US6276543B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vented composite closure
Assignee: Abbott Laboratories
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Filing: 1999-05-19
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Granted: 2001-08-21
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Expires: 2019-05-19
Abstract
Abstract A composite closure for a container has an outer band with a partial toroidal hook that overhangs a crown around the periphery of an insert cover disk. As the closure is tightened on the container, the hook bears downwardly on the crown of the disk and urges the disk against the container rim. The hook has several vents formed on its underside to enable air communication. A lower, inner edge of the hook is spaced apart from the disk to provide communication with the vents from the environment. An annular recess is formed on the underside of the hook, and is in communication with the vents and with a gap formed between an outboard wall of the crown and an inboard sidewall of the hook. A retaining bead is formed on a skirt below the hook to retain the disk. The bead is spaced apart from the disk when the closure is assembly to a container to enable communication from the environment through the vents to the threads.
Inventors
- 👤 Galen German
- 👤 Tom Vandewalle
- 👤 Min Miles Wan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 04:03
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D41/00; B65D41/32; B65D41/34; B65D41/3423; B65D41/3428; B65D41/3404; B65D41/3409; B65D51/00; B65D51/14; B65D51/145
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
240 words
A retortable closure package comprising: a container having a securement member formed thereon; and a closure including a metal disk and a molded plastic band; the disk having a center portion and an annular raised crown disposed around said center portion, the crown having a groove on an underside thereof that contains a gasket engageable with a rim of the container; the band having an inwardly extending semi-toroidal annular hook and a skirt extending downward from the hook, the skirt having a securement member engageable with the securement member on the container, the hook having a lower edge opposite the skirt that is spaced apart from the disk when said closure is secured to said container so as to define a gap between said disk and said lower edge, an underside of the hook including: a plurality of pads urging downward against the crown exerting downward force on the crown and not exerting radial clamping force across the crown in response to coupling together the closure and the container; an annular recess formed in the underside of the hook and defining an end of the pads; and a plurality of vents disposed between the pads, one end of the vents being in communication with the annular recess and another end of the vents being in communication with said gap, whereby the vents provide communication between the securement members and the environment to enable evaporation of liquids disposed within the closure.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
240 words
A retortable closure package comprising: a container having a securement member formed thereon; and a closure including a metal disk and a molded plastic band; the disk having a center portion and an annular raised crown disposed around said center portion, the crown having a groove on an underside thereof that contains a gasket engageable with a rim of the container; the band having an inwardly extending semi-toroidal annular hook and a skirt extending downward from the hook, the skirt having a securement member engageable with the securement member on the container, the hook having a lower edge opposite the skirt that is spaced apart from the disk when said closure is secured to said container so as to define a gap between said disk and said lower edge, an underside of the hook including: a plurality of pads urging downward against the crown exerting downward force on the crown and not exerting radial clamping force across the crown in response to coupling together the closure and the container; an annular recess formed in the underside of the hook and defining an end of the pads; and a plurality of vents disposed between the pads, one end of the vents being in communication with the annular recess and another end of the vents being in communication with said gap, whereby the vents provide communication between the securement members and the environment to enable evaporation of liquids disposed within the closure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The package of claim 1 wherein the pads contact an apex of the crown when the closure and the container are coupled together.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
70 words
The package of claim 2 further comprising an annular retaining bead inwardly projecting from the skirt, the retaining bead holding the disk while the closure is uncoupled from the container, the container urging upward against the disk in response to coupling the container with the closure to provide space between the retaining bead and the lower edge of the disk, thereby enabling communication between the vents and the securement members.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The package of claim 2 wherein the vents are coextensive with the hook from the disk edge to the annular recess.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
The package of claim 4 wherein the hook underside has an outboard lower portion defined by the annular recess and the retaining bead, the outboard lower portion is spaced apart from the crown to enable communication between the vents and the securement members.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The package of claim 5 wherein the underside outboard portion lacks vents and lacks pads.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The package of claim 4 wherein an inboard portion of the hook underside has a substantially uniform thickness.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The package of claim 7 wherein the vents have a substantially uniform thickness and the pads have substantially uniform thickness.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
The package of claim 4 wherein the plurality of vents comprises nine vents substantially equally radially spaced apart, and the plurality of pads comprises nine pads substantially equally radially spaced apart.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The package of claim 4 wherein each one of the plurality of vents subtends an angle of approximately seven degrees.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
