US 9,802,730 B2Granted

Methods of compensating for vacuum pressure changes within a plastic container

AssigneeCo2 Pac Limited

InventorsDavid Melrose, Paul Kelley, John Denner

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A plastic container comprises an upper portion including a finish adapted to receive a closure, a lower portion including a base, and a sidewall extending between the upper portion and the lower portion. The upper portion, the lower portion, and the sidewall define an interior volume for storing liquid contents. The plastic container further comprises a pressure panel located on the container and moveable between an initial position and an activated position. The pressure panel is located in the initial position prior to filling the container, and is moved to the activated position after filling and sealing the container. Moving the pressure panel from the initial position to the activated position reduces the internal volume of the container and creates a positive pressure inside the container. The positive pressure reinforces the sidewall. A method of processing a container is also disclosed.

Claims25

Dependent claims

A method of compensating for vacuum pressure changes within a plastic container, the method comprising:

a. Filling a plastic container with a heated liquid, the container having a longitudinal axis, an upper portion having an opening into the container, a body portion extending from the upper portion to a lower portion, the lower portion including a base, the base closing off an end of the container, the container having at least one substantially transversely oriented pressure panel located in the lower portion, a hinge circumscribing the pressure panel, wherein the lower portion includes an instep recessed inwardly into the container from a standing surface and the hinge joins the pressure panel to the instep, wherein the instep is recessed into the container to such an extent that the entire pressure panel is above the standing surface, the pressure panel comprising a control portion being inclined at an angle of between 100° and 135° relative to the opening into the container and a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis, the pressure panel comprising a centrally located push-up portion;
b. Capping or sealing the container;
c. Cooling the heated liquid to create a vacuum pressure;
and
d. Repositioning the base about the hinge from the inclined position to an inverted position by applying an external mechanical force to the base to reduce the vacuum pressure within the container.

2 more elements

A method of compensating for vacuum pressure changes within a plastic container, the method comprising:

a. Filling a plastic container with a heated liquid, the container having a longitudinal axis, an upper portion having an opening into the container, a body portion extending from the upper portion to a lower portion, the body portion including a vacuum portion that is relatively free of structural reinforcement and configured to deform inwardly and outwardly under pressure change, the lower portion including a base, the base closing off an end of the container, wherein the base includes a standing surface, the container having at least one substantially transversely oriented pressure panel located in the lower portion, a hinge circumscribing the pressure panel, wherein the lower portion further includes an instep recessed inwardly into the container from the standing surface and connecting to the pressure panel, wherein the instep is recessed into the container to such an extent that the entire pressure panel is above the standing surface, the pressure panel comprising a control portion being inclined at an angle of between 100° and 135° relative to the opening into the container and a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis, the pressure panel comprising a centrally located push-up portion;
b. Capping or sealing the container;
c. Cooling the heated liquid to create a vacuum pressure;
d. Compensating a first portion of the vacuum using the vacuum portion;
and
e. Repositioning the pressure panel about the hinge from the inclined position to an inverted position by applying an external mechanical force to the base to reduce a second portion of the vacuum pressure within the container.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/775,995Filed 25 Feb 2013 · division
Priority: NZ 52169430 Sep 2002
Published: US 2014/0034599 A16 Feb 2014
Granted: 31 Oct 2017
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification19 codes

B65D 1/46
Reinforcing or strengthening parts or members: local reinforcements, e.g. adjacent closures
B65B 3/022
Machines characterised by the incorporation of means for making the containers or receptacles: making containers by moulding of a thermoplastic…
B65B 3/04
Packaging plastic material, semiliquids, liquids or mixed solids and liquids, in individual containers or receptacles, e.g. bags, sacks, boxes,…:…
B65B 7/2835
By applying separate preformed closures, e.g. lids, covers: applying and rotating preformed threaded caps

Family

Application60/491,179Us provisional application · filed 30 Jul 2003
PCT/NZ03/00220Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 30 Sep 2003
Application60/551,771Us provisional application · filed 11 Mar 2004
PCT/US2004/024581Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 30 Jul 2004
Application11/413,124Parent of this division · filed 28 Apr 2006
Application11/413,124Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 28 Apr 2006
US 2014/0034599 A1Pre-grant publication · published 6 Feb 2014
US 8,381,940 B2Parent of this division
Application10/529,198Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 8,152,010 B2Parent of this continuation-in-part
Application10/566,294Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 7,726,106 B2Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 2006/0138074 A1Published application
US 2006/0255005 A1Published application
US 2007/0051073 A1Published application
US 9,802,730 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.