US4674642A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pressure-indicative container closure
Assignee: TBL Development Corp
•
Filing: 1985-08-19
•
Granted: 1987-06-23
•
Expires: 2005-08-19
Abstract
Abstract A container closure includes liner adapted to seal a container having contents under vacuum pressure, and a closure member securing the liner thereto about the liner periphery. An interior extent of the liner is thereby permitted movement relative to the closure member, i.e., is not secured to the closure member. At the point of container initial closure, the liner interior extent is withdrawn under vacuum pressure from its theretofore normal self-biased disposition adjacent the closure member to within the upper neck of the container and is deformed to the extent that initial container pressurization occasions. Upon loss of such initial vacuum pressure, the liner interior extent moves into its normal self-biased disposition adjacent the closure member. Discernment of the disposition of the liner interior extent relative to the closure member is thus indicative of whether the initial vacuum pressure is being maintained or has been lost.
Inventors
- 👤 Edward J. Towns
- 👤 Edward M. Brown
- 👤 William M. Lester
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 01:41
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C45/00; B29C45/16; B65; B65D; B65D41/00; B65D41/02; B65D41/04; B65D41/0435; B65D79/00; B65D79/005; B65D79/0087; B29L; B29L2031/00; B29L2031/56; B29L2031/565; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S264/00; Y10S264/76
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
114 words
A container closure comprising a closure member having a top panel and a vacuum pressure-responsive liner supported at its periphery by said closure member and including extent interiorly of said liner periphery and normally disposed adjacent said closure member top panel but moveable away from said closure member top panel under the influence of vacuum pressure in said closure, said liner including a projection thereon, said closure member defining a passage therethrough for residence of said projection, said projection being configured to project outwardly of said passage in such normal disposition of said liner and to nest inwardly of said passage upon such movement of said liner interior extent away from said closure member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
114 words
A container closure comprising a closure member having a top panel and a vacuum pressure-responsive liner supported at its periphery by said closure member and including extent interiorly of said liner periphery and normally disposed adjacent said closure member top panel but moveable away from said closure member top panel under the influence of vacuum pressure in said closure, said liner including a projection thereon, said closure member defining a passage therethrough for residence of said projection, said projection being configured to project outwardly of said passage in such normal disposition of said liner and to nest inwardly of said passage upon such movement of said liner interior extent away from said closure member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The invention claimed in claim 1 wherein said closure member is molded upon said liner, said closure member and said liner being constituted by mutually nonadhering materials.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
The invention claimed in claim 2 wherein said closure member and said liner include respective top panels and depending skirts, such closure member skirt including a peripheral interior lip providing a detent engaging such liner skirt and retaining said liner in said closure member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The invention claimed in claim 3 wherein said closure member and said liner are comprised of respective diverse plastics.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The invention claimed in claim 1 wherein said liner defines structure for retention of said liner upon a forming tool in the course of such molding of said closure member thereon.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The invention claimed in claim 1 wherein said liner includes a container sealing portion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
The invention claimed in claim 1 wherein said liner defines structure for retention of said liner upon a forming tool in the course of such molding of said closure member thereon, such structure being inclusive of a container sealing portion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The invention claimed in claim 1 wherein said closure member and said liner are of respectively different colors.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
135 words
A molded container closure comprising a closure member and a container vacuum pressure-responsive liner constituted by respective non-adhering materials, said closure member being molded on said liner, having a top panel and defining a detent for mechanical retention of the periphery of said liner, said liner including extent interiorly of said liner periphery and normally disposed adjacent said closure member top panel but moveable away from said closure member top panel under the influence of vacuum pressure in said closure, said liner including a projection thereon, said closure member defining a passage therethrough for residence of said projection, said projection being configured to project outwardly of said passage in such normal disposition of said liner and to nest inwardly of said passage upon such movement of said liner interior extent away from said closure member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
135 words
A molded container closure comprising a closure member and a container vacuum pressure-responsive liner constituted by respective non-adhering materials, said closure member being molded on said liner, having a top panel and defining a detent for mechanical retention of the periphery of said liner, said liner including extent interiorly of said liner periphery and normally disposed adjacent said closure member top panel but moveable away from said closure member top panel under the influence of vacuum pressure in said closure, said liner including a projection thereon, said closure member defining a passage therethrough for residence of said projection, said projection being configured to project outwardly of said passage in such normal disposition of said liner and to nest inwardly of said passage upon such movement of said liner interior extent away from said closure member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
46 words
The invention claimed in claim 9 wherein said closure member and said liner include respective top panels and depending skirts, such closure member skirt including a peripheral interior lip engaging such liner skirt and retaining said liner in said closure member, said lip constituting said detent.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The invention claimed in claim 9 wherein said closure member and said liner are comprised of respective diverse plastics.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The invention claimed in claim 9 wherein said liner defines structure for retention of said liner upon a forming tool in the course of such molding of said closure member thereon.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The invention claimed in claim 9 wherein said liner includes a container sealing portion.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
40 words
The invention claimed in claim 9 wherein said liner defines structure for retention of said liner upon a forming tool in the course of such molding of said closure member thereon, such structure being inclusive of a container sealing portion.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The invention claimed in claim 9 wherein said closure member and said liner are of respectively different colors.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2068389A
Cited
US2458360A
Cited
US2582489A
Cited
US2634014A
Cited
US3053407A
Cited
GB1042571A
Cited
GB1018213A
Cited
US3458077A
Cited
US3917100A
Cited
US4489844A
Cited
US4442946A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-06-22 | 1990-12-22 | 1991-06-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-06-22 | 1994-12-22 | 1995-06-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-06-22 | 1998-12-22 | 1999-06-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |