The disclosures of each of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/425,769, which was filed on Nov. 16, 2022, and U.S. Design patent application No. 29/906,940, which was filed on Nov. 14, 2023, are hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes as if presented herein in their entireties.
The present disclosure generally relates to caps, covers, trays, and/or other constructs for covering and/or protecting a port, spout, and/or other features of a container. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to covers for a tap port or keg spout of a keg.
In general, one aspect of the disclosure is generally directed to a construct for covering a port of a container. The construct comprises a central panel and a plurality of panels extending at least partially around an interior of the construct. Panels of the plurality of panels can be foldably connected to the central panel. The construct further can comprise a plurality of locking edges. Each locking edge of the plurality of locking edges can be for engaging under a rim of the container, wherein the rim extends at least partially around the port. The central panel can contact a top of the rim opposite to the plurality of locking edges when the construct is engaged with the container to cover the port.
In another aspect, the disclosure is generally directed to, in combination, a container and a construct. The container can comprise a port and a rim extending at least partially around the port. The construct can at least partially cover the port of the container. The construct can comprise a central panel and a plurality of panels extending at least partially around an interior of the construct. Panels of the plurality of panels can be foldably connected to the central panel. The central panel can contact a top surface of the rim of the container and can extend over the port of the container. The construct further can comprise plurality of locking edges. Each locking edge of the plurality of locking edges can engage under the rim of the container opposite to the central panel.
In another aspect, the disclosure is generally directed to a blank for forming a construct for covering a port of a container. The blank can comprise a central panel and a plurality of panels for extending at least partially around an interior of the construct formed from the blank. Panels of the plurality of panels can be foldably connected to the central panel. The blank further can comprise a plurality of locking edges. Each locking edge of the plurality of locking edges can be for engaging under a rim of the container when the construct is formed from the blank, wherein the rim extends at least partially around the port. The central panel can contact a top of the rim opposite to the plurality of locking edges when the construct formed from the blank is engaged with the container to cover the port.
In another aspect, the disclosure is generally directed to a method of forming a construct. The method can comprise obtaining a blank comprising a central panel, a plurality of panels, and a plurality of locking edges. Panels of the plurality of panels can be foldably connected to the central panel. The method further can comprise forming the construct by folding the panels of the plurality of panels relative to the central panel so that the central panel and the plurality of panels extend at least partially around an interior of the construct. The method also can comprise engaging the construct with a rim of a container so that each locking edge of the plurality of locking edges engages under the rim of the container and the central panel contacts a top of the rim opposite to the locking edges.
Those skilled in the art will appreciate the above stated advantages and other advantages and benefits of various additional embodiments reading the following detailed description of the embodiments with reference to the below-listed drawing figures.
According to common practice, the various features of the drawings discussed below are not necessarily drawn to scale. Dimensions of various features and elements in the drawings may be expanded or reduced to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the disclosure.
Corresponding parts are designated by corresponding reference numbers throughout the drawings.
The construct of the present disclosure can be useful in covering and/or protecting a tap port of a keg or other pressure vessels or other suitable containers. In embodiments, the keg or other container can hold a beverage such as a carbonated beverage, a pressurized gas, a pressurized liquid, a pressurized gas and liquid mixture, or other suitable articles and/or materials. For example, the construct can be for covering/protecting a tap port of a beer keg. In this specification, the terms “inner,” “interior,” “outer,” “exterior,” “lower,” “bottom,” “upper,” and “top” indicate orientations determined in relation to fully erected and upright packages. As described herein, constructs can be formed from blanks by being glued with multiple panels, flaps, portions, and/or other features. Such panels, flaps, portions, and/or other features may be designated herein in terms relative to one another, e.g., “first,” “second,” “third,” etc., in sequential or nonsequential reference, without departing from the disclosure.
The blank 103 has a longitudinal axis L1 and a lateral axis L2. The blank 103 includes a top or central panel 110 foldably connected to a first side panel 112 (broadly, panel 112) at longitudinal fold lines 114. A second side panel 116 (broadly, panel 116) is foldably connected to the central panel 110 along longitudinal fold lines 118. A first end panel 120 (broadly, panel 120) is foldably connected to the central panel 110 along lateral fold lines 122, and a second end panel 124 (broadly, panel 124) is foldably connected to the central panel 110 along lateral fold lines 126.
In the illustrated embodiment, the blank 103 includes end flaps 130, 132 foldably connected at respective ends of the first end panel 120 along respective fold lines 134, 136. End flaps 138, 140 are respectively foldably connected at respective ends of the second end panel 124 along the respective fold lines 142, 144. Any of the central panel 110, the side panels 112, 116, the end panels 120, 124, and/or the end flaps 130, 132, 138, 140 could be omitted or could be otherwise shaped, arranged, positioned, and/or configured without departing from the disclosure. For example, the end flaps 130, 138, 132, 140 could be foldably connected to the respective side panels 112, 116.
In the illustrated embodiments, the blank 103 can include retention or locking features for helping to retain the erected construct 105 in engagement with the neck N of the keg C (e.g.,
The locking features further can include locking structures 150, 152 foldably connected to the respective end panels 120, 124 along respective lateral fold lines 154, 156. In the illustrated embodiments, each of the locking structures 150, 152 can include an attachment panel 158 foldably connected to the respective end panel 120, 124 along the respective lateral fold lines 154, 156 and two wing flaps or locking flaps 160 foldably connected to each of the attachment panels 158 along respective longitudinal fold lines 162. In embodiments, each of the locking flaps 160 can have a locking edge 164 (e.g., an inner locking edge) configured to engage under the rim R of the neck N as described in more detail below. The locking structures 150, 152 could be omitted or could be otherwise shaped, arranged, positioned, and/or configured without departing from the disclosure.
In the illustrated embodiments, the blank 103 can include opening features or access features for removing a portion of the central panel 110 to expose the tap port P for attachment of a tap (not shown) without requiring the removal of the entire construct 105 (e.g.,
The blank 103 could be otherwise shaped, arranged, positioned, and/or configured without departing from the disclosure. For example, one or both of the locking structures 150, 152 could be foldably connected to different panels of the blank 103.
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In the illustrated embodiment, as the end panels 120, 124 are folded upwardly relative to the central panel (
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In embodiments, when the construct 105 is fully pushed onto the neck N, the interior surface 102 of the central panel can engage, contact, and/or be positioned adjacent the upper surface of the rim R, and the rim R can be engaged by the locking features of the construct 105. For example, as the construct 105 moves into position on the neck N, the retention edges 148 of the panels 112, 116, 120, 124 and the locking edges 164 of the locking flaps 160 can move under the rim R as the central panel 110 moves against the rim R and portions of the rim R are received in the locking apertures 146 (
In the illustrated embodiment, the central panel 110 can be sized and shaped so that it covers the neck N and contacts the rim R around an interior of the neck N. For example, the central panel can have curved edges that extend along and/or adjacent the locking openings 146 so that the central panel contacts the upper surface of the rim R where the rim R extends through the locking openings 146 (
In exemplary embodiments, the construct 105 can be erected manually and/or by a forming system (e.g., a system for forming folded paperboard trays such as by plunging or other suitable systems and methods). Further, the erected construct 105 can be engaged with the neck N of the keg C by hand or by a suitable system. For example, erected constructs 105 can be fed to a system that originally applied plastic tap port covers to kegs and that has been modified to apply the paperboard constructs 105 of the present disclosure to tap ports. In another example, the system can be further modified to erect the flattened constructs 180 or the blanks 103 into the erected constructs 105 and then apply the erected constructs 105 to the tap ports P of respective kegs C.
In exemplary embodiments, the pre-glued flattened construct 180 can be delivered flat to forming equipment, which can form the erected construct 105 in a plunging motion. In embodiments, the locking flaps 160 will protrude upwardly and begin to position themselves in place while the glue flaps 130, 132, 138, 140 are engaged during the plunging motion of the forming equipment. In embodiments, the glue flaps 130, 132, 138, 140 are the mechanism that causes the integrated locking flaps 160 to position themselves (e.g., the glue flaps help cause the locking flaps to move into position). The forming equipment can plunge the construct so that the panels 112, 116, 120, 124 extend upwardly from the central panel 110 (e.g., in a semi-perpendicular position or other suitable position) and can glue the end flaps 130, 132, 138, 140 to the side panels 112, 116 to finish forming the construct 105. The formed constructs 105 can be stored and/or shipped/distributed, such as in packaging (e.g., loose-filled in a poly bag or other suitable packaging) and can be applied to a neck of a keg by hand or by an automated system.
In another example, the flattened constructs 180 can be efficiently stored and/or shipped in a case and can be delivered flat to a filling machine supply (e.g., feeder, hopper, etc.). The filling machine can be modified to form the erected construct 105 just before applying the construct 105 to the keg neck with an automated system (e.g., an existing system for applying caps to keg spouts, a modified existing system, a new system, and/or any other suitable system).
The construct 105 could be otherwise erected and/or applied to a tap port without departing from the disclosure.
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The constructs of the present disclosure can provide advantages over other structures used to protect and/or cover keg spouts/tap ports, such as plastic caps. For example, the blanks and constructs of the present application can be made entirely or predominantly of renewable materials that are readily recycled such as paperboard and/or other suitable materials. In contrast, plastic caps are made from materials that may be nonrenewable or less renewable and that may be more difficult or more costly to recycle or less likely to enter a recycling waste stream. Further, the constructs of the present application can be shipped and/or stored as flat blanks 103 and/or flattened constructs 180, which can save a significant amount of space in vehicles and storage facilities relative to molded plastic caps, which cannot be flattened. In addition, printed materials, such as product information, branding, promotions, etc. can be included more easily on paperboard constructs than other structures.
Any of the features of the various embodiments of the disclosure can be combined with, replaced by, or otherwise configured with other features of other embodiments of the disclosure without departing from the scope of this disclosure.
In general, the blank may be constructed from paperboard having a caliper so that it is heavier and more rigid than ordinary paper. The blank can also be constructed of other materials, such as cardboard, or any other material having properties suitable for enabling the carton to function at least generally as described above. The blank can be coated with, for example, a clay coating. The clay coating may then be printed over with product, advertising, and other information or images. The blank may then be coated with a varnish to protect information printed on the blanks. The blank may also be coated with, for example, a moisture barrier layer, on either or both sides of the blanks. The blank can also be laminated to or coated with one or more sheet-like materials at selected panels or panel sections.
In accordance with the exemplary embodiments, a fold line can be any substantially linear, although not necessarily straight, form of weakening that facilitates folding therealong. More specifically, but not for the purpose of narrowing the scope of the present disclosure, fold lines include: a score line, such as lines formed with a blunt scoring knife, or the like, which creates a crushed or depressed portion in the material along the desired line of weakness; a cut that extends partially into a material along the desired line of weakness, and/or a series of cuts that extend partially into and/or completely through the material along the desired line of weakness; and various combinations of these features. In situations where cutting is used to create a fold line, typically the cutting will not be overly extensive in a manner that might cause a reasonable user to incorrectly consider the fold line to be a tear line.
The above embodiments may be described as having one or more panels adhered together by glue during erection of the carton embodiments. The term “glue” is intended to encompass all manner of adhesives commonly used to secure carton panels in place.
The foregoing description of the disclosure illustrates and describes various exemplary embodiments. Various additions, modifications, changes, etc., could be made to the exemplary embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. It is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Additionally, the disclosure shows and describes only selected embodiments of the disclosure, but the disclosure is capable of use in various other combinations, modifications, and environments and is capable of changes or modifications within the scope of the inventive concept as expressed herein, commensurate with the above teachings, and/or within the skill or knowledge of the relevant art. Furthermore, certain features and characteristics of each embodiment may be selectively interchanged and applied to other illustrated and non-illustrated embodiments of the disclosure.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/425,769, filed on Nov. 16, 2022.
Number | Date | Country | |
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63425769 | Nov 2022 | US |