AU2003204750B2

AU2003204750B2 - Container with venting means

Info

Publication number: AU2003204750B2
Application number: AU2003204750A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Leslie Mosca
Original assignee: HOLLYWOOD PLASTICS Pty Ltd
Current assignee: HOLLYWOOD PLASTICS Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2002-06-17
Filing date: 2003-06-17
Publication date: 2004-11-04
Anticipated expiration: 2023-06-17
Also published as: AU2003204750A1

Description

I

3390B

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT Name of Applicants: HOLL Actual Inventor: LESLI Address for Service: HODG Patent Level 3

MILSC

Invention Title: "CON' Details of Associated Provisional Application: PS 3001 filed 17 June 2002

[NAL

YWOOD PLASTICS PTY LTD

EMOSCA

rKINSON OLD McINNES and Trade Mark Attorneys 3, 20 Alfred Street )NS POINT NSW 2061 TAINER WITH VENTING MEANS" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: I FIELD OF INVENTION The present invention relates to an improved container with inbuilt or inherent venting means, to allow venting of gases and vapours from the contents of the container, without leakage of the contents of the container, and without the need for specialised closures.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The build-up of vapour pressure associated with a product stored in a container can create problems for the storage and transportation of certain products, especially those products with volatile solvents or other components, for example cleaning compositions containing ammonia and/or chlorine, wherein factors such as increases in ambient temperatures during storage or transportation can result in very large increases in vapour pressure in the limited air space above the contents of the container, resulting in a distortion or rupture of the container or its seal, with the release of the product from the container. In some instances this may create a hazardous spill of the contents of the container, causing potential danger to persons or animals in the vicinity of the leak or spill, and/or pollution of the adjacent environment.

Prior art methods of dealing with such problems have included containers with modified caps to allow venting of gaseous vapours and/or controlled release of the contents of the container in small amounts to release the pressure build-up.

However, the use of specialised venting means within the cap is not always possible or convenient, and it adds an increased cost factor into the packaging of certain goods, which may not always be viable.

There is a need for a simpler, more convenient method for allowing the venting of gases of any given product without leakage of the actual product and without the need for specialised closures.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION o It is an object of this invention to provide a semi-rigid flexible container which goes at least

O

U" some way towards overcoming or at least minimising prior art problems or limitations, or for O at least providing a clear alternative choice for consumers.

In According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a semi-rigid flexible container having a neck portion with a lip seal which is adapted to seal against a cap closure, wherein r said neck portion adjacent said lip seal comprises at least one portion which is adapted to deform or distort at a predetermined pressure to breach the seal between the lip seal and the r cap closure.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of manufacture of a semi-rigid flexible container of the type wherein the neck portion is provided with one or more predetermined portions which are adapted to deform to permit release, of or equilibrium of, the pressure and for the integrity of the seal to be retained and retained when excess pressure has been released or regained equilibrium.

In preferred embodiments the invention provides a semi-rigid container, such as a blowmoulded bottle which allows venting of gases from a product contained within the container without leakage, or with minimal leakage, of the product contained within the container without the need for specialised venting caps or closures.

Preferred embodiments of the invention provide a semi-rigid flexible container having a neck which allows breathing or venting of the container at predetermined vapour pressures, through elastic deformation of the container neck and/or lip seal.

In other preferred embodiments the invention provides a semi-rigid flexible container which allows breathing or venting of the container through elastic deformation of the container neck and/or lip seal at or above predetermined pressures within the container, and for the seal integrity to be regained when the internal pressures have been released.

o Preferably, the invention provides a container with inherent pressure release means at predetermined internal pressures, which is relatively simple in construction and relatively o inexpensive to manufacture, and which is adapted to function effectively and efficiently under

O

t a variety of environmental conditions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS I A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a top plan or top elevational view of the neck portion of a semi-rigid Flexible container according to an embodiment of the invention; FIG. 2 is a cross-sectioned side-elevation of the neck portion of Fig. 1 taken along the line A-A of Fig. 1; and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectioned side-elevation of the neck portion of Fig. 1 taken along the line B-B of Fig. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT According to this embodiment, the seal between the closure 1 and the neck 2 of the container 3 is such that under normal operating conditions, a waterproof or water-tight seal is attained, and the product in the container will not leak from the sealed container. However, under conditions wherein there is a high vapour pressure from the contents of the container the seal is compromised at a predetermined pressure due to distortion of the flexible container in the neck region, in the region of the lip 4 of the neck 2 and the opposing 'flats' 5 on the adjacent sides of the neck 2. This configuration allows only a detrimental excess pressure to be released, say in excess of 55Kpa. The seal is designed to release only excess gases with substantially no release of the liquid contents. When excess gaseous pressure builds up, the seal is compromised due to the angular edge of the neck rim of the bottle and the distortion of the opposing 'flats' 5. This configuration allows only a detrimental excess amount of pressure to be released. Once the pressure is released, the inherent elasticity ensures that all components return to their normal configuration, and the integrity of the seal is regained.

4 O The preferred embodiment eliminated the need for 'special purpose caps', allowing such benefits as a wider variety of closures, less expensive or cheaper closures, better seal integrity, o and a wider variety of suppliers.

SThe preferred embodiment is especially applicable to the manufacture of blow moulded plastic bottles and the like. In one preferred embodiment, within about one minute of the bottle In reaching 55Kpa internal vapour pressure, the seal distorts in a controlled predetermined manner and excess gases under pressure within the container are released in a controlled manner. As the pressure is released the container regains seal integrity as a result of inherent ¢€3 elasticity.

Although an exemplary embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it will be apparent to those having ordinary skills in the art that a number of changes, modifications or alterations to the invention described herein may be made, none of which depart from the spirit of the present invention. All such changes, modifications and alternations should therefore be seen as being within the scope of the present invention.

It should be apparent that the present invention provides a substantial advance in the field of semi-rigid containers with built-in venting means, providing all of the herein-described advantages without incurring any relative disadvantages.

The term The term "comprising" as used herein is used in the inclusive sense of "having" or "including" and not in the exclusive sense of "consisting only of'.

Claims

1. A semi-rigid flexible container having a neck portion with a lip seal which is adapted o to seal against a cap closure, wherein said neck portion adjacent said lip seal comprises at least -n one portion which is adapted to deform or distort at a predetermined pressure to breach the w O seal between the lip seal and the cap closure.

2. A semi-rigid flexible container according to claim 1, wherein said container is a blow In moulded plastic container.

3. A semi-rigid flexible container according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the seal between the lip seal and the cap closure is adapted to be breached or broken at an internal pressure in excess of

4. A method of manufacture of a semi-rigid flexible container of the type defined in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the neck portion is provided with one or more predetermined portions which are adapted to deform to permit release, of or equilibrium of, the pressure and for the integrity of the seal to be regained and retained when excess pressure has been released or regained equilibrium.

A semi-rigid flexible container according to any one of claims 1 to 3, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated with reference to the drawings.

6. A method of manufacture of a semi-rigid flexible container according to claim substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated. Dated this 29 t day of September 2004 HOLLYWOOD PLASTICS PTY LIMITED By: HODGKINSON McINNES PAPPAS Patent Attorneys for the Applicant