Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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FACETED CONTAINER
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
Container for a product.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Blow molded containers are commonly used for packaging consumer goods such as
liquid fabric softeners, liquid detergent, powdered detergent, water, soda,
beer, wine, tea, fruit
juice, surface cleaning compositions, milk, particulate laundry scent
additives, and the like.
Marketers of such products must compete with others participants in the market
to attract
consumers to their brands. One way by which marketers attempt to differentiate
their product
from the products of others is to use a container shape that is proprietary or
unique to their brand.
Blow molding can be used produce containers having a variety of shapes. In a
retail
environment, shelves are stocked full of a wide variety of containers for
products. Often,
consumers encounter a category of goods within a single zone of shelving.
Within the category
of goods, multiple brands typically compete to attract consumers' attention.
Marketers desire to
attract attention to their brands before the consumer is close enough to the
product to read the
label on the container, thereby potentially influencing the purchasing
decision made by the
consumer.
To attract attention to their container even when the consumer is at a
distance from the
container beyond which she can read the labeling, marketers use shapes of
containers and graphic
design to attract attention to the container. One challenge to this approach
to attracting
consumers is that what is visually stimulating when viewed from a distance can
impede the
ability of the consumer to read the labeling on the container when she is in
close proximity to the
container.
With these limitations in mind, there is a continuing unaddressed need to
provide
containers that provide visual stimuli to consumers when viewed at a distance
yet can be
provided with a readily legible label.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A container comprising: an open end circumscribing a longitudinal axis; and a
peripheral
wall extending from the open end about the longitudinal axis to a closed end;
wherein the
peripheral wall and the closed end comprise a thermoplastic substrate: wherein
the peripheral
wall comprises a faceted region comprising a plurality of facets arranged edge
to edge with at
least one adjacent facet, at least a portion of the faceted region being
located nearer to the closed
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end than to the open end; wherein the peripheral wall has a peripheral wall
exterior surface oriented
away from the longitudinal axis, the peripheral wall exterior surface having a
peripheral wall exterior
surface area; wherein each of the plurality of facets has a facet exterior
surface area oriented away
from the longitudinal axis and each of the facets has an exterior surface area
that is between about
0.0001% and about 4% of the peripheral wall exterior surface area; wherein at
local positions along
the longitudinal axis the container has a local maximum internal dimension
orthogonal to the
longitudinal axis, a local major axis coincident with the local maximum
internal dimension, a local
minor axis orthogonal to the local major axis and the longitudinal axis, a
local minor internal
dimension coincident with the local minor axis, and a local aspect ratio
defined as a ratio of the local
maximum internal dimension to the local minor internal dimension; wherein the
container has a local
aspect ratio between about 1.3 and about 5 mid-way along the longitudinal
axis; and wherein
individual said facets have a radius of curvature of principal curvatures at a
centroid of said facets
greater than 60 mm.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is perspective view of a container.
Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view of the container shown in Fig. I as marked in
Fig. 1, the view
being taken towards the closed end.
Fig. 3 is cut-out view of a portion of the peripheral wall shown in Fig. 2 as
marked in Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 is profile view of a container.
Fig. 5 is a plurality of facets.
Fig. 6 is a plurality of facets.
Fig. 7 is a plurality of facets.
Fig. 8 is a plurality of facets.
Fig. 9 is a plurality of facets.
Fig. 10 is a profile view of a container having a sleeve label.
Fig. 11 is a profile view of a container having a bounded label.
Fig. 12 is a cross-section of a container 10 taken orthogonal to the
longitudinal axis L.
Fig. 13 is container having a plug-seal closure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
A container 10 having a neck 20 is shown in Fig. 1. The container 10 can be
formed by
injection stretch blow molding. The container 10 can be formed by injection
molding, injection
stretch blow molding, extrusion blow molding, or similar process. The
container 10 can be a
thermoformed container 10.
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The container 10 can have a closed end 30. The closed end 30 can have a closed
end
periphery 40. 'Me closed end periphery 40 can define the extent of the closed
end away from the
longitudinal axis L. The closed end 30 can be shaped to have a structure that
can be stably rested
on a flat surface such as a table. The closed end 30 can be shaped as shown in
Fig. 1. The closed
end 30 can be provided with a plurality of feet upon which the closed end 30
can rest on a flat
surface such as a table.
A peripheral wall 50 can extend from the closed end periphery 40 about a
longitudinal
axis L of the container 10 to the open end 60. The longitudinal axis L is an
axis of the container
that passes through the open end 60 and the closed end 30 about which the
peripheral wall 50
10 extends. The peripheral wall 50 can extend from the open end 60 to the
closed end 30. The
peripheral wall 50 can be asymmetric about the longitudinal axis L. The open
end 60 can be
about the longitudinal axis L. If the open end is generally circularly shaped,
the open end 60 can
circumscribe the longitudinal axis L.
The peripheral wall 50 and closed end 30 can have a peripheral wall exterior
surface 170
.. oriented away from the longitudinal axis L and an opposing interior surface
180. The interior
surface 180 of the peripheral wall 50 is oriented towards the longitudinal
axis L. The interior
surface 180 of the closed end 30 is oriented towards the open end 60. The
peripheral wall
exterior surface 170 can have a peripheral wall exterior surface area 172,
which is the total area
of the peripheral wall exterior surface's 170 faces and curved surfaces above
and below the neck.
The closed end 30 and peripheral wall 50 can comprise a thermoplastic
material. The
thermoplastic material can be a petroleum based thermoplastic material or a
plant based
thermoplastic material. The closed end 30 and peripheral wall 50 can be any
polymeric material
that can be blow molded. The container 10 can comprise a material selected
from the group
consisting of high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene,
polypropylene, biaxially
.. oriented polypropylene polyethylene, polyethylene terphthalate,polyethylene
terephthalate
glycol, processable polylactic acid, polyvinyl chloride, thermoplastic
startch, cellulose bioplastic,
aliphatic polyesters, and polylactic acid.
The peripheral wall 50 can define a variable open cross-section 70 of the
container 10 in a
plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis L as function of distance from the
closed end 30. A
variable cross-section 70 of the container 10 at a particular height or
location along the
longitudinal axis L is stippled and labeled as 70 in Fig. 1. At various
locations along the
longitudinal axis L, the cross-section orthogonal to the longitudinal axis L
can have different
shapes and or sizes.
"[he variable open cross-section 70 defines an area within the container 10
within which
.. the contents of the container 10 are held. The container 10 can be a
bulbous shaped container 10
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having a relatively narrow closed end 30 and a peripheral wall 50 that
broadens in relationship to
the height of the container 10, the height being taken along the longitudinal
axis L moving away
from the closed end 30.
Starting from the closed end 30 and moving along the longitudinal axis L, the
area of the
open cross-section 70 can have an initial value that gradually increases with
height as measured
from the closed end 30 along the longitudinal axis L. The area of the open
cross-section 70 can
have a maximum at a particular height, above which the area of the open cross-
section 70
decreases with increasing height as measured from the closed end 30 along the
longitudinal axis
L. The maximum can he a global maximum or local maximum.
"f he container 10 can have a neck 20 having a neck open cross-section 80
orthogonal to
the longitudinal axis L. The neck 20 can be a narrowed region of the container
10 that can be
generally located proximal the open end 60 of the container 10. The neck open
cross-section 80
is marked in Fig. 1 and stippled. The neck 20 can be sized and dimensioned to
be able to be
gripped by an adult female hand.
The peripheral wall 50 can comprise a faceted region 90. The faceted region 90
can
comprise plurality of facets 100. The facets 100 forming the faceted region 90
can be arranged
edge to edge with one or more adjacent facets 100. The faceted region 90 can
comprise more
than about 5 facets 100. The faceted region 90 can comprise more than about 10
facets 100.
The faceted region 90 can comprise more than about 20 facets 100. The faceted
region 90 can
comprise more than about 40 facets 100. The faceted region 90 can comprise
more than about 80
facets 100. The faceted region 90 can comprise more than about 150 facets 100.
The faceted
region 90 can comprise more than about 300 facets 100. Without being bound by
theory, it is
thought that the greater the number of facets 100 in the faceted region 90,
the more flashes of
reflectance that can be generated as the relative position of the container 10
changes with respect
to the consumer, e.g. by movement of the container 10 in the consumer's hands
or movement of
the consumer as she moves in proximity to the container 10. The faceted region
can comprise
between about 5 and about 15 facets. The faceted region can comprise between
about 5 and
about 25 facets. The faceted region can comprise between about 5 and about 50
facets. The
faceted region can comprise between about 5 and about 100 facets. The faceted
region can
comprise between about 20 and about 40 facets.
A facet 100 can be a small plane surface. A facet 100 can have a facet
exterior surface
area 102 oriented away from the longitudinal axis that is less than about 4
cm2. A facet 100 can
have a facet exterior surface area 102 oriented away from the longitudinal
axis that is less than
about 2.5 cm2. A facet 100 can have a facet exterior surface area 102 oriented
away from the
longitudinal axis between about 0.1 cm2 and about 4 cm2. A facet 100 can have
a facet exterior
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surface area 102 oriented away from the longitudinal axis between about 0.1
cm2 and about 2.5
CM2 .
Each of the plurality of facets 100 can have a facet exterior surface area
oriented away
from the longitudinal axis L and each of the plurality of facets 100 can have
a facet exterior
5 surface area 102 oriented away from the longitudinal axis L that is less
than about 2% of the
peripheral wall exterior surface area 172. The facet exterior surface area 102
oriented away from
the longitudinal axis L can be between about 0.0001% and about 4% of the
peripheral wall
exterior surface area 172. The facet exterior surface area 102 oriented away
from the
longitudinal axis L can he between about 0.0001% and about 2% of the
peripheral wall exterior
surface area 172.
Each of the plurality of facets 100 can have a facet exterior surface area 102
oriented
away from the longitudinal axis L and each of the plurality of facets 100 can
have a face exterior
surface area 102 oriented away from the longitudinal axis L that is less than
about 1% of the
peripheral wall exterior surface area 172. The facet exterior surface area 102
oriented away from
the longitudinal axis L can be between about 0.0001% and about 1% of the
peripheral wall
exterior surface area 172.
Each of the plurality of facets 100 can have a facet exterior surface area 102
oriented
away from the longitudinal axis L and each of the plurality of facets 100 can
have an exterior
surface area 102 oriented away from the longitudinal axis L that is less than
about 0.5% of the
peripheral wall exterior surface area 172. The facet exterior surface area 102
oriented away from
the longitudinal axis L can he between about 0.0001% and about 0.5% of the
peripheral wall
exterior surface area 172.
The facets 100 can be small plane surfaces of individual panels. When a
plurality of
facets 100 are arranged to form a faceted region 90 on a container 10,
individual facets 100 can
present surfaces that reflect incident light in different directions. That is,
the orthogonal
directions away from the surfaces of individual facets 100 are divergent. The
differences in
intensity of light reflected to an observer's eyes are perceived to give the
container 10 luster or
make the container 10 look sparkly. Without being bound by theory, it is
thought that containers
having a faceted region 90 may shimmer as compared containers having the same
general
container shape that do not have faceted region 90. The shimmer, which can be
perceived by
consumers as flashes of light draw a consumer's eyes to the container 10
having a faceted region
90. Further, a container 10 formed of a thermoplastic material having a
faceted region 90 can
appear to be a glass container. As such, a lightweight container 10 can have
the appearance of a
more substantial glass container. By having a container 10 that shimmers when
viewed on the
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shelf of the store, it is thought that more consumers may be attracted to the
container and
consider purchasing the container 10 and contents therein.
At least a portion of the faceted region 90 can be located nearer to the
closed end 30 than
the open end 60. Without being bound by theory, it is thought that such an
arrangement can
.. provide for enhanced luster when the position of the longitudinal axis L is
changes front to back
relative to an observer's eye and when container 10 is rotated about the
longitudinal axis L.
Figure 2 is an approximate sectional view of the container 10 shown in Fig.
Ito illustrate
one configuration of the structure of a section of the container 10. A variety
of cross-sections
orthogonal to the longitudinal axis are contemplated herein. As shown in Fig.
2, around the
peripheral wall 50, at least a portion of the peripheral wall 50 about the
longitudinal axis L in a
plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis L below the neck 20 can be defined
by a plurality of
substantially straight line segments 110. The line segments 110 can be
arranged end to end, as
shown in Fig. 2.
At any particular location along the longitudinal axis L below the neck 20, at
least a
portion of the peripheral wall 50 about the longitudinal axis L in a plane
orthogonal to the
longitudinal axis L can be defined by a plurality of substantially straight
line segments 110. The
peripheral wall 50 about the longitudinal axis L in a plane orthogonal to the
longitudinal axis L
below the neck 20 can be entirely defined by a plurality of substantially
straight line segments
110. Each line segment 100 can have length 120, as shown in Fig. 3 which is a
cut-out view of a
.. portion of the peripheral wall shown in Fig. 2 as marked in Fig. 2. The
length of the transition
segment 130 between adjacent line segments 100 can have a length less than
about 10% of the
length of an adjacent line segment 100. The length of the transition segment
130 between
adjacent line segments 100 can have a length between about 0.0001% and about
10% of the
length of an adjacent line segment 100. Without being bound by theory, it is
thought that shorter
transition segments 130 can provide for more visual definition of the facets
100.
As shown in Fig. 12, at local positions along the longitudinal axis L, the
container 10 has
a local maximum internal dimension 210 orthogonal to the longitudinal axis L,
a local major axis
201 coincident with the local maximum internal dimension 210, a local minor
axis 211
orthogonal to the local major axis 201 and the longitudinal axis L, a local
minor internal
dimension 220 coincident with the local minor axis 211. At local positions
along the longitudinal
axis L, the container 10 has a local aspect ratio defined as a ratio of the
local maximum internal
dimension 210 to the local minor internal dimension 220. The neck 20 can be
considered to be a
location at which the local aspect ratio between about 1 and about 1.1
The local aspect ratio can be thought of as descriptive of the shape of the
various cross
sections of the container 10 taken orthogonal to the longitudinal axis L of
the container 10. If the
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local aspect ratio of a section of the container 10 taken orthogonal to the
longitudinal axis I, is 1,
that section of the container 10 can be circular, recognizing that the aspect
ratio as defined herein
of non-circular cross sections could be 1 if the local maximum internal
dimension 210 and the
local minor internal dimension 220 are the same, for example as might occur
for a square cross
section..
It can be practical to provide a container 10 that when resting on the closed
end 30 has a
broad front dimension, taken to be from left to right of the observer, and a
slimmer front to back
dimension, which is taken to be front to back into a shelf on which the
container 10 is observed.
Such an arrangement can provide more space for branding and labeling of the
container. Higher
up on the container 10, the cross section of the container 10 orthogonal to
the longitudinal axis L
can become more circular to provide a circular open end 60 that can be
conveniently fitted with a
closure.
The container 10 can have a local aspect ratio between about 1.3 and about 5
mid-way
along the longitudinal axis L, for example as shown in Fig. 12. Such a local
aspect ratio can
provide for a container 10 that has a broad dimension that can be suitable as
a primary label face
501 of the container 10. The primary label face 501 of the container can
contain the brand name
of the product contained within the container 10 in a large enough font so as
to be readable by an
observer at a distance between about 0.1 m and about 2 m under typical
lighting conditions that
occur in a retail environment. The primary label face 501 of the container 10
can be generally in
line with a local major axis 201 of the container 10, recognizing that the
primary label face 501
may be a curved surface. Optionally, the container 10 can have a local aspect
ratio between
about 1.4 and about 5 mid-way along the longitudinal axis L. Optionally, the
container 10 can
have a local aspect ratio between about 1.5 and 5 mid-way along the
longitudinal axis L.
Optionally, the container 10 can have a local aspect ratio between about 1.7
and about 5 mid-way
along the longitudinal axis L. Optionally, the container 10 can have a local
aspect ratio between
about 2 and about 5 mid-way along the longitudinal axis L.
Without being bound by theory, it is thought that containers 10 having a
faceted region 90
can be practical for attracting the attention of consumers from a distance
between about 2 m and
about 10 m. However, since the faceted region 90 has a plurality of facets
100, each of which
reflect in divergent direction, labeling on the container 10 can be difficult
for an observer to read
at a close distance, such as within about 2 m of the container 10. A container
10 having a local
aspect ratio between about 1.3 and about 5 mid-way along the longitudinal axis
L can provide for
a less rounded portion of the container 10 that can be labeled with brand
identifying information.
A faceted region 90 provided on such a container can balance the desire to
provide for a
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container 10 having a luster when viewed from a distance yet be legibly
labeled on a primary
label face 501 of the container 10.
As the consumer approaches the container 10 when walking along an aisle,
different
portions of the container 10 will be visible depending on her position
relative to the container.
For instance, if the primary label face 501 is facing the front of the shelf,
the consumer will first
be exposed to a portion of the side of the container 10 after which she will
be exposed to the front
of the container 10. The sharper curved surfaces of the container 10 can
provide more luster as
compared to the less curved surfaces of the container 10 since the surfaces of
the individual
facets 100 are more divergent for the former as compared to the latter. Facets
100 provided on
the primary label face 501 still can provide for luster yet branding
information provided in that
location can also be readable by the observer from a distance within 2 m under
normal lighting
conditions.
Along between about 20% and about 95% of the longitudinal axis L the container
10 can
have a local aspect ratio between about 1.3 and about 5. Along between about
20% and about
95% of the longitudinal axis L the container 10 can have a local aspect ratio
between about 1.5
and about 5. Along between about 40% and about 95% of the longitudinal axis L
the container
10 can have a local aspect ratio greater between about 1.3 and about S. Along
between about
40% and about 95% of the longitudinal axis L the container 10 can have a local
aspect ratio
between about 1.5 and about 5. Along between about 20% and about 85% of the
longitudinal
axis L the container 10 can have a local aspect ratio between about 1.3 and
about 5. Along
between about 20% and about 85% of the longitudinal axis L the container 10
can have a local
aspect ratio between about 1.5 and about 5. Along between about 40% and about
85% of the
longitudinal axis L the container 10 can have a local aspect ratio greater
between about 1.3 and
about 5. Along between about 40% and about 85% of the longitudinal axis L the
container 10
can have a local aspect ratio between about 1.5 and about S.
