Sonoco Development Incorporated

Closure Systems International Inc.

Cap Sustainable Solutions, S.l.u.

Jeremy E Morin

Trevor Price

Jeremiah Migas

Dave Dunn

John Meeks

Marina Lennartz

Aravind Murali

Alan D Williams

James P Stevens

Ramesh M Kamath

Krishnaraju Varadarajan

Robert H Owen

Isaac H Horstman

A container assembly includes a container body having a side wall encircling an axis, and a metal end for attachment to an upper edge of the side wall via heat-sealing. The outer peripheral region is shaped prior to application to the container body such that an annular channel is defined between an inner chuck wall and an outer chuck wall of the metal end. The metal end is pushed straight onto the side wall such that the upper edge of the side wall is received into the channel. The surfaces of the side wall and the opposing surfaces of the chuck walls have heat-sealable material thereon. The metal end is heated to melt and fuse the heat-sealable layers, thereby sealing the metal end onto the side wall. The metal end is shaped such that the free edge of the outer chuck wall is not exposed.

Container assembly having a heat-sealed metal end, a metal end therefor, and a method for making same

A flip-top closure includes first and second closure portions. The first closure portion includes a top wall portion with a tamper-evident winged section and a middle section, which are connected via a frangible connection. The winged section forms an undercut. The top wall portion includes a drivable structure to assist in threading the flip-top closure into a container. The second closure portion includes an annular skirt portion and a ledge. The annular skirt portion forms an external thread formation. The ledge includes at least one locking protrusion. A hinge connects the first and second closure portions. In an initially closed position, the undercut of the winged section corresponds with and lockingly engages with the locking protrusion. During movement of the hinge from the initially closed position to an open position, the frangible connection breaks leaving the winged section being lockingly engaged with the locking protrusion.

Flip-top closure and a package

A flip-top closure includes first and second polymeric closure portions. The first closure portion includes a top wall portion, a sealing mechanism and an annular skirt portion. The second closure portion includes a tamper-evident band. The closure portions are attached by a line of weakness. The closure portions are further attached via a hinge. The hinge includes a locking tab, a flexible tab and linking segments. The locking tab extends further outwardly from a center of the closure in a closed position than the flexible tab and the linking segments. During the opening of the flip-top closure, the locking tab moves and passes the flexible tab such that the flip-top closure locks in a fully open position.

Flip-top closure

A package includes a container and a closure. The container has an external thread formation on the neck portion and a circumferential bead. The closure includes a first and second closure portion. The first closure portion includes a top wall portion, a skirt portion, and first and second frangible connections. The first frangible connection extends around the closure circumference. The second frangible connection is spaced from the first frangible connection. At least a portion of the second frangible connection is located further from the top wall portion than a portion of the first frangible connection. The second frangible connection defines an area adapted to form a tab. The second closure portion includes a tamper-evident band. The closure is adapted to be opened by twisting to break the frangible connections and expose the tab and then flipping the first closure portion from the second closure portion via the exposed tab. The closure is adapted to be locked when flipped.

Package with tethered closure

Hinged overcap

A one-piece polymeric closure includes first and second closure portions. The first closure portion includes a first polymeric top wall portion and a first polymeric annular skirt portion. The first annular skirt includes a first set of splines on an inner surface thereof and knurls formed on an exterior surface thereof. The second closure portion includes a second polymeric top wall portion with a pull ring and a second polymeric annular skirt portion The second annular skirt portion includes a second set of splines on an outer surface thereof, an internal thread formation, and a locking ratchet band. The first and second sets of splines are configured to interact with each other when the polymeric closure is in a closed position. The polymeric closure opens by flipping the first closure portion with respect to the second closure portion via a hinge.

One-piece closure

A flip-top closure includes first and second closure portions. The first closure portion includes a polymeric top wall portion, a sealing mechanism, and a polymeric annular skirt portion depending from the top wall portion. The skirt portion includes an internal thread formation for mating with a container. The second closure portion includes a polymeric tamper-evident band depending from and being partially detachably connected to the skirt portion by a frangible connection. The frangible connection extends partially around the periphery of the closure. The first and second closure portions are attached via at least one hinge. The at least one hinge assists in moving the closure between an open and closed positions after the frangible connection has been broken.

Twist and flip closure

A method of forming a cut in a polymeric component includes providing a blade assembly including at least one blade, and a mandrel. The mandrel includes a rigid portion and a conformal support ring. The conformal support ring includes a material softer than the material forming the blade. A polymeric component is located between the mandrel and the at least one blade. The polymeric component is cut via the at least one blade. The at least one blade extends into the conformal support ring after the at least one blade has penetrated through the polymeric component.

Method of forming a cut in a polymeric component

A method is described for making a retort container having one or two metal ends. A heat-sealable material is present on one or both of the container side wall and the/each metal end. The/each metal end is seamed onto the container body, and the resulting container assembly is conveyed on a conveyor adjacent to an induction sealing head and then adjacent to a cooling device. A pressure belt engages the upper end of the container assembly to keep the metal end from coming off the container body during the induction heating and cooling processes.

Method of making a retort container

A container includes a metal end applied and sealed to an all-thermoplastic container body by a crimp-seaming or double-seaming operation. The metal end has an outer curl joined to a chuck wall that extends down from the curl. One or both of the inner surface of the container side wall and the outer surface of the chuck wall has/have a heat-sealable material thereon. The metal end is crimp-seamed or double-seamed to the container body and the heat-sealable material(s) are heated to soften or melt such that the interface between the chuck wall and the side wall is fused. The interface is oriented along a direction relative to internal pressure exerted on the metal end such that stress on the interface caused by the internal pressure is predominantly shear stress.

Container with thermally fused double-seamed or crimp-seamed metal end

A twist and flip closure includes first and second closure portions. The first closure portion includes a top wall portion, a skirt portion, and first and second frangible connections. The first frangible connection extends around the closure circumference. The second frangible connection has first and second sections. The second frangible connection is spaced from the first frangible connection. At least a portion of the second frangible connection is located further from the top wall portion than a portion of the first frangible connection. The second frangible connection defines an area adapted to form a tab. The second closure portion includes a tamper-evident band. The closure is adapted to be opened by twisting to break the frangible connections and expose the tab and then flipping the first closure portion from the second closure portion via the exposed tab. The closure is adapted to be locked when flipped.

Growing community of inventors

Florence, SC, United States of America

Jeremy E Morin