Composite container and package

[57] ABSTRACT

A composite container that may be used for packaging a fluent product, such as a carbonated beverage, has a rigid outer tube, which may be made of fiber, firmly supporting a plastic cup inserted therein and a metal end closure wherein the fiber tube, cup and metal closure are seamed together. An annular flange on the metal closure overlies an annular flange on the plastic cup and is interfolded therewith to form a seam which seals the metal closure to the fiber tube.

Claim, 11 Drawing Figures

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Patented May 16, 1972

3,662,944

Sheets-Sheet 1

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ATTORNEY

Patented May 16, 1972

3,662,944

Sheets-Sheet 2

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INVENTOR.

RICHARD LEO JOOSTEN, Sr.

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ATTORNEY

3,662,944

COMPOSITE CONTAINER AND PACKAGE

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates broadly to containers that may be used for packaging, and is more particularly directed to a composite container body having a metal end closure seamed thereon capable of packaging a pressurized fluent material, such as a carbonated beverage.

Traditionally, the containers used for packaging carbonated beverages were glass bottles. More recently, cans made of steel, aluminum or a combination of both, have received widespread use for packaging carbonated beverages.

However, a disadvantage, common to both the glass bottle and the metal can, is that both types of container are not readily disposable by the user.

Recently, a disposable plastic/paper container capable of packaging carbonated beverages has been developed and placed into commercial use. However, this container, while light weight and readily disposable, is less economical than comparable conventional containers, having the disadvantages of multiple parts, slow speed assembly and being primarily designed for the glass bottle market. Further, the large plastic top of the container allows more surface area for the transmission of light,water vapor, and CO₂ and O₂ gases, all of which are detrimental to the quality of the carbonated product contained therein.

The present invention retains the advantages of the plastic/paper container referred to above and obviates its disadvantages by combining its light weight and disposable properties with the modern high speed assembly techniques of the metal can art. By fitting the container to the present can assembly systems the costs of this new type of container are greatly reduced. Further, by the sealing of a metal end closure onto the composite container top by a new and improved combination double and single seam, instead of a large plastic top spin welded to the composite container top, the area of plastic surface available for light and gas permeation is markedly reduced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention utilizes a deep-formed, plastic cup with a hemispherical bottom inserted into and supported by a substantially rigid outer tube, which may be made of fiber, to form a composite container body. The cup has an annular flange which extends beyond the outside wall of the outer fiber tube. A conventional metal end closure, such as an easyopen end, having an annular flange which overlies and extends beyond the end of the annular cup flange, is sealed onto the top of the composite container body by a new and improved combination double and single seam.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a composite container embodying the present invention with a portion of the container body wall broken away, illustrating, in section, an inner plastic up and an outer fiber tube with a product in the container; product in the container;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the composite container body separated from a metal end closure;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the composite container body separated from a metal end closure;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 3 — 3 ofFIG. 1, illustrating the upper part of the composite container, and, in particular, illustrating one sealing arrangement of the metal closure with the composite container body;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the outer fiber tube of the composite container shown in FIG. 1, illustrating the fiber tube in greater detail by showing its component parts;

FIGS. 5-11 are enlarged sectional views similar to a portion of FIG. 3, but illustrating modified forms of the sealing arrangement shown in FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As a preferred or exemplary embodiment of the instant invention, FIG. 1 shows a sealed composite container, generally designated 20, filled with a material 22, such as a carbonated beverage.

An unsealed composite container 20 having a body, generally designated 24, capable of being fit with and sealed by a metal end closure, generally designated 26, is shown in FIG. 2.

The composite container body 24 is formed by an outer tube 28, which is made of a substantially rigid resilient material such as a thermoplastic wound fiber having a rolled bottom edge 30, and an inner plastic cup, generally designated 32, which is inserted into the outer tube 28. For the sake of clarity in describing an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, tube 28 will be referred to as a fiber tube. The cup 32 has a cylindrical wall 34 with an integrally formed hemispherical bottom 36, and an integrally formed outwardly extending annular flange 38 at the top of the cup wall 34. The innermost bottom surface 40 of the cup flange 38 is preferably contiguous with the top edge surface 42 of the fiber tube 28 such that the fiber tube 28 supports the inserted plastic cup 32. A portion 43 of the cup flange 38 further extends beyond the exterior surface 44 of the fiber tube 28.

The metal end closure 26, which may include an easy-open feature such as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,422,983 and 3,430,802, is formed with a countersink central panel 46 which merges into an upright annular countersink wall 48 having an outside diameter substantially equal to the inside diameter of the plastic cup 32. At its top edge, the countersink wall 48 merges into an outwardly extending annular flange 50. The countersink wall 48 of the closure 26 snugly seats within the upper end of the plastic cup 32 of the composite container body 24, an exterior surface 52 of the countersink wall 48 being contiguous with an interior surface 54 of the upper cup wall 34. A portion 55 of the closure flange 50 overlies the cup flange 38, including the portion 43 of the cup flange 38 which extends beyond the exterior surface 44 of the fiber tube 28, such that an inner bottom surface 56 of the closure flange 50 is contiguous with a top surface 58 of the cup flange 38. An outer portion 59 of the closure flange 50 extends beyond the cup flange 38.

Shown in FIG. 3 is an illustrated embodiment of a new and improved sealing arrangement comprising a top end seam, generally designated 60, of the metal end closure 26 with the composite container body 24. In the sealing arrangement, the contiguous portions 43,55 of the flange 38,50 are outwardly and downwardly folded and the outer portion 59 of the closure flange 50 is additionally inwardly and upwardly folded, said closure flange portion 59 being contiguous with the bottom surface 62 of the portion 43 of the cup flange 38, to form a double seam, generally designated 64. A single seam, generally designated 66, is then formed having the double seam 64 as one side thereof and the countersink wall 48 in conjunction with the upper cup wall 34 as the other side thereof, with the upper part 68 of the fiber tube 28 therebetween, wherein the double seam 64 and the countersink wall 48/upper cup wall 34 clamp the upper part 68 of the fiber tube 28.

Illustrated in FIG. 4, the rigid fiber tube 28 is comprised of a fiber body 70 which may have an aluminum foil label 72 attached to the outer surface 74 of the fiber body 70 and a plastic coating 76 on the inner surface 78 of the fiber body 70.

FIGS. 5—11 illustrate modified forms of the sealing arrangement shown in FIG. 3.

In one modified form, shown in FIG. 5, the innermost bottom surface 40 of the cup flange 38 is preferably contiguous with the top edge surface 42 of the fiber tube 28, and an innermost top surface 82 of the cup flange 38 is contiguous with a marginal inner bottom surface 84 of the closure flange 50. In this particular sealing arrangement, the portion 43 of the cup flange 38 together with the portion 55 of the closure flange 50 are upwardly, outwardly and downwardly folded, and the

3,662,944 outer portion 59 of the closure flange 50 is further inwardly and upwardly folded to form a double seam, generally designated 86. The upper part 68 of the fiber tube 28 does not form a part of the seam 86, but instead is offset therefrom, preferably abutting the innermost bottom surface 40 of the’ cup flange 38.

In another modified form, shown in FIG. 6, the cup flange 38 does not extend beyond the exterior surface 44 of the fiber tube 28. A bottom surface 88 of the cup flange 38 is preferably contiguous with the top edge surface 42 of the fiber tube 28 and a top surface 90 of the cup flange 38 is contiguous with an inner bottom surface 91 of the closure flange 50. In the sealing arrangement here, a portion 92 of the closure flange 50, which extends beyond the cup flange 38, is folded downwardly and terminates in a counterclockwise curl 94. A seam, generally designated 96, is then formed having the portion 92 of the closure flange 50 as one side thereof and the countersink wall 48 in conjunction with the upper cup wall 34 as the other side thereof, with the upper part 68 of the fiber tube 28 therebetween, wherein the portion 92 of the closure flange 50 and the countersink wall 48/upper cup wall 34 clamp the upper part 68 of the fiber tube 28.

The sealing arrangement illustrated in FIG. 7 is substantially the same as that shown in FIG. 6, differing only by the provision of a removable plastic strip 98 which is positioned contiguous with the upper exterior surface 44 of the fiber tube 28. The plastic strip 98 provides a means for opening the sealed composite container 20. By pulling the strip 98 away from the seam 96, the seal is loosened and the metal end closure 28 can be easily separated from the composite container body 24.

In FIG. 8, the countersink wall 48 is curved slightly inwardly at its lower end 100. The cup flange 38 has substantially the same form as that in FIGS. 6 and 7. However, in this sealing arrangement, the countersink wall 48 and closure flange 50, which together are in the form of an inverse U, surround the upper part 102 of the composite container body 24 and are adhesively bonded thereto to form a seam, generally designated 104.

The modified sealing arrangements illustrated in FIGS 9 and 10 are similar to that shown in FIG. 3. In both FIGS. 9 and 10, the double seam 64 is formed by the cup flange 38 and the closure flange 50. A single seam 66 is then formed having the double seam 64 as one side thereof and the countersink wall 48 in conjunction with the upper cup wall 34 as the other side thereof, with the upper part 68 of the fiber tube 28 therebetween, wherein the double seam 64 and the countersink wall 48/upper cup wall 34 clamp the upper part 68 of the fiber tube 28. In FIG. 9, however, the upper part 68 of the fiber tube 28 merges into a thickened exteriorly projecting annular section 106, a bottom edge surface 108 of the section 106 being contiguous with the top edge surface 110 of the in10 wardly and upwardly folded portion 59 of the closure flange 50. In FIG. 10, additionally, the upper part 112 of the cup wall 34 has a thickened exteriorly projecting annular section 114 which crimps the upper interior surface 116 of the fiber tube 28.

Another modified sealing arrangement shown in FIG. 11 is similar to that shown in FIG. 6. In FIG. 11, however, the cup flange 38 merges into an upwardly and outwardly projecting annular bead 118. ⁶

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred or exemplary embodiment thereof.