FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention concerns a novel container having an interference projection to prevent water, dust or other adulterating material from reaching the mouth area of the container. Specifically, the present invention provides a means to prevent cooling water or condensation, typically resulting from a hot fill process, from being splashed beneath a bottle cap.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Many products, such as pasteurized milk and fruit juices and others, are placed into bottles using a sanitary hot fill process which requires that the bottles be sealed, capped and cooled before being boxed and packaged for transportation. The hot fill process in most bottling situations brings certain problems that are inherent in this method of filling and cooling. Generally, while the process is sanitary, the subsequent activities of cooling and packaging may bring about a situation wherein such bottles carry water beneath their caps. This water is generally a potential breeding ground for bacteria which may grow thereon, and cause a diminution in product quality. Specifically, the hot fill process includes, the placement of a hot liquid in to a bottle, the immediate sealing and capping of the bottle and the cooling of the bottle by immersion (or dip) in, or spray, by cool water. Such bottles are subsequently dried off and packaged for shipping.

[0003] While the product remains sanitary within the container, it has been found that water used to cool the container, after hot fill, has typically risen beneath the cap and remains on the neck of the bottle. Such water is generally economically impossible to remove, as the drying of that water would require either the removal of the cap (typically causing the breaking of a sanitary or security seal) and physical drying of the bottle, followed by recapping, or the use of high heat drying equipment, which may cause deformation in the bottle and cap or degradation of the bottled product.

[0004] Further, containers of such products, and other products, are subjected to considerable jostling in every stage of their existence. Containers are jostled on the filling and assembly line and during their transportation to distributors and retailers. Even after a container is unsealed and put into everyday use the container is subjected to every manner of assault on its integrity. While a container generally survives jostling, the product inside, and/or the seals or liners used to protect the product are often imparted with considerable splashing or dusting from their surroundings, so as to leave the liner or, when the seal is removed or otherwise impaired, the product adulterated, contaminated or soiled beyond usability.

[0005] Products such as medicine and food or drink that are bottled and capped under sanitary conditions are often times quickly contaminated by the splashing of liquid or powder (often times the same substance that has been placed in the container, but which has spilled during filling or from other containers previously filled, or overfilled). While containers may be wiped clean if such splash up occurs prior to the capping and or the sealing of the container, once the container is capped and/or sealed (with a liner or otherwise), splash up that causes adulterating substances to rise to the neck or mouth of the capped container cannot be cleaned up without great cost in time and lost production. Further, the removal of the cap of a tamper resistant or tamper evident container of the types in common use, so as to clean off splash up, is likely to destroy the tamper evident seal causing the loss of the container and/or the closure.

[0006] Further, capped products may also be contaminated, in this same manner or through contamination by any other substance on or around the container, during transportation, either from the manufacturer to the distributor, or from the distributor to the product's final destination. Closed containers may also be contaminated at anytime during the life of the product and the container. For example, a bottle of milk may be contaminated by the splash up of spilled milk, water, or cleaning products on the assembly line, may be contaminated by the splash up of liquid condensation (which may form on the bottle as a result of temperature changes during transit), or may be dropped into the sink, or onto any splashable substance, while the consumer is attempting to open or after closing the container. In all of these situations, and particularly in those situations where liners have already been removed from the container, the product is likely to be ruined by the splashing of any substance under the cap, onto the neck, and into the mouth of the container. Further, even when a liner exists over the container's mouth, a consumer is apt to be displeased and return the sealed products if he finds that the liner is wet or dirty upon opening the container for the first time. While the liner may have prevented the product inside the container from having been contaminated, the proximity of a contaminant to the neck and mouth of a container may lead, at a later time, to contamination of the product via the consumer's hands or by other means.

[0007] In the past, product manufactures have attempted to solve the problem of splash up by sealing the packaging in external wraps, such as plastic film and the like. However, such protection is generally effective only after the likelihood of splash up during the container filling process on the assembly line has passed and is only useful until the plastic film is removed by the consumer prior to use. Manufacturers have also attempted to alleviate the splash up problem through the use of liner-less closures, which generally provide sealing means comprising thin annular projections extending downwardly from the inside of the closure top to the rim of the mouth of the container in a manner well known in the art. However, such container and closure combinations only seal the mouth of the container and do not protect the neck of the container. Liner-less closures cannot prevent the contamination of the neck of the container and the concomitant problems of product contamination from the soiling of the consumer's hands after contact with an unclean container neck. Further, liner-less closures cannot prevent the migration of the contaminant from the container neck to the container mouth (and subsequently to the product inside the container).

[0008] It would be desirable to have a means whereby any splashed substance, whether at the time of the hot fill and cooling process or at any time after, is inhibited from rising up onto the neck of a closed container. It would further be desirable to provide permanently attached or integral means that would prevent contamination of the neck, mouth and liner of a container that are constructed with the container and/or the closure and are inexpensive to manufacture.

[0009] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a means for preventing adulterating materials from being splashed-up or otherwise propelled-up onto the neck, mouth and liner of a closed container.

[0010] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] In accordance with the present invention, a container and closure are provided. The container is provided with a mouth (which may or may not be lined or otherwise sealed) and a neck portion having closure engagements for cooperation with complimentary container engagements on the closure. An annular projection is provided, extending outwardly from the neck portion of the container, below the closure engagements. The outward most edge of the annular projection is proximate to the inner wall of the closure when the closure is engaged on the container. The annular projection in cooperation with the closure prevents fluids, dust particles or other contaminants from splashing up onto the neck, mouth and (if present) liner of the container when the container and closure are engaged and are exposed to splashable substances or are cooled by spray or immersion after hot fill.

[0012] In one embodiment of the invention, the projection is an annular thin web fin comprised of extra material molded onto the container at the time of the molding of the container. The fin is of such a thin cross-section at its outward edge that it is flexible enough to bend against the inside wall of the skirt of the closure to form a seal with the closure when the closure is engaged with the container.

[0013] In another embodiment of the invention, the annular projection is molded between two inward annular projections, which provide flex points for the outward projection. The flex points, thus formed, allow the outward projection to bend so that it may fit within the closure and to allow for more tolerance in molding containers and closures.

[0014] In another embodiment a first annular projection is molded on the neck of a container and a smaller second projection extends from the first projection. The small second projection has a smaller cross-section than the first projection to allow for more flexibility at the end of the projection, enabling an easier fit with a closure. Greater flexibility at the end of the projection allows for greater ease in placement and removal of a closure. Further, a flexible end may be compressed against the inner wall of the closure, providing a better seal against splash up.

[0015] In another embodiment, the annular projection is formed with openings or gaps. While not providing as effective a splash up seal, such a projection would tend to slow splash up such that while the neck could be splashed upon, the mouth or liner would remain clean. Further, such gaps would allow the neck to dry more quickly after liquid splash up due to air circulation through the gaps.

[0016] Many variations of the annular projection explained herein, including variations on its cross-sectional shape, its thickness, the manner in which it is formed onto the container or added to the container, the manner in which it interacts with the closure, and whether it is made with or without gaps, may be made without departing from the novel scope of the present invention.

[0017] A more detailed explanation of the invention is provided in the following description and claims and is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.