Packaging Article

Abstract

A beverage container for the storage of a carbonated drink comprising a container body ( 10 ) including an opening ( 11 ) and removable closure means ( 12 ) for closing the opening ( 11 ), the closure means comprising a foil ( 20 ) which provides a gas tight seal for the opening ( 11 ). The arrangement may be such that a tendency of forces acting on the foil ( 20 ) due to pressure within the container to separate the foil ( 20 ) from the container body ( 10 ) by peeling away therefrom is reduced e.g. by the provision of a collar ( 12 A) to limit deflection of the foil ( 20 ) adjacent the bond therebetween and/or by the shape of the rim ( 15 ) of the container body ( 10 ), so the closure is capable of withstanding higher internal pressures than would otherwise be the case.

1 . A beverage container for the storage of a carbonated drink comprising a container body including an opening and removable closure means for closing said opening, the closure means comprising a foil which provides a gas tight seal for said opening. 
   
   
       2 . A beverage container as claimed in  claim 1  in which the closure means comprises a removeable cap for fitting over the foil. 
   
   
       3 . A beverage container as claimed in  claim 2  in which the foil is attached to the cap so the cap and foil can be removed from the container body together. 
   
   
       4 . A beverage container as claimed in  claim 3  in which the foil is attached to the cap by heating the foil to melt a plastics layer on the foil whilst it is held in contact with at least part of the cap. 
   
   
       5 . A beverage container as claimed in  claim 4  in which the foil is also attached to the container, the attachment to the container, whilst being strong enough to withstand the desired level of pressure within the container, is weaker than the attachment to the cap so that upon removal of the cap, the foil is separated from the container but remains attached to and is removed with the cap. 
   
   
       6 . A beverage container as claimed in  claim 2  or  3  in which the foil is not attached to the container but seals the opening thereof by simply being held in contact with or pressed onto the container by the cap. 
   
   
       7 . A beverage container as claimed in  claims 1  and  2  in which the cap preferably provides physical support for the foil by limiting the extent to which it can be distorted by pressure increases within the container and/or by reinforcing the connection between the foil and the container. 
   
   
       8 . A beverage container as claimed in any preceding claim in which venting means are preferably provided to allow pressure within the container to be vented prior to complete removal of the cap and/or the foil. 
   
   
       9 . A beverage container as claimed in  claim 8  in which the foil is attached to the container and provides controlled venting as the foil is peeled off the container. 
   
   
       10 . A beverage container as claimed in any preceding claim in which the foil is secured to a lip of the container around the mouth thereof. 
   
   
       11 . A beverage container as claimed in any of  claims 1 - 9  in which the foil is recessed within the container and secured to the inner surface thereof at a position spaced from the mouth of the container. 
   
   
       12 . A beverage container comprising a container body including an opening and removable closure means for closing said opening, the closure means comprising a foil which seals said opening, the arrangement being such that a tendency of forces acting on the foil due to pressure within the container to separate the foil from the container by peeling away therefrom is reduced or inhibited whereby the closure is capable of withstanding higher internal pressures than would otherwise be the case. 
   
   
       13 . A beverage container as claimed in  claim 12  in which the closure means comprises a holding component located over at least part of the foil to provide physical support for the foil by limiting the extent to which it can be distorted by internal pressure and/or by reinforcing the connection between the foil and the container. 
   
   
       14 . A beverage container as claimed in  claim 12  or  13  in which the container has a lip around the opening to which the foil is bonded, the lip being shaped such that forces arising in the foil due to pressure within the container apply predominantly shear forces (rather than peel forces) to the bond between the foil and the lip. 
   
   
       15 . A beverage container as claimed in  claim 14  in which the lip is shaped so as to have a substantially flat area, extending around the opening which is inclined outwardly relative to the axis of the opening, the foil being bonded to said substantially flat area. 
   
   
       16 . A beverage container as claimed in  claim 15  in which the normal to the said substantially flat area lies at an angle α to the axis of the opening, the angle α being selected in relation to the radius (R) of the opening and a maximum deflection (D) of the foil due to pressure within the container such that when the foil is subject to the maximum deflection, forces acting on the foil where it is bonded to said substantially flat surface are substantially parallel to said surface so as to apply substantially only shear forces to the bond therebetween. 
   
   
       17 . A beverage container as claimed in  claim 16  in which the opening has a radius (R) in the region 25 to 35 mm and the maximum deflection (D) is 5 mm or less. 
   
   
       18 . A beverage container as claimed in  claim 16  in which the opening has a radius (R) in the range 25 to 35 mm and the maximum deflection (D) is between 5 and 10 mm. 
   
   
       19 . A beverage container as claimed in any preceding claim in which the foil is secured to or laminated with a re-enforcing member which limits the extent to which the foil can deflect due to internal pressure. 
   
   
       20 . A beverage container as claimed in any preceding claim in which the container has a lip portion of which has a curved profile, the bond between the foil and lip extending around the curve of said profile. 
   
   
       21 . A beverage container as claimed in  claim 20  in which the foil is also bonded to an underside of the lip. 
   
   
       22 . A beverage container as claimed in any preceding claim in which the foil is bonded to an external surface of the container. 
   
   
       23 . A beverage container as claimed in any preceding claim having an opening member for operation by a consumer arranged such that the majority of forces acting on the foil due to operation of the opening member are directed such that they have a tendency to separate the foil from the container to assist in opening the container. 
   
   
       24 . A beverage container as claimed in  claim 23  in which the opening member is operated by lifting it away from the container. 
   
   
       25 . A beverage container as claimed in any preceding claim in which the container body has no thread or thread segments on its exterior adjacent the mouth thereof so it is uncomfortable to drink directly from the container body.