Method and closure and container combination for reducing headspace gas

The method for filling a container with a commodity that reduces structural stresses of said container resulting from changes in gas pressure within said container wherein said container has a finish with an opening at one end for attaching a closure, a generally tubular body adjacent to said finish, a base adjacent to said body that closes off an end of said body opposite said end of said body adjacent to said finish, an d made substantially o f a polyester material, wherein said closure has a member protruding into said opening, said method comprising the steps of:

• preparing the container for filling;
• filling the container with the commodity at an elevated temperature to a surface level;
• allowing a headspace above said surface level sufficient to generally minimize spillage of the commodity while handling the container without the closure;
• attaching the closure wherein the member displaces at least 25% of gases in said headspace;
• cooling the container filled with the commodity to substantially room temperature;
• and
• storing the container filled with the commodity.

A method for filling a container with a commodity that reduces structural stresses of said container resulting from changes in gas pressure within said container wherein said container has a finish with an opening at one end for attaching a closure, a generally tubular body adjacent to said finish, a base adjacent to said body that closes off an end of said body opposite said end of said body adjacent to said finish, and made substantially of a polyester material, wherein said closure has a member protruding into said opening, said method comprising the steps:

• preparing the container for filling;
• filling the container with the commodity to a surface level;
• allowing a headspace above said surface level sufficient to generally minimize spillage of the commodity while handling the container without the closure;
• attaching the closure wherein the member displaces at least 25% of gases in said headspace;
• heat-treating the container filled with the commodity with one of a pasteurization process and retort process;
• cooling the container filled with the commodity to substantially room temperature;
• and
• storing the container filled with the commodity

A method for filling a polyester container with a commodity wherein said container has a wide-mouth finish with a wide-mouth opening at one end for attaching a closure, a generally tubular body adjacent to said wide-mouth finish, and a base adjacent to said body that closes off an end of said body opposite said end of said body adjacent to said wide-mouth finish, wherein said closure has a member protruding into said opening, said method comprising the steps of:

• preparing the container for filling;
• filling the container with the commodity at an elevated temperature to a surface level;
• allowing a headspace above said surface level sufficient to generally minimize spillage of the commodity while handling the container without the closure;
• attaching the closure wherein the member displaces at least 25% of gases in said headspace;
• and
• cooling the container filled with the commodity to substantially room temperature such that the container is generally free of noticeable distortion.

A closure and container combination, wherein said container contains a commodity and a headspace gas, and said closure displaces a portion of said headspace gas, comprising:

• means for engaging said closure to a finish of said container;
• a headspace-displacing member attached to said closure;
• a clearance defined between said headspace-displacing member and said finish;
• and
• means for sealing said closure against a sealing surface of said finish.