Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02538463 2006-03-03
OS-233
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a continuation-in-part of copending U.S. Patent
Application
SN 29/237,803 for PLASTIC CONTAINER, filed September 6, 2005.
B~C_~GROUND OF THF_' TNVENTION
1"he present invention relates to a blow molded plastic container having a
strengthened upper area arid improved top load-
It is highly desirable to provide a plastic container having a strengthened
upper
area under uniform top load as well as ott=center top load, for example, that
which is
applied to the container finish under stacking during storage and transport.
Particularly,
plastic containers having a neck portion extending upwardly from the sidcwall
with an
upper opening therein may be subjected to considerable top load as during
storage arid
transport due for example to stacking. It is desirable to strengthen the upper
portion of
the plasiic container so as to minimize deflection or bending under top load.
-2-
A' :.,
CA 02538463 2006-03-03
OS-233
Altering the location, size or orientation of the neck portion may provide
some
improvement, but it is still desirable to address this problem, especially in
a simple and
expeditious manner.
Accordingly, it is an objective of the present invention to provide an
improved
plastic container that improves the upper strength characteristics thereof in
a simple and
convenient manner.
It is a further objective of the present invention to provide a plastic
container with
improved top load characteristics.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a container
as
aforesaid which has good product characteristics.
Further objects and. advantages ofthe prasent invention will appear
hereinbelow.
SUMMARY OF THIr INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention the foregoing objects and advantages
are
readily obtained,
The plastic container of the present invention comprises: a hollow body of
plastic
material having a lower supporting base, a sidewall extending upwardly from
the lower
base, and an upper neck portion with an opening therein, said neck portion
extending
upwardly from the sidewall; a handle, preferably an integral handle, adjacent
the neck
-3-
CA 02538463 2006-03-03
OS-233
portion, preferably extending from the sidewall to a position adjacent the
neck portion;
and a webbed portion adjacent the neck portion.
A shoulder portion is preferably provided between the sidewall and the neck
portion, wherein the handle has a lower portion extending to the sidewall and
an upper
portion extending to the shoulder portion adjacent the neck portion. The
webbed portion
is preferably located on the upper portion of the handle adjacent the neck
portion and
desirably extending to the shoulder portion.
'l he webbed portion preferably includes at least one outwardly extending
first rib
extending along the upper portion of the handle and at least one outwardly
extending
second rib extending across the first rib. Desirably, a plurality of second
ribs extend
across the first rib.
The construction of the present invention achieves significant advantages.
Thus,
the webbing, which may be termed spider webbing, is desirably located at the
top of the
handle directly below the finish area. This serves to strengthen this area
under uniform
top load as well as under off center top load, as that applied to the finish
area under
stacking during transport and storage. This is highly desirable. The webbing
will
minimize or prevent the Finish area from bending backward towards the handle,
for
example. In addition, the webbing provides a convenient and helpful thumb-grip
feature
during pour, handling or transportation of the package.
-4-
CA 02538463 2006-03-03
OS-233
Further features of the present invention will appear hereinbelow.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
'The present invention will be more readily understandable from a
consideration of
the accompanying exemplificative drawings, wherein:
FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the plastic container of the present
invention
showing the rear, top and right side thereof;
FIGURE 2 is a perspective view thereof showing the front, top and right side;
FIGURE 3 is a side elevation view thereof showing the rear side;
FIGURE 4 is a side elevation view thereof showing tbc front side;
FIGURE 5 is a top plan view thereof;
FIGURE 6 is a bottom plan view thereof;
FIGURE '7 is a side elevation view thereof showing the right side; and
FIGURE 8 is a side elevation view thereof showing the left side.
-5-
CA 02538463 2006-03-03
OS-233
DET,9ILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Refexxing to the drawings, plastic container 10 is a hollow body of plastic
material, preferably a blow molded plastic container. The container may be
produced
from any desired plastic material, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a
high
density polyethylene (HDPE), polyethylene naphthalate, polyvinyl chloride, and
others.
Container 10 has a lower supporting base 12, a sidewall 14 extending upwardly
from the' base, and an upper neck portion 16 with an opening 18 therein, said
neck portion
extending upwardly from the sidewall. Opening 18 is desirably closed by a
closure (not
shown) and threads may be. present on the neck portion for a threaded closure.
Shoulder
portion 20 is preferably provided between the sidcwall 14 and neck portion 16,
desirably
tapering inwardly towards the neck portion. The sidewall may, if desired,
include a flat
label panel 22 thereon for inclusion of a product identification label, as by
an adhesive.
A handle 24, preferably an integral handle, is provided at least in pan
adjacent the
neck portion and desirably extending from the sidewall 14 to a position
adjacent the
shoulder portion and the neck portion 16 arid adj acent opening 18. Preferably
the handle
is an arm-like structure which at least in part is spaced from the sidewall to
create open
space 26 beneath the handle and above the sidewall for convenient grasping. In
the
preferred embodiment handle 24 includes a lower portion 28 extending to the
sidewall
and an upper portion 30 extending to the shoulder portion:
-6-
CA 02538463 2006-03-03
OS-233
Webbed portion 32 is provided on the handy upper portion 30 adjacent to neck
portion 16 and desirably extending to the shoulder portion 20. The webbed
portion
includes at least two ribs, which are desirably outwardly extending for ease
of holding.
In a preferred embodixxtent the ribs include at least one first rib 34
extending laterally
along the handy and at least one second rib 36 extending transversely across
the first rib.
In a preferred embodiment a single first rib 34 is provided and a plurality of
second ribs
36 are provided, with four shown in the drawings.
'l; he supporting base 12 includes a peripheral rim 38 and a recessed central
portion
40 suitable for supporting an upper portion of a second container in a stacked
arrangement. A secondary,peripheral rim 42 may be provided if desired for
additional
support.
The webbed portion represents a highly advantageous feature. Naturally, the
exact number and orientation of the ribs may vary, if desired. Thus, the
ribbed portion
improves top load and provides greater strength to the upper container
portion, as when
one pushes down on the container in stacking. Particularly, if the finish is
somewhat off
center, the webbed portion aids in supporting the neck portion. In addition,
the webbed
portion aids in gripping the container particularly when one is pouring out
contents, as
providing a convenient thumb-grip feature.
CA 02538463 2006-03-03
OS-233
The container size is preferably from one-half to three gallons.
It is zo be understood that the invention is not limited to the illustrations
described
and shovm herein. which are deexx~ed to be merely illustrative of the best
modes of
carrying out the invention, and which are susceptible of modification of form,
size,
arxangon~ent of parts and details of operation. The invention rather is
intended to
encompass all such modifications which arc within its spirit and scope as
defined by the
claims.,
_g_
