Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TITLE: CONTAINER
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is highly desirable to provide a lightweight plastic container having a
substantially rigid sidewall suitable for holding a variety of products.
A substantially rigid, lightweight plastic container should desirably have
resistance to deformation and improve the aesthetic display of a label.
Conventionally,
plastic containers sidewall configurations that serve to improve resistance to
deformatioin
include features such as strengthening ribs or flex panels.
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However, there are problems that sometimes occur with flex panels and
strengthening ribs, for example, with respect to labeling. Indentations, voids
or spaces
can sometimes be intentionally or unintentionally formed at or about the label
mounting
portion of the container. Such structural features can cause the label to
wrinkle, tear, or
otherwise distort and, among other things, can inhibit or prevent the
prominent display of
an aesthetically pleasing label. Moreover, some consumers desire a container
that is
filled with product wherein a label is wrapped tightly around the container
and is adhered
to what feels like a solid and more rigid container sidewall.
The problern is exacerbated when one attempts to provide a lightweight plastic
container, which is highly desirable. A lightweight plastic structure will
distort more
readily, and yet a lightweight plastic container represents a highly desirable
commercial
structure for a variety of products.
It is also desirable to provide ari improved base structure in combination
with an
improved sidewall structure.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an improved
plastic
container with a strengthened body or sidewall structure.
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It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved
container as
aforesaid which is lightweigllt and which has a combination of strengthened
sidewall,
aesthetically pleasing and reliable label application area, and improved base
structure.
Further objects and advantages of the present invention will appear
hereinbelow.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention the foregoing objects and advantages
are
obtained.
The improved container of the present invention comprises: a blow molded
plastic container having a circular base, a cylindrical sidewall projecting
upwardly from
said base, a neck finish projecting upwardly from said sidewall and having an
opening to
the inside of the container; wherein the sidewall includes a substantially
flat upper label
panel and a substantially flat lower label panel spaced from the upper label
panel, a
plurality of spaced apart, continuous, uninterrupted, circumferential grooves
each
extending completely around the sidewall, said grooves being separated by
raised
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areas, and said raised areas including a substantially flat area having a
length in the
direction of the central axis of the container of from 0.200 inch to 0.120
inch.
The aforesaid grooves are located between the upper and lower label panels,,
and
at least three and preferably at least five of these grooves are provided.
Desirably, at least one additional continiuous. groove is located in at least
one of
(1) above the upper label panel, and (2) below the lower label panel. At least
two of the
additional, continuous grooves are desirably provided. The additional
continuous
grooves are separated by raised areas, with the raised areas separating the
additional
grooves including a substantially flat portion having a length in the
direction of the axis
of the container of from 0.080 inch to 0.090 inch.
The grooves run generally perpendicular to the central axis of the container.
The base preferably i,ncludes a plurality of outwardly extending struts and a
central recessed area.
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In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is also
provided a
container which comprises: a blow molded plastic container having a circular
base, a
cylindrical sidewall projecting upwardly from said base, a neck fmish
projecting
upwardly from said sidewall and having an opening to the inside of the
container;
wherein the sidewall includes a substantially flat upper label panel and a
substantially flat
lower label panel spaced from the upper label panel, a plurality of spaced
apart,
continuous, circumferential grooves located between the upper and lower label
panels,
each extending completely around the sidewall and running generally
perpendicular to the
central axis of the container, said grooves being separated by raised areas,
and said raised
areas including a substantially flat portion having a length in the direction
of the central
axis of the container of from 0.200 inch to 0.120 inch, and including at least
one
additional continuous groove and at least one additional raised area extending
completely
around the sidewall located in at least one of (1) above the upper label panel
and (2)
below the lower label panel, wherein said additional raised area includes a
substantially
flat portion having a length which is shorter than the length of the
substantially flat
portion on the raised areas between the circumferential grooves.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, there is also
provided a container which comprises: a blow molded plastic container having a
circular
base, a cylindrical sidewall projecting upwardly from said base, a neck finish
projecting
upwardly from said sidewall and having an opening to the inside of the
container;
wherein the sidewall includes a substantially flat upper label panel and a
substantially flat
lower label panel spaced from the upper label panel, a plurality of spaced
apart,
continuous, circumferential grooves located between the upper and lower label
panels,
each extending completely around the sidewall and running generally
perpendicular to the
central axis of the container, said grooves being separated by raised areas,
and said raised
areas including a substantially flat portion having a length in the direction
of the central
axis of the container of from 0.200 inch to 0.120 inch and wherein the base
includes a
plurality of outwardly extending struts and a central recessed area, with said
struts having
a curved cross-section, with a substantially flat upper portion, wherein the
substantially
flat upper portion of the struts having a length of from 0.0 10 inch to 0.040
inch.
Further features of the present invention will appear hereinbelow.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention will be more readily understandable from a consideration
of the following, illustrative drawings, wherein:
FIGURE 1 is a side view of one embodiment of the container of the present
invention;
FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the container of FIGURE 1;
FIGURE 3 is a bottom view of the base of the container of FIGURE 1;
FIGURE 4 is a side view of an alternate embodiment of the container of the
present invention;
FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the container of FIGURE 4;
FIGURES 6- 10, inclusive, are side views of further embodiments of the
container of the present invention.
FIGURE 11 is an enlarged detail view of the grooves and raised areas between
the
label panels;
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FIGURE 12 is an enlarged detail view of the grooves and raised areas beneath
the
lower label panel; and
FIGURE 13 is an enlarged detail view of a strut on the base.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to the drawings, FIGURES 1 and 2 show one embodiment of the
container of the present invention, a 12 ounce juice container, which is a
blow molded
container 10 having a circular base 12, a cylindrical sidewall 14 projecting
upwardly
from the circular base 12, a neck finish 16 projecting upwardly from the
sidewall 14 and
having an opening 18 to the inside of the container.
The sidewall 14 includes a substantially flat upper,label pane120 and a
substantially flat lower label pane122 for attachment of a label (not shown)
thereto. The
label panels each preferably have a length in the direction of the central
axis 26 of
container 10 from 0.150 inch to 0.200 inch. The sidewall 14 also includes a
plurality of
spaced apart, continuous, circumferential grooves 24 each extending completely
around
the sidewall 14 in a direction generally perpendicular to the central axis 26
of container
10. The grooves 24 are separated by raised areas 28. Grooves 24 are located
between
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upper label pane120 and lower label pane122. In the embodiment of FIGURES 1
and 2
five grooves 24 are located between the upper and lower label panels, with the
said five
grooves 24 separated by four raised areas 28.
Continuous, gradually inclined shoulder area 30 is provided at the upper end
of
the sidewall 14 and above the upper label panel 20, between the upper label
panel and the
neck finish.
At least one additional continuous groove 32 is located below lower label
panel
22 and between base 12 and the lower label panel. The neck finish 16 in
FIGURES 1 and
2 is a threaded neck finish having threads 34 to accommodate a threaded
closure, with an
outwardly extending flange 36 beneath the threads.
Base 12, shown in more detail in FIGURE 3, desirably includes a central
recessed
area 38 and a plurality of outwardly extending struts 40 having a curved cross-
section. In
the embodiment shown in FIGURE 3, five struts 40a extend from the edge 42 of
base 12
to the central recessed area 38, and five shorter struts 40b extend from edge
42 of the
base 12 partway to recessed area 38. Also, in the embodimentrof FIGURE 3 the,
disposition of the struts is that the shorter struts 40b alternate with the
longer struts 40a.
The struts form stable feet 44 as can be clearly seen in FIGURE 2, and provide
stability
to the base.
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Figures 4-5- show an alternate embodiment of the container of the present
invention showing a 20 ounce container 10a having a circular base 12, sidewall
14 and
neck fmish 16 with uppermost opening 18, as in FIGURES 1 and 2. However,
container
10a includes seven continuous circumferential grooves 24, each extending
completely
around the sidewall, between upper label panel 20 and lower label panel 22,
and six
raised areas 28 between grooves 24. Also, container l0a includes two
additional
continuous, circumferential grooves 32 each extending completely around the
sidewall 14
beneath lower label panel 22, with an additional raised area 46 between the
additional
grooves 32. An additional raised area 64 is provided above the uppermost
additional
groove 32. The base and neck finish of container 10a is essentially the same
as the base
and neck finish of container 10. Also, container l0a includes a continuous,
gradually
inclined shoulder area 30 as in container 10.
FIGURE 11 is an enlarged, detail view of the circumferential grooves 24 and
raised areas 28 between the upper label panel 20 and lower label panel 22, As
can be
clearly seen in FIGURE 11, the raised areas 28 include a substantially flat
portion 48
having a length in the direction of central axis 26 (see Fig. 1) of from 0.200
inch to 0.120
inch. In the embodiment of FIGURE 11 the length of flat portion 48 is 0.170
inch.
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FIGURE 12 is an enlarged, detail view of the additional grooves 32 beneath
lower
label panel 22. As can be seen on FIGURE 6, to be discussed below, six
additional
grooves 32 are separated by five additional raised areas 46, including an
additional,
substantially flat portion 50. However, the additional substantially flat
portion 50
between additional grooves 32 is shorter than substantially flat portion 48
between
grooves 24. The length of the additional substantially flat portion or
portions 50 in the
direction of axis 26 will vary between 0.080 inch and 0.090 inch. In the
embodiment of
FIGURE 12 the length of the additional flat portion 50 is 0.085 inch.
In addition, the distance 52 between the center of a circumferential groove 24
and
the center of a neighboring circumferential groove will vary between 0.340
inch and
0.400 inch; whereas, the additional circumferential grooves 32 are closer
together, with
the distance 54 between the center of an additional circumferential groove 32
and the
center of a neighboring additional circumferential groove varying between
0.300 inch and
0.330 inch.
Flat portion 48 between grooves 24 supports the label so that the label does
not
have an adverse wrinlcling. In addition, the raised area or ribs 28 makes the
container
desirably rigid for convenient handling. The length of flat portion 48 in the
direction of
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axis 26 between 0.120 inch and 0.200 inch has been found to be particularly
advantageous. If the length gets too short with a dimension less than 0.120
inch, label
wrinkling tends to occur. On the other hand, if the length of the flat portion
48 is too
long, with a dimension over 0.200 inch, a lightweight container tends not to
be
sufficiently strong to enable one to grip the container sidewall without the
sidewall
buckling.
However, the additional raised area or areas 46 beneath the lower label panel
22
serve a different purpose than raised areas 28. Since wrinkling of a label is
not a problem
for the additional raised area or areas 46, one may shorten the additional
flat portion or
portions 50 of additional raised areas 46 and place the additional grooves 32
closer
together to obtain improved or optimum sidewall rigidity in order to insure
that the
containers are not damaged under normal handling through the filling and
distribution
system.
FIGURE 13 is an enlarged, detail view of a strut 40 on base 12. The upper
portion or peak of strut 40 has a substantially flat portion 56 having a
length of from
0.010 inch to 0.040 inch, to aid in providing stability to the container.
Downwardly
extending arms 58 define an angle 60 of from 35 degrees to 45 degrees,
preferably 40
degrees, and the depth 62 of the strut will vary from 0.090 inch to 0.120
inch, preferably
about 0.100 inch. '
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FIGURE 6 is a still further embodiment of the container of the present
invention
showing a 24 ounce container 10b having a circular base 12, sidewall 14 and
neck finish
16 with uppermost opening 18, as in FIGURES 1 - 2. Container 14b includes
seven of
said circumferential grooves 24 between upper label panel 20 and lower label
pane122
and six of said raised areas 28 between grooves 24 as in FIGURES 4 - 5.
However,
container l Ob includes six of said additional continuous, circumferential
grooves .32
beneath lower label pane122, with five additional raised areas 46 between the
additional
grooves 32, and one further additional raised area 64 above the uppermost
additional
groove 32. The base 12, neck finish 16 and shoulder 30 are essentially the
same as in the
previous embodiments.
FIGURE 7 is a still further embodiment of the container of the present
invention
showing a 200 ml container l Oc having a circular base 12, sidewall 14 and
neck finish 16
with uppermost opening 18. Sidewall 14 of container 10c includes five of said
circumferential grooves 24 between upper label pane120 and lower label pane122
and
four of said raised areas 28 between grooves -24. No additional grooves are
provided
beneath the lower label panel. Shoulder 30 is provided between the upper label
pane120
and neck finish 16. However, the neck finish in the previous embodiments
showed a
threaded finish with a lower outwardly extending flange, whereas neck finish
16 in
container 10c has 'a stepped finish with an uppermost, outwardly extending
flange 66
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and a lower flange 68, beneath flange 66 which extends outwardly less than
flange 66'.
The neck finish 16 on container 10c can accomniodate a foil closure and/or a
snap-on
closure, and the threaded neck finishes of the previous ernbodiments
accommodate a
screw-on closure.
FIGURE 8 is a still further embodiment of the container of the present
invention
showing a 500 ml container 10d having a circular base 12, sidewall 14 and neck
finish 16
with uppermost opening 18 as in FIGURES 1- 2. Container l Od includes seven-of
said
circumferential grooves 24 between upper label panel 20 and lower label panel
22 and six
of said raised areas 28 between grooves 24 as in FIGURES 4 - 5. However,
container
lOd includes four of said additional grooves 32 beneath lower label panel 22
with three
additional raised areas 46 between the additional grooves 32, and one further
additional
raised area 64 above the uppermost additional groove 32. The base 12, neck
finish 16
and shoulder 30 are essentially the same as in FIGURES 1- 2.
FIGURE 9 is an additional embodiment of the container of the present
iiivention
showing a one liter container 10e having a circular base 12, sidewall 14 and
neck finish
16 with uppermost opening 18 as in FIGURES 1- 2. Container 10e includes seyen
of
said circumferential grooves 24 between upper label panel 20 and lower label
panel 22,
and six of said raised areas 28 between grooves 24 as in FIGURES 4 - 5.
However,
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coutainer l0e includes three of said additional grooves 32 beneath lower label
panel2=2
with two additional raised areas 46 between the additional grooves 32 and one
further
additional raised area 64 above the uppermost additional groove 32. The base
12, neck
finish 16 and shoulder 30 are essentially the same as in FIGURES 1- 2.
FIGURE 10 is an additional embodiinent of the container of the present
invention
showing a 1.5 liter container l Of having a circular base 12, sidewall 14 and
neck finish 16
with uppermost opening 18 as in FIGURES 1- 2. Container l Of includes seven of
said
circumferential grooves 24 between upper label panel 20 and lower label pane~
22, and
six of said raised areas 28 between grooves 24 as in FIGURES 4 - 5. However,
container
lOf includes twelve said additional grooves 32 beneath lower label panel 22
with eleven
additional raised areas 46 between the additional grooves 32, and one further
additional
raised area 64 above the uppeirnost additional groove 32. The base 12, neck
finish 16
and shoulder 30 are essentially the same as in FIGURES 1- 2.
The container of the present invention offers considerable advantages.
The present invention provides an advantageous, lightweight container
particularly suitable for a wide variety of beverages. The container is quite
versatile and
can be provided in a wide variety of sizes and with a threaded neck finish or
with a snap-
on neck finish, or with a siinple foil closure.
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Moreover, the sidewall construction provides desirable rigidity while at the
saine
time enabling label application without label wrinkling, tearing or
distortion. In addition,
the combination of sidewall construction and base construction provides a
firm, stable
container with aesthetically pleasing features.
It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the illustrations
described and shown herein, which are deemed to be merely illustrative of the
best modes
of carrying out the invention, and which are susceptible of modification of
form, size,
arrangement of parts and details of operation. The invention rather is
intended to
encompass all such modifications which are within its spirit and scope as
defined by the
claims,
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