Cutter Laboratories, Inc.

Myron R Prouty

Colin J Nichols

Marius J Morin

Robert D Tuseth

Norman A Brown

Stephen P Sutter

Improvements in inner and outer closures for containers are disclosed. The outer closure is characterized by a cap member having a top wall, a side wall and a base adapted for sealing to the neck of a container. Two score lines extend across the top wall with finger gripping means attached at the apex where the two score lines meet. One score line extends down the side wall to connect with a third score line near the base which extends completely around the cap. The other score line extends down the side wall to an intermediate position and diverges away and terminates a short distance from the one score line. By pulling on the finger gripping means, the entire cap member above the third score line is removed in one piece. The inner closure comprises a plastic member sealed at its periphery to the mouth of the neck and includes a vertically aligned spike-entry port and an additive port which is oriented at an angle away from the entry port. The spike-entry port in an improved version comprises a spike-retaining collar which is joined to the body of the closure by a downward sloping web section which functions so as to cause the collar to grip an inserted spike more firmly to prevent accidental withdrawal of the spike. An improved version of an inner closure and container neck is also disclosed which includes particulate retaining means to prevent particulates formed during frictional welding of the closure to the neck from entering the container.

Closures for containers

An improvement in a closure system for containers in which a cap member sealed at its base to an annular flange about the neck of the container is removeable by a cutting ring. The cap includes an upwardly projecting brim at the base separated from the side wall of the cap to provide an annular groove. The groove has at least one tapered recess. The cutting ring which can be positioned around the side wall of the cap has at least one depending tab with an inwardly directed sharpened projection. Normally, the tab rests in the recess of the groove. Upon rotation of the cutting ring, the tab is forced inwardly causing the sharpened projection to sever the side wall of the closure.

Container with closure and closure removal means

Method and apparatus is disclosed relating to the use of a plasma receiving assembly including a container and closure cap adapted to permit aseptic handling, storage and shipment of blood plasma. One aspect of the method is to form the plasma receiving assembly by placing a plasma receiving container within an overwrap having a gas permeable bacterial filter such that the container and overwrap may be gas sterilized followed by mechanical sealing of the container while still in the overwrap. The method further provides for use of the overwrap to lessen the chances of contamination during handling and transfer of the blood plasma including the steps of forming the container in a rigid standardized cylindrical form and limiting the volume of plasma placed in each container so that the plasma may be frozen and removed automatically. The method is facilitated by a novel closure cap having a cover adapted for axial movement between a partially open position in which sterilized gas may pass into and out of the container and a fully closed position in which the container is hermetically sealed for shipment. Because the closure cap cover may be operated by direct pressure applied to the upper surface, operation of the closure cap cover when the container is within the overwrap is greatly facilitated.

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Oakland, CA, United States of America

Myron R Prouty