With Pressure-responsive Seal Patents (Class 215/270)
  • Patent number: 6021912
    Abstract: A closure for a bottle, comprising a cap-shaped closure component; a projection directed inwardly from an edge of the cap-shaped closure component to grip behind an outwardly directed projection at a neck of a bottle; a substantially cylindrical sealing element extending axially from a bottom of the closure component, the sealing element being disposed within the closure component; and a radial projection formed outside of the sealing element and disposed away from the bottom and having a diameter larger than the inside diameter of the neck of the bottle to be sealed by the closure means in such a way that a sealing surface formed by the radial projection tightly rests against an inside surface of the neck in a closed mode. The bottom comprises a cross-sectional slimming disposed radially beyond the cylindrical sealing element, the slimming having a thickness less than the thickness of an adjacent portion of the bottom such that the slimming functions as a hinge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2000
    Assignee: Safety Cap Systems AG
    Inventor: Michael Hertrampf
  • Patent number: 5992666
    Abstract: A sealing cap fastened to a vacuum seal container and controlled to extract air out of vacuum seal container, the sealing cap including a cap body unit fastened to the vacuum seal container, and an extracting unit mounted in the cap body and controlled to extract air out of the vacuum seal container by reciprocating a control cap of the extracting unit with the hand, the air passage being automatically sealed by a flap, which is forced into the close position by atmospheric pressure, the vacuum status of the vacuum seal container being released when a control cap of the air extracting unit is turned in one direction and pressed down, the cap body having a bottom side covered with a rubber disk which fits different spout sizes and shapes, the rubber disk being secured to the cap body by a T-cap and a sponge between the T-cap and the rubber disk, the rubber disk having a convex flange of V-shaped cross section around the periphery, which prohibits the rubber disk from being forced to curve inwards and to escape
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Inventor: Mao Sheng Wu
  • Patent number: 5957317
    Abstract: An evacuation actuating closure includes a lower cap member with a valve seat plate defining a plurality of angularly displaced venting holes at a central area. An annular guiding wall has upper and lower annular portions above and below the valve seat plate. The lower annular portion can be sealingly engaged with an annular upper wall of a container body. An elastomeric disc member includes an elastomeric central portion fixed on the valve seat plate, and a peripheral brim portion to block resiliently the venting holes. The venting holes are unblocked when the pressure below the venting holes is higher than that above the venting holes. An upper cap member includes a transverse depressing portion and an annular skirt portion sleeved on and slidably retained on the annular guiding wall so as to confine an air transit chamber above the valve seat plate. An elastomeric ring-shaped check valve member is disposed between the annular skirt portion and the annular guiding wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Inventor: Shun-Chich Lee
  • Patent number: 5954214
    Abstract: A hermetic cap for a container containing product packed in said container under vacuum. The cap has an orifice through it and a first frangible seal hermetically sealing the orifice on one surface of the cap and a second frangible seal hermetically sealing the orifice on an opposite surface of the cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: Optimal Food Processing Research Inc.
    Inventors: Roland Guezennec, Jean-Pierre Lhommond, Jean-Francois Bardou
  • Patent number: 5947311
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Owens-Illinois Closure Inc.
    Inventor: James L. Gregory
  • Patent number: 5855288
    Abstract: A combination of a container and a lid is provided. The container has an inner peripheral surface around an opening to the container interior. The lid is movable between (1) a closed position to cover the opening, and (2) an open position to expose the opening. The lid has (a) a peripheral wall, (b) a peripheral hinge that extends from the wall, (c) a plug seal wall that extends from the peripheral hinge, and (d) a central portion that extends from the plug seal wall. When the lid is in a closed position, the lid is displaceable from an outwardly projecting configuration wherein the plug seal wall is held in a non-sealing condition disengaged from the inner peripheral surface to an inwardly deformed configuration wherein the plug seal wall is held in a sealing condition engaged with the inner peripheral surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1999
    Assignee: AptarGroup, Inc.
    Inventor: Milton R. Dallas, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5855289
    Abstract: A capping and sealing assembly for a sample-holding centrifuge container which features a self-sealing lid that forms a fluid-tight seal in an opening of the canister with a predetermined amount of force, with the force being dependent upon the centrifugal load to which the capping assembly is subjected. The lid includes a cover portion and a peripheral member surrounding the cover portion and extending transverse thereto. The lid is disposed within an open end of the container, with the peripheral member having a frusto-conical surface that faces the container's wall. A gasket is disposed about the frusto-conical surface, forming a fluid-tight and air-tight seal with the cylindrical wall. A plurality of arcuate ribs extend across the cover portion, between opposed areas of the peripheral member. Each of the ribs are adapted to flex, under centrifugal force, expanding the opposed areas outwardly. In this manner, the sealing force between the peripheral member and the wall is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1999
    Assignee: Beckman Instruments, Inc.
    Inventor: Patrick Q. Moore
  • Patent number: 5833087
    Abstract: A tamper indicating closure cap for a vacuum sealed container includes a metal end panel, a rim portion formed in the outer margin of the end panel and a skirt depending from the rim portion. The metal end panel includes a central tamper indicating area comprising a tamper indicating button and a generally concave shaped annular region extending radially outwardly toward the rim portion. The tamper indicating area is adapted to defect axially between a non-tamper indicating position and a tamper indicating position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: White Cap, Inc.
    Inventor: Anthony J. Pfeiffer
  • Patent number: 5826739
    Abstract: A container and closure assembly includes a container including a bottom portion and an encircling wall extending therefrom and defining a body portion. The body portion has an open end with a span equal to or different than the span of the body portion. The assembly also includes a removable cap liner including a seal for sealably engaging the container at its open end in a manner which traps fluids in the container and a removable cap which substantially covers the cap liner and thereby the open end of the container. The cap is adapted for reclosing the container after it is removed from the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1998
    Assignee: The Elizabeth and Sandor Valyi Foundation, Inc.
    Inventor: Emery I. Valyi
  • Patent number: 5785196
    Abstract: The closure cap of a closure and container package for a pressurized liquid is designed with a sealing flange which depends from the cap top at an angle to a sealing location on the container wall so that an increase in container pressure will increase the sealing force of the flange against the container wall. A pressure relief passage is provided downstream of the sealing location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1998
    Assignee: Rexam Closures Inc.
    Inventor: Gary V. Montgomery
  • Patent number: 5779082
    Abstract: The lid consists of two unitary parts both of which are molded from a soft rubbery substance. The body of the lid butts against the mouth of a container and includes a vacuum release valve and a check valve through which air may be evacuated from the container. The second part is a bellows pump that sealingly engages the body of the lid. As the bellows pump is worked manually, air is drawn from the container into the pump through the check valve on the body of the lid and the air is then discharged into the atmosphere through a second check valve that is an integral portion of the removable bellows pump. Because of its simplicity and lack of small parts, the lid is easy to clean effectively, and reuse is contemplated. The actuators for the pump and for the vacuum release valve extend to the periphery of the lid thereby making it easy for use by handicapped persons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Assignee: Invental Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric J. Miramon
  • Patent number: 5775529
    Abstract: A decorating glass vessel is disclosed. In particular, It relates to a spherical shape decorating vessel filled with water. The glass vessel is disposed with an opening which has extended with a circular wall upward to a preset height. A soft cover can be inserted into the circular wall such that a frictional engagement is attained between the circular wall and the cover. The water facing surface of the cover is provided with an elevated surface. The other portion of the water facing surface except the elevated surface is provided with at least one thinner portion with thinner thickness. The thinner portion can be readily deformed to absorb the increased hydraulic pressure resulted from temperature gradient. Consequently, the water or air leakage resulted therefrom can be therefore avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Inventor: Szu Wei Lo
  • Patent number: 5743420
    Abstract: There is proposed a plastic closure which serves to close a container (3) with a mouth region (5). The closure (1) has a lid (7) allocated to the container mouth (5) and an annular side wall (9) connected with this. On the inner surface (15) of the side wall (9) there are provided fastening means (16) which coact with corresponding fastening means (14) on the outer surface (11) of the container (3) and are constructed, for example, as screw threads. The closure has, finally, also a sealing means. It is distinguished in that the sealing means (11) has a circumferential pivotable sealing lip (9) projecting from a support (15), which lip coacts with a side wall (25) surrounding the container mouth (21) of the container (19), which in the closing of the container is swung out of a rest position into a sealing position and which in its sealing position is clamped between support and side wall of the container so that it is subjected to a compression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1998
    Assignee: Alcoa Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Manfred Loffler, Hans-Joachim Preuss
  • Patent number: 5707823
    Abstract: A gas-tight container incorporates a flexible diaphragm made of chlor-butyl rubber. The container finds particular use in systems for monitoring growth of microorganisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1998
    Assignee: Oxoid Limited
    Inventors: Anthony Hugh Carr, Judith Marjorie Anderson, Roy Holbrook
  • Patent number: 5692632
    Abstract: This invention relates to a container with a self-contained evacuation lid. The container is provided for preserving food and is closed on the top by the evacuation lid. The lid includes a piston rod to be reciprorated up and down such that air inside the container is pumped out. An elastic element is fitted under the piston rod to bias a depressed part of the lid upward for an upward stroke when the depressed part is released after the downward movement. A valve rod is pulled to release the vacuum of the container for removal of the lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1997
    Inventors: Chien-Hsing Hsieh, Chung-Liang Hsiao
  • Patent number: 5661889
    Abstract: A process for producing a container and closure assembly includes molding a preliminary container including a closed bottom portion, a body portion and a shoulder and neck portion. The shoulder and neck portion is separated from the body portion. An open ended second container is formed from the body portion, the second container having a rim at its open end and an encircling wall. The open end of the second container is then closed with a closure comprised of a cap and a cap liner. The cap liner has a weakened portion adapted to be broken by the cap. The cap or the cap liner are formed from the shoulder and neck portion of the preliminary container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1997
    Inventor: Emery I. Valyi
  • Patent number: 5653447
    Abstract: A vacuum/pressure seal method and apparatus including a closure for a vacuum/pressure chamber which includes the use of a flexible fin between the chamber and a closure member, which fin depends angularly toward the direction of greater pressure between a chamber opening surface and a closure member surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1997
    Inventor: Steven B. Cress
  • Patent number: 5651470
    Abstract: A vacuum container has a vessel and an installed air extraction device covering the vessel. The installed air extraction device has a cap, an air extraction device disposed in the cap, and an air inlet valve passing through a center of the cap. The cap has an inner cover, an outer cover, and a hollow interior defined between the inner cover and the outer cover. An inner sleeve extends downward from the center portion of the outer cover. A spring encloses the middle portion of the air inlet valve. Another spring encloses the inner sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1997
    Inventor: Benemon Wu
  • Patent number: 5641085
    Abstract: A safety device for automatically limiting the pressure in a container, which container is composed of a pot and a lid. The device is constituted by a seal member interposed between the pot and the lid to form a seal between the pot and the lid, the seal member having an annular form with an interior surface and an exterior surface and being provided with a recess in the exterior surface along a portion of its length. The recess creates a reduced cross section of the seal member for permitting a deformation of the portion under the action of pressure in the container, starting from a predetermined pressure value, to assure a break in the seal between the pot and the lid and depressurization of the container. The weakened cross section is formed by a combination of the recess in the exterior surface and at least one recess in the interior surface of the seal member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 24, 1997
    Assignee: SEB S.A.
    Inventor: Antoine Lonbardo
  • Patent number: 5638971
    Abstract: A vacuum seal container comprises a cylindrical container body having a peripheral seal extending therearound and a lid including an outer skirt for engaging the seal. The skirt defines an access port for communication with a vacuum-generating source. The lid further includes seating nodes which seat the lid in a raised position to form an interior air passageway for air evacuation. At reaching a threshold pressure difference between the inside and outside of the container, the seating nodes and the sidewall deform to lower the lid which blocks the interior air passageway to form a vacuum seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1997
    Inventor: Jeffrey L. Justesen
  • Patent number: 5577625
    Abstract: A cap for a container having a body and a closure. The body has a side wall and an adjoining top. The Side wall has means to let gases escape from the container to ambient. The top has an interior and at least one recess on the interior. The body further has a a line juxtaposed to the interior of the top. The interior and the liner are pierced by a hole through which a tubular part extends from the body. The sealing means maintains the liner pressed against the interior of the top in a leak-tight manner. The closure is a flip-top cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1996
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: James C. Baird, Johan W. Declerk, Jorgen Hoernaert, Nady Bilani, Joseph F. Deflander
  • Patent number: 5566846
    Abstract: A button enhancement coating system wherein mechanically actuated buttons and vacuum actuated buttons of closures may be provided with a coating system which changes color after the closure has been applied to a container and then removed therefrom with the change in color indicating tampering. The coating system includes a first coating layer applied directly to the upper surface of the button and a second coating layer of a different color applied in overlying and bonded relation to the first coating layer. The second coating layer is preferably transparent and the two colors are selected so that they produce a third color while the coating layers are bonded together. When the two coating layers become separated during the removal of the closure from a container, the button assumes the color of the second coating layer. The first coating layer may have an embossed upper surface including ribs and grooves with the second coating layer flowed thereinto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1996
    Assignee: Continental White Cap, Inc.
    Inventor: Albert J. James
  • Patent number: 5564480
    Abstract: A vacuum canister comprises a container and a lid which is provided with a large slot having centrally in the bottom thereof a retaining hole provided peripherally with ventilation holes. A soft disk member is provided such that a retaining column of the disk member is held in the retaining hole of the large slot of the lid, and that a disk portion of the disk member is located on the ventilation holes. The lid is further provided with a suction unit comprising a lever and a suction block. The lever is fastened pivotally at one end thereof to the lid and is provided on another end thereof with a hand grip. The suction block is fastened pivotally to the midsegment of the lever and is provided with a rod and a piston. The rod is pivoted to the lever while the piston is disposed slidably in the large slot of the lid. The piston is provided peripherally with a circular groove in which a sealing ring is received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1996
    Inventor: Chen-Hai Chen
  • Patent number: 5558243
    Abstract: A sealing cap for coupling with an upper edge of a container includes a base disc, a spiral spring, a sucking plate and a soft cap body combined together. The soft cap body is able to be pressed down manually and pushed up by the spring and the sucking plate, to force air from the container to flow out of a hole in the outer circumference of the base disc. The air in the container flows through a stop valve, formed in the bottom center of the base disc, into the space between the base disc and the soft cap body. The air is stopped by a leak valve fixed in the outer circumference of the base disc. A repeated pressing action on the soft cap body is capable of displacing sufficient air from the container to create a partial vacuum therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1996
    Assignee: Chiun Pao Enterprise Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hui-Ying Chu
  • Patent number: 5542670
    Abstract: A drinking cup has a cover which is formed with a drinking spout at one side and a vent at the other. Elements extend down from under the spout and the vent. A flow control element is provided and made of elastomeric material having a pair of spaced cavities on one side, each cavity having a floor at the bottom thereof. The cavities receive in frictional engagement respectively the lower ends of the elements. This engagement supports the flow control element with the floor of each cavity in sealed relation to its element. Each floor has a passage which is normally closed but opens on the occurrence of a pressure differential on opposite sides of the floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1996
    Assignee: Playtex Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Emanuel P. Morano
  • Patent number: 5535900
    Abstract: A bottle cap with an air removing device consists of a cap unit and an air stopper combined together. The cap unit includes an upper cap portion, a lower cylindrical portion and a valve formed in an interior of both the upper cap portion and the lower cylindrical portion and having a capsule-shaped cavity for a stopper of the air stopper to fit and move up and down therein to stop an air hole in a bottom of the valve so that the air in a bottle fitted with this cap may be pumped out by an extra air pump fitted in an open cavity of the upper cap portion. After the air in the bottle is pumped out, then the air stopper is pushed down by the air pump again, keeping the cap firmly fixed on the mouth of the bottle in an almost vacuum condition, wherein the food therein may not deteriorate for a long time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1996
    Assignee: P. Yeh Engineering Plastic Corp.
    Inventor: Kwong-Sun Huang
  • Patent number: 5474194
    Abstract: This relates to a color change system to be incorporated in a flexing area of an end panel of a closure. The color change system includes a dark background coating on a flexing portion of the closure end panel to which there is bonded by way of an adhesive such as a varnish, ink or coating a brittle layer which due to the flipping action of the flexing portion of the end panel will fracture. The brittle layer is preferably of a light color and is colored utilizing a fluorescent dye. The combination of the background color and the fluorescent color of the brittle layer produces a first color in the original closure and when the end panel flexes and the brittle layer fractures to not only crack but also tear apart or delaminate from itself, to reflect its own light color much more brilliantly, the color of the color change system drastically changes to indicate tampering. This color change is irreversible. The color change system may also include a message indicia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1995
    Assignee: Continental White Cap, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Heilman, Mark Egger, Leonard Rozanksi, H. Darrell Iler
  • Patent number: 5465857
    Abstract: A vacuum cap for liquor bottles comprising a lower cap body combined on a cylindrical body fixed around a top end of a bottle, an air valve disposed in an annular upper recess of the lower cap body and blocking air holes in the recess and having two upwardly and outwardly extending projections protruding through two slots in an upper cap body fitted in the recess and located over the air valve, an independent air pump being placed on the lower cap body for pumping out the air in the bottle through the air holes and a gap between the air valve and the recess and through the two slots in the upper cap body so as to establish a vacuum in the bottle for preserving liquor contained in the bottle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1995
    Inventor: Heng-Te Yang
  • Patent number: 5460282
    Abstract: A closure accommodating internal pressure build-up in a container. The closure includes a cover, the top wall of which which is provided with a small orifice. A flexible plastic film lid or patch is sealed over the orifice by sealant such as adhesive or heat-seal. The patch may also be sealed by welding. The sealant may be pressure sensitive. When pressure within the container reaches a predetermined level, a small channel will form in the patch and gases will be released. The orifice may include pre-formed V-shaped venting notches in its top edge to direct gas-pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1995
    Assignee: Lever Brothers Company, Division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward Giblin, Dominic Marazita
  • Patent number: 5460283
    Abstract: A polyethylene cap, for use with containers, particularly polypropylene containers for containing medical specimens in preservative fluid such as formaldehyde, is provided with a 3-face seal, wherein a rim portion of the container is trapped in sealing, contacting relation on three mutually adjoining faces, whereby any tendency of the container rim to "relax" out of sealing engagement with a contacting face portion of the cap is effectively precluded by the fit and the geometry of the cap seal. In the case of polypropylene, which is susceptible to such "relaxation", the subject cap enables the effective sealing of polypropylene containers so that advantage may be taken of the superior properties of polypropylene in non-reactive, secure containment of possibly contaminated medical specimens in liquids such as formaldehyde, a known carcinogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1995
    Inventors: Charles T. MaCartney, Victor A. Daykin
  • Patent number: 5413230
    Abstract: A refillable compressed gas capsule, in particular, for household uses and for compressed-gas hand-operated devices, includes a valve body pretensioned by a spring and slidably held against a valve seat by the inner pressure of the compressed-gas capsule and against the pretension towards the interior of the capsule, which body is held in a holding means inserted into an opening provided in the face side of the capsule limiting the opening path of said valve body and comprising at least one opening leading into the interior of the capsule. In order to produce such a compressed-gas capsule in a very simple manner, it is provided that the holding means and the valve seat are held at least indirectly by an inwardly directed flanged edge of the capsule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1995
    Assignee: ISI Metallwarenfabrik Ges. m.b.H.
    Inventors: Christian Folter, Franz Grobl
  • Patent number: 5407087
    Abstract: A closure accommodating internal pressure build-up in a container. The closure includes a cover, the top wall of which which is provided with a small orifice. A flexible plastic film lid or patch is sealed over the orifice by sealant such as adhesive or heat-seal. The patch may also be sealed by welding. The sealant may be pressure sensitive. When pressure within the container reaches a predetermined level, a small channel will form in the patch and gases will be released. The orifice may include pre-formed V-shaped venting notches in its top edge to direct gas pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1995
    Assignee: Lever Brothers Company, Division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward Giblin, Dominic Marazita
  • Patent number: 5405038
    Abstract: This device has three main components: a storage container, an air-tight lid and a pump for extracting air. The storage container is distinguished by a ring-shaped protrusion in the concave bottom of the container. This protruding ring is designed to fit tightly into a concave ring on the lid of another container of the same design. This feature enables the containers to be stacked conveniently on top of one another. The storage container is further distinguished by an elevated lip on the upper rim of the container, which forms an air-tight seal with the lid. The lid is distinguished by a vacuum valve containing two layers with several holes in each layer. The vacuum valve contains an umbrella-shaped silicon piece, which can bend upwards to allow air to be drawn out by the pump, but is restricted from bending downwards (which would allow air to enter the container).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1995
    Inventor: Hsiao-Cheng Chuang
  • Patent number: 5390809
    Abstract: This invention relates to a vacuum container and in particular to one including an inner container, an outer container receiving said inner container, a lid provided with a packing formed with an outer annular groove for receiving an upper rim of said outer container and an inner annular groove for receiving an upper rim of said inner container, a check valve mounted on a central portion of said lid, a control valve composed of two one-way valves, and a vacuum extractor including a sleeve and a seat engaged with the lower end of said sleeve, said sleeve being a tubular member in which is inserted a piston, said piston having a lower end formed with an upper flange and a lower flange between which is fitted a leak-proof gasket, said upper flange being formed with a pair of exhaust openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1995
    Inventor: Shui C. Lin
  • Patent number: 5364241
    Abstract: An evacuation system for unlidded rigid containers including a reciprocating piston pump and a universal disc that provides a leak proof lid for ordinary pots, pans or bowls. The disc is flat and accommodates a variety of container sizes as well as minor surface irregularities in the container lip. Vent holes spaced around the perimeter of the disc prevent implosion of the disc into the container if the disc edge is placed too close to the edge of the container. The disc is somewhat flexible and has a sealing surface on one side for proper seating and sealing on the container lip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1994
    Assignee: Pioneering Concepts Incorporated
    Inventor: Glen R. Schultz
  • Patent number: 5341947
    Abstract: A tamper-evident device for application to a container closure cap has a ring element which surrounds an insert panel element. The insert panel element, which is centrally disposed with respect to the ring element, has an edge displaced from and surrounded by an edge of the ring element and is connected to the ring element by at least two lugs. The ring element of the device is bonded to an outer surface of a container closure cap which has a centrally positioned portion which is elastically deformable under the effects of changes in pressure so that when positioned on a rigid container which has an interior under a partial vacuum and upon opening and pressurization of the container, the deformable membrane lifts the insert panel element to break lugs connecting the ring and insert elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1994
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventors: Meinrad Rosse, Jean Servaux
  • Patent number: 5289929
    Abstract: This relates to the provision of a vacuum actuated button type closure with a tamper indicating arrangement which will visually indicate when a container has been opened or more particularly when the vacuum within a vacuum packed container has been lost. The deflectable button of the closure is utilized to squeeze a dye from a sponge like member into a layer of absorbent material so as to color the absorbent material. The absorbent material, in turn, is provided with non-absorbent areas which define indicia to indicate that an associated container has been opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1994
    Assignee: Continental White Cap, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Heilman, Daniel M. Carson, Robert E. Sparks, Norbert S. Mason
  • Patent number: 5251770
    Abstract: A container and pressure sealing closure combination in which the closure includes a rim portion engaging the mouth of the container, a substantially rigid central portion and an annular toggle portion pivotally connected to and interconnecting the rim portion and central portion, whereby upward movement of the central portion in response to internal pressure of the contents of the container pivots the toggle portion to urge the rim portion substantially radially outwardly against the mouth, thereby effecting a seal. In a preferred embodiment, the inner surface of the container mouth includes a plurality of axially-extending channels for conducting pressurized gaseous contents of the container between the closure and the container to the ambient. The outer surface of the mouth includes an annular recess which receives a plurality of radially inwardly projecting ribs on the rim portion, thereby effecting engagement between the closure and container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1993
    Assignee: Broadway Companies, Inc.
    Inventors: Harold D. Bartley, William R. Gaiser
  • Patent number: 5242069
    Abstract: A closure cap for a bottle having an external bead projecting from its neck. The cap is secured to the bead by an annular retaining part. A sealing disk is disposed beneath the cap-like retaining part, the periphery of which seals against the upper edge of the bottleneck i.e., the mouth of the bottle. An elastic member biases the sealing disk against the bottleneck. The sealing disk will lift off the bottle mouth to relieve any excess pressure generated by the contents of the bottle. A stop projecting from the retaining part defines the space between the cap and the neck to control the biasing force of the elastic member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1993
    Inventor: Michael Hertrampf
  • Patent number: 5240131
    Abstract: A tamper evident closure for a container has a seal member which is in a concave or convex condition to show closure integrity. The seal is visible through an opening in the cover of the container. Filling the container under pressure which is higher or lower than atmospheric produces the distention or contraction of the seal member that evidences that no tampering or leakage has occurred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1993
    Assignee: CPC International Inc.
    Inventor: Robert G. Keller
  • Patent number: 5163576
    Abstract: A thermoplastic generally cylindrical container having a peripheral gasket in an outwardly-facing channel near the rim; a plurality of outwardly flared cam surfaces below the channel for stretching an inwardly facing terminus of the skirt of the lid to pass over the gasket as the lid is placed on the container to engage the underside of a ledge at the lower end of the cam surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1992
    Inventor: Herbert W. Galer
  • Patent number: 5161707
    Abstract: A linerless closure which provides an effective seal against oxygen penetration and moisture evaporation includes a cap with an inner annular member defining an annular outwardly directed sealing edge which forms a line seal with the inner cylindrical surface of a container wall and an outer annular member defining an annular inwardly directed sealing edge which seals against the outer cylindrical surface of a container wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1992
    Assignee: Continental Plastics, Inc.
    Inventors: Herbert V. Dutt, Gary L. Mengeu
  • Patent number: 5152412
    Abstract: This relates to the provision of a vacuum identifying button of a conventional closure for containers with encapsulated microcapsules containing a suitable dye. While the button is in its depressed, concave configuration, a coating surrounding the microcapsules is cured and caused to bond to the microcapsules. When the button everts to project upwardly and have a convex configuration, the coating is tensioned causing the microcapsules to rupture and release the color forming dye materials thereof. If desired, the evidence of button flipping or tampering may merely be in the form of a colored area, such as a stripe. In a modification, the effected colored areas may be in a design to present a warning or message. For example, a simple message such as "OPENED" may be effected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1992
    Assignee: Continental White Cap, Inc.
    Inventor: Howard D. Iler
  • Patent number: 5129533
    Abstract: The present invention is a seal for a container closure which is characterized by the fact that associated with the sealing lip (3) is an actuating arm (5) by which the sealing lip can be swiveled. The seal is part of a container closure (1) with a side wall (11) and a bottom (15). When the closure is screwed onto a container, the actuating arm is swiveled counterclockwise, this swivelling movement being facilitated by a deliberate attenuation (17) in the region of the bottom (15) of the closure (1). A counterclockwise swiveling movement of the actuating arm (5) also causes the sealing lip (3) to swivel counterclockwise and thus to lie against the outer wall of the container. A sealing surface is created not only between the container and the actuating arm (5), but also between the outside of the container and the sealing lip (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1992
    Assignee: Alcoa Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Manfred Loffler
  • Patent number: 5119962
    Abstract: This relates to a closure cap having an end panel which is equipped with a central button or panel area so as to cause deflection, either by way of a vacuum within an associated container or by mechanical action when a container is closed. Recently, there has been developed a desire for a louder popping noise when the closure is removed. Also there has been developed tamper indicating indicia elements to be actuated by the button or panel area to irreversibly indicate that a container has been opened even though the closure cap has been reapplied. A need for a greater stored energy in the button or panel area has been found and such additional stored energy is obtained by utilizing faceted areas or portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1992
    Assignee: Continental White Cap, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter A. Vercillo, Joseph J. Janisch, Jr., Anthony J. Pfeiffer
  • Patent number: 5119963
    Abstract: This relates to a closure for a container in the form of a closure cap which is provided with a mechanically actuated button. The button is centrally located and is generally in a recessed position. The button is surrounded by a plurality of dished areas which, when the closure is applied, will engage the end sealing surface of a container and cause a deflection of the dished areas which will result in an annular portion of the closure surrounding the button to invert and to project the button axially upwardly from its original recessed position to a projecting position. The closure may be enhanced by other tamper indicating arrangements which are sealed to the closure by way of a translucent panel overlying the end panel of the closure and being bonded at its periphery to the closure. The translucent panel will be provided with a layer of material generally axially aligned with the button and the button will be provided with a layer of adhesive, preferably contact adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1992
    Assignee: Continental White Cap, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert J. Heilman
  • Patent number: 5096078
    Abstract: A closure assembly for a container which includes an air-impervious diaphragm which when subjected to differential pressure will expand to retain articles in place within a container. The diaphragm is retained in position by a ring member that secures the marginal portions of the diaphragm in position. the diaphragm may be secured to a container filled in a vacuum chamber so that atmospheric pressure will extend the diaphragm into the desired position or it may be subject to high pressure air to extend the diaphragm. Means for exhausting the high pressure air or for admitting atmospheric air into the interior of the container for facilitating removal of the closure assembly from the container are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1992
    Assignee: Murrie White Drummond Lienhart & Associates
    Inventor: Thomas P. McQueeny
  • Patent number: 5036996
    Abstract: A safety seal for a pressurized system, such as a pressurized oil sprayer used in lubricating engines, or a pressurized paint sprayer, wherein the closure, for an inlet member, for addition of material such as oil or paint, is prevented from being removed, when the system is in the pressurized state. A resilient band, inaccessible from the exterior of the system, is tightly compressed by internal pressurization against an interface between the closure and inlet member thereby locking the closure into a non-removable position. Reduction of internal pressure permits the resilient band to contract away from the interface, thereby unlocking the closure from its non-removable position, with the closure being removable thereafter for addition of material into the inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1991
    Inventor: Harry Epstein
  • Patent number: 4998638
    Abstract: A can has a film which is stretched on the inside of an end plate thereof so as to be deflectable in and out of contact with the end plate so that the can which has heated contents packed and sealed therein can be prevented from deformation caused as the contents cool down. The above-mentioned can is manufactured by overlaying the end plate and the film one on top of the other and then unitarily securing the end brim of the can body and the peripheral edge portion of the end plate to each other by double seaming, with the film disposed on the inside of the end plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1991
    Assignee: Nihon Seikan Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Seizi Kawamata
  • Patent number: 4962856
    Abstract: A method of filling, sealing and sterilizing a pharmaceutical package including a polypropylene bottle containing a balanced salt solution includes the steps of filling each bottle to maximum capacity to exclude residual air, the introduction of a silicone rubber gasket into the bottle cap to absorb pressure and prevent leakage during a steam sterilization procedure, and the enclosure of the filled bottles in a blister pack before steam sterilizing. The blister packs have Tyvek.TM. lids and are placed blister-side-up during the sterilization process to eliminate deformation of the blister during sterilization. Maximum filling of the bottle with liquid and the substantial elimination of air prevents dimpling of the bottle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 16, 1990
    Assignee: Entravision, Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas V. Carter