US5048711A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Label indicator for screw thread closure and method of use
Assignee: Covidien LP
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Filing: 1990-06-28
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Granted: 1991-09-17
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Expires: 2010-06-28
Abstract
Abstract A container system and method for indicating the proper orientation of the closure of a container. The system comprises a container and rotatable closure, and a label applied in an overlapping relation to the closure and container. The label has an area which can be separated, and alignment indicators on the two segments of the label which are unaligned. In use, after the label has been applied, the closure is removed by unscrewing, breaking the label. Thereafter, when the closure is reapplied, the closure is overtightened to align the previously unaligned alignment indicators of the label to insure a leak-free containeer system after the closure has been reapplied.
Inventors
- 👤 Harvey S. Weiss
- 👤 Lawrence G. Ponsi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 21:14
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D41/00; B65D41/02; B65D41/04; B65D41/0471; B65D55/00; B65D55/02; B65D55/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
157 words
A method of indicating the proper orientation of a screw-thread closure of a container, comprising the steps of (a) initially applying the closure to the container, (b) selecting a label having a severable area, and having a first alignment indicator on one segment and a second alignment indicator on a second segment, said severable area being located between said segments and said indicators being unaligned with one another, (c) applying the label in an overlapping relation to said closure and said container such that the label adheres to both the container and the closure with the severable area being located at a junction of said closure and said container, (d) removing the closure and breaking the label at the severable area into said two segments, one segment adhering to the closure and the second segment adhering to the container, and (e) reapplying the closure to the container and overtightening the closure to align said previously unaligned indicators.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
157 words
A method of indicating the proper orientation of a screw-thread closure of a container, comprising the steps of (a) initially applying the closure to the container, (b) selecting a label having a severable area, and having a first alignment indicator on one segment and a second alignment indicator on a second segment, said severable area being located between said segments and said indicators being unaligned with one another, (c) applying the label in an overlapping relation to said closure and said container such that the label adheres to both the container and the closure with the severable area being located at a junction of said closure and said container, (d) removing the closure and breaking the label at the severable area into said two segments, one segment adhering to the closure and the second segment adhering to the container, and (e) reapplying the closure to the container and overtightening the closure to align said previously unaligned indicators.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method according to claim 1 in which said first alignment indicator is circumferentially offset from said second alignment indicator in method step (c) such as when method step (d) is begun, said first alignment indicator is displaced from said second alignment indicator.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 1 in which said severable area includes a score, and in which method step "d" includes breaking the label at said score.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
161 words
A method of indicating the proper orientation of a screw thread closure of a reclosed container, comprising the steps of: (a) selecting a container having a screw thread closure thereon and a label applied in an overlapping relation such that the label adheres to both the container and the closure with a severable area of the label being located at a junction of said closure and said container, the label further including a first alignment indicator on one segment and a second alignment indicator on a second segment, said severable area being located between said indicators and said indicators being offset from one another, (b) removing the closure and breaking the label at the severable area into said two segments, one segment adhering to the closure and the second segment adhering adhering to the closure and the second segment adhering to the container, and (c) reapplying the closure to the container and overtightening the closure to align said previously unaligned indicators.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
161 words
A method of indicating the proper orientation of a screw thread closure of a reclosed container, comprising the steps of: (a) selecting a container having a screw thread closure thereon and a label applied in an overlapping relation such that the label adheres to both the container and the closure with a severable area of the label being located at a junction of said closure and said container, the label further including a first alignment indicator on one segment and a second alignment indicator on a second segment, said severable area being located between said indicators and said indicators being offset from one another, (b) removing the closure and breaking the label at the severable area into said two segments, one segment adhering to the closure and the second segment adhering adhering to the closure and the second segment adhering to the container, and (c) reapplying the closure to the container and overtightening the closure to align said previously unaligned indicators.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method according to claim 4 in which said first alignment indicator is circumferentially offset from said second alignment indicator in method step (a) such that when method step (b) is begun, said first alignment indicator is displaced from said second alignment indicator.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 4 in which said severable area includes a score, and in which method step (b) includes breaking the label at said score.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
118 words
A container system for indicating the proper orientation of a screw thread closure on a container, comprising (a) a container having a screw thread closure thereon, (b) a label applied in an overlapping relation to said closure and said container, said label having a severable area located at a junction of said closure and said container, said label further having a first alignment indicator on one segment of said label and a second alignment indicator on a second segment of said label, said severable area being located between said segments with one of said segments adhering to said closure and the other of said segments adhering to said container, and said alignment indicators being unaligned with one another.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
118 words
A container system for indicating the proper orientation of a screw thread closure on a container, comprising (a) a container having a screw thread closure thereon, (b) a label applied in an overlapping relation to said closure and said container, said label having a severable area located at a junction of said closure and said container, said label further having a first alignment indicator on one segment of said label and a second alignment indicator on a second segment of said label, said severable area being located between said segments with one of said segments adhering to said closure and the other of said segments adhering to said container, and said alignment indicators being unaligned with one another.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
A container system according to claim 7 in which said severable area includes a score.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
A container system according to claim 7 in which said first and second alignment indicators each comprise a colored bar, said bars being offset from one another.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
A container system according to claim 9 in which one of said bars is greater in width than the other of said bars.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
A container system according to claim 9 in which each said bar includes alignment indicia.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
A container system according to claim 11 in which said alignment indicia comprises alignable arrows.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
A container system according to claim 11 in which said alignment indicia is selected from the group comprising alignable lines, dashes and dots.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
A container system according to claim 7 in which said first and second alignment indicators each comprise alignment indicia.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
A container system according to claim 14 in which said alignment indicia comprises alignable arrows.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
A container system according to claim 14 in which said alignment indicia is selected from the group comprising alignable lines, dashes and dots.
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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) | 1994-09-16 | 1995-03-18 | 1995-09-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-09-16 | 1999-03-18 | 1999-09-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-09-16 | 2003-03-18 | 2003-09-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |