Receptacles – Closures – Superposed closures for common opening
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-15
2001-04-24
Newhouse, Nathan J. (Department: 3727)
Receptacles
Closures
Superposed closures for common opening
C220S780000, C220S359100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06220471
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an improved construction of an overcap for fitting over a top end of a cylindrical container and an easy-open top end closure thereon which includes an end ring defining a central opening closed by a removable membrane.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Easy-open containers have heretofore been provided for a variety of products including powdered products, such as food products, cleaning products, etc. These easy-open containers are often constructed of a composite cylindrical body portion having end closures for closing and sealing the container and wherein the top end closure comprises an end ring seamed to the composite container body and having an inside circular peripheral area in the form of a downwardly and inwardly curved bead and defining a central opening of desired size to have access therethrough to the interior of the container. The top end closure further includes an easy-open membrane patch of sufficient size to cover the central opening and attached to the end ring for allowing detachment and removal when it is desired to open the container to obtain access to the product therein.
These types of easy-open containers often also include overcaps constructed for fitting over the container top end portion and top end closure before and after opening of the container. These overcaps serve many functions including, but not limited to, protecting the top of the container from damage before and after removal of the membrane and opening of the container, keeping unwanted items from getting into the container after removal of the membrane and opening of the container, keeping the product within the container from spilling out of the container after opening of the container, helping improve stack-ability of these containers before and after opening, and increasing the life of the product after opening of the container.
With the increased packaging of moisture and oxygen sensitive products into these types of containers, the need has been established for an improved re-seal feature for the container, after opening of the container and removal of the membrane, to re-seal the container and prevent undesirable moisture and oxygen from entering the container.
OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is the object of this invention to provide a generally circular overcap adapted to fit over a top end of a cylindrical container and top end closure thereon which includes an end ring having an inside circular downwardly and inwardly curved bead defining a central opening and closed by a removable membrane positioned thereon, wherein the overcap construction includes a resealing feature for resealing of the container after initial opening thereof and removal of the membrane from the top end closure.
It has been found by this invention that this object may be accomplished by providing a resealing overcap comprising a circular central portion having an outer periphery and adapted to extend radially of the container when positioned thereon for covering the container top end portion. The overcap further includes a downwardly depending flange portion integrally extending from and around the central portion outer peripheral area and adapted to extend axially of the cylindrical container when positioned thereon and having an inside diameter approximately equal to the outside diameter of the cylindrical container to provide a friction fit around the end ring of the container when positioned thereon.
The overcap further includes a downwardly depending flexible ring portion integrally extending from an inside surface of the overcap central portion and adapted to extend axially of the cylindrical container when positioned thereon to define a leading edge portion adapted to be positioned over the inside circular bead of the container end closure when positioned thereon before opening of the container and adapted to flex and snap fit around the downwardly and inwardly curved bead of the end ring of the container end closure upon opening of the container and removal of the easy-open membrane patch for resealing of the container. It has been found preferable to have the leading edge of the flexible ring of the overcap of a diameter smaller than the central opening of the container top end closure and to extend outwardly of the overcap at a predetermined angle of between 30° and 45° to the overcap downwardly depending flexible ring. It has also been found preferable to construct the overcap as an injection molded plastic overcap.
REFERENCES:
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patent: 4856674 (1989-08-01), Berney
patent: 4856708 (1989-08-01), Giasi
patent: 4993577 (1991-02-01), Griffin et al.
patent: 5353943 (1994-10-01), Hayward
patent: 5415306 (1995-05-01), Luch et al.
patent: 5775531 (1998-07-01), Lowry
Alston & Bird LLP
Newhouse Nathan J.
Sonoco Development Inc.
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