Title: Method of hermetically sealing soft-drink bottles and like containers

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Claims: I claim:

1. A method of hermetically sealing a container having a neck with an upper portion threaded in one direction and a lower portion of larger diameter than said upper portion threaded in the opposite direction, said lower portion being bounded at its bottom end by a transverse internal annular shoulder, comprising the steps of:

forming a prethreaded cap of elastic material with a top part and a bottom part separated by a frangible zone, said top and bottom parts being provided with threads complementary to those of said upper and lower portions, respectively, said bottom part being further provided with an inner annular flange on a lower edge thereof;

forcing said cap around said neck with a rotary screw motion matingly interfitting the threads of said top part and upper portion while causing elastic radial expansion of said bottom part due to contact with said lower portion for preventing interengagement of the threads of said bottom part and said lower portion until said flange clears said shoulder; and

continuing the rotation of said cap until the threads of said bottom part engage the threads of said lower portion with a snap fit.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, comprising the further step of preforming said top part with an inner projection extending into said neck upon the clearing of said shoulder by said flange.

3. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein said cap is formed from plastic material by injection molding.

4. A method as defined in claim 1, comprising the further step of preforming said bottom part with an axially extending weak spot facilitating said radial expansion thereof.

5. A hermetically sealed container made by the method of claim 1.

Other info:

Inventors: Peraboni, Antonio (Monza, IT)

Application Number: 842352
Filing Date: 1977-10-14
Publication_date: 1979-05-29
Assignee: Prot S.r.l. (Milan, IT)
Primary Class(es): 215/252 53/490, 215/354, 264/238, 264/242, 264/274
Other Classes:
US Patent Ref:

3001657	Sep, 1961	Gamble	215/252.
3310191	Mar, 1967	Kern et al.	215/252.
3787547	Jan, 1974	Stephan	264/249.
3907146	Sep, 1975	Fields	215/317.
3910443	Oct, 1975	Hadley	215/252.
3937348	Feb, 1976	Girala	215/252.
3955696	May, 1976	Finke	215/252.

Other Refs: 195788712444362101

Feb, 1958	AT.
Jun, 1965	CA
Dec, 1931	GB

Primary Examiner: Lowe, James B.
Assistant Examiner:
Attorney: Ross; Karl F.