# US 2019/0168923 A1 · Closure for retort container > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0168923 A1 - Document ID: US20190168923A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/266,084 - Filed: 2019-02-03 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2014-06-18 - Assignees: Sonoco Development, Inc. - Applicants: Sonoco Development, Inc. - Inventors: Trevor Price - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190168923A1 ## CPC - B65D 41/0492: {formed by several elements connected together (B65D41/0478 takes precedence)} - B29C 65/3644: {being a ribbon, band or strip} - B65D 51/20: Caps, lids, or covers co-operating with an inner closure arranged to be opened by piercing, cutting, or tearing {(B65D51/185 takes precedence; co-operating with an auxiliary container for additional articles or materials B65D51/28)} - 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 - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) ## Abstract A retortable container is formed with an opening formed defined by a projecting rim. The rim includes an external surface and securing structure formed thereon. A flexible membrane is sealed to the rim and closes the opening. A closure is provided having a molded plastic tubular ring and a separately formed molded plastic disk. The tubular ring includes an overlapping flange at a top and directed inwardly towards an inwardly positioned open area. The skirt includes an engagement structure for securing the closure to the external surface of the rim. The disk is separately attached to the ring within the open area after the retort process is applied to the sealed bottle. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A retortable container comprising: a container reservoir for storing product, the reservoir having a defined opening for discharge of the product, the opening formed within an upstanding rim projected from the reservoir body, the rim having an external surface and securing means formed thereon, a membrane secured to the rim and closing the opening, the membrane sealing the product within the reservoir; and a closure having a tubular ring, and a separately formed disk, the tubular ring having a skirt formed about a central axis, an overlap flange portion at a top end of the skirt and directed inwardly towards the central axis, an outwardly open area radially inward of the flange, the disk insertable into the open area for securing the disk and closing the open area, wherein the disk conforms to the dimensions of the open area, and the disk is retained by the flange within the open area to close the open area. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A retortable container as in claim 1 wherein the ring is formed of a molded plastic. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A retortable container as in claim 2 wherein the disk is formed of a molded plastic. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A retortable container as in claim 3 wherein the disk is adhered to the flange of the ring. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A retortable container as in claim 1 wherein the securing means on the container rim and the engagement means on the skirt comprises matching threads for coupling the closure to the container rim. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A retortable container as in claim 1 wherein the rim comprises a sealing surface and wherein an adhesive seals the membrane to the sealing surface for hermetically sealing the product within the reservoir of the body. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) A retortable container as in claim 6 wherein the overlap flange of the tubular ring engages the membrane sealed to the sealing surface in closed position of the ring on the rim of the container. ### Claim 8 A closure for use with a container of the type having a projecting neck that defines a dispensing opening, communicating with an internal reservoir, and an annular rim, the closure comprising: a tubular skirt having an inside surface having an internal dimension adapted to receive the projecting neck of a reservoir container, attachment means formed on the inside surface of the tubular skirt, the attachment means for releasably attaching the closure to the projecting neck of the container, an annular flange directed inwardly from the tubular skirt at one longitudinal end thereof, the flange defining an open area, and the flange dimensioned to overlap the rim of the dispensing opening when the tubular skirt is secured to the projecting neck of the reservoir container, and a sealing disk separately formed from the tubular skirt and mounted in the open area defined by the flange, the flange and disk cooperating with one another to close the open area. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The closure according to claim 8, wherein the attachment means comprises interengaging surfaces on the inside surface for engaging with corresponding surfaces formed on the projecting neck of the container. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The closure according to claim 8, wherein the tubular skirt and the sealing disk are each formed from plastic. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The closure according to claim 8, further comprising an adhesive securing the sealing disk within the open area formed by the annular flange. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The closure according to claim 8 wherein the flange includes a stepped internal surface and the disk includes a mating peripheral surface. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The closure of claim 8 wherein the disk has a circular perimeter. ### Claim 14 A retortable container comprising: a container having an internal reservoir for storing a retortable product, the reservoir having a defined opening for discharge of the product, the opening formed within an upstanding rim projected from a reservoir body, the rim having an external surface including securing means formed thereon, a sealing membrane secured to the rim and closing the opening, the sealing membrane sealing the product within the reservoir during a retort process, the sealing membrane formed with a foil material serving as a barrier layer; and a closure having a tubular ring, and a separately formed disk for selective assembly with the ring, the ring having a skirt formed about a central axis, an overlap flange portion at a top end of the skirt and directed inwardly towards the central axis, an outwardly open area radially inward of the flange, the ring being secured to the projected rim of the container over the sealing membrane in a closed position, with a portion of the sealing membrane exposed through the open area of the ring in the closed position, the disk is inserted into the ring of the closure, the disk conforming to the dimensions of the open area and covering the exposed portion of the sealing membrane, wherein the heat of the retort process is applied through the expose portion of the sealing membrane prior to the insertion of the disk into the open area inward of the ring. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A retortable container as in claim 14 wherein the ring is formed of a molded plastic. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) A retortable container as in claim 15 wherein the disk is formed of a molded plastic. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) A retortable container as in claim 16 wherein the disk is adhered to the flange of the ring. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) A retortable container as in claim 14 wherein the securing means on the external surface of the container rim and an engagement means on the skirt comprise matching threads for coupling the closure to the container rim. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) A retortable container as in claim 14 wherein the rim comprises a sealing surface and wherein an adhesive seals the sealing membrane to the sealing surface for hermetically sealing the product within the reservoir body. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) A retortable container as in claim 18 wherein the overlap flange of the ring engages the sealing membrane in the closed position of the ring on the rim of the container. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) A retortable container as in claim 20 wherein the inward direction of the overlap flange is dimensioned to overlap the rim of the opening defined by the projected rim when the closure is secured to the rim of the reservoir body. ### Claim 22 (depends on 14) The retortable container as in claim 14, wherein the securing means on the projecting rim and an attachment means on an internal surface of the skirt each comprise interengaging surfaces for securing and engaging the closure on the projected rim of the reservoir body. ### Claim 23 (depends on 14) The retortable container as in claim 14, wherein the tubular skirt and the disk are secured together by a frictional engagement. ### Claim 24 (depends on 14) The retortable container as in claim 14, further comprising a portion of the disk overlapping the flange and an adhesive securing the disk to the overlapped portion of the flange. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The retortable container as in claim 24, wherein the flange includes a stepped internal surface and the disk includes a mating peripheral surface, and wherein at least a portion of the mating surface of the disk overlaps a portion of the stepped internal surface of the flange. ### Claim 26 (depends on 14) The retortable container as in claim 14, wherein the disk has a circular perimeter.