Seal ring for sealing a container

[0001] The present disclosure relates to sealing rings, and in particular to sealing rings for sealing containers, for example glass containers.

Field and summary of the disclosure [0002] Glass containers often include a base, an end, and a body extending therebetween. The container end, in turn, includes a sealing surface to which a removable film can be attached to seal the container. Before attaching the film to the sealing surface, the sealing surface is conventionally prepared, for example by cold coating it. The coating can be applied in a variety of ways, including by spraying or roller application.

[0003] The general purpose of the present disclosure is to provide a container sealed with a film that does not require cold coating of the sealing surface of the container end in order to prepare the sealing surface for fixing the foil thereon.

[0004] The present disclosure includes many aspects that can be implemented independently of or in combination with each other.

[0005] A package, according to one aspect of the present disclosure, comprises a container comprising a longitudinal axis

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EP 2 996 961 B1 passing through it and having an end comprising a sealing collar, an outer coupling element and an inner surface. The package further comprises a sealing ring having a base applied to the sealing flange, a radially outer portion with a locking tape locked under the outer coupling member of the container ends, and an internal seal being pressed to engage sealing with the inner surface of the container end. The packaging further comprises a film sealed and removably coupled to the sealing ring base.

[0006] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the sealing ring for sealing a container comprises a base having a longitudinal axis passing through it, an outer portion with a locking band adapted to be locked under the outer coupling member of the container and an inner seal adapted to be pressed to engage with the sealing the inner surface of the container end.

[0007] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the method of assembling the container and the specified sealing involves heating at least a portion of the container to a predetermined temperature sufficient to cause at least a portion of the sealing ring to melt when engaging the container and coupling the sealing ring to the container end, when the container has a certain temperature, that part of the sealing ring melts and adapts to the sealing surface of the container end.

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[0008] EP 1 731 441 A1 discloses a sealing ring, according to the part before the characterizing claim 1. WO 2007/099066 A1 discloses the method according to the characterizing part of the claim 12.

Brief Description of the Drawings [0009] The disclosure, along with its additional objectives, features, advantages and aspects, will be best understood from the following description, the appended claims and the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a package according to an illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure and includes a container, a sealing ring and a film sealed and removably coupled to the sealing ring;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the container of Fig. 1 having a sealing ring fitted;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of one illustrative embodiment of the package of Fig. 1 showing the package in a folded and sealed condition; and

Fig. 4 is a graph illustrating an embodiment of the method of joining a container and a sealing ring.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments [0010] Fig. 1 shows a package 10 comprising a container 12, a sealing ring 14 coupled to or

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EP 2 996 961 B1 connected to the container 12 and the film 16 tightly and removably coupled to the sealing ring 14. As described in US patent application 2014/0332536 A1, sealing ring 14 and film 16 are adapted to close and seal container 12 when film 16 is engaged with sealing ring 14 and sealing ring 14 is connected to container 12. Packaging 10 can be used to pack any amount of goods or products. For example, packaging 10 can be used to package food products, for example, and without limitation, pickles, baby food, salsa, peppers, spaghetti sauces and jam, to cite just a few possibilities. Packaging 10 may also be used to store products other than food products, including but not limited to liquids, gels, powders, loose products and the like. Each container 12 and sealing ring 14 comprise or define a respective longitudinal axis (i.e. longitudinal axis A in the case of container 12 and longitudinal axis B in the case of sealing ring 14) which coincide when the container 12 and sealing ring 14 are assembled together as shown in Fig. 1 and 2.

[0011] The container 12 can be made of glass or any other material suitable for storing food products and can be a bowl, jar or cup, to cite several possibilities. Referring to Fig. 2, the container 12 includes a base 18 and a body 20 extending from the base 28. In some embodiments, the container 12 may also include

The tapered portion (not shown) extending from the body 20 and the neck (not shown) extending from the tapered portion or directly from the body 20. In any case and with reference to Fig. 3, the container 12 further includes an end 22 extending axially from the body 20, in which end there is an open outlet 24 surrounded by a flange or sealing surface 26. As shown in fig. 3, the sealing surface 26 is an axially facing surface that is away from the container body 20, and is adapted to engage with the corresponding portion of the sealing ring 14, as will be described below. In addition to the outlet 24, the container end 22 further includes an outer or radially outer coupling member 28 that surrounds the outlet 24 and which is adapted to engage parts of the sealing ring 14 when the container 12 and the sealing ring 14 are assembled together. As used herein, the term "radial" means oriented generally perpendicular to the axis, but not limited to a direction strictly perpendicular to the axis. The coupling element 28 may include, for example and without limitation, a shaft (e.g. roller), collar, edge or other appropriate feature. In either case, the coupling member 28 may extend completely circumferentially around the container end 22; alternatively it may comprise a plurality of discontinuous segments disposed around the perimeter of the end 22. The container end 22 further includes an inner, radially inwardly facing surface 29, which in the embodiment is equal to

It is also adapted to engage parts of the sealing ring 14 when the container 12 and the sealing ring 14 are assembled together.

[0012] The sealing ring 14 may be an integral one-part structure or be a multi-part structure and may be made of metal, plastic or any other material suitable for closing and sealing the container in the manner described in the document. As shown in fig. 3, the sealing ring 14 comprises a base 30, a radially outer portion 32 having a locking band 34 and an inner seal 36. When the sealing ring 14 is connected to the container 12, the ring 14 surrounds the outlet 24 of the container 12. More specifically, the base 30 surrounds the periphery of the outlet 24 (i.e. at least part of the sealing surface 26 of the container end), the blocking strip 34 of the radially outer part 32 is blocked under the coupling element 28 or below it, and the inner seal 36 is pressed in for sealing engagement with outlet 24 or internal end surface 29. The sealing ring 14 is circumferential with an inner diameter or hole or a radially inner rim and an outer diameter or a radially outer rim. Additionally, in an embodiment, the sealing ring 14 can be applied to the container 12 when its sealing surface 26 has a tin oxide coating, but is not cold coated, which is conventionally required for sealing films on glass containers.

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[0013] The base 30 comprises a first or upper surface 38 and a second or lower surface 40 opposite the upper surface 38. The upper surface 38 is an axially directed surface and comprises a sealing surface with which, as will be described below, the film 16 can be coupled. The bottom surface 40 is also an axially facing surface, however, it is facing an axial direction that is opposite to the direction in which the top surface 38 is facing (i.e., the top surface 38 and the bottom surface 40 are facing in opposite directions). When the sealing ring 14 is joined to the container 12, the bottom surface 40 is disposed adjacent and, in at least one embodiment, engages with the sealing surface 26 of the container end 26 around the opening 24. The longitudinal axis B of the sealing ring 14 extends perpendicular to the plane extending along one of the base surfaces 38, 40 and centrally to the outer radial periphery of the sealing ring 14.

[0014] The radially outer portion 32 of the sealing ring 14 serves to connect the sealing ring 14 to the container 12. In an embodiment, the radially outer portion 32 comprises a first portion 42 and a second portion 44. The first portion 42 extends from the base 30 in the axial direction (e.g. axially down) so that it is substantially perpendicular to the base 30. As used herein, the term "axial" means oriented generally along an axis, but not limited to a direction strictly parallel to the axis. Second part 44,

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EP 2 996 961 B1 which comprises the locking strip 34 of the radially outer part 32, is arranged at the distal end of the first part 42, which is opposite the base 30, and extends from it both in the radial direction inward and in the axial direction in bases 30 (e.g. up in the axial direction) so that it extends along a predetermined angle from the first portion 42 back towards the base 30 in a radially inward direction. The radially outer portion 32 may further comprise a folded joint 46 formed in the sealing ring 14 and disposed between the first and second parts 42, 44. In cross section, the folded joint 46 forms a semicircular protuberance in the joint or fold between the first and second parts 42, 44. The folded joint 46 is adapted to allow folding or pivoting of the second portion 44 as described in more detail below. The second part 44 of the radially outer part 32, which in the embodiment comprises a locking tape 34, is adapted such that when the sealing ring 14 is connected to the container 12, it "snaps" and locks under the coupling element 28 of the container end 22 to engage the ring seal 14 with container 12 (i.e., ring 14 is latched onto coupling element 28). As such, the second part or the locking strip 34/44 and / or the first part 42 of the radially outer part 32 can be bent or elastically deformable to allow engagement of the sealing ring 14 with the container 12. In one embodiment, a radially outer portion 32 is disposed in the shuttle

At the farthest point of the base 30, although the present disclosure is not limited to such a system. Additionally, in the embodiment, the coupling or assembly of the sealing ring 14 with the container 12 means that the sealing ring 14 cannot be substantially removed from the container 12, which means that it is intended that the sealing ring 14 is not intended to be removed from the container 12 without damage or at least damage to the container 12 and / or sealing ring 14.

[0015] Still referring to Fig. 3, the inner seal 36 of the sealing ring 14 operates, at least in part, to seal the container 12. The seal 36 may include any number of seals, such as, for example, a blind seal, valve seal or any other suitable seal. For purposes of illustration, the following description will be in accordance with an embodiment in which the inner seal 36 comprises a valve seal (i.e., "inner valve seal 36"), although the present disclosure is not limited to such an embodiment. One of the advantages of a sealing valve, among others potentially, is that it is adapted so that the seal formed in this way is better when a vacuum is created inside the container 12 (e.g. when the pressure inside the container 12 decreases, the seal formed between the seal of the internal valve 36 and the container 12 is clamped). According to the invention and as with the radially outer portion 32 described above, the seal 36 of the internal valve

EP 2 996 961 B1 includes first part 48 and second part 50. The first portion 48 extends from the base 30 in the axial direction (e.g. axially down) and, in an embodiment, is substantially perpendicular to the base 30. In other embodiments, the first portion 48 extends from the base 30 both in the axial direction and radially outward (as shown in Fig. 3) so that the first part 48 extends at an angle of less than 90 ° from the base 30. The second part 50 is located at the distal end of the first part 48, which is opposite the base 30, and extends from it both in the radial direction outwards and in the axial direction towards the base 30 (e.g. up in the axial direction) so that it extends along a predetermined angle from the first portion 48 back towards the base 30 in a radially outward direction. The valve inner seal 36 may further include a folded joint 52 formed into a sealing ring 14 and disposed between the first and second parts 48, 50. In cross section, the folded joint 52 forms a semi-circular relief in the joint or fold between the first and second parts 48, 50. In other embodiments, the joint 52 may include a portion of thinned material. The folded joint 52 is adapted to allow folding or deflecting of the second portion 50 as described in more detail below. The second part 50 is adapted in such a way that when the sealing ring 14 is assembled with the container 12, it is pressed against the coupled connection to the outlet 24 or the inner surface 29 of the container end 12, thereby forming a liquid tight seal and / or

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The air between sealing ring 14 and container 12. As such, the second portion 50 and / or first portion 48 of the internal valve 36 may be foldable or elastically deformable to allow the container to be sealed 12. In one embodiment, the valve seal 36 internal extends from a point radially nearest to base 30, although the present disclosure is not limited to such a system.

[0016] As briefly described above, the package 10 further comprises a film 16 that is sealed and removably connected to the sealing ring 14 and which serves to seal the container 12 when the sealing ring 14 and the container 12 are joined together. The film 16 may consist of any number of materials suitable for the hermetic sealing of container 12, including, for example and without limitation, metallic material (e.g. aluminum), polymer material or plastic (e.g. PET polyethylene terephthalate), a paper material (e.g. wax paper) or other material or substrate suitable for forming the seal. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 3, the film 16 is removably and tightly coupled to the base 30 of the sealing ring 14, and more particularly, to the upper surface 38 of the base 30, which thus serves as the sealing surface of both the sealing ring 14 and the packaging 10 when the sealing ring 14 is connected to the container 12. Foil 16 and sealing ring material 14 are closely matched for optimal performance, and foil 16 can

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The seal ring base 14 may be coupled using any number of techniques, including, for example, induction and electrical sealing techniques and / or any other suitable technique known in the art. The film 16 may be coupled to the sealing ring 14 prior to coupling or connecting the sealing ring 14 to the container 12, or alternatively later. As shown in fig. 1, the film 16 may include a flap 54 extending from its periphery, which is adapted to allow the user to remove the film 16 from the sealing ring 14 by pulling the flap 54 away from the sealing ring 14 and container 12.

[0017] With reference to Figs. 3 and 4, the illustrated method 100 of folding the package 10 will be described.

[0018] In step 102, the film 16 is coupled to the base 30 of the sealing ring 14, in one embodiment step 102 is performed before coupling the sealing ring 14 or folding to the container 12, while in another embodiment 102 is made after the sealing ring is joined together 14 and container 12.

[0019] In any case, at step 104, the sealing ring 14 is aligned with the outlet 24 and the sealing surface 26 of the container end 22, and is then pressed axially against the container end 22. Since the locking strip 34 of the sealing ring 14 contacts the coupling element 28, it deflects or bends in the direction of

EP 2 996 961 B1 outwardly until it reaches the lower part of the coupling element 28, at which point it will bend back to a place at least near its original position and lock under the coupling element 28. Similarly, when the sealing ring 14 is pressed against the container 12, the second portion 50 of the inner seal of the valve 36 contacts the outlet 24 of the container end 22 and bends or deflects radially inwardly into a sealing engagement with the outlet 24 or the inner surface 29 of the end 22 container. The second part 50 remains pressed against the opening 24 and / or the inner surface 29 of the end to form a seal between the sealing ring 14 and the container 12. According to the invention, step 104 is performed when the container material 12 has a temperature sufficient to melt at least a portion of the base ring 30 of the sealing ring 14 and more closely match the sealing surface 26 of the container end 22 to form a more accurate seal between the sealing ring 14 and the container 12 ( for example. the sealing ring 14 will, for example, adapt to the unevenness of the sealing surface 26).

[0020] Accordingly, in an embodiment, the method 100 may further include the step 106 of heating the container 12, or at least a portion thereof, which includes the container end 22, to a predetermined temperature sufficient to induce the desired melting of the sealing ring 14 prior to performing step 104. In the embodiment step 106 may be performed during or include part of the container manufacturing process in which

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The residual heat from this process is sufficient to cause melting of at least part of the sealing ring 14. In another embodiment, step 106 may be independent of the container manufacturing process and may include applying heat to the container 12, or at least a portion thereof, immediately before performing step 104 of method 100. In both cases, the specific temperature required for sufficient and acceptable melting of the sealing ring 14 depends on the specific materials of which the sealing ring 14 and / or container 12 is formed, and can be determined empirically by testing various materials and combining materials to achieve the desired degree of sealing ring fusion.

[0021] In this way, a package has been disclosed that fully meets all the predetermined purposes. The disclosure has been presented in conjunction with several illustrative embodiments, and additional modifications and variations have been discussed. Other modifications and variations will easily come to mind those of skill in the art in light of the above discussion.

Owens-Brockway Glass Container Inc.

Proxy:

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EP 2 996 961 B1