Patent Description:
<CIT> describes a sealing ring for applying to a container made of sheet material.

<CIT> describes a seling ring and foil assembly for closing a container, wherein the container is opened by releasing the ring therefrom.

<CIT> discloses a sealing ring adhered to the flange of a container.

Glass containers often include a base, a finish, and a body extending therebetween. The container finish, in turn, includes a sealing surface to which a removable foil may be secured in order to seal the container. Prior to securing the foil to the sealing surface, the sealing surface is conventionally prepared by, for example, applying a cold end coating thereto. The coating may be applied in a number of ways including by spray- or roller-coating.

A general object of the present disclosure is to provide a foil-sealed container that does not require that a cold end coating be applied to a sealing surface of the container finish to prepare the sealing surface for securing the foil thereto.

The present disclosure embodies a number of aspects that can be implemented separately from or in combination with each other.

The package of the present invention is defined in appended claim <NUM>. Several further embodiments thereof are disclosed in the dependent claims.

A package, in accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, includes a container including a longitudinal axis extending therethrough and having a mouth, an axially-facing sealing surface, and an opening in the sealing surface. The package further includes a seal ring having a base with a projection, wherein the projection is received in the sealing surface opening thereby securing the ring to the container. The package may still further include a foil sealingly and removably coupled to the ring.

In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, a seal ring for sealing a container includes a base including a longitudinal axis extending therethrough and having a top surface, an undersurface opposite the top surface, and a projection extending from the undersurface in an axial direction, wherein the projection is configured to be received by a complementary opening in the container.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present disclosure, a method of assembling a container and a seal ring includes heating a least a portion of the container to a predetermined temperature sufficient to cause at least a portion of the seal ring to melt when coupled to the container, and coupling the seal ring to the container when the container is at the predetermined temperature such that a portion of the seal ring melts and conforms to a sealing surface of the container. In an embodiment, the coupling step includes aligning a projection of the seal ring with an opening in the sealing surface of the container, and pressing the seal ring in an axial direction onto the container to press the projection into the opening in the sealing surface.

The disclosure, together with additional objects, features, advantages and aspects thereof, will best be understood from the following description, the appended claims and the accompanying drawings, in which:.

<FIG> illustrates a package <NUM> including a container <NUM>, a seal ring <NUM> coupled to or assembled with the container <NUM>, and a foil <NUM> sealingly and removably coupled to the seal ring <NUM>. As described in <CIT> (Assignee's Docket No. <NUM>), assigned to the assignee hereof, and <CIT>, the seal ring <NUM> and the removable foil <NUM> are configured to close and seal the container <NUM> when the foil <NUM> is assembled with the seal ring <NUM>, and the seal ring <NUM> is assembled with the container <NUM>. The package <NUM> may be used to package any number of goods or products. For instance, the package <NUM> may be used to package food products, for example and without limitation, pickles, baby food, salsa, peppers, spaghetti sauces, and jams, to cite a few possibilities. The package <NUM> also may be used to package products other than food products, including, but not limited to, liquids, gels, powders, particles, and the like. Each of the container <NUM> and the seal ring <NUM> include or define a respective longitudinal axis (i.e., longitudinal axis A, in the case of container <NUM>; and longitudinal axis B, in the case of seal ring <NUM>) that are coincident with each other when the container <NUM> and the seal ring <NUM> are assembled together as illustrated in <FIG>.

The container <NUM> may be composed of glass or any other material suitable for containing food products, and may comprise a bowl, a jar, or a cup, to cite a few possibilities. With reference to <FIG>, the container <NUM> includes a base <NUM> and a body <NUM> extending from the base <NUM>. In certain embodiments, the container <NUM> also may include a shoulder (not shown) extending from the body <NUM> and a neck (not shown) extending from the shoulder or directly from the body <NUM>. In any event, and with reference to <FIG>, the container <NUM> further comprises a finish <NUM> extending axially from the body <NUM> that includes an open mouth <NUM> surrounded by a sealing lip or surface <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the sealing surface <NUM> is an axially-facing surface that faces away from the container body <NUM>, and has one or more openings <NUM> disposed therein. In one embodiment, the one or more openings <NUM> comprises a single, continuous annular channel; while in another embodiment, the one or more openings <NUM> may comprise a plurality of spaced apart channels, grooves, or pockets that together form a discontinuous annular channel or array. In any event, and as will be described in greater detail below, the opening(s) <NUM> is/are sized and shaped to receive and mate with one or more complementary projections <NUM> of the seal ring <NUM>. For purposes of illustration, the description below will be with respect to an embodiment wherein the one or more openings <NUM> comprises a single, continuous annular channel in the sealing surface <NUM>, though the present disclosure is not limited to such an arrangement.

In addition to the mouth <NUM> and the sealing surface <NUM>, the container finish <NUM> further may include an external or radially outwardly extending engagement element <NUM> that surrounds the mouth <NUM> and that, in an embodiment, is configured to engage a portion of the seal ring <NUM> when the container <NUM> and seal ring <NUM> are assembled together. The engagement element <NUM> may comprise, for example and without limitation, a bead (e.g., crown bead), a flange, a lip, or other suitable feature. The engagement element <NUM> may extend completely circumferentially around the container finish <NUM>; alternatively, it may comprise multiple discontinuous segments disposed about the circumference of the finish <NUM>. The container finish <NUM> still further includes an inner, radially inwardly-facing surface <NUM> that, in an embodiment, is also configured to engage a portion of the seal ring <NUM> when the container <NUM> and the seal ring <NUM> are assembled together.

The seal ring <NUM> may be of an integral one-piece construction, or of a multiple-piece construction, and may be composed of metal, plastic, or any other material suitable for closing and sealing a container in the manner described herein. When seal ring <NUM> is assembled with the container <NUM>, the ring <NUM> encircles the mouth <NUM> of the container <NUM>. The seal ring <NUM> is annular with an inner diameter or opening or radially inner periphery, and an outer diameter or radially outer periphery. Additionally, in an embodiment, the seal ring <NUM> may be applied to the container <NUM> when the sealing surface <NUM> thereof has a tin oxide coating but not a cold end coating that is conventionally required for the foil-sealing of glass containers. In the embodiment illustrated in <FIG>, the seal ring <NUM> includes a base <NUM>, a radially outer portion <NUM>, and an inner seal <NUM>.

The base <NUM> includes a first or top surface <NUM>, and a second or undersurface <NUM> opposite the top surface <NUM>. The top surface <NUM> is an axially-facing surface and comprises a sealing surface to which, as will be described below, the foil <NUM> may be coupled. The undersurface <NUM> is also an axially-facing surface, however, it faces in an axial direction that is opposite that in which the top surface <NUM> faces (i.e., the top surface <NUM> and the undersurface <NUM> face in opposite directions). The longitudinal axis B of the seal ring <NUM> extends perpendicular to a plane extending along one of the base surfaces <NUM>, <NUM>, and centrally with respect to the outer radial periphery of the seal ring <NUM>.

In addition to the top surface <NUM> and the undersurface <NUM>, the base <NUM> further includes one or more projections <NUM> extending in an axial direction from the undersurface <NUM>. As used herein, the term "axial" includes oriented generally along an axis but is not limited to a direction strictly parallel to the axis. In one embodiment, the one or more projections <NUM> comprises a single, continuous annular projection; while in another embodiment, the one or more projections <NUM> may comprise a plurality of spaced apart projections that together form, for example, a discontinuous annular projection or an array. In any event, the projection(s) <NUM> is/are configured to be received within and mated with complementary opening(s) <NUM> in the container finish sealing surface <NUM>. For purposes of illustration, the description below will be with respect to an embodiment wherein the one or more projections <NUM> comprises a single, continuous annular projection that is configured for mating with the annular channel in the container finish sealing surface <NUM>, though the present disclosure is not limited to such an arrangement.

As shown in the embodiment illustrated in <FIG>, the projection <NUM> includes one or more barbs or protrusions <NUM> extending radially therefrom. As used herein, the term "radial" includes oriented generally perpendicular to an axis but is not limited to a direction that is strictly perpendicular to the axis. The barb(s) <NUM> are configured to engage the inner surface of the channel when the projection <NUM> is disposed within the opening <NUM> (i.e., when the seal ring <NUM> is assembled with the container <NUM>) and act to retain the projection <NUM> therein. In any event, the mating of the projection <NUM> and the opening <NUM> serves to secure the seal ring <NUM> to the container <NUM>. In addition to the mechanical fit created by the mating of the projection <NUM> and opening <NUM> securing the seal ring <NUM> to the container <NUM>, in an embodiment, an adhesive, for example, and without limitation, plastisol or any other FDA or foodstuff approved material or sealing adhesive material, may also be utilized. This adhesive may be applied to one or both of the container finish sealing surface <NUM> (which may, but does not necessarily have to, include the inner surfaces of the opening <NUM>), and/or the undersurface <NUM> of the seal ring <NUM>. In an embodiment, the coupling or assembly of the seal ring <NUM> with the container <NUM> renders the seal ring <NUM> substantially non-removable from the container <NUM>, meaning that, by design intent, the seal ring <NUM> is not intended to be removed from the container <NUM> without destroying or at least damaging the container <NUM> and/or the seal ring <NUM>.

The radially outer portion <NUM> of the seal ring <NUM> extends away from the base <NUM> in an axial direction (i.e., in an axial downward direction) such that it is generally perpendicular to the base <NUM>. The outer portion <NUM> includes an inner surface <NUM> and an outer surface <NUM>. The inner surface <NUM> is configured to engage an outer surface of the container finish <NUM> when the seal ring <NUM> is assembled with the container <NUM>. In an embodiment, the radially outer portion <NUM> may be elastically deformable so as to allow for the coupling of seal ring <NUM> to the container <NUM> (i.e., the outer portion <NUM> may be configured to deflect in the manner described below). In another embodiment, the radially outer portion <NUM> may take the form of the radially outer portion described in <CIT>, cited above, and as such, may "snap" over the engagement element <NUM> of the container finish <NUM>. In any case, the radially outer portion <NUM> may be disposed at the radially outermost point of the base <NUM>, though the present disclosure is not limited to such an arrangement.

The inner seal <NUM> of the seal ring <NUM> is operative to provide, at least in part, a seal between the seal ring <NUM> and the container <NUM>. The seal <NUM> may comprise any number of seals, for example, a plug seal, a valve seal, or any other suitable seal. For purposes of illustration, the description below will be with respect to an embodiment wherein the inner seal <NUM> comprises a valve seal (i.e., "inner valve seal <NUM>"), though the present disclosure is not limited to such an embodiment. One benefit of a valve seal, among potentially others, is that it is configured such that the seal created thereby is improved with the application of a vacuum to the interior of the container <NUM> (e.g., as the pressure inside the container <NUM> decreases, the seal formed between the inner valve seal <NUM> and the container <NUM> is tightened).

As with the outer portion <NUM> described above, in an embodiment, the inner valve seal <NUM> includes an inner surface <NUM> and an outer surface <NUM>. The inner surface <NUM> is configured to engage the mouth <NUM> of the container finish <NUM> when the seal ring <NUM> is assembled with the container <NUM>. More specifically, in an embodiment, the inner valve seal <NUM> may be elastically deformable such that it may be biased into a sealing engagement with the mouth <NUM> or the inner finish surface <NUM> of the container <NUM>, thereby forming a liquid and/or air tight seal between the seal ring <NUM> and the container <NUM> (i.e., the valve seal <NUM> may be configured to deflect in the manner described below). In another embodiment, the inner valve seal <NUM> may take the form of the inner seal described in <CIT>, cited above. In any instance, the inner valve seal <NUM> may extends from a radially innermost point of the base <NUM>, though the present disclosure is not limited to such an arrangement.

As briefly described above, the package <NUM> further includes the foil <NUM> that is sealingly and removably coupled to the seal ring <NUM> and that serves to seal the container <NUM> when the seal ring <NUM> and container <NUM> are assembled together. The foil <NUM> may be composed of any number of materials suitable for hermetically sealing the container <NUM>, including, for example and without limitation, a metallic material (e.g., aluminum), a polymeric or plastic material (e.g., polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a paper material (e.g., wax paper), or other material or substrate suitable to form a seal. In the embodiment illustrated in <FIG>, the foil <NUM> is removably and sealingly coupled to the base <NUM> of the seal ring <NUM>, and more particularly, to the top surface <NUM> of the base <NUM>, which thereby serves as a sealing surface of both the seal ring <NUM> and the package <NUM> when the seal ring <NUM> is assembled with the container <NUM>. The foil <NUM> and the material of the seal ring <NUM> are closely matched to achieve optimal performance, and the foil <NUM> may be coupled to the base <NUM> of the seal ring <NUM> using any number of techniques, including, for example, induction and conduction sealing techniques, and/or any other suitable technique known in the art. The foil <NUM> may be coupled to the seal ring <NUM> prior to assembling or coupling the seal ring <NUM> with the container <NUM>, or alternatively, thereafter. As illustrated in <FIG>, foil <NUM> may include a tab <NUM> extending from the periphery thereof that is configured to allow a user to remove the foil <NUM> from the seal ring <NUM> by pulling the tab <NUM> away from the seal ring <NUM> and the container <NUM>.

With reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, an illustrative method of assembling the package <NUM> will now be described.

In a step <NUM>, the foil <NUM> is coupled to the base <NUM> of the seal ring <NUM>. In one embodiment, step <NUM> is performed prior to the seal ring <NUM> being coupled to or assembled with the container <NUM>, while in another embodiment step <NUM> is performed after the seal ring <NUM> and the container <NUM> are assembled together.

In any event, in a step <NUM>, the seal ring <NUM> is aligned with the mouth <NUM> and the sealing surface <NUM> of the container finish <NUM>, and is then pressed in an axial direction onto the container finish <NUM>. More particularly, in step <NUM>, the projection <NUM> of the seal ring <NUM> is aligned with the opening <NUM> in the container sealing surface <NUM>. Once properly aligned, the seal ring <NUM> is pressed in an axial direction onto the container finish <NUM>, and the projection <NUM> is pressed into the opening <NUM>. As the projection is pressed into the opening, the barbs <NUM> of the projection <NUM> engage the inner surface of the opening <NUM>, thereby creating a mechanical fit between the seal ring <NUM> and the container <NUM> and securing the seal ring <NUM> to the container <NUM>. In an embodiment, as the seal ring <NUM> is pressed onto the container <NUM> and the inner valve seal <NUM> contacts the mouth <NUM> of the container finish <NUM>, the inner valve seal <NUM> deflects in a radially inward direction into sealing engagement with the mouth <NUM> and/or the inner surface <NUM> of the container finish <NUM>. The valve seal <NUM> remains biased against the mouth <NUM> or inner finish surface <NUM> to create a seal between the seal ring <NUM> and the container <NUM>. Additionally, in an embodiment, as the seal ring <NUM> is pressed onto the container <NUM> and the radially outer portion <NUM> of the seal ring <NUM> contacts the container sealing surface <NUM>, the outer portion <NUM> deflects in a radially outward direction into engagement with an outer surface of the container <NUM>, and more particularly, an outer surface of the container finish <NUM>. In an embodiment, step <NUM> is performed when the material of the container <NUM> is at a temperature sufficient to cause at least a portion of the base <NUM> of the seal ring <NUM> to melt and more completely conform to the sealing surface <NUM> of the container finish <NUM> to form a more complete seal between the seal ring <NUM> and the container <NUM> (e.g., the seal ring <NUM> will conform to imperfections in the sealing surface <NUM>, for example).

Accordingly, in an embodiment, the method <NUM> further may comprise a step <NUM> of heating the container <NUM>, of at least a portion thereof that includes the container finish <NUM>, to a predetermined temperature sufficient to cause a desired amount of melting of the seal ring <NUM> prior to performing step <NUM>. In an embodiment, step <NUM> may be performed during, or comprise a part of, the container manufacturing process where the residual heat from that process is sufficient to cause at least a portion of the seal ring <NUM> to melt. In another embodiment, step <NUM> may be independent of the container manufacturing process and may comprise applying heat to the container <NUM>, or at least a portion thereof, immediately prior to performing step <NUM> of the method <NUM>. In either case, the particular temperature required to sufficiently and acceptably melt the seal ring <NUM> is dependent upon the particular materials of which the seal ring <NUM> and/or the container <NUM> is/are formed, and may be empirically derived by testing different materials and combinations of materials to achieve the desired amount of seal ring melting.

There thus has been disclosed a package that fully satisfies one or more of the objects and aims previously set forth. The disclosure has been presented in conjunction with an illustrative embodiment, and modifications and variations have been discussed. Other modifications and variations readily will suggest themselves to persons of ordinary skill in the art in view of the foregoing discussion.

Summarizing it is disclosed a seal ring <NUM> for sealing a container <NUM>, and including:
a base <NUM> including a longitudinal axis B extending therethrough and having:.

It is disclosed the above described seal ring, wherein said projection comprises an annular projection.

It is disclosed the afore-described seal ring, wherein said projection includes one or more barbs <NUM> extending outwardly therefrom.

It is disclosed a package <NUM> that includes:.

It is disclosed the above described package, wherein said opening comprises an annular channel in said sealing surface, and said projection comprises an annular projection received in said annular channel.

It is disclosed the above described package, wherein said foil is coupled to said top surface, and said projection extends from said undersurface in an axial direction.

It is disclosed the above described package, wherein said seal ring further includes an inner seal <NUM> biased into sealing engagement with said mouth of said container.

It is disclosed the above described package, wherein said seal ring further includes a radially outer portion <NUM>, and further wherein an inner surface <NUM> thereof is in engagement with an outer surface <NUM> of said container.

It is disclosed the above described package, wherein said container is formed of glass.

It is disclosed the above described package, wherein said seal ring is formed of plastic.

It is disclosed the above described package, wherein said seal ring is adhesively affixed to said sealing surface of said container.

It is further disclosed a method <NUM> of assembling a container <NUM> and a seal ring <NUM>, the method including:.

It is further disclosed a container and seal ring assembled together by the above described method.

Claim 1:
A package (<NUM>) comprising:
a container (<NUM>) including a longitudinal axis (A) extending therethrough, said container (<NUM>) having a mouth (<NUM>), a sealing surface (<NUM>) facing in an axial direction relative to said longitudinal axis (A), and an opening (<NUM>) in said sealing surface; and
a seal ring (<NUM>) including a longitudinal axis (B) that is coincident with said longitudinal axis (A) of the container (<NUM>), said seal ring (<NUM>) having a base (<NUM>) with a projection (<NUM>) extending in an axial direction relative to said longitudinal axis (B) of said seal ring (<NUM>), wherein the projection (<NUM>) is received in the sealing surface opening (<NUM>) thereby securing said seal ring (<NUM>) to the container (<NUM>),
wherein said seal ring (<NUM>) further includes a radially outer portion (<NUM>), and wherein the radially outer portion (<NUM>) of the seal ring (<NUM>) extends away from the base (<NUM>) in an axial direction such that it is generally perpendicular to the base (<NUM>), and wherein the radially outer portion (<NUM>) includes an inner surface (<NUM>) which is in engagement with an outer surface of the container (<NUM>).