US4844273A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Closure with enhanced sealing
Assignee: Silgan Plastic Food Containers Corp
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Filing: 1988-09-06
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Granted: 1989-07-04
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Expires: 2008-09-06
Abstract
Abstract A closure having an enhanced seal for withstanding distortion of the closure and the container to which it is attached during sterilization. An inner plug cooperates with an outer bead to capture the container neck lip and maintain a separate resilient hermetic seal in position between the closure top and the container neck lip.
Inventors
- 👤 H. Gene Hawkins
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 05:23
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D41/00; B65D41/02; B65D41/04; B65D41/0435; B65D41/0442; B65D41/0407; B65D41/0414
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
171 words
A plastic closure particularly adapted for maintaining a sealing relationship with the lip of a container neck when subjected to sterilization temperatures, comprising: a cap having a top and inner and outer coaxial skirts depending therefrom, said outer skirt having means for attachment to said container neck and said inner skirt providing a plug seal having an interference fit with said container neck lip; a bead projecting inwardly from said outer skirt above said attachment means for peripheral sealing contact with said container neck lip; and an elastic sealing member separate from and of a material different than said cap located between said inner and outer skirts adapted to be compressed between said cap top and said container neck lip thereby maintaining a seal by capturing and maintaining a rigid structure on both sides of the container neck lip and maintaining an elastic sealing member in compression to maintain a hermetic seal between the container neck lip and the cap top during the distortion that takes place in the sterilization process.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
171 words
A plastic closure particularly adapted for maintaining a sealing relationship with the lip of a container neck when subjected to sterilization temperatures, comprising: a cap having a top and inner and outer coaxial skirts depending therefrom, said outer skirt having means for attachment to said container neck and said inner skirt providing a plug seal having an interference fit with said container neck lip; a bead projecting inwardly from said outer skirt above said attachment means for peripheral sealing contact with said container neck lip; and an elastic sealing member separate from and of a material different than said cap located between said inner and outer skirts adapted to be compressed between said cap top and said container neck lip thereby maintaining a seal by capturing and maintaining a rigid structure on both sides of the container neck lip and maintaining an elastic sealing member in compression to maintain a hermetic seal between the container neck lip and the cap top during the distortion that takes place in the sterilization process.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The closure according to claim 1 wherein said means for attachment includes internal threads on said outer skirt which cooperate with external threads on said container neck.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
The closure according to claim 1 wherein said bead is continuous to maintain a seal with the outside of the container neck lip, and the interference fit of the inner skirt maintains a seal with the inside of the container lip.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
167 words
A plastic closure particularly adapted for maintaining a sealing relationship with the lip of a container neck when subjected to sterilization temperatures, comprising: a cap having a top and inner and outer coaxial skirts depending therefrom, said outer skirt having means for attachment to said container neck and said inner skirt providing a plug seal having an interference fit with said container neck lip; a bead projecting inwardly from said outer skirt above said attachment means for peripheral sealing contact with said container neck lip; and an elastic sealing member in the form of an O-ring located between said inner and outer skirts adapted to be compressed between said cap top and said container neck lip thereby maintaining a seal by capturing and maintaining a rigid structure on both sides of the container neck lip and maintaining an elastic sealing member in compression to maintain a hermetic seal between the container neck lip and the cap top during the distortion that takes place in the sterilization process.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
167 words
A plastic closure particularly adapted for maintaining a sealing relationship with the lip of a container neck when subjected to sterilization temperatures, comprising: a cap having a top and inner and outer coaxial skirts depending therefrom, said outer skirt having means for attachment to said container neck and said inner skirt providing a plug seal having an interference fit with said container neck lip; a bead projecting inwardly from said outer skirt above said attachment means for peripheral sealing contact with said container neck lip; and an elastic sealing member in the form of an O-ring located between said inner and outer skirts adapted to be compressed between said cap top and said container neck lip thereby maintaining a seal by capturing and maintaining a rigid structure on both sides of the container neck lip and maintaining an elastic sealing member in compression to maintain a hermetic seal between the container neck lip and the cap top during the distortion that takes place in the sterilization process.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
167 words
A plastic closure particularly adapted for maintaining a sealing relationship with the lip of a container neck when subjected to sterilization temperatures, comprising: a cap having a top and inner and outer coaxial skirts depending therefrom, said outer skirt having means for attachment to said container neck and said inner skirt providing a plug seal having an interference fit with said container neck lip; a bead projecting inwardly from outer skirt above said attachment means for peripheral sealing contact with said container neck lip; and an elastic sealing member in form of flowed in gasket material located between said inner and outer skirts adapted to be compressed between said cap top and said container neck lip thereby maintaining a seal by capturing and maintaining a rigid structure on both sides of the container neck lip and maintaining an elastic sealing member in compression to maintain a hermetic seal between the container neck lip and the cap top during the distortion that takes place in the sterilization process.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
167 words
A plastic closure particularly adapted for maintaining a sealing relationship with the lip of a container neck when subjected to sterilization temperatures, comprising: a cap having a top and inner and outer coaxial skirts depending therefrom, said outer skirt having means for attachment to said container neck and said inner skirt providing a plug seal having an interference fit with said container neck lip; a bead projecting inwardly from outer skirt above said attachment means for peripheral sealing contact with said container neck lip; and an elastic sealing member in form of flowed in gasket material located between said inner and outer skirts adapted to be compressed between said cap top and said container neck lip thereby maintaining a seal by capturing and maintaining a rigid structure on both sides of the container neck lip and maintaining an elastic sealing member in compression to maintain a hermetic seal between the container neck lip and the cap top during the distortion that takes place in the sterilization process.
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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) | 1992-07-03 | 1993-01-02 | 1993-07-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-07-03 | 1997-01-02 | 1997-07-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-07-03 | 2001-01-02 | 2001-07-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |