US20130327738A1

US20130327738A1 - Container preventing contact with plastics

Info

Publication number: US20130327738A1
Application number: US13/884,801
Authority: US
Inventors: Mark Harrison
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-11-12
Filing date: 2011-11-11
Publication date: 2013-12-12
Also published as: KR20140006805A; WO2012063026A2; EP2637940A2; WO2012063026A3; GB2485399B; WO2012063026A4; GB2485399A; GB201019207D0

Abstract

A container is disclosed, comprising a container body having an inner surface formed from a first non-plastics material, a neck forming a mouth of the container, and a lid removably attachable to the neck. A layer of a second non-plastics material is formed across a surface of the lid facing the inside of the container body when the lid is attached to the neck. The layer of the second non-plastics material extends across the mouth of the container so as to form a seal with the neck of the container when the lid is attached to the neck. The lid includes a sipper made of a third non-plastics material mounted in an opening formed in the lid. The layer of the second non-plastics material and the sipper are disposed so as to form a fluid-tight connection between them. The sipper is detachable from the lid and the sipper is held in place relative to the opening of the lid by upper and lower flanges. A method for manufacturing the container is also disclosed.

Description

The present invention relates to a container designed so that the contents of the container do not come into contact with plastics. The invention also relates to a manufacturing method for such a container.
Food and drink containers typically use plastics materials due to their low cost and the ease with which plastics can be formed in a desired shape. However, recent scientific evidence suggests that certain plastic compounds can contaminate food and drink with which they come into contact. In particular, various compounds such as Bisphenol-A and a number of phthalates are widely agreed to present a health risk and have been declared to be toxic substances by some governmental authorities. These compounds are increasingly being banned and removed from food and drink contact materials, and it is anticipated that more plastic compounds will be identified as such in the future.
Accordingly, in order to protect consumers, there is a need for food and drink containers designed so that their contents do not come into contact with plastics.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a container comprising: a container body having an inner surface formed from a first non-plastics material; a neck forming a mouth of the container; and a lid removably attachable to the neck; wherein a layer of a second non-plastics material is formed across a surface of the lid facing the inside of the container body when the lid is attached to the neck; the layer of the second non-plastics material extends across the mouth of the container so as to form a seal with the neck of the container when the lid is attached to the neck; the lid includes a sipper made of a third non-plastics material mounted in an opening formed in the lid; the layer of the second non-plastics material and the sipper are disposed so as to form a fluid-tight connection between them; the sipper is detachable from the lid; and the sipper is held in place relative to the opening of the lid by upper and lower flanges.
The non-plastic inner surface of the lid forms a seal with the neck of the container and a fluid-tight connection is formed between the inner surface and the non-plastic sipper. Hence, there is no danger of the contents of the container or the user's mouth coming into contact with plastics when liquid is drunk from the container. There is no possibility of drink stored in a container according to the invention being contaminated by plastic contact. Furthermore, the seal provided between the lid and the neck of the container by the non-plastic inner surface of the lid prevents leaks. The structure of the lid makes the container of the invention particularly straightforward to manufacture while providing the above advantages.
Preferably, an upwardly projecting part is formed on the lower flange. More preferably, the upwardly projecting part is adapted to engage with a recess formed in the lid. In one embodiment, the recess is located so that when the upwardly projecting part is engaged with the recess, a part of the lid is held between the upwardly projecting part and a wall of the sipper located between the upper and lower flanges.
Due to the engagement between the upwardly projecting part and the recess, a more secure attachment is formed between the sipper and the lid. This prevents the sipper from slipping out of the ring unintentionally, which can otherwise lead to the contents of the container being spilled. The presence of the upwardly projecting part also makes it less likely that liquid will seep out of the container via the boundary between the sipper and the lid because the path out of the container is made more circuitous.
Part of the lid is held between the upwardly projecting part and the wall of the sipper between the flanges. By virtue of the upwardly projecting part and the wall, the sipper holds part of the lid from both sides in a lateral direction, and by virtue of the flanges, the sipper also holds part of the lid from both sides in a vertical direction. This arrangement provides a particularly reliable and liquid-tight attachment between the sipper and the lid.
Suitably, the upwardly projecting part is a rim formed around the perimeter of an upper surface of the lower flange. In one embodiment, a plurality of the upwardly projecting parts are provided on the lower flange.
Preferably, the first non-plastics material is a metal or metal alloy. Suitably, the first non-plastics material is steel. Preferably, at least one of the second non-plastics material and the third non-plastics material is silicone.
In a preferred embodiment, a first thread is formed in an outer surface of the neck and a second thread adapted to engage with the first thread is formed in the lid. Preferably, at least one of the first and second threads is formed from a plastics material. More preferably, the first thread is made of a metal or metal alloy and the second thread is made of a plastics material.
Conveniently, the first and second threads are both made of a plastics material. In one embodiment, the first thread is made of a plastics material and the second thread is made of a metal or metal alloy.
Suitably, the neck comprises an extension of the container body and a collar member mounted around the outside of the extension of the container body, the first thread being formed in the collar member.
In one embodiment, a handle is attached to the collar member. Preferably, the handle is integrally formed with the collar member. Alternatively, the handle is removably attached to the collar member.
Suitably, the layer of the second non-plastics material is a base of the sipper. Alternatively, the layer of the second non-plastics material extends into the opening of the lid and forms a seal with the sipper within the opening of the lid.
Preferably, the sipper includes a lower flange fitted into a recess in a wall of the opening of the lid, and the layer of the second non-plastics material abuts against the lower flange to form the seal.
In one embodiment, the container body comprises an inner wall and an outer wall separated by a gap. Suitably, the gap contains a partial vacuum or a foam insulating material.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a container comprising: a container body having an inner surface formed from a first non-plastics material; a neck forming a mouth of the container; and a lid removably attachable to the neck; wherein a layer of a second non-plastics material is formed across an inner surface of the lid facing the inside of the container body when the lid is attached to the neck; and a silicone plug is disposed in a peripheral part of the inner surface of the lid, the silicone plug being arranged to form a seal with the neck of the container when the lid is attached to the neck.
Preferably, the layer of the second non-plastics material is a silicone layer and the silicone plug is formed by a peripheral part of the silicone layer. Alternatively, the layer of the second non-plastics material is a stopper and the silicone plug is disposed in contact with a circumferential surface of the stopper. Preferably, the silicone plug forms a seal with a rim surrounding the mouth of the container.
Preferably, the entire inner surface of the container is formed from non-plastics materials when the lid is attached to the neck of the container.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a container comprising: a container body including a single metal or metal alloy wall; and a neck defining a mouth of the container; wherein the neck includes an inner wall, which is part of the single metal or metal alloy wall, and an outer wall attached to the inner wall at a rim of the mouth; the outer wall overlaps at least part of the inner wall; and a thread is formed in the outer surface of the outer wall.
Several methods for manufacturing stainless steel containers exist. These include the stretch method and the water expansion method. The stretch method involves stretching a plate of stainless steel to the width of the mouth of the container and then extruding the shape of the container from the sheet.
The water expansion method involves expanding a stainless steel tube under water pressure, shaping the neck and then closing the bottom of the container by welding a base onto it. A disadvantage of the water expansion method is that the manufacturing process leaves a seam, i.e. a welding line, whereas the stretch method does not leave a seam.
In previous single-walled metal containers, generally manufactured using the water expansion method, a thread is formed in the single-walled neck of the container so as to allow a lid to be screwed directly into the neck. The top of the neck may be rolled to leave a thick and rounded rim suitable for drinking from.
It is desirable to use the stretch technique rather than the water expansion method to manufacture this type of container in certain applications because the stretch method, unlike the water expansion method, avoids leaving a seam in the metal container. However, the present inventors have found that there is a problem with using the stretch method for this design. It is not possible to produce a rolled rim in the single wall forming the container body when manufacturing the container using the stretch method, which results in the thread formed in the neck of the container being unstable. As a result, it is not possible to produce a secure or reliable threaded engagement between the container and a lid.
The present inventors have solved this problem by providing the additional outer wall of the neck, the thread being formed in the outer wall. The outer wall can be manufactured separately from the body of the container, which means that a thicker rim and more stable thread can be formed in the outer wall much more easily. Using the container according to the invention, the single wall of the container can be manufactured using any appropriate method, for example the stretch technique. The outer wall of the neck can be manufactured using another method optimised for producing a thicker rim and more stable thread. Hence, the container of the invention provides increased design freedom.
Preferably, the outer wall is also attached to the inner wall at a lower end of the outer wall furthest from the rim.
The containers described above may be food containers, drinks containers, sports bottles, beakers or baby feeding bottles.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for manufacturing a container comprising: a step of manufacturing a metal or metal alloy container body using a stretch technique; a step of manufacturing a metal or metal alloy neck outer wall having a thread formed in an outer surface thereof; and a step of attaching the neck outer wall to a neck of the container body so that the neck outer wall overlaps at least part of the neck and the thread is formed in an outer surface of the neck of the container.
Suitably, the container body and the neck outer wall are made from steel.
Preferably, the neck outer wall is manufactured using a water expansion technique.
In one embodiment, the neck outer wall forms part of a container outer wall having a tubular shape, the method further comprising attaching a base section to the container outer wall so as to cover an opening at the base of the container outer wall after the step of attaching the neck outer wall to a neck of the container body. Preferably, the method further comprises filling a gap between the container body and the container outer wall with foam via a hole formed in the base section after the step of attaching the base section. Alternatively, the method further comprises evacuating a gap between the container body and the container outer wall via a hole formed in the base section after the step of attaching the base section.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of further example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a single-walled container according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a double-walled container according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3A shows a lid including a separate removable sipper for a container according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3B shows another lid including a separate removable sipper for a container according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 shows a lid including a silicone straw for a container according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5A shows a lid for a container having a stopper according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5B shows a lid for a container having a silicone layer according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 shows the container of FIG. 1 with the lid of FIG. 3A attached;

FIG. 7 shows a double-walled container with the lid of FIG. 3A attached;

FIG. 8 shows the container of FIG. 1 with the lid of FIG. 4 attached;

FIG. 9 shows the container of FIG. 2 with the lid of FIG. 5A attached;

FIG. 10 shows a double-walled container and lid including a sipper according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 shows a double-walled container and lid according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 shows a double-walled container including handles according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 13 shows the double-walled container of FIG. 12 with a lid including a sipper.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, a single-walled container according to an embodiment includes a container body 2 comprising a single wall 6 and a threaded neck 4. The container body 2 is made from stainless steel in this embodiment and has no plastic lining. The neck 4 of the container is made up of an extension of the wall 6 of the container body 2, which forms an inner wall of the neck 4, and a sleeve 8, which forms an outer wall of the neck 4. The sleeve 8 is joined to the inner wall of the neck 4 at the mouth of the container. The sleeve 8 is also made of stainless steel in this embodiment and the inner wall of the neck 4 is attached to the sleeve 8 by welding. The join between the sleeve 8 and the inner wall of the neck 4 forms the rim 12 of the container.
A thread 10 is formed in the outer surface of the sleeve 8. The thread 10 allows a lid to be screwed onto the neck 4 to seal the container.
Since the wall of the container body 2 and the sleeve 8 forming the outer wall of the neck 4 are formed separately, a thicker and more stable thread can be formed in the sleeve 8 and the two components can be manufactured using techniques optimised for their respective design requirements. For example, the container body 2 can be manufactured using a technique producing a seamless finish, such as the stretch technique. The sleeve 8 can be manufactured by an alternative suitable method.
FIG. 2 shows a double-walled container according to another embodiment. The container body 2 in this embodiment includes an inner wall 14 and an outer wall 16 separated by a gap 18. The gap 18 is filled with a partial vacuum in this embodiment but may alternatively be filled with an insulating foam.
The dual wall embodiment provides hot and cold temperature insulation between the contents of the container and the external environment. A partial vacuum provides a higher level of insulation than foam, but foam filling is less expensive to manufacture and provides adequate insulation for some applications.
The inner and outer walls 14, 16 are both made from stainless steel in this embodiment, and at least the inner wall 14 has no plastic lining. A lining made from a non-plastics material may be used. The neck 4 of the container is formed by an extension of the inner wall 14, which forms an inner wall of the neck 4, and an extension of the outer wall 16, which forms an outer wall of the neck 4. The inner and outer walls 14, 16 are joined at the mouth of the container at the top of the neck 4. The inner and outer walls 14, 16 are joined by welding.
A thread 10 is formed in the outer wall of the neck 4, allowing a lid to be screwed onto the neck 4 to seal the container. A non-slip base 200 is attached to the bottom surface of the outer wall 16 of the container body 2, so that the container can be placed on a smooth surface without sliding. The non-slip base 200 is formed from a plastic material. The non-slip base 200 may also be provided on the single walled container described above.
Lids suitable for sealing both single-walled and double-walled containers according to the invention are shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B and 4. The lid illustrated in FIG. 3A consists of a threaded plastics ring 20 having an opening formed through its centre to provide fluid communication between the inside and the outside of the container. The plastics ring 20 can be threadedly engaged with the neck 4 of the container. A silicone sipper 22 is mounted within the opening so that liquid can easily be drunk from the container without spillage. This lid is particularly suitable for baby feeding bottles and drinkware for young children.
The silicone sipper 22 extends from the inner surface of the plastics ring 20 through the opening to the outer top surface of the container. The sipper 22 includes a lower flange 24 in contact with the inner surface of the plastics ring 20 and an upper flange 26 in contact with the outer top surface of the container. The sipper 22 extends across the entire diameter of the mouth of the container when the lid is screwed onto the container. Hence, there is no possibility of the contents of the container contacting the plastics material of the ring 20. The sipper 22 is held in place covering the opening in the plastics ring 20 by the two flanges 24, 26. A passage extending through the sipper 22 from the lower flange 24 communicates with a sipper opening 28 through which fluid can be drunk.
By using a non-plastic silicone sipper 22, plastic contact with the contents of the container or a user's mouth is avoided. Furthermore, the peripheral part of the lower flange 24 of the sipper 22 contacts the rim 12 of the container mouth when the lid is screwed onto the neck 4 of the container. A silicone sipper 22 forms a good seal with the rim of the mouth.
The lid shown in FIG. 3B differs from that shown in FIG. 3A in that it further includes an upwardly projecting part 24 a formed at the perimeter of the lower flange 24. The upwardly projecting part 24 a is a rim formed around the circumference of the lower flange 24 in this embodiment, but may also consist of one or more discrete projections formed on the lower flange 24.
The upwardly projecting part 24 a fits into a recess 20 a having a complementary shape, the recess 20 a being formed in the lower surface of the upper wall of the threaded plastics ring 20. As a result of the engagement between the upwardly projecting part 24 a and the recess 20 a, a part 20 b of the threaded plastic ring is held laterally between the upwardly projecting part 24 a and the body of the sipper 22 between the flanges 24, 26. This results in a more secure attachment between the sipper 22 and the threaded plastics ring 20, preventing the sipper 22 from slipping out of the ring 20 unintentionally.
The presence of the upwardly projecting part 24 a also makes it less likely that liquid will seep out of the container via the boundary between the sipper 22 and the ring 20 because the path out of the container is made more circuitous. As can be seen by comparing FIGS. 3A and 3B, the upwardly projecting part 24 a forms an additional obstacle in the potential leakage path between the outer edge of the lower flange 24 and the outer edge of the upper flange 26.
The lid illustrated in FIG. 4 consists of a threaded plastics cap 30 having a passage formed through its centre through which an integrated silicone straw 34 provides fluid communication between the inside and the outside of the container. The plastics cap 30 can be threadedly engaged with the neck 4 of the container. The silicone straw 34 is mounted within the passage so that liquid can easily be drunk from the container without spillage. This lid is particularly suitable for sports bottles.
The silicone straw 34 extends below the plastics cap 30 into the container body. The straw 34 is held in place in the passage of the cap 30 by upper and lower silicone flanges 36, 38. The upper flange 36 is disposed on the top surface of the cap 30, whereas the lower flange 38 is disposed within the passage and fits into a ring-shaped recess in the wall of the passage.
The inner surface of the plastics cap 30 is covered by a layer of silicone 32, which extends across the entire diameter of the mouth of the container when the lid is screwed onto the container. The silicone layer 32 extends into a lower part of the passage up to the recess, so as to form a seal with the lower flange 38 fitted into the recess. This ensures that the contents of the container can only contact the silicone layer 32 or the silicone straw 34 rather than other parts of the cap 30. Hence, there is no possibility of the contents of the container contacting the plastics material forming part of the cap 30. By using a non-plastic silicone straw 34, plastic contact with the user's mouth is also avoided.
Furthermore, the silicone layer 32 covering the inner surface of the plastics cap 30 contacts the rim 12 of the container mouth when the lid is screwed onto the neck 4 of the container so as to form a good seal with the rim 12 of the mouth of the container.
The plastics cap 30 may also incorporate mechanisms to control fluid communication between the inside and outside of the container, such as a non-spill valve or a flip-top lid, whilst still preventing the contents of the container contacting a plastics material.
Another lid suitable for sealing both single-walled and double-walled containers is shown in FIG. 5A. This lid is particularly suitable for sealing containers designed to hold food. The lid includes a plastics threaded ring 40 having a thread 42 formed on its inner surface, a cap 44 covering the top opening of the threaded ring 40 and a stopper 46 attached to the cap 44.
The threaded ring 40 and its inner thread 42 are sized and shaped so as to engage with the outer thread 10 on the neck 4 of the container. Hence, the lid can be screwed onto the neck 4 of the container to seal the container. In the sealed state, an upper part of the neck 4 is disposed between the inner circumferential wall of the threaded ring 40 and the outer circumferential wall of the stopper 46. The stopper 46 is sized and shaped so as to plug the mouth of the container when the lid is screwed onto the neck 4 of the container. The stopper 46 is formed from stainless steel, without a plastic lining. The cap 44 serves to join the stopper 46 to the threaded ring 40 and forms the upper surface of the sealed container. The cap 44 is formed from plastics in this embodiment.
A ring-shaped silicone plug 48 is provided between the outer circumferential wall of the stopper 46 and the threaded ring 40. The plug 48 is arranged to contact the rim 12 of the container when the lid is fully screwed onto the container, so as to form a seal between the neck 4 of the container and the stopper 46. Preferably, the seal is watertight and airtight.
When the single- or double-walled containers described above are sealed with the lid of FIG. 5A, the inner surfaces of the containers are made up of the stainless steel inner wall 6, 14 of the container body 2, part of the surface of the stainless steel stopper 46 and possibly part of the surface of the silicone plug 48. Hence, there is no possibility of the contents of the container coming into contact with plastics and no fear of contamination.
Another lid particularly suitable for sealing containers designed to hold food is illustrated in FIG. 5B. This lid differs from that of FIG. 5A in that the stainless steel stopper 46 is replaced by a silicone layer 56, which covers an inner surface of the cap 44. The silicone layer 56 forms the top inner surface of the container when the lid is screwed onto the neck 4 of the container. Hence, the contents of the container are prevented from contacting plastics.
A peripheral part of the silicone layer 56 acts as a plug, forming a seal with the rim 12 of the mouth of the container when the lid is attached in the same way as the silicone plug 48 in FIG. 5A. Alternatively, a separate silicone plug 48 may be provided in addition to the silicone layer 56.
An example of a single-walled container according to an embodiment having the lid of FIG. 3A attached to it is shown in FIG. 6. An example of a double-walled container according to an embodiment having the lid of FIG. 3A attached to it is shown in FIG. 7. An example of a single-walled container according to an embodiment having the lid of FIG. 4 attached to it is shown in FIG. 8.
Since the sipper 22 and straw 34 are flexible and only held in place by the flanges 24, 26 and 36, 38, they can easily be removed from the lid and cleaned when dirty or replaced when damaged. Although the sipper 22 is made of silicone in the above embodiment, this is not necessarily the case. The sipper 22 may be formed from plastics, with a silicone layer extending across the base of the sipper 22 to prevent the plastics material contacting the contents of the container.
Although a plastics ring 20 and a plastics cap 30 are preferred, the threaded lid parts may be formed from any material provided that a secure threaded engagement between the lid and the neck 4 of the container is provided.
An example of a double-walled container according to an embodiment having the lid of FIG. 5A attached to it is shown in FIG. 9.
Since the threaded ring 40 is made of plastics, the threaded engagement between the lid and the container is a metal-on-plastics contact. This combination of materials provides a more secure and watertight threaded engagement than a metal-on-metal threaded contact. The design of the container and lid allows plastics to be used for the threaded engagement between the container and lid without any danger of plastics contacting the contents of the container.
In the above embodiment, the thread 10 on the neck 4 of the container is stainless steel. This provides the added advantage that a user can drink from the neck 4 of the container with the lid removed without the user's mouth coming into contact with plastics. However, the container thread 10 may also be made of plastics. This can be achieved by attaching a plastics collar 50 to the outer surface of the neck 4, the plastics collar 50 having the thread 10 formed in its outer surface.
FIG. 10 shows a double-walled container according to another embodiment, having the lid of FIG. 3A attached thereto. This container includes a plastics collar 50 having an outer thread 10. The plastics ring 20 of the lid is screwed onto the plastics collar 50 attached to the neck 4 of the container. Otherwise, this container is the same as that shown in FIG. 7.
FIG. 11 illustrates a double-walled container having the lid of FIG. 5A attached thereto. The container also includes a plastics collar 50, which incorporates the thread 10 on the neck 4 of the container. The plastics collar 50 is fixed to the neck 4. The threaded ring 40 of the lid forms a threaded engagement with the thread 10 on the plastics collar 50. Otherwise, this container is the same as that shown in FIG. 9.
When the container thread 10 is made from plastics, the thread on the lid may either be made of plastics or metal so as to provide a plastics-on-metal or plastics-on-plastics threaded contact. These types of threaded contact also provide a more secure and watertight threaded engagement than a metal-on-metal threaded contact.
In one example, the threaded ring 40 and stopper 46 are formed from stainless steel. When the thread 10 on the neck 4 of the container is made of plastics, this provides a plastics-on-metal threaded engagement. A stainless steel lid provides the sealed container with greater durability and a higher quality appearance. In this embodiment, the entire lid can be formed as a single piece of metal, the threaded ring 40, cap 44 and stopper 46 being integrally formed. Similarly, the ring 20 as illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 3B or the cap 30 as illustrated in FIG. 4 can be made from a metal such as stainless steel instead of plastics when the thread 10 on the neck 4 of the container is made of plastics.
A container according to the invention may be provided with two or more lids adapted to be attached to the container, thereby allowing the container to perform multiple functions. For example, any of the above containers may be provided with a lid as shown in FIG. 3A or 3B and also a lid as shown in FIG. 5A or 5B. The lid of FIG. 3A or 3B can be attached when the container is used to hold drink, whereas the lid of FIG. 5A or 5B can be attached when the container is used to hold food. The lid of FIG. 3A or 3B and the lid of FIG. 4 may also both be provided.
As shown in FIG. 12, the container of the invention may be provided with handles 52. The container of FIG. 12 with a lid attached is shown in FIG. 13. This embodiment is a baby feeding bottle and young child's beaker. The handles 52 of the embodiment of FIGS. 12 and 13 are formed by extending the plastics collar 50 on which the container thread 10 is formed. Hence, convenient plastics handles are provided without requiring an extra component to be manufactured, which contributes to reducing the cost of the container. Furthermore, the handles are firmly held between a shoulder 54 formed in the outer wall 16 of the container, the neck 4 of the container and the ring 20 of the lid. This arrangement provides a strong attachment between the handles and the container without increasing the complexity of the container design.
In an alternative embodiment, the handles 52 may also be detachable, being formed into a ring which fixes over or screws into the plastics collar 50. This arrangement provides a strong attachment between the handles 52 and container and also means that the container can easily be adapted for use by older children who do not require handles.
The single-walled container according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is preferably manufactured in steel using the stretch technique. A water expansion technique tends to leave a seam in the inside surface of the container after manufacture. In contrast, the stretch technique leaves no seam in the inner surface of the container. This gives the container a higher quality appearance. Furthermore, it is easier to form curved containers using the stretch technique, which also improves the appearance of the container. However, other manufacturing techniques including the water expansion technique may also be used depending on design requirements.
In a preferred embodiment, the container body 2 and the inner wall of the neck 4 of the single-walled container are manufactured using the stretch technique as described above. However, the sleeve 8 forming the outer wall of the neck 4 of the container is manufactured using a water expansion technique. The sleeve 8 and the container body 2 are joined by welding after manufacture.
The dual wall container according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 is preferably manufactured in steel using both a stretch technique and a water expansion technique. The inner wall 14 of the container is manufactured using the stretch technique, which avoids a seam being formed inside the container, as in the single-walled embodiment.
The outer wall 16 of the container is preferably manufactured using a water expansion technique. First, a tubular outer wall having an open top and an open base is manufactured. Next, the inner wall 14 is inserted into the outer wall. The inner wall 14 and the outer wall form a close fit at the neck of the container and are joined around the rim 12 of the mouth, by welding for example.
Subsequently, a plate-shaped base section is attached to the outer wall to cover the opening at the base of the outer wall. The base section may also be attached by welding. The base section has a hole formed in it, through which foam is filled into the gap 18 between the inner and outer walls 14, 16. If a vacuum-insulated container is required then the gap 18 between the inner and outer walls 14, 16 is evacuated via the hole instead. Finally, the hole in the base section is sealed.
Although the inner surfaces of the containers above that contact the container contents have been described as being made from stainless steel, this is not necessarily the case. Any non-plastics material that will not contaminate food or drink stored in the container can be used. For example, the container could be made of another metal such as titanium. The inner surface of the container may also have a non-plastics coating, for example a silicone or latex coating.
Although various components and surfaces have been described above as being made from silicone, this is not necessarily the case. Any non-plastics material that will not contaminate food or drink can be used. For example, the sipper 22 of FIG. 4 could be made of another material such as latex. Latex is particularly preferred when the invention is applied to a baby feeding bottle having a teat.
In the above description, at least one of the thread on the neck 4 of the container and the thread on the lid is made from a plastics material. A plastics material is preferred for one or both of the threads as it allows the container and lid to be manufactured easily while providing a secure threaded engagement between them. However, a plastics material need not be used as long as the materials used for the two threads cooperate to provide a secure threaded engagement between the lid and the container. For example, either or both of the threads may be formed from a rubber material.
In a modification, an additional steel layer is provided around the neck of a double-walled container as described above. In order to control the width of the rim of a container, it is necessary to adjust the thickness either of the outer wall of the container 8, 16 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) or of the collar 50 having the thread (see FIGS. 10 and 11). However, in a double-walled container where the thread is formed in the outer wall it may not be possible to adjust the thickness of the outer wall 16 as desired because this thickness is fixed to some extent by the required properties of the outer wall of the container, e.g. strength and appearance. An additional steel layer having a thread formed in it may be provided in order to allow the rim thickness to be adjusted freely. In other words, a third layer of steel may be provided as a neck outer wall around the neck of a double-walled container. For example, plastics collar 50 in FIGS. 10 and 11 could be replaced by a steel threaded collar. The collar can be welded to the container outer wall 16 in the same manner as the sleeve 8 in FIG. 1.
The foregoing description has been given by way of example only and it will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1-40. (canceled)

41. A container comprising:

a container body having an inner surface formed from a first non-plastics material;

a neck forming a mouth of the container; and

a lid removably attachable to the neck; wherein

a layer of a second non-plastics material is formed across a surface of the lid facing the inside of the container body when the lid is attached to the neck;

the layer of the second non-plastics material extends across the mouth of the container so as to form a seal with the neck of the container when the lid is attached to the neck;

the lid includes a sipper made of a third non-plastics material mounted in an opening formed in the lid;

the layer of the second non-plastics material and the sipper are disposed so as to form a fluid-tight connection between them;

the sipper is detachable from the lid;

the sipper is held in place relative to the opening of the lid by upper and lower flanges;

an upwardly projecting part is formed on the lower flange; and

the upwardly projecting part is adapted to engage with a recess formed in the lid.

42. A container according to claim 41, wherein the recess is located so that when the upwardly projecting part is engaged with the recess, a part of the lid is held between the upwardly projecting part and a wall of the sipper located between the upper and lower flanges.

43. A container according to claim 41, wherein the upwardly projecting part is a rim formed around the perimeter of an upper surface of the lower flange.

44. A container according to any of claims 41, wherein a plurality of the upwardly projecting parts are provided on the lower flange.

45. A container according to claim 41, wherein the first non-plastics material is a metal or metal alloy.

46. A container according to claim 45, wherein the first non-plastics material is steel.

47. A container according to claim 41, wherein at least one of the second non-plastics material and the third non-plastics material is silicone.

48. A container according to claim 41, wherein a first thread is formed in an outer surface of the neck and a second thread adapted to engage with the first thread is formed in the lid.

49. A container according to claim 48, wherein at least one of the first and second threads is formed from a plastics material.

50. A container according to claim 49, wherein the first thread is made of a metal or metal alloy and the second thread is made of a plastics material.

51. A container according to claim 49, wherein the first and second threads are both made of a plastics material.

52. A container according to claim 49, wherein the first thread is made of a plastics material and the second thread is made of a metal or metal alloy.

53. A container according to claim 48, wherein the neck comprises an extension of the container body and a collar member mounted around the outside of the extension of the container body, the first thread being formed in the collar member.

54. A container according to claim 53, further comprising a handle attached to the collar member.

55. A container according to claim 54, wherein the handle is integrally formed with the collar member.

56. A container according to claim 54, wherein the handle is removably attached to the collar member.

57. A container according to claim 41, wherein the layer of the second non-plastics material is a base of the sipper.

58. A container according to claim 41, wherein the layer of the second non-plastics material extends into the opening of the lid and forms a seal with the sipper within the opening of the lid.

59. A container according to claim 41, wherein the sipper includes a lower flange fitted into a recess in a wall of the opening of the lid, and the layer of the second non-plastics material abuts against the lower flange to form the seal.

60. A container according to claim 41, wherein the container body comprises an inner wall and an outer wall separated by a gap.

61. A container according to claim 60, wherein the gap contains a partial vacuum or a foam insulating material.

62. A container comprising:

a neck forming a mouth of the container; and

a lid removably attachable to the neck; wherein

a layer of a second non-plastics material is formed across an inner surface of the lid facing the inside of the container body when the lid is attached to the neck; and

a silicone plug is disposed in a peripheral part of the inner surface of the lid, the silicone plug being arranged to form a seal with the neck of the container when the lid is attached to the neck.

63. A container according to claim 62, wherein the layer of the second non-plastics material is a silicone layer and the silicone plug is formed by a peripheral part of the silicone layer.

64. A container according to claim 62, wherein the layer of the second non-plastics material is a stopper and the silicone plug is disposed in contact with a circumferential surface of the stopper.

65. A container according to claim 62, wherein the silicone plug forms a seal with a rim surrounding the mouth of the container.

66. A container according to claim 62, wherein the entire inner surface of the container is formed from non-plastics materials when the lid is attached to the neck of the container.

67. A container comprising:

a container body including a single metal or metal alloy wall; and

a neck defining a mouth of the container; wherein

the neck includes an inner wall, which is part of the single metal or metal alloy wall, and an outer wall attached to the inner wall at a rim of the mouth;

the outer wall overlaps at least part of the inner wall; and

a thread is formed in the outer surface of the outer wall.

68. A container according to claim 67, wherein the outer wall is also attached to the inner wall at a lower end of the outer wall furthest from the rim.

69. A food container, drinks container, sports bottle, beaker or baby feeding bottle according to claim 41.

70. A method for manufacturing a container comprising:

a step of manufacturing a metal or metal alloy container body using a stretch technique;

a step of manufacturing a metal or metal alloy neck outer wall having a thread formed in an outer surface thereof; and

a step of attaching the neck outer wall to a neck of the container body so that the neck outer wall overlaps at least part of the neck and the thread is formed in an outer surface of the neck of the container.

71. A method according to claim 30, wherein the container body and the neck outer wall are made from steel.

72. A method according to claim 30 or claim 31, wherein the neck outer wall is manufactured using a water expansion technique.

73. A method according to any of claims 30 to 32, wherein the neck outer wall forms part of a container outer wall having a tubular shape, the method further comprising attaching a base section to the container outer wall so as to cover an opening at the base of the container outer wall after the step of attaching the neck outer wall to a neck of the container body.

74. A method according to claim 73, further comprising filling a gap between the container body and the container outer wall with foam via a hole formed in the base section after the step of attaching the base section.

75. A method according to claim 73, further comprising evacuating a gap between the container body and the container outer wall via a hole formed in the base section after the step of attaching the base section.