US20050184025A1 - Container and sorbent combination - Google Patents

Abstract

A combination of a container and a sorbent wherein a support is provided in the neck of a container to support a sorbent out of contact with the contents of the container.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
• Not Applicable
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
• Not Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• The present invention relates to an improved combination of a container and sorbent therein, and it also relates to a container insert for supporting a sorbent above the contents of the container.
• By way of background, in the past sorbents were provided in containers for protecting the contents thereof. These sorbents were for the purpose of adsorbing moisture or absorbing oxygen or other gases or odors. The sorbents, insofar as known were in the form of packets, capsules, cartridges or tablets, and they were generally mixed in with the contents of the container.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• It is one object of the present invention to provide the combination of a container and a sorbent wherein the sorbent is supported in the container out of contact with the contents thereof.
• It is another object of the present invention to provide an insert for a container which supports a sorbent out of contact with the contents of the container. Other objects and attendant advantages of the present invention will readily be perceived hereafter.
• The present invention relates to the combination of a container body, an opening in said container body, an inner wall on said container body, a ledge on said inner wall proximate said opening, a sorbent body, and an edge on said sorbent body overlying and supported by said ledge.
• The present invention also relates to the combination of a container body, an opening in said container body, an inner wall on said container body, a basket, a plurality of fingers on said basket engaging said inner wall, and a sorbent body in said basket.
• The present invention also relates to a container insert for supporting a body within a container comprising a basket, a base on said basket, and a plurality of fingers resiliently mounted relative to said base and extending outwardly at an obtuse angle relative to said base.
• The various aspects of the present invention will be more readily understood when the following portions of the specification are read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
• FIG. 1 is a fragmentary partially broken away exploded view of one embodiment of the improved container and sorbent combination of the present invention having a sorbent supported on a ledge therein;
• FIG. 2 is a partially broken away view taken substantially in the direction of arrows2-2 ofFIG. 1;
• FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the sorbent ofFIG. 1;
• FIG. 4 is a plan view of the sorbent taken substantially in the direction of arrows4-4 ofFIG. 3;
• FIG. 5 is a fragmentary partially broken away exploded view of another embodiment of a container and sorbent combination but supporting a sorbent of a different shape;
• FIG. 6 is a partially broken away view taken substantially in the direction of arrows6-6 ofFIG. 5;
• FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the sorbent ofFIGS. 5 and 6;
• FIG. 8 is a fragmentary partially broken away exploded view of another embodiment of a container and sorbent combination wherein there is a container insert in the form of a basket for supporting a sorbent;
• FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of the container insert ofFIG. 8 and which supports a sorbent thereon;
• FIG. 10 is a plan view taken substantially in the direction of arrows10-10 ofFIG. 9;
• FIG. 11 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a modification of the container insert ofFIGS. 8-10;
• FIG. 12 is a fragmentary cross sectional view of a neck of a container which receives the modified container insert ofFIG. 11; and
• FIG. 13 is a fragmentary plan view showing the clearance between the container insert and the inner wall of the container.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
• One embodiment of the container and sorbent combination is disclosed inFIGS. 1-4. In this embodiment acontainer10 includes a container body11 which can receive any type of product which must have associated therewith a sorbent for absorbing moisture or absorbing oxygen or any other type of gaseous material. Thecontainer10 can be for pharmaceuticals, or electronic components, or food, or, as noted above, any item which requires the presence of a sorbent. Thecontainer10 may be fabricated of glass or plastic or any other type of material. The container body11 includes acylindrical neck12 having a cap-receivingthread13 thereon. On theinner wall16 ofneck12 is a sorbent support in the nature of a circular lip or ledge on which is supported a sorbent15 in the form of a solid circular disc. Aninduction seal17 is secured to theedge19 ofneck12. Acap20 screws ontothreads13. However, it will be appreciated that while the induction seal is desirable, it may not be required for certain applications. A typical induction seal and cap arrangement is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,164,503.
• Thesorbent15 is fabricated from a suitable desiccant or oxygen-absorber or odor-absorber by compressing granular material with a binder and optionally coating it with a coating to prevent dusting thereof. One type of pressed sorbent is disclosed in pending application Ser. No. 09/853,199, Publication No. US-2002-0188046-A1, and a type of pressed and coated sorbent is disclosed in pending application Ser. No. 10/660,024, Publication No. ______, both of which are incorporated by reference. It will further be appreciated that the sorbent need not be of the foregoing described types but may be of the type wherein the sorbent is placed within a capsule or cartridge and is of a shape which will fit onledge14. The advantage of all of the foregoing is that the sorbent is not in direct contact with the contents ofcontainer10. Also, the sorbent is confined against excessive movement by being located between theledge14,neck wall12 andseal17.
• Another embodiment of the present invention is disclosed inFIGS. 5-7 wherein thecontainer10 andcap20 andseal17 are identical to the container ofFIG. 1 and identical numerals depict identical elements of structure. However, the embodiment ofFIGS. 5-7 carries a sorbent21 of a substantially solid T-shape wherein the top22 of the T is of a length such that itslower edges23 will rest on ledge14. It also has a dependingportion24 which extends into the body of the container. The advantage of the foregoing structure is that the dependingportion24 can be made of various sizes to meet the sorbent requirements of the product within the container. Also, while thedependent portion24 is of substantially solid rectangular form, it will be appreciated that it can be cylindrical or any other shape.
• InFIGS. 8-10 yet another embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. In this embodiment thecontainer10′ differs from that of the preceding figures in that it does not have a sorbent support in the form of anannular ledge14. However, all of the other parts can be identical and are represented by identical numerals.
• In the embodiment ofFIGS. 8-10 the support for sorbent25 of cylindrical form is a container insert in the form of a basket orcarrier27 which is fabricated from molded plastic and has a plurality offlexible fingers29 which are resiliently mounted on and extend outwardly fromcircular base30 at an obtuse angle shown inFIG. 9. The basket orcarrier27 is inserted into theneck12 and the resiliently-mountedfingers29 are moved from the position ofFIG. 9, wherein they extend outwardly at an obtuse angle relative tobase30, to the position ofFIG. 8 wherein they are biased against the inner surface ofneck12 with a friction fit. Thesorbent25 is thereafter placed on thebase30. In this instance the sorbent can be of any desired shape or it can be a cartridge or capsule or even a packet. A plurality oftabs31 extend upwardly frombase30 toward the opening of the container. In use, after thecontainer10′ has been opened and theseal17 has been broken, thesorbent25 and theretainer27 can be removed by grasping and pulling any one oftabs31. In use, there is communication between the contents ofcontainer10′ andsorbent25 through theclearances33 betweenbase30 andcontainer10′.
• InFIG. 11 a modifiedcontainer insert27′ is shown wherein the only difference fromcontainer insert27 ofFIGS. 8-10 is that thefingers29′ have a protrusion in the form of abarb32 at the outer ends thereof which engage and rest oncircular ledge34 ofcontainer10a. Theprotrusions32 need only be on some of the fingers.
• While all of thecontainers10,10′ and10ahave been shown as having a neck, it will be appreciated that the present subject is equally applicable to containers which have a straight body without a neck of the type which is shown in the drawings.
• While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed, it will be appreciated that it is not limited thereto, but may be otherwise embodied within the scope of the following claims.

Claims (41)

1. In combination: a container body, an opening in said container body, an inner wall on said container body, a ledge on said inner wall proximate said opening, a sorbent body, and an edge on said sorbent body overlying and supported by said ledge.

2. A combination as set forth inclaim 1 a seal mounted across said opening on the opposite side of said sorbent body from said ledge.

3. A combination as set forth inclaim 2 including a cap mounted on said container body and located across said opening on the opposite side of said seal from said sorbent body.

4. A combination as set forth inclaim 1 including a cap mounted on said container body and located across said opening on the opposite side of said sorbent body from said ledge.

5. A combination as set forth inclaim 1 including a neck on said container body, and said ledge being located within said neck.

6. A combination as set forth inclaim 5 a seal mounted across said opening on the opposite side of said sorbent body from said ledge.

7. A combination as set forth inclaim 6 including a cap mounted on said container body and located across said opening on the opposite side of said seal from said sorbent body.

8. A combination as set forth inclaim 5 including a cap mounted on said container body and located across said opening on the opposite side of said sorbent body from said ledge.

9. A combination as set forth inclaim 1 wherein said sorbent is in the shape of a disc.

10. A combination as set forth inclaim 1 wherein said sorbent is in the shape of a T.

11. In combination: a container body, an opening in said container body, an inner wall on said container body, a basket, a plurality of fingers on said basket engaging said inner wall, and a sorbent body in said basket.

12. A combination as set forth inclaim 11 including a seal across said opening.

13. A combination as set forth inclaim 12 including a cap mounted across said opening on the opposite side of said seal from said sorbent body.

14. A combination as set forth inclaim 11 including a cap mounted across said opening.

15. A combination as set forth inclaim 11 including a tab on said basket extending toward said opening.

16. A combination as set forth inclaim 15 including a seal across said opening.

17. A combination as set forth inclaim 16 including a cap mounted across said opening on the opposite side of said seal from said sorbent body.

18. A combination as set forth inclaim 15 including a cap mounted across said opening.

19. A combination as set forth inclaim 11 including a neck on said container body, and wherein said inner wall and said opening are in said neck.

20. A combination as set forth inclaim 19 including a seal across said opening.

21. A combination as set forth inclaim 20 including a cap mounted across said opening on the opposite side of said seal from said sorbent body.

22. A combination as set forth inclaim 19 including a cap mounted across said opening.

23. A combination as set forth inclaim 19 including a tab on said basket extending toward said opening.

24. A combination as set forth inclaim 23 including a seal across said opening.

25. A combination as set forth inclaim 24 including a cap mounted across said opening on the opposite side of said seal from said sorbent body.

26. A combination as set forth inclaim 23 including a cap mounted across said opening.

27. A combination as set forth inclaim 11 including a ledge on said inner wall, and a protrusion on certain of said fingers resting on said ledge.

28. A combination as set forth inclaim 27 including a seal across said opening.

29. A combination as set forth inclaim 28 including a cap mounted across said opening on the opposite side of said seal from said sorbent body.

30. A combination as set forth inclaim 27 including a cap mounted across said opening.

31. A combination as set forth inclaim 27 including a tab on said basket extending toward said opening.

32. A combination as set forth inclaim 31 including a seal across said opening.

33. A combination as set forth inclaim 32 including a cap mounted across said opening on the opposite side of said seal from said sorbent body.

34. A combination as set forth inclaim 31 including a cap mounted across said opening.

35. A combination as set forth inclaim 31 including a neck on said container body, and wherein said inner wall and said opening are in said neck.

36. A combination as set forth inclaim 35 including a seal across said opening.

37. A combination as set forth inclaim 36 including a cap mounted across said opening on the opposite side of said seal from said sorbent body.

38. A combination as set forth inclaim 35 including a cap mounted across said opening.

39. A container insert for supporting a body within a container comprising a basket, a base on said basket, and a plurality of fingers resiliently mounted relative to said base and extending outwardly at an obtuse angle relative to said base.

40. A container insert as set forth inclaim 39 wherein said fingers define a perimeter, and at least one tab extending outwardly away from said base and located within said perimeter.

41. A container insert as set forth inclaim 39 wherein said fingers define a perimeter, and a plurality of tabs extending outwardly away from said base and located within said perimeter.

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