Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US4567995?ie=ISO-8859-1
Timestamp: 2015-07-30 21:56:25
Document Index: 239433337

Matched Legal Cases: ['art.\n2', 'art.\n4', 'art.\n8', 'art.\n14', 'art.\n16', 'art.\n19', 'art.\n23']

Patent US4567995 - End closure having separate opening means. - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsAn end closure for a container comprising an end cap and a cover rotatable with respect to the end cap. The end cap has a raised portion connected to the main part of the end cap by a thinned, severable wall. The raised portion fits within an opening in the end cap, which opening is defined at least...http://www.google.com/patents/US4567995?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US4567995 - End closure having separate opening means.Advanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS4567995 APublication typeGrantApplication numberUS 06/683,068Publication dateFeb 4, 1986Filing dateDec 18, 1984Priority dateDec 18, 1984Fee statusPaidAlso published asCA1234782A1Publication number06683068, 683068, US 4567995 A, US 4567995A, US-A-4567995, US4567995 A, US4567995AInventorsWalter J. Kreiseder, Allen J. VogelOriginal AssigneeCourtesy Mold & Tool CorporationExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (3), Referenced by (16), Classifications (13), Legal Events (13) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetEnd closure having separate opening means.
US 4567995 AAbstract
An end closure for a container comprising an end cap and a cover rotatable with respect to the end cap. The end cap has a raised portion connected to the main part of the end cap by a thinned, severable wall. The raised portion fits within an opening in the end cap, which opening is defined at least in part by a knife edge. Upon rotation of the cover relative to the end cap, the knife edge will cut through the severable wall and sever the raised portion from the end cap. A pour opening is defined in the end cap when the raised portion is severed. When the opening in the cover is aligned with the pour opening in the end cap, the contents of the container may be dispensed. When the opening in the cover is out of registry with the pour opening in the end cap, no contents may be discharged. Complementary inter-engaging flanges on the end cap and cover retain the parts in assembled relationship. In one embodiment of the invention, the opening in the cover includes a flat wall adapted to abut the raised portion and preclude rotation of the cover in one direction until the raised portion is removed. Another embodiment of the invention includes cooperating means on the cover and on the end cap to preclude retrograde motion or reverse motion of the cover with respect to the end cap once cutting of the severable wall begins.
1. An end closure for a container comprising a first imperforate stationary part and a second movable part, means for rotatably securing the first part and the second part centrally and at the sides, said first part having a raised portion secured thereto by severable wall means and said second part having an opening therein for receiving said raised portion, said opening defined at least in part by knife means for severing said severable wall means upon rotational movement of said second part with respect to said first part and for urging the cut raised portion from said first part.
2. An end closure as in claim 1 wherein the first part and second part are each made from plastic.
3. An end closure as in claim 1 wherein the knife means comprise a tapered wall of the opening, said knife means being constructed and arranged to cut the severable wall means and urge the cut raised portion from the first part so as to define a pour opening in the first part.
4. An end closure as in claim 3 wherein the knife means is in the form of a concave curve for severing the severable wall means in a gradual fashion.
5. An end closure as in claim 1 wherein the first part is immovably secured to the container and has no opening therein until the severable wall means is cut.
6. An end closure as in claim 5 wherein the securing means include complementary members for rotatably interconnecting the parts.
7. An end closure as in claim 6 wherein the complementary members include centrally located annular projection on one part engaging with a centrally located annual recess in the other part.
8. An end closure as in claim 6 wherein the complementary members include an annular flange on the side of one part and an annular flange on the side of the other part that engage one another.
9. An end closure as in claim 5 including means for retaining the top surface of the first part in close relationship with the bottom surface of the second part, with a central recess on the first part and an annular flange on the side of the second part engaging with an annular flange on the side of the first part, whereby the second part may be rotated with respect to the first part to sever the severable wall means and open a pour opening in the first part while forcing the cut raised portion from the container.
10. An end closure as in claim 9 wherein the opening in the second part may be rotated into registry with the pour opening to permit discharge from the container and may be moved out of registry to terminate discharge from the container.
11. An end closure as in claim 1 wherein the opening in the second part includes a flat wall adapted to abut the raised portion and preclude rotation of the second part with respect to the first part in one direction until the raised portion is severed and removed.
12. An end closure as in claim 11 including cooperating means on the first part and on the second part for precluding retrograde motion of the second part with respect to the first part once cutting of the severable wall means begins.
13. An end closure as in claim 12 wherein the cooperating means include interengaging oppositely facing teeth on said first part and said second part.
14. An end closure for a container comprising a first imperforate stationary part and a second movable part rotatably supported on said first part, said first part being adapted to be hermetically sealed to a container, said first part including a raised portion connected by a severable wall, knife means on said second part for severing the severable wall to remove the raised portion and permit access to the contents of the container, said parts being provided with complementary means for rotatably interconnecting the parts, said complementary means including first cooperating members joining the central portions of the parts and second cooperating members joining the sides of the parts.
15. An end closure as in claim 14 wherein the first complementary members include a centrally located annular flange on one part engaging with a centrally located annular recess in the other part.
16. An end closure as in claim 15 wherein the second complementary members include an annular flange on the side of one part and an annular flange on the side of the other part that engage one another.
17. An end closure as in claim 16 wherein the annular flanges have tapered mating surfaces that cooperate with one another to urge the parts into engagement.
18. An end closure as in claim 14 wherein said raised portion on the first stationary part is fits within an opening in said second movable part, said opening defined at least in part by said knife means for severing said raised portion upon relative rotational movement of said movable part with respect to said stationary part.
19. An end closure as in claim 18 wherein the opening in said second movable part includes a flat wall adapted to abut the raised portion and preclude rotation of the second movable part with respect to the first stationary part in one direction until the raised portion is severed and removed.
20. An end closure as in claim 19 including cooperating means on the first stationary part and the secondary movable part for precluding retrograde motion of the second movable part with respect to the first stationary part once cutting of the raised portion from the first stationary part begins.
21. An end closure as in claim 1 wherein the first part and the second part are molded from polypropylene.
22. An end closure as in claim 21 wherein the first part is made from a copolymer and the second part is made from a homopolymer, said second part being harder than said first part to facilitate severing of the raised portion by the knife means upon rotation of the second part with respect to the first part.
23. A container for product including a cylindrical body having a side wall, a bottom affixed at one end of the body, an end closure affixed to the other end of said body, said end closure including an imperforate end cap secured to said body so as to seal the contents therein and a cover rotatably secured to said end cap, said end cap having a raised portion secured thereto by a severable wall, said cover having an opening for receiving said raised portion therein, said opening defined at least in part by knife means for cutting the severable wall upon rotation of the cover with respect to the end cap so as to lift the raised portion from the end cap and define a pour opening, said end cap and said cover being provided with complementary means for rotatably interconnecting said end cap and said cover centrally and at the sides.
24. A container as in claim 23 wherein the end cap and cover are molded from polypropylene.
25. A container as in claim 23 wherein the cover is molded from a harder plastic than the end cap to facilitate severing of the raised portion by the knife means upon rotation of the cover with respect to the end cap.
26. A container as in claim 23 wherein the complementary means include first complementary members joining the central portions of the end cap and cover and second cooperating members joining the sides of the end cap and cover.
27. A container as in claim 25 wherein the first complementary members include a centrally located annular flange on one of the end cap or covers engaging with a centrally located annular recess in the other of the end cap or cover.
28. A container as in claim 25 wherein the second complementary members include an annular flange on the side of one of the end cap or cover and an annular flange on the side of the other of the end cap or cover that engage one another.
The present invention pertains to an end closure for a container and more particularly, to an end closure for a container containing grated cheese, bread crumbs or like food product for maintaining the container in a sealed condition after packaging and for opening a pour opening in the end closure upon first actuation of a first end closure part with respect to a second end closure part to permit the contents to be dispensed as needed.
To open the end cap, a tool or finger is inserted against the tab to break the wall portions and the tab is pushed into the container. If a finger is used, a nail of the user may be broken. In some cases, where the end cap has been made from polystyrene, particles of plastic have broken off and mixed with the contents, thereby contaminating the food with undesirable and perhaps harmful non-food matter. The tab in the container may interfere with pouring of the contents from the container. Hence, it has been suggested to provide means to prevent the tab removed from the end cap from falling into the container. As shown in Ziemann et al. 3,912,128, such means may comprise fulcrum pins securing the tab to the end cover after the reduced thickness wall has been severed. In a similar manner, Otterson 4,274,563 provides hinge pins to secure the tab to the end cover so that it can remain hinged and not drop into the contents of the container.
It is desired to improve upon such prior end closures by providing a novel end closure wherein a raised portion or tab defining the pour opening will be automatically cut and urged outwardly from the end closure upon rotation or movement of a first end closure part relative to a second end closure part. The container is adapted to be hermetically closed by the end closure before the pour opening is initially removed.
An object of the present invention is to provide an end closure wherein disadvantages and deficiencies of prior constructions are obviated.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved end closure having parts movable with respect to one another for automatically severing a tab from the cover to form a pour opening, said tab being urged outwardly and severed from the cover without dropping into the contents of the container.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an improved end closure having a first part affixed to the container and a second part rotatable relative to said first part, said first part having a raised portion adapted to be severed to define a pour opening in said first part, and knife means on said second part for severing said raised portion during initial rotation of said second part relative to said first part and urging said severed raised portion away from said end closure so as not to drop into the container.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved end closure capable of hermetically sealing the top of the container before initial opening of the pour opening in the end cap.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved end closure having a fixed end cap with a raised portion and a rotatable cover having a knife edge for severing the raised portion when rotating in one direction and having means for precluding retrograde motion once cutting of the raised portion has begun.
FIG. 6 is a plan view of the rotatable cover of a modified end closure, with the pour opening in the end cap being shown in phantom and illustrating a modified knife means;
FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the end closure of FIGS. 6-12, illustrating the severing of the raised portion on the end cap by the knife means on the rotatable cover;
FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of a container, illustrating a first modification for connecting an end closure to the container;
FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of a container, illustrating a second modification for connecting an end closure to the container; and
FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of a container, illustrating a third modification for connecting an end closure to the container.
In FIG. 6, there is shown a plan view of a modified cover 120 having a modified knife means 126. The raised portion 122 on the end cap is shown in phantom. The knife means 126 is formed integrally with the cover 120, as was the knife means 26 shown in FIG. 2, except that the knife edge 127 is extended along one side of the opening 124 in the cover in the form of a concave curve. The overall opening 124 looks somewhat like a partial moon. The wall portion 129 (FIGS. 6 and 8b) of opening 124 is flat and spaced close to the raised portion 122 to preclude counterwise rotation of the cover 120 relative to the end cap 118 when the raised portion 122 is in place. The knife means 126 (as with the knife means 26) tapers inwardly toward the bottom of the opening in the cover, to define the relatively sharp cutting edge 127, as best shown in FIGS. 8 and 8a. In use, the knife means 126 (FIG. 6) functions in a similar, but improved fashion to the knife means of FIG. 1. Knife means 126 will engage with and sever the thinned wall 140 which holds the raised portion 22 to the end cap 18 in a gradual fashion when rotated clockwise as shown in FIG. 6. The knife edge 126 engages a corner of the raised portion wall section 40 and upon continued rotations, engages more of the wall section. When the end of knife means 126 passes through wall section 140, the raised portion 122 will be completely severed from end cap 118. It has been found that the configuration of the knife means 126 illustrated in FIG. 6 lessens the force necessary to sever the raised portion as compared with the knife means 26 since there is a more gradual application of cutting or severing to the wall 140. The cover 120 includes a ridged edge 121, which is the same as that shown at 21 in FIG. 2.
FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate cross sections of the two parts of the end closure 116. The cover 120 is shown in cross section in FIG. 8 and the end cap 118 is shown in cross section in FIG. 9. The parts illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9 are juxtaposed to show the position just prior to assembly of the cover 120 to the end cap 118. The cover 120 will be pushed downwardly on to the end cap 118, until the projection 142 engages within the recess 144, with the flange 146 on the end cap 118 engaging the complementary flange 146a on the cover 120. At the same time, the sides of the cover 120 move downwardly upon the sides of the end cap 118 until the inwardly extending flange 138 of the cover 120 engages beneath the outwardly projecting flange 136 on the end cap 118. The two components 118 and 120 of the end closure 16 are retained in assembled relationship after assembly, while permitting desired rotation between the cover 120 and the end cap 118, which, as shown, in FIG. 1, may be an integral part of the container 12.
FIG. 10 illustrates an enlarged detail view of the connection of the rotation cover to the end cap 118 and particularly, the configuration of the recess 144 with its flange 146 adapted to engage the flange 146a on the projection 142 depending from the top of the cover 120.
Another important feature of the present invention is the provision of means to prevent retrograde motion of the rotatable cover with respect to the end cap once severing of the wall section connecting the raised portion to the end cap has begun. Unauthorized tampering with the seal provided by the raised portion may be detected by the store owner or user. The retrograde preventing means comprise interengaging teeth on the end cap and cover respectively. In FIG. 6, there is shown in dotted line a tooth 155 which depends from the bottom of the rotatable cover 120. The center of the tooth 155 is slightly cored so as to prevent a sink or depression on the top of the cover 120 during molding. The end cap 118 is provided with a recess 153 generally complementary to the depth and sides of the tooth 155 for receiving said tooth therein. As shown in FIG. 11, the recess 153 is annular. The tooth 157 is inclined upwardly from the bottom of recess 153 and has a flat face 157a which is adapted to engage with the oppositely facing tooth 155 depending from cover 120. Tooth 155 includes a flat face 155a which is adapted to cooperate with flat face 157a to prevent retrograde motion of the cover 120 relative to the end cap 118 once severing of wall section 140 begins. The teeth 155, 157 are arranged upon the cover and end cap respectively for positioning as shown in FIG. 12 just as the knife means 126 engages wall section 140. The inclined surface of tooth 155 may ride up the inclined surface on tooth 157. Just as the knife edge 126 engages the wall section 140, tooth 155 will ride over the edge of tooth 155 and be pulled downwardly toward the end cap by the inherent resiliency of the plastic forming the cover 120. The faces 155a and 157a will abut. Reverse rotation of the cover 120 relative to the end cap 18 is precluded. Continued rotations of the knife edge 126 to sever the wall 140 will be unimpeded.
In FIG. 13, there is illustrated a perspective view of the end closure showing the components as the cutting of the raised portion commences. The knife means 126 engages the thinned wall 140 in a small area of the wall and upon continued rotation of cover 120 relative to the end cap 118, there will be continued cutting of the wall 140. The cut raised portion 122 moves upwardly onto the cover 120 and when cutting of the thinned wall 140 is completed, the raised portion 122 is entirely removed from the container. This has the advantage that there will be no foreign object entering the container, which object could subsequently impede pouring of the contents. The possibility of the user breaking a fingernail in trying to gain access to the container by pressing through or pressing downwardly on the tab portion of the end cap is eliminated. The seal provided by the manufacturer for the contents of the container is maintained until such time as the user desires to gain entry to the interior of the container by initial rotation of cover 120 relative to end cap 118, which severs and removes the raised portion 122 from the end cap 118 to provide a pour opening 128 in the end cap 118. The opening 124 in the cover 120 can be moved out of registry with opening 128 and holes 123, 125 to seal the contents and prevent inadvertent discharge if the container falls or is turned upside down.
In FIGS. 14, 15 and 16, there are shown several modifications of end cap. In each of these modifications, the end cap is formed separate from the container. For example in FIG. 14, the end cap 218 includes a downwardly depending flange 250 that is adapted to engage the interior of the side wall 212 of a container 210. As shown, the bottom 214 may also be provided with an inwardly extending flange 260 for engaging the interior of the side walls 212 of the container 210. The flanges 250 and 260 may be retained by friction or a suitable adhesive may be applied to better bond the side walls of the cylinder 212 to the flanges 250 and 260.
With reference to FIG. 15, there is shown a container 310 with an end cap 318 and a cover 320. The end cap 318 has a recess 350 for receiving a bayonet extension 352 on the end walls 312. The bayonet extension 352 includes a flange 354 that cooperates with a complementary flange 356 on the interior of the recess 350. The external diameter of the flange 354 on the bayonet 352 is greater than the internal diameter of the flange 356 on the end cap 318. Therefore, the bayonet extension 354 extends into the recess 350 with a force fit or snap fit and is retained therein.
In FIG. 16, there is shown an arrangement wherein the end cap 418 has internal threads or circular projections 456 for permitting connection of the end cap to a separate container. The threads 456 may engage with external threads on the container 410 (shown in phanton). The circular projections 456 may be continuous or discontinuous and are adapted to cooperate with external ridges on the container for maintaining the end closure and the container in assembled relationship. Cover 420 engages and cooperates with end cap 418.
In each embodiment of FIGS. 14, 15 and 16, the cover is intended to cooperate with the end cap as was previously explained. Thus, the construction of the covers 220, 320 and 420 of FIGS. 14, 15 and 16 respectively may be the same as that shown in either FIG. 2 or FIG. 6.
There has been provided by the present invention an improved end closure for a container. The parts are molded from plastic and are easily assembled for use. Preferably, the cover (and knife means) are molded from a harder plastic than the end cap to facilitate severing of the raised portion from the end cap. The configuration of the knife means of FIG. 6 makes it easier to sever the raised portion as compared to the knife means of FIG. 2. The end cap is closed and thus provides for hermetic sealing of the container after packaging. Upon initial use, the raised portion of the end cap is severed and forced from the pour opening to assure that there will be no subsequent interference with pouring of the contents from the pour opening in the end cap as results when the tab for the pour opening is pushed into the container. The rotatable cover fits snuggly in sliding engagement with the end cap as a result of the center connection and the side connection of the two elements. This assures that after the container is opened and the cover opening is positioned out of registry with the pour opening in the end cap, the contents of the container will be sealed.
Patent CitationsCited PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS3261524 *Apr 9, 1964Jul 19, 1966Audio Sell IncMessage repeaterUS3355069 *Dec 13, 1965Nov 28, 1967Colgate Palmolive CoDispensing containerUS3874580 *Feb 1, 1973Apr 1, 1975Weatherchem CorpContainer end closure* Cited by examinerReferenced byCiting PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS4696410 *Mar 26, 1987Sep 29, 1987Courtesy Mold & Tool CorporationClosure with side cut tamper evident featureUS4706835 *Apr 16, 1987Nov 17, 1987Courtesy Mold & Tool CorporationClosure with top cut tamper evident featureUS4709830 *Apr 16, 1987Dec 1, 1987Courtesy Mold & Tool CorporationClosure with top cut tamper evident feature for wide mouth containerUS4718570 *Mar 18, 1987Jan 12, 1988Vita Zahnfabrik H. Rauter Gmbh & Co.Dispenser for pasty compositionsUS4846374 *May 13, 1988Jul 11, 1989Consolidated Papers, Inc.Tamper resistant end closure for containersUS5167338 *Apr 22, 1991Dec 1, 1992James KickShake and pour end closure with stay open lidUS5195645 *Apr 7, 1992Mar 23, 1993Specialty Packaging Group, Inc.End closure having adjustable push open lidUS5213238 *Jan 8, 1992May 25, 1993Tri-Made Products, Inc.Multi-functional, environmentally-oriented, tamper-evident container closureUS5215220 *Apr 30, 1991Jun 1, 1993Courtesy CorporationTamper evident closure with dispensing spout and integral opening memberUS5292021 *Apr 26, 1990Mar 8, 1994Lyon Christopher JHolder for liquid containing packageUS5305931 *Jan 26, 1993Apr 26, 1994Iri-Made Products, Inc.Multi-functional, environmentally-oriented, tamper-evident container closureUS5507419 *Nov 3, 1993Apr 16, 1996Tri-Made Products, Inc.Multi-functional, enviornmentally-oriented, tamper-evident container closureUS8720717Feb 2, 2012May 13, 2014Ball CorporationEnd closure with full panel openingUS20100206875 *Oct 29, 2007Aug 19, 2010C-A-P Technologies GmbhPackage with a sealing regionUSRE33319 *Feb 13, 1989Sep 4, 1990Vita Zahnfabrik H. Rauter Gmbh & Co.Dispenser for pasty compositionsEP0439268A2 *Jan 14, 1991Jul 31, 1991Ferry Pickering (Sales) LimitedTamper-evident drum containers* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification220/253, 222/83, 220/267International ClassificationB65D47/26, B65D47/36, B65D51/22Cooperative ClassificationB65D47/265, B65D51/228, B65D2251/0018, B65D2251/0071, B65D2251/0087European ClassificationB65D51/22C, B65D47/26D4Legal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionJan 31, 1985ASAssignmentOwner name: COURTESY MOLD & TOOL CORPORATION, AN IL CORPFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNORS:KREISEDER, WALTER J.;VOGEL, ALLEN J.;REEL/FRAME:004355/0746Effective date: 19841211Aug 7, 1989FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 4Oct 1, 1990ASAssignmentOwner name: COURTESY CORPORATIONFree format text: CHANGE OF NAME;ASSIGNOR:COURTESY MOLD & TOOL CORP.;REEL/FRAME:005454/0259Effective date: 19900813Mar 5, 1991ASAssignmentOwner name: NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY, THE, 50 SOUTH LA SALLE ST.Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:COURTESY CORPORATION, A CORP. OF IL;REEL/FRAME:005622/0358Effective date: 19910222Aug 2, 1993FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 8Jul 24, 1997FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 12Aug 10, 1999ASAssignmentOwner name: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., TEXASFree format text: ASSIGNMENT AND SECURITY AGREEMENT;ASSIGNORS:LLS CORP.;COURTESY CORPORATION;CREATIVE PACKAGING CORP.;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:010180/0262Effective date: 19990730Jan 29, 2002ASAssignmentNov 6, 2002ASAssignmentNov 12, 2002ASAssignmentFeb 24, 2004ASAssignmentFeb 27, 2004ASAssignmentMar 26, 2004ASAssignmentRotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services