Retortable light excluding container and methods of using same

Abstract

A container includes a gripping groove and a panel structure that allows it to withstand retort or heat sterilization of a low acid liquid nutritional product contained therein. The container can be formed of a multilayer material that has titanium dioxide and iron oxide in an intermediate regrind layer and in at least one of its inner and outer layers. The titanium dioxide and iron oxide are provided together in the same meltable pellets, which are used for forming the container.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A multilayer material comprising: 
 an inner layer;    an outer layer;    a regrind layer disposed between the inner layer and the outer layer;    wherein the regrind layer and at least one of the outer layer and the inner layer contain titanium dioxide and iron oxide.    
     
     
         2 . A multilayer material according to  claim 1 , wherein the outer layer contains titanium dioxide and iron oxide.  
     
     
         3 . A multilayer material in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the inner layer and the outer layer contain titanium dioxide and iron oxide.  
     
     
         4 . A multilayer material in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the inner layer comprises an ethylene-polypropylene copolymer.  
     
     
         5 . A multilayer material in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the outer layer comprises an ethylene-polypropylene copolymer.  
     
     
         6 . A multilayer material in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the inner layer and the outer layer include an identical ethylene-polypropylene copolymer.  
     
     
         7 . A multilayer material in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising an oxygen barrier layer, a first adhesive layer, and a second adhesive layer, the first adhesive layer constructed to bond the oxygen barrier layer to an outer surface of the regrind layer and the second adhesive layer constructed to bond the oxygen barrier layer to an inner surface of the outer layer.  
     
     
         8 . A multilayer material in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein the oxygen barrier layer is constructed from a material comprising ethylene vinyl alcohol.  
     
     
         9 . A container for a light-sensitive product, said container comprising: 
 an inner layer;    an outer layer having an inner surface;    a regrind layer disposed between said inner layer and said outer layer, said regrind layer having an outer surface;    a first adhesive layer disposed adjacent said outer surface of said regrind layer;    a second adhesive layer disposed adjacent said inner surface of said outer layer;    an oxygen barrier layer disposed between said first adhesive layer and said second adhesive layer, said first and second adhesive layers constructed to bond said oxygen barrier layer to said regrind layer and to said outer layer, respectively;    said outer layer containing titanium dioxide and iron oxide; and    said regrind layer containing titanium dioxide and iron oxide.    
     
     
         10 . A container according to  claim 9 , wherein the inner layer contains titanium dioxide and iron oxide.  
     
     
         11 . A container in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein the titanium dioxide and iron oxide are provided together in common meltable resin pellets and extrusion blow molded to form the retortable container  
     
     
         12 . A multilayer material in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein the inner layer and the outer layer include an identical ethylene-polypropylene copolymer.  
     
     
         13 . A retortable plastic bottle comprising: 
 a multilayer material that defines a side wall, a bottom wall, and an open top;    the multilayer material comprising an inner layer, an outer layer, and a regrind layer disposed between the inner layer and the outer layer, wherein the regrind layer and at least one of the outer layer and the inner layer contain titanium dioxide and iron oxide;    the side wall including an upper portion having a convex dome shape and terminating at an upper end in a finish adapted to be hermetically sealed by a cap, a lower portion joined to the bottom wall, and an intermediate portion disposed between the upper portion and the lower portion;    the intermediate portion of the side wall defining an arcuate annular gripping groove; and    the lower portion being substantially cylindrical at upper and lower ends thereof and including between the substantially cylindrical upper and lower ends a panel structure comprising a plurality of vertically elongated rectangular indentations separated by a corresponding plurality of longitudinal beams members each having an arcuate lateral cross section.    
     
     
         14 . A container in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein each of the rectangular indentations includes a centrally located raised island that has a vertically elongated generally rectangular base, opposing inwardly sloped side walls, and opposing inwardly sloped end walls.  
     
     
         15 . A container in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein the gripping groove has a radius of approximately 0.3 inches-0.5 inches (7.62 mm-12.70 mm).  
     
     
         16 . A container in accordance with  claim 15 , wherein the gripping groove has a radius of approximately 0.328 inches (8.33 mm).  
     
     
         17 . A method of packaging a low acid liquid nutritional product comprising the steps of: 
 forming a container of comprising: 
 a side wall, a bottom wall, and an open top;  
 the side wall including an upper portion having a convex dome shape and terminating at an upper end in a finish adapted to be hermetically sealed by a cap, a lower portion joined to the bottom wall, and an intermediate portion disposed between the upper portion and the lower portion;  
 the intermediate portion of the side wall defining an arcuate annular gripping groove; and  
 the lower portion of the side wall being substantially cylindrical at upper and lower ends thereof and including between the substantially cylindrical upper and lower ends a panel structure comprising a plurality of vertically elongated rectangular indentations separated by a corresponding plurality of longitudinal beams members;  
   providing a cap adapted to sealingly mate with the finish of the container;    sterilizing the container and the cap;    filling the container with a low acid liquid nutritional product;    hermetically sealing the open top of the filled container with the cap; and    heat sterilizing the sealed container in a retort process.    
     
     
         18 . A method of packaging a low acid liquid nutritional product in accordance with  claim 17 , wherein the step of forming the container of comprises co-extrusion blow molding a multilayer material that defines the side wall, the bottom wall, and the open top; the multilayer material comprising an inner layer, an outer layer, and a regrind layer disposed between the inner layer and the outer layer, wherein the regrind layer and at least one of the outer layer and the inner layer contain titanium dioxide and iron oxide.  
     
     
         19 . A method of packaging a low acid nutritional product in accordance with  claim 17 , wherein the retort process is carried out at temperature of at least 120° C.  
     
     
         20 . A method of packaging a low acid liquid nutritional product in accordance with  claim 18 , wherein the retort process is carried out at temperature of approximately 126.1 to 127.2° C.  
     
     
         21 . A method of protecting a light sensitive liquid nutritional product comprising the steps of: 
 mixing a plurality of meltable color pellets with a base material, each of the color pellets containing both titanium dioxide and iron oxide;    heating the color pellets and the base material; and    molding the heated and mixed color pellets and base material to form a layer of a container adapted to hold a light sensitive liquid nutritional product.    
     
     
         22 . A method of protecting a light sensitive liquid nutritional product according to  claim 21 , wherein the molding step is accomplished by extrusion blow molding and the layer formed is an outer layer of the container.