inventors: Mordi I. Iheme, Daniel L. Kacian, Mark R. Kennedy, Gus G. Tseo, Bruce W. Anderson, Kathleen A. Dickey, Nick M. Carter
  • Publication number: 20100326948
    Abstract: A closure for a container has an integral tether section of the closure skirt attached to a tamper band at frangible sections. In the open position, the tether section has a free length providing for a plurality of resiliently docked closure positions retaining the closure on the container and not interfering with the transfer of contents therefrom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2010
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Inventor: Phillip John Campbell
  • Patent number: 7802690
    Abstract: A closure includes a ribbed design wherein the ribs improve the ability to manually manipulate the closure and produce a distinctive aesthetic appearance. The new design allows improved manufacturing ability while reducing closure cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Portola Packaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard D. Lohrman, Mike Xiaoli Ma
  • Patent number: 7781037
    Abstract: Disclosed are self-authenticating seals for containers in which the seals include a non-visible taggant correlated to a pre-determined indicia. Containers sealed with the sealing members as well as methods of authenticating containers that have been sealed with the sealing members are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Robert M. Korson
  • Patent number: 7775386
    Abstract: A cap comprises an opening indicating element provided with a flap arrangement suitable for interacting with an abutment arrangement associated with a neck of a container, said flap arrangement comprising at least one first portion and at least one second portion arranged alongside one another along a peripheral edge of said opening indicating element, a dimension of said at least one second portion measured transversely in relation to said peripheral edge being greater than a corresponding dimension of said at least one first portion measured transversely in relation to said peripheral edge; a container comprises a neck from which an abutment arrangement projects and a cap provided with a flap arrangement suitable for interacting with said abutment arrangement, said abutment arrangement comprising a plurality of distinct abutment elements and said flap arrangement comprising at least one portion suitable for being received in a gap defined between two abutment elements of said plurality of abutment elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Sacmi Cooperativa Meccanici Imola Societa Cooperativa
    Inventor: Alessandro Falzoni
  • Patent number: 7712619
    Abstract: We propose a screw closure for containers, particularly bottles, with a top from which extends a surrounding skirt, said screw closure having a holding device for fixing the screw closure to the container, and with a security band disposed at the edge of the skirt that is facing away from the top, said security band being connected to the screw closure via a predetermined breaking line, and at least one elongation zone being provided in the security band, said elongation zone enabling the security band to extend preferably transverse to its circumferential direction. This screw closure is characterized by the fact that the security band (11) has at least one elastic region (39) that is formed by the lower part of the security band (11) between a holding strip (29) and an elastic holding band (35).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Alcoa Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfhard Schwarz, Engelbert Eisele
  • Patent number: 7648670
    Abstract: An apparatus for inverting the stop flange on a tamper-indicating closure, from an axially outwardly oriented position as molded to an axially inwardly oriented position for use, includes a support base for supporting the closure such that the stop flange as molded is spaced from and oriented away from the support base. A pedestal is movably carried by the support base at a position spaced from the support base. A locator ring is carried by the pedestal and movable with the pedestal to engage the stop flange on a closure carried by the support base and to bend the stop flange radially inwardly. An inversion ring moves through the locator ring to engage and invert the stop flange that is bent radially inwardly by the locator ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Rexam Closure Systems Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel L. Mattice
  • Publication number: 20090301986
    Abstract: A one-piece closure for sealing a container having a neck portion includes a top wall (2) connected with a substantially cylindrical side wall (3) and an annular seal (24) that extends downwardly from an inner surface of the closure. The side wall (3) has a substantially contact wall thickness and the annular seal (24) is deformable, in use, on application of the closure to the neck portion of a container such that it at least in part abuts the side wall (3). A tamper evident ring (40) separates from the closure at substantially the same time the annular seal (24) disengages from the neck portion (5).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2007
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicant: CONSTAR INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher Phelan, Richard Andrew, Graham Essex
  • Publication number: 20090283493
    Abstract: The invention relates to a tamper-proof closure for a medical syringe, comprising a cover cap (7) and a fixing ring (8) for fixing the cap onto the needle base (6) of the syringe cylinder(2). The cover cap (7) and the fixing ring (8) are joined by connecting pieces (14). First projections (16) extend from the cover cap (7) to the fixing ring (8). Second projections (17) extend from the fixing ring (8) to the cover cap (7).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2005
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Inventor: Norbert Witowski
  • Patent number: 7581651
    Abstract: A metallic pilfer-proof cap, in which the skirt of a skirt portion of a cap can be so separated by a weakening portion having horizontal slits and bridges formed alternately in the circumferential direction of the cap that the skirt may be left in a ring shape as a pilfer-proof band on the side of a container mouth. The horizontal slits formed by shearing in the transverse direction from the outside to leave the bridges are offset radially more inward of the cap at the portion above a shearing plane than at the portion below the shearing plane so that the bridges are formed on the upper side of the shearing plane of the horizontal slits. The upper end portion, as located on the lower side of the shearing plane, of the pilfer-proof band is made to have an internal diameter larger than the maximum external diameter of the annular bulging portion which is formed at the container mouth for retaining the pilfer-proof band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Daiwa Can Company
    Inventors: Yosihiko Matukawa, Eiji Araki, Kunitosi Goto
  • Patent number: 7578404
    Abstract: A two-piece closure and tamper evident band assembly for use with a container neck having a peripheral bead is shown. The closure includes a top having a depending skirt. The skirt includes a break-away band frangibly connected to a bottom periphery of the skirt. The tamper evident band includes means for tearing and a lower ledge extending from a lower periphery of the band. The break-away band is positioned above the lower ledge. The closure and tamper evident band assembly is inserted onto the container neck, and when the closure is removed, the peripheral bead prevents the lower ledge and the tamper evident band from moving upward. As the closure moves up the container neck, the means for tearing tears the frangible connectors so that the break-away band and the tamper evident band remain positioned on the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Phoenix Closures, Inc.
    Inventor: Len Ekkert
  • Patent number: 7527161
    Abstract: The embodiments described herein illustrate a cap for a container comprising a cap body that includes an upper portion and a lower portion. The lower portion has an outer circumferential sidewall defining a ring-positioning member. The cap also has a ring that includes an outer member selectively engaging the ring-positioning member and an inner member disposed proximate an inside surface of the lower portion. The inner member has at least one tab extending inwardly and upwardly and terminating at a first edge. The inner member also has at least one finger member protruding inwardly from the inner member and terminating at a second edge above the first edge of the tab.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Fisher Scientific Company L.L.C.
    Inventors: Jack Rodriguez, John T. Glaser