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:
Dec. 26, 2000
Filed:
Mar. 24, 1999
Keith Robert Rea, Florence, SC (US);
Sonoco Development, Inc., Hartsville, SC (US);
Abstract
A process is provided for closing and hermetically sealing a bottom of a container. A cylindrical container body is provided which has an inside heat-sealable surface and an open bottom end. A flange is formed on and around the bottom end of the cylindrical container body which extends outwardly from the container body at a sharp radius of approximately 90 degrees to an outside surface of the container body and which defines a flat circular heat-sealable surface on an outer side of the flange. A generally circular membrane patch having an inside heat-sealable surface is positioned on the flat circular heat-sealable surface of the container body flange covering the open bottom end of the container body. The heat-sealable surfaces of the container body flange and the membrane patch are heat-sealed to each other for hermetically sealing the container bottom end. If additional strength is desired in the bottom closure of the container, a circular reinforcing plug, preferably with an upwardly extending flange, is positioned on the membrane patch. The container body flange and the membrane patch heat-sealed thereto are then curled inwardly of the container body and over an outside periphery of the reinforcing plug while applying heat and pressure to complete closure of the container body and to maintain the cylindrical shape of the container.