Stanpac Inc.

Brian M Klassen

Stephen H Witt

Michael P Galda

A sealing member for a container has a membrane, e.g., aluminum foil, and a first sheet, e.g. polyester, part of which is bonded to the membrane. The other part of the sheet is free, so as to form a tab having one of a number of possible profiles, to enable the sealing member to be detached as a single unit. At least part of the periphery of the tab is within the periphery of the membrane, to facilitate grasping of the tab. The first sheet and the membrane or foil may have a common periphery where they are bonded together.

Sealing member for a container

A sealing member for a container has a membrane, e.g. aluminum foil, and a first sheet, e.g. polyester, part of which is bonded to the membrane. The other part of the sheet is free, so as to form a tab, to enable the seal to be detached. The seal can be attached to the neck of a bottle by a hot melt adhesive. The sheet and membrane can be stamped from a compound sheet and be of the same size. The composite portion can extend up to a line extending across a major portion of the membrane, or in another embodiment it covers a major portion of the membrane. Alternatively, the first sheet and the membrane can have a substantially common periphery in the separated portion of the sealing member forming the tab. A further embodiment provides for a sealing member that is entirely planar.

A method of making an elongate strip for the production of a sealing member includes, as a first step, applying a plurality of strips of a first adhesive to one of a membrane and a first sheet, the membrane and the first sheet are then bonded together so that composite portions are formed where they are bonded together by the strips of the first adhesive, and separated portions are formed where the membrane and the first sheet are free from one another. The other side of the membrane is then coated with an additional layer of adhesive, for example a hot melt bonding material. Then, sealing members can be cut from the resultant composite elongate strip, with each sealing member having a composite portion in which the membrane and the first sheet are bonded together and a separated portion in which the membrane and the first sheet are free of one another. The free portion of the first sheet then forms a tab, for removal of the sealing member, in use, after it has been bonded to the lip of a container.

Method of making an elongate strip for the production of sealing members

An elongate strip, from which sealing members can be cut, has an elongate membrane and a first sheet. A first layer of adhesive is provided in the form of a series of elongate portions extending along the length of the strip and bonding the membrane and the first sheet together. An additional layer of adhesive is provided on the other side of the membrane. This enables sealing members to be cut from the elongate strip comprising a composite portion in which the membrane and first sheet are bonded together by the first layer of adhesive and a free portion in which the first sheet is separate from the membrane and forms a tab. In use, the additional layer of adhesive on the membrane is used to bond the sealing member to lip of a container, and the tab can then be used to remove the sealing member to open the container. The first layer of adhesive bonds the first sheet of the membrane together so strongly in the sealing member that they can be removed as a unit from such a container.

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Burlington, Canada

Brian M Klassen