US4491238A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Receptacle having a plug closure
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1983-12-12
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Granted: 1985-01-01
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Expires: 2003-12-12
Abstract
Abstract A receptacle particularly adapted for storage and transportation of a liquid comprises a container and a replaceable cover. An upper end of the container is formed with an inner and outer peripheral rim spaced apart to receive an inside and outside peripheral flange of the cover. The cover outside flange has a ring-like offset which snaps into a recess in the container outer rim to hold the cover and container together. Surfaces of the container rims and cover flanges engage to form an inner seal and an outer seal to inhibit leakage of liquid from the receptacle. The cover may be removed by use of a tool which can produce permanent damage to the outer seal. The surfaces of the inner seal remain intact allowing replacement of the cover to reseal the receptacle.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael J. Tobolt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 16:27
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D43/00; B65D43/02; B65D43/0202; B65D43/0204; B65D43/0206; B65D2543/00; B65D2543/00009; B65D2543/00018; B65D2543/00064; B65D2543/00074; B65D2543/00092; B65D2543/00259; B65D2543/00296; B65D2543/00342; B65D2543/00398; B65D2543/00407; B65D2543/00444; B65D2543/00453; B65D2543/00472; B65D2543/00481; B65D2543/0049; B65D2543/005; B65D2543/00509; B65D2543/00518; B65D2543/00537; B65D2543/00546; B65D2543/00592; B65D2543/00601; B65D2543/00611; B65D2543/0062; B65D2543/00675; B65D2543/00685; B65D2543/00712; B65D2543/00722; B65D2543/0074; B65D2543/00787; B65D2543/00796; B65D2543/00824; B65D2543/00888; B65D2543/00898
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
280 words
A receptacle including a container for holding a liquid and a cover fittable to an open end of said container to inhibit leakage of said liquid from said receptacle regardless of an orientation thereof, said receptacle comprising: an inner seal between said container and said cover formed by engagement of a pair of parallel inner and outer surfaces of a circular inner rim of said container with an inside and outside surface of an inside and outside flange of said cover respectively, said surfaces proximately aligned with a longitudinal axis of said receptacle, and by engagement of a top edge of said container inner rim with a roof of a slot of said cover, an outer seal between said container and said cover formed by engagement of an inner surface of a circular outer rim of said container with an outside surface of said outside flange of said cover and by a wall and a ledge of a recess in said container outer rim with a wall and an edge of an offset on said cover outside flange, said surfaces and said walls proximately aligned with said receptacle longitudinal axis, and gusset means attached to a top wall of said cover and an inside surface of said cover inside flange to produce forces normal to said receptacle longitudinal axis to maintain said aligned surfaces in continuous sealing engagement, wherein said receptacle may hold said liquid in a leak proof manner during storage and movement, said cover being readily removable from said container to provide access to said liquid with said cover being readily reassemable to said container so that unused liquid may be further stored in a leak proof manner.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
280 words
A receptacle including a container for holding a liquid and a cover fittable to an open end of said container to inhibit leakage of said liquid from said receptacle regardless of an orientation thereof, said receptacle comprising: an inner seal between said container and said cover formed by engagement of a pair of parallel inner and outer surfaces of a circular inner rim of said container with an inside and outside surface of an inside and outside flange of said cover respectively, said surfaces proximately aligned with a longitudinal axis of said receptacle, and by engagement of a top edge of said container inner rim with a roof of a slot of said cover, an outer seal between said container and said cover formed by engagement of an inner surface of a circular outer rim of said container with an outside surface of said outside flange of said cover and by a wall and a ledge of a recess in said container outer rim with a wall and an edge of an offset on said cover outside flange, said surfaces and said walls proximately aligned with said receptacle longitudinal axis, and gusset means attached to a top wall of said cover and an inside surface of said cover inside flange to produce forces normal to said receptacle longitudinal axis to maintain said aligned surfaces in continuous sealing engagement, wherein said receptacle may hold said liquid in a leak proof manner during storage and movement, said cover being readily removable from said container to provide access to said liquid with said cover being readily reassemable to said container so that unused liquid may be further stored in a leak proof manner.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
185 words
A receptacle including a container particularly adapted for holding liquid and a cover assemblable to, removal from and reassemble to said container to seal, unseal, and reseal said receptacle respectively, an improvement of said receptacle comprising: an inner seal between said container and said cover, said inner seal formed by engagement of inner rim surfaces of said container with inside and outside flange surfaces of said cover, said engagement defining a larger and a smaller diameter cylindrical ring, said rings concentrically and longitudinally aligned and joined at one end by radiused segment, and an outer seal between said container and said cover, said outer seal formed by engagement of an inner surface of said container outer rim and a ledge and a wall of a recess in said outer rim with an outside surface of said cover outside flange and an edge and a wall of an offset on said cover outside flange, said engagement defining a further larger and smaller diameter cylindrical ring, said further rings concentrically aligned and longitudinally offset and joined by a segment positioned normal to said rings at said offset.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
