US20040195199A1

Movatterモバイル変換

Info

Publication number: US20040195199A1
Application number: US10/406,323
Authority: US
Inventors: Kirk Maki; John Daly
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Grafco Industries LP
Priority date: 2003-04-04
Filing date: 2003-04-04
Publication date: 2004-10-07

Abstract

A hot fill container is provided having a base, a body portion connected to the base, a shoulder portion connected to the body portion, and a neck portion connected to the shoulder portion. At least two panels in the shoulder portion are adapted to flex to accommodate pressure changes within the hot fill container. A longitudinal strut between each of the at least two panels provides longitudinal support to the neck portion.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a container used for products introduced into the container while warm or hot, as appropriate, for sanitary packaging of the product. More particularly, the present invention relates to a non-rigid “hot fill” container having flexible panels or windows recessed into the shoulder of the container and having longitudinal struts separating adjacent panels. The panels are adapted to flex to accommodate pressure changes within the “hot fill” container associated with temperature changes of the product within. The struts allow the desired panel flexure but prevent excessive and deforming changes that would compromise container strength and adequate label attachment surfaces.[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Non-rigid containers used for filling processes with warm or hot products, so called “hot fill applications”, must address several fundamental concerns that are not present in conventional container applications. A primary concern arises because liquid food products must be poured and sealed in a container at an elevated temperature that is high enough to destroy bacteria, microorganisms and the like to sustain food quality. The thin side walls of conventional non-rigid containers thermally distort or collapse at “hot fill” temperatures. Assuming that a non-rigid container can be formed in a configuration that maintains its shape at the “hot fill” temperature, i.e. “thermally stable”, the container is then subjected to a vacuum that is inherently drawn within the sealed or capped container when hot food products cool and contract. The non-rigid container must either withstand the vacuum or collapse with sufficient deformation to accommodate the vacuum. Therefore, rigid containers, such as glass, have traditionally been used in “hot fill applications”. A need exists for a non-rigid container that withstands the pressure changes associated with “hot fill applications”.[0002]

Another concern in “hot fill applications” using non-rigid containers is body deformation that impacts container labeling. Existing non-rigid container configurations substantially retain their overall shape, but the bottles flex their side wall. This in turn requires special labels and/or labeling techniques to be used by the bottler. In typical glass bottling operations, a light weight paper label is simply glued onto the bottle as it is rolled after the bottle is hot filled and capped. The non-rigid side wall configurations of existing non-rigid “hot fill” containers flex and will not hold conventional, glued light weight paper labels, especially when the vacuum seal is broken and the bottle expands. A need exists for a non-rigid container that withstands the pressure changes associated with “hot fill applications” without flexing of the side walls.[0003]

U.S. Pat. No. 3,403,804 to Colombo discloses a blown bottle of flexible plastic having a plurality of spaced pairs of grooves[0004]16′ around the circumference of the body portion, as shown in FIG. 1. The grooves resist radial swelling of the container in the body portion due to internal gas pressure. However, the container is not able to prevent axial or longitudinal deformation of the container in the neck portion.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,397,724 to Bolen et al. discloses a thin walled container that is prebulged to avoid bulging of the container when filled and allowed to stand, as shown in FIG. 2. Moreover, slight additional radial deformation of the container is permitted. The container does not eliminate radial and longitudinal deformation of the container in either the body or neck portions.[0005]

U.S. Pat. No. 3,297,194 to Schaper et al. discloses a container having a plurality of circumferentially extending ribs[0006]28 around the mid-section of side wall14, as shown in FIG. 2, to prevent the container from becoming out of round. However, the ribs allow the container to be compressed during axial loading, and return the container to its original height when the axial load is removed.

Another concern in “hot fill applications” is that of longitudinal force loadings on the non-rigid container. Existing bottling operations typically employ star wheel layouts. Non-rigid containers are filled in one wheel and transferred to another wheel having a capper that screws the closure onto the non-rigid container while the wheel rotates at high speed. The hot fill product is still hot when the capping mechanism tightens the closure. The ability of the non-rigid material to withstand compressive forces is reduced at elevated temperatures. While the capper mechanism can be and has been altered to reduce longitudinal force loadings on non-rigid containers and/or non-rigid containers have been altered to provide mouth rings for loading purposes, such factors affect the bottle configuration. Non-rigid containers must have a side wall strength sufficient to permit stacking one on top of the other without collapse. Existing non-rigid containers having vacuum panels indented into the side wall do not assist the container in developing sufficient longitudinal strength to resist deformation. Moreover, vacuum panels in the neck portion of the non-rigid container do not prevent changes in the height of the overall container due to longitudinal deformation of the vacuum panels in the neck portion of the container. A need exists for a hot fill container that has sufficient strength to resist longitudinal deformation due to longitudinal loading and deformation caused by the vacuum associated with “hot fill applications”.[0007]

U.S. Design Pat. Nos. D225,510 to Strand; D218,020 to Musson; D219,129 to Wood; D195,371 to Torongo; D294,462 to Ota et al.; D295,499 to LeFevre; D278,682 to Khalifa; and D70,732 to Dengler et al. disclose containers having panels in the neck portion. However, none of the patents disclose means to prevent longitudinal deformation of the containers due to longitudinal loading and deformation caused by the vacuum associated with “hot fill applications”.[0008]

U.S. Pat. No. 5,067,622 to Garver et al. discloses a container[0009]70 having vacuum panels83 recessed in theneck segment81, as shown in FIG. 4, that deflect radially when a vacuum is drawn in the container. The panels83 in combination with thebulbous neck segment81 prevent both radial and longitudinal contraction of thebody portion77 of the container. However, nothing prevents longitudinal contraction of theneck segment81 when a vacuum is drawn in the container.

A need exists for a non-rigid hot fill container that does not lose its shape or height due to pressure changes associated with hot fill applications of non-rigid containers.[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is a primary objective of the present invention to provide a non-rigid container for products filled while warm or hot wherein the container resists deformation due to pressure increases or reductions as the “hot fill” product cools or is heated.[0011]

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a non-rigid container for hot fill applications that resists flexing of the container side walls due to pressure changes within the container associated with hot fill applications.[0012]

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a non-rigid container for hot fill applications that resists longitudinal deformation due to pressure changes within the container associated with hot fill applications.[0013]

The foregoing objects are basically attained by providing a non-rigid hot fill container having a base, a body portion connected to the base, a shoulder portion connected to the body portion, and a neck portion connected to the shoulder portion. At least two panels in the shoulder portion are adapted to flex to accommodate pressure changes within the hot fill container. A longitudinal strut between each of the at least two panels provides longitudinal support to the neck portion.[0014]

Other objects, advantages and salient features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses preferred embodiments of the invention.[0015]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring now to the drawings that form a part of the original disclosure:[0016]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a non-rigid hot fill container according to the present invention;[0017]

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the container of FIG. 1 showing the base of the hot fill container;[0018]

FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of the container of FIG. 1;[0019]

FIG. 4 is a top view of the container of FIG. 1;[0020]

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the container of FIG. 1;[0021]

FIG. 6 is an enlarged front elevation view of the panels and struts of the container of FIG. 1 and without a cap on the neck portion of the container;[0022]

FIGS. 7-9 are diagrams showing flexing of the panels of the present invention between the initial temperature at which the hot fill product is introduced to the non-rigid hot fill container and the final temperature at which the product has cooled.[0023]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As seen in FIGS. 1-9, the non-rigid[0024]

hot fill container

21 of the present invention has abase31, abody portion41 connected to the base, ashoulder portion51 connected to the body portion, and aneck portion61 connected to the shoulder portion. At least twopanels71 recessed into the shoulder portion are adapted to flex to accommodate pressure changes within the non-rigidhot fill container21 associated with hot fill applications. A longitudinal81 strut between each of the at least twopanels71 provides longitudinal support to theshoulder portion51 and theneck portion61.

The[0025]

base

31 provides support for thecontainer21. Preferably, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the base is substantially circular. Thebase31 has a substantiallyplanar portion33 providing support for the container. Aconcave portion35 has a plurality ofribs37 to provide lateral and longitudinal strength to the container. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, theconcave portion35 preferably has sixribs37.

A[0026]

body portion

41 extends upwardly from an outer edge29 of the base31 to anupper lip46 of the body portion. Thebody portion41 is substantially perpendicular to the base. Thebody portion41 includes a plurality offlat portions43, as shown in FIG. 3. Aribbed portion45 separates each flat portion. Eachflat portion43 has a width “f”, as shown in FIG. 3. Each ribbedportion45 has a width “r”, as shown in FIG. 3. Preferably, the width “f” of each flat portion is twice the width “r” of each ribbed portion.Flat portions43 having a width larger than the width of theribbed portions45 provides a body portion having a larger surface area, which allows for better label adhesion. Additionally, the smaller width of the ribs prevents label distortion when thecontainer21 is handled after the label has been affixed to the container. Preferably, the label is affixed over the width “l” on thebody portion41, which is denoted by

lines

42 and44 of FIG. 3. Theribs43 also prevent radial deformation of thebody portion41 of the container due to pressure changes in the container associated with hot fill applications, e.g., the hoop stress induced in the body portion due to the vacuum caused by the temperature drop of the hot fill product.

A[0027]

shoulder portion

51 extends upwardly from theupper lip46 of thebody portion41 of thecontainer21, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 6. Preferably, theshoulder portion51 tapers inwardly as it extends upwardly from thebody portion41, thereby forming a frustoconical configuration. The degree of taper θ may be between 0 and 89 degrees, inclusive, as shown in FIG. 6. A plurality offlex panels71 are positioned around the circumference of and recessed into theshoulder portion51. Eachflex panel71 is separated from the adjacent flex panel by alongitudinal strut81. Theflex panels71 andlongitudinal struts81 extend upwardly from theupper lip46 of thebody portion41 to thecurved lip53 of theshoulder portion51. Thecurved lip53 is substantially C-shaped and extends outwardly from thelongitudinal axis23 of thecontainer21 before extending inwardly to meet thebottom edge63 of theneck portion61.

The[0028]

flex panels

71 have an upper width “UW” and a lower width “LW”, as shown in FIG. 6. Preferably, the upper width and the lower width of theflex panels71 are not equal, as shown in FIG. 6. The initial configuration of theflex panels71 has a convex curvature, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. Theflex panel71 has a radius from the longitudinal axis that is greater at the middle73 than at the upper and

lower end points

75 and77, respectively, as shown in FIG. 7. The dashedline79 shown in FIGS. 7-9 corresponds to a line between theupper end point75 and thelower end point77 of theflex panel71 that is parallel to the taper θ of theshoulder portion51, i.e., a flat panel. Preferably, there are between four and sixflex panels71 around the circumference of theshoulder portion51. Preferably, theedge72 of theflex panel71 may have an initialconcave curve74 before curving convexly76 at the center of the panel to provide greater flexibility. Theflex panels71 may be symmetrically or asymmetrically space around the circumference of theshoulder portion51.

The longitudinal struts[0029]81 extend from theupper lip46 of the body portion to thecurved lip53 of theshoulder portion51, as shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and6. The longitudinal struts81 separate each of theflex panels71 and allow the panels to flex independently of the struts. Preferably, there are an equal number of struts and flex panels around the circumference of the shoulder portion, i.e., four-six struts. The longitudinal struts81 resist longitudinal loading (vertical compression) introduced by the capping and sealing process. Furthermore, thelongitudinal struts81 maintain the height of thecontainer21 by preventing longitudinal and lateral movement of theshoulder portion51 when theflex panels71 flex to accommodate internal pressure changes associated with hot fill applications.

Preferably, the strut height “SH” is approximately equal to 105-125% of the panel height “PH”, as shown in FIG. 6. Preferably, the strut width “SW” is approximately equal to 5-100% of the panel lower width “LW”. More preferably the strut width is approximately 5-25% of the panel lower width. Preferably, the upper width “UW” of the[0030]

flex panel

71 is approximately equal to 90% of the lower width “LW”. Preferably, the lower width “LW” is approximately 110% of the panel height “PH”.

A[0031]

neck portion

61 extends upwardly fromedge63 of theneck portion61 to thetop edge64 of the neck portion, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 6. Theneck portion61 has anouter surface65 that hasexternal threads67, as shown in FIG. 6. Theneck portion61 has anopening68 for introducing hot fill product into the container. Preferably, the diameter of theopening68 is at least 38 mm, but it may be any diameter suitable for the hot fill application. The step-down recess from theshoulder portion51 into the perimeter of theneck portion61 maintains the strength of the neck portion, as shown in FIG. 3.

A[0032]

cap

69 has internal threads for threading ontoneck portion61 of thecontainer21 to seal the hot fill product within the container. Aneck shoulder66 provides a stop for thecap69.

Assembly and Operation[0033]

Preferably, the[0034]

base

31,body portion41,shoulder portion51,neck portion61,panels71 and struts81 are unitarily formed. Thehot fill container21 is made of a non-rigid material, preferably PET (polyethylene terephtlate).

Typically, during hot fill applications, a hot fill product is introduced into the[0035]

container

21 at an initial temperature (To) of approximately 185 degrees Fahrenheit (85 degrees Celsius). Once the container has been filled with the hot fill product to a predetermined level, acap69 is secured to thecontainer21, preferably by threading the cap onto the externally threaded neck portion, to seal the hot fill product within the container. The initial configuration of theflex panels71 when the container is sealed at T_Ois shown in FIG. 7.

As the temperature of the hot fill product begins to cool, the pressure in the headspace above the liquid within the[0036]

container

21 begins to drop. As the temperature of the hot fill product continues to drop toward ambient temperature, the air pressure within thecontainer21 also continues to decrease. To offset the pressure drop within thecontainer21, thepanels71 begin to flex inwardly to accommodate the pressure drop, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. As shown in FIG. 8 at an intermediate temperature (T₁) of approximately 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43 degrees Celsius), thepanels71 have flexed inwardly slightly, thereby approaching being a planar flex panel as indicated by dashedline79. As shown in FIG. 9, when the temperature of the hot fill product has finished dropping and reached ambient temperature, a final temperature T_Fof approximately 72 degrees Fahrenheit (22 degrees Celsius), thepanels71 have finished flexing to accommodate the pressure drop within the container. At the final temperature, T_F, thepanels71 have flexed such that there is now a concave curvature at amidpoint73 of the panel, as shown in FIG. 9. Thepanels71 have moved beyond the planar surface indicated by dashedline79 to accommodate the pressure drop within thecontainer21 and to maintain the overall shape of the container. Furthermore, the flexing of thepanels71 to accommodate the pressure drop prevents deformation of thebody portion41 of the container so that label affixed to the body portion remains unaffected.

The longitudinal struts[0037]81 prevent longitudinal flexing of thepanels71 during the cooling of the hot fill product, thereby ensuring that the overall height of thecontainer21 remains unchanged. This facilitates stacking of the containers since thetop surface62 of thecap69 remains parallel to theplanar surface33 of thebase31. Moreover, thelongitudinal struts81 provide longitudinal strength to thecontainer21 to prevent buckling of the container during the capping process.

While advantageous embodiments have been chosen to illustrate the invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.[0038]

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A hot fill container, comprising:

a base;

a body portion connected to said base and extending longitudinally therefrom;

a shoulder portion connected to said body portion;

a neck portion connected to said shoulder portion;

at least two panels in said shoulder portion adapted to flex to accommodate pressure changes within said hot fill container; and

a longitudinal strut between each of said at least two panels to prevent longitudinal flexing of said at least two panels.

2. A hot fill container according toclaim 1, wherein

said body portion has a plurality of flat portions.

3. A hot fill container according toclaim 2, wherein

said plurality of flat portions are separated by ribbed portions.

4. A hot fill container according toclaim 3, wherein

each of said ribbed portions has a first width, each of said plurality of flat portions has a second width, and said first width is substantially one half said second width.

5. A hot fill container according toclaim 1, wherein

said neck portion has a diameter of at least 38 millimeters.

6. A hot fill container according toclaim 1, wherein

each of said at least two panels has a first edge having a first width and a second and opposite edge having a second width, said first and second widths not being equal.

7. A hot fill container according toclaim 1, wherein

said shoulder portion is tapered.

8. A hot fill container according toclaim 7, wherein

said taper has an angle between 1 and 89 degrees, inclusive.

9. A hot fill container according toclaim 1, wherein

said base is circular.

10. A hot fill container according toclaim 1, wherein

said neck portion is threaded for receiving a cap.

11. A hot fill container according toclaim 1, wherein

said at least two panels comprises between four and six panels, inclusive.

12. A hot fill container according toclaim 1, wherein

said base, said body portion, said shoulder portion, said neck portion, said at least two panels and said longitudinal struts are unitarily formed.

13. A hot fill container according toclaim 1, wherein

said base, said body portion, said shoulder portion, said neck portion, said at least two panels and said longitudinal struts are made of PET.

14. A hot fill container according toclaim 1, wherein

said at least two panels are substantially rectangular.

15. A hot fill container according toclaim 14, wherein

said at least two panels have a concave curve at an edge and a convex curve at a center of said at least two panels.

16. A hot fill container, comprising:

a base;

a body portion connected to said base, said body portion having a plurality of flat portions and a ribbed portion separating each of said flat portions;

a tapered shoulder portion connected to said body portion;

a neck portion connected to said shoulder portion, said neck portion having a threaded external surface to receive a cap;

a longitudinal strut between each of said at least two panels to prevent longitudinal flexing of said at least two panels,

wherein said base, said body portion, said shoulder portion, said neck portion, said at least two panels and said longitudinal struts are unitarily formed.

17. A hot fill container according toclaim 16, wherein

said base, said body portion, said shoulder portion, said neck portion, said at least two panels and said longitudinal struts are made of PET

18. A hot fill container according toclaim 16, wherein

each of said ribbed portions has a first width, each of said plurality of flat portions has a second width, and said first width is one half said second width.

19. A hot fill container according toclaim 16, wherein

said neck portion has a diameter of at least 38 millimeters.

20. A hot fill container according toclaim 16, wherein

each of said at least two panels has a first edge having a first length and a second and opposite edge having a second length, said first and second lengths not being equal.

21. A hot fill container according toclaim 16, wherein

said tapered shoulder portion has an angle between 1 and 89 degrees, inclusive.

22. A hot fill container according toclaim 16, wherein

said base is circular.

23. A hot fill container according toclaim 16, wherein

said at least two panels comprises between four and six panels, inclusive

24. A hot fill container according toclaim 16, wherein

said at least two panels are substantially rectangular.

25. A hot fill container according toclaim 14, wherein