The neck 20 can be nearer to the open end 60 than to the closed end 30. By
having the
neck 20 located as such, a greater portion of the container 10 can be provided
with a faceted
region. Further, since the neck 20 can form a portion of the container 10
designed to be gripped,
the center of mass of the container 10 plus the contents therein will tend to
be lower than the
neck 20. A lower center of gravity may be practical for providing a container
from which it is
easy to pour contents, is stable in the user's hand, and is stable when
resting on a flat surface.
The neck 20 can have a neck open cross-section 80 between about 5 cm2 and
about 80
cm2. A neck 20 dimensioned as such can provide for a convenient location at
which to grip the
container 10. The neck 20 can have a neck open cross-section 80 between about
5 cm2 and about
.. 60 cm2. The neck 20 can have a neck open cross-section 80 between about 5
cm2 and about 40
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cm2. The neck 20 can have a neck open cross-section 80 between about 5 cm2 and
about 40 cm2.
The neck 20 can have a neck open cross-section 80 between about 5 cm2 and
about 20 cm2 or
even less than about 20 cm2. The neck 20 can have a neck open cross-section 80
between about
cm2 and about 10 cm2. Having a smaller neck 20 can be practical for containers
10 that
5 designed for used by persons having small hands.
"The container 10 can have a total volume defined by the closed end 30, the
peripheral
wall 50, and the open end 60. The total volume can be more than about 300 mL.
The total
volume can be more than about 500 mL. The total volume can be more than about
1000 mL.
The total volume can he more than about 1500 mL. The total volume can be more
than about
2000 mL. The total volume can be between about 300 mL and about 2000 mL.
The container 10 can have a partial volume above the neck 20. The partial
volume is
defined by the neck open cross-section 80 at the neck, the peripheral wall 50
above the neck 20,
and the open end 60. The partial volume can be thought of as the volume of the
part of the
container 10 above the neck 20. The partial volume above the neck 20 can be
less than about
20% of the total volume of the container 10. The partial volume above the neck
20 can be less
than about 10% of the total volume of the container 10. By having a lower
fraction of the total
volume above the neck 20, the container 10 can be more ergonomic for the
person gripping the
container 10 about the neck 20 since most of the contents within the container
10 are located
below the axis about which the container 10 is tipped when dispensing the
contents. The partial
volume above the neck 20 can be between about 1% and about 50% of the total
volume of the
container 10. The partial volume above the neck 20 can be between about 1% and
about 20% of
the total volume of the container 10. The partial volume above the neck 20 can
be between about
1% and about 10% of the total volume of the container 10.
The faceted region 90 can comprise more than about 30% of the peripheral wall
exterior
surface 170 of the peripheral wall 50. As shown in Fig. 4, faceted region 90
can he on a face 140
of the container 10. A faceted region 90 comprising more than about 30% of the
peripheral wall
exterior surface 170 of the peripheral wall 50 can be large enough so that the
shimmer emanating
there from can be noticeable by a consumer from a distance of about 1 meter
under lighting
conditions typically found in stores. The peripheral wall exterior surface 170
of the peripheral
wall 50 is the surface of the peripheral wall 50 oriented away from the
longitudinal axis L. The
faceted region 90 can comprise more than about 50% of the peripheral wall
exterior surface 170
of the peripheral wall 50. The faceted region 90 can comprise more than about
60% of the
peripheral wall exterior surface 170 of the peripheral wall 50. The faceted
region 90 can
comprise more than about 90% of the peripheral wall exterior surface 170 of
the peripheral wall
50. The faceted region 90 can comprise about 100% of the peripheral wall
exterior surface 170
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of the peripheral wall 50. The higher the percentage of the peripheral wall
exterior surface 170
that the faceted region 90 comprises, the technical effect of flashes of
reflection from the faceted
region 90 is apparent from a wider viewing angle. The faceted region 90 can
comprise between
about 30% and about 100% of the peripheral wall exterior surface 170. The
faceted region 90
5 can comprise between about 40% and about 100% of the peripheral wall
exterior surface 170 of
the peripheral wall 50. The faceted region 90 can comprise between about 50%
and about 100%
of the peripheral wall exterior surface 170 of the peripheral wall 50. The
faceted region 90 can
comprise between about 60% and about 100% of the peripheral wall exterior
surface 170 of the
peripheral wall 50.
10 'Me peripheral wall exterior surface 170 can have a surface area 172.
The faceted region
90 can comprise more than about 30% of the peripheral wall exterior surface
area 172. The
faceted region 90 can comprise more than about 50% of the peripheral wall
exterior surface area
172. The faceted region 90 can comprise more than about 70% of the peripheral
wall exterior
surface area 172. The faceted region 90 can comprise more than about 80% of
the surface area of
the peripheral wall exterior surface area 172. The larger the faceted region
90, the more
noticeable the faceted region 90 can be since the technical effect of flashes
of reflection from the
faceted region 90 is apparent from a wider viewing angle.
'Me peripheral wall exterior surface 170 can have a surface area 172. 'fhe
faceted region
90 can comprise between about 30% and 100% of the peripheral wall exterior
surface area 172.
The faceted region 90 can comprise between about 50% and about 100% of the
peripheral wall
exterior surface area 172. The faceted region 90 can comprise between about
70% and about
100% of the peripheral wall exterior surface area 172. The faceted region 90
can comprise
between about 80% and about 100% of the surface area of the peripheral wall
exterior surface
area 172. The larger the faceted region 90, the more noticeable the faceted
region 90 can be
since the technical effect of flashes of reflection from the faceted region 90
is apparent from a
wider viewing angle.
The faceted region 90 can extend around the peripheral wall 50, as shown in
Figs. 1 and
2. By arranging the faceted region 90 as such, as the consumer rotates the
container 10 around
the longitudinal axis I, to view all parts of peripheral wall 50, the movement
of the facets 100
relative to her eyes will create flashes of reflection that provide the
impression of a sparkly luster
from a glass container to the consumer.
The area of the faceted region 90 can be greater than about 60 cm2. The
visibility of the
faceted region 90 is thought to increase with increasing size of the faceted
region 90. The faceted
region 90 can be a discrete portion of peripheral wall 50 that is provided
with facets 100. For
example, a portion of the peripheral wall 50 can comprise a faceted region 90
and the remainder
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of the peripheral wall 50 can be free from or substantially free from facets
100. For example, a
portion of the peripheral wall 50 can comprise a faceted region 90 and the
remainder of the
peripheral wall 50 can be smooth and or provided with ribs and or other
surface contours that are
decorative and or structural. The area of the faceted region 90 can be between
about 60 cm2 and
about 2000 cm2.
The facets 100 can have a facet exterior surface 150 oriented away from the
longitudinal
axis L. The facet exterior surface 150 of each of the facets 100 can have an
opposing facet
interior surface that is oriented towards the longitudinal axis L. The facet
exterior surfaces 150
of the plurality of facets 100 can be positioned convexly relative to the
longitudinal axis L.
For example, as shown in Fig. 1, a plurality of facets 100 can be positioned
convexly
relative to the longitudinal axis L. In this arrangement, the plurality of
facets 100 can be
arranged to extend in a direction from towards the closed end 30 towards the
open end 60 of the
container. This arrangement can be thought of as being generally up and down
the container 10
when the container 10 is resting on the closed end 30. By arranging the
plurality of facets 100 to
be positioned in a direction from towards the closed end 30 towards the open
end 60, the
container 10 can generate flashes of reflectance when the longitudinal axis L
of the container 10
is tipped relative to the observer. This can give the visual impression of a
heavy faceted glass or
crystal container yet have the weight of light plastic container.
Similarly, the facet exterior surfaces 150 of the plurality of facets 100 can
be positioned
convexly relative to the longitudinal axis L in a direction about the
longitudinal axis L. That is,
the plurality of facets 100 can be positioned to at least partially wrap
around, or even entirely
wrap around, the longitudinal axis L of the container 10 at a particular
height of the container
along the longitudinal axis L. By arranging the plurality of facets 100 in
this manner, the
container 10 can have the impression of a sparkly luster when the container 10
is rotated about
.. the longitudinal axis L or when the consumer walks past the container 10
and is progressively
exposed to different portions of the peripheral wall 50 as she walks to, in
front of, and past the
container presented on a shelf in a store.
The convex arrangement of the plurality of facets 100 relative to the
longitudinal axis can
be up and down the container 10, around the container 10, or both up and down
and around the
.. container 10, for example in a helical or spiral arrangement.
Another way of describing the facets 100 forming the faceted region 90 is that
the facet
exterior surfaces 150 of the facets 100 are divergent from one another. That
is, the normal
direction away from the facet exterior surface 150 of each of the facets 100
forming the faceted
region can be unique for each facet 100. The normal direction away from the
facet exterior
.. surface 150 of each facet 100 can be divergent from the normal direction
away from the facet
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exterior surface 150 each adjacent facet 100. Such an arrangement can provide
for flashes of
reflection with changes in the viewing angle of the faceted region 90.
The facets 100 can have a variety of different shapes. All of the facets 100
on the
container 10 can have a substantially similar shape. As the shape of the
container 10 can be a
.. function of location along the longitudinal axis I, the facets 100 can he
scaled to fit such shape.
Optionally, the shape of the facets 100 can be transformed such that the shape
of each of the
facets 100 is common with each of the other facets 100 when the surface of the
peripheral wall
50 is transformed to have a common dimensional scale throughout the peripheral
wall 50. Such
an arrangement is illustrated in Fig. I. As shown in Fig. 1, the number of
facets 100 around the
.. peripheral wall 50 is the same at all locations along the longitudinal axis
L below the neck 20.
The size of the facets at a particular height on the container 10 can be a
function of the
perimeter of the container 10 which can be in turn a function of the location
along the
longitudinal axis L. The size of the facets 100 can decrease with decreasing
perimeter.
A variety of shapes are suitable for the facets 100. For example, the facets
100 can have a
substantially rhomboidal shape, as shown in Fig. 5. As shown in Figs. 5 and 6,
each of the facets
100 can have a centroid 160.
The centroid 160 of adjacent facets 100 can be aligned with one another on the
peripheral
wall exterior surface 170 of the container 10 at positions along the
longitudinal axis L, as shown
in Figs. 1 and 4. Similarly, the centroids 160 of adjacent facets 100 can be
aligned with one
another on the peripheral wall exterior surface 170 of the container 10 at
positions about the
longitudinal axis I, as shown in Figs. 1, 5, 7, 8, and 9.
'Me facets 100 can have a shape selected from the group consisting of
substantially
polygonal, substantially triangular, substantially quadrilateral,
substantially rhomboidal,
substantially hexagonal, and combinations thereof. A faceted region 90 can
comprise facets 100
having a plurality of shapes, by way of non-limiting example, as shown in Fig.
8.
Each of the adjacent facets 100 can have a facet area 105 that is within about
20% of one
another. For each facet 100, the facet area 105 is the area of the facet
exterior surface 150 of the
facet 100. Each of the adjacent facets 100 can have substantially the same
shape. The facet area
105 of each facet 100 forming the plurality of facets 100 can be less than
about 10% of the
surface area of the peripheral wall exterior surface 170 of the container 10.
The facet area 105 of
each facet 100 forming the plurality of facets 100 can be between about 0.001
% and about 10%
of the surface area of the peripheral wall exterior surface 170 of the
container 10. The facet area
105 of each facet 100 forming the plurality of facets 100 can be less than
about 5% of the surface
area of the peripheral wall exterior surface 170 of the container 10. The
facet area 105 of each
facet 100 forming the plurality of facets 100 can be between about 0.001 % and
about 5% of the
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surface area of the peripheral wall exterior surface 170 of the container 10.
The facet area 105 of
each facet 100 forming the plurality of facets 100 can be less than about 3%
of the surface area of
the peripheral wall exterior surface 170 of the container 10. The facet area
105 of each facet 100
forming the plurality of facets 100 can be between about 0.001 % and about 3%
of the surface
area of the peripheral wall exterior surface 170 of the container 10. The
facet area 105 of each
facet 100 forming the plurality of facets 100 can be less than about 2% of the
surface area of the
peripheral wall exterior surface 170 of the container 10. The facet area 105
of each facet 100
forming the plurality of facets 100 can be between about 0.001 % and about 2%
of the surface
area of the peripheral wall exterior surface 170 of the container 10. The
facet area 105 of each
facet 100 forming the plurality of facets 100 can be less than about 1% of the
surface area of the
peripheral wall exterior surface 170 of the container 10. The facet area 105
of each facet 100
forming the plurality of facets 100 can be between about 0.001 % and about 1%
of the surface
area of the peripheral wall exterior surface 170 of the container 10. Without
being bound by
theory, it is thought that if smaller facets 100 are used, more facets 100 can
be provided on the
peripheral wall exterior surface 170 of the container 10 which can provide for
more flashes of
reflectance as incident light is reflected off of the facets 100.
The facets 100 can be substantially flat. The facets 100 can be flat. The
flatter the facets
100 the more reflective the facets 100. Substantially flat surfaces are
thought to provide for
enhanced luster to the faceted region 100. Individual facets 100 can have a
radius of curvature of
the principal curvatures at the centroid of the facet 100 greater than about
60 mm. Individual
facets 100 can have a radius of curvature of the principal curvatures at the
centroid of the facet
100 greater than about 70 mm.
Individual facets 100 can have a radius of curvature of the principal
curvatures at the
centroid of the facet 100 greater than about 90 mm. Individual facets 100 can
have a radius of
curvature of the principal curvatures at the centroid of the facet 100 greater
than about 130 mm.
Without being bound by theory, such facets 100 are thought to be flat enough
so as to be
sufficiently reflective to provide for the desired luster.
The facets 100 bulling the faceted region 100 can have a Gaussian curvature
between
about -0.04 and about 0.04. The facets 100 forming the faceted region 100 can
have a Gaussian
curvature between about -0.01 and about 0.01. The Gaussian curvature of a
facet 100 is the
product of the principal curvatures of the facet 100.
To provide for enhanced flashes of reflectance from incident light reflecting
off of the
container 10, the peripheral wall 50 in the faceted region 90 can comprise an
outer skin layer
190. The outer skin layer 190 can be a sleeve 200 disposed about the
peripheral wall 50 of the
.. container, as shown in Fig. 10. The outer skin layer 190 can be provided,
by way of non-limiting
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example, to the container after the container 10 is blow molded or during blow
molding of the
container 10. For example, the sleeve 200 can be a shrink sleeve that is heat
shrunk around the
finished container 10. Alternatively, the sleeve 200 can be stretch sleeve
into which a pre-foim
or parison is blown to stretch the stretch sleeve to foini the finished
container 10.
The outer skin layer 190 can be a bounded label 210, as shown in Fig. 11. A
bounded
label 190 is a label forming part of the container 10 that only partially
extends about the
longitudinal axis L. The bounded label 190 can be selected from the group
consisting of a heat
transfer label, an in-mold label, and an adhesive label.
The outer skin layer 190 can be selected from the group consisting of an in-
mold label, an
adhesive label, a heat transfer label, a stretch sleeve label, wet glue label,
and a shrink sleeve
label.
To enhance the reflective properties of the facets, the outer skin layer 190
can be selected
from the group consisting of a bi axially oriented polystyrene, polyethylene
terephthalate, and
glycol modified polyethylene terephthalate. The outer skin layer 190 can be
printed. The outer
skin layer 190 can be reverse printed. The outer skin layer 190 can be a
metallic ink printed
outer skin layer 190. The printing can be a metallic ink or pearlescent ink. A
metallic foil can be
included in a laminate comprising the outer skin layer 190. A metallic ink
comprises small
particles of metal, such as aluminum, bronze, copper, zinc, or other metallic
element. '[he labels
can be printed by digital printing, flexographic printing, gravure printing,
or other suitable
printing technology. An outer skin layer 190 that is a metallic ink printed
outer skin layer 190
can provide for a reflective surface that that generates more intense
perceived flashes of
reflectance.
A polyethylene terphthalate, polyethylene terephthalate glycol, or oriented
polystyrene
label may be used. This method of printing puts the reflective surface on the
outside of the
package. This can be enhanced by using metallic ink (ink mixed with small
particles of
aluminum, bronze, copper, zinc, or other elements), pearlescent ink, and
metallic foils.
The container 10 can further comprise a plug seal closure 62 operatively
engaged with the
open end 60, as shown in Fig. 13. Together, the container 10 and plug seal
closure can provide
for an enclosed package 64 that does not leak the contents of the package 64
under stresses that
are anticipated to occur during the manufacture, storage, distribution, sale,
and use of the package
and/or contents of the package 64. The plug seal closure 62 can be a closure
that is threaded onto
the open end 60 of the container 10 for fit into or over the open end 60 of
the container. The
open end 60 of the container 10 can be calibrated. For instance the open end
60 of the container
10 can have dimensional tolerance between about 0% and about 2% of the
diameter of the open
end 60.
15
The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be understood as being
strictly
limited to the exact numerical values recited. Instead, unless otherwise
specified, each such
dimension is intended to mean both the recited value and a functionally
equivalent range
surrounding that value. For example, a dimension disclosed as "40 mm" is
intended to mean
.. "about 40 mm."
The citation of any document is not an admission that it is prior art with
respect to any
invention disclosed or claimed herein or that it alone, or in any combination
with any other
reference or references, teaches, suggests or discloses any such invention.
Further, to the extent
that any meaning or definition of a term in this document conflicts with any
meaning or
definition of the same term in a document referenced herein, the meaning or
definition assigned
to that term in this document shall govern.
While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated
and
described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other
changes and
modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.
It is therefore
intended to cover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications
that are within the
scope of this invention.
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