Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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POLYMERIC REPLACEMENT FOR A GLASS DRINKING CONTAINER
[0001] I, Dr. Paul J.
Fenelon, a citizen of the United States, residing at 13
Inveraray, Nashville, Tennessee 37215 have invented a new and useful
"Polymeric Replacement for a Glass Drinking Container."
[0002] A portion of the
disclosure of this patent document contains
material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no
objection to the reproduction of the patent document or the patent disclosure,
as
it appears in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but
otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0003] This application
claims benefit of the following Provisional Patent
Application:
Provisional Patent Application No. 61/627,659
Filed October 17, 2011 for:
"UTILITY FUNCTIONAL POLYMERIC
REPLACEMENT FOR SODA LIME GLASS
AND/OR CONTAINERS AND/OR DRINKING GLASSES"
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
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[0004] The present
disclosure relates generally to the use of a polymeric
material to create a drinking container that is similar in functionality to a
glass
drinking container without the drawbacks of the glass material. More
particularly, the current disclosure is directed at a polymeric drinking
container,
and a method of making the same, such that the drinking container has the
same "weighted feel," transparency, and rigidity as glass without having the
brittle nature of glass.
[0005] It is known
in the art to use glass material to make many items
associated with the consumption of food and beverages. These items are
typically containers or vessels that can fall into a multitude of categories
including beverage containers and food containers. Numerous categories of
beverage containers include glassware and beverageware, or drinkware. Which
can be further described as barware, glassware, crystal, and stemware.
Glassware can include beverage containers of all kinds and various plates,
platters, pitchers, decorative items and the like, used in the consumption of
food
and beverage.
[0006] The use of
soda lime glass is typically the glass of choice in these
beverage containers. The soda lime glass is an inorganic composition that is
made up of typically inexpensive and readily available ingredients. This type
of
glass has many acceptable features that are beneficial in these beverage
containers. These acceptable features include exceptional transparency and
clarity along with a Moh hardness of 6.1 that provides scratch resistance.
Soda
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lime glass has a density of 2.52 grams per cubic centimeter, which yields a
characteristic "heavy weighted feel" to a use of the glass beverage
containers.
Additionally, it has a high melting point (1024 degrees centigrade) which
provides a useful resistance to wear and deterioration from household and
commercial cleaning products, surfactants and scrubbers.
[0007]
Unfortunately, the soda lime glass has several unacceptable
characteristics and features when used in beverage containers. For example,
one
huge issue is the fact that the soda lime glass is very brittle and is thus
prone to
breaking. This breakage creates two issues: reduces the useful life span of
the
glass beverage containers and creates a safety issue upon breakage.
[0008] Due to the
brittle nature of the glass, the glass beverage containers
have a tendency to break, sometimes in just normal handling and cleaning. This
breakage requires employee to clean up the breakage and additional supplies of
the glass containers to replace the broken containers. This breakage reduces
the
useful life and increases the cost for those glass beverage containers.
[0009] Glass
beverage containers also have potential health hazards due to
shards, splinters, knife-like edge pieces, etc., that can pierce and cut the
skin.
This hazard is so detrimental to workers and patrons in the United Kingdom
that the British Government has instituted a directive to improve the safety
of
glassware in restaurants, bars, pubs and clubs. The directive, issued in an
article entitled "Design Out Crime," includes a forward by Alan Campbell, the
United Kingdom's Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, that article outlines
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the issues with glass containers, such as beer glasses or bottles. The article
explained that glass containers can be dangerous and cause many issue when
accidentally broken, but they can be a huge issue if purposely broken and used
as weapons. In this article, the British Government asked for improvements to
the glass material or alternatives to the current glass material used in
drinking
containers. The British Government asked for improved glassware that
increased the safe use of that glassware, while trying to give a similar
drinking
experience to the drinking consumer as the current glassware.
[0010] Further, the
actual brittleness of the glass requires the glass
beverage container to have a rounded thick lip at the open end, or mouth, in
order to protect a user from actually cutting themselves during proper use of
that
glass beverage container.
[0011]
Additionally, soda lime glass is a high melting composition. This
requires high energy to manufacture the glasses, which again increases costs.
Additionally, the glass has a thermal conductivity that facilities a transfer
of
heat between the contents within the glass and the external atmosphere. This
leads to the glass "sweating" and "dripping" when filled with liquids that are
colder than the ambient air temperature. This "sweating" can cause the glass
beverage container to slip or drop from the hand of a user when wet leading to
the afore mentioned breaking. Additionally, the "sweating' necessitates
protection for whatever service upon which the glass is set in the form of
coasters, beverage sleeves, table cloths, and even protective coatings on wood
and
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the like. Again, this raises the dangers and associated cost for the
restaurant,
bar, pub, etc.
[0012] The move to
polymeric material for glass replacement has been
slow. This is due to the lack of the same experience provided to the drinkware
user and the difficulties in the manufacturing of the polymeric material. In a
conventional molding operation, the mold is comprised of a cavity area and a
core area and divided into two halves. During the molding process, parting
lines
in the molded part are formed at the joints of the two halves of the mold.
This is
due to a portion of the thermoplastic/polymeric material that is injected into
the
mold seeping through those joints. This creates "parting lines" which
typically
then are removed during a finishing process that adds expense and can be
aesthetically unappealing.
[0013] Another issue with
conventional drinkware in restaurants, bars,
pubs, and the like is the transport of those from location to location.
Typically
these drinking containers are moved stacked inside one another and yet are not
designed to properly hold their position when so stacked. Typically these
drinking containers have a single point of contact once stacked inside another
container of a similar geometric shape. This facilitates sliding and movement
of
the top container with respect to the bottom container. Once several of these
drinking containers are stacked on top of each other, the top containers tend
to
exaggerate this sliding movement and fall over to one side, typically falling
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outside the footprint of the bottom container therefore causing a tumbling
and/or
falling effect of the stacked drinking containers.
100141 What is
needed then is an acceptable alternative to glass vessels or
glass containers, especially for beverage containers or drinkware. Preferably
these improved containers will have a clarity equivalent to glass along with a
"weighted feel" that is similar to the glass container that it replaces.
Additionally, the improved container is preferably shatter resistant, crush
resistant and cleaning detergent and dishwasher safe. Additionally, the
improved container preferably have a resistance to stress cracking and
discoloration while having good surface aesthetics. The needed improved
container is preferably compliant with all regulations of the Food and Drug
Administration and be economically viable. This needed improved container for
glass containers is lacking in the art.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
100151 Disclosed
herein is a polymeric replacement vessel, or container, for
glassware and glass containers. Also included is a method of making such a
polymeric replacement container. The
polymeric replacement container
incorporates the beneficial features of glass while substantially eliminating
many of the non-beneficial features of glass when used in similar containers.
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The polymeric container is both economically and functionally achievable
through the use of thermoplastic materials and novel architectural
manufacturing techniques. Both clear thermoplastic materials and filled
thermoplastic materials, those with additives, can be utilized with the
inventive
architectural features to create the novel and unique polymeric replacement
containers.
[0016] The
polymeric replacement container is preferably a polymeric
drinking container and includes several characteristics similar to a glass
drinking container. These characteristics can be achieved through the design
of
the polymeric drinking container and the manufacturing processes used to
create
that polymeric drinking container.
[0017] The
polymeric drinking container simulates a glass drinking
container having a glass drinking container volume. The polymeric drinking
container comprises a base and an enclosed wall composed of the polymer. The
wall is formed with the base and extends from the base while defining an
opening opposite the base. The enclosed wall includes an inside surface and an
outside surface. The base and enclosed wall form a polymeric drinking
container
volume made of the polymeric material. This polymeric drinking container
volume is equal to the glass component drinking container volume plus an
amount equal to the glass component drinking container volume multiplied
times the ratio of the specific gravity of the glass to the specific gravity
of the
polymer.
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[0018] The volume
of the glass drinking container (AVG) that is to be
replaced by the polymeric drinking container can be described as being the
external volume of the glass container (EVG) minus the internal volume of the
glass container (IVG) as seen in the following equation:
AVG=EVG-IVG
Additionally, generally the volume of the polymeric drinking container (AVp)
can
be described as the external volume of the polymeric drinking container (EVp)
minus the internal volume of the polymeric drinking container (IVp), as shown
in
the following equation:
AVp=EVp-IVp
(Note IVp is equal to IVG, since internal volume remains unchanged)
Since the specific gravity and/or density of the glass is typically greater
than that
of polymeric materials, in order to get an equal weight of the polymeric
drinking
container to the glass drinking container, which gives the "equal weighted
feel"
to the user, an additional volume of the polymeric material is required in the
polymeric drinking container. As such, the equivalent volume of polymeric
material can be described as equaling the volume of the glass drinking
container
(AVG) plus an ideal added volume of polymeric material (AVph). This added
volume of polymeric material is the added volume of polymeric material that
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gives the equal "weighted feel" of the polymeric drinking container to that of
the
glass drinking container.
[0019] In
actuality, the amount of polymeric volume added does not have
to equate to this ideal added volume of polymeric material. For example, the
actual added volume of polymeric material (AVpA) used to simulate the glass
drinking container can range between 0.7 to 1.3 times the ideal volume of
added
polymeric material (AVpE). Alternate ranges can include 0.8 to 1.2 times the
amount of AVpE, and 0.9 to 1.1 times ANTpE. In a more preferred embodiment,
the
AVpA ranges between 0.7 and 1.0 times AVpE, more preferably between 0.8 to 1.0
times AVpE and most preferably between 0.81 and 1.0 times AVPE.
[0020]
Additionally, the polymeric drinking container can maintain design
aesthetics and dimension ratios by proportionally increasing the dimensions of
the polymeric drinking container in relation to the glass drinking container.
This increase of dimensions can take into account the square dependency of
volume on the diameter of the polymeric drinking container and the linear
dependency of volume on the length of the polymeric drinking container. In
this
polymeric drinking container the percentage of increase of added polymer
material (AVp-h) with respect to the external volume of the glass container
(EVcr)
can be calculated as follows:
AN7p+ = (AVPA ¨ AVG) X 100
EVG
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This equation yields the percentage increase in the material volume to ideally
achieve the same "weighted feel" of the polymeric drinking container in
relation
to the glass drinking container being replaced.
[0021]
Experimentation has also shown that the increases in the volume of
the polymeric material should preferably be proportionally divided between the
diameter and length of the polymeric drinking container to maintain the
similar
user experience in that the polymeric drinking container in relation to the
glass
drinking container being replaced. For example, the increase in the diameter
and lengths of the polymeric drinking container can be increased as a factor
of
the percentage of increase of added polymer material (AVp+). These increases
can range between 0.25 and 0.41 of the AVp+. More preferably, these increases
are between 0.30 and 0.36 of the AVp+ and preferably at 0.333 of the AVp-h.
[0022]
Additionally, a polymeric drinking container made in accordance
with the current disclosure is designed with little to no visible parting
lines in
the final drinkware. This can be accomplished during the molding process by
using additional cooling lines at the seams of the mold. Preferably the mold
which can include the core and cavity, with the core making the internal shape
of
the container in which the liquid is held during use and the cavity
establishing
the external shape of the container. The actual volume of the container is
formed between the cavity and core using normal polymer/thermoplastic molding
technologies.
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[0023] However, in the
current inventive design, cooling lines are spread
within the mold to help solidify the polymer/thermoplastic within that mold.
This design includes various independent cooling lines spread throughout the
cavity and specifically calibrated to provide different temperatures (Ti. T2)
at the
location of the connection locations of the mold. These temperatures are such
that the temperature of the cooling lines at those mold assembly locations is
less
than the temperature of the cooling lines at the other cooling line locations
within the mold and/or cavity. This reduced temperature at the traditional
"parting line" location hastens the solidification of the
thermoplastic/polymeric
material within the mold at those locations. This early stage solidification
increases the viscosity of the polymeric material at those locations thereby
reducing and/or eliminating the movement of the polymeric material in the
cracks of the mold. This lack of movement reduces, or eliminates, the visible
parting lines that plague a typical thermoplastic mold parts. In turn, this
removes the need for carrying out secondary finishing operations such as flame
treatments, polishing, buffing, and the like.
[0024] Another feature of a
polymeric replacement container made in
accordance with the current disclosure includes a multiple over molded
container. In this embodiment a fixed core is used as a first layer or first
volume
of the container. That core is inserted into incrementally increasing cavities
where additional over molded layers or volumes of polymeric material are
applied to the core layer. Each layer can be allowed to cool and solidify into
a
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piece that is removable. Each subsequent layer can then be inserted into
another incrementally larger cavity and an additional layer of polymeric
material can be overmolded onto the first two layers. This process can
continue
until these desired volume and weight are achieved. This process can allow the
insertion of decorative designs and visual markings within the layers in
between
their applications. These techniques can include the insertion of indicia,
such as
messages and logos in between the layers as well as the inclusion of patterns,
colors, alternate materials, and the like in between the various layers. There
can
also be included various markers, thermochromatic elements and the like within
the various layers. For example, thermochromatic layers that are responsive to
termperature change can be inserted in between the core and the second layer
to
benefit the most from the temperature change by the addition of a cool or hot
liquid within the container. Also various diffraction patterns can be included
on
the outer layers which maximize the light diffraction which allows an
aesthetically pleasing look without compromising the internal integrity of the
container made with the overmolded layers.
[0025]
Additionally, a primary replacement container in accordance with
the current disclosure can be made by the use of a single core segment to
generate a family of products. In this embodiment the same core can be used to
form a base drinking vessel, such as a stemless wine glass, and then through
the
use of an over-molding process various stem lengths can be added as desired.
12
These stem lengths can create a short stem, a standard stem, or a long stern
to
simulate standard wine glasses, chalices, line crystal glasses and the like.
100261 Additionally, an embodiment of the polymeric replacement
container can have physical characteristics that allow secured stacking of
those
containers.
100271 The improved polymeric drinking container includes external
and
internal geometric shapes such that a portion of the lower outside diameter is
larger than a portion of the internal diameter of a container. Additionally.
the
angle of the inside diameter with respect to the base of the container can be
approximately equal to the angle of the outside diameter with respect to the
base
of the container. In this design. the angles of the outside and inside
diameters will
substantially match such that as the two containers are inserted one in the
other
the outside diameter of the first container will engage a portion of the
inside
diameter that substantially matches its angle in relation to the base and its
diameter. This increases the surface contact between the stacked polymeric
drinking containers thereby reducing the toppling effect and allowing easy
transport of the polymeric drinking containers in such a fashion.
10027a1 Also disclosed herein is a polymeric drinking container
simulating
a weighted feel of a glass drinking container having a glass material volume
and a
rim thickness, the polymeric drinking container comprising a base composed of
a
polymer; an enclosed wall composed of the polymer, the wall integrally !brined
with and extending from the base. the enclosed wall having a rim that defines
an
opening opposite the base: wherein the base and enclosed wall form a polymeric
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material VOIMIle that is approximately equal to the glass material volume plus
an
added amount of the polymer in an ;Amount or from 0.7 times to 1.3 times the
glass material volume such that the total polymeric material approximates the
weight of the glass contained in the glass drinking container; and wherein the
added amount of polymeric material is dispersed proportionally from the base
to
the rim such that the rim has a rim thickness generally equal to the rim
thickness
of the simulated glass container.
101127b1 Also disclosed herein in a polymeric drinking container
simulating
a glass drinking container having a glass material volume and a glass material
specific gravity, the polymeric drinking container comprising a base
constructed
of a polymer having a specific gravity generally lower than the glass material
specific gravity: an enclosed wall constructed of the polymer. the wall
integrally
formed with and extending from the base, and the enclosed wall having a rim
that
defines an opening opposite the base: wherein the base and enclosed wall form
a
polymeric material volume that is approximately equal to the glass material
volume plus an added amount of the polymer. wherein the added aMOUlli of the
polymer is equal to the glass material volume multiplied by the ratio of
specific
gravity of the glass to the specific gravity of the polymer. and wherein the
added
amount of polymer is dispersed proportionally from the base to the rim such
that
the rim has a rim thickness such that the polymeric drinking container
simulates a
glass drinking container with a generally equal rim thickness.
1002SI It is therefore a general object of the current disclosure to
provide
an: improved polymeric replacement container for a glass container.
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100291 Another object of the present disclosure is to provide an
improved
polymeric drinking container.
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[0030] Still another object of the current invention is to provide a
polymeric container that has beneficial characteristics of a glass container
while
reducing or eliminating non-beneficial characteristics.
[0031] Yet another object of the current disclosure is to provide a
polymeric
container that has the "weighted fill" of a glass container.
100321 Another object of the current disclosure is to provide a polymeric
container that has little to no visible parting lines from the manufacturing
process.
[0033] Other and further objects, features and advantages of the present
disclosure will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading
of the
following disclosure when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
100341 Fig. 1A is a top perspective view of a polymeric container made in
accordance with the current disclosure.
[0035] Fig. 1B is a view similar to Fig. 1A showing a relation of the
internal volume within the container.
[0036] Fig. 1C is a side view of a container as shown in Figs. 1A-1B.
[0037] Fig. 1D is a cross sectional view taken along Line AA in Fig. 1C.
[0038] Fig. 2 is a partial cutaway illustration of polymeric containers
made
in accordance with the current disclosure in a stacked relationship.
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[0039] Fig. 3A is a side view of an alternate polymeric container made in
accordance with the current disclosure.
[0040] Fig. 3B is a side view similar to Fig. 3A showing the internal
volume of the polymeric container.
[0041] Fig. 3C is a top view of the container shown in Fig. 3A.
[0042] Fig. 3D is a bottom view of the container shown in Fig. 3A.
[0043] Fig. 4A is a top perspective view of an alternate polymeric
container
made in accordance with the current disclosure.
[0044] Fig. 4B is a side view of the container shown in Fig. 4A.
[0045] Fig. 4C is a top view of the container shown in Fig. 4B.
[0046] Fig. 4D is a cross sectional view along Line A-A in Fig. 4B.
[0047] Fig. 5A is a side view of an alternate container made in accordance
with the current disclosure.
[0048] Fig. 5B is a cross sectional view taken along Line B-B of Fig. 5A.
[0049] Fig. 6A is a top perspective view of a polymeric container made in
accordance with the current disclosure.
[0050] Fig. 6B is a side view of the container shown in Fig. 6A.
[0051] Fig. 6C is a cross sectional view taken along Line A-A of Fig. 6B.
[0052] Fig. 6D is a side view of the container shown in 6A shown in a
stacked relationship.
[0053] Fig. 7 is a schematic view of a mold showing a process of making a
polymeric container in accordance with the current disclosure.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0054] Referring
generally now to the Figures, a polymeric container can
be shown and generally illustrated by the numeral 10. The container includes a
base 12 and an enclosed wall 14. The enclosed wall 14 can be formed with the
base 12 and extends from the base 12 and defines an opening 16, or a mouth 16,
opposite the base 12. The wall includes an inside surface 18 and an outside
surface 20.
