# US 2011/0226722 A1 · Synthetic closure with multiple internal layers, each layer having a variable cross section (vcs) along the closure length

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- Number: US 2011/0226722 A1
- Document ID: US20110226722A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/117,634
- Filed: 2011-05-27
- Published: 2011-09-22
- Earliest claimed: 2007-03-22
- Assignees: EPOLI-Espumas de Polietileno SA
- Inventors: José Romão de Sousa
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20110226722A1

## CPC

- B65D 39/0058: {from natural or synthetic cork, e.g. for wine bottles or the like}
- Y10T 29/49945: by driven force fit
- Y10T 428/13: Hollow or container type article [e.g., tube, vase, etc.]
- Y10T 428/1352: Polymer or resin containing [i.e., natural or synthetic]
- B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A container closure includes an inner core having a non-cylindrical profile created by a variable longitudinal cross-sectional area. One or more outer layers concentrically surround the core and have a cross-sectional area inversely correlated to the inner core so that the overall container closure has an essentially cylindrical profile.

## Claims

### Claim at position 1

1-11. (canceled)

### Claim 12

A method of closing a container, said method comprising:
forming an inner core of a container closure;
concentrically surrounding said inner core with one or more outer layers to form an essentially cylindrical container closure; and
using said container closure to close an opening in a container.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12 wherein said using comprises:
compressing said container closure;
inserting said container closure into an opening of a container; and
releasing said compression and allowing said container closure to expand and seal said opening of said container.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12 wherein one or both of said forming and concentrically surrounding comprises extruding.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, further comprising cutting said extruded inner core and one or more layers into a one or more predetermined lengths to form said container closure.

### Claim 16 (depends on 12)

A method as in claim 12 wherein said forming and concentrically surrounding comprises longitudinally varying the ratio of the cross-sectional area of said inner core and the cross-sectional area or areas of said one or more outer layers to determine one or more physical properties of said container closure.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16 wherein said longitudinally varying determines one or both of a relaxation force of said container apparatus and an extraction force required to remove said container closure apparatus from said opening of said container.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16 wherein said longitudinally varying determines oxygen transmission levels through said container closure.

### Claim 19 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12 wherein said forming and concentrically surrounding comprises creating one or more rings along the longitudinal length of the container closure created where said inner core extends to an outer edge of said container closure.

### Claim 20 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12 wherein said at least one thermoplastic resin is foamed.

### Claim 21

A container closure comprising:
an extruded inner core with a first composition with a variable cross-sectional area along a length of the container closure;
an extruded outer layer with a second composition concentrically surrounding said inner extruded core; and
wherein the outer profile of said extruded outer layer is essentially cylindrical.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The container closure of claim 21 wherein at least one of said inner core and said outer layer comprise at least one thermoplastic resin and said at least one thermoplastic resin is foamed.

### Claim 23

A container closure comprising a cylindrical body comprising a core and one or more layers concentrically surrounding said core, said body having a longitudinal cylindrical axis wherein the material composition of at least one of said core and said one or more layers varies longitudinally.

### Claim 24

(canceled)

### Claim 25 (depends on 23)

A container closure as in claim 23 wherein at least one of said core and said one or more layers has a cross-sectional area that varies longitudinally.

### Claim 26 (depends on 23)

A container closure as in claim 23 wherein said body comprises a first longitudinal portion having a first composition and a second longitudinal portion having a second composition.

### Claim 27 (depends on 23)

A container closure as in claim 23 wherein the composition of said material varies continuously.

### Claim 28 (depends on 21)

The container closure of claim 21 wherein said variable cross-section along the length of the container closure determines a radial compression and relaxation force profile along said closure length.

### Claim 29 (depends on 21)

The container closure of claim 21 wherein said variable cross-section along the length of the container closure determines oxygen transmission levels through said closure.