Self-sealing container closure

Abstract

A novel self-sealing container closure that prevents spillage and that simultaneously permits drinking from a container or cup, all without the removal of the closure. The novel closure comprising a generally resilient central face having an aperture therethrough defined by overlapping edges, and a skirt extending from the periphery of the central face, said skirt having an integral engaging means formed as the inner face of the skirt for seating engagement with a rim portion of a container, said means including a skirt bead, said bead being formed into two connecting sections, one section being disposed in one plane and the other section being disposed in a second plane, said planes intersecting at an acute angle. The function of said two connecting sections in combination with the other recited features herein is to present a constant tensioning action for suitable sealing engagement of the edges of the aperture when loaded or affixed to the rim of the container or cup.

I claim: 
     
       1. A self-sealing container closure comprising: a central face having an aperture therethrough defined by overlapping edges,   a skirt extending from the periphery of the central face, said skirt having an integral engaging means formed on the inner face of the skirt for seating engagement with a rim portion of a container,   said means including an integral skirt member, said member having two adjacent sections, one section being disposed in one plane and the other section disposed in a second plane, said planes intersecting at an acute angle.   
     
     
       2. A self-sealing container closure as recited in claim 1 wherein the integral skirt member is a closed curve and assumes an elliptical configuration. 
     
     
       3. A self-sealing container closure as recited in claim 1 wherein said acute angle is between about 0.5° and 20° . 
     
     
       4. A self-sealing container closure as recited in claim 1 wherein the aperture is arcuate and is less than a half circle. 
     
     
       5. A self-sealing container closure comprising: a generally central face having an aperture therethrough defined by overlapping edges,   a skirt extending from the periphery of the central face, said skirt having an integral bead engaging means formed on the inner face of the skirt for seating engagement with a rim portion of a container,   said integral bead engaging means comprising a first section disposed in a first plane and a second section disposed in a second plane, said planes intersecting and subtending an acute angle when the closure is not secured to the container and parallel or coextensive with one another when the closure is secured to the container.   
     
     
       6. A self-sealing container closure as recited in claim 5 wherein the bead engaging means assumes an elliptical configuration. 
     
     
       7. A self-sealing container closure as recited in claim 5 wherein the aperture is arcuate and is less than a half circle. 
     
     
       8. A self-sealing container closure as recited in claim 5 wherein said acute angle is between about 0.5° and 20° . 
     
     
       9. A self-sealing container closure as recited in claim 5 wherein said central face is substantially planar. 
     
     
       10. A self-sealing container closure comprising: a generally central raised face having an aperture therethrough defined by overlapping edges,   a resilient skirt extending from the periphery of the central raised face, said skirt having an integral bead engaging means formed on the inner face of the skirt and assuming an elliptical shape around said periphery, said means comprising a first section disposed in a first plane and a second section disposed in a second plane, said planes intersecting and subtending an acute angle of between about 0.5° and 20° when the closure is not secured to the container and parallel or coextensive with one another when the closure is secured to the container.   
     
     
       11. A self-sealing container closure as recited in claim 10 wherein there is provided a recess between said skirt and said central raised face. 
     
     
       12. A self-sealing container closure as recited in claim 10 wherein the central face is substantially planar. 
     
     
       13. A self-sealing container closure as recited in claim 10 wherein there is at least one rib connecting said skirt and said central raised face. 
     
     
       14. A self-sealing container closure as recited in claim 10 wherein the container lid is made from a plastic material and the acute angle is about 0.5° to about 5.0° . 
     
     
       15. A self-sealing container closure comprising: a generally central raised face having an aperture therethrough defined by overlapping edges, said face being substantially planar,   a resilient skirt extending from the periphery of the central raised face, a recess connecting said skirt and said central raised face, said skirt having an integral bead engaging means formed on the inner face of the skirt and assuming an elliptical shape around said periphery, said means comprising a first section disposed in a first plane and a second section disposed in a second plane, said planes intersecting and subtending an acute angle of between about 0.5° and about 5° when the closure is not secured to the container and parallel or coextensive with one another when the closure is secured to the container.   
     
     
       16. A self-sealing container closure as recited in claim 15 wherein there is at least one rib connecting said skirt to said central raised face. .Iadd. 17. A self-sealing container closure comprising: a central face having an aperture therethrough defined by adjoining edges, a skirt extending from the periphery of the central face, said skirt having an integral engaging means formed on the inner surface of the skirt for seating engagement with a rim portion of a container, said means including an integral skirt member, said member having two adjacent sections, one section being disposed in one plane and the other section disposed in a second plane, said planes intersecting at an acute angle. .Iaddend..Iadd. 18. An integrally formed self-sealing container closure comprising:   a central face having an aperture therethrough defined by adjoining edges, a skirt extending from the periphery of the central face, said skirt having an integral engaging means formed on the inner face of the skirt for seating engagement with a rim portion of a container, said means including an integral skirt member, said member having two adjacent sections, one section being disposed in one plane and the other section being disposed in a second plane, said planes intersecting at an acute angle, and said planes being brought into substantial alinement when said closure is affixed to said container to thereby bias said edges into engagement with one another. .Iaddend.