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US 10,427,840 B2Granted
Press in flange container closure system
AssigneeGreif International Holding BV
InventorsCornelis Van De Klippe, Steven Talaga, Dale Taylor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An insert for fitment to a container comprises an internally threaded, through-going opening adapted to receive a complementary, externally threaded plug to form a fluid-tight sealed closure for the container. The insert is preferably of plastics material and comprises an external recessed portion or groove shaped to snap-fittingly retain the insert installed in an aperture formed in the container. The aperture preferably comprises an upstanding collar snap-fitted into the groove for favorable installation, compression and energization of a sealing washer.
Claims18
A kit of parts of a container, comprising:
- (a) a container component comprising an aperture having a predetermined diameter when in an undistorted state;
- (b) an annular sealing element with a radial thickness, and
- (c) an insert for installation in the aperture, the insert comprising:
- an internally threaded, through-going opening adapted to receive a complementary, externally threaded plug to form a fluid-tight sealed closure for the container;
- a circumferential groove serving to receive the sealing element, the circumferential groove having a radially outwardly facing base surface;
- an end which, prior to installation of the insert in the container aperture, is formed with:
- (i) a tapered rim which provides a guide surface for leading the insert through the container aperture under compression, and
- (ii) a rearwardly facing shoulder already shaped to snap-fittingly retain the insert in the container aperture when later installed therein;
- wherein the tapered rim of the insert in an undistorted state is of larger outer diameter than the predetermined diameter of the aperture of the container component;
- the rim being compressible to be equal in diameter to the diameter of the aperture during installation of the insert therein, and which compression distorts the groove so as to open up a space between the groove and the container opening until the rearwardly facing shoulder snap-fittingly retains the insert installed in the container aperture.
7 more elements
In combination:
- an insert comprising an internally threaded, through-going opening adapted to receive a complementary, externally threaded plug to form a fluid-tight sealed closure;
- a container wall having an aperture therein;
- the insert comprising an external circumferential groove for snap-fittingly retaining the insert installed in the aperture;
- and
- an annular sealing element receivable in the circumferential groove so as to form a peripheral, fluid-tight seal between the insert and the aperture;
- the insert further comprising an end which, prior to installation of the insert in the container aperture, is formed with:
- (i) a tapered rim which provides a guide surface for leading the insert through the container aperture under compression, and
- (ii) a rearwardly facing shoulder shaped to snap-fittingly retain the insert in the container aperture when installed therein;
- wherein the insert is configured such that during installation of the insert in the container aperture, compression of the rim will distort the groove so as to open up a space between the groove and the container opening until the rearwardly facing shoulder snap-fittingly retains the insert installed in the container aperture.
6 more elements
A method of snap-fittingly installing an insert in an aperture in a container wall,
- the insert comprising an external circumferential groove;
- an internally threaded, through-going opening adapted to receive a complementary, externally threaded plug to form a fluid-tight sealed closure;
- and an end forming a tapered rim which, prior to installation of the insert in the container aperture, provides:
- (i) a guide surface and
- (ii) a rearwardly facing shoulder;
- an edge portion of the container aperture being formed as an upstanding collar;
- the method comprising the steps of:
- installing a sealing element in the circumferential groove;
- pressing the insert into the collar so that the guide surface resiliently deforms the insert and/or the collar and the sealing element is carried into the collar under reduced or no compression, and further pressing the insert into the collar so as to allow a forward end of the collar to snap fit into place behind the rearwardly facing shoulder;
- the insert and/or the collar thereby resiliently recovering so as to compress the sealing element between the circumferential groove and the upstanding collar.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.