US3773205A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Thermoformed closures which are sealed to containers by the use of sonic energy and the method of sealing the same
Assignee: KLM CO STRATFORD
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Filing: 1971-03-04
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Granted: 1973-11-20
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Expires: 1991-03-04
Abstract
Abstract Closures thermoformed from a relatively thin sheet of plastic material are sealed to containers by the use of sonic energy to control the amount of torque needed to unfasten such closures and also to provide a ''''tamper-proof'''' seal.
Inventors
- 👤 F Keeler
- 👤 C Ellis
- 👤 J Miller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 19:59
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C65/00; B29C65/02; B29C65/08; B29C65/76; B29C66/00; B29C66/01; B29C66/05; B29C66/10; B29C66/11; B29C66/112; B29C66/1122; B29C66/20; B29C66/21; B29C66/50; B29C66/51; B29C66/53; B29C66/534; B29C66/5342; B29C66/70; B29C66/73; B29C66/739; B29C66/7392; B29C66/73921; B29C66/80; B29C66/83; B29C66/832; B29C66/8322; B65; B65D; B65D41/00; B65D41/32; B65D41/34; B65D41/3495; B29C66/5346; B29C66/54; B29C66/542; B29L; B29L2031/00; B29L2031/56; B29L2031/565; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S206/00; Y10S206/807; Y10S220/00; Y10S220/31; Y10S53/00; Y10S53/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
139 words
In combination a container having a neck portion with a sealing lip at the upper end thereof defining an opening, said neck portion including thermoplastic material on a portion thereof other than the sealing lip, a closure of relatively thin walled thermoplastic material having a top wall and a skirt wall depending therefrom, said top wall being adapted to cover said sealing lip for sealing the container opening and said skirt wall fitting over said container neck, mating mechanical fastening means on said closure skirt wall and said container neck for holding the closure to the container and at least one weld formed by sonic energy between the skirt wall of the closure and the thermoplastic material of the container neck portion at a location other than the container sealing lip for also holding the closure to the container.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
139 words
In combination a container having a neck portion with a sealing lip at the upper end thereof defining an opening, said neck portion including thermoplastic material on a portion thereof other than the sealing lip, a closure of relatively thin walled thermoplastic material having a top wall and a skirt wall depending therefrom, said top wall being adapted to cover said sealing lip for sealing the container opening and said skirt wall fitting over said container neck, mating mechanical fastening means on said closure skirt wall and said container neck for holding the closure to the container and at least one weld formed by sonic energy between the skirt wall of the closure and the thermoplastic material of the container neck portion at a location other than the container sealing lip for also holding the closure to the container.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said container neck portion has a raised ring which includes said plastic material, said closure skirt wall having a portion which overlies at least a portion of said ring, the weld being located where the closure wall overlies the ring.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein there are a plurality of welds located around the closure.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein the closure has a tab extending from the skirt wall thereof, said tab overlying the thermoplastic material on the neck portion of the container, said weld being located on the tab.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
The combination of claim 4 wherein the skirt wall of the closure has a weakened portion at said tab above the weld so that upon removal of the closure the tab will break from the closure wall at the weakened portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
74 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein the lower portion of the closure skirt wall is formed with a series of cutouts there around, the weld being located on a part of the skirt wall between two of said cutouts, the lower portion of the closure skirt wall being held to the container neck by the weld and breaking away from the remainder of the skirt wall when the closure is removed from the container.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein the container is of a non-plastic material and the thermoplastic material on the neck portion thereof is separately placed on said portion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
The combination of claim 7 wherein the thermoplastic material on the neck portion of said container comprises a ring of said material which is placed on said container neck portion and is attached thereto when the sonic weld is made.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
The combination of claim 1 further comprising a liner with said closure adjacent the top wall thereof, said liner held in compression between the sealing lip of the neck portion of said container and the closure top wall by the sonic weld.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The combination of claim 9 wherein said mating mechanical fastening means comprises at least partial threads formed on the container neck portion and the closure skirt wall.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said mating mechanical fastening means comprises at least partial threads formed on the container neck portion and the closure skirt wall.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
111 words
In combination a container having a first portion defining an opening, said first portioN including thermoplastic material, a closure of relatively thin walled thermoplastic material having a top wall and a skirt wall depending therefrom sealed on said first portion for sealing the container opening, said container first portion having a screw thread thereon and said closure also formed with a screw thread to mate with the container screw thread, and at least one weld formed by sonic energy between the closure and the thermoplastic material of the container first portion in the area where the screw threads of the closure and container mate for holding the closure to the container.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
111 words
In combination a container having a first portion defining an opening, said first portioN including thermoplastic material, a closure of relatively thin walled thermoplastic material having a top wall and a skirt wall depending therefrom sealed on said first portion for sealing the container opening, said container first portion having a screw thread thereon and said closure also formed with a screw thread to mate with the container screw thread, and at least one weld formed by sonic energy between the closure and the thermoplastic material of the container first portion in the area where the screw threads of the closure and container mate for holding the closure to the container.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The combination of claim 12 further comprising a liner between the top wall of the closure and the sealing lip of said container.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
The combination of claim 12 wherein the screw threads on the closure and the container are continuous.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
The combination of claim 12 wherein the screw threads on the closure and the container are interrupted.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
155 words
The method of sealing a closure of thermoplastic material having a top wall and a depending skirt wall having mechanical fastening means thereon to a container including a neck portion having mechanical fastening means to mate with the fastening means on the closure wall and thermoplastic material thereon, said neck portion including a sealing lip at the upper end thereof defining an opening comprising the steps of fastening said closure to said neck portion of said container by said mating mechanical fastening means in a sealing relationship with the top wall thereof lying over the opening in the container neck and the skirt wall thereof lying over the container neck portion, and applying sonic energy to said closure at a point on the skirt wall thereof which is spaced from the container sealing lip where there is an interface between the closure and the thermoplastic material of the container first portion to produce a weld.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
155 words
The method of sealing a closure of thermoplastic material having a top wall and a depending skirt wall having mechanical fastening means thereon to a container including a neck portion having mechanical fastening means to mate with the fastening means on the closure wall and thermoplastic material thereon, said neck portion including a sealing lip at the upper end thereof defining an opening comprising the steps of fastening said closure to said neck portion of said container by said mating mechanical fastening means in a sealing relationship with the top wall thereof lying over the opening in the container neck and the skirt wall thereof lying over the container neck portion, and applying sonic energy to said closure at a point on the skirt wall thereof which is spaced from the container sealing lip where there is an interface between the closure and the thermoplastic material of the container first portion to produce a weld.
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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) | 1976-11-19 | 1977-05-21 | 1977-11-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-11-19 | 1981-05-21 | 1981-11-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-11-19 | 1985-05-21 | 1985-11-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |