US5096078A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tamper-evident closure assembly
Assignee: MURRIE WHITE DRUMMOND LIENHART & ASSOCIATES A CORP OF
•
Filing: 1990-06-14
•
Granted: 1992-03-17
•
Expires: 2010-06-14
Abstract
Abstract A closure assembly for a container which includes an air-impervious diaphragm which when subjected to differential pressure will expand to retain articles in place within a container. The diaphragm is retained in position by a ring member that secures the marginal portions of the diaphragm in position. the diaphragm may be secured to a container filled in a vacuum chamber so that atmospheric pressure will extend the diaphragm into the desired position or it may be subject to high pressure air to extend the diaphragm. Means for exhausting the high pressure air or for admitting atmospheric air into the interior of the container for facilitating removal of the closure assembly from the container are also described.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas P. McQueeny
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 05:07
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D51/00; B65D51/24; B65D51/26
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
263 words
A tamper-evident closure assembly for a container having an interior container wall and having a neck and opening defined by a finish portion and filled with articles, said assembly comprising a cap member having a flange portion extending radially outwardly therefrom and including sealing means to sealingly engage the finish of the container, means to prevent the movement of said articles in the container comprising an essentially air-impervious, extensible elastomeric diaphragm generally coextensive with the opening of the container, said diaphragm having an inside side facing inwardly towards said articles, an outside side and a marginal portion, means for retaining said marginal portion of said diaphragm relative to said cap member comprising means maintaining the marginal portion of the diaphragm secured to and in sealing engagement with said cap member whereby when the diaphragm is exposed to a differential pressure it is expanded to retain the articles in place in said container, and an overcap associated with said cap member and comprising means for engaging the neck of the container so as to compress said flange sealing means against said finish to form an air-tight seal, and wherein said cap member defines an annular recess in which said marginal portion of said diaphragm is disposed, and the retaining means comprises a tightly fitting ring in said recess for securing said marginal portions therein, and said cap member defining an opening for allowing atmospheric air to act against the diaphragm on its said outside side to bias the diaphragm against the articles when the diaphragm is exposed to sub-atmospheric pressure on its inside side.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
263 words
A tamper-evident closure assembly for a container having an interior container wall and having a neck and opening defined by a finish portion and filled with articles, said assembly comprising a cap member having a flange portion extending radially outwardly therefrom and including sealing means to sealingly engage the finish of the container, means to prevent the movement of said articles in the container comprising an essentially air-impervious, extensible elastomeric diaphragm generally coextensive with the opening of the container, said diaphragm having an inside side facing inwardly towards said articles, an outside side and a marginal portion, means for retaining said marginal portion of said diaphragm relative to said cap member comprising means maintaining the marginal portion of the diaphragm secured to and in sealing engagement with said cap member whereby when the diaphragm is exposed to a differential pressure it is expanded to retain the articles in place in said container, and an overcap associated with said cap member and comprising means for engaging the neck of the container so as to compress said flange sealing means against said finish to form an air-tight seal, and wherein said cap member defines an annular recess in which said marginal portion of said diaphragm is disposed, and the retaining means comprises a tightly fitting ring in said recess for securing said marginal portions therein, and said cap member defining an opening for allowing atmospheric air to act against the diaphragm on its said outside side to bias the diaphragm against the articles when the diaphragm is exposed to sub-atmospheric pressure on its inside side.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
65 words
A closure assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said diaphragm includes at least one diametrically extending bead on its said inside side, which, when said diaphragm is expanded to retain the article in place, defines a passage in the container along the container wall to facilitate introduction of air into said container as removal of the cap member from the container is commenced.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
227 words
