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US4674642A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Pressure-indicative container closure

Assignee: TBL Development Corp
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Filing: 1985-08-19
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Granted: 1987-06-23
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Expires: 2005-08-19
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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 At the point of container initial closure, the liner interior extent is withdrawn under vacuum pressure from its theretofore normal self-biased disposition adjacent the closure member to within the upper neck of the container and is deformed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 13:52
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)

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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) 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

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