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
  • B65D41/00—Caps, e.g. crown caps or crown seals, i.e. members having parts arranged for engagement with the external periphery of a neck or wall defining a pouring opening or discharge aperture; Protective cap-like covers for closure members, e.g. decorative covers of metal foil or paper
  • B65D41/02—Caps or cap-like covers without lines of weakness, tearing strips, tags, or like opening or removal devices
  • B65D41/04—Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers secured by rotation
  • B65D41/0407—Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers secured by rotation with integral sealing means
  • B65D41/0414—Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers secured by rotation with integral sealing means formed by a plug, collar, flange, rib or the like contacting the internal surface of a container neck
  • B65D41/0421—Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers secured by rotation with integral sealing means formed by a plug, collar, flange, rib or the like contacting the internal surface of a container neck and combined with integral sealing means contacting other surfaces of a container neck
• • 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
  • B65D41/00—Caps, e.g. crown caps or crown seals, i.e. members having parts arranged for engagement with the external periphery of a neck or wall defining a pouring opening or discharge aperture; Protective cap-like covers for closure members, e.g. decorative covers of metal foil or paper
  • B65D41/005—Caps, e.g. crown caps or crown seals, i.e. members having parts arranged for engagement with the external periphery of a neck or wall defining a pouring opening or discharge aperture; Protective cap-like covers for closure members, e.g. decorative covers of metal foil or paper with integral sealing means
• • 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
  • B65D41/00—Caps, e.g. crown caps or crown seals, i.e. members having parts arranged for engagement with the external periphery of a neck or wall defining a pouring opening or discharge aperture; Protective cap-like covers for closure members, e.g. decorative covers of metal foil or paper
  • B65D41/02—Caps or cap-like covers without lines of weakness, tearing strips, tags, or like opening or removal devices
  • B65D41/04—Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers secured by rotation
  • B65D41/0435—Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers secured by rotation with separate sealing elements
  • B65D41/0442—Collars or rings

Definitions

• This invention relates generally to closures for containers, including closures and closure assemblies suitable for use in connection with hot-fill applications.
• Plug-type closures can fill in headspace associated with containers.
• Headspace generally comprises an area provided between the fill level of the product contents and the associated cap.
• a secondary vacuum can build up with an absorption of remaining headspace by product contents.
• the fill level can rise as a result of the associated vacuum, but will generally stabilize when the level comes into contact with the plug.
• the structure of the bottle may be configured to resist the vacuum associated with nearly all of the headspace.
• Plug seal closures can provide a useful option to reduce gram weight by employing a thinner neck (or "E-wall").
• a thinner E-wall a conventional container can be more prone to ovalization or warping, particularly with hot-fill applications.
• a closure assembly includes a closure with a plug insert that inserts itself into the headspace of a container and displaces it, which can thereby move an associated fill level closer to the cap. Having the fill level closer to the cap can generate more internal pressure and greater container stability.
• FIG. 1 generally illustrates a side partial cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a container closure
• FIG. 2 generally illustrates a side partial cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a container closure including a plastic plug liner extending from a radially inner support portion;
• FIG. 3 generally illustrates a side view of an embodiment of a preform
• FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-sectional side view of the preform shown in FIG. 3, viewed along section line B-B;
• FIG. 5 illustrates a top view of the preform shown in FIG. 3, including thread vents;
• FIG. 6 illustrates an enlarged view of a portion of the preform shown in FIG. 5, which generally illustrates a thread vent;
• FIG. 7 generally illustrates a side view of a container seal closure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure
• FIG. 8 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the closure shown in FIG. 7, viewed along section line A-A;
• FIG. 9 illustrates a detail view of a portion of the closure shown in FIG. 8.
• FIG. 10 generally illustrates a perspective cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a container closure, shown without the inclusion of a plastic plug liner;
• FIG. 11 generally illustrates a variation in product fill levels at different stages.
• FIG. 1 generally illustrates a side partial cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a container closure 10.
• the illustrated closure 10 has a closure body 20 that includes an upper wall 30, an outer annular wall 40, a radially outer support portion 50, and a radially inner support portion 60.
• the outer annular wall 40 can include formations (e.g., thread receiving formations 70), which can be configured to engage a neck portion of a container.
• the closure body 20 may, for example, comprise a polymer, such as polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), or the like.
• FIG. 2 generally illustrates a side partial cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a container closure 10 similar to that shown in FIG. 1, and including an embodiment of a plug liner 80.
• the plug liner 80 may be formed as a unitary extension of the radially inward support portion 60. That is, with general reference FIG. 2, the radially inward support portion 60 may, for instance, comprise a similar portion as that illustrated in FIG. 1 (e.g., that up to the imaginary line included between portion 60 and liner 80), with the plug liner 80 continuing to extend downward therefrom.
• portion 60 and liner 80 may be connected discrete components.
• FIG. 1 the embodiment generally illustrated in FIG.
• the plug liner 80 extends downward from and radially across the radially inner support portion 60. Also, as generally illustrated in FIG. 2, for embodiments, at least a portion of the plug liner 80, and perhaps all or a significant portion of the plug liner 80, may have a wall thickness that is the same or greater than the wall thickness of the radially inward support portion 60.
• the plug liner 80 may extend vertically below the lowermost vertical point of the radially inward support portion 60 (e.g., as illustrated in FIG. 2, in which the vertical distance below the inner support portion 60 is nearly the same vertical distance as the inner support portion extends below the upper wall 30) or, if desired, may extend radially across at or about the same vertical lowermost portion of the radially inward support portion 60 (e.g., as illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, which may be nearly flush).
• the plug liner 80 may be a fixed and rigid plug, i.e., that substantially resists flex -inducing forces.
• the plug liner 80 can be configured/adjusted to increase or decrease its lowermost vertical position, which in turn can take up a desirable amount of anticipated headspace.
• a plug liner 80 may be configured such that a fill level will be as close to the plug liner 80 as possible without encountering an undesirable impact.
• a hollow space 90 may be formed by and provided between the plug liner 80, the radially inner support portion 60, and the upper wall 30.
• the inclusion of the plug liner 80 will serve to displace headspace (typically atmosphere or air residing above the container contents) in connection with a closed/sealed container.
• the closure 10 may be produced by various methods known in the art, including injection molding, co-injection molding, and/or compression molding.
• the closure can be configured to accommodate or displace a headspace associated with a container.
• Digital models e.g., computer or CAD models of the components
• a digital model for a seal closure having an upper wall, an outer annular wall, a radially outer support portion, and a radially inner support portion can be created or generated.
• a digital representation of a plug liner and hollow space may be included with the digital model of the closure.
• Various elements of the digital model can be adjusted or configured to meet desired objectives.
• the volume of the hollow space, (ii) the size and/or the shape of the plug liner, or both (i) and (ii) may be adjusted or configured to meet an anticipated container fill condition.
• aspects of the aforementioned process can be used to provide a closure for a container that minimizes an associated headspace.
• such a method may be utilized to configure a closure to minimize an associated headspace at an appropriate time relative to filling, such as to minimize a difference between fill levels PFLi and PFL 2 .
• FIGS. 3, 4, 5, and 6 generally illustrate an embodiment of a preform 100 and portions thereof, including a neck portion 110.
• the illustrated neck portion 110 includes a support flange 120 and external threads 130.
• a preform 100 will commonly be molded, e.g., blow molded, to form a resultant container.
• the preform 100 (and consequently the resulting plastic container) may comprise a plastic, and can, for example, be obtained from injection molding, injection stretch blow molding, extrusion blow molding, and/or compression molding.
• the preform 100 may be comprised of plastic in either a monolayer or multilayer configuration. In a monolayer configuration, the preform 100 may be comprised of polyethylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene (PP), and other known polymers known in the container art.
• PE polyethylene
• PET polyethylene terephthalate
• HDPE high-density polyethylene
• PP polypropylene
• preform 100 may include two or more layers of polymers that are provided over all or portions of the container. It is noted that for many embodiments that employ molding techniques known in the art, the dimensions of the neck portion for the molded container will remain substantially consistent with the dimensions of the neck portion of the preform.
• FIG. 5 generally illustrates a top plan view of an embodiment of a preform 100, which may be of the type generally shown in FIG. 3.
• the preform may have a parting line PL, such as depicted, and may include one or more thread vents 132, such as generally illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6.
• the thread vents 132 may have a centerline positioned at an angle ⁇ (shown illustrated from a 6 o'clock position). Without limitation, in embodiments angle ⁇ may be about 45°.
• FIG. 7 generally illustrates a side view of a container seal closure 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
• a cross-sectional view of the closure 10 is shown in FIG. 8.
• the seal closure may include a plug seal 140 provided at or adjacent the upper wall 30, and radially between the radially outer support portion 50 and the radially inner support portion 60.
• the radially outer support 50 and the radially inner support 60 can provide support to a neck finish including, for example and without limitation, thin-wall hot-fill neck finishes.
• the radially inner support portion 60 may include a lower curved portion 62 that, among other things, can provide a surface to facilitate the insertion of a container neck portion 110'.
• the thin-wall hot-fill neck finish may have a thickness of 0.047 inches, or less.
• the plug seal 140 can, among other things, provide additional top seal integrity.
• the plug seal 140 can, without limitation, be comprised of a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) (sometimes referred to as thermoplastic rubber) and/or an ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) material.
• TPE thermoplastic elastomer
• EVA ethylene vinyl acetate
• FIGS. 9 and 10 As generally illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, a measure of space can exist or occur along all or a portion of the vertical zone of potential contact between the container neck portion 110' and the radially inner support 60. Both FIGS. 9 and 10 show the inclusion of a plug seal 140, and FIG. 10 illustrates an embodiment in which there is a segment having significant sealing contact between the container neck portion 110' and the radially inner support 60.
• FIG. 11 generally illustrates a variation in product fill levels in connection with a container neck portion 110' and closure 10 at different stages.
• PFLi generally represents a product fill level after filling and capping and prior to vacuum absorption (which may be provided by the container's vacuum panels) product cooling in a traditional "panel" bottle.
• PFL 2 generally represents a product fill level associated with an instant embodiment after the associated headspace has disappeared or dissipated.
• an objective may be to minimize the differential between fill levels PFLi and PFL 2 .
• closures such as described herein may be used in connection with techniques for heating and/or pressurizing plastic containers disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 12/702,370, filed Feb. 9, 2010, and U.S. Patent No. 7,735,300, published June 15, 2010, which are incorporated herein in their entirety by reference.
• heating, pressurizing and/or other hot-fill related techniques can be additionally employed to provide further vacuum absorption post-sealing, while the inclusion of a plug liner can serve to reduce the associated headspace to be offset. While some post-sealing processes can increase the internal pressure by displacing headspace, by employing closures with features as described herein, less headspace may need to be addressed.
• a container may be hot-filled with contents and a closure with sealing features (such as disclosed herein) may be applied to seal the container. Then, a post-sealing process for dealing with vacuum absorption (e.g., heating/pressurizing) may be applied to the sealed container.
• a post-sealing process for dealing with vacuum absorption e.g., heating/pressurizing
• the maximum distance between the fill level after post-sealing treatment (e.g., heating/pressurizing) and the plug is kept to about 2 mm ⁇ 1.5 mm.

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Publications (2)

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Citations (8)

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• 2013
  • 2013-02-07 MX MX2014009465A patent/MX2014009465A/es unknown
  • 2013-02-07 US US13/761,652 patent/US20130200036A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2013-02-07 AU AU2013217001A patent/AU2013217001A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2013-02-07 WO PCT/US2013/025103 patent/WO2013119781A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2013-02-07 CA CA2863842A patent/CA2863842A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2013-02-07 EP EP13746512.6A patent/EP2812260A4/en not_active Withdrawn

Patent Citations (8)

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