Abstract: A composite closure for a container has a moulded plastics band (24) closed at one end by a plastics sure disc (72) which is held captive within a recess formed around the band interior. Also on the band interior is a screw thread (44) by which the closure may attached to a container neck (12). The disc is cut from flat plastics sheet and is initially plane. However, when the closure is fitted to the container a marginal edge region 78 surrounding the container neck is deformed downwardly to generally frustoconical form.

Abstract: A package has a "push-pull" type dispensing closure either threadably engaged with or in press-fit engagement with the container mouth. The closure includes an outer skirt that is pliable and inwardly deformable when squeezed and a dispenser plug member selectively positionable to seal or unseal a dispensing orifice. The container has a mouth and a shoulder below the mouth which slants upwardly and inwardly. When the outer skirt of the closure is squeezed inwardly, the lower skirt edge engages the shoulder causing an upward camming of the closure, whereby the plug member unseals the dispensing orifice.

Abstract: A closure is formed from a laminate or composite. The laminate is sufficiently flexible to permit it to assume the surface configuration of the rim of a closure without the need for a gasket. The laminate may include an upper layer which is rigid and a lower layer which is softer and has a lower softening temperature than the upper layer. An optional intermediate oxygen-impermeable layer such as ethylene vinyl alcohol can be included between the upper and lower layers. Preferably, the upper layer is a rigid material such as polyethylene terephthalate or polyvinyl chloride and the lower layer is a soft material such as linear low-density polyethylene. The upper layer provides the necessary strength, while the lower layer provides a tight seal on the rim of the container. The intermediate or bottom layer can also include an oxygen indicator which changes color upon exposure to oxygen.

Abstract: An all-plastic, hinged, tamper-evidencing closure includes an upper closure surface or top with a hinge formed therein. The hinge may be a straight line, or curved or arcuate so as to provide a snap-action for opening and closing. The closure includes a peripherally depending skirt which has structure for removably retaining the closure on a container, such as a snap head or threads. Additionally, the skirt includes tamper-evidencing structure. The closure top surface may be planar, concave or convex, or it may be initially planar, but when subject to vacuum or pressure it becomes concave or convex, respectively. This latter feature provide a visual indicator that the vacuum seal or pressure seal of the container is intact.

Abstract: A closure fitting is provided for a container which itself has no threads or other closure securing means formed on it. The fitting, which can be pressed down over the mouth of a container, provides its own securing means by which an outer, closure portion of the fitting can be removed from and resecured to an inner attachment portion which remains on the container after opening. The closure fitting may have a stretchable or distendable conical hoop molded inside a surrounding skirt. Cooperating sets of threads, lugs, or the like are formed on the outer face of the conical hoop and on the inner face of the skirt. In the closure as formed, the closure securing means of the hoop do not operably engage those of the skirt. They are progressively brought into cooperating engagement by stretching and enlarging the hoop outwardly as the closure fitting is press-fitted onto a container.

Abstract: Disclosed are vacuum-packed food packages (10) having enlarged head spaces (56) under high vacuum, which enable food products (58) to be retorted after sealing, with resulting improved flavor, color, texture, and/or nutrient retention. Easily removable press-on, pry-off closures (13) having movable insert disks (16) in an outer shell (14) are also disclosed. Pressing the shell upward to remove it from a container (11) first pries a protrusion (28) inside the shell over a snap rib (22) around the container, then moves the shell upward relative to the disk until the snap rib engages the edge of the disk and lifts the disk to break the seal. A tamper evidencing band (22), if included, is broken before the shell is pried off or the disk is lifted. Food packages which automatically open when heated in microwave ovens are also disclosed.

Abstract: Easily removable press-on, pry-off closures having movable insert disks in an outer shell are disclosed. Pressing the shell upward to remove it from a container first pries a protrusion inside the shell over a snap rib around the container, then moves the shell upward relative to the disk while the later remains seated on the container, until a disk-lifting projection inside the shell engages the edge of the disk and lifts the disk to break the seal. A tamper evidencing band, if included, is broken before either the shell is pried off or the disk is lifted. The invention can be used in both top load and bottom load embodiments. Also disclosed is a closure with a non-movable disk or integral top and a tamper-evidencing band which is broken by pry-off removal of the closure.

Abstract: Easily removable press-on, pry-off closures having movable insert disks in an outer shell are disclosed. Pressing the shell upward to remove it from a container first pries a protrusion inside the shell over a snap rib around the container, then moves the shell upward relative to the disk while the later remains seated on the container, until a disk-lifting projection inside the shell engages the edge of the disk and lifts the disk to break the seal. A tamper evidencing band, if included, is broken before either the shell is pried off or the disk is lifted. The invention can be used in both top load and bottom load embodiments. Also disclosed is a closure with a non-movable disk or integral top and a tamper-evidencing band which is broken by pry-off removal of the closure. Still further, food packages which automatically open when heated in microwave ovens are disclosed. Vacuum-packed food packages having effective head spaces for reducing the times required to retort such packages are also disclosed.

Abstract: A container for fluent material having a nozzle for dispensing the material with the nozzle being moved into dispensing position and also being actuated by a slidably mounted container cover. The container may be, for instance, a pressurized container for dispensing an aerosol product or a pump container equipped with, for example, a ball check valve for dispensing a fluent mass material.

Abstract: A snap-on closure for wide mouth containers has an integral hinged lid which can be lifted, as by the thumb, to provide access for spooning contents out of the mouth. The lid closes on a top flange which is presented by either the closure or the container. The closure has a skirt and snaps onto the container below the top flange or to an attachment bead on the container.

Abstract: A closure for a container has a skirt with a frangibly attached tamper indicating band having a band retaining element in the form of a conical hoop. The hoop is hinged to the band by arcuate hinges which are spaced by ports along the hinge line, the ports extending part way toward but not to the distal edge of the hoop. The band is connected to the skirt along a circumferential score line. Another line of weakness, generally parallel to the axis of the closure, extends across the width of the band from the circumferential score line downwardly to the hinge line between the hoop and the tamper evidencing band, and the hoop is split or separated from the hinge line, inwardly to its distal edge. The hoop is under hoop stress in its upfolded configuration and that stress causes the band to break and spring open when the closure is removed from a container, thereby providing more visible evidence of such removal and facilitating resealing.

Abstract: A closure for a container has a tamper indicating band with a band retainer in the form of an apertured flap or hoop which is hinged to the lower edge of the band. A series of windows open through the retainer, extending toward but not to its distal edge. As the retainer is turned inside out from its as-molded position to its use position, its distal and/or hinged edges deform to relieve compression and permit the retainer to be inverted by direct downward pushing force. As a result of the deformation, the retainer in its use position may, depending on the number and size of windows, have an advantageous polygonal peripheral shape rather than a circular shape.

Abstract: Inadvertent rupture of frangible tamper evidencing means during application of threaded closures is reduced by axially pressing the closure partially onto the container, without rotating the closure, until a downwardly tapered retaining means on the closure is engaged by an upwardly tapered locking rib around the container finish. This engagement centers and positions the closure so that the axis of the closure is aligned with the container axis. The closure is held in alignment to prevent cocking or misengagement of the threads until the closure is thereafter turned to tighten it on the container.

Abstract: Disclosed is a package having a closure which provides child resistance with optional easy opening and closing features. The closure is permanently but rotatably attached to the container finish, and is held on the container by snap engagement with the container or with an adapter which is separately attached to the container. The closure has a depending skirt which encircles a latching flange on the container or on the adaptor. A hinged lid on the closure has a latch which is latchable beneath the latching flange only if the closure is turned to a position such that the latch is aligned with a latch slot in the latching flange. Rotation of the closure relative to the slot, once the latch has been engaged through the slot, locks the lid against opening.

Abstract: A container for fluent material having a nozzle for dispensing the material with the nozzle being moved into dispensing position and also being actuated by a slidably mounted container cover. The container may be, for instance, a pressurized container for dispensing an aerosol product or a pump container equipped with, for example, a ball check valve for dispensing a fluent mass material.

Abstract: A closure for a container has a tamper indicating band with band retaining means in the form of a conical hoop. The hoop is hinged to the band by arcuate hinges which are spaced by narrower windows along the hinge line, the windows extending partway toward but not to the inner edge of the hoop. As the hoop is turned inside out from its as-molded position to its use position, the inner edge of the hoop deforms radially adjacent the windows and thereby relieves hoop strength. As a result of the deformtion, the hoop in its use position assumes an advantageous polygonal peripheral shape rather than a circular shape.

Abstract: The preferred package of this invention has a fluent or paste containing body portion with a pump, nozzle and cover combination mounted at its top. The cover is rotatably mounted on the body portion of the container so that it may be turned through a half turn from a nozzle closed position to a nozzle open dispensing position. The nozzle is coupled to a pump and cover so that the cover in its open position is pressed up and down moving the nozzle and pump in a pumping motion for dispensing the fluent from the container. An object of the invention is providing a container with a rotatable cover which is manipulated both for opening and closing the nozzle and for product dispensing.

Abstract: An improved composite closure is described which has a cover portion which is at least partially plastic and a molded plastic ring portion. The molded ring also permits the cover to be inserted from the top of the ring rather than just upwardly over the ring threads and permits a plastic to plastic engagement or attachment of cover and ring.