Patents by Inventor Edward J. Towns

Edward J. Towns 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: 5980811
    Abstract: An improved method of molding a container finish for containers containing liquid at or above atmospheric pressures in which the frusto-conical sealing area thereof is formed in substantially unflawed condition. To accomplish this, the mold for the container includes the usual upper and lower members which move axially when the mold is opened, which members mate with a pair of side members which move laterally when the mold is opened. However, as contrasted with prior art molds of this type, the upper mold member is provided with an axially oriented cavity which encloses that portion of the neck finish which includes the sealing surface to a degree wherein the laterally extending parting line at the upper end of the side members is positioned below the lower edge of the frusto-conical sealing surface thus eliminating the presence of either axially oriented or transversely oriented parting lines on the sealing surface itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Inventor: Edward J. Towns
  • Patent number: 5941403
    Abstract: A threaded closure for use with containers for liquid contents of a type including a severable tamper-indicating ring in which provision is incorporated to facilitate removal of the closure from an injection mold while minimizing the possibility of damage to parts of relatively thin cross section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Inventor: Edward J. Towns
  • Patent number: 5803281
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to synthetic resinous container closures having frustoconical sealing surfaces which cooperate with corresponding sealing surfaces on a container finish to effect a gas-type seal. In one embodiment, the closure is particularly suited for use in sealing containers having pressurized contents such as carbonated drinks and the like. In a second embodiment, the closure is of threaded type enabling the reclosing and sealing of the engaged container after an initial opening. This embodiment including a separable tamper-indicating ring. In a third embodiment, the closure is adapted to be used in conjunction with an aerosol dispenser to exclude ambient moisture from the area of the dispensing nozzle prior to first use, and to form a second seal after the closure has been removed for first usage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Assignee: Oz Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventor: Edward J. Towns
  • Patent number: 5368178
    Abstract: An improved container and closure therefore particularly adapted for use in storing pressurized liquid contents, such as carbonated beverages. As contrasted with conventional crown seals which employ a sealing gasket, the closure effects a sealing action between corresponding frustoconical sealing surfaces on the container finish and an inner surface of the cap, thus eliminating the need for a gasket. The closure includes a tamper indicating means at a lower peripheral edge thereof which is damaged upon engagement with an opening tool or other object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1994
    Inventors: Edward J. Towns, Edward M. Brown
  • Patent number: 4946055
    Abstract: An improved synthetic resinous molded threaded cap for use on necked containers permitting initial press fit installation and subsequent threaded engagement. The cap is provided with a tear seal, an inner surface of which provides mutual engagement of an inwardly projecting rib with a corresponding rib on the container neck. Rupture of the tear seal removes this rib and allows the cap to be threadedly engaged by further axial displacement of the cap upon the neck. The cap may be molded with a feathered free edge to facilitate removal from a mold without damaging the rib.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 7, 1990
    Inventors: Edward J. Towns, Edward M. Brown
  • Patent number: 4933133
    Abstract: A container closure comprises a cylindrical molded utitary member defining a top panel and a skirt depending from the top panel to an open end for securement to the container, the skirt being interiorly tapered at the open end. The taper begins flush with the outer surface of the skirt and ends in a first circumference radially of the central axis of such cylinder. The skirt further defines a bead extending radially interiorly of the skirt to a second circumference radially closer to the cylinder central axis than the first circumference. The closure provides sealing retention pressure in accordance with the radially interior extent of the bead and exhibits evidence of initial removal from the container. The method for making the closure involves the use of a stripper plate to participate in part in defining a mold cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 12, 1990
    Inventors: Edward M. Brown, Edward J. Towns
  • 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: 4793122
    Abstract: A tamper-indicating container closure includes a closure member defining container closing expanse, a tamper-indicating element in the closure interiorly of the closure member and times 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 times are inaccessible through the closing expanse of the closure member and the closure affords visibility therethrough of the condition of the tamper-indicating element.In a typical jar container embodiment, the closure includes a cap having a disc-shaped rupturable telltale interiorly of the cap depending skirt and telltale retaining-tearing times extending from the cap interior surface downwardly into securement with the telltale disc and movable with the cap in the course of its rotative movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1982
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1988
    Assignee: TBL Development Corporation
    Inventors: Edward J. Towns, Edward M. Brown, William M. Lester
  • Patent number: 4793505
    Abstract: A container closure includes a cap having depending interior tines in engagement with a tamper-indicating element and thereby moving the element into registry with a container access port. Load-sharing structure is incorporated in the cap to provide additive force for movement of the tamper-indicating element, such force being imposed on the element at a location spaced from the location of engagement of the tines and the element. The load-sharing structure may also provide for sealably reclosing the container upon opening of the closure and removal of the tamper-indicating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1988
    Assignee: TBL Development Corporation
    Inventors: Edward J. Towns, Edward M. Brown, William M. Lester
  • 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: 4784817
    Abstract: A container closure is comprised of a closure member molded on a liner, the liner having a first surface secured to the closure member and a second surface opposite the first surface and including a member depending therefrom and configured both for effecting sealing of a container and for releasable securement of the liner to a forming member in the course of such molding of the closure member thereon. The closure member and liner materials may thus be diverse, since they are separately formed. While there are separate manufacturing steps for making the liner and the closure member, the customary step of assembling preformed liners with preformed closure members to obtain desired performance diversity therebetween is eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1988
    Assignee: TBL Development Corporation
    Inventors: Edward J. Towns, Edward M. Brown, William M. Lester
  • Patent number: 4767587
    Abstract: Break-away closures are formed by an injection molding process with a closure part in interference path with a forming core for interference in use with a counterpart surface of a container neck. The process and apparatus disclosed permits stripping of the formed closure from the core by selectively creating free encircling space about the interference closure part for expansion thereof during stripping. The closure has detent surface molded therein which assists the stripping operation and the process and apparatus provide for the application of stripping forces at spaced locations simultaneously to permit stripping of the closure in part without axial loading thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1988
    Assignee: TBL Development Corporation
    Inventors: Edward J. Towns, Edward M. Brown
  • Patent number: 4697714
    Abstract: Break-away closures are formed by an injection molding process with a closure part in interference path with a forming core for interference in use with a counterpart surface of a container neck. The process and apparatus disclosed permits stripping of the formed closure from the core by selectively creating free encircling space about the interference closure part for expansion thereof during stripping. The closure has detent surface molded therein which assists the stripping operation and the process and apparatus provide for the application of stripping forces at spaced locations simultaneously to permit stripping of the closure in part without axial loading thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1987
    Assignee: TBL Development Corporation
    Inventors: Edward J. Towns, Edward M. Brown
  • Patent number: 4697993
    Abstract: A fluid medium pump includes a piston having a hollow interior for receiving a connecting rod adapted to open and close a passage through the piston selectively in accordance with the sense of movement of the rod. The connecting rod includes a groove that opens and closes the passage on the piston's compression stroke and opens the passage on the piston's return stroke. User apparatus includes the pump and various pump heads for effecting spraying, foaming and container pressurization. A control mechanism for pump operation renders the pump inoperative for transport, selectively operable upon triggering or continuously operable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1987
    Assignee: Spray-All, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward B. Chamberlin, Edward M. Brown, Edward J. Towns
  • Patent number: 4694968
    Abstract: A safety type cap for medicinal or similar containers capable of effecting a tight seal upon the container mouth by means of a sealing flange extending laterally from an inner surface of the cap rim which is deflected upon contact with a corresponding flange on an area surrounding the mouth of the container. The cap is held in sealed relation relative to the container by engagement of a pair of arcuate projections which engage a sufficient degree of the container periphery so as to resist dislodgement made possible by flexing of the container without alignment of the cap relative to the container for normal usual disengagement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1987
    Assignee: Lermer Packaging Corp.
    Inventors: John D. Proctor, Edward J. Towns, Edward M. Brown
  • Patent number: 4685580
    Abstract: A container closure member is adapted for receiving a container sealing liner, the closure member comprising a top panel and a skirt depending downwardly from the top panel. First projections depend downwardly from the top panel interiorly of the closure for defining, with the liner received in the closure member, a first air flow passage extending from beneath the top panel to the skirt. Second projections depend inwardly from the skirt interiorly of the closure for defining, with the liner received in the closure member, a second air flow passage extending downwardly along the skirt to ambient environment, the second air flow passage being in flow communication with the first air flow passage. The liner has container sealing surface at its periphery and a central air flow passage in communication with such first and second air flow passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1987
    Assignee: TBL Development Corporation
    Inventors: Edward J. Towns, Edward M. Brown
  • Patent number: 4674642
    Abstract: A container closure includes liner adapted to seal a container having contents under vacuum pressure, and a closure member securing the liner thereto about the liner periphery. An interior extent of the liner is thereby permitted movement relative to the closure member, i.e., is not secured to the closure member. At the point of container initial closure, the liner interior extent is withdrawn under vacuum pressure from its theretofore normal self-biased disposition adjacent the closure member to within the upper neck of the container and is deformed to the extent that initial container pressurization occasions. Upon loss of such initial vacuum pressure, the liner interior extent moves into its normal self-biased disposition adjacent the closure member. Discernment of the disposition of the liner interior extent relative to the closure member is thus indicative of whether the initial vacuum pressure is being maintained or has been lost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1987
    Assignee: TBL Development Corporation
    Inventors: Edward J. Towns, Edward M. Brown, William M. Lester
  • Patent number: 4673096
    Abstract: A container closure includes a closure member having a top panel and a liner retained rotatively in the closure member, the liner having an upper surface in facing relation to the top panel and a lower surface opposite such first liner surface. The liner has configuration in its upper surface for limiting engagement between same and the top panel to a fraction of interfacing surfaces thereof. The liner has a member depending from its lower surface for sealing engagement with a container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1987
    Assignee: TBL Development Corporation
    Inventors: Edward J. Towns, Edward M. Brown, William M. Lester
  • Patent number: 4631003
    Abstract: A fluid medium pump includes a piston having a hollow interior for receiving a connecting rod adapted to open and close a passage through the piston selectively in accordance with the stroke of the rod. User apparatus includes the pump and various pump heads for effecting spraying, foaming and container pressurization. Control mechanism for pump operation renders the pump inoperative for transport, selectively operable upon triggering or continuously operable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1986
    Assignee: Spray-All, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward B. Chamberlin, Edward M. Brown, Edward J. Towns