IP Library › Granted Patent US 12708883

Granted Patent B2

US 12708883 · App. 17/733,851 · Granted Aug 18, 2026

Flange members and reservoirs incorporating the same

Inventors: Andrew Govea (Ventura, CA); Katherine Conlin (San Luis Obispo, CA); Max Blomberg (Templeton, CA)

Assignee: MEISSNER FILTRATION PRODUCTS, INC.

B01F25/316 B01F23/54 B01F25/312 B01F25/3121 B01F25/31243 B01F25/4231 B01F25/43141 B01F25/53 B01F35/184 B01F35/7137 B65D75/70 B01F23/565

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 12708883
App. No.: 17/733,851
Granted: Aug 18, 2026
Kind: B2

External Links

USPTO Patent Center↗ Full Patent PDF↗

Abstract

A flange member for sealing a mouth extending from a reservoir, includes an annular body for receiving and connecting with the mouth of the reservoir, and a membrane coupled to a flange surface defined at a distal end of the annular body.

Claims (59)

1 . A reservoir and flange member combination comprising:

a reservoir;

a mouth extending from the reservoir, said mouth comprising an annular wall;

a flange member connected to the mouth comprising an annular body having an inner surface, and an annular flange surface defined at a distal end of the annular body, wherein the annular body is connected to the annular wall and extends coaxially with the annular wall; and

a membrane coupled to the annular flange surface, wherein a projection extends radially outward from the annular wall and a groove extends radially inward from the inner surface of the annular body into the annular body, wherein the annular body surrounds at least an axial portion of the annular wall and wherein the projection extending from the annular wall is received in the groove extending in the annular body for connecting the flange member to the mouth, wherein the groove comprises a first section, a second section, and a third section, wherein the first section defines a first step, wherein the second section tapers from the first section to the third section reducing in diameter in a direction toward the third section, and wherein the third section extends from the second section and in a direction axially away from the first and second sections and defines a second step.

2 . The combination as recited in claim 1 , wherein the projection comprise a radially extending surface and a tapered outer surface decreasing from the radially extending surface in a direction toward a distal end of the mouth, wherein the radially extending surface is adjacent the first step, the tapered outer surface is adjacent the second section, and wherein the distal end of the mouth is adjacent the second step, wherein the first step defines a first stop for blocking withdrawal of the mouth from the flange member, and wherein the second step defines a second stop for blocking further axial travel of the mouth past the second stop in a direction toward the annular flange surface.

3 . The combination as recited in claim 1 , wherein the projection is an annular projection, wherein the radially extending surface is an annular radially extending surface, wherein the tapered outer surface is an annular tapered outer surface, wherein the groove is an annular groove, wherein the first step is an annular first step, wherein the first section is an annular first section, wherein the second section is an annular second section, wherein the third section is an annular third section, and wherein the second step is an annular second step.

4 . The combination as recited in claim 3 , wherein the projection is a compressible annular locking ring.

5 . A reservoir and flange member combination comprising:

a reservoir;

a mouth extending from the reservoir, said mouth comprising an annular wall;

a membrane coupled to the annular flange surface, wherein an annular depression extends axially in the annular flange surface, and wherein the membrane is connected to the annular flange surface at a location radially outward from said annular depression.

6 . A reservoir and flange member combination comprising:

a reservoir;

a mouth extending from the reservoir, said mouth comprising an annular wall;

a membrane coupled to the annular flange surface, wherein the membrane extends over the annular flange surface, wherein a first radially extending depression is formed above the annular flange surface on the annular body, and wherein the membrane comprises a first radially extending projection and a second radially extending projection spaced apart from the first radially extending projection defining a second radially extending depression there-between, wherein the first radially extending projection is received in the first radially extending depression and wherein the second radially extending projection extends over said annular flange surface.

7 . A reservoir and flange member combination comprising:

a reservoir;

a mouth extending from the reservoir, said mouth comprising an annular wall;

a membrane coupled to the annular flange surface, wherein the membrane comprises a plurality of axially extending projections and wherein the flange comprises a plurality of axially extending depressions receiving said plurality of axially extending projections for coupling the membrane to the annular flange surface.

8 . The combination as recited in claim 7 , wherein each of the plurality of axially extending projections comprises a tab, and wherein each of the plurality of axially extending depressions comprises a secondary depression for receiving a corresponding tab of said plurality of axial extending projections for locking the membrane relative to said annular flange surface.

9 . A reservoir and flange member combination comprising:

a reservoir;

a mouth extending from the reservoir, said mouth comprising an annular wall;

a membrane coupled to the annular flange surface, wherein the membrane comprises an annular section for interfacing with the flange, said annular section surrounding an inner section of the membrane, wherein the annular section is stiffer than the inner section.

10 . The combination as recited in claim 9 , wherein the annular section is thicker than the inner section.

11 . A reservoir and flange member combination comprising:

a reservoir;

a mouth extending from the reservoir, said mouth comprising an annular wall;

a membrane coupled to the annular flange surface, wherein the membrane comprises a peripheral radial projection received in a peripheral radial depression formed on the annular body.

12 . The combination as recited in claim 11 , wherein the membrane peripheral radial projection interfaces with the peripheral radial depression along a slanted interface that tapers from a smaller diameter to a larger diameter in a direction toward the annular flange surface.

13 . A flange member for sealing a mouth extending from a reservoir, the flange member comprising:

an annular body for receiving and connecting with the mouth of the reservoir, wherein the annular body comprises an inner surface, and an annular flange surface defined at a distal end of the annular body;

a membrane coupled to the annular flange surface, wherein said annular flange surface extends radially outward from the annular body, wherein a groove extends radially inward from the inner surface of the annular body into the annular body for receiving a projection extending radially outward from an annular wall of a mouth of a reservoir for connecting the flange member to the mouth, wherein the groove comprises a first section, a second section, and a third section, wherein the first section defines a first step, wherein the second section tapers from the first section to the third section reducing in diameter in a direction toward the third section, and wherein the third section extends from the second section and in a direction axially away from the first and second sections and defines a second step.

14 . The flange member recited in claim 13 , wherein the first step defines a first stop for blocking withdrawal of the mouth from the flange member, and wherein the second step defines a second stop for blocking further axial travel of the mouth past the second stop in a direction toward the flange surface.

15 . The flange member as recited in claim 14 , wherein the groove is an annular groove, wherein the first step is an annular first step, wherein the first section is an annular first section, wherein the second section is an annular second section, wherein the third section is an annular third section, and wherein the second step is an annular second step.

16 . A flange member for sealing a mouth extending from a reservoir, the flange member comprising:

a membrane coupled to the annular flange surface, wherein an annular depression extends axially in the annular flange surface, and wherein the membrane is connected to the annular flange at a location radially outward from said annular depression.

17 . A flange member for sealing a mouth extending from a reservoir, the flange member comprising:

a membrane coupled to the annular flange surface, wherein the membrane extends over the annular flange surface comprises a flange surface, wherein a first radially extending depression is formed above the annular flange surface on the annular body, and wherein the membrane comprises a first radially extending projection and a second radially extending projection spaced apart from the first radially extending projection defining a second radially extending depression there-between, wherein the first radially extending projection is received in the first radially extending depression and wherein the second radially extending projection extends over said annular flange surface.

18 . A flange member for sealing a mouth extending from a reservoir, the flange member comprising:

19 . The flange member as recited in claim 18 , wherein each of the plurality of axially extending projections comprises a tab, and wherein each of the plurality of axially extending depressions comprises a secondary depression for receiving a corresponding tab of said plurality of axially extending projections for locking the membrane relative to said annular flange surface.

20 . A flange member for sealing a mouth extending from a reservoir, the flange member comprising:

21 . The flange member as recited in claim 20 , wherein the annular section is thicker than the inner section.

22 . A flange member for sealing a mouth extending from a reservoir, the flange member comprising:

a membrane coupled to the annular flange surface, wherein the membrane comprises a peripheral radial projection received in a peripheral radial depression formed on the annular body.

23 . The flange member as recited in claim 22 , wherein the membrane peripheral radial projection interfaces with the peripheral radial depression along a slanted interface that tapers from a smaller diameter to a larger diameter in a direction toward the annular flange surface.