Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CONTAINER WITH BEND RESISTANT GRIPPABLE DOME
[00011
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention relates to blow molded plastic containers, and
particularly those
containers having an upper dome or bell portion that is designed to be gripped
by a consumer
during use.
2. Description of the Related Teclutoloav
[00031 Many products that were previously packaged using glass containers are
now being
supplied in plastic containers, such as containers that are fabricated from
polyesters such as
polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
10004] PET containers are typically manufactured using the stretch blow
molding process.
This involves the use of a preform that is injection molded into, a shape that
facilitates
distribution of the plastic material within the preform into the desired final
shape of the
container. The preform is first heated and then is longitudinally stretched
and subsequently
inflated within a mold cavity so that it assumes the desired final shape of
the container. As the
preform is inflated, it takes on the shape of the mold cavity. The polymer
solidifies upon
contacting the cooler surface of the mold, and the finished hollow container
is subsequently
ejected from the mold.
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[0005] The use of blow molded plastic containers for the purpose of packaging
liquids that
are processed by the hot fill and/or pasteurization processes has been known
for some time. The
hot fill process involves filling the containers while the liquid product is
at an elevated
temperature, typically 68 C to 96 C (155 F.-205 F.) and usually about 85
C (185 F.) in
order to sterilize the container at the time of filling. Containers that are
designed to withstand the
hot fill process are known as "hot fill" or "heat set" containers. Such
containers are typically
designed with sidewalls that include one or more recessed vacuum panels that
are designed to
flex due to the temperature changes and consequent volumetric expansion and
contraction that
takes place during processing. hi many, instances, the recessed vacuum panels
also provide
convenient handholds that facilitate gripping of the container by consumers.
[00061 One type of conventional container design includes a lower portion that
is shaped to
receive a label and an upper dome or bell portion that is separated from the
lower label portion by
a waist. In some instances, the dome is constructed to extend outwardly from a
longitudinal axis
of the container to a greater extent than the label portion so that container
to container contact
during filling and packaging will occur between the respective dome portions,
protecting the
label portions against flexure that could cause delamination of the label.
This is known in the
industry as label protection.
[0007] The label portion may be constructed to flex inwardly during the hot
fill process in a
controlled fashion to adjust for volumetric changes within the container.
However creasing or
other significant shape changes are undesirable because of the need to provide
label support. The
waist of the container structurally isolates the dome portion from the label
portion so that flexure
in one will not be transmitted to the other. It also provides reinforcement
against flexure of both
the dome portion and the label portion. The amount of reinforcement provided
to the label
portion and the dome portion by the waist in conventional designs has tended
to be about same.
However, in some instances it would be desirable to provide more reinforcement
to the label
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portion. One reason for this is that In the past, it has been found to be
difficult as a matter of
design to provide effective gripping recesses within a dome or bell portion
while maintaining
material costs at an economically acceptable level, because the force created
by a consumer while
gripping the container has the tendency to collapse portions of the dome or
bell portion. In
addition, containers of this type may experience damage such as creasing as a
result of container-
to-container contact on the filling line,
[0008] A need exists for an improved plastic container having an upper dome or
bell portion
that is designed to be gripped by a consumer during use, which provides
improved optimization
of structural stability and material costs with respect to conventional
designs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved
plastic container
having an upper dome or bell portion that is designed to be gripped by a
consumer during use,
which provides improved optimization of structural stability and material
costs with respect to
conventional designs.
[00010] In order to achieve the above and other objects of the invention, a
plastic container
according to a first aspect of the invention includes a finish, a bottom and a
main body that is
generally rectangular in transverse cross-section. The main body has an upper
dome portion, a
lower portion and a waist groove defined between the upper dome portion and
the lower portion.
The upper dome portion has a substantially vertically oriented reinforcing
element defined
therein. The substantially vertically oriented reinforcing element extends
into the waist groove.
[00011] A plastic container according to a second aspect of the invention
includes a finish, a
bottom and a main body that is generally rectangular in transverse cross-
section. The main body
has an upper dome portion, a lower label portion and a waist groove defined
between the upper
dome portion and the lower label portion. Both the upper dome portion and the
lower label
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portion have front and rear surfaces as well as opposing side surfaces that
are narrower than the
front and rear surfaces. The opposing side surfaces of the upper dome portion
have a
substantially vertically oriented reinforcing element defined therein that is
recessed with respect
. =
to the surrounding sidewall of the upper dome portion. The reinforcing element
extends into the
waist groove, which increases the flexibility of the dome'portion above the
waist groove and
protects the dome portion against damage as a result of contact with other
containers during the
filling and packaging processes.
[00012] These and various other advantages and features of novelty that
characterize the
invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and
forming a part
hereof, However, for a better understanding of the invention, its advantages,
and the objects
obtained by its use, reference should be made to the drawings which form a
further part hereof,
and to the accompanying descriptive matter, in which there is illustrated and
described a
preferred embodiment of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[00013] FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a plastic container that is
constructed according to
a preferred embodiment of the invention;
[00014] FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view of the container that is shown in
FIGURE 1;
[00015] FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the container that is shown in
FIGURE 1;
[00016] FIGURE 4 is a top plan view of the container that is shown in FIGURE
1;
[00017] FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 5-5 in FIGURE 2;
[00018] FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 6-6 in FIGURE 2;
[00019] FIGURE 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 7-7 in FIGURE 2;
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[00020] FIGURE 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 8-8 in FIGURE 2;
[00021.] FIGURE 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 9-9 in FIGURE 4;
1000221 FIGURE 10 is a side elevational view of a container that is
constructed according to an
alternative embodiment;
[00023] FIGURE 11 is a front elevational view of a container that is
constructed according to
an alternative embodiment of the invention;
[00024] FIGURE 12 is a side elevational view of the container that is depicted
in FIGURE 11;
[00025] FIGURE 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 13-13 in FIGURE
12;
[00026] FIGURE 14 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 14-14 in FIGURE
12; and
[00027] FIGURE 15 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view depicting
the area within
the circle 15-15 in FIGURE 13.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)
[00028] Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals
designate
corresponding structure throughout the views, and referring in particular to
FIGURE 1, a plastic
container 10 that is constructed according to a preferred embodiment of the
invention is
preferably fabricated from a material such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET)
from a preform
using a conventional reheat stretch blow molding process. Plastic container 10
is preferably,
although not necessarily, constructed for hot fill applications.
[000291 In the embodiment that is shown in FIGURE 1, plastic container 10
includes a
threaded finish 12 having one or more threads 14 defined thereon, to which a
conventional
closure cap or dispensing cap may be secured. Plastic container 10 further
preferably includes a
CA 02834020 2013-11-22
bottom portion 16 and a main body portion 18 having a thin plastic sidewall 19
that is unitary
with the finish 12 and the bottom portion 16,
[00030] As FIGURE 1 shows, the main body portion 18 includes a lower portion
20 that is
preferably substantially rectangular in horizontal cross-section. Lower
portion 20 preferably
includes front and rear panels 22 and side panels 24 that are narrower than
the front and rear
panels 22. In the preferred embodiment, a plurality of horizontally oriented
reinforcement
grooves or inwardly extending ribs 26 are defined in the front and back panels
22. Similar
horizontally oriented reinforcement grooves or inwardly extending ribs 28 are
also preferably
defined in the side panels 24. The presence of the inwardly extending grooves
or ribs 26, 28
enhances the structural stability of the lower portion 20, especially during
the vacuum uptake
phase of the hot fill process.
[00031] The main body portion 18 also preferably includes an upper dome or
bell 30 that is
separated from the lower portion 20 by a waist 32. In the illustrated
embodiment, the waist 32 is
embodied as a peripheral inwardly extending groove, but an alternative
embodiments it may be
more or less pronounced or it may simply be an interface between the upper
dome 30 and the
lower portion 20.
[000321 The upper dome 30 preferably includes an upper brow portion 34 that is
shaped so as
to substantially approximate a rounded rectangle when viewed in top plan, as
is shown in
FIGURE 4. In the preferred embodiment, the upper brow portion 34 has a
generally bulbous
shape and includes a rounded upper surface 36 that forms an upper shoulder of
the container 10
and is integral with the finish 12. The upper brow portion 34 further includes
a first pair of sides,
namely front and rear sides 38,40 that have a first width, and a second,
lateral pair of sides 42,
44 having a second width that is less than the first width. The upper brow
portion 34 has a first
maximum width Wmla, as is best shown in FIGURE 5.
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[00033] In this embodiment, a concave recess 46 is defined in each of the
lateral sides 42, 44 of
the upper brow portion 34. Alternatively, the concave recess 46 may be defined
in only one of
the lateral sides 42, 44. Preferably, each concave recess 46 is substantially
centered vertically
and horizontally with respect to the lateral side 42,44 in which it is
defined. Each of the concave
recesses 46 preferably intersects a horizontal plane that also intersects
portions of the upper brow
portion 34 that define the first maximum width WMAX. The presence of the
concave recesses 46
provides significant additional structural stability to the upper brow portion
34 when the
container 10 is gripped by a consumer during use. Preferably, both of the
concave recesses 46
have a radius of curvature Rc, and a ratio of Rc/W1,4Ax is preferably within a
range of about 0.95
to about 0.99.
[00034] Directly beneath the lateral sides 42, 44 of the upper brow portion 34
are defined first
gripping recesses 48 for facilitating gripping of the container 10 by a
consumer. In the preferred
embodiment, the structural stability of each of the gripping recesses 48 is
enhanced by the
presence of an inverted U-shaped groove 50, as may best be seen in FIGURES 1
and 3. The
inverted U-shaped groove 50 includes a substantially horizontal upper portion
56 and first and
,
second downwardly extending leg portions 58, 60. The substantially horizontal
upper portion 56
is preferably directly beneath the lateral side 42, 44 of the upper brow
portion 34 and therefore
directly beneath the concave recess 46. The juxtaposition of the concave
recess 46 and the
horizontal upper portion 56 of the U-shaped groove 50 creates a sharp undercut
and a tightly
radiused transition portion that both enhances grippability of the container
10 and provides
significant reinforcement against deformation when the container 10 is gripped
by a consumer,
without requiring significant additional material during the fabrication
process.
[00035] The upper dome 30 also preferably includes second gripping recesses 52
that are
defined directly beneath the front and rear sides 38, 40 of the upper brow
portion 34. The
portions of the sidewall 19 defining the second gripping recesses 52 each have
a U-shaped
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groove 54 defined therein for providing additional structural stability when
the container 10 is
gripped by a consumer. In this embodiment, the uppermost and lowermost extents
of the U-
shaped groove 54 are both substantially the same as that of the U-shaped
groove 50 that is
defined in the portion of the sidewall 19 that defines the first gripping
recesses 48. The U-shaped
groove 54 is also preferably substantially centered with respect to both the
second gripping recess
52 and the front or rear side 38.40 of the upper brow portion 34 that is
positioned directly above
it.
[000361 The portion of the sidewall 19 that defines each of the first gripping
recesses 48 is also
preferably provided with a vertically oriented reinforcing element 62 that is
separate from the
inverted U-shaped groove 50. In the preferred embodiment, the vertically
oriented reinforcing
element 62 includes a vertically oriented recessed band or groove having a
substantially flat
bottom surface 64 and a pair of edge portions 66 connecting the substantially
flat bottom surface
64 to the rest of the sidewall 19 that defines the first gripping recesses 48,
as is shown in cross-
section in FIGURE 8.
[000371 The presence of the vertically oriented reinforcing element 62
provides significant
additional structural reinforcement against deformation of the portion of the
sidewall 19 that
defines the first gripping recesses 48, acting in conjunction with the
structural reinforcement that
is provided by the U-shaped groove 50 and by the presence of the concave
recess 46.
[00038] In the embodiment shown in FIGURE 3, the vertically oriented
reinforcing element 62
is constructed to extend to the bottom of the upper dome or bell 30 and to the
waist 32.
However, in an alternative embodiment of the invention that is shown in FIGURE
10, a container
110 is constructed so that the bottom of the vertically oriented reinforcing
element 162 is above
the bottom of the upper dome or bell 30 and the waist 32.
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[00039] The vertically oriented reinforcing element 62 preferably extends
substantially all the
way to the bottom of the upper dome 30 to the waist 32. The vertically
oriented reinforcing
element is also preferably substantially centered when viewed in side
elevation with respect to
the downwardly extending legs 58, 60 of the U-shaped groove 50.
[00040] A plastic container 70 that is constructed according to an alternative
embodiment of
the invention is depicted in FIGURES 11-15. Plastic container 70 includes a
finish portion 72, a
bottom 74 and a main body 76 that is generally rectangular in transverse cross-
section, as may be
seen in FIGURE 14. The plastic container 70 is accordingly what the industry
terms a
rectangular container. Such containers present different structural and
engineering issues than
plastic containers that are generally cylindrical in shape. Like the container
10 that was described
with respect to the first embodiment, the plastic container 70 is preferably
fabricated from a
material including polyethylene terephthalate using a standard reheat stretch
blow molding
process.
[00041] The main body portion 76 includes an upper dome portion 78 and a lower
label portion
80 that is provided with panels that are designed to support a label and to
flex inwardly in a
controlled fashion in order to accommodate the internal volumetric changes
that are associated
with the hot fill process. Specifically, the main body portion 76 includes a
front panel surface 84,
first and second side panel surfaces 86, 88 and a rear panel surface 90. In
the preferred
embodiment, the first and second side panels 86, 88 are preferably
substantially symmetrical to
each other and the front and rear panel surfaces 84, 90 are also preferably
constructed to have
features that substantially mirror each other.
[00042] A waist groove 82 is preferably defined between the upper dome portion
78 and the
lower label portion 80. The waist groove 82 preferably extends about the
circumference of the
main body 76 and provides reinforcement against flexure to both the upper dome
portion 78 and
the lower label portion 80. However, as will be discussed in greater detail
below, the
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reinforcement against flexure of the side panels 86, 88 of the upper dome
portion 78 is
intentionally limited in order to permit the side portions of the upper dome
portion 78 to flex
when the container 70 is contacted by like containers on a filling line. This
protects the container
70 against damage that could otherwise be caused by such contact.
100043] The waist groove 82 also provides structural isolation between the
upper dome portion
78 and the lower label portion 80, so that flexure in one of the portions will
be attenuated before
it causes flexure in the other portion.
[00044] Each of the side surfaces 86, 88 of the upper dome portion 78
advantageously includes
a substantially vertically oriented reinforcing element 92 that reinforces the
side surface of the
dome portion 78 against forces and impacts that may be caused by contact with
a like container
on a filling line or other mechanized transportation or packaging system for
such containers. The
substantially vertically oriented reinforcing element 92 includes an upper
portion 94 and a lower
portion 96 that extends into the waist groove 82. Alternatively, only one of
the side surfaces 86,
88 could be provided with the substantially vertically oriented reinforcing
element 92.
[00045] The reinforcing element 92 is preferably recessed by a first maximum
distance DF
with respect to a surrounding sidewall portion 102 of the upper dome portion
78. The waist
groove 82 has a bottom surface adjacent to the reinforcing element 92 that
defines a second
maximum distance DO with respect to the surrounding sidewall 102, as is best
shown in
FIGURE 15. A DF/DG ratio of the first maximum depth DF to the second maximum
depth DG
is preferably at least about 0.1, more preferably at least about 0.25 and most
preferably at least
about 0.4.
[00046] The surrounding sidewall portions 102 preferably extends laterally
outwardly beyond
the side panels that are located on the lower label portion 80 beneath the
waist groove 82, so that
container-to-container contact that may occur on the filling line or other
mechanized
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transportation system will happen between the respective dome portion 78, with
the label
portions 80 being protected. As is typical with such containers, the bottom
portion 74 may
extend outwardly to the same extent as the dome portion 78 so that there is a
lower point of
contact between the containers that also extends outwardly beyond the label
panel.
[00047] Because reinforcing element 92 penetrates into the waist groove 82,
the amount of
structural reinforcement that is imparted by the groove 82 to the side of the
upper dome portion
78 near the reinforcing element 92 is reduced, increasing the amount of
flexure that will take
place when the side of the upper dome portion 78 is contacted by a like
container. In addition,
the recess that is defined by the concave bottom 104 of the reinforcing
element 92 will create two
points of contact between like containers when contact occurs, which will
spread out the
transmission of force to the sidewalls of the respective containers.
[000481 Unlike the vertically oriented reinforcing element in the previously
described
embodiment, the vertically oriented reinforcing element 92 is shaped to have a
concave bottom
surface 104, which preferably has a substantially constant radius of curvature
RF. The concave
bottom of the reinforcing element 92 as it is viewed in transverse cross-
section may also create a
spring effect that will absorb some of the force that is imparted to the side
surface of the upper
dome 78 when contact with an adjacent container occurs.
[000491 As FIGURE 12 shows, the substantially vertical reinforcing element 92
in the
preferred embodiment is intersected by two horizontal grooves 98, 100. The
grooves 98, 100
provide a measure of reinforcement against bending stresses in a direction
that is orthogonal to
the reinforcement that is provided by the reinforcing element 92. In the
illustrated embodiment,
the horizontal grooves 98, 100 are both slightly deeper than the substantially
vertical reinforcing
element 92.
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[00050] It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous
characteristics and
advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing
description, together
with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is
illustrative only, and
changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size and
arrangement of parts
within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the
broad general meaning of
the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. =r=
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