The present invention relates generally to the field of containers. The present invention relates specifically to a container including a strainer.
One embodiment of the invention relates to a food container including a sidewall having an inner surface, an outer surface, a first end and a second end. The sidewall defines an interior cavity. A strainer is coupled to the sidewall and is located within the interior cavity of the sidewall between the first and second ends of the sidewall. In one such embodiment, a can end wall is hermetically sealed to the first end to close the first end.
Another embodiment of the invention relates to a metal food can including a metal sidewall having an inner surface, an outer surface, a first end and a second end. An end wall is coupled to the first end of the sidewall. A planar sheet of material which includes a plurality of holes sized to separate liquid from solid container contents is coupled to the inner surface of the sidewall between the first and second ends of the sidewall.
Another embodiment of the invention relates to a method for making a metal food can having an internal strainer including the step of providing a metal tube having a sidewall, an inner surface, an upper end and a lower end. An upper flange is formed at the upper end of the metal tube and a lower flange is formed at the lower end of the metal tube. A strainer is inserted into the interior of the metal tube. The strainer is coupled to the inner surface of the metal tube such that the strainer is located in the interior of the metal tube. A can end is coupled to the upper flange.
Alternative exemplary embodiments relate to other features and combinations of features as may be generally recited in the claims.
This application will become more fully understood from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements in which:
Before turning to the figures, which illustrate the exemplary embodiments in detail, it should be understood that the present application is not limited to the details or methodology set forth in the description or illustrated in the figures. It should also be understood that the terminology is for the purpose of description only and should not be regarded as limiting.
Referring to
Sidewall 16 includes a first end, shown as upper end 26, and a second end, shown as lower end 28. Sidewall 16 may be made from metal and includes an upper flange 30 defining the upper opening of the sidewall and a lower flange 32 defining a lower opening of the sidewall. The assembled or sealed can 10 is formed by coupling end wall 12 to upper end 26 of sidewall 16 and by coupling end wall 14 to lower end 28 of sidewall 16. In one embodiment, end wall 12 is coupled to sidewall 16 by folding or crimping together the material of the periphery of can end 12 with flange 30 to form a seam of interlocked portions of sidewall and can end material, and end wall 14 is coupled to sidewall 16 by folding or crimping together the material of the periphery of can end 14 with flange 32 to form a seam of interlocked portions of sidewall and can end material.
Sidewall 16 includes an inner surface 34 and an outer surface 36. Sidewall 16 includes a plurality of body beads 38. Body beads 38 are a series of inwardly extending beads centrally located on sidewall 16 that are configured to strength sidewall 16 and to allow for expansion of sidewall 16 during heating or cooking of can 10.
Can 10 includes an interior cavity defined by inner surface 34 of sidewall 16. Can 10 includes a strainer 40 positioned with the interior cavity of can 10. As shown in
Strainer 40 is coupled to inner surface 34 of sidewall 16. In one embodiment, strainer 40 includes a perforated sheet or plane of material that extends between opposing inner surfaces of sidewall 16 and is distinct from end wall 12. In one embodiment, strainer 40 is not coupled to sidewall 16 via a seam or double seam such as the seam that couples end wall 12 to sidewall 16.
Strainer 40 is a substantially planar piece of material that includes a plurality of holes 42. Holes 42 are sized to separate or strain liquid material (e.g., water, brine, oil, etc.) from the solid contents of can 10 (e.g., vegetables, meat, pasta, cooked vegetables, etc.). Thus, holes 42 are sized to allow liquids (or any other unwanted container contents) to pass through holes 42, but are small enough to prevent a significant portion of the solid container contents from passing through. As shown, holes 42 are substantially circular holes. However, in other embodiments, holes 42 be other shapes, including square, rectangular, elliptical, crescent, etc. Holes 42 may be sized to be smaller than the size of the average sized piece of solid container contents. In various embodiments, the diameter of holes 42 may be less than about ½ an inch, less than about a ¼ inch, between about a ¼ inch and a ½ inch, between about a ⅛ inch and a ¼ inch and/or between about 1/16 inch and ⅛ inch.
In use, can 10 is inverted following removal of can end 12 to allow liquid within can 10 to flow through holes 42. In one embodiment, the coupling between strainer 40 and sidewall 16 must be sufficiently strong such that strainer 40 can support the weight of the container contents when can 10 is in the inverted position. After the liquid has been drained, can 10 is placed right side up (i.e., with can end 14 facing downward). The user than grasps tab 44 to peel strainer 40 from inner surface 34 and to remove strainer 40 from the interior cavity of can 10. With strainer 40 removed from can 10, the user may then pour the solid contents of can 10 out through the opening located at upper end 26.
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
In the embodiment, shown in
Bead 48 includes an upper surface 60 that generally faces upper can end 12, and strainer 40 includes a lower surface 62 that generally faces lower can end 14. A peripheral portion 64 of lower surface 62 of strainer 40 contacts upper surface 60 of bead 48. Peripheral portion 64 of lower surface 62 of strainer 40 is adhered to or affixed to upper surface 60 of bead 48 to couple strainer 40 to sidewall 16.
In one embodiment, the lower surface of peripheral portion 64 includes an adhesive that couples strainer 40 to bead 48. In one embodiment, the coupling (e.g., the adhesive strength or bond strength between strainer 40 and bead 48) is sufficiently strong to support the container contents during straining and sufficiently releasable to allow the user to break the bond between the strainer 40 and bead 48 in order to remove strainer 40 via application of force to tab 44. In another embodiment, strainer 40 may include a score or other weakened material allowing the center portion of strainer 40 to break away from the portion of strainer 40 coupled to bead 48.
Strainer 40 may be made from any material suitable for straining and/or food contacting applications. In one embodiment, strainer 40 is made from a non-reactive material suitable for contacting acidic foods. Strainer 40 may be made from a laminate or foil type material that is heat sealed onto bead 48. In some embodiments, the strainer 40 is a metal foil (e.g., aluminum foil, steel foil, etc.), having a thickness substantially between 1/1000 to 1/100-inch. The metal foil includes an outer (top, outside, etc.) layer (e.g., coating) of a polymer (e.g., polyethylene terephthalate), a middle layer (e.g., substrate) of foil or other metal, and a bottom layer (e.g., 70 microns thick) of a thermoplastic (e.g., polypropylene), where the outer layers are applied via a coextrusion process. The polypropylene is configured to be heated and used as an adhesive. In this embodiment, heated polypropylene of strainer 40 is brought into contact with the upper surface of bead 48. As the polypropylene cools and solidifies, strainer 40 is bonded to bead 48. In other embodiments, the metal foil includes additional layers of different materials, and/or layers of similar materials in different arrangements (e.g., order). In still other embodiments, strainer 40 is plastic or composite (e.g., plastic foil with one or more coatings thereon) sheet of material.
Referring to
As shown in
Referring to
In one embodiment, gap G may be between about zero inches and about a half inch, specifically between about zero inches and about a quarter inch, and more specifically, between a about a quarter inch and about a sixteenth of an inch. In one embodiment, gap G is about an eighth of an inch, and in another embodiment, gap G is at least an eighth of an inch. In another embodiment, gap G is between about 2 percent and 10 percent of the diameter of strainer 40, specifically is between about 3 percent and 7 percent of the diameter of strainer 40, and more specifically, is between about 3 percent and 5 percent of the diameter of strainer 40. In one embodiment, gap G is between about 4 percent and 5 percent of the diameter of strainer 40. In one embodiment, gap G is at least 3 percent of the diameter of strainer 40.
Referring to
Referring to
In other embodiments, a strainer, such as strainers 40 or 102, may be positioned or supported within the interior cavity of sidewall 16 via other mechanisms. For example, in one embodiment, the peripheral section of the material of the strainer may be positioned between the material of the sidewall and can end within end seam 50. Thus, in this embodiment, the strainer may be coupled to sidewall 16 via the interlocking of material that occurs within the end seam. In one such embodiment, the planar piece of foil or laminate material that forms the strainer may be positioned close to or in contact with the lower surface of can end 12 such that distance D is substantially zero.
