U.S. patent application number 12/070059 was filed with the patent office on 2008-07-10 for collapsible container system.
Invention is credited to Earl T. Kiser.
Application Number | 20080164289 12/070059 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39593399 |
Filed Date | 2008-07-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080164289 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kiser; Earl T. |
July 10, 2008 |
Collapsible container system
Abstract
A three part container system. The first part is an outer rigid
container formed with a mouth defining an opening into the outer
container. The second part is an inner container positioned within
the outer container, the inner container formed with a mouth
defining an opening into the inner container, the mouth of the
inner container being positioned in and sealed to or adjacent to
the mouth of the outer container, at least a portion of the inner
container being collapsible so that the inner container can be
filled with a liquid. The third part is a turret fitted directly or
indirectly by way of the outer container to the mouth of the inner
container. The turret contains a one way valve in liquid
communication with the mouth of the inner container by way of a
passageway in the turret, the turret defining a mouth in liquid
communication with the one way valve by way of a passageway in the
turret so that if the inner container contains a liquid and the
collapsible portion of the inner container is held above the
turret, the fluid in the inner container will flow through the one
way valve and out of the mouth of the turret as the inner container
collapses within the outer container, and so that if the turret is
held above the inner container, flow of air back into the inner
container is substantially prevented by the closure of the one way
valve.
Inventors: |
Kiser; Earl T.; (Fory Myers,
FL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Timothy S. Stevens
5108 Foxpoint Circle
Midland
MI
48642
US
|
Family ID: |
39593399 |
Appl. No.: |
12/070059 |
Filed: |
February 14, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11585640 |
Oct 24, 2006 |
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12070059 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
222/500 ;
222/105; 222/147 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 77/06 20130101;
B65D 49/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
222/500 ;
222/147; 222/105 |
International
Class: |
B65D 25/40 20060101
B65D025/40; B65D 35/56 20060101 B65D035/56; B65D 49/00 20060101
B65D049/00 |
Claims
1. A container system, comprising: an outer container of
substantially fixed shape formed with a mouth defining an opening
into the outer container, the outer container also being perforated
therethrough with a perforation that does not comprise a valve; an
inner container positioned within the outer container, the inner
container formed with a mouth defining an opening into the inner
container, the mouth of the inner container being positioned in and
sealed to or adjacent to the mouth of the outer container, at least
a portion of the inner container being collapsible so that the
inner container can be filled with a liquid, the inner container
being spaced apart from the outer container at the location of the
perforation; a turret fitted directly or indirectly by way of the
outer container to the mouth of the inner container, the turret
comprising a one way valve in liquid communication with the mouth
of the inner container by way of a passageway in the turret, the
one way valve comprising a freely movable sealing element, the
turret defining a mouth in liquid communication with the one way
valve by way of a passageway in the turret so that if the inner
container contains the liquid and the collapsible portion of the
inner container is held above the turret, air can flow through the
perforation in the outer container into the space between the outer
container and the inner container and the liquid in the inner
container will flow through the one way valve by the movement of
the sealing element of the one way valve into a non-sealed
position, the liquid then flowing out of the mouth of the turret as
the inner container collapses within the outer container, and so
that if the turret is held above the inner container, flow of air
back into the inner container is substantially prevented by the
closure of the one way valve by the movement of the sealing element
of the one way valve into a sealed position.
2. The container system of claim 1, wherein the mouth of the inner
container is of fixed shape having external threads and wherein the
mouth of the outer container has internal threads dimensioned to
engage the external threads of the mouth of the inner
container.
3. The container system of claim 1, wherein the mouth of the inner
container is of fixed shape and dimensioned to be a press fit in
the mouth of the outer container.
4. The container system of claim 1, wherein the mouth of the outer
container has external threads, wherein the turret has a skirt and
wherein the skirt of the turret has internal threads dimensioned to
engage the external threads of the outer container.
5. The container system of claim 2, wherein the mouth of the outer
container has external threads, wherein the turret has a skirt and
wherein the skirt of the turret has internal threads dimensioned to
engage the external threads of the outer container.
6. The container system of claim 3, wherein the mouth of the outer
container has external threads, wherein the turret has a skirt and
wherein the skirt of the turret has internal threads dimensioned to
engage the external threads of the outer container.
7. The container system of claim 2, wherein the mouth of the inner
container has external threads, wherein the turret has an internal
passageway and wherein the internal passageway of the turret has
internal threads dimensioned to engage the external threads of the
mouth of the inner container.
8. The container system of claim 3, wherein the mouth of the inner
container has external threads, wherein the turret has an internal
passageway and wherein the internal passageway of the turret has
internal threads dimensioned to engage the external threads of the
mouth of the inner container.
9. The container system of claim 1, wherein the turret has a skirt,
the inside of the skirt of the turret being dimensioned to be a
press fit over the mouth of the outer container
10. The container system of claim 2, wherein the turret has a
skirt, the inside of the skirt of the turret being dimensioned to
be a press fit over the mouth of the outer container.
11. The container system of claim 3, wherein the turret has a
skirt, the inside of the skirt of the turret being dimensioned to
be a press fit over the mouth of the outer container.
12. The container system of claim 2, wherein the turret has an
internal passageway dimensioned to be a press fit over the mouth of
the inner container.
13. The container system of claim 3, wherein the turret has an
internal passageway dimensioned to be a press fit over the mouth of
the inner container.
14. The container system of claim 1, wherein the exterior of the
mouth of the turret is threaded to receive an internally threaded
cap.
15. The container system of claim 2, wherein the exterior of the
mouth of the turret is threaded to receive an internally threaded
cap.
16. The container system of claim 3, wherein the exterior of the
mouth of the turret is threaded to receive an internally threaded
cap.
17. The container system of claim 1, wherein the passageways in the
turret are dimensioned to control the flow rate of the liquid
flowing there though if the inner container contains the liquid and
the collapsible portion of the inner container is held above the
turret.
18. The container system of claim 1, wherein the mouth of the
turret is formed to directionally control the flow of the liquid
flowing out of the mouth of the turret if the inner container
contains the liquid and the collapsible portion of the inner
container is held above the turret.
19. The container system of claim 1, wherein the turret has a skirt
and wherein the bottom of the skirt of the turret and the portion
of the outer container mating with the bottom of the skirt of the
turret are dimensioned to produce a smooth junction
therebetween.
20. The container system of claim 1, wherein the mouth of the
turret is sealed with a tear away seal and pull tab therefore.
21. The container system of claim 19, wherein the outer container
is formed with a decorative band incorporating the perforation
through the outer container, the decorative band being positioned
immediately below the bottom of the skirt of the turret.
22. The container system of claim 1, wherein the liquid is a wine
and wherein the oxygen permeability of the inner container is
selected to correspond to the aging and maturing oxygen admission
requirements of the wine.
Description
[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 11/585,640 filed Oct. 24, 2006 which
claimed the benefit of priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No.
11/257,870 filed Oct. 25, 2005.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The instant invention is in the field of collapsible
containers for containing liquids to be dispensed through valves.
More specifically, the instant invention is in the field of hand
held collapsible containers for containing liquids to be dispensed
by inverting the container for gravity flow of the liquid through a
one way valve so that air does not enter the collapsible container
when the container is righted to stop the flow of the liquid.
[0003] Many liquids, such as alcoholic beverages, fruit juices and
dairy products rapidly deteriorate upon exposure to oxygen
following the initial opening of the container. An important
solution to this problem is a collapsible container for containing
such liquids to be dispensed through a valve at a controlled
volume. Collapsible containers made from animal skins, organs, bota
bags, and date back to ancient time.
[0004] Many liquids are susceptible to deterioration upon exposure
to oxygen. Among these, wines are particularly vulnerable to rapid
oxidation due their basic chemistry. To prevent this condition,
bottling practices are followed by most commercial wineries that
fill the container under vacuum or by sparging with an inert gas to
exclude the oxygen. This precaution is further complicated by the
use of closures, i.e. natural cork, susceptible to oxygen intrusion
or other containments such as trichloroanisole (TCA). Even with
these precautions, when the container is subsequently opened,
oxygen intrusion immediately occurs and begins the process of
oxidation and spoilage and the remaining product rapidly
degrades/spoils.
[0005] The introduction of "bag in a box wine" (wherein the wine is
contained in a collapsible plastic bag held in a cardboard box and
dispensed through a valve at the bottom of the container, closed
with a plastic cap) addressed both problems (oxygen intrusion and
closure) but is limited in its practical use since the wine cannot
be poured, but must be dispensed from the container in an upright
position. U.S. Pat. No. 4,330,066 disclosed a bottle having
collapsible inner container and a one way valve so that a liquid
contained in the collapsible inner container is dispensed when the
bottle is inverted and so that flow of air back into the
collapsible inner container is prevented by closure of the one way
valve when the bottle is righted. The one way valve of the '066
patent must never-the-less accommodate the initial filling of the
bottle which seriously limits this approach.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The above-mentioned problem of filling the collapsible inner
container through the one way valve is solved in the instant
invention by the use of a "turret". The preferred turret of the
instant invention contains a one way valve, a controlled volume of
flow dispensing passageway, a directional pouring lip, a pilfer
proof closure and a skirt (capsule) that marries the turret to the
container with a sanitary junction. Thereby, a collapsible inner
container can be initially filled and then the turret is attached
to the bottle. The system of the instant invention allows the
reasonable processing/production use of more effective and less
complicated one way valves and permits the practical use of
conventional filling machines. The system of the instant invention
is especially applicable for containing and dispensing wine and all
liquids susceptible to oxygen degradation.
[0007] More specifically, the instant invention is a container
system, comprising: an outer container of substantially fixed shape
formed with a mouth defining an opening into the outer container,
the outer container also being perforated therethrough with a
perforation that does not comprise a valve; an inner container
positioned within the outer container, the inner container formed
with a mouth defining an opening into the inner container, the
mouth of the inner container being positioned in and sealed to or
adjacent to the mouth of the outer container, at least a portion of
the inner container being collapsible so that the inner container
can be filled with a liquid, the inner container being spaced apart
from the outer container at the location of the perforation; a
turret fitted directly or indirectly by way of the outer container
to the mouth of the inner container, the turret comprising a one
way valve in liquid communication with the mouth of the inner
container by way of a passageway in the turret, the one way valve
comprising a freely movable sealing element, the turret defining a
mouth in liquid communication with the one way valve by way of a
passageway in the turret so that if the inner container contains
the liquid and the collapsible portion of the inner container is
held above the turret, air can flow through the perforation in the
outer container into the space between the outer container and the
inner container and the liquid in the inner container will flow
through the one way valve by the movement of the sealing element of
the one way valve into a non-sealed position, the liquid then
flowing out of the mouth of the turret as the inner container
collapses within the outer container, and so that if the turret is
held above the inner container, flow of air back into the inner
container is substantially prevented by the closure of the one way
valve by the movement of the sealing element of the one way valve
into a sealed position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a side view, part in cross-section and part in
full, of a preferred container system of the instant invention
employing threaded components;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a side exploded view, part in cross section and
part in full, of the system shown in FIG. 1;
[0010] FIG. 3 is a side view of the system shown in FIG. 1 in
position to dispense a liquid contained in the collapsible inner
container;
[0011] FIG. 4 is a top view in full of a preferred turret of the
instant invention; and
[0012] FIG. 5 is a side view in cross-section of a preferred
container system of the instant invention employing press fit
components.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0013] Referring now to FIG. 1, therein is shown a side view, part
in cross-section and part in full, of a preferred container system
10 of the instant invention including an outer container 11 made of
conventional polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic. However, it
should be understood that the outer container 11 can be made of any
suitable material such as glass, other plastics or even metal. The
outer container 11 is of substantially fixed shape formed with a
mouth 13 defining an opening into the outer container 11. The
system 10 also includes an inner container 16 positioned within the
outer container 11, the inner container 16 formed with a mouth 12
defining an opening into the inner container 16, the mouth 12 of
the inner container being positioned in and sealed to or adjacent
to the mouth 13 of the outer container 11 by way of a threaded
connection as shown. At least a portion of the inner container 16
is collapsible so that the inner container can be filled with a
liquid 20 such as wine. When the liquid 20 needs to be protected
from atmospheric oxygen, then the inner container 16 is preferably
an oxygen barrier film made of Nylon brand plastic, Saran brand
plastic, polyethylene vinyl alcohol plastic or multilayer films
comprising an oxygen barrier plastic. The inner container 16 can
alternatively be made of metalized plastic film such as metalized
Mylar brand plastic. Preferably, the inner container 16 is heat
sealed to the mouth 12. Alternatively, the mouth 12 of the inner
container 16 can be heat sealed to the mouth 13 of the outer
container 11. When the liquid 20 needs to be protected from
atmospheric oxygen, then the oxygen permeability of the film of the
inner container 16 is preferably less than 1.3 mL of oxygen per
square meter of film per day under standard temperature and
pressure conditions. Plastic/laminar bags (pouches/cells) are
commercially available from manufactures such as Thermo Fisher
Scientific and Tetra Pac, both of Vernon Hills, Ill. Scholle Corp.,
Northlake, Ill. and others.
[0014] A significant benefit of the instant invention, when the
material 20 is considered to require controlled amounts of oxygen
to permit proper maturation, is the ability to correlate the
desired degree of oxygen transfer thru the inner container 16, to
achieve maximum effectiveness under specific controlled conditions.
In addition to the use of oxygen transfer to support proper ageing
of certain wines, numerous tests have identified varying and
optimum oxygen transfer rates for particular varietals of wines and
extending into styles of wine. Utilization of the ability to
provide an inner container 16 with a low, medium or high Oxygen
Transfer Rate (OTR) will permit, with the combination of
pre-bottling analysis, the potential achievement of optimum total
maturities, including, but not limited to, the amelioration of
bitter and astringent characteristics, tanning's and acids, as well
as the enhancement of aromas, flavors, tastes, color and overall
chemical structure. In this respect, the instant invention provides
a major advancement in oenological practice, not before obtainable
thru the use of either screw cap or natural cork closures, as the
former admits no oxygen and the OTR of the later is not
reproducible on any reasonable consistent basis. Furthermore, the
OTR of the inner container 16 can be readily adjusted by changing,
for example and without limitation thereto, the thickness of and/or
the number and type of layers of materials used and by deposition
of fillers such as nano particles in the formation of the inner
container 16, in a specifically controlled and measurable
manner.
[0015] Still referring to FIG. 1, a turret 14 is fitted to the
mouth 12 of the inner container 16 and to the mouth 13 of the outer
container 11 by way of threaded connections as shown. The turret 14
is preferably made of injection molded food grade oxygen
impermeable plastic. The turret 14 contains a ball 17 which acts as
a one way valve in liquid communication with the mouth 12 of the
inner container by way of a passageway in the turret 14 as shown.
The ball 17 is preferably made of a compliant material, such as an
elastomer, so that it can be pressed through this passageway from
the bottom of the turret 14. The turret 14 defines a mouth 19 in
liquid communication with the ball 17 by way of a passageway in the
turret 14 as shown. The exterior of the mouth 19 of the turret 14
is threaded for a cap 18. A pilfer-proof seal 21 is positioned on
the skirt of the cap 18. A pull-tab 22 is provided to remove the
seal 21 so that the cap 18 can be removed. The passageways in the
turret are-preferably dimensioned to control the volume (or more
specifically the flow rate) of liquid flowing therethrough.
[0016] Referring now to FIG. 2, therein is shown exploded view,
part in cross section and part in full, of the system shown in FIG.
1. The collapsible inner container 16 is shown in a collapsed state
for insertion into the outer container 11. An inner supporting
cage, not shown, may be necessary to support the collapsed inner
container 16 when the container system 10 is filled by vacuum
filling. The outer container 11 is preferably formed with a
decorative band 19a containing air vents 19b. The turret 14 is
preferably joined to outer container 11 by a sanitary seal where
the bottom of the turret 14 contacts the top of the decorative band
19a.
[0017] Referring now to FIG. 3, therein is shown a side view of the
system shown in FIG. 1 with the collapsible portion of the inner
container 16 held above the turret 14 so that the liquid 20 in the
inner container will flow through the turret 14 as the inner
container 16 collapses within the outer container 11. The outer
container 11 is preferably perforated to facilitate entry of air
between the outer container 11 and the inner container 16 as the
inner container 16 collapses. When the container system is righted
so that the turret 14 is held above the inner container 16, flow of
air back into the inner container 16 is substantially prevented by
the movement of the ball 17 back to its seated position as shown in
FIG. 1. Thereby, the liquid 20 can be protected from atmospheric
oxygen deterioration.
[0018] Referring now to FIG. 4, therein is shown a top view in fill
of a preferred turret of the instant invention having a mouth 19
and a directional pour lip 24. A tear-away closure 25 is provided
with a pull tab 23 for removal of the tear-away closure 25 upon the
initial opening of the container system.
[0019] Referring now to FIG. 5, therein is shown a side
cross-sectional view of a preferred container system 30 of the
instant invention similar to the container system 10 of FIG. 1 but
employing press fit connections of many of the various components.
The container system 30 includes an outer container 34 made of
conventional polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic. However, it
should be understood that the outer container 34 can be made of any
suitable material such as glass, other plastics or even metal. The
outer container 34 is of substantially fixed shape formed with a
mouth 33 defining an opening into the outer container 34. The
system 30 also includes an inner container 32 positioned within the
outer container 34, the inner container 32 is formed with a mouth
31 defining an opening into the inner container 32, the mouth 31 of
the inner container being positioned in and sealed to the mouth 33
of the outer container 34 by way of a press fit and annular band 39
formed on the mouth 31 of the inner container 32 and a
corresponding groove formed in the mouth 33 of the outer container
34. At least a portion of the inner container 32 is collapsible so
that the inner container 32 can be filled with a liquid such as
wine. When the liquid needs to be protected from atmospheric
oxygen, then the inner container 32 is preferably an oxygen barrier
film made of Nylon brand plastic, Saran brand plastic, polyethylene
vinyl alcohol plastic or multilayer films comprising an oxygen
barrier plastic. The inner container 32 can also be made of
metalized plastic film such as metalized Mylar brand plastic.
Plastic films in the form of bags suitable for exposure to wine are
commercially available from Tetra Pac, Inc. of Vernon Hills, Ill.
as well as from Scholle Corp, Container Division, Northlake, Ill.
Preferably, the inner container 32 is heat sealed to the mouth
31.
[0020] Still referring to FIG. 5, a turret 35 is fitted to the
mouth 31 of the inner container 32 and to the mouth 33 of the outer
container 34 by way of a press fit and annular bands 38 and 40
formed on the mouth 31 of the inner container 32 and on the mouth
33 of the outer container 32 and corresponding grooves formed in
the turret 35 as shown. The turret 35 is preferably made of
injection molded food grade plastic. The turret 35 contains a
retained disk 41 which acts as a one way valve in liquid
communication with the mouth 31 of the inner container 32 by way of
passageways 42 in the turret 35 as shown. The turret 35 defines a
mouth 36 in liquid communication with the retained disk 41 and
passageways 42 by way of a passageway in the turret 35 as shown.
The exterior of the mouth 36 of the turret 35 is threaded to
receive a cap. When the collapsible portion of the inner container
32 held above the turret 35, the liquid in the inner container will
flow through the turret 35 as the inner container 32 collapses
within the outer container 34. The outer container 34 is preferably
perforated to facilitate entry of air between the outer container
34 and the inner container 32 as the inner container 32 collapses.
When the container system 30 is righted so that the turret 35 is
held above the inner container 32, flow of air back into the inner
container 32 is substantially prevented by the movement of the
retained disk 41 back to its seated position as shown in FIG. 4.
Thereby, the liquid in the inner container 32 can be protected from
atmospheric oxygen deterioration.
[0021] The ball based one way valve of the container system of FIG.
1 and the retained disk based one way valve of the container system
of FIG. 4 are specific examples, without limitation thereto, of one
way valves (also known as check valves) that can be used in the
instant invention.
CONCLUSION
[0022] While the instant invention has been described above
according to its preferred embodiments, it can be modified within
the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is
therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of
the instant invention using the general principles disclosed
herein. Further, the instant application is intended to cover such
departures from the present disclosure as come within the known or
customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and
which fall within the limits of the following claims.
* * * * *