CLOSURE SYSTEM FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates in general to closure systems for containers. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Container closures are devices that seal the contents of a container; with this they protect the contents of the container against contamination, oxygen, humidity, spillage and evaporation. Many types of closure systems have emerged to respond to these functions. For example, two-piece closure systems have often been used in cans and other food product applications. A two piece closure system, also known as a composite closure, typically consists of a screwable band and a disc. The disc fits inside the band, between the band and the container. The disk frequently has a peripheral raised flange with a lower side adapted to come into contact with a base of the container. The disk may also have an annular ring of heat sensitive or sealing adhesive disposed on the underside of the peripheral raised flange. This seal provides a sealing contact between the disc and a base of the container and can prevent lateral movement of the disc. No. Ref. : 196450 The container is typically filled with a food or drinkable product that seals the closure system. The food or drink product can be commercially sterile. The closure system can then be applied to the container. To close a container using a two-piece closure system, the disc is typically placed on the container to be sealed and a screwable band is loosely screwed onto the terminal portion of the container. The band that can be screwed remains sufficiently loose so that the container is heated and sterilized, gas ventilation can be carried out. After the heating process, the band that can be screwed is tightened and the sealed container is cooled. By virtue of the slow cooling of the container and its contents, the pressure inside the container is reduced. This produces a partial vacuum within the container, causing the disc to be held firmly against a base of the container and a watertight seal formed. This type of closure is beneficial because it can maintain the integrity of the product seal during sterilization and allows the container to be re-sealed by the consumer without the need for a secondary internal seal. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly, the present invention is directed toward a new closure system comprising a container having a terminal part and a base located at the top of the terminal part. The outer wall of the terminal part, just below the base, is vertical and the base slopes downward toward the outside of the container at an angle between approximately 1 ° and 10 °. A band adapted to be received on the terminal part of the container is also present. The band has a top portion and an annular projection extending inward from the top portion. Additionally, a disc adapted to be received between the band and the container base is present. The disk has a raised peripheral rim, the lower side of the raised peripheral rim has a downwardly directed channel which contains a sealing material. The ratio of the channel width to the width of the container base is in the range of about 2: 1 to 1: 1. When the disc is inserted into the band, the annular projection of the band extends inwardly beyond the raised peripheral rim of the disc and has a hook portion that engages the upper and inner edge of the raised peripheral rim. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying Figures.
Figure 1 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a closure system of an embodiment of the present invention in which the band is engaged with the disc and container base but is not tightened on the disc and container base. Figure 2 illustrates an enlarged sectional cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a closure system of the present invention in which the web is engaged with the disk and container base but not tightened on the disk and container base. Figure 3 illustrates an enlarged cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a closure system of the present invention in which the web is engaged with the disk and container base but tightened on the disk and container base. In this embodiment, exemplary angles of the base, channel, and upper portion of the band are illustrated.
Figure 4 is an enlarged cross sectional view of one embodiment of a closure system of the present invention in which the band is tightened on the disc and container base, forcing the container base to a sealing contact with the packaging material. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the invention, one or more examples, which are set forth below. Each of the examples 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 may be made in the present invention without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. For example, the features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment may be used in another embodiment to produce an additional modality. Thus, it is intended that the present invention encompass such modifications and variations as they are within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. Other objects, features and aspects of the present invention are described in, or are obvious from, the following detailed description. It should be understood by persons skilled in the art that the present discussion is a description of exemplary embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the broader aspects of the present invention. As used herein, the term "terminal part" means the upper portion of a container which surrounds the opening of the container and is configured to condition a closure. For example, a terminal part is shown as 22 in the Figures. As used herein, the term "base" means the protruding portion of the end portion which contacts the packing material of the disc and forms a seal. For example, a base is shown as 21 in the Figures. The term "skirt" refers to the vertical wall of the web, which extends downwardly from the upper portion of the web. For example, a skirt is shown as 14 in the Figures. The terms "raised peripheral rim" refer to a ring raised around the circumference of the disc. For example, a raised peripheral rim is shown as 32 in the Figures. The term "packaging material" means any type of sealing material that can be placed between the disc and the container base for the purpose of preventing the escape of substances such as gas or fluid. For example, a packaging material is shown as 34 in the Figures. According to what is generally shown in the Figures, the present invention is directed to a novel closure system 10 comprising a container 20 and a closure that can be engaged with that container 20. The closure of the invention may comprise a closure composed of two pieces. Generally speaking, a disc 30 is assembled within a band 11, between the band 11 and the container 20. The band 11 has an upper portion 12, an annular projection 13 extending inwardly from the upper portion 12, and a skirt 14 extending downwardly from the upper portion 12. The disk 30 has a central portion 31 and a raised peripheral flange 32 surrounding the central portion. 31. The lower side of the flange 32 may have a downwardly directed channel 33 which may contain a packing material 34. Under pressure, the packing material 34 is designed to seal the disk 30 to the base of the container 21. The web 11 can be screwed onto the container by annular cords 16 and 23, located on the outer surface of the container end portion 22 and the inner surface of the band skirt 14, respectively. The annular cords 16 and 23 are adapted to fit together and provide a tight fit between the band 11 and the container 20, thereby sealing the packing material 34 of the disc 30 against the base 21 of the container 20. In some embodiments the invention the annular cords 16 and 23 are continuous annular cords. A continuous annular rope may be comprised of an uninterrupted propeller that protrudes. In other certain embodiments, the annular cords 16 and 23 are interrupted cords or separate flanges. A separate flange rope may be designed so that the rope segments are disposed equidistantly around the container end portion. The closure has lots of correspondence that hooks each of the string segments.
In one embodiment of the invention, at least one annular rim 40 is present on the upper surface of the upper portion 12 of the band 11. In some embodiments, two or three annular rims 40 can be located on the upper surface of the portion upper 12 of the band 11. The annular flange (s) 40 can be round, square, or any other shape. The annular ridges provide the band 11 with additional structure and stability during tightening of the band on the container. When the band of a typical two piece closure is screwed onto a container, a non-uniform force can cause the band to flex. The annular ridges 40 located on the upper surface of the upper portion 12 of the band 11 provide stability to the band and reduce undesirable flexing of the band. In certain embodiments, the container base 21 slopes downward toward the outside of the container at an angle A of between about 1 ° and 10 ° (shown in Figure 3). In certain embodiments, the container base 21 slopes downward toward the outside of the container at an angle A of between about 3o and 7 °. In still other embodiments, the container base 21 slopes downward toward the exterior side of the container at an angle A of about 5o so that the inner edge of the container base is approximately 5 ° higher than the edge. outside of the container base. The lower side 19 of the upper portion 12 of the band 11 and the channel 33 can also have a downward slope, towards the outer side of the closure system, at angles B and C, respectively, which may correspond in general with the angle A of the container base. In one embodiment of the invention, the container base 21, disc channel 33 and the upper portion 12 each have a slope downward toward the exterior side of the container at an angle of about 5o. In some commercially available containers, the base area has a downward slope angle of approximately 15 °. In contrast, an almost planar base area, between about Io and 10 °, allows full coverage of the packing material 34 on the container base 21 as the disc 30 is pressed onto the container 20. Additionally, if the disc angle and band corresponds to the angle of the container base, the seal area is further maximized. In order to create the particular angle of the container base, the container 20 can be extrusion molded and removed from the rotation wheel, with the excess plastic remaining on the end portion as an excess of material. This material can then be removed with the use of a rotating blade blade. The blade blade can be fixed at any angle, for example at 5o below the flat surface. The blade blade then separates the raoil vessel at an angle of 5o. This creates an angle where the inner edge of the container base is slightly higher than the outer edge of the container base. The nearly flat base area produces a more even distribution of the packing material 34 on the base of container 21. The disk and the band can be manufactured to provide the corresponding angles. In certain embodiments of the invention, the band 11 has an upper central opening 18. In this embodiment, the annular protrusion 13 defines a peripheral edge 17 of an upper opening 18. The disc 30 of the closure system 10 is inserted between the band 11. and the container base 21. This can be received within the band 11 just below the annular projection extended inwardly 13 of the band 11. The disk 30 can be moved so as to rotate within the band 11. similarly, the band 11 can rotate while the disc 30 can be supported by friction in place by the packaging material 34 and container base 21. When the band 11 is pressed on the container 20, the disc 30 provides a seal for the container 20 (shown in the figure).
The channel containing packing material 33 is designed to form a seal with the base 21 of the container 20. In one embodiment, the packaging material 34 can be plastisol. Plastisol is a liquid mixture of resins and plasticizers that solidifies upon application of heat. In one embodiment of the present invention, a disc filled with plastisol forms an air-tight seal against the container base to prevent the ingress of oxygen or other pollutants In some embodiments of the invention, when the disc 30 is inserted into the band 11, the annular protrusion 13 of the band 11 extends inwardly beyond the raised flange 32 of the disc 30 and has a hook portion 15 which engages the upper and inner edge of the flange 32. In typical closure systems, as the belt is tightened on the container base, the descent force caused by the applied torque pulls on the outside of the disc insert. In the present invention, however, as the strip 11 is tightened on the base of the container 21, the hook portion 15 of the protrusion 13 applies a downward force on the upper and inner edge of the flange 32, thereby creating a force equal descending on the upper, outer and inner surface of the base 21 of the container. The container base can then create a channel in the packaging material, forcing the material to be evenly distributed across the inner, upper and outer sides of the container base. This provides a better seal for the packaging material on the container base and prevents the ingress or egress of gaseous or liquid substances. In other embodiments of the invention, the ratio of the width of the channel 33 to the width of the container base 21 is in the range of approximately 2: 1 to 1: 1. In particular embodiments, the ratio of the channel width 33 to the width of the container base 21 is in the range of approximately 1.75: 1 to 1: 1. In additional embodiments, the ratio of the channel width 33 to the width of the container base 21 is in the range of about 1.5: 1 to 1: 1. In yet another embodiment the ratio of the width of the channel 33 to the width of the container base 21 is approximately 1.48: 1. In these embodiments, the width of the channel 33 is slightly larger than the width of the base 21 of the container with which it is attached. A relatively narrow channel 33 is beneficial because as the disc 30 is pushed down on the base of container 21, the covered area of the packaging material 34 in channel 33 is distributed completely over the top, inside, and outside of the base of container 21. In a particular embodiment of the invention, the outer wall 24 of the container end portion 22, on the annular cords 16 and just below the base 21, is vertical. Frequently, the outer wall of the container end portion on the containers will have a slightly inward angle. This does not provide a large contact area for the packing material seal. The molding of the outer wall 24 of the terminal part 22 as a completely straight vertical wall increases the area of the container base 21 in contact with and covered by the packing material 34 in the disc 30. This maximizes the contact area of the container. seal and creates a central clamping force by the closing band 11 of equal amount on top, inner edge and outer edge of the container base 21. During processing and sterilization, the container 20 of the present invention can be filled with a food or drinkable product before sealing the closure system 10. The closure system 10 can then be applied to the container 20. The disc 30 can be placed on the container 20 and the band 11 tightly screwed onto the container 20. container 20 can then be heated and sterilized. The closure system 10 of the invention maintains the integrity of the product seal during sterilization and allows the container 20 to be resealed by the consumer without the need for a secondary interior seal. The various components of the closure system of the present invention can be produced from a variety of materials, including metals, plastics or glass. In some embodiments of the invention each of the container, disc, and band may each be made from the same materials, such as plastic. In other certain embodiments, the container, disc and band may all be made with different materials, such as a glass container, metal disc and plastic band, In a particular embodiment, the container and band may be made of plastic and the disc may be be of metal. In one embodiment of the present invention the band is made of plastic. In this embodiment, the web can be prepared from any plastic material, including one or more selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, cycloolefin copolymer, polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, ethylene- (vinyl) copolymer alcohol), poly-4-methylpentene-1, poly (methyl methacrylate), acrylonitrile, polyvinylchloride, styrene-acrylonitrile, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, polyamide, polyacetal, polycarbonate, polybutylene terephthalate, ionomer, polysulfone, polytetra-fluoroethylene, polyester, vinyl ester, polyurethane and polyurea. In a particular embodiment, the band is prepared from polypropylene. A plastic band offers the advantages that a plastic band does not corrode or oxidize and can be reused several times without any deterioration of its appearance. In certain embodiments of the band, the outer side of the skirt has a plurality of vertical ribs or other gripping mechanisms designed to assist in gripping and turning the band. In other modalities, the band can be conditioned with means indicative of illegal opening. The band may have a removable ring and, hinged to the removable ring along its lower end, a series of ratcheting indexes or tabs projecting upwards and inwards. In particular embodiments, the band can be injection molded. In one embodiment of the invention, the disk is made of metal. In a particular embodiment, the disc is made of stainless steel. Optionally, the disk can be semi-rigid. In this embodiment, the disk may have a central portion sufficiently flexible to be partially traversed into the open mouth of the container when the pressure inside the container is less than the pressure outside the container. The deviation of the central portion of the disc provides a visual indication of the existence of a hermetic seal. In certain embodiments, the container of the present invention can be blow molded and can comprise any suitable plastic material known in the art. The container can be of any size and must be adapted to receive 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 a baby or infant bottle. The bottle can be filled with cow's milk, human breast milk or infant formula. Once the closure of the present invention is applied to the bottle, the system can be sterilized or otherwise processed. If the bottle is used for cow's milk, human breast milk or infant formula, the bottle can be filled and the system disc replaced with a mouthpiece. The band can then be pressed over the nozzle and container, securing the nozzle in place. The container and closure system can then be used to feed an infant. The closure system of the present invention is suitable for multiple filling processes, including hot fill, cold fill, dry seal, pasteurization, and retort. The closure can be produced in a variety of sizes for a wide range of food and beverage applications, such as chunky products, sauce, jams, jellies, nuts, juices, dairy-based beverages, and infant formulas. In certain modalities, the disc and band can be made of different colors improving the aesthetics of the product packaging. Additionally, the disk and / or band can be produced in a manner that can be labeled for commercial purposes. All references cited in this specification, including but not limited to, all documents, publications, patents, patent publications, presentations, texts, reports, manuscripts, brochures, books, Internet portals, magazine articles, newspapers, and the like, are here incorporated as reference in this specification into their totalities to a certain extent in that they are consistent with the description incorporated herein. The discussion of the references incorporated herein is intended simply to summarize the assertions made by their authors and it is not recognized that any reference constitutes the prior art. The Applicant reserves the right to question the accuracy and pertinence of the references cited. These and other modifications and variations to the present invention may be practiced by persons skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, which are particularly well established in the appended claims. Additionally, it should be understood that aspects of various modalities can be exchanged either totally or in part. Additionally, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the foregoing description is for purposes of exemplification only, and it is not intended to limit the invention more than described. in the appended claims. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited by the description of the preferred versions contained therein. It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known to the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is that which is clear from the present description of the invention.