Referring to
Pull-off, upper can end 128 includes an inner portion 132, an outer portion 134, a weakened area, shown as score line 136, and a tab 138. Tab 138 is coupled to inner portion 132. To open can 120, the user grasps tab 138 and pulls upward causing inner portion 132 to separate from outer portion 134 along score line 136. With inner portion 132 removed, the contents of the container may be accessed through the opening left by inner portion 132. Outer portion 134 remains coupled to sidewall 126 following removal of inner portion 132 leaving a rim or lip 142 extending toward the interior of the container.
Container 120 includes an additional bead, shown as guard bead 140, formed in sidewall 126. Guard bead 140 is formed in sidewall 126 and is positioned above strainer 122 and below upper can end 128 or between strainer 122 and upper can end 128. Guard bead 140 is also positioned above collapsed bead 124 and below upper can end 128 or between collapsed bead 124 and upper can end 128. As noted above, after the liquid within the container is drained using strainer 122, the user then reaches through the upper opening of the can to grasp the strainer tab to remove the strainer providing access to the solid contents of the container. Guard bead 140 acts to limit or prevent contact between a user's fingers and rim 142 during removal of the strainer.
Referring to
In various embodiments, tab 44 of the strainer may be configured or positioned as to limit or prevent inadvertent contact between rim 66 (shown in
Referring to
At the step shown in
At the step shown in
The containers discussed herein may be formed from any material, including metals, plastics, ceramics and glasses. According to an exemplary embodiment, the containers discussed herein are formed from metal, such as tin-coated steel or aluminum. In some embodiments, the containers discussed herein are formed from aluminum and the can ends are formed from tin-coated steel. In other embodiments, other metals or materials (e.g., polymers, high-temperature plastic, thermoplastics, cardboard, ceramic, etc.) are used to form some or all of the container.
Containers discussed herein may include containers of any style, shape, size, etc. For example, the containers discussed herein may be shaped such that cross-sections taken perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the container are generally circular. However, in other embodiments the sidewall of the containers discussed herein may be shaped in a variety of ways (e.g., having other non-polygonal cross-sections, as a rectangular prism, a polygonal prism, any number of irregular shapes, etc.) as may be desirable for different applications or aesthetic reasons. In various embodiments, the sidewall of can 10 may include one or more sections that are curved in the axial direction or may include one or more sections that are continuously curved in the axial direction. In one embodiment, can 10 may be hourglass shaped. Can 10 may be of various sizes (e.g., 3 oz., 8 oz., 12 oz., 15 oz., 28 oz, etc.) as desired for a particular application.
Further, a container may include a container end (e.g., a closure, lid, cap, cover, top, end, can end, sanitary end, “pop-top”, “pull top”, convenience end, convenience lid, pull-off end, easy open end, “EZO” end, etc.). The container end may be any element that allows the container to be sealed such that the container is capable of maintaining a hermetic seal. In an exemplary embodiment, the upper can end may be an “EZO” convenience end, sold under the trademark “Quick Top” by Silgan Containers Corp.
The upper and lower can ends discussed above are shown as “double seams” formed from the interlocked portions of material of the can sidewall and the can end. However, in other embodiments, the can ends discussed herein may be coupled to the sidewall via other mechanisms. For example, can ends may be coupled to the sidewall via welds or solders. As shown above, the containers discussed herein are three-piece cans having an upper can end, a lower can end and a sidewall each formed from a separate piece of material. However, in other embodiments, a two-piece can (i.e., a can including a sidewall and an end wall that are integrally formed and a separate can end component joined to the sidewall via a double seam) may be provided with an internal strainer as discussed herein.
In various embodiments, the upper can end may be a closure or lid attached to the body sidewall mechanically (e.g., snap on/off closures, twist on/off closures, tamper-proof closures, snap on/twist off closures, etc.). In another embodiment, the upper can end may be coupled to the container body via an internal vacuum. The container end may be made of metals, such as steel or aluminum, metal foil, plastics, composites, or combinations of these materials. In various embodiments, the can ends, double seams, and sidewall of the container are adapted to maintain a hermetic seal after the container is filled and sealed.
The containers discussed herein may be used to hold perishable materials (e.g., food, drink, pet food, milk-based products, etc.). It should be understood that the phrase “food” used to describe various embodiments of this disclosure may refer to dry food, moist food, powder, liquid, or any other drinkable or edible material, regardless of nutritional value. In other embodiments, the containers discussed herein may be used to hold non-perishable materials or non-food materials. In various embodiments, the containers discussed herein may contain a product that is packed in liquid that is drained from the product prior to use. For example, the containers discussed herein may contain vegetables, pasta or meats packed in a liquid such as water, brine, or oil.
During certain processes, containers are filled with hot, pre-cooked food then sealed for later consumption, commonly referred to as a “hot fill process.” As the contents of the container cool, a vacuum develops inside the container. In embodiments using a vacuum attached closure, the resulting vacuum may partially or completely secure the closure to the body of the container. During other processes, containers are filled with uncooked food and are then sealed. The food is then cooked to the point of being commercially sterilized or “shelf stable” while in the sealed container. During such a process, the required heat and pressure may be delivered by a pressurized heating device or retort.
According to various exemplary embodiments, the inner surfaces of the upper and lower can ends and the sidewall may include a liner (e.g., an insert, coating, lining, a protective coating, sealant, etc.). The protective coating acts to protect the material of the container from degradation that may be caused by the contents of the container. In an exemplary embodiment, the protective coating may be a coating that may be applied via spraying or any other suitable method. Different coatings may be provided for different food applications. For example, the liner or coating may be selected to protect the material of the container from acidic contents, such as carbonated beverages, tomatoes, tomato pastes/sauces, etc. The coating material may be a vinyl, polyester, epoxy, EVOH and/or other suitable lining material or spray. The interior surfaces of the container ends may also be coated with a protective coating as described above.
In various exemplary embodiments, the relative dimensions, including angles, lengths and radii, as shown in the Figures are to scale. Actual measurements of the Figures will disclose relative dimensions, angles and proportions of the various exemplary embodiments. Various exemplary embodiments extend to various ranges around the absolute and relative dimensions, angles and proportions that may be determined from the Figures. Various exemplary embodiments include any combination of one or more relative dimensions or angles that may be determined from the Figures. Further, actual dimensions not expressly set out in this description can be determined by using the ratios of dimensions measured in the Figures in combination with the express dimensions set out in this description.
For purposes of this disclosure, the term “coupled” means the joining of two components directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary in nature or movable in nature. Such joining may be achieved with the two members and any additional intermediate members being integrally formed as a single unitary body with one another or with the two members or the two members and any additional member being attached to one another. Such joining may be permanent in nature or alternatively may be removable or releasable in nature.
Further modifications and alternative embodiments of various aspects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of this description. Accordingly, this description is to be construed as illustrative only. The construction and arrangements, shown in the various exemplary embodiments, are illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments have been described in detail in this disclosure, many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter described herein. Some elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple parts or elements, the position of elements may be reversed or otherwise varied, and the nature or number of discrete elements or positions may be altered or varied. The order or sequence of any process, or method steps may be varied or re-sequenced according to alternative embodiments. Other substitutions, modifications, changes and omissions may also be made in the design, operating conditions and arrangement of the various exemplary embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention.
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Application No. 13/050,446, filed Mar. 17, 2011, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/360,633, filed Jul. 1, 2010, and of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/314,746, filed Mar. 17, 2010. The disclosures of U.S. Application No. 13/050,446, U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/360,633, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/314,746 are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61360633 | Jul 2010 | US | |
61314746 | Mar 2010 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 13050446 | Mar 2011 | US |
Child | 13187247 | US |