SELF-VENTING CONTAINER

Abstract

A container having venting means and a method for sealing a lid to the container without damaging or weakening the container are disclosed. The container, such as a cup, includes venting means in the interior surface of the container side wall generally adjacent a lid seal to allow air that would otherwise be forced into and become trapped in the container when the lid is sealed to the lid seal to vent from the container to prevent weakening of, damage to or ultimate failure of the container.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to a self-venting lid and container combination, and more particularly to a container and lid combination having venting means to prevent weakening of and damage to the container during the process of sealing a lid to the container.

2. Description of Prior Art

When a lid is sealed to a container by a high speed manufacturing process, air is often trapped within the container between the top of the product and the lid as the lid descends upon and is sealed to a seal rim of the container. The pressure resulting from the trapping of or trapped air within the container can weaken the container, and can cause damage to or even failure of the container. In some instances, depending on the type of material of the container, the trapped pressure can be relatively low and still cause damage or total failure of the container. Styrofoam or expanded Polystyrene is particularly susceptible to damage or failure. Because the damage may not be immediate, latent defects could manifest themselves at any time over the lifecycle of the container, such as during packaging, shipping or on a store shelf.

Therefore, there is a need to eliminate or significantly reduce the amount of air trapped within a container when a lid is sealed to the container during manufacturing.

The present invention addresses these problems and provides a container and method for sealing a lid to a container without damaging or weakening the container.

In addition, the present invention addresses the passing of air that would otherwise become trapped in a container during the lidding process to outside the container by venting the air from the container through venting means in the container.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment, the invention is a self-venting container having a bottom with generally upstanding side walls and an edge on an interior surface of the generally upstanding side walls. The container includes a surface interruption in the interior surface of the container side wall generally near the edge. The surface interruption is adapted to vent air during lidding of the container and remain uncovered when the lid is on the container.

In another embodiment, the invention is a cup having a bottom wall with a generally upstanding side wall having an interior surface. The interior surface of the upstanding side wall has a lid seal. A surface interruption is on the interior surface of the upstanding side wall at least generally adjacent the lid seal. A lid is sealed to the lid seal on the container so as to leave the surface interruption uncovered.

In another embodiment, the invention is a method for lidding a cup during manufacturing to prevent the cup or the lid from being weakened or damaged. The method includes taking a cup having an interior surface with a lid seal and adjacent surface interruptions. A lid is sealed to the lid seal leaving the surface interruptions uncovered. Air is vented from the cup during the lidding process using the surface interruptions to prevent the cup or lid from being weakened or damaged.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

While the specification concludes with the claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the invention, it is believed that the present invention will be better understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1A is a container of the present invention;

FIG. 1B is a lid of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the container shown in FIG. 1A;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5A is a partial view of a container with one venting means of the present invention;

FIG. 5B is an enlarged view taken along line 5B-5B in FIG. 5A.

FIG. 6A is a partial view of a container with another venting means of the present invention;

FIG. 6B is an enlarged view taken along line 6B-6B in FIG. 6A; and

FIG. 7 is a partial view of a container with another venting means of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawings, wherein like numerals represent like parts through the several views, there is generally disclosed at 10 a container. The container 10 may also be a cup. The container includes a bottom 12 surrounded by a generally upstanding side wall 14. The side wall 14 terminates in a mouth 16. The interior surface 18 of the side wall 14 of the container 10 includes a lid seal 20 to which the lid 32 shown in FIG. 1B may be sealed to and torn away from to gain access to the contents of the container 10. The lid seal 20 has a geometry akin to a ledge, an abutment, a protrusion or an edge. The sealing surface of the lid seal 20 is generally parallel with the bottom 12 of container 10. The sealing surface of the lid seal 20 is of sufficient width whereby the lid 32 shown in FIG. 1B may be sealed thereto using an adhesive or like adhering member. In another aspect of the present invention, a channel 25 in the interior surface 18 of the side wall 14 and adjacent the lid seal 20 extends around the circumference of the container 10. The lid 32 includes a circumference having a diameter at least as large as the diameter of the channel, so that as the lid is placed into the container through the mouth the outer peripheral edge of the lid 32 seats into channel 25 and on top of the lid seal 20 to seal off the contents of the container by the interference fit formed between the outer peripheral edge 34 of the lid 32 and the channel 25. In this aspect, an adhesive, sealant or adhering member may by used to seal the lid 32 to the lid seal 20 and/or the channel 25. An adhesive, sealant or adhering member is not needed. The seating of the outer peripheral edge of the lid 32 in the channel 25 is adequate to seal off the contents of the container 10.

On the interior surface 18 between the mouth 16 and the lid seal 20 is a venting means 22. Venting means 22 is shown in various other forms in FIGS. 5-7. The venting means 22 shown in FIGS. 1A-5 comprise a plurality of channels 24, namely a number of generally vertically oriented channels 24 which are intermittently spaced in the interior surface 18 of the side wall 14 of the container 10 and extending generally between the channel 25 and the mouth 16 of the container 10. Thus, in one aspect of the invention, the vertically oriented channels 24 tie into the horizontally oriented, to form a venting network or venting means.

The lid 32 illustrated in FIG. 1B is of the type that is generally referred to as a tear-off or tear-away lid, often constructed of a paper or paperboard material having minimal thickness. The lid 32 has an outer peripheral edge 34 and a pull tab 36 extending generally parallel to the body of the lid 32 when not being used to tear away or tear off the lid 32 from the container 10. In one aspect of the invention, as best illustrated in FIG. 3, the interior surface 18 of the side wall 14 between the mouth 16 of the container 10 and the lid seal 20 extends inward (toward the center of the container) and regresses outward (away from the center of the container) as the interior surface 18 extends from the mouth of the container to the lid seal 20. This particular geometry forms a recess 38 in the interior surface 18 of the side wall 14 just adjacent the lid seal 20 so as to receive the lid so that the outer peripheral edge 34 of the lid 32 is guided by the recess 38 into a seated position within the channel 25 to seal the lid 32 to the container 10. As best illustrated in FIG. 3, the outer peripheral surface near the edge 34 of the lid 32 rests on the lid seal 20, and the outer peripheral edge 34 occupies the recess 38, and is preferably seated in the channel 25 arranged around the circumference in a horizontal orientation. Thus, when the lid 32 is seated against the lid seal 20 and the outer peripheral edge 34 against channel 25, the venting means 22, such as channels 24, are left uncovered by the lid 32. When the lid 32 is lowered down into the container 10 through the mouth 16, by an automated or manual process, the air that would otherwise be forced into the container and trapped between the top of the product and the lid 32 is permitted to escape through the venting means 22, such as channels 24. Because channels 24 are tied into channel 25 air is permitted to vent from the inside of the container 10 during the lidding process right up until the point where the outer peripheral edge 34 of lid 32 is seated in channel 25 and/or adhered to the lid seal 20. The lid 32, and particularly the outer peripheral edge 34 and surface of the lid 32, do not cover the venting means 22 such as the vertically oriented channels 24. Because the process of placing and sealing the lid 32 to the container 10 is performed ordinarily by automation, the lid 32 is quickly placed through the mouth 16 of the container 10 and outer peripheral edge 34 is seated in channel 25, generally on the order of micro-seconds, resulting in air being forced into the container 10 and compressed between the top of the product in the container 10 and the lid 32. Depending upon the amount of air being forced into and trapped inside the container while the lid is placed down upon the lid seal 20 and seated in channel 25 may determine whether or not the container 10 is weakened, damaged or even destroyed during the lidding process.

In some instances, the amount of trapped air is sufficient to cause total failure of the container 10. For example, in the case where expanded Polystyrene or Styrofoam is used for container 10, the pressure (resulting from air being forced into and becoming trapped in the container) may be sufficient to cause the bottom 12 of container 10 to separate from the side walls 14, cause the bottom 12 or side walls 14 of container 10 to crack or become weakened, and thereby subject to failure at any point and time during the life cycle of the container 10. This problem is exaggerated in instances where more headspace (i.e., the space between the top of the product and the lid) within exists in the container being lidded. For example, in the case where more headspace exists, more air is permitted to be forced into and become trapped in the container during the lidding process thereby creating a larger pressure for the container to bear.

In one aspect of the present invention, the lid 32, having an outer diameter just larger than the diameter of the channel 25, is set down into the mouth of the container and onto the lid seal 20 by automation. The angle of the lid 32 relative to the lid seal 20 may be anywhere from 0 to 30 degrees or greater during the lidding process. The air that would otherwise be forced into and become trapped within the container 10 during the lidding process exits through the venting means 22 as the lid 32 is moved through the mouth of the container and seated on the lid seal and into channel 25. Even up until the point right before the lid 32 is set on lid seal 20 and (outer peripheral edge 34) is seated in channel 25 air is permitted to escape around the outer peripheral edges 34 of the lid 32 and vent from the interior of the container 10 to the exterior through venting means 22, such as the vertically oriented channels 24 shown in FIG. 1A. Because the venting means 22 is left uncovered by the lid 32 and its peripheral edges 34, even when the lid 32 is being sealed to the lid seal 20, air is permitted to vent from the interior of the container 10 to the exterior during the lidding process right up until the point when the lid 32 is set on the lid seal 20 and seated into channel 25.

As can be seen in FIG. 4, the outer peripheral edge 34 of lid 32 extends into channel 25, but does not cover up vertically oriented channels 24 when the lid 32 is set on the lid seal 20 and seated in channel 25 as shown. Because the generally vertically oriented channels are connected to channel 25 air is permitted to escape right up until the point where the lid is set on the lid seal 20 and its outer peripheral edges 34 is seated in channel 25. Specifically, escaping air may enter channels 24 at channel 25 and travel through the vertically oriented channels 24 and out the mouth of the container to prevent any unnecessary pressure from being trapped within the container during the lidding process.

In another aspect of the present invention, the outer peripheral edge 34 of lid 32 is generally the same diameter as the lid seal 20. In this aspect, the outer peripheral edge 34 is sealed or adhered to the lid seal 20, and the outer peripheral edge 34 terminates before extending into the channel 25. In this instance, the outer peripheral edge 34 of lid 32 extends at least partially into the recess 38 shown in FIG. 3. However, because channel 25 is formed in the side wall 14 of the container 10 the outer peripheral edge 34 of the lid 32 does not cover the horizontal channel 25 when the lid 32 is adhered to the lid seal 20 so as to occupy some space in the recess 38. In this design, air is permitted to vent from the interior of the container 10 to the exterior by passing around the outer peripheral edge 34 of the lid 32 through either or both the horizontal and vertically oriented channels 24 and 25. Because the outer peripheral edge 34 has a diameter less than or equal to the diameter of the lid seal 20, the lid 32 does not block or cover channels 24 and 25 when sealed to the lid seal 20.

FIGS. 5-7 illustrate other venting means 22 of the present invention. The venting means 22 illustrated is not meant to be conclusive of the various venting means contemplated by the present invention. The present invention for example contemplates any incongruity, discontinuity or interruption in the interior surface 18 of the side wall 14 of the container 10 that would provide a pathway for escaping air to follow and vent from the interior to the exterior of the container 10 during the lidding process. Thus, the venting means 22 illustrated in FIGS. 5-7 are but specific designs of the general concept previously described and claimed below.

FIGS. 5A-B illustrate another venting means 22 contemplated by the present invention. As illustrated, one type of incongruity, discontinuity or surface interruption comprises a ridge 26 extending in a generally vertical fashion from the lid seal 20 generally to the mouth 16 of container 10. As shown best in FIG. 5B, between the lid seal 20 and the bottom-most portion of each ridge 26 is a channel 25, similar to channel 25 illustrated in FIG. 1. As the lid 32 is placed down upon the lid seal 20, the ridge 26 causes a slight deformation of the outer peripheral edge 34 of the lid 32 which allows air to vent from the interior of the container 10 to the exterior during the lidding process, even up until the point where the outer peripheral edge 34 of the lid 32 seats and seals to the lid seal 20. Because the ridge 26 does not extend entirely onto the lid seal 20 (the ridge 26 terminates before the lid seal 20) the outer peripheral edge 34 of the lid 32 is able to move from the deformed state to an undeformed state so as to properly seat and seal to the lid seal 20. The taper, orientation, frequency, and size of the ridges 26 could be altered to account for different lid types and sizes, as well as different manufacturing processes.

FIGS. 6A-B disclose another venting means 22 of the present invention. The container 10 illustrated in FIG. 6A includes a lid seal 20 as previously discussed and described. Proximate the lid seal is a horizontally oriented channel 25 that extends around the circumference of the interior surface 18 of the container 10 and in the side wall as best illustrated in FIG. 6B. Shown passing through the side wall 14 at intermittently located positions in the horizontally oriented channel 25 are a plurality of ports 28. When the lid 32 is placed through the mouth of the container 16 and the outer peripheral edge 34 (having an outer diameter generally equal the diameter of the lid seal 20) is seated and sealed to the lid seal 20, air is permitted to escape from the interior of the container 10 to the exterior by passing through the horizontally oriented channel 25 and the ports 28 extending through the side wall 14 of container 10. The ports are left uncovered even when the lid 32 is seated and sealed to the lid seal 20 to thereby allow air to vent from the interior of the container right up until the point where the lid seats and seals to the lid seal 20.

In another aspect of the design contemplated in FIGS. 6A-B, the horizontally oriented channel is removed so that the venting means consists entirely of ports 28 extending through the side wall 14 of the container 10, intermittently spaced around the circumference proximate the lid seal 20 to allow air to vent from the interior to the exterior of the container 10 during the lidding process. The ports 28 are left uncovered, even when the lid is sealed to the lid seal 20. This allows air to vent from the interior to the exterior of the container during the lidding process even up until the point right before the lid 32 is sealed to the lid seal 20 of the container 10.

FIG. 7 illustrates yet another aspect of the venting means 22 of the present invention. As the venting means 22 includes any incontinuity, interruption or incongruence in the interior surface 18 of the container 10, the venting means 22 shown in FIG. 7 includes an embossment 30 of interior surface 18 of the container generally between the lid seal 20 and the mouth 16. The embossment 30 may be of any pattern, configuration or type so as to provide interruptions, incontinuities, incongruences in the flow of the interior surface 18 of the container 10. The embossment 30 begins generally proximate the lid seal 20 and extends upward towards the mouth 16 and may terminate at any point generally toward the mouth 16 of the container 10. For example, the embossment 30 may terminate midway between the lid seal 20 and the mouth 16 of the container 10. As the lid 32 is placed down upon the container, through the mouth 16, and seated and sealed to the lid seal 20 air is permitted to escape from the interior to the exterior of the container 10 by passing around the outer peripheral edge 34 of the lid 32 through the incongruences or discontinuities provided by the embossment 30. Because the outer peripheral edge 34 of the lid 32 does not cover the embossment 30 when seated and sealed to the lid seal 20, air is permitted to escape from the interior to the exterior of the container at any time during the lidding process right up until the lid is actually sealed to the lid seal 20. This allows the most possible amount of air to escape from the interior of the container prior to sealing the lid to the lid seal 20 to prevent damage to, weakening of, or total failure of the container 10 during the manufacturing, packaging, shipping or storage stages of the life cycle of the container 10.

The above specification, examples and data provide a complete description of the manufacture and use of the composition of the invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.

Claims

1. A container comprising:

a bottom wall and upstanding side wall surrounding the bottom wall and terminating in a mouth opposite the bottom wall;

a lid seal on an interior surface of the upstanding side wall for receiving a lid;

venting means at the interior surface of the upstanding wall between the mouth and the lid seal; and

said venting means uncovered by the lid when sealed to the lid seal.

2. The container of claim 1 wherein the lid seal comprises:

a. a ledge;

b. an abutment; or

c. an edge.

3. The container of claim 1 wherein the venting means comprises an embossment on the interior surface of the side wall extending at least adjacent the lid seal and generally toward the mouth of the container.

4. The container of claim 1 wherein the venting means comprises a channel in the interior surface of the side wall at least proximate the lid seal.

5. The container of claim 4 wherein the channel extends around the entire circumference of the interior surface and adjacent the lid seal in a generally horizontal manner, and includes generally vertical channels extending from adjacent the lid seal toward the mouth of the container for venting air from the container.

6. The container of claim 1 wherein the lid comprises a tear-away type lid having an outer peripheral edge:

a. seated in a generally horizontal channel in the interior surface of the side wall contiguous with the lid seal; or

b. sealed to the lid seal.

7. The container of claim 1 wherein the venting means comprises a ridge on the interior surface of the side wall at least proximate the lid seal and extending generally away from the lid seal toward the mouth of the container.

8. The container of claim 1 wherein the venting means comprises a port extending entirely through the side wall of the container from the interior surface at least proximate the lid seal.

9. A self-venting container comprising:

a bottom with generally upstanding side walls;

an edge on an interior surface of the generally upstanding side walls;

a surface interruption in the interior surface generally near the edge; and

the surface interruption adapted to vent air during lidding of the container.

10. The container of claim 9 further comprising a tear-away lid having an outer peripheral edge seated at the edge of the container on the interior surface.

11. The container of claim 10 wherein the outer peripheral edge terminates at the edge of the container to leave the surface interruption uncovered when the lid is seated to the container.

12. The container of claim 9 wherein the surface interruption comprises a change in the shape of the interior surface of the container, and having a geometry to pass air from the container during sealing the lid to the container.

13. A cup comprising:

a bottom wall with a generally upstanding side wall having an interior surface;

a lid seal on the interior surface of the upstanding side wall;

a surface interruption on the interior surface of the upstanding side wall at least generally adjacent the lid seal; and

a tear-away lid seated at the lid seal so as to leave the surface interruption uncovered.

14. The cup of claim 13 wherein the surface interruption comprises a discontinuity in the interior surface of the cup, the discontinuity to pass air out of the cup during seating of the lid to the cup.

15. The cup of claim 13 wherein the surface discontinuity comprises:

a. one or more horizontally or vertically oriented channels;

b. one or more generally vertically oriented ridges;

c. one or more ports extending through the side wall of the container; or

d. an embossment of the interior surface of the container between the lid seal and the mouth of the container.

16. The cup of claim 13 wherein the tear-away lid has an outer peripheral edge seated to the cup at the lid seal without covering the surface interruption.

17. A method for lidding a cup during manufacture to prevent the cup or the lid from being weakened or damaged, the method comprising:

taking a cup having an interior surface with a lid seal and adjacent surface interruptions;

sealing a lid to the lid seal;

leaving the surface interruptions uncovered by the lid; and

venting air out of the cup during lidding using the surface interruptions to prevent the cup or lid from being weakened or damaged from air forced into or trapped within the cup.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the surface interruption comprises a discontinuity in the interior surface of the cup, wherein the discontinuity is closed off from the interior of the cup when lidded.

19. A method for sealing a lid to a container without damaging or weakening the container or lid, the method comprising:

providing a container having a lid seal on an interior surface of the container and one or more surface interruptions at least proximate the lid seal;

taking a lid and sealing the lid to the lid seal with the surface interruptions remaining uncovered by the lid; and

venting air from the interior of the container during lidding by passing air from out of the interior of the container using the surface interruptions to prevent weakening or damaging the container or the lid.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising the step of leaving the surface interruptions on the interior surface of the container uncovered when the lid is seated at the lid seal of the container.