Composite Patents (Class 215/364)
  • Patent number: 6868978
    Abstract: The invention relates to a closing cap for infusion and transfusion bottles. The inventive cap is provided with a flanged cap which encompasses a flanged neck of the bottle, secures a closing plug in the bottle and is provided with a middle recess that is closed by the middle region of a plastic lid in such a way that a ring zone (21) of the plastic lid (2) supports the edge of the middle recess from behind. At least one radially extending desired folding line (I) of the plastic lid (2) is embodied. Said line is formed by thinning the material. The aim of the invention is to indicate when said cap has been used. In an advantageous embodiment, the desired folding line (I) opens into a circumferential weakened area (S) that extends at a radial distance (y) from the center (z) of the plastic lid (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: Helvoet Pharma Belgium N.V.
    Inventors: Roland Amschlinger, Udo Bächler
  • Publication number: 20040256348
    Abstract: There is provided a lid with a center panel, a rim portion, and a hinge portion for sealing a container. The rim portion is designed to fit around an opening of a container and includes an inner wall for engaging a surface of the container opening. The hinge portion connects the rim portion to the center panel and includes flex points to allow axial movement of the center panel and corresponding radial movement of the rim portion to alternate the lid between an unsealing position and a sealing position. The sealing position provides an improved seal between the inner wall of the rim portion of the lid and the container. The lid may be formed by a two shot mold process in which the hinge portion consists of a more compliant material than the center panel and rim portion. The, lid may also include a flexible barrier membrane for enhanced sealing of the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2003
    Publication date: December 23, 2004
    Applicant: Sonoco Development, Inc.
    Inventors: James P. Stevens, Lawrence E. Renck
  • Publication number: 20040238480
    Abstract: A closure for receptacles such as bottles which includes a solid cylindrical core. The cylindrical core includes a helically or spirally shaped frangible structure along which the cylindrical core can be pulled, stripped, unwound or torn apart. The closures can be pressed into receptacles using conventional methods. To remove the closures, one pulls, strips or tears the cylindrical core apart.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2003
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Inventors: Michael S Gzybowski, Donald G Rose, Mark S Boudreau
  • Publication number: 20040238479
    Abstract: A stopper for sealing a bottle comprising a core having a top surface, a bottom surface and one or more side surfaces and an enclosure that covers the bottom surface and the one or more side surfaces of the core. The seal between the stopper and the inner surface of the neck of the bottle is formed with a radially protruding sealing member that circumferentially engages the enclosure. The core may be made of materials selected from cork, synthetic cork, material that simulates cork or from combinations thereof. The core may also be made of other materials that may create a pleasing design for a particular application or need. The sealing member may be an O-ring that may be received by an O-ring gland formed in the enclosure or the sealing member may be injection molded with the enclosure, wherein the sealing member and the enclosure form an integral piece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2002
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Inventors: Johnny E. Caswell, Vincent Arroyo
  • Publication number: 20040232102
    Abstract: An apparatus for removing a stopper from a bottle by rotating a threaded capsule surrounding the threaded neck of a bottle. The capsule is preferably received over a narrowed neck of the bottle to maintain the appearance of a foil-wrapped and cork-closed bottle. The bottle may be sealed with plugs (natural cork, synthetic cork, molded plugs), planar seals, or a combination thereof. The capsule may engage the stopper directly or by way of a stopper anchor. Aspects of the invention include preventing uncontrolled egress of stoppers from pressurized bottles, the resealing of various forms of bottles after removal of the stopper, locking the closure in place, and providing evidence of tampering.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2003
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Inventors: William A. Gardner, Patrick M. Whelan, Alan Virdee
  • Patent number: 6817990
    Abstract: An improved pump, reservoir and reservoir piston are provided for controlled delivery of fluids. A motor is operably coupled to a drive member, such as a drive screw, which is adapted to advance a plunger slide in response to operation of the motor. The plunger slide is removably coupled to the piston. The piston comprises a first member and a second member. The first member has an external proximate side and an external distal side. The external proximate side is adapted to contact the fluid and is made of a material having a first stiffness. The second member has a first side and a second side and is at least partially disposed within the first member. The first side of the second member is adjacent to the external proximate side of the first member and is made of a material having a stiffness which is greater than the first stiffness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: Medtronic MiniMed, Inc.
    Inventors: Darren Y. K. Yap, Poonam Gulati, Paul H. Kovelman, William P. Van Antwerp, Bradley J. Enegren, Eric P. Geismar, Philip J. Hudak, Susan McConnell, Sheldon B. Moberg
  • Publication number: 20040221905
    Abstract: A heat pipe includes a hollow body having a receiving space and an open end, a cover member covering the open end, and having a filling hole in fluid communication with the receiving space and extending through an outer side of the cover member, an elastic sealing member fitted within the filling hole, and a heat transfer fluid disposed in the receiving space. The elastic sealing member is pierceable to provide a passage for injection of the heat transfer fluid through the elastic sealing member, and is contractible to seal the passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2003
    Publication date: November 11, 2004
    Inventors: Chin-Kuang Luo, Chin-Liang Kuo
  • Patent number: 6796449
    Abstract: A closure for containers having an opening, comprising substantially rigid supporting and sealing means for insertion in a container opening, and a covering body made of flexible and resilient plastic material which covers at least a portion of and is connected to the supporting and sealing means, and is adapted to close the container opening. The supporting and sealing means comprise an upper and lower support and sealing element operatively joined together to support the covering body in a longitudinal direction to prevent elongation of the plastic material of the covering body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: Guala Dispensing S.p.A.
    Inventor: Felice Fragola
  • Publication number: 20040178168
    Abstract: A container stopper comprising a compressible body (2) having at least one end for insertion into an opening of a container, and a film (1) on the end of the compressible body (2) for providing a protective layer between the compressible body and the container contents; wherein at least a region at the end of the compressible body has at least one property whereby upon compression of the body for insertion into an opening of a container said region compresses without substantially adversely affecting the protective layer provided by the film (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2003
    Publication date: September 16, 2004
    Inventor: Norma Catherine Matheson
  • Publication number: 20040169001
    Abstract: A bottle closure including a shell having an open first end, a closed second end, an inner wall and an outer wall, the combination forming conical space and a tapered core having a first end, a second end and conical surface positioned between the first end and second end wherein the tapered is located in the shell conical space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2003
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Inventors: Howard V. Leendersten, Allen C. Shoup
  • Patent number: 6769560
    Abstract: A bottle stopper is constructed to include a stepped tubular stopper body, a split inner cap capped on a split bottom shank of the stopper body, a flexible outer cap capped on the inner cap, a press member mounted in the stopper body and movable between a first position where the press member gives no pressure to the inner cap and the outer cap and a second position where the press member forces the split bottom shank of the stopper body to stretch the inner cap and the outer cap radially outwards against the periphery of the bottle neck of the bottle in which the bottle stopper is inserted, and a return member adapted to return the press member from the second position to the first position after the stopper body been biased relative to the inner cap and the outer cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Inventor: Ju-Chen Lin
  • Patent number: 6763961
    Abstract: An apparatus for removing a cork from a bottle in which an anchor is embedded in the cork and a cork-pulling sleeve is provided for engaging the anchor for removal of the cork. The cork-pulling sleeve includes inner threads that mate with external threads on the neck of the bottle, and rotation of the cork-pulling sleeve in relation to the bottle extracts the cork.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Gardner Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: William A. Gardner, Gil G. Gilley
  • Publication number: 20040112856
    Abstract: The present invention is the bottle stopper which mainly includes a body, a plug and a jacket. The body has an expansion spread by the plug and outwardly confronting with the jacket. The plug comprises two necks for two different engagements alternatively engaged with the body to provide a locking means and a resealing means for bottle neck. The body is structurally retained between the plug and the jacket being assembled as a unit to form the bottle, stopper. When the bottle stopper is initially inserted into a bottle neck and pressed to position at the first engagement, the locking means provides a maximum expansion to lock around the bottle neck. And it has an appearance and a function of indicating whether the bottle neck has previously opened or the stopper has been used. When the bottle stopper is pressed downward positioning at the second engagement, the resealing means provides a slightly expansion for allowing to initially release and reseal the bottle neck.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2003
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Inventors: Hsu-Rong Hwang, Sen-Yih Lin
  • Publication number: 20040105954
    Abstract: A synthetic cork closure having at least a portion thereof coated with a gas impermeable polymer coating composition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2003
    Publication date: June 3, 2004
    Inventors: Daniel J. Falla, Michael L. Mounts, Deborah E. Plaver
  • Publication number: 20040074862
    Abstract: A stopper for closing wine bottles. The stopper has a tubular duct to communicate residual interior gaseous atmospheric volume with the outer ambient. A membrane is secured transversely in the duct to allow the passage of gaseous atmosphere through the membrane and to selectively block the passage of liquid therethrough.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2003
    Publication date: April 22, 2004
    Inventor: Marco Musaragno
  • Patent number: 6720044
    Abstract: The invention relates to pharmaceutical closures for containers made of flexible polyolefinic materials which are suitable to be filled with parentally administrable fluids prior to their sealing and sterilization. The polyolefinic closures have an excellent resealing capacity after being penetrated by a piercing device for establishing fluid communication with the container, even after multiple entries into the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Pharmacia AB
    Inventors: Gunnar Andersson, Des Mulligan
  • Patent number: 6719160
    Abstract: A bottle stopper for sealing and resealing a bottle neck. The bottle stopper includes a body, a plug and a jacket. The body includes legs and axially guiding grooves thereof provided on its inner circumference. The plug includes axially positioning ribs adapted to engage with the corresponding axially guiding grooves in order to increase reliability of the combined structure. A combined body and plug member is inserted into the jacket to form a bottle stopper. When the radially inner flange is engaged with the groove, the plug cannot be removed from the body. As the plug is axially pressed into the body, the radial inner flange is then disengaged with the groove, and the outer circumference of the jacket may radially expand to seal or to reseal a bottle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Sunlot Bottle Stopper Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Lin Sen-Yih
  • Publication number: 20040045969
    Abstract: A sealing container in which the container body has a plurality of tapered retaining blocks protruded from the inside wall thereof and equiangularly spaced around the opening in one end of the container body, the sealing cap has a disk-like knob, a hollow cylindrical plug axially extended from the center of one side of the disk-like knob and filled with a desiccant for fitting into the opening of the container body, and an annular retaining flange extended around the periphery of the cylindrical plug for engaging the tapered retaining blocks of the container body and forcing air out of the container body after insertion of the cylindrical plug into the opening of the container body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2002
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Inventor: Jou-Hsuan Chiang
  • Publication number: 20040004053
    Abstract: A closure for sealing closing a medical specimen container having a container wall defining a container interior and an open end. The closure includes a molded plastic closure frame having a cap portion for positioning over the open end of the container and an insertion portion depending from the cap portion for positioning adjacent the container wall. An elastomeric sheath is formed about the insertion portion of the frame. The elastomeric sheath is to be disposed in resilient frictional engagement with the container wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2002
    Publication date: January 8, 2004
    Applicant: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventor: Robert G. Zurcher
  • Patent number: 6651834
    Abstract: A stopper for a bottle includes a resilient outer body having an axial bore, a rigid inner body disposed within the bore, and a valve actuator moveably disposed within an axial opening of the inner body. A lower flange portion of the outer body extends radially across the bore to an axial aperture having a sealing surface. The valve actuator has an upper operator portion connected to a lower valve body portion by a longitudinally extending shaft portion. The valve body portion is sealingly engageable with the sealing surface of the orifice to close the orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Hometec Limited
    Inventor: Chung Lun Wong
  • Patent number: 6645635
    Abstract: The present invention aims at providing an improved thermoplastic film-laminated rubber stopper for a medicament vial, having more sufficient and excellent sealing property as well as barrier effect of permeation, in which the whole lower surface or the whole lower surface and a part of the upper surface of the rubber body is laminated with a thermoplastic film, in particular, tetrafluoroethylene resin film, having a flexural modulus in a range of at most 600 MPa and a coefficient of kinetic friction in a range of at most 0.4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Daikyo Seiko, Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomoyasu Muraki
  • Patent number: 6616997
    Abstract: By achieving an extruded, foamed core formed from plastic material peripherally surrounded and integrally bonded with a cooperating synthetic, plastic, extruded, outer layer, a unique, multi-component, multi-layer synthetic closure is provided which may be employed as a bottle closure or stopper for any desired product, whether the product is a liquid, a viscous material, or a solid distributed in a bottle or container and dispensed through the open portal of the container neck. The present invention achieves a mass producible, resilient, synthetic bottle closure which is employable for any desired bottle, including wine. By employing the present invention, a multi-component or multi-layer synthetic closure is attained which possesses physical properties substantially equal to or better than the physical properties found in cork material, which has caused such cork material to be the principal closure material for wine bottles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Nomacorc, LLC
    Inventors: Eduardo Lauer, Michael W. Allman
  • Patent number: 6607087
    Abstract: An adjustable bottle stopper that stoppers a bottle by expanding a cylindrical elastic spacer within the neck of the bottle. According to the invention, the bottle comprises of: a threaded disk nut, a bolt that is screwed into said threaded disk nut, a lower pressure stamp nut in which the above assembly is screwed into, a cylindrical elastic spacer that is mounted on said bolt after performing the above steps, an upper pressure stamp that is mounted on the bolt after the mounting of the cylindrical elastic spacer, a handle nut which is screwed and locked on said bolt after said upper pressure stamp is mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Inventor: Hans Adolf Turnwald
  • Patent number: 6601722
    Abstract: A composite stopper for closing bottles, in particular wine bottles, comprising a body made of a compressible material such as cork, provided at least at its end facing the contents of the bottle to be closed with matching element forming a joint. The element (25) is made from a substantially incompressible elastomer, filling up a cavity arranged circular in shape and a concentric position in the end surface (24) of the stopper body (22) and having a volume such that the element, under the effect of compression whereto the stopper body is subjected when the bottle is closed, is elastically deformed at the front of the end surface, so as to produce after closure, at the front of the cork body end surface, a sealing joint covering the whole of the end surface and in contact the bottle neck inner surface (26). The invention is useful for closing bottles of sparking or non-sparking wine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Cortex SAS
    Inventors: François Litoux-Desrue, Philippe Poitevin
  • Publication number: 20030141273
    Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of a closure system for a container comprises a sealing member and a stopper. The sealing member comprises a flange, an inner sleeve extending from the flange, and an outer sleeve surrounding the inner sleeve. The outer sleeve extends from the flange and is configured to be inserted into a container. The stopper is configured to be removably inserted into the inner sleeve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventor: Alois Osti
  • Publication number: 20030132189
    Abstract: A closure for receptacles such as bottles which includes an annular sealing member which is internally reinforced by a cylindrical core. The cylindrical core includes a helically or spirally shaped frangible structure along which the cylindrical core can be pulled, stripped, unwound or torn apart. The closures can be pressed into receptacles using conventional methods. To remove the closures, one pulls, strips or tears the cylindrical core apart. The remaining, unreinforced annular sealing member can be easily removed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2002
    Publication date: July 17, 2003
    Inventors: Michael S. Gzybowski, Donald G. Rose
  • Publication number: 20030102283
    Abstract: A closure for a container provides a secure closure for liquid containers while eliminating the disadvantages of traditional cork closures. The closure includes a reduced density core encapsulated by an agglomerated cork layer to which a cork veneer or printed paper or plastic layer is attached. This composite structure provides uniform pressure against the sides of the bottle finish while eliminating the problems normally associated with real cork closures, such as leakage of oxygen in and product out caused by lenticels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2002
    Publication date: June 5, 2003
    Inventor: Robert W. Fox
  • Patent number: 6558628
    Abstract: A vial pack cover, a vial pack kit, and a method for forming the vial pack cover is provided. The vial pack cover can simultaneously cover a plurality of containers while preventing the contents of the containers from degrading or permeating through the cover. In addition, the vial pack cover allows a user to access individual containers without having to remove the cover from the un-accessed containers. The vial pack cover generally includes: (1) a plurality of plug portions joined together and formed from a heat curable rubber; and (2) a barrier layer covering each of the plug portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Specialty Silicone Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Ned J. Reo
  • Patent number: 6536618
    Abstract: A bottle plug having a body, a plug and an elastomer member. The body defines a space having an inner circumference that forms a retracted surface that projects inwardly with respect to an axis of the body to define an expansion portion. The plug includes a leg adapted to engage the retracted surface of the body. The elastomer member is configured to receive the combination of the body and plug and further includes an outer circumference which is arranged to be received by a bottle neck. Insertion of the plug into the expansion portion urges the outer circumference of the elastomer member to expand radially to thereby seal the inner circumference of the bottle neck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Inventors: Hsu-Rong Hwang, Sen-Yih Lin
  • Publication number: 20030031881
    Abstract: A synthetic cork closure having at least a portion thereof coated with a gas impermeable polymer coating composition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2001
    Publication date: February 13, 2003
    Inventors: Daniel J. Falla, Michael L. Mounts, Deborah E. Plaver, Stuart I. Yaniger
  • Patent number: 6510957
    Abstract: An apparatus for removing a cork from a bottle in which an anchor is embedded in the cork and a cork-pulling sleeve is provided for engaging the anchor for removal of the cork. The cork-pulling sleeve includes inner threads that mate with external threads on the neck of the bottle, and rotation of the cork-pulling sleeve in relation to the bottle extracts the cork.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Inventors: Gil G. Gilley, William A. Gardner
  • Patent number: 6499618
    Abstract: The invention concerns a device for sealing a bottle containing a sparkling wine and includes a stopper, particularly made of cork or a synthetic material, capable of being inserted in the neck of the bottle, maintained thereon by a wire cap, and run through in the axial direction, by a conduit having first and second ends capable of communicating respectively with the bottle's internal volume and external volume. The second end is closed by a retractable closer. The device is characterized in that the stopper is axially run through by an orifice designed to receive the conduit and having an adjusted and tight cross-section relative to the conduit external section, the latter being provided at its second end, with a support flange capable of resting against the stopper upper surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignees: Etudes et Creation E.C.B.
    Inventors: Pascal Leclerc, Jean-Louis Ballu
  • Patent number: 6478178
    Abstract: An improved stopper apparatus for use with wine barrel bung holes includes a generally frusto-conical stopper member having a central aperture, a top surface, a bottom surface, and an outer circumferential surface adapted to seal against the inner circumferential surface of the bung hole. The apparatus further includes a sealing insert member having a top portion, a middle portion, and a bottom portion, the top portion having a diameter slightly greater than the stopper member central aperture such that the sealing insert member can be pushed into the central aperture so as to bring the top surface of the sealing insert member with the top surface and the stopper member during barrel aging. The sealing insert member further has a lower surface adapted for sealing engagement against the stopper member top surface during barrel fermentation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Inventor: Donald C. Montgomery
  • Publication number: 20020153342
    Abstract: The present invention refers in general to a closure for containers, and in particular to a plug for bottles, preferably adapted to be used to plug bottles of wine. In particular, the present invention relates to a closure (1) for containers characterized in that it comprises: rigid supporting and sealing means (3); and a covering body (5) made of plastic material, said covering body (5) cooperating with and integrating said supporting and sealing means (3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2001
    Publication date: October 24, 2002
    Inventor: Felice Fragola
  • Patent number: 6467638
    Abstract: A closure for receptacles such as bottles which includes an annular sealing member which is internally reinforced by a cylindrical core. The cylindrical core includes a helically or spirally shaped frangible structure along which the cylindrical core can be pulled, stripped, unwound or torn apart. The closures can be pressed into receptacles using conventional methods. To remove the closures, one pulls, strips or tears the cylindrical core apart. The remaining, unreinforced annular sealing member can be easily removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Inventors: Michael S. Gzybowski, Donald G. Rose
  • Publication number: 20020125248
    Abstract: An improved stopper apparatus for use with wine barrel bung holes includes a generally frusto-conical stopper member having a central aperture, a top surface, a bottom surface, and an outer circumferential surface adapted to seal against the inner circumferential surface of the bung hole. The apparatus further includes a sealing insert member having a top portion, a middle portion, and a bottom portion, the top portion having a diameter slightly greater than the stopper member central aperture such that the sealing insert member can be pushed into the central aperture so as to bring the top surface of the sealing insert member with the top surface and the stopper member during barrel aging. The sealing insert member further has a lower surface adapted for sealing engagement against the stopper member top surface during barrel fermentation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2001
    Publication date: September 12, 2002
    Inventor: Donald C. Montgomery
  • Publication number: 20020117466
    Abstract: A closure for receptacles such as bottles which includes an annular sealing member which is internally reinforced by a cylindrical core. The cylindrical core includes a helically or spirally shaped frangible structure along which the cylindrical core can be pulled, stripped, unwound or torn apart. The closures can be pressed into receptacles using conventional methods. To remove the closures, one pulls, strips or tears the cylindrical core apart. The remaining, unreinforced annular sealing member can be easily removed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2002
    Publication date: August 29, 2002
    Inventors: Michael S. Gzybowski, Donald G. Rose
  • Patent number: 6435362
    Abstract: The invention refers to the attachment for extraction of cork and similar bottle stoppers enabling extraction of cork stopper without application of additional tool and/or special opener, designed for the respective purpose. The attachment referred to in this invention consists of the basic threaded body (2) with a tape shaped pull cord (5) coming out of the upper part of the attachment. The attachment referred to in this invention may also be built in the body (1) as a screw (2′) with a preliminarily inserted washer (3) provided with a groove (4) that serves as a channel for the pull cord (5′). In the second example the attachment in the body (1′) is shaped as a screw (2′) with recess (7) with an edge (8) at the bottom, while the pull cord (5′) is attached to the bayonet plug (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Inventor: Drago Dekorti
  • Patent number: 6415936
    Abstract: A closure for receptacles such as bottles which includes an annular sealing member which is internally reinforced by a cylindrical core. The cylindrical core includes a hectically or spirally shaped frangible structure along which the cylindrical core can be pulled, stripped, unwound or torn apart. The closures can be pressed into receptacles using conventional methods. To remove the closures, one pulls, strips or tears the cylindrical core apart. The remaining, unreinforced annular sealing member can be easily removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Inventors: Michael S. Gzybowski, Donald G. Rose
  • Patent number: 6382441
    Abstract: A closure assembly is provided that includes an outer cap with a skirt dimensioned to telescope over the open top end of the tube. An annular shoulder extends inwardly from the top end of the skirt and includes an aperture through which a needle may be directed. A laminated seal is bonded to the bottom surface of the annular shoulder of the outer cap and extends continuously across the aperture in the annular shoulder. A stopper is secured on the bottom surface of the annular seal and is dimensioned for sealing engagement in the open top of the tube. Outer circumferential portions of the bottom surface of the laminated seal between the skirt and the stopper are bonded to the open top end of the tube. The bond between the closure and the laminated seal is stronger than the bond between the tube and the laminated seal. Thus, the closure assembly retains its structural integrity after opening of the tube and can be used to reseal the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventor: Donald J. Carano
  • Patent number: 6378716
    Abstract: A closure for receptacles such as bottles which includes an annular sealing member which is internally reinforced by a cylindrical core. The cylindrical core includes a helically or spirally shaped frangible structure along which the cylindrical core can be pulled, stripped, unwound or torn apart. The closures can be pressed into receptacles using conventional methods. To remove the closures, one pulls, strips or tears the cylindrical core apart. The remaining, unreinforced annular sealing member can be easily removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Inventors: Michael S. Gzybowski, Donald G. Rose
  • Publication number: 20020040882
    Abstract: A closure for receptacles such as bottles which includes an annular sealing member which is internally reinforced by a cylindrical core. The cylindrical core includes a helically or spirally shaped frangible structure along which the cylindrical core can be pulled, stripped, unwound or torn apart. The closures can be pressed into receptacles using conventional methods. To remove the closures, one pulls, strips or tears the cylindrical core apart. The remaining, unreinforced annular sealing member can be easily removed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2001
    Publication date: April 11, 2002
    Inventors: Michael S. Gzybowski, Donald G. Rose
  • Patent number: 6355320
    Abstract: A plastic foamed synthetic closure for use with liquid bearing containers which closely simulates natural cork products is realized by incorporating color concentrates into the polymer melt and forming the color concentrates into elongated streaks. The desired emulation is further enhanced by arcuately pivoting the foamed plastic material during the production to form curved or sinusoidal-shaped streaks. This invention also provides manufacturing methods for mass producing individual products in a continuous motion casting system wherein fully complete products are formed in polymer casting members, which receive foam material exiting from the die and allow the foamed material to be formed in a continuous operation in the casting members. Finally, the present invention also teaches a unique system for maintaining and delivering carbon dioxide in its supercritical phase for use as a blowing agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignee: Nomacorc, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Allman, Eduardo Lauer
  • Patent number: 6343706
    Abstract: An arrangement and a plug separated from a strip for closing at least one end of a tube to protect the tube against internal dirtying. The plug formed for closing a tube end together with similarly formed plugs is integrally formed one after the other in a predetermined distance from each other in a longitudinal line in a continous strip and is provided with a handle formation by which the plug can be taken out from its mounted position in the tube before or in connection with using the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2002
    Inventor: Loa Andersson
  • Patent number: 6286699
    Abstract: A laminated rubber stopper having a new structure, capable of being produced in a simple process with a reduced production cost and being excellent in tightness, sealing property and sanitary property, is provided, comprising a top part having a flange part and a leg part provided under the top part of the rubber stopper and to be inserted into the mouth part of a vial, at least a surface thereof to be contacted with a contents in the vial being laminated with a fluoro resin film, in which the lower surface of the flange part has an annular concavity with a cross section of a circular arc from the periphery of the flange to the neck part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Daikyo Seiko, Ltd.
