Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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CARBONATED SOFT DRINK FINISH MODIFICATION
PRO P TY
100011 This application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application number
15/134,264 filed on
April 20, 2016 and is a continuation-in-part of, and claims the benefit of,
U.S. Patent Application,
entitled "Carbonated Soft Drink Finish Modification," filed on November 11,
2015, and having
application serial number 14/938,596, which claims the benefit of, and
priority to, U.S. Provisional
Application, entitled "Carbonated Soft Drink Finish Modification," filed on
November 13, 2014
and having application serial number 62/079,431, the entirety of each of said
applications being
incorporated herein by reference.
FIEL
100021 The field of the present invention generally relates to plastic
containers. More
particularly, the field of the invention relates to an apparatus and method
for reducing foaming that
occurs with carbonated soft drink containers.
ACKGROUND
[0003] Plastic containers have been used as a replacement for glass or
metal containers in the
packaging of beverages for several decades. The most common plastic used in
making beverage
containers today is polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Containers made of PET
are transparent,
thin-walled, and have the ability to maintain their shape by withstanding
forces exerted on the
walls of the container by their contents. PET resins are also reasonably
priced and easy to process.
PET bottles generally are made by a process that includes blow-molding of
plastic pre-fauns that
have been made by injection molding of the PET resin.
100041 A drawback to plastic containers is that those containing carbonated
contents may
allow foaming of the contents onto a consumer upon initially opening the
container. In some cases,
the foaming may be great enough to spill the contents of the container onto
the clothing of a
consumer, or onto nearby furniture. Another drawback to plastic containers is
that carbon-dioxide
content within the containers must be limited so as to accommodate the foaming
tendency of
carbonated liquids. Limiting the carbon-dioxide content effectively leads to a
decreased longevity
of the flavor profile of the carbonated contents. What is needed, therefore,
is an apparatus and
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method for decreasing the foaming tendency of bottled carbonated contents,
such that the carbon-
dioxide content may be increased so as to increase the longevity of the flavor
profile of the
contents.
SUMMARY
[0005j An apparatus and method are provided for a finish configured to
define an opening to
an interior of a container and to substantially reduce foaming of contents
when the container is
opened. The finish comprises a cylindrical body comprising a peripheral
portion with a first edge
and a second edge disposed at opposite ends. The first edge defines a first
opening and is
configured to receive a container cap. Generally, the first edge is configured
to receive a seal of
the container cap. The second edge defines a second opening and is configured
to receive a neck
of the container. The first and second openings are in fluid communication.
One or more threads
on an exterior of the peripheral portion are configured to rotatably engage
with one or more threads
of the container cap. At least one notch is disposed on the first edge,
peripheral to the first opening,
and comprises a cross-sectional shape suitably foinied to substantially reduce
foaming of the
contents. In one embodiment, the first edge comprises two notches, disposed on
opposite sides of
the first opening, and the cross-sectional shape of each of the notches
comprises a half-circle
configured to substantially reduce foaming of the contents when the container
cap is loosened with
respect to the finish.
[0006] In an exemplary embodiment, a finish configured to define an opening
to an interior of
a container and to substantially reduce foaming of contents when the container
is opened comprises
a cylindrical body comprising a peripheral portion with a first edge and a
second edge disposed at
opposite ends, the first edge defining an opening and configured to receive a
container cap, the
second edge configured to receive a neck of the container, wherein the opening
is in fluid
communication with the interior; one or more threads on an exterior of the
peripheral portion, the
threads configured to rotatably engage with one or more threads of the
container cap; and at least
one notch disposed on the first edge and comprising a cross-sectional shape
suitably formed to
substantially reduce foaming of the contents.
100071 In another exemplary embodiment, the first edge is configured to
couple with a seal of
the container cap, such that pressurized contents are maintained within the
interior. In another
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exemplary embodiment, the seal comprises a plug seal disposed within an
interior of the container
cap and configured to tightly engage the first edge so as to maintain the
pressurized contents within
the interior. In another exemplary embodiment, the seal comprises a liner seal
disposed between
the container cap and the first edge so as maintain the pressurized contents
within the interior.
[0008] In another exemplary embodiment, the at least one notch comprises
two notches
disposed on opposite sides of the finish. In another exemplary embodiment, the
cross-sectional
shape is any one of a half-circle, a square, and a triangle. In another
exemplary embodiment, the
cross-sectional shape is configured to produce an audible sound when
pressurized gases exit
through the at least one notch during loosening of the container cap.
[0009] In an exemplary embodiment, a container configured to substantially
reduce foaming
of contents when the container is opened comprises a base extending upward to
a sidewall of the
container; a shoulder connected between the sidewall and a bell, a diameter of
the bell decreasing
as the bell extends upward to a neck of the container; a finish connected to
the neck and configured
to receive a container cap, the finish defining an opening to an interior of
the container; and at least
one notch disposed at the top of the finish and configured to substantially
reduce foaming of
contents during opening of the container.
[0010] In another exemplary embodiment, the top of the finish is further
configured to receive
a seal of the container cap. In another exemplary embodiment, the seal
comprises a plug seal
disposed within an interior of the container cap and configured to tightly
engage the finish so as to
maintain the pressurized contents within the interior. In another exemplary
embodiment, the seal
comprises a liner seal disposed between the container cap and the finish so as
maintain the
pressurized contents within the interior.
[0011] In another exemplary embodiment, the top of the finish comprises two
notches disposed
on opposite sides of the opening to the interior of the container. In another
exemplary embodiment,
the at least one notch comprises a cross-sectional shape suitably formed to
substantially reduce
foaming of contents. In another exemplary embodiment, the cross-sectional
shape is any one of a
half-circle, a square, and a triangle. In another exemplary embodiment, the
cross-sectional shape
is configured so as to produce an audible sound when the container cap is
twisted.
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[0012] In an exemplary embodiment, a method for a container to
substantially reduce foaming
of contents when the container is opened comprises extending a base upward to
a sidewall of the
container; connecting a shoulder between the sidewall and a bell; extending
the bell from the
shoulder to a neck of the container, such that a diameter of the bell
decreases as the bell extends
to the neck; connecting a finish to the neck, such that the finish defines an
opening to an interior
of the container; configuring the finish to receive a container cap; and
forming at least one notch
at the top of the finish so as to substantially reduce foaming of contents
during opening of the
container.
[0013] In another exemplary embodiment, configuring the finish further
comprises foiming a
cylindrical body comprising a peripheral portion disposed between a first end
and a second end,
the first end configured to receive the container cap and the second end
configured to couple with
the neck. In another exemplary embodiment, configuring the finish further
comprises foiming one
or more threads on an exterior of the peripheral portion, the threads
configured to rotatably engage
with one or more threads of the container cap. In another exemplary
embodiment, forming the at
least one notch comprises configuring a cross-sectional shape of the at least
one notch comprising
any one of a square, a half-circle, and a triangle. In another exemplary
embodiment, foiniing the
at least one notch comprises configuring a cross-sectional shape of the at
least one notch to produce
an audible sound when pressurized gases exit through the at least one notch
during loosening of
the container cap.
EF ;1 ESCRIPTION OF THE .1, '` WINGS
[0014] The drawings refer to embodiments of the present disclosure in
which:
[0015] Figure 1 illustrates a side plan view of an exemplary embodiment of
a container suitable
for storing pressurized carbonated contents, according to the present
disclosure;
[0016] Figure 2 illustrates an upper perspective view of an exemplary
embodiment of a
Carbonated Soft Drink (CSD) finish, according to the present disclosure;
[0117J Figure 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of an exemplary
embodiment of a CSD finish
with a container cap installed, according to the present disclosure;
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[00181 Figure 4A illustrates a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a
CSD container cap
in accordance with the present disclosure;
[0019] Figure 4B illustrates a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a
Hot Fill container
cap, according to the present disclosure;
[0020] Figure 5 is a table illustrating observational data acquired during
experimental testing
of various embodiments of the present disclosure;
[00211 Figure 6A illustrates an upper perspective view of an exemplary
embodiment of
container cap comprising a liner seal coupled with a container, in accordance
with the present
disclosure;
[0022] Figure 6B illustrates an upper perspective view of the container and
liner seal illustrated
in Fig. 6A in absence of the container cap, according to the present
disclosure; and
[0023] Figure 6C illustrates an exploded upper perspective view of the
container cap, liner
seal, and container illustrated in Fig. 6A in accordance with the present
embodiment.
[00241 While the present disclosure is subject to various modifications and
alternative foul's,
specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings
and will herein
be described in detail. The invention should be understood to not be limited
to the particular forms
disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications,
equivalents, and
alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.
DETAILEI DESC ' PTI 1 N
[0025] In the following description, numerous specific details are set
forth in order to provide
a thorough understanding of the present disclosure. It will be apparent,
however, to one of ordinary
skill in the art that the invention disclosed herein may be practiced without
these specific details.
In other instances, specific numeric references such as "first notch," may be
made. However, the
specific numeric reference should not be interpreted as a literal sequential
order but rather
interpreted that the "first notch" is different than a "second notch." Thus,
the specific details set
forth are merely exemplary. The specific details may be varied from and still
be contemplated to
be within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. The term "coupled"
is defined as meaning
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connected either directly to the component or indirectly to the component
through another
component. Further, as used herein, the terms "about," "approximately," or
"substantially" for
any numerical values or ranges indicate a suitable dimensional tolerance that
allows the part or
collection of components to function for its intended purpose as described
herein.
[0126] In general, the present disclosure describes an apparatus and a
method for a finish
configured to define an opening to an interior of a container and to
substantially reduce foaming
of contents when the container is opened. The finish comprises a cylindrical
body including a
peripheral portion with a first edge and a second edge disposed at opposite
ends. The first edge
defines an opening and is configured to receive a container cap. Generally,
the first edge is
configured to receive a seal of the container cap. The second edge is
configured to receive a neck
of the container such that the opening is in fluid communication with an
interior of the container.
One or more threads on an exterior of the peripheral portion are configured to
rotatably engage
with one or more threads of the container cap. At least one notch is disposed
at the first edge,
peripheral to the first opening, and comprises a cross-sectional shape
suitably formed to
substantially reduce foaming of the contents. In one embodiment, the first
edge comprises two
notches, disposed on opposite sides of the finish, wherein the cross-sectional
shape of each of the
notches comprises a half-circle configured to substantially reduce foaming of
the contents.
[0027] Figure 1 illustrates a lower perspective view of an exemplary
embodiment of a
container 100 in accordance with the present disclosure. The container 100
comprises a base 104
that extends up to a grip portion 108. Preferably, the base 104 is of the
petaloid variety, although
other configurations of the base may be incorporated into the container 100,
without limitation.
The grip portion 108 comprises a generally smooth, cylindrical portion of the
container 100
suitable for affixing a label, as well as providing a location for grasping
the container. In some
embodiments, the grip portion 108 may comprise one or more sidewall ribs that
generally may
vary in depth, and may swirl or angulate around the grip portion 108.
Additional configurations
of the grip portion 108 are disclosed in U.S. Patent Application, entitled
"Plastic Container with
Strapped Base," filed on January 16, 2014, having application serial number
14/157,400, the
entirety of which application is incorporated by reference herein.
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[0028- In the illustrated embodiment, the grip portion 108 transitions into
a shoulder 124,
which connects to a bell 128. Although the bell 128 illustrated in Fig. 1 is
smooth and generally
unornamented, in other embodiments the bell may include design features, such
as, by way of non-
limiting example, a plurality of scallops. The bell 128 connects to a neck
136, which connects to
a Carbonated Soft Drink (CSD) finish 140. As shown in Fig. 1, the bell 128
comprises a diameter
that generally decreases as the bell 128 extends upward from the shoulder 124
to the neck 136 and
the CSD finish 140. The CSD finish 140 may be adapted to receive a closure to
seal contents in
the container 100, such as, by way of non-limiting example, a container cap
164 or a bottle cap.
The CSD finish 140 generally defines an opening that leads to an interior of
the container 100 for
containing a beverage, or other contents.
[0029] Figure 2 illustrates an upper perspective view of an exemplary
embodiment of the CSD
finish 140 that is configured to substantially reduce foaming of contents,
particularly carbonated
contents, during opening of the container 100. The CSD finish 140 comprises a
cylindrical body
148 that includes a peripheral portion with a first edge 152 and a second edge
156 disposed at
opposite ends. The first edge 152 defines an opening 160 and is configured to
receive a plug seal
168 within the container cap 164, as disclosed herein. The second edge 156 is
configured to
receive the neck 136 of the container 100, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, such
that the opening 160 is
in fluid communication with the interior of the container 100 once the CSD
finish 140 is installed
thereon.
[0030] An exterior of the cylindrical body 148 comprises one or more
threads 172 that are
configured to rotatably engage with one or more threads 176 of the container
cap 164. A plurality
of gaps 174 are disposed in the threads and positioned uniformly around the
perimeter of the
cylindrical body 148. Preferably, the gaps 174 of adjacent threads 172 are
vertically aligned so as
to form channels 178 extending longitudinally along the CSD finish 140. The
channels 178
advantageously operate to relieve pressure within the container 100 when the
container cap 164 is
loosened. As will be appreciated, the channels 178 provide a direct route for
gases escaping the
interior of the container 100, rather than the gases being forced to travel
around the finish between
adjacent threads 172.
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[0031] An engagement of the threads 172 of the CS lk finish 140 with the
threads 176 of the
container cap 164 is best shown in Fig. 3. It should be borne in mind,
however, that the bottle cap
need not be limited to the container cap 164 and thus bottle caps other than
the cap 164 may be
coupled with the CSD finish 140, without limitation. As such, Fig. 4A
illustrates a cross-sectional
view of an exemplary embodiment of a CSD container cap 180 that may be used to
seal pressurized
contents within the container 100. The CSD container cap 180 comprises a
multiplicity of threads
176 suitable for rotatably engaging with the threads 172 of the CSD finish
140. Gaps 174 disposed
in the threads 176 serve to vent pressurized gases escaping the container 100
when the cap 180 is
loosened. During tightening of the container cap 180, a plug seal 188 within
the cap enters into
the opening 160 and is placed into a pressed relationship with the first edge
152. Further, Fig. 4B
illustrates a cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of a Hot Fill
container cap 184.
The Hot Fill container cap 184 is substantially similar to the CSD container
cap 180, with the
exception that the container cap 184 comprises a plug seal 192 which is taller
than the plug seal
188. Thus, during tightening of the Hot Fill container cap 184 onto the CSD
finish 140, the plug
seal 192 enters more deeply into the opening 160 than the plug seal 188. It
will be appreciated
that the first edge 152 is configured to tightly receive the plug seals 188,
192 into the opening 160
so as to retain the contents within the container 100 without leaking.
[00321 In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 2, the first edge 152
comprises two notches 196
disposed on opposite sides of the opening 160. Although the notches 196 are
aligned with two of
the channels 178 in the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 2, in other embodiments
the notches 196
may be positioned anywhere around the opening 160, as desired. Each of the two
notches 196
comprises a cross-sectional shape suitably foimed so as to substantially
reduce foaming of the
contents when the container cap 164 is loosened with respect to the CSD finish
140. In the
illustrated embodiment, the cross-sectional shape of the notches 196 is a half-
circle. In other
embodiments, however, one or both of the notches 196 may comprise cross-
sectional shapes other
than a half-circle, such as, by way of non-limiting example, various segments
of circles, ellipsoids,
ovals, rectangles, squares, triangles, V-shaped wedges, and any other cross-
sectional shape that is
found to advantageously reduce foaming of contents when the container cap 164
is removed from
the container 100.
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[0033] In some embodiments, the cross-sectional shape of the notches 196
may be specifically
designed so as to produce an audible tone or sound as pressurized gases exit
the container 100
through the notches 196 when the container cap 164 is loosened. Moreover, it
should be
understood that although the CSD finish 140 is described herein specifically
in connection with
the container cap 164, the CSD finish 140 is not limited to being coupled
solely with the container
cap 164, but rather any container cap that is suitably configured to engage
with the CSD finish
140, such that contents are sealed within the container 100, including but not
limited to the CSD
container cap 180 and the Hot Fill container cap 184, may be coupled with the
CSD finish 140
without detracting from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.
[0034] When the container cap 164 is tightly engaged with the CSD finish
140, as shown in
Fig. 3, the plug seal 168 and the first edge 152 cooperate so as to prevent
pressurized contents
from leaking out of the container. When the container cap 164 is loosened,
generally by twisting
so as to loosen the engagement between the threads 172 and 176, the seal 188
is withdrawn from
the first edge 152. In absence of the two notches 196, withdrawing the plug
seal 168 from the first
edge 152 causes an abrupt drop in pressure within the container 100 to an
ambient atmospheric
pressure. Such a drop in pressure may cause the contents within the container
100 to foam and
potentially force the contents between the plug seal 168 and the first edge
152, and out of the
container 100. In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 3, however, as the plug
seal 168 is withdrawn
from the CSD finish 140, the seal disengages from the two notches 196 before
withdrawing from
the rest of the first edge 152, thereby slowing down the pressure release
occurring within the
container 100. As will be appreciated, more slowly releasing pressure within
the container 100
substantially reduces the likelihood that the contents will foam and push out
of the container.
Those skilled in the art will further appreciate that slowly reducing internal
pressure within the
container 100 peiiiiits the use of additional carbon-dioxide content within
the container, thereby
increasing the longevity of the flavor-profile of the contents.
[0035] As mentioned above, the cross-sectional shape of the notches 196
need not be limited
to those illustrated in Fig. 2, but rather various other cross-sectional
shapes may be utilized for the
notches 196. Further, the number and positions of the notches 196 on the first
edge 152 need not
be limited to the number and positions illustrated in Fig. 2. Thus, in some
embodiments, the first
edge 152 may comprise more than two notches 196. In other embodiments, the
first edge 152 may
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comprise one suitably configured notch 196. In some embodiments, multiple
notches 196 may be
uniformly distributed around the circumference of the first edge 152. In some
embodiments,
multiple notches 196 may be positioned around the circumference of the first
edge 152 with a non-
uniform spacing between the notches. Accordingly, Fig. 5 is a table 200
illustrating results
observed during experimental testing performed in connection with applications
of various
embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0936] In some embodiments, suitably sized and shaped holes may be
implemented in lieu of
the notches 196. It is envisioned that the holes may be positioned just below
the first edge 152 so
as to be covered over by the plug seal 168 when the container cap 164 is
tightly engaged with the
CSD finish 140. It is further envisioned that the shape of the holes may be
suitably designed to
issue an audible sound when the container cap 164 is removed from the CSD
finish 140 and
pressure is relieved from the interior of the container 100. In some
embodiments, the shape of
each hole may be fashioned to resemble a flute, or a reed, which vibrates when
the container cap
164 is removed from the container 100, thereby amplifying the audible sound as
pressure within
the container is relieved.
[0037] Figures 6A through 6C illustrate perspective views of an exemplary
embodiment of a
container cap 204 and a liner seal 208 coupled with a CSD finish 212, in
accordance with the
present disclosure. As best shown in an exploded view illustrated in Fig. 6C,
the liner seal 208 is
disposed between the container cap 204 and the CSD finish 212. When the
container cap 204 is
tightly engaged with the CSD finish 212, the liner seal 208 operates similarly
to a gasket that
prevents pressurized contents from leaking out of the container 100. The CSD
finish 212 is
substantially similar to the CSD finish 140, with the exception that the CSD
finish 212 may
comprise one or more threads 172 that are configured specifically to engage
with the threads within
the container cap 204.
[00381 As shown in Fig. 6B, the liner seal 208 may be affixed to the first
edge 152 by way of
any of various suitable adhesives, or the liner seal 208 may be of the variety
that is adhered to an
inside of the container cap 204. As will be recognized, the liner seal 208
preferably has a thickness
suitable to fill and seal the notches 196 so as to prevent pressurized
contents from leaking out of
the container 100. Thus, when the container cap 204 is loosened with respect
to the CSD finish
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212, the liner seal 208 loosens within the notches 196 before loosening from
the first edge 152.
As disclosed herein, venting pressurized gases through the notches 196 before
unsealing the
entirety of the first edge 152 substantially reduces the tendency for
carbonated contents to foam
and push out of the container 100. Coupling the liner seal 208 with the CSD
finish 212 permits
using a relatively greater carbon-dioxide content within the container so as
to increase the
longevity of the flavor-profile of the contents.
[0039] While the invention has been described in terms of particular
variations and illustrative
figures, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the invention
is not limited to the
variations or figures described. In addition, where methods and steps
described above indicate
certain events occurring in certain order, those of ordinary skill in the art
will recognize that the
ordering of certain steps may be modified and that such modifications are in
accordance with the
variations of the invention. Additionally, certain of the steps may be
performed concurrently in a
parallel process when possible, as well as performed sequentially as described
above. To the extent
there are variations of the invention, which are within the spirit of the
disclosure or equivalent to
the inventions found in the claims, it is the intent that this patent will
cover those variations as
well. Therefore, the present disclosure is to be understood as not limited by
the specific
embodiments described herein, but only by scope of the appended claims.
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