Stopper-type Closure Patents (Class 215/296)
  • Patent number: 6029836
    Abstract: A cap device, particularly for a wine bottle, is disclosed as including a cap having a recessed top opening for receiving a screw for threadable insertion into the cork of the wine bottle. The recess at the top of the cap is of basically square shape with two recess extensions for receiving a butter knife, or the like, for turning the cork and screw as a unit and thereby unscrewing the cap, which is threadably attached to the outside of the neck of the wine bottle. The threading direction of the threads of the cap and neck of the wine bottle are opposite to the threading direction between the cork and the screw. Additionally, the cap is structured to extend a distance above the extent of the cork in the neck of the wine bottle, the cork is bullet-shaped and channels are defined transverse to the threads extending outwardly of the neck of the wine bottle, in order to allow the escape of compressed carbon dioxide in a sparkling wine or champagne bottle as the cap is unscrewed and the cork lifted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Inventor: Achilles P. Ligeras
  • Patent number: 6030582
    Abstract: A self-resealing container cap configured to make a closing engagement with a container and a septum of elastomeric material supported in an opening defined by the cap periphery. The septum is puncturable by a blunt tip of an instrument such as a disposable plastic pipetter tip or a single use plastic laboratory transfer pipette having a tip width substantially greater than the thickness of a central portion of the septum. The septum is further configured to be substantially self-resealing against significant leakage of specimen liquid through the septum following withdrawal of the blunt tip from the punctured septum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Inventor: Abner Levy
  • Patent number: 5950849
    Abstract: A tamper-indicating closure is used with an associated container having a finish having an external thread formation thereon, and an annular locking ring located axially under the thread formation. The closure includes a closure cap having a circular top wall portion defining an outermost edge and a top wall extension region. The closure cap includes an annular skirt portion depending from the top wall portion inwardly of the outermost edge. An internal thread is formed in the skirt and defines a skirt wall plane. The closure includes a plurality of ribs extending from the top wall extension region to define an enlarged grasping region to comfortably fit a user's hand. An annular tamper-indicating band depends from the cap and is detachably connected to the cap by a plurality of circumferentially spaced, frangible connectors extending between the band and at least some of the ribs. The band includes an internal surface configured for engaging the locking ring and separates the band from the skirt portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Phoenix Closures, Inc.
    Inventors: Len Ekkert, Jeffrey F. Ullrich
  • Patent number: 5947622
    Abstract: A container closure, having a fluid applicator such as a brush or dropper, that fits over the container secured by a spring clip. The neck of the bottle ends in a seal seated on oil based paper, which is itself seated on a rubber or plastic ring. A slight bulge just below the neck acts as a catch. In use the cap has levers with protrusions that slide down over the bulge and hook into place, under the bulge. The cap opens only when pressed on both sides at the same time; otherwise the bottom of the spring clip is held in place by the bulge. By pressing both sides at once, the cap can slip over the bulge and off the bottle. The double press spring clip cap has the additional value of being child proof. The liner of the bottle, (or possibly the bottle itself if desired) is in the shape of the letter V. The V shape means that when the bottle is upright, the fluid will collect in the bottom of the V and be accessible and usable until the last drop is consumed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Inventors: Saban Akyildiz, Carmela Nitti Akyildiz
  • Patent number: 5947310
    Abstract: A combination bottle and screw closure for containing wine therein. The bottle includes internally disposed threads within a lower portion of the neck of the bottle for receiving the external threads of the lower end of a screw closure which is inserted into the opening of the bottle and rotated for securement therein. The positioning of the threads in the lower portion of the neck of the bottle affords a smooth and consistent pour of the wine from the bottle. In an alternative embodiment, the opening of the bottle and the screw closure are provided with a tamper resistant features to prevent opening of the bottle by a child. In a third embodiment, an insert and complementary screw closure are provided for retrofitting existing wine bottles not having internally disposed threads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Inventor: David C. Wagner
  • Patent number: 5944208
    Abstract: A combination of a customized bottle and a closure. The bottle has a neck with an interior circumferential surface defining a throat with a longitudinal axis and having an end face, at least a portion of which is inclined with respect to an imaginary plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The closure has a head and a cylindrical shank extending from the head and has a cross-sectional area less than that of the head and having a longitudinal axis extending through the shank and having a cross-sectional area which is less than that of the cross-sectional area of the throat in the neck of the bottle. The head has a surface facing toward the shank and has a portion thereof which is inclined with respect to an imaginary plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shank and which is complementary to the inclined surface on the face of the neck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Inventor: Gregory W. Gale
  • Patent number: 5901873
    Abstract: A labware adapter having a tubular body with upper and lower spaced apart annular collars, serving to guide the adapter into a rotor bore, while at the same time defining a fluid reservoir between the two collars and the inside wall of the rotor. The upper collar has peripheral indentations through which fluid can pass for ingress into the reservoir in the event of sample leakage from the internal portion of the adapter. The lower collar has a vent channel for allowing fluid to move past the collar, for example on insertion of the adapter into a rotor bore. The indentations, vent channel and reservoir all provide mass relief for the adapter, lowering the overall moment of inertia for the adapter, compared to one fitting into the same bore with a smooth tubular shape. The tubular body has an annular ridge above the upper annular collar defining seal glands so that a cylindrical cap can be fit over the ridge in sealed relation with the tubular body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1999
    Assignee: Beckman Instruments, Inc.
    Inventor: Patrick Q. Moore
  • Patent number: 5895662
    Abstract: A hollowed pet treat for medicating a pet is provided including a vial constructed entirely of an edible product and defining an interior space and an open top. Next provided is a cap formed entirely of the edible product for being removably coupled to the open top of the vial for containing a predetermined medicine within the interior space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1999
    Inventor: Martha C. Meyer
  • Patent number: 5868714
    Abstract: A novel reducer system is provided for a trocar cannula. The reducer system fastens to the cannula end and a living hinge allows a reducer cap to be closed over the cannula lumen to allow the cannula to be used with smaller diameter surgical instruments. By fastening the reducer system to the exterior of the cannula end, the system can be placed in position on the cannula prior to surgery, even while a large diameter obturator is used with the cannula.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1999
    Assignee: Endoscopic Concepts, Inc.
    Inventor: John K. Danks
  • Patent number: 5820604
    Abstract: A cannula cap embodiment includes a monolithic elastomeric cap body having a sidewall portion for engaging a proximal end of a cannula, and an end portion connected to the cylindrical sidewall portion. The cannula cap also includes a monolithic flapper valve positioned within an interior of the cap body. The monolithic flapper valve includes a flapper portion, a ringed-shaped flapper mounting portion connected to adjacent interior portions of the cap body, and an integrally formed hinge portion connecting the flapper mounting portion to the flapper portion for permitting the flapper portion to move to an open position when an instrument is positioned within the instrument receiving passageway, and for biasing the flapper portion toward a closed position when an instrument is removed from the instrument receiving passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Assignee: Endolap, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Q. Fox, Larry A. Gilstrap
  • Patent number: 5803126
    Abstract: A protective closure including: a closed-cell foam plastic plug of a first density, for resilience and flexibility in insertion into a water pipe for shipping and storage, and in removal therefrom for installation; and a cap of a second, higher density for limiting the extent of the insertion of the plug into the pipe; with the cap including a scooped-out handle or similar grasping construction for pulling on the cap to remove the plug from the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Inventor: Marvin Zaro
  • Patent number: 5803285
    Abstract: A cork cap having a head and a leg and adapted to be inserted in a bottle mouth. A cork is press-fitted in the cap so that its bottom end protrudes from the bottom of the leg and is pressed against the inner surface of the bottle mouth to seal the bottle mouth. The cork can be pulled out by pulling the cork cap while twisting it. Protrusions are formed on the inner periphery of the tapered inner surface of the head between adjacent ones of a plurality of vertical ribs. The protrusions bite into the cork, thus keeping the cork strongly coupled to the cork cap even when the latter is pulled and twisted. Thus, the cork can be reliably pulled out together with the cork cap by twisting and pulling only the cork cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Inventor: Koji Hirota
  • Patent number: 5779074
    Abstract: A body fluid collection assembly includes a tube having an outside surface, an open end and a closed end forming a chamber having an inside wall for holding a body fluid, the tube has a raised annulus at the open end. The assembly includes a closure with a shield having a top, an opening therethrough and a cavity for receiving the open end of the tube. The cavity has an inside surface having at least one protuberance projecting inwardly from the inside surface so that when the open end of the tube is in the cavity, the protuberance engages said annulus retaining said shield on the tube. The assembly includes a sealing element having a top surface and a lower flange and a gas barrier member bonded to the lower flange to form a primary seal with the inside wall of the tube and a secondary seal at the open end of the tube. The assembly further includes a plug housing having a passage and a resilient plug mounted in the passage, and elements for releasably mounting the plug housing on the shield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventor: James A. Burns
  • Patent number: 5722548
    Abstract: There is provided a new and useful combination of a bottle stopper and stopper-remover comprising cylindrical stopper means (10) of resilient material, the stopper means (10) having top, bottom and side surfaces and a deep well (14) extending into the stopper (10) from the top surface (16); a hollow sleeve (30) in and substantially conforming in cross-section to the well (14), the sleeve (30) having top and bottom ends and inner and outer surfaces; a series of protruding interference members (36) on the outer surface, at least one detent member (46) on the inner surface (43,44) spaced a predetermined distance from the top and bottom; a pair of openings (47) through opposite sides of the sleeve (30) adjacent the detent (46) on a side of the detent (46) remote from the top end; a pair of longitudinal slits (45) extending from respective ones of said openings (47) to a position spaced from said top end; and puller means (50) for insertion into the sleeve (30), the puller means (30) comprising a top gripper membe
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1998
    Assignee: Kwik Kork International Inc.
    Inventor: David E. Hojnoski
  • Patent number: 5690243
    Abstract: A novel snap on pull off tamper indicating cap and neck configuration for containers, the cap having a top with an annular depending wall on its peripheral edge and seven circumferentially spaced continuous spiral thread configurations on the inner surface of the annular depending wall. A removable tear skirt with continuous opposing groups of ratchet teeth on its inner surface depends from the outer peripheral edge of an out-turned flange on said annular wall. An inturned continuous annular rib on said annular depending wall engages on and deforms the neck configuration. The tear skirt is joined to the flange with multiple frangible connections from the ratchet teeth, a pull tab on the tear skirt with frangible lines requiring removal of the tab and tear skirt from the cap before the cap can be rotated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Assignee: Portola Packaging, Inc.
    Inventor: Luca Molinaro
  • Patent number: 5660302
    Abstract: A removeable plastic plug for a container having an annular outlet opening includes a unitary outer annular wall which is arranged with an annular upper lip portion, an annular lower rib portion, and an enclosing body portion which extends between the upper lip portion and the lower rib portion. The enclosing body portion defines a hollow interior which is sealed across by a closing diaphragm arranged in unitary construction with the enclosing body portion. The closing diaphragm includes an upwardly inclined portion to which a pull ring is attached. The outer annular wall further defines an annular receiving channel and a retention bead whereby the edge defining the outlet opening snaps into said annular receiving channel with the retention bead positioned on the underside of the defining edge. The lower rib portion is segmented by three equally spaced inverted V-shaped notches which are centered relative to the pull ring and which are disposed adjacent to the upwardly inclined portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1997
    Assignee: Rieke Corporation
    Inventor: Stanley D. Trout
  • Patent number: 5636757
    Abstract: A device for removing a cork from a bottle opening. This is achieved by a cork retriever. The cork retriever has two components, a sleeve and a plunger. The sleeve is adapted to be driven through the cork member while the plunger is adapted to be driven into the sleeve to thereby lock the sleeve in the cork. The cork can then be removed by way of a pull ring which is positioned at the upper end of the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1997
    Inventor: Tom Porvaznik
  • Patent number: 5632396
    Abstract: A body fluid collection assembly includes a tube having an outside surface, an open end and a closed end forming a chamber having an inside wall for holding a body fluid, the tube has a raised annulus at the open end. The assembly includes a closure with a shield having a top, an opening therethrough and a cavity for receiving the open end of the tube. The cavity has an inside surface having at least one protuberance projecting inwardly from the inside surface so that when the open end of the tube is in the cavity, the protuberance engages said annulus retaining said shield on the tube. The assembly includes a sealing element having a top surface and a lower flange and a gas barrier member bonded to the lower flange to form a primary seal with the inside wall of the tube and a secondary seal at the open end of the tube. The assembly further includes a plug housing having a passage and a resilient plug mounted in the passage, and elements for releasably mounting the plug housing on the shield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1997
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventor: James A. Burns
  • Patent number: 5514339
    Abstract: A test tube stopper (1) has the shape of a small bowl and is provided with a protruding upper circular collar (11). The stopper (1) slidably enters into and seals the neck of a test tube (3) until the collar (11) rests against the mouth of the test tube (3). A horizontal bottom wall (12) of the stopper (1) is comprised of two or more elastically yielding sectors (16) which can bend under the action of a device (43) being introduced into the test tube (3) through the bottom wall (12) for introducing or withdrawing liquid. The resilient sectors (16) return to their initial position as soon as the device (43) has been extracted from the test tube (3) through the bottom wall (12). In a preferred embodiment a stopper (2), preferably of the conventional type, sealingly closes a cavity (14) of the stopper (1) to ensure sealing a vacuum previously provided in the test tube (3). The stopper (2) may then be removed when it is necessary to withdraw blood from the test tube (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1996
    Inventors: Francesco Leopardi, Sergio Paoletti
  • Patent number: 5455662
    Abstract: A developer replenishing device for replenishing a developing device with a developer, and a developer container for use therewith. The developer container, or toner bottle, has a mouth portion at one end thereof which is smaller in diameter than a hollow cylindrical main body. At the end of the bottle provided with the mouth, a shoulder has the inner periphery thereof partly raised to the edge of the mouth portion to form a raised portion for scooping up a toner. In addition, a part of the inner periphery of the circumferential wall of the bottle which is contiguous with the raised portion is also raised toward the axis of the bottle about which the bottle is rotatable, thereby forming another raised portion. When the bottle is mounted to a bottle holder, which is included in the replenishing device, substantially horizontally with the mouth portion oriented sideways, the bottle is rotated to raise the toner from the bottom of the main body to the mouth portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1995
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideo Ichikawa, Takeshi Saito, Sunao Ikeda, Nobuhiro Makita, Seiji Ozawa, Shigeru Yoshiki, Takaaki Yanagisawa
  • Patent number: 5423443
    Abstract: A closure stopper for a dispensing cartridge is withdrawn from the dispensing opening by a screw ring. An extension piece of the stopper projects over the screw ring. A disk or similar component is detachably connected to the extension piece and to the screw ring to pull the stopper when the screw ring is moved away from the dispensing cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1995
    Inventor: Wilhelm A. Keller
  • Patent number: 5411156
    Abstract: A content immobilizer includes an immobilizing medium, such as cotton, and a plastic integrally formed pull member, operatively coupled through the immobilizing medium, wherein the pull member has a flexible portion adapted to resiliently extend above an upper rim surface of the mouth of a bottle after removal of the closure. The pull member may also laterally compress and expand to frictionally engage with an interior wall surface of the bottle to secure the pull member in a predetermined position. A method for forming the content immobilizer includes inserting the pull member through the immobilizing medium, inserting the content immobilizer into the bottle such that at least a portion of the pull member extends out through the mouth of the bottle, and applying a closure, such as a tamper evident seal, a cap and/or both, over the mouth such that the portion of the pull member resiliently couples to a bottom surface of the closure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1995
    Inventor: Christopher J. Reckamp
  • Patent number: 5385253
    Abstract: A closure for a tubular administration port is formed by inner and outer members having upper ends joined together in sealing relationship. The inner member has a sealed bottom end and is configured to fit within the administration port. The outer member is configured to engage about an exterior of the tubular port. The inner member includes radially outwardly extending ribs that engage against the interior of the administration port in an interference fit relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Assignee: Baxter International Inc.
    Inventors: Michael W. Scharf, Joseph N. Veillon, Jr., Thomas Yatsko
  • Patent number: 5370270
    Abstract: A cap composed of a snap-on, tamper-evident closure differing from others of this general type is formed with a central sleeve. The bottom of the sleeve is closed off by a removable plug. The exterior of the closure is formed with a bead. The water dispenser is provided with an adapter consisting of an open-bottom outer sleeve into which the neck of the container with the closure in place thereon fits. Centrally disposed in the outer sleeve is a dispenser tube. When the container is inverted its neck is inserted in the outer tube. As the neck and cap are lowered, the dispenser tube enters the cap sleeve and attaches to the plug. Continued lowering of the container causes the plug to slide out of the tube so that liquid in the container flows out through the dispenser tube into the dispenser. When the container is lifted, the plug (which has been attached to the dispenser tube) is pulled back into its original sealed position. The plug and cup are at all times discrete.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1994
    Assignee: Portola Packaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian M. Adams, Daniel Luch
  • Patent number: 5361922
    Abstract: The present invention directed to a plug for sealing a centrifuge tube. The plug of the present invention is shaped and sized to provide an interference fit between the plug and the tube stem of the centrifuge tube. In the described embodiment, the plug is configured with a tapered body narrowing to a flared end. To facilitate the insertion and removal of the plug with moderate force, without compromising the restraining capability of the interference fit, the area of interference contact between the flared end and the filler stem is strategically reduced. An o-ring is provided in a annular groove around the tapered body. The flared end creates an interference fit with a tapered filler stem, whereby the plug is secured in the filler stem with a snapping action when the flared end of the plug extends into the tube beyond the tapered filler stem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1994
    Assignee: Beckman Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick O. Moore, David L. Schiessler
  • Patent number: 5285917
    Abstract: A child-resistant container closure constructed according to the present invention comprises a disk shaped cover plate attached to body section formed as a substantially cylindrical wall. A movable handle or tab is attached to the cover plate to aid a user in pulling the closure from a container in which the closure is installed. A well or recess is provided in cover plate to house the handle in a closed position. A ridge on the end of the handle cooperates with a mating ridge in the wall of the recess to retain the handle in a closed position. A resilient spring is provided in the recess so that when the handle is released from the recess, it is urged into a position in which it may be conveniently gripped by a user. An undercut groove or notch is provided on the outside surface of the cylindrical wall adjacent the cover plate. The notch engages a mating lip or ridge extending inward from the inner surface of the mouth of the product container to secure the closure to the product container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 15, 1994
    Assignee: Magenta Corporation
    Inventor: Richard W. Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 5232111
    Abstract: A combination closure is provided, particularly for evacuated collection tubes for body fluids such as blood, including an elastomer stopper and plastic cover combination with cooperating locking surfaces spaced around the circumference thereof. The stopper includes vertically spaced sealing rings for insertion into the open end of the tube. Also, the stopper includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced protrusions and the cover or shield cooperating circumferentially spaced indentations or ports to provide a locking force between the protrusions and indentations. As a result, the dimensions of the stopper and the plastic cover are reduced, which in turn reduces the penetration force required to insert a needle through the stopper. Moreover, the reduced dimension of the closure allows it to be locked to a bead on the tube whether plastic or glass, and the lesser overall diameter allows the closure on the tube to fit more tube holders or containers during and prior to use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1993
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventor: James A. Burns
  • Patent number: 5060659
    Abstract: A stopper for medical containers such as blood collection tubes having integral flange and plug portions, the flange portion being substantially larger in diameter than the plug portion, which plug portion is sized to sealably close the container. The stopper has opposed wells formed in the flange and plug portions, the well in the flange portion having a relatively flat bottom surface at least as large in diameter as the diameter of the opposed well in the plug portion. The flange portion is constructed to be guided into a tube holder into which it is inserted such that one end of a needle projecting into the interior of the tube holder will penetrate the stopper in the area of the opposed wells so as to avoid otherwise contacting the stopper. The enlarged flange portion also serves to facilitate removal of the stopper from the container without contaminating a handler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1991
    Assignee: Sherwood Medical Company
    Inventors: Boyce W. Cook, William R. Fiehler
  • Patent number: 4893636
    Abstract: A stopper for medical containers such as blood collection tubes having integral flange and plug portions, the flange portion being substantially larger in diameter than the plug portion, which plug portion is sized to sealably close the container. The stopper has opposed wells formed in the flange and plug portions, the well in the flange portion having a relatively flat bottom surface at least as large in diameter as the diameter of the opposed well in the plug portion. The flange portion is constructed to be guided into a tube holder into which it is inserted such that one end of a needle projecting into the interior of the tube holder will penetrate the stopper in the area of the opposed wells so as to avoid otherwise contacting the stopper. The enlarged flange portion also serves to facilitate removal of the stopper from the container without contaminating a handler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1990
    Assignee: Sherwood Medical Company
    Inventors: Boyce W. Cook, William R. Fiehler
  • Patent number: 4889251
    Abstract: Disclosed is a stopper for wine bottles and the like which comprises an insert for a well in a wine cork and a puller device for operative association with the insert and cork when the stopper is in the neck of the bottle. The puller device as part of the stopper enables the cork to be pulled without auxilliary devices such as a corkscrew. The stopper insert is capable of being pre-assembled with the cork without any stress being imparted to the cork. This enables existing corking equipment to be used with the stopper. The puller device can be inserted after corking before lead foil is applied about the neck and cork stopper. With appropriate modification to corking equipment, the stopper of my invention could be totally preassembled before corking of the bottles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1989
    Inventor: David E. Hojnoski
  • Patent number: 4841818
    Abstract: A device and method for removing closures from laboratory sample containers is the subject of the present invention. The device consists of a tubular member which is large enough to contain a laboratory sample container or vial. Integral with one end of the tubular member is a housing member which is large enough to contain the stopper or closure for the laboratory vial and is thus of a diameter larger than the tubular member. The end of the housing opposite the tubular member is closable with an irreversibly locking cap. A vial with a stopper to be removed is placed into the cap end of the housing member and is received by the tubular member unitl the stopper rests on the bottom surface of the housing member. The cap on the housing member is closed and a force is exerted on the vial to dislodge the stopper from it. The vial is pulled through the tubular member, leaving the stopper in the housing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1989
    Inventors: Christopher V. Plapp, Frederick A. Plapp, Frederick V. Plapp
  • Patent number: 4726401
    Abstract: The device for fixing a plug and the like comprises a spring member which is constituted by a plurality of radially deformable claws with their free ends engageable with an arresting stepped portion formed in an inserting hole in which the plug is fixed and a body integral with the claws and deformable in the direction in which the plug is urged so as to position the plug in position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1988
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shuji Nagano, Shuichiro Ida, Toshio Yoshinaka
  • Patent number: 4710409
    Abstract: An improved method for reducing opening torques of caps and lids on containers, in particular containers for food and beverages, which comprises covering the sliding surface of the said caps or lids and/or of the finish of the containers prior to closure with an appropriate lubricant. In a preferred embodiment the lubricant comprises a lubricating agent and an emulsifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1987
    Assignee: Spadel S.A.
    Inventor: Marcel Lahaye
  • Patent number: 4613043
    Abstract: A novel and effective closure for a bottle opening which, when associated with a seal, provides an effective means for removing the cork and the breakage of the seal simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1986
    Inventors: Philip L. Reid, Edward L. Holcombe
  • Patent number: 4550846
    Abstract: A non-stick stopper with easy removal structure includes a device having an integral body with an upper portion for use in removing the stopper and a lower portion of special configuration for relatively non-compressive sealing with a tapered neck of a glass container. In one embodiment of the invention, an elongated pin handle is inserted through a traversely extending aperture in the body upper portion for use of a tool and/or a user's hand for ease in removing the stopper from the container. The tool is specially configured with a U-shaped recess bottle engaging portion at one end of an elongated handle. The U-shaped stopper engaging portion has double recesses from either side thereof so that the tool can be used with both the first embodiment and the second embodiment of the invention.The second embodiment involves an inverted cone-shaped stopper having a radially extending stopper removing flange at one end thereof and a further conical closure structure at the other end thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1985
    Inventor: Edwin D. Phillips
  • Patent number: 4535903
    Abstract: A child proof medicine vial is provided having a bead for mating in a recess in a flange in the cap whereby the cap is tightly secured to the vial. The cap is provided with a recess and complimentary slots and inner chamber whereby a panel may be slidable into and out of the cap. When the panel is fully inserted in the cap, there are no projections on the cap for facilitating removal of the cap from the vial. When fully retracted from the cap, the panel permits the user to raise the cap thus permitting access to the vial. When fully retracted, the panel may have indicia to the effect that the vial is nonchild proof. An integral hinge is provided between the cap and vial so that the cap may be flipped away from, yet attached to, the vial.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1985
    Inventor: Roberto D. Franchi
  • Patent number: 4515283
    Abstract: Aspirator apparatus including a jar and a bung for closing the mouth of the jar, the bung comprising a domed thermoplastic top provided with a peripheral skirt within the jar mouth and having an annular slot housing an O-ring providing a primary seal with the jar, the thermoplastic material of the bung being resilient to permit depression of the domed top with reduced pressure in the jar with resulting expansion of the skirt to provide a secondary seal between the inner end of the skirt and the jar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1983
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1985
    Inventor: Hiro Suzuki
  • Patent number: 4496065
    Abstract: A key operated security cap structure for a container, such as a medicine bottle, having a neck defining an opening for the container comprises a cap member for fitting over the neck of the container in a manner precluding removal of the cap member during normal usage of the container, the cap member having an internally threaded cylindrical portion extending above the rim of the container, a cylindrical externally threaded plug for threading into the cap member to a terminal position wherein the outer surface of the plug is substantially flush with the rim of the cap member, the outer surface of the plug being formed with a pair of diametrically spaced key-receiving recesses, and a key having a pair of projections fitting in the plug recesses to provide a means for removing the plug and opening the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1984
    Date of Patent: January 29, 1985
    Inventor: David L. Nagy
  • Patent number: 4483451
    Abstract: A bottle closure device adapted to be attached to a cork used to seal bottles and including a cork piercing shaft with a bottom adapted to be inserted through the cork and until the bottom disk portion comes in contact with the bottom of the cork. A top cap is then threaded onto the portion of the shaft extending through the cork and tightened and brought into contact with the cork to firmly restrain the cork at both ends to allow it to be reinserted into a bottle. Thus, after a cork is removed by a conventional corkscrew, this attachment allows the cork to be reused without disintegrating or breaking into pieces and entering the bottle or coming into contact with the fluid in the bottle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1982
    Date of Patent: November 20, 1984
    Inventor: Florian J. Gorski
  • Patent number: 4462501
    Abstract: A child proof medicine vial is provided having a bead for mating in a recess in a flange in the cap whereby the cap is tightly secured to the vial. The cap is provided with a recess and complimentary slots and inner chamber whereby a panel may be slidable into and out of the cap. When the panel is fully inserted in the cap, there are no projections on the cap for facilitating removal of the cap from the vial. When fully retracted from the cap, the panel permits the user to raise the cap thus permitting access to the vial. When fully retracted, the panel may have indicia to the effect that the vial is nonchild proof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1983
    Date of Patent: July 31, 1984
    Inventor: Roberto D. Franchi
  • Patent number: 4446673
    Abstract: A tap attachable to a spout of a container for decanting a liquid such as wine into bottles has a rotary valve housing and a valve body provided with a detachable handle, part of that valve body being a tubular spigot fitting into a transverse bore of the valve housing to fill a bottle aligned with that bore. The spigot, when withdrawn from the bore after removal of the tap from the spout and plugging of the latter, is receivable in an internally threaded plastic cap for forcing it into the neck of a freshly filled bottle; to unseal the bottle, a complementarily threaded extremity of the handle detached from the valve body is screwed into the cap for extracting same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1982
    Date of Patent: May 8, 1984
    Inventor: Johannes Desthieux
  • Patent number: 4442735
    Abstract: A safety device for preventing premature expulsion of a stopper in the ridged neck of a container for beverages under pressure, such as a champagne bottle. A body has a top and downwardly extending opposed leg portions attached to the top, each leg portion having upper and lower inner ledge portions, the upper ledge portion being positioned for engagement with the lower rim surface of the stopper, the lower edge portion being positioned to provide a limit stop with the lower surface of the neck ridge upon upward motion of the device. The leg portions can be bent outwardly at the bottom to enable attachment of the device over the stopper and the upper portion of the neck, and a collar slidably disposed on the periphery of the body retains the lower ends of the leg portions during stopper removal to ensure engagement between the lower inner edge portions and the neck ridge.An alternate embodiment incorporates the stopper into the top as a downwardly depending centrally arranged cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1982
    Date of Patent: April 17, 1984
    Inventors: Allan Chance, William T. Gray
  • Patent number: 4395382
    Abstract: A glassware stopcock for laboratory equipment includes a glass body having a Teflon stopcock plug with an extractor for extracting the plug from its bore when the plug becomes frozen therein and unable to rotate. The extractor includes a threaded cylindrical portion formed on the stem of the plug with an extractor nut threaded on the threaded section and adapted to engage the valve body for extracting the plug from its bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1983
    Inventor: Robert J. Miskinis
  • Patent number: 4394921
    Abstract: A Teflon stopper for glassware includes a venting valve formed in the stopper with a valve stem threadably mounted within a bore in the stopper for selectively controlling communication between a vent passage within the stopper and a vent passage within the valve stem. An extractor assembly including a threaded portion on the outer end of the stopper and an extractor nut threadably mounted thereon is provided for easy extraction of the stopper from a flask opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1983
    Inventor: Robert J. Miskinis
  • Patent number: 4391382
    Abstract: Container with safety closure, for pharmaceutical preparations or chemicals, having a cylindrical safety sleeve (24; 124) projecting above the end surface of the container neck and disposed externally on the container neck and its projecting portion conformingly receives the circumferential surface of a grip plate (16; 116) of a stopper (14; 114) in the container-closed position. The bottom of the grip plate (16; 116) facing the container mouth rests upon an annularly circumferential radial surface (30; 130) of the safety sleeve (24; 124). The safety sleeve (24; 124) and the container neck (22; 122) are in complementary screw threaded engagement with one another over a limited distance in the opening direction of the stopper (14; 114) and are secured against axial separation from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1982
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1983
    Assignee: Friedrich Sanner GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Werner Emich
  • Patent number: 4391779
    Abstract: An adaptor for ground glass joints or couplings for laboratory glassware includes a Teflon body member having male and female coupling portions and a retracting nut threadably mounted on one end of the coupling member for engaging the end of a female joint member for retraction of the male member therefrom. An alternate embodiment comprises a Teflon stopper having a retracting nut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1983
    Inventor: Robert J. Miskinis
  • Patent number: 4390500
    Abstract: A rotary evaporator shaft having tapered coupling surfaces for coupling to a rotary drive and to a container includes an extracting device disposed between the tapered coupling joints and moveable into engagement with a selected one of the container or the drive means for extracting the coupling therefrom with the shaft constructed of a synthetic resin polymer such as that sold under the trademark TEFLON.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1981
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1983
    Inventor: Robert J. Miskinis
  • Patent number: 4377236
    Abstract: A child-resistant package in which a plug type closure has an annular seal acting radially outwardly against the internal wall of the circular opening to provide a seal. A pair of spaced fulcrums are provided by which the closure is tilted relative to the container to disengage the seal and move the closure into a position from which it can be removed from the opening in the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1981
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1983
    Assignee: Sunbeam Plastics Corporation
    Inventor: Gary V. Montgomery
  • Patent number: 4364486
    Abstract: A plug-type closure for a bottle, e.g. a wine bottle "cork" consists of a unitary circular cross section plug having a thin-wall core spacedly surrounded by the outer member and a plurality of radial webs bridging the outer member core. The core is formed with a corkscrew-shaped cavity including a screw-shaped groove whose depth and radius decreases progressively toward the bottom of the plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1981
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1982
    Inventors: Rolf D. Korte, Wilfried Rohlje
  • Patent number: 4182458
    Abstract: A stopper for wine bottles wherein a right cylinder cork member is retractably retained as a closure in the neck of the bottle by means of a plastic crown member with a vented head and with anchor legs isolated from the liquid wine contents of said bottle, the two members being assembled as a unit with a retainer ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1978
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1980
    Inventor: Milton Meckler