Closure with a removable membrane having an improved separability configuration

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10173816-B2
Application number	US-201415306259-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 22, 2014
Priority date	Jul 22, 2014
Publication date	Jan 8, 2019
Grant date	Jan 8, 2019

Abstract

A closure (20) is provided to selectively permit or restrict communication between the exterior and the interior of a system that has an opening between the exterior and interior. The closure (20) includes a closure body (24) that defines an access passage (30) and a membrane (60) that initially occludes the access passage (30). The connection of the membrane (60) to the body (24) is defined by a tearable portion (68) of material that defines a tear path along which the material can be torn. The tear path has; (A) a first separation path (80) where separation of the membrane (60) from the body (24) initially originates; and (B) a second separation path (90) where separation of the membrane (60) from the body (24) terminates. The second separation path (90) has a generally tapered configuration.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A closure for selectively permitting or restricting communication between the exterior and the interior of a system that has an opening between the exterior and interior, said closure comprising;
a closure body that (A) defines an access passage through said closure body for communicating with a system opening, and (B) is either (1) a separate structure for being attached to a system at a system opening, or (2) an integral structure that (a) is a unitary part of a system, and (b) includes said access passage through said integral structure to define at least a portion of a system opening, and
wherein said closure body further has:
a membrane that (A) initially occludes said access passage, (B) is initially connected to a remaining portion of said closure body, and (C) includes a separation member that extends from a remaining portion of said membrane for accommodating engagement by a user to separate at least a part of said membrane from said closure body along at least a portion of the connection of said membrane to said closure body: and

wherein
the connection of said membrane to said closure body is defined by a tearable portion of material that defines a tear path along which said material is configured to be torn, said tear path having: (A) a first separation path where separation of said membrane from said closure body initially originates; ,and (B) a second separation path where separation of said membrane from said closure body terminates; and
said second separation path has a tapered configuration,

said tearable portion of material has a reduced thickness along said first separation path proximal where said separation member extends from said membrane compared to a thickness of said tearable portion of material along said second separation path, and
said reduced thickness of said tearable portion of material along said first separation path is limited to less than 20% of a total length of the tear path.

2. A closure for selectively permitting or restricting communication between the exterior and the interior of a system that has an opening between the exterior and interior, said closure comprising:
a closure body that (A) defines an access passage through said closure body for communicating with a system opening, and (B) is either (1) a separate structure for being attached to system at a system opening, or (2) an integral structure that (a) is unitary part of a system, and (b) includes said access passage through said integral structure to define at least a portion of a system opening, and
wherein said closure body further has;
a membrane that (A) initially occludes said access passage, (B) is initially connected to a remaining portion of said closure body, and (C) includes a separation member that extends from a remaining portion of said membrane for accommodating engagement by a user to separate at least a part of said membrane from said closure body along at least a portion of the connection of said membrane to said closure body; and

wherein
the connection of said membrane to said closure body is defined by a tearable portion of material that defines a tear path along which said material is configured to be torn, said tear path having; (A) a first separation path where separation of said membrane from said closure body initially originates; and (B) a second separation path where separation of said membrane from said closure body terminates; and
said second separation path has a tapered configuration, and

said tearable portion of material has a thickness that is about 20% reduced near the separation member, when compared to a thickness of said tearable portion of material along said second separation path.

Assignees

• Aptargroup Inc

Inventors

• Danks Christopher
• Wisniewski John

Classifications

• B65D2251/0025

  of the 47-type · CPC title

• B65D47/103

  Membranes with a tearing element · CPC title

• B65D51/228 Primary

  a major part of the inner closure being removed from the container after the opening · CPC title

• B65D2251/0093

  Membrane · CPC title

• B65D77/30

  Opening or contents-removing devices added or incorporated during filling or closing of containers {(B65D77/20 takes precedence)} · CPC title