EP3494057B1 - Containers with adhesively attached chimes - Google Patents

Containers with adhesively attached chimes Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3494057B1
EP3494057B1 EP17764432.5A EP17764432A EP3494057B1 EP 3494057 B1 EP3494057 B1 EP 3494057B1 EP 17764432 A EP17764432 A EP 17764432A EP 3494057 B1 EP3494057 B1 EP 3494057B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
container
inner hub
central projection
central
chime
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Active
Application number
EP17764432.5A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP3494057A1 (en
Inventor
Philip Andrew Walton
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Polykeg SRL
Original Assignee
Polykeg SRL
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Polykeg SRL filed Critical Polykeg SRL
Publication of EP3494057A1 publication Critical patent/EP3494057A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP3494057B1 publication Critical patent/EP3494057B1/en
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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D23/00—Details of bottles or jars not otherwise provided for
    • B65D23/001—Supporting means fixed to the container
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D25/00—Details of other kinds or types of rigid or semi-rigid containers
    • B65D25/20—External fittings
    • B65D25/24—External fittings for spacing bases of containers from supporting surfaces, e.g. legs
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D11/00—Containers having bodies formed by interconnecting or uniting two or more rigid, or substantially rigid, components made wholly or mainly of plastics material
    • B65D11/02—Containers having bodies formed by interconnecting or uniting two or more rigid, or substantially rigid, components made wholly or mainly of plastics material of curved cross-section
    • B65D11/06—Drums or barrels
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D11/00—Containers having bodies formed by interconnecting or uniting two or more rigid, or substantially rigid, components made wholly or mainly of plastics material
    • B65D11/02—Containers having bodies formed by interconnecting or uniting two or more rigid, or substantially rigid, components made wholly or mainly of plastics material of curved cross-section
    • B65D11/06—Drums or barrels
    • B65D11/08—Arrangements of filling or discharging apertures
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B67D1/00—Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught
    • B67D1/08—Details
    • B67D1/0889—Supports
    • B67D1/0891—Supports for the beverage container
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2231/00—Means for facilitating the complete expelling of the contents
    • B65D2231/005—Means for facilitating the complete expelling of the contents the container being rigid
    • B65D2231/007—Funnels or the like
    • B65D2231/008—Funnels or the like integral with the container wall

