Container

Abstract

A rigid beverage container for cold fill applications is disclosed. The container is made from a polymer with a moisture vapour transmission rate of greater than 100 g/m2.day at a 25 um wall thickness. The container includes one or more than one panel that is responsive to vacuum conditions generated in the container and can accommodate in a controlled way any vacuum contraction caused by the loss of liquid from the container when the container has been cold filled with a liquid, such as a beverage, and closed.

1 . A rigid container for liquid products for cold fill applications made from a polymer with a moisture vapour transmission rate (“MVTR”) of greater than 100 g/m2.day at a 25 um wall thickness that includes one or more than one panel that is responsive to vacuum conditions generated in the container and can accommodate in a controlled way any vacuum contraction caused by the loss of liquid from the container when the container has been cold filled with a liquid product, such as a beverage, and closed. 
     
     
         2 . The container defined in  claim 1  wherein the cold fill applications are applications in which the container is cold filled with products at less than 60° C. 
     
     
         3 . The container defined in  claim 1  or  claim 2  wherein the cold fill applications are applications in which the container is cold filled with liquid product at a temperature no more than 10° C. above ambient temperature at the time and the geographical location where the product is filled. 
     
     
         4 . The container defined in any one of the preceding claims wherein the polymer has a MVTR of greater than 200 g/m2.day at a 25 um wall thickness. 
     
     
         5 . The container defined in any one of the preceding claims wherein the polymer is biodegradable in landfill or compost conditions. 
     
     
         6 . The container defined in any one of the preceding claims wherein the polymer is a polylactic acid based polymer. 
     
     
         7 . The container defined in any one of the preceding claims wherein the polymer is a co-polymer of the polylactic acid based polymer and another polymer or polymers. 
     
     
         8 . The container defined in  claim 7  wherein the polylactic acid based polymer is a major constituent, i.e. more than 50% by weight, of the co-polymer. 
     
     
         9 . The container defined in any one of the preceding claims wherein the vacuum panel is in a body of the container. 
     
     
         10 . The container defined in any one of the preceding claims when cold filled with a liquid product, such as a beverage, and closed. 
     
     
         11 . The container defined in  claim 10  when cold filled with the liquid product at a liquid temperature of less than 80° C. 
     
     
         12 . The container defined in  claim 11  when cold filled with the liquid product at a liquid temperature of less than 60° C. 
     
     
         13 . The container defined in any of  claims 10  to  12  when cold filled with the liquid product at a temperature no more than 10° C. above ambient temperature at time and the geographical location where the product is filled.