James A Gregory

US Patent:

6381928, May 7, 2002

Filed:

May 26, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/579684

Inventors:

James L. Gregory - Toledo OH

Assignee:

Owens-Illinois Closure Inc. - Toledo OH

International Classification:

B65B 728

US Classification:

53468, 53471, 53485, 533814

Abstract:

A closure and container package that includes a container having a finish with an external thread, and a closure having a base wall and a peripheral skirt with an internal thread for threadably engaging the external thread on the container finish. An internal rib on the skirt extends axially of the skirt between overlapping reaches of the internal thread for frictional engagement with the external thread on the container finish to retard rotation of the closure onto and off of the finish. In the preferred embodiments of the invention, there are diametrically opposed ribs on the internal surface of the peripheral skirt extending between overlapping reaches of the internal thread, with the ribs being of lesser radial thickness than the internal threads. A tamper-indicating band is coupled to the lower edge of the peripheral skirt by frangible bridges for engagement with a bead on the container finish. The closure may be partially applied to the container finish for transport to a packager, with the frangible band on the skirt spaced from the bead on the container, and with the closure held in position on the container finish by frictional engagement between the closure ribs and the external thread on the container finish.

US Patent:

6382443, May 7, 2002

Filed:

Apr 28, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/301065

Inventors:

James L. Gregory - Toledo OH

Assignee:

Owens-Illinois Closure Inc. - Toledo OH

International Classification:

B65D 4134

US Classification:

215252

Abstract:

A tamper-indicating closure of integrally molded plastic construction that includes a base wall having a peripheral skirt with internal threads for engaging external threads on a container finish. A tamper-indicating band is connected to the edge of the skirt by a plurality of circumferentially spaced integral frangible bridges. A stop flange extends axially outwardly and radially inwardly from an edge of the band remote from the skirt for inversion and engagement with a bead on the container finish. The stop flange is in the form of a circumferentially continuous base of uniform thickness circumferentially of the band, and either uniform or increasing thickness radially and axially of the band. A plurality of circumferentially spaced lugs are integral with and extend from the base. The lugs widen uniformly from zero thickness at the band to a maximum thickness at the free edge of the flange.

US Patent:

6622460, Sep 23, 2003

Filed:

Jan 22, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/054431

Inventors:

James L. Gregory - Toledo OH

Assignee:

Owens-Illinois Closure Inc. - Toledo OH

International Classification:

B65B 728

US Classification:

53490, 53420, 53485, 53317, 533315, 215252, 215258, 215331

Abstract:

A tamper-indicating closure of integrally molded plastic construction that includes a base wall having a peripheral skirt with internal threads for engaging external threads on a container finish. A tamper-indicating band is connected to the edge of the skirt by a plurality of circumferentially spaced integral frangible bridges. A stop flange extends axially outwardly and radially inwardly from an edge of the band remote from the skirt for inversion and engagement with a bead on the container finish. The stop flange is in the form of a circumferentially continuous base of uniform thickness circumferentially of the band, and either uniform or increasing thickness radially and axially of the band. A plurality of circumferentially spaced lugs are integral with and extend from the base. The lugs widen uniformly from zero thickness at the band to a maximum thickness at the free edge of the flange.

US Patent:

6659297, Dec 9, 2003

Filed:

Nov 28, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/996190

Inventors:

James L. Gregory - Maumee OH
David P. Piccioli - Auburn NH
Suppayan M. Krishnakumar - Nashua NH

Assignee:

Owens-Illinois Closure Inc. - Toledo OH

International Classification:

B65D 4134

US Classification:

215252, 215 44, 215307, 215331, 215902

Abstract:

A tamper-indicating closure for a beverage package includes a base wall having a peripheral skirt with at least one internal thread for securing the closure to a container. A tamper-indicating band is frangibly connected to an edge of the skirt, and a stop flange extends axially and radially from an edge of the band for abutment with a stop bead on the container finish. A plurality of circumferentially spaced drain openings extend axially through the juncture of the band and the flange. A plurality of circumferentially spaced channels extend axially through the internal thread on the closure skirt, with at least some of the channels being axially aligned with the drain openings. The stop bead on the container is in the form of a plurality of circumferentially spaced bead segments separated from each other by circumferential gaps. Liquid product may readily drain from between the container finish and the closure skirt through the axial channels in the closure thread, through the drain openings at the juncture of the closure flange and band, and through the gaps between the stop bead segments on the container finish. The container finish may also have a support flange with drain channels or slots aligned with the gaps in the bead.

US Patent:

6968966, Nov 29, 2005

Filed:

May 28, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/446411

Inventors:

James L. Gregory - Toledo OH, US

Assignee:

Owens Illinois Closure Inc. - Toledo OH

International Classification:

B65D041/34

US Classification:

215252, 215258, 215341

Abstract:

A tamper-indicating closure of integrally molded plastic construction that includes a base wall having a peripheral skirt with internal threads for engaging external threads on a container finish. A tamper-indicating band is connected to the edge of the skirt by a plurality of circumferentially spaced integral frangible bridges. A stop flange extends axially outwardly and radially inwardly from an edge of the band remote from the skirt for inversion and engagement with a bead on the container finish. The stop flange is in the form of a circumferentially continuous base of uniform thickness circumferentially of the band, and either uniform or increasing thickness radially and axially of the band. A plurality of circumferentially spaced lugs are integral with and extend from the base. The lugs widen uniformly from zero thickness at the band to a maximum thickness at the free edge of the flange.

US Patent:

7235207, Jun 26, 2007

Filed:

Oct 21, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/690361

Inventors:

James L. Gregory - Maumee OH, US
David P. Piccioli - Auburn NH, US
Suppayan M. Krishnakumar - Nashua NH, US

Assignee:

Owens-Illinois Closure Inc. - Perrysburg OH

International Classification:

B29C 45/00

US Classification:

264320, 264268, 264318, 2643281

Abstract:

A tamper-indicating closure for a beverage package includes a base wall having a peripheral skirt with at least one internal thread for securing the closure to a container. A tamper-indicating band is frangibly connected to an edge of the skirt, and a stop flange extends axially and radially from an edge of the band for abutment with a stop bead on the container finish. A plurality of circumferentially spaced drain openings extend axially through the juncture of the band and the flange. A plurality of circumferentially spaced channels extend axially through the internal thread on the closure skirt, with at least some of the channels being axially aligned with the drain openings. The stop bead on the container is in the form of a plurality of circumferentially spaced bead segments separated from each other by circumferential gaps. Liquid product may readily drain from between the container finish and the closure skirt through the axial channels in the closure thread, through the drain openings at the juncture of the closure flange and band, and through the gaps between the stop bead segments on the container finish. The container finish may also have a support flange with drain channels or slots aligned with the gaps in the bead.

US Patent:

7645414, Jan 12, 2010

Filed:

Mar 22, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/726541

Inventors:

James L. Gregory - Maumee OH, US
David P. Piccioli - Auburn NH, US
Suppayan M. Krishnakumar - Nashua NH, US

Assignee:

Rexam Closure Systems Inc. - Perrysburg OH

International Classification:

B29C 65/00
B65D 41/34

US Classification:

264320, 215252

Abstract:

A tamper-indicating closure for a beverage package includes a base wall having a peripheral skirt with at least one internal thread for securing the closure to a container. A tamper-indicating band is frangibly connected to an edge of the skirt, and a stop flange extends axially and radially from an edge of the band for abutment with a stop bead on the container finish. A plurality of circumferentially spaced drain openings extend axially through the juncture of the band and the flange. A plurality of circumferentially spaced channels extend axially through the internal thread on the closure skirt, with at least some of the channels being axially aligned with the drain openings. The stop bead on the container is in the form of a plurality of circumferentially spaced bead segments separated from each other by circumferential gaps. Liquid product may readily drain from between the container finish and the closure skirt through the axial channels in the closure thread, through the drain openings at the juncture of the closure flange and band, and through the gaps between the stop bead segments on the container finish. The container finish may also have a support flange with drain channels or slots aligned with the gaps in the bead.

US Patent:

60533447, Apr 25, 2000

Filed:

Jul 2, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/110020

Inventors:

James L. Gregory - Toledo OH
Stephanie L. Kurtz - Stony Ridge OH

Assignee:

Owens-Illinois Closure Inc. - Toledo OH

International Classification:

B65D 3900

US Classification:

215252

Abstract:

A tamper-indicating closure of integrally molded plastic construction that includes a base wall having a peripheral skirt with internal threads for engaging external threads on the finish of a container. A tamper-indicating band is connected to the lower or free edge of the skirt by a plurality of circumferentially spaced integral bridges. At least one of the bridges has a greater circumferential dimension than other of the bridges. A thin integral membrane is disposed in the band immediately circumferentially adjacent to the one bridge, and extends both axially and circumferentially of the band. A stop flange is positioned on the band for engaging a bead on a container to inhibit removal of the closure, such that the membrane and the other bridges rupture upon removal of the closure but the band remains connected to the closure by the one bridge of enlarged circumferential dimension. Provision of the thin membrane during the closure molding operation thus provides for rupture of the free end of the band to form a pigtail band configuration upon removal from the container without axial scoring or other secondary manufacturing operations that would require controlled orientation of the closure.