Patent US2555313A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US4497765A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4497765A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process for making a closure
Assignee: H-C PLASTIC Inc A DE CORP
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Filing: 1982-06-22
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Granted: 1985-02-05
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Expires: 2002-06-22
Abstract
Abstract A novel closure-making process and apparatus are disclosed for formation of plastic closures. The closures include a plastic closure cap which is compression molded to provide a closure having the requisite strength. The process includes steps for formation of a sealing liner within the closure cap if desired, with formation of a novel liner-retaining arrangement provided for secure retention of the liner within the cap. The process also includes steps for formation of a tamper-indicating pilfer band integrally with the plastic cap of the closure for formation of closures requiring a suitable tamper-indicating device.
Inventors
- 👤 Sheldon L. Wilde
- 👤 Thomas J. McCandless
- 👤 Robert M. Saunders
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 20:47
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C43/00; B29C43/02; B29C43/14; B29C43/146; B29C37/00; B29C37/0003; B29C37/0017; B29C43/32; B29C43/36; B29C43/361; B29C57/00; B29C59/00; B29C59/02; B29C59/022; B29C67/00; B29C67/0044; B29C69/00; B29C69/02; B65; B65D; B65D41/00; B65D41/02; B65D41/04; B65D41/0435; B65D41/32; B65D41/34; B65D41/3423; B65D41/3428; B26; B26F; B26F2210/00; B26F2210/04; B29C2791/00; B29C2791/001; B29C2793/00; B29C2793/009; B29C37/0078; B29C37/0082; B29C43/18; B29C53/00; B29C53/02; B29L; B29L2001/00; B29L2031/00; B29L2031/56; B29L2031/565; B65D2401/00; B65D2401/15; B65D2401/30; B65D2401/35; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S425/00; Y10S425/058; Y10S425/809
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 60
Claim 1
Independent Claim
78 words
A process for making a composite closure for a container, comprising the steps of: forming a plastic cap having a top wall portion, an internally threaded annular skirt portion, and an inwardly extending, annular liner-retaining lip; depositing a quantity of moldable plastic in said cap; and forming a liner including a generally inwardly facing sealing surface with said moldable plastic so that said moldable plastic flow against said lip and said lip retains said liner within said cap.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
78 words
A process for making a composite closure for a container, comprising the steps of: forming a plastic cap having a top wall portion, an internally threaded annular skirt portion, and an inwardly extending, annular liner-retaining lip; depositing a quantity of moldable plastic in said cap; and forming a liner including a generally inwardly facing sealing surface with said moldable plastic so that said moldable plastic flow against said lip and said lip retains said liner within said cap.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
The process for making a closure in accordance with claim 1, wherein said liner forming step includes advancing a liner-forming plunger into said cap to compress said moldable plastic to form said liner while restraining the flow of the moldable plastic between said plunger and said annular lip.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
The process for making a closure in accordance with claim 2, and advancing a lip-engaging sleeve into said cap coaxially with said liner-forming plunger so that said sleeve engages said lip to restrain the flow of said moldable plastic between said plunger and said lip.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process for making a closure in accordance with claim 3, and stretching said cap during said liner-forming step to provide sufficient clearance for said lip-engaging sleeve.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process for making a closure in accordance with claim 1, wherein said liner-retaining lip is formed with a non-horizontal surface generally facing said top wall portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process for making a closure in accordance with claim 5, and forming a plurality of circumferentially spaced reinforcing gussets integral with said annular lip.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The process for making a closure in accordance with claims 1, 3, or 6, and forming at least one liner-engaging projection integral with said top wall portion for retaining said liner within said cap.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
The process for making a closure in accordance with claim 7, wherein said projection forming step includes forming a plurality of said projections integrally with said top wall portion for cooperating with said lip to retain said liner within said cap.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
139 words
A process for making an internally threaded plastic closure, comprising the steps of: providing a female mold and a male mold, said male mold including an outer sleeve and a male plunger coaxially disposed within said outer sleeve; providing said female mold and said outer sleeve with respective frusto-conical mating surfaces; placing a quantity of moldable plastic in said female mold; relatively moving said female mold and said outer sleeve so that said respective mating surfaces are moved into engagement with each other; moving said male plunger within said outer sleeve and into said female mold to compress said plastic to form said closure; disengaging said female mold and said outer sleeve from each other; and moving said outer sleeve and male plunger relative to each other so that said outer sleeve removes said closure from said male plunger.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
139 words
A process for making an internally threaded plastic closure, comprising the steps of: providing a female mold and a male mold, said male mold including an outer sleeve and a male plunger coaxially disposed within said outer sleeve; providing said female mold and said outer sleeve with respective frusto-conical mating surfaces; placing a quantity of moldable plastic in said female mold; relatively moving said female mold and said outer sleeve so that said respective mating surfaces are moved into engagement with each other; moving said male plunger within said outer sleeve and into said female mold to compress said plastic to form said closure; disengaging said female mold and said outer sleeve from each other; and moving said outer sleeve and male plunger relative to each other so that said outer sleeve removes said closure from said male plunger.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
The process for making a closure in accordance with claim 9, and accommodating variations in said quantity of moldable plastic by limiting the maximum molding pressure during compression of said plastic.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
The process for making a closure in accordance with claim 10, wherein during compression of said plastic, said plastic is first subjected to relatively high pressure and subsequently subjected to relatively low pressure.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
The process for making a closure in accordance with claim 9, and forming a sealing liner in said closure by depositing a quantity of liner-forming plastic in said closure and subjecting said liner-forming plastic to compression for forming said liner.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
38 words
A process for making a closure in accordance with claim 9, including forming liner-retaining lip means extending inwardly of an annular skirt portion of said plastic closure in spaced relation to a top wall portion of said closure.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
94 words
A process for making a composite closure for a container, comprising the steps of: compression molding a plastic cap having a top wall portion, an annular skirt portion, an internal thread formation on said skirt portion, and an inwardly extending annular lip spaced from said top wall portion and defining an annular recess therewith; depositing a quantity of liner-forming plastic on the inner surface of said top wall portion; and compressing said liner-forming plastic with plunger means to cause said plastic to flow into said annular recess to form a liner within said cap.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
94 words
A process for making a composite closure for a container, comprising the steps of: compression molding a plastic cap having a top wall portion, an annular skirt portion, an internal thread formation on said skirt portion, and an inwardly extending annular lip spaced from said top wall portion and defining an annular recess therewith; depositing a quantity of liner-forming plastic on the inner surface of said top wall portion; and compressing said liner-forming plastic with plunger means to cause said plastic to flow into said annular recess to form a liner within said cap.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
37 words
A process for making a closure in accordance with claim 14, wherein molding of said plastic cap includes forming at least one liner-engaging projection integral with said top wall portion for retaining said liner within said cap.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
47 words
A process for making a closure in accordance with claim 15, including forming a plurality of said liner-engaging projections in circumferentially spaced relation, said projections being at least partially disposed within said annular recess for cooperation with said annular lip for retaining said liner within said cap.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
57 words
A process for making a closure in accordance with claims 14 or 16, and forming a pilfer band detachably connected to said annular skirt portion including a plurality of circumferentially spaced relatively flexible wings adapted to engage said container during removal of said closure therefrom for at least partially detaching said pilfer band from said skirt portion.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
55 words
A process for making a closure in accordance with claim 17, wherein said pilfer band is formed integrally with said skirt portion during said compression molding step, and the closure is thereafter scored to distinguish the pilfer band from the skirt portion to at least partially detachably connect the pilfer band to the skirt portion.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
A process for making a closure in accordance with claim 18, wherein said closure is scored prior to formation of said liner.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
A process for making a closure in accordance with claim 18, wherein said liner is formed prior to scoring of said closure.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
93 words
A process for making a closure for a container, comprising the steps of: compression molding a plastic cap having a top wall portion and an annular skirt portion; and forming a pilfer band having an annular band portion at least partially detachably connected to said skirt portion and including a plurality of relatively flexible projections integral with said band portion, said projections being positioned to extend inwardly of said band portion for engaging said container during removal of said closure therefrom for at least partially detaching said pilfer band from said annular skirt.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
93 words
A process for making a closure for a container, comprising the steps of: compression molding a plastic cap having a top wall portion and an annular skirt portion; and forming a pilfer band having an annular band portion at least partially detachably connected to said skirt portion and including a plurality of relatively flexible projections integral with said band portion, said projections being positioned to extend inwardly of said band portion for engaging said container during removal of said closure therefrom for at least partially detaching said pilfer band from said annular skirt.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
27 words
A process for making a closure in accordance with claim 21, including forming said projections at an acute angle with respect to the axis of said closure.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
38 words
A process for making a closure in accordance with claim 22, including forming said projections within a mold portion, and relatively rotating said mold portion and said plastic cap during removal of said projections from said mold portion.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
31 words
A process for making a closure in accordance with claim 21, including reorienting said flexible projections after removal of said closure from a mold assembly within which said closure is formed.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
52 words
A process for making a closure in accordance with claim 24, wherein said projections are each moved in a first direction during removal from said mold assembly from the orientation in which each is initially formed, said projections being reoriented by movement of each in a second direction opposite said first direction.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
25 words
A process for making a closure in accordance with claim 25, wherein said projections are reoriented by insertion of a projection-engaging mandrel into said closure.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
38 words
A process for making a closure in accordance with claim 26, wherein said projections are reoriented by engagement of a sleeve positioned coaxially about said mandrel with said projections prior to engagement of said mandrel with said projections.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
55 words
A process for making a closure in accordance with claim 21, detachably connecting said pilfer band to said annular skirt portion by forming said pilfer band integrally with said annular skirt, and scoring said closure so that said band portion is detachably connected to at least a portion of said skirt portion by frangible means.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
47 words
A process for making a closure in accordance with claim 28, and forming said closure with a plurality of ribs integral with said skirt portion and said band portion so that during said scoring at least some of said ribs are scored to provide said frangible means.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
46 words
A process for making a closure in accordance with claim 29, and supporting the inside of said closure during said scoring by providing another plurality of ribs integral with said skirt portion which are adapted to engage a mandrel positioned within said closure during said scoring.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
55 words
A process for making a closure in accordance with claim 30, and reorienting said projections with said mandrel as it is inserted into said closure by moving each projection in a direction opposite to the direction each projection is moved as said closure in removed from a mold assembly in which said closure is formed.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
36 words
A process for making a closure in accordance with claims 21 or 29, and forming a sealing liner within said plastic cap by depositing liner-forming plastic in said cap and forming a liner with said plastic.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
40 words
A process for making a closure in accordance with claim 22, including forming said projections so that said projections are dimensioned to interferingly engage a portion of an associated container disposed immediately below a locking ring portion of the container.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
123 words
A process for making a composite closure for a container, comprising the steps of: compression molding a plastic cap having a top wall portion, an integral annular skirt portion, an internal thread formation on said skirt portion adapted to cooperate with a like thread formation on said container, an inwardly extending annular lip spaced from said top wall portion and defining an annular recess therewith, and a plurality of liner-engaging projections integral with said top wall portion; depositing a quantity of moldable, liner-forming plastic in said cap; and compression molding said moldable plastic so that said plastic flows into said annular recess to form a sealing liner in said cap, said lip and said projections cooperating to retain said liner within said cap.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
123 words
A process for making a composite closure for a container, comprising the steps of: compression molding a plastic cap having a top wall portion, an integral annular skirt portion, an internal thread formation on said skirt portion adapted to cooperate with a like thread formation on said container, an inwardly extending annular lip spaced from said top wall portion and defining an annular recess therewith, and a plurality of liner-engaging projections integral with said top wall portion; depositing a quantity of moldable, liner-forming plastic in said cap; and compression molding said moldable plastic so that said plastic flows into said annular recess to form a sealing liner in said cap, said lip and said projections cooperating to retain said liner within said cap.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
96 words
A process for making a closure in accordance with claim 34, and forming a pilfer band at least partially detachably connected to said annular skirt having a band portion at least partially detachably connected to said skirt portion and a plurality of circumferentially spaced, relatively flexible wings integral with said band portion, including forming said wings at an acute angle with respect to the axis of said closure so that said wings are adapted to engage said container during removal of said closure therefrom for at least partially detaching said pilfer band from said skirt portion.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
90 words
A process for making a closure in accordance with claim 35, and at least partially detachably connecting said pilfer band to said skirt portion by forming a plurality of internal ribs each extending between and integral with said band portion and said skirt portion, and scoring said closure to distinguish said band portion and said skirt portion from each other and to partially cut at least some of said ribs so that at least some of said ribs are frangible and detachably connect said band portion to said skirt portion.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
74 words
The process for making a closure in accordance with claim 34, including forming said sealing liner with a disc-shaped configuration including a relatively thick annular sealing bead portion positioned adjacent to said annular lip, said plastic cap being formed with the inside surface of said top wall portion being substantially flat except for said plurality of liner-engaging projections positioned in circumferentially spaced relation for engagement with the annular sealing bead portion of said liner.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
83 words
An apparatus for making a composite closure for a container, comprising: molding means for forming a plastic cap having a top wall portion, an internally threaded annular skirt portion, and an inwardly extending, annular liner-retaining lip; means for depositing a quantity of moldable plastic in said cap; and means for forming a sealing liner including a generally inwardly facing sealing surface with said moldable plastic so that said moldable plastic flows against said lip and said lip retains the liner within said cap.
Claim 44
Independent Claim
83 words
An apparatus for making a composite closure for a container, comprising: molding means for forming a plastic cap having a top wall portion, an internally threaded annular skirt portion, and an inwardly extending, annular liner-retaining lip; means for depositing a quantity of moldable plastic in said cap; and means for forming a sealing liner including a generally inwardly facing sealing surface with said moldable plastic so that said moldable plastic flows against said lip and said lip retains the liner within said cap.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus in accordance with claim 38, wherein said liner forming means comprises a liner-forming plunger adapted to be advanced into said cap to compress said moldable plastic to form said liner, and means adapted to engage said annular lip while said moldable plastic is compressed.
Claim 46
Independent Claim
33 words
The apparatus in accordance with claims 38 or 39, wherein said molding means includes means for forming a plurality of circumferentially spaced gussets integral with said annular lip for reinforcing said annular lip.
Claim 47
Independent Claim
28 words
The apparatus in accordance with claims 38 or 39, wherein said molding means includes means for forming at least one liner-engaging projection integral with said top wall portion.
Claim 48
Independent Claim
61 words
The apparatus in accordance with claims 38 or 39, wherein said molding means includes means for forming a plurality of circumferentially spaced liner-engaging projections in association with said lip, said projections being at least partially disposed within an annular recess defined between said lip and said top wall portion for cooperating with said lip to retain said liner within said cap.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus in accordance with claim 38, including means for forming a pilfer band at least partially detachably connected to said skirt portion.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
93 words
The apparatus in accordance with claim 43, wherein said pilfer band forming means includes means for forming a pilfer band having a band portion integral with said annular skirt and a plurality of relatively flexible projections extending inwardly of said band portion integrally therewith, and means for forming at least one frangible connection between said skirt portion and said band portion, said flexible projections being adapted to engage said container during removal of said closure therefrom for at least partially detaching said pilfer band from said cap by fracture of said frangible connection.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
66 words
The apparatus in accordance with claim 44, wherein said connection forming means comprises means for forming a plurality of internal ribs extending between and integral with said band portion and said skirt portion, and means for scoring said closure to at least partially distinguish said band portion from said skirt portion and to partially cut at least one of said ribs to provide said frangible connection.
Claim 52
Independent Claim
25 words
The apparatus in accordance with claims 43, 44, or 45, and means for forming at least one liner-engaging projection integral with said top wall portion.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
121 words
A process for making a closure for a container, comprising the steps of: forming a plastic cap having a top wall portion and an annular skirt portion; forming a pilfer band having an annular band portion at least partially detachably connected to said skirt portion and including a plurality of relatively flexible, inwardly extending projections integral with said band portion, said projections being adapted to engage said container during removal of said closure therefrom for at least partially detaching said pilfer band from said annular skirt; forming said projections at an angle with respect to the axis of said closure; and forming said projections within a rotatable mold portion so that said mold portion rotates during removal of said projections therefrom.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
121 words
A process for making a closure for a container, comprising the steps of: forming a plastic cap having a top wall portion and an annular skirt portion; forming a pilfer band having an annular band portion at least partially detachably connected to said skirt portion and including a plurality of relatively flexible, inwardly extending projections integral with said band portion, said projections being adapted to engage said container during removal of said closure therefrom for at least partially detaching said pilfer band from said annular skirt; forming said projections at an angle with respect to the axis of said closure; and forming said projections within a rotatable mold portion so that said mold portion rotates during removal of said projections therefrom.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
31 words
A process for making a closure in accordance with claim 47, including reorienting said flexible projections after removal of said closure from a mold assembly within which said closure is formed.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
52 words
A process for making a closure in accordance with claim 48, wherein said projections are each moved in a first direction during removal from said mold assembly from the orientation in which each is initially formed, said projections being reoriented by movement of each in a second direction opposite said first direction.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
25 words
A process for making a closure in accordance with claim 49, wherein said projections are reoriented by insertion of a projection-engaging mandrel into said closure.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
38 words
A process for making a closure in accordance with claim 50, wherein said projections are reoriented by engagement of a sleeve positioned coaxially about said mandrel with said projections prior to engagement of said mandrel with said projections.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
243 words
A process for making a closure for a container, comprising the steps of: forming a plastic cap having a top wall portion and an annular skirt portion; forming a pilfer band having an annular band portion at least partially detachably connected to said skirt portion and including a plurality of relatively flexible, inwardly extending projections integral with said band portion, said projections being adapted to engage said container during removal of said closure therefrom for at least partially detaching said pilfer band from said annular skirt; detachably connecting said pilfer band to said annular skirt portion by forming said pilfer band integrally with said annular skirt, and scoring said closure so that said band portion is detachably connected to at least a portion of said skirt portion by frangible means; forming said closure with a plurality of ribs integral with said skirt portion and said band portion so that during said scoring at least some of said ribs are scored to provide said frangible means; supporting the inside of said closure during said scoring by providing another plurality of ribs integral with said skirt portion which are adapted to engage a mandrel positioned within said closure during said scoring; and reorienting said projections with said mandrel as it is inserted into said closure by moving each projection in a direction opposite to the direction each projection is moved as said closure is removed from a mold assembly in which said closure is formed.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
243 words
A process for making a closure for a container, comprising the steps of: forming a plastic cap having a top wall portion and an annular skirt portion; forming a pilfer band having an annular band portion at least partially detachably connected to said skirt portion and including a plurality of relatively flexible, inwardly extending projections integral with said band portion, said projections being adapted to engage said container during removal of said closure therefrom for at least partially detaching said pilfer band from said annular skirt; detachably connecting said pilfer band to said annular skirt portion by forming said pilfer band integrally with said annular skirt, and scoring said closure so that said band portion is detachably connected to at least a portion of said skirt portion by frangible means; forming said closure with a plurality of ribs integral with said skirt portion and said band portion so that during said scoring at least some of said ribs are scored to provide said frangible means; supporting the inside of said closure during said scoring by providing another plurality of ribs integral with said skirt portion which are adapted to engage a mandrel positioned within said closure during said scoring; and reorienting said projections with said mandrel as it is inserted into said closure by moving each projection in a direction opposite to the direction each projection is moved as said closure is removed from a mold assembly in which said closure is formed.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-02-05 | 1988-08-06 | 1989-02-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-02-05 | 1992-08-06 | 1993-02-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-02-05 | 1996-08-06 | 1997-02-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |