1. Field of the Invention
In one aspect, this invention relates to closures for beverage containers and more particularly to closures that are vented for the purpose of reducing negative pressure or vacuum that builds up inside the container when a beverage is being consumed therefrom. In a related aspect, this invention also relates to a device and method of construction of a beverage container used to cool a liquid by means of pervaporation.
2. Description of the Related Art
A large variety of beverage containers are constructed with a small opening or drinking spout through which the fluid contents can be extracted. The opening is adapted so that a person can place their mouth over the opening thus forming a seal around the opening. Examples of these types of beverage containers include: a soda-pop bottle having a small annular opening; a drinking cup or spill-proof cup having a cover formed with a drinking spout; and, a nipple-equipped baby bottle. As the fluid contents are being consumed from one of these beverage containers, a negative pressure or vacuum builds up within the container making it necessary to interrupt drinking long enough to allow air to enter into the container equalizing the pressure between the outside and inside atmospheres. This interruption causes inconvenience for adult drinkers and makes it difficult for babies to continue feeding. Numerous solutions have been proposed whereby the beverage container is vented to relieve the buildup of negative pressure. As one would expect, most of the solutions are directed to spill-proof cups or baby bottles for feeding infants.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment, there is provided a closure for dispensing fluids from a container. The closure comprises a pair of telescopically coupled first and second members cooperatively defining a fluid path, in which the first member is attached to a base or unitary with the base, the base is adapted to be secured, connected or attached to a container and the base and/or the first member include one or more sections of a porous vent material which allows passage of gases and inhibits bulk passage of liquid. In a preferred embodiment, the fluid path is opened to allow fluid flow out of a container by moving the second member relative to the first member, including by twisting or pulling away the second member relative to the first. In some embodiments, the porous vent material is covered by the second member when the closure is in a closed position and exposed to air when the closure is in an open position.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment, there is provided a closure for treating and dispensing a liquid, comprising a base comprising means to secure the closure to a container, a liquid path through the base through which liquid passes when the closure in use a porous treatment matrix contained within or connected to the liquid path, through which liquid passes when the closure is in use, and, optionally, a porous venting matrix secured to the base, wherein said porous venting matrix allows for passage of gases through the porous venting matrix and inhibits passage of liquid through the porous venting matrix thereby allowing for equalization of air pressure between a first location in contact with a first portion of said porous venting matrix and a second location in contact with a second portion of said porous venting matrix. Treatments conferred to a liquid as it passes said through the closure by the treatment matrix include, but are not limited to, selective or non-selective elimination or addition of chemicals, whether by chemical composition, size, or other property; cation and/or anion exchange; and chemical reactions. In a preferred embodiment, the treatment is a chemical treatment comprising selectively removing a preservative or other chemical from the liquid.
In another embodiment, there is provided a closure for dispensing a liquid, comprising a base comprising means to secure the closure to a container, a liquid path through the base through which liquid passes when the closure in use, and a porous flow matrix having a high liquid flux rate and a low water intrusion pressure contained within, attached or connected to the liquid path, through which liquid passes when the closure is in use, wherein the porous flow matrix substantially prevents flow of liquid through the closure when the air pressure on opposing ends of the matrix are substantially equal. In a preferred embodiment, the closure further comprises a porous venting matrix secured to the base.
In another embodiment, there is provided a beverage dispensing assembly, comprising a cap having an opening therein to allow flow of liquid and gas, a base housing adapted to be secured to a container, and a generally hydrophobic porous vent material having a high water intrusion pressure carried by (e.g. contained within, attached to, unitary with, or otherwise connected to) said base housing, wherein the base housing and cap are movably coupled and cooperatively define a liquid path and vented air passing into the container during use follows a central axis around which the liquid flows as it passes out of the container and through the dispenser, thereby reducing air entrainment in the dispensed liquid.
Preferred embodiments of the closures and assemblies disclosed herein may include one or more of the following: a vent material comprising plastic, metal, ceramic and/or glass; hydrophobic vent material; and plastic vent material having a high water intrusion pressure. Additionally in preferred embodiments of closures and assemblies: the porous vent material provides sufficient venting to allow a substantially continuous liquid flux rate from the closure without creating a substantial pressure differential across the closure, preferably at least about 500 ml/min/cm2, including at least about 50 ml/min/cm2; the closure provides a pressure drop during dispensing of less than about 2 psi., including less than about 1 psi.
In preferred embodiments, a closure or assembly includes a porous flow matrix within at least a portion of the fluid path, wherein the flow matrix is adapted to substantially inhibit flow of liquid through the flow matrix unless an air pressure differential (preferably about 0.05 to 2.0 psi) exists between inside and outside a container to which the closure is attached. Also, in preferred embodiments, the closure is in combination with a container, wherein the container has a neck with external threads adapted to cooperate with female threads on the base to attach the closure to the container. Alternatively, an assembly or closure has a base adapted to couple with the top of an aluminum beverage can.
b shows a cross section of the closed end of the bottle body showing the vent secured to the bottle body by welding, sealant or sonic sealing.
c is a cross-sectional side view of the closed end of the bottle body showing the vent formed as a plug and inserted into a hole formed in the bottle body.
d is a cross-sectional side view of the closed end of the bottle body showing the vent formed as a plug with a shoulder and inserted into a cavity formed in the bottom of the bottle body.
The figures illustrate preferred embodiments and are intended to be merely exemplary and representative of certain embodiments. To that end, several figures contain optional features that need not be included in any particular embodiment of the invention, and the shape, type, or particular configuration of container or closure illustrated should not be taken as limiting on the invention.
Disclosed herein below are beverage containers and container closures including those that are vented for the purpose of reducing negative pressure or vacuum that builds up inside the container when a beverage is being consumed therefrom. In preferred embodiments, the containers and/or closures comprise porous vent materials.
Porous vent materials may be made of any of a wide variety of materials, including, but not limited to, plastics, metals, glass, and ceramics. Combinations of plastics with metals, glass, or ceramics may also be used. The combinations may be intimate such as from blending of two or more components to become co-sintered, or may be layered such as from multilaminate structures derived from two or more materials. Combinations of different plastics, elastomers, metals, glasses, or ceramics can also be cosintered or fabricated into multilaminate structures for use as porous materials. Preferred plastics for porous vent materials include, but are not limited to thermoplastic polymers, thermoset elastomers, and thermoplastic elastomers. Preferred thermoplastic polymers include, but are not limited to, low density polyethylene (LDPE), linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), medium density polyethylene (MDPE), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), polypropylene (PP) and its copolymers, polymethylpentene (PMP), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT); polyethyleneterephthalate (PET), polyethyleneterephthalate glycol modified (PETG), polyetheretherketone (PEEK), ethylenevinylacetate (EVA), polyethylenevinylalcohol (EVOH), polyacetal, polyacrylonitrile (PAN), poly(acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene) (ABS), poly(acrylonitrile-styrene-acrylate) (AES), poly(acrylonitrile-ethylene-propylene-styrene) (ASA), polyacrylates, polymethacrylates, polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), polyvinylchloride (PVC), chlorinatedpolyvinylchloride (CPVC), polyvinyldichloride (PVDC) fluorinated ethylenepropylene (FEP), polyvinylfluoride (PVF), polyvinylidinefluoride (PVDF), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyester, cellulosics, polyethylenetetrafluoroethylene (ETFE), polyperfluoroalkoxyethylene (PFA), nylon 6 (N6), polyamide, polyimide, polycarbonate, polyetheretherketone (PEEK), polystyrene (PS), polysulfone, and polyethersulfone (PES). Preferred thermoset elastomers include styrene-butadiene, polybutadiene (BR), ethylene-propylene, acrylonitrile-butadiene (NBR), polyisoprene, polychloroprene, silicone, fluorosilicone, urethanes, hydrogenated nitrile rubber (HNBR), polynorborene (PNR), butyl rubber (IIR) to include chlorobutyl (CIIR) and bromobutyl (BIIR), fluoroelastomers such as Viton® and Kalrez®, Fluorel™, and chlorosulfonated polyethylene. Preferred thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) categories include thermoplastic olefins (TPO) including those commercially available as Dexflex® and Indure®; elastomeric PVC blends and alloys; styrenic block copolymers (SBC) including styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS), styrene-isoprene-styrene (SIS), styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene (SEBS), and styrene-ethylene-propylene-styrene (SEPS), some commercially available SBCs include Kraton®, Dynaflex®, and Chronoprene™; thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPV, also known as dynamically vulcanized alloys) including those commercially available as Versalloy®, Santoprene®, and Sarlink®; thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) including those commercially available as ChronoThane®, Versollan™, and Texrin®; copolyester thermoplastic elastomers (COPE) including those commercially available as Ecdel®; and polyether block copolyamides (COPA) including those commercially available as PEBAX®. Preferred metals for porous materials include stainless steel, aluminum, zinc, copper and its alloys. Preferred glass and ceramics for porous materials include quartz, borosilicate, aluminosilicate, sodiumaluminosilicate, preferably in the form of sintered particles or fibers derived from said materials. The foregoing list of preferred materials is referenced throughout this specification.
A preferred method of making macroporous plastic is by a process called sintering, wherein powdered or granular thermoplastic polymers are subjected to the action of heat and pressure to cause partial agglomeration of the granules and formation of a cohesive macroporous sheet or part. The macroporous material comprises a network of interconnected macropores that form a random tortuous path through the sheet. Typically, the void volume or percent porosity of a macroporous sheet is from 30 to 65% depending on the conditions of sintering although it may be greater or lesser than the stated range depending on the specific method of manufacturer. Due to surface tension, macroporous material can be tailored to repel or absorb liquids, but air and other gases can readily pass through. U.S. Pat. No. 3,051,993 to Goldman, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety, discloses the details of making a macroporous plastic from polyethylene.
