U.S. patent application number 11/682513 was filed with the patent office on 2007-10-04 for expandable closure for use in hot fill containers.
This patent application is currently assigned to Graham Packaging, LP. Invention is credited to Al Brown.
Application Number | 20070228058 11/682513 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38557300 |
Filed Date | 2007-10-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070228058 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Brown; Al |
October 4, 2007 |
EXPANDABLE CLOSURE FOR USE IN HOT FILL CONTAINERS
Abstract
A closure for a hot-filled container may have a base adapted to
be coupled to the container, the base having a bottom side and a
top side; and a roof having an outer diameter, the roof being
coupled to the top side of the base at the outer diameter, the roof
having: a plurality of substantially flat concentric panels
elevated from the top side of the base, wherein each panel is
elevated from the next outermost adjacent panel by a sidewall; and
a substantially flat center coupled to an inner diameter of an
innermost substantially flat panel and elevated therefrom
Inventors: |
Brown; Al; (Perrysburg,
OH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
VENABLE LLP
P.O. BOX 34385
WASHINGTON
DC
20043-9998
US
|
Assignee: |
Graham Packaging, LP
York
PA
|
Family ID: |
38557300 |
Appl. No.: |
11/682513 |
Filed: |
March 6, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60780055 |
Mar 8, 2006 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/796 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 79/005
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/796 |
International
Class: |
B65D 43/08 20060101
B65D043/08 |
Claims
1. A closure for a hot-filled container comprising: a base adapted
to be coupled to the container, the base having a bottom side and a
top side; and a roof having an outer diameter, the roof being
coupled to the top side of the base at said outer diameter, the
roof having: a plurality of substantially flat concentric panels
elevated from said top side of said base, wherein each panel is
elevated from the next outermost adjacent panel by a sidewall; and
a substantially flat center coupled to an inner diameter of an
innermost substantially flat panel and elevated therefrom.
2. The closure of claim 1, wherein the closure is plastic.
3. The closure of claim 1, wherein said plurality of substantially
flat concentric panels are for contracting when the closure is
attached to a container that has been hot-filled.
4. The closure of claim 3, wherein said plurality of substantially
flat concentric panels contracts such that said roof is
substantially flat.
5. The closure of claim 3, wherein said plurality of substantially
flat concentric panels contracts such that said roof is
concave.
6. The closure of claim 3, wherein said plurality of substantially
flat concentric panels are for contracting as a result of a vacuum
being applied to the panels.
7. The closure of claim 3, wherein said plurality of substantially
flat concentric panels contracts when external pressure is applied
to the closure.
8. The closure of claim 3, wherein said plurality of substantially
flat concentric panels are for contracting such that said roof
contacts the contents of the container.
9. The closure of claim 3, wherein the closure is for changing
color according to a temperature change in the contents of the
container.
10. The closure of claim 1, wherein the closure is substantially
circular.
11. The closure of claim 1, wherein said base is threaded.
12. The closure of claim 1, wherein the diameter of the closure is
between 48 millimeters and 120 millimeters.
13. The closure of claim 1, further comprising: an over-cap
substantially surrounding said base and covering a portion of an
outermost substantially flat concentric panel.
14. The closure of claim 13, wherein said over-cap is metal.
15. The closure of claim 13, wherein said over-cap is plastic
having a heat deflection temperature higher than a heat deflection
temperature of said roof.
16. The closure of claim 13, wherein said over-cap is coupled to
said base via a press-fit.
17. The closure of claim 13, wherein said base includes exterior
threads, and where said over-cap is coupled to said base via said
exterior threads.
18. A closure for a hot-filled container comprising: a base adapted
to be coupled to the container, the base having a bottom side and a
top side; and a roof having an outer diameter, the roof being
coupled to the top side of the base at said outer diameter, the
roof having: at least one area of a first thickness; and at least
one area of a second thickness.
19. The closure of claim 18, wherein said areas of said first and
second thicknesses are for contracting when the closure is attached
to a container that has been hot-filled.
20. The closure of claim 18, wherein the diameter of the closure is
between 48 millimeters and 120 millimeters.
21. The closure of claim 18, further comprising: an over-cap
substantially surrounding said base and covering an outermost
portion of said roof.
22. The closure of claim 21, wherein said over-cap is metal.
23. The closure of claim 21, wherein said over-cap is plastic
having a heat deflection temperature higher than a heat deflection
temperature of said roof.
24. The closure of claim 21, wherein said over-cap is coupled to
said base via a press-fit.
25. The closure of claim 21, wherein said base includes exterior
threads, and where said over-cap is coupled to said base via said
exterior threads.
26. A closure for a hot-filled container comprising: a base adapted
to be coupled to the container, the base having a bottom side and a
top side; and a roof having an outer diameter, the roof being
coupled to the top side of the base at said outer diameter, the
roof having: at least one area comprised of a first material; and
at least one area comprised of a second material, wherein said
first and second materials have different deflection rates at a
given temperature.
27. The closure of claim 26, wherein said areas of said first and
second materials are for contracting when the closure is attached
to a container that has been hot-filled.
28. The closure of claim 26, wherein the diameter of the closure is
between 48 millimeters and 120 millimeters.
29. The closure of claim 26, further comprising: an over-cap
substantially surrounding said base and covering an outermost
portion of said roof.
30. The closure of claim 26, wherein said over-cap is metal.
31. The closure of claim 26, wherein said over-cap is plastic
having a heat deflection temperature higher than a heat deflection
temperature of said roof.
32. The closure of claim 26, wherein said over-cap is coupled to
said base via a press-fit.
33. The closure of claim 26, wherein said base includes exterior
threads, and where said over-cap is coupled to said base via said
exterior threads.
Description
CROSS-RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a non-provisional application and claims
priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/780,055, filed Mar.
8, 2006, entitled "Expandable Closure for use in Hot-fill
Containers," the contents of which are incorporated herein in their
entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates generally to container
closures, and more particularly to closures for use in hot-fill
containers.
[0004] 2. Related Art
[0005] When hot-filling a container, the container is capped when
the contents are at an elevated temperature. The container is
manipulated to ensure the hot contents eliminate any biological
contaminants in the container. At the elevated temperature, the
container bulges. When the contents cool, the volume of any gas in
the container is reduced, which can cause the bulging container to
flex inwardly slightly past its original blown dimensions. A
conventional solution to the flexing container is to put vacuum
panels on the container.
[0006] Vacuum panels, however, can limit design freedom for the
container. For example, the positioning of vacuum panels on the
label panels of the container is undesirable because there may be a
gap between the label and the container where the vacuum panels are
placed. If there is a gap, the label may retain water in the gap,
for example, when the container is submerged in ice in a cooler.
Retained water may then run out from under the label when the
customer consumes the product. Additionally, the label may not be
able to completely contact or adhere to the surface of the
container, due to the vacuum panels' deep draw characteristics into
the container.
[0007] Some glass beverage containers have used a metal closure to
vacuum seal the containers. However, the flexing of such closures
is not enough to compensate for the larger dimensional movements on
larger containers. What is needed then is an improved solution to
the vacuum pressure created by hot-filling that overcomes
shortcomings of conventional solutions.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention include an
expandable closure that flexes in response to pressure applied. Use
of an exemplary closure may reduce or eliminate the need for vacuum
panels in the body of the container, permitting more design
freedom.
[0009] In one exemplary embodiment, the present invention may be a
closure for a hot-filled container comprising: a base adapted to be
coupled to the container, the base having a bottom side and a top
side; and a roof having an outer diameter, the roof being coupled
to the top side of the base at the outer diameter, the roof having:
a plurality of substantially flat concentric panels elevated from
the top side of the base, wherein each panel is elevated from the
next outermost adjacent panel by a sidewall; and a substantially
flat center coupled to an inner diameter of an innermost
substantially flat panel and elevated therefrom.
[0010] In another exemplary embodiment, the present invention may
be a closure for a hot-filled container comprising: a base adapted
to be coupled to the container, the base having a bottom side and a
top side; and a roof having an outer diameter, the roof being
coupled to the top side of the base at the outer diameter, the roof
having: at least one area of a first thickness; and at least one
area of a second thickness.
[0011] In another exemplary embodiment, the present invention may
be a closure for a hot-filled container comprising: a base adapted
to be coupled to the container, the base having a bottom side and a
top side; and a roof having an outer diameter, the roof being
coupled to the top side of the base at the outer diameter, the roof
having: at least one area comprised of a first material; and at
least one area comprised of a second material; wherein the first
and second materials have different deflection rates at a given
temperature.
[0012] Further objectives and advantages, as well as the structure
and function of preferred embodiments will become apparent from a
consideration of the description, drawings, and examples.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] The foregoing and other features and advantages of the
invention will be apparent from the following, more particular
description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, as
illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein like reference
numbers generally indicate identical, functionally similar, and/or
structurally similar elements.
[0014] FIG. 1 depicts a side view of an exemplary embodiment of an
expandable closure according to the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 2 depicts a top view of the closure shown in FIG.
1;
[0016] FIG. 3 depicts a partial cross-section of an exemplary
embodiment of an expandable closure according to the present
invention, wherein the roof of the closure has varying
thickness;
[0017] FIG. 4 depicts a partial cross-section of an exemplary
embodiment of an expandable closure according to the present
invention, wherein the roof of the closure has varying
thickness;
[0018] FIG. 5 depicts a partial cross-section of an exemplary
embodiment of an expandable closure according to the present
invention, wherein the roof of the closure has varying
thickness;
[0019] FIG. 6 depicts a partial cross-section of an exemplary
embodiment of an expandable closure according to the present
invention, wherein the roof of the closure has varying
thickness;
[0020] FIG. 7 depicts a partial cross-section of an exemplary
embodiment of an expandable closure according to the present
invention, wherein the roof of the closure includes at least two
different materials;
[0021] FIG. 8 depicts a partial cross-section of an exemplary
embodiment of an expandable closure according to the present
invention, wherein the roof of the closure includes at least two
different materials;
[0022] FIG. 9 depicts a partial cross-section of an exemplary
embodiment of an expandable closure according to the present
invention, wherein the roof of the closure includes at least two
different materials; and
[0023] FIG. 10 depicts a partial cross-section of an exemplary
embodiment of an expandable closure with an over-cap according to
the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0024] Embodiments of the invention are discussed in detail below.
In describing embodiments, specific terminology is employed for the
sake of clarity. However, the invention is not intended to be
limited to the specific terminology so selected. While specific
exemplary embodiments are discussed, it should be understood that
this is done for illustration purposes only. A person skilled in
the relevant art will recognize that other components and
configurations can be used without parting from the spirit and
scope of the invention. All references cited herein are
incorporated by reference as if each had been individually
incorporated.
[0025] As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, a closure 100 according to an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention may have a base 102,
which may be threaded or have some other attachment mechanism for
engagement with the neck of the container to be closed. Base 102
has a bottom side which is closer to the container when attached,
and a top side where the "roof" of the closure is coupled. The roof
of the closure may have one or more raised concentric panels 104a,
104b, 104c (collectively, 104). Each panel 104 is raised with
respect to its outer neighbor, and lower than its inner neighbor.
The amount that each panel 104 is lower with respect to its inner
neighbor is determined by the height of a side wall 106a, 106b,
106c, respectively. The transition between a sidewall 106 and the
panels 104 to which it is coupled may be sharp, as depicted in FIG.
1, or may be rounded or sloped. The closure 100 additionally has a
center 108, which has no higher inner panel, and is itself higher
than its outer neighboring panel 104. The expanded closure 100 may
be substantially dome-shaped. While the closure 100 depicted in
FIGS. 1 and 2 has three panels 104 and a center, the closure 100 is
not limited to only three panels and a center. More or fewer panels
may be used.
[0026] In other embodiments, different panels 104 are at different
elevations relative to their neighboring panels. For example, panel
104c may be lower than panel 104b. Also, panels 104 may be square,
oval, or some other shape, and not necessarily round. In some
embodiments, the panels 104 may be of a different thickness than
that of sidewalls 106.
[0027] Once a hot-filled container is closed with a closure
according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the
closure may contract on its own as the pressure in the container
falls, or the closure may be mechanically contracted with external
pressure applied. When the closure 100 contracts, each panel 104
and center 106 contracts into the height of its neighboring outer
panel, successively, until the closure is substantially
flat-topped, or concave.
[0028] FIGS. 3-6 depict partial cross-sections of exemplary
closures having threads 302 and sides 304, where the thickness of
the tops (306, 406, 506, and 606, respectively) of the closures is
varied to allow the closure to flex in response to pressure. The
closures may flex, for example, where the material is thinner than
the surrounding material.
[0029] FIGS. 7-9 depict partial cross-sections of exemplary
closures having threads 302 and sides 304, where the tops (706,
806, and 906, respectively) are comprised of at least two different
materials having different heat deflection temperatures. For
example, materials 702 and 704 may be different from one another,
materials 802 and 804 may be different from one another, and,
materials 902 and 904 may be different from one another. The
closure materials may then deform at different rates at a given
temperature, causing the closures to flex or stretch.
[0030] FIG. 10 depicts an optional over-cap 1002 that may be used
over any of the closures described herein. Over-cap 1002 may be
necessary if the heat from the filled material causes substantial
deformation of the sides 1004. Over-cap 1002 may be metal, or a
plastic with a heat-deflection temperature higher than that of the
top 1006. Over-cap 1002 may substantially surround sides 1004 and
may cover a portion of an outer-most panel, while not covering the
remainder of the top 1006, to allow for expansion of top 1006.
Although FIG. 10 shows over-cap 1002 to be of essentially the same
height as side 1004, over-cap 1002 may be shorter or longer than
side 1004. Over-cap 1002 may be press-fitted to attach to the
closure. Alternatively, the sides 1004 of the closure may have
external threads (not shown) and the over-cap 1002 may be coupled
to the closure with threads on the inside of the over-cap (not
shown).
[0031] An advantage to embodiments of the present invention is that
the closure may accept all of the volume change of a hot-filled
container where a metal closure cannot. Embodiments of the closure
may be molded from a plastic or other suitable flexible material,
and may change shape to compensate for the change in internal
pressure due to hot fill. Compensating for the pressure change
primarily in the closure rather than the container body may free up
a push-up base of the container to be designed more with structural
integrity in mind, or assist the push-up base in accepting the
volume change. This will also allow greater design freedom for
label panels, and assist in opening the process window for the
design of the push-up portion of the container base.
[0032] Additionally, in an exemplary embodiment, the closure may be
in contact with the product in the container and/or have the
capability to sense the temperature of the product in the
container. The closure may have the capability to change color or
shape with heat. This would be useful, for example, if the
container were for a bottled coffee, or soup, or a beverage for a
child. The color or shape could indicate if the product is at a
predetermined temperature, or too hot.
[0033] In another exemplary embodiment, a figure or figurine may
form or be attached to the closure. When the product in the
container is heated, for example, in a microwave, the pressure
buildup inside the container may cause a flexible portion of the
figure to either depress or extend, for example, the figure's eyes
or tongue may bulge, or other features of the figure may change
shape, indicating a heated or over-heated product.
[0034] In an exemplary embodiment, the amount of deformation of the
closure may be related to the amount of vacuum on the container.
This will allow for a quick visual inspection to determine whether
the container is properly sealed.
[0035] In an exemplary embodiment, the closure may have a diameter
of greater than or equal to 48 millimeters (mm). In another
exemplary embodiment, the closure may have a diameter of up to
about 120 mm. In another exemplary embodiment, the closure may have
a diameter of between about 63 mm to about 120 mm. In another
exemplary embodiment, the closure may be used on containers of
between about eight ounces to about five gallons.
[0036] The embodiments illustrated and discussed in this
specification are intended only to teach those skilled in the art
the best way known to the inventors to make and use the invention.
Nothing in this specification should be considered as limiting the
scope of the present invention. All examples presented are
representative and non-limiting. The above-described embodiments of
the invention may be modified or varied, without departing from the
invention, as appreciated by those skilled in the art in light of
the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that, within
the scope of the claims and their equivalents, the invention may be
practiced otherwise than as specifically described.
* * * * *