Double rib overcap for a container with a removable membrane
There is provided a double rib overcap for a container with a removable membrane. The skirt of the overcap includes a first inwardly projecting rib and a second inwardly projecting rib that are axially separated and includes inside surfaces of the skirt that are axially above each rib. The container has an opening that is encircled by a rim and the membrane covers the opening such that the membrane extends radially onto an outer surface of the rim. A first inside surface above the first rib of the overcap is dimensionally sized to create an interference-fit with the membrane and the rim when the overcap is connected to the container. Likewise, a second inside surface above the second rib of the overcap is dimensionally sized to create an interference-fit with the rim of the container when the overcap is connected to the container after the membrane has been removed.
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The present invention relates generally to containers with overcaps. More particularly the invention relates to overcaps for containers with a removable membrane. The overcap has a skirt configured to engage a rim of the container with an interference-fit to seal the container.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONContainers that store perishable goods, such as food products, often include a sealed membrane to minimize the transfer of oxygen, moisture, or contaminants into the container. The membrane is removed by the customer when the container is first opened, and the membrane is discarded. An overcap is provided for re-closing the container after the initial opening. The overcap engages a rim (e.g., a rolled bead or a flange) on the top of the container in such a way that a snap-fit or interference-fit connection exists to retain the overcap in place on the container.
When the membrane is located directly below the overcap, both overcap and membrane provide a sealing barrier over the opening prior to the first opening of the container. Once the membrane has been removed, the overcap provides the only barrier for the remaining product during subsequent storage. Therefore, the overcap should securely connect to the container to reseal the stored product.
While a membrane is attached to a container, it often extends outwardly to the surface of the container to which the overcap attaches. In such a situation, the overcap is dimensioned to create a tight fit with the container surface and the membrane. However, once the membrane has been removed and the overcap replaced, the overcap may not create a tight fit with only the container surface because of the missing membrane. An insufficient fit may allow oxygen, moisture, or contaminants to enter the container or may cause the overcap to come off unintentionally.
Therefore, a need exists for an overcap for containers with membranes that provides an interference-fit when the membrane is attached and when the membrane is removed.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe invention addresses the above needs and achieves other advantages by providing an interference-fit or snap-fit overcap for engaging a radially outwardly protruding rim of a container that includes a removably attached membrane. The overcap includes a top panel with a periphery and a skirt that extends from the periphery of the top panel to a distal end. The skirt defines a first inside surface that is axially spaced from the top panel and is proximate the distal end of the skirt. The skirt also defines a second inside surface axially positioned between the first inside surface and the top panel. The first inside surface is diametrically dimensioned to produce an interference-fit with the membrane and rim when the overcap is connected to the container with the attached membrane. The second inside surface is diametrically dimensioned to produce an interference-fit with the rim alone when the overcap is connected to the container without the membrane.
The skirt of the overcap includes a first rib projecting inwardly from the skirt and axially located between the first inside surface of the skirt and the distal end of the skirt. The skirt also includes a second rib projecting inwardly from the skirt and axially located between the second inside surface and the first inside surface. When the overcap is connected to the container with the attached membrane such that the membrane and rim create an interference-fit with the first inside surface, the first rib engages beneath the rim of the container to resist detachment of the overcap. When the overcap is connected to the container without the attached membrane such that second inside surface creates an interference-fit with the rim and the second rib engages beneath the rim of the container to resist detachment of the overcap.
The present invention also provides a container with a membrane and an overcap. The container includes a container body formed by a wall, where the wall defines an opening encircled by a radially outwardly protruding rim. The membrane is removably attached to the container to substantially cover the opening while the membrane is attached. The overcap includes a skirt with two inside surfaces and two ribs, as described above. One embodiment of the invention includes a membrane that extends radially outward onto the outer surface of the rim, and another embodiment includes a membrane that covers the container opening without extending radially outward onto the outer surface of the rim.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGSHaving thus described the invention in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:
The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all embodiments of the invention are shown. Indeed, the invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.
With reference to
The membrane 16 is removably attached to the container 14 during the packaging of the stored product, subsequent to the placement of the product within the container. The membrane 16 substantially covers the entire opening 18 of the container 14 and minimizes or prevents the passage of oxygen, moisture, and/or other contaminants into the container. The membrane 16 must be removed, either completely or partially, to provide access to the product, during normal use of the storage device 10. After the membrane 16 has been removed, it generally cannot be reattached to seal the container 14, and is usually discarded.
The container 14 as illustrated in
The membrane 16 of
The overcap 12 of
The skirt 32 of
As shown in
The first inside surface 42 of the skirt 32 defines an inside diameter that is approximately equivalent to a combined distance of the inside diameter of the second inside surface 44 and twice the thickness of the membrane 16, as illustrated in
The ribs 52 and 54 of the overcap engage the rim 20 of the container 14 to resist detachment of the overcap from the container when the rim of the container is located axially above the respective rib. When the membrane 16 is attached and the membrane and rim 20 engage the first inside surface 42, the first rib 52 may contact the rim on the bottom surface 26, the outer surface 24, or some combination of both surfaces to resist detachment of the overcap 12 from the container 14. Likewise, when the membrane 16 is removed and the rim 20 engages the second inside surface 44, the second rib 54 may contact the rim on the bottom surface 26, the outer surface 24, or some combination of both surfaces to resist detachment of the overcap 12 from the container 14.
The overcap 12 of
The overcap 12 of
Each of the ribs 52 and 54 of the overcap 12 of
The membrane 16 can be manufactured from any suitable material or combinations or two or more different materials, and can be removably attached by any suitable adhesive or process. The membrane 16 of the illustrated storage device 10 is a metal foil that is joined with adhesive to a container 14 that is a paperboard tube. Where moisture and/or gas barrier performance is required of the membrane, the membrane can comprise various barrier materials, including but not limited to metal foil, polyethylene terephthalate, metallized polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, metallized polypropylene, metal oxide and silicate coated polyester, metal oxide and silicate coated polypropylene, ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer, and mixtures thereof. Instead of or in addition to a barrier layer of such materials, the membrane can include one or more layers of other materials such as polyester, polyolefin, and others. The membrane 16 can be adhered to the container by various materials, including but not limited to glues or adhesives such as hot melt glues, ethylene vinyl acetate, ethyl methyl acrylate, metallocenes, and the like, heat seal materials such as ionomers (e.g., SURLYN®, TRANCEND®, or the like), polypropylene (with or without mineral filler), high-density polyethylene, low-density polyethylene, and others. The container itself can be formed of various materials and by various processes including but not limited to spiral winding of composite materials, convolute winding of composite materials, injection molding, blow molding, or thermoforming a suitable polymer material, and others.
Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which the invention pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.
Claims
1. An interference-fit overcap, for engaging a radially outwardly protruding rim encircling a container opening having a removably attached membrane, comprising:
- a top panel having a periphery;
- a skirt extending from the periphery of the top panel to a distal end such that the skirt defines a first inside surface axially spaced from the top panel proximate the distal end of the skirt and defines a second inside surface axially positioned between the first inside surface and the top panel, wherein the first inside surface is diametrically dimensioned to produce an interference-fit with the membrane and rim and the second inside surface is diametrically dimensioned to produce an interference-fit with the rim alone;
- a first rib projecting inwardly from the skirt and axially located between the first inside surface of the skirt and the distal end of the skirt; and
- a second rib projecting inwardly from the skirt and axially located between the second inside surface and the first inside surface;
- wherein the first rib engages beneath the rim of the container to resist detachment of the overcap when the membrane is attached and the second rib engages beneath the rim of the container to resist detachment of the overcap when the membrane is not attached.
2. An interference-fit overcap according to claim 1, wherein the radially outwardly protruding rim encircling the container defines an outer surface and the membrane extends radially outward onto the outer surface of the rim.
3. An interference-fit overcap according to claim 1, wherein the radially outwardly protruding rim encircling the container defines an outer surface and the membrane covers the container opening without extending radially outward onto the outer surface of the rim.
4. An interference-fit overcap according to claim 1, wherein the first rib and the second rib each defines an uninterrupted circumferential rib.
5. An interference-fit overcap according to claim 1, wherein the first rib and the second rib each defines a plurality of circumferentially spaced portions.
6. An interference-fit overcap according to claim 1, wherein the skirt extends substantially perpendicular to the top panel of the overcap.
