US3815794A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Plastic-film containers with self-sealing orifices
Assignee: Rexam Beverage Can Co
•
Filing: 1972-03-02
•
Granted: 1974-06-11
•
Expires: 1992-03-02
Abstract
Abstract The disclosed containers are formed of supple plastic films fused together face-to-face along continuous seams that converge in the fluid-discharge direction to form a spout. When part of the spout is distended by fluid contents, a seal forms between the films. Squeezing the container develops internal fluid pressure that causes release of the seal. Depending on the proportions of the spout, the seal is either self-restoring when pressure is relaxed, or the seal remains open until it is manually restored. The form of the spout also determines the character of the discharge, whether a continuing stream, or a limited-quantity discharge, or a fine jet that breaks up into a spray. Adding a spout-pressing plate to a container having a selfrestoring seal forms a novel dispenser. A guard applied to the spout can prevent unintended opening of the seal when the container is squeezed. The films that form the container can be shaped to provide a stable gusseted base. In a variant, a container has a spout proportioned to form an especially secure seal across the discharge passage, which does not open in response to practical levels of internal pressure. Such a seal is rendered pressure-releasable, and it can even be released entirely, by lessening the distension of the spout walls. Both in this variant and where the seal is pressurereleasable, internal fluid pressure builds up when the container is squeezed in use or in handling. With both types of seal, the danger of developing wall-bursting stresses due to internal pressure is minimized by shaping all seams so as to be free of corners directed toward the interior of the container.
Inventors
- 👤 R Carlisle
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 21:23
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D75/00; B65D75/52; B65D75/58; B65D75/5816; B65D75/5822; B65D2575/00; B65D2575/52; B65D2575/58; B65D2575/586
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
203 words
A container for fluids having a body and a spout extending outwardly from the body, said spout having congruent opposing walls of supple, imperforate material and being defined by laterally spaced seams uniting said walls and disposing them in substantially face-to-face contact when said spout is empty, said seams Including first seam elements extending divergently at least from an intermediate portion of the spout generally toward said body, said container being dimensioned and configured to provide means for forming a releasable seal across said spout at said intermediate portion thereof, opposing first sections of said walls between said first seam elements being free of interconnection and being adapted to become readily distended by contained fluid, such distension causing said first wall sections to converge into sealing abutment with one another with the centerlines of said first wall sections adjacent said abutment forming an angle of less than about 90* and with opposing second sections of said walls conextending from said abutment with the centerlines thereof in general alignment with the centerline of one of said first wall sections and at an angle to the centerline of the other of said first wall sections, whereby said spout can be sealed without auxiliary sealing means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
203 words
A container for fluids having a body and a spout extending outwardly from the body, said spout having congruent opposing walls of supple, imperforate material and being defined by laterally spaced seams uniting said walls and disposing them in substantially face-to-face contact when said spout is empty, said seams Including first seam elements extending divergently at least from an intermediate portion of the spout generally toward said body, said container being dimensioned and configured to provide means for forming a releasable seal across said spout at said intermediate portion thereof, opposing first sections of said walls between said first seam elements being free of interconnection and being adapted to become readily distended by contained fluid, such distension causing said first wall sections to converge into sealing abutment with one another with the centerlines of said first wall sections adjacent said abutment forming an angle of less than about 90* and with opposing second sections of said walls conextending from said abutment with the centerlines thereof in general alignment with the centerline of one of said first wall sections and at an angle to the centerline of the other of said first wall sections, whereby said spout can be sealed without auxiliary sealing means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
56 words
The container in accordance with claim 1, wherein said walls of the spout have a limited degree of elasticity so that portions of said coextending second wall sections at and near said abutment are warped relative to an imaginary curved but unwarped surface extending between said laterally spaced seams, thereby tending to reinforce said sealing abutment.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
59 words
The container of claim 1, wherein said seams and walls of said spout are dimensioned and configured so that the relationship of said second wall sections to said first wall sections is altered when a substantial level of internal fluid pressure is developed so as to overcome said sealing abutment, thereby permitting fluid contents to discharge from said container.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
The container of claim 3 wherein said container is dimensioned and configured so that said walls tend to restore said sealing abutment upon diminution of the internal pressure from said substantial level thereof, thereby tending to automatically reclose said container upon such pressure diminution.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
The container of claim 3 wherein said container is are dimensioned and configured so that the altered relationship between said first and second wall sections is stable so that said sealing abutment is restorable to reclose said container only upon the application of external force to said spout.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
The container of claim 1 wherein said seams include second elements defining said second wall sections, said second seam elements extending generally divergently toward said body, the divergence thereof being less pronounced than that of said first elements to define a generally outwardly tapering flow passage through said spout.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The container of claim 6 wherein said seams defining said spout are of smoothly curvilinear configuration.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The container of claim 7 wherein said curvilinear seams are relatively narrow and are located substantially at the lateral edges of said spout.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
The container of claim 1 wherein when the container is flat, segments of said seams converge toward an imaginary point located within a region of said container outward of said intermediate portion of the spout.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
51 words
The container of claim 7 wherein said container is dimensioned and configured so that said abutment is progressively shifted along said outwardly tapering flow passage and away from said body at progressively increasing levels of internal pressure, ultimately overcoming the sealing abutment and permitting fluid contents to discharge from said container.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
216 words
A container having congruent opposing walls of supple, imperforate material having at least one bond uniting said walls and disposing them in face-to-face contact when said container is empty, said opposing congruent walls providing integral walls of a body for containing fluids and of a spout projecting outwardly from said body, said spout being defined by laterally spaced seams provided by said bond and including seam portions extending divergently at least from an intermediate portion of the spout generally toward said body, said container being dimensioned and configured to provide means for forming a releasable seal across the spout at said intermediate portion thereof, opposing first wall sections between said divergently extending seam portions being free of interconnection and being adapted to become readily distended by contained fluid, such distension causing said first opposing wall sections to converge into sealing abutment with one another with the centerlines of said first wall sections adjacent said abutment forming an angle of less than about 90* and with opposing second sections of said walls coextending from said abutment with their centerlines in general alignment with the centerline of one of said first wall sections and at an angle to the centerline of the other of said first wall sections, whereby said spout can be sealed without auxiliary sealing means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
216 words
A container having congruent opposing walls of supple, imperforate material having at least one bond uniting said walls and disposing them in face-to-face contact when said container is empty, said opposing congruent walls providing integral walls of a body for containing fluids and of a spout projecting outwardly from said body, said spout being defined by laterally spaced seams provided by said bond and including seam portions extending divergently at least from an intermediate portion of the spout generally toward said body, said container being dimensioned and configured to provide means for forming a releasable seal across the spout at said intermediate portion thereof, opposing first wall sections between said divergently extending seam portions being free of interconnection and being adapted to become readily distended by contained fluid, such distension causing said first opposing wall sections to converge into sealing abutment with one another with the centerlines of said first wall sections adjacent said abutment forming an angle of less than about 90* and with opposing second sections of said walls coextending from said abutment with their centerlines in general alignment with the centerline of one of said first wall sections and at an angle to the centerline of the other of said first wall sections, whereby said spout can be sealed without auxiliary sealing means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The container of claim 11 wherein said layers are comprised of synthetic resinous thermoplastic material.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The container of claim 12 wherein said bond is a relatively narrow heat seal located substantially at the edge of said container.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
The container of claim 13 wherein said body is of generally circular configuration and said discharge region is an elongated, outwardly tapering extension thereof, said container thereby being of generally tear-drop configuration.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
142 words
The container of claim 11 wherein said body has, in a flat disposition, a generally rectilinear edge extending thereacross at a location remote from said spout, said edge being of a length that is substantially less than the width of said walls of said body at a location spaced a short distance therefrom, intermediate portions of said body walls lying between said edge and said spaced location being narrower than said body walls at said location so that, when said container is placed in an upright position with said edge disposed thereunder on a support surface, the outer margins of said intermediate wall portions tend to fold inwardly of said body, in turn permitting distension of said wall portions therebetween under the weight of fluid contents, thereby providing an extended base area for supporting said container in a relatively stable, upright position.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
The container of claim 15 wherein said intermediate wall portions are defined by generally rectilinear slanting seam portions extending outwardly from the ends of said rectilinear edge.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
The container of claim 1 wherein said container additionally includes fluid contents therewithin, and is completely closed to provide an integral package.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
265 words
A container for fluids having a body and a spout extending outwardly from the body, said spout having congruent opposing walls of supple, imperforate material and being defined by laterally spaced seams uniting said walls and disposing them in substantially face-to-face contact when said spout is empty, said seams including first seam elements extending divergently at least from an intermediate portion of the spout generally toward said body, said container being dimensioned and configured to provide means for forming a releasable seal across said spout at said intermediate portion thereof, opposing first sections of said walls between said first seam elements being free of interconnection and being adapted to become readily distended by contained fluid, such distension causing said first wall sections to converge into sealing abutment with one another with the centerlines of said first wall sections adjacent said abutment forming an angle of less than about 90* and with opposing second sections of said walls coextending from said abutment with the centerlines thereof in general alignment with the centerline of one of said first wall sections and at an angle to the centerline of the other of said first wall sections, whereby said spout can be sealed without auxiliary sealing means, that portion of the container which comprises said spout and the portion of said body which adjoins the spout beIng free of inwardly directed corners having a tendency to move inwardly a substantial distance, which would result in increasing the angle of convergence of said first wall sections and in reinforcing said sealing abutment in response to development of substantial internal pressures.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
265 words
A container for fluids having a body and a spout extending outwardly from the body, said spout having congruent opposing walls of supple, imperforate material and being defined by laterally spaced seams uniting said walls and disposing them in substantially face-to-face contact when said spout is empty, said seams including first seam elements extending divergently at least from an intermediate portion of the spout generally toward said body, said container being dimensioned and configured to provide means for forming a releasable seal across said spout at said intermediate portion thereof, opposing first sections of said walls between said first seam elements being free of interconnection and being adapted to become readily distended by contained fluid, such distension causing said first wall sections to converge into sealing abutment with one another with the centerlines of said first wall sections adjacent said abutment forming an angle of less than about 90* and with opposing second sections of said walls coextending from said abutment with the centerlines thereof in general alignment with the centerline of one of said first wall sections and at an angle to the centerline of the other of said first wall sections, whereby said spout can be sealed without auxiliary sealing means, that portion of the container which comprises said spout and the portion of said body which adjoins the spout beIng free of inwardly directed corners having a tendency to move inwardly a substantial distance, which would result in increasing the angle of convergence of said first wall sections and in reinforcing said sealing abutment in response to development of substantial internal pressures.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
264 words
A container for liquids having a body and a spout extending outwardly from the body, said spout having congruent opposing walls of supple imperforate material defined by laterally spaced seams uniting said walls and disposing them in substantially face-to-face contact when said spout is empty, said walls including first opposing wall sections adjoining said body and bounded by first elements of said seams, said first wall sections being adapted to become readily distended by liquid in the container in the absence of applied pressure and specifically being free of interconnection between said seam elements, and said walls including second opposing wall sections projecting from said first opposing wall sections, segments of said first elements of said seams converging toward a point in said spout outward of said first wall sections when the container is flat, said container being dimensioned and configured to provide means for forming a generally arcuate internal-pressure-releasable and self-restorable seal across said spout at a portion thereof where said second wall sections extend from first wall sections, said first wall sections when distended converging into sealing abutment with one another in the absence of seal-releasing pressure, with the centerlines of said first wall sections adjacent said abutment forming an angle of less than about 90* and with opposing second sections of said walls coextending from said abutment with the centerlines thereof in general alignment with the centerline of one of said first wall sections and at an angle to the centerline of the other of said first wall sections, whereby said spout can be sealed without resort to auxiliary sealing means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
264 words
A container for liquids having a body and a spout extending outwardly from the body, said spout having congruent opposing walls of supple imperforate material defined by laterally spaced seams uniting said walls and disposing them in substantially face-to-face contact when said spout is empty, said walls including first opposing wall sections adjoining said body and bounded by first elements of said seams, said first wall sections being adapted to become readily distended by liquid in the container in the absence of applied pressure and specifically being free of interconnection between said seam elements, and said walls including second opposing wall sections projecting from said first opposing wall sections, segments of said first elements of said seams converging toward a point in said spout outward of said first wall sections when the container is flat, said container being dimensioned and configured to provide means for forming a generally arcuate internal-pressure-releasable and self-restorable seal across said spout at a portion thereof where said second wall sections extend from first wall sections, said first wall sections when distended converging into sealing abutment with one another in the absence of seal-releasing pressure, with the centerlines of said first wall sections adjacent said abutment forming an angle of less than about 90* and with opposing second sections of said walls coextending from said abutment with the centerlines thereof in general alignment with the centerline of one of said first wall sections and at an angle to the centerline of the other of said first wall sections, whereby said spout can be sealed without resort to auxiliary sealing means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
221 words
A squeeze-releasable dispensing container including a main body and a spout projecting outwardly therefrom, the spout and the adjoining portion of the body providing a discharge region, said container having congruent supple, imperforate walls, said walls being united along seams that tend to dispose the walls substantially face-to-face when the container is empty, said seams including seam portions bounding first wall sections of the spout adjoining the body which seam portions converge toward each other along the spout in the fluid-discharge direction, the walls of the discharge region being adapted to become readily distended by contained fluid and specifically being free of interconnection between said seams, and said container being dimensioned and configured to provide means for forming an internal-pressure-releasable seal across the spout wherein one of the walls when distended by contained fluid bears against the other in a sealing abutment extending generally arcuately between said seams with the centerlines of said first wall sections adjacent said abutment forming an angle of less than about 90* and with opposing second sections of said walls coextending from said abutment with the centerlines thereof in general alignment with the centerline of one of said first wall sections and at an angle to the centerline of the other of said first wall sections, whereby said spout can be sealed without auxiliary sealing means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
221 words
A squeeze-releasable dispensing container including a main body and a spout projecting outwardly therefrom, the spout and the adjoining portion of the body providing a discharge region, said container having congruent supple, imperforate walls, said walls being united along seams that tend to dispose the walls substantially face-to-face when the container is empty, said seams including seam portions bounding first wall sections of the spout adjoining the body which seam portions converge toward each other along the spout in the fluid-discharge direction, the walls of the discharge region being adapted to become readily distended by contained fluid and specifically being free of interconnection between said seams, and said container being dimensioned and configured to provide means for forming an internal-pressure-releasable seal across the spout wherein one of the walls when distended by contained fluid bears against the other in a sealing abutment extending generally arcuately between said seams with the centerlines of said first wall sections adjacent said abutment forming an angle of less than about 90* and with opposing second sections of said walls coextending from said abutment with the centerlines thereof in general alignment with the centerline of one of said first wall sections and at an angle to the centerline of the other of said first wall sections, whereby said spout can be sealed without auxiliary sealing means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
217 words
A container for fluids, including a body and a spout projecting outwardly therefrom, the spout and the adjoining portion of the body providing a discharge region, said discharge region being formed of congruent opposing walls of supple imperforate material interconnected by seams disposing the walls substantially face-to-face when the discharge region is empty, a first portion of the spout adjoining the body being defined by elements of said seams, such interconnection between said walls being shaped for causing said first spout portion to become readily disTended by contained fluid, said discharge region being dimensioned and configured to provide means for causing said first spout portion to decrease in cross-section progressively in the fluid discharge direction when distended by contained fluid and, when so distended, for forming a sealing abutment extending generally arcuately across said spout wherein one of said walls bears against the other with the centerlines of said first wall sections adjacent said abutment forming an angle of less than about 90* and with opposing second sections of said walls coextending from said abutment with the centerlines thereof in general alignment with the centerline of one of said first wall sections and at an angle to the centerline of the other of said first wall sections, whereby said spout can be sealed without auxiliary sealing means.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
217 words
A container for fluids, including a body and a spout projecting outwardly therefrom, the spout and the adjoining portion of the body providing a discharge region, said discharge region being formed of congruent opposing walls of supple imperforate material interconnected by seams disposing the walls substantially face-to-face when the discharge region is empty, a first portion of the spout adjoining the body being defined by elements of said seams, such interconnection between said walls being shaped for causing said first spout portion to become readily disTended by contained fluid, said discharge region being dimensioned and configured to provide means for causing said first spout portion to decrease in cross-section progressively in the fluid discharge direction when distended by contained fluid and, when so distended, for forming a sealing abutment extending generally arcuately across said spout wherein one of said walls bears against the other with the centerlines of said first wall sections adjacent said abutment forming an angle of less than about 90* and with opposing second sections of said walls coextending from said abutment with the centerlines thereof in general alignment with the centerline of one of said first wall sections and at an angle to the centerline of the other of said first wall sections, whereby said spout can be sealed without auxiliary sealing means.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
48 words
A container in accordance with claim 1 wherein the divergence of at least segments of said first elements of said seams adjacent said abutment is limited to result in a reduction of the angle of divergence of said segments when said first wall sections become distended by fluid.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
40 words
A container in accordance with claim 1 wherein the portions of said seams between said body and said intermediate portion of the spout have a curvature having a minimum radius of at least one-half inch when the container is flat.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
45 words
A container in accordance with claim 11 wherein said container is dimensioned and configured to render said releasable seal responsive to internal fluid pressure, said container additionally including a second self-sealing spout non-releasable in response to internal fluid pressure sufficient to release said releasable seal.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
54 words
In combination, the container in accordance with claim 19 and means for suspending said container with said spout directed downward, further including a pair of pressure-applying devices disposed at opposite sides of said container above said seal, whereby abrupt actuation of said pressure-applying devices causes said container to dispense a discrete quantity of liquid.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
33 words
A container in accordance with claim 19 wherein the width of the outer extremity of said spout is limited to cause discharged liquid to form a spiral jet which breaks up into droplets.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
19 words
The container of claim 12 wherein each of said walls comprises a laminate containing at least two distinct materials.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
24 words
The container of claim 17 wherein said spout has a fused closure adjacent its outer end which is removable to provide a discharge opening.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
41 words
The container of claim 17 wherein said second wall sections have a discharge opening adjacent the outer ends thereof, and wherein said container additionally includes a closure member disengagedly secured on said second wall sections to temporarily close said discharge opening.
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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) | 1977-06-10 | 1977-12-10 | 1978-06-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-06-10 | 1981-12-10 | 1982-06-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-06-10 | 1985-12-10 | 1986-06-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |