US4361244A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pilferproof closure
Assignee: Continental Group Inc
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Filing: 1981-03-11
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Granted: 1982-11-30
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Expires: 2001-03-11
Abstract
Abstract A closure for a container having a lever-openable plug wherein the lever is attached to other parts of the closure by a frangible member which must be broken to permit actuation of the lever to open the plug, thus indicating to a subsequent observer that either the closure had been open or an attempt had been made to do so.
Inventors
- 👤 John Walter
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 03:23
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D47/00; B65D47/04; B65D47/06; B65D47/08; B65D47/0804; B65D47/0833; B65D2401/00; B65D2401/15
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
123 words
A closure for a container having a wall member with an aperture, said closure comprising a sleeve portion having means for forming a seal-tight fit within a container aperture and having a bore providing a pour opening, a flexible plastic plug having a seal-tight fit within said pour opening, a lift lever connected to said plug, and a combination pour lip and fulcrum projecting from said sleeve portion for fulcruming engagement by said lever upon lifting and tilting of said lever to thereby open said pour opening by lifting said plug out of said pour opening, a tearable anti-pilfer means on said lever, means connecting said anti-pilfer means to said plug, said anti-pilfer means being torn apart upon lifting of said lift lever.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
123 words
A closure for a container having a wall member with an aperture, said closure comprising a sleeve portion having means for forming a seal-tight fit within a container aperture and having a bore providing a pour opening, a flexible plastic plug having a seal-tight fit within said pour opening, a lift lever connected to said plug, and a combination pour lip and fulcrum projecting from said sleeve portion for fulcruming engagement by said lever upon lifting and tilting of said lever to thereby open said pour opening by lifting said plug out of said pour opening, a tearable anti-pilfer means on said lever, means connecting said anti-pilfer means to said plug, said anti-pilfer means being torn apart upon lifting of said lift lever.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
127 words
A closure for a container having a wall member with an aperture, said closure comprising a tubular sleeve portion having means for forming a seal-tight fit within a container aperture and providing a pour opening, a resilient plug having in a closed position of said plug a seal-tight fit within said opening, a lift lever, means tethering said lift lever to said plug, said lift lever having a fulcrum end and a lift end, and combination fulcrum and lip guide means on said sleeve portion extending axially thereof, said lift lever being swingable over said combination means for prying said plug out of said opening, and frangible tamper-indicating means on said lift lever connected to said plug and being separable attendant to lifting of said lift lever.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
127 words
A closure for a container having a wall member with an aperture, said closure comprising a tubular sleeve portion having means for forming a seal-tight fit within a container aperture and providing a pour opening, a resilient plug having in a closed position of said plug a seal-tight fit within said opening, a lift lever, means tethering said lift lever to said plug, said lift lever having a fulcrum end and a lift end, and combination fulcrum and lip guide means on said sleeve portion extending axially thereof, said lift lever being swingable over said combination means for prying said plug out of said opening, and frangible tamper-indicating means on said lift lever connected to said plug and being separable attendant to lifting of said lift lever.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The invention according to claim 2 and said tamper indicating means comprising a tear apart portion of said lever.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
The invention according to claim 3 and said tear apart portion of said lift lever comprising a disk-like element formed as part of said lift lever intermediate its ends, and means connecting said element to said plug.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
141 words
In combination with a container having an aperture and a closure, said closure comprising a sleeve fitted into said aperture, means providing a seal between said sleeve and said container, said sleeve having a bore defining a pour opening, a plug having a seal fit with said sleeve in closed position of said plug within said opening, a lever overlying said plug in the closed position of said plug, a tether connecting one end of said lever to said plug, and a fulcrum on said sleeve having an upper end positioned for engagement by said lever attendant to said lever being swung beyond a predetermined angle whereupon said lever is caused to pivot on said fulcrum and pull on said tether and thus lift said plug out of said opening, and separable pilfer-indicating means connected between said lever and said plug.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
141 words
In combination with a container having an aperture and a closure, said closure comprising a sleeve fitted into said aperture, means providing a seal between said sleeve and said container, said sleeve having a bore defining a pour opening, a plug having a seal fit with said sleeve in closed position of said plug within said opening, a lever overlying said plug in the closed position of said plug, a tether connecting one end of said lever to said plug, and a fulcrum on said sleeve having an upper end positioned for engagement by said lever attendant to said lever being swung beyond a predetermined angle whereupon said lever is caused to pivot on said fulcrum and pull on said tether and thus lift said plug out of said opening, and separable pilfer-indicating means connected between said lever and said plug.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
105 words
A closure for a container having an aperture, said closure being means for closing a container aperture and comprising a sleeve insertable into an aperture in a container and having a pouring bore, a plug insertable into said pouring bore for closing said pouring bore, lifting means operably associated with said plug for displacing said plug from said pouring bore, and frangible pilfer-indicating means between said plug and said lifting means, said pilfer-indicating means being of the type adapted to break apart attendant to lifting of said lifting means, said lifting means comprising a tab overlying said plug in the closed position of said plug.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
105 words
A closure for a container having an aperture, said closure being means for closing a container aperture and comprising a sleeve insertable into an aperture in a container and having a pouring bore, a plug insertable into said pouring bore for closing said pouring bore, lifting means operably associated with said plug for displacing said plug from said pouring bore, and frangible pilfer-indicating means between said plug and said lifting means, said pilfer-indicating means being of the type adapted to break apart attendant to lifting of said lifting means, said lifting means comprising a tab overlying said plug in the closed position of said plug.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
The invention according to claim 6 and said pilfer-indicating means comprising a wafer-like member recessed within said tab and having a frangible connection therewith, and upon breaking away from said tab, leaving a visibly apparent hole therein.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
The invention according to claim 7 and said closure being made of thermoplastic materials, said plug having a top wall including an upstanding post, and a tack-weld connection between said post and said wafer-like member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The invention according to claim 8 and said wafer-like member being joined to said tab by at least one breakable strap.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
153 words
A closure for a container neck having a pour opening, said closure comprising closure means for closing said pour opening, lift means for displacing said closure means from a closed to an open position with respect to said pour opening, and pilfer-indicating means having a frangible connection between said lift means and said closure means and adapted to be fractured attendant to lifting of said lift means and thereby providing indicia of pilfering, said lift means being disposed in overlapped position to said closure means in the closed position of said closure, and said pilfer-indicating means comprising a breakaway portion of said lift means breakable away therefrom upon lifting of said lift means, and lift-force transmitting means tethering said lift means to said closure means, and said breakaway portion of said lift means being spaced from said tethering means and upon being broken away forming a visually apparent hole through said lift means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
153 words
A closure for a container neck having a pour opening, said closure comprising closure means for closing said pour opening, lift means for displacing said closure means from a closed to an open position with respect to said pour opening, and pilfer-indicating means having a frangible connection between said lift means and said closure means and adapted to be fractured attendant to lifting of said lift means and thereby providing indicia of pilfering, said lift means being disposed in overlapped position to said closure means in the closed position of said closure, and said pilfer-indicating means comprising a breakaway portion of said lift means breakable away therefrom upon lifting of said lift means, and lift-force transmitting means tethering said lift means to said closure means, and said breakaway portion of said lift means being spaced from said tethering means and upon being broken away forming a visually apparent hole through said lift means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
46 words
The invention according to claim 10 and said lift means comprising a tab, said tethering means being located at one end of said lift means, said tab having a hand-hold at its other end, and said breakaway portion being located on the tab intermediate its ends.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1985-11-29 | 1986-05-31 | 1986-11-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-11-29 | 1990-05-31 | 1990-11-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-11-29 | 1994-05-31 | 1994-11-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |