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
  • B65D21/00—Nestable, stackable or joinable containers; Containers of variable capacity
  • B65D21/02—Containers specially shaped, or provided with fittings or attachments, to facilitate nesting, stacking, or joining together
  • B65D21/0209—Containers specially shaped, or provided with fittings or attachments, to facilitate nesting, stacking, or joining together stackable or joined together one-upon-the-other in the upright or upside-down position
  • B65D21/0217—Containers with a closure presenting stacking elements
  • B65D21/0219—Containers with a closure presenting stacking elements the closure presenting projecting peripheral elements receiving or surrounding the bottom or peripheral elements projecting from the bottom of a superimposed 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
  • B65D1/00—Containers having bodies formed in one piece, e.g. by casting metallic material, by moulding plastics, by blowing vitreous material, by throwing ceramic material, by moulding pulped fibrous material, by deep-drawing operations performed on sheet material
  • B65D1/12—Cans, casks, barrels, or drums
  • B65D1/14—Cans, casks, barrels, or drums characterised by shape
  • B65D1/16—Cans, casks, barrels, or drums characterised by shape of curved cross-section, e.g. cylindrical
  • B65D1/165—Cylindrical cans
• • 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
  • B65D79/00—Kinds or details of packages, not otherwise provided for
  • B65D79/005—Packages having deformable parts for indicating or neutralizing internal pressure-variations by other means than venting
  • B65D79/008—Packages having deformable parts for indicating or neutralizing internal pressure-variations by other means than venting the deformable part being located in a rigid or semi-rigid container, e.g. in bottles or jars
  • B65D79/0081—Packages having deformable parts for indicating or neutralizing internal pressure-variations by other means than venting the deformable part being located in a rigid or semi-rigid container, e.g. in bottles or jars in the bottom part thereof

Definitions

• the present invention relates in general to retort-resistant plastic containers, including molded plastic containers with improved structural characteristics for resisting retort.
• Metal cans have been used to hold product contents for some time. More recently, with increases in the costs of metals, such as steel, there has been an interest in providing cans and other forms of containers made of plastic. However, plastic cans and containers have been commonly considered less suitable for some applications due to the physical stresses placed on the material, which for some applications may be significantly greater than those encountered in common plastic container "hot-fill" applications. Retort processes provide an example of applications in which, due to high temperatures and internal pressures, plastic containers have been considered to be undesirable. A common industry objective is to provide a plastic container that can practically withstand such processing with minimal or sufficiently recoverable deformation.
• a retort-resistant plastic container includes a base portion, a sidewall portion, and a neck portion.
• the base portion includes a domed portion and a lower annular portion.
• the sidewall portion extends upwardly from the base portion, and typically has a minimum thickness of 0.020 inches.
• the neck portion extends upwardly from the sidewall portion and includes an annular flange.
• the outer diameter of the lower annular portion is less than the inner diameter of the annular flange.
• the sidewall is substantially smooth absent various sidewall structural reinforcements (e.g., vacuum panels or reinforcement ribs).
• the sidewall portion is at least 0.80 of the total vertical length of the container.
• FIG. 1 is a perspective illustration of an embodiment of a plastic container generally illustrating certain teachings of the present invention
• FIG. 2 is perspective illustration of an embodiment of a plastic container similar to that generally illustrated in FIG. 1;
• FIG. 3 is a top view of the container generally illustrated in FIG. 2;
• FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the container generally illustrated in FIG. 2;
• FIG. 5 is a side cross-sectional elevation view of the container taken along lines A- A in FIG. 4;
• FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of a container similar to that shown in FIG. 2, generally illustrating split lines for the container;
• FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the container taken along lines B-B in FIG. 6;
• FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a base portion for a container, the view generally illustrating aspects of the inventive concept;
• FIG. 8A is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a base portion for a container
• FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a base portion similar to that shown in FIG. 8A, generally showing a base portion in a different configuration;
• FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the neck of a container.
• FIG. 10 is perspective view of two containers generally shown in a stacked configuration
• FIG. 11 is an elevation view of two containers generally shown in a stacked configuration.
• FIG. 12 is an enlarged sectional view of an annular flange and closure.
• FIGS. 1 and 2 generally illustrate embodiments of plastic containers 10, 20 including teachings and aspects of the present invention.
• the container 20 may include a base portion 30, a sidewall portion 40 that extends upwardly from the base portion 30, and a neck portion 50 that may include an annular flange 60.
• a top view of the container 20 is generally illustrated in FIG. 2.
• the plastic container 20 may be comprised of polypropylene (PP).
• PP polypropylene
• the container is not limited as such, and other plastic materials, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), high density polyethylene (HDPE), and various plastic monomers, may also be employed for some applications.
• PET polyethylene terephthalate
• HDPE high density polyethylene
• various plastic monomers may also be employed for some applications.
• the container may also, if desired include one or more barrier materials/layers and/or oxygen scavengers, including conventional oxygen scavengers that do not haze, provide a clear appearance, and do not have a negative impact on recyclability.
• the container according to the disclosure may be monolayer. However, if desired such containers can instead be provided in the form of a multilayer construction.
• a container may be provided with two polymer layers (e.g., two polypropylene (PP) layers) separated, for instance, by a barrier/scavenger layer (e.g., ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH)), and, if desired, the layers may be held together by some form of adhesive.
• PP polypropylene
• EVOH ethylene vinyl alcohol
• the plastic container may be injection molded.
• the plastic container 20 may comprise an amorphous plastic, as opposed to a biaxially oriented plastic that may be produced by a different process, such as injection stretch blow molding (ISBM).
• ISBM injection stretch blow molding
• the wall thicknesses at the majority of portions of the container will exceed 0.020 inches, for other embodiments the wall thicknesses at the majority of portions of the container will exceed 0.030 inches, and for some embodiments, the minimum wall thickness for all portions of the container may be 0.030 inches.
• the average wall thickness may be 0.070 inches or more.
• FIG. 4 generally illustrates a side view of the container 20.
• the base portion 30 is shown including a lower angular portion 70 and a lower annular portion 80.
• the sidewall portion 40 may comprise a substantial portion of the vertical length of the container 20.
• the sidewall may comprise at least 0.80 of the total vertical length of the container, and for some embodiments may comprise at least about 0.89 of the total vertical length.
• the total vertical length Li of the container 20 may be approximately 3.35 inches
• L 2 may be approximately 3.19 inches
• L3 may be approximately 3.09 inches.
• the diameter of the container 20 at or about Di may be, for example, about 2.69 inches; while the diameter at the position labeled D 2 may have about a 0.25° inward taper moving toward the base portion 30.
• FIG. 5 includes a cross-sectional view of the container 20 viewed along lines A-A in FIG. 4.
• the thickness of the sidewall portion 40 at Ti may be, for example, about 0.070 inches; the diameter at D3 may be about 2.52 inches; the diameter at D4 may be about 2.97 inches; and the diameter at D5 may be about 2.37 inches.
• vertical lengths L4 and L5 may, for example, be about 3.18 and 3.07, respectively.
• the illustrated angle ⁇ may, for example, be about 35° + 10°.
• the container is not limited to the aforementioned dimensions, which merely illustrate aspects and features of the inventive concept in an illustrative context.
• FIG. 5 also identifies two regions, generally identified as C and CDS (custom double seam), which are discussed further hereinafter in connection with FIGS. 8 and 9.
• D5 will not be less than 0.75 the diameter of D3.
• D5 may be about 0.89 times D3.
• FIG. 6 generally includes other dimensions of container 20 in an illustrative context, generally illustrating possible mold split lines.
• container 20 in an illustrative context, generally illustrating possible mold split lines.
• he which may generally represent a vertical length for a stripper ring, may be about 0.022 inches
• L 7 which may generally represent a vertical length for a cavity (top), may be about 2.49 inches
• Ls which may generally represent a vertical length for a cavity (bottom), may be about 0.085 inches.
• the invention is not limited to the split lines illustrated, and other and/or more split lines may be employed as known to persons skilled in the field.
• FIG. 7 includes a cross-sectional view of the container 20 viewed along lines B-B in FIG. 6.
• vertical lengths L9 and L 10 may, for example, be about 3.33 and 0.64, respectively.
• the base portion region generally identified as region C in FIG. 5 is illustrated in additional detail in FIG. 8.
• the figure also generally illustrates a domed portion 90, which is shown comprising an upward angular portion 100, a curved portion 110, and a dimpled portion 120.
• the base portion 30 of the container may, if desired, be configured to facilitate container-on- container stackability.
• portions of the base portion 30 may be configured to receive and/or retain upper portions associated with similarly configured containers.
• the diameter at ⁇ may be about 1.77 inches; the diameter at D 7 may be about 2.53 inches; and the diameter at Ds may be about 2.66 inches.
• the vertical length Ln may be, for example, about 0.47 inches; and the illustrated thicknesses at T 2 , T 3 , T 4 , T 5 , T 6 , and T 7 may be about 0.070, 0.070, 0.071, 0.079, 0.069, and 0.070 inches, respectively.
• Upward angular portion 100 may have an angle, as measured from the standing surface, of about 15°.
• the angle between the upward angular portion 100 and the standing surface may be at least 5°.
• the angle between the upward angular portion 100 and the standing surface may be at least 5°.
• the angle may be between about 5° and about 45°, and may further be between about 5° and 25°.
• the upward angular portion 100 provides space for stacking with respect to features of a container stacked vertically below it.
• a clearance (or head space) may be created by lower annular portion 80, which may, for example, have a vertical height Hi of at least about 0.030 inches, and for some embodiments may have a vertical height Hi of at least about 0.100 inches.
• the clearance may provide sufficient room for a raised formation, e.g., a raised tab, or pull tab, that can extend vertically upward from a lower container.
• the clearance, or head space may further be increased at portions vis-a-vis an associated upward angular portion 100.
• An upward angular portion may provide a further increased vertical height H 2 .
• D 7 may not be less than 0.85 the diameter of Ds.
• D 7 may be about 0.95 times Ds.
• FIG. 8A another embodiment of a base portion region is shown.
• the illustrated embodiment of a base portion 30' includes a lower angular portion 70', a lower annular portion 80', and a domed portion 90' .
• the base portion 30' may include wall portions, or at least segments thereof, that are comparatively thinner than other portions of the base portion, and/or in comparison to a container with a base portion that is intended to be substantially rigid in service.
• the domed portion 90' may include an upward angular portion 100', a curved portion 110', and a dimpled portion 120' .
• the base portion 30' can also be configured to facilitate container-on-container stackability.
• FIG. 8B generally illustrates a base portion 30' similar to the base portion shown in FIG. 8A. As shown in FIG.
• the base portion can have portions that, at least at a point in time (e.g., prior to contents cooling and creating a vacuum force), extend downwardly.
• a portion of the base portion - e.g., the segment where the upward angular portion 100' and curved portion 110' generally come together - can extend downward to a vertical height/level that is at or near the same vertical height/level as the lowermost height/level of the lower annular portion 80' (which may be a lower resting plane or standing surface for the container). Then upon sufficient internal force, the aforementioned portion of the base portion can flex or translate to an upward position, such as generally illustrated in FIG. 8A.
• the intentional reduction in internal volume of the container provided by the upward flexing of a portion of the base portion can accommodate internal pressure (e.g., vacuum pressure) associated with the container, such as in connection with the cooling of contents in a retort or hot-fill application.
• internal pressure e.g., vacuum pressure
• a wall thickness of a "flex" base portion may have wall portions with a thickness of about 0.025 inches, while the wall thickness for a comparable portion of a "fixed" base portion might have a thickness several times thicker (e.g., about 0.100 inches).
• the illustrated thicknesses at T9, Tio, Tn, and Ti 2 may for instance be about 0.069, 0.025, 0.070, and 0.070 inches, respectively.
• region CDS in FIG. 5 The upper region generally identified as region CDS in FIG. 5 is illustrated in additional detail in FIG. 9.
• thickness T8 may be about 0.022 inches
• lengths Li 2 , L13, and L14 may be about 0.040, 0.128, and 0.217 inches, respectively
• diameters D9, D10, Dn, Di 2 , and D13 may be about 2.85, 2.61, 2.61, 2.58, and 2.55 inches, respectively.
• FIGS. 10 and 11 generally illustrate an embodiment of plastic containers 20 shown in a stacked configuration.
• the neck portion 50 may include a finish with flange configured to accept a double seam closure. Such a finish may be configured with respect to desired closure features.
• metallic seals and closures are envisioned.
• the annular flange 60 which serves as a sealing flange, may be sealed via a double-seemed closure 130.
• the neck portion will be configured to be compatible with a metal closure having a pull tab, and may be sealed to the neck portion 50 using induction or other known processes. While easy- open pull tab closures may be employed, other closures, including standard metallic closures without a pull tab may also be used.
• Plastic containers provided in accordance with the teachings of the present concept may, for example, have a minimum top load strength of 100 pounds. However, some
• embodiments provide for a plastic container having a minimum top load strength of 200 pounds or more, with some embodiments providing a minimum top load strength of 400 pounds or more.
• Embodiments of the invention may be employed with a number of different retort-related processes.
• embodiments of containers provided in accordance with teachings of the present concept may be used in connection with low-acid foods, such as those having has an initial temperature of 140 °F, a retort temperature of 250 °F, with 25 minutes circulating in a rotary cooker at 28 psig.
• Such containers may also be employed with another process that would ramp up the temperature to 265 °F over a 20 minute time frame before ramping down for 20 minutes.
• Embodiments of plastic containers constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention may be cylindrical and are rigid - even when provided with smooth sidewall portions that are absent various sidewall structural reinforcements (e.g., vacuum panels or reinforcement ribs) - and such plastic containers may exhibit little or no deformation. That is, such plastic containers may be provided so that, under normal retort conditions, the container will exhibit no more than 5% deformation, and preferably less than 1-2% deformation.
• sidewall structural reinforcements e.g., vacuum panels or reinforcement ribs
• embodiments of containers provided in accordance with the teachings disclosed herein may balance a number of design considerations. For instance, if the diameter of the base is too large, the container may not rest on a surface properly; if the wall thickness of the base portion is made too thick, it will not fit between a tab and a sidewall properly; and if the height of the base portion is made too short, the base portion will not clear tabs or other formations associated with the closure of a similar container stacked below it.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Ceramic Engineering (AREA)
• Containers Having Bodies Formed In One Piece (AREA)
• Stackable Containers (AREA)
• Packages (AREA)

Priority Applications (5)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

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Family Applications (1)

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• 2011
  • 2011-10-17 AU AU2011317279A patent/AU2011317279A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2011-10-17 MX MX2013004273A patent/MX2013004273A/es unknown
  • 2011-10-17 WO PCT/US2011/056564 patent/WO2012054398A2/en active Application Filing
  • 2011-10-17 CN CN2011800609777A patent/CN103429498A/zh active Pending
  • 2011-10-17 US US13/274,874 patent/US20120091149A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2011-10-17 EP EP11834937.2A patent/EP2630047A4/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2011-10-17 CA CA2815075A patent/CA2815075A1/en not_active Abandoned

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