Definitions

  • This invention relates to containers, particularly kegs, which are suitable for holding beverages such as beer or fruit juices as well as other liquids.
  • Kegs for holding beverages such as beer are increasingly being manufactured of plastics. They are cheaper to manufacture and transport compared with traditional metal kegs, and they can be recycled without having to be returned over long distances for re-filling.
  • Such kegs include a main container which is formed by blow moulding, and at least one injection moulded chime secured to the top end, or both the top and bottom ends, of the container. See WO 2008/098 935-A1 .
  • a bottom chime is secured to the container using a hot melt adhesive as the primary means of attachment.
  • a hot melt adhesive as the primary means of attachment.
  • the present invention seeks to provide a new and inventive form of attachment which retains the advantages of adhesive fixing but which enables a larger quantity of liquid to be withdrawn under a wider range of conditions leaving a smaller residual volume.
  • the present invention proposes a container assembly including a container and a chime fixed to each other by means of an adhesive; the container having:
  • the invention also provides a container assembly including a container and a chime fixed to each other by means of an adhesive, in which an end of the container has a central projection and the chime has an inner hub with a central opening having the same internal profile as the outer profile of the central projection to locate the inner hub against lateral movement without fixation between the inner hub and the central projection.
  • the invention also provides a container assembly including a container and a chime fixed to each other by means of an adhesive, in which an end of the container has a central projection and the chime has an inner hub with a central opening having a plurality of slots which radiate outwardly from the central projection and the plurality of slots define a plurality of flexible inwardly-directed fingers which locate the inner hub against lateral movement without fixation between the inner hub and the central projection.
  • a known form of keg for holding beverages such as beer includes a container 1 which is formed from plastics by blow moulding.
  • An injection moulded top chime 2 is fixed to the top end of the container and an injection moulded bottom chime 3 fixed to the opposite end.
  • the container 1 has a cylindrical side wall 4, a top wall 5 formed with a central neck 6 containing a valve fitting 7 provided with a dip tube 8.
  • the dip tube terminates at the lowest part of a bottom wall 9 which is of plain rounded shape.
  • the bottom chime 3 is fixed to the bottom wall of the container using a hot melt adhesive as the primary means of attachment.
  • the adhesive can soften.
  • the container 1 can then become tilted over within the bottom chime 3, as shown in Fig. 2 , so that the container no longer stands upright.
  • the dip tube 8 which is used to withdraw the contents of the keg, is no longer at the lowest part of the container and a small residual volume of liquid may remain in the keg.
  • the bottom wall 9 of the container 1 is formed with a circular central projection or boss 10 which defines an internal well 11 inside the container (see Fig. 5 ).
  • the bottom chime 3 has an inner hub 12 with a central opening 13 and a plurality of legs 14 which extend outwardly from the inner hub.
  • An outer skirt 15 fits over the side wall 4 of the container, with a bottom rim 16 upon which the container stands, and an inner rim 17 which is joined to the outer ends of the legs 14.
  • the central opening 13 of the inner hub 12 has the same internal profile as the outer profile of the central projection 10.
  • the central opening 13 receives the central projection 10, without fixation or interference, to locate the inner hub against lateral movement.
  • the bottom chime 3 is fixed to the bottom end of the container using a hot melt adhesive as the primary means of attachment which is applied to areas 20 of the bottom chime adjacent to the inner rim 17 of the outer skirt 12 and spaced from the central projection 10.
  • the bottom end of the dip tube 8 extends into the internal well 11 formed by central projection 10, which acts as a kind of sump.
  • the lateral location provided by the central projection 10 thus prevents the container 1 from tilting over within the bottom chime 3 and, even if no tilting has occurred, enables a greater quantity of liquid to be withdrawn via the dip tube 8 with little or no residual volume remaining, e.g. if the container is not stood on a level surface.
  • the central opening 13 may be modified as shown in Fig. 6 .
  • the central opening 13 incorporates a plurality of slots 21 which radiate outwardly from the central projection 10, so that the slots define a plurality of flexible inwardly-directed fingers 22 which again locate the inner hub against lateral movement without fixation or interference.
  • the bottom wall 9 of the container may deform the fingers 22 in a downward direction to maintain a slight upward pressure on the bottom wall 9, thus ensuring that the central projection 10 is always properly located within the central opening 13.
  • the modified container retains the advantages of adhesive fixation whilst ensuring that the keg remains stable and upright under all conditions.
  • the modification also enables a greater volume of liquid to be withdrawn under a wider range of conditions leaving a smaller residual volume.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Packages (AREA)
  • Tubes (AREA)
  • Details Of Rigid Or Semi-Rigid Containers (AREA)

Description

    TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
  • This invention relates to containers, particularly kegs, which are suitable for holding beverages such as beer or fruit juices as well as other liquids.
    • BACKGROUND
  • Kegs for holding beverages such as beer are increasingly being manufactured of plastics. They are cheaper to manufacture and transport compared with traditional metal kegs, and they can be recycled without having to be returned over long distances for re-filling. Such kegs include a main container which is formed by blow moulding, and at least one injection moulded chime secured to the top end, or both the top and bottom ends, of the container. See WO 2008/098 935-A1 .
  • In a known form of container a bottom chime is secured to the container using a hot melt adhesive as the primary means of attachment. (See WO 2009/024 940-A1 .) This fixing method is quick and inexpensive, and the points of attachment can be distributed over a substantial area rather than being concentrated in a small region of the bottom wall. As a result, the kegs are better able to withstand rough handling without detachment of the chimes. The use of a hot melt adhesive is also compatible with current re-cycling methods.
  • It has been found that in a small number of cases, when the kegs have been stored under certain conditions, the container can become tilted over within the bottom chime so that the container no longer stands upright. This means that the dip tube which is used to withdraw the contents of the keg is no longer at the lowest part of the container and a small residual volume of liquid may remain in the keg.
  • The present invention seeks to provide a new and inventive form of attachment which retains the advantages of adhesive fixing but which enables a larger quantity of liquid to be withdrawn under a wider range of conditions leaving a smaller residual volume.
    • SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
  • The present invention proposes a container assembly including a container and a chime fixed to each other by means of an adhesive;
    the container having:
    • a peripheral side wall,
    • a top wall formed with a central neck containing a valve fitting provided with a dip tube which extends into the container, and
    • a bottom wall formed with a central projection, said central projection defining an internal well inside the container;
    and
    the chime having:
    • an inner hub with a central opening,
    • a plurality of legs extending outwardly from the inner hub, and
    • an outer skirt joined to outer ends of the plurality of legs;
    in which the central opening of the inner hub receives the central projection to locate the inner hub against lateral movement without fixation between the inner hub and the central projection, and a bottom end of the dip tube extends into the internal well of the central projection.
  • The invention also provides a container assembly including a container and a chime fixed to each other by means of an adhesive, in which an end of the container has a central projection and the chime has an inner hub with a central opening having the same internal profile as the outer profile of the central projection to locate the inner hub against lateral movement without fixation between the inner hub and the central projection.
  • The invention also provides a container assembly including a container and a chime fixed to each other by means of an adhesive, in which an end of the container has a central projection and the chime has an inner hub with a central opening having a plurality of slots which radiate outwardly from the central projection and the plurality of slots define a plurality of flexible inwardly-directed fingers which locate the inner hub against lateral movement without fixation between the inner hub and the central projection.
    • BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
  • The following description and the accompanying drawings referred to therein are included by way of non-limiting example in order to illustrate how the invention may be put into practice. In the drawings:
    • Figure 1 is a vertical section through a known keg as stood on a level surface;
    • Figure 2 is a vertical section through the same keg which has been subject to heating under certain conditions;
    • Figure 3 is an exploded general view of a modified bottom part of the keg;
    • Figure 4 is a general view of the modified bottom part in the assembled keg;
    • Figure 5 is a vertical section through the modified bottom part of the assembled keg; and
    • Figure 6 is a general view of the bottom part of the assembled keg which incorporates a further modification.
    DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
  • Referring firstly to Fig. 1, a known form of keg for holding beverages such as beer includes a container 1 which is formed from plastics by blow moulding. An injection moulded top chime 2 is fixed to the top end of the container and an injection moulded bottom chime 3 fixed to the opposite end. The container 1 has a cylindrical side wall 4, a top wall 5 formed with a central neck 6 containing a valve fitting 7 provided with a dip tube 8. The dip tube terminates at the lowest part of a bottom wall 9 which is of plain rounded shape. The bottom chime 3 is fixed to the bottom wall of the container using a hot melt adhesive as the primary means of attachment.
  • Sometimes, for example if the kegs are stored at elevated temperatures when the kegs are tightly wrapped on a pallet, the adhesive can soften. The container 1 can then become tilted over within the bottom chime 3, as shown in Fig. 2, so that the container no longer stands upright. This means that the dip tube 8, which is used to withdraw the contents of the keg, is no longer at the lowest part of the container and a small residual volume of liquid may remain in the keg.
  • In the modified keg shown in Fig. 3, during blow moulding the bottom wall 9 of the container 1 is formed with a circular central projection or boss 10 which defines an internal well 11 inside the container (see Fig. 5 ). The bottom chime 3 has an inner hub 12 with a central opening 13 and a plurality of legs 14 which extend outwardly from the inner hub. An outer skirt 15 fits over the side wall 4 of the container, with a bottom rim 16 upon which the container stands, and an inner rim 17 which is joined to the outer ends of the legs 14. The central opening 13 of the inner hub 12 has the same internal profile as the outer profile of the central projection 10. When the bottom chime 3 is received on the bottom of the container 1 as shown in Fig. 4 , the central opening 13 receives the central projection 10, without fixation or interference, to locate the inner hub against lateral movement. Referring to Fig. 5 , the bottom chime 3 is fixed to the bottom end of the container using a hot melt adhesive as the primary means of attachment which is applied to areas 20 of the bottom chime adjacent to the inner rim 17 of the outer skirt 12 and spaced from the central projection 10. As can also be seen in Fig. 5 , the bottom end of the dip tube 8 extends into the internal well 11 formed by central projection 10, which acts as a kind of sump. The lateral location provided by the central projection 10 thus prevents the container 1 from tilting over within the bottom chime 3 and, even if no tilting has occurred, enables a greater quantity of liquid to be withdrawn via the dip tube 8 with little or no residual volume remaining, e.g. if the container is not stood on a level surface.
  • Due to manufacturing tolerances, or variations in pressure within the container, there may be axial variations between the positions of the central projection 10 and the inner hub 12. In order to accommodate these variations and ensure that the central projection 10 is always fully located within the inner hub, the central opening 13 may be modified as shown in Fig. 6 . The central opening 13 incorporates a plurality of slots 21 which radiate outwardly from the central projection 10, so that the slots define a plurality of flexible inwardly-directed fingers 22 which again locate the inner hub against lateral movement without fixation or interference. During assembly and adhesive fixation of the chime 3, the bottom wall 9 of the container may deform the fingers 22 in a downward direction to maintain a slight upward pressure on the bottom wall 9, thus ensuring that the central projection 10 is always properly located within the central opening 13.
  • It will be appreciated that the modified container retains the advantages of adhesive fixation whilst ensuring that the keg remains stable and upright under all conditions. The modification also enables a greater volume of liquid to be withdrawn under a wider range of conditions leaving a smaller residual volume.

Claims (3)

  1. A container assembly including a container (1) and a chime (2) fixed to each other;
    the container having:
    - a peripheral side wall (4),
    - a top wall (5) formed with a central neck (6) containing a valve fitting (7) provided with a dip tube (8) which extends into the container, and
    - a bottom wall formed with a central projection (10), said central projection defining an internal well (11) inside the container;
    and
    the chime having:
    - an inner hub (12) with a central opening (13),
    - a plurality of legs (14) extending outwardly from the inner hub, and
    - an outer skirt (15) joined to outer ends of the plurality of legs;
    in which the central opening (13) of the inner hub (12) receives the central projection (10) to locate the inner hub against lateral movement characterised in that
    - there is no fixation between the inner hub and the central projection;
    - the container (1) and the chime (2) are fixed to each other by means of an adhesive; and
    - a bottom end of the dip tube (8) extends into the internal well (11) of the central projection.
  2. A container assembly according to Claim 1 in which the central opening (13) of the inner hub has the same internal profile as the outer profile of the central projection (10) to locate the inner hub against lateral movement without fixation between the inner hub and the central projection.
  3. A container assembly according to Claim 1 in which the central opening (13) of the inner hub incorporates a plurality of slots (21) which radiate outwardly from the central projection (10) and the plurality of slots define a plurality of flexible inwardly-directed fingers (22) which locate the inner hub against lateral movement without fixation between the inner hub and the central projection.
EP17764432.5A 2016-08-05 2017-08-02 Containers with adhesively attached chimes Active EP3494057B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB1613495.9A GB2552712A (en) 2016-08-05 2016-08-05 Containers with adhesively attached chimes
PCT/GB2017/052243 WO2018025032A1 (en) 2016-08-05 2017-08-02 Containers with adhesively attached chimes

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP3494057A1 EP3494057A1 (en) 2019-06-12
EP3494057B1 true EP3494057B1 (en) 2020-11-04

Family

ID=59811690

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP17764432.5A Active EP3494057B1 (en) 2016-08-05 2017-08-02 Containers with adhesively attached chimes

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US20190177041A1 (en)
EP (1) EP3494057B1 (en)
CN (1) CN109890713A (en)
GB (1) GB2552712A (en)
RU (1) RU2019105728A (en)
WO (1) WO2018025032A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CH713614A1 (en) * 2017-03-23 2018-09-28 Alpla Werke Alwin Lehner Gmbh & Co Kg Stand collar for an internal pressure-resistant plastic container, in particular for a plastic aerosol container, and equipped with a stand cuff aerosol container.
SE544653C2 (en) * 2020-07-08 2022-10-04 Aarke Ab Beverage bottle and method for joining thereof

Family Cites Families (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
NL7305209A (en) * 1972-04-17 1973-10-19
JPS603071Y2 (en) * 1981-03-05 1985-01-28 サッポロビール株式会社 Synthetic resin bottle
FR2816599B1 (en) * 2000-11-10 2003-03-14 Denis Delbarre WAS LIQUID WITH PRESSURE CURING MEANS
EP2114780B1 (en) * 2007-02-12 2013-04-03 Anheuser-Busch InBev S.A. Keg assembly and chime for being fixed to the bottom of a keg
GB2446393A (en) * 2007-02-12 2008-08-13 Inbev Sa A Plastic Lower Chime and Keg Assembly for Beverage Kegs
GB2446392A (en) * 2007-02-12 2008-08-13 Inbev Sa A Plastic Upper Chime and Keg Assembly for Beverage Kegs
US20090050598A1 (en) * 2007-08-20 2009-02-26 Chow-Chi Huang Supportable pressurizable container and base cup therefor
US8439223B2 (en) * 2007-08-20 2013-05-14 The Procter & Gamble Company Base cup for a supportable pressurizable container

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
None *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US20190177041A1 (en) 2019-06-13
WO2018025032A1 (en) 2018-02-08
RU2019105728A (en) 2020-09-07
EP3494057A1 (en) 2019-06-12
GB2552712A (en) 2018-02-07
CN109890713A (en) 2019-06-14

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