Closure with frangible membrane
View Patent ↗There is described a closure comprising a wall defining an aperture and a membrane frangibly connected to the wall and closing the aperture. The frangible connection between the membrane and the wall lies in a plane which is inclined to a plane perpendicular to an axis of the aperture.
1. A closure assembly comprising a wall defining a bore having opposite ends, a membrane frangibly connected to the wall and closing the bore, and a pull-ring attached to a surface of the membrane facing one of said ends with which to tear the membrane from the wall, the frangible connection between the membrane and the wall lying in a plane which is inclined to a plane perpendicular to an axis of the bore, and the pull-ring being attached to a peripheral portion of the membrane at a location where the axial height of the bore above the membrane is at a minimum, the pull ring comprising an annular band having an upper edge lying in a radial plane proximate a plane perpendicular to the axis of the bore and a lower edge lying in a plane inclined at a shallow angle with respect to the axis of the bore.
2. A closure in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the opposite ends of the bore occupy parallel planes.
3. A closure in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the membrane comprises a peripheral portion and a concave central portion.
4. A closure in accordance with claim 3 , wherein the concave central portion extends away from one of said ends but does not extend beyond a plane defined by the other of said ends.
5. A closure in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the wall defining the bore is strengthened intermediate the membrane and the end opposite said one end.
6. A closure in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the bore is of circular cross-section such that a plane perpendicular to the axis of the bore comprises a radial plane.
7. A closure in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the frangible connection between the wall and the membrane defines an ellipse.
8. A closure in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the bore decreases in internal diameter between said one end and the membrane.
9. A closure in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising a cap having a sealing surface, the sealing surface being adapted to be received within one end of the bore to sealingly engage the wall at a location intermediate the membrane and said one end.