Apparatus and method for securing a vessel

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018148232-A1
Application number	US-201615365155-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 30, 2016
Priority date	Nov 30, 2016
Publication date	May 31, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

An apparatus for securing a vessel includes a primary cap having a threaded portion that is configured to selectively engage corresponding threads of a vessel to secure the primary cap to the vessel, and at least one projection. The apparatus further includes a removable secondary cap configured to engage the primary cap to secure the vessel, the secondary cap including at least one lug, the lug having a shear zone that contacts the projection when the primary and secondary caps are engaged and secured to a vessel. When the secondary cap is removed from the primary cap, the shear zone is broken by the projection such that the secondary cap cannot by reinstalled on the primary cap.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An apparatus for securing a vessel comprising:
a primary cap having a threaded portion that is configured to selectively engage corresponding threads of a vessel to secure the primary cap to the vessel, and at least one projection; a removable secondary cap configured to engage the primary cap to secure the vessel, the secondary cap including at least one lug, the lug having a shear zone that contacts the projection when the primary and secondary caps are engaged and secured to a vessel; and wherein when the secondary cap is removed from the primary cap, the shear zone is broken by the projection such that the secondary cap cannot by reinstalled on the primary cap.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one lug is a plurality of lugs circumferentially spaced on an outer surface of the secondary cap.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one lug is a substantially L-shaped and the shear zone is a section of thinned material on the lug.

4 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one lug has a lug chamfered edge portion.

5 . The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the projection has a projection chamfered edge portion that is configured to slidably engage the lug chamfered edge portion and allow passage of the projection chamfered edge portion over the lug so that it is in contact with the shear zone of the lug.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the secondary cap further comprises:
a body portion, where the at least one projection is located;
a flange portion; and
a seal portion, the seal portion being configured to contact a stopper in a neck of a vessel to assist in sealing the vessel when the caps are installed thereon.

7 . The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the flange portion extends out of the primary cap when the caps are engaged on a vessel, such that the flange portion may be utilized to separate the secondary cap from the primary cap.

8 . The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the seal portion is tapered.

9 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the secondary cap is manufactured from a thermoplastic polyurethane.

10 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the primary cap further comprises:
a body, the interior of which contains the threaded portion;
a shoulder portion; and
at least one opening adjacent to the at least one projection, the at least one opening being configured to allow passage of a lug of the secondary cap so that the shear zone of the lug can be rotated into engagement with the projection to secure the caps together on a vessel.

11 . A pre-assembled tamper evident storage apparatus comprising:
a vessel having a body and a threaded neck portion; a primary cap having a threaded portion configured to selectively engage the threaded neck portion of the vessel, and at least one projection; a removable secondary cap in engagement with the primary cap to secure the vessel, the secondary cap including at least one lug having a shear zone that contacts the projection; and wherein when the secondary cap is removed from the primary cap, the shear zone is broken by the projection such that the secondary cap cannot reengage the primary cap.

12 . The pre-assembled tamper evident storage apparatus of claim 11 further comprising:
a stopper located in the threaded neck portion of the vessel, the stopper having a central aperture through which a fluid within the vessel can be extracted.

13 . The pre-assembled tamper evident storage apparatus of claim 12 wherein the primary cap includes a shoulder portion and the secondary cap includes a seal portion; and
wherein the shoulder portion engages the stopper such that it creates an interference fit between the stopper and shoulder portion, and the seal portion of the secondary cap engages the stopper such that it creates an interference fit between the stopper and the seal portion; and
wherein the shoulder portion and seal portion assist in sealing the vessel.

14 . The pre-assembled tamper evident storage apparatus of claim 11 wherein the at least one lug is a substantially L-shaped and the shear zone is a section of thinned material on the lug.

15 . The pre-assembled tamper evident storage apparatus of claim 11 wherein the projection has a chamfered edge portion that it is in contact with the shear zone of the lug.

16 . A method of securing a vessel comprising the steps of:
placing a primary cap having a threaded portion on a threaded neck portion of a vessel, the primary cap including a removable secondary cap; rotating the primary cap in a first direction thereby tightening the primary cap on the vessel neck; and rotating the secondary cap in a second opposite direction until a lug on the secondary cap engages a projection of the primary cap such that the secondary cap cannot be removed without breaking a portion of the lug thereby preventing the secondary cap from being reinstalled on a vessel.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the projection engages a shear zone of the lug when the primary and secondary caps are installed on a vessel.

18 . The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of:
placing a stopper in the neck portion prior to placing the primary cap on the neck portion.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the primary cap further includes a shoulder portion and the secondary cap includes a seal portion; and
wherein the shoulder portion engages the stopper such that it creates an interference fit between the stopper and shoulder portion, and the seal portion of the secondary cap also engages the stopper such that it creates an interference fit between the stopper and the seal portion; and wherein the shoulder portion and seal portion assist in sealing the vessel.

20 . An apparatus for securing a vessel comprising:
a primary cap having configured to selectively engage a vessel to secure the primary cap to the vessel, and at least one projection; a removable secondary cap configured to engage the primary cap to secure the vessel, the secondary cap including at least one lug, the lug having a shear zone that contacts the projection when the primary and secondary caps are engaged and secured to a vessel; and wherein when the secondary cap is removed from the primary cap, the shear zone is broken by the projection such that the secondary cap cannot by reinstalled on the primary cap.

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Castillo Edward
• Wervey Paul

Classifications

• B65D41/3457 Primary

  the tamper element being formed separately but connected to the closure · CPC title

• B65D2251/0075

  of the 39-type · CPC title

• B65D2251/0059

  of the 51-type · CPC title

• B65D2251/009

  of the 51-type · CPC title

• B65D2251/0028

  of the 51-type · CPC title