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US 11,591,141 B2Granted
Closures and vessels with closures
AssigneeVeraseal Pty Limited
InventorMark Donald Goodall
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A closure can close an outlet of a vessel. The vessel outlet can comprise a tubular cavity with an interior surface. The closure can comprise a male portion comprising a distal undersized portion, a proximal oversized portion, and a taper between the undersized and oversized portion. The male portion can be inserted in the vessel outlet, undersized portion first. Interference between the inner diameter of the vessel outlet and the outer diameter of male portion can occur when the male portion is sufficiently inserted. The interference can cause the undersized portion to flare out and engage the interior surface of the tubular cavity, thereby providing a seal.
Claims20
An apparatus comprising:
- a vessel comprising an outlet that comprises:
- a rim;
- and
- a first cavity that extends from the rim and comprises an interior surface comprising an inner diameter;
- and
- a closure comprising:
- a base portion;
- and
- a male portion that extends from the base portion to form a second cavity and that comprises:
- a first portion that extends circumferentially about the second cavity and has a first outer diameter that is larger than the inner diameter when the closure is in a relaxed state, said relaxed state comprising the apparatus in an open configuration with the male portion disposed outside the first cavity;
- a second portion that extends circumferentially about the second cavity and has a second outer diameter that is no larger than the inner diameter when the closure is in said relaxed state;
- and
- a third portion that extends circumferentially about the second cavity, is tapered, and is disposed between the first portion and the second portion,
- wherein the first portion is disposed between the third portion and the base portion, and
- wherein the closure is dimensioned so that when the male portion is inserted in the first cavity with the base portion adjoining the rim, the interior surface of the vessel applies radial compressive force to the first portion that causes the second portion to flare out relative to said relaxed state, said flare out comprising diametrical expansion of the second portion relative to said second outer diameter, said diametrical expansion producing lateral force between the second portion and the interior surface causing the second portion to engage the interior surface and produce a self-energizing seal.
12 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- a vessel comprising an outlet that comprises:
- a rim;
- and
- a first cavity that extends from the rim and comprises an interior surface comprising an inner diameter;
- a closure comprising:
- a base portion;
- and
- a male portion that extends from the base portion to form a second cavity and that comprises:
- a first portion that extends circumferentially about the second cavity;
- a second portion that extends circumferentially about the second cavity;
- and
- a third portion that extends circumferentially about the second cavity, is tapered, and is disposed between the first portion and the second portion;
- a closed configuration in which each of the first portion, the second portion, and the third portion extends into the first cavity;
- and
- an open configuration in which each of the first portion, the second portion, and the third portion is disposed outside the first cavity,
- wherein in the open configuration, the first portion has a first outer diameter that is larger than the inner diameter and the second portion has a second outer diameter that is no larger than the inner diameter, and
- wherein in the closed configuration, the interior surface of the outlet diametrically compresses the first portion, produces radial compressive forces and deformation, and causes the first portion to have a third outer diameter that is smaller than the first outer diameter, wherein said radial compressive forces and deformation cause the second portion to press radially outward against the interior surface and form a self-energizing seal.
14 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- a vessel comprising an outlet that comprises:
- a rim;
- and
- an interior surface that extends from the rim and defines a cavity;
- and
- a closure comprising:
- a base portion;
- and
- a male portion that extends from the base portion and comprises:
- a distally disposed undersized portion;
- a proximally disposed oversized portion;
- and
- a tapered portion disposed between the undersized and oversized portions,
- wherein an annular space exists between the distally disposed undersized portion and the interior surface when the distally disposed undersized portion is disposed in the cavity and the proximally disposed oversized portion and the tapered portion are disposed outside the cavity, and
- wherein when the distally disposed undersized portion, the proximally disposed oversized portion, and the tapered portion are disposed in the cavity, the proximally disposed oversized portion receives radial compressive force from the interior surface that causes the distally disposed undersized portion to diametrically expand into the annular space, press radially outward against the interior surface, and form a seal with the interior surface.
12 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.