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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
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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 23:28
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.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3074579A Cited
US3677430A Cited
US3844439A Cited
US4090631A Cited
GB1583024A Cited
US4177905A Cited
US4346812A Cited
US4383620A Cited
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US4540102A Cited
US4570811A Cited

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

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