US4084488A — Method and apparatus for forming pleated closure …

Claim 1

Independent Claim 233 words

Apparatus for converting a substantially flat blank into a closure member having an annular flange folded to extend from a central portion, the inner surface of the flange having at preselected locations inwardly protruding pleats formed therein extending generally perpendicular to the perimeter of the flange, the outer surface of the flange being substantially smooth and continuous with substantially the only irregularities in the otherwise smooth outer surface of the flange being hairlines each of which coincides with the location of a respective one of said pleats on the inner surface of said flange, the outer surface of said flange providing said closure member with improved capability for mating with and sealing to a corresponding sidewall member, comprising: an annular die ring means having a substantially smooth inner surface; plunger means having an annular external surface located adjacent a leading end thereof and sized to cooperate with said inner surface of said die ring means, said external surface of said plunger means having a plurality of grooves formed on the surface thereof, the central axis of each said groove being substantially coplanar with the central axis of said annular external surface of said plunger means; and means for inserting said leading end of said plunger means into said die ring means so that a flat blank positioned between said plunger means and said annular die ring means is converted to said closure member.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 233 words

Apparatus for converting a substantially flat blank into a closure member having an annular flange folded to extend from a central portion, the inner surface of the flange having at preselected locations inwardly protruding pleats formed therein extending generally perpendicular to the perimeter of the flange, the outer surface of the flange being substantially smooth and continuous with substantially the only irregularities in the otherwise smooth outer surface of the flange being hairlines each of which coincides with the location of a respective one of said pleats on the inner surface of said flange, the outer surface of said flange providing said closure member with improved capability for mating with and sealing to a corresponding sidewall member, comprising: an annular die ring means having a substantially smooth inner surface; plunger means having an annular external surface located adjacent a leading end thereof and sized to cooperate with said inner surface of said die ring means, said external surface of said plunger means having a plurality of grooves formed on the surface thereof, the central axis of each said groove being substantially coplanar with the central axis of said annular external surface of said plunger means; and means for inserting said leading end of said plunger means into said die ring means so that a flat blank positioned between said plunger means and said annular die ring means is converted to said closure member.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 60 words

Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said annular die ring means has an inside diameter D for receiving a discoidal blank having a diameter d, circumference c, and thickness t, the diameter D of said die being smaller than the diameter d of said blank; and wherein the depth of each said groove is less than about 1.3 t.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 18 words

Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein the depth of each said groove is less than about t.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 76 words

Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said annular die ring means has an inside diameter D for receiving a discoidal blank having a diameter d, circumference c, and thickness t, the diameter D of said die being smaller than the diameter d of said blank; and wherein the perimeter of said plunger means measured at a distance (d - D)/2 from said leading end thereof is approximately equal to the circumference c of said blank.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 56 words

Apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein the area of the opening of said annular die ring means exceeds the cross sectional area of said plunger means at a location (d - D)/2 from the leading edge of the plunger by an amount substantially equal to the edge area of said discoidal blank, (c × t).

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 19 words

Apparatus in accordance with claim 5 wherein the depth of each said groove is less than about 1.3 t.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 18 words

Apparatus in accordance with claim 6 wherein the depth of each said groove is less than about t.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 46 words

Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said annular die ring means has an inside diameter D for receiving a discoidal blank having a diameter d, circumference c, and thickness t, the diameter D of said die being smaller than the diameter d of said blank.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 56 words

Apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein the area of the opening of said annular die ring means exceeds the cross sectional area of said plunger means at a location (d - D)/2 from the leading edge of the plunger by an amount substantially equal to the edge area of said discoidal blank, (c × t).

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 19 words

Apparatus in accordance with claim 9 wherein the depth of each said groove is less than about 1.3 t.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 17 words

Apparatus in accordance with claim 10 wherein the depth of each said groove is less than t.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 19 words

Apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein the depth of each said groove is less than about 1.3 t.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 18 words

Apparatus in accordance with claim 12 wherein the depth of each said groove is less than about t.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 15 words

Apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein the depth of each said groove is uniform.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 22 words

Apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein the depth of said grooves is decreased toward the leading edge of said plunger means.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 52 words

Apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein the area of the opening of said annular die ring means exceeds the cross sectional area of said plunger means by an amount substantially equal to π(D + 2X)t where X is any distance up to (d-D)/2 from the leading end of said plunger means.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 34 words

Apparatus in accordance with claim 16 wherein the depth of each said groove at a location approximately (d - D)/2 from the leading end of said plunger means is less than about 1.3 t.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 33 words

Apparatus in accordance with claim 17 wherein the depth of each said groove at a location approximately (d - D) from the leading end of said plunger means is less than about t.

Claim 20

Independent Claim 200 words

A method for converting a substantially flat closure blank into a closure member having an annular closure flange folded to extend from a central portion, the inner surface of the flange having at preselected locations inwardly protruding pleats formed therein extending generally perpendicular to the perimeter of the flange, the outer surface of the flange being substantially smooth and continuous with substantially the only irregularities in the otherwise smooth outer surface of the flange being hairlines each of which coincides with the location of a respective one of said pleats on the inner surface of said flange, the outer surface of said flange providing said closure member with improved capability for mating with and sealing to a corresponding sidewall member, said method comprising simultaneously: reforming a peripheral portion of a substantially flat closure blank to form an annular flange extending from a central portion of said blank; maintaining the outer surface of said annular flange in contact with an annular surface having the size and at least substantially smooth surface characteristics of the desired closure flange; and shaping inwardly protruding pleats extending generally perpendicular to the perimeter of said flange at preselected locations along the inside of said annular flange.

Claim 21

Independent Claim 200 words

A method for converting a substantially flat closure blank into a closure member having an annular closure flange folded to extend from a central portion, the inner surface of the flange having at preselected locations inwardly protruding pleats formed therein extending generally perpendicular to the perimeter of the flange, the outer surface of the flange being substantially smooth and continuous with substantially the only irregularities in the otherwise smooth outer surface of the flange being hairlines each of which coincides with the location of a respective one of said pleats on the inner surface of said flange, the outer surface of said flange providing said closure member with improved capability for mating with and sealing to a corresponding sidewall member, said method comprising simultaneously: reforming a peripheral portion of a substantially flat closure blank to form an annular flange extending from a central portion of said blank; maintaining the outer surface of said annular flange in contact with an annular surface having the size and at least substantially smooth surface characteristics of the desired closure flange; and shaping inwardly protruding pleats extending generally perpendicular to the perimeter of said flange at preselected locations along the inside of said annular flange.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 56 words

A method in accordance with claim 19 wherein shaping inwardly protruding pleats at preselected locations along the inside of said flange comprises providing a plurality of spaces of preselected size at regular intervals along said flange into which said pleats can form while maintaining all other portions of said flange in contact with said annular surface.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 18 words

A method in accordance with claim 20 additionally comprising compressing at least a portion of each said pleat.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 36 words

A method in accordance with claim 21 wherein compressing each said pleat comprises applying up to about 1% compression to each pleat at the extreme perimeter of said blank forming the edge of said annular flange.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 15 words

A method in accordance with claim 22 wherein said compression is at least about 0.90%.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 27 words

A method in accordance with claim 22 wherein compressing each said pleat comprises applying up to about 1% compression along the entire length of each said pleat.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 15 words

A method in accordance with claim 24 wherein said compression is at least about 0.90%.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1981-04-17	1981-10-17	1982-04-18	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1985-04-17	1985-10-17	1986-04-18	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1989-04-17	1989-10-17	1990-04-18	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method and apparatus for forming pleated closure construction

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