Puncturing Tool Serves As Closure Patents (Class 220/278)
  • Patent number: 5052575
    Abstract: A holder for an aseptic package including a container, a removable cover, and a stopper disposed beneath the cover when it is positioned in a straw hole on the upper surface of the package, so that the cover holds the stopper securely within the straw hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1991
    Assignee: Up & Adam, Inc.
    Inventor: Fred Ravreby
  • Patent number: 5025945
    Abstract: A liquid container comprises an open topped vessel of generally rectangular cross-section which tapers from top to bottom and has a lid pivoted to one side wall. The lid has projecting puncture structure which pierces the top of a sealed, semi-rigid package of a beverage, such as fruit juice, when the package is located in the vessel and the lid is closed. A slider closure member is mounted in a slideway structure on the top of the lid so as to be slidable along a rectilinear path over two apertures to either close or open both the apertures. The apertures communicate with the interior of the semi-rigid package in the vessel via passage in the puncture structure when the lid is closed. One aperture is an outlet through which liquid is poured and the other is a vent hole. Recesses in each side wall are provided for holding the package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1991
    Inventor: Christopher J. Lyon
  • Patent number: 4988012
    Abstract: A closure is provided for selectively closing an opening of a container, including a base element arranged to be affixed to a container adjacent an opening therein. In one embodiment, the closure is provided with tamper-evident film fixed to the base element, and a control element is pivotally movable relative to the base element between open and closed positions. When the base element is affixed to the container, the tamper-evident film obstructs the container opening. When the control element pivots to the open position, the tamper-evident film is visible, and can be punctured or otherwise removed. According to another embodiment of the invention, a closure is provided for a container having a tamper-evident film secured thereto overlying the opening in a container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 29, 1991
    Inventor: E. D. Shastal
  • Patent number: 4982862
    Abstract: This invention relates to an improved can end construction for carbonated beverage cans having a score line defined opening panel therein for beverage dispensing and, more particularly, to can ends for such type cans wherein said panel is incorporated in a selectively contoured spout configuration for accommodation of a resealing cap assembly engageable therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1991
    Assignee: Aluminum Company of America
    Inventor: Robert L. La Barge
  • Patent number: 4974744
    Abstract: A holder for a drink carton, which holder includes a main housing, a lid member coupled to the main housing, and a stopper member coupled to the lid. The lid includes a first aperture that receives a first end of the stopper member and a second aperture that provides access to a drink box container in the holder so that the opening of the drink box can be punctured and stoppered by means of the second end of the stopper member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 4, 1990
    Assignee: TDJ, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald J. Shanklin, William J. Segal, Martin A. Spiegel, William Kovensky
  • Patent number: 4930683
    Abstract: A parallelepipedal flat-gabled package, especially an eared package with a medial seam, having an area in the gable that has been prepared such that it can be penetrated or separated along a closed curve and, once it has been penetrated or separated, will constitute a pouring hole. The package also has a plastic pour-out structure that has a flange surrounding the pouring hole, rigidly secured to the outer surface of the gable, and into the spout of which can be axially inserted a tube with a circumference that matches the closed curve. It also has a number of triangular teeth along the surface that faces the pouring hole, and a cap that can be repeatedly employed to close the spout, the inner surface of the package being coated with a hot-adhering film of plastic. The closure-flap cap is securely attached to the tube, by way of a connecting strip, and is articulated to the tab on the pour-out structure, which is in the form of a spout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 5, 1990
    Assignee: PKL Verpackungssysteme GmbH
    Inventor: Jurgen Farber
  • Patent number: 4911323
    Abstract: An umbrella type resealable closure device is described. A metal container includes an end wall with a flanged region substantially surrounding a scored portion defining an openable panel. A resealable closure device incorporates a non-hooking closure structure on one side and a structure for separating the openable panel from the end wall on the opposite side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 27, 1990
    Assignee: Reynolds Metals Company
    Inventors: Horst F. Arfert, Roger H. Donaldson, Eric L. Jensen, Wesley E. Smith
  • Patent number: 4907722
    Abstract: An easily openable sealed container comprising a rectangular parallelepipedal main body and a caplike reinforcing cover fitted over the top end of the main body. The top wall of the main body is provided with an opening forming thin wall portion. The cover has a top wall provided with an aperture opposed to the thin wall portion and an externally threaded spout projecting upward from the aperture-defining edge portion of the wall. A cap nut screwed on the spout has integral therewith a cutter for cutting the thin wall portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 13, 1990
    Assignee: Shikoku Kakoki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuo Ueda, Takehiko Aihara
  • Patent number: 4887734
    Abstract: Apparatus for opening and reclosing beverage cans in a first embodiment includes a tool having piercing and forming portions for opening an aperture in and shaping a flap depending from an end wall of a beverage can spaced a predetermined distance spaced substantially away from the cylindrical side wall of the can sufficient to permit the forming portion to displace the flap resulting from the piercing closely against the interior surface of the end wall of the can such that the interior surface surrounding the periphery of the aperture thus formed is substantially planar, and in a second embodiment includes a tool having a cylindrical piercing portion, the apparatus further including a plug carried on the tool for reclosing and sealing the aperture in the can.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1989
    Inventor: Jeffrey A. Larsen
  • Patent number: 4884703
    Abstract: A multiple compartment container and closure assembly with a container having at least two adjacent compartments with end portions terminating in a common surface at one end of the container. The end is sized to accept a cap and the surface has a thin wall portion in communication with each of the compartments. A cap is sized to slidably fit on the end of the container which has puncture means being positioned in alignment with each of the thin wall portions of the container so that movement of the cap from a first position on the end to a second position causes the puncture means to puncture the respective thin wall portion with which it is aligned, to permit access to the contents of the adjacent compartments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1989
    Assignee: CP Packaging Inc.
    Inventor: John R. O'Meara
  • Patent number: 4867326
    Abstract: A child resistant cap and tube assembly with a tube for containing a product and having an end portion terminating in an axially centered open surface at its outer perimeter and having a recessed thin wall below the surface to seal the tube. The tube has a second surface of interference to axial movement on the end which is a predetermined distance from the perimeter. A cap is also provided, having a central axis for alignment with the tube and sized to slidably engage the end portion. The cap also has a resistance surface for engaging the surface of interference at a predetermined distance to locate the cap on the end portion at a first position to protect the recessed thin wall. The cap has an axially centered puncture means positioned inside said cap to puncture the recessed thin wall upon movement of the cap to a second position for opening the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1989
    Assignee: CP Packaging
    Inventor: John R. O'Meara
  • Patent number: 4823975
    Abstract: A can closure for a cylindrical can containing a carbonated beverage or drink typically to be opened at the can top which suitably has a rim thereabout. A can cover plate is provided having an underside surface sealably engagable with the can top rim. A can support plate is oriented below and opposing the can cover plate and is designed for supporting the can. An expansible back connects the can cover and support plates in expansible and contractible opposing relation to permit the can closure to close down upon and sealably engage the can top rim. A locking mechanism is provided to secure the expansible back once the can cover plate is sealably engaged with the can top rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1989
    Inventor: Lynn R. Schwankl
  • Patent number: 4821912
    Abstract: A easy-open beverage container which can be selectably reclosed and reopened, after the container initially is opened. The reclosure structure may be contained on an opening tab, or alternatively may be separate from the tab.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1989
    Inventor: Robert A. Wells
  • Patent number: 4793504
    Abstract: A container closure providing tamper indication includes tines therein in engagement with a tamper-indicating assembly which is nested in the closure and retained therein by the tines up to the point of telltale activation on container opening. The closure includes a member adapted to engage the tamper-indicating assembly subsequent to telltale activation both to remove the assembly from secured relation to a container and to retain the assembly with the closure in the course of its removal from the container and reapplication thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1988
    Assignee: TBL Development Corporation
    Inventors: Edward J. Towns, Edward M. Brown
  • Patent number: 4793503
    Abstract: A container closure includes a closure member defining container closing expanse, a tamper-indicating element in the closure interiorly of the closure member and tines movable with the closure member for both retaining the tamper-indicating element with the closure and for selectively tearing the tamper-indicating element. The movable tines are inaccessible through the closing expanse of the closure member and the closure affords visibility therethrough of the condition of the tamper-indicating element.The tamper indicating element includes a compressible foam layer and the movable tines reside essentially in the foam layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1982
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1988
    Assignee: TBL Development Corporation
    Inventors: Edward J. Towns, Edward M. Brown
  • Patent number: 4792053
    Abstract: A tamper-indicating capped container includes an indicating member sealed across the container access port and the container cap is transparent and has capability for effecting visible change in the indicating member selectively in the course of container-opening sense movement of the cap. Tines may depend in cantilever manner from the cap interior to provide for tearing of the indicating member and the indicating member may be paper sheet material or a color change telltale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1982
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1988
    Assignee: TBL Development Corporation
    Inventors: Edward J. Towns, Edward M. Brown, William M. Lester
  • Patent number: 4785931
    Abstract: A closure for use with a beverage container, the closure having a plurality of compartments formed therein to store quantities of a flavoring agent separately from a mixing fluid (such as water) contained in the container. The compartments are operable by simple finger pressure to release their contents into the container one at a time for the purpose of making a flavored beverage. Support ribs are formed on the closure to allow the stacking of a number of closures or closure/container combinations without inadvertently releasing the flavoring agent from the compartments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1988
    Assignee: Letica Corporation
    Inventors: Dixie L. Weir, Don F. Yeager
  • Patent number: 4770305
    Abstract: A bottle cap which comprises an edge, a crown, a convex top on the crown, a cone at the interior center of the convex top, and a projection on the edge. The bottle cap is constructed in such way that after the cap is put on the mouth of the bottle, there is a clearance between the apex of the projection and an aluminum foil covering the mouth of the bottle. When the convex top is depressed with the thumb, the cone is lowered to pierce the aluminum foil, while the cap is opened by pushing the projection with the index finger. The bottle cap eliminates the need to pierce aluminum foil with a finger or other object. Accordingly, the liquids in the bottle will not be contaminated by the finger or other object before drinking. This meets economical, sanitary and easy-to-open requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1988
    Inventor: Yung-Fr Su
  • Patent number: 4562936
    Abstract: An easy-open container having top and bottom end panels and a body portion, all of laminate construction comprised of an outer layer of stiff material, an intermediate layer of substantially gas-impermeable material, and a continuously sealed thermoplastic inner layer. The container's top end panel has a line of weakness in its outer stiff layer defining a tear-out section with opening means such as a tape tab non-critically bonded thereto. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the container is opened by pulling the opening means such that the tear-out section separates from the outer stiff layer along with the substantially coinciding portions of the intermediate layer and the inner layer that are attached thereto, thereby defining a dispensing aperture in the container's top end panel. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the container is provided with easy-open/reclosing means such as a rigid, plug-type member that is used to open and reclose the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1986
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Joseph F. Deflander
  • Patent number: 4561560
    Abstract: A liquid container comprises an open topped vessel of generally rectangular cross-section with a handle on one side wall and a lid pivoted to that side wall. The lid has projecting puncture means which pierce the top of a sealed, semi-rigid container of a beverage, such as fruit juice, when the container is located in the vessel and the lid is closed. A slider closure member is mounted in slideway structure on the top of the lid so as to be slidable along a rectangular path over two apertures to either close or open both the apertures, the path being offset relative to the handle so that the slider can be operated by a thumb of a hand by which the handle is gripped. The apertures communicate with the interior of a semi-rigid container in the vessel via passages in the puncture means when the lid is closed. One of the apertures is an outlet through which the liquid is poured and the other is a vent hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1985
    Inventor: Christopher J. Lyon
  • Patent number: 4469249
    Abstract: A dispenser tap has a body, a handle, and a probe mounted within the body. The probe is hollow and has a pointed inner end with openings allowing liquid to be dispensed. The body has a spigot-receiving part which has a bore passing through it and a seal at one end thereof. The probe has radially outwardly extending pins that fit into corresponding slots in the body. In use, turning the handle cammingly moves the probe to an extended non-return position such that the seal is pierced and rupturned. The pins within the slots prevent the probe from rotating during this operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 4, 1984
    Assignee: Diemoulders Proprietary Limited
    Inventors: Jon H. Malpas, Alan R. Calder
  • Patent number: 4225058
    Abstract: This invention presents to the art a novel, improved plastic nozzle cap for a compressible tube having a sealed outlet opening. The novel, improved nozzle cap comprises an outlet bore and means for securing the cap to the tube. The outlet bore is positioned in a predetermined relationship with the outlet opening of the tube to which the cap is to be secured so that when the cap is secured to the tube, a device can be inserted into the outlet bore to pierce the sealed outlet opening of the tube. The device used to pierce the sealed outlet is an integral part of the cap but can be readily broken from the cap. The broken off device has a portion dimensioned and shaped so that the device has the capability for piercing the sealed outlet opening of the tube and for closing the outlet bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1979
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1980
    Assignee: USM Corporation
    Inventors: Reginald F. Morton, Sidney Glover
  • Patent number: 4152378
    Abstract: A screw top closure for a container opening defining a helically threaded neck, and a rotatable screw top positioned to permit rotation by the screw top between outward and inward positions on the neck. A sealing partition is positioned across the opening of the neck. In accordance with this invention, an aperture is defined in the sealing partition, the aperture being positioned in off-center relation to the rotational axis of the screw top. A sealing cap member is positioned across the aperture, with a rupturable seal, facing the screw top. A projection is defined on the side of the screw top facing the partition, being positioned to be longitudinally spaced from the sealing cap member when the screw top is in the outward position, and to engage the sealing cap member when the screw top is rotationally advanced to its inward position. Accordingly, the seal between the cap member and the partition may be ruptured in aseptic manner by the projection, to open the aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1977
    Date of Patent: May 1, 1979
    Assignee: Baxter Travenol Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: John L. Vcelka, David A. Winchell
  • Patent number: 3984026
    Abstract: A light weight portable device that removably engages a container having a cylindrical side wall to not only form two diametrically spaced openings in one end of the container, but to seal the two openings after the same are formed. When it is desired to dispense liquid from the container, the device is removed therefrom, with the container thereafter being tilted for liquid to flow through one of the openings and air flowing inwardly into the interior of the container through the other of the openings. After liquid is dispensed from the container, the latter is placed in an upright position, and the invention disposed in the sealing position thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1976
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1976
    Inventor: Russel W. Shoup
  • Patent number: 3931905
    Abstract: A combination opener and closure device for press tab type beverage containers is disclosed. The device includes a circular top plate having a downward depending peripheral flange. Integral projections extend from the interior surface of the top plate adapted to align with the weakened tab portion of the can. One embodiment of the device includes an annular seal carried on the flange interior so the device can be used as an effective closure and seal for storage purposes.The present invention relates to an opener for beverage containers and more particularly relates to a device for opening cans of the type having press tab tops. One embodiment of the present invention also serves as a closure for previously opened containers.It is common to provide containers for substances with metal tops having weakened closure areas which have to be depressed by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1974
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1976
    Assignee: Donald C. Bortel
    Inventors: Roger R. Shumway, Donald C. Bortel