Closure-vessel system providing closure retention with hinged pull ring

Abstract

A closure can close an outlet of a vessel. The vessel outlet can comprise a tubular cavity with an interior surface. The closure can comprise a male portion comprising a distal undersized portion, a proximal oversized portion, and a taper between the undersized and oversized portion. The male portion can be inserted in the vessel outlet, undersized portion first, to close the vessel. A releasable catch can facilitate closing and opening the vessel repeatedly. A pull ring can support opening the vessel or closing the vessel or toting the vessel or any combination of opening, closing, and toting the vessel. The pull ring can have one or more associated hinges.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a vessel comprising an outlet that comprises:
 a projecting rim defining an aperture; and 
 a cavity that extends longitudinally from the projecting rim; and 
   a closure comprising:
 a member that extends over the aperture and circumferentially about the projecting rim; 
 a male portion that extends from the member into the cavity to seal the vessel; 
 a hinge attaching the member to the projecting rim at a first location; and 
 a pull ring attaching the member to the projecting rim at a second location that is diametrically opposed to the first location. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus comprises a blow molding preform. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the vessel and the closure are composed of a common polymer. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the vessel comprises inorganic material and the closure comprises thermoplastic material. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the pull ring comprises a catch that engages the projecting rim. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the closure comprises a band that circumscribes and engages with the projecting rim, wherein the pull ring comprises a fastener that releasably fastens to the projecting rim with a projection disposed in a groove. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the vessel comprises pressure venting channels or a curved contour operable for venting pressure. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the male portion comprises a distally disposed undersized portion, a proximally disposed oversized portion, and a tapered portion disposed between the undersized and oversized portions. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein polymer resin of the vessel and the closure are both PET based. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the vessel and the closure are formed of a unitary piece of material with a composition comprising a common polymer. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a curved-back portion of the vessel outlet forms the projecting rim, and wherein the curved-back portion forms an open area that is void of vessel material. 
     
     
         12 . A system comprising:
 a vessel comprising an outlet that comprises:
 a rim defining an aperture; and 
 a cavity that extends from the rim inside the vessel; and 
   a closure comprising:
 a base; 
 a male portion that extends from the base and is dimensioned for insertion into the cavity to seal the vessel; 
 a band extending circumferentially around the outlet; 
 a member comprising the base and a side, wherein the side dimensioned to extends at least partially about the band when the male portion is inserted into the cavity to seal the vessel; 
 a first hinge attaching the member to the band; 
 a pull ring, wherein the first hinge and the pull ring are disposed on diametrically opposing sides of the male portion; 
 a second hinge attaching the pull ring to the member; and 
 a catch comprising a portion of the band and a portion of the pull ring. 
   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the vessel is composed of a polymer resin that is PET based and the closure is composed of a polymer resin that is PET based. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the vessel and the closure are formed of a single polymer and are integral portions of a unitary element. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein each of the vessel and the closure comprises polyethylene terephthalate, and
 wherein the band is directly incorporated into a curved-back portion of the vessel as an integral seamless part of the curved-back portion.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the vessel and the closure comprise a blow molding preform. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 12 , further comprising one or more frangible connections joining the pull ring to the member,
 wherein the catch comprises:
 a projection disposed on a first of the pull ring and the band; and 
 a notch disposed on a second of the pull ring and the band, the notch dimensioned to receive the projection, 
   wherein the male portion comprises a distally disposed undersized portion, a proximally disposed oversized portion, and a tapered portion disposed between the undersized and oversized portions, and   wherein in support of repeated opening and closing of the vessel, the catch further comprises:
 an engaged state in which the projection is disposed in the notch and the vessel is closed; and 
 a disengaged state in which the projection is disposed outside the notch and the vessel is open. 
   
     
     
         18 . An apparatus comprising:
 a vessel comprising:
 an outlet comprising a projecting rim defining a first aperture; 
 a cavity extending proximally from the projecting rim; and 
 a curved-back portion comprising the projecting rim and forming an open area that is void of vessel material, wherein the open area extends circumferentially about the cavity with vessel material disposed between the open area and the cavity; and 
   a closure comprising:
 a first member extending at least partially across the first aperture adjacent the projecting rim; 
 a male portion that extends from the first member into the cavity and closes the vessel, the male portion comprising:
 a distally disposed undersized portion; 
 a proximally disposed oversized portion; and 
 a tapered portion disposed between the undersized and oversized portions; 
 
 a pull ring extending alongside the outlet; 
 one or more frangible connections joining the pull ring to a side of the closure; 
 a first hinge attaching the pull ring to the first member; 
 a second hinge extending between the first member and the curved-back portion of the vessel, wherein the second hinge and the pull ring are disposed on opposing sides of the vessel; and 
 a catch comprising a second member that projects from the pull ring towards the cavity and into a second aperture that is disposed adjacent the open area, 
   wherein the closure is configured for a user to open the vessel by performing steps comprising:
 initiating opening of the vessel by lifting the pull ring using a first rotational motion about the first hinge, thereby severing said one or more frangible connections; 
 partially extracting the male portion from the cavity by pulling the pull ring using a second rotation motion about the second hinge, thereby tilting up a side of the male portion that is opposite the second hinge; and 
 fully opening the vessel by pulling the pull ring completely across the projecting rim. 
   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein polymer resin of the vessel and the closure are both PET based. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the vessel and the closure are formed of a unitary piece of material with a composition comprising a common polymer.