Patent · US Expired

Vacuum-sealed food container having press-on, pry-off closure

US5258191A · kind A · utility

49Cited by
8References
25Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJan 13, 1992
Grant dateNov 2, 1993
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 13, 2012

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB65D2401/35
  • WIPO fieldHandling
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

Easily removable press-on, pry-off closures having movable insert disks in an outer shell are disclosed. Pressing the shell upward to remove it from a container first pries a protrusion inside the shell over a snap rib around the container, then moves the shell upward relative to the disk while the later remains seated on the container, until a disk-lifting projection inside the shell engages the edge of the disk and lifts the disk to break the seal. A tamper evidencing band, if included, is broken before either the shell is pried off or the disk is lifted. The invention can be used in both top load and bottom load embodiments. Also disclosed is a closure with a non-movable disk or integral top and a tamper-evidencing band which is broken by pry-off removal of the closure. Still further, food packages which automatically open when heated in microwave ovens are disclosed. Vacuum-packed food packages having effective head spaces for reducing the times required to retort such packages are also disclosed.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.