A tamper-evident closure assembly for a container having an interior container wall and having a neck and opening defined by a finish portion and filled with articles, said assembly comprising a cap member having a flange portion extending radially outwardly therefrom and including sealing means to sealingly engage the finish of the container, means to prevent the movement of said articles in the container comprising an essentially air-impervious, extensible elastomeric diaphragm generally coextensive with the opening of the container, said diaphragm having an inside side facing inwardly towards said articles, an outside side and a marginal portion, means for retaining said marginal portion of said diaphragm relative to said cap member comprising means maintaining the marginal portion of the diaphragm secured to and in sealing engagement with said cap member whereby when the diaphragm is exposed to a differential pressure it is expanded to retain the articles in place in said container, and an overcap associated with said cap member and comprising means for engaging the neck of the container so as to compress said flange sealing means against said finish to form an air-tight seal, and wherein said cap member defines a depending annular potion, an annular recess is defined in said depending annular portion, and the retaining means comprises a tightly fitting ring in said recess for securing the marginal portion of said diaphragm therein.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
227 words
A tamper-evident closure assembly for a container having an interior container wall and having a neck and opening defined by a finish portion and filled with articles, said assembly comprising a cap member having a flange portion extending radially outwardly therefrom and including sealing means to sealingly engage the finish of the container, means to prevent the movement of said articles in the container comprising an essentially air-impervious, extensible elastomeric diaphragm generally coextensive with the opening of the container, said diaphragm having an inside side facing inwardly towards said articles, an outside side and a marginal portion, means for retaining said marginal portion of said diaphragm relative to said cap member comprising means maintaining the marginal portion of the diaphragm secured to and in sealing engagement with said cap member whereby when the diaphragm is exposed to a differential pressure it is expanded to retain the articles in place in said container, and an overcap associated with said cap member and comprising means for engaging the neck of the container so as to compress said flange sealing means against said finish to form an air-tight seal, and wherein said cap member defines a depending annular potion, an annular recess is defined in said depending annular portion, and the retaining means comprises a tightly fitting ring in said recess for securing the marginal portion of said diaphragm therein.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
226 words
A tamper-evident closure assembly for a container having an interior container wall and having a neck and opening defined by a finish portion and filled with articles, said assembly comprising a cap member having a flange portion extending radially outwardly therefrom and including sealing means to sealingly engage the finish of the container, means to prevent the movement of said articles in the container comprising an essentially air-impervious, extensible elastomeric diaphragm generally coextensive with the opening of the container, said diaphragm having an inside side facing inwardly towards said articles, an outside side and a marginal portion, means for retaining said marginal portion of said diaphragm relative to said cap member comprising means maintaining the marginal portion of the diaphragm secured to and in sealing engagement with said cap member whereby when the diaphragm is exposed to a differential pressure it is expanded to retain the articles in place in said container, and an overcap associated with said cap member and comprising means for engaging the neck of the container so as to compress said flange sealing means against said finish to form an air-tight seal, and wherein there is provided an overcap that defines cooperating ratchet means with said cap member whereby in order to remove the closure assembly from the container, the cooperating ratchet means have to be forcibly moved into a cooperating relationship.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
226 words
A tamper-evident closure assembly for a container having an interior container wall and having a neck and opening defined by a finish portion and filled with articles, said assembly comprising a cap member having a flange portion extending radially outwardly therefrom and including sealing means to sealingly engage the finish of the container, means to prevent the movement of said articles in the container comprising an essentially air-impervious, extensible elastomeric diaphragm generally coextensive with the opening of the container, said diaphragm having an inside side facing inwardly towards said articles, an outside side and a marginal portion, means for retaining said marginal portion of said diaphragm relative to said cap member comprising means maintaining the marginal portion of the diaphragm secured to and in sealing engagement with said cap member whereby when the diaphragm is exposed to a differential pressure it is expanded to retain the articles in place in said container, and an overcap associated with said cap member and comprising means for engaging the neck of the container so as to compress said flange sealing means against said finish to form an air-tight seal, and wherein there is provided an overcap that defines cooperating ratchet means with said cap member whereby in order to remove the closure assembly from the container, the cooperating ratchet means have to be forcibly moved into a cooperating relationship.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US288603A
Cited
US447974A
Cited
CA553190A
Cited
US2040798A
Cited
US2833398A
Cited
US2880900A
Cited
US3343701A
Cited
FR1488306A
Cited
US3396864A
Cited
US3863795A
Cited
DE2628296A1
Cited
US4215786A
Cited
US4392578A
Cited
US4998638A
Cited
US4482072A
Cited
US4640428A
Cited
US4684033A
Cited
US4798302A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-03-17 | 1995-09-16 | 1996-03-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-03-17 | 1999-09-16 | 2000-03-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-03-17 | 2003-09-16 | 2004-03-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |