U.S. patent application number 09/800256 was filed with the patent office on 2002-09-12 for container with interference projection.
Invention is credited to Ekkert, Len.
Application Number | 20020125202 09/800256 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25177906 |
Filed Date | 2002-09-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020125202 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ekkert, Len |
September 12, 2002 |
Container with interference projection
Abstract
A closure and container combination having an anti-splash up
element is provided. The container includes an annular projection
about the neck of the container at a point below the
closure-engagements and within the closure skirt, when the closure
is engaged. The placement of the annular projection stops the
splashing up of liquid and solid adulterating materials from
reaching the mouth of the container and either the liner on the
mouth of the container or the actual product within the container.
The annular projection of the present invention protects the
product from splash up occurring after container capping, during
hot fill cooling and washing, during transportation and storage and
while in use by the consumer.
Inventors: |
Ekkert, Len; (Lemont,
IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Welsh & Katz, Ltd.
Daniel M. Gurfinkel
22nd Floor
120 South Riverside Plaza
Chicago
IL
60606
US
|
Family ID: |
25177906 |
Appl. No.: |
09/800256 |
Filed: |
March 6, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
215/44 ; 215/329;
215/45; 220/288 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 1/023 20130101;
B65D 2501/0036 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
215/44 ; 220/288;
215/45; 215/329 |
International
Class: |
B65D 041/04 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A container and closure combination for preventing adulterating
materials from contaminating said container within said closure,
comprising: a container, with a neck portion, having an opening; a
closure having a top and an annular skirt depending from said top,
said annular skirt defining an inner wall; said neck portion,
having at least one closure engagement for cooperation with one or
more complimentary container engagements of said closure; an
annular projection extending outwardly from said neck portion below
said closure engagement of said neck portion, said projection
extending proximate to said inner wall of said annular skirt when
said closure is engaged on said container, such that adulterating
material is prevented from contaminating said container neck
portion and said opening.
2. The container and closure combination of claim 1, wherein said
projection prevents adulterating material from rising onto said
container neck portion and to said opening.
3. The container and closure combination of claim 1, wherein said
opening of said container is sealed with a liner and said annular
projection prevents contamination of said liner.
4. The container and closure combination of claim 1, wherein said
projection is an annular flexible thin web fin.
5. The container and closure combination of claim 1, wherein when
said closure is engaged on said container said projection extends
to said inner wall of said annular skirt.
6. The container and closure combination of claim 1, wherein said
annular projection has a greater diameter that the diameter of said
inner wall such that said annular projection is bent by said inner
wall of said closure when said closure is engaged on said
container, forming a seal between said container and closure.
7. The container and closure combination of claim 1, wherein said
container and projection are molded from the same material
8. The container and closure combination of claim 1, wherein said
container engagements and said closure engagements are
complimentary threads formed on said closure and neck
9. The container and closure combination of claim 1, wherein said
annular projection extends from said neck portion of said container
to proximate to said inner wall of said closure, when said
container and closure are engaged, and said annular projection
defines at least one gap extending between said container neck
portion and proximate said inner wall of said closure along said
annular projection such that adulterating materials may rise said
neck portion, but generally not onto said opening, and subsequently
may fall back down through said gap.
10. The container and closure combination of claim 9, wherein said
gap allows air circulation on said neck portion within said
closure.
11. The container and closure combination of claim 1, wherein said
annular projection extends from said neck portion of said container
to proximate to said inner wall of said closure, when said
container and closure are engaged, and said annular projection
defines a plurality of gaps extending between said container neck
portion and proximate said inner wall of said closure along said
annular projection such that adulterating materials may rise onto
said neck portion, but generally not onto said opening, and
subsequently may fall back down through said gaps.
12. The container and closure combination of claim 11, wherein said
gaps allows air circulation on said neck portion within said
closure.
13. A container and closure combination for preventing adulterating
materials from contaminating said container within said closure,
comprising: a container with a neck portion having an opening; a
closure having a top and an annular skirt depending from said top,
said annular skirt defining an inner wall; said neck portion and
closure each defining complimentary engagement threads; an annular
flexible thin web fin extending outwardly from said neck portion
below said closure engagement threads of said neck portion, said
flexible thin web fin being in engagement with said inner wall of
said annular skirt, when said closure is engaged on said container,
such that adulterating material is prevented from contaminating
said neck portion and said opening.
14. The container and closure combination of claim 13, wherein said
annular flexible thin web has a greater diameter than the diameter
of said inner wall such that said annular flexible thin web is bent
by said inner wall of said closure when said closure is engaged on
said container, forming a seal between said container and
closure.
15. The container and closure combination of claim 13, wherein said
thin web fin prevents adulterating material from rising onto said
container neck portion and to said opening.
16. The container and closure combination of claim 13, wherein said
opening of said container is sealed with a liner and said thin web
fin prevents contamination of said liner.
17. The container and closure combination of claim 13, wherein said
container is produced by injection molding and said annular thin
web fin is molded integrally with said container.
18. A container and closure combination for preventing adulterating
materials from contaminating said container within said closure,
comprising: a container, with a neck portion, having an opening; a
closure having a top and an annular skirt depending from said top,
said annular skirt defining an inner wall and an outer wall and an
inwardly projecting annular section on said inner wall of said
annular skirt; said neck portion, having at least one closure
engagement for cooperation with one or more complimentary container
engagements of said closure; an annular projection, extending
outwardly from said neck portion below said closure engagement of
said neck portion, to engage said inwardly projecting annular
section of said skirt, when said closure is engaged with said
container.
19. The container and closure combination of claim 18, wherein said
outward annular projection is constructed of pliant material so as
to aid in the placement and subsequent removal of said closure from
said container.
20. The container and closure combination of claim 18, wherein said
outward annular projection is constructed with a thin cross-section
of material so as to aid in the placement and subsequent removal of
said closure from said container.
21. The container and closure combination of claim 18, wherein said
outward annular projection is constructed between two generally
parallel inward annular projections, on said neck portion, such
that said outward annular projection bends upon the placement and
subsequent removal of said closure from said container.
22. The container and closure combination of claim 18, wherein a
flexible second outward projection extends from said outward
annular projection so as to aid in the placement and subsequent
removal of said closure from said container.
23. A container and closure combination for preventing adulterating
materials from rising onto said container within said closure,
comprising: a container, with a neck portion, having an opening; a
closure having a top and an annular skirt depending from said top,
said annular skirt defining an inner wall and a terminal end, said
terminal end defining an inwardly projecting annular lip; said neck
portion, having at least one closure engagement for cooperation
with one or more complimentary container engagements of said
closure; an annular projection extending outwardly from said neck
portion below said closure engagement of said neck portion and
extending to said inner wall above said annular lip of said skirt,
when said closure is engaged with said container.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention concerns a novel container having an
interference projection to prevent water, dust or other
adulterating material from reaching the mouth area of the
container. Specifically, the present invention provides a means to
prevent cooling water or condensation, typically resulting from a
hot fill process, from being splashed beneath a bottle cap.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Many products, such as pasteurized milk and fruit juices and
others, are placed into bottles using a sanitary hot fill process
which requires that the bottles be sealed, capped and cooled before
being boxed and packaged for transportation. The hot fill process
in most bottling situations brings certain problems that are
inherent in this method of filling and cooling. Generally, while
the process is sanitary, the subsequent activities of cooling and
packaging may bring about a situation wherein such bottles carry
water beneath their caps. This water is generally a potential
breeding ground for bacteria which may grow thereon, and cause a
diminution in product quality. Specifically, the hot fill process
includes, the placement of a hot liquid in to a bottle, the
immediate sealing and capping of the bottle and the cooling of the
bottle by immersion (or dip) in, or spray, by cool water. Such
bottles are subsequently dried off and packaged for shipping.
[0003] While the product remains sanitary within the container, it
has been found that water used to cool the container, after hot
fill, has typically risen beneath the cap and remains on the neck
of the bottle. Such water is generally economically impossible to
remove, as the drying of that water would require either the
removal of the cap (typically causing the breaking of a sanitary or
security seal) and physical drying of the bottle, followed by
recapping, or the use of high heat drying equipment, which may
cause deformation in the bottle and cap or degradation of the
bottled product.
[0004] Further, containers of such products, and other products,
are subjected to considerable jostling in every stage of their
existence. Containers are jostled on the filling and assembly line
and during their transportation to distributors and retailers. Even
after a container is unsealed and put into everyday use the
container is subjected to every manner of assault on its integrity.
While a container generally survives jostling, the product inside,
and/or the seals or liners used to protect the product are often
imparted with considerable splashing or dusting from their
surroundings, so as to leave the liner or, when the seal is removed
or otherwise impaired, the product adulterated, contaminated or
soiled beyond usability.
[0005] Products such as medicine and food or drink that are bottled
and capped under sanitary conditions are often times quickly
contaminated by the splashing of liquid or powder (often times the
same substance that has been placed in the container, but which has
spilled during filling or from other containers previously filled,
or overfilled). While containers may be wiped clean if such splash
up occurs prior to the capping and or the sealing of the container,
once the container is capped and/or sealed (with a liner or
otherwise), splash up that causes adulterating substances to rise
to the neck or mouth of the capped container cannot be cleaned up
without great cost in time and lost production. Further, the
removal of the cap of a tamper resistant or tamper evident
container of the types in common use, so as to clean off splash up,
is likely to destroy the tamper evident seal causing the loss of
the container and/or the closure.
[0006] Further, capped products may also be contaminated, in this
same manner or through contamination by any other substance on or
around the container, during transportation, either from the
manufacturer to the distributor, or from the distributor to the
product's final destination. Closed containers may also be
contaminated at anytime during the life of the product and the
container. For example, a bottle of milk may be contaminated by the
splash up of spilled milk, water, or cleaning products on the
assembly line, may be contaminated by the splash up of liquid
condensation (which may form on the bottle as a result of
temperature changes during transit), or may be dropped into the
sink, or onto any splashable substance, while the consumer is
attempting to open or after closing the container. In all of these
situations, and particularly in those situations where liners have
already been removed from the container, the product is likely to
be ruined by the splashing of any substance under the cap, onto the
neck, and into the mouth of the container. Further, even when a
liner exists over the container's mouth, a consumer is apt to be
displeased and return the sealed products if he finds that the
liner is wet or dirty upon opening the container for the first
time. While the liner may have prevented the product inside the
container from having been contaminated, the proximity of a
contaminant to the neck and mouth of a container may lead, at a
later time, to contamination of the product via the consumer's
hands or by other means.
[0007] In the past, product manufactures have attempted to solve
the problem of splash up by sealing the packaging in external
wraps, such as plastic film and the like. However, such protection
is generally effective only after the likelihood of splash up
during the container filling process on the assembly line has
passed and is only useful until the plastic film is removed by the
consumer prior to use. Manufacturers have also attempted to
alleviate the splash up problem through the use of liner-less
closures, which generally provide sealing means comprising thin
annular projections extending downwardly from the inside of the
closure top to the rim of the mouth of the container in a manner
well known in the art. However, such container and closure
combinations only seal the mouth of the container and do not
protect the neck of the container. Liner-less closures cannot
prevent the contamination of the neck of the container and the
concomitant problems of product contamination from the soiling of
the consumer's hands after contact with an unclean container neck.
Further, liner-less closures cannot prevent the migration of the
contaminant from the container neck to the container mouth (and
subsequently to the product inside the container).
[0008] It would be desirable to have a means whereby any splashed
substance, whether at the time of the hot fill and cooling process
or at any time after, is inhibited from rising up onto the neck of
a closed container. It would further be desirable to provide
permanently attached or integral means that would prevent
contamination of the neck, mouth and liner of a container that are
constructed with the container and/or the closure and are
inexpensive to manufacture.
[0009] It is therefore an object of the present invention to
provide a means for preventing adulterating materials from being
splashed-up or otherwise propelled-up onto the neck, mouth and
liner of a closed container.
[0010] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent as the description proceeds.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] In accordance with the present invention, a container and
closure are provided. The container is provided with a mouth (which
may or may not be lined or otherwise sealed) and a neck portion
having closure engagements for cooperation with complimentary
container engagements on the closure. An annular projection is
provided, extending outwardly from the neck portion of the
container, below the closure engagements. The outward most edge of
the annular projection is proximate to the inner wall of the
closure when the closure is engaged on the container. The annular
projection in cooperation with the closure prevents fluids, dust
particles or other contaminants from splashing up onto the neck,
mouth and (if present) liner of the container when the container
and closure are engaged and are exposed to splashable substances or
are cooled by spray or immersion after hot fill.
[0012] In one embodiment of the invention, the projection is an
annular thin web fin comprised of extra material molded onto the
container at the time of the molding of the container. The fin is
of such a thin cross-section at its outward edge that it is
flexible enough to bend against the inside wall of the skirt of the
closure to form a seal with the closure when the closure is engaged
with the container.
[0013] In another embodiment of the invention, the annular
projection is molded between two inward annular projections, which
provide flex points for the outward projection. The flex points,
thus formed, allow the outward projection to bend so that it may
fit within the closure and to allow for more tolerance in molding
containers and closures.
[0014] In another embodiment a first annular projection is molded
on the neck of a container and a smaller second projection extends
from the first projection. The small second projection has a
smaller cross-section than the first projection to allow for more
flexibility at the end of the projection, enabling an easier fit
with a closure. Greater flexibility at the end of the projection
allows for greater ease in placement and removal of a closure.
Further, a flexible end may be compressed against the inner wall of
the closure, providing a better seal against splash up.
[0015] In another embodiment, the annular projection is formed with
openings or gaps. While not providing as effective a splash up
seal, such a projection would tend to slow splash up such that
while the neck could be splashed upon, the mouth or liner would
remain clean. Further, such gaps would allow the neck to dry more
quickly after liquid splash up due to air circulation through the
gaps.
[0016] Many variations of the annular projection explained herein,
including variations on its cross-sectional shape, its thickness,
the manner in which it is formed onto the container or added to the
container, the manner in which it interacts with the closure, and
whether it is made with or without gaps, may be made without
departing from the novel scope of the present invention.
[0017] A more detailed explanation of the invention is provided in
the following description and claims and is illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] FIG. 1 is a front elevational view, of a container neck
having a thin annular fin as taught by the present invention.
[0019] FIG. 2 is a front vertical sectional view of a thin annular
fin of the present invention in contact with the inner wall of a
closure, showing, in broken lines, the position of the end of the
fin when a closure is not present.
[0020] FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of a container, having a
thin annular fin in accordance with the teachings of the present
invention, with a closure, in sectional view secured upon the
container.
[0021] FIG. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of another
embodiment of a container having an annular projection made in
accordance with the teachings of the present invention.
[0022] FIG. 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the neck
of another embodiment of a container having an annular projection
made in accordance with the teachings of the present invention,
with a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a closure, associated
therewith.
[0023] FIG. 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the neck
of another embodiment of a container having an annular projection
made in accordance with the teachings of the present invention,
with a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a closure, associated
therewith.
[0024] FIG. 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the neck
of another embodiment of a container having an annular projection
made in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.
[0025] FIG. 8 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the neck
of another embodiment of a container having an annular projection
made in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.
[0026] FIG. 9 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the neck
of another embodiment of a container having an annular projection
made in accordance with the teachings of the present invention,
with a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a closure, associated
therewith.
[0027] FIG. 10 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the neck
of another container having an annular projection made in
accordance with the teachings of the present invention, with a
fragmentary vertical sectional view of a closure, associated
therewith.
[0028] FIG. 11 is a top view of another container having an annular
projection in accordance with the teachings of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENT
[0029] Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a container 10
having a neck 12 a mouth 16 and an outwardly projecting helical
thread 18. Helical thread 18 provides a means to engage a closure
20 (FIG. 3) having inwardly projecting helical threads 22, in a
manner well known in the art. In the illustrative embodiments of
the present invention, the container and its constituent parts have
been produced through a molding process, it is to be understood,
however, that the present invention may be used on containers made
in any manner without departing from the novel scope of the present
invention. Container 10 may be constructed of any material,
including, glass, metal or any polymeric or plastic material such
as polypropylene, polyethylene, polyethyleneterephthalate (PET),
polystyrene, or others, without departing from the novel scope of
the present invention. It is to be further understood that while a
single helical thread is shown in FIG. 1, any number and shape of
threads, on both the container 10 and closure 20 may be used
without departing from the novel scope of the present
invention.
[0030] Closure 20 comprises a top 24 with an annular skirt 26
depending therefrom. Closure 20 may be of any type, including
liner-less or lined, and may be made of any material, including
glass, metal, or any polymeric or plastic material such as
polypropylene, polyethylene, PET, polystyrene, or others, without
departing from the novel scope of the present invention.
[0031] A thin web annular fin 28 is provided on neck 12 of
container 10, below threads 18. In the illustrative embodiment, fin
28 (FIG. 2) has a triangular cross-sectional shape with the fin
growing ever thinner and more flexible at its furthest point 30
from the neck 12 of container 10. In the illustrative example,
annular fin 28 is constructed of the same material as container 10.
