Receptacles – Closures – Closure penetrated through intersecting slits
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-16
2001-09-11
Newhouse, Nathan J. (Department: 3727)
Receptacles
Closures
Closure penetrated through intersecting slits
C220S231000, C220S266000, C220S089200, C215S253000, C222S153060
Reexamination Certificate
active
06286702
ABSTRACT:
CROSS REFERENCE TO OTHER APPLICATIONS
This is the first submission of an application for this article of manufacture. There are no other applications, provisional or non provisional.
FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
There are no federally sponsored or funded research or development projects or undertakings in any way associated with the instant invention.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The instant invention relates to that field of devices consisting of articles of manufacture known as safety caps. Specifically, the instant invention is a compressed gas bottle high pressure release cap.
2. Background Information
The prior art known to applicant discloses that single use safety caps are reasonably well known. The single use safety cap is most often intended to prevent unwanted intrusion of foreign matter into the area protected by the cap, or to provide quick visual indication as to whether or not the area protected by the cap has been tampered with. These safety caps have been utilized in conjunction with a great number of different containers, the containers holding diverse materials. Applicant is aware of tamperproof and tamper evident safety caps intended to be used with various liquids stored in pressurized containers. For example, in Tamperproof Container Closure issued to J. W. Soffer, U.S. Pat. No. 2,643,015, Jun. 23, 1953, the tamper proof cap is a frusto-conical cap having a closed end and an open end, the open end having teeth for gripping the container to be protected, and a pull tab which permits the user to break the safety cap and remove it prior to use of the container.
Another example of tamper proof caps may be found in Tamper Indicating Cap Seal for Container Valves, issued to Charles Fuehrer, U.S. Pat. No. 4,712,705, Dec. 15, 1987, the tamper indicating cap is nearly identical to Soffer, but has been adapted for use on beverage tanks having valves or quick disconnect coupling plugs by essentially including another depending skirt to the device disclosed in Stoffer, and a series of bumps or protrusions on the interior wall which mate up with the various indentations found on the valves of common beverage tanks.
Unfortunately, none of the above prior art patents provides a safe, efficient and easy to use way to prevent intrusion into a gas cylinder valve, while at the same time providing a safe means for escape of pressurized gas.
In both Soffer '015 and Fuehrer '705, the cap is intended to remain in place once attached, and no provision is made to allow the safe escape of high pressure gas from the container. In fact, the stated objective in both of these patents is to provide a cap which cannot be removed without causing visible damage to the cap. This is a critical flaw.
Those who routinely handle pressurized gas canisters (for example, those who supply hospitals and others with so-called “oxygen bottles”) know that on occasion high pressure gas may escape from the cylinder valve. Escapes such as this are rarely intended or anticipated. When such an escape of high pressure gas occurs, anything between the valve and the outside environment will be subjected to a sudden stream of high velocity gas. All too often it is the safety cap which takes the brunt of the force of the escaping gas. The result is a safety cap acting as a high velocity, and potentially highly dangerous, projectile as it is blown away from the valve.
In the event that high pressure gas escapes while the Fuehrer '705 cap is in place, the sudden high pressure release against the underside surface of the top of the cap is extremely likely to dislodge the cap and send it flying away from the container at a dangerous velocity. Soffer '015, being of the same essential construction, is just as likely to be dislodged and become a potentially dangerous missile.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The instant invention is a pressure release safety cap designed specifically for use on tanks and other containers holding pressurized contents and having valves for releasing those pressurized contents. Unlike all prior art known to Applicant, the present invention incorporates features which permit the unexpected and uncontrolled escape of high pressure materials from within the container without permitting the pressure release safety cap or fragments thereof to become dangerous projectiles.
Applicant accomplishes this objective by incorporating a pressure release means into the pressure release safety cap. When high pressure materials suddenly escape the container by passing out through the valve which the device covers, the pressure release means gives way, thus permitting the high pressure material to exit the pressure release safety cap while the cap remains in place. No prior art known to Applicant is designed to accomplish this objective.
Another objective of the instant invention is to provide a pressure release safety cap having a pressure release means which will break apart during the unexpected release of high pressure gas, and yet still remain a single unit so that pressure release means fragments do not become potentially dangerous projectiles.
Applicant accomplishes this objective by incorporating pressure release means which will break apart along predetermined weakened areas, while at the same time incorporating fragment retention means which ensure that any fragments which may be produced during the breaking apart remain attached to the pressure release safety cap.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a pressure release safety cap which permits the escape of high pressure materials, and yet also provides a measure of safety against tampering and the unwanted intrusion of foreign matter into the container valve.
Applicant accomplishes this objective by creating a pressure release safety cap which, prior to destruction of the pressure release means, cannot be removed from the container without damaging the pressure release safety cap. Furthermore, once in place on the container's valve, Applicant's pressure release safety cap is so closely associated with the valve and container that foreign matter is prevented from entering the cap, and therefore is prevented from entering the container valve.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3292826 (1966-12-01), Abplanalp
patent: 3684124 (1972-08-01), Song
patent: 3826412 (1974-07-01), Kneusel
patent: 3831822 (1974-08-01), Zundel
patent: 4576303 (1986-03-01), Mundt et al.
patent: 5197622 (1993-03-01), Anderson
patent: 5411158 (1995-05-01), Kays et al.
patent: 5544779 (1996-08-01), Yamamoto et al.
patent: 5570803 (1996-11-01), Farwell
patent: 5632393 (1997-05-01), Houser
Ellicott, Esq Kevin
Newhouse Nathan J.
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