Alcoa Closure Systems International, Inc.

Alena Closure Systems International

David L Cerny

Wendell D Willingham

Ted W Boehm

Stephen W McBride

Joseph M Ladina

Mark A Powell

Sohail Sadiq

Hugh C Urmston

Sheldon L Wilde

Daniel J Denman

Daniel Denman

David Denman

Ralph H Whitney

Lindsey Abney

David Oles

Greg Mishler

David E Babcock

David W Smith

An apparatus for molding a plastic closure includes a male mold assembly including a forming pin and an outer pin sleeve which cooperate with a female mold for defining a mold cavity. To facilitate mechanical stripping of a molded closure from the forming pin, pressurized air is introduced into the molded closure through at least one air passageway which extends axially between the forming pin and pin sleeve. By outwardly expanding and forming the plastic closure during ejection from the forming pin, forces to which the closure is subjected during ejection are significantly reduced, thereby desirably reducing the amount of cooling of the closure that is required during the molding cycle prior to ejection. Significantly increased operating speeds for the compression molding apparatus can thus be achieved.

Apparatus for molding a plastic closure with air-assisted ejection

A simulated promotional pocket for a closure and method for manufacture thereof has a cup-shaped simulated promotional pocket molded within the closure to at least partially encapsulate anchor tabs extending from a liner pre-molded to an inside of the top wall of the closure. The anchor tabs are arranged in a target formation of concentric spaced-apart circles and are bent over outwardly during pressure molding of the cup-shaped promotional pocket to provide resistance to separation of the promotional pocket and the liner. The simulated promotional pocket having an open end is configured to be identical in appearance to an actual promotional compartment which holds a promotional item of value thereon, when viewed from outside a container closed by the closure.

Two-step molding of liner components for a closure

A closure includes a promotion piece holding container within a cap to be installed onto a container such as a bottle. The promotion piece receiving container includes a top flange captured by a lip of a seal installed within the cap. The promotion piece receiving container includes a frangible band extending circumferentially around a substantial circumference of the container. The container can include a bottom flange arranged for convenience gripping and removing of the container from the cap, and a pull tab attached to the frangible band to assist in removing the frangible band to open the container for removal of the promotion piece.

Easy-open promotion compartment

A promotional closure includes a sealed promotion-receiving member in the form of a compartment positioned generally within an outer closure cap, for disposition within an associated container. The sealed configuration of the promotion compartment desirably acts to isolate the promotional element therein from the contents of the container. Use on a container having carbonated contents is particularly facilitated by an arrangement by which a plastic film cover member which seals the compartment is sealed to an annular flange of the compartment to permit predetermined delamination and release of gas pressure from within the interior of the compartment.

Closure having self-venting, sealed promotion compartment

A removable inner compartment promotional closure includes a plastic closure cap having a circular top wall portion and a depending annular skirt portion depending from the top wall portion. A circular, resilient liner is positioned in the cap, and has a retaining element extending therefrom. A removable compartment member is positioned in the closure cap in engagement with the retaining element. The compartment defines an interior compartment adapted to receive promotional indicia, such as a promotional game piece, therein. The compartment is adapted to release from the cap after the cap is removed from the container. A sealed cover element may be positioned to extend over and close the compartment member, to isolate the compartment from the contents of the container. The promotional closure is used in conjunction with a simulated promotional closure, which configured to be is indistinguishable from the promotional closure cap. A promotional gaming system includes a plurality of the simulated promotion containing closures and the promotional closures provided on respective containers. Purchasers of the soft drink with the promotional closure will be instantly rewarded upon opening the container and compartment by receiving the promotional piece, 'on-the-spot.' Purchasers of the soft drink with the simulated promotional closure may be consoled by indicia, such as 'please try again' appearing in the simulated promotional closure.

Removable inner promotional compartment closure and promotional gaming

A promotional closure for use with an associated container includes a plastic closure cap having an inwardly recessed, circular top wall portion defining a compartment and a depending annular skirt portion depending from the top wall portion. A circumferential lip formed in the closure cap generally at about a periphery of the compartment, defines a circumferential channel-like recess adjacent to the compartment. The closure further includes a removable, circular cover member adapted to cover the compartment by insertion into the circumferential recess. The cover has a pair of circumferentially opposed tab-like, releasable engaging members which are adapted to be received in the circumferential recess to retain the cover in place in the cap over the compartment. The engaging members are further adapted to release from the recess for removal of the cover member from the top wall portion when pressure is applied to the cap on the skirt portion adjacent to where the engaging members are positioned in the recess to thereby permit access to the compartment. Alternately, the cover includes a depending skirtlike seal support member which exerts an outward force on the top wall portion to urge the top wall portion into sealing engagement with an inside surface at the mouth of the container.

Compartmentalized top cover promotional closure

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Crawfordsville, IN, United States of America

David L Cerny