The package of claim 1 wherein the container securement member comprises a container thread and the closure securement member comprises a closure thread, the container thread and the closure thread engageable to couple together the closure and the container.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
11 words
The package of claim 1 further including a tamper evident band.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The package of claim 12 wherein said tamper evident band includes ratchets that restrict opening of said closure.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The package of claim 13 wherein said hook has a substantially uniform thickness between the hook lower edge and the annular recess.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
229 words
A retortable closure for use with a container that includes a sidewall, a rim formed on the sidewall, and a thread formed on the sidewall, the closure comprising: a metal disk including a center portion and an annular raised crown disposed around said center portion, the crown having a groove on an underside thereof that contains a gasket engageable with the container rim; and a molded plastic band including an inwardly extending semi-toroidal annular hook and a skirt extending downward from the hook, the skirt having a thread engageable with the container, the hook having a lower edge opposite the skirt that is spaced apart from the disk when said closure is secured to said container so as to define a gap between said disk and said lower edge, an underside of the hook including: a plurality of pads urging downward against the crown exerting downward force on the crown and not exerting radial clamping force across the crown in response to coupling together the closure and the container; an annular recess formed in the underside of the hook and defining an end of the pads; and a plurality of vents disposed between the pads, said vents being in communication with both said annular recess and said gap, whereby the vents provide communication between the skirt thread and the environment to enable evaporation of liquids disposed within the closure.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
229 words
A retortable closure for use with a container that includes a sidewall, a rim formed on the sidewall, and a thread formed on the sidewall, the closure comprising: a metal disk including a center portion and an annular raised crown disposed around said center portion, the crown having a groove on an underside thereof that contains a gasket engageable with the container rim; and a molded plastic band including an inwardly extending semi-toroidal annular hook and a skirt extending downward from the hook, the skirt having a thread engageable with the container, the hook having a lower edge opposite the skirt that is spaced apart from the disk when said closure is secured to said container so as to define a gap between said disk and said lower edge, an underside of the hook including: a plurality of pads urging downward against the crown exerting downward force on the crown and not exerting radial clamping force across the crown in response to coupling together the closure and the container; an annular recess formed in the underside of the hook and defining an end of the pads; and a plurality of vents disposed between the pads, said vents being in communication with both said annular recess and said gap, whereby the vents provide communication between the skirt thread and the environment to enable evaporation of liquids disposed within the closure.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
The closure of claim 15 wherein the pads contact an apex of the crown when the closure and the container are coupled together.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
73 words
The closure of claim 16 further comprising an annular retaining bead inwardly projecting from the skirt, the retaining bead holding the disk while the closure is uncoupled from the container, the container urging upward against the disk in response to coupling the container with the closure to provide space between the retaining and the lower edge of the disk, thereby enabling communication between the vents and the skirt thread and the container thread.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The closure of claim 16 wherein the vents are coextensive with the hook from the disk edge to the annular recess.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
43 words
The closure of claim 18 wherein the hook underside has an outboard lower portion defined by the annular recess and the retaining bead, the outboard lower portion is spaced apart from the crown to enable communication between the vents and the skirt thread.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
The closure of claim 19 wherein the underside outboard portion lacks vents and lacks pads.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
The closure of claim 18 wherein an inboard portion of the hook underside has a substantially uniform thickness.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
20 words
The closure of claim 21 wherein the vents have a substantially uniform thickness and the pads have substantially uniform thickness.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
31 words
The closure of claim 18 wherein the plurality of vents comprises nine vents substantially equally radially spaced apart, and the plurality of pads comprises nine pads substantially equally radially spaced apart.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
20 words
The closure of claim 18 wherein each one of the plurality of vents subtends an angle of approximately seven degrees.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
23 words
The closure of claim 15 wherein the container thread and the skirt thread are engageable to couple together the closure and the container.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
11 words
The closure of claim 15 further including a tamper evident band.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
18 words
The closure of claim 26 wherein said tamper evident band includes ratchets that restrict opening of said closure.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
22 words
The closure of claim 27 wherein said hook has a substantially uniform thickness between the hook lower edge and the annular recess.
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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) | 2004-08-20 | 2005-02-19 | 2005-08-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-08-20 | 2009-02-19 | 2009-08-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-08-20 | 2013-02-19 | 2013-08-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |