Patent EA-000194-B1 (EA)
Title: Packing sterilizable edibles in thin walled containers
Inventor: DIAMOND GEORGE B
IPC: B65B55/02
Filed: 1996-10-15
Abstract: 1. A pressurized sealed container containing sterilized edible material, which comprises: a thin wall sealed container containing a sterilized edible material sterilized in a sterilization process and an inert gas under pressure, the walls of the container being maintained rigid by the pressure of the inert gas but being easily deformable in the absence of such pressure, the container having a top end and a bottom end with at least one end having a concave slope relative to-the inside of the container, the at least one end being of a material and having a thickness and shape such that said end will retain a substantially concave slope after a sterilization process but will become convex if there is any gas pressure due to bacterial action in the container. 2. A container in accordance with Claim 1, wherein the sterilization process is an autoclave sterilization process. 3. A container in accordance with Claim 1, wherein the sterilization process is an aseptic sterilization process. 4. A container in accordance with Claim 1, wherein the sterilization process is a radiation sterilization process. 5. A container in accordance with Claim 1, wherein the container is a beverage-type container. 6. A container in accordance with Claim 5, wherein the container is made of metal. 7. A container in accordance with Claim 6, wherein the at least one end includes at least one stiffening bead. 8. A container in accordance with Claim 7, wherein the at least one end is an easy-open end. 9. A method of packaging sterilizable edible material, comprising: a) inserting an edible material to be sterilized into a thin wall container having an opened and a closed end, the closed end being sealed with a first closing member; b) inserting a predetermined amount of an inert liquefied or solidified gas into the container; c) allowing the gas to vaporize; d) before the gas has completely vaporized, sealing the open end of the container with a second closing member such that the presence of the inert gas in the sealed container is sufficient to maintain the walls of the container rigid, which walls would otherwise be easily deformable in the absence of said inert gas and e) sterilizing the edible material and the container such that a pressurized sealed container containing sterilized edible material is formed; and wherein at least one of the first and second closing members has a concave slope relative to the inside of the container and is of a material and has a thickness and shape such that the end will retain a substantially concave slope after steps (d) and (e) but will become convex if there is any gas pressure due to bacterial action in the pressurized, sealed container. 10. A method of packaging in accordance with Claim 9, wherein step (e) results in a vacuum and the amount of inert gas is sufficient to generate a pressure sufficient to balance the vacuum and to provide rigidity to the container. 11. A method of packaging in accordance with Claim 10, wherein step (e) comprises autoclave sterilization which includes heating and cooling the container. 12. A method of packaging in accordance with Claim 11, wherein steam is added to the container before sealing the open end thereof. 13. A method of packaging in accordance with Claim 9, wherein step (e) comprises aseptic sterilization which includes sterilizing the edible material and the container prior to step (a) and sterilizing the second closing member prior to step (d). 14. A method of packaging in accordance with Claim 9, wherein step (e) comprises radiation sterilization which includes subjecting the container after step (d) to radiation sufficient to sterilize the edible material and the container. 15. A method of packaging in accordance with Claim 9, wherein the inert gas is liquefied nitrogen. 16. A method of packaging in accordance with Claim 9, wherein the inert gas is liquefied carbon dioxide. 17. A method of packaging in accordance with Claim 10, wherein the inert gas is solid carbon dioxide. 18. A method of packaging in accordance with Claim 10, wherein the container is a beverage type container. 19. A method of packaging in accordance with Claim 18, wherein the container is made of metal. 20. A method of packaging in accordance with Claim 19, wherein the end includes at least one stiffening bead. 21. A method in accordance with Claim 20, wherein the at least one end is an easy-open end.