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US4521366A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method for closing and sealing plastic tubing using a hot die and a rotating cold die

Assignee: Baxter International Inc
•
Filing: 1982-06-24
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Granted: 1985-06-04
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Expires: 2002-06-24
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Abstract

Abstract Container bags for intravenous solution of one-piece, blow-molded construction typically have a fill port or tube and at least an administration port in one end of the container bag. A method, an apparatus and an article of manufacture are provided where a fill port or tube on a polyolefin or other plastic container bag is sealed into a dome shape where the solid wall, dome-shaped material closing the port or tube effects the seal. The method provides for sealing the open end of a thermoplastic tube or port by using respectively hot and cold dies. Resistance of the tube or port to forming a seal at adjoining interfaces is overcome by rotating at least one of the dies. Disruption and mixing of the plastic at the interface or closure line is accomplished, forming a substantially homogenous mass which seals the port opening.

Inventors

  • 👤 Joe Mason
  • 👤 Hermann F. Eckert

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-04 02:22
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61J; A61J1/00; A61J1/05; A61J1/10; B; B29; B29C; B29C57/00; B29C57/10; B29C65/00; B29C65/02; B29C65/06; B29C65/0672; B29C66/00; B29C66/50; B29C66/51; B29C66/53; B29C66/532; B29C66/5326; B29C66/53261; B29C66/53262; B29C66/80; B29C66/81; B29C66/814; B29C66/8141; B29C66/81411; B29C66/81421; B29C66/81423; B29C66/83; B29C66/832; B29C66/8322; B29C35/00; B29C35/02; B29C35/0255; B29C66/70; B29C66/71; B29C66/90; B29C66/91; B29C66/914; B29C66/9141; B29C66/91421; B29C66/93; B29C66/934; B29C66/93451; B29L; B29L2031/00; B29L2031/712; B29L2031/7148

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim 152 words
A method for sealing the open end of a plastic tube comprising the steps of: inserting the open end of the tube into the cavity of a hot die to heat and soften the plastic while simultaneously deforming the tube walls inwardly until the walls join along a closure line, thereby forming a closed tube end; withdrawing the heated, softened closed tube end from the hot die; inserting the heated, softened closed tube end into the cavity of a cold die to cool the closed tube end; while the closed tube end is being cooled, rotating the cold die about the closed tube end to disrupt the closure line and interfuse the joined tube walls along the closure line to form a homogeneous plastic mass sealing the closed tube end; and withdrawing the closed and sealed tube end from the cold die when the closed and sealed tube end has substantially hardened.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 152 words
A method for sealing the open end of a plastic tube comprising the steps of: inserting the open end of the tube into the cavity of a hot die to heat and soften the plastic while simultaneously deforming the tube walls inwardly until the walls join along a closure line, thereby forming a closed tube end; withdrawing the heated, softened closed tube end from the hot die; inserting the heated, softened closed tube end into the cavity of a cold die to cool the closed tube end; while the closed tube end is being cooled, rotating the cold die about the closed tube end to disrupt the closure line and interfuse the joined tube walls along the closure line to form a homogeneous plastic mass sealing the closed tube end; and withdrawing the closed and sealed tube end from the cold die when the closed and sealed tube end has substantially hardened.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 40 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the temperature of the hot die is within the range of 400° F. to 500° F., and the temperature of the cold die is within the range of 50° F. to 150° F.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 17 words
A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the plastic tube is made of a polyolefin.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2169315A Cited
US2413449A Cited
US2419864A Cited
US2705346A Cited
US3045287A Cited
US3288898A Cited
US3949033A Cited
US3905368A Cited
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US4111324A Cited
US4127208A Cited
US4288478A Cited
GB2042664A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1988-06-03 1988-12-03 1989-06-04 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1992-06-03 1992-12-03 1993-06-04 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1996-06-03 1996-12-03 1997-06-04 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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