WO2001032386A2

WO2001032386A2 - Improved apparatus and method for concealing a promotional compartment

Info

Publication number: WO2001032386A2
Application number: PCT/US2000/041724
Authority: WO
Inventors: Joseph M. Ladina
Original assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
Priority date: 1999-11-02
Filing date: 2000-11-01
Publication date: 2001-05-10
Also published as: AU3639801A; WO2001032386A3

Abstract

An injection mold (41) is designed to create a translucent section (58, 58a) on the non-expanded portion of a parison (22a), and thus the resultant blown container (22). To create this translucent section (58, 58a) either the neck ring segments (52) or the parison pin (46), or both, are treated with a textured finish. This section (58, 58a) is not expanded during the blow operation. This section (58, 58a) diffuses light and as such, prohibits a person from seeing through that section (58, 58a) in an attempt to view and discern whether a promotional compartment (24) is present under a closure. This section extends far enough to permit sufficient overlap with the closure (12), so that even if a person outwardly bends back the pilfer band, or otherwise manipulates this band, they are still prohibited from viewing and discerning whether a promotional compartment (24) is present under the closure (12).

Description

IMPROVED APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONCEALING A PROMOTIONAL COMPARTMENT

TECHNICAL HELD

The present invention relates generally to a method and an apparatus that produces a relatively translucent finish on a portion of an otherwise transparent parison and the resultant container. More particularly, the invention relates to a combination container, closure, and promotional compartment wherein the container is substantially transparent except for a translucent portion which obscures from view the promotional compartment positioned within the closure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Promotions and games associated with the sale of products enjoy enduring popularity with consumers. A wide variety of promotions and games are known where a consumer retrieves an item from a purchased product. Such items may include coupons that may be exchanged for a lower future purchase price, game elements that may be redeemed for an award, and items such as currency that have an intrinsic value.

Promotions and games used in conjunction with beverage containers for carbonated soft drinks and the like are especially popular.

For example, it is known to provide the liner portion of a beverage cap in the form of a game piece. The consumer may exchange certain liners or a collection of liners for a prize. It is also known to enclose a promotional element within the cap or promotional closure of the beverage container.

This promotional element may include a coupon, currency, a game piece, or a valuable keepsake. To access the promotional element within a beverage container, the consumer normally removes a compartment from the promotional closure and then removes the promotional element from the compartment.

One example of a known promotional closure/compartment arrangement is described in U.S. Patent Application No. 09/353,757, which has the same assignee as the present invention. This application describes a promotional compartment for use within the closure of a beverage container. U.S . Patent Application No. 09/353,757 is incorporated herein by reference.

When blow molded beverage containers are used to conceal promotional items therein, certain methods are known by which a container is made opaque. For example, the container neck may be surrounded with a label or shrink sleeve, the formed container may be partially finished with a texturing process, or a cover may be laminated that obscures some of the container's contents from view. However, the benefits inherent in the injection and blow mold process of a transparent beverage container are often lost when these containers are further processed by these methods.

When promotional compartments and transparent beverage containers are used together, governmental regulations may prohibit the use of a container that allows the consumer to discern which containers include a promotional compartment. This is often a difficult standard to meet because of any number of factors, including the size and color of the promotional compartment, the height and color of the promotional closure, the filled height and color of the beverage, and whether labels are positioned around the neck of the container. The primary thrust of the existing promotional closures and compartments is to deliver a promotional element protected from the beverage. Prior efforts have given only limited consideration to the need to conceal which beverage container includes a promotional compartment positioned therein. Accordingly, there is a need for a substantially transparent beverage container that obscures from view a promotional compartment positioned within the closure, but does so without requiring additional manufacturing steps. These goals should be met in a container that is reasonably priced and easy to manufacture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, an injection mold is designed to permit molded features to be formed on a parison. For example, a textured finish on the face of the neck ring segments or the parison pin, or both, creates a relatively translucent section on the parison. The translucent section effectively hides the use of a promotional compartment.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, the injection mold is designed to permit molded features to be formed on the parison and thus on the resultant blown container. For example, a textured finish on the walls of the injection mold or the parison pin, or both, creates a relatively translucent section on the parison. This translucent section is expanded during the blow operation as is the rest of the parison below the support ring. The translucent section efficiently hides the use of a promotional compartment.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, the injection mold is designed to permit molded features to be formed on a parison. This translucent section may include that section of the parison that is not expanded during the blow operation and that section of the parison that is expanded during the blow operation.

The translucent section of the finished container substantially diffuses light, thereby prohibiting a person from seeing through that section in an attempt to view and discern whether a promotional compartment is present under the closure. The translucent section must extend far enough toward the threaded open end of the container to permit a sufficient overlap between the closure. Even if a person outwardly bends back or otherwise manipulates the pilfer band of the closure, he or she is still prohibited from viewing and discerning whether a promotional compartment is present under the closure. In the injection operation, molten material flows into the injection cavity and over the parison pin to fill all of the recesses in the neck ring segments. The high injection pressure packs the material firmly in the recesses and insures that the textured finish is completely impressed on the parison. After the parison has been formed, it is subsequently placed in the cavity of a blow mold and blown into the shape of a container as defined by the contours of the cavity in the blow mold. The container retains the translucent section created on the parison. In other words, had the translucent section not been formed in the injection mold, the translucent section would not have developed. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a partial cross-sectional view of a known closure 12 with a promotional compartment 24 configuration used within an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an injection mold used to form a parison.

Fig. 3 is a partial side view of a parison for later use in providing a beverage container.

Fig. 4 is a partial side view of the resultant beverage container produced by the parison of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a partial side view of a beverage container such as shown in Fig. 4 with a closure 12 and a promotional compartment 24 contained therein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Known Closure and Promotional Compartment

Referring now in more detail to the drawings, in which like numerals refer to like elements throughout the several views, Fig. 1 generally illustrates a known closure and promotional compartment design as disclosed in the above referenced application (U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 09/353,757). The known closure and promotional compartment is described to provide a reference when describing the present invention in detail below.

The closure 12 includes a circular top portion 14 and an annular skirt portion 16. The annular skirt portion 16 includes an internal helical thread formation 18 for cooperative engagement with a mating thread formation 20 of an associated beverage container 22. For the purpose of this description, a beverage container 22 will be understood to mean a transparent plastic container of the size and shape required by the practitioner. As is well known by those skilled in the art, such containers 22 are formed by blow molding methods that incorporate the parison 22a, best shown in Fig. 3. As is also well known by those skilled in the art, the parison 22a is a partially formed cylindrical plastic mass, sometimes called a "preform", which looks much like a standard test tube with a threaded open end. However, this description is for the purpose of explanation and not limitation. Thus, the beverage container 22 and parison 22a are not limited to plastic but may be glass, thermosetting materials, or other types of liquid-to-solid substances.

Returning to Figs. 1 and 5, located within the closure 12 is a promotional compartment 24. The promotional compartment 24 generally has a cylindrical configuration with a circular bottom 26 and a side wall 28 extending from below the plane of the bottom 26 to first upwardly and then radially outwardly to an annular flange 32. The flange 32 extends horizontally from the upper edge of the side wall 28 and assists in securing the promotional compartment 24 firmly within the closure 12. The closure 12 and the promotional compartment 24 may be molded or formed from a polyethylene plastic or from other thermoplastic materials well known by those skilled in the art and convenient to the practitioner.

As best shown in Fig. 5, the closure 12 is of the tamper- indicating type well known by those skilled in the art. The closure 12 includes a detachable pilfer band 34 depending downwardly (as the figure is viewed) from the annular skirt portion 16. The pilfer band 34 is often distinguished from the closure 12 by a circumferentially extending score line 36 and a plurality of circumferentially spaced frangible ribs 38. The ribs 38 may extend between the inside surfaces of the closure cap 12 and the pilfer band 34. A plurality of circumferentially spaced projections (not shown) may extend inwardly from the pilfer band 34 for cooperating engagement with a locking ring 39 of the associated beverage container 22, best shown in Fig. 4. By such cooperating engagement, the frangible ribs 38 split and fracture during removal of the closure 12 thereby separating the pilfer band 34 from the skirt portion 16 to provide the desired evidence of tampering or the lack thereof.

The pilfer band 34 is slightly wider than the threaded mouth of the beverage container 22 because it must accommodate the circumferentially spaced projections (not shown). Because the pilfer band 34 neither tightly hugs the container nor sits directly on the support ring 40, the pilfer band 34 is somewhat flexible. Some consumers have been known to attempt to take advantage of this flexibility by bending the pilfer band 34 outward slightly in an attempt to defeat the tamper- resistant feature or in an attempt to view under the closure 12 toj efeat the present promotion or game. The act of even attempting to bend outwardly the pilfer band 34 normally damages the band 34, the closure 12, or the container 22 such that a consumer may reject the product on the belief that the contents have been adulterated.

