# US 10,870,505 B2 · Articles and methods for forming liquid films on surfaces, in devices incorporating the same

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- Number: US 10,870,505 B2
- Document ID: US10870505B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/488,746
- Filed: 2014-09-17
- Published: 2015-03-19
- Granted: 2020-12-22
- Earliest claimed: 2013-09-17
- Assignees: LiquiGlide Inc.
- Applicants: LiquiGlide Inc.
- Inventors: J. David Smith; Kripa Varanasi; Brian Jordan; Carsten Boers
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10870505B2

## CPC

- B65B 3/04: Methods of, or means for, filling the material into the containers or receptacles
- B65B 3/16: for filling collapsible tubes (for filling valve bags B65B3/17)
- B65B 29/00: Packaging of materials presenting special problems
- B65D 23/02: Linings or internal coatings
- B65D 23/04: Means for mixing or for promoting flow of contents (hydro-dynamic means for influencing the flow of liquids F15D)
- B65D 25/14: Linings or internal coatings (of containers made by folding or erecting blanks made of paper B65D5/56 {; linings for domestic water storage heaters F24H1/183})
- B65D 2231/001: the container being a bag
- B65D 2231/005: the container being rigid
- Y10T 428/13: Hollow or container type article [e.g., tube, vase, etc.]
- B65B: MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING (bundling and pressing devices for cigars A24C1/44; devices for tensioning and securing binders adapted to be supported by the article or articles to be bound B25B25/00; applying closure members to bottles, jars or similar containers B67B1/00-B67B6/00; concurrent cleaning, filling and closing of bottles B67C7/00; emptying bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels or similar containers B67C9/00)
- 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
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

Embodiments described herein relate to articles and methods for forming liquid surface films on the interior surfaces of containers for holding one or more products comprising one or more Bingham plastic materials. Bingham plastic materials behave as a solid under no or low shear stress, and behave as viscous liquids when an applied shear stress exceeds a yield stress. In some embodiments, a container for containing a product includes an interior surface and a liquid disposed on the interior surface. Before introduction of a product into a container, the liquid may be surrounded by air. The liquid-air interface in contact with the interior surface makes a contact angle, θos(a), with respect to the interior surface of the container, of about 0°. After a product has been introduced to the container, the liquid is at least partially covered by the product. The liquid-product interface in contact with the interior surface, makes a contact angle, θos(p), with respect to the interior surface, of less about 60°. The subscript “o” denotes the liquid, subscript “s” denotes the interior surface, subscript “a” denotes air, and subscript “p” denotes a product. In some embodiments, the contact angle θos(p) can be less than about 50°, less than about 40°, or less than about 30°.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus for containing a product, the apparatus comprising:
a container having an interior surface; and
a liquid disposed on the interior surface;
wherein the interior surface and the liquid are configured such that: (i), the liquid covers substantially all of the interior surface in the absence of a product, (ii) the liquid is separated into patches upon contact between the liquid and the product, the patches covering most of the interior surface, (iii) a liquid-air interface has a contact angle, Θos(a), of about 0°, and (iv) a liquid-product interface has a contact angle, Θos(p), between about 1° and about 30° with respect to the interior surface,
wherein subscript “o” denotes the liquid, subscript “s” denotes the interior surface, subscript “a” denotes air, and subscript “p” denotes the product; and
wherein the product is a Bingham plastic.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the contact angle Θos(p) is a receding contact angle.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein Θos(a) is a receding contact angle and equal to about 0°, and Θos(p) is a receding contact angle and is between about 0° and about 30°.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the liquid is an additive or contains an additive.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the liquid is substantially flavorless or substantially odorless.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the liquid has a viscosity of less than 1000 cP at room temperature.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein Θos(a) and Θos(p) are receding contact angles.

### Claim 8

An apparatus comprising:
a container having an interior surface defining an inner volume;
a liquid having a first density disposed on the interior surface; and
a product having a second density disposed in the inner volume of the container, the second density approximately equal to the first density,
wherein the interior surface and the liquid are configured such that: (i) the liquid covers substantially all of the interior surface in the absence of a product, (ii) the liquid is separated into patches upon contact between the liquid and the product, the patches covering most of the interior surface, (iii) a liquid-air interface has a contact angle, Θos(a) of about 0°, and (iv) a liquid-product interface has a contact angle, Θos(p), of between about 1° and about 30° with respect to the interior surface, wherein subscript “o” denotes the liquid, subscript “s” denotes the interior surface, subscript “a” denotes air, and subscript “p” denotes the product, and
wherein the product is a Bingham plastic.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein Θos(a) and Θos(p) are contact angles of sessile drops.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein Θop(a) is about 0°, and wherein Θop(a) is a receding contact angle or an advancing contact angle.

### Claim 11 (depends on 2)

The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the product is a food or a drug.

### Claim 12 (depends on 4)

The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the additive is an FDA approved drug or an inactive drug ingredient.

### Claim 13 (depends on 2)

The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the liquid is immiscible with water, and the product is water-based.

### Claim 14 (depends on 2)

The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the liquid is insoluble in oil, and the product is oil-based.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the liquid has a vapor pressure equal to or less than the vapor pressure of water.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the interior surface is at least one of rough, textured, and porous.

### Claim 17 (depends on 2)

The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the product is toothpaste.

### Claim 18 (depends on 2)

The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the product has a yield stress greater than zero prior to flowing.

### Claim 19 (depends on 2)

The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the Bingham plastic is at least one of a toothpaste, a ketchup, a margarine, a mayonnaise, an uncured cement, an uncured concrete, a bitumen, a grease, a molten polymer, a gel, a lotion, a drug, or a paint.

### Claim 20 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein Θop(a) is about 0°, and where Θop(a) is a receding contact angle or an advancing contact angle.

### Claim 21 (depends on 8)

The apparatus of claim 8, wherein Θop(a) is about 0°, and where Θop(a) is a receding contact angle or an advancing contact angle.