Patents Examined by Vanessas Caretto
  • Patent number: 5411156
    Abstract: A content immobilizer includes an immobilizing medium, such as cotton, and a plastic integrally formed pull member, operatively coupled through the immobilizing medium, wherein the pull member has a flexible portion adapted to resiliently extend above an upper rim surface of the mouth of a bottle after removal of the closure. The pull member may also laterally compress and expand to frictionally engage with an interior wall surface of the bottle to secure the pull member in a predetermined position. A method for forming the content immobilizer includes inserting the pull member through the immobilizing medium, inserting the content immobilizer into the bottle such that at least a portion of the pull member extends out through the mouth of the bottle, and applying a closure, such as a tamper evident seal, a cap and/or both, over the mouth such that the portion of the pull member resiliently couples to a bottom surface of the closure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1995
    Inventor: Christopher J. Reckamp
  • Patent number: 5411163
    Abstract: Case including a lid and a base provided with a closure having a hook and a counter hook cooperating to close the case. The hook includes a rigid support on the lid to which an elastic component carrying the catch of the hook is mounted. The elastic component deforms upon opening and closing to engage and disengage, respectively, the catch and counter hook.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1995
    Assignee: L'Oreal
    Inventor: Jean-Louis H. Gueret
  • Patent number: 5411161
    Abstract: A refuse device includes a cover which can be locked to the container of the device by rotating the cover on the container. The cover includes a top portion, a collar extending downwardly from the top portion, and two tabs attached to the collar, spaced apart from the top portion, located opposite each other, and extending inwardly from the collar. The container includes a sidewall terminating in an upper edge, a closed bottom attached to the sidewall opposite the upper edge, an outwardly extending rim attached to the upper edge of the sidewall, and an upwardly extending lip attached to the rim opposite the sidewall. The lip includes two diametrically opposite channels through which the tabs move when the cover is placed on or removed from the container. The lip also includes six groove, two of which flank the first channel, two of which flank the second channel, and two of which are positioned intermediate the first and second channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1995
    Inventor: Milton L. Fish, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5411159
    Abstract: An easily openable can includes a foldable tab having an actuating ring attached on the tab and normally flatly sealing a drinking opening formed on a can cover and operatively openable along a score line along a contour of the tab on the cover, a base folding line concave downwardly and pre-formed in a rear base portion of the tab, and an intermediate folding line convex upwardly and preformed on an intermediate portion of the tab, whereby upon pulling of the actuating ring and the tab to open the drinking opening and then upon folding of the tab along the base folding line and the intermediate folding line, the tab can be folded and retained on a rear opening edge without dropping into a can interior for hygienic purpose and also to allow the actuating ring to conceal a sharp edge of the tab severed from the can cover for safety reason.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1995
    Inventor: Kuo-Wei Fan
  • Patent number: 5409131
    Abstract: An improved drinking lid for a disposable coffee cup having an open top comprising a dome shaped cover having an air vent hole and conforming to the open top of the coffee cup. A peripheral rim is on the cover to engage in a seating manner, a lip on the open top of the coffee cup. A flexible drinking spout is formed in the cover, to allow coffee in the coffee cup to exit therefrom into a mouth of a person. A structure is for shielding the air vent hole in the cover, when the flexible drinking spout is not being used. An element is for coupling the flexible drinking spout to the shielding structure. When the flexible drinking spout is bent over to be used, the shielding structure will open to expose the air vent hole, to enable the coffee in the cup to better exit the flexible drinking spout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1995
    Inventors: Tangelia D. Phillips, George Spector
  • Patent number: 5409125
    Abstract: A liquid containing thermoplastic unit dose container (1) which comprises a body portion (2), a neck portion (3) and an outlet opening (7) at the end of the neck portion (3) which is sealed by a non-resealable cap (4). The outside wall of the neck portion (3) comprises a thread engagement portion (8) which is located at or proximate the outermost edge of the neck portion (3) so that after removal of cap (4) thread engagement portion (8) is adapted to engage within an inwardly facing screw thread channel (14) at the end of a syringe. This enables sealing connection of the container (1) to the syringe so that liquid within container (1) may be directly transferred from the container (1) to the syringe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1995
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget Astra
    Inventors: Michael B. Kimber, Anders T. Kers, Borje Jonsson
  • Patent number: 5407089
    Abstract: A storage container assembly is disclosed comprising a lid (12) and a base container (13). The lid body has a scoop recess (26) foraged in a forward end for collecting articles, and a handle bar (32) extending from the recess to a rearward end wall (24) of the lid. The handle bar has a hand opening (34) therebeneath, and is positioned on the longitudinal center axis of the lid. The lid pivots about horizontal pivot pins (42) to selectively enclose and uncover the top opening (50) of the container, and the lid is detachable from the container upper rim by the handle bar, whereby enabling a user to collect refuse into the scoop recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1995
    Assignee: Rubbermaid Incorporated
    Inventors: David A. Bird, Mitchell L. Wilgus
  • Patent number: 5405032
    Abstract: A plastic tamper-indicating closure comprises a cap and a tamper-indicating band attached thereto by primary and secondary connecting bridges having different strengths, so that the secondary bridges are broken substantially more easily than are the primary bridges when the cap is removed from the neck of a container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1995
    Assignee: Crown Cork & Seal Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Jimmy L. Anderson
  • Patent number: 5402901
    Abstract: A closure device for a recipient with a threaded neck. It includes a tapped closure having a lower part attached to a guarantee strip by a zone of connection of low mechanical resistance, the strip presenting an elastically-deformable, inner, annular bead adapted to clip beneath a holding flange formed on a lower periphery of the neck by forced screwing of the closure; and an outer peripheral boss axially separated from the bead by a zone of controlled elastic deformation, an upper face of the boss and a lower edge of a lateral wall of the closure having formed therein, respectively, at least one tooth and at least one notch, the tooth being intended to be temporarily received in the notch during screwing when the bead is in abutment with the holding flange in order to avoid any relative rotational displacement of the closure with respect to the strip and to ensure clipping without deteriorating the zone of connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1995
    Assignee: Le Moulage Automatique
    Inventors: Jose Carvalheiro, Alain Franchet, Vincent Guerrazzi, Pierre Pellerano
  • Patent number: 5400913
    Abstract: A tamper-indicating closure serves as a closure for a container (2) which, at its container neck (3), possesses at least one locking surface (5) with which the retaining elements (6) of the tamper indicating band (7) are able to engage. The tamper-indicating band (7) possesses an upper portion (10) which extends downwards from the cap skirt (12) and which is connected with this by a frangible line (11). A plurality of retaining elements (6) are provided on the upper portion (10) of the tamper-indicating band (7). The retaining elements (6) are in each case connected with the adjacent retaining element by a flexible web (13). Each of the retaining elements (6) possesses at least one wedge shape (8) on its surface oriented towards the container neck (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1995
    Assignee: Crown Cork & Seal Company
    Inventor: Ronald L. Kelly
  • Patent number: 5400914
    Abstract: A sliding container cover, which includes a rectangular base frame mounted on the top opening of a rectangular container, a rectangular cover frame hinged to the rectangular base frame at one side and openably covered over the rectangular base frame, and a sliding cover board made to slide in and out of the space defined between the rectangular base frame and the rectangular cover frame for controlling the top opening of the rectangular container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1995
    Inventor: Chih-Ying Lin
  • Patent number: 5398843
    Abstract: A molded plastic lid of the drink-through type for use in connection with a conventional beverage cup. The lid exhibits a cup-engaging rim and, radially inwardly thereof, a raised crown portion having a side wall and a top. The top is generally flat but has formed therein a centrally located recess, the floor of which extends laterally to the side walls and which is at all times above the maximum fill line of the cup during normal operation. The recess exhibits a structure which may be depressed into a stable inverted condition which provides an enlarged drink-through aperture immediately adjacent the side wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1995
    Assignee: Letica Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Warden, Anton I. Letica
  • Patent number: 5398829
    Abstract: A cap assembly is fitted to a bottleneck, and is provided with a sleeve for fitting to the bottleneck. The sleeve is provided with a non-drip pouring spout whereby the liquid can be poured from the bottle through the sleeve and spout. A closure cap member is fitted to the sleeve in a secure manner. Before a cap portion of the closure cap member can be removed to permit the pouring of the liquid, a tear band must first be removed from the closure cap member, thereby providing tamper resistance. Additionally, the cap portion must be aligned with the sleeve before it can be removed, thereby providing child resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1995
    Assignee: Jaycare Limited
    Inventor: Peter Stubbs
  • Patent number: 5397013
    Abstract: A fitment attached around an aperture in a container has a flange from which extends a spout closed by an initially integrally molded externally threaded plug. So long as the fitment and plug are in their original position after molding, the combination is tamper-evident. The plug is moved axially into the spout, with a liquid-tight fit. The plug has an outward extending tab formed with a slot and the fitment has an upward extending finger aligned with the slot in the tab and formed with tangs which lock the finger and tab together as the plug is moved into the spout, thereby making the device tamper-evident. A characteristic of the invention is that a tether interconnects the plug and the upper edge of the spout to prevent disconnection of the one from the other. As a further feature of the invention, an over-size foil seal extends across the bottom of the flange and is welded or otherwise adhered to the bottom of the flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1995
