Carbonated soft drink finish modification

Abstract

An apparatus and method are provided for a finish configured to define an opening to an interior of a container and to substantially reduce foaming of contents when the container is opened. The finish comprises a cylindrical body comprising a peripheral portion with a first edge and a second edge disposed at opposite ends. The first edge defines a first opening and is configured to receive a container cap. The second edge defines a second opening and is configured to receive a neck of the container. The first and second openings are in fluid communication. One or more threads on an exterior of the peripheral portion are configured to rotatably engage with one or more threads of the container cap. At least one notch is disposed at the first edge, peripheral to the first opening, and comprises a cross-sectional shape suitably formed to substantially reduce foaming of the contents.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A finish configured to define an opening to an interior of a container and to substantially reduce foaming of contents when the container is opened, the finish comprising:
 a cylindrical body comprising a peripheral portion with a first edge and a second edge disposed at opposite ends, the first edge defining a first opening and configured to receive a container cap, the second edge defining a second opening and configured to receive a neck of the container, wherein the first and second openings are in fluid communication;   one or more threads on an exterior of the peripheral portion, the threads configured to rotatably engage with one or more threads of the container cap; and   at least one notch disposed at the first edge, peripheral to the first opening, the at least one notch comprising a cross-sectional shape suitably formed to substantially reduce foaming of the contents.   
     
     
         2 . The finish of  claim 1 , wherein the first edge is configured to receive a seal of the container cap. 
     
     
         3 . The finish of  claim 1 , wherein the first edge comprises two notches disposed on opposite sides of the first opening. 
     
     
         4 . The finish of  claim 1 , wherein the cross-sectional shape is a half-circle. 
     
     
         5 . The finish of  claim 1 , wherein the cross-sectional shape is a square. 
     
     
         6 . The finish of  claim 1 , wherein the cross-sectional shape is triangular. 
     
     
         7 . The finish of  claim 1 , wherein the cross-sectional shape is designed to produce an audible sound when pressurized gas exits through the at least one notch during twisting of the container cap. 
     
     
         8 . A container configured to substantially reduce foaming of contents when the container is opened, the container comprising:
 a base which extends upward to a sidewall of the container;   a shoulder connected between the sidewall and a bell, a diameter of the bell decreasing as the bell extends upward to a neck of the container;   a finish connected to the neck, the finish configured to receive a container cap and defining an opening to the interior of the container; and   at least one notch at the top of the finish configured to substantially reduce foaming of contents when the container is opened.   
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 8 , wherein the top of the finish is further configured to receive a seal of the container cap. 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 8 , wherein the sidewall comprises a grip portion connected to the base and a label portion connected between the grip portion and the shoulder. 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 8 , wherein the grip portion comprises a plurality of circumferentially disposed grip portion ribs, and the label portion comprises a plurality of circumferentially disposed label portion ribs. 
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 8 , wherein the grip portion and the label portion comprise a smooth continuous surface extending from the base to the shoulder. 
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 8 , wherein the top of the finish comprises two notches disposed on opposite sides of the opening to the interior of the container. 
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one notch comprises a cross-sectional shape suitably formed to substantially reduce foaming of contents. 
     
     
         15 . The container of  claim 14 , wherein the cross-sectional shape is a half-circle. 
     
     
         16 . The container of  claim 14 , wherein the cross-sectional shape is a square. 
     
     
         17 . The container of  claim 14 , wherein the cross-sectional shape is triangular. 
     
     
         18 . The container of  claim 14 , wherein the cross-sectional shape is designed so as to produce an audible sound when the container cap is twisted. 
     
     
         19 . A method for a container to substantially reduce foaming of contents when the container is opened, the method comprising:
 extending a base upward to a sidewall of the container;   connecting a shoulder between the sidewall and a bell;   extending the bell from the shoulder to a neck of the container, such that a diameter of the bell decreases as the bell extends to a neck;   connecting a finish to the neck, such that the finish defines an opening to the interior of the container;   configuring the finish to receive a container cap; and   forming at least one notch at the top of the finish so as to substantially reduce foaming of contents when the container is opened.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein configuring the finish further comprises forming a cylindrical body comprising a peripheral portion with a first opening and second opening disposed at opposite ends, such that the first opening is configured to receive the container cap and the second opening is configured to receive the neck, and forming one or more threads on an exterior of the peripheral portion, the threads configured to rotatably engage with one or more threads of the container cap.