Patents by Inventor Brian M. Adams

Brian M. Adams has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • 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: 5370270
    Abstract: A cap composed of a snap-on, tamper-evident closure differing from others of this general type is formed with a central sleeve. The bottom of the sleeve is closed off by a removable plug. The exterior of the closure is formed with a bead. The water dispenser is provided with an adapter consisting of an open-bottom outer sleeve into which the neck of the container with the closure in place thereon fits. Centrally disposed in the outer sleeve is a dispenser tube. When the container is inverted its neck is inserted in the outer tube. As the neck and cap are lowered, the dispenser tube enters the cap sleeve and attaches to the plug. Continued lowering of the container causes the plug to slide out of the tube so that liquid in the container flows out through the dispenser tube into the dispenser. When the container is lifted, the plug (which has been attached to the dispenser tube) is pulled back into its original sealed position. The plug and cup are at all times discrete.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1994
    Assignee: Portola Packaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian M. Adams, Daniel Luch
  • Patent number: 5348183
    Abstract: A fitment for a container, such as a carton, has an attachment flange adapted to be sealed to the carton around a pour hole therein. The fitment has a cylindrical spout formed with vertically spaced seal bead and locking bead. The closure has a top disk with a depending skirt dimensioned to slidably fit within the spout. The exterior of the skirt has an external locking bead at its lower end positioned to lock under the fitment locking bead to hold the closure in place and a seal surface to be engaged by the fitment seal bead. Initially the fitment and spout are molded as a unit, the locking bead of the closure and the top edge of the fitment spout being joined by a circular frangible link. The combination is tamper-evident since access to the interior of the carton cannot be obtained without breaking the link. As an alternative, the cap may be separated from the spout and slid inside the spout. Separate cooperable means on the cap disk and fitment flange make this alternative tamper-evident.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1994
    Assignee: Portola Packaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Luch, Brian M. Adams, Rawson Chenault
  • Patent number: 5348184
    Abstract: A tamper-evident thermoplastic fitment having a spout and a closure for said spout are welded to a polymer-coated paperboard container or to a flexible plastic container. The fitment and closure are initially molded simultaneously but with a substantial space between the two parts interconnected by an elongated runner which conducts molten plastic from the closure to the fitment. Upon retraction of the core of the mold, the closure is pulled into the spout until shoulders on the parts engage, whereupon the closure is stripped from the mold core. The runner comprises a tear tab which slides through an apertured space on the closure. When the parts engage tangs on the tear tab engage the space, making the assembly tamper-evident. The fitment has a flange which may be welded or otherwise secured to the container. The tab may be pulled by the consumer to open the container. The closure may be unscrewed from the spout or otherwise disengaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1994
    Assignee: Portola Packaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian M. Adams, Daniel Luch, Rawson Chenault
  • Patent number: 5303837
    Abstract: A fitment attached around an aperture in a container has a flange from which extends an internally threaded spout closed by an initially integrally molded externally threaded plug. The plug is moved axially into the spout, the threads slipping over each other. The plug has an outward extending slotted ear and the fitment has an upward extending finger aligned with the slot in the ear and formed with tangs which lock the finger and ear together as the plug is moved to the spout, thereby making the device tamper-evident. 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. After assembly the portion of the foil extending outside the flange is welded or otherwise adhered to the carton. This further feature is particularly useful in aseptic packaging. Optionally the lower edge of the plug may be welded to the foil so that when the consumer unscrews the plug the foil under the spout is torn away.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1994
    Assignee: Portola Packaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian M. Adams, Daniel Luch
  • Patent number: 5303838
    Abstract: A container (e.g., an 8 oz. milk container) formed of paperboard, or the like, is formed with an aperture. A plastic disk is attached to the paperboard over the aperture by thermoplastic welding or other means. The disk has a frangible area which is opened to dispense contents. Typically the frangible area is penetrated by the end of a drinking straw. For aseptic packaging, the paperboard may be lined with a barrier, such as foil. Alternatively foil may be attached to the disk and welded to the paperboard surrounding the aperture or welded to a foil or polyethylene liner for the paperboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1994
    Assignee: Portola Packaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Luch, Brian M. Adams, Rawson Chenault
  • Patent number: 5271519
