CO2 generator system for carbonated beverage containers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11708208-B2
Application number	US-201716466394-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 6, 2017
Priority date	Dec 6, 2016
Publication date	Jul 25, 2023
Grant date	Jul 25, 2023

Abstract

A closure for a container. The closure includes a carbon dioxide emitter, and a release rate control layer that is configured to control release of carbon dioxide from the carbon dioxide emitter into the container when the closure is coupled to the container.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A closure for a container, the closure comprising:
a closure flange defining a closure bore;
a carbon dioxide emitter seated within the closure bore and including bicarbonate, an acid catalyst, and a humectant; and
a release rate control layer seated within the closure bore on the carbon dioxide emitter and configured to control release of carbon dioxide from the carbon dioxide emitter into the container when the closure is coupled to the container, the release rate control layer extends from the carbon dioxide emitter to the closure flange, the release rate control layer overlaps both an inner surface of the closure flange and a distal end surface of the closure flange;
wherein the humectant includes at least one of polyvinyl pyrrolidone and microcrystalline cellulose that provide the carbon dioxide emitter with an affinity to water; and
wherein the carbon dioxide emitter has a bicarbonate to carbonate stoichiometry ratio within the range of 3 to 5.

2. The closure of claim 1 , wherein the release rate control layer is over-molded onto the carbon dioxide emitter.

3. The closure of claim 2 , wherein the release rate control layer extends out from within the bore.

4. The closure of claim 1 , wherein the carbon dioxide emitter is a disc seated within the closure bore.

5. The closure of claim 1 , wherein the release rate control layer is configured to control the rate and timing of carbon dioxide released into the container from the carbon dioxide emitter.

6. The closure of claim 1 , wherein the release rate control layer is configured to permit water vapor to pass through the release rate control layer to the carbon dioxide emitter.

7. The closure of claim 1 , wherein the closure includes at least one of the following materials: polypropylene; low-density polyethylene; and high-density polyethylene.

8. The closure of claim 1 , wherein the carbon dioxide emitter is formed by direct compression or injection molding, and has a disc shape.

9. The closure of claim 1 , wherein the bicarbonate is selected from the group consisting of sodium bicarbonate, potassium bicarbonate, cesium bicarbonate, magnesium bicarbonate, calcium bicarbonate, ammonium bicarbonate, and lithium bicarbonate.

10. The closure of claim 1 , wherein the acid catalyst is selected from the group consisting of citric acid, phosphoric acid, tartaric acid, L-malic acid, adipic acid, fumaric acid, and stearic acid.

11. The closure of claim 1 , further comprising a dry lubricant.

12. The closure of claim 11 , wherein the dry lubricant includes magnesium stearate.

13. The closure of claim 1 , wherein the bicarbonate is configured with a weight that results in product of the container losing about 19% carbon dioxide after 12-14 weeks so as to provide the product with a shelf-life of at least 12-14 weeks.

14. The closure of claim 1 , wherein the carbon dioxide emitter includes an additive configured for quality control.

15. The closure of claim 14 , wherein the additive includes an optical tracer.

16. The closure of claim 1 , wherein the release rate control layer includes at least one ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer.

17. The closure of claim 1 , wherein the release rate control layer includes at least one of low-density polyethylene, ethylene-vinyl acetate, and polyvinyl acetate.

18. The closure of claim 17 , wherein the release rate control layer includes 0% to 33% vinyl acetate.

19. The closure of claim 1 , wherein a start lag time of the release rate control layer, which is a time at which the release rate control layer is configured to permit release of carbon dioxide from the carbon dioxide emitter into the container, is equal to thickness of the release rate control layer squared divided by six times a diffusion constant of a selected EVA release rate control layer composition.

20. The closure of claim 1 , wherein the release rate control layer includes an ethylene-vinyl acetate composition of from 0% to 33% vinyl acetate, which determines a material constant of carbon dioxide permeability divided by water permeability.

21. The closure of claim 1 , wherein the material constant controls water vapor permeation and carbon dioxide release rate by way of permeability.

22. The closure of claim 1 , wherein the release rate control layer is applied over the carbon dioxide emitter by at least one of injection molding, over-molding, dual-shot molding, and compression molding.

23. The closure of claim 1 , wherein the release rate control layer encapsulates the carbon dioxide emitter and provides a hermetic seal with a bore or recess of the closure.

24. The closure of claim 1 , wherein the closure has a diameter of 18 mm to 38 mm.

25. The closure of claim 1 , wherein the closure has a diameter of 22 mm, 28 mm, 33 mm, or 38 mm.

26. The closure of claim 1 , further comprising the container, wherein the container has a capacity of 8 oz to 20 oz.

27. The closure of claim 1 , further comprising the container, wherein the container has a capacity of 8 oz, 12 oz, 20 oz, or 500 ml.

28. The closure of claim 1 , further comprising the container, wherein the container is made from mono-layer polyethylene terephthalate.

29. The closure of claim 1 , wherein the carbon dioxide emitter is coated with at least one of the following: Acrylate copolymers, Eudragit E, Cellulosic polymers, carboxym ethylcellulose sodium, hydroxypropylcellulose, hydroxypropylm ethylcellulose, methylcellulose, polyethyleneglycols, povidone, Methacrylic acid copolymer, Eudragit L and s® (anionic copolymers), cellulose acetate phthalate, hydraxypropyl methylcellulose phthalate, polyvinyl acetate phthalate, ethyl cellulose, Cellulose acetate phthalate, Polyvinyl acetate phthalate, and sugar.

30. A closure for a container, the closure comprising:
a base;
an annular wall extending from the base, the annular wall including internal threads configured to cooperate with a finish of the container;
a closure flange extending from the base and surrounded by the annular wall, the closure flange is annular and defines a closure bore;
a carbon dioxide emitter seated entirely within the closure bore, the carbon dioxide emitter including bicarbonate, an acid catalyst, and a humectant; and
a release rate control layer seated within the closure bore on the carbon dioxide emitter, the release rate control layer configured to control release of carbon dioxide from the carbon dioxide emitter into the container when the closure is coupled to the container;
wherein:
the humectant includes at least one of polyvinyl pyrrolidone and microcrystalline cellulose that provide the carbon dioxide emitter with an affinity to water;
the carbon dioxide emitter has a bicarbonate to carbonate stoichiometry ratio within the range of 3 to 5;
the release rate control layer extends from the carbon dioxide emitter to along an inner surface of the closure flange that is opposite to an outer surface of the closure flange, the outer surface of the closure flange faces the internal threads of the annular wall;
the release rate control layer overlaps a distal end surface of the closure flange, the distal end surface is at an end of the closure flange opposite to the base; and
the closure flange and the annular wall are spaced apart to define a receptacle therebetween configured to receive the finish of the container.

Assignees

• Amcor Rigid Packaging Usa Llc

Inventors

• Brace John
• Ahmad Farhan
• Sohn Seungman

Classifications

• B65D81/2076 Primary

  in an at least partially rigid container · CPC title

• B65D51/28

  with auxiliary containers for additional articles or materials {(B65D51/247 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• C01B32/50

  Carbon dioxide · CPC title

• B65D85/73

  with means specially adapted for effervescing the liquids, e.g. for forming bubbles or beer head · CPC title

• A23L2/40

  Effervescence-generating compositions · CPC title