The Coca-Cola Company

Marshall J Barrash

Arthur G Rudick

Lawrence Blair Ziesel

William S Credle, Jr

Jonathan Kirschner

Sterling Lane Steward

Gerard Michael O'Brien

Christopher Clark Kjorlaug

Earl B Ferguson

Lawrence B Green

There is disclosed novel apparatus for use as beverage container vending machines, beverage dispensers, transportable beverage container dispensers and glass door merchandizers, all cooled by Stirling coolers. The apparatus includes an insulated enclosure and a Stirling cooler having a cold portion. A plate or coil made from a heat-conducting material disposed within the insulated enclosure is connected in heat exchange relationship with the cold portion of the Stirling cooler. Heat transfer fluids, heat pipes and direct contact are different methods used to transfer heat from the plate to the cold portion of the Stirling cooler. The cooled plate or coil is used to cool a container or a fluid that is, in turn, used to cool either a container or a fluid. Methods of chilling containers and fluids are also disclosed.

Apparatus using Stirling cooler system and methods of use

A pour and carry device for use in conjunction with relatively large consumer beverage containers. In one embodiment, the device is integral to the container, in another embodiment, the device is separate. One embodiment includes a finger tunnel. In one embodiment, the tonguelike member extends outwardly relative to the bottle neck and downwardly towards the bottle body so as to provide a crotch therebetween to accept the web portion intermediate a human's thumb and forefinger, to allow the human to grip, lift, and pour the bottle by placing the palm on the bottle below but proximate the neck, such that the web portion fits within the crotch, and the thumb and forefinger combine to at least partially surround the neck of the bottle.

Bottle handle and carry assist device

There is disclosed novel apparatus for use as beverage container vending machines, beverage dispensers, transportable beverage container dispensers and glass door merchandisers, all cooled by Stirling coolers. The apparatus includes an insulated enclosure and a Stirling cooler having a cold portion. A plate or coil made from a heat-conducting material disposed within the insulated enclosure is connected in heat exchange relationship with the cold portion of the Stirling cooler. Heat transfer fluids, heat pipes and direct contact are different methods used to transfer heat from the plate to the cold portion of the Stirling cooler. The cooled plate or coil is used to cool a container or a fluid that is, in turn, used to cool either a container or a fluid. Methods of chilling containers and fluids are also disclosed.

Apparatus using stirling cooler system and methods of use

In a method for applying labels about a bulbous sidewall region of a container, the leading end of the label is joined to the bulbous sidewall region by adhesive bonds above and below a major diameter section of the bulbous sidewall region. While being pressed to the bulbous sidewall region, the label is wrapped about the container, and the trailing end of the label is then adhesively joined to the bulbous sidewall region, or to the overlapped leading end of the label. An apparatus for applying labels about a bulbous sidewall region of a container employs a label transfer drum which cooperates with an adhesive applicator to apply spaced adhesive patches to the leading end of the label above and below a major diameter section of the bulbous sidewall region. The label transfer drum also cooperates with the adhesive applicator to apply a continuous strip of adhesive to the trailing end of the label. An arcuate backing wall with a yieldable surface forms, with the cylindrical surface of the label transfer drum, a passage through which the container rolls while the label is pressed to and wrapped about the bulbous sidewall region of the container.

Labeling process and apparatus

A pop-up valve closure for a container has a cap with a well defined therein. A valve with a valve sleeve is movably mounted in this well. The valve is movable between a closed position and a popped-up open position. An actuator can lock and unlock the valve in order to permit opening and closing of the valve. When the actuator unlocks the valve, a spring or other device can automatically move the valve from the closed position to the open position. This unlocking can be carried out with finger pressure applied to a tilting button of the actuator.

Pop-up valve closure for a container

A bottle carrier (10) is provided which includes an outer wall having openings (12 and 14) for inserting bottles. The outer wall includes sidewalls (24 and 26). The bottle is supported on shoulders (28 and 30).

Bottle carrier

A twist-off can end assembly has a cylindrical can body and a lid assembly. The lid assembly includes a joined lid and collar. When an open end of the can body is closed by the lid assembly, a sealing lip on the collar engages a flange on the can body to form a hermetic seal. An annular chamber adjacent the sealing lip is formed by the collar and flange. When pressure of the contents within the can body increase to a predetermined amount, gas escapes from the can interior to the annular chamber. When pressure within this annular chamber increases, the lip deforms to increase the seal between the lid assembly and can body. Therefore, a self-sealing can arrangement is obtained. The lid assembly can be readily unscrewed from the can body.

Sealing system and method for a twist-off can end assembly

A fluid dispensing container is disclosed including a collapsible housing, the collapsible housing having first and second opposing end walls and collapsible side walls connecting the opposing end walls. A flexible drinking tube is provided on the collapsible housing, the flexible drinking tube including a first end connected to the collapsible housing and in liquid communication with the interior of the container, a formed tube portion connected to the second opposing end wall of the container, and a second end opposite to the first end for dispensing the contents of the container. The second end of the flexible drinking tube is removably sealed, and the second end of the drinking tube is removably secured to either the formed tube portion or a recessed area within the second end wall of the collapsible housing.

Collapsible bottle

A can end assembly formed from interconnected elements of a cover portion, a tear-shaped seal member and a pull member. This assembly encloses an end of a container, such as a beverage can. The cover portion has a dispensing opening and vent and a pivotable connection to one end of the seal member. The other end of the seal member is pivotably connected to the pull member. In a first position, the seal member will close the opening and will be beneath the pull member. Upon a slight lifting of the pull member, a seal between the seal member and opening will be broken. Continued movement of the pull member causes the seal member to rotate 180 degrees about its connection to the cover portion. During this movement, the pull member also rotates 180 degrees about its longitudinal axis and is displaced about 90 degrees relative to its initial orientation. This movement results in the seal member being positioned above the pull member and in these two elements being in an open, out of the way location to permit a consumer to empty the container. This movement may be reversed to temporarily reseal the container. In the open position, the seal and pull members may be temporarily locked beneath a flange partially surrounding the cover portion. A score line is provided beneath the cover portion to accommodate compression forces. A groove extends around the periphery of the cover portion to permit the can end assembly to snap onto the can body.

Can end assembly

Package of cans

A plastic die cut container carrier comprising an endless band having a handle and a carrier ring with an elliptical opening therein, the carrier ring being connected to the handle by a pair of arms which connect to the carrier ring adjacent the ends of the minor axis of the elliptical opening. The handle includes a longitudinal groove to facilitate folding and is connected to the carrier ring by a break-away tab. The design equalizes stress risers at the critical load points.

Container carrier

A multi-container package and method for making the same including two six-pack assemblies of containers, a paperboard cover over at least a part of the multi-container package, and an elastic band encircling and securing together the two six-pack assemblies and the paperboard cover. The band includes a central stabilizing strap located between the two six-pack assemblies, and the paperboard cover includes a top panel formed of two separate sections interconnected by two intermediate panels which extend down in-between the two six-pack assemblies to accommodate and receive there-between the central stabilizing strap.

Growing community of inventors

Atlanta, GA, United States of America

Marshall J Barrash