Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
SEALING STRUCTURES FOR CLOSURE
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION
100011 The present application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S.
Provisional
Application No. 63/042,806, filed on June 23, 2020, which is incorporated
herein by reference in
its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
100021 The present disclosure relates generally to the field of closures
for containers. The
present disclosure relates specifically to a closure for a container having a
pressure-relieving
structure to relieve pressure from the container the closure is affixed to.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
100031 In one aspect, this disclosure relates to a closure for a container.
The closure includes
a generally circular top panel having an upper surface, a lower surface and an
outer periphery, a
vertical axis around which the top panel is centered, an outer cylindrical
wall extending from an
outer periphery of the top panel, a cylindrical first plug extending a first
depth downward from
the lower surface of the top panel, the first plug being radially closer to
the vertical axis than the
outer periphery of the top panel, a cylindrical second plug extending a second
depth downward
from the lower surface of the top panel, the second plug being radially
further from the vertical
axis than the first plug, the first depth of the first plug being greater than
the second depth of the
second plug, a cylindrical third plug extending a third depth downward from
the lower surface of
the top panel, the third plug being radially further from the vertical axis
than the second plug, the
third depth of the third plug being greater than the second depth of the
second plug and the third
depth of the third plug being less than the first depth of the first plug, and
a gap within the third
plug, wherein the gap provides fluid communication between the second plug and
ambient air
external to the outer cylindrical wall. In a specific embodiment the gap
defines a circumferential
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Date Recue/Date Received 2021-07-27
length less than 0.125 inches with respect to the vertical axis, and more
specifically between 0.04
inches and 0.08 inches.
[0004] According to another embodiment, the closure includes a container
and a closure
affixed to the container neck. The container defines an internal volume and
includes a container
neck having an opening that provides fluid communication between the internal
volume and an
exterior of the container. The container neck includes an interior surface, an
opposing exterior
surface, and a top surface extending between the interior surface and the
exterior surface. The
closure includes a generally circular top panel having an upper surface, a
lower surface and an
outer periphery, an outer cylindrical wall extending from an outer periphery
of the top panel, a
cylindrical first plug extending a first depth downward from the lower surface
of the top panel,
the first plug being radially closer to the vertical axis than the outer
periphery of the top panel, a
surface defined by the first plug that interfaces against the interior surface
of the container neck,
a cylindrical second plug extending a second depth downward from the lower
surface of the top
panel, the second plug being radially further from the vertical axis than the
first plug, the first
depth of the first plug being greater than the second depth of the second
plug, a surface defined
by the second plug that interfaces against the top surface of the container
neck, a cylindrical third
plug extending a third depth downward from the lower surface of the top panel,
the third plug
being radially further from the vertical axis than the second plug, the third
depth of the third plug
being greater than the second depth of the second plug and the third depth of
the third plug being
less than the first depth of the first plug, and a surface defined by the
third plug interfaces against
the exterior surface of the container neck. The third plug includes a gap that
provides fluid
communication between the surface (e.g., the outer peripheral surface) of the
second plug and
ambient air external to the container.
[0005] According to another embodiment, the closure includes a generally
circular top panel
having an upper surface, a lower surface and an outer periphery, a vertical
axis around which the
top panel is centered, an outer cylindrical wall extending from an outer
periphery of the top
panel, a cylindrical first plug extending a first depth downward from the
lower surface of the top
panel, the first plug being radially closer to the vertical axis than the
outer periphery of the top
panel, a cylindrical second plug extending a second depth downward from the
lower surface of
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Date Recue/Date Received 2021-07-27
the top panel, the second plug being radially further from the vertical axis
than the first plug, the
first depth of the first plug being greater than the second depth of the
second plug, a cylindrical
third plug extending a third depth downward from the lower surface of the top
panel, the third
plug being radially further from the vertical axis than the second plug, the
third depth of the third
plug being greater than the second depth of the second plug and the third
depth of the third plug
being less than the first depth of the first plug. The third plug includes an
interior surface that
faces towards the vertical axis and a recess defined by the interior surface
of the third plug. The
recess provides fluid communication between the second plug and ambient air
external to the
outer cylindrical wall.
