U.S. patent application number 10/665375 was filed with the patent office on 2005-03-24 for variable volume beverage container.
Invention is credited to Tamashiro, Masaharu.
Application Number | 20050061764 10/665375 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34312877 |
Filed Date | 2005-03-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050061764 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Tamashiro, Masaharu |
March 24, 2005 |
Variable volume beverage container
Abstract
A variable volume container for beverages charged with gas in
which a concave cylindrical upper part is screwed into a convex
cylindrical base and leaves a very small gas volume above the
beverage to thereby prevent loss of gas from the beverage and loss
of quality.
Inventors: |
Tamashiro, Masaharu; (Sao
Paulo, BR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
THE FIRM OF KARL F ROSS
5676 RIVERDALE AVENUE
PO BOX 900
RIVERDALE (BRONX)
NY
10471-0900
US
|
Family ID: |
34312877 |
Appl. No.: |
10/665375 |
Filed: |
September 18, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
215/12.1 ;
215/900; 220/666 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 11/04 20130101;
B65D 21/08 20130101; B65D 7/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
215/012.1 ;
215/900; 220/666 |
International
Class: |
B65D 090/12; B65D
090/02 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A variable volume beverage container comprising: a vertically
elongated upwardly open base having a cylindrical wall formed at
least along an inner surface with formations distributed over at
least a major part of a height of the wall; a downwardly open upper
part having a wall formed at least externally with formations
mating with the formations of said base and enabling variable
height insertion of said upper part in said base for varying an
internal volume of said container as defined by said base and said
upper part, said upper part forming a seal with said base
preventing escape of gas from said container; a mouth on said upper
part affording access to an interior of said container; and a
removable cap on said mouth.
2. The variable volume beverage container defined in claim 1
wherein said base and said upper part are molded from synthetic
resin and said formations are mating screw threads.
3. The variable volume beverage container defined in claim 2
wherein said base and upper part are each molded from a synthetic
resin selected from the group which consists of polyvinyl chloride,
polypropylene, polyethylene, nylon and
polyethyleneterephthalate.
4. The variable volume beverage container defined in claim 3
wherein said cap is a screw cap threaded onto a neck of the
container surrounding said mouth.
5. The variable volume beverage container defined in claim 4
wherein said wall of said base is formed on an upper end thereof
with a reinforcing ring.
6. The variable volume beverage container defined in claim 5,
further comprising a sealing ring between an upper end of said wall
of said base and said wall of said upper part and sealing between
them.
7. The variable volume beverage container defined in claim 6,
further comprising a bead formed on said upper part and bearing
against said upper end of said wall of said base upon full
insertion of said upper part into said base.
8. The variable volume beverage container defined in claim 7
wherein said walls are generally cylindrical.
9. The variable volume beverage container defined in claim 8
wherein said neck, said mouth and said cap are positioned along a
common axis of said walls.
10. The variable volume beverage container defined in claim 8
wherein said neck, said mouth and said cap are laterally offset
from a common axis of said walls.
11. The variable volume beverage container defined in claim 2
wherein said threads have rounded cross sections.
12. The variable volume beverage container defined in claim 2
wherein said upper part has diametrically opposite webs adjacent
said mouth and facilitating screwing of said upper part into and
out of said base.
13. The variable volume beverage container defined in claim 2
wherein said wall of said base is formed on an upper end thereof
with a reinforcing ring.
14. The variable volume beverage container defined in claim 2,
further comprising a sealing ring between an upper end of said wall
of said base and said wall of said upper part and sealing between
them.
15. The variable volume beverage container defined in claim 2,
further comprising a bead formed on said upper part and bearing
against said upper end of said wall of said base upon full
insertion of said upper part into said base.
16. The variable volume beverage container defined in claim 2
wherein said walls are generally cylindrical.
17. The variable volume beverage container defined in claim 4
wherein said neck, said mouth and said cap are positioned along a
common axis of said walls.
18. The variable volume beverage container defined in claim 4
wherein said neck, said mouth and said cap are laterally offset
from a common axis of said walls.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] My present invention relates to a container for a packaging
of a soft drink with adjustability of the internal volume of the
container and, more particularly, to a variable volume beverage
container which can minimize gas loss from the beverage over a
period of consumption, i.e. from initial imbibing of the beverage
to the end of its consumption. The soft drink container of the
invention, which also can be used with any beverage which emits
gas, is designed to retain the gas in the beverage more effectively
than heretofore.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] In general whenever a beverage charged with gas, for
example, a soft drink, a sparkling beverage, beer or even
carbonated water, is bottled in a container, once that container is
opened to allow for consumption, there is a loss of gas and hence a
loss or flavor or the sparkling sensation which results when the
charge of the beverage is reduced.
[0003] The containers used heretofore, whether a glass bottle, can
or plastic container, usually had a relatively large volume above
the liquid into which gas could escape from the beverage in spite
of the fact that the container could be completely sealed. This
applies to bottles, metal packaging and polyethyleneterephthalate
bottles used because these containers can be recycled, easily
chilled after filling and opening and frequently can be
resealed.
[0004] The loss of fizz or gas from the liquid into the free space
remaining above the beverage once the container has been reclosed
and after use amounts to a significant deterioration in the quality
of the beverage.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0005] It is the principal object of the present invention to
provide an improved container, especially for beverages containing
gas or charged with gas, which is able to retain a high quality for
a longer period than earlier containers even after opening and
reclosing.
[0006] Another object of the invention is to prevent the loss of
gas form a soft drink or other beverage after partial consumption
of the beverage from a container in which the soft drink can be
initially packaged or into which the beverage can be
transferred.
[0007] Yet another object is to provide an improved beverage
container whereby the drawbacks described above can be equally
avoided.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] I have now found that the drawbacks of conventional
containers with respect to soft drinks and other beverages
containing gas under pressure can be eliminated by providing a
variable volume beverage container in which the interior volume is
reduced as the beverage is consumed to maintain a minimum gas space
above the beverage at all times.
[0009] More particularly, a variable volume beverage container
according to the invention comprises:
[0010] a vertically elongated upwardly open base having a
cylindrical wall formed at least along an inner surface with
formations distributed over at least a major part of a height of
the wall;
[0011] a downwardly open upper part having a wall formed at least
externally with formations mating with the formations of the base
and enabling variable height insertion of the upper part in the
base for varying an internal volume of the container as defined by
the base and the upper part, the upper part forming a seal with the
base preventing escape of gas from the container;
[0012] a mouth on the upper part affording access to an interior of
the container; and
[0013] a removable cap on the mouth.
[0014] The container of the present invention can have relatively
rigid base and upper parts molded from synthetic resin and provided
with mating screw threads as the formations mentioned, the base and
upper part being preferably made by injection molding, twirl or
rotational casting or blow molding. If desired the base or upper
part can also be made of metal. When the base and upper part are
made of metal they are preferably made from polyvinyl chloride,
polypropylene, polyethylene, polyamide (nylon) or polyester, e.g.
polyethyleneterephthalate.
[0015] According to a feature of the invention the cap is a screw
cap threaded onto a neck of the container surrounding the mouth and
either aligned along the axes of the cylindrical walls or offset
from those axes. The wall of the base can be formed on an upper end
with a reinforcing ring and a sealing ring, for example, an O-ring
can be received between the upper end of the wall of the base and
the upper part which fits into the lower part or base. The upper
part may have a head along its exterior which can seat in or
against the upper end of the base.
[0016] As will be apparent, as beverage is dispensed form the
container, the upper part is screwed down into the lower part to
reduce the air volume above the liquid to a minimum, e.g. before
the container is sealed by the cap.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0017] The above and other objects, features, and advantages will
become more readily apparent from the following description,
reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which:
[0018] FIG. 1 is a perspective exploded view of a container in
accordance with a first embodiment and in which the base can be
injection molded plastic, rotationally cast metal or a like
material while the upper part is a blown plastic;
[0019] FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the container of FIG.
1, partially broken away;
[0020] FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the container, partly
broken away but showing the upper part fitted into the base as the
container is filled;
[0021] FIG. 4 is a view similar to the container of FIG. 3 but with
the upper part practically fully received in the base as the
interior volume has been reduced.
[0022] FIG. 5 shows the container with the parts thereof
essentially in the position shown in FIG. 3 but with the cap in
place, sealing the contents of the container at the higher internal
volume;
[0023] FIG. 6 is a perspective exploded view of another embodiment
in which the thread pattern on the interior of the base also
appears on the exterior thereof, the container otherwise being
similar to that shown in FIG. 1;
[0024] FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the container of FIG. 6
in its exploded form and partly broken away;
[0025] FIG. 8 shows the container of FIGS. 6 and 7 but with the
upper part nested in the lower part and the cap sealed.
[0026] FIG. 9 is an exploded view similar to FIGS. 1 and 6 of still
a third embodiment in which a reinforcing ring is provided around
the mouth of the base to increase the sealing effect created by the
internal pressure;
[0027] FIG. 10 is a side elevational view in exploded form and
partly broken away corresponding to FIG. 9;
[0028] FIG. 11 shows the parts with the upper part nested in the
lower part of the embodiment of FIGS. 9 and 10;
[0029] FIG. 12 is a perspective exploded view of another embodiment
of the invention in which the threads have rounded cross sections
and wherein the base is a blown plastic while the upper part is an
injection molded synthetic resin or rotationally cast metal;
[0030] FIG. 13 is a side elevational view of the embodiment of FIG.
12 in its exploded form;
[0031] FIG. 14 is a cross sectional view showing the upper part
nested in the lower part; and
[0032] FIG. 15 is a side elevational view the upper part of the
fourth embodiment fully inserted in the base.
SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION
[0033] The soft drink container shown in FIGS. 1-5 is capable of
adjusting the internal volume 1 (FIG. 3) when the container is
filled from another container 21 or is initially filled with a
beverage at a packaging plant.
[0034] The container, shown in its exploded form in FIG. 1 is a
bottle 2 comprised of a base 3 and an upper part 5 adapted to fit
in the base 3. The base 3 is a concave cylindrical structure with a
rounded bottom 22 and a vertical wall 23 which is internally formed
with a female screwthread 4 terminating at a mouth 24 of the base
and extending practically to the bottom 22 thereof. The exterior of
the base 3 in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-6 can be smooth. The base
can be an injection molded plastic or a rotationally cast metal and
has substantial rigidity.
[0035] The upper part 5, by contrast, can be blow molded, e.g. of
the same material as the base 3 and is a downwardly open member
with a wall 25 which is cylindrical like the wall 23 and, when the
upper part 5 is inserted into the base, is coaxial therewith. To
that extent the upper part 5 is a concave cylindrical member. The
external thread 6 threadedly mates with the thread 4 so that the
upper part can be screwed down into the base.
[0036] The external thread 6 extends practically the full axial
length of the wall 25 and terminates at a funnel shaped portion 26
which, in turn, is provided with a neck 7 surrounding the mouth or
orifice 27. The neck 7 has an external thread 8 which mates with an
internal thread of a lid or cap 9.
[0037] A pair of radial webs or flaps 10 are formed on the funnel
shaped member 26 for engagement by the fingers of the user to allow
the upper part 5 to be screwed down into the base 3 and form a seal
between the threads of the base and the upper part. The threads can
have a suitable finish to allow the sealing action without the
escape of gas from the container when the cap 9 is tightened onto
the neck. The threads 4 and 6 may be sufficiently massive and have
a finish enabling them to seal against one another with a sealing
effect which increases with the gas pressure within the container.
As can be seen from FIG. 3, the container can be filled from a
disposable bottle 21 as purchased from a store or the like after
the user has consumed part of the contents of the disposable
bottle. The beverage 28 is introduced into the container and the
upper part 5 is screwed into the base 3 (FIG. 4) until there is
little space 29 above the level 30 of the beverage in the
container. The external surface 31 of the base may have an
appropriate label or can receive stickers or the like supplied by a
beverage company as a gift or premium offer. As additional liquid
is withdrawn from the container, the upper part can be screwed down
further into the base.
[0038] In the embodiment of FIGS. 6-8, the threads 4 on the
interior of the base are reflected as an external pattern of
threads 32 on the exterior surface of the base. Otherwise the
embodiment of FIGS. 6-8 is similar to the embodiment of FIG. 1. The
base can here be injection molded or blow molded of a synthetic
resin such as polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene, polyethylene,
polyamide or polyethyleneterephthalate. If one of the two parts is
injection molded, the other may be blow molded.
[0039] In a third embodiment shown in FIGS. 9-11, the base 3 is
formed at the upper edge of its cylindrical wall 33 with a
reinforcing ring 11 which assists in maintaining the seal. Here the
base 3 may be below molded while the upper part 5 can be more
rigid.
[0040] A fourth embodiment has been shown in FIGS. 12-15 and
comprises a base 13 with rounded-section threads 35 and a
reinforcing ring 17 at the upper end of the cylindrical wall 36 of
the base.
[0041] While the thread 35 extends the full height of the wall 36,
the external thread 16 on the cylindrical wall 37 of the upper part
12 extends along over a short axial extent of the wall 37 and has
mating rounded threads. Nevertheless a seal is provided between the
threads 16 and the threads 35 of the base.
[0042] A bead 38 serves as a stop when the upper part 12 is fully
inserted into the base 13 (compare FIGS. 14 and 15) and can assist
in pressing an O-ring or like sealing ring 18 into a groove 39
surrounded by the ring 17. The mouth 14 of the neck 40 can be
closed by a cap 15 engaging the screwthread 41 surrounding the neck
40 (compare FIGS. 12 and 14). The O-ring 18 or any similar seal is
effective when gas pressure develops within the container to
increase the sealing effect.
* * * * *