Vented can overcap

• US 7,074,443 B2
• Filed: 11/19/2002
• Issued: 07/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kraft Foods Group Brands LLC (The Kraft Heinz Company)
• Original Assignee: Kraft Foods Holdings Incorporated (Altria Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Thomas, Jeffrey A., Bruncaj, Mete, Zimmermann, Jeffrey Alan, DeCleir, Piras
• Primary Examiner(s): BECKER, DREW E
• Application Number:
  US10/298,565
• Publication Number:
  US 20040096552A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,330 Days
• Field of Search: 426/106, 426/118, 426/131, 426/395, 426594-595, 220/202, 220/203.01, 220/203.09, 220/203.29
• US Class Current: 426/118
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/1644 the element being a valve B65D51/1661 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/1666 the closure being for a box-like container
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 77/225 Pressure relief-valves incorporated in a container wall, e.g. valves comprising at least one elastic element

Abstract

Packaging for a can containing ground roasted coffee packed under atmospheric pressure and having a flexible peel-off lid which is vented to allow the escape of a buildup of carbon dioxide gases. A spacing structure prevents the vent valve in the lid from being closed by contact with the plastic overcap. The spacing structure may include bosses on the overcap which engage the vent valve or a pocket in the overcap which allows the flexible lid to reach a maximum height without engaging the overcap. A permanently opened passageway may be provided between the plastic overcap and the rim of the can to further facilitate the escape of carbon dioxide.

Claims

1. A can containing a food product which creates a gas buildup, the top of the can comprising a flexible lid having a vent valve to vent built-up gases, an overcap covering the lid and engaging the sides of the can around the periphery thereof, the overcap including a spacing structure inward from an inner edge of the periphery which prevents the vent value from being blocked by the overcap when the lid is pushed toward the overcap by gases built-up within the can.

2. A can according to claim 1, said spacing structure comprising a plurality of bosses on the overcap positioned to be engaged by the flexible lid to block further upward movement thereof, and to allow gases passing through the vent valve to flow toward the periphery of the can.

3. A can according to claim 2, wherein the bosses are positioned to engage the vent valve without occluding gas flow therethrough.

4. A can according to claim 3, wherein there are three bosses which are arranged equiangularly about the center of the overcap.

5. A can according to claim 4, wherein the bosses, viewed in plan view, are thin ribs extending along radii of the overcap.

6. A can according to claim 4, wherein the bosses are, in plan view, rectangular.

7. A can according to claim 1, wherein the spacing structure comprises a pocket formed in the bottom of the overcap which is of sufficient depth to allow the flexible lid to reach a maximum height of the lid caused by the gas buildup without the flexible lid or the vent valve engaging the overcap.

8. A can according to claim 1, wherein the product is ground roast coffee.

9. A can according to claim 1, including a permanently opened passageway from the space between the lid and overcap around the top rim of the can to the exterior.

10. A can according to claim 9, said passageway being formed between raised bosses formed in the overcap where the overcap engages the top rim of the can.

11. A can according to claim 1, wherein the lid does not contact the overcap to block the valve from opening when gases build up within the can.

12. The can of claim 1, wherein the flexible lid is a peelable lid.

13. The can of claim 1, wherein the flexible lid comprises flexible foil.

14. A can containing a food product which creates a gas buildup, the top of the can comprising a flexible lid having a vent valve to vent built-up gases and a chime around the periphery of the top, an overcap covering the lid, and a lower portion extending down along the sides of the can and engaging the sides of the can around the periphery thereof, and including a permanently opened passageway from the space between the lid and the overcap to the exterior, said passageway extending over the chime and down inside the lower portion of the overcap to empty out along the side of the can, said passageway being formed between raised bosses formed in the overcap which engage the top rim of the can.

15. A can containing roast ground coffee packed at atmospheric pressure and generating a carbon dioxide gas buildup,

a flexible lid hermetically sealing the top of the can and including a vent valve allowing the escape of built-up carbon dioxide, and

an overcap covering the top of the can and engaging the can around the upper rim thereof, the overcap including a spacing structure inward from an inner edge of the rim which prevents the vent valve from being blocked by the overcap when the lid is pushed up toward the overcap by the pressure of the built-up carbon dioxide.

16. A can according to claim 15, said spacing structure comprising a plurality of bosses on the overcap positioned to be engaged by the flexible lid to block further upward movement thereof, and to allow gases passing through the vent valve to flow toward the periphery of the can.

17. A can according to claim 16, wherein the bosses are positioned to engage the vent valve without occluding the flow of carbon dioxide therethrough.

18. A can according to claim 17, wherein there are three bosses which are arranged equiangularly about the center of the overcap.

19. A can according to claim 18, wherein the bosses, viewed in plan view, are thin ribs extending along the radii of the overcap.

20. A can according to claim 18, wherein the bosses are, in plan view, rectangular.

21. A can according to claim 15, wherein the spacing structure comprises a pocket formed in the bottom of the overcap which is of sufficient depth to allow the flexible lid to reach a maximum height of the lid as caused by the carbon dioxide buildup without the flexible lid or the vent valve engaging the overcap.

22. A can according to claim 15, including a permanently opened passageway from the space between the lid and overcap around the top rim of the can to the exterior.

23. A can containing a food product which creates a gas buildup, the top of the can comprising a flexible lid having a vent valve to vent built-up gases, an overcap covering the lid and engaging the sides of the can around the periphery thereof, the overcap including a spacing structure which prevents the vent valve from being blocked by the overcap when the lid is pushed toward the overcap by gases built-up within the can, said spacing structure being positioned such that said spacing structure is not engaged by the valve when the lid is pushed toward the overcap by the gases built-up within the can.

24. A can according to claim 23, wherein the spacing structure is circular.

25. A can according to claim 23, wherein the product is ground roast coffee.