[0006] According to another embodiment, the closure includes a generally
circular top panel
having an upper surface, a lower surface and an outer periphery, a vertical
axis around which the
top panel is centered, an outer cylindrical wall extending from an outer
periphery of the top
panel, a cylindrical first plug extending a first depth downward from the
lower surface of the top
panel, the first plug being radially closer to the vertical axis than the
outer periphery of the top
panel, a cylindrical second plug extending a second depth downward from the
lower surface of
the top panel, the second plug being radially further from the vertical axis
than the first plug, the
first depth of the first plug being greater than the second depth of the
second plug, a cylindrical
third plug extending a third depth downward from the lower surface of the top
panel, the third
plug being radially further from the vertical axis than the second plug, the
third depth of the third
plug being greater than the second depth of the second plug and the third
depth of the third plug
being less than the first depth of the first plug. The third plug includes an
interior surface, a
lower surface that faces away from the top panel, and a corner surface that
extends between the
interior surface and the lower surface. The corner surface is configured to
interface against a
corner of a container neck when the closure is affixed to the container neck.
100071 According to another embodiment, the closure includes a generally
circular top panel
having an upper surface, a lower surface and an outer periphery, a vertical
axis around which the
top panel is centered, an outer cylindrical wall extending from an outer
periphery of the top
panel, a cylindrical first plug extending a first depth downward from the
lower surface of the top
panel, the first plug being radially closer to the vertical axis than the
outer periphery of the top
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Date Recue/Date Received 2021-07-27
panel, a cylindrical second plug extending a second depth downward from the
lower surface of
the top panel, the second plug being radially further from the vertical axis
than the first plug, the
first depth of the first plug being greater than the second depth of the
second plug, a cylindrical
third plug extending a third depth downward from the lower surface of the top
panel, the third
plug being radially further from the vertical axis than the second plug, the
third depth of the third
plug being greater than the second depth of the second plug and the third
depth of the third plug
being less than the first depth of the first plug. An interior surface of the
third plug faces towards
the vertical axis. A protrusion that extends from a lower portion of the third
plug towards the
axis.
100081 Additional features and advantages will be set forth in the detailed
description which
follows, and in part will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from
the description or
recognized by practicing the embodiments as described in the written
description and claims
hereof, as well as the appended drawings. It is to be understood that both the
foregoing general
description and the following detailed description are exemplary.
100091 The accompanying drawings are included to provide further
understanding, and are
incorporated in, and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings
illustrate one or more
embodiments and together with the description serve to explain principles and
operation of the
various embodiments.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
100101 FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a closure, according to an exemplary
embodiment.
100111 FIG. 2 is a top view of the closure of FIG. 1, according to an
exemplary embodiment.
100121 FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the closure of FIG. 2 taken
along the line 3-3 in
FIG. 2, according to an exemplary embodiment.
100131 FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the closure of FIG. 2 taken
along the line 3-3 in
FIG. 2, shown coupled to a container according to an exemplary embodiment.
100141 FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the closure of FIG. 1, according to
an exemplary
embodiment.
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Date Recue/Date Received 2021-07-27
100151 FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the closure of FIG. 1, according to an
exemplary
embodiment.
100161 FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the closure of FIG. 6 taken
along the line 7-7 in
FIG. 6 coupled to a container.
100171 FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the closure of FIG. 6 taken
along the line 8-8 in
FIG. 6 coupled to a container.
100181 FIGS. 9-11 are charts of measurements of an exemplary embodiment of
the closure of
FIG. 1.
100191 FIG. 12 is a top view of a closure, according to an exemplary
embodiment.
100201 FIG. 13 is a detailed cross-section view of a portion of the closure
of FIG. 12 taken
alone line 13-13, according to an exemplary embodiment.
100211 FIG. 14 is a detailed cross-section view of the portion of the
closure depicted in FIG.
13, according to an exemplary embodiment.
100221 FIG. 15 is a detailed cross-section view of the portion of the
closure depicted in FIG.
13 along line 15-15, according to an exemplary embodiment.
100231 FIG. 16 is a detailed perspective view of a closure, according to an
exemplary
embodiment.
100241 FIG. 17 is a top view of a closure, according to an exemplary
embodiment.
100251 FIG. 18 is a detailed cross-section view of the closure of FIG. 17,
according to an
exemplary embodiment.
100261 FIG. 19 is a detailed view of the cross-section of FIG. 18,
according to an exemplary
embodiment.
100271 FIG. 20 is a top view of a closure, according to an exemplary
embodiment.
