Apparatus and method for securing a vessel
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsEdward Castillo, Paul Wervey
Life of this patent
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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.
Claims19
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 being substantially L-shaped and having a shear zone formed by a section of thinned material 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 preassembled relationship between the secondary cap and the primary cap cannot be recreated.
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 substantially L-shaped lug having a shear zone formed by a section of thinned material 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 preassembled relationship between the secondary cap and the primary cap cannot be recreated.
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;
- 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 the projection breaking a portion of the lug thereby preventing the preassembled relationship between the secondary cap and the primary cap from being recreated;
- and
- placing a stopper in the neck portion prior to placing the primary cap on the neck portion.
An apparatus for securing a vessel comprising:
- a primary cap 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 being substantially L-shaped and having a shear zone formed by a thinned material 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 preassembled relationship between the secondary cap and the primary cap cannot be recreated.
An apparatus for securing a vessel comprising:
- a primary cap 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 a plurality of lugs circumferentially spaced on an outer surface of the secondary cap, each lug having a shear zone configured to contact the at least one 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, at least one of the shear zones is broken by the projection such that the preassembled relationship between the secondary cap and the primary cap cannot be recreated.
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;
- 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;
- and
- wherein when the secondary cap is removed from the primary cap, the shear zone is broken by the projection such that the preassembled relationship between the secondary cap and the primary cap cannot be recreated.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.