Patents Assigned to Seaquist Closures
  • Patent number: 7044317
    Abstract: A tamper-evident dispensing closure system is provided for a container. The system has a body for extending from the container at the container opening. The body defines a dispensing orifice, a channel, and a retention member projecting over a portion of the channel. The system includes a lid for being moved between a closed position and an open position. An anchor member is provided for being received in the channel and has an engaging portion for engaging the retention member when the anchor member is received in the channel. At least one frangible web initially connects the anchor member with the lid so that the frangible web breaks when the lid is initially lifted from the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Seaquist Closures Foreign, Inc.
    Inventors: Kelly A. Smith, Walter W. Peterson, Joseph W. Staniszewski
  • Patent number: 6951295
    Abstract: A flow control element is provided with a resilient sealing flange biased to seal in-venting passages in a housing around the element. The element also includes a self-sealing, pressure-openable, dispensing valve. The element and housing can be combined to form a dispensing structure that can function to discharge a fluent material product out of the dispensing structure through the dispensing valve while simultaneously venting exterior ambient air (or other exterior ambient environment fluent material) into the dispensing structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2005
    Assignee: Seaquist Closures Foreign, Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Gaus, Gregory M. Olechowski, Timothy R. Socier, John M. Hess, III
  • Patent number: 6935543
    Abstract: An improved dispensing closure system for dispensing a product from a container includes an elongate or oblong dispensing orifice for dispensing a ribbon of product. One form of the dispensing closure system also includes a spout having a dispensing orifice that is oriented at an angle relative to the closure deck and relative to the flow direction of product from the orifice. The closure provides for the dispensing of product in a clean and controlled manner without mess. One form of the closure system also incorporates conical geometries in transition surfaces extending from the container opening to the dispensing orifice. The conical geometries of the transition surfaces provides for a smooth transition of product flow from the container opening to the dispensing orifice, while minimizing the volume defined by the closure system spout and thereby providing increased “suck-back” and an abrupt “cut-off” of product compared to prior art devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Seaquist Closures Foreign, Inc.
    Inventors: Susan DeGroot, Cori M. Blomdahl, David S. Pozgay
  • Patent number: 6832700
    Abstract: A toggle-action dispensing closure for a container is provided for manipulation between a closed, non-dispensing orientation and an open, dispensing orientation. The closure includes an actuator pivotally mounted along a tilting axis on a body secured to the container. The actuator is tiltable by applying force to the actuator on one side of the tilting axis so as to move the actuator from a non-dispensing position to a dispensing position. The actuator includes a flange having an engagable surface. The closure body includes an annular wall in which the actuator is received, and the annular wall includes an inwardly projecting interference member which underlies the actuator engagable surface and prevents tilting of the actuator unless a sufficient predetermined, initial opening force is exerted on the actuator to cause permanent, plastic deformation of the engagable surface is and/or interference member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignee: Seaquist Closures Foreign, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles E. Roberts, Terry J. Vandenboom, Nicholas J. Jelich, Catherine F. Schultz
  • Patent number: 6811047
    Abstract: A closure is provided for an opening in a container having a wall around the opening and at least one thread on the wall. The closure includes (1) an attachment wall defining at least one thread for threadingly engaging the container wall thread, (2) an occlusion wall closing the attachment wall to occlude the container opening when the container is in the closed position, and (3) a continuously curving, peripheral, finger-engaging surface which defines (1) a plurality of circumferentially spaced protuberances, (2) a finger-receiving recess between adjacent protuberances, and (3) a finger-engaging rib projecting laterally from each of the protuberances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: Seaquist Closures Foreign, Inc.
    Inventors: Marge M. Hicks, James W. Hammond, Alan P. Hickok
  • Publication number: 20040200797
    Abstract: A closure is provided for an opening in a container having a wall around the opening and at least one thread on the wall. The closure includes (1) an attachment wall defining at least one thread for threadingly engaging the container wall thread, (2) an occlusion wall closing the attachment wall to occlude the container opening when the container is in the closed position, and (3) a continuously curving, peripheral, finger-engaging surface which defines (1) a plurality of circumferentially spaced protuberances, (2) a finger-receiving recess between adjacent protuberances, and (3) a finger-engaging rib projecting laterally from each of the protuberances.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2003
    Publication date: October 14, 2004
    Applicant: Seaquist Closures Foreign, Inc.
    Inventors: Marge M. Hicks, James W. Hammond, Alan P. Hickok
  • Publication number: 20040169307
    Abstract: A molded article is produced by a method of compression molding employing a specially shaped billet of thermoplastic material which is positioned at a predetermined location in a predetermined orientation with respect to the mold cavity surfaces of a mold part. In a preferred embodiment, the billet has a generally egg shape and is located adjacent a mold surface defining a small mold cavity region between two larger cavity regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2004
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Applicant: Seaquist Closures Foreign, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce M. Mueller, Ben Nejad, Dieter F. Lay
  • Patent number: 6749092
    Abstract: A valve system is provided with a wall portion that includes an inlet side, an outlet side, at least one aperture extending between the inlet and outlet sides, and a valve seat on the outlet side. One preferred form of the valve system also includes a movable valve member having a spout, a mounting portion, a toggle portion, and at least one seal surface for sealingly engaging the wall portion valve seat when the valve member is toggled to a closed position to prevent flow from the wall portion aperture through the spout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: Seaquist Closures Foreign, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory M. Olechowski, Timothy R. Socier, John M. Hess, III, James P. Manning, Stuart R. Brown
  • Patent number: 6739781
    Abstract: A dispensing closure that has a cover which is provided with a scrubbing structure that includes protuberances. In a preferred embodiment, the scrubbing structure is a resilient flexible material which has been molded on a generally rigid base. The base is injection molded in an initial injection molding step from a first material, and the scrubbing structure is injection molded in situ in a subsequent molding step from a second material onto said first material to become bonded thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: Seaquist Closures Foreign, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward J. Maloney, Kelly A. Smith
  • Patent number: 6688501
    Abstract: An improved dispensing closure system for dispensing a product from a container includes an elongate or oblong dispensing orifice for dispensing a ribbon of product. The dispensing closure system also includes a spout having a dispensing orifice that is oriented at an angle relative to the closure deck and relative to the flow direction of product from the orifice. The closure system provides for an abrupt “cut-off” of product and thus provides for the dispensing of product in a clean and controlled manner without mess. The closure system also incorporates conical geometries in transition surfaces extending from the container opening to the dispensing orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Seaquist Closures Foreign, Inc.
    Inventors: Susan DeGroot, Cori M. Blomdahl, David S. Pozgay
  • Patent number: 6655553
    Abstract: A closure structure for a container includes a cap and a surrounding tamper-evident sleeve. The tamper-evident sleeve is initially engageable with a retaining element of the container located below the cap to prevent axial upward displacement of the sleeve with respect to the container. The sleeve includes a retention member overlying the cap to prevent manipulation of the cap to an open condition. The sleeve includes a frangible feature arranged to be torn to facilitate removal of the sleeve to permit manipulation of the cap to an open condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Seaquist Closures Foreign, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph W. Staniszewski, David S. Pozgay, Cori M. Blomdahl
  • Patent number: 6644487
    Abstract: A tamper-evident dispensing closure system is provided for a container. The system has a body for extending from the container at the container opening. The body defines a dispensing orifice, a channel, and a retention member projecting over a portion of the channel. The system includes a lid for being moved between a closed position and an open position. An anchor member is provided for being received in the channel and has an engaging portion for engaging the retention member when the anchor member is received in the channel. At least one frangible web initially connects the anchor member with the lid so that the frangible web breaks when the lid is initially lifted from the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Seaquist Closures Foreign, Inc.
    Inventors: Kelly A. Smith, Walter W. Peterson, Joseph W. Stanizewski
  • Publication number: 20030198502
    Abstract: A dispensing closure that has a cover which is provided with a scrubbing structure that includes protuberances. In a preferred embodiment, the scrubbing structure is a resilient flexible material which has been molded on a generally rigid base. The base is injection molded in an initial injection molding step from a first material, and the scrubbing structure is injection molded in situ in a subsequent molding step from a second material onto said first material to become bonded thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2002
    Publication date: October 23, 2003
    Applicant: Seaquist Closures Foreign, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward J. Maloney, Kelly A. Smith
  • Patent number: 6631820
    Abstract: A closure structure includes a closure body having a deck and depending sidewall, and a dispensing orifice through said deck. A closure cap has a lid part attached by a hinge to the body, and a cover part frangibly connected to the lid part, on a side of the lid part opposite the hinge. The lid part is latched to the body at lateral positions located between the hinge and the cover part. The cover part covers a lifting lip extending from the lid part. Removal of the cover part exposes the lifting lip for lifting by the user to open the lid part from the closure body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Seaquist Closures Foreign, Inc.
    Inventors: John E. Harrold, Bruce M. Mueller, Richard A. Gross
  • Patent number: 6616016
    Abstract: A dispensing valve is mounted in a dispensing aperture of a closure that has (1) a deck around the aperture, and (2) a hinged lid for closing over the aperture. The valve includes a marginal portion, a head portion with a discharge orifice therein, and a resilient, connector sleeve extending between the marginal portion to the head portion. The connector sleeve has a generally U-shaped cross-section that defines a first leg that is connected with the marginal portion and a shorter second leg connected with the head portion. The connector sleeve locates the head portion below the closed lid. An arcuate junction portion of the connector sleeve joins the first and second legs. The arcuate junction portion projects from the deck aperture when the lid is open. When the lid is closed, the arcuate junction portion is engaged and elastically deformed by the lid, and that prevents the valve orifice from opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Seaquist Closures Foreign, Inc.
    Inventors: Marge M. Hicks, Timothy R. Socier
  • Publication number: 20030116879
    Abstract: A molded article is produced by a method of compression molding employing a specially shaped billet of thermoplastic material which is positioned at a predetermined location in a predetermined orientation with respect to the mold cavity surfaces of a mold part. In a preferred embodiment, the billet has a generally egg shape and is located adjacent a mold surface defining a small mold cavity region between two larger cavity regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Applicant: Seaquist Closures Foreign, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce M. Mueller, Ben Nejad, Dieter F. Lay
  • Publication number: 20030106910
    Abstract: A dispensing valve is mounted in a dispensing aperture of a closure that has (1) a deck around the aperture, and (2) a hinged lid for closing over the aperture. The valve includes a marginal portion, a head portion with a discharge orifice therein, and a resilient, connector sleeve extending between the marginal portion to the head portion. The connector sleeve has a generally U-shaped cross-section that defines a first leg that is connected with the marginal portion and a shorter second leg connected with the head portion. The connector sleeve locates the head portion below the closed lid. An arcuate junction portion of the connector sleeve joins the first and second legs. The arcuate junction portion projects from the deck aperture when the lid is open. When the lid is closed, the arcuate junction portion is engaged and elastically deformed by the lid, and that prevents the valve orifice from opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2001
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Applicant: Seaquist Closures Foreign, Inc.
    Inventors: Marge M. Hicks, Timothy R. Socier
  • Patent number: 6550626
    Abstract: A tamper-evident structure for use in a resealable dispensing closure system includes a lid and a flexible, frangible tamper-evident member extending from the lid to a drop ring. The drop ring is adapted to engage a bottom end of a closure body in the closure system. Preferably, the lid, frangible tamper-evident member, and drop ring are provided as a unitary, integrally molded structure. In a preferred embodiment, the closure body can also be molded as a unitary part of the structure. The lid, frangible tamper-evident member and drop ring are assembled on the closure body by first installing the lid in a closed position on the closure body. The drop ring is then pivoted downward relative to the lid, thereby causing the frangible tamper-evident member to become disposed adjacent the closure body skirt. The drop ring is located at the bottom of the closure body. The system can then be installed on a container so that the drop ring locks under a bead or lip on the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Seaquist Closures Foreign, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey T. Randall
  • Patent number: D519029
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Seaquist Closure Foreign, Inc.
    Inventors: Marge M. Hicks, Alan P. Hickok, Katja Wood
  • Patent number: D491063
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: Seaquist Closures Foreign, Inc.
    Inventors: Marge M. Hicks, James W. Hammond, Alan P. Hickok