US3924771A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Bottle cap having a preshrunk foil portion
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-11-20
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Granted: 1975-12-09
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Expires: 1993-11-20
Abstract
Abstract A bottle cap containing a preshrunk wall of heat shrinkable plastic foil prestretched in the direction of the circumference of the tubular wall of the cap and capable of being readily mounted upon and shrunk to final condition on a bottle to be capped, the preshrunk tubular wall having longitudinal portions of different residual shrinking capacity according to a predetermined pattern.
Inventors
- 👤 Gunther Cleff
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 06:04
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D55/00; B65D55/02; B65D55/06; B65D55/08; B65D55/0818; B65D55/0854
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
78 words
A bottle cap for a bottle having a neck containing an orifice to be closed by said cap comprising an encapsulating element of heat shrinkable foil material that has been preshrunk in the form of a thin tubular wall containing substantial residual shrinking capacity and adapted for fitting with clearance over the outer side of said bottle neck during initial assembly, said preshrunk tubular wall having longitudinal portions of different residual shrinking capacity according to a predetermined pattern.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
78 words
A bottle cap for a bottle having a neck containing an orifice to be closed by said cap comprising an encapsulating element of heat shrinkable foil material that has been preshrunk in the form of a thin tubular wall containing substantial residual shrinking capacity and adapted for fitting with clearance over the outer side of said bottle neck during initial assembly, said preshrunk tubular wall having longitudinal portions of different residual shrinking capacity according to a predetermined pattern.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
A bottle cap as defined in claim 1 for a bottle wherein the orifice is closed with a primary sealing fit by a substantially non-shrinkable closure member, characterized by said encapsulating element being connected at least around its upper part to said closure member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
A bottle cap defined in claim 2 wherein said closure member and said encapsulating element are affixed together prior to installation of the cap on a bottle neck.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A bottle cap as defined in claim 2, characterized in that said tubular wall is substantially frusto-conical and is fastened around its smaller end to said closure member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
62 words
A bottle cap as defined claim 2, characterized in that said tubular wall is made from a prestretched blank sheet of heat shrinkable foil connected at opposite lateral edges for providing a seam approximately parallel to the axis of said cap and preshrunk into the desired tubular shape, the stretching direction of said foil being around the periphery of the tubular wall.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
A bottle cap as defined in claim 2, characterized in that said closure member is shaped with a part for projecting beyond the bottle orifice, and that the tubular wall of the encapsulating element is fastened to said projecting part of the closure member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
A bottle cap as defined in claim 6, characterized in that the closure member is provided with an internal shoulder so dimensioned as to fit over the bottle orifice.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
A bottle cap as defined in claim 2, characterized in that said closure member is fitted between a preshrunk flange and a preshrunk bead of said encapsulating element.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
A bottle cap as defined in claim 2, characterized in that a score line essentially axial with respect to the encapsulating element extends in said encapsulating element from the lower rim of said tubular wall to approximately the connecting location of said wall with said closure member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
89 words
A bottle cap as defined in claim 2, characterized in that said encapsulating element is made from a prestretched blank cut from a heat shrinkable foil sheet and solidly joined at two oppositely located wall regions into an axial seam to form said tubular wall, said foil being stretched only in the direction of the circumference of said tubular wall, and an essentially axial score line is provided laterally of said axial seam and extending to the vicinity of the connection of the tubular wall to said closure member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
A bottle cap as defined by claim 10, characterized in that the axial perforated line is located adjacent the internal edge of said encapsulation seam.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
A bottle cap as defined in claim 1, characterized in that said closure member comprises a stopper so dimensioned as to allow introduction into the bottle neck orifice when the combination cap is installed on the bottle.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
A bottle cap as defined in claim 1, characterized in that the closure member is so constructed as to project beyond the outer end of the bottle orifice.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
A bottle cap as defined in claim 13, characterized in that the wall of said encapsulating element is fastened to the inside of the closure member.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
A bottle cap as defined in claim 14, characterized in that the wall of the encapsulating element is fastened in the region of the lower edge of the closure member.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
46 words
A bottle cap as dEfined in claim 1, characterized in that the encapsulating element is provided with two circular score lines around the circumference of the tubular wall, said two score lines bounding a tear-strip, and at least one gripping flap within the two score lines.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
87 words
A bottle cap as defined in claim 16, characterized in that the tubular wall of the encapsulating element is made from a blank of shrinkable foil connected at opposite edges to provide a seam extending essentially parallel to the axis of the bottle cap and forming thereby said tubular wall, said foil being stretched in one direction and thereby being heat shrinkable only in that direction, said one direction essentially extending around the circumference of the tubular wall and said gripping flap being located adjacent said seam.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
74 words
A bottle cap as defined in claim 1, characterized in that two parallel perforated lines are provided in said tubular wall of the encapsulating element, said lines being parallel and extending along the circumference of the tubular wall to thereby bound a tear flap, and that a perforated line essentially axial with respect to the tubular wall runs from the lower rim of said wall to the peripheral perforated line facing said lower rim.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
73 words
A bottle cap as defined in claim 1, characterized in that said encapsulating element is made from a prestretched blank cut from a heat shrinkable foil sheet and solidly joined at two oppositely located wall regions into an axial seam to form said tubular wall, said foil being stretched only in the direction of the circumference of said tubular wall, and an essentially axial score line is provided laterally of said axial seam.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-12-08 | 1979-06-09 | 1979-12-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-12-08 | 1983-06-09 | 1983-12-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-12-08 | 1987-06-09 | 1987-12-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |