Bottles and jars – Closures – Combined or convertible
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-17
2001-02-06
Newhouse, Nathan J. (Department: 3727)
Bottles and jars
Closures
Combined or convertible
C215S257000, C220S278000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06182845
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a closure for application to a bottle or other container whose mouth is normally closed and sealed by a thin membrane of a metallic foil or the like, the closure being removably applied to the container after the membrane is applied thereto. More particularly, this invention relates to a closure of the foregoing character that is provided with a cutting element which, when the closure is removed from its closing position on the container and reapplied to the container in an inverted orientation, will pierce the membrane that seals the mouth of the container to permit dispensing of the contents of the container.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Many products are packaged in bottles or other containers whose mouths are sealed by a thin membrane of a suitable material, such as a metallic foil or a plastic film, until a consumer or other user is ready to remove the contents of the container for consumption or use after piercing of the sealing membrane. Various types of infant formula are packaged in this manner. In addition to the membrane that seals the mouth of such a container, it is also customary to apply a removable molded plastic closure to the container to protect the membrane from damage during shipment and storage of the filled container and to re-close the container after partial removal of its contents, the membrane no longer serving to seal the container at this time due to its piercing. Typically, in such a packaging application the piercing of the membrane is accomplished by one or more piercing elements on the top of the closure after removing the closure and reapplying it to the container in an inverted orientation. U.S. Pat. No. 5,709,311 (Butler et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 5,505,326 (Junko), and U.S. Pat. No. 5,090,582 (Art et al.) describe closures of this general type.
Piercing closures of the type described are also used to cut the membrane through an arc of substantial extent, often 360°, by turning the closure on the container, after inverting the closure on the container. Unfortunately, the quality of this cutting action often degrades as the length of the cut increases, due to a loss in the tension in the membrane as the cutting action proceeds. This problem makes it difficult to properly remove the contents of the container, with resultant aggravation of the user or consumer and loss of good will of the manufacturer whose product is packaged in the container. Further, it is quite desirable that the cutting of the membrane which seals the mouth of the container not extend over an arc of 360°, so that the severed membrane will remain attached to the container and not drop into its contents
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention there is provided an improved closure of the cut and pierce type for a membrane-sealed container. The closure of this invention has, on its tipper surface in the normal orientation of the closure on the container, an upwardly projecting flange, which is positioned to closely surround the mouth of the associated container when the closure is reapplied to the container in an inverted orientation, an arcuate shoulder, which is positioned radially inwardly of the flange to be closely positioned to the interior of the mouth of the container, and a piercing and cutting element that projects upwardly from the shoulder and extends over a somewhat smaller arc. To gain access to the contents of the container through the membrane, the closure is removed from the container, for example, by unscrewing it, and is then reapplied to the container in an inverted orientation with the rim of the container that surrounds its mouth being trapped between the flange surrounding the upper surface of the container and the arcuate shoulder. This will cause the piercing and cutting element to pierce the membrane and will cause the arcuate shoulder to snuggly engage the portion of the membrane therebelow to put tension therein. Rotation of the closure on the container, while the closure is in its inverted orientation, will cause the cutting and piercing element to cut the membrane along an arc that is concentric with and close to the interior of the container mouth. During this cutting action, the shoulder in the top of the closure maintains suitable tension for cutting in the membrane for most of an arc of 360°, notwithstanding gradual loss in tension in the membrane as the cutting action proceeds. However, near the end of the cutting arc, the tension in the membrane is so low, notwithstanding engagement by the shoulder at the top of the closure, that no further cutting action occurs. Thus, the membrane never totally detaches from the container mouth even if the closure is rotated by more than 360° while in its inverted orientation on the container, and the shoulder of the closure will simply ensure that the membrane is securely folded against the interior of the container for the final, minor portion of the double-ended arc along which it is cut.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved closure of the piercing and cutting type for a container with a membrane-sealed mouth. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a closure of the aforesaid type in which the cutting action of the membrane by the closure proceeds smoothly over an arc of somewhat less than 360° by an action in which the closure is turned at least 360° on the container during the cutting action. It is also an object of the present invention to provide a package that is made up of a container with a membrane-sealed mouth that is normally closed by a removable closure of the aforesaid type.
For a further understanding of the present invention and the objects thereof, attention is directed to the drawing and the following brief description thereof, to the detailed description of the preferred embodiment and to the appended claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5791505 (1998-08-01), Gilliland
patent: 5797506 (1998-08-01), Lehmkuhl et al.
patent: 6024234 (2000-02-01), Rink et al.
patent: 6039198 (2000-03-01), Wolfe et al.
Research Disclosure, “screww Cap”, pp. 401-402, Nov. 1981.
Mierzwiak James G.
Wolfe Steven R.
Newhouse Nathan J.
Owens-Illinois Closure Inc.
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