Patents by Inventor James L. Gregory
James L. Gregory 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: 7645414Abstract: A tamper-indicating closure for a beverage package includes a base wall having a peripheral skirt with at least one internal thread for securing the closure to a container. A tamper-indicating band is frangibly connected to an edge of the skirt, and a stop flange extends axially and radially from an edge of the band for abutment with a stop bead on the container finish. A plurality of circumferentially spaced drain openings extend axially through the juncture of the band and the flange. A plurality of circumferentially spaced channels extend axially through the internal thread on the closure skirt, with at least some of the channels being axially aligned with the drain openings. The stop bead on the container is in the form of a plurality of circumferentially spaced bead segments separated from each other by circumferential gaps.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2007Date of Patent: January 12, 2010Assignee: Rexam Closure Systems Inc.Inventors: James L. Gregory, Stephanie L. Kurtz-Rooney, David P. Piccioli, Suppayan M. Krishnakumar, Q. Peter Zhang
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Patent number: 7581652Abstract: A tamper-indicating closure includes a plastic shell having a base wall with an annular skirt, at least one internal thread segment on the skirt, a tamper band frangibly connected to the skirt, and a circumferential array of angularly spaced flexible resilient ratchet wings extending counterclockwise from an inner surface of the tamper band at an angle to the inner surface. A flexible resilient sealing liner on the base wall within the skirt has a conical sealing surface that faces radially outwardly toward the skirt and axially away from the base wall. The conical sealing surface is resiliently engageable with a trim flange of a container to which the closure is applicable so that the tamper band separates from the annular skirt before loss of sealing engagement between the liner and the trim flange.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2005Date of Patent: September 1, 2009Assignee: Rexam Closure Systems Inc.Inventors: Frank Flak, Jr., James L. Gregory, Ramsey J. Haylett, Thomas A. Kozlowski
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Patent number: 7235207Abstract: A tamper-indicating closure for a beverage package includes a base wall having a peripheral skirt with at least one internal thread for securing the closure to a container. A tamper-indicating band is frangibly connected to an edge of the skirt, and a stop flange extends axially and radially from an edge of the band for abutment with a stop bead on the container finish. A plurality of circumferentially spaced drain openings extend axially through the juncture of the band and the flange. A plurality of circumferentially spaced channels extend axially through the internal thread on the closure skirt, with at least some of the channels being axially aligned with the drain openings. The stop bead on the container is in the form of a plurality of circumferentially spaced bead segments separated from each other by circumferential gaps.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2003Date of Patent: June 26, 2007Assignee: Owens-Illinois Closure Inc.Inventors: James L. Gregory, Stephanie L. Kurtz-Rooney, David P. Piccioli, Suppayan M. Krishnakumar, Q. Peter Zhang
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Patent number: 6968966Abstract: A tamper-indicating closure of integrally molded plastic construction that includes a base wall having a peripheral skirt with internal threads for engaging external threads on a container finish. A tamper-indicating band is connected to the edge of the skirt by a plurality of circumferentially spaced integral frangible bridges. A stop flange extends axially outwardly and radially inwardly from an edge of the band remote from the skirt for inversion and engagement with a bead on the container finish. The stop flange is in the form of a circumferentially continuous base of uniform thickness circumferentially of the band, and either uniform or increasing thickness radially and axially of the band. A plurality of circumferentially spaced lugs are integral with and extend from the base. The lugs widen uniformly from zero thickness at the band to a maximum thickness at the free edge of the flange.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2003Date of Patent: November 29, 2005Assignee: Owens Illinois Closure Inc.Inventor: James L. Gregory
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Publication number: 20040124169Abstract: A tamper-indicating closure for a beverage package includes a base wall having a peripheral skirt with at least one internal thread for securing the closure to a container. A tamper-indicating band is frangibly connected to an edge of the skirt, and a stop flange extends axially and radially from an edge of the band for abutment with a stop bead on the container finish. A plurality of circumferentially spaced drain openings extend axially through the juncture of the band and the flange. A plurality of circumferentially spaced channels extend axially through the internal thread on the closure skirt, with at least some of the channels being axially aligned with the drain openings. The stop bead on the container is in the form of a plurality of circumferentially spaced bead segments separated from each other by circumferential gaps.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 21, 2003Publication date: July 1, 2004Inventors: James L. Gregory, Stephanie L. Kurtz-Rooney, David P. Piccioli, Suppayan M. Krishnakumar, Q. Peter Zhang
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Patent number: 6659297Abstract: A tamper-indicating closure for a beverage package includes a base wall having a peripheral skirt with at least one internal thread for securing the closure to a container. A tamper-indicating band is frangibly connected to an edge of the skirt, and a stop flange extends axially and radially from an edge of the band for abutment with a stop bead on the container finish. A plurality of circumferentially spaced drain openings extend axially through the juncture of the band and the flange. A plurality of circumferentially spaced channels extend axially through the internal thread on the closure skirt, with at least some of the channels being axially aligned with the drain openings. The stop bead on the container is in the form of a plurality of circumferentially spaced bead segments separated from each other by circumferential gaps.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2001Date of Patent: December 9, 2003Assignee: Owens-Illinois Closure Inc.Inventors: James L. Gregory, Stephanie L. Kurtz-Rooney, David P. Piccioli, Suppayan M. Krishnakumar, Q. Peter Zhang
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Publication number: 20030192854Abstract: A tamper-indicating closure of integrally molded plastic construction that includes a base wall having a peripheral skirt with internal threads for engaging external threads on a container finish. A tamper-indicating band is connected to the edge of the skirt by a plurality of circumferentially spaced integral frangible bridges. A stop flange extends axially outwardly and radially inwardly from an edge of the band remote from the skirt for inversion and engagement with a bead on the container finish. The stop flange is in the form of a circumferentially continuous base of uniform thickness circumferentially of the band, and either uniform or increasing thickness radially and axially of the band. A plurality of circumferentially spaced lugs are integral with and extend from the base. The lugs widen uniformly from zero thickness at the band to a maximum thickness at the free edge of the flange.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 28, 2003Publication date: October 16, 2003Inventor: James L. Gregory
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Patent number: 6622460Abstract: A tamper-indicating closure of integrally molded plastic construction that includes a base wall having a peripheral skirt with internal threads for engaging external threads on a container finish. A tamper-indicating band is connected to the edge of the skirt by a plurality of circumferentially spaced integral frangible bridges. A stop flange extends axially outwardly and radially inwardly from an edge of the band remote from the skirt for inversion and engagement with a bead on the container finish. The stop flange is in the form of a circumferentially continuous base of uniform thickness circumferentially of the band, and either uniform or increasing thickness radially and axially of the band. A plurality of circumferentially spaced lugs are integral with and extend from the base. The lugs widen uniformly from zero thickness at the band to a maximum thickness at the free edge of the flange.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2002Date of Patent: September 23, 2003Assignee: Owens-Illinois Closure Inc.Inventor: James L. Gregory
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Publication number: 20030098285Abstract: A tamper-indicating closure for a beverage package includes a base wall having a peripheral skirt with at least one internal thread for securing the closure to a container. A tamper-indicating band is frangibly connected to an edge of the skirt, and a stop flange extends axially and radially from an edge of the band for abutment with a stop bead on the container finish. A plurality of circumferentially spaced drain openings extend axially through the juncture of the band and the flange. A plurality of circumferentially spaced channels extend axially through the internal thread on the closure skirt, with at least some of the channels being axially aligned with the drain openings. The stop bead on the container is in the form of a plurality of circumferentially spaced bead segments separated from each other by circumferential gaps.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 28, 2001Publication date: May 29, 2003Inventors: James L. Gregory, Stephanie L. Kurtz-Rooney, David P. Piccioli, Suppayan M. Krishnakumar, Q. Peter Zhang
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Publication number: 20020062626Abstract: A tamper-indicating closure of integrally molded plastic construction that includes a base wall having a peripheral skirt with internal threads for engaging external threads on a container finish. A tamper-indicating band is connected to the edge of the skirt by a plurality of circumferentially spaced integral frangible bridges. A stop flange extends axially outwardly and radially inwardly from an edge of the band remote from the skirt for inversion and engagement with a bead on the container finish. The stop flange is in the form of a circumferentially continuous base of uniform thickness circumferentially of the band, and either uniform or increasing thickness radially and axially of the band. A plurality of circumferentially spaced lugs are integral with and extend from the base. The lugs widen uniformly from zero thickness at the band to a maximum thickness at the free edge of the flange.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 22, 2002Publication date: May 30, 2002Inventor: James L. Gregory
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Patent number: 6381928Abstract: A closure and container package that includes a container having a finish with an external thread, and a closure having a base wall and a peripheral skirt with an internal thread for threadably engaging the external thread on the container finish. An internal rib on the skirt extends axially of the skirt between overlapping reaches of the internal thread for frictional engagement with the external thread on the container finish to retard rotation of the closure onto and off of the finish. In the preferred embodiments of the invention, there are diametrically opposed ribs on the internal surface of the peripheral skirt extending between overlapping reaches of the internal thread, with the ribs being of lesser radial thickness than the internal threads. A tamper-indicating band is coupled to the lower edge of the peripheral skirt by frangible bridges for engagement with a bead on the container finish.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2000Date of Patent: May 7, 2002Assignee: Owens-Illinois Closure Inc.Inventor: James L. Gregory
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Patent number: 6382443Abstract: A tamper-indicating closure of integrally molded plastic construction that includes a base wall having a peripheral skirt with internal threads for engaging external threads on a container finish. A tamper-indicating band is connected to the edge of the skirt by a plurality of circumferentially spaced integral frangible bridges. A stop flange extends axially outwardly and radially inwardly from an edge of the band remote from the skirt for inversion and engagement with a bead on the container finish. The stop flange is in the form of a circumferentially continuous base of uniform thickness circumferentially of the band, and either uniform or increasing thickness radially and axially of the band. A plurality of circumferentially spaced lugs are integral with and extend from the base. The lugs widen uniformly from zero thickness at the band to a maximum thickness at the free edge of the flange.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 1999Date of Patent: May 7, 2002Assignee: Owens-Illinois Closure Inc.Inventor: James L. Gregory
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Patent number: 6253940Abstract: A tamper-indicating closure of integrally molded plastic construction that includes a base wall having a peripheral skirt with an internal thread for affixing the closure to the container finish. A tamper-indicating band is connected to an edge of the skirt by frangible bridges. A stop flange extends from an edge of the band remote from the skirt for abutment with a bead on the container finish to inhibit removal of the closure absent fracture of the frangible means. A plurality of circumferentially spaced openings extend radially through the skirt at a position between the frangible bridges and the internal thread. These openings provide for ingress of cleansing solution during a washing operation after the closure is applied to a container to flush any residue from between the tamper-indicating band and the closure finish.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 1999Date of Patent: July 3, 2001Assignee: Owens-Illinois Closure Inc.Inventors: Paul R. Graham, Charles A. Webster, James L. Gregory
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Patent number: 6224802Abstract: A tamper-indicating closure of integrally molded plastic construction that includes a base wall having a peripheral skirt with internal threads for engaging external threads on the finish of a container. A tamper-indicating band is connected to the lower or free edge of the skirt by a plurality of circumferentially spaced integral bridges. At least one of the bridges has a greater circumferential dimension than other of the bridges. A thin integral membrane is disposed in the band immediately circumferentially adjacent to the one bridge, and extends both axially and circumferentially of the band. A stop flange is positioned on the band for engaging a bead on a container to inhibit removal of the closure, such that the membrane and the other bridges rupture upon removal of the closure but the band remains connected to the closure by the one bridge of enlarged circumferential dimension.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2000Date of Patent: May 1, 2001Assignee: Owens-Illinois Closure Inc.Inventors: James L. Gregory, Stephanie L. Kurtz
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Patent number: 6103170Abstract: A plastic closure and method of making such a closure for a container that has a finish with a top surface portion, a cylindrical outer surface portion, and a curved portion at the juncture of the top surface portion and the outer surface portion. The closure includes a base wall, a peripheral skirt having an inner surface and threads on the inner surface of the skirt for engaging the container. The base wall has an inner planar surface and a compression molded liner is compression molded and bonded on the planar surface of the plastic closure. The peripheral portion of the liner has an outer annular inclined surface. The inclined surface tapers radially inwardly away from the base wall of the closure and is positioned for engaging the top surface portion of the finish and the inner surface of the container and is out of engagement with the outer surface of the finish of the container.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 1999Date of Patent: August 15, 2000Assignee: Owens-Illinois Closure Inc.Inventor: James L. Gregory
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Patent number: 6053344Abstract: A tamper-indicating closure of integrally molded plastic construction that includes a base wall having a peripheral skirt with internal threads for engaging external threads on the finish of a container. A tamper-indicating band is connected to the lower or free edge of the skirt by a plurality of circumferentially spaced integral bridges. At least one of the bridges has a greater circumferential dimension than other of the bridges. A thin integral membrane is disposed in the band immediately circumferentially adjacent to the one bridge, and extends both axially and circumferentially of the band. A stop flange is positioned on the band for engaging a bead on a container to inhibit removal of the closure, such that the membrane and the other bridges rupture upon removal of the closure but the band remains connected to the closure by the one bridge of enlarged circumferential dimension.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 1998Date of Patent: April 25, 2000Assignee: Owens-Illinois Closure Inc.Inventors: James L. Gregory, Stephanie L. Kurtz
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Patent number: 5988460Abstract: A plastic container that includes a hollow container body having a body opening, a cylindrical finish wall portion surrounding the body opening and extending from the body, with external threads for receiving a closure, and a spout secured to and projecting axially from the externally threaded wall portion. The body, wall portion and spout are of as-molded one-piece or monolithic integral plastic construction. The axial dimension of the spout preferably is greater than that of the externally threaded wall portion of the container finish. The threaded wall portion or the spout has an axially oriented surface that lies in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the container finish for sealing engagement with a closure or cap that is threaded onto the container finish.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 1998Date of Patent: November 23, 1999Assignee: Owens-Brockway Plastic Products Inc.Inventors: William W. Brecheisen, James L. Gregory, Igor F. Beaufils
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Patent number: 5947311Abstract: A plastic closure and method of making such a closure for a container that has a finish with a top surface portion, a cylindrical outer surface portion, and a curved portion at the juncture of the top surface portion and the outer surface portion. The closure includes a base wall, a peripheral skirt having an inner surface and threads on the inner surface of the skirt for engaging the container. The base wall has an inner planar surface and a compression molded liner is compression molded and bonded on the planar surface of the plastic closure. The peripheral portion of the liner has an outer annular inclined surface. The inclined surface tapers radially inwardly away from the base wall of the closure and is positioned for engaging the top surface portion of the finish and the inner surface of the container and is out of engagement with the outer surface of the finish of the container.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 1997Date of Patent: September 7, 1999Assignee: Owens-Illinois Closure Inc.Inventor: James L. Gregory
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Patent number: 5924586Abstract: A plastic beverage closure including a base wall, a peripheral skirt and a plurality of threads on the inner surface of the skirt for engagement with the threads of a container which may be made of glass or plastic. The plastic closure includes a compression molded seal extending about the periphery of the inner surface of the base wall and the juncture of the base wall to the peripheral skirt. The closure includes a central axially thickened portion; a channel surrounding the thickened portion and extending radially to an annular radially thickened portion on the skirt at the juncture with the base wall. A concave surface extends from the base of the channel and merges with the surface of the annular portion. A compression molded liner is provided on the thickened portion, channel and concave surface of the closure and defines a planar sealing surface of contact with the end surface of the finish of a container and an arcuate surface for engaging the arcuate surface of a container.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 1997Date of Patent: July 20, 1999Assignee: Owens-Illinois Closure Inc.Inventors: James L. Gregory, Dennis J. Burzynski, Bruce Jack Rote, Frank L. Sprowl
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Patent number: 5650113Abstract: A plastic beverage closure including a base wall, a peripheral skirt and a plurality of threads on the inner surface of the skirt for engagement with the threads of a container which may be made of glass or plastic. The plastic closure includes a compression molded seal extending about the periphery of the inner surface of the base wall and the juncture of the base wall to the peripheral skirt. The closure includes a central axially thickened portion; a channel surrounding the thickened portion and extending radially to an annular radially thickened portion on the skirt at the juncture with the base wall. A concave surface extends from the base of the channel and merges with the surface of the annular portion. A compression molded liner is provided on the thickened portion, channel and concave surface of the closure and defines a planar sealing surface of contact with the end surface of the finish of a container and an arcuate surface for engaging the arcuate surface of a container.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 1995Date of Patent: July 22, 1997Assignee: Owens-Illinois Closure Inc.Inventors: James L. Gregory, Dennis J. Burzynski, Bruce Jack Rote, Frank L. Sprowl