185 words
A receptacle including a container particularly adapted for holding liquid and a cover assemblable to, removal from and reassemble to said container to seal, unseal, and reseal said receptacle respectively, an improvement of said receptacle comprising: an inner seal between said container and said cover, said inner seal formed by engagement of inner rim surfaces of said container with inside and outside flange surfaces of said cover, said engagement defining a larger and a smaller diameter cylindrical ring, said rings concentrically and longitudinally aligned and joined at one end by radiused segment, and an outer seal between said container and said cover, said outer seal formed by engagement of an inner surface of said container outer rim and a ledge and a wall of a recess in said outer rim with an outside surface of said cover outside flange and an edge and a wall of an offset on said cover outside flange, said engagement defining a further larger and smaller diameter cylindrical ring, said further rings concentrically aligned and longitudinally offset and joined by a segment positioned normal to said rings at said offset.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
254 words
A receptacle made of a semirigid plastic material comprising: a container having a cylindrically shaped sidewall with one end enclosed by a bottom and an opposite open end to provide access to an interior of said container, said open end defined in part by an inner and outer rim spaced apart to form a circular groove therebetween with said outer rim having a recess formed in part by a wall and a ledge connecting said wall to an inner surface of said outer flange, and a cover having a top wall with an inside and outside flange joined thereto, said flanges spaced apart to form a circular slot therebetween with said outside flange having an offset formed in part by a wall and an edge connecting said wall to an outside surface of said outside flange, and gussets intermittently spaced about said cover and connecting said cover top wall to an inside surface of said inside flange, wherein said cover may be assembled to said container by aligning said cover slot with said container inner rim and lowering said cover to slide said cover outside flange into said container groove with said cover offset snapping into said container recess to inhibit disassembly of said cover from said container, said container and said cover forming an inner and outer seal between surfaces of said container rims and said cover flanges to make said receptacle leak proof with said gussets providing minimal sealing forces on said surface with areas of said surfaces in contact being substantial.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
254 words
A receptacle made of a semirigid plastic material comprising: a container having a cylindrically shaped sidewall with one end enclosed by a bottom and an opposite open end to provide access to an interior of said container, said open end defined in part by an inner and outer rim spaced apart to form a circular groove therebetween with said outer rim having a recess formed in part by a wall and a ledge connecting said wall to an inner surface of said outer flange, and a cover having a top wall with an inside and outside flange joined thereto, said flanges spaced apart to form a circular slot therebetween with said outside flange having an offset formed in part by a wall and an edge connecting said wall to an outside surface of said outside flange, and gussets intermittently spaced about said cover and connecting said cover top wall to an inside surface of said inside flange, wherein said cover may be assembled to said container by aligning said cover slot with said container inner rim and lowering said cover to slide said cover outside flange into said container groove with said cover offset snapping into said container recess to inhibit disassembly of said cover from said container, said container and said cover forming an inner and outer seal between surfaces of said container rims and said cover flanges to make said receptacle leak proof with said gussets providing minimal sealing forces on said surface with areas of said surfaces in contact being substantial.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
A receptacle as defined by claim 3 and further characterized by, said cover inside and outside flange each having a chamfered segment to form an enlarged opening to said cover slot.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
A receptacle as defined by claim 3 and further characterized by, said container outer rim having an upper beveled shelf to guide said cover outside flange into said container groover during assembly of said cover to said container.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
A receptacle as defined by claim 5 and further characterized by, said container beveled shelf and said cover defining therebetween a space for a tool to aid in removing said cover from said container.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
A receptacle as defined by claim 3 and further characterized by, an interior surface of said container being seamless with said container inner flange having a thinned wall section to facilitate providing said seamless interior.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
73 words
A receptacle as defined by claim 3 and further characterized by, said cover having a raised peripheral edge with a center portion of said cover defined in part by said top wall positioned from said edge, and said container inner flange having a top edge longitudinally offset from a top edge of said container outer flange, wherein upon assembly of said cover to said container an inner volume of said receptacle is reduced.
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) | 1988-01-01 | 1988-07-02 | 1989-01-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-01-01 | 1992-07-02 | 1993-01-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-01-01 | 1996-07-02 | 1997-01-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |