Patent US3920503A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3920503A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Apparatus for sealing plastic closures to plastic containers
Assignee: K L M Co
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Filing: 1973-11-18
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Granted: 1975-11-18
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Expires: 1993-11-18
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for sealing a plastic closure to a plastic container in which a tool is inserted through a portion, or portions, of the closure wall into the container wall after the closure has been fastened to the container. The tool produces energy of a type to distort the side wall of the closure and the corresponding portion of the container wall to form a projection on the closure and a mating depression on the container to provide a mechanical seal. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, ultrasonic energy is used to distort the necessary portions of the closure and container to form the mechanical seal and, in some cases, an ultrasonic workpiece produces heat at the interface between the closure and container to provide a weld.
Inventors
- 👤 Frederick D Keeler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 12:06
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C65/00; B29C65/56; B29C65/02; B29C65/08; B29C66/00; B29C66/01; B29C66/05; B29C66/10; B29C66/11; B29C66/112; B29C66/1122; B29C66/20; B29C66/21; B29C66/50; B29C66/51; B29C66/54; B29C66/542; B29C66/80; B29C66/81; B29C66/814; B29C66/8141; B29C66/81411; B29C66/81421; B29C66/81423; B29C66/82; B29C66/822; B29C66/8222; B29C66/83; B29C66/832; B29C66/8322; B29C66/87; B29C66/874; B29C66/8746; B29C66/90; B29C66/92; B29C66/924; B29C66/9261; B29C66/92651; B29C66/92653; B65; B65D; B65D41/00; B65D41/02; B65D41/10; B65D41/32; B65D41/34; B65D41/348; B29C66/70; B29C66/72; B29C66/723; B29C66/7232; B29C66/72324; B29C66/72326; B29C66/73; B29C66/739; B29C66/7392; B29C66/824; B29C66/8242; B29C66/94; B29C66/944; B29L; B29L2031/00; B29L2031/56; B29L2031/565; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S215/00; Y10S215/901
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
177 words
A SYSTEM FOR SEALING A PLASTIC CLOSURE HAVING A GENERALLY CYLINDRICAL WALL TO THE GENERALLY CYLINDRICAL NECK OF A CONTAINER OF PLASTIC MATERIAL COMPRISING A WORK TOOL FOR APPLYING ULTRASONIC ENERGY TO A PORTION OF THE WALL OF THE PLASTIC CLOSURE TO DISTORT THE WALL OF THE CLOSURE AND THE ADJACENT UNDERLYING NECK PORTION OF THE CONTAINER, MEANS FOR SUPPLYING ULTRASONIC ENERGY TO SAID WORK TOOL FOR A TIME PERIOD SUFFICIENT TO DISTORT BOTH SAID CLOSURE AND SAID CONTAINER, AND MEANS FOR MOVING SAID WORK TOOL RELATIVE TO SAID CLOSURE AND CONTAINER IN A LIMITED PATH OF TRAVEL WHILE THE WORK TOOL IS RECEIVING ULTRASONIC ENERGY FOR AN EXTENT SUFFICIENT TO PRODUCE A PROJECTION ON THE CLOSURE WALL AND A MATING UNDERLYING DEPRESSION ON THE CONTAINER WALL, SAID WORK TOOL INCLUDING A TIP TO ENGAGE THE OUTER WALL OF THE CLOSURE AND TO APPLY THE ULTRASONIC ENERGY THERETO, SAID TIP BEING SHAPED TO CONFORM GENERALLY TO THE SHAPE OF THE CLOSURE SKIRT WALL TO FORM A SAID PROJECTION ON THE CLOSURE WAL OF SUBSTANTIALLY UNIFORM DEPTH THROUGHOUT
Claim 2
Independent Claim
177 words
A SYSTEM FOR SEALING A PLASTIC CLOSURE HAVING A GENERALLY CYLINDRICAL WALL TO THE GENERALLY CYLINDRICAL NECK OF A CONTAINER OF PLASTIC MATERIAL COMPRISING A WORK TOOL FOR APPLYING ULTRASONIC ENERGY TO A PORTION OF THE WALL OF THE PLASTIC CLOSURE TO DISTORT THE WALL OF THE CLOSURE AND THE ADJACENT UNDERLYING NECK PORTION OF THE CONTAINER, MEANS FOR SUPPLYING ULTRASONIC ENERGY TO SAID WORK TOOL FOR A TIME PERIOD SUFFICIENT TO DISTORT BOTH SAID CLOSURE AND SAID CONTAINER, AND MEANS FOR MOVING SAID WORK TOOL RELATIVE TO SAID CLOSURE AND CONTAINER IN A LIMITED PATH OF TRAVEL WHILE THE WORK TOOL IS RECEIVING ULTRASONIC ENERGY FOR AN EXTENT SUFFICIENT TO PRODUCE A PROJECTION ON THE CLOSURE WALL AND A MATING UNDERLYING DEPRESSION ON THE CONTAINER WALL, SAID WORK TOOL INCLUDING A TIP TO ENGAGE THE OUTER WALL OF THE CLOSURE AND TO APPLY THE ULTRASONIC ENERGY THERETO, SAID TIP BEING SHAPED TO CONFORM GENERALLY TO THE SHAPE OF THE CLOSURE SKIRT WALL TO FORM A SAID PROJECTION ON THE CLOSURE WAL OF SUBSTANTIALLY UNIFORM DEPTH THROUGHOUT
Claim 3
Independent Claim
163 words
A system for sealing a plastic closure having a generally cylindrical wall to the generally cylindrical neck of a container of plastic material comprising a work tool for applying ultrasonic energy to a portion of the wall of the plastic closure to distort the wall of the closure and the adjacent underlying neck portion of the container, means for supplying ultrasonic energy to said work tool for a time period sufficient to distort both said closure and said container, and means for moving said work tool relative to said closure and container in a limited path of travel while the work tool is receiving ultrasonic energy for an extent sufficient to produce a projection on the closure wall and a mating underlying depression on the container wall, said work tool including a tip to engage the outer wall of the closure and to apply ultrasonic energy thereto, said tip shaped to produce a projection on the closure wall having portions of different depth.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
163 words
A system for sealing a plastic closure having a generally cylindrical wall to the generally cylindrical neck of a container of plastic material comprising a work tool for applying ultrasonic energy to a portion of the wall of the plastic closure to distort the wall of the closure and the adjacent underlying neck portion of the container, means for supplying ultrasonic energy to said work tool for a time period sufficient to distort both said closure and said container, and means for moving said work tool relative to said closure and container in a limited path of travel while the work tool is receiving ultrasonic energy for an extent sufficient to produce a projection on the closure wall and a mating underlying depression on the container wall, said work tool including a tip to engage the outer wall of the closure and to apply ultrasonic energy thereto, said tip shaped to produce a projection on the closure wall having portions of different depth.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
A system as in claim 2 wherein said tip is shaped to weaken the wall of the projection formed on said closure adajcent the area of said closure where said projection is deformed therefrom.
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) | 1978-11-17 | 1979-05-19 | 1979-11-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-11-17 | 1983-05-19 | 1983-11-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-11-17 | 1987-05-19 | 1987-11-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |