Closure device for containers

• US 6,145,688 A
• Filed: 07/16/1997
• Issued: 11/14/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: James C. Smith
• Original Assignee: James C. Smith
• Inventors: Smith, James C.
• Primary Examiner(s): NEWHOUSE, NATHAN JEFFREY
• Application Number:
  US08/895,494
• Time in Patent Office: 1,217 Days
• Field of Search: 215/247, 215/248, 215/235, 215/237, 215/277, 215/278, 215/306, 215/DIG. 3, 215/307-310, 220/254, 220/255, 220/256, 220/259, 220/833, 220/835, 220/837, 220/838, 220/839, 220/847, 220/367.1, 220/373, 220/374, 220/375, 604/403, 604/415
• US Class Current: 220/259.3
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50825 Closing or opening means, corks, bungs closures for containers B65D; means for removing stoppers B67B7/02
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2251/105 The closure having a part fitting over the rim of the container or spout and retained by snapping over integral beads or projections
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/0842 consisting of a strap of flexible material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 215/03 Medical

Abstract

An injection molded assembly forming a sealing device for a threaded or non-threaded container using a double cap concept with pressure responsive convex sealing; also disclosed is a wiping mechanism, a one piece construction, a tamper resistant construction, a limited air exchange construction while allowing easy access to fluid contents, a sterile air venting and filter construction, a one piece tamper evident closure with a tethered container, and a frangible thether means molded with the formation of the sealing device.

Claims

1. A sealable containing comprising:

a tubular member having an open end and an inner wall;

a deformable sealing cap including a base and a cup shaped member extending from said base, said cup shaped member having an open end adjacent said base and a closed end comprising a generally convex end wall bulging outwardly in a direction away from said open end and being configured to occlude said tubular member when said cup shaped member is inserted through the open end of said tubular member, said cup shaped member including a tubular section between said base and generally convex end wall, said tubular section having a frustoconical outer and inner wall surface, the diameter of said wall surfaces adjacent said generally convex end wall being less than the diameter of said wall surfaces adjacent said base, said sealing cap including means for securing said sealing cap to said tubular member; and

a locking cap coupled to said base, said locking cap having a portion configured for being received within said cup shaped member and sized to prevent said convex end wall from being inverted into a concave configuration when said cup shaped member is positioned in said tubular member and said portion of said locking cap is positioned within said cup shaped member.

2. The sealable container of claim 1 wherein said locking cap includes means for engaging an annular groove in said deformable sealing cap.

3. The sealable container of claim 1 wherein said sealing cap includes means for facilitating the puncturing of said convex end wall.

4. The container of claim 1 wherein, said tubular section contains a pre-determined vent texture surface with means for allowing gas diffusion into and out of said tubular member.

5. The container of claim 4 wherein said vent texture prohibits the flow of aerosols or fluid therethrough.

6. The sealable container of claim 1 further including venting means between said cup shaped member and said tubular member for venting the interior of said tubular member.

7. The sealable container of claim 6 wherein said locking cap includes means for prevention of venting of the interior of said tubular member.

8. The sealable container of claim 1 wherein said cup shaped inner wall is configured to receive and seal said locking cap wall sandwiching said tubular section between said locking cap and said tubular member.

9. A sealable container of claim 8 wherein said locking cap has a top section engagable with a portion of said sealing cap, said top portion providing access into said sealing cap without breaking the seal between frustoconical surfaces of said sealing cap and said tubular member.

10. A sealable container of claim 9 wherein said locking cap is attached to said sealing cap by means of a hinge, said hinge being configured such that when said caps are locked together significant movement of said locking cap is away from the open end of said tubular member and is precluded without deformation of said hinge.

11. The container of claim 1 wherein said tubular section includes at least one predetermined vent channel with means for allowing gas diffusion into and out of said tubular member.

12. The container of claim 11 wherein the said vent channel is helical.

13. The container of claim 11 wherein said vent channel prohibits the flow of aerosols or fluid therethrough.

14. The container of claim 11 wherein said inner wall of said tubular member includes a groove in the vicinity of said open end of said tubular member, said groove generally corresponding in configuration to an annular ring on said frustoconical outer wall section of said convex end wall.

15. A sealable container comprising:

a tubular member having an open end and an inner wall;

a deformable sealing cap including a base and a cup shaped member extending from said base, said cup shaped member having an open end adjacent said base and a closed end comprising a generally convex end wall bulging outwardly in a direction away from said open end and being configured to occlude said tubular member when said cup shaped member is inserted through the open end of said tubular member, said sealing cap including means for securing said sealing cap to said tubular member;

a locking cap coupled to said base, said locking cap having a portion configured for being received within said cup shaped member and sized to prevent said convex end wall from being inverted into a concave configuration when said cup shaped member is positioned in said tubular member and said portion of said locking cap is positioned within said cup shaped member; and

a resilient metal backing on said cup shaped member, said metal backing being on the inside surface toward said open end.

16. A sealable container comprising:

a tubular member having an open end and an inner wall;

a deformable sealing cap including a base and a cup shaped member extending from said base, said cup shaped member having an open end adjacent said base and a closed end comprising a generally convex end wall bulging outwardly in a direction away from said open end and being configured to occlude said tubular member when said cup shaped member is inserted through the open end of said tubular member, said sealing cap including means for securing said sealing cap to said tubular member;

a locking cap coupled to said base, said locking cap having a portion configured for being received within said cup shaped member and sized to prevent said convex end wall from being inverted into a concave configuration when said cup shaped member is positioned in said tubular member and said portion of said locking cap is positioned within said cup shaped member; and

a resilient rubber backing on said cup shaped member, said rubber backing being on the inside surface toward said open end.

17. A sealable container comprising:

a tubular member having an open end and outer and inner walls, said inner wall being tapered so that the inside diameter of said member is larger adjacent said open end;

a sealing cap including a top and taper cup shaped member extending from said top, said cup shaped member having a larger open top end adjacent said top and a smaller bottom end, said cup shaped member configured to occlude said tubular member when said cup shaped member is inserted through said open end of said tubular member, said sealing cap including means for securing said sealing cap to said tubular member; and

a locking cap coupled to said base of said sealing cap, said locking cap being configured to sandwich said tapered cup shaped member between said tubular member and said locking cap when said locking cap is positioned in said cup shaped member.

18. The sealable container of claim 17 wherein said means for securing includes threads formed on the outer wall of said tubular member and mating threads formed on a threaded skirt attached to and depending from the periphery of said base of said sealing cap.

19. The sealable container of claim 17 wherein the closed end of said cup shaped member is imperforate and is constructed from a rubber-like self sealing material.

20. The container of claim 17, wherein said taper cup shaped member includes at least one predetermined vent channel with means for allowing gas diffusion into and out of said tubular member and including means for trapping fluid.

21. The sealable container of claim 17 further including a pierceable sealing element located inside said cup shaped member.

22. The sealable container of claim 17 wherein said convex end wall includes a breakaway disk with frangible means.

23. The sealable container of claim 17 wherein said bottom end comprising an annular opening is constructed from a rubber-like self sealing material.

24. The sealable container of claim 23 wherein said locking cap includes a finger-like projection sized to seal opening in said bottom end of said cup shaped member.

25. A sealable container comprising:

a tubular member having an open end and outer and inner walls, said inner wall being tapered so that the inside diameter of said member is larger adjacent said open end;

a sealing cap including a top and taper cup shaped member extending from said top, said cup shaped member having a larger open top end adjacent said top and a smaller bottom end, said cup shaped member configured to occlude said tubular member when said cup shaped member is inserted through said open end of said tubular member, said sealing cap including means for securing said sealing cap to said tubular member; and

means on said taper cup shaped member for allowing gas diffusion into and out of said tubular member.

26. A sealable container comprising:

a tubular member having an open end and an inner wall;

a deformable sealing cap including a base and cup shaped member extending from said base, said cup shaped member having an open end adjacent said base and a closed end comprising a generally convex end wall bulging outwardly in a direction away from said open end and being configured to occlude said tubular member when said cup shaped member is inserted through the open end of said tubular member, said cup shaped member adjacent said inner wall of said tubular member including at least one predetermined vent channel with means for allowing gas diffusion in and out of said tubular member, said sealing cap including means for securing said sealing cap to said tubular member; and

a locking cap coupled to said base, said locking cap having a portion configured for being received within said cup shaped member and seized to prevent said convex end wall from being inverted into a concave configuration when said cup shaped member is positioned in said tubular member and said portion of said locking cap is positioned within said cup shaped member.