7. An interference-fit overcap according to claim 1, wherein the first rib and the second rib of the overcap each define a rounded edge portion at a radially inward surface opposite the first inside surface and the second inside surface of the skirt.
8. An interference-fit overcap according to claim 7, wherein the rounded edge portion of the first rib defines an inside diameter relatively larger than an inside diameter of the rounded edge portion of the second rib.
9. An interference-fit overcap according to claim 1, wherein the overcap is a thermoplastic material.
10. A container, comprising:
- a container body formed by a wall, wherein the wall defines an opening encircled by a radially outwardly protruding rim;
- a removably attached membrane substantially covering the opening while the membrane is attached; and
- an interference-fit overcap, comprising: a top panel having a periphery; a skirt extending from the periphery of the top panel to a distal end such that the skirt defines a first inside surface axially spaced from the top panel proximate the distal end of the skirt and defines a second inside surface axially positioned between the first inside surface and the top panel, wherein the first inside surface is diametrically dimensioned to produce an interference-fit with the membrane and rim and the second inside surface is diametrically dimensioned to produce an interference-fit with the rim alone; a first rib projecting inwardly from the skirt and axially located between the first inside surface of the skirt and the distal end of the skirt; and a second rib projecting inwardly from the skirt and axially located between the second inside surface and the first inside surface;
- wherein the first rib engages beneath the rim of the container to resist detachment of the overcap when the membrane is attached and the second rib engages beneath the rim of the container to resist detachment of the overcap when the membrane is not attached.
11. A container according to claim 10, wherein the radially outwardly protruding rim encircling the container defines an outer surface and the membrane extends radially outward onto the outer surface of the rim.
12. A container according to claim 10, wherein the radially outwardly protruding rim encircling the container defines an outer surface and the membrane covers the container opening without extending radially outward onto the outer surface of the rim.
13. A container according to claim 10, wherein the outwardly protruding rim is an outwardly rolled bead.
14. A container according to claim 10, wherein the first rib and the second rib each defines an uninterrupted circumferential rib.
15. A container according to claim 10, wherein the first rib and the second rib each defines a plurality of circumferentially spaced portions.
16. A container according to claim 10, wherein the skirt extends substantially perpendicular to the top panel of the overcap.
17. A container according to claim 10, wherein the first rib and the second rib of the overcap each define a rounded edge portion at a radially inward surface opposite the first inside surface and second inside surface of the skirt.
18. A container according to claim 17, wherein the rounded edge portion of the first rib defines an inside diameter relatively larger than an inside diameter of the rounded edge portion of the second rib.
19. A container according to claim 10, wherein the membrane defines a thickness and the inside diameter of the first inside surface is approximately equivalent to a combined distance of the inside diameter of the second inside surface and twice the thickness of the membrane.
20. A container according to claim 10, wherein the membrane is a metal foil.
21. A container according to claim 10, wherein the overcap is a thermoplastic material.
22. A sealable storage device, comprising:
- a container, comprising: a body formed by a wall, an opening defined by the wall, and an outwardly rolled bead encircling the opening of the container, wherein the bead protrudes generally outward from the wall and defines an outer surface;
- a membrane removably attached to the bead such that the membrane substantially covers the opening and extends radially outward onto the outer surface of the bead while the membrane is attached; and
- an interference-fit overcap, comprising: a top panel having a periphery; a skirt extending from the periphery of the top panel to a distal end such that the skirt defines a first inside surface axially spaced from the top panel proximate the distal end of the skirt and defines a second inside surface axially positioned between the first inside surface and the top panel, wherein the first inside surface is diametrically dimensioned to produce an interference-fit with the membrane and bead and the second inside surface is diametrically dimensioned to produce an interference-fit with the bead alone; a first rib projecting inwardly from the skirt and axially located between the first inside surface of the skirt and the distal end of the skirt; and a second rib projecting inwardly from the skirt and axially located between the second inside surface and the first inside surface;
- wherein the first rib engages beneath the bead of the container to resist detachment of the overcap when the membrane is attached and the second rib engages beneath the bead of the container to resist detachment of the overcap when the membrane is not attached.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 3, 2004
Publication Date: Aug 4, 2005
Applicant: Sonoco Development, Inc. (Hartsville, SC)
Inventor: Krishnaraju Varadarajan (Florence, SC)
Application Number: 10/771,220