US 9,272,819 B1Granted

Resealable container lid including methods of manufacture and use

OwnerDaniel A. Zabaleta, Sam D. Hackettinventors

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Abstract

A resealable container lid assembly including a cap rotationally assembled to a lid. The cap rotates between storage, opening, removal and resealing positions. Various configurations of cams and ramps are used to generate and apply an opening force to a score line. An elastomeric sealing element is disposed between the cap and the socket so that when the cap is in the fully seated or sealed position, an substantially or completely airtight seal is created to prevent the contents of the container from leaking out. Further enhancements are disclosed that include a score line structure in the socket bottom wall that facilitates a predictable and repeatable opening of the container along the score line. A grip is provided that includes a gap or space into which a coin or other implement can be inserted to allow the consumer a better grip to provide adequate opening force.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method of using a resealable container lid assembly, the resealable container lid assembly comprising a resealable container lid and a cap, the method comprising steps of:

obtaining a container having the cap rotationally engaging with the resealable container lid;
rotating the cap within the resealable container lid;
controlling a vertical motion of the cap within the container lid by engaging a vertical control feature formed in a sidewall of the cap and a vertical control feature formed in a substantially axially oriented element of the container lid;
engaging a projecting feature extending generally downward from the cap and a debossed feature formed within a bottom panel of the container lid with one another wherein the rotation motion and engagement initiates a fracture between a tear panel and an socket annular surface of the bottom panel of the container lid, wherein the tear panel and the an socket annular surface of the bottom panel are segmented sections of the bottom panel, wherein at least a portion of an edge of the tear panel is designed to fracture and separate from the an socket annular surface of the bottom panel;
continuing rotation of the cap respective to the container lid, wherein the projecting feature engages with an embossed feature formed within the bottom panel of the container lid to propagate the fracture between a tear panel and the an socket annular surface of the bottom panel of the container lid, and rotate the tear panel away from the an socket annular surface of the bottom panel.

2 more elements

A method of using a resealable container lid assembly, the resealable container lid assembly comprising a resealable container lid and a cap, the method comprising steps of:

obtaining a container having a cap rotationally engaging with a resealable container lid;
rotating the cap within the resealable container lid;
controlling a vertical motion of the cap within the container lid by engaging a vertical control feature formed in a sidewall of the cap and a vertical control feature formed in a substantially axially oriented element of the container lid;
rotating a projecting feature extending generally downward from the cap and a debossed feature formed within a bottom panel of the container lid respective to one another;
continuing rotation of the cap respective to the container lid, wherein the projecting feature engages with an embossed feature formed within the bottom panel of the container lid to propagate a fracture between a tear panel and the an socket annular surface of the bottom panel of the container lid, and rotate the tear panel away from the a socket annular surface of the bottom panel, wherein the tear panel and the an socket annular surface of the bottom panel are segmented sections of the bottom panel, wherein at least a portion of an edge of the tear panel is designed to fracture and separate from the an socket annular surface of the bottom panel.

2 more elements

A method of using a resealable container lid assembly, the resealable container lid assembly comprising a resealable container lid and a cap, the method comprising steps of:

obtaining a container having a cap rotationally engaging with a resealable container lid;
rotating the cap within the resealable container lid;
controlling a vertical motion of the cap within the container lid by engaging a vertical control feature formed in a sidewall of the cap and a vertical control feature formed in a substantially axially oriented element of the container lid;
generating a force in an axial direction of the rotation of the cap within the resealable container lid by a combination of:
(a) the engagement between the vertical control feature formed in the sidewall of the cap and
(b) the vertical control feature formed in the substantially axially oriented element of the container lid and by engaging a projecting feature of the cap, wherein the projecting feature extends generally downward therefrom:
a debossed feature formed within a bottom panel of the container lid, and
an embossed feature formed within the bottom panel of the container lid;
rotating the cap respective to the container lid, wherein the projecting feature of the cap rotates respective to the debossed feature formed within the bottom panel of the container lid;
continuing rotation of the cap respective to the container lid, wherein the projecting feature of the cap engages with the embossed feature formed within the bottom panel of the container lid to propagate a fracture between a tear panel and an an socket annular surface of the bottom panel of the container lid, and rotate the tear panel away from the an socket annular surface of the bottom panel, wherein the tear panel and the an socket annular surface of the bottom panel are segmented sections of the bottom panel, wherein at least a portion of an edge of the tear panel is designed to fracture and separate from the an socket annular surface of the bottom panel.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/665,102Filed 23 Mar 2015 · division
Priority: 10 Aug 2012
Granted: 1 Mar 2016
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification16 codes

B65D 41/04
Caps or cap-like covers without lines of weakness, tearing strips, tags, or like opening or removal devices: threaded or like caps or cap-like…
B65D 17/401
At lines or points of weakness: characterised by having the line of weakness provided in an end wall
B65D 41/32
Caps, e.g. crown caps or crown seals, i.e. members having parts arranged for engagement with the external periphery of a neck or wall defining a…:…
B65D 41/365
With bayonet cams , i.e. removed by first pushing axially to disengage the cams and then rotating: with integral internal sealing means

Family

Application13/572,404Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 10 Aug 2012
Application13/787,012Parent of this division · filed 6 Mar 2013
US 8,844,761 B2Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 30 Sep 2014
US 8,985,371 B2Parent of this division
Application13/787,012Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 2014/0041338 A1Published application
US 2014/0042164 A1Published application
US 9,272,819 B1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.