Receptacles – Closures – Externally adjustable plug or gasket
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-31
2001-02-20
Newhouse, Nathan J. (Department: 3727)
Receptacles
Closures
Externally adjustable plug or gasket
C220S234000, C220S235000, C220S237000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06189718
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a fluidtight seal for a container and, in particular, to a permanent, fluidtight seal formed through a compressive force. The compressive force deforms a container closure device causing a seal to interact with the container closure device and inner walls of the container in a fluidtight manner. The compressive force is then removed and the fluidtight seal is maintained until a destructive force is applied to the container closure device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Seals of various configurations and materials are well known in the art for sealing a container in a fluidtight manner. There are basically two known ways that these variously configured seals interact with the container to form a fluidtight barrier. The first way a seal is maintained in a fluidtight manner is through the force of the contained fluid forcing the seal into fluidtight interaction with the container. This type of fluidtight seal is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,421,325 to Napolitano, 5,092,496 to Gayle et al. and 4,457,523 to Halling et al. The second way a seal is maintained in a fluidtight manner relies on the continued application of an external compressive force such as through the use of bolts or other fasteners. This type of fluidtight seal is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,332,573 to Romanos and 4,991,858 to Abila et al. Both of the aforementioned seal designs require a continual force or pressure to maintain seal integrity. Thus the utility of these seals is limited to applications in which forces necessary to close the sealing surfaces properly need to be continually applied to maintain liquid tightness.
What is needed is a watertight seal that may be maintained without the need for compression, pressure, or the like from an external force once the seal has been made. Such a watertight seal would have many advantages over the previous designs, including the elimination of the weight, physical bulk and costs associated with the materials, such as nuts, bolts, plugs, and fittings, used to create the external force necessary to maintain seal compression.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore a principal object of the present invention to provide a fluidtight seal for a container which is readily and inexpensively manufactured, reliable and easily used.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a fluidtight seal which has uses in many industries, such as the waste disposal industry.
It is an object of the present invention to form a fluidtight seal through application of a compressive force, which may be removed once the seal is formed.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a fluidtight seal that is not compromised by the withdrawal of the compressive force used to form the seal.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a permanent fluidtight seal in which the fluidtight characteristic of the seal can only be disrupted by the application of a destructive force.
The foregoing and other objects of the present invention are realized by forming a fluidtight seal for a container by abutting a metal ring against a step machined convexo-concave container closure device and inserting this assembly into an open end of the container. Through the application of compressive force, the container closure device is deformed, causing the metal ring to pivot about the step on the container closure device and interact with the symmetrically tapered inner walls of the container to form a fluidtight seal between the container and the container closure device. The compressive force is then withdrawn without affecting the fluidtight characteristic of the seal. A destructive force against the container closure device is necessary to destroy the fluidtight seal.
Thus, the present invention provides a fluidtight seal which advantageously allows for the permanent, fluidtight sealing of a container without the need for continuous, external compression force.
Other objects, features and characteristics of the present invention, as well as the methods of operation and functions of the related elements of the structure, and the combination of parts and economies of manufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description and the appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, all of which form a part of this specification, wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts in the various figures.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3307732 (1967-03-01), Roberts, Sr. et al.
patent: 4140040 (1979-02-01), Modrey
patent: 4239124 (1980-12-01), Inouye
patent: 4380302 (1983-04-01), Broad
patent: 5078294 (1992-01-01), Staubli
patent: 5230437 (1993-07-01), Kelly
patent: 5307841 (1994-05-01), Condon
Gottlieb Paul A.
Lucas John T.
Moser William R.
Newhouse Nathan J.
The United States of America as represented by the Department of
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