Container and fitment for use in high pressure processing

• US 10,646,833 B2
• Filed: 09/01/2016
• Issued: 05/12/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RIPE BAR Juice LLC
• Original Assignee: Freshbev LLC
• Inventors: Boissy, Michel
• Primary Examiner(s): Jennison, Brian W
• Application Number:
  US15/254,153
• Publication Number:
  US 20170006900A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,349 Days
• Field of Search: 99295
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 3/0155 using sub- or super-atmospheric pressures, or pressure variations transmitted by a liquid or gas
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2002/00 Food compositions, function of food ingredients or processes for food or foodstuffs
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/45 using flow mixing
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/84 Mixing plants with mixing receptacles receiving material dispensed from several component receptacles, e.g. paint tins
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/7176 using pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 7/02 Closing containers or receptacles deformed by, or taking-up shape, of, contents, e.g. bags, sacks
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/12 having removable closures
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/121 Stoppers
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/283 between tubular parts
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/1611 by means of an orifice, capillary or labyrinth passage B65D51/1616, B65D51/1622 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/5877 connected to a planar surface of the package wall
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/72 for edible or potable liquids, semiliquids, or plastic or pasty materials

Abstract

A container assembly configured for use in a high pressure process (HPP) includes a container defining a container cavity and a fitment assembly coupled to the container. The fitment assembly defines a passageway arranged in fluid communication with the container cavity. The fitment assembly further defines a chamber within the passageway isolated from the container cavity. A pressure relief mechanism is operably coupled to the fitment assembly to relieve pressure within the chamber.

Claims

1. A method of pascalizing a consumable material in a container assembly comprising a fitting adapted to dispense said consumable material from said container assembly subsequent to said pascalization, said method comprising:

filling an internal cavity of a flexible container of said container assembly with a consumable material;

sealing said internal cavity;

applying a uniform pascalization pressure to an exterior of said container assembly; and

providing pressure relief between said exterior of said container assembly and a chamber of a passageway within said fitting such that a pressure within said chamber does not cause catastrophic damage to said fitting during said applying of said uniform pascalization pressure, said passageway being adapted to be in fluid communication with said internal cavity during said dispensing of said consumable material from said internal cavity subsequent to said application of said pascalization pressure.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein said pressure relief occurs via elastic deformation of a pressure relief mechanism provided between said chamber and said exterior of said container assembly.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein said pressure relief is provided by venting fluid between said chamber and said exterior of said container assembly.

4. The method according to claim 3 wherein said fluid is vented through a hole in said fitting.

5. The method according to claim 1 which further includes attaching a sealing element to a second end of said passageway to form said chamber, said second end of said passageway being an opening of said passageway to said exterior of said container assembly.

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein said pascalization pressure is in the range of 30,000 to 130,000 psi.