The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 16, 1982
Filed:
May. 12, 1980
L David Leiter, Willow Grove, PA (US);
Jacob Ravn, Phoenixville, PA (US);
The West Company, Phoenixville, PA (US);
Abstract
A method, apparatus and system for determining the integrity of a container sealed by means of a closure comprising a resilient sealing element and a cup-like cap having a top and a depending skirt compressing the resilient sealing element over the discharge opening in the container. The invention consists of verifying seal integrity by applying an external force to the cap and measuring the force required to effect initial movement thereof to overcome the residual static force in the resilient sealing element and by comparing the measured force which is essentially equal to the residual static force in the resilient sealing element to a predetermined standard known to provide an acceptable seal. It is known that when the force between the crimped edge of the cap and the container is zero which occurs upon initial displacement of the cap relative to the container, the externally applied force is essentially equal to the residual static force in the resilient sealing element. The residual static force in the resilient sealing element is measured by apparatus including a mechanical force applicator unit having an anvil engageable with the cap mounted on an actuator member of a gauge for measuring the applied force and a microscope, for observing initial downward displacement of the cap when a given external force essentially equal to the residual static force in the resilient sealing element is applied.