Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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BEVERAGE CONTAINER
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims priority to U.S. Patent
Application No. 17/374,555,
filed July 13, 2021, which is incorporated herein by reference in its
entirety.
FIELD
[0002] Embodiments described herein generally relate to a beverage
container.
Specifically, embodiments described herein relate to a beverage container
having a
sidewall with channels formed in the sidewall that are configured to limit or
resist
deformation of the beverage container.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Beverage containers composed of polyethylene terephthalate and
other plastics are
used for storing beverages, such as sports drinks, juices, water, and other
types of
beverages. Forming beverage containers from plastic materials is a cost-
effective and
convenient alternative to packaging beverages in glass or metal containers due
to their
light weight, transparency, and ease of production. However, such plastic
beverage
containers may be susceptible to deformation when exposed to high temperatures
or
changes in pressure.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] Some embodiments are directed to a beverage container that
includes a base, a
cylindrical sidewall extending from and integrally formed with the base, and
an upper
region extending from the sidewall and defining an upper opening. The beverage
container may include a longitudinal axis extending in a direction from the
base to the
upper opening. A continuous channel may be formed in and extend around a
circumference of the sidewall, and the continuous channel may be sinusoidal
such that the
continuous channel forms peaks and troughs. A height of the continuous channel
as
measured in a direction of the longitudinal axis from a peak to a trough may
be about
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30% to 80% of a height of the sidewall so as to resist elongation of the
beverage container
in the direction of the longitudinal axis.
[0005] Some embodiments are directed to a beverage container that
includes a base, a
cylindrical sidewall extending from and integrally formed with the base, and
an upper
region extending from the cylindrical sidewall and defining an upper opening.
Diagonal
channels may be formed in the sidewall and extend at an oblique angle relative
to a plane
transverse to a longitudinal axis of the beverage container. The diagonal
channels may be
spaced along a circumference of the sidewall to resist deformation of the
beverage
container in a direction of the longitudinal axis of the beverage container
and to resist
paneling in shape of the sidewall. The beverage container may further include
linear
channel segments formed in the sidewall and extending along a circumference of
the
sidewall, wherein the linear channel segments resist paneling of the sidewall
when an
internal pressure of the beverage container is less than an external pressure.
[0006] Some embodiments are directed to a beverage container that
includes a cylindrical
sidewall and a continuous channel formed in and extending around the sidewall.
The
continuous channel may have a sinusoidal pattern with three peaks and three
troughs such
that the continuous channel resists elongation of the beverage container in a
direction of a
longitudinal axis of the beverage container.
[0007] In any of the various embodiments discussed herein, the
continuous channel may
be configured to resist elongation in a direction of the longitudinal axis
when the
beverage container is suspended from the upper region and is filled with a
beverage
having a temperature at or above a glass transition temperature of the
beverage container.
[0008] In any of the various embodiments discussed herein, the beverage
container may
include a lower continuous channel and an upper continuous channel that are
spaced from
one another in a direction of the longitudinal axis of the beverage container.
In some
embodiments, each of the upper and lower continuous channels may include an
upper
bound defined as a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis at which the
peaks are formed
and a lower bound defined as a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis at
which the
troughs are formed, and the upper bound of the lower continuous channel may be
above
the lower bound of the upper continuous channel. In some embodiments, the
lower
continuous channel and the upper continuous channel may have the same
dimensions. In
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some embodiments, the peaks of the lower continuous channel and the upper
continuous
channel may be aligned in a longitudinal direction of the beverage container.
[0009] In any of the various embodiments discussed herein, the
continuous channel may
include a diagonal region extending between a peak and a trough of the
continuous
channel that forms an angle with a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis
of the
beverage container of 40 to 50 degrees. In some embodiments, the angle may be
45
degrees.
[0010] In any of the various embodiments discussed herein, the beverage
container may
further include linear channel segments formed in the sidewall and extending
around a
portion of the circumference of the sidewall. In some embodiments, the linear
channel
segments may be arranged in one or more planes transverse to the longitudinal
axis of the
beverage container. In some embodiments, the linear channel segments may be
spaced
from the continuous channel. In some embodiments, the continuous channel may
include
an upper bound that is a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis and at
which the peaks
are formed, and a lower bound that is a plane transverse to the longitudinal
axis and at
which the troughs are formed, and wherein the linear channel segments may be
positioned
between the upper bound and the lower bound.
[0011] In any of the various embodiments discussed herein having
diagonal channels, the
diagonal channels may be arranged at an angle relative to a plane that is
transverse to the
longitudinal axis of the beverage container that is 40 to 50 degrees. In some
embodiments, the diagonal channels may each have the same shape and
dimensions. In
some embodiments, each of the diagonal channels may have a first end opposite
a second
end, and a height of each of the diagonal channels measured in a direction of
the
longitudinal axis from the first end to the second end may be about 30% to 80%
of a
height of the sidewall of the beverage container. In some embodiments, the
diagonal
channels may be connected by peaks and troughs so as to form a continuous
channel.