[0055] The
polymeric material is preferably a thermoplastic and can be a
clear engineering thermoplastic or a filled engineering thermoplastic. For
example a clear engineering thermoplastic can include PET, PETG, SAN, PC,
TPX, PVC, and the like. The filled engineering thermoplastics can be
thermoplastics, such as can be polypropylene, polyethylene, PET, PVC, and the
like, filled with additives such as Mica, Calcium Carbonate, Talc, Aluminum
Silicate, and the like. Either of these thermoplastics can be the molded
compounds used to form the container structures and base. Further, the base
can be intricately molded with a heavy walled streamlined configuration. This
facilitates the elimination of voids during the melting and formation
processing,
including the cooling of the base during the manufacture. Alternately, the
base
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can be intricately molded around an insert or filler that is suitably sized
and
shaped to provide part of the weight of the base.
[0056] The
polymeric container 10 is preferably a drinking container, or
drinkware, as used to hold a liquid for consumption by a user. The polymeric
container 10 is designed to simulate a glass container and provide a similar
user
experience as the glass container without having various drawbacks of that
glass
container. Given the variations and the properties of glass and polymers,
alterations in the polymeric container design are used to provide that same
"user
experience" as the glass container.
[0057] For example,
the polymeric drinking container as composed of the
base and enclosed wall, has a polymeric drinking container volume of the
polymeric material that simulates the drinking glass container volume for
which
it replaces. This polymeric drinking container volume is approximately equal
to
the glass drinking container volume plus the added volume of polymer material
needed to achieve the approximate equivalent weight of the glass container in
the polymeric container. This added volume is approximately equal to the
volume of the glass, which is the external volume of the glass container minus
the internal volume of the glass container, multiplied times the ratio of
specific
gravity of the glass to the specific gravity of the polymer chosen.
[0058] Table 1
includes a listing of specific gravities of some polymers that
could be used to create the polymeric drinking container as disclosed. The
volume of polymeric material used to create a polymeric drinking container
made
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in accordance with the current disclosure can be configured based upon the
specific gravity ratio of the glass of the container of which is replaced,
typically
soda lime glass, in relation to the specific gravity of the
polymer/thermoplastics
chosen for the polymeric container.
[0059] In a
preferred embodiment this volume of polymeric material is
configured such that the weight of the polymeric container almost exactly
equals
the weight of the glass container being replaced. In actuality though,
experiments have shown that a different volume of added polymeric material
that is actually used (AVpA) will work, give more than satisfactory results,
and
maintain both functionality and economic viability. This range of AVpA can be
expressed as a percentage amount of the ideal volume of polymeric material
used
added to the initial starting volume to create the desired polymeric
container.
[0060] The starting
point to establish the ideal volume for the polymeric
replacement container (AVpE) begins with the volume of the glass container
that
is to be replaced. This volume can be expressed as the volume of glass of the
container (AVG) which equals the external volume of glass (EVG) minus the
internal volume of glass (TVG). With this as the starting volume, the amount
added to the composition of the polymeric container in order to establish a
comparable weight between the polymeric container and the glass container can
be explained as follows. The polymeric materials are typically less dense than
the glass used in conventional glass containers. As such, an additional volume
of
the polymeric material is required to establish the same "weight feeling" in
the
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polymeric container to satisfy the end user of the polymeric container when
that
end user is used to and comfortable with the glass container. This additional
added volume can be described as the added volume of polymeric material
needed to achieve an equivalent weight feeling in the container in comparison
to
a glass container (AVpE). This amount of ideal added polymeric material to
create the equivalent weight of the glass container in the polymeric container
can equal the volume of glass (AVG) in the original glass container multiplied
times the ratio of the specific gravity of the glass to the specific gravity
of the
polymer.
[0061] It has been
discovered that the exact equivalent is not necessary as
such a range of volume actually added is preferred and within the scope of
this
disclosure. This volume range can be expressed in a range, or percentage of
the
ideal volume of polymer to be added (AVpE). For example, one range of
acceptable (A,VpA) includes 0.7 to 1.3 of the (AVpE). Preferably this range is
0.8 to
1.2 (AVpE) and more preferably 0.9 to 1.1 (AVpE). In a more preferred
embodiment the percentage of actual volume of the polymeric material added
(AVpA) is actually less than the ideal amount of polymer used to equate the
weight to the glass (AVpE). In this embodiment, there are ranges that are
preferred including a range of 0.7 to 1.0 AVpE, and preferably 0.8 to 1.0
AVpE. In
a most preferred embodiment, the value of AVpA is between 0.81 and 1.0 AVpE.
[0062] Another
feature of a polymeric container made in accordance with
the current disclosure is the overall aesthetic feel and look as used by the
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consumer to partake of the liquid stored therein. It has been discovered that
an
adherence to a dimension ratio helps facilitate this aesthetic look and feel
to the
user. Since the overall volume of the polymeric container is increased in
comparison to the glass container, an adjustment in the ratios of the diameter
and length of the polymeric container are required. As such, a polymeric
drinking container has increased dimensions in both diameter and length in
comparison to the glass container to which it replaces. The adherence to the
comparison ratios in diameters and length of the polymeric container with
respect to the glass container maintains an overall dimensional feel and look
in
the polymeric container that is appeasing to the end user.
[0063] For example,
the percentage increase of additional polymer with
respect to the external volume of the glass container that is replaced can be
indicated by AVp+. This number can be calculated by taking the volume of added
polymer actually used (AVrA) and subtracting out the volume of the glass
container that is replaced (AVG) and dividing that sum by the external volume
of
the original glass container (EVc). That number is then multipled by 100 to
obtain the percentage increase in the material volume needed to achieve the
weighted feel of the polymeric container. From this percentage, the amount
increase in diameter and length of the polymeric container is determined.
[0064] For exampleõ
the percentage increase in the diameter and length
can be between 0.25 and 0.14 of AVp-h, more preferably between 0.30 and 0.36
AVp-F and most preferably at 0.333 AVp+. Alternately stated, the ratio of
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diameters to the polymeric container is 1/3 larger than the diameter of the
glass
container to which it is simulating. Correspondingly, the length of the
polymeric
container is 1/3 larger than the length of the glass container to which it
replaces.
[0065] Another
feature of the polymeric drinking container is the gradual
increased thickness of the enclosed wall 14 from the opening 16 to the base
12.
This gradual increase also facilitates the overall weighted feel of the
polymeric
container in comparison to the glass container which it replaces. This
programmed and controlled thickness increase facilitates the clear appearance
of
the polymeric container once formed and facilitates sufficient rigidity in the
polymeric drinking container to withstand its use as a drinking vessel. In a
most
preferred embodiment, the thickness of the walls of the polymeric container in
relation to the glass container follows the same ratios as described above in
reference to AVp-F.
[0066] A polymeric
drinking container made as just described will have
several advantages which include a gradual uniformly increasing side wall
thickness. This allows a functional transparency and clarity when the
polymeric
material is selected as a clear engineering thermoplastic. Additionally, there
will be a lack of obvious or unwanted disruptions of light due to refraction
or
transmission in the polymeric container so constructed. Additionally, the
polymeric container as mentioned has a weight that substantially matches, or
simulates, that of the glass containers but has a rigidity and resistance to
crunching that matches, or in most cases exceeds, that of glass containers.
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Typically the rigidity is proportional to the cube of the container sidewall
thickness multiplied times the material modulus. In this instance, the
polymeric
material has increased rigidity and the gradual increase in the sidewall
thicknes,s along with the aforementioned dimensional adjustments and volume
metric adjustments, has a profound effect on the container resistance to
breaking
and fragmenting. These engineered thermoplastics in the container have an
excellent toughness and are resistant to abuse while having increased their
durability. The thermoconductivity of the polymeric container is improved thus
providing an approved cooling capacity for the polymeric container in relation
to
the glass container. This is facilitated by the material used and also in the
increased wall thickness of the polymeric material and the polymeric container
since the diffusion of heat is proportional to the square of the container
wall
thickness. In addition, there is a reduced tendency for moisture condensation
on
the outside of the polymeric container due to this improved cooling capacity.
Additionally, there is an improved balance in resisting to tipping or toppling
due
to the predominance of the polymeric container weight being distributed
towards
the bottom portion or bottom half of the polymeric container.
100671 In this
container, the average container wall thickness of the
polymeric container is proportional to the ratio of the specific gravity of
the glass,
such as 2.52 for soda lime glass, to that of the polymeric material selected,
typically between 0.85 to 1.4 for those thermoplastics listed in Tables 1, 2
and 3.
Additionally, since the wall thickness in the polymeric container is
proportional
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and gradual along the length of the container, a majority of the weight ends
up
in the lower half of the polymeric container. This again improves the balance
of
the container and resistance to tipping and/or toppling.
[0068] Thus,
although there have been described particular embodiments
of the present invention of a new and useful POLYMERIC REPLACEMENT
FOR A GLASS DRINKING CONTAINER it is not intended that such references
be construed as limitations upon the scope of this invention except as set
forth in
the following claims.
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Table
Average Thickness Needed to Achieve "Weighted Glass" Feel
Assumption: Equivalent Soda Line Glass has an Average Thickness of 0.10 in.
Material Specific Gravity Average Wall Thickness
(inches)
PET 1.36 .185
PC 1.20 .210
SAN 1.07 .235
TPX .85 .296
PVC 1.40 .180
40% FILLED POLYPRO 1.23 .205
24
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4 J
Table 2
COMPARATIVE PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF SODA LINE GLASS
AND CLEAR ENGINEERING THERMOPLASTICS MATERIAL
PROPERTY UNITS SODA LINE PET
SAN PC TPX
GLASS
Density Grms/CC 2.52 1.4 1.07 1.2
0.85
Tensile Modulus Psi x 106 10.2 .45 0.52 0.35 0.20
Tensile Strength Psi x 103 4.79 3.0 10.0 9.0 3.4
Hardness Molt or R MOH 6.1 70 R 86 R 70 R
60 R
1200 Impact Ft. Lbs/in. <0.1 1.4 0.6 >10 0.8
Melt/Softening C 724 150 ' 150 130 130
Point
Thermal W/m.K 1.1 0.31 0.30 0.32
0.28
Conductivity
Clarity Obs Excellent Very Very Very Excellent
Good Good Good
Chemical Obs Excellent Very Fair Good Excellent
Resistance Good
Scratch
Obs Excellent Good Very Good Good
Resistance Good
,
CA 02852249 2015-10-21
Table 3
COMPARATIVE PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF SODA LINE GLASS
AND 40% FILLED POLYPROPYLENES
MATERIAL
1 PROPERTY UNITS SODA LINE PP WITH PP WITH PP WITH PP WITH
GLASS MICA CaCO3 TALC NYOLYN
Density Grms/CC 2.52 1.24 1.22 1.24 1.22
Tensile Psi x106 10.2 0.45 0.42 0.47 0.50
Modulus
Tensile Psi x 103 4.79 4.5 4.2 4.7 - 4.9
Strength
Hardness MOH or R MOH 6.1 89 R 90 R 99 R
100 R
1Z00 Impact Ft. Lbs/in. <0.1 0.6 0.8 0.5
0.6
Melt/Softening C 724 120 120 120
120
Point
Thermal W/m.K 1.1 0.33 0.31 0.35 0.32
Conductivity
Chemical Obs Excellent Very Very Very Very
Resistance Good Good Good Good
Scratch Ohs Excellent Good Fair Good Good
Resistance
26
