US4306448A — Apparatus, method and system for determining the …

Claim 1

Independent Claim 89 words

A method for testing the integrity of the seal of a container sealed by means of a closure comprising a resilient sealing element and a mechanical element compressing said sealing element and locking the same in sealed relationship to said container, which comprises measuring the change in thickness of said resilient sealing element resulting from compression of said element in the sealing of said container, comparing said change in thickness or a value determined therefrom to a predetermined standard known to indicate sufficient compression to provide an acceptable seal.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 89 words

A method for testing the integrity of the seal of a container sealed by means of a closure comprising a resilient sealing element and a mechanical element compressing said sealing element and locking the same in sealed relationship to said container, which comprises measuring the change in thickness of said resilient sealing element resulting from compression of said element in the sealing of said container, comparing said change in thickness or a value determined therefrom to a predetermined standard known to indicate sufficient compression to provide an acceptable seal.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 37 words

The method of claim 1 wherein the mechanical element can be made to maintain the resilient element in an axially compressed state against the mouth of the container thereby permitting measurement of the amount of axial compression.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 54 words

The method of claim 1 wherein the percent compression of the sealing element is determined by dividing the difference in thickness of the element before and after compression by the thickness of the element prior to compression and multiplying by 100 and using said percentage as the value for comparison to a predetermined standard.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 136 words

Apparatus for testing the integrity of a container (B) sealed by means of a closure comprising a resilient sealing element (S) and a cup-like cap (C) having a top and a depending skirt compressing said sealing element over the discharge opening in the container comprising means for measuring the change in thickness of the resilient sealing element resulting from compression including indicator means having a moveable actuator member (26) and visual indicia means showing changes in position of said actuator member, a sensing head assembly (30) including an anvil mounted on said actuator member adapted for limited universal movement, said anvil having a face (52) confronting the top of the cap to engage the same along a circular line adjacent to the tangent of the corner radius at its juncture to the top of the cap.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 136 words

Apparatus for testing the integrity of a container (B) sealed by means of a closure comprising a resilient sealing element (S) and a cup-like cap (C) having a top and a depending skirt compressing said sealing element over the discharge opening in the container comprising means for measuring the change in thickness of the resilient sealing element resulting from compression including indicator means having a moveable actuator member (26) and visual indicia means showing changes in position of said actuator member, a sensing head assembly (30) including an anvil mounted on said actuator member adapted for limited universal movement, said anvil having a face (52) confronting the top of the cap to engage the same along a circular line adjacent to the tangent of the corner radius at its juncture to the top of the cap.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 26 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said face (52) is essentially conical and outwardly divergent at an included angle of between approximately 140° and 150°.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 20 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said face (52) is of a stepped configuration defining an annular shoulder (60).

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 30 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said sensing head assembly exerts a predetermined uniform force on the closure for substantially the entire range of movement of said actuator member.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 52 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein the stem has an annular recess and said anvil includes stop means engaging in said recess thereby to limit relative axial movement of the stem and anvil and wherein said stem includes a ball engageable in a seat in an end wall of the anvil.

Claim 11

Independent Claim 166 words

A system for testing the integrity of the seal of a container sealed by means of a closure comprising a resilient sealing element and a cap of cup-like form having a top and a depending skirt compressing said sealing element and locking the same in sealed relationship to the container comprising first measuring the height of the container before compression of the sealing element by apparatus including a base supporting the container, a sensing head engaging the cap and an indicator actuatable by the sensing head to provide a first visual indicia corresponding to the container height before compression of the seal, sealing the container and then again measuring the height of the container by said apparatus providing a second visual indicia corresponding to the container height after compression of the seal, correlating the difference between said first and second indicia and the precompression thickness of the sealing element and comparing it to a predetermined standard known to indicate sufficient compression to provide an adequate seal.

Claim 12

Independent Claim 166 words

A system for testing the integrity of the seal of a container sealed by means of a closure comprising a resilient sealing element and a cap of cup-like form having a top and a depending skirt compressing said sealing element and locking the same in sealed relationship to the container comprising first measuring the height of the container before compression of the sealing element by apparatus including a base supporting the container, a sensing head engaging the cap and an indicator actuatable by the sensing head to provide a first visual indicia corresponding to the container height before compression of the seal, sealing the container and then again measuring the height of the container by said apparatus providing a second visual indicia corresponding to the container height after compression of the seal, correlating the difference between said first and second indicia and the precompression thickness of the sealing element and comparing it to a predetermined standard known to indicate sufficient compression to provide an adequate seal.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1984-12-21	1985-06-22	1985-12-22	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1988-12-21	1989-06-22	1989-12-22	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1992-12-21	1993-06-22	1993-12-22	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Apparatus, method and system for determining the integrity of sealed containers

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