US3734388A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Opening means for tetrahedral container
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-03-08
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Granted: 1973-05-22
•
Expires: 1992-03-08
Abstract
Abstract A tetrahedral shaped container is provided with a pair of tabs at one end. By pulling apart the tabs, an opening is formed at one end. The end seal at the tab end of the container is critically shaped so as to provide for the combination of ease of opening, strong seal which will not prematurely open or leak, and which will not distort the configuration of the container. The seal shape must deviate from a straight line normal to the longitudinal axis of the container by an extent great enough to permit the opening force to be applied to only a small region of the seal, but by an extent small enough to minimize distorts in the container.
Inventors
- 👤 A Hopkins
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 20:07
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D75/00; B65D75/52; B65D75/58; B65D75/5855; B65D75/40; B65D75/44; B65D75/48; B65D75/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
110 words
A hollow container comprising: a cylindical body portion having a pair of transversely sealed ends, each of said ends of said cylindrical body portion lying substantially in a plane, the plane of one of the ends of said cylindrical body portion being at a right angle to the plane of the other end of said cylindrical body, one of said sealed ends having unsealed tab sections extending beyond the end seal, said seal deviating from a straight line by an extent such that the ratio of the maximum deviation from a straight line the length of the transverse dimension of said container is in the range from 1:4 to 1:8.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
110 words
A hollow container comprising: a cylindical body portion having a pair of transversely sealed ends, each of said ends of said cylindrical body portion lying substantially in a plane, the plane of one of the ends of said cylindrical body portion being at a right angle to the plane of the other end of said cylindrical body, one of said sealed ends having unsealed tab sections extending beyond the end seal, said seal deviating from a straight line by an extent such that the ratio of the maximum deviation from a straight line the length of the transverse dimension of said container is in the range from 1:4 to 1:8.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
150 words
A hollow container having a cylindrical body portion and a pair of sealed ends, each of said end seals being transverse to the longitudinal axis of said container and substantially offset with respect to the plane of the other of said seals, thereby causing said cylindrical body portion to be non-circular in cross-section, one of said seals having at least a region which deviates from a straight line from the intersection of one of the seal and the edge of the container and the intersection of the other end of the seal and the other end of the container, the deviation being equal to less than one fourth of the length of said straight line but at least equal to one eighth of the length of said straight line, and a tab region, said tab region being unsealed free ends of said container adjacent to said one of said seals.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
150 words
A hollow container having a cylindrical body portion and a pair of sealed ends, each of said end seals being transverse to the longitudinal axis of said container and substantially offset with respect to the plane of the other of said seals, thereby causing said cylindrical body portion to be non-circular in cross-section, one of said seals having at least a region which deviates from a straight line from the intersection of one of the seal and the edge of the container and the intersection of the other end of the seal and the other end of the container, the deviation being equal to less than one fourth of the length of said straight line but at least equal to one eighth of the length of said straight line, and a tab region, said tab region being unsealed free ends of said container adjacent to said one of said seals.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The structure of claim 2, wherein said cylindrical body portion is in the form of a tetrahedron.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The structure of claim 2, wherein the planes of said seals are at right angles to each other.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The structure of claim 2, wherein said one of said seals is formed by two lines having an intersection angle in the range from 125* to 170*.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The structure of claim 2, wherein said one of said seals includes a region having a pair of lines intersecting at an angle in the range from 125* to 170*.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The structure of claim 2, wherein said one of said seals is in the form of a curved line.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The structure of claim 5, wherein said cylindrical body portion is in the form of a hexahedron.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The structure of claim 2, wherein said one of said seals has a pair of sealed sections which extend into the tab region.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
The structure of claim 2, wherein a supplemental seal is provided in the region of maximum deviation from a straight line and substantially along only a portion of said straight line.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
135 words
A hollow container having a cylindrical body portion and a pair of sealed ends, each of said sealed ends having end seals transverse to the longitudinal axis of said container and lying substantially in a plane, the plane of one of said seals being substantially offset with respect to the plane of the other of said seals, thereby causing said cylindrical body portion to be non-circular in cross-section, one of said seals having at least a region which deviates from a straight line between the opposite ends of the seal, and a tab region, said tab region being unsealed free ends of said container adjacent to said one of said seals, and a supplemental seal provided in the region of maximum deviation from a straight line and substantially along a portion of said straight line.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
135 words
A hollow container having a cylindrical body portion and a pair of sealed ends, each of said sealed ends having end seals transverse to the longitudinal axis of said container and lying substantially in a plane, the plane of one of said seals being substantially offset with respect to the plane of the other of said seals, thereby causing said cylindrical body portion to be non-circular in cross-section, one of said seals having at least a region which deviates from a straight line between the opposite ends of the seal, and a tab region, said tab region being unsealed free ends of said container adjacent to said one of said seals, and a supplemental seal provided in the region of maximum deviation from a straight line and substantially along a portion of said straight line.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The structure of claim 11, wherein said cylindrical body is in the form of a tetrahedron.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The structure of claim 11, wherein the planes of said seals are at right angles to each other.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
The structure of claim 11, wherein said one of said seals is formed by two lines having an intersection angle in the range from 125* to 170*.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
The structure of claim 11, wherein one of said seals is in the form of a curved line.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The structure of claim 11, wherein said one of said seals has a pair of seal sections which extend into said tab region.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-05-21 | 1976-11-20 | 1977-05-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-05-21 | 1980-11-20 | 1981-05-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-05-21 | 1984-11-20 | 1985-05-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |