KR20090060258A - Closure system - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention is a closure system comprising a container having a finish (22) and a land (21) located at the top of the finish. The outer wall of the finish, just below the land, is vertical and the land slopes downwardly, toward the outside of the container, at an angle of between about 1° and 10° A band (11), adapted to be received onto the finish of the container, has a top portion and an annular lip (13) extending inwardly therefrom. A disk(30), adapted to be inserted between the band and the container land, has a raised peripheral bead (32), the underside of the bead presenting a downwardly facing channel containing a gasket material (34). The ratio of the widths of the channel: land is in the range of about 2:1 to 1:1. When the disk is inserted into the band, a hook portion (15) on the annular lip engages the top and inside edge of the bead.

Description

Sealing System {CLOSURE SYSTEM}

The present invention relates generally to a closure system of a container.

Vessel seals are tools that protect the contents of a container from contamination, oxygen, moisture, spills and evaporation by sealing the contents of the container. Many types of enclosure systems have emerged for these functions. For example, two-piece closure systems have been frequently used for canning and other food product applications. Two piece closure systems, also known as composite closures, typically consist of a screw band and a disc. The disc is sandwiched inside the band between the band and the container. Discs often have raised periphery beads that are adapted such that the bottom is in contact with the land of the vessel. The disc also has an annular ring of heat sensitive adhesive or sealant disposed on the underside of the raised bead. This sealant can provide a sealing contact between the disc and the beginning of the container to prevent lateral movement of the disc.

Typically, the container is filled with a food or beverage product prior to sealing with the closure system. Food or beverage products can be commercially sterilized. Subsequently, a closure system can be applied to the vessel. To seal the container using a two piece closure system, the disc is typically placed over the container to be sealed and loosened with a screw band at the finish of the container on the disc. Often, the screw bands remain loose enough to allow gas evacuation to occur below the disc when the vessel is heated and sterilized. After the heat treatment, the screw bands are tightened tightly and the sealed container is cooled. Slow cooling of the vessel and its contents reduces the pressure in the vessel. This creates a partial vacuum in the container, whereby the disc is held firmly against the beginning of the container and a hermetic seal is formed. This type of closure is advantageous because it can maintain the integrity of the product's sealing during sterilization and allows the consumer to reseal the container without the need for a secondary internal seal.

Summary of the Invention

In short, the present invention relates to a novel containment system comprising an inlet and a container having an inlet located above the inlet. The inlet outer wall just below the inlet is vertical and the inlet is inclined downhill at an angle of about 1 ° to 10 ° towards the outside of the container.

There is also a band adapted to be received at the inlet of the container. The band has a top and an annular lip extending inward from the top. In addition, there is also a disc adapted to be received between the band and the container inlet. The disc has raised periphery beads, the underside of the raised beads providing a downward channel containing gasket material. The ratio of channel width to vessel inlet width ranges from about 2: 1 to 1: 1. When the disc is inserted into the band, the annular lip of the band extends inward past the raised periphery beads of the disc and has hook portions that engage the upper and inner edges of the raised periphery beads.

In order to more fully understand the present invention, reference is now made to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

1 is a cross-sectional view of the closure system of one embodiment of the present invention in which the band engages the disc and the container inlet but is not securely tightened in the disc and the container inlet.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the closure system of the present invention in which the band engages the disc and the container inlet but does not securely tighten the disc and the container inlet.

3 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the closure system of the present invention in which the band engages the disc and the container entry, but does not tighten securely to the disc and the container entry. In this embodiment, exemplary angles of the top of the inlet, channel, and band are shown.

4 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the closure system of the present invention in which the band is tightly tightened to the disc and the container entry to force the container entry into hermetically sealing contact with the gasket material.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are given below. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. For example, the illustrated or described features of one embodiment may be used in another embodiment to create additional embodiments.

Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. Other objects, features and aspects of the present invention are disclosed or apparent from the following detailed description. Those skilled in the art should understand that this discussion is only described for exemplary embodiments and is not intended to limit the broader aspects of the invention.

As used herein, the term "entrance" means the top of the container surrounding the opening of the container and is configured to receive a closure. For example, the inlet is indicated by reference numeral 22 in the figure.

As used herein, the term "first entry" means the lip portion of the inlet that contacts the disc's gasket material to form a seal. For example, the starting portion is indicated by reference numeral 21 in the drawing.

The term "skirt" refers to the vertical wall of the band extending downwards from the top of the band. For example, the skirt is indicated by reference numeral 14 in the figure.

The term " radazine peripheral bead " means a raised ring around the circumference of the disc. For example, raised beads are indicated by reference numeral 32 in the figure.

The term "gasket material" means any type of sealing material that can be placed between the disc and the container inlet to prevent leakage of a material such as a gas or a fluid. For example, the gasket material is indicated at 34 in the figures.

As generally shown in the figures, the present invention relates to a novel closure system 10 that includes a vessel 20 and a closure that can engage the vessel 20. The closure device of the present invention may comprise a two piece composite closure device. Generally speaking, the disc 30 is sandwiched inside the band 11 between the band 11 and the container 20. The band 11 has a top 12, an annular lip 13 extending inwardly from the top 12, and a skirt 14 extending downward from the top 12. The disc 30 has a central portion 31 and a raised periphery bead 32 circumscribing the central portion 31. The underside of the beads 32 may provide a downward channel 33 that may contain the gasket material 34. Under pressure, the gasket material 34 is designed to seal the disc 30 to the container inlet 21.

The band 11 can be screwed to the container by annular threads 16 and 23 located on the outer surface of the container inlet 22 and the inner surface of the band skirt 14, respectively. The annular threads 16 and 23 provide a fit that accommodates each other and fits snugly between the band 11 and the vessel 20, thereby making the disc against the entry 21 of the vessel 20. The gasket material 34 of 30 is sealed. In some embodiments of the invention, the annular threads 16 and 23 are continuous annular threads. The continuous annular thread may consist of an uninterrupted protruding helix. In some other embodiments, the annular threads 16 and 23 are suspended threads or protrusions. The protruding threads may be designed such that the threaded segments are disposed at equal intervals around the vessel inlet. The closure device has mating portions that engage each threaded piece.

In one embodiment of the present invention, one or more annular beads 40 are present on the top surface of the upper portion 12 of the band 11. In some embodiments, two or three annular beads 40 may be located on the top surface of the upper portion 12 of the band 11. The annular bead (s) 40 may be round, square, or any other shape. The annular beads provide additional structure and stability to the band 11 while holding the band tightly in the container. When the band of a typical two piece sealer is screwed into a container, uneven forces can cause the band to bend. Annular beads 40 located on top of the top 12 of the band 11 provide stability to the band and reduce unwanted bending of the band.

In some embodiments, the container inlet 21 is inclined downhill at an angle A of about 1 ° to 10 ° toward the outside of the container (shown in FIG. 3). In some embodiments, the container inlet 21 is inclined downhill at an angle A of about 3 ° to 7 ° toward the outside of the container. In another embodiment, the container inlet 21 is inclined downhill at an angle A of about 5 ° toward the outside of the container such that the inner edge of the container inlet is about 5 ° higher than the outer edge of the container inlet.

The underside 19 and the channel 33 of the upper part 12 of the band 11 can also slope downhill toward the outside of the closure system at angles B and C, respectively, which angles correspond to the angle A of the container opening. Can be. In one embodiment of the present invention, each of the vessel inlet 21, disc channel 33, and top 12 each slope downhill at an angle of about 5 ° towards the exterior of the vessel.

In some containers that are commercially available, the inlet area has a downhill tilt angle of about 15 °. In contrast, an approximately flat inlet region of about 1 ° to 10 ° allows the gasket material 34 to thoroughly cover over the container inlet 21 when the disc 30 is firmly pressed against the container 20. In addition, if the angle of the disc and the band corresponds to the angle of the container entry, the sealing area is further maximized.

In order to create a certain angle on the vessel inlet, the vessel 20 can be extruded and removed from the rotating wheel, and excess plastic remains on the inlet as a moil. This material can then be removed using a rotary knife blade. The knife blade can be placed at any angle below the flat surface, for example at an angle of 5 °. The knife blade then separates the container from the mold at a 5 ° angle. This creates an angle at which the inner edge of the container inlet is slightly higher than the outer edge of the container inlet. The near flat entrance area places the gasket material 34 on the container entrance 21 in a more even distribution. Discs and bands can be manufactured to provide corresponding angles.

In some embodiments of the invention, the band 11 has an opening 18 in its upper center. In this embodiment, the annular lip 13 defines a peripheral edge 17 of the upper opening 18. The disc 30 of the closure system 10 is inserted between the band 11 and the container inlet 21. It can be received in the band 11 just below the annular lip 13 extending inwardly of the band 11. Disc 30 can move rotatably within band 11. Likewise, the band 11 can also be rotatable while the disc 30 can be held in place by friction by the gasket material 34 and the container inlet 21. When the band 11 holds the container 20 firmly, the disc 30 provides a seal to the container 20 (shown in FIG. 4).

The gasket material containing channel 33 is designed to form a seal with the inlet 21 of the vessel 20. In one embodiment, the gasket material 34 may be plastisol. Plastisols are liquid mixtures of resins and plasticizers that solidify by heat application. In one embodiment of the present invention, a plastisol-lined disc forms a hermetic seal against the vessel inlet to prevent entry of oxygen or other contaminants.

In some embodiments of the invention, when the disc 30 is inserted into the band 11, the annular lips 13 of the band 11 extend inward past the raised beads 32 of the disc 30, It has a hook portion that engages the upper and inner edges of the beads 32. In a typical containment system, when the band is tight against the container opening, the downward force due to the applied torque is pulled out of the disc insert. However, in the present invention, when the band 11 squeezes the container opening 21 tightly, the hook portion 15 of the lip 13 applies force downwards to the upper and inner edges of the beads 32, In this way, the same downward force is generated on the upper, outer and inner surfaces of the container inlet portion 21. The vessel inlet then creates channels in the gasket material, forcing the gasket material to be evenly distributed across the interior, top and exterior of the vessel inlet. This provides a better seal of the gasket material on the container inlet and prevents entry or discharge of gas or liquid material.

In some other embodiments of the present invention, the ratio of the width of the channel 33 to the width of the container inlet 21 ranges from about 2: 1 to 1: 1. In a particular embodiment, the ratio of the width of the channel 33 to the width of the container inlet 21 ranges from about 1.75: 1 to 1: 1. In further embodiments, the ratio of the width of the channel 33 to the width of the vessel inlet 21 ranges from about 1.5: 1 to 1: 1. In another embodiment, the ratio of the width of the channel 33 to the width of the vessel inlet 21 is about 1.48: 1. In these embodiments, the width of the channel 33 is slightly larger than the width of the container inlet 21 to which it engages. When the disc 30 is pushed down onto the container inlet 21, the covering area of the gasket material 34 of the channel 33 is thoroughly distributed on the top, inside and outside of the container inlet 21. Narrow channel 33 is advantageous.

In one particular embodiment of the invention, the outer wall 24 of the container inlet 22 above the annular thread 16 and just below the entry 21 is vertical. Sometimes, the outer wall of the container inlet on the container tilts slightly inward. This does not provide a large contact area for sealing the gasket material. Forming the outer wall 24 of the inlet part 22 as a completely straight vertical wall increases the area of the container inlet 21 which contacts and is covered by the gasket material 34 in the disc 30. This maximizes the sealing contact area and creates a central fixation force by the same amount of closure band 11 at the top, inner and outer edges of the container inlet 21.

In processing and sterilization, the vessel 20 of the present invention may be filled with a food or beverage product prior to sealing the closure system 10. The closure system 10 may then be applied to the vessel 20. The disc 30 can be placed on the vessel 20, and the band 11 can be firmly pressed against the vessel 20. The vessel 20 can then be heated and sterilized. The closure system 10 of the present invention advantageously maintains product seal integrity during sterilization and allows the consumer to reseal the container 20 without the need for secondary internal sealing.

Various components of the closure system of the present invention can be made from a variety of materials including metals, plastics or glass. In some embodiments of the present invention, each of the container, disc and band may be made of the same material, for example plastic. In some other embodiments, the container, disk and band may all be made of different materials, for example glass containers, metal disks and plastic bands. In one particular embodiment, the vessel and the band may be plastic and the disc may be metal.

In one embodiment of the invention, the band is plastic. In this embodiment, the band is polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, cycloolefin copolymer, polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, ethylene- (vinyl alcohol) copolymer, poly-4-methylpentene-1, poly (methyl methacryl) ), Acrylonitrile, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, styrene-acrylonitrile, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, polyamide, polyacetal, polycarbonate, polybutylene terephthalate, ionomer, poly It can be made of any plastic material, including one or more selected from the group consisting of sulfones, polytetrafluoroethylenes, polyesters, vinyl esters, polyurethanes, and polyureas. In one particular embodiment, the band is made from polypropylene.

Plastic bands offer the advantage that they can be reused many times without rusting or corroding and without any deterioration in their appearance. In some embodiments of the band, the outside of the skirt may have a number of vertical ribs or grip mechanisms designed to help hold and turn the band. In other embodiments, tamper indicating means may be provided on the band. The band may have a detachable ring and a series of ratchet fingers or tabs that project upwardly and inwardly hingedly secured along its lower end to the detachable ring. In one particular embodiment, the band can be injection molded.

In one embodiment of the invention, the disc is a metal. In one particular embodiment, the disc is made of stainless steel. Optionally, the disc can be semirigid. In this embodiment, it may have a central portion that is flexible enough that the disc is partially pulled inward to the open mouth of the container when the pressure in the container is less than the pressure outside the container. Deflection at the center of the disc provides a visual indication that an airtight seal is present.

In some embodiments, the container of the present invention may be extrusion blow molded and may include any suitable plastic material known in the art. The container can be any size and must be adapted to accommodate the corresponding two piece closure system. In one embodiment, the container may comprise a jar. In some embodiments, the container may comprise a bottle, such as an infant or baby bottle. The bottle may be filled with milk, breast milk or infant formula. Once the closure device of the present invention is applied to a bottle, the system can be sterilized or otherwise processed.

If the bottle is used for milk, breast milk or infant formula, the bottle can be filled and the disc of the system replaced with a milk bottle nipple. The band can then be tightened tightly into the milk bottle nipple and the container to hold the milk bottle nipple in place. The container and the closure system can then be used to feed the infant.

The closure system of the present invention is suitable for a number of filling processes including hot filling, cold filling, dry sealing, pasteurization and retort. The closure can be manufactured in a variety of sizes for a wide range of food and beverage applications, such as pickled products, sauces, jams, jellies, nuts, juices, milk-based beverages, and infant formula.

In some embodiments, the disc and the band can be of different colors that improve the aesthetics of the product packaging. In addition, discs and / or bands may be manufactured in a manner that allows them to be labeled for commercial purposes.

All references cited herein, including, without limitation, all articles, publications, patents, patent applications, presentations, textbooks, reports, manuscripts, booklets, books, internet postings, journal articles, periodicals, and so forth, are The entire contents thereof are incorporated herein by reference to the extent that they are consistent with the disclosure herein. The discussion of references herein is intended only to summarize the author's claims, and no references are allowed to constitute prior art. Applicant reserves the right to challenge the accuracy and validity of cited references.

Such changes and modifications to the present invention and other changes and variations can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as more specifically set forth in the appended claims. In addition, it should be understood that aspects of the various embodiments may be interchanged both in whole or in part. Moreover, one of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the above description is for illustration only and is not intended to limit the invention as further described in this appended claims. Accordingly, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred variations contained herein.

Claims (10)

a) a container having an inlet and an inlet located above the inlet, i) the inlet outer wall just below the inlet is vertical, and ii) the inlet being inclined downhill at an angle of about 1 ° to 10 ° towards the outside of the container; b) a band adapted to be received at the inlet of the container and having an annular lip extending inwardly from the top and from the top; And c) adapted to be received between the band and the container inlet, having a raised bead, the bottom of the raised bead providing a downward channel containing the gasket material, i) the width of the channel width versus the container inlet width The ratio ranges from about 2: 1 to 1: 1, and ii) when the disc is received in the band, the annular lip of the band extends inward past the raised periphery beads of the disc and engages with the upper and inner edges of the raised periphery beads. Disc with hook part Enclosure system comprising a. The closure system of claim 1, wherein the inlet is sloped downhill at an angle of about 5 ° toward the exterior of the vessel. The closure system of claim 1, wherein the ratio of channel width to vessel entry width is about 1.48: 1. The closure system of claim 1, wherein the annular thread is located on an outer surface of the inlet portion. The closure system of claim 1 wherein the skirt extends downwardly from the top of the band. 6. The closure system of claim 5 wherein the annular thread is located on an inner surface of the skirt. The closure system of claim 1, wherein at least one annular bead is on top of the band. 2. The closure system of claim 1 wherein the underside of the top of the band is inclined downhill at an angle that corresponds to the angle of entry into the exterior of the band. The closure system of claim 1, wherein the channel is inclined downhill at an angle corresponding to the angle of the inlet towards the outside of the band and the bottom of the top of the band. The closure system of claim 1, wherein the gasket material comprises plastisol.

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