WO2006018611A1

WO2006018611A1 - Packaging article

Info

Publication number: WO2006018611A1
Application number: PCT/GB2005/003145
Authority: WO
Inventors: Peter Antony Farrar; John Hein; Anthony Henry Joseph Fraser; Benjamin Bryan Mortimer
Original assignee: Dubois Ltd
Current assignee: Dubois Ltd
Priority date: 2004-08-14
Filing date: 2005-08-11
Publication date: 2006-02-23
Anticipated expiration: 2007-02-14
Also published as: WO2006018611A9; GB0418234D0

Abstract

A beverage container comprising a container body (10) including an opening and removable closure means for closing said opening, the closure means comprising a foil (11) for sealing said opening and a shrinkable, expandable or curable member (13) for helping in securing the foil (11) to the container body (10). In another arrangement, the closure means comprising a cover of one or more layers of shrinkable plastic material covering the opening and shrinkable about the exterior thereof.

Description

Packaging Article

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to beverage containers, and particularly relates to containers for supplying beverages to consumers. The invention has particular utility for the storage and supply of carbonated and other sparkling drinks, but is also suitable for use with other types of drinks.

BACKGROUND ART

For many years there has been a desire among drinks suppliers and container manufacturers to provide practical wide-mouth beverage supply containers which consumers may drink from comfortably in the same manner as from a drinks glass or other drinking vessel. Despite the tremendous advantages that such a beverage container would provide for drinks suppliers, container manufacturers and consumers alike, no successful beverage container that fulfils these aims has yet been produced. Consequently, bottles and ring-pull cans currently remain the main practical beverage supply containers for consumers. This is because there are significant technical problems associated with wide-mouth containers to overcome, and no practical solution to the problems has successfully been devised. The present invention aims to provide a practical beverage container.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

A first aspect of the present invention provides a beverage container comprising a container body including an opening and removable closure means for closing said opening, the closure means comprising a foil for sealing said opening and a shrinkable, expandable or curable securing member for helping in securing the foil to the container body.

The securing member may be in the form of a collar for fitting around the exterior of the container body or a ring for fitting within the container body. A collar may, for instance, be shrinkable so its dimensions are reduced whereby it fits more tightly about the container

Alternatively, it may be expandable such that an increase in its dimensions causes an internal diameter thereof to be reduced whereby it engages the container body more tightly or engages under a lip of the container body.

Where the securing member is in the form of a collar, the collar may be part of a cap which, in use, covers the foil. The collar and/or cap may be formed of a relatively thin, flexible plastic, e.g. a polyolefin (especially polyethylene), or a vinyl polymer (especially poly vinyl chloride (PVC)). Alternatively, the collar and/or cap may be formed of a more rigid, self- supporting plastics material, e.g. a polyester, (especially a polycarbonate), or a plastics material which is initially relatively flexible but becomes more rigid upon curing. Polyolefins, vinyl polymers, polyesters, polyamides or mixtures or copolymers thereof may be used, for example. However, in general any shrinkable, expandable or curable polymer material (including mixtures and copolymers) may be used.

The term curing as used herein is to be understood to cover any form of treatment which changes the physical properties of a material, typically it includes treatment by the application of heat or the application of U-V radiation and typically alters the flexibility and/or rigidity of the material (whether or not it also causes expansion or contraction thereof as well). The curing preferably comprises cross-linking a polymer material, for example.

In a further arrangement, the present invention provides a beverage container comprising a container body including an opening and removable closure means for closing said opening, the closure means comprising a cover of one or more layers of shrinkable plastic material covering the opening and shrinkable about the exterior thereof. References to foil herein are to be understood to refer to a thin membrane and include impervious laminates comprising one or more layers which give the foil strength and one or more layers for attaching the upper and/or lower surface of the foil to another article. Such foils are widely used in other fields. Where the foil is to be secured by induction heating, an electrically conductive layer is required. This is usually a metallic layer and most commonly a layer of aluminium. The electrically conductive layer is typically provided with one or more plastic coatings, e.g. of polyethylene, which melt when the electrically conductive layer is heated to bond the foil to an article held in contact therewith. Such foils can be bonded to both glass and plastic articles.

The foil may be attached to a rim surrounding said opening and/or may extend over the interior or exterior surface of the container body adjacent said rim.

The foil may comprise a tab trapped under the securing member so that pulling the tab from its stored position assists in breaking or rupturing the securing member and removing the foil.

The foil may comprise a flap moveable from a stored position to a projecting position in which it can be grasped by the user to assist in removing the foil from the opening.

Said tab or flap may cover a venting hole in the foil which is opened when the tab or flap is moved from its stored position. Alternatively, lifting of the tab or flap may initiate peeling of the foil from the opening so as to provide venting thereof. Further peeling of the foil then removes it from the container. Said further peeling may be in the same direction as the lifting or initial peeling of the tab or flap or may be in a different direction, e.g. substantially perpendicular thereto. The closure may comprise two layers of foil, one covering the other. Removal of one layer may reveal a vent hole and/or tab of the other layer and removal of the other layer results in the container being opened.

Lifting of one layer of foil may initiate lifting of the other layer of foil. The two layers of foil may be secured together so they can be removed as one component from the container.

A separate cap may be provided over the closure means described above, preferably being a snap-fit onto the container body.

The container is typically formed of a plastics material, e.g. polyethylene terephthalate (PET), or of glass. The container is preferably shaped to resemble a conventional drinking vessel, e.g. a beer glass.

The securing member and/or cover preferably provides physical support for the foil, e.g. by limiting the extent to which it can be distorted by pressure increases within the container and/or by reinforcing the connection between the foil and the container. The securing member may be generally circular so it lies over the perimeter of the foil around the periphery of the opening and thus assists in holding the foil in contact with the container. In some cases this may also provide sufficient obstruction to limit bowing out of the foil due to internal pressure but, preferably, the member extends across the entire foil both to provide further obstruction to deflection of the foil, particularly at the centre thereof, but also to protect the foil against damage from physical contact with external objects which might puncture the foil and/or reduce its integrity. The securing member or cover thus strengthens and/or protects the connection of the foil with the container and provides puncture protection for the foil.

The securing member or cover may be made from a range of materials. Preferred polymer materials include polyolefin's (e.g. polyethylene), vinyl polymers (e.g. poly vinyl chloride), polyesters (e.g. polyethylene terephthalate), polyamides (e.g. Nylons), etc., or mixtures or copolymers thereof. The securing member or cover preferably is formed from a thermoplastic polymer material and/or an elastomeric material.

Venting means are preferably provided to allow pressure within the container to be vented prior to complete removal of the securing member or cover and/or the foil. If the foil is attached to the container controlled venting may be provided as the foil is peeled off the container.

The foil is preferably secured to the container in a manner capable of withstanding internal pressures of 1 - 2 bar or greater (as might arise if a carbonated drinks container is subject to high temperatures), e.g. up to about 6 bar. As well as preventing the egress of gas, the foil also protects the container from ingress of gas, so helps prevent contamination of the beverage and prevent it becoming stale. With such a foil, the beverage container can have a shelf-life of at least 9 months (as typically required for beers and other carbonated drinks sold in containers).

The foil may provide tamper evidence in that if the foil is intact it provides the consumer with reassurance that the product has not been tampered with or previously opened. In some embodiments, rupture of the securing member may also provide tamper evidence.

As indicated above, the closure means is preferably arranged to provide venting of the container as it is removed from the container. Venting preferably occurs in a controlled manner upon initial movement of the collar or cover. Controlled venting may be provided by piercing the foil prior to it being removed and/or as the foil starts to be peeled off the container.

In some cases, the foil may need to be strengthened to increase its puncture resistance and/or a protective component, e.g. a cardboard disk, which extends over the upper surface of the foil may be trapped between the foil and the securing member or cover. In such circumstances, the securing member preferably covers the upper periphery of the foil as well as extending around the external surface of the container. The foil also preferably has a skirt portion which extends over the external surface of the container adjacent its opening and is preferably crimped in place, e.g. under a lip of the container. The securing member may assist with the crimping and/or assist in holding the skirt of the foil in place.

The opening of the container body preferably is a wide-mouth opening. By a "wide-mouth opening" is meant (at least in its broadest sense) an opening of a size suitable for a person to drink from the container in the same manner as from a drinks glass or similar drinking vessel. That is, in its broadest sense, the wide-mouth opening of the container (for embodiments of the invention having a wide-mouth opening) generally renders the container suitable as a drinking vessel from which a beverage supplied in the container may be conveniently drunk (in contrast to conventional narrow-necked bottles and ring-pull cans which generally are not regarded as comfortable drinking vessels). In practice, this requirement means that the diameter of the wide-mouth opening of the container will normally need to be at least 40mm, preferably at least 45mm, and more preferably at least 50mm. Additionally, an excessively wide opening is generally difficult for the consumer to drink from, and thus the wide-mouth opening preferably has a diameter no greater than 150mm, more preferably no greater than 100mm, and especially no greater than 80mm. A particularly preferred diameter range for the wide- mouth opening is 50 to 80mm, and examples of particular preferred diameters included 53mm and 63mm.

The invention is, however, also applicable to a container having a narrower mouth, e.g. in the form of a bottle. The container body preferably has no projecting thread or thread segments on its exterior. Consequently, the container body preferably is comfortable for a consumer to drink directly from the container body.

As indicated at the beginning of this specification, although the containers described herein may be used for other types of beverages, the invention relates to the storage and supply of carbonated and other sparkling drinks, for example beers, ciders, sparkling wines (including champagne), other fizzy alcoholic beverages, and non-alcoholic fizzy and sparkling beverages, including sparkling water and carbonated soft drinks.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided closure means for a beverage container as described herein.

In addition, the invention relates to the use of a beverage container of the type described for containing a carbonated beverage and to a method of sealing such a container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention will now be further described, merely by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure IA to 1C show partial, perspective views of a first embodiment of a beverage container according to the invention and illustrate three stages in the removal of closure means therefrom; and

Figures 2A to 2E show partial, perspective views of a second embodiment of a beverage container according to the invention and illustrate five stages in the removal of closure means therefrom.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Figures 1A-1C show a container comprising a container body 10 and closure means 11. The closure means 11 comprises a foil 12 sealing the opening of the container and a plastic collar 13 to assist in securing the foil 12 to the container 10.

The plastic collar is formed of shrinkable material so it can be fitted in place when of an initial large size and subsequently shrunk so as to be secured to the container body 10 once it has been located in the desired position. The collar 13 may be formed of a plastic material which shrinks upon application of heat and/or U-V radiation. Alternatively, it may initially be relatively flexible so it can be stretched sufficiently to locate it on the container and then made more rigid so it is secured thereto. This change of property may be transient, e.g. by the application of heat to make the plastic temporarily more flexible, or may be permanent, e.g. by the application of heat to harden the plastic material once the collar 13 is in place. The collar preferably fits beneath a projecting lip 1OA of the container as shown in Figure 1C.

The closure means also comprises an opening tab 14. In the illustrated embodiment, the tab 14 comprises a foil/plastic laminate, i.e. it comprises a layer of foil which is an extension of the foil 12 and a layer of plastic which is an extension of the collar 13. These two layers are preferably bonded together after the plastic collar 13 has been fitted to the container body 10 over the foil 12.

Figure IA shows the container in the closed configuration. As shown, lines of weakness 13A are provided in the plastic collar 13 on each side of the tab 14. Thus, when tab 14 is lifted, a portion of the collar 13 is broken away (and remains attached to the tab 14) to enable the foil to be peeled off the container.

In the arrangement shown, the foil 11 comprises a flap HA to which the tab 14 is attached. Lifting the tab 14, and hence the flap HA, reveals a vent hole HB in an area of the foil previously covered by the flap HA (as shown in Figure IB). The foil 11 can then be peeled off the container by pulling the tab 14 and flap HA upwards as shown in Figure 1C. As will be seen, the direction in which the foil 11 is peeled off the container in Figure 1C is perpendicular to the direction in which fiap HA is peeled to reveal the vent hole as shown in Figure IB.

The plastic collar 13 may be removed prior to peeling the foil 11 off the container or may remain in place (as shown in Figure 1C).

Figures 2A-2E show a second embodiment which comprises a container body 20 and closure means 21. The closure means 21 comprises a foil having first and second layers 22A, 22B and a plastic collar 23. The first layer 22A of the foil comprises an apertured part which can be lifted up to the position shown in Figure 2A. This provides a handle whereby the remainder of the first layer 22A can be peeled off the second layer (as shown in Figure 2B) to reveal a vent hold 22C in the second layer 22B (as shown in Figure 2C).

The first layer 22A remains connected to the closure means 21 in this position as it has a first tab 22D which is trapped under the plastic collar 23. The plastic collar has weakened areas 23A on each side of the tab 22D so by pulling the first layer 22A away from the container, the tab 22D breaks the collar 23 along these lines of weakness (as shown in Figure 2D).

The collar 23 can then be removed leaving the second layer of foil 22B to be peeled off the container. As shown in Figure 2E, the second layer is preferably provided with a second tab 22E which can be grasped to pull the foil off the container body. Preferably, the second tab 22E lies under the first tab 22D so is not revealed until the first layer of foil 22A has been removed. The plastic collar 23 of the second embodiment may be similar to that described above for the first embodiment.

In either embodiment, the securing member may be in the form of a collar as described above or in the form of a cap which includes such a collar, the cap extending over a foil sealing the container opening.

In other embodiments, the collar may have one or more parts which engage in a recess or series of recesses provided in the external surface of the container body instead of, or in addition to, engaging beneath a lip of the container to secure the collar to the container.

As previously indicated, other forms of securing member may be provided which is formed of a material which can be treated to change the physical properties thereof so as to allow the member to be fitted to the container in a first state and to then be secured thereto in a second state to assist in securing the foil which provides a seal across the container opening.

Although the member preferably comprises a collar for fitting around the exterior of the container (preferably beneath a lip around the mouth of the container) other forms of member may fit around the interior of the container mouth.

In a further embodiment (not shown), instead of a shrinkable collar, a shrinkable cover is provided which fits over the container opening. Preferably, a foil is provided to seal the opening and the shrinkable cover covers this so as to help secure the foil to the container and/or to provide additional puncture resistance. The shrinkable cover may be formed of a shrinkable plastics material such as that used to cover known container closures, e.g. to cover a cork in a wine bottle.

Such a cover may also have a laminated structure. It may, for example, include a shrinkable plastic layer, an aluminium foil layer (as well as plastics layers for bonding the foil to the cover and/or the container) and an optional re-enforcement layer, e.g. of nylon.

The arrangements described assist in securing a foil to a container body and, preferably, assist in maintaining a seal between the foil and the container body.

Claims

1. A beverage container comprising a container body including an opening and removable closure means for closing said opening, the ciosure^{^}means comprising a foii for sealing said opening and a shrinkable, expandable or curable securing member for helping in securing the foil to the container body.

2. A beverage container as claimed in claim 1 in which the securing member is in the form of a collar for fitting around the exterior of the container body or a ring for fitting within the container body.

3. A beverage container as claimed in claim 2 in which the collar is part of a cap which, in use, covers the foil.

4. A beverage container as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 in which the securing member fits beneath a projecting lip of the container body.

5. A beverage container as claimed in any preceding claim in which the securing member has one or more portions which engage in one or more recesses in an external surface of the container body.

6. A beverage container as claimed in any preceding claim in which the foil comprises a tab trapped under the securing member so that pulling the tab assists in breaking or rupturing the securing member and removing the foil.

7. a beverage container as claimed in any preceding claim in which the foil comprises a flap moveable from a stored position to a projecting position in which it can be grasped by the user to assist in removing the foil from the opening.

8. A beverage container as claimed in claim 6 or 7 in which said tab or flap covers a venting hole in the foil which is opened when the tab or flap is moved from its stored position.

9. A beverage container as claimed in claim 6, 7 or 8 in which lifting of the tab or flap initiates peeling of the foil from the opening so as to provide venting thereof.

10.A beverage container as claimed in claim 9 in which further peeling of the foil removes it from the container.

ll.A beverage containers as claimed in claim 10 in which said further peeling is in the same direction as the lifting or initial peeling of the tab or flap or in a different direction, e.g. substantially perpendicular thereto.

12. A beverage container as claimed in any preceding claim in which the closure comprises two layers of foil, one covering the other.

13. A beverage container as claimed in claim 12 in which removal of a first layer of foil reveals a vent hole and/or tab of the second layer of foil and removal of the second layer of foil results in the container being opened.

14. A beverage container as claimed in claim 12 or 13 in which lifting of a first layer of foil initiates lifting of the second layer of foil.

15.A beverage container as claimed in claim 12, 13 or 14 in which the two layers of foil are secured together so they can be removed as one component from the container.

16.A beverage container as claimed in any preceding claim comprising a separate cap provided over the closure means.

17. A beverage container as claimed in any preceding claim in which the securing member provides physical support for the foil and/or reinforces the connection between the foil and the container.

18. A beverage container as claimed in any preceding claim in which the opening of the container body is a wide-mouth opening.

19. A beverage container as claimed in claim 18 in which the container body has no projecting thread or thread segments on its exterior.

20.A beverage container comprising a container body including an opening and removable closure means for closing said opening, the closure means comprising a cover of one or more layers of shrinkable plastic material covering the opening and shrinkable about the exterior thereof.

21.A beverage container as claimed in claim 20 in which the closure means comprises a foil for sealing said opening, the cover providing physical support for the foil and/or reinforces the connection between the foil and the container.

22. Closure means for use in providing a beverage container as claimed in any preceding claim.

23.A container body adapted to receive closure means as claimed in claim 22.

24. Use of a beverage container as claimed in any of claims 1-21 for containing^ carbonated beverage.

25.A method of sealing an opening of a container, the method comprising applying closure means to a container body, and shrinking, expanding or curing at least part of the closure means so as to secure the closure means to the container body.

26. A method as claimed in claim 25 in which the closure means includes a foil for sealing said opening.