US5839592A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Plastic closure
Assignee: Anchor Hocking Packaging Co
•
Filing: 1995-06-09
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Granted: 1998-11-24
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Expires: 2015-06-09
Abstract
Abstract A closure is formed from a laminate or composite. The laminate is sufficiently flexible to permit it to assume the surface configuration of the rim of a closure without the need for a gasket. The laminate may include an upper layer which is rigid and a lower layer which is softer and has a lower softening temperature than the upper layer. An optional intermediate oxygen-impermeable layer such as ethylene vinyl alcohol can be included between the upper and lower layers. Preferably, the upper layer is a rigid material such as polyethylene terephthalate or polyvinyl chloride and the lower layer is a soft material such as linear low-density polyethylene. The upper layer provides the necessary strength, while the lower layer provides a tight seal on the rim of the container. The intermediate or bottom layer can also include an oxygen indicator which changes color upon exposure to oxygen.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas H. Hayes
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 23:17
CPC Classifications
B; B32; B32B; B32B27/00; B32B27/06; B32B27/08; B32B27/30; B32B27/304; B32B27/306; B32B27/32; B32B27/36; B65; B65D; B65D51/00; B65D51/14; B65D51/145; B65D53/00; B65D53/04; B65D79/00; B65D79/02; B32B2307/00; B32B2307/70; B32B2307/724; B32B2307/7242; B32B2307/7248; B32B2435/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
134 words
A disk for a composite closure, said disk adapted to fit over and seal a container opening, said opening having a rim; said closure comprising a polymeric disk having a flexibility effective to allow it to conform to the surface configuration of said rim to provide a tight seal without application of a separate sealing gasket; said disk comprising an upper layer laminated to a lower layer wherein said lower layer softer than said upper layer; and said disk having a flexibility of at least 5 GPa -1 mm -3 at 85°-90° C. and wherein said lower layer has a softening temperature lower than the softening temperature of said upper layer; said disk further incorporating an intermediate oxygen barrier layer and an oxygen-sensitive indicating substance between said oxygen barrier layer and said lower layer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
134 words
A disk for a composite closure, said disk adapted to fit over and seal a container opening, said opening having a rim; said closure comprising a polymeric disk having a flexibility effective to allow it to conform to the surface configuration of said rim to provide a tight seal without application of a separate sealing gasket; said disk comprising an upper layer laminated to a lower layer wherein said lower layer softer than said upper layer; and said disk having a flexibility of at least 5 GPa -1 mm -3 at 85°-90° C. and wherein said lower layer has a softening temperature lower than the softening temperature of said upper layer; said disk further incorporating an intermediate oxygen barrier layer and an oxygen-sensitive indicating substance between said oxygen barrier layer and said lower layer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
The disk for a composite closure claimed in claim 1 having a peripheral annular channel, an edge and a central body; said disk comprising a thermally-deformable upper layer having a first softening temperature and a lower layer comprising a thermally-deformable material said lower layer being softer than said upper layer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The disk claimed in claim 2 wherein said edge extends radially outward from said channel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The disk claimed in claim 2 wherein said central body includes at least one beam effective to provide structural strength to said body.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The disk claimed in claim 2 wherein said disk is a bottom loading disk and includes a plurality of ridges on a top portion of said channel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
A composite closure comprising a ring and the disk claimed in claim 2 wherein said disk is held within said ring.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
The composite closure claimed in claim 6 wherein said ring includes internal threading adapted to engage external threads on a neck of a container and further includes an internal ridge adapted to press said channel against a rim of said container.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
A composite closure comprising a ring and the disk claimed in claim 2 wherein said disk is held within said ring.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
A composite closure comprising the ring and the disk claimed in claim 2 wherein said ring includes a ridge adapted to press down on said edge further forcing said channel against a rim of a container.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The disk claimed in claim 1 wherein said lower layer is from 0.002 to 0.012" thick.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The disk claimed in claim 10 wherein said upper layer is from 0.010 to 0.040" thick.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
A composite closure comprising a ring and the disk claimed in claim 10 wherein said disk is held within said ring.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The disk claimed in claim 1 wherein said oxygen barrier layer is selected from the group consisting of ethylene vinyl alcohol, polyvinylidene chloride and metal foil.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
13 words
A composite closure comprising a ring and the disk claimed in claim 13.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The disk claimed in claim 1 wherein said upper layer is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinyl chloride and high-density polyethylene.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
The disk claimed in claim 1 wherein said lower layer is selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic elastomer, linear low-density polyethylene and polypropylene.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
The disk claimed in claim 1 wherein said oxygen-sensitive indicating substance is a UV-activatable oxygen-sensitive material and wherein said upper layer and said middle layer are transparent to ultraviolet light.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
The disk claimed in claim 1 wherein said disk is a bottom loading disk and includes a plurality of grooves in a top portion of said channel.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
The composite closure claimed in claim 18 wherein said ring includes a gas vent means on a bottom portion of said ring.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
A composite closure comprising a ring and the disk claimed in claim 1 wherein said ring is a press-on/snap-off ring wherein said disk is held within said ring.
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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) | 2001-11-23 | 2002-05-25 | 2002-11-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-11-23 | 2006-05-25 | 2006-11-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-11-23 | 2010-05-25 | 2010-11-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |