Closure assembly
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A closure for a container, the closure comprising:
- a base comprising;
a mounting portion;
a neck portion centered and extending about a vertical axis;
a thread formed about an exterior surface of the neck; and
a track formed along an interior surface of the neck, the track defined by;
a lower end of a vertical guide extending generally perpendicularly downwards from an upper portion of the neck; and
an upper surface of a bottom guide extending below at least a portion of the lower end of the vertical guide;
a cutter comprising;
a cylindrical body;
a cutting element extending downwards from a lower end of the cylindrical body;
a downwardly angled rib extending about an outer surface of the cutter; and
a fin extending radially inwards from an inner surface of the cylindrical body,wherein the fin terminates at an end opposite the inner surface of the cylindrical body;
a cap comprising;
a top panel;
a skirt extending downwards from an outer periphery of the top panel;
a thread configured to interact with the thread of the base to sealingly attach the cap to the base; and
a drive tab extending downwards from a lower surface of the top panel;
wherein in an assembled, pre-initial opening configuration of the closure, the cutter is located within the neck portion of the base such the bottommost surface of the cutting element is located above a lowermost portion of the neck portion and the cap is sealingly attached to the base by an engagement of the thread of the cap with the thread of the base;
wherein upon initial removal of the cap from the base, rotation of the cap relative to the base results in the engagement of the drive tab with the fin, causing the cutter to be rotated relative to the base;
the rotation of the cutter relative to the base resulting in the rib entering into and traveling downwards along the track as the cap is rotated relative to the base, with the downward rotational movement of the cutter relative to the base causing the cutting element to move to a position in which the bottommost surface of the cutting element extends below the lowermost portion of the cap.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A closure including a base, a cutter and a cap is described which is configured to be attached to a container. Upon initial removal of the cap from the base, the cutter is configured to move downwards relative to the base so as to create an opening through the container. The portion of the container through which the cutter creates an opening may be formed of a film that is configured to be easily pierceable by the cutter. Methods of molding the closure components may include co-molding the cutter and base an in integral unit so as to facilitate and expedite assembly of the base, cutter and cap components to form the closure.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A closure for a container, the closure comprising:
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a base comprising; a mounting portion; a neck portion centered and extending about a vertical axis; a thread formed about an exterior surface of the neck; and a track formed along an interior surface of the neck, the track defined by; a lower end of a vertical guide extending generally perpendicularly downwards from an upper portion of the neck; and an upper surface of a bottom guide extending below at least a portion of the lower end of the vertical guide; a cutter comprising; a cylindrical body; a cutting element extending downwards from a lower end of the cylindrical body; a downwardly angled rib extending about an outer surface of the cutter; and a fin extending radially inwards from an inner surface of the cylindrical body, wherein the fin terminates at an end opposite the inner surface of the cylindrical body; a cap comprising; a top panel; a skirt extending downwards from an outer periphery of the top panel; a thread configured to interact with the thread of the base to sealingly attach the cap to the base; and a drive tab extending downwards from a lower surface of the top panel; wherein in an assembled, pre-initial opening configuration of the closure, the cutter is located within the neck portion of the base such the bottommost surface of the cutting element is located above a lowermost portion of the neck portion and the cap is sealingly attached to the base by an engagement of the thread of the cap with the thread of the base; wherein upon initial removal of the cap from the base, rotation of the cap relative to the base results in the engagement of the drive tab with the fin, causing the cutter to be rotated relative to the base; the rotation of the cutter relative to the base resulting in the rib entering into and traveling downwards along the track as the cap is rotated relative to the base, with the downward rotational movement of the cutter relative to the base causing the cutting element to move to a position in which the bottommost surface of the cutting element extends below the lowermost portion of the cap. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A closure assembly for a container comprising:
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a base comprising; a mounting portion; a neck portion centered and extending about a vertical axis; a first guide element extending generally perpendicularly downwards along the interior surface of the neck from an upper portion of the neck, the first guide having a width as measured in an angular direction that defines a first distance; a second guide element, at least a portion of the second guide being located below a lowermost surface of the first guide; and a track defined between the first guide element and the second guide element; and a cutter comprising; a cylindrical body; one or more cutting elements extending downwards from a lower end of the cylindrical body; one or more fins extending radially inwards from an inner surface of the cylindrical body; and two or more downwardly angled ribs extending about an outer surface of the cylindrical body; wherein the first end of a first rib is spaced apart a second distance as measured in an angular direction from a second end of a second rib located adjacent the first rib, the first distance being substantially the same as the second distance; wherein in an assembled configuration of the cutter and base, the cutter is positioned within the neck of the base such that the first guide element is positioned in the space defined between the first end of the first rib and the second end of the second rib; and the first and second guide elements being arranged to define the track such that upon rotation of the cutter relative to the base, the cutter is moved rotationally downwards relative to the base as the ribs of the cutter travel along the track. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of assembling a closure for a container comprising:
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providing a base comprising; a mounting portion; a neck portion centered and extending about a vertical axis; a thread formed about an exterior surface of the neck; and a guide element formed about an inner surface of the neck portion; providing a cap comprising; a top panel; a skirt having a thread formed on an inner surface; and one or more drive tabs extending horizontally downwards from a lower surface of the top panel; providing a cutter attached to and integral with the base, the cutter comprising; a cylindrical body; one or more frangible bridges attached between the cylindrical body of the cutter and the neck portion of the base; a cutting element extending downwards from a lower end of the cylindrical body; one or more catches extending radially inwards from an inner surface of the cylindrical body configured to interact with the one or more drive tabs to cause rotation of the cutter; and two or more cams extending about an outer surface of the cutter, the cams configured to engage with the guide element of the base to move the cutter from an assembled configuration to a piercing configuration in which the bottommost surface of the cutting element extends below a lowermost portion of the neck portion; and attaching the cap to the base to seal the base by engaging the thread of the cap with the thread of the base, wherein the step of attaching the cap is defined by an initial movement of the cap relative to the base in a purely axial direction and a second subsequent movement of the cap relative to the base in a combined rotational and axial direction; wherein the downwards movement of the cap relative to the base causes the breakage of the one or more frangible bridges attaching the cutter and the base and also results in the movement of one or both of the cutter and the base relative to one another such that following the attachment of the cap to the base, the cap, the base, and the cutter are arranged in an assembled configuration in which the cutter is positioned radially inwards within the base and the cap is sealingly engaged with the neck portion of the base. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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Specification