Patents Examined by Nathan Newhouse
  • Patent number: 5727704
    Abstract: The present invention is a container closure device, which includes a container, a collar ring and a cap. The container has a neck, an open top and a horizontal retainer track thereon for affixing a collar ring thereto. A collar ring affixed to a track of the container has a plurality of cut outs on a ledge to permit a cap to be inserted and removed from the collar ring. The cap has has a plurality of bosses which correspond to and are sized to freely move through the cut outs of the ledge of the collar ring and, when the cap is so inserted and rotated, of adequate size to cause frictional engagement and to cause simultaneous rotation of the cap and the collar ring and to prevent removal of the cap from the collar ring, except when the cap and the collar ring are held separately and are rotated relative to one another such that the bosses and the cut outs are in alignment for lift up removal of the cap from the collar ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Assignee: Ideal Ideas, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth P. Glynn
  • Patent number: 5725116
    Abstract: A screw cap comprises a main cap portion 1 having screw threads on its inner circumferential surface and a number of splines 6 axially extending on its outer circumferential surface, and a ring portion 11 having a projection 12 on its inner circumferential surface and a number of splines 13 extending on its outer circumferential surface and continuous from the splines 6 of the main cap portion. The ring portion 11 is spaced apart from and connected integrally with the lateral wall of the main cap body by fragile connector strips 15 which are partial extensions of the splines 6 or 13 lying over the distance A between the main cap body 1 and the ring portion 11. Thus the cap has a totally uniform, continuous appearance suitable for containers of products which should desirably look high-graded or uncontaminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Assignee: Cosmo Precision Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuo Takai
  • Patent number: 5725121
    Abstract: A closure for a container of liquid, granular or powdery products, comprises: a hub defined by a tubular central body, an upper free edge and a base fixed outside the container and peripherally external to a pouring opening; a cap removably matchable to the hub in correspondence to a closed condition of the closure; a sheet element peripherally welded to the upper cage of the hub and removable in correspondence to a condition of first opening of the product packaged inside the container; and mating grooves and recesses fit to join the cap to the hub in correspondence to the closed condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Assignee: Catta 27 S.R.L.
    Inventor: Belloli Gianpaolo
  • Patent number: 5722554
    Abstract: A closure element for a container equipped with a neck in order to confine a cosmetic product in a tamperproof manner. The closure element is produced by dual-injection molding of plastic and includes a ring non-removably fixed onto the neck, this ring being produced from a first plastic, and a disc forming a lid, produced from a second plastic, an edge of which is received in a groove formed in the ring. The two different plastic materials are incompatible so that no connection occurs between them by thermofusion. The disc is equipped with a tab to facilitate separation of the disc from the ring in order to open the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1998
    Assignee: L'Oreal
    Inventors: Cyrille Chanal, Jacques Playe
  • Patent number: 5722547
    Abstract: Tamper indicating closure and container assembly which prior opening of the assembly is indicated by exposing projections formed integrally with the closure with such projections remaining concealed in the originally closed position of the assembly. In one embodiment the tamper indicating features are associated with the label on the container and in another embodiment of the invention the tamper indicating features are associated with a pouring spout on a gable-top container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1998
    Assignee: Rexam Closures Inc.
    Inventor: William J. Shankland
  • Patent number: 5718355
    Abstract: A device to indicate the application of a non-rotative force, having particular utility in recording the dispensing of a push-down activated aerosol medication dispenser. A non-rotative force on an outer cover is translated into a rotation of an indicator wheel relative to the outer cover by a set of flexible pawls engaged with a set of teeth. The pawls depress and thereby extend circumferentially when the applied force flexes them to effect a rotation of the teeth. Suitable means indicate the relative rotation of the teeth such as a window in the outer cover through which is visible indicia on the indicator wheel. The device may also include means to resist its operation by a child.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1998
    Assignee: Senetics, Inc.
    Inventors: Gage Garby, Jeffery T. Ballas
  • Patent number: 5715964
    Abstract: A can end for a two-piece beverage can including a generally flat radially extending portion; a score panel defined in the generally flat radially extending portion by an arcuate score, the score panel having a central, longitudinal axis projecting in a first axial direction and a second axial direction opposite the first direction; an annular emboss bead formed in the score panel and projecting in a first axial direction; and an annular deboss bead formed in the score panel and projecting in the second axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1998
    Assignees: American National Can Company, Coors Brewing Company
    Inventors: Tim L. Turner, Robert L. Hurst
  • Patent number: 5715965
    Abstract: A hatch in road or rail tanker (2) includes a hatch cover (7) mounted in a flange (8) of a compartment manhole (9). In order to prevent leaks from the hatch cover (7), a band (13) is welded to the top of the tank (2) around compartment manhole (9). The band (13) includes an outwardly concave flange (14) providing a groove for receiving a hatch sealing device (15). The hatch sealing device (15) includes a generally cylindrical rubber cylinder having an open end and a closed end closed by a seal membrane, also of rubber. Around the inside of the rim forming open end there is provided an internally extending lip shaped to fit into concave flange (14). Around the outside of the cylinder is provided a split ring of metal, the ends of which are drawn together in order to radially compress the cylinder and thus seal it around the flange (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1998
    Assignee: Anti-Spill Technology PTY. Limited
    Inventor: Grahame James Goulding
  • Patent number: 5713479
    Abstract: An anti-backoff screw cap construction for a container neck having a thread with a downwardly-facing pressure face and an upwardly-facing relief face. The cap has a depending skirt having an internal thread with an upwardly-facing pressure face for engagement with the downwardly-facing pressure face of the container neck thread. Engagement results in tightening of the cap on the container neck when the cap is turned in a screwing-on direction. The cap thread has a downwardly-facing relief face having as an anti-backoff structure, an elongate, substantially helical, resilient projecting bead which is integral with the cap thread, the bead being coextensive with an uppermost portion of its downwardly-facing relief face and being directly engageable by the upwardly-facing relief face of the container neck thread. The projecting bead is resiliently deformed by its engagement with the upwardly-facing relief face of the container neck thread when the cap is turned in its screwing-on direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1998
    Assignee: Vincent T. Brady
    Inventor: James Brady
  • Patent number: 5711449
    Abstract: A closure assembly for attachment to a vessel having an opening ring of a vessel and a closing cover cooperating with the ring and including a large diameter base end attached to the vessel and a small diameter ring end to receive a removable cover thereover. The cover end includes a plurality of spaced inwardly protruding locking lugs having a lower surface slightly inclined and the cover includes a perimeter ring flange, having a first downwardly depending skirt spaced closely adjacent and inwardly from the ring locking lugs and a second downwardly depending skirt spaced outwardly therefrom. The first skirt has outwardly protruding locking lugs spaced downwardly from the ring flange and having a slightly inclined upper surface to wedgingly mate with respective lower surfaces of the ring locking lugs. The cover has an interior surface between the first and second skirts and a D-ring seal located between the flanges on the interior surface for contacting and being compressed by the small diameter ring end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1998
    Assignee: Petroleum Containment, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert W. Arn
  • Patent number: 5711442
    Abstract: A child resistant package including a container having an open end and multiple threads on the external surface of the container adjacent the upper end. A closure having a base wall and a peripheral skirt has an inner surface formed with multiple threads corresponding in number to the multiple threads on the container for engaging the threads on the container. A release element formed integrally on the exterior surface of the container below the threads. The release element includes an integral axial lug extending upwardly toward the open end of the container. The closure has a plurality of circumferentially spaced stops on the inner surface of the skirt of the closure below the threads corresponding in number to the threads on the closure and the number of threads on the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1998
    Assignee: Owens-Illinois Prescription Products Inc.
    Inventor: Maximillian Kusz
  • Patent number: 5711441
    Abstract: An internal fitment has a bottom peripheral flange adapted to be ultrasonically welded or otherwise attached to a panel of a paperboard carton surrounding a hold in such panel. Above the flange is a spout which converges upwardly and has a cylindrical external locking bead. Above the spout is an outward slanted tear band and above the tear band is a reclosure cap having a top, a depending skirt formed with internal interrupted beads and a plug. The tear band is connected to the spout and cap by thin horizontal tear lines. A finger grip tab extends outwardly of downward with respect to the tear band so that the consumer may conveniently grip the tab, pulling it circumferentially around the spout to separate the tab from both spout and cap. The cap is dimensioned so that the skirt fits over the outside of the spout, the beads detachably locking under the locking bead. The plug seals against the inside of the spout to prevent spillage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1998
    Assignee: Portola Packaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian M. Adams, Adam Green, Jack L. Watts
  • Patent number: 5709312
    Abstract: The invention relates to an adjustable, flexible cover for a container such as a trash or garbage receptacle comprising a flexible film which is impervious to water and odors and has a central portion bounded by a peripheral edge to cover the top opening of the trash receptacle whereas the peripheral edge contacts the sidewall or walls of the receptacle. The cover further has an adhesive sealing member which gathers the peripheral edge of the film to seal the top opening against the intrusion of precipitation and the leakage of odors. Optionally, the top surface of the central portion may include indicia such as holiday or sports designs. An alternative embodiment relates to a flexible bag having an adhesive sealing member on the peripheral edge thereof for application of the bag edge to the external side of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1998
    Inventor: Robert D. Lake
  • Patent number: 5706974
    Abstract: A lid for a container designed to contain powder or granular materials includes a lip on an interior or bottom surface of the lid for selectively attaching a scoop. The lip is resiliently deformable when an edge of the scoop is pressed against it. This deforming creates an interference fit, thereby securing the scoop to the undersurface of the lid. When the scoop is to be used, it can be easily removed from the lid without the need for rooting and searching within the container for the lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1998
    Assignee: Abbott Laboratories
    Inventors: Brian Kendall Murdick, Thomas Walter Osip
  • Patent number: 5706963
    Abstract: The child resistant closure of the present invention comprises a cap having a first skirt portion adapted to be threaded on the neck of a container, and a second skirt portion having a pair diametrically disposed tabs provided with depending lugs adapted to engage a pair of diametrically disposed upwardly extending lugs integral with a ring molded integral with the neck of the container below the thread portion thereon. The lugs on the ring are positioned in proximity to the outer peripheral edge of the ring and are configured so that when screwing the cap onto the container the tab lugs will deflect radially outwardly when ratcheting over the ring lugs. When turning the cap in the opposite direction, the tab lugs engage the ring lugs to prevent removal of the cap. To remove the cap, the tabs are manually pressed radially inwardly away from the ring lugs while the cap is being turned in a direction to unscrew it from the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1998
    Inventor: Frank V. Gargione
  • Patent number: 5704510
    Abstract: A mug comprising a container and a lid, with the container having an inwardly projecting seal rim and inwardly projecting retainers spaced above the seal rim. The lid has a disc for engagement with the upper surface of the seal rim with a retainer opening for passing the retainer, and a catch for positioning under the retainer to retain the lid in the container on the seal rim. The retainer may be formed integrally with the container, or may be a stud carried in an opening in the container. The catch of the lid preferably includes a flexible center with a ramp at each end joining the catch to the disc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1998
    Inventors: Charles H. Feltman, III, Dirk G. Langer
  • Patent number: 5704509
    Abstract: A full contact floating roof for a storage vessel includes a plurality of panels wherein each panel includes a core disposed between upper and lower skins. A plurality of closures are provided wherein each closure is secured to perimeter edges of a panel by welding the closure to at least one of the upper and lower skins. A plurality of fasteners connect adjacent closures thereby forming the floating roof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1998
    Assignee: Allentech, Inc.
    Inventor: David Jon Rosenkrantz
  • Patent number: 5702017
    Abstract: Combination of a row of containers and a strip of caps, each of the containers and caps being respectively joined by breakable links allowing the joined strip of caps to be placed on necks of the joined row of containers by a translational movement parallel to axes of the containers. Click-fasteners are provided on the container necks to interact with complementary click-fasteners formed on the caps. The caps close the containers in a leaktight fashion when snapped into place. The links between each container/cap combination can then be broken to separate each container/cap assembly from the other container/cap assemblies. The click-fasteners also allow each cap to be removed from the corresponding container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1997
    Assignee: L'Oreal
    Inventor: Antonin Goncalves
  • Patent number: 5702025
    Abstract: A lid to be used to dose the opening of a cooperative container providing a user with a spout that is selectively closed and opened to permit a user to draw the liquid inside the container and, if accidentally dropped, to avoid spillage and/or leakage of its contents. A slidable door is activated by a user to selectively block the liquid from coming out through the spout. A locking mechanism to keep the lid firmly and removably secured to the container includes a several latching members that extend perpendicularly from the periphery of the lid and engage with a corresponding number of openings formed in a peripheral locking member positioned adjacent to the rim of the container's opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1997
    Inventor: Vito Di Gregorio
  • Patent number: 5702018
    Abstract: A 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 greater than the stopper member central aperture, and which has a lower surface adapted for sealing engagement against the stopper member top surface. The bottom portion includes at least one flexible lateral projection element adapted to contact and apply a force against the stopper member bottom surface, so as to urge the top portion lower surface into sealing engagement with the stopper member top surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1997
    Inventor: Donald C. Montgomery