Vacuum Release Seal for a Closure and Container Package

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017073124-A1
Application number	US-201514856022-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 16, 2015
Priority date	Sep 16, 2015
Publication date	Mar 16, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A seal for a closure assembly that includes a seal ring; and a carrier being coupled to the seal ring, extending circumferentially and radially outwardly of the seal ring to a radially outer periphery, and having a circumferentially extending pocket in the radially outer periphery adapted to release a vacuum pressure.

First claim

1 . A seal for a closure assembly, comprising:
a seal ring; and a carrier being coupled to the seal ring, extending circumferentially and radially outwardly of the seal ring to a radially outer periphery, and having circumferentially extending pocket in the radially outer periphery adapted to release a vacuum pressure.

2 . The seal set forth in claim 1 , wherein the seal ring and the spring portion are comprised of a first material and the carrier is comprised of a second material more rigid than the first material.

3 . The seal set forth in claim 2 , wherein the seal ring and the spring portion are comprised of at least one of the following: a silicon material a plastic material a rubber material, a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), or any combination thereof, wherein the carrier is comprised of a thermoplastic polymer.

4 . The seal set forth in claim 1 , wherein the seal ring comprises a spring portion located in the circumferentially extending pocket.

5 . The seal set forth in claim 4 , wherein the spring portion has a longitudinally extending body having an uneven exterior surface.

6 . The seal set forth in claim 5 , wherein the body has one of helical-shape or sinusoidal-shape.

7 . The seal set forth in claim 4 , wherein the carrier includes a plurality of closure-driven features located radially inwardly of and spaced circumferentially along the radially outer periphery wherein each closure-driven feature comprises a first end and a second end having the pocket therebetween, wherein at least one of the plurality of closure-driven features includes the spring portion.

8 . The seal set forth in claim 7 , wherein three of the plurality of closure-driven features include the spring portion, wherein the spring portion extends from the first end towards the second end within the pocket.

9 . The seal set forth in claim 7 , wherein the second end of at least one of the plurality of closure-driven features an abutment surface.

10 . The seal set forth in claim 7 , wherein one of the plurality of closure-driven features includes a cam-follower.

11 . The seal set forth in claim 10 , wherein the cam-follower includes a ramp within the pocket spaced from the second end.

12 . The seal set forth in claim 11 , wherein the cam-follower further includes a leaf spring circumferentially extending from the ramp to the first end defining a vacuum release passage between the leaf spring and the pocket.

13 . The seal set forth in claim 7 , wherein the spring portion includes a plurality of fingers coupled to the pocket and extending radially outwardly, wherein at least one finger extends partially circumferentially towards the first end or the second end.

14 . A closure assembly, comprising:
a skirt including a cylindrical wall having an upper portion that includes a radially, inwardly extending flange and a lower portion that includes a seal retaining bead and a plurality of cams extending radially inwardly from an inner surface of the wall; a base; and the seal set forth in claim 4 , wherein the seal further comprises a plurality of closure-driven features located radially inwardly of and spaced circumferentially along the radially outer periphery, at least one of the plurality of closure-driven features includes the pocket and the spring portion, wherein the base and the seal are captively carried between the flange and the seal retaining bead, wherein the circumferential location of the cams corresponds to the plurality of closure-driven features, wherein the cams protrude into the plurality of closure-driven features.

15 . The closure assembly set forth in claim 14 , wherein the inner surface of the cylindrical wall includes a base retaining bead extending radially inwardly to captively carry the base between the base retaining bead and the flange.

16 . The closure assembly set forth in claim 14 , wherein the seal retaining bead includes a plurality of segments, wherein each of the plurality of cams are positioned at a gap defined by two proximate segments.

17 . A package, comprising:
a container having a neck finish extending to an axial sealing surface that defines a container mouth, the neck finish having a plurality of retention features; and the closure assembly of claim 14 , wherein the seal further comprises a cam follower carried by one of the plurality of closure-driven features, wherein the seal ring of the seal is compressed between the base and the axial sealing surface of the container when the container retention features are engaged with a plurality of responding relation features on the closure assembly, and wherein, when the skirt is rotated with respect to the container, then at least one of the plurality of cams compresses the spring portion and-another cam engages the cam-follower deforming a local region of the seal radially inwardly to release the vacuum pressure.

18 . The package set forth in claim 17 , wherein, after the vacuum pressure is released, the spring portion is configured to resiliently substantially return to a pre-compressed state thereby rotating the seal independently of the skirt, wherein, in response to the rotation of the skirt, the local region of the seal elastically returns to a pre-deformation state.

19 . The package set forth in claim 18 wherein at least one of the plurality of closure-driven features on the seal includes an abutment surface limiting the compression of the spring portion.

20 . A glass container, comprising:
a base; a body extending axially from the base; and a neck finish extending from the body, the neck finish having an axial sealing surface, wherein at least a portion of the axial sealing surface extends both axially toward the base and radially outwardly.

21 . A package, comprising:
the glass container of claim 20 ; a lid; and a seal comprising a seal ring, the seal ring adapted to hug an inner region of the glass container proximate to the axial sealing surface when the lid is coupled to the glass container having the seal therebetween.

22 . A closure assembly for a container comprising:
a skirt comprising a cylindrical wall having a plurality of cams extending radially inwardly from the wall; and a seal received within the skirt, the seal comprising:
a seal ring; and
a carrier coupled to the seal ring, the carrier having a plurality of pockets circumferentially spaced along an inter periphery of the carrier, wherein at least one of the plurality of pockets includes a feature adapted to displace radially inwardly when the feature is engaged by at least one of the plurality of cams of the skirt.

23 . A package, comprising:
a container having a neck finish extending to an axial sealing surface that defines a container mouth; and a closure assembly scalable to the neck finish, comprising:
a skirt that includes a cylindrical wall having a plurality of cams extending radially inwardly from the wall;
a base received within the skirt; and
a seal received within the skirt, the seal comprising:
a seal ring sized to be positioned between the axial sealing surface and the base; and
a carrier coupled to the seal ring, the earner having a plurality of pockets circumferentially spaced along an outer periphery of the carrier, wherein at least one of the plurality of pockets includes a feature adapted to displace the seal from the axial sealing surface when the feature is engaged by at least one of the plurality of cams of the skirt.

Assignees

• Owens Brockway Glass Container

Inventors

• Brozell Brian J
• Chisholm Brian J
• Grant Edward A

Classifications

• B65D43/0231 Primary

  only on the outside, or a part turned to the outside, of the mouth of the container (B65D43/0227 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B65D51/1688 Primary

  Venting occurring during initial closing or opening of the container, by means of a passage for the escape of gas between the closure and the lip of the container mouth, e.g. interrupted threads · CPC title

• B65D53/02

  Collars or rings · CPC title