    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: January 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1993
    Assignee: Portola Packaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian M. Adams, Daniel Luch
  • Patent number: 5249695
    Abstract: For tent-type paperboard containers as well as other containers, a spout fitment is attached surrounding a hole in the container. The fitment spout has internal threads and an external flange which seals around the hole and is fixed to the container by thermal means, adhesive or the like. The cap has a top disk from which an externally threaded skirt depends. The exterior of the skirt has gripping ribs to assist in screwing and unscrewing the cap. The lower edge of the skirt seals against a sealing membrane on the spout. Surrounding the skirt is a tamper-evident band attached to the lower edges of the ribs by frangible bridges. The tamper-evident band has locking means engaging complementary locking means on the fitment. Thus, the cap cannot be unscrewed without removing the tamper-evident band. By unique design, the fitment and cap may be molded in one mold cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1993
    Assignee: Portola Packaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Luch, Brian M. Adams
  • Patent number: 5232125
    Abstract: A cap composed of a snap-on, tamper-evident closure differing from others of this general type is formed with a central sleeve. The bottom of the sleeve is closed off by a removable plug. The exterior of the closure is formed with a bead. The water dispenser is provided with an adapter consisting of an open-bottom outer sleeve into which the neck of the container with the closure in place thereon fits. Centrally disposed in the outer sleeve is a dispenser tube. When the container is inverted its neck is inserted in the outer tube. As the neck and cap are lowered, the dispenser tube enters the cap sleeve and attaches to the plug. Continued lowering of the container causes the plug to slide out of the tube so that liquid in the container flows out through the dispenser tube into the dispenser. When the container is lifted, the plug (which has been attached to the dispenser tube) is pulled back into its original sealed position. The plug and cup are at all times discrete.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1993
    Assignee: Portola Packaging, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian M. Adams
  • Patent number: 5174465
    Abstract: A fitment and cap therefor are integrally molded with lugs interconnecting the part. The fitment has a flange to be attached to a container and an internally threaded spout. The cap has an externally threaded skirt. The lugs are diametrically spaced and interconnect the bottom edge of the skirt and upper edge of the spout. After molding, force is applied to break the lugs and snap the skirt inside the spout, the threads slipping past each other and inter-engaging. A temper-evident band extends around the skirt and is connected thereto by frangible bridges. At diametrically spaced locations vertically projecting fingers extend down from the tamper evident band and are received in sockets on the fitment flange shaped so that the band fingers prevent unscrewing the cap without removing the tamper-evident band. A pull tab and thumb tab assist the consumer in removing the tamper evident band so that the cap may be unscrewed from the fitment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1992
    Assignee: Cap Snap Co.
    Inventors: Daniel Luch, Brian M. Adams
  • Patent number: 5123555
    Abstract: A plastic cap is used on containers, particularly of the type used commercially for five-gallon bottles containing liquids such as drinking water. A bead is formed on the exterior, preferably above the elevation of the horizontal tear line conventionally used in such caps. The bead is preferably flat on the outside surface and wide in a vertical sense. The bead functions to cause the cap to engage the neck of the container more securely. It also functions to retain in place a dust cap which fits over the top of the cap. It further functions as a seal for the type of cap used in certain water dispensers. Such dispensers are used without removing the cap from the container in that the top disk is opened after the container has been installed in the dispenser. The bead seals against the inside of a sleeve incorporated in such a dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1992
    Assignee: Cap Snap Co.
    Inventors: Daniel Luch, Brian M. Adams
  • Patent number: 5121846
    Abstract: A plastic cap for closing the neck of a conventional 5-gallon bottle or similar container is characterized by having an upper external convex bead immediately below the neck lip, a concavity below the upper bead and a lower convex bead. The cap has a top disc and a peripheral depending skirt. The skirt has an upper seal bead to engage the upper neck bead, a tensioning bead to engage the undersurface of the upper seal bead and a lower seal bead to engage the lower convex bead. Below the tensioning bead is a horizontal internal score line. Extending downwardly from the horizontal score line is a second score line curving downwardly and then in a substantially vertical stretch. A tear tab extends down from the bottom edge of the skirt. To open the bottle, the user pulls the tear tab to tear the skirt upward along the second score line, then around the horizontal score line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1992
    Assignee: Cap Snap Co.
    Inventors: Brian M. Adams, Daniel Luch