    Inventor: Morihiro Sudo
  • Patent number: 6276545
    Abstract: A stopper for opened bottles having an external body (1) provided with an upper opening (4) designed to allow rotation of a lever (8) having an eccentricity (9). Operation of the lever allows, through an intervening arrangement of a cylindrical helical spring (22), lowering of an internal body (16) against a toroidal spring (15) causing radial deformation of the toroidal spring to allow gripping of the neck of the bottle underneath a shoulder on the bottle neck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Marisa Marchignoli
    Inventor: Ruggero Ferrari
  • Patent number: 6227392
    Abstract: A bottle (1) consists of a closed body (2) made of glass or ceramic material, surmounted by a shoulder (4) delimiting an orifice (5) in a plane substantially level with the shoulder (4). The bottle has an attached element (7) which is made of a material of a different type from the material forming the bottle and is mounted in the orifice in a leak-tight manner and which has a portion (13) emerging outside the bottle substantially beyond the plane of the orifice, in order to receive in a leak-tight manner a closing element (15) and/or an element (25) for dispensing a product contained in the bottle. The attached element has a duct (9) communicating with the bottle and opening, outside the bottle, onto an outlet port (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: L'Oreal
    Inventor: Pascal Balzeau
  • Patent number: 6223937
    Abstract: A dispensing bottle includes a hollow main body; a neck having an opening in open communication with an interior of the main body and an inner facing surface provided with a lip; a red paraffin wax plug made of a wax material that melts at a predetermined temperature and has an outwardly facing peripheral surface with a groove; a retaining plug within the neck for holding the wax plug within the neck of the bottle, the retaining plug formed by an annular member having an outer facing peripheral surface formed with a groove for mating with the lip in the neck, and an inner facing peripheral surface defining a center opening in which the wax plug is held and having an inwardly extending lip that engages within the groove in the wax plug; and a removable closure cap in covering relation to the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Inventor: Kevin Schmidt
  • Patent number: 6221451
    Abstract: By achieving an extruded, foamed core formed from plastic material peripherally surrounded and integrally bonded with a cooperating synthetic, plastic, extruded, outer layer, a unique, multi-component, multi-layer synthetic closure is provided which may be employed as a bottle closure or stopper for any desired product, whether the product is a liquid, a viscous material, or a solid distributed in a bottle or container and dispensed through the open portal of the container neck. The present invention achieves a mass producible, resilient, synthetic bottle closure which is employable for any desired bottle, including wine. By employing the present invention, a multi-component or multi-layer synthetic closure is attained which possesses physical properties substantially equal to or better than the physical properties found in cork material, which has caused such cork material to be the principal closure material for wine bottles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Nomacorc, LLC
    Inventors: Eduardo Lauer, Michael W. Allman
  • Patent number: 6221450
    Abstract: By achieving an extruded, foamed core formed from plastic material peripherally surrounded and integrally bonded with a cooperating synthetic, plastic, extruded, outer layer, a unique, multi-component, multi-layer synthetic closure is provided which may be employed as a bottle closure or stopper for any desired product, whether the product is a liquid, a viscous material, or a solid distributed in a bottle or container and dispensed through the open portal of the container neck. The present invention achieves a mass producible, resilient, synthetic bottle closure which is employable for any desired bottle, including wine. By employing the present invention, a multi-component or multi-layer synthetic closure is attained which possesses physical properties substantially equal to or better than the physical properties found in cork material, which has caused such cork material to be the principal closure material for wine bottles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Nomacorc, LLC
    Inventors: Gert Noel, Eduardo Lauer