[0012] Some embodiments are directed to a beverage container that
includes a base, a
sidewall extending from and integrally formed with the base, an upper region
extending
from the sidewall and defining an upper opening, wherein the beverage
container includes
a longitudinal axis extending in a direction from the base to the upper
opening. The
beverage container includes a first continuous channel formed in and extending
continuously around a circumference of the sidewall, wherein the first
continuous channel
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includes peaks and troughs connected by diagonal regions, and wherein the
first
continuous channel is configured to resist paneling and elongation of the
beverage
container. The beverage container further includes a second continuous channel
formed in
and extending continuously around a circumference of the sidewall, wherein the
second
continuous channel includes peaks and troughs connected by diagonal regions,
and
wherein the second continuous channel is configured to resist paneling and
elongation of
the beverage container. The beverage container further includes a central
channel formed
in and extending continuously around a circumference of the sidewall at a
central portion
of the sidewall between the first and second continuous channels, wherein the
central
channel is configured to resist paneling of the beverage container.
[0013] Some embodiments are directed to a beverage container that
includes a base, a
sidewall extending from and integrally formed with the base, and an upper
region
extending from the sidewall and defining an upper opening, wherein the
beverage
container includes a longitudinal axis extending in a direction from the base
to the upper
opening. The beverage container further includes a first continuous channel
formed in and
extending around a circumference of the sidewall, wherein the continuous
channel
includes peaks and troughs connected by diagonal regions, and wherein the
continuous
channel is configured to resist paneling and elongation of the beverage
container. The
beverage container further includes a second continuous channel formed in and
extending
around a circumference of the sidewall, wherein the second continuous channel
includes
peaks and troughs connected by diagonal regions, and the second continuous
channel is
configured to resist paneling and elongation of the beverage container. The
beverage
container further includes one or more vacuum panels formed in the sidewall of
the
beverage container and arranged between the first and second continuous
channels
[0014] Some embodiments are directed to a beverage container that
includes a base, a
sidewall extending from and integrally formed with the base, and an upper
region
extending from the sidewall and defining an upper opening, wherein the
beverage
container includes a longitudinal axis extending in a direction from the base
to the upper
opening. The beverage container further includes a continuous channel formed
in and
extending around a circumference of the sidewall, wherein the continuous
channel
includes peaks and troughs connected by diagonal regions, and the continuous
channel is
configured to resist paneling and elongation of the beverage container. The
beverage
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container further includes one or more vacuum panels formed in the sidewall of
the
beverage container. In any of the various embodiments discussed herein having
vacuum
panels, a vacuum panel of the one or more vacuum panels may have a perimeter,
an inner
wall that slopes from the perimeter to a bottom of the vacuum panel, and one
or more
projections extending from the bottom of the vacuum panel.
[0015] In any of the various embodiments discussed herein, the central
channel may be
arranged in a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis of the beverage
container.
[0016] In any of the various embodiments discussed herein, the central
channel may be
arranged at a midpoint of the sidewall in the direction of the longitudinal
axis.
[0017] In any of the various embodiments discussed herein, the diagonal
regions of the
first continuous channel may form an angle of 40 to 50 degrees relative to a
plane
transverse to the longitudinal axis of the beverage container.
[0018] In any of the various embodiments discussed herein, the beverage
container may
further include linear channel segments formed in the sidewall and extending
along a
circumference of the sidewall, wherein the linear channel segments may be
configured to
resist paneling of the sidewall when an internal pressure of the beverage
container is less
than an external pressure. In some embodiments, one or more of the linear
channel
segments may be arranged on the sidewall between the first continuous channel
and the
central channel. In some embodiments, one or more of the linear channel
segments may
be arranged on the sidewall above the first continuous channel.
[0019] In any of the various embodiments discussed herein, the peaks of
the first
continuous channel and the peaks of the second continuous channel may be
aligned in the
direction of the longitudinal axis of the beverage container.
[0020] In any of the various embodiments discussed herein having
vacuum panels, the
one or more vacuum panels may include seven to ten vacuum panels
[0021] In any of the various embodiments discussed herein having vacuum
panels, the
peaks of the first continuous channel may be aligned with troughs of the
second
continuous channel in a direction of the longitudinal axis.
[0022] In any of the various embodiments discussed herein having vacuum
panels, each
vacuum panel of the one or more vacuum panels may be arranged between a peak
of the
first continuous channel and a trough of the second continuous channel.
