Patent Application
20250206491
The present invention generally relates to a pressure-adjustable container, and more particularly to such containers that are typically made of polyester and are capable of being filled with hot liquid. The present invention relates generally to polymer compositions having increased recycled content, or percentage of post-consumer resin (PCR), for use in preforms and beverage containers and the described embodiments may increase the ability of a hot-fill container structure to accommodate and regulate the forces encountered during processing that could otherwise result in variable height or variable performance containers presented for distribution. The present invention also relates to methods of making and processing containers having an increased percentage of post-consumer resin (PCR) and flexible or invertible vacuum panels set into the base of the container.
As disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,277,321—incorporated herein by reference in its entirety —, as containers made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), or other plastic resins which are capable of being used in hot-fill applications become more widespread, there is a need to develop these hot-fill containers so as to be suitable for an ever wider variety of product applications. In general, heat-set or hot-fill containers are capable of receiving a product therein while the product is at an elevated temperature, without any resulting deformation in the container. Containers of this variety are used in those situations where the product needs to be sterilized, pasteurized or otherwise heat treated prior to filling. Upon the introduction of the hot product into the container, if the container is not of a hot-fill variety, stresses in the material forming the container will cause the container to deform into an unacceptable end product. To be considered a hot-fill container, containers must be capable of withstanding filling temperatures of at least 150° Fahrenheit (F). and more typically 160°-180° F.
In forming a hot-fill container, PET or another suitable plastic resin is initially formed into a preform. This is most often done by an injection molding method. Preforms all have a protypical structure which includes a mouth and a generally tubular body that terminates in a closed, typically rounded, end. Prior to being formed into containers, preforms in a softened state through the application of heat are transferred into a mold cavity configured in the shape of the desired container. Once in the mold cavity, the heated preforms are blow molded or stretch-blow molded into the desired container shape.
During the blow molding process, the plastic material is stretched and expanded so as to introduce an orientation (on the molecular level) into the material. The amount and location of orientation imparts various mechanical properties to the container. Generally, the higher the orientation, the less the container is capable of withstanding hot-fill temperatures. To increase the hot-fill capabilities of these oriented containers, the containers must be subsequently heat treated. The heat treatment, which can be one of several known methods, increases the crystallinity of the material forming the container and this results in an increase in the container's thermal capabilities.
Once heat-set during the molding process, the container is then filled with a heated liquid and capped in a so called “Hot-fill” process.
However, Hot-fill applications impose significant and complex mechanical stress even on the structure of a heat-set plastic container due to thermal stress, hydraulic pressure upon filling and immediately after capping the container, and vacuum pressure as the fluid cools. This is particularly so if the plastic material is comprised of a proportion of Post Consumer Resin (PCR) or recycled material.
Thermal stress is firstly applied to the walls of the container upon introduction of hot fluid. The hot fluid causes the container walls to first soften and then shrink unevenly, causing distortion of the container. As stated above, the plastic material (e.g., polyester) must, therefore, be heat-treated to induce molecular changes resulting in a container that exhibits increased thermal stability, however in the presence of PCR within the material there is a limitation on the thermal stability of the container.
The thermal stress varies according to the filling method used. For example, typical ‘neck support’ fillers where the container is held by the neck-support transfer ring during the filling period may apply different thermal stress to a container prior to capping or sealing the container, than do typical ‘base-support’ fillers—where the container is supported by the contact surface of the base during the filling cycle prior to capping and sealing. The variable thermal stress applied to the containers between such filling methods may induce a corresponding variation in the height of the bottles during processing of the container unless the container sidewall structures are specifically designed to resist or regulate these variable thermal stresses as described in the present invention.
As container sidewalls are light-weighted, this variable stress becomes even more apparent and there is a need for more complex sidewall structures to resist and/or to regulate or ameliorate the variable filling stresses.
Most importantly, pressure and stress not only act upon the sidewalls of a heat resistant container during the filling process, but also act upon the base portion for a significant period of time thereafter. When the container is filled with hot fluid and sealed, there is an initial and variable thermal stress on the container as described above. Additional to this, there is often a variable top load applied to the containers during the filling cycle, for various reasons, to further complicate the stresses being applied to the containers.
In the case of typical neck support fillers there may be little, or no, vertical downward or compressive force applied to the sidewalls during the filling period and prior to capping. The container hangs by the neck support ring and with the introduction of the heated fluid there is a hydrostatic pressure applied to the sidewalls of the container exerted by the weight of the heated fluid-due to the force of gravity within the open container prior to sealing or capping.
If the filling temperature is above approximately 75 degrees Celsius (C), the hot fluid causes the plastic in the sidewalls and base portion to enter a ‘glass transition state’ and the sidewalls and base become soft, malleable, and are readily subjected to deformation in the presence of both downward and radial forces.
Such downward and radial forces are exerted on the container during filling, and in variable ways according to the fill method. Downward internal force from the weight of hot liquid in a container may then cause the moveable panel to expand in length along the longitudinal aspect, and to do so uncontrollably and thereby become compromised in function. In detail, all structures within the base and sidewall may be vulnerable to deformation, either in the radial or transverse planes, and also in the longitudinal direction.
The expansion forces applied to the hot container walls during a typical neck support filler may be further amplified if the filler does not properly ‘vent’ the neck opening during the filling cycle. For example, if the hot liquid contents are introduced under any effective hydraulic loading pressure, such as might occur when the neck is closed off to an extent during filling-causing a rise in internal pressure within the container during the filling cycle. The internal hydraulic pressure will also be applied to the inside of the container in addition to the hydrostatic pressure being applied by the simple weight of the product itself. This increase of internal force against the base and sidewall while the container is temporarily exposed to hydraulic pressure causes further expansion stresses being applied to the walls of the container in both the outward radial and outward longitudinal extents.
These forces can result in significant ‘stretching’ of the container, resulting in a container that is no longer a correct size or height and cannot return to the correct design height, due to non-returnable deformation for example. If incorrect height containers are subsequently packed together with correctly-sized containers then significant problems can occur, for example in palletization of mixed sized containers, where the different load heights may become very unstable and dangerous in a typical warehouse situation.
Further problems can arise in a number of situations if heights of containers are not controlled properly, for example in container vending machines, where the heights of the containers must be kept the same, or within very tight tolerances, or wrong sized containers may not vend properly or become ‘stuck’ in the vending machine.