However, fin 28 may be made of any type of flexible material,
including steel or other metal, ruber, or a polymeric or plastic
material, without departing from the novel scope of the present
invention. Fin 28 may be molded as an integral part of container
10, when container 10 is molded or fin 28 may be added to container
10 after molding. It is to be understood that fin 28 may be made of
any cross-sectional shape without departing from the novel scope of
the present invention. The triangular cross-section of fin 28 of
the illustrative embodiment allows fin 28 to bend, as shown in FIG.
2, when it is placed against a surface, such as the inner wall 32
of closure 20. The bending of the point 30, of fin 28, against the
inner wall 32 of closure 20 provides a desirable sealing between
container 10 and closure 20. Further as point 30 of fin 28 extends
so that it may bend against closure 20, it may be seen that a seal
may be achieved, and adulterating material may be stopped, even in
situations where either the closure 20 or the container 10 is out
of round. It is to be understood that such a sealing effect while
desirable is not necessary to accomplish the goals of the present
invention, as explained in greater detail below.
[0032] FIG. 4 shows a fragmentary cross section of another
container 40, having a neck 42 a mouth 44 and an outwardly
projecting helical thread 46, for engagement with a closure (not
shown) in a manner well known in the art. Container 40 further
comprises an interior wall 48. An outwardly extending annular
projection 50 is shown on the neck 42 of container 40 and is
further defined by two inwardly projecting rings 52 and 54. Inward
projecting rings 52 and 54 provide flex points to allow projection
50 to bend as the closure is engaged or removed.
[0033] Referring to FIGS. 5, 6, 7 and 8, other embodiments of
containers having outward projections which contact the inner wall
of a closure, in the manner similar to that explained above, are
illustrated. In FIG. 5 and 6 a closure 60 is shown engaged with a
container 62. Closure 60 is shown to have threads 64 which are
engaged with complementary threads 66 of container 62, to hold
closure 60 to container 62. Container 62 comprises an annular
projection 68, more clearly shown in FIG. 6, having a somewhat
rounded-extended annular projection 70. Extended annular projection
70 extends towards inner closure wall 61, to resist the splash up
of adulterating materials, when closure 60 and container 62 are
tightly engaged. Extended annular projection 70 may be made of
material that is more flexible than the material used for container
62 and projection 68 so as to allow bending and/or sealing
properties as described above. Further, extended annular projection
70 may be of the same material as container 62, but may have
inherent flexibility due to a smaller cross-section, depending on
the shape chosen.
[0034] FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 show other embodiments of this type of
closure and container combination. In FIGS. 7 and 8, extended
annular projections 70a and 70b have triangular cross-sections,
however, projection 70b presents a generally horizontal leading
edge 72 in the direction that splash up is likely to occur. It may
be seen, from these embodiments, that extended projection 70 may
take any cross-sectional shape without diminishing the splash up
protecting properties of the annular projection of the present
invention or departing from the novel scope of the present
invention. It is also to be understood that extended annular
projection 70 may also provide added hoop strength to container 62
much in the way a barrel is strengthened by the addition of hoops
about its circumference.
[0035] Further, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, splash up protection
may also be achieved using any shape projection 87 on container 88
and a lip (or ledge) 89 depending inwardly, from below projection
87, on closure 90, without departing from the novel scope of the
present invention.
[0036] Referring to FIG. 11, container 91 is shown with a final
illustrated embodiment of annular projection 92. In FIG. 11,
projection 92 defines a number of gaps 94. Gaps 94 provide a means
through which liquid or solid which has splashed-up onto neck 96
may fall back down off of neck 96. While a container using a
projection that defines gaps 94 will not seal the neck 96 and mouth
98 of container 91, it will generally tend to slow splash up such
that adulterating materials generally cannot reach mouth 98 of
container 91. Further, gaps 94 will allow any moisture, deposited
between projection 92 and the mouth of container 91, to evaporate
more readily as air is allowed to flow through gaps 94. It is to be
understood that the solid elements of projection 92 may be of any
of the types previously described without departing from the novel
scope of the present invention. Further, projection 92 may define
any number of gaps 94 without departing from the novel scope of the
present invention. Finally, gaps 94 may be made in the molding
process or through other means, such as by cutting away sections of
projection 92 or by locally melting sections of the plastic
material of projection 92, without departing from the novel scope
of the present invention.
[0037] Although illustrative embodiments of the invention have been
shown and described, it is to be understood that various
modifications and substitutions may be made by those skilled in the
art without departing from the novel spirit and scope of the
invention.
* * * * *