HEADSPACE SEALING AND DISPLACEMENT METHOD FOR REMOVAL OF VACUUM PRESSURE
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Abstract
A container (1) is intended for filling with a hot liquid (21). The container (1) has a neck finish (2) with an opening closed off by a primary seal (4) which has an expandable side wall (4a). As the liquid (21) cools, the side wall (4a) is drawn into the container (1) to remove vacuum pressure created within the container (1). A permanent cap (25) can provide a secondary seal for the container and define a secondary headspace (24b) between the primary and secondary seals (4) (25). In other embodiments the seal (4) can be replaced by a mechanically movable seal which may be locked in its downward position. Also the secondary seal can be provided with a port or aperture to provide access into the secondary headspace for a commodity. Also a commodity such as a tablet or pill may be provided within the secondary headspace.
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Citations
38 Claims
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1-22. -22. (canceled)
- 23. A container having an upper portion with an opening into said container and a base, said upper portion having a neck finish which includes an expandable and moveable seal, wherein the seal is configured to be expandable and moveable relative to the container when sealed thereto and when a heated liquid is in the container, said seal moving downwardly towards the base and within the neck finish to compensate for vacuum forces during cooling of the liquid following sealing of the container, wherein said seal, to enable its downward movement, is selected from either of a flexible material having an expandable side wall, or a flexible balloon structure which is able to expand within the neck finish.
- 37. A method of filling a container having a base and neck finish with a fluid which method includes introducing the fluid through an open end of the container so that it, at least substantially, fills the container, heating the fluid at least one of before and after its introduction into the container providing an expandable and moveable seal for the open end to cover and contain the fluid, said seal responding to the contraction of the fluid so as to compensate for pressure in a headspace of the container under the seal following sealing of the container, by moving downwardly towards the base and within the neck finish, wherein said seal, to enable its downward movement, is selected from either of a flexible material having an expandable side wall or a flexible balloon structure which is able to expand within the neck finish.
Specification