Porous plastic, including macroporous plastic, suitable for making a vent in accordance with preferred embodiments, can be manufactured in sheets or molded to specification and is available for purchase from a number of sources. Porex Corporation (Fairburn, Ga., U.S.A.) is one such source, and provides porous plastic under the trademark, POREX®. Porous plastic sold under the name POREX® can be purchased in sheets or molded to specification from any one of the thermoplastic polymers previously described. The average porosity of such POREX® materials can vary from about 1 to 350 microns depending on the size of polymer granules used and the conditions employed during sintering. GenPore (Reading, Pa., U.S.A.) is another manufacturer of porous plastic products, with pore sizes ranging from 5 to 1000 microns. MA Industries Inc. (Peachtree City, Ga., U.S.A.) also manufactures porous plastic products. Porvair Technology Ltd (Wrexham North Wales, U.K.) is another manufacturer of porous products supplying both porous plastic (range of 5 to 200 μm pore size under brand name Vyon™) and porous metal media (under brand name Sinterflo®).
The basic size, thickness and porosity of the plastic chosen to make a vent may be determined by calculating the amount of material that must pass through the vent in a given period of time (flow rate). The flow rate for a given area of vent is known as the flux rate. The flow and flux rates of a given macroporous plastic varies depending on factors including the pore size, percent porosity, and cross sectional thickness of the vent and is generally expressed in terms of fluid volume per unit time per unit area for flux rate and volume per unit time for flow rates. To achieve a sufficient degree of venting, the flow rate of the vent is such that the volume of air per minute that passes through the vent equals or exceeds the volume of beverage per minute that is removed from the container by drinking or dispensing. In the case of an infant, a flow rate of about 50 to 200 ml/min of fluid delivery is sufficient to provide a pleasurable drinking experience, whereas for most adults under normal drinking conditions, a flow rate of about 250 to 5000 ml/min of fluid delivery is preferred. In a preferred embodiment, the combination of macroporous vent pore size, percent porosity, and thickness results in venting rates capable of providing on average about 50 to 5000 ml/min fluid or beverage delivery rates out of the container, including about 75, 100, 200, 250, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 750, 800, 900, 1000, 1500, 2000, 2500, 3000, 3500, 4000 and 4500 ml/min including about 50 to 200 ml/min for infants, about 100 to 500 ml/min for toddlers, about 250 to 2500 ml/min for children, and about 500 to 5000 ml/min for young and mature adults. In a preferred embodiment, the flux of beverage delivered through a vented closure is about 50 to 5000 ml/min*cm2, including about 75, 100, 200, 250, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 750, 800, 900, 1000, 1250, 1500, 1750, 2000, 2500, 3000, 3500, 4000 and 4500 ml/min*cm2.
In common usage, “Macroporosity” generally refers to the overall void volume of a material or its macrostructure. The term “Macroporous” is generally used to classify a material's individual pores that are considered large in size. The term “Microporosity” generally refers to the individual pore sizes or distribution of pore sizes that constitute the microstructure of a porous material. The term “Microporous” is generally used to classify a material's individual pores that are considered small in size. For purposes of the disclosure herein, pore size (diameter) is classified according to the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) Subcommittee of Macromolecular Terminology, definitions of terms drafted on Feb. 26, 2002. This standard divides pore size classification into three categories: Microporous (<0.002 μm), Mesoporous (0.002 to 0.050 μcm) and Macroporous (>0.050 μm). Also for the purposes of this disclosure herein, void volume will be discussed in terms of the “Percent Porosity” of the material.
Preferred porous materials include those in which the pores on opposite surfaces (what will become the interior and exterior surfaces) are interconnected such that the two sides are in communication with each other. Such interconnections are preferably not, however, straight through as to create a tubes or ports through which material passes; instead a network of pores creates a tortuous path for the liquid or gas to pass.
For a single layer vent, the porous materials are preferably macroporous with pore sizes greater than or equal to 0.05 μm, preferably about 0.1 to 500 μm, and about 0.5 to 10 μm, including 0.25, 0.5, 1, 5, 15, 20, 40, 60, 80, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 350, 400, and 450 μm. In one embodiment, the vent materials used in conjunction have pore sizes between 0.1 and 100 μm, preferably between 0.5 and 75 μm. The percent porosity (percent open area) of the materials are preferably about 10 to 90%, including 30 to 75% or 50 to 70%, including 20%, 40%, 60%, and 80%. Preferred thicknesses of the porous materials include from 0.025 to 7 mm, including between 1 and 3 mm. Preferred thickness for vent materials include about 0.05 to 5mm and about 0.1 to 3.0 mm, including 0.2, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, 1.0, 1.25, 1.5, 1.75, 2.0, and 2.5 mm. Other embodiments may have values for the above parameters that are above or below those set forth above. For the values set forth in this paragraph, as well as elsewhere in the specification, the stated ranges include as the values contained in between the values specifically mentioned. In other embodiments, materials can have one or more properties having values lying outside the disclosed ranges.
The vent material can be derived from plastic, elastomers, glass, metal, or combinations thereof. Some preferred matrix materials, including thermoplastic polymers, thermoset elastomers, thermoplastic elastomer, metals, glass and ceramics are as detailed above. Vent materials may be purchased from commercial sources, or they may be made according to a variety of techniques. U.S. Pat. No. 4,076,656 to White et al. details one technique in which porogens are added to molten or dissolved materials, which can be leached out with a solvent, or extracted with supercritical fluids after the material sets and is in its final form. U.S. Pat. No. 5,262,444 to Rusincovitch et al. details another technique to create porous material by introducing porogens that evolve into gases after processing a material, to leave behind a porous structure. These patents are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.
Single layer porous vent material is advantageously used to provide venting for hot liquid and food container closures such as those used for carry-out applications. These may include containers for hot liquids such as coffee, tea, chocolate, soups, gravies, and sauces. Low cost porous vent materials with low to medium air flux rates and high water intrusion pressures are well suited for this type of application. The porous vent material preferably does not substantially detract from the structural integrity of the closure. In another embodiment, porous venting materials with similar characteristics to the above mentioned materials are advantageously selected to provide venting for plasticware type food storage containers that may be disposable or reusable depending on the desired usage. The vented food containers are also suited for microwave heating environments, in which they will allow the food container to safely vent steam during the heating process. In microwavable embodiments, preferred porous materials are made from plastics including elastomers, as metal would be disadvantageous for microwave heating or reheating. Preferred plastics include high-density polyethylene (HDPE), ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), polypropylene (PP), polymethylpentene (PMP), polyetheretherketone (PEEK), poly(acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene) (ABS) polyesters, polyvinyldichloride (PVDC) polyvinylfluoride (PVF), polyvinylidinefluoride (PVDF), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyamides, polyethylenetetrafluoroethylene (ETFE), polyperfluoroalkoxyethylene (PFA), polyimide, polycarbonate. Preferred elastomers are of the thermoset type and include styrene-butadiene, polybutadiene (BR), ethylene-propylene, acrylonitrile-butadiene (NBR), polyisoprene, polychloroprene, silicone, fluorosilicone, urethanes, hydrogenated nitrile rubber (HNBR), polynorborene (PNR), butyl rubber (IIR) to include chlorobutyl (CIIR) and bromobutyl (BIIR), as well as other plastics referenced above.
The basic size, thickness and porosity of the plastic chosen to make a vent may be determined by calculating the amount of air that must pass through the vent in a given period of time (flow rate). The flow rate of a given macroporous plastic varies depending on factors including the pore size, percent porosity, and cross sectional thickness of the vent and is generally expressed in terms of fluid volume per unit time. To achieve a sufficient degree of venting, the flow rate of the vent should be such that the volume of air per minute that passes through the vent in or out of the container is sufficient to maintain the atmospheric pressure inside of the container in balance with the outside container pressure. In addition, to achieve a sufficient degree of venting during consumption from a hot beverage container, the flow rate of the vent should be such that the volume of ambient air per minute that passes through the vent into the container is sufficient to replace the volume of liquid consumed during the immediate time frame. Preferred flow rates are disclosed above and include about 10 to 3500 ml/min or about 500 to 2500 ml/min for venting of steam, between about 10 to 100 ml/min for hot liquids to vent steam outside of the container, and about 50 to 1000 ml/min including about 100 to 500 ml/min for venting of air into hot beverage containers to aid consumption of the beverage. It should be noted that because of the interrelatedness of the concepts of flow rates and flux rates (a flux rate being a flow rate per unit area), these terms may be used somewhat interchangeably when referring to desired properties of a matrix material.
For laminated hydrophobic vent materials, the resultant properties of the final vent material will depend at least in part on the unique characteristics of each laminate that comprises the laminate. For example, a thin material with poor structural integrity, high water intrusion pressure, and high flux rate can be laminated to a thicker material with good structural integrity, low water intrusion pressure, and high flux rate to produce a vent material with high water intrusion pressure, high flux rate, and good structural integrity. In such an embodiment, preferred thin laminants have high water intrusion pressure and high flux rates, and are preferably derived from plastic, elastomers, metals, or ceramic materials including the specific materials mentioned hereinabove. Thin layers preferably range between about 20 μm and 1000 μm with average pore size preferably between about 0.5 and 350 μm, including between about 5 and 150 μm, and the percent porosity is preferably about 10 to 90%, including about 30 to 75%, and about 50 to 70%. The foregoing ranges are those used in connection with certain preferred embodiments. Use of materials having values outside the stated ranges if desirable for a particular application is contemplated.
The thin layers can be laminated to thicker layers using techniques familiar to those in the art. Thick laminants are preferably derived from plastic, elastomers, metals, or ceramic materials, including but not limited to the listing of preferred materials listed supra. Thickness preferably ranges from about 100 to 5000 μm with average pore sizes preferably ranging from about 0.5 to 500 μm. The percent porosity of the thick layer materials can range from about 10 to 90%, including between 30 to 75%, and between 50 to 70%.
Vent material may also be derived from porous materials made from blends. In a preferred embodiment, the porous materials comprise a fluorinated resin, including, but not limited to, polyvinylfluoride (PVF), polyvinylidinefluoride (PVDF), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyethylenetetrafluoroethylene (ETFE), fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP), polyperfluoroalkoxyethylene (PFA), and/or fluorinated additives such as Zonyl®, blended with one or more selected polyolefin or other resins, including those selected from the series of polyethylenes (LLDPE, LDPE, MDPE, HDPE, UHMWPE) polypropylene, polyesters, polycarbonates, ABS, acrylics, styrene polymnethylpentene (PMP), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT); polyethyleneterephthalate (PET), polyetheretherketone (PEEK), ethylenevinylacetate (EVA), polyacetal, poly(acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene) (ABS), poly(acrylonitrile-styrene-acrylate) (AES), poly(acrylonirile-ethylene-propylene-styrene) (ASA), polyesters, polyacrylates, polymethacrylates polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), polyvinylchloride (PVC), polyvinyldichloride (PVDC) nylon 6 (N6), polyamide, polyimide, polycarbonate, polystyrene, and polyethersulfone (PES). The resulting blends, including sintered blends, have porous structures with varying amounts of porosity, flexibility and mechanical strength determined predominately from the non-PTFE or other non-flourinated resin, and high water intrusion pressures determined predominately from the fluorinated resin due to its preferential migration to the pore surface during the sintering process. The percent porosity, pore size, and thickness are preferably as noted above. Blended matrix materials may be purchased from commercial sources, or they may be made according to a variety of techniques. U.S. Pat. No. 5,693,273 to Wolbrom details a process of cosintering to produce multi-porosity porous plastic sheets that can be derived from two or more polymeric resin materials and U.S. Pat. No. 5,804,074 to Takiguchi et al. et al. details a process to produce a plastic filter by cosintering two or more polymeric resins in a molding process to produce filter parts. Both of these patents are hereby incorporated by reference into this disclosure in their entirety.
Some porous materials are permeable to liquids. The rate of permeability is related to its liquid flux rate. The liquid flux rate is determined by factors including the pore size, percent porosity, surface tension, and cross sectional thickness. A favorable combination of these factors produces liquid flux rates capable of delivering beverage liquids from a container at suitable flow rates, including those described hereinabove which have been found provide a pleasurable drinking experience.
Porous materials can be constructed or engineered to be hydrophilic. Commodity plastic materials such as nylon, polysulfone, and the cellulosics, are available in hydrophilic grades. These hydrophilic materials can be milled into particles and sintered using techniques known to those familiar in the art to produce hydrophilic porous materials with high liquid flux rates. Porous hydrophilic plastic, including macroporous plastic, suitable for liquid beverage delivery in accordance with preferred embodiments, can be manufactured in sheets or molded to specification and is available for purchase from a number of sources. Porex Corporation (Fairburn, Ga., U.S.A.) is one such source, and provides hydrophilic porous plastic under the trademark, POREX®. Porous plastic sold under the name POREX® can be purchased in sheets or molded to specification from any one of the thermoplastic polymers previously described. The average porosity of such materials can vary from about 1 to 350 microns depending on the size of polymer granules used and the conditions employed during sintering. GenPore (Reading, Pa., U.S.A.) is another manufacturer of hydrophilic porous plastic products, with pore sizes ranging from 5 to 1000 microns. MA Industries Inc. (Peachtree City, Ga., U.S.A.) also manufactures hydrophilic porous plastic products. Porvair Technology Ltd (Wrexham North Wales, U.K.) is another manufacturer of hydrophilic porous products supplying both porous plastic (range of 5 to 200 um pore size under brand name Vyon™) and porous metal media (under brand name Sinterflo®). Porous hydrophilic fiber materials preferably range in pore size from 20 to 120 μm with percent porosity ranging from 25 to 80 for the pore volume. Moreover, hydrophobic porous materials, including many of those referenced hereinabove, can be rendered hydrophilic by one or more treatment processes familiar to those skilled in the art including, but not limited to, plasma etching, chemical etching, impregnation with wetting agents, or application of hydrophilic coatings. In addition, a masking process can be used in conjunction with one or more treatment processes to selectively pattern a hydrophobic porous material with regions of hydrophilicity with high liquid flux rates. The patterned materials can advantageously be incorporated into beverage container closures to provide additional control over regulating the flow of fluid from inside to outside the container during consumption. In one embodiment, the patterned porous material is used to provide a rotatable flow selector integral to the beverage closure. Techniques used to render hydrophilic materials more hydrophobic may also be used to render hydrophobic materials more hydrophilic.
A porous vent can be fabricated for assembly into a beverage closure or container, for example, by die cutting or stamping out a disc or ring-shaped geometry from a sheet of macroporous material. The porous vent may also be sinter molded with a suitable process and mold design to yield the final vent geometry in one process. The sinter molding process produces less waste than stamping from sheets, and can be economical depending on the number of parts and tooling costs. Other porous part geometries can be similarly and readily produced with these two techniques, as well as other suitable techniques as may be known or apparent to those skilled in the art to yield components suitable for container closures and containers.
In preferred embodiments, the containers and container closures described herein deliver generally aqueous liquids having surface tensions of approximately 40-75 mN/m, or the range of surface tensions found in most beverages. Although preferred embodiments described herein relate to delivery of beverages, the concepts and closures described herein may be used in the delivery of any fluid.
In the context of this specification, “vent matrix”, “vent material” and similar terms refer to porous materials which allow for easy passage of air while generally avoiding passage of bulk liquid and thus provide venting capabilities. In a vent matrix used with an aqueous liquid, the air flux rate of the vent matrix is high, the water or liquid flux rate is low, and it has a high water intrusion pressure. The term “flow matrix” is similarly used to refer to porous materials which allow for passage of fluid, preferably in the presence of a pressure drop, so as to dispense a liquid. For a flow matrix dispensing an aqueous liquid, the liquid flux rate is preferably high and the water intrusion pressure is preferably low. The higher the liquid flux rate and the lower the water intrusion pressure, the faster the rate at which the liquid will be dispensed. A high flux rate material allows for passage, at a reasonable rate (e.g. a rate which allows for acceptable intended functioning of the closure or container), of gas or liquid (for vent matrix and flow matrix, respectively) through the material. Similarly, a low flux rate material resists or substantially inhibits passage of the liquid (low liquid flux rate) or gas (low gas flux rate). When the liquid is water or aqueous, materials having a low liquid flux rate are also described as having a high water intrusion pressure and materials having a high liquid flux rate are described as having a low water intrusion pressure.
Another important concept is that of pressure drop. Pressure drop is used herein in reference to the absolute value of the difference in pressure between opposite sides of a matrix during venting or dispensing. In one embodiment, discussed in further detail below, pressure drop is used to refer to the pressure difference across the matrix required to initiate flow of liquid through a flow matrix, the flow matrix serving as a non-mechanical check valve.
Vented Containers
As shown in
Once the macroporous vent is obtained, the vent can be secured to the plastic bottle body by any one of a number of methods. In one embodiment, the vent is molded into a cavity that is formed in a wall of the bottle as the bottle is being injection molded (i.e. insert molded). With reference to
In a second embodiment, the bottle body is blow molded or injection molded with a hole. In one embodiment, the hole-forming detail in the bottle wall comprises a circular depression 21 as shown in
During any welding, heating or molding process, one should preferably limit the application of heat to the edges of the vent so that the porous characteristics of the vent are not substantially altered anywhere except at the edges of the vent.
The vent can also be secured in place using a sealant or adhesive. The type of sealant used depends on the ability of the sealant to bond with or penetrate the pores of the plastic. One example uses PVC and/or ABS cement to mechanically bond PP to PVC, styrene or ABS. In certain applications, two-part epoxy systems or silicone may be used to secure the vent in place. One consideration is that the adhesive be chemically compatible with the vent material and the other material(s) being bonded.
With reference to
One may also use one of the methods described above to secure the vent to a threaded, plastic screw cap similar to the threaded ring 20 used to clamp the nipple onto the open end of the bottle. In this case, the bottle would comprise an elongated tube threaded at each end. The nipple could be clamped to one end of the bottle using the threaded ring and a threaded screw cap provided with a macroporous vent could be threaded on the other end of the bottle body. In a related embodiment, a snap-fit cap may be used in place of the screw cap to secure the vent.
The same methods used to secure the vent to a baby bottle body may also be used to secure the vent to the plastic bodies of other kinds of beverage bottles or containers. As before, the bottle or container is preferably formed from plastic by processes such as blowmolding or injection molding. Examples of these types of bottles or containers include soda-pop bottles, water bottles, sports bottles and canteens. With reference to
It is also possible to use one of the methods described above to secure the vent to a plastic cover for a drinking cup. With reference to
The previously discussed methods used to secure a vent to a plastic bottle body can also be used to secure a vent to a glass or metal container. For example, the bottle can be molded with a hole-forming detail as previously described and the plastic vent secured therein using sealant or the cold-shrink method. An embodiment in which the vent is secured using a screw cap or snap-cap may also be used with glass or metal containers.
In an alternative embodiment, the vent may be formed from metal or glass by sintering powdered glass or metal under selected conditions of heat and pressure causing partial agglomeration of the granules and formation of a cohesive macroporous substrate. Depending on the conditions chosen, an average porosity of 7 to 350 microns and a void volume of 30 to 65% can be achieved. The glass or metal is preferably rendered hydrophobic either prior to the molding process or subsequent to the molding process using surface modification agents such as organosilanes so as to reduce unwanted leakage of generally aqueous contents. The size, thickness and porosity of a vent may be determined as previously described by calculating the flux rate or flow rate. The sintering conditions and mold dimensions can then be conformed to yield a vent having the desired properties. The glass or metal vent can be secured to a glass, metal, or plastic container using the methods discussed above.
Several embodiments described herein and those illustrated herein utilize a disk-shaped vent. While a disc shape may be preferred for ease of manufacturing and functional efficiency, it is possible to use vents of different shapes and geometries, e.g., oval or rectangular and any such alternate shape is presently contemplated. Preferably the shape of the vent does not prevent the vent from being secured in a leak-proof manner such as by using one of the securing methods disclosed above or equivalent methods.
Although the examples described with reference to
In several additional embodiments, hydrophilic and/or hydrophobic porous materials are selected to provide a matrix capable of simultaneous venting and fluid control during beverage consumption. Hydrophobic porous materials can be selectively treated, such as by plasma, chemical etching, coatings, and the likes to yield discrete hydrophilic regions where fluid flow will be permitted to occur. Similarly, this effect can also be realized by joining or placing hydrophilic and hydrophobic materials in close proximity in a manner as to permit selective fluid flow in some regions while providing only venting action in the other regions. Furthermore, regions of fluid flow can be further tailored so as to provide a minimum liquid intrusion pressure to commence liquid flow during consumption (i.e. a non-mechanical check valve). In this way, anti-spill or anti-leak characteristics can be incorporated into the overall functioning of the closure. The tailoring is accomplished by the use of porous materials having desired properties, or by selective treatment as noted above.
In the embodiment illustrated in
In
Anti-Spill Vented Beverage Container/Closure & Dispensing System for Straw Boxes
Vented and Partitioned Multi-Component Beverage Closure/Container Systems
Porous materials can be advantageously incorporated into beverage containers to provide a novel mixing system for multi-component beverages. Typically these beverage containers are constructed from partitioned or multi-cavity bodies containing two or more separate fluid compartments. This novel mixing system is particularly well suited for multicomponent beverage components capable of spontaneous carbonation when mixed. In one embodiment, a hydrophobic porous material with low water intrusion pressure and high liquid flux rate is layered to a thicker region of hydrophilic porous material with high liquid flux rate. The beverage container cavities and partitions are sealed at the top by the porous laminant material. Additional hydrophobic vent material may also be provided preferably in the beverage closure body to provide vacuum elimination during consumption that also affords uniformly mixed liquid components exiting from the random and tortuous porous path of interconnected pores into the spout. Hydrophobic porous vent material can be provided in the container body if desired. In a related embodiment, a straw can be readily integrated into the above delivery system that provides multi-component mixing.
Vented Beverage Closures for Aluminum Cans
Hot Beverage and Food Container Closures: Re-Useable Food Storage Container Closures
Packaging Configuration for Carbonated Beverage Vented Closure
For carbonated beverages, the vented closures can be readily packaged by the bottler along with the container without loss of carbonation. In one embodiment of such closure, as shown in
In another embodiment described in
Multifunctional Carbonated Beverage Closure System
Vented Delivery and Flow-Through Beverage Purification and Filtration System
In a further embodiment, porous materials are used to provide a device capable of purifying or filtering a beverage while simultaneously venting the container. Preferred porous plastic materials are fabricated into container closures to provide venting during consumption. In addition, selected porous plastic materials, sometimes referred to herein as a treatment matrix or porous treatment matrix are fabricated into one or more compartments integral to the container closure, to provide a means for chemical treatment including adding a chemical or chemical treatment agent and/or removal of contaminants. In one embodiment, treatment matrices in the form of porous plastic materials are fabricated to remove substances from a flowing liquid stream using selective, non-selective, or reactive separation mechanisms, or combinations thereof. In another embodiment, porous materials are selected to provide on-demand mixing of two or more beverage components with simultaneous container venting. Preferred hydrophobic porous materials are selected or fabricated so as to provide a minimum liquid intrusion pressure to commence liquid flow of multiple beverage components during consumption (i.e. a non-mechanical check valve). In addition, a preferred porous material with random interconnected pores forming a tortuous path internal structure is preferentially positioned to provide static mixing of the beverage components. Moreover, a preferentially porous material is provided in the closure or the container body to provide venting during beverage consumption. The delivery system can also be used to provide in-situ carbonation in addition to general mixing of two or more components.
Hydrophilic porous materials are used as a support matrix to provide a means to separate or filter components from a beverage solution, advantageously when combined with hydrophobic venting material from the closure. Active hydrophilic porous materials are preferably positioned within the closure to provide dynamic separation during liquid flux across the matrix via the random network of interconnected pores in communication with the inside and outside of the container. The dynamic separation process can be selective or non-selective for removal of desired beverage components. Examples of selective removal include anionic and cationic exchange, size, affinity, and reactive separations. Hydrophilic porous materials with ion exchange properties can be generated from a co-sintering process familiar to those in the art. Moreover, those skilled in the art of surface modification can readily treat porous materials to contain chemical or catalytic species anchored to the surface of the pores for the purpose of providing dynamic separation or filtration capabilities.
Active hydrophilic porous materials are easily incorporated into beverage container closures, and advantageously combined with closure venting to provide consistent fluid delivery during consumption without vacuum buildup inside the container. Active hydrophilic porous materials are suitable for the removal of contaminants, disinfectants, or other targeted beverage components such as chlorine, iodine, peroxide, caffeine, sodium, alcohol, etc., from a flowing beverage liquid stream. In a preferred embodiment, the porous structures used have one or more or all of the following properties: random interconnected pores in communication with the beverage and outside of the container; average pore sizes ranging from about 0.5 to 500 μm, including between about 5 and 250 μm; percent porosity of about 10 to 90%, including between about 50 and 90%; high surface areas, preferably between about 0.1 and 1000m2/g, including between about 100 and 1000m2/g; and generally high surface energies, with surface tension values ranging between about 40 and 80 dynes/cm2,, including between about 50 and 70 dynes/cm2. The combination of one or more or all of these factors in embodiments that are used directly for drinking produces liquid flux rates capable of delivering flow rates of about 50 to 4000 ml/min of beverage, including about 500 to 2000 ml/min and about 1000 to 2000 ml/min.
There are a variety of techniques designed to filter liquids that can be applied to the purification of beverages.
The purification processes performed by the embodiments shown in
In
Vented Beverage Closures for High Volume Manufacturing/Bottling
According to Table 1, doubling the orifice diameter resulted in air entrainment into the liquid beverage. Therefore, a “critical orifice” exists for the design somewhere between 1/16″ and ⅛″ diameter. Knowledge of the “critical orifice” is advantageous in designing vented beverage closures for the most pleasurable drinking experiences. The use of the term “critical orifice” is not intended to imply that a specific orifice is necessary or critical to the functioning of the embodiments herein. It is simply a term used to describe a size or range of sizes of orifice that provides less turbulent flow; closures according to many embodiments may have generally turbulent flow or they may be designed with the concept of “critical orifice” in mind.
The Reverse-Flow closure design features of
After assembly, exterior vent passage port (370) is the inlet for air which is in direct connection to port opening (375) which passes through the flexural vent duct (374) and is in direct contact with the inside of the vent housing and protruding ribs (370). Air will pass through the porous hydrophobic filter to reach distal air duct (381). When the closure device is in the closed mode (
Item (371) is preferably flexible in section (374). This flexibility allows the outer sealing/anchoring ring (372) to be fixed to item (369) and the center portion of item (371) can move in a axial direction relative to the sealing/anchor ring. Passages (374), will twist and contort to give axial motion. When the closure device is in the open mode, liquid flowing and air venting) there is no axial displacement/flex of the part (371). As the closure distal cap assembly is closed, duct (381) will come in contact with surface (392) and seal via a self centering cone and sealing seat under load. As the closing mode continues the center section of item (371) is axially displaced because of contact to duct (381), and will continue axial movement until cylindrical sealing surface (373), is seated into opening (364). The twist action closure will have mechanical stops to limit the amount of travel open and close of the device and insure proper axial movement to sealing air and liquid.
Item (369) is the distal component collecting and directing the fluid out opening (364). Item (369), (371), (377), (378) and (383) will make a complete subassembly that will be attached to item (387). The shape (362) is in a manner that is ergonomic to the lip when drinking. Item (364) is an opening for fluid to pass through when closure device is in an open mode and is also an annular interference fluid seal with item (373) when the device is in a closed mode. Item (383) is a cover to enclose fluid compartment of the upper assembly and a dynamic seal (385) to seal to cylindrical sealing surface (394). Item (384) is a compressive hoop seal and lock for components. Liquid flow during use begins through opening (390), past or around item (371) and out distal port (364). Open and Close actuation is by means of matching thread (386) inside item (383) of the upper assembly and threads (388) of the base housing. A 90 degree twist action is used in this configuration to open and close valves or passages.
The second method involves producing all three pieces (401), (402), and (430) using standard injection molding techniques familiar to those who practice the art.
Prior to assembly, the hydrophobic porous vent material (419) is attached to the centerpiece (430) preferably using techniques amenable to high volume manufacturing such as ultrasonic or laser welding. Other attachment techniques can be employed as previously discussed. Then, the resulting three pieces (401), (402), (419, 430) are snap assembled as previously discussed. The vented closure embodiment of
The embodiment of the reduced complexity vented closure depicted in
In
A series of experiments were conducted comparing the performance of various matrix materials. The containers were filled with 700 ml of water and the opening for dispensing (hence the area of the flow) was 0.71 square cm. The pressure drop from air venting only and during liquid dispensing was measured and is presented in Table 2. In preferred embodiments, pressure drop is preferably less than 2 psi, including less than about 1.2, 1.1, 1.0, 0.9, 0.8, 0.7, 0.6, 0.5 0.4, 0.3, 0.2, 0.1 and 0.05 psi. As can be seen in Table 2, the materials tested were well within the desired ranges.
The time to empty the container was measured and the flow rate and flux rate calculated and presented in Table 3.
In Table 4, results of a leak test to determine whether there was visible leakage through the matrix material using carbonated soft drink (CSD) with and without 5% ethanol added.
The various methods and techniques described above provide a number of ways to carry out the invention. Of course, it is to be understood that not necessarily all objectives or advantages described may be achieved in accordance with any particular embodiment described herein. Thus, for example, those skilled in the art will recognize that the methods may be performed in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other objectives or advantages as may be taught or suggested herein.
Furthermore, the skilled artisan will recognize the interchangeability of various features from different embodiments. Similarly, the various features and steps discussed above, as well as other known equivalents for each such feature or step, can be mixed and matched by one of ordinary skill in this art to perform methods in accordance with principles described herein.
Although the invention has been disclosed in the context of certain embodiments and examples, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the invention extends beyond the specifically disclosed embodiments to other alternative embodiments and/or uses obvious modifications and equivalents thereof.
This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/388,609, filed Jun. 3, 2002, and is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/162,119, filed Jun. 3, 2002, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/933,639 filed Sep. 19, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,398,048, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.
Number | Date | Country | |
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60388609 | Jun 2002 | US | |
60404355 | Aug 2002 | US | |
60458054 | Mar 2003 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 10453864 | Jun 2003 | US |
Child | 11194660 | Aug 2005 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 08933639 | Sep 1997 | US |
Child | 10162119 | Jun 2002 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 10162119 | Jun 2002 | US |
Child | 10453864 | Jun 2003 | US |