Patent US3930401A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3930401A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Container and leak-testing system therefor
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-04-30
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Granted: 1976-01-06
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Expires: 1993-04-30
Abstract
Abstract A system for testing opening-equipped containers for leakage during the entire period, which is usually relatively long, between the time that such containers are fabricated by the manufacturer thereof and the time that they are filled by the user with the product intended therefor. The system includes a testing method, a particular test closure or cap and structural relationship thereof with a container opening, and apparatus for establishing a pressure differential between the interior and exterior of any container under test. In the practice of such system, a pressure differential is established between the interior and exterior of the container, such as by vacuumizing the container interior; seating a closure cap of particular character against surfaces of the container in covering relation with the opening thereof, and sealingly relating the closure cap to the container and thereafter maintaining the sealing relationship therebetween using, in each instance, only the pressure differential as the seating and sealing force; transporting the sealed container from its place of fabrication to the place of use, either directly or with intermediate storage periods; and before the container is to be filled with a product, testing the tightness of the closure cap against the container as an index of the presence or loss of the pressure differential.
Inventors
- 👤 Harry H. Filler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 07:30
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01M; G01M3/00; G01M3/02; G01M3/26; G01M3/32; G01M3/34
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
115 words
In a method of testing opening-equipped containers for leakage during the relatively long time period intermediate fabrication of such container by the manufacturer therefor and filling the same by the user with the product intended therefor, comprising the steps of: establishing a pressure differential between the interior and exterior of such container; seating a closure member against such container, in covering relation with the opening thereof to sealingly relate the closure member and container using such pressure differential to maintain the sealing relationship therebetween, such that the closure member engages only the container; and thereafter testing the tightness of the closure member against the container as an index of any loss of such pressure differential.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
115 words
In a method of testing opening-equipped containers for leakage during the relatively long time period intermediate fabrication of such container by the manufacturer therefor and filling the same by the user with the product intended therefor, comprising the steps of: establishing a pressure differential between the interior and exterior of such container; seating a closure member against such container, in covering relation with the opening thereof to sealingly relate the closure member and container using such pressure differential to maintain the sealing relationship therebetween, such that the closure member engages only the container; and thereafter testing the tightness of the closure member against the container as an index of any loss of such pressure differential.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 1 in which the step of seating the closure member and maintaining the same in sealing relationship with the container is effected entirely by the pressure differential between the interior and exterior of the container.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 in which the step of establishing a pressure differential between the interior and exterior of such container includes developing a subatmospheric pressure therewith.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 3 in which air within the container is pumped therefrom to evacuate the same and develop a subatmospheric presence as aforesaid.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 in which the step of testing the closure member for tightness includes attempting to remove the closure member by application of a limited force thereto.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 5 in which the container is inverted to orient the closure member downwardly, whereby the limited force applied thereagainst is gravitionally derived.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
69 words
The method of claim 1 including the further step of providing a closure member dimensioned to fit loosely within the container opening and overlie the external marginal edge portions thereof, in which said closure member is seated within the opening, and in which the step of establishing a pressure differential between the interior and exterior of such container includes reducing the pressure within the container to a subatmospheric value.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 7 in which the step of seating the closure member and maintaining the same in sealing relationship with the container is effected entirely by the pressure differential between the interior and exterior of the container.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 8 in which air within the container is pumped therefrom to evacuate the same as aforesaid, and in which the step of testing the closure member for tightness includes attempting to remove the closure member by application of a limited force thereto.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 9 including the further step of transporting the sealed container from its place of sealing to its place of use prior to testing the tightness of the closure member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1 including the further step of transporting the sealed container from its place of sealing to its place of use prior to testing the tightness of the closure member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
109 words
In a method of testing opening-equipped containers for leakage during the relatively long time period intermediate fabrication of such container by the manufacturer thereof and filling the same by the user with the product intended therefor, the steps of: establishing a pressure differential between the interior and exterior of such container at its place of manufacture; closing such opening with a closure member to maintain the pressure differential; transporting the sealed container including said closure member from its place of manufacture to its place of use with such pressure differential being maintained; and thereafter testing the container at its place of use for any loss of such pressure differential.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
109 words
In a method of testing opening-equipped containers for leakage during the relatively long time period intermediate fabrication of such container by the manufacturer thereof and filling the same by the user with the product intended therefor, the steps of: establishing a pressure differential between the interior and exterior of such container at its place of manufacture; closing such opening with a closure member to maintain the pressure differential; transporting the sealed container including said closure member from its place of manufacture to its place of use with such pressure differential being maintained; and thereafter testing the container at its place of use for any loss of such pressure differential.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
148 words
In a method of reducing the pressure within a container having an opening in a lip-equipped wall thereof and of sealingly seating a closure member against such container in covering relation with the opening therein to maintain thereafter the reduced interior container pressure comprising the steps of: placing the cover member in overlying relation with the opening such that the uppermost portion of such cover member lies below the uppermost part of the lip; closing the space bounded by such lip and the wall which communicates through said opening with the interior of the container; reducing the pressure within such space and container interior to a subatmospheric value; seating such closure member against the container in overlying relation with the opening; and increasing the pressure within such space relatively rapidly to establish a pressure differential across the closure member effective to sealingly seat the same against the container.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
148 words
In a method of reducing the pressure within a container having an opening in a lip-equipped wall thereof and of sealingly seating a closure member against such container in covering relation with the opening therein to maintain thereafter the reduced interior container pressure comprising the steps of: placing the cover member in overlying relation with the opening such that the uppermost portion of such cover member lies below the uppermost part of the lip; closing the space bounded by such lip and the wall which communicates through said opening with the interior of the container; reducing the pressure within such space and container interior to a subatmospheric value; seating such closure member against the container in overlying relation with the opening; and increasing the pressure within such space relatively rapidly to establish a pressure differential across the closure member effective to sealingly seat the same against 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) | 1979-01-05 | 1979-07-07 | 1980-01-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-01-05 | 1983-07-07 | 1984-01-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-01-05 | 1987-07-07 | 1988-01-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |