Alcoa Closure Systems International, Inc.

Hugh C Urmston

David E Babcock

Ted W Boehm

Daniel J Denman

Stephen W McBride

Joseph M Ladina

David L Cerny

Wendell D Willingham

Sheldon L Wilde

Ralph H Whitney

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 staged, sequentially separated injection molding apparatus for forming a molded container closure includes a mold base portion, a plurality of concentric, separable telescopic mold elements, and an opening therein defined by one of the base portion and the mold elements for injecting a mold material into the apparatus. The elements are configured such that they can be separated or removed from the mold, from the inner most element outward, to provide sufficient free space for the newly molded part to flex inward as the mold elements are removed. The inward flexing of the part, permits ready removal of the next outwardly most mold element, while minimizing the possibility of damage to the molded part. Each of the mold elements includes a mold face, which in conjunction with the base portion, in part defines a mold cavity. The inner and outer mold elements and the intermediate mold element include flange portions opposite of their respective mold faces. The elements include recesses therein, and the intermediate element includes openings therethrough, adapted to receive a movable, locking cam member positioned in the opening. The cam member is adapted to hold the intermediate mold element against movement relative to the outer mold element as the inner mold element is moved away from the base portion, and to release the intermediate element with the inner element relative to the base portion, to facilitate staged, sequential opening of the mold for removal of the molded part.

Staged, sequentially separated injection mold method for forming

A promotional closure includes an outer closure cap, and a removable inner promotion compartment for receiving an associated promotional element such as a coupon, game piece, currency, or the like. The promotion compartment has a generally cup-shaped configuration, including a circular bottom wall, and an upstanding generally cylindrical side wall. An annular flange extends generally outwardly from the side wall, and includes a detachable portion whereby the annular flange can act as a pull-ring or finger grip to facilitate opening or splitting of the side wall of the compartment. The annular flange is preferably connected to a hingedly detachable section of the side wall which can be pulled open by manipulation of the flange to facilitate access to the contents of the compartment.

Closure having easy-open 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 fitment and closure assembly useful with a gable-topped carton having a gable-forming panel with a pouring hole, through which contents are pourable from the carton, is molded from low density polyethylene. A fitment having a tubular spout formed with an external thread and an annular flange extending outwardly from the tubular spout, below the external thread, is attachable to the gable-forming panel so that the annular flange is attached to the gable-forming panel, around the pouring hole, and so that the tubular spout extends upwardly from the pouring hole. A closure having an upper wall, a tubular skirt with an internal thread and an upper shoulder, and a plug seal forming an annular recess between the plug seal and the upper shoulder is threadable onto the fitment so that the external and internal threads are interengaged and so that the upper end of the tubular spout enters the annular recess with an interference fit. A tear-away web disposed within the tubular spout is attached to the intermediate shoulder by a tearable membrane extending around the intermediate shoulder, below the upper portion of the tubular spout, so that the internal cross section of the tubular spout is not reduced significantly above the intermediate shoulder by any residue of the tearable membrane. A pull ring is attached unitarily to the tear-away web, near the tearable membrane, for initiating a tear in the tearable membrane. Optionally, the tubular skirt has a tear-away band, below the internal thread.

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Carmel, IN, United States of America

Hugh C Urmston