    Assignee: Portola Packaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian M. Adams, Daniel Luch
  • Patent number: 5395000
    Abstract: The fluid container with reseatable stopper includes a plunger which has mounted at one end thereof a head which seats between a pair of ribs provided in the neck of the container to create a fluid tight seal therein. The plunger is actuated by a lever set in a cavity in a bottom surface of the container, the lever moving the plunger head into and out of engagement with the ribs. A small open area is created about the circumference of the plunger head which allows fluid to flow therearound in a controlled manner when the head is not seated between the ribs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1995
    Inventor: Billy J. Porter
  • Patent number: 5394999
    Abstract: A child resistant package including a plastic container having a finish with an external thread and a plastic closure having a base wall and an internal thread thereon for engaging the thread on the container. The container includes diametrically opposed integral tabs extending from the container. Each tab has substantially uniform thickness such that it is capable of flexing relative to said container. The skirt of the closure has a free edge with diametrically opposed projections thereon engagable by the radial tabs. The tabs are manually deflectable to disengage from said projections on the skirt to permit manual rotation of the closure to unthread said closure from the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1995
    Assignee: Owens-Illinois Closure Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Krall
  • Patent number: 5392939
    Abstract: A cap for use with bottled water dispensing systems. The cap includes a main outer cap and an inner cap. The main outer cap has a central sleeve which receives and seals against a probe. The inner cap moves into and out of a sealing engagement with the central tube as the bottle is raised and lowered over the probe. The seal between the inner cap and the central tube is located on the outside surface of the central tube. The inner cap has a guide sleeve which centers the inner cap about the central tube, which is particularly important to achieve a proper attachment of the inner cap to the central tube during removal of the bottle from its support. The locations of the various components of the cap allow the cap to have effective differentials between the forces which are necessary to achieve proper sequencing of the formation of the various seals and connections which occur during use of the cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1995
    Inventors: Walter E. Hidding, Douglas J. Hidding, Robert D. Hidding
  • Patent number: 5392938
    Abstract: A one-piece snap hinge closure of plastic having a lower part and an upper part connected with each other via a film hinge. The intactness of the closure is assured by a security band. The security band is injection-molded to the upper part via bars which are used as predetermined breaking points. A bar on the lower part is engaged with the security band. The bar on the lower part can be placed in such a way that in the security position of the closure it is attached behind a tab on the upper part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1995
    Assignee: Createchnic Ag
    Inventor: Werner F. Dubach
  • Patent number: 5392949
    Abstract: The present invention is directed at a lid for a cup. The lid comprising a disc having a periphery, a first face and a second face. The disc is corrugated to form a series of concentric, receiving channels having an opening and walls. The receiving channels are spaced apart so that both the first face and the second face can receive a cup wall of varying cup diameter. Additionally, the receiving channels have perforations to facilitate the removal of unused portions of the lid which extend radially outward from the cup wall. The lid has a tab which extends radially inward from the periphery of the disc and is formed by tab perforations on the disc. The tab hinges to the disc at a medial portion of the disc, and the tab can be opened by pivoting around the hinge and laying against the disc. Furthermore, the tab provides a starting point to tear along the perforations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1995
    Inventor: Paul A. McKenna
  • Patent number: 5386918
    Abstract: Disclosed is a closure for a container, the closure having a lid hinged to a base. The base of the closure has structure for locking the closure on a dispensing nozzle of the container. The closure has tamper evidence structure, to indicate whether the lid and base have been separated (that is, whether the closure has previously been opened). The tamper evidence structure includes a tear band; the closure cannot be opened without removal of the tear band. The closure is configured, and positioned relative to the dispensing nozzle, such that relatively little area of the closure contacts the material dispensed from the container as the material is dispensed, thereby reducing absorption of material components (e.g., flavors and/or oils of the material dispensed) by the closure. The top surface of the closure lid is configured such that the container and closure can be stably stood on end on the closure lid when the lid is in the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1995
    Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Co.
    Inventors: George J. Neveras, Claude Blasin