The Present Invention - Injection and Blow Operations

Fig. 2 illustrates an injection mold apparatus 41 and operation that may be used to form the parison 22a. The injection mold 41 includes a cylindrical side wall 42 and a bottom plate 44 that together define an injection cavity in which a parison pin 46 is positioned. As shown, a settable thermoplastic material has been injected into the mold cavity from a ram 48 through an injection porting 50 in the plate 44. The upper portion of the parison 22a is formed between the pin 46 and a pair of split neck ring segments 52. The split neck ring segments 52 completely surround the pin 46. The inner, notched surfaces of the neck ring segments 52 define the thread formation 20 located on the non- expanded open end of the parison 22a. The finish at the top of the parison 22a is formed by a locking ring 54 which also surrounds the parison 22a and assists in removing the parison 22a at the end the injection operation. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the injection mold 41, and more specifically the split ring segments 52, are designed to permit molded features to be formed on the parison 22a and thus on the resultant blown container 22. For example, a textured finish 56 on the face of the split neck ring segments 52 creates relatively translucent sections 58, 58a on the parison 22a, best shown in Fig. 3. The translucent section 58 is not expanded during the blow operation, and section 58a below the support ring 40 may not be expanded during the blow operation, as is the rest of the parison 22a below the support ring 40. In other words, the translucent section 58 of the parison 22a is the same translucent section 58 of the container 22, best shown in Fig. 4, and section 58a may or may not be textured during the injection operation to extend the translucent section 58 below the support ring 40. The remainder of the parison 22a and the container 22 are transparent sections 59 as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, respectively. 01/32386

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In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a textured finish (not shown) on the pin 46 at the cylindrical side wall 42 creates a relatively translucent section 60 on the parison 22a, best shown in Fig. 3. This translucent section 60 may be expanded during the blow operation. In other words, the translucent section 60 of the parison 22a is the same translucent section 60 of the container 22, best shown in Fig. 4. In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, the textured sections 58 and 60 may be combined to form an extended translucent section. The relatively translucent section 58, generally defined as that area extending from the support ring 40 toward the threaded open end, is more opaque than the transparent section 59. In other words, the translucent section 58 has been finished to diffuse light. This diffusion tends to prohibit a person from seeing through that section 58 in an attempt to view and discern whether a promotional compartment 24 is present under the closure 12. The translucent section 58 may or may not include the support ring 40. However, as best visualized by considering Fig. 5, the translucent section 58 preferably extends far enough toward the threaded open end to permit a sufficient overlap with the annular skirt portion 16. With a proper overlap, even if a person outwardly bends back or otherwise manipulates the pilfer band 34, that person is still prohibited from viewing and discerning whether a promotional compartment 24 is present under the closure 12.

The relatively translucent section 60, generally defined as that area extending from the support ring 40 and away from the threaded open end, is more opaque than the transparent section 59. In other words, the translucent section 60 has been finished to diffuse light and, as such, tends to prohibit a person from seeing through that section 60 in an attempt to view and discern whether a promotional compartment 24 is present under the closure 12. The translucent section 60 may or may not include the support ring 40.

In reference to Fig. 2, molten material flows from the nozzle 50 into the injection cavity and over the parison pin 46 to fill all the recesses in the neck ring segments 52. The high injection pressure packs the material firmly in the recesses and insures that the textured finish 56, shown only within the neck ring segments 52, is completely impressed on the parison 22a. Because the molten material is injected into the cavity of the injection mold 40 at elevated temperatures and pressures, textured surfaces may be formed with little or no difficulty. At the elevated temperatures, the material is highly fluid. At pressures in the order of 6000 to 12,000 psi, significant detail can be developed on the parison 22a within the neck ring segments 52. It is understood that the textured surface 56 may be extended down the cylindrical sides 42 by a sufficient distance to create relatively translucent sections 58, 60.

Given the nature of the injection operation, the textured finish 56 also could be provided on the parison pin 46 so that the translucent sections 58, 60 may be created from the inside of the parison 22a. Further, both the inside and outside of the parison 22a could include a textured finish as provided by any combination of the split ring segments 52, the cylindrical sides 42, and the parison pin 46. Once the parison 22a has been formed with the textured surface thereon, the parison 22a is withdrawn from the cavity of the injection mold. The parison 22a is subsequently placed in the cavity of a blow mold. It will be understood that before the blow operation, the molten material forming the parison was cooled and completely set up. As shown, the translucent sections 58, 60 are of substantially the same dimensions as the textured finish 56. The formation of the translucent sections 58, 60 under the higher temperatures and pressures of the injection operation insures complete development of the translucent sections 58, 60 with all of the intricate detail on the corresponding finished surface of the expanded parison, that is, the resultant beverage container 22.

Fig. 4 illustrates the parison 22a after it has been blown into the shape of a container 22 as defined by the contours of the cavity in the blow mold. As is shown, the container 22 retains the translucent sections 58, 60 created on the parison 22a while the rest of the container retains the original transparent section 59.

Fig. 5 best illustrates the promotional compartment 24 located within the closure 12, which in turn is secured to the container 22. It is this combination of elements, in this manner, that is normally presented to the consumer in the retail environment. Without the benefit of the textured finish 56 (not shown), a consumer may easily determine whether the closure 12 includes the promotional compartment 24. However, the textured finish 56, which creates the translucent section 58 illustrated in Fig. 4, obscures the consumers' view above the support ring 40 and prevents him or her from discerning whether the promotional compartment 24 is present under the closure 12. Similarly, the textured finish 56, which creates the translucent section 60 illustrated in Fig. 4, obscures the consumers' view below the support ring 40 and prevents him or her from discerning whether the promotional compartment 24 is present under the closure 12. Of course, together the translucent sections 58 and 60 obscure the consumers' view both above and below the support ring 40.

The above description relates to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and numerous changes and modifications may be made herein without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

Claims

CLAIMSI claim:

1. A parison, comprising: a substantially transparent expandable section; and a translucent non-expandable section.

2. The parison of Claim 1 , wherein said translucent section comprises an open end, and said transparent section comprises a closed end.

3. The parison of Claim 2, wherein said translucent section is immediately adjacent to said transparent section and extends toward said open end.

4. The parison of Claim 2, wherein said open end comprises threads.

5. The parison of Claim 1, wherein said translucent and transparent sections are both produced during an injection operation.

6. The parison of Claim 5, wherein said translucent section does not expand during a blow operation.

7. The parison of Claim 1 , further comprising a protruding support between said translucent section and said transparent section, wherein said support comprises a translucent appearance.

8. The parison of Claim 1 , further comprising a protruding support within said translucent section, wherein said support comprises a translucent appearance.

9. The parison of Claim 1 , wherein said translucent section is formed on an outside surface of said parison. 1/32386

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10. The parison of Claim 1 , wherein said translucent section is formed on an inside surface of said parison.

11. A parison produced during a single injection operation, comprising: a substantially transparent expandable section including a closed end; and a translucent non-expandable section including an open end, wherein said translucent section is immediately adjacent to said transparent section and extends toward said open end.

12. A combination container and promotional closure with promotional compartment, said container comprising: a substantially transparent section; and a translucent section.

13. The combination of Claim 12, wherein said translucent section comprises an open threaded end.

14. The combination of Claim 12, wherein said promotional compartment is positioned within said promotional closure.

15. The combination of Claim 14, wherein said promotional closure comprises a lower section.

16. The combination of Claim 14, wherein said promotional closure is threadably mounted to said open end.

17. The combination of Claim 15, wherein said lower section overlaps said translucent section by a distance sufficient to obscure from view said promotional compartment.

18. A combination container and promotional closure with promotional compartment, comprising: a substantially transparent section; and a translucent section, including a threaded open end, wherein said promotional compartment is positioned within said promotional closure which in turn is threadably mounted to said open end and overlaps said translucent section with a lower section sufficient to obscure from view said promotional compartment.

19. In a method of molding a hollow article which includes a translucent section and a transparent section, forming a parison during an injection operation and expanding said parison during a blowing operation, the improvement comprising: forming sufficient detail to create a translucent section on a surface of a non-expandable portion of said parison during said injection operation; and retaining said translucent section on said non- expandable portion of said parison during said blowing operation.

20. A method of obscuring from view a promotional compartment positioned within a promotional closure mounted to a substantially transparent container, comprising the steps of: forming a substantially transparent parison, said parison comprising an open end and an immediately adjacent translucent section; expanding said parison to produce said container while retaining said translucent section; filling said container with consumer goods; and positioning said promotional closure over said open end to overlap said translucent section.

21. The method of Claim 20, wherein said positioning comprises securely mounting said promotional closure sufficiently to obscure from view said promotional compartment contained therein.