100281 FIG. 21 is a detailed cross-section view of the closure of FIG. 19,
according to an
exemplary embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
100291 This disclosure provides a description for various embodiments of
closures with a
pressure-relieving structure. Applicant has observed that different
embodiments of the same
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Date Recue/Date Received 2021-07-27
three-plug closures have a high variance for how much pressure is required to
break the seal of
the outer-most plug. Accordingly, Applicant has designed one or more closures
with plugs that
interface against an interior and exterior, and optionally a third plug that
interfaces with the
upper surface of the container neck. The three-plug closures provide pressure-
relieving features
to the outer-most plug, thereby permitting closures to be designed to have a
more consistent
amount of seal-breaking pressure for the interface between the closure and the
container to which
the closure is affixed. In one or more embodiments, the amount of pressure to
break the seal is
lower than is demonstrated by closures that do not include the features in
this disclosure. Even
with the incorporated pressure relieving feature, the closure plug continues
to provide structural
support to the E-wall of the container neck to stop and/or slow the E-wall
deforming (e.g., such
as from a circle to an oval).
100301 Referring first to FIGS. 1-8, various aspects of a closure for a
container, shown as
closure 10, are shown. A generally circular top panel 12 is centered around
rotational axis 8 of
closure 10, which passes through center 18 of top panel 12. Top panel 12
defines upper surface
20 and opposing lower surface 22. Top panel 12 is centered on axis 8. A wall,
shown as outer
cylindrical wall 16, extends downwardly from lower surface 22 of top panel 12
at outer
periphery 14 of top panel 12. Cylindrical wall 16 defines outer surface 28,
which faces away
from axis 8, and an opposing inner surface 26, which faces towards axis 8.
100311 Grip portion 24 of cylindrical wall 16 comprises one or more knurls.
Retention band
34 is coupled to cylindrical wall 16 via frangible connections 32. Frangible
connections 32 are
arranged at weakened section 30 of closure 10, between cylindrical wall 16 and
retention band
34. When closure 10 is removed from a container for the first time, frangible
connections 32
break, disconnecting cylindrical wall 16 from retention band 34.
100321 Turning to FIG. 3 in particular, closure 10 includes first
cylindrical wall 40, second
cylindrical wall 50, and third cylindrical wall 60, each of which extend
downwardly from lower
surface 22 of top panel 12. First cylindrical wall 40 extends
circumferentially around axis 8.
Second cylindrical wall 50 extends circumferentially around axis 8 and is
radially further from
axis 8 than first cylindrical wall 40.
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[0033] In a specific embodiment, first cylindrical wall 40 is a first
cylindrical plug that
extends depth 44 downward from lower surface 22 of top panel 12. In a specific
embodiment,
second cylindrical wall 50 is a second cylindrical plug that extends depth 54
downward from
lower surface 22 of top panel 12. In a specific embodiment, third cylindrical
wall 60 is a third
cylindrical plug that extends depth 61 downward from lower surface 22 of top
panel 12.
[0034] In a specific embodiment, the depth 44 of the first cylindrical wall
40 is greater than
the depth 54 of the second cylindrical wall 50. In a specific embodiment,
depth 61 is greater
than the depth 54 of the second wall 50, and the depth 61 is less than the
depth 44 of the first
wall 40.
[0035] In a specific embodiment, the first wall 40 is radially closer to
the vertical axis 8 than
the outer periphery 14 of the top panel 12. In a specific embodiment, second
wall 50 is radially
further from the vertical axis 8 than the first wall 40. In a specific
embodiment, the plurality of
third plug segments 66 extend the third depth 61 downward from the lower
surface 22 of the top
panel 12, and the plurality of third plug segments 66 are radially further
from the vertical axis 8
than the second plug 50.
[0036] In a specific embodiment, each of the plurality of third plug
segments 66 extend
circumferentially around the closure 10 at the same radius from the vertical
axis 8. In a specific
embodiment, each of the plurality of third plug segments 66 are the same
radius from the vertical
axis 8. In a specific embodiment, closure 10 includes a plurality of gaps 62,
and more
specifically closure 10 includes three gaps 62 that provide fluid
communication between the
second wall 50 and ambient air external to the closure 10 (e.g., external to
the outer cylindrical
wall when the closure is tightly coupled to a container). In a specific
embodiment, the plurality
of gaps 62 are evenly circumferentially spaced around the closure 10 with
respect to the axis 8.
In a specific embodiment, closure 10 includes a single third plug segment 66
and a single gap 62
that extends between ends of the single third plug segment 66.
[0037] Third cylindrical wall 60 is radially further from axis 8 than first
wall 40 and second
wall 50. In a specific embodiment, third cylindrical wall 60 comprises a
plurality of third plug
segments 66, each of which extend from end 68 to end 69, and the one or more
gaps 62 are
defined between ends 68, 69 of third plug segments 66. Third cylindrical wall
60, and more
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Date Recue/Date Received 2021-07-27
specifically third wall segments 66, extends circumferentially around axis 8,
with the exception
of one or more gaps 62 in third cylindrical wall 60. The one or more gaps 62
in third wall 60
provide fluid communication between outer surface 52 of second cylindrical
wall 50 and ambient
air external to closure 10 when the closure is tightly coupled to a container.
Outer surface 52 of
second cylindrical wall 50 faces radially away from center 18 of top panel 12.
In an alternate
embodiment, third wall 60 comprises a single third wall segment 66 and a
single gap 62 between
ends 68, 69 of third wall segment 66.
100381 Referring to FIG. 4, in use first cylindrical wall 40 and the
container neck to which
closure 10 is affixed form a seal that encloses the contents of the container.
For some contents,
such as carbonated sodas, the pressure inside the container may increase in
some circumstances
(e.g., if the contents of the container are shaken, thereby allowing some
carbonation to escape the
liquid and take the form of a gas). In a specific embodiment, the increased
pressure within the
container exerts an upward force on a central portion 42 of top panel 12.
Central portion 42
extends between interior edges of first cylindrical wall 40. When under
pressure, central portion
42 deforms upwards, which deforms first cylindrical wall 40 towards center 18.
As a result, the
interface between the first cylindrical wall 40 and the container neck can be
broken by a lesser
force than would have been possible if top panel 12 did not deform.
100391 In a specific embodiment, container includes a container neck 90
that defines an
opening of the container, an interior surface 94 defined by the container neck
90, the interior
surface 94 facing inwards, an exterior surface 96 defined by the container
neck 90, the exterior
surface 96 facing outwards and a top surface 92 defined by the container neck
90. The top
surface 92 extends between the interior surface 94 and the exterior surface
96.
100401 When closure 10 is coupled to container neck 90, first plug 40
interfaces with inner
surface 94 of container neck 90, second plug 50 interfaces with top surface 92
of container neck
90, and third plug 60 interfaces with outer surface 96 of container neck 90.
100411 Some contents of the container, such as gaseous carbon dioxide,
thereby escapes the
seal between first cylindrical wall 40 and the container neck and exerts
pressure on the interface
between second cylindrical wall 50 and the top of the container neck. When
sufficient pressure
is exerted on the interface between second cylindrical wall 50 and the top of
the container neck,
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Date Recue/Date Received 2021-07-27
the interface between second cylindrical wall 50 and the container neck is
compromised, thereby
allowing some contents of the container to escape to the volume between outer
surface 52 of
second cylindrical wall 50 and third cylindrical wall 60.
[0042] Third cylindrical wall 60 defines one or more gaps 62. In a specific
embodiment, the
one or more gaps 62 extend radially through the entire third cylindrical wall
60, with respect to
axis 8. In a specific embodiment, the one or more gaps 62 have a
circumferential length 64 of
less than 0.125 inches with respect to axis 8 and more specifically a
circumferential length 64 of
0.062 inches with respect to axis 8.
[0043] Gaps 62 provide fluid communication between outer surface 52 of
second cylindrical
wall 50 and ambient air external to closure 10. As a result, container
contents that have escaped
the seal provided by second cylindrical wall 50 transit third cylindrical wall
60 and enter the
ambient air outside of closure 10.
[0044] Turning to FIGS. 9-11, depicted therein are various measurements of
vent testing for
a specific embodiment of closure 10. As can be seen, providing a fluid
communication feature to
third wall 60 results in a more uniform amount of pressure before the closure
10 relieves at least
part of the pressure by permitting some contents to escape closure 10 and the
container closure
is affixed to.
[0045] Turning to FIG. 9, pressure tests for an embodiment of a closure
including the aspects
of closure 10 were performed. As can be seen in the "Modified P3" column and
the "SST psi"
rows, the closure releases pressure at a lower variance of pressure
differences and a lower
average amount of pressure ("Modified P3" column) than when third wall 60 does
not have any
gaps 62. The difference in pressures is at least partially independent of how
deep the closure is
applied. Turning to FIG. 10, results of pressure tests for a closure with four
gaps 62 (first
column), two gaps 62 (second column) and one gap 62 (third column) are shown.
Turning to
FIG. 11, results of pressure tests for a closure including the aspects of
closure 10 were
performed, as can be seen in the "SST psi" row the closure releases pressure
at a lower variance
of pressure differences ("Modified P3" column) than when third wall 60 does
not have any gaps
62.
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Date Recue/Date Received 2021-07-27
[0046] Turning to FIGS. 12-15, various aspects of closure 110 are shown.
Closure 110 is
similar to closure 10 except for the differences described herein. Closure 110
includes top panel
112. Similar to closure 10, first wall 140 of closure 110 is closer to axis 8
than second wall 150,
and second wall 150 is closer to axis 8 than third wall 160.
[0047] In closure 110, third wall 160 defines one or more recesses 162. In
a specific
embodiment, recesses 162 are defined by inward-facing surface 164 of third
wall 160, and
recesses 162 extend to be at least partially defined by downward-facing
surface 166 of third wall
160. In various embodiments, recesses 162 do not extend through third wall
160, and thus are
not defined by outward-facing surface 168 of third wall 160.
[0048] In a specific embodiment, third wall 160 of closure 110 includes a
single recess 162.
In various other embodiments, third wall 160 of closure 110 includes a
plurality of recesses 162,
and in some of those embodiments recesses 162 are equally spaced around third
wall 160 with
respect to axis 8.
[0049] In use, third wall 160 has a plurality of repeating recesses 162,
which provide fluid
communication between either side of third wall 160 (e.g., between outward-
facing surface 152
of second wall 150 and ambient air external to closure 110). In a specific
embodiment, recesses
162 within third wall 160 extend circumferentially around third wall 160 two
(2) arcuate degrees
with respect to axis 8. In a specific embodiment, recesses 162 within third
wall 160 extend
circumferentially around third wall 160 five (5) arcuate degrees with respect
to axis 8.
[0050] In a specific embodiment, the closure 110 includes a generally
circular top panel 112
having an upper surface, a lower surface and an outer periphery, a vertical
axis around which the
top panel 112 is centered, an outer cylindrical wall extending from an outer
periphery of the top
panel 112, a cylindrical first wall 140, a cylindrical second wall 150, and a
cylindrical third wall
160.
[0051] Cylindrical first wall 140 extends a first depth downward from the
lower surface of
the top panel 112, and the first wall 140 is radially closer to the vertical
axis than the outer
periphery of the top panel. Cylindrical second wall 150 extends a second depth
downward from
the lower surface of the top panel 112, the second wall 150 is radially
further from the vertical
axis than the first wall 140, and the first depth of the first wall 140 is
greater than the second
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Date Recue/Date Received 2021-07-27
depth of the second wall 150. Cylindrical third wall 160 extends a third depth
downward from
the lower surface of the top panel 112, the third wall 160 is radially further
from the vertical axis
than the second wall 150, the third depth of the third wall 160 is greater
than the second depth of
the second wall 150 and the third depth of the third wall 160 is less than the
first depth of the
first wall 140. The third wall 160 includes an interior surface that faces
towards the vertical axis.
[0052] The interior surface of the third wall 160 defines a recess. The
recess provides fluid
communication between the second plug and ambient air external to the outer
cylindrical wall.
In various embodiments, the third wall 160 comprises a plurality of recesses.
In a specific
embodiment, the recess(es) extend radially outward from the interior surface
of the third wall
160 away from the axis (e.g., towards an outer surface of the third wall 160
that faces away from
the axis).
[0053] Referring to FIG. 15, recesses 162 extend circumferentially around
closure 110
distance 182 within third plug 160 with respect to the vertical axis of
closure 110, and recesses
162 are separated by spaces 170 that extend circumferentially around closure
110 distance 184
with respect to the vertical axis of closure 110. Thus, collectively a single
recess 162 and a
single space 170 extend circumferentially around closure 110 distance 180 with
respect to the
vertical axis of closure 110.
[0054] In a specific embodiment, distance 182 of recesses 162 is between 2
degrees and 6
degrees, and more specifically between 3 degrees and 5 degrees, and more
specifically is 3.6
degrees. In a specific embodiment, distance 184 of spaces 170 is between 0.5
degrees and 4
degrees, and more specifically between 1 degrees and 2 degrees, and more
specifically is 1.4
degrees. In a specific embodiment, distance 180 is between 3 degrees and 10
degrees, and more
specifically between 4 degrees and 7 degrees, and more specifically is 5
degrees.
[0055] In various embodiments, closures include any number of recesses 162,
such as
between 1 and the number of recesses 162 that can fit within inner surface of
the third plug. In a
specific embodiment, closure 110 includes eight recesses 162.
[0056] Turning to FIG. 16, various aspects of closure 190 are shown.
Closure 190 is similar
to closure 110 except for the differences described herein. Specifically, the
difference between
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Date Recue/Date Received 2021-07-27
closure 190 and closure 110 is that closure 190 includes fewer recesses 194 in
third wall 192. In
a specific embodiment, third wall 192 of closure 190 includes twelve (12)
recesses 194.
100571 Turning to FIGS. 17-19, various aspects of closure 210 are shown.
Closure 210 is
similar to closure 110 and closure 10 except for the differences described
herein. Closure 210
includes top panel 212. Similar to closure 10 and closure 110, first wall 240
of closure 210 is
closer to axis 8 than second wall 250, and second wall 250 is closer to axis 8
than third wall 260.
100581 In use, inner corner 270 of third wall 260 interfaces with a corner
of the container
neck C to provide a supplemental seal for contents in the container. Inward-
facing surface 264
of third wall 260 faces towards axis 8, outward-facing surface 268 of third
wall 260 away from
axis 8, and bottom-facing surface 266 of third wall 260 faces away from top
panel 212. Inner
corner 270 of third wall 260 extends between inward-facing surface 264 and
bottom-facing
surface 266. In a specific embodiment, corner 270 extends depth 272 below
second wall 250. In
various embodiments, the length of depth 272 varies in relation to the outside
crown radius of the
finish.
100591 In a specific embodiment, a closure 210 includes a generally
circular top panel having
an upper surface, a lower surface and an outer periphery, a vertical axis
around which the top
panel is centered, an outer cylindrical wall extending from an outer periphery
of the top panel, a
cylindrical first plug, a cylindrical second plug, and a cylindrical third
plug. The cylindrical first
plug extends a first depth downward from the lower surface of the top panel,
and the first plug is
radially closer to the vertical axis than the outer periphery of the top
panel. The cylindrical
second plug extends a second depth downward from the lower surface of the top
panel, the
second plug is radially further from the vertical axis than the first plug,
and the first depth of the
first plug is greater than the second depth of the second plug. The
cylindrical third plug extends
a third depth downward from the lower surface of the top panel, the third plug
is radially further
from the vertical axis than the second plug, and the third depth of the third
plug is greater than
the second depth of the second plug and the third depth of the third plug is
less than the first
depth of the first plug.
100601 The third plug includes an interior surface that faces towards the
vertical axis. The
third plug includes a lower surface that faces away from the top panel. The
third plug includes a
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Date Recue/Date Received 2021-07-27
corner surface that extends between the interior surface and the lower
surface. The corner
surface is configured to interface against a corner of a container neck when
the closure is affixed
to the container neck.
100611 Turning to FIGS. 20-21, various aspects of closure 310 are shown.
Closure 310 is
similar to closure 210, closure 110 and closure 10 except for the differences
described herein.
Closure 310 includes top panel 312. Similar to closure 10, closure 110 and
closure 210, first
wall 340 of closure 310 is closer to axis 8 than second wall 350, and second
wall 350 is closer to
axis 8 than third wall 360.
100621 Inward-facing surface 364 of third wall 360 faces towards axis 8,
outward-facing
surface 368 of third wall 360 away from axis 8, and bottom-facing surface 366
of third wall 360
faces away from top panel 312. Protrusion 370 extends inwardly from third wall
360 towards
axis 8, and as a result inward-facing surface 364 includes both a cylindrical
portion above
protrusion 370 and an angled portion over protrusion 370. In use, protrusion
370 interfaces
against outer surface of container neck C to provide a supplemental seal for
contents in the
container. In a specific embodiment, protrusion 370 extends depth 372 below
second wall 350.
In various embodiments, the length of depth 372 varies in relation to the
outside crown radius of
the finish.
100631 In a specific embodiment, closure 310 includes a generally circular
top panel having
an upper surface, a lower surface and an outer periphery, a vertical axis
around which the top
panel is centered, an outer cylindrical wall extending from an outer periphery
of the top panel, a
cylindrical first plug, a cylindrical second plug, and a cylindrical third
plug. The cylindrical first
plug extends a first depth downward from the lower surface of the top panel,
and the first plug is
radially closer to the vertical axis than the outer periphery of the top
panel. The cylindrical
second plug extends a second depth downward from the lower surface of the top
panel, the
second plug is radially further from the vertical axis than the first plug,
and the first depth of the
first plug is greater than the second depth of the second plug. The
cylindrical third plug extends
a third depth downward from the lower surface of the top panel, the third plug
is radially further
from the vertical axis than the second plug, and the third depth of the third
plug is greater than
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Date Recue/Date Received 2021-07-27
the second depth of the second plug and the third depth of the third plug is
less than the first
depth of the first plug.
[0064] The third plug includes an interior surface that faces towards the
vertical axis. The
third plug includes a protrusion that extends from a lower portion of the
third plug towards the
axis. In a specific embodiment, the protrusion extends radially inward towards
the central axis of
closure 310 from the lower portion of the third plug.
[0065] It should be understood that the figures illustrate the exemplary
embodiments in
detail, and it should be understood that the present application is not
limited to the details or
methodology set forth in the description or illustrated in the figures. It
should also be understood
that the terminology is for the purpose of description only and should not be
regarded as limiting.
[0066] Further modifications and alternative embodiments of various aspects
of the invention
will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of this description.
Accordingly, this
description is to be construed as illustrative only. The construction and
arrangements, shown in
the various exemplary embodiments, are illustrative only. Although only a few
embodiments
have been described in detail in this disclosure, many modifications are
possible (e.g., variations
in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various
elements, values of
parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations,
etc.) without
materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject
matter described
herein. Some elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed of
multiple parts or
elements, the position of elements may be reversed or otherwise varied, and
the nature or number
of discrete elements or positions may be altered or varied. The order or
sequence of any process,
logical algorithm, or method steps may be varied or re-sequenced according to
alternative
embodiments. Other substitutions, modifications, changes and omissions may
also be made in
the design, operating conditions and arrangement of the various exemplary
embodiments without
departing from the scope of the present invention.
[0067] Unless otherwise expressly stated, it is in no way intended that any
method set forth
herein be construed as requiring that its steps be performed in a specific
order. Accordingly,
where a method claim does not actually recite an order to be followed by its
steps or it is not
otherwise specifically stated in the claims or descriptions that the steps are
to be limited to a
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Date Recue/Date Received 2021-07-27
specific order, it is in no way intended that any particular order be
inferred. In addition, as used
herein the article "a" is intended to include one or more than one component
or element, and is
not intended to be construed as meaning only one.
100681 For purposes of this disclosure, the term "coupled" means the joining
of two
components directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be
stationary in nature or
movable in nature. Such joining may be achieved with the two members and any
additional
intermediate members being integrally formed as a single unitary body with one
another, or with
the two members and any additional member being attached to one another. Such
joining may
be permanent in nature or alternatively may be removable or releasable in
nature. Various
embodiments of the invention relate to any combination of any of the features,
and any such
combination of features may be claimed in this or future applications. Any of
the features,
elements, or components of any of the exemplary embodiments discussed above
may be utilized
alone or in combination with any of the features, elements, or components of
any of the other
embodiments discussed above.
100691 In various exemplary embodiments, the relative dimensions, including
angles, lengths
and radii, as shown in the Figures are to scale. Actual measurements of the
Figures will disclose
relative dimensions, angles and proportions of the various exemplary
embodiments. Various
exemplary embodiments extend to various ranges around the absolute and
relative dimensions,
angles and proportions that may be determined from the Figures. Various
exemplary
embodiments include any combination of one or more relative dimensions or
angles that may be
determined from the Figures. Further, actual dimensions not expressly set out
in this description
can be determined by using the ratios of dimensions measured in the Figures in
combination with
the express dimensions set out in this description. In addition, in various
embodiments, the
present disclosure extends to a variety of ranges (e.g., plus or minus 30%,
20%, or 10%) around
any of the absolute or relative dimensions disclosed herein or determinable
from the Figures.
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Date Recue/Date Received 2021-07-27
