Patents by Inventor James E. Herr
James E. Herr 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).
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Patent number: 7549547Abstract: A package includes a container, a seal, and a closure. The container is formed to include an interior region and an opening into the interior region. The seal is coupled to the container to close the opening. The closure is coupled to the container to cover the seal.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2006Date of Patent: June 23, 2009Assignee: Berry Plastics CorporationInventors: James E. Herr, Mark R. Fricke
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Patent number: 7198170Abstract: A system includes a container including projections equi-spaced around a neck region. Each of the projections includes a cam surface, a lock surface, a ramp, and a clamping surface. The system also include a closure including a closure plane and a circumferentially depending outer skirt extending from the closure plane, a tamper-evident arrangement frangibly connected to an edge of the outer skirt opposite the closure plane, and pairs of lugs equi-spaced around an inner sidewall formed by the outer skirt and the tamper-evident arrangement. A lock lug of each pair of lugs is arranged on the tamper-evident arrangement and a sealing lug of each pair of lugs is arranged on the outer skirt. In the system, each lock lug is adapted to engage the cam surface of a corresponding projection during an initial application operation. The lock lug is adapted to engage the lock surface of the corresponding projection after the initial application operation.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2004Date of Patent: April 3, 2007Assignee: Berry Plastics CorporationInventor: James E. Herr
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Patent number: 6371316Abstract: A child resistant closure and container having a lid base recess. A closure includes an annular inner member defining an opening, the inner member having a camming recess. The closure also includes an outer member engageable with the inner member, the outer member including a lid base, a lid hingably connected to the lid base, and an annular guard ring surrounding the lid and lid base. The annular guard ring is frangibly connected to at least one of the lid and lid base, preferably along a frangible line formed by a plurality of bridges. The outer member can be formed integrally as one piece. When the inner member and outer member are joined, the guard ring preferably separates from the lid and lid base, and the lid base is at least partially retained within the camming recess. Once separated from the lid and lid base, the guard ring is movable between a guarding position in which it obstructs access to the lid, and a revealing position in which the lid can be rotated or lifted upward, away from the opening.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2000Date of Patent: April 16, 2002Assignee: Kerr Group, Inc.Inventors: James E. Herr, Mark R. Fricke
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Patent number: 6095354Abstract: A closure according to the present invention includes an annular inner member defining an opening, the inner member having a camming recess. The closure also includes an outer member engageable with the inner member, the outer member including a lid base, a lid hingably connected to the lid base, and an annular guard ring surrounding the lid and lid base. The annular guard ring is frangibly connected to at least one of the lid and lid base, preferably along a frangible line formed by a plurality of bridges. The outer member can be formed integrally as one piece. When the inner member and outer member are joined, the guard ring preferably separates from the lid and lid base, and the lid base is at least partially retained within the camming recess. Once separated from the lid and lid base, the guard ring is movable between a guarding position in which it obstructs access to the lid, and a revealing position in which the lid can be rotated upward, away from the opening.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 1999Date of Patent: August 1, 2000Assignee: Kerr Group, Inc.Inventors: James E. Herr, Mark R. Fricke
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Patent number: 5813553Abstract: A threaded closure is provided with a snap-fit ring. A snap-fit tamper-evident band with three concentric portions is provided such that the first portion engages the closure's snap-fit ring and is removed from the rest of the band when the closure is rotated off of the container neck. A second portion includes tabs for engaging, e.g., an annular ring on a container neck. A third portion remains on the container neck when the first portion and the cap are rotated off. A number of frangible posts are also provided for connecting the first portion to the second and third portions.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 1997Date of Patent: September 29, 1998Assignee: Kerr Group, Inc.Inventors: James E. Herr, Henry H. Nyman, Jr.
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Patent number: 4807771Abstract: A tamper-evident closure for sealing an open-topped container. The closure is of one-piece molded construction and includes a cap having an annular top wall and an annular skirt dependent therefrom and joined thereto about the periphery of the top wall. The skirt has an internal thread for cooperation with the thread on the finish of the container. The closure further includes a tamper-indicating assembly including a band spaced from the skirt by a number of frangible bridges. The assembly also includes a segmented ring connected to the bottom of the band and extending upwardly and inwardly therefrom with the ring including a number of segments with adjacent segments being separated by a slot. The assembly also includes a number of resilient tabs connected to the upper end of each segment and extending upwardly and inwardly therefrom for engaging the breaker ledge of the container finish upon attempted removal of the closure from the container.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 1987Date of Patent: February 28, 1989Assignee: Kerr Glass Manufacturing CorporationInventors: Gerald L. Roy, James E. Herr
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Patent number: 4598833Abstract: A child-resistant, tamper-evident closure having nested inner and outer caps with ratchet teeth on the interfacing skirt walls of the respective caps to cooperate to fasten the closure onto the container, and ratchet teeth on the interfacing top walls of the respective caps for removal of the closure upon simultaneous application of torque and a downward force. The inner cap further includes a tamper-indicating ring depending from the lower edge of its skirt, the ring including a breakable connection for detachably securing the lower portion thereof to the inner cap skirt. A plurality of tabs extending upwardly and radially inwardly from the ring engage an annular shoulder on the container during the removal of the closure to break the ring away from the inner cap skirt.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 1985Date of Patent: July 8, 1986Assignee: Kerr Glass Manufacturing CorporationInventor: James E. Herr
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Patent number: 4595110Abstract: A tamper-evident closure is provided which includes a threaded cap and tamper-indicating means having upwardly and inwardly folded tabs which lock against the lower surface of an annular shoulder on a container neck to retain the tamper-indicating means on the neck as the cap is removed. The tamper-indicating means includes a ring to which the tabs are integrally connected at their lower outer ends. The tabs are resilient and are flexed by the container finish at the joints where they are joined to the ring. The closure of the present invention may be installed simply by screwing it onto a container neck in a one-step process. The flexible tabs assist in guiding the closure and centering it as it is lowered onto the container neck for installing and do not require the holding of the closure or the container finish to close tolerances in order to be consistently effective.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 1985Date of Patent: June 17, 1986Assignee: Kerr Glass Manufacturing CorporationInventor: James E. Herr
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Patent number: 4595547Abstract: A tamper-evident closure is provided which includes a threaded cap and tamper-indicating means having upwardly and inwardly folded tabs which lock against the lower surface of an annular shoulder on a container neck to retain the tamper-indicating means on the neck as the cap is removed. The tamper-indicating means includes a ring to which the tabs are integrally connected at their lower outer ends. The tabs are resilient and are flexed by the container finish at the joints where they are joined to the ring. The closure of the present invention may be installed simply by screwing it onto a container neck in a one-step process. The flexible tabs assist in guiding the closure and centering it as it is lowered onto the container neck for installing and do not require the holding of the closure or the container finish to close tolerances in order to be consistently effective.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 1985Date of Patent: June 17, 1986Assignee: Kerr Glass Manufacturing CorporationInventor: James E. Herr
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Patent number: 4579238Abstract: A child-resistent, moisture-tight safety closure having an end wall with an annular depending skirt, the skirt having a plurality of locking lugs disposed on the inside thereof. The locking lugs cooperate with retaining notches adjacent to the open mouth of an associated container to releasably retain the closure on the container. A sealing plug integral with the end wall of the closure and concentric with the annular skirt effects a moisture-tight seal with the inner wall of the container. A plurality of resilient members are integral with the interior of the closure at the junction of the top wall and the skirt, the resilient members extending downwardly and inwardly so as to engage the end surface of the container opening. The compression of the resilient members serves to bias the locking lugs on the closure into locking relationship with the retaining notches on the container with a force sufficient to ensure the child-resistant characteristics of the closure.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 1985Date of Patent: April 1, 1986Assignee: Kerr Glass Manufacturing CorporationInventor: James E. Herr
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Patent number: 4526281Abstract: A moisture proof vial and closure system are provided which may be used in a child-resistant mode or in a non-child resistant mode. In the child-resistant mode locking lugs 22 on the closure are interlocked with bayonnet slots on the vial. A non-child resistant operation in a moisture proof system may be achieved by providing an integral sealing plug 21 extending from the top of the closure and by adding a detenting means 51 inside of the container to engage and hold the sealing plug 21 against sliding outwardly of the container. A simple push inward will force the sealing plug 21 home to its sealing position to seal the medicine in the vial, and a simple push or pull on the closure to force the fitment from the detenting means is needed to remove the closure. The preferred detenting means 51, 15 is in the form of radially inwardly directed projections 52 formed on the interior container wall to abut and restrain the sealing plug against inadvertent sliding from the container.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 1984Date of Patent: July 2, 1985Assignee: Kerr Glass Manufacturing CorporationInventor: James E. Herr
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Patent number: 4506795Abstract: A tamper-evident closure is provided which includes a threaded cap and tamper-indicating means having upwardly and inwardly folded tabs which lock against the lower surface of an annular shoulder on a container neck to retain the tamper-indicating means on the neck as the cap is removed. The tamper-indicating means includes a ring to which the tabs are integrally connected at their lower outer ends. The tabs are resilient and are flexed by the container finish at the joints where they are joined to the ring. The closure of the present invention may be installed simply by screwing it onto a container neck in a one-step process. The flexible tabs assist in guiding the closure and centering it as it is lowered onto the container neck for installing and do not require the holding of the closure or the container finish to close tolerances in order to be consistently effective.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 1983Date of Patent: March 26, 1985Assignee: Kerr Glass Manufacturing CorporationInventor: James E. Herr
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Patent number: 4397397Abstract: A moisture proof vial and closure system are provided which may be used in a child-resistant mode or in a non-child resistant mode. In the child resistant mode locking lugs 22 on the closure are interlocked with bayonnet slots on the vial. A non-child resistant operation in a moisture proof system may be achieved by leaving the locking lugs 22 off of the closure skirt wall 20 and by adding a detenting means 51 inside of the container to engage and hold a sealing plug 39 against sliding outwardly of the container because of the lack of locking lugs on the closure 10A. A simple push inward will force the sealing plug 39 home to its sealing position to seal the medicine in the vial, and a simple pull on the closure to pull the fitment from the detenting means is needed to remove the closure. The preferred detenting means 51 is in the form of radially inwardly directed projections 52 formed on the interior container wall to abut and restrain the sealing plug against inadvertent sliding from the container.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 1981Date of Patent: August 9, 1983Assignee: Kerr Glass Manufacturing CorporationInventor: James E. Herr
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Patent number: 4286633Abstract: A squeeze bulb dropper assembly is combined with a child resistant closure to form an assembly which cannot be readily removed by younger children. The assembly provides a vapor proof and leakproof connection with the bottle. The preferred assembly employs a closure having an outer cap and an inner cap in which the inner cap rotates with the outer cap in an application direction, but remains stationary relative to a bottle to which it is engaged when the outer cap is rotated in a removal direction unless a simultaneous downward force is applied to the outer cap to intermesh cooperating members on the caps. The closure includes a dropper bulb disposed through the caps so that a resilient compressible flange on the bulb provides the spacing between the cooperating members of the caps unless a downward pressure on the outer cap compresses the flange.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 1979Date of Patent: September 1, 1981Assignee: Kerr Glass Manufacturing CorporationInventor: James E. Herr
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Patent number: 4053078Abstract: A child safe closure of the kind which is secured to a container by interengagement of locking lugs within locking recesses is provided with a sealing member which provides a moisture tight seal with an internal wall of the container. The sealing member has a sealing bead which is inserted deeply within the container opening to a location adjacent or below the lower ends of integrally formed locking lugs or recesses on the container to avoid any depressions made in the interior wall of the container during cooling of thicker cross sectional portions of the container wall. A tapered lead-in surface on the container guides and centers the sealing bead as it travels downwardly toward its sealing position. Preferably, the sealing member is in the form of a separable, flexible sealing fitment retained within the closure cap and formed with an annular flange connected through an annular transverse V-shaped web to a circular planar crown.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 1976Date of Patent: October 11, 1977Assignee: Kerr Glass Manufacturing CorporationInventor: James E. Herr