Multi-component synthetic closure and method of manufacture

A method for mass-producing a plurality of multi-component thermoplastic closures for use in sealing fluid products in a container having a portal forming a neck of the container, said method comprising the steps of:

• A. extruding a continuous, elongated, substantially cylindrically shaped length of material to form a central core member, said central core member comprising a continuous elongated form with a continuous length equivalent to a combined length of the plurality of multi-component thermoplastic closures, and said central core member being devoid of a skin layer or covering layer;
• B. passing the central core member being devoid of a skin layer or covering layer through a printer system that repeatedly prints pre-determined, desired ink-based indicia directly on an outer cylindrical surface of said central core member;
• C. separately extruding a visually transparent, separate and independent layer of plastic material in intimate bonded engagement with the central core member, peripherally surrounding and substantially enveloping the outer cylindrical surface of the central core member and being in overlying relationship with the indicia repeatedly printed on the outer cylindrical surface of said central core member, thereby forming a dual component product;
• and
• D. repeatedly cutting the dual component product in a plane substantially perpendicular to a central axis of the central core member, thereby forming the plurality of multi-component thermoplastic closures, with each multi-component thermoplastic closure having a desired length for insertion and retention in the portal of the neck of the container, and with each multi-component thermoplastic closure having a core with the desired indicia contained thereon and visible through the separate and independent layer of plastic material,
• wherein said manufacturing process operates as a continuous formation process with all steps being performed in-line, with virtually no manual intervention and with a fully produced final product being achieved.