Container assembly for accommodating a beverage, a preform assembly for producing a container assembly and a method of producing a container assembly

Abstract

A container (10) assembly for accommodating a carbonated beverage defining a temperature dependent internal carbonization pressure comprises a beverage container (10, 12) having a body part defining an inner volume for accommodating the carbonated beverage and a cylindrical neck part defining a gas filled head space. The cylindrical neck part further defines a circumferential rim (16, 18) defining an opening (18, 20) and an outwardly oriented surface (24, 26) which extends between the rim (16, 18) and the body part, and has an outwardly oriented circumferential flange (20, 22). The beverage container (10, 12) further defines a burst pressure being higher than the temperature dependent internal carbonization pressure at room temperature. A closure (30, 32) is provided and comprises a closure plate (32, 34) and a cylindrical part. The closure plate (32, 34) covers the opening (18, 20) at the rim (16, 18) and the cylindrical part covers the neck part. The cylindrical part comprises a locking part for arresting the outwardly oriented circumferential flange (20, 22). A flexible sealing ring (10, 40) is provided and is movable between a first position in which the sealing ring (10, 40) is accommodated in a compressed state entirely within a circumferential cavity defined between the cylindrical part of the closure (30, 32) and the outwardly oriented surface (24, 26) of the neck part when the temperature dependent internal carbonization pressure is lower than or equal to the temperature dependent internal carbonization pressure at room temperature, and, a second position in which a larger part of the sealing ring (10, 40) is accommodated in a compressed state within the circumferential cavity, and a smaller part of the sealing ring (10, 40) is located in an uncompressed state within a groove (28, 30) in the cylindrical part and/or in the outwardly oriented surface (24, 26).

Claims

1. A container assembly for accommodating a carbonated beverage, said carbonated beverage defining a temperature dependent internal carbonization pressure, said container assembly comprising: a beverage container having a body part defining an inner volume for accommodating said carbonated beverage, and a cylindrical neck part defining a gas filled head space, said cylindrical neck part further defining a circumferential rim defining an opening, said beverage container further defining a burst pressure higher than said temperature dependent internal carbonization pressure at room temperature; an outwardly oriented surface extending circumferentially around said neck part below said rim, said outwardly oriented surface being interrupted by an indentation defining a groove in said outwardly oriented surface; a circumferential flange on said neck part below said outwardly oriented surface; a flexible sealing ring installed on said neck part above said outwardly oriented surface; and a closure comprising a closure plate and a cylindrical part extending from said closer plate, said closure plate configured for covering said opening at said rim, and said cylindrical part configured for circumferentially covering a portion of said neck part including said outwardly oriented surface and said circumferential flange, said cylindrical part comprising a locking part configured for snap fitting with said circumferential flange, wherein, when said closure is installed on said neck part, said cylindrical part defines, with said neck part and said outwardly oriented surface, a circumferential cavity in which said sealing ring is accommodated in a compressed state, said circumferential cavity being open to said groove in said outwardly oriented surface; wherein said flexible sealing ring is movable between a first position in which said sealing ring is accommodated in said compressed state entirely within said circumferential cavity to provide a seal between said neck part and said cylindrical part of said closure when said temperature dependent internal carbonization pressure is lower than or equal to a room temperature internal carbonization pressure, and a second position in which a larger part of said sealing ring is accommodated in a compressed state within said circumferential cavity, and a smaller part of said sealing ring is elastically deformed downward into said groove in an uncompressed state to break said seal in response to said temperature dependent internal carbonization pressure being higher than said room temperature internal carbonization pressure, thereby allowing fluid communication from said gas filled head space to the exterior of said beverage container through said circumferential cavity and said groove.

2. The container assembly according to claim 1, wherein said sealing ring is movable between said first position and said second position along said outwardly oriented surface of said neck part.

3. The container assembly according to claim 1, wherein said sealing ring is elastically deformable between said first position and said second position in a direction perpendicular to said outwardly oriented surface of said neck part.

4. The container assembly according to claim 1, wherein said beverage container is collapsible.

5. The container assembly according to claim 1, wherein said room temperature is between 0 C. and 60 C.

6. The container assembly according to claim 1, wherein said temperature dependent internal carbonization pressure at room temperature is between 0.5 barg and 8 barg.

7. The container assembly according to claim 1, wherein said sealing ring moves from said first position to said second position when said internal carbonization pressure is between 4 barg and 12 barg.

8. The container assembly according to claim 1, wherein said burst pressure is between 8 barg and 40 barg.

9. The container assembly according to claim 1, wherein said groove has a cross-sectional shape selected from the group consisting of circular, elliptic, rectangular, quadratic, and superelliptic.

10. The container assembly according to claim 1, wherein said sealing ring has a cross-sectional shape selected from the group consisting of circular, elliptic, rectangular, quadratic, and superelliptic.

11. The container assembly according to claim 1, wherein said groove has a cross sectional dimension in the range of 1 mm and 10 mm.

12. The container assembly according to claim 1, wherein said outwardly oriented surface is tapered towards said rim at the location of said groove.

13. The container assembly according to claim 1, wherein said cylindrical part of said closure is tapered towards said closure plate at the location of said groove.

14. A preform assembly for producing a container assembly, said preform assembly comprising: a preform configured for being blow-molded into a container having a body part defining an inner volume for accommodating a carbonated beverage, said carbonated beverage defining a temperature dependent internal carbonization pressure, and a cylindrical neck part defining a gas filled head space, said cylindrical neck part including a circumferential rim defining an opening, and an outwardly oriented surface extending circumferentially around said neck part below said rim, said outwardly oriented surface being interrupted by an indentation defining a groove in said outwardly oriented surface, said neck part further including a circumferential flange below said outwardly oriented surface; a closure comprising a closure plate and a cylindrical part extending from said closer plate, said closure plate configured for covering said opening at said rim, and said cylindrical part configured for circumferentially covering a portion of said neck part including said outwardly oriented surface and said circumferential flange, said cylindrical part comprising a locking part configured for snap fitting with said circumferential flange, wherein, when said closure is installed on said neck part, said cylindrical part defines a circumferential cavity with said neck part and said outwardly oriented surface, said circumferential cavity being open to said groove in said outwardly oriented surface; and a flexible sealing ring accommodated in said circumferential cavity and maintained in a compressed state by the cylindrical part of the closure, said flexible sealing ring being movable between a first position in which said sealing ring is accommodated in said compressed state entirely within said circumferential cavity to provide a seal between said neck part and said cylindrical part of said closure when said temperature dependent internal carbonization pressure is lower than or equal to a room temperature internal carbonization pressure, and a second position in which a larger part of said sealing ring is accommodated in a compressed state within said circumferential cavity, and a smaller part of said sealing ring is elastically deformed downward into said groove in an uncompressed state to break said seal in response to said temperature dependent internal carbonization pressure being higher than said room temperature dependent internal carbonization pressure, thereby allowing fluid communication from said gas filled head space to the exterior of said beverage container through said circumferential cavity and said groove.

15. A method of producing a container assembly, said method comprising the steps of: providing a beverage container having a body part defining an inner volume for accommodating a carbonated beverage and a cylindrical neck part defining a gas filled head space, said beverage container having a burst pressure higher than a temperature dependent internal carbonization pressure at room temperature of said carbonated beverage in said container, said cylindrical neck part defining a circumferential rim defining an opening, and an outwardly oriented surface extending circumferentially around said neck part below said rim, said outwardly oriented surface being interrupted by a groove defining an indentation in said outwardly oriented surface, said neck part further including a circumferential flange below said outwardly oriented surface; installing a flexible sealing ring around said neck part so as to seat against said outwardly oriented surface above said groove; and applying a closure to said neck part of said container, said closure comprising a closure plate and a cylindrical part extending from said closer plate, wherein applying said closure includes: covering said opening at said rim with said closure plate, and circumferentially covering a portion of said neck part including said outwardly oriented surface and said circumferential flange with said cylindrical part, whereby a circumferential cavity is formed above said outwardly oriented surface between said neck part and said cylindrical part of said closure, said circumferential cavity being open to said groove; and snapping a locking part of said cylindrical part onto said circumferential flange of said neck part, whereby said sealing ring is accommodated entirely in a compressed state within said circumferential cavity, wherein said sealing ring includes a portion that deforms downward into said groove in an uncompressed state in response to an internal temperature dependent internal carbonization pressure in said container being higher than said temperature dependent internal carbonization pressure at room temperature, thereby allowing fluid communication from said gas filled head space to the exterior of said beverage container through said circumferential cavity and said groove.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a beverage container according to the present invention.

(2) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a closure according to the present invention.

(3) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a container assembly when being assembled.

(4) FIG. 4A is a perspective view of a container assembly when assembled.

(5) FIG. 4B is a close-up perspective view of the sealing ring in the first state.

(6) FIG. 4C is a close-up perspective view of the sealing ring in the second state.

(7) FIG. 5A is a side view of the beverage container.

(8) FIG. 5B is a close-up view of the groove as shown in the previous figure.

(9) FIG. 5C is a side cut view of the beverage container.

(10) FIG. 5D is a top cut view of the beverage container.

(11) FIG. 5E is a close-up view of the groove as shown in the previous figure.

(12) FIG. 6A is a side view of the assembly when the sealing ring is in the first position.

(13) FIG. 6B is a side view of the assembly when the sealing ring is in the second position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(14) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a beverage container 10 according to the present invention. The beverage container 10 comprise a neck part 12 defining a gas filled head space and a body part 14 typically filled by carbonated beverage. The neck part is cylindrical and inherently joined to the body part 14. The body part 14 is only partially shown and is typically cylindrical having a size between two and twenty liters, however various shapes and sizes are contemplated. The beverage container 10 may be made of blow moulded plastic, e.g. PET.

(15) The neck part 12 comprises a circular rim 16 defining an opening 18 for accessing the interior of the beverage container 10. The neck part 12 further comprises a circumferential flange 20 and an optional additional flange 22. The circumferential flange 20 is used for closing off the beverage container 10 as will be described further below, whereas the optional additional flange 22 is used for handling the beverage container 10 during blow moulding, transport, etc so that the circumferential flange 20 may be preserved.

(16) The neck part 12 defines an outwardly oriented surface 24 extending between the rim 16 and the circumferential flange 20. The outwardly oriented surface 24 comprises an optional tapering 26 encircling the greater part of the circumference defined by the outwardly oriented surface 24 and a groove 28 which occupies the remaining smaller part of the circumference defined by the outwardly oriented surface 24. The groove 28 defines an indentation in the outwardly oriented surface 24.

(17) FIG. 2 shows a perspective cut view of a closure 30 according to the present invention. The closure 30 illustrated here is of the type used for larger containers 10 of about 5 liters and more. The closure 30 comprises a closure plate 32 which is closing off the opening 18 at the rim 16. The closure 30 further comprises a cylindrical part 34 which is covering the outwardly oriented surface 24 of the neck part 12.

(18) The cylindrical part 34 of the closure 30 further comprises a locking part 36 which is snap fitted onto the circumferential flange 20 so that the closure 30 is arrested to the beverage container 10. The locking part 36 is thereby located on the opposite side of the circumferential flange 20 as seen from the rim 16 of the beverage container 10. Access to the beverage container 10 is typically achieved by a piercable membrane 38 in the closure plate 32.

(19) The assembly comprising the beverage container 10 and the closure 30 further comprise a sealing ring 40 which is compressed or squeezed in a circumferential cavity established between the cylindrical part 34 of the closure 30 and the outwardly oriented surface 24 of the neck part 12 and between the rim 16 and the circumferential flange 20 of the neck part 12, preferably adjacent the tapering 26. A pressure tight sealing is thereby achieved by the elastical compression of the sealing ring 40 against the surfaces establishing the above mentioned cavity.

(20) FIG. 3 shows a perspective cut view of a container assembly comprising the beverage container 10, the closure 30 and the sealing ring 40. It is thereby understood that when assembling the container assembly selectively, the sealing ring 40 may be applied to the container 10 or the closure 30 before the container is filled and capped. The sealing ring is typically made of a flexible and elastic polymeric material such as rubber or a synthetic food-graded elastomer. The sealing ring 40 is typically torus shaped and should be dimensioned for a tight fit between the closure 30 and the beverage container 10.

(21) FIG. 4A shows a perspective cut view of the beverage container assembly when assembled and including carbonated beverage in equilibrium with the gas filled head space within the neck part 12 of the beverage container 10. The sealing ring 40 is applying a sealing pressure within the cavity between the cylindrical part 34 of the closure 30 and the outwardly oriented surface 24 of the neck part 12 as shown in the right side of the cut. At the location of the groove 28, which is shown at the left side of the cut, the sealing ring 40 still seals between the cylindrical part 34 of the closure 30 and the outwardly oriented surface 24 of the neck part 12.

(22) FIG. 4B shows a close-up perspective cut view of the sealing ring 40 in the first position at the location of the groove 28. The present situation shows the first position of the sealing ring 40 when the pressure inside the beverage container 10 is corresponding to the equilibrium pressure of the carbonated beverage at room temperature. The pressure force applied onto the sealing ring 40 is not sufficient for moving the sealing ring 40 to the second position.

(23) FIG. 4C shows a close-up perspective cut view of the sealing ring 40 in the second position at the location of the groove 28. The pressure inside the beverage container 10 is now elevated above the equilibrium pressure of the carbonated beverage at room temperature, e.g. by elevating the temperature of the beverage. When approaching the burst pressure of the beverage container 10, in order to prevent rupture of the beverage container 10, the increased pressure causes the sealing ring 40 to elastically deform and stretch at the location of the groove 28 so that the sealing ring 40, at the location of the groove 28, will move into the groove 28. The groove defines an enlarged distance between the cylindrical part 34 of the closure 30 and the outwardly oriented surface 24 of the neck part 12 compared to the tapering 26, and thus the sealing ring 40 will not be compressed at the location of the groove 28 and thus no sealing pressure is applied between the cylindrical part 34 of the closure 30 and the outwardly oriented surface 24 of the neck part 12 at the location of the groove 28 when in the second position.

(24) The lack of sealing pressure between the outwardly oriented surface 24 of the neck part 12 at the location of the groove 28 will allow some gas from the head space to escape from the inside of the beverage container 10 to the exterior of the beverage container 10 as shown by the arrows. When the pressure inside the beverage container is reduced to a safe level, the elastomeric sealing ring 40 will generally not resume the first position compressed between the cylindrical part 34 of the closure 30 and the outwardly oriented surface 24 of the neck part 12 but maintain the uncompressed position within the groove 28. In this way it may be established whether or not the container has been subjected to a pressure increase caused by e.g. high temperatures or uncontrolled fermentation. It is, however, contemplated that in some embodiments it may be appreciated to allow the sealing ring 40 to resume the first position instead of a one way function of the sealing ring 40.

(25) FIG. 5A/B shows a side view of the beverage container 10. In the present view, the groove 28 is viewed front-on. In the present embodiment, the groove is superelliptic; however, it may also be circular, rectangular or any other shape. The width of the groove is in the present embodiment between 1-2 mm.

(26) FIG. 5C shows a side cut view of the beverage container 10. In the present view, the groove 28 is viewed side-on illustrating the reduced diameter of the outwardly oriented surface 24 at the location of the groove 28.

(27) FIG. 5D/E show a top cut view of the beverage container 10. In the present view, it can be seen that the groove 28 forms an indentation in the outwardly oriented surface 24 of the neck part 12. The indentation is deeper than the circumference formed by outwardly oriented surface 24 outside the groove 28.

(28) FIG. 6A shows a side view of the assembly when the sealing ring 10 is in the first position. The sealing ring 40 is compressed between the cylindrical part (not shown) and the outwardly oriented surface 24 at a location above the groove 28.

(29) FIG. 6B shows a side view of the assembly when the sealing ring 10 is in the second position. The sealing ring 40 is at the location above the groove 28 stretched from the compressed position into a non-compressed position in the groove 28, thereby allowing gas to pass as illustrated by the arrows.

(30) It is evident to the skilled person that the above described embodiments only describe one out of numerous embodiments envisaged according to the present invention and that the above embodiments may be modified in numerous ways without departing from the inventive idea as described by the appending claims. As an example, both the tapering and the groove may be part of the closure instead of the neck part.

LIST OF PARTS WITH REFERENCE TO THE DRAWINGS

(31) 10. Beverage container

(32) 12. Neck part

(33) 14. Body part (partial view)

(34) 16. Rim

(35) 18. Opening

(36) 20. Circumferential flange

(37) 22. Additional flange

(38) 24. Outwardly oriented surface

(39) 26. Tapering

(40) 28. Groove

(41) 30. Closure

(42) 32. Closure plate

(43) 34. Cylindrical part

(44) 36. Locking part

(45) 38. Piercable membrane

(46) 40. Flexible sealing ring