US3706176A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Closure member and method for closing containers
Assignee: Heller
•
Filing: 1971-03-10
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Granted: 1972-12-19
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Expires: 1991-03-10
Abstract
Abstract A technique for capping a container utilizes a thermoplastic cap having integral means for heating portions thereof by means of a high frequency magnetic field. The steps of the method include placing the cap on the container, subjecting the heatable portions of the cap to a high frequency magnetic field to soften these portions, bringing the softened portions of the cap into engagement with the container, and cooling the cap to removably affix the cap to the container.
Inventors
- 👤 Alfred F Leatherman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 12:42
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C65/00; B29C65/02; B29C65/14; B29C65/1403; B29C65/1425; B29C65/34; B29C65/36; B29C65/3604; B29C65/3608; B29C65/3612; B29C65/3668; B29C65/56; B29C65/567; B29C65/568; B29C66/00; B29C66/003; B29C66/01; B29C66/05; B29C66/10; B29C66/11; B29C66/118; B29C66/50; B29C66/51; B29C66/54; B29C66/542; B29C66/70; B29C66/73; B29C66/739; B29C66/7392; B29C66/80; B29C66/81; B29C66/814; B29C66/8141; B29C66/81411; B29C66/81421; B29C66/81422; B29C66/818; B29C66/8181; B29C66/81811; B29C66/83; B29C66/832; B29C66/8322; B29C66/83221; B65; B65B; B65B51/00; B65B51/10; B65B51/22; B65B51/227; B67; B67B; B67B3/00; B67B3/02; B67B3/026; B29C65/1412; B29C65/3672; B29C65/3676; B29C66/71; B29C66/73921; B29K; B29K2995/00; B29K2995/0003; B29K2995/0008; B29L; B29L2031/00; B29L2031/56; B29L2031/565; B29L2031/712; B29L2031/7158; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T156/00; Y10T156/10; Y10T156/1052; Y10T156/1062; Y10T156/107; Y10T156/1072
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
247 words
A method of closing a container opening with a thermoplastic cap, said cap having a sealing portion for spanning the opening to seal the same and an affixing portion for engaging a preformed retaining means on said container opening for removably affixing the cap across said opening, at least the affixing portion of the cap being of a substantially continuous full density thermoplastic material having means incorporated therein for heating said affixing portion by magnetic hysteresis effect of a high frequency magnetic field, said method comprising the steps of: placing the cap on the container with the sealing portion spanning the opening and the affixing portion in spaced relation to said retaining means; applying pressure to said closure to mechanically seal the container; subjecting the affixing portion of the cap to a high frequency magnetic field by magnetic hysteresis heating to soften only the affixing portion of the thermoplastic cap to a deformable state and maintaining the integrity of the softened affixing portion, said temperature essentially corresponding to the temperature sufficient to soften the affixing portion and permit the deflection of the affixing portion; pressing the softened affixing portion of the cap laterally by an outer force applied to the full density affixing portion and thereby deflecting the softened affixing portion toward and into mechanical abutting interengagement with the preformed retaining means on the container; and cooling the affixing portion to set the affixing portion in the deflected position and removably affix the cap to the container.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
247 words
A method of closing a container opening with a thermoplastic cap, said cap having a sealing portion for spanning the opening to seal the same and an affixing portion for engaging a preformed retaining means on said container opening for removably affixing the cap across said opening, at least the affixing portion of the cap being of a substantially continuous full density thermoplastic material having means incorporated therein for heating said affixing portion by magnetic hysteresis effect of a high frequency magnetic field, said method comprising the steps of: placing the cap on the container with the sealing portion spanning the opening and the affixing portion in spaced relation to said retaining means; applying pressure to said closure to mechanically seal the container; subjecting the affixing portion of the cap to a high frequency magnetic field by magnetic hysteresis heating to soften only the affixing portion of the thermoplastic cap to a deformable state and maintaining the integrity of the softened affixing portion, said temperature essentially corresponding to the temperature sufficient to soften the affixing portion and permit the deflection of the affixing portion; pressing the softened affixing portion of the cap laterally by an outer force applied to the full density affixing portion and thereby deflecting the softened affixing portion toward and into mechanical abutting interengagement with the preformed retaining means on the container; and cooling the affixing portion to set the affixing portion in the deflected position and removably affix the cap to the container.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
66 words
The method of claim 1, suitable for closing a thermoplastic container having a predetermined heat sealing temperature wherein the step of heating the affixing portion of the cap is further defined as subjecting the affixing portion of the cap to a high frequency magnetic field to heat the affixing portion of the thermoplastic cap to a temperature less than the heat sealing temperature of the container.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
72 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the initial steps of: forming a cap of thermoplastic material to include a sealing portion for spanning the container opening to seal the same and an affixing portion for engaging the retaining means on the container opening; and dispersing, in at least the affixing portion of the cap, particulate means heatable as a result of magnetic hysteresis upon exposure to a high frequency magnetic field.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
67 words
The method of claim 3, suitable for closing a thermoplastic container having a predetermined heat sealing temperature including the step of selecting a thermoplastic material for the cap having a heat softening temperature below the heat sealing temperature of the thermoplastic container and wherein the step of heating the affixing portion of the cap is to a temperature less than the heat sealing temperature of the container.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1, including the step of placing a gasket means between the sealing portion of the cap and the opening of the container, said gasket means defining a mechanical pressure seal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1, further defined as subjecting the affixing portion of the cap to a magnetic field having a frequency of from 0.5 to 5 megahertz.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 3, further defined as subjecting the affixing portion of the cap to a magnetic field having a frequency of from 0.5 to 5 megahertz.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 3, further defined as dispersing in at least the affixing portion of the cap, ferromagnetic particles selected from a class consisting of Fe2O3, Fe3O4 and CrO2.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 8, further defined as dispersing in at least the affixing portion of the cap, ferromagnetic particles selected from a class consisting of Fe2O3 and CrO2.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 3, further defineD as dispersing in at least the affixing portion of the cap, particulate means having a particle size ranging from submicron to 20 microns.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 3, further defined as uniformly dispersing the particulate means in at least the affixing portion of the cap.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 3, further defined as forming the cap from polycarbonate material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 3, further defined as forming the cap from a resilient material so as to permit reclosure of the container with the cap subsequent to initial removal of the cap.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 3, further defined as forming the cap with a frangible portion permitting removal of the cap from the container.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 14, suitable for closing a thermoplastic container further defined as further subjecting the affixing portion of the cap to a high frequency magnetic field to heat the affixing portion of the thermoplastic cap to a heat sealing temperature to seal the affixing portion to the container.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
80 words
The method of claim 14, suitable for closing a thermoplastic container having a predetermined heat sealing temperature, further defined as forming the frangible portion of the cap intermediate the sealing portion and the affixing portion and as subjecting the affixing portion of the cap to a high frequency magnetic field to further heat the affixing portion of the thermoplastic cap to a temperature greater than the heat sealing temperature of the container to seal the affixing portion to the container.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-12-19 | 1976-06-19 | 1976-12-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-12-19 | 1980-06-19 | 1980-12-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-12-19 | 1984-06-19 | 1984-12-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |