Protective valve cap

• US 6,854,616 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2002
• Issued: 02/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Essentra Plastics LLC (Essentra Plc)
• Original Assignee: Alliance Plastics LLC
• Inventors: Steffan, Daniel J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Young, Lee
• Assistant Examiner(s): SMALLEY, JAMES N
• Application Number:
  US10/134,537
• Publication Number:
  US 20030201266A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,022 Days
• Field of Search: 220/784, 220/799, 220/293, 220/345.2, 220/725, 220/258.2, 220/270, 220/287, 220/794, 220/323, 220/805, 220/724, 220/915, 220/793, 220/266, 220/791, 222/182, 222/541.6, 222/541.9, 222/153.06, 222/153.07, 222/153.1, 215/255, 215/DIG.1, 215/254, 215/224, 215/220, 215/305, 215/319, 215/252, 215/DIG.4, 215/253, 138/96.R, 138/88.1, 138/89.3, 138/89.4, D 9/438, D 9/445
• US Class Current: 220/270
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 59/06 Caps
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/05 Vessel or content identifications, e.g. labels

Abstract

A protective cap for a threaded valve stem includes a generally cylindrical portion including a closed end, an open end and a cylindrical wall portion therebetween. A plurality of locating ribs are located on an internal surface of the cylindrical wall portion. A plurality of fingers project radially inward from the internal surface between the locating ribs. A tear strip formed by two frangible members, and a pull tab are formed on an external surface of the cylindrical wall portion. Each finger is located between a pair of the locating ribs and has a flexible portion adjacent the internal surface for locating the fingers in unlocked state and a locked state. The fingers in the unlocked state are inclined toward the open end, and the fingers in the locked state curl toward the closed end.

Claims

1. A protective cap for a threaded valve stem, comprising:

a generally cylindrical portion including a closed end, an open end and a cylindrical wall portion therebetween, the cylindrical wall portion having an external surface and an internal surface;

a plurality of locating ribs located on the internal surface; and

a plurality of fingers projecting radially inward from the internal surface and remotely from the open end, each finger being located between a pair of the locating ribs, each locating rib being located between a pair of the fingers, thus each finger and locating rib being in an alternating manner and having a free end and a flexible portion adjacent the internal surface for locating the fingers in unlocked state and a locked state, the free end of the fingers in the unlocked state extending toward but not extending beyond the open end and the fingers in the locked state curling toward the closed end.

2. The protective cap of claim 1, further comprising a pair of frangible members located on the external surface and extending between the closed end and the open end to define a tear strip, the pair of frangible members being located between a pair of adjacent locating ribs.

3. The protective cap of claim 2, further comprising a pull tab connected to the tear strip at the open end.

4. The protective cap of claim 1, wherein the locating ribs define a space for the fingers to move from the unlocked state to the locked state.

5. The protective cap of claim 1, wherein the cap is made of thermoplastic resin.

6. A protective cap for a threaded valve stem, comprising:

a generally cylindrical portion including a closed end, an open end and a cylindrical wall portion therebetween, the cylindrical wall portion having an external surface and an internal surface;

a plurality of locating ribs located on the internal surface and extending between the closed end and the open end;

a pair of frangible members located on the external surface and extending between the closed end and the open end to define a tear strip, the pair of frangible members being located between a pair of adjacent locating ribs;

a pull tab connected to the tear strip at the open end; and

a plurality of fingers projecting radially inward from the internal surface and remotely from the open end, each finger being located between a pair of the locating ribs, each locating rib being located between a pair of the fingers, thus each finger and locating rib being in an alternating manner.

7. The protective cap of claim 6, wherein each finger has a free end, and the free end of the fingers extending downwardly towards the open end.

8. The protective cap of claim 7, wherein, when installed, the plurality of fingers curl under threads of the threaded valve stem and extend towards the closed end.

9. The protective cap of claim 6, wherein the cylindrical portion has a constant diameter.

10. The protective cap of claim 6, wherein the cap is made of thermoplastic resin.