Container and closure construction

Claim 2

A container comprising a wall; a port structure which defines an access opening through said wall; and a thin flexible fluid-tight cover member over said opening; said port structure including a support portion extending outwardly from said container and defining external support surfaces circumjacent said opening; said cover member comprising a first portion extending across the outward end of said support portion and including a diaphragm section exposed to said opening, a second portion integral with said first portion and disposed circumjacent said external support surfaces, a third portion affixed to said port structure, and a frangible portion defining a tear line between said second portion and said third portion, whereby said second portion may engage said support portion for stress-relief protection of the integrity of said tear line from stresses in said first and second portions of said cover, and severance of said tear line permits removal of a section of said cover including said first and second portions to uncover said access opening.

Claim 3

The invention as in claim 1 wherein said port structure includes an annular portion disposed adjacent said support portion and said third portion of said cover is bonded to said annular portion of said port structure.

Claim 4

The invention as in claim 2 wherein said tear line of said cover is disposed between said support portion and said annular portion of said port structure.

Claim 5

The invention as in claim 2 wherein said annular portion is an annular flange extending radially outward from said support portion, said third portion of said cover is bonded to said annular flange, and said tear line is disposed adjacent the inner peripheral edge of said third portion.

Claim 6

The invention as in claim 1 wherein said second portion is an annular portion having first and second edges, said first portion of said cover being integral with one of said edges of said second portion and said frangible portion being at the other of said edges of said second portion.

Claim 7

The invention as in claim 1 wherein said frangible portion extends outward from the side of said second portion which is remote from said support surface.

Claim 8

The invention as in claim 6 wherein said second portion is an annular portion having first and second edges, said first portion of said cover being integral with one of said edges of said second portion and said tear line being along the other of said edges of said second portion.

Claim 9

The invention as in claim 6 wherein said second portion and said first portion of said cover are joined to one another along a junction and said frangible portion is joined to said second portion adjacent said junction.

Claim 10

The invention as in claim 6 wherein said second portion and said first portion are joined to one another along a junction and said tear line is disposed adjacent said junction.

Claim 11

The invention as in claim 1 wherein said port structure and said cover are formed of materials having substantially different co-efficients of expansion from one another.

Claim 12

The invention of any of claims 1 through 10 wherein said second portion of said cover is disposed contiguous to said support surfaces of said port structure.

Claim 13

The invention of any of claims 1 through 10 wherein said tear line and at least a part of said second portion of said over are disposed in spaced relation to said support surfaces of said port structure.

Claim 14

The invention of any of claims 1 through 10 wherein said diaphragm section is an expansible diaphragm section which is expandable telescopically inwardly and outwardly relative to said port structure.

Claim 15

The invention as in claim13 wherein said diaphragm section includes at least one annular convolution whereby said diaphragm section is expandable by flexing of said convolution to permit movement, generally axially of said port structure, by the portion of said cover within said convolution.

Claim 16

A thin flexible fluid-tight cover for a port of a container, said cover having a frangible section and comprising a first portion for circumscribing such port and for sealing securement to a peripheral surface around such port; a removable section for spanning said port, said removable section including a diaphragm portion and a generally cylindrical wall portion around said diaphragm portion; said cylindrical wall portion being disposed for abutting stress relief engagement with outer surfaces of such a port and connected to said first portion along a tear line disposed outwardly of said wall portion relative to said diaphragm portion for defining said frangible section; and manually engageable means for pulling said removable section relative to said first portion and initiating tearing of said frangible seal.

Claim 17

A thin flexible fluid-tight cover for a port of a container, said cover having a frangible section and comprising a first portion for circumscribing such port and for sealing securement to a peripheral surface around such port; a removable section for spanning said port, said removable section including a diaphragm portion and a generally cylindrical wall portion around said diaphragm portion; said cylindrical wall portion being disposed for abutting stress relief engagement with outer surfaces of such a port and connected to said first portion along a tear line disposed outwardly of said wall portion relative to said diaphragm portion for defining said frangible section; and manually engageable means for pulling said removable section relative to said first portion and initiating tearing of said frangible seal.

Claim 18

The invention as in claim 15 wherein said first portion of said cover is an annular flange extending radially outward from said cylindrical wall portion.

Claim 19

The invention as in claim 16 wherein said tear line is adjacent the inner peripheral edge of said first portion of said cover.

Claim 20

The invention as in claim 15 wherein said wall portion has first and second annular edges, said diaphragm portion of said cover being integral with one of said edges of said wall portion and said tear line is at the other of said edges of said wall portion.

Claim 21

The invention as in claim 15 wherein said tear line extends from the radially outward surface of said wall portion.

Claim 22

The invention as in claim 19 wherein said wall portion has first and second annular edges, said diaphragm portion of said cover being integral with one of said edges of said wall portion and said tear line being at the other of said edges of said wall portion.

Claim 23

The invention as in claim 19 wherein said wall portion and said diaphragm portion of said cover are joined to one another along a junction, and said tear line is disposed adjacent said junction.

Claim 24

The invention of any of claims 15 through 21 wherein said diaphragm portion is an expansible diaphragm section which is expandable telescopically inwardly and outwardly relative to such a portion.

Claim 25

The invention as in claim 22 wherein said diaphragm section includes at least one annular convolution whereby said diaphragm section is expandable by flexing of said convolution to permit movement, generally axially of said port, by the portion of said cover within said convolution.

Claim 26

The cover of claim 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 or 21 in combination with a port member having an outer periphery in fluid-tight engagement with a first container and having a first portion disposed exteriorly of said first container; said first port portion including an annular portion; said cover first portion circumscribing said port first portion and affixed in fluid-tight engagement with said annular portion; and said port first portion including a fence portion disposed adjacent the inner surface of said wall portion of said port, for providing stress relief for said tear line.

Claim 27

The invention of claim 24 in which said port member has a second portion disposed within said container, and said second portion has means therewithin for engaging a second container in fluid-sealing engagement; and a detachable sealing closure closing the inner end of said second portion.

Claim 28

The invention of any of claims 1 through 10 or 15 through 21 including pulling means for manually applying a pulling force to a limited segment of said tear line for initiating tearing thereof.

Claim 29

The invention of claim 26 wherein said pulling means includes a narrow post element which is integral with said removable section of said cover in an area adjacent said second portion or wall portion, respectively, for transmitting rupture forces to a limited segment of said tear line, and means for manually applying pulling force to said post.

Claim 30

The invention of claim 27 wherein said post is wedge-shaped in cross-section and the narrow portion of said wedge is disposed adjacent said second portion or wall portion, respectively, of said cover.

Claim 31

The invention of any of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 19, or 21 including pulling means for manually applying a pulling force to a limited segment of said tear line for initiating tearing thereof, said pulling means including a narrow post element which is integral with said removable section of said cover adjacent said tear line for transmitting rupture forces to a limited segment of said tear line, and means for manually applying pulling force to said post.

Claim 32

A container comprising a wall; a port structure which defines an access opening through said wall; and a thin flexible fluid-tight cover member over said opening; said port structure including a support portion extending outwardly from said container and defining external support surfaces circumjacent said opening; said cover member comprising a first portion extending across the outward end of said support portion and including an expansible diaphragm section exposed to said opening, said diaphragm section including at least one annular convolution whereby said diaphragm section is expandable by flexing of said convolution to permit telescopic movement of the portion of said cover within said convolution inwardly and outwardly relative to said port structure, a second portion integral with said first portion and including a wall section disposed circumjacent said external support surfaces, a third portion affixed to said port structure, and a frangible portion defining a tear line between said second portion and said third portion, whereby said second portion may engage said support portion for stress-relief protection of the integrity of said tear line from stresses in said first and second portions of said cover, said first portion and said second portion constituting a removable section which is severable from the remainder of said cover by tearing along said tear line, a narrow post element integral with said removable section of said cover in an area adjacent said wall section for transmitting rupture forces to a limited segment of said tear line, and means for manually applying pulling force to said post for rupturing said tear line and subsequent removal of said removable section of said cover to uncover said access opening.

Claim 33

A container comprising a wall; a port structure which defines an access opening through said wall; and a thin flexible fluid-tight cover member over said opening; said port structure including a support portion extending outwardly from said container and defining external support surfaces circumjacent said opening; said cover member comprising a first portion extending across the outward end of said support portion and including an expansible diaphragm section exposed to said opening, said diaphragm section including at least one annular convolution whereby said diaphragm section is expandable by flexing of said convolution to permit telescopic movement of the portion of said cover within said convolution inwardly and outwardly relative to said port structure, a second portion integral with said first portion and including a wall section disposed circumjacent said external support surfaces, a third portion affixed to said port structure, and a frangible portion defining a tear line between said second portion and said third portion, whereby said second portion may engage said support portion for stress-relief protection of the integrity of said tear line from stresses in said first and second portions of said cover, said first portion and said second portion constituting a removable section which is severable from the remainder of said cover by tearing along said tear line, a narrow post element integral with said removable section of said cover in an area adjacent said wall section for transmitting rupture forces to a limited segment of said tear line, and means for manually applying pulling force to said post for rupturing said tear line and subsequent removal of said removable section of said cover to uncover said access opening.

Claim 34

A flexible fluid-tight cover for a port of a container, said cover having a frangible section and comprising a first portion for circumscribing such port and for sealing securement to a peripheral surface around such port; a removable section for spanning said port, said removable section including a diaphragm portion and a generally cylindrical wall portion around said diaphragm portion; said diaphragm portion including at least one annular convolution whereby said diaphragm section is expandable by flexing of said convolution to permit movement, generally axially of such a port, by the portion of said diaphragm portion within said convolution; said cylindrical wall portion being disposed for abutting stress relief engagement with outer surfaces of such a port and connected to said first portion along a tear line disposed outwardly of said wall portion relative to said diaphragm portion for defining said frangible section; and manually engageable means for pulling said removable section relative to said first portion and initiating tearing of said frangible section, said pulling means including a narrow post element which is integral with said removable section of said cover in an area adjacent said wall portion for transmitting manual pulling forces to a limited segment of said tear line.

Claim 35

A flexible fluid-tight cover for a port of a container, said cover having a frangible section and comprising a first portion for circumscribing such port and for sealing securement to a peripheral surface around such port; a removable section for spanning said port, said removable section including a diaphragm portion and a generally cylindrical wall portion around said diaphragm portion; said diaphragm portion including at least one annular convolution whereby said diaphragm section is expandable by flexing of said convolution to permit movement, generally axially of such a port, by the portion of said diaphragm portion within said convolution; said cylindrical wall portion being disposed for abutting stress relief engagement with outer surfaces of such a port and connected to said first portion along a tear line disposed outwardly of said wall portion relative to said diaphragm portion for defining said frangible section; and manually engageable means for pulling said removable section relative to said first portion and initiating tearing of said frangible section, said pulling means including a narrow post element which is integral with said removable section of said cover in an area adjacent said wall portion for transmitting manual pulling forces to a limited segment of said tear line.