AU2005290344A1

AU2005290344A1 - Containment of produce

Info

Publication number: AU2005290344A1
Application number: AU2005290344A
Authority: AU
Inventors: R Hopkins
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-09-30
Filing date: 2005-06-23
Publication date: 2006-04-06
Also published as: WO2006037135A1; CA2582942A1; US20090008396A1; EP1807319A1

Description

WO 2006/037135 PCT/ZA2005/000089 1 FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention lies in the field of containment of produce, in particular where produce is contained in a closed container with a liquid, preferably to be immersed in the liquid. Although a primary example of an application of the invention is in natural produce such as fruit and vegetables, the invention can be applied in the containment of a wider range of produce in the sense of any product of some or other activity. As another example of a possibility, the invention may be applied to containment of items that should not rattle or fall around or be loose in a bottle. Products like medicinal or food supplement pills may be in this category and there are many other potential applications. BACKGROUND Natural produce such as fruits and certain vegetables are often preserved and marketed in bottles in a liquid, which preserves, pickles, flavours, colours or otherwise affects the produce. Sometimes a part of the contained produce deteriorates by discolouring, loss of flavour, drying out to an extent or in other ways. This is often due to the produce not being fully covered or floating with a portion of it above the liquid surface. THE INVENTION This invention provides a partition, which comprises a perforate body part and radially extending ligulate projections around the body. Preferably there is a peripheral ring joining the distal ends of the ligulate projections. The partition may be a plate or disc, i.e. essentially flat and thin relative to its transverse dimension or diameter. A disc would be suitable for a round container, such as a round bottle or can, whereas a plate may be suitable for a square container, for example.

WO 2006/037135 PCT/ZA2005/000089 2 The partition may alternatively have a cup shape, i.e. the projections would extend initially in a flat or disc-like shape, so forming a base part of a cup shape, then turn upwards, so forming the walls part of a cup shape. An intermediate ring may be provided at the position where the projections turn up from the base part t the walls part. The projections preferably are adapted by their thickness and/or material properties to exhibit elasticity so as to provide sprung portions, as may be useful to take up space in an elastic way. This may be useful to provide a partition that lightly presses against product in a container, with some degree of automatic compensation for differing levels of filling of the container. The ligulate projections may include longer radial projections alternately interdigitated by shorter projections, the latter spanning a transverse dimension or diameter of a container or container neck. The projections may be adapted or suitable to be bent when the partition is inserted into a container above its contents, so as to wedge or locate the partition in the container or against the cap, lid or other closure means of the container. The projections may act against a roughened or serrated interior surface of the container. The perforation of the partition body may be specifically adapted to interact with a filling means by which the container is filled with a liquid. The body may thus have a rim, ring or other peripheral formation to interact with a filler tube or nozzle. The intermediate ring may be dimensioned and positioned to interact with a filler tube or nozzle. However, the partition may alternatively for particular applications have substantial thickness, for example easily compressible like a sponge or sprung portions, as may be useful to take up space in an elastic way. This may be useful to provide a partition that lightly presses against product in a container, with some degree of automatic compensation for differing levels of filling of the container.

WO 2006/037135 PCT/ZA2005/000089 3 The body of the partition may have a means of holding and releasing the partition by a mechanical device, to facilitate mechanised insertion of the partition into a container. For example, the body may have a smooth surface area, preferably in the centre of the body, where a suction type holder may hold the partition for insertion into a container, e.g. the neck of a bottle. THE DRAWINGS The invention is more fully described by way of non-limiting examples, with reference to the drawings, in which : Figure 1 is a plan view of a partition according to a first preferred embodiment, Figure 2 is a cross sectional elevation of the partition on section 1I1-11 shown in figure 1, Figure 3 is a cross sectional elevation of the partition, a bottle insertion and filling means and a bottle, preparatory to inserting the partition, Figure 4 is a cross sectional elevation of the partition inserted into a bottle, Figure 5 is a plan view of the partition according to a second preferred embodiment, and Figure 6 is an elevation of the partition shown in figure 5. THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As shown in figures 1 and 2, the partition 1 is a disc comprising a circular flat body part 2 perforated by apertures 3 and radially extending ligulate WO 2006/037135 PCT/ZA2005/000089 4 projections 4 and 5. The projections 4 are longer than the projections 5 and the latter are alternately interdigitated between the former. The diameter 6 across the shorter projections 5 is equal to the internal diameter 7 of a bottle 14 and the diameter 8 across the body of the partition is equal to or smaller than the diameter 9 of the neck 15 of the bottle (see also figure 3). The diameter 10 across the longer projections 4 is appreciably larger than the diameter of the neck of the bottle and the length 11 that each longer projection projects beyond the body is equal to the distance 12 that it is required for the partition to be held below the bottle cap 13 (see figure 4). There is a split or cut 19 going partially through the proximal end of each projection where it joins the body of the partition, to provide a hinging action of the projections when the partition is inserted into the bottle. An elastic effect causes the projections to spring back if permitted, after being hinged. Figure 3 shows the partition located above the bottle preparatory to being inserted by a rod 16 which will hold the partition by means of a suction cup 17. A filler tube 18 is also located above the bottle preparatory to being lowered into the bottle neck to fill the bottle up to a desired level with a liquid. Figure 4 shows the partition placed into the bottle, located below the bottle neck by means of the shorter projections bearing against the shoulder of the bottle where its diameter reduces to the neck of the bottle. The longer projections bear against the bottle cap to further ensure that the partition remains in this position while the cap is on. When the cap is removed for use, the partition may be lifted out to allow removal of the produce in the bottle. As shown in figures 5 and 6, the partition 21 is a disc comprising a circular flat body part 22 perforated by apertures 23 and radially extending ligulate projections 24. The projections 24 extend beyond an intermediate ring 25 upwardly as at 26, thus forming the base part 28 and side walls part 29 of a cup-like shape. A ring 27 terminates the distal ends 30 of the projections 24 26.

WO 2006/037135 PCT/ZA2005/000089 5 The partition is dimensioned to fit into the neck region of a bottle, the ring 27 to be located against the bottle cap and the base part against produce or loose articles (like pills) kept in the bottle. The partition may be used in a bottle in much the same way as shown in figures 3 and 4. The projections can be bent, conferring some compressibility or elasticity to the partition, so as to serve the function required of it. REFERENCE NUMERALS 1 partition 2 body 3 apertures 4 longer projections 5 shorter projections 6 diameter across shorter projections 7 internal diameter of bottle 8 diameter across body 9 internal diameter of bottle neck 10 diameter across longer projections 11 radial length of longer projections 12 distance of partition below bottle cap 13 bottle cap 14 bottle 15 bottle neck 16 rod 17 suction cup 18 filler tube 19 split 20 - WO 2006/037135 PCT/ZA2005/000089 6 21 partition 22 base part 23 apertures 24 projections 25 intermediate ring 26 projections extended 27 peripheral ring 28 base part of cup shape 29 side walls part of cup shape 30 distal ends of projections ----------- 000----------

Claims

1. A partition, which comprises a perforate body part and radially extending ligulate projections around the body.

2. A partition as claimed in claim 1, in which there is a peripheral ring joining the distal ends of the ligulate projections.

3. A partition as claimed in either one of claims 1 or 2, in which the partition is in the form of a plate or disc.

4. A partition as claimed in either one of claims 1 or 2, in which the partition is in the form of a cup shape.

5. A partition as claimed in claim 4, in which an intermediate ring is provided at the position where the projections turn up from the base part to the walls part.

6. A partition as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, in which the projections are adapted by their thickness and/or material properties to exhibit elasticity so as to provide sprung portions

7. A partition as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, in which the ligulate projections include longer radial projections alternately interdigitated by shorter projections.

8. A partition as claimed in claim 7, in which the projections are adapted to be bent when the partition is inserted into a container above its contents.

9. A partition as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, in which the perforation of the partition body is specifically adapted to interact with a filling means by the body having a rim, ring or other peripheral formation. WO 2006/037135 PCT/ZA2005/000089 8

10. A partition as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, in which the partition has substantial thickness, easily compressible like a sponge or sprung portions.

11. A partition as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, in which the body of the partition has a means of holding and releasing the partition by a mechanical device.

12. A partition as claimed in claim 11, in which the body has a smooth surface area in the centre of the body, for a suction type holder.

13. A partition as herein described and as illustrated in figures 1 to 4 of the drawings.

14. A partition as herein described and as illustrated in figures 5 and 6 of the drawings.

15. A partition as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 14, provided in combination with a bottle, which has a serrated surface inside its neck. ---------- 000---------- WO 2006/037135 PCT/ZA2005/000089 9 AMENDED CLAIMS [Received by the International Bureau on 13 December 2005 (13.12.05); original claims 1-15 replaced by amended claims 1-8] + STATEMENT CLAIMS 1. A partition, which comprises a perforate body part and radially extending ligulate projections around the body, characterized in that there is a peripheral ring joining the distal ends of the ligulate projections. 2. A partition, which comprises a perforate body part and radially extending ligulate projections around the body, the partition being in the form of a cup shape and is characterized in that an intermediate ring is provided at the position where the projections turn up from the base part to the walls part. 3. A partition, which comprises a perforate body part and radially extending ligulate projections around the body, characterized in that the perforation of the partition body part is specifically adapted to interact with a filling means by means of the body part having a rim, ring or other peripheral formation. 4. A partition, which comprises a perforate body part and radially extending ligulate projections around the body, characterized in that the body of the partition has a smooth surface area in the centre of the body for a suction type holder for holding and releasing the partition. 5. A partition, which comprises a perforate body part and radially extending ligulate projections around the body, the ligulate projections including longer radial projections alternately interdigitated by shorter projections, adapted to be bent when the AMENDED SHEET (ARTICLE 19) WO 2006/037135 PCT/ZA2005/000089 10 partition is inserted into a container above its contents, characterized in that the shorter projections are dimensioned to the internal dimension of the shoulder of a bottle, to bear against the shoulder of a bottle where its diameter reduces to the neck of the bottle and the longer projections are larger than the diameter of the neck of the bottle and equal to the distance that is required for the partition to be held below the bottle cap so as to bear directly against the bottle cap. 6. A partition as herein described and as illustrated in figures 1 to 4 of the drawings. 7. A partition as herein described and as illustrated in figures 5 and 6 of the drawings. 8. A partition as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, provided in combination with a bottle which has a serrated surface inside its neck. ------- 000---------- 9. AMENDED SHEET (ARTICLE 19) WO 2006/037135 PCT/ZA2005/000089 11 STATEMENT UNDER ARTICLE 19.1 The following comments refer to the claims as now submitted to be amended under article

19. It is respectfully submitted that the amendments distinguish the invention from the cited prior art by features that are novel and inventive. With reference to claim 1, as amended : This claim is original claim 2 re-written in independent form, it has been indicated in the written opinion as novel and inventive over the prior art; it is distinguished from the references by the characterising features of the peripheral ring joining the distal ends of the ligulate projections. Claim 2: WO 2006/037135 PCT/ZA2005/000089 12 This claim is distinguished from the references D1 to D5 by the characterising feature of an intermediate ring where the projections turn up from the base part to the wall part of the cup shape. Claim 3: This claim is original claim 9 re-written in independent form, it has been indicated in the written opinion as novel and inventive over the prior art; it is distinguished from the references by the characterising features of the perforation adapted to interact with a filling means by a rim, ring or other peripheral formation. Claim 4 : This claim is distinguished from the references by the characterising features of the smooth surface area for a suction type holder. Claim 5: This claim is distinguished from the references by the characterising features of the dimensioning of the longer and shorter projections in relation to the bottle dimensions, so as to bear against the shoulder and cap of the bottle respectively. These features are not taught in the prior art : reference D1 shows the longer projections do not reach the lid and the short projections bear against the neck or convex part near the neck. Claims 6 and 7: These claims are omnibus claims that are lawful in South Africa and UK and required for the patents there. Claim 8: This is a claim to the novel partition and a specially adapted serrated bottle combination. Fair basis for the features now added in claim 5 is to be found in the specification as filed at page 4, lines 2 to 9 and 19 to 21. There is further no disclosure in the cited art of the invention as now amended. It is respectfully believed that the amended claims distinguish the present invention from the cited art and disclose an inventive step over the art.