Alternatively, a container may be filled by a typical base support filler that may in fact apply significantly different forces during the hot side of the filling cycle than are exerted by a neck support filler. When being filled in this alternative manner the container may instead have a downward and compressive top load applied directly to the neck of the container during the filling period. This downward compressive force is not countered by the support mechanism found in a neck support filler unless additional neck support guides are included in the base support filler and adjusted closely to avoid increased longitudinal compression or top load while the container is hot and ‘vented’. This may result in load being applied directly downward along the heated container sidewalls. This force is then contained by the standing ring of the container and directed across the transverse base.
These forces are very different to the internal and expansionary forces encountered in the neck support filler described above. If a container is effectively mechanically compressed in height under base support fill, or if any downward load is applied to the neck finish during the fill cycle or capping cycle and the base is supported on a base plate or conveyor mechanism (as opposed to hanging free in the air as encountered in a neck support filler), then compressive forces may be applied to the heated sidewalls of the container causing a non-returnable reduction in height of the container simultaneously with the sidewalls exceeding glass transition temperature (Tg) and this may result in a ‘forced’ shortening or lowering in height of the sidewalls and container.
This lowering in height potential by base support fillers, when compared to an increase in height potential by neck support fillers, results in height differentials between containers manufactured to the same specifications off the same blow-molder, but then processed on the different filling systems. There may be large variations in height in containers hot filled and processed on a base support system, where containers are shortened, to containers hot filled and processed on a neck support or hang system, where containers are stretched or lengthened in height.
As discussed above, the application of such variable longitudinal forces, depending on the fill methods, causes variable longitudinal stretching or compression and differing internal force against the base panel of the container, that in turn causes variable deformation in moveable base panels. Such stresses are significantly affected by the thickness of the plastic material. The lighter or thinner the material, then the worse the potential and occurrence for permanent stretching of the base panel or base panel roll-out.
Base roll-out of moveable or invertible base panels can result in the panel no longer functioning properly as designed when the container is cooled and a vacuum pressure builds up. A stretched or deformed base panel may no longer move as intended and may not assist in vacuum accommodation as designed. This is a severe problem for an industry committed to light-weighting plastic bottles to reduce overall quantities of plastic being processed.
Additionally, any increase in post-consumer resin (PCR), or recycled PET (rPet) causes increased problems in the base panel. The mechanical strength of the container sidewalls and base may be significantly altered with increased amounts of PCR.
Therefore, increasing recycled plastic content or post-consumer resin (PCR) has particular impact on lightweight moveable bases compared to traditional ‘hot fill’ bases that are internally recessed to a strong degree, are structured to mostly resist or avoid any movement outwardly, and are composed of thick slugs of plastic.
The use of rigidifying or stabilizing structures on the sidewall of a container becomes compromised as increased use of PCR is utilized. Recycled PET containers may include a higher copolymer content. But hot-fill containers with rPET content may typically lower the crystallinity of the hot-fill container, as recycled content effectively increases the copolymer content, thereby suppressing crystallinity in bottle walls and base. This may create challenges during hot filling containers having annular ribbings or the like in the sidewall because the crystallinity levels need to ensure that the container maintains its shape during the elevated filling temperatures of a hot-fill process. If crystallinity levels are suppressed, the resulting container may not be as strong as desired or may deform at the elevated temperatures required for hot filling. For example, increased recycled content may undesirably reduce sidewall or base stiffness or rigidity. Accordingly, containers with sidewalls having a higher recycled content—and corresponding lower crystallinity—may be more prone to distortion.
Several problems exist with the addition of horizontal ribbings, however, particularly in the presence of light-weighting and/or increased use of PCR within material compositions. Container designs prone to stretching may stretch even more than anticipated, and container designs prone to compression (lack of top load) may alternatively compress even more than anticipated. This results in much greater differentials between container heights blow-molded to the same specifications.
Once the container has been filled by either a neck support or base support filling system, the height of lightweight containers having even 20-25% PCR content, the heights of the containers may be variably compromised due to weakening of horizontal ribs in the sidewalls and increased base roll-out in the base. Subsequently during processing, the container of either filling system is then passed to a capping unit and sealed, and it is then placed on the conveyor belt of the filling line. Additional downward force may be applied during the capping phase that further compresses a container in height briefly unless there is 100% neck support available to the container neck support ring during this time. Such additional downward pressure may cause a rise in internal pressure within the container that applies additional force to the base panel.
Following capping, the sealed liquid contents are then used to sterilize the internal surfaces of the container and cap. This process generally requires the closed container to be inverted or laid horizontally on its side for a brief period, followed by a short holding time of approximately one further minute prior to placing the container in a cooling unit that begins to lower the temperature of the sidewalls first, followed by a gradual reduction in internal container temperature.
This period on the ‘hot side’ of the processing cycle is generally shared in execution technique between both base support and neck support systems, with both systems utilizing a base support system during conveyor transport. However, during this post-capping period further internal force is applied to the hot sidewalls of the container, generally evenly shared in force between the systems. There is a period of sustained pneumatic pressure created within the headspace of the sealed container, as a result of the air in the headspace expanding under the heat of the contents, but being restrained by the seal or cap. This pneumatic pressure contributes to a rise in internal pressure that results in an expansionary force longitudinally within the container. This force may further stretch the container longitudinally.
Another force is also added to this pneumatic pressure. The plastic sidewalls generally attempt to contract radially inwardly and return by memory to their original preform size and shape. This ‘contraction’ or shrinking of the sidewalls is prevented by the presence of the sealed container capping the liquid. The hot liquid during this period of processing is largely incompressible until it is cooled and brought down in temperature, whereby the liquid may then contract in size. The sidewalls therefore exert a hydraulic pressure against the headspace within the container. This hydraulic pressure against the headspace caused by the hot contracting sidewalls, being above Tg and therefore moveable, compresses the headspace contributing to a further rise in internal pressure inside the hot and capped container.
The combination of hydraulic pressure acting to increase the headspace pressure, and the thermo-pneumatic pressure within the headspace acting to compress the headspace causes an overall increase in the headspace pressure. This period of increased hydraulic pressure against the hot container base panel continues through to entry of the container into the cooling tunnel. All moveable base panel structures in the container may therefore be deformed longitudinally outwardly during the hot-side of the processing cycle causing base roll-out. This change in shape of the container base structures, and in any container height change, is made possible only while the container is above Tg in temperature. Importantly, the base roll out may become unrecoverable when the temperature of the base is brought back down below 75 degrees Celsius (C) or Tg in temperature. Typically the containers are filled to approximately 85 degrees C., and this causes much stress on the container base during this time, and is made worse by any light-weighting, and any addition of PCR content.
