U.S. patent application number 11/704318 was filed with the patent office on 2007-08-30 for semi-rigid collapsible container.
This patent application is currently assigned to CO2PAC. Invention is credited to John Denner, Paul Kelley, David Melrose.
Application Number | 20070199916 11/704318 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26652209 |
Filed Date | 2007-08-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070199916 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Denner; John ; et
al. |
August 30, 2007 |
Semi-rigid collapsible container
Abstract
A container for containing a heated liquid and having a
longitudinal axis. The container comprises at least one
substantially vertically folding vacuum panel portion disposed
substantially transversely relative to the longitudinal axis, the
vacuum panel portion adapted to compensate for vacuum pressure
changes within the container caused by heating or cooling of a
liquid contained within the container. The vacuum panel portion
comprises an initiator portion and a control portion, with at least
a portion of the control portion being more steeply inclined
relative to the longitudinal axis than at least a portion of the
initiator portion. The initiator portion causes the control portion
to flex inwardly into the container. The pressure panel inverts
vertically in a direction substantially parallel to the
longitudinal axis.
Inventors: |
Denner; John; (York, PA)
; Kelley; Paul; (Wrightsville, PA) ; Melrose;
David; (Mount Eden, NZ) |
Correspondence
Address: |
VENABLE LLP
P.O. BOX 34385
WASHINGTON
DC
20043-9998
US
|
Assignee: |
CO2PAC
Auckland
NZ
|
Family ID: |
26652209 |
Appl. No.: |
11/704318 |
Filed: |
February 9, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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|
11432715 |
May 12, 2006 |
|
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11704318 |
Feb 9, 2007 |
|
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|
10363400 |
Feb 26, 2003 |
7077279 |
|
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PCT/NZ01/00176 |
Aug 29, 2001 |
|
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11432715 |
May 12, 2006 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
215/381 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65B 7/2835 20130101;
B65D 1/0207 20130101; B65D 1/0223 20130101; B65B 7/28 20130101;
B65D 21/086 20130101; Y10S 215/90 20130101; B65D 79/005 20130101;
B65D 2501/0036 20130101; B67C 3/045 20130101; B65B 61/24 20130101;
B65B 3/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
215/381 |
International
Class: |
B65D 90/02 20060101
B65D090/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 31, 2000 |
NZ |
506684 |
Jun 15, 2001 |
NZ |
512423 |
Claims
1. A container for containing a heated liquid and having a
longitudinal axis, the container comprising: at least one
substantially vertically folding vacuum panel portion disposed
substantially transversely relative to the longitudinal axis, the
vacuum panel portion adapted to compensate for vacuum pressure
changes within the container caused by heating or cooling of a
liquid contained within the container; wherein the vacuum panel
portion comprises an initiator portion and a control portion, with
at least a portion of the control portion being more steeply
inclined relative to the longitudinal axis than at least a portion
of the initiator portion, and wherein the initiator portion causes
the control portion to flex inwardly into the container; further
wherein the pressure panel inverts vertically in a direction
substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis.
2. The container of claim 1, wherein the pressure panel portion
inverts vertically under a longitudinally applied force
substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis.
3. The container of claim 2, wherein the longitudinally applied
force is an externally applied mechanical force.
4. The container of claim 2, wherein the longitudinally applied
force is created by vacuum pressure developed within the
container.
5. The container of claim 1, wherein the at least a portion of the
control portion is linear when viewed in a vertical cross-section
taken through the longitudinal axis.
6. The container of claim 1, wherein the at least a portion of the
control portion is curved when viewed in a vertical cross-section
taken through the longitudinal axis.
7. The container of claim 6, wherein a tangent line to the at least
a portion of the control portion is more steeply inclined relative
to the longitudinal axis than the at least a portion of the
initiator portion.
8. The container of claim 1, wherein the at least a portion of the
initiator portion is linear when viewed in a vertical cross-section
taken through the longitudinal axis.
9. The container of claim 1, wherein the at least a portion of the
initiator portion is curved when viewed in a vertical cross-section
taken through the longitudinal axis.
10. The container of claim 9, wherein the at least a portion of the
control portion is more steeply inclined relative to the
longitudinal axis than is a tangent line to the at least a portion
of the initiator portion.
11. The container of claim 1, wherein the initiator portion is
located closer to the longitudinal axis than the control
portion.
12. The container of claim 1, wherein the initiator portion is
located farther from the longitudinal axis than the control
portion.
13. The container of claim 1, wherein the initiator portion and the
control portion are substantially continuous with one another.
14. The container of claim 1, wherein the initiator portion and the
control portion are substantially discontinuous with one
another.
15. A container for containing a heated liquid and having a
longitudinal axis, the container comprising: at least one
substantially vertically folding vacuum panel portion disposed
substantially transversely relative to the longitudinal axis, the
vacuum panel portion adapted to compensate for vacuum pressure
changes within the container; wherein the vacuum panel portion
includes an initiator portion and a control portion, the control
portion disposed nearer a side wall and further from the
longitudinal axis than the initiator portion, the initiator portion
providing for vertical folding before the control portion, wherein
the vacuum panel portion inverts vertically under a longitudinally
applied force substantially parallel with the longitudinal
axis.
16. The container of claim 15, wherein the longitudinally applied
force is an externally applied mechanical force.
17. The container of claim 15, wherein the longitudinally applied
force is created by vacuum pressure developed within the
container.
18. The container of claim 15, wherein the initiator portion and
the control portion are substantially continuous with one
another.
19. The container of claim 15, wherein the initiator portion and
the control portion are substantially discontinuous with one
another.
20. A container for containing a heated liquid and having a
longitudinal axis, the container comprising: at least one
substantially vertically folding vacuum panel portion disposed
substantially transversely relative to the longitudinal axis, the
vacuum panel portion adapted to compensate for vacuum pressure
changes within the container caused by heating or cooling of a
liquid contained within the container; wherein the vacuum panel
portion comprises an initiator portion and a control portion, with
both the initiator portion and the control portion being curved
when viewed in a vertical cross-section taken through the
longitudinal axis; wherein at least a portion of the control
portion is more steeply inclined relative to the longitudinal axis
than at least a portion of the initiator portion, and wherein the
initiator portion causes the control portion to flex inwardly into
the container; further wherein the pressure panel inverts
vertically in a direction substantially parallel to the
longitudinal axis.
21. The container of claim 20, wherein the initiator portion and
the control portion define a substantially continuous curve.
22. The container of claim 20, wherein the pressure panel portion
inverts vertically under a longitudinally applied force
substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis.
23. The container of claim 22, wherein the longitudinally applied
force is an externally applied mechanical force.
24. The container of claim 22, wherein the longitudinally applied
force is created by vacuum pressure developed within the container.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/432,715, filed on May 12, 2006,
which is a continuation of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser.
No. 10/363,400, filed on Feb. 26, 2003, which is the U.S National
Phase of PCT/NZ01/00176, filed on Aug. 29, 2001, which in turn
claims priority to New Zealand Patent Application No. 506684, filed
on Aug. 31, 2000, and New Zealand Patent Application No. 512423,
filed on Jun. 15, 2001. The entire contents of the aforementioned
applications are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to polyester containers, particularly
semi-rigid collapsible containers capable of being filled with hot
liquid, and more particularly to an improved construction for
initiating collapse in such containers.
[0003] "Hot-Fill" applications impose significant mechanical stress
on a container structure. The thin side-wall construction of a
conventional container deforms or collapses as the internal
container pressure falls following capping because of the
subsequent cooling of the liquid contents. Various methods have
been devised to sustain such internal pressure change while
maintaining a controlled configuration.
[0004] Generally, the polyester must be heat-treated to induce
molecular changes resulting in a container that exhibits thermal
stability. In addition, the structure of the container must be
designed to allow sections, or panels, to "flex" inwardly to vent
the internal vacuum and so prevent excess force being applied to
the container structure. The amount of "flex" available in prior
art, vertically disposed flex panels is limited, however, and as
the limit is reached the force is transferred to the side-wall, and
in particular the areas between the panels, of the container
causing them to fail under any increased load.
[0005] Additionally, vacuum force is required in order to flex the
panels inwardly to accomplish pressure stabilization. Therefore,
even if the panels are designed to be extremely flexible and
efficient, force will still be exerted on the container structure
to some degree. The more force that is exerted results in a demand
for increased container wall-thickness, which in turn results in
increased container cost.
[0006] The principal mode of failure in all prior art known to the
applicant is non-recoverable buckling, due to weakness in the
structural geometry of the container, when the weight of the
container is lowered for commercial advantage. Many attempts to
solve this problem have been directed to adding reinforcements to
the container side-wall or to the panels themselves, and also to
providing panel shapes that flex at lower thresholds of vacuum
pressure.
[0007] To date, only containers utilizing vertically oriented
vacuum flex panels have been commercially presented and
successful.
[0008] In our New Zealand Patent 240448 entitled "Collapsible
Container," a semi-rigid collapsible container is described and
claimed in which controlled collapsing is achieved by a plurality
of arced panels which are able to resist expansion from internal
pressure, but are able to expand transversely to enable collapsing
of a folding portion under a longitudinal collapsing force. Much
prior art in collapsible containers was disclosed, most of which
provided for a bellows-like, or accordion-like vertical collapsing
of the container.
[0009] Such accordion-like structures are inherently unsuitable for
hot-fill applications, as they exhibit difficulty in maintaining
container stability under compressive load. Such containers flex
their sidewalls away from the central longitudinal axis of the
container. Further, labels cannot be properly applied over such
sections due to the vertical movement that takes place. This
results in severe label distortion. For successful label
application, the surface underneath must be structurally stable, as
found in much prior art cold-fill container sidewalls whereby
corrugations are provided for increased shape retention of the
container under compressive load. Such compressive load could be
supplied by either increased top-load or increased vacuum pressure
generated within a hot-fill container for example.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0010] It is an object of the invention to provide a semi-rigid
container which is able to more efficiently compensate for vacuum
pressure in the container and to overcome or at least ameliate
problems with prior art proposals to date and/or to at least
provide the public with a useful choice.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] According to one exemplary embodiment, the present invention
relates to a container for containing a heated liquid and having a
longitudinal axis. The container comprises at least one
substantially vertically folding vacuum panel portion disposed
substantially transversely relative to the longitudinal axis, the
vacuum panel portion adapted to compensate for vacuum pressure
changes within the container caused by heating or cooling of a
liquid contained within the container. The vacuum panel portion
comprises an initiator portion and a control portion, with at least
a portion of the control portion being more steeply inclined
relative to the longitudinal axis than at least a portion of the
initiator portion. The initiator portion causes the control portion
to flex inwardly into the container. The pressure panel inverts
vertically in a direction substantially parallel to the
longitudinal axis.
[0012] According to another exemplary embodiment, the present
invention relates to a container for containing a heated liquid and
having a longitudinal axis. The container comprises at least one
substantially vertically folding vacuum panel portion disposed
substantially transversely relative to the longitudinal axis, the
vacuum panel portion adapted to compensate for vacuum pressure
changes within the container. The vacuum panel portion includes an
initiator portion and a control portion, the control portion
disposed nearer a side wall and further from the longitudinal axis
than the initiator portion. The initiator portion provides for
vertical folding before the control portion. The vacuum panel
portion inverts vertically under a longitudinally applied force
substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis.
[0013] According to yet another exemplary embodiment, the present
invention relates to a container for containing a heated liquid and
having a longitudinal axis. The container comprises at least one
substantially vertically folding vacuum panel portion disposed
substantially transversely relative to the longitudinal axis, the
vacuum panel portion adapted to compensate for vacuum pressure
changes within the container caused by heating or cooling of a
liquid contained within the container. The vacuum panel portion
comprises an initiator portion and a control portion, with both the
initiator portion and the control portion being curved when viewed
in a vertical cross-section taken through the longitudinal axis. At
least a portion of the control portion is more steeply inclined
relative to the longitudinal axis than at least a portion of the
initiator portion, and wherein the initiator portion causes the
control portion to flex inwardly into the container. The pressure
panel inverts vertically in a direction substantially parallel to
the longitudinal axis.
[0014] Further aspects of this invention, which should be
considered in all its novel aspects, will become apparent from the
following description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1: shows diagrammatically an enlarged view of a
semi-rigid collapsible container according to one possible
embodiment of the invention in its pre-collapsed condition;
[0016] FIG. 2: shows the container of FIG. 1 in its collapsed
condition;
[0017] FIG. 3: very diagrammatically shows a cross-sectional view
of the container of FIG. 2 along the arrows A-A;
[0018] FIG. 4: shows the container of FIG. 1 along arrows A-A;
[0019] FIG. 5: shows a container according to a further possible
embodiment of the invention;
[0020] FIG. 6: shows the container of FIG. 5 after collapse;
[0021] FIG. 7: shows a cross-sectional view of the container of
FIG. 6 along arrows B-B;
[0022] FIG. 8: shows a cross-sectional view of the container of
FIG. 5 along arrows B-B;
[0023] FIGS. 9a and 9b: show expanded views of the section between
lines X-X and Y-Y of the container of FIG. 1 in its pre-collapsed
and collapsed conditions, respectively;
[0024] FIGS. 10a and 10b: show expanded views of the same section
of the container of FIG. 1 in its pre-collapsed and collapsed
conditions, respectively, but with the ribs 3 omitted;
[0025] FIG. 11: shows an expanded view of the section between lines
X-X and Y-Y of the container of FIG. 5 in its pre-collapsed
condition; and
[0026] FIG. 12: shows an expanded view, similar to FIG. 11, of an
alternative embodiment of a container according to the present
invention, shown in its pre-collapsed condition.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0027] The present invention relates to collapsible semi-rigid
containers having a side-wall with at least one substantially
vertically folding vacuum panel section which compensates for
vacuum pressure within the container.
[0028] Preferably in one embodiment the flexing may be inwardly,
from an applied mechanical force. By calculating the amount of
volume reduction that is required to negate the effects of vacuum
pressure that would normally occur when the hot liquid cools inside
the container, a vertically folding portion can be configured to
allow completely for this volume reduction within itself. By
mechanically folding the portion down after hot filling, there is
complete removal of any vacuum force generated inside the container
during liquid cooling. As there is no resulting vacuum pressure
remaining inside the cooled container, there is little or no force
generated against the sidewall, causing less stress to be applied
to the container sidewalls than in prior art. According to an
alternative embodiment, the vacuum panel section can be adapted to
fold independently of any applied mechanical force (i.e., entirely
as a result of vacuum pressure developed within the container). For
example, vacuum pressure developed within the container (e.g., as a
result of cooling of the contents) can create a force on the vacuum
panel substantially aligned with the container's longitudinal axis,
and cause the vacuum panel to fold inwardly into the container.
[0029] Further, by configuring the control portion to have a steep
angle, expansion from the collapsed state when the container is
uncapped is also prevented. A large amount of force, equivalent to
that mechanically applied initially, would be required to revert
the control portion to its previous position. This ready evacuation
of volume with negation of internal vacuum force is quite unlike
prior art vacuum panel container performance.
[0030] The present invention may be a container of any required
shape or size and made from any suitable material and by any
suitable technique. However, a plastics container blow molded from
polyethylene tetraphalate (PET) may be particularly preferred.
[0031] One possible design of semi-rigid container is shown in
FIGS. 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings. The container referenced
generally by arrow C is shown with an open neck portion 4 leading
to a bulbous upper portion 5, a central portion 6, a lower portion
7 and a base 8.
[0032] The central portion 6 provides a vacuum panel portion that
will fold substantially vertically to compensate for vacuum
pressure in the container 10 following cooling of the hot
liquid.
[0033] The vacuum panel portion has an initiator portion 1 capable
of flexing inwardly under low vacuum force and causes a more
vertically steeply inclined (a more acute angle relative to the
longitudinal axis of the container 10), control portion 2 to invert
and flex further inwardly into the container 10. If it were not for
flexing of the initiator portion 1, the container 10 would
experience full vacuum force due, for example, from the container
cooling. Movement of the initiator portion 1, and later movement of
the vacuum panel, can relieve all or part of the vacuum.
[0034] The provision of an initiator portion 1 allows for a steep,
relative to the longitudinal, angle to be utilized in the control
portion 2. Without an initiator portion 1, the level of force
needed to invert the control portion 2 may be undesirably raised.
This enables strong resistance to expansion from the collapsed
state of the bottle 1. Further, without an initiator portion to
initiate inversion of the control portion, the control portion may
be subject to undesirable buckling under compressive vertical load.
Such buckling could result in failure of the control portion to
fold into itself satisfactorily. Far greater evacuation of volume
is therefore generated from a single panel section than from prior
art vacuum flex panels. Vacuum pressure is subsequently reduced to
a greater degree than prior art proposals causing less stress to be
applied to the container side walls.
[0035] Moreover, when the vacuum pressure is adjusted following
application of a cap to the neck portion 4 of the container 10 and
subsequent cooling of the container contents, it is possible for
the collapsing section to cause ambient or even raised pressure
conditions inside the container 10.
[0036] This increased venting of vacuum pressure provides
advantageously for less force to be transmitted to the side walls
of the container 10. This allows for less material to be
necessarily utilized in the construction of the container 10 making
production cheaper. This also allows for less failure under load of
the container 10, and there is much less requirement for panel area
to be necessarily deployed in a design of a hot fill container,
such as container 10. Consequently, this allows for the provision
of other more aesthetically pleasing designs to be employed in
container design for hot fill applications. For example, shapes
could be employed that would otherwise suffer detrimentally from
the effects of vacuum pressure. Additionally, it would be possible
to fully support the label application area, instead of having a
"crinkle" area underneath which is present with the voids provided
by prior art containers utilizing vertically oriented vacuum flex
panels.
[0037] In a particular embodiment of the present invention, support
structures 3, such as raised radial ribs as shown, may be provided
around the central portion 6 so that, as seen particularly in FIGS.
2 and 3, with the initiator portion 1 and the control portion 2
collapsed, they may ultimately rest in close association and
substantial contact with the support structures 3 in order to
maintain or contribute to top-load capabilities, as shown at 1b and
2b and 3b in FIG. 3.
[0038] In the expanded views of FIGS. 9a and 9b, the steeper angle
of the initiator portion 1 relative to the angle of the control
portion 2 is indicated, as is the substantial contact of the
support structures 3 with the central portion after it has
collapsed.
[0039] In the expanded views of FIGS. 10a and 10b, the support
structures 3 have been omitted, as in the embodiment of FIG. 5
described later. Also, the central portion 6 illustrates the
steeper angle .THETA..sub.1 of the initiator portion 1 relative to
the angle .THETA..sub.2 of the control portion 2 and also the
positioning of the vacuum panel following its collapse but without
the support structures or ribs 3.
[0040] In a further embodiment a telescopic vacuum panel is capable
of flexing inwardly under low vacuum force, and enables expansion
from the collapsed state when the container is uncapped and the
vacuum released. Preferably in one embodiment the initiator portion
is configured to provide for inward flexing under low vacuum force.
The control portion is configured to allow for vacuum compensation
appropriate to the container size, such that vacuum force is
maintained, but kept relatively low, and only sufficient to draw
the vertically folding vacuum panel section down until further
vacuum compensation is not required. This will enable expansion
from the collapsed state when the container is uncapped and vacuum
released. Without the low vacuum force pulling the vertically
folding vacuum panel section down, it will reverse in direction
immediately due to the forces generated by the memory in the
plastic material. This provides for a "tamper-evident" feature for
the consumer, allowing as it does for visual confirmation that the
product has not been opened previously.
[0041] Additionally, the vertically folding vacuum panel section
may employ two opposing initiator portions and two opposing control
portions. Reducing the degree of flex required from each control
portion subsequently reduces vacuum pressure to a greater degree.
This is achieved through employing two control portions, each
required to vent only half the amount of vacuum force normally
required of a single portion. Vacuum pressure is subsequently
reduced more than from prior art vacuum flex panels, which are not
easily configured to provide such a volume of ready inward
movement. Again, less stress is applied to the container
side-walls.
[0042] Moreover, when the vacuum pressure is adjusted following
application of the cap to the container, and subsequent cooling of
the contents, top load capacity for the container is maintained
through sidewall contact occurring through complete vertical
collapse of the vacuum panel section.
[0043] Still, further, the telescopic panel provides good annular
strengthening to the package when opened.
[0044] Referring now to FIGS. 5 to 8 of the drawings, preferably in
this embodiment there are two opposing initiator portions, upper
initiator portion 103 and lower initiator portion 105, and two
opposing control portions provided, upper control portion 104 and
lower control portion 106. When the vacuum pressure is adjusted
following application of a cap (not shown) to the container 100,
and subsequent cooling of the contents, top load capacity for the
container 100 is maintained through upper side-wall 200 and lower
side-wall 300 contact occurring through complete or substantially
complete vertical collapse of the vacuum panel section, see FIGS. 6
and 7.
[0045] This increased venting of vacuum pressure provides
advantageously for less force to be transmitted to the side-walls
100 and 300 of the container 100. This allows for less material to
be necessarily utilized in the container construction, making
production cheaper.
[0046] This allows for less failure under load of the container 100
and there is no longer any requirement for a vertically oriented
panel area to be necessarily deployed in the design of hot-fill
containers. Consequently, this allows for the provision of other
more aesthetically pleasing designs to be employed in container
design for hot-fill applications. Further, this allows for a label
to be fully supported by total contact with a side-wall which
allows for more rapid and accurate label applications.
[0047] Additionally, when the cap is released from a vacuum filled
container that employs two opposing collapsing sections, each
control portion 104, 106 as seen in FIG. 7, is held in a flexed
position and will immediately telescope back to its original
position, as seen in FIG. 8. There is immediately a larger
headspace in the container which not only aids in pouring of the
contents, but prevents "blow-back" of the contents, or spillage
upon first opening.
[0048] FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of a portion of the container
100 depicted in FIGS. 5-8. Specifically, FIG. 11 depicts the
portion of container 100 located between the lines X-X and Y-Y of
FIG. 5. As shown in FIG. 11, the initiator portion 103 and/or the
control portion 104 can be curved (e.g. when viewed in a vertical
cross-section extending through the container's longitudinal axis
A, such as the plane of the paper in FIG. 11). As shown in the
exemplary embodiment of FIG. 11, the initiator portion 103 and
control portion 104 can be substantially continuous with one
another. For example, they can form a substantially continuous
curve, with at least a portion of the curved control portion 104
being more steeply inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis
than at least a portion of the curved initiator portion 103.
Described differently, a portion of the initiator portion 103 can
define a tangent line I, and a portion of the control portion can
define a tangent line K. Tangent line K can be more steeply
inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis A than tangent line
I (i.e., tangent line K can define an angle .THETA..sub.2 with
respect to the longitudinal axis A that is more acute than a
corresponding angle .THETA..sub.1 defined by tangent line I). Lower
initiator portion 103 and lower control portion 106 can have
similar curvature(s) to upper initiator portion 103 and upper
control portion 104, or alternatively, can be different. For
example, according to an exemplary embodiment, the lower initiator
and control portions 105, 106 can be substantially linear and
discontinuous from one another (e.g., similar to initiator portion
1 and control portion 2 of FIG. 1). According to another exemplary
embodiment, the above-described curvature of the initiator portion
103 and/or control portion 104 can apply to a container only having
one set of initiator and control portions, such as the container C
shown in FIGS. 1-4 and 9A-10B.
[0049] FIG. 12 is an enlarged, partial view of another exemplary
embodiment of a container 200 according to the present invention.
According to this exemplary embodiment, the initiator portion 203
is located closer to the longitudinal axis A of the container than
is the control portion 204. Or, in other words, the control portion
204 is located closer to the sidewall 207 than is the initiator
portion 203. Note that while this arrangement is illustrated with
respect to curved initiator and control portions 203, 204, it can
apply equally to containers having linear initiator and/or control
portions (e.g., such as in the container of FIGS. 1-4, and 9A-10B).
Furthermore, while this embodiment is illustrated with respect to a
container having upper initiator and control portions 203, 204, as
well as lower initiator and control portions 205, 206, it can apply
equally to a container having only one set of initiator and control
portions.
[0050] Further embodiments of the present invention may allow for a
telescopic vacuum panel to be depressed prior to, or during, the
filling process for certain contents that will subsequently develop
internal pressure before cooling and requiring vacuum compensation.
In this embodiment the panel is compressed vertically, thereby
providing for vertical telescopic enlargement during the internal
pressure phase to prevent forces being transferred to the
side-walls, and then the panel is able to collapse again
telescopically to allow for subsequent vacuum compensation.
[0051] Although two panel portions 101 and 102 are shown in the
drawings it is envisaged that less than two may be utilized.
[0052] Where in the foregoing description, reference has been made
to specific components or integers of the invention having known
equivalents then such equivalents are herein incorporated as if
individually set forth.
[0053] Although this invention has been described by way of example
and with reference to possible embodiments thereof, it is to be
understood that modifications or improvements may be made thereto
without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the
appended claims.
* * * * *