Trident interlocking closure profile configuration

Claim 2

A closure fastening device comprising a first closure element and a second closure element; said first closure element having a general omega shape, comprising an apex portion and a profile portion extending from said apex portion, said profile portion comprising two spaced apart inwardly curved arm portions terminating in two outwardly facing curvilinear hook portions; said second closure element having a general trident shape, comprising in apex portion and a profile portion extending in a generally perpendicular direction. From said apex portion, said profile portion comprising a first arm portion, a second arm portion, and a third arm portion, said first arm portion, said second arm portion, and said third arm portion being generally parallel to and spaced apart from each other, said first arm portion comprising a base portion curving generally outwardly, a middle portion curving generally inwardly, and a top portion curving inwardly forming a hook portion and then terminating in an outwardly extending hook projection portion and an inwardly extending hook projection portion which is larger than said outwardly extending hook projection portion; said second arm portion comprising a generally straight structure extending perpendicularly from said apex portion, said third arm portion comprising a base portion curving generally outwardly, a middle portion curving generally inwardly, and a top portion curving generally outwardly prior to terminating in an outwardly extending funnel portion, said first closure element and said second closure element forming an interlocked closure fastening device when they are occluded together.

Claim 3

A closure fastening device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said hook portion of said first arm portion of said second closure element comprises an outwardly extending, generally rounded, hook projection portion, and an inwardly extending, generally rounded hook projection portion.

Claim 4

A closure fastening device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said second arm portion of said second closure element has a generally rounded configuration at its extremity.

Claim 5

A closure fastening device in accordance with claim 3 wherein said second arm portion has at least one enlarged portion located anterior to said extremity.

Claim 6

A closure fastening device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said top portion of said third arm portion of said second closure element has a generally rounded configuration at its extremity.

Claim 7

A closure fastening device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first closure element and said second closure element are adapted to disengage and engage each other by means of a rotating action so as to form a straddling occlusion wherein said first arm portion and said third arm portion of said second closure element are positioned on the exterior side of, but in contact with, said first closure element, and wherein said second arm portion of said second closure element is positioned between said arm portions of said first closure element.

Claim 8

A closure fastening device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said apex portion of said second closure element has a generally straight line configuration.

Claim 9

A closure fastening device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said apex portion of said second closure element has a slightly arcuate configuration.

Claim 10

A closure fastening device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first closure element and said second closure element are made from thermoplastic materials.

Claim 11

A closure fastening device in accordance with claim 9 wherein said thermoplastic materials are selected from the group consisting of polyolefins and polyamides.

Claim 12

A closure fastening device in accordance with claim 10 wherein said polyolefins are selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, and polybutene.

Claim 13

A closure fastening device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first closure element and said second closure element are made from a mixture of polypropylene and ethylene-propylene-diene monomer elastomer, or a mixture of polypropylene and ethylene-propylene copolymer elastomer.

Claim 14

A closure fastening device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first closure element and said second closure element are made from a resin blend selected from (a) a poly(propylene-ethylene) copolymer and a polypropylene homopolymer, (b) a poly(propylene-ethylene) copolymer and a polybutene copolymer, (c) a poly(propylene-ethylene) copolymer and an elastomer, and (d) a poly(propylene-ethylene) copolymer and an ethylene-methyl acrylate copolymer.

Claim 15

A closure fastening device in accordance with claim 13 wherein said resin blend contains a slip agent.

Claim 16

A closure fastening device in accordance with claim 1 including a flange portion attached to each of said first closure element and said second closure element.

Claim 17

A closure fastening device in accordance with claim 15 wherein said flange portion is made from a thermoplastic material selected from the group consisting of a polypropylene homopolymer, a poly-1-butene copolymer, an ethylene-propylenediene monomer elastomer, an ethylene-methyl acrylate copolymer, and mixtures thereof.

Claim 18

A closure fastening device in accordance with claim 15 wherein said closure elements and said flange portion have been coextruded.

Claim 19

A closure fastening device in accordance with claim 1 attached to a container.

Claim 20

A closure fastening device in accordance with claim 18 wherein said closure fastening device in a relaxed, occluded position forms a leak-proof seal at two contact points of said first closure element and said second closure element.

Claim 21

A closure fastening device in accordance with claim 18 wherein said closure fastening device in an occluded position under pressure forms a leak-proof seal at four contact points of said first closure element and said second closure element.

Claim 22

A closure fastening device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first closure element and said second closure element are made from a resin blend selected from: (a) a poly(propylene-ethylene) copolymer and a polypropylene homopolymer, (b) a poly(propylene-ethylene) copolymer and a polybutene copolymer, (c) a poly(propylene-ethylene) copolymer and an elastomer, and (d) a poly(propylene-ethylene) copolymer and an ethylene-methyl acrylate copolymer; and wherein said resin blend contains a slip agent.

Claim 23

A container comprising two sidewalls and a closure fastening device, said closure fastening device comprising a first closure element and a second closure element; said first closure element having a general omega shape, comprising an apex portion and a profile portion extending from said apex portion, said profile portion comprising two spaced apart inwardly curved arm portions terminating in two outwardly facing, curvilinear hook portions; said second closure element having a general trident shape, comprising an apex portion and a profile portion extending in a generally perpendicular direction From said apex portion, said profile portion comprising a first arm portion, a second arm portion, and a third arm portion, said first arm portion, said second arm portion, and said third arm portion being generally parallel to and spaced apart from each other, said first arm portion comprising a base portion curving generally outwardly, a middle portion curving generally inwardly, and a top portion curving inwardly forming a hook portion and then terminating in an outwardly extending hook projection portion and an inwardly extending hook projection portion which is larger than said outwardly extending hook portion; said second arm portion comprising a generally straight structure extending perpendicularly from said apex portion, said third arm portion comprising a base portion curving generally outwardly, a middle portion curving generally inwardly, and a top ortion curving generally outwardly prior to terminating in an outwardly extending funnel portion, said first closure element and said second closure element forming an interlocked closure fastening device when they are occluded together.

Claim 24

A container comprising two sidewalls and a closure fastening device, said closure fastening device comprising a first closure element and a second closure element; said first closure element having a general omega shape, comprising an apex portion and a profile portion extending from said apex portion, said profile portion comprising two spaced apart inwardly curved arm portions terminating in two outwardly facing, curvilinear hook portions; said second closure element having a general trident shape, comprising an apex portion and a profile portion extending in a generally perpendicular direction From said apex portion, said profile portion comprising a first arm portion, a second arm portion, and a third arm portion, said first arm portion, said second arm portion, and said third arm portion being generally parallel to and spaced apart from each other, said first arm portion comprising a base portion curving generally outwardly, a middle portion curving generally inwardly, and a top portion curving inwardly forming a hook portion and then terminating in an outwardly extending hook projection portion and an inwardly extending hook projection portion which is larger than said outwardly extending hook portion; said second arm portion comprising a generally straight structure extending perpendicularly from said apex portion, said third arm portion comprising a base portion curving generally outwardly, a middle portion curving generally inwardly, and a top ortion curving generally outwardly prior to terminating in an outwardly extending funnel portion, said first closure element and said second closure element forming an interlocked closure fastening device when they are occluded together.

Claim 25

A closure fastening device comprising a first closure element and a second closure element; said first closure element having a general omega shape, comprising an apex portion and a profile portion extending from said apex portion, said profile portion comprising two spaced apart inwardly curved arm portions terminating in two outwardly facing, curvilinear hook portions; said second closure element having a general trident shape, comprising an apex portion and a profile portion extending in a generally perpendicular direction from said apex portion, said profile portion comprising a first arm portion, a second arm portion, and a third arm portion, said first arm portion, said second arm portion, and said third arm portion being generally parallel to and spaced apart from each other, said first arm portion comprising a base portion curving generally outwardly, a middle portion curving generally inwardly, and a top portion curving inwardly forming a hook portion and then terminating in an outwardly extending hook projection portion and an inwardly extending hook projection portion which is larger than said outwardly extending hook projection portion; said second arm portion comprising a generally straight structure extending perpendicularly from said apex portion, said third arm portion comprising a base portion curving generally outwardly, a middle portion curving generally inwardly, and a top portion curving generally outwardly prior to terminating in an outwardly extending funnel portion, said first closure element and said second closure element forming an interlocked closure fastening device when they are occluded together, wherein said first closure element and said second closure element are adapted to disengage and engage each other by means of a rotating action so as to form a straddling occlusion wherein said first arm portion and said third arm portion of said second closure element are positioned on the exterior side of, but in contact with, said first closure element, and wherein said second arm portion of said second closure element is positioned between said arm portions of said first closure element.

Claim 26

A closure fastening device comprising a first closure element and a second closure element; said first closure element having a general omega shape, comprising an apex portion and a profile portion extending from said apex portion, said profile portion comprising two spaced apart inwardly curved arm portions terminating in two outwardly facing, curvilinear hook portions; said second closure element having a general trident shape, comprising an apex portion and a profile portion extending in a generally perpendicular direction from said apex portion, said profile portion comprising a first arm portion, a second arm portion, and a third arm portion, said first arm portion, said second arm portion, and said third arm portion being generally parallel to and spaced apart from each other, said first arm portion comprising a base portion curving generally outwardly, a middle portion curving generally inwardly, and a top portion curving inwardly forming a hook portion and then terminating in an outwardly extending hook projection portion and an inwardly extending hook projection portion which is larger than said outwardly extending hook projection portion; said second arm portion comprising a generally straight structure extending perpendicularly from said apex portion, said third arm portion comprising a base portion curving generally outwardly, a middle portion curving generally inwardly, and a top portion curving generally outwardly prior to terminating in an outwardly extending funnel portion, said first closure element and said second closure element forming an interlocked closure fastening device when they are occluded together, wherein said first closure element and said second closure element are adapted to disengage and engage each other by means of a rotating action so as to form a straddling occlusion wherein said first arm portion and said third arm portion of said second closure element are positioned on the exterior side of, but in contact with, said first closure element, and wherein said second arm portion of said second closure element is positioned between said arm portions of said first closure element.

Claim 27

A closure fastening device in accordance with claim 24 wherein said first closure element and said second closure element are made from a resin blend selected from: (a) a poly(propylene-ethylene) copolymer and a polypropylene homopolymer, (b) a poly(propylene-ethylene) copolymer and a polybutene copolymer, (c) a poly(propylene-ethylene) copolymer and an elastomer, and (d) a poly(propylene-ethylene) copolymer and an ethylene-methyl acrylate copolymer; and wherein said resin blend contains a slip agent.

Claim 28

A container comprising two sidewalls and a closure fastening device, said closure fastening device comprising a first closure element and a second closure element; said first closure element having a general omega shape, comprising an apex portion and a profile portion extending from said apex portion, said profile portion comprising two spaced apart inwardly curved arm portions terminating in two outwardly facing, curvilinear hook portions; said second closure element having a general trident shape, comprising an apex portion and a profile extending in a generally perpendicular direction from said apex portion, said profile portion comprising a first arm portion, a second arm portion, and a third arm portion, said first arm portion, said second arm portion, and said third arm portion being generally parallel to and spaced apart from each other, said first arm portion comprising a base portion curving generally outwardly, a middle portion curving generally inwardly, and a top portion curving inwardly forming a hook portion and then terminating in an outwardly extending hook projection portion and an inwardly extending hook projection portion which is larger than said outwardly extending hook portion; said second arm portion comprising a generally straight structure extending perpendicularly from said apex portion, said third arm portion comprising a base portion curving generally outwardly, a middle portion curving generally inwardly, and a top portion curving generally outwardly prior to terminating in an outwardly extending funnel portion, said first closure element and said second closure element forming an interlocked closure fastening device when they are occluded together, wherein said first closure element and said second closure element are adapted to disengage and engage each other by means of a rotating action so as to form a straddling occlusion wherein said first arm portion and said third arm portion of said second closure element are positioned on the exterior side of, but in contact with, said first closure element, and wherein said second arm portion of said second closure element is positioned between said arm portions of said first closure element.

Claim 29

A container comprising two sidewalls and a closure fastening device, said closure fastening device comprising a first closure element and a second closure element; said first closure element having a general omega shape, comprising an apex portion and a profile portion extending from said apex portion, said profile portion comprising two spaced apart inwardly curved arm portions terminating in two outwardly facing, curvilinear hook portions; said second closure element having a general trident shape, comprising an apex portion and a profile extending in a generally perpendicular direction from said apex portion, said profile portion comprising a first arm portion, a second arm portion, and a third arm portion, said first arm portion, said second arm portion, and said third arm portion being generally parallel to and spaced apart from each other, said first arm portion comprising a base portion curving generally outwardly, a middle portion curving generally inwardly, and a top portion curving inwardly forming a hook portion and then terminating in an outwardly extending hook projection portion and an inwardly extending hook projection portion which is larger than said outwardly extending hook portion; said second arm portion comprising a generally straight structure extending perpendicularly from said apex portion, said third arm portion comprising a base portion curving generally outwardly, a middle portion curving generally inwardly, and a top portion curving generally outwardly prior to terminating in an outwardly extending funnel portion, said first closure element and said second closure element forming an interlocked closure fastening device when they are occluded together, wherein said first closure element and said second closure element are adapted to disengage and engage each other by means of a rotating action so as to form a straddling occlusion wherein said first arm portion and said third arm portion of said second closure element are positioned on the exterior side of, but in contact with, said first closure element, and wherein said second arm portion of said second closure element is positioned between said arm portions of said first closure element.