Once the container enters the cooling tunnel, both the sidewalls and the base panel are quickly brought down to under Tg, or under about 75 degrees C., and no additional significant plastic deformation will occur.
However, the plastic deformation in the moveable base, caused by any base ‘roll-out’ under heat stress, will only be partly recoverable and is partly nonrecoverable. The non-recoverable base panel changes and deformations encountered on the hot-side, may then be ‘locked’ into the container base as it enters the cooling tunnel and the plastic is brought down to below approximately 75 degrees C.
The deformed shapes of the sidewall, as well as the base, will have been ‘heat distorted’ to a new positions and shapes. Some of this sidewall deformation will also be partly recoverable, and some will be partly non-recoverable. The height changes and sidewall deformations, and base roll-out complications, encountered on the hot-side of processing will therefore be initially ‘locked’ into the container as it enters the cooling tunnel and the plastic is brought down to below approximately 75 degrees C.
Additional problems are encountered during, and after, the cooling of the container when increased amounts of PCR are incorporated into hot filled containers having a base that is moveable under vacuum pressure, and into any rigid structures incorporated into the sidewalls to resist radial expansion deformation or elongation.
Essentially, during cooling the sidewalls must regulate and control an application of vacuum force to the moveable base, or the moveable base might fail to activate properly. If the base has suffered ‘roll out’ or deformation under the hot side of processing, prior to entering the cooler, then the activation energy required to be regulated by the sidewalls may be increased. This becomes problematic if the sidewall structures have also deformed under the same hot side processing conditions and have in fact become weaker, not stronger. The necessary interaction between the sidewalls and the moveable base may be severely compromised.
As the hot liquid contracts during cooling, the sidewall must accommodate vacuum pressure in such a manner that vacuum pressure still builds within the container in order to activate the base. As the base moves inwardly or upwardly under the induced vacuum pressure, the sidewalls must continue to maintain structural integrity in order to maintain a sufficient and continued vacuum force to keep activation energy on the base. If the structures in the sidewall are not strong enough to maintain integrity under the vacuum induced by the cooling liquid, to then in turn cause a sufficient vacuum-induced ‘base-activation vacuum force’ (“BaVF”) to continuously act on the base, then there may be a loss of BaVF as the sidewalls deform inwardly and fail to cause an increase in vacuum. This in turn may result in the base failing to move inwardly or upwardly properly to accommodate vacuum interactively with the sidewalls. If instead too much vacuum accommodation is taken up by undesirable deformation such as sidewall ovalization, then the ovalization accommodates the vacuum preferentially over the base panel.
More problems exist if the BaVF is not maintained and the sidewalls deform uncontrollably. In addition to ovalization of the container, there may be problematic labelling, reduced top-loads causing further problems downstream such as during palletization of container loads in distribution, and unacceptable appearance on the shelf during commercial sale, and so on.
As the PCR content increases within a container there is an increased need to control the application of BaVF in a container, where the container includes a base that is designed to be moveable under a vacuum force controlled by structures in the sidewall. With increasing amounts of PCR the base becomes more prone to ‘base sag’ wherein the base moves downward under the weight of the hot liquid after filling and prior to cooling. As stated above this may cause the base to change structural shape and become more resistant to moving back upward under vacuum force following cooling of the liquid contents. Thus, there is a requirement to maintain a higher BaVF than anticipated or designed into the as-molded container in the presence of amounts of PCR within the container above about 10%.
Additionally, any sidewall structures, for example horizontal annular ribbings, may become weaker with an increased PCR content above about 10%, and have less resistance to deformation under the heat stress of hot-side processing prior to cooling. This may cause a loss in strength and rigidity under vacuum build-up following cooling as the intended shapes within the sidewall are distorted and have not been able to recover intended design positions. This also causes disruption to the maintenance of a proper BaVF during cooling of the hot liquid. This can create the challenges described above during hot filling as the container is required to maintain a desired shape during the elevated filling temperatures of a hot-fill process. If crystallinity levels are suppressed or increased PCR content weakens the sidewall structures, the resulting container may not be as strong as desired or may deform at the elevated temperatures required for hot filling. As described above, increased recycled content may undesirably reduce sidewall or base stiffness or rigidity, and more importantly not retain intended design shape following heat stress and processing effects.
Accordingly, there is a need for a hot-fill container that has a high recycled content and is fully recyclable. Further, there is a need for a hot-fill container having sidewall structures with these recycle characteristics that have decreased resistance to longitudinal expansion forces in order to prevent excessive build-up of longitudinal compression forces against the base panel and can be made light weight and have good strength characteristics.
Further, there is a need for a hot-fill container to have sidewall and base configurations providing a high recycled content and being fully recyclable, and that have decreased resistance to longitudinal expansion during hot filling, and increased ability to maintain acceptable base-activation vacuum force during cooling of a liquid product following hot-filling.
There is also a need for a hot-fill container having sidewall and base structures with these recycle characteristics that provides increased protection to longitudinal compression forces against the base panel that can be made light weight and still have good strength characteristics through configuration of acceptable longitudinal expansion characteristics during hot filling.
As discussed in more detail below, this can allow for production of thinner and lighter weight bottles that maintain comparable strength to conventional bottles (e.g., 100% PET bottles) or can allow for increased base panel movement without increasing thickness or weight of the bottle.
To achieve this goal, there is a greater need to utilize ever increasing amounts of PCR in annular horizontal ribbings or similar structures configured to provide increased longitudinal expansion of containers having moveable vacuum bases, in order to prevent excessive build-up of internal pressure. The longitudinal expansion of the container reduces the pressure build up. Additionally, there is a greater need to provide base panels that are configured to move downwardly or outwardly under increased internal pressures, in order to prevent non-recoverable stretching of the base panel material, in order to retain functionality and remain within intended design parameters.
A further requirement of high-speed filling lines is related to the container surfaces at the precise time of labelling. Once the container exits the cooling tunnel it is conveyed to the labeller for application of a label. Typically this will take place before the container has reduced in temperature to ambient temperature, but will take place under a vacuum induced within the container, with the container at around 30-40 degrees C. internal temperature.
Typically, containers have vacuum deformation zones to accommodate vacuum pressure that would otherwise distort and deform the sidewalls. Typical vacuum panels are found in much prior art, and novel deformation zones are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,779,673 by the present inventor that also discloses ‘inverted cage’ structures surrounding a plurality of ‘active surfaces’. Deformation zones that are deformed inwardly under vacuum may however appear as the container is presented for label application. The speed at which the label may be applied is limited to the available non-deformed surface area.
Accordingly, there is a need for a container having increased PCR content and minimal deformation zones that would otherwise deform radially inwardly under cooling, in order to provide for higher speed label application. However, without vacuum panels or deformation zones, increased stress from vacuum pressure is applied to the container and there is therefore a corresponding need for increased use of structures specifically aimed at imparting greater hoop strength within the container to withstand vacuum force and provide for clean surfaces to be presented to the labeller at the correct timing during processing.
There is therefore a need for a container having increased PCR in the sidewall, but increased rigidity in the sidewall. However, the increased PCR sidewall must provide increased top load characteristics and resistance to downward longitudinal force. The increased PCR sidewall must also provide acceptable resistance to longitudinal stretching forces during the hot-filling cycle.
In addition to the need for strengthening a high PCR container against both thermal and vacuum stress during filling, there is a need to allow for an initial hydraulic pressure and increased internal pressure that is placed upon a container when hot liquid is first introduced and then followed by capping. This causes stress to be placed on the container sidewall. There is a forced outward movement that would overly deform any sidewall vacuum panels, which would result in a barreling of the container.
Accordingly, there is a need for a hot-fill container that has a high recycled content and is fully recyclable. Further, there is a need for a hot-fill container and base structures with these recycle characteristics that have increased resistance to distortion during hot filling.
A further requirement of high-speed filling lines is related to ensuring finished and sealed containers exhibit good stability when palletized in high columns. A problem exists when a container design is produced on different lines e.g. neck support fillers and alternatively on base support fill lines, whereby the end bottle is a different height. Another problem exists when a container design is produced on one line that is then mixed against different container designs form other fill lines. The change in height experienced by each container design under top load pressure created in high stacking pallet loads of containers may produce varying heights in the stacked columns. This can lead to dangerous, uneven loads within the warehousing and distribution centres.
Pallet loads of stacked containers may be loaded on top of each other for periods of sustained vertical compression. Such top load causes an increase in hydraulic pressure within each container, and more importantly a reduction in height of the containers. The height and stability of such pallet column loads of containers is very important. The structural integrity of the load is paramount, and the overall height change of the column may be critical. The interactivity between the moveable base and the vertically changeable sidewalls is critical to performance of the container. Problems exist if the heights of the container vary under top load in differing amounts, especially if pallet stacked with other containers having different design constructions, or bases, or weights or amounts of PCR.
It is an object of the invention to provide an increased amount of PCR into annular horizontal ribbings or similar structures in the sidewall configured to provide increased longitudinal expansion of containers incorporating moveable vacuum bases. Increased longitudinal expansion during hot fill processing of the container relieves or prevents excessive build-up of internal pressure within the container that would otherwise be exerted against the moveable base, that would otherwise cause the base to roll outwardly and deform unacceptably. The sidewall structures are further configured to retract the longitudinal height expansion following a cooling and stacking or loading cycle in order to return closer to an as-molded or design height, and retain proper strength characteristics required by both the distribution stresses, and consumer expectations during handling.
A further object of the invention is to provide moveable base panels incorporating increased amounts of PCR that are configured to move downwardly or outwardly under increased hot internal pressures, in order to provide a higher percentage of recoverable deformation and prevent non-recoverable stretching or deformation of the base panel material, in order to provide more functionality and improved design parameters. The moveable base structures are further optimized to provide for recovery of any downward or outward deformation and move inwardly to relieve volume contraction caused by a cooling of any hot liquid filled into the container. The base structures are further optimized to accommodate hydraulic pressure build-up during vertical height pallet stacking.
A further object of the invention is to provide sidewall ribbings configured to allow increased amounts of PCR and maintain sufficient BaVF in order to interactively regulate or control the expansions and contractions required of a moveable base panel through all stages of processing and distribution.
According to another objected of the invention, the complexity contained within the proposed sidewall and base structures extends to control of the container during the overall filling cycle, and control of top load situations whereby sidewalls must withstand additional forces during distribution.
Lastly, it is also an object of the invention to overcome or ameliorate one or more of the disadvantages of the prior art or to at least provide the public with a useful choice.
In a first aspect, the present disclosure broadly comprises a beverage container, comprising: a base; a cylindrical sidewall extending from and integrally formed with the base; an upper region extending from the cylindrical sidewall and defining an upper opening, wherein the beverage container comprises a longitudinal axis extending in a direction from the base to the upper opening; and a plurality of continuous channels having a first as molded channel configuration formed in and extending around a circumference of the cylindrical sidewall, wherein the continuous channels are configured to resist vacuum compression in the radial or transverse direction of the beverage container; and wherein the base includes an outer wall portion extending from the lower end of the sidewall to a plurality of discontinuous footed contact surfaces for supporting the container and a plurality of webs extending continuously from the sidewall radially along the base portion toward the longitudinal axis in the transverse direction to join a push up portion, wherein each one of the webs define a web surface that is closer to the finish than the plurality of footed contact surfaces and comprises a generally downward and continuous surface from the sidewall to the push up, further wherein the base includes inner wall portions extending alternately upward from the contact surfaces and downward from the webs; and wherein after hot filling and capping and prior to cooling the sidewall and base are configured to move interactively and in differential amounts under changing pressure conditions, wherein the sidewall is configured to expand longitudinally from a first unpressurized configuration to a second pressurized configuration, and the base portion is configured to move to a different extent longitudinally from a first unpressurized configuration to a second pressurized configuration; and wherein after cooling the sidewall is configured to contract longitudinally to a third pressurized configuration, and the base is configured to move to a different extent to a third pressurized configuration, wherein a vacuum exists within the container.
The container of the first aspect may further have any one or more of the following aspects or features defined in the following paragraphs.
In a configuration, the third pressurized configuration of the sidewall is substantially the same as the first unpressurized configuration.
In a configuration, the third pressurized configuration of the base is substantially different to the first unpressurized configuration.
In a configuration, the continuous channel is configured to move under longitudinal compression of the container and increase top load.
In a configuration, the continuous channel is configured to provide for a calculated amount of elongation in the longitudinal direction under an applied internal pressure.
In a configuration, the container comprises about 25% PCR.
In a configuration, the container comprises more than about 25% PCR.
In a configuration, the container comprises 3 continuous channels.
In a configuration, the container comprises 4 or more continuous channels.
In a configuration, at least one web comprises a compound curve angled downwardly from the sidewall to the push up.
In a configuration, the base is relatively free of additional rib elements or structure.
In a configuration, after hot filling and capping, a vacuum is created following the cooling of the liquid contents.
In a configuration, after releasing the vacuum the sidewall moves to a fourth unpressurized configuration and the base moves to a fourth unpressurized configuration.
According to another aspect, sidewall structures comprising increased PCR content to ‘soften’ the sidewall structures, are combined with base structures comprising increased PCR content to ‘soften’ the base structures. The combination of the sidewall and base panel structures are configured to reduce the negative effects of internal pressure build-up during hot filling and capping. The sidewall and base structures are configured to work interactively together to regulate the forces caused internally during the ‘hot-side’ of the filling cycle. The disclosed structures work interactively to reduce the internal pressure and force, and the potential for detrimental effects of these forces, applied to the sidewall and base structures in order to reduce non-returnable deformation of all container structures, and particularly to the disclosed lightweight base structures.
In a configuration, the disclosed structures can be further configured to withstand the subsequent vacuum forces created during the ‘cold side’ of the filling cycle within a cooling tunnel prior to additional vacuum compensations available within the moveable base structures, either by self-activation under vacuum pressure, or by forced mechanical means.
In a configuration, the disclosed sidewall and moveable base structures can therefore provide increased control of the lightweight container during the overall filling cycle, and control of top load performance following the filling and processing cycle, whereby containers must withstand additional forces during distribution. In a configuration, the disclosed sidewall and base structures can be configured to be made lightweight, with increased amounts of PCR, to both withstand and regulate interactively the opposite forces of both compression and expansion during the hot-side filling cycle, in addition to the vacuum forces created during the cold-side of the filling cycle within the cooling tunnel.
As discussed in more detail below, some configurations can allow for production of thinner and lighter weight bottles that maintain the same strength as conventional bottles, yet contain more than 20-25% PCR.
Further variations encompassed within the systems and methods are described in the detailed description of the invention below.
The patent or application file contains at least one drawing executed in color. Copies of this patent or patent application publication with color drawing(s) will be provided by the Office upon request and payment of the necessary fee.
Throughout the drawings, reference numbers can be reused to indicate general correspondence between reference elements. The drawings are provided to illustrate example embodiments described herein and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure.
Although certain examples are described below, those of skill in the art will appreciate that the disclosure extends beyond the specifically disclosed examples and/or uses and obvious modifications and equivalents thereof. Thus, it is intended that the scope of the disclosure herein disclosed should not be limited by any particular examples described below.
During blow-molding, heat may be added to the bottle wall, which can increase crystallinity of the polymer composition. In some embodiments, during blowmolding heat is added until the crystallinity is at least 30% at any given point on the container. After blow-molding, the container may be filled. In some embodiments the container is filled using a hot-fill process, however the configurations disclosed impart greater strength to the container that benefits cold filled or aseptic process filling also. In some embodiments, the container is filled with a beverage at a temperature from 70 degrees C. to 100 degrees C. (e.g., from 85 degrees C. to 95 degrees C.), After filling, the container may be capped and the contents cooled.
The following examples are illustrative, but not limiting, of the present disclosure. Other suitable modifications and adaptations of the variety of conditions and parameters normally encountered in the field, and which would be apparent to those skilled in the art, are within the spirit and scope of the disclosure.
Beverage containers according to the present invention are suitable for storing various types of beverages and may be composed of a plastic material, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), among others. Such plastic beverage containers may in some embodiments have a generally cylindrical construction. The plastic beverage containers may be filled with a beverage via a hot-filling operation. In a hot-filling operation, a beverage to be stored in the beverage container is heated to an elevated temperature, such as a temperature of about 170 degrees Fahrenheit (F) or more, and deposited in the beverage container. The beverage container may be supported on a support surface during filling, or the beverage container may be suspended by an upper end, or neck, of the beverage container during filling. Once filled and capped, the beverage container and beverage therein are rapidly cooled. This cooling of the beverage may result in thermal contraction, which reduces the internal volume of the beverage container. To accommodate the resulting pressure differential, side walls of the beverage container of the present invention may be strengthened againt being pulled inward.
To help the beverage container maintain its cylindrical shape throughout the process of filling the beverage container with a liquid and subsequently during storage and transportation of the beverage container, one or more generally horizontal ribs may be formed in the beverage container, and preferably vertically displaced through all sections of the container requiring strengthening. The ribs may be formed on the beverage container as recessed (indented) channels that extend toward an interior volume of the beverage container and extend completely around the circumference of the beverage container in a plane transverse to a longitudinal axis of the beverage container. The ribs help to prevent the beverage container from paneling or otherwise deforming when an internal pressure of the beverage container is less than an external pressure. While the ribs extending around a circumference of the beverage container may help to avoid paneling, the ribs of the present invention are further configured to include an increased amount of PCR, preferably over 20% recycled content mixed with virgin polyethylene terephthalate or PET and are configured to provide the beverage container with capacity for elongation in a longitudinal direction during certain types of filling operations.
As the beverage container of the present invention is composed of plastic, the plastic container is configured to avoid deformation of the base portion when heated to a sufficiently high temperature, such as a temperature at or above the glass transition temperature of the beverage container. As a result, when the beverage container is capped or sealed after being filled with a high temperature beverage, and following the heat induced increase in pressure build up that acts against the sidewalls and base, the sidewall and base of the present invention are configured to move outwardly in a longitudinal direction during the period of intense heat being applied to the container surfaces, in order to reduce pressure and stress upon the surfaces.
Elongation of the beverage container sidewall is desirable during the initial period of pasteurization on the ‘hot side’ of the processing cycle following hot filling and capping of the beverage container in order to reduce stress that would otherwise be directed upon the base, and as disclosed in the present invention, the base is further configured to move outwardly in a longitudinal direction interactively with the sidewalls to even further reduce the stress upon the base structures to avoid deformation.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, and with reference to
One or more horizontal channels 140 are formed in sidewall 160 that serve to prevent or limit radial deformation of beverage container 100 in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis Z. Channels 140 are formed as recessed areas in sidewall 160 that extend toward an interior volume of beverage container 100. Channels 140 serve to resist paneling of sidewall 160 (e.g., when an internal pressure of beverage container 100 is less than an external pressure) by contributing hoop strength to beverage container 100. Additional horizontal channels 138 and 139 are placed above and below horizontal channels 140.
Specifically in the present invention, the channels of beverage container 100 are additionally configured to provide a certain amount of elongation in a direction of longitudinal axis Z when beverage container 100 is filled with a beverage having a temperature at or above a glass transition temperature of the material forming beverage container 100 (e.g., PET).
With reference to
In the present embodiment the elongation is further controlled by the presence of a radius R3 joining the upper part of the channel to the sidewall and a radius R4 joining the lower part of the channel to the sidewall. It will be appreciated that many other angular combinations, and structures within the channels are intended to be utilized, depending especially on the particular amount of PCR present in the container, and what final top load characteristics are required in the final distributed and sealed container, thus requiring careful consideration of the relevant ‘levers’ available to control elongation.
According to the exemplary embodiment shown in
A plurality of webs 246 extend continuously from the sidewall radially along the base portion toward the longitudinal axis in the transverse direction to join the push up edge 248c on the outside border of the push up 248. Each one of the webs define a web surface that is closer to the finish than the plurality of footed contact surfaces 121 and may comprise a compound curve that is generally downward and continuous from the sidewall to the push up 248. In other embodiments the web surface may be substantially linear.
An inner wall extends generally circumferentially from within the contact surfaces 121 to the push up edge 248c. The contact surface inner border 121a may define part of the outside boundary of the inner wall.
The inner wall portion defines a large part of the moveable base, comprising distinct regions having different angular configurations. An inner wall portion 240 extends upwardly from the contact surface 121 to the push up portion 248. The inner wall portions 246a of the web comprise inner wall portions extending downwardly from the outer portions 246b of the webs. The inner wall therefore comprises portions that are both upwardly and downwardly angled. The downwardly angled compound curves of the webs 246, and the upwardly angled inner wall portions 240, are preferably relatively free of all other geometry such as strengthening ribs, and comprise preferentially more than about 20-25% PCR. This configuration provides both an affinity for a controlled outward movement and an affinity for a controlled upward or inward movement, without being constrained by additional rib structures. The base 120 is provided with sufficient strength to allow returnable expansion from an outward or downward position to an inward or upward position by the alternating upwardly angled inner wall portions 240 and downwardly angled inner wall portions 246a. These alternating upward and downward angled portions are maintained in alternating array relative to the general plane of the inner wall as the base moves from upward to downward positions, and also downward to upward positions, removing excess stress from the base structures as movement occurs.
With reference to
Any increase in the amount of resistance to elongation in the longitudinal direction results in an increase in the amount of force applied directly to the base structures, causing base roll out to increase and increasing the potential for permanent deformation of the base. Any decrease in the amount of resistance to elongation in the longitudinal direction causes a corresponding decrease in the amount of force applied directly to the base structures.
With reference to
With reference to
In addition, the amount of elongation in the longitudinal direction of Bottle 100 is increased when compared to Bottle 200 due to the configuration in the respective channels. This increased configuration to expand longitudinally provides the sidewall in Bottle 100 with a subsequent decrease in internal pressure during the critical hot fill phase when both bottles are filled with the same liquid at the same temperature and processed in the same manner. Both Bottle 100 and Bottle 200 include the same moveable base configuration, but the sidewall of Bottle 100 is able to reduce the amount of pressure and stress applied to the moveable base of Bottle 100 during the critical hot side of the filling process.
During this critical heated phase, the moveable base of Bottle 100 is configured to move outwardly under the reduced stress inside the container, in order to further prevent overstress being applied to the structures within the base.
With reference to
In addition to increases in heat stress pressure on the base, with ribs or channels configured to prevent sidewall elongation, a further problem may exist with such reductions in depth of horizontal annular grooves during hot fill processing. As the grooves are configured to reduce elongation, for example by reducing the depth D of the groove, the hoop strength of the grooves, channels or annular ribs may also reduce. As the hot liquid is cooled within a sealed container and a vacuum pressure force increase within the container, the container with the decreased elongation characteristics may experience problems maintaining shape and begin deforming or ovalizing while in distribution or in the consumer hands.
With reference to
Interactively, the moveable base is configured to move outwardly in order to also protect against heat stress induced deformation, but is configured to move and contribute only about 20% of the height increase in the lower ⅔ of the container, which is a manageable amount without leading to base-roll out and vertical stability issues, or leading to thermal distortion and subsequent failure to operate under the vacuum cycle. Without the addition of channel structures in the sidewall configured to expand longitudinally, the pressure within the container would be higher and this would lead to a greater force being applied to the heated base, causing severe base roll-out and permanent deformation of the base structures.
The base can be configured to include 4 different controlling radii, and 4 different controlling major angles surrounding the controlling radii by the adjoining major structure. With respect to the controlling radii and controlling major angles, a pair of radii reduce in radius while an alternate pair increase in radius, with each pair comprising different controlling angles and all 4 radii and controlling angles operating to differing degrees. By way of example only, as shown in the drawings a “first external radius Re” 249a may increase in radius from about 4.6 mm to about 4.8 mm at 249ai around the junction of the web with the lower sidewall. The major controlling angle Ae1 surrounding 249a however, may in fact decrease at the same time. In other embodiments the major controlling angle may be configured to also increase and exert a lesser influence on controlling push up downward movement. Correspondingly a “first internal radius Ri” 249c may decrease in radius from about 1 mm to about 0.9 mm at 249ci around the junction between the internal portion of the web and the push up and the corresponding controlling major angle Ai1 may increase as control in exerted over the base of the push up to prevent downward movement.
Additionally, a “second internal radius Ri” 249d that is not comprising web structure may decrease in radius from about 1 mm at 249d to about 0.9 mm at 249di around the junction formed between the upwardly angled inner wall portion 240 joining the contact surface 121 to the base of the push up 248c, and the corresponding controlling major angle also decreases. Further, even if the second internal radius is configured to be the same as the first internal radius, it should be appreciated that the controlling major angle for each that is formed around the respective push-up base geometry sections may be substantially different insofar as angles surrounding each radius may be different to each other, and the direction of angular movement as the base moves downward may be different, and for example may be in the opposite directions
with controlling major angle Ai1 provided around 249c becoming larger and the controlling major angle Ai2 around 249d becoming smaller.
As can be seen therefore, the sidewall may be configured to move from a first unpressurized configuration as molded in
Additionally, there exists a “second external radius Re” 249b on the footed portion of the base, and this external radius is also preferably configured to increase in amount of radius to control and provide for the base to move outwardly to further reduce stress and pressure from within, by way of example as illustrated the increase in the second external radius may be from about 7.2 mm at 249b to about 7.4 mm at 249bi around the junction formed between the contact surface with the lower sidewall. The major controlling angle Ae2 surrounding the second external radius may be configured to also increase alongside the increase in radius. This increased ability to reduce pressure is driven by the interaction of both the sidewalls and base expanding longitudinally in a controlled manner, preferably comprising a calculated percentage of PCR and corresponding structure to control any softening or weakening effect of the at least 20% PCR, to extend the bottle longitudinally along both the sidewalls and base interactively. This reduction in stress avoids permanent deformation occurring in the container structures, in order to prepare the base and sidewalls of the container for the subsequent stresses to be further accommodated following cooling.
With reference to
As shown in
With reference to
With reference to
In order to achieve this the base of the push up is configured to preferably have a Height Clearance Ratio (HCR) above the contact surface that can be expressed by way of the ratio PHOCR-PR) where PH is a measure of the height that the push up base 248c is above a plane of the contact surface 121, CR is the contact surface radius, and PR is the push up base radius. The container of the present invention most preferably has a HCR between about 1:10 and 1:1 in the as-molded container, where an instep structure joins both features relatively directly and the instep structure is upwardly directed from the contact surface. It is most preferable to achieve an HCR of between about 1:7 and 1:2.5 and the precise selection of suitable HCR for a given container requires consideration of the number of webs and footed portion structures, as these have an additional effect on base roll-out, and on further determining a configured amount of allowable outward base movement under positive internal pressure, while also providing for a configured amount of upward movement of the base in the presence of any subsequent vacuum pressure.
In previous known solutions, the base of the push up has often been joined firstly to a pressure panel that is then joined to an ‘instep’ feature having very aggressive vertical inclinations and whereby the push up base is not joined directly by the instep feature but instead by the intermediate vacuum panel that becomes the controlling structure for outward movement of the base under internal pressure and inward movement of the base push up in the presence of vacuum. In the present invention, the instep feature acts as both part of the pressure panel and instep and more directly controls base roll-out.
It is an important aim of the present invention to provide annular ribbings or channels in a first configuration in an as-blown container that are generally vertically displaced through a majority of the vertical height of the container, particularly if the container comprises increased PCR. The annular ribbings or channels are configured to move to a second configuration by an increase in radius after filling with a heated liquid and capping in order to promote longitudinal expansion of the container and a reduction in internal overpressure—to prevent excess pressure being applied to the base. The channels are generally further configured to move to a third configuration by a reduction in radius under vacuum in order to reduce vacuum pressure and provide increased resistance to vacuum deformation in the radial or hoop direction.
A further embodiment of the present invention is disclosed in
The increased structure of the triple rib provides greater potential to expand in the longitudinal direction from a first as blown configuration to a second configuration when the container is hot filled and sealed through the increased number of radii incorporated into the rib or channel structure. The radii provide the capability to change or increase in radius and move to the second configuration more easily. The triple rib also provides greater potential to return to original height by contracting downwardly through a reduction in the increased number of radii in the rib structure. The height contraction adds to vacuum compensation performance and with the lowered vacuum pressure in the final container in a third configuration after cooling, there is a subsequent increase in top load in the container when sealed and stacked.
The triple rib also provides greater protection against sidewall deformation from side impacts thereby improving denting resistance and improving the condition of the container through the distribution channel.
Without departing from the scope of the invention, either the top channel or bottom layer channel can be removed from the triple rib to create a ‘double rib’, which although not as substantial and strong as a triple rib, still offers increased ability to expand longitudinally and contract longitudinally as discussed above.
In this particular embodiment, the base of the container is constructed with 15 webs and 15 footed portions. The construction of the webs in cross-section can be either the same as shown in
There are multiple advantages to increasing the number of webs beyond 4-5 in circular or mostly round containers especially. Firstly, the number of webs has a direct ‘binding’ correlation wherein the downwardly directed webs have a controlling restraint on downward movement of the push up portion.
With reference to
As the internal pressure under hot fill is relatively predictable, then in the presence of increased amounts of PCR, and particularly over 25% PCR, it is most desirable to incorporate at least 7 webs within the base structure, and more preferably 10 webs and footed portions, as shown in
An additional advantage in employing greater than 5 webs in a typical container is the increased percentage of web structure surface area that increases the total surface area contained within the base.
A further embodiment of the present invention is disclosed in
With reference to
A base comprising 15 webs and 15 footed portions for example has far greater heat radiation capabilities than a base with only 5 webs and 5 footed portions with subsequently less surface area. The heat absorption qualities of such structures are highly prized in lightweight moveable bases designed to incorporate amounts of PCR, and particularly amounts between about 25% to 50%, and virtually demanded for amounts of PCR beyond about 50% within the base in high pressure filling situations.
A further benefit of employing multiple web and footed portion structures is illustrated in
In one embodiment, the 5-web base is predicted to form a pentagonal shape 305ii under vacuum at the vertical level of the web junction with the sidewall and this causes an increase in the ‘effective diameter’ 300 of the container at the points of the pentagon 305iii. During processing of the container and in particular during labelling of the container post-cooling, the polygonalization of the heel or chime portion of the container can become non-round therefore. Label base plates are generally required to hold the heel or chime portion of the container in place for stability of the container during label application, and the close contact of the base plate and the container is required to ensure rapid and smooth label application. As the exiting temperature of the container from the cooler is not an exact science, the amount of vacuum experienced within containers may vary from day to day, and therefore the ‘tightness’ of the bottle within the label base plates may also vary from day to day.
In other preferred embodiments of the present invention, and with reference to
As the number of web structures is increased the effective polygonalization of the vacuum deformed base is increased, and this causes preferentially less radial deformation at the junctions of the web structures with the sidewalls.
With reference to
With reference to
With reference to
In other embodiments of the present invention employing 15 or greater webs provides a base that is close to circular in effect during the range of temperatures expected at or about labelling time, and therefore providing for more control of the labeling process altogether.
It is a particular aim of the present invention, therefore, to provide a container having a high percentage of PCR, that provides greater strength and control against sidewall ovalization under hot fill vacuum deformation force through the addition of channels and ribbings configured to move interactively during hot fill with a moveable base as described herein. Preferentially, the moveable base comprises very few, if any, ribbing structures and is comprised mainly of web portions extending from the sidewall to a push up portion, between footed contact surfaces. By eliminating most other geometry, especially strengthening ribs, the base is made highly mobile and capable of extending outwardly and inwardly, in cooperation with a sidewall that is configured to move upwardly and downwardly as the container pressure increases and decreases.
It is a further aim of the present invention to provide such cooperating sidewall and base configurations in containers having greater than 20-25% PCR, or preferably more than 50%, 75% and to even provide for containers of such configurations having 100% PCR material in the sidewalls. As the percentage of PCR increases and reduces the strength and integrity of prior art sidewalls, the improved channel configurations provide a necessary increase in inherent strength to enable use of high PCR amount.
It is yet another aim of the present invention to provide for improved configuration in sidewalls of containers, particularly those incorporating high percentages of PCR to provide for light-weighting of the sidewalls through the increased strength offered by the channels as herein described.
It is yet another aim of the present invention to provide channel configurations as herein described that allow for increased PCR content preferably above 20-25%, that increase top load values and reduce compression of the container under hot vented situations and hot filled and sealed situations, and reduce the amount of stretch that containers may experience during neck supported hot filling, and also reduce the amount of compression that containers may experience during base supported hot filling in order to reduce the differentials between container heights blowmolded to the same specifications but filled on different filling systems.
It is a further aim of the present invention to combine the sidewall structures disclosed herein with the vacuum base structures disclosed or incorporated within U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 15/284,622, 15/581,855, 16/304,942, 17/090,611, 17/260,475, and 17/423,353-all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
The following is a numbered list of example embodiments that are within the scope of this disclosure. The example embodiments that are listed should in no way be interpreted as limiting the scope of the embodiments. Various features of the example embodiments that are listed can be removed, added, or combined to form additional embodiments, which are part of this disclosure:
The term ‘comprising’ as used in this specification and claims means ‘consisting at least in part of’ or ‘including, but not limited to’ such that it is to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense. When interpreting each statement in this specification and claims that includes the term “comprising”, features other than that or those prefaced by the term may also be present. Related terms such as “comprise” and “comprises” are to be interpreted in the same manner.
It is intended that reference to a range of numbers disclosed herein (for example, 1 to 10) also incorporates reference to all rational numbers within that range (for example, 1, 1.1, 2, 3, 3.9, 4, 5, 6, 6.5, 7, 8, 9 and 10) and also any range of rational numbers within that range (for example, 2 to 8, 1.5 to 5.5 and 3.1 to 4.7) and, therefore, all sub-ranges of all ranges expressly disclosed herein are hereby expressly disclosed. These are only examples of what is specifically intended and all possible combinations of numerical values between the lowest value and the highest value enumerated are to be considered to be expressly stated in this application in a similar manner.
The term ‘and/or’ means ‘and’ or ‘or’, or both. The use of ‘(s)’ following a noun means the plural and/or singular forms of the noun.
Conditional language, such as “can,” “could,” “might,” or “may,” unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain embodiments include, while other embodiments do not include, certain features, elements, and/or steps. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements, and/or steps are in any way required for one or more embodiments or that one or more embodiments necessarily include logic for deciding, with or without user input or prompting, whether these features, elements, and/or steps are included or are to be performed in any particular embodiment.
Language of degree used herein, such as the terms “approximately,” “about,” “generally,” and “substantially” as used herein represent a value, amount, or characteristic close to the stated value, amount, or characteristic that still performs a desired function or achieves a desired result. For example, the terms “approximately”, “about”, “generally,” and “substantially” may refer to an amount that is within less than 10% of, within less than 5% of, within less than 1% of, within less than 0.1% of, and within less than 0.01% of the stated amount.
In this specification where reference has been made to patent specifications, other external documents, or other sources of information, this is generally for the purpose of providing a context for discussing the features of the invention. Unless specifically stated otherwise, reference to such external documents is not to be construed as an admission that such documents, or such sources of information, in any jurisdiction, are prior art, or form part of the common general knowledge in the art.
In the above description, specific details are given to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. However, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments may be practiced without these specific details.
Although this disclosure has been described in the context of certain embodiments and examples, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the disclosure extends beyond the specifically disclosed embodiments to other alternative embodiments and/or uses and obvious modifications and equivalents thereof. In addition, while several variations of the embodiments of the disclosure have been shown and described in detail, other modifications, which are within the scope of this disclosure, will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art. It is also contemplated that various combinations or sub-combinations of the specific features and aspects of the embodiments may be made and still fall within the scope of the disclosure. For example, features described above in connection with one embodiment can be used with a different embodiment described herein and the combination still fall within the scope of the disclosure. It should be understood that various features and aspects of the disclosed embodiments can be combined with, or substituted for, one another in order to form varying modes of the embodiments of the disclosure. Thus, it is intended that the scope of the disclosure herein should not be limited by the particular embodiments described above. Accordingly, unless otherwise stated, or unless clearly incompatible, each embodiment of this disclosure may comprise, additional to its essential features described herein, one or more features as described herein from each other embodiment of the invention disclosed herein.
This disclosure may also be said broadly to consist in the parts, elements and features referred to or indicated in this disclosure, individually or collectively, and any or all combinations of any two or more said parts, elements or features, and where specific integers are mentioned herein which have known equivalents in the art to which this disclosure relates, such known equivalents are deemed to be incorporated herein as if individually set forth.
Features, materials, characteristics, or groups described in conjunction with a particular aspect, embodiment, or example are to be understood to be applicable to any other aspect, embodiment or example described in this section or elsewhere in this specification unless incompatible therewith. All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive. The protection is not restricted to the details of any foregoing embodiments. The protection extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.
Furthermore, certain features that are described in this disclosure in the context of separate implementations can also be implemented in combination in a single implementation. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single implementation can also be implemented in multiple implementations separately or in any suitable subcombination. Moreover, although features may be described above as acting in certain combinations, one or more features from a claimed combination can, in some cases, be excised from the combination, and the combination may be claimed as a subcombination or variation of a subcombination.
For purposes of this disclosure, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features are described herein. Not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any particular embodiment. Thus, for example, those skilled in the art will recognize that the disclosure may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves one advantage or a group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein.
The scope of the present disclosure is not intended to be limited by the specific disclosures of embodiments in this section or elsewhere in this specification, and may be defined by claims as presented in this section or elsewhere in this specification or as presented in the future. The language of the claims is to be interpreted broadly based on the language employed in the claims and not limited to the examples described in the present specification or during the prosecution of the application, which examples are to be construed as non-exclusive.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 807002 | Dec 2023 | NZ | national |
