U.S. patent application number 11/467525 was filed with the patent office on 2007-03-01 for beverage container and method for making same.
This patent application is currently assigned to Universal Solutions, LLC. Invention is credited to Gevorg Afandyan.
Application Number | 20070045218 11/467525 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37802575 |
Filed Date | 2007-03-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070045218 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Afandyan; Gevorg |
March 1, 2007 |
BEVERAGE CONTAINER AND METHOD FOR MAKING SAME
Abstract
The present invention teaches a container that enjoys the
advantages of aluminum cans and plastic bottles by creating a
symbiotic hybrid container with a plastic body and an aluminum pop
top lid. The method of utilizing injection molding in combination
with blow molding enables the much desired elements and
characteristics of the present hybrid container.
Inventors: |
Afandyan; Gevorg; (Yerevan,
AM) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KLEINBERG & LERNER, LLP
2049 CENTURY PARK EAST
SUITE 1080
LOS ANGELES
CA
90067
US
|
Assignee: |
Universal Solutions, LLC
500 North Brand Boulevard 20th Floor
Glendale
CA
91203-1904
|
Family ID: |
37802575 |
Appl. No.: |
11/467525 |
Filed: |
August 25, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60596054 |
Aug 26, 2005 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
215/255 ;
220/269; 220/906 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B29L 2031/716 20130101;
B29C 66/1352 20130101; B29C 66/545 20130101; B65D 15/18 20130101;
B65D 17/4012 20180101; B29C 2791/001 20130101; B29C 66/542
20130101; B29C 49/06 20130101; B29C 66/742 20130101; B29C 57/12
20130101; B29C 65/568 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
215/255 ;
220/269; 220/906 |
International
Class: |
B65D 39/00 20060101
B65D039/00; B65D 17/34 20060101 B65D017/34 |
Claims
1. A container comprising: a plastic body; and a metal top joined
to said plastic body to form an impermeable container for
liquids.
2. A container according to claim 1, wherein said metal top
includes a "pop-top" for access to the liquid contents of the
container.
3. A container according to claim 1, wherein the top portion of the
plastic is formed by an injection molding process.
4. A container according to claim 1, wherein said plastic body is
formed by a blow-molding process.
5. A container according to claim 1, wherein a gasket is inserted
between said aluminum top and said plastic body prior to joining
said metal top to said plastic body.
6. The method of making a container comprising: a first step of
injection molding a precursor unit with a preformed top accepting
portion and a body portion; and a second step of blow molding said
body portion to a predetermined configuration while protecting said
top accepting portion, whereby said top accepting portion is
unchanged by said second step.
7. A method of making a container according to claim 6, wherein
said preformed top accepting portion is made to accept a metal
top.
8. A method of making a container according to claim 6, wherein a
metal top is adjoined to said container using seam rolling
techniques, sandwiching an edge of said top accepting portion
between folded edges of said metal top.
Description
[0001] This is continuation application of U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 60/596,054, filed Aug. 26, 2005, whose entire contents are
hereby incorporated by reference and priority is hereby
claimed.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a container used for the
distribution of liquids, and, more specifically, containers for
athletic drinks, carbonated beverages, water and alcoholic
beverages.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Beverages are currently distributed in aluminum cans or
bottles of either glass or plastic. The cans are provided with a
pop-top feature which allows access to the contents. Bottles either
have a crown closure or a threaded cap, usually at the top of a
reduced neck portion of the bottle. More recently, bottles have
integrated the use of one-way valves and other release mechanism
for delivery of fluid through an opening.
[0006] Aluminum cans are becoming more and more costly due to
recent shortages of aluminum and the increased costs of energy to
produce aluminum. In addition, certain treatment and coating steps
necessary to ensure the use of aluminum for consumable beverages is
inefficient and costly. In addition, numerous consumers prefer
containers manufactured from alternative compounds for fear that
aluminum and other metals change the taste of the contents of the
container and impart a "metallic" taste.
[0007] Plastic and glass bottles are typically manufactured in a
cylindrical shape and require reduction in the diameter of the neck
to better funnel the fluid upon delivery and provides a more
efficient closure. Thus, the plastic or glass bottle cannot be as
volumetrically efficient leading to increased shipping volumes.
Glass bottles are also inherently dangerous when filled with
carbonated drinks, which may explode dispersing shards of glass.
Further, glass bottles are inherently fragile and care must be
taken in their transport and storage.
[0008] It would be advantageous to eliminate all the shortcomings
associated with both aluminum containers and plastic/glass bottles
while merging all the advantages associated with both containers
into a single container.
[0009] Specifically, it would be desirable to have a container that
shared the volumetric efficiency of aluminum cans while eliminating
the expense of an aluminum can, retaining the much desired pop-top
of the can. Further, the convenience of the pop-top closure would
be an asset for beverages that are not currently offered in
cans.
[0010] Environmentally, the advent of a container utilizing a
plastic body and a metallic lid would eliminate the litter
associated with crown or cap seals and allow for a more efficient
recycling of the plastic body and aluminum lid. Also, such a
container releases aluminum for other, less wasteful uses.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] According to the present invention, a container is provided
that enjoys the advantages of aluminum cans and plastic bottles to
create a symbiotic hybrid container with a plastic body and an
aluminum pop top lid. The combination of an aluminum lid with a
plastic body provides a novel hybrid container for liquids.
[0012] The present invention utilizes a two step process to produce
the hybrid container. The first step forms a plastic "capsule" with
the neck portion held to the tight specifications required to
accept an aluminum lid. This is accomplished by first producing a
hollow capsule injection molding with the precise neck and mouth
dimensions required for mating with an aluminum lid. The exact
mating ensures tight fitment leading to an impermeable
container.
[0013] Next, the capsule upper portion including the neck and mouth
opening is supported, to protect the upper neck and mouth portion
from distortion, ensuring the consistent, uniform shape of the
opening. The capsule is then heated and blow molded into the
desired shape and size. The capsule walls can be formed of varying
thickness to permit the blow molded result to have walls of desired
thickness.
[0014] The first step of producing the "capsule" is pivotal in
avoiding the shortfalls of current plastic container production.
The current formation of plastic bottles by blow molding leads to
inefficiency and waste resulting from the additional cutting of the
bottle after it has been blown. This additional cutting leaves
numerous chips of polymers which must be cleaned out of the bottle
prior to filling. The additional cleaning and drying associated
with the current process leads to great deal of waste and
additional time which translates to increased production cost, and
is the major purpose for the present rejection of adopting such a
plastic bottle.
[0015] The current invention avoids the excess cutting and cleaning
by forming the neck of the capsule for mating with the aluminum,
prior to heating the body of the capsule for forming the shape of
the bottle. After filling the bottle with the appropriate liquid,
the mated neck is adjoined to the aluminum top and crimp rolled,
avoiding any excess cutting, chips of polymers, cleaning or
drying.
[0016] Once the mold has cooled, the finished bottle is removed and
can be placed in a bottling line of the type used for cans. Each
bottle is filled with the applicable liquid and an aluminum lid,
having an optional sealing gasket in the form of a film dried dope,
is placed on the premolded upper neck opening. The aluminum top is
attached to the upper neck by a conventional seaming process using
seam rollers, which create a tightly crimped combination of metal
and plastic layers.
[0017] Accordingly, it is an object of invention to provide a
plastic container with an aluminum lid, suitable for holding
beverages. It is another object of invention to provide a plastic
container with a metal pop-top lid suitable for storing liquids of
various types. It is yet a further object of invention to provide a
process suitable for the production of plastic containers capable
of holding fluids under pressure.
[0018] The novel features which are characteristic of the
invention, both as to structure and method of operation thereof,
together with further objects and advantages thereof, will be
understood from the following description, considered in connection
with the accompanying drawings, in which the preferred embodiment
of the invention is illustrated by way of example. It is to be
expressly understood, however, that the drawings, in which like
parts are given like reference numbers, are for the purpose of
illustration and description only, and they are not intended as a
definition of the limits of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] For a further understanding of the objects and advantages of
the present invention, reference should be had to the following
detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawing, in which like parts are given like reference numbers and
wherein:
[0020] FIG. 1 is a front view of the complete assembly of a
container according to the present invention.
[0021] FIG. 2 is a side view of a metal top;
[0022] FIG. 3 is a top view of the metal top of FIG. 2;
[0023] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the metal top of FIG. 2;
[0024] FIG. 5 is a side view of a plastic capsule in an
intermediate step;
[0025] FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the edge of a
plastic bottle encircled in FIG. 1, depicting the top accepting
portion;
[0026] FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the top of the
edge of a metal top encircled in FIG. 1.
[0027] FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the metal top
of FIG. 7, sitting atop the plastic bottle's top accepting portion
depicted in FIG. 6, with a gasket positioned to provide an
impermeable seal.
[0028] FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view of the top of the
bottle encircled in FIG. 1, after a first crimping step.
[0029] FIG. 10 is an enlarged sectional view of the top of the
bottle encircled in FIG. 1, showing the finished crimp.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0030] The invention will now be described with reference to FIG.
1, which illustrates a front view of the complete assembly of a
container 10. As shown in FIG. 1, a container 10 has a metal top 12
and plastic body 14. The plastic body 14 includes a top accepting
portion 18, which is pre-molded in the first step of the two-step
plastic body 14 formation processes.
[0031] With reference to FIG. 2, there is shown a side view of the
metal top 12, independent of the plastic body 14, prior to crimp
rolling. The metal top 12 edge is sized to fit into the top
accepting portion 18 of the plastic body 14 prior to initiation of
the crimp rolling process.
[0032] With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, there is shown the pop-top
16 feature for accessing the contents of the container as well as
the metal top 12 awaiting the crimp rolling process.
[0033] With reference to FIG. 5, there is shown a capsule 20, which
is a precursor of the plastic body 14. Preferably, the capsule 20
is created in an injection molding process which assures the tight
tolerances required to mate the aluminum top to a plastic body. In
this first step, the precursor capsule 20 is created with the top
accepting portion 18 of the plastic body 14 pre-molded to accept
the metal top 12. To allow maximum freedom to the designers of the
bottle, the walls of the capsule 20 can be provided with different
thicknesses to accommodate virtually any shaped bottle in the blow
molding step (not shown) which follows. In the blow molding step,
the top accepting portion is isolated from the blow mold and a
container of the desired shape is created, such as is shown in FIG.
1.
[0034] With reference to FIG. 6, the extending edge 22 of the top
accepting portion 18 of the plastic body 14 is shown in greater
detail. As shown, the top accepting portion 18 also has a vertical
side wall 26 against which the top 12 can seat. Prior to the
crimping process, the finished plastic body 14 is brought to a
conventional filling and capping line (not shown). The plastic body
14 is then filled with a premeasured quantity of liquid.
[0035] With reference to FIG. 7, there is shown, in greater detail,
the outer edge of the cap 12 which includes an extending lip 28.
The top 12 also has a vertical side wall 30 adapted to sit tightly
against the vertical sidewall 26 of the top accepting portion 18 of
the plastic body 14.
[0036] With reference to FIG. 8, in the filling line, an aluminum
top 12, which has been fitted with a sealing gasket 24, is placed
into the top accepting portion 18. The extending lip 28 overhangs
the outer extending edge 22 of the top accepting portion 18.
[0037] As shown in FIG. 9, the conventional sealing equipment first
bends the extending lip 28 of the metal cap 12 and the gasket 20
over the extending edge 22 of the top accepting portion 18, so that
the extending lip 28 is on the underside of the extending edge
22.
[0038] With reference to FIG. 10, the conventional sealing process
further bends, rolls and crimps the folded combination of edges 22,
28, with the gasket 24 therebetween, down to the vertical sidewalls
26 and 30 of the plastic body 18 and metal top 12, respectively,
and crimps the combination tightly together. The result is a
tightly crimped combination of the metal cap 12 and plastic body
14, with an additional sandwiched gasket 24, all forming an
impermeable seal capable of holding liquids under pressure without
leaking.
[0039] In alternative embodiments, the location of the gasket 24
can be changed. It may be placed over the extending edge 22 or
under the extending edge 22. If a plastic other than polyethylene
terephthalate ("PET") is used, it may be possible to eliminate the
gasket. While variations in the shape of the parts or in the
process will occur to those skilled in the art, the scope of the
invention should be limited only by the scope of the claims
appended hereto.
* * * * *