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100231 In any of the various embodiments discussed herein having vacuum
panels, each
of the one or more vacuum panels may include a width in a circumferential
direction that
is less than a circumferential distance measured from a first peak of the
first continuous
channel to a second peak of the first continuous channel.
[0024] In any of the various embodiments described herein having vacuum
panels, the
one or more vacuum panels may include a number of vacuum panels that is the
same as a
number of peaks of the first continuous channel.
[0025] In any of the various embodiments described herein having vacuum
panels, the
perimeter may include an oval shape.
[0026] In any of the various embodiments described herein having vacuum
panels, the
inner wall may be arranged at an angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the
vacuum panel
in a range of 1 degree to 50 degrees.
[0027] In any of the various embodiments described herein having vacuum
panels, the
inner wall may further include a step.
[0028] In any of the various embodiments described herein having vacuum
panels, the
vacuum panel of the one or more vacuum panels may further include a trench
formed in
the bottom of the vacuum panel, wherein the trench is configured to allow the
bottom to
flex in multiple directions.
[0029] In any of the various embodiments described herein having vacuum
panels, the
vacuum panel of the one or more vacuum panels may further include one or more
recesses formed in the bottom of the vacuum panel.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS/FIGURES
[0030] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and
form a part of the
specification, illustrate the present disclosure and, together with the
description, further
serve to explain the principles thereof and to enable a person skilled in the
pertinent art to
make and use the same.
[0031] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a beverage container
according to an
embodiment.
[0032] FIG. 2 shows a side view of a portion of a sidewall of the
beverage container of
FIG. 1.
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[0033] FIG. 3 shows a close-up cross sectional view of a channel of the
sidewall of the
beverage container of FIG. 1.
[0034] FIG. 4 shows a side view of a portion of a sidewall of the
beverage container of
FIG. 1.
[0035] FIG. 5 shows a side view of a beverage container
according to an embodiment.
[0036] FIG. 6 shows a side view of a beverage container
according to an embodiment.
[0037] FIG. 7 shows a side view of a beverage container
according to an embodiment.
[0038] FIG. 8 shows a side view of a beverage container having vacuum
panels according
to an embodiment.
[0039] FIG. 9 shows a side view of a beverage container having vacuum
panels according
to an embodiment.
[0040] FIG. 10 shows a cross-sectional view of a vacuum panel of the
beverage container
of FIG. 9 as taken along line 10-10 in FIG. 9.
[0041] FIG. 11 shows a cross-sectional view of a vacuum panel of a
beverage container
according to an embodiment.
[0042] FIG. 12 shows a side view of a beverage container having a
vacuum panel
according to an embodiment.
[0043] FIG. 13 shows a cross-sectional view of a vacuum panel of the
beverage container
of FIG. 12 as taken along line 13-13 in FIG. 12.
[0044] FIG. 14 shows a side view of a beverage container having a
vacuum panel
according to an embodiment.
[0045] FIG. 15 shows a cross-sectional view of a vacuum panel of the
beverage container
of FIG. 14 as taken along line 15-15 in FIG. 14.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
10046] In the following description, numerous specific details are set
forth in order to
provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments of the present disclosure.
However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the embodiments,
including
structures, systems, and methods, may be practiced without these specific
details. The
description and representation herein are the common means used by those
experienced
or skilled in the art to most effectively convey the substance of their work
to others
skilled in the art. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures,
components, and
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circuitry have not been described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring
aspects of the
disclosure.
[0047] References in the specification to "one embodiment," "an
embodiment," "an
example embodiment," etc., indicate that the embodiment described may include
a
particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not
necessarily
include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such
phrases are not
necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular
feature,
structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it
is submitted
that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to affect such
feature, structure, or
characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly
described.
[0048] The following examples are illustrative, but not limiting, of
the present disclosure.
Other suitable modifications and adaptations of the variety of conditions and
parameters
normally encountered in the field, and which would be apparent to those
skilled in the art,
are within the spirit and scope of the disclosure.
[0049] Beverage containers for storing various types of beverages may
be composed of a
plastic material, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), among others. Such
plastic
beverage containers often have a generally cylindrical construction. Plastic
beverage
containers may be filled with a beverage via a hot-filling operation. In a hot-
filling
operation, a beverage to be stored in the beverage container is heated to an
elevated
temperature, such as a temperature of about 170 F or more, and deposited in
the beverage
container. The beverage container may be supported on a support surface during
filling,
or the beverage container may be suspended by an upper end, or neck, of the
beverage
container during filling. Once filled and capped, the beverage container and
beverage
therein are rapidly cooled This cooling of the beverage may result in thermal
contraction,
which reduces the internal volume of the beverage container. To accommodate
the
resulting pressure differential, side walls of the beverage container may be
pulled inward.
Depending on the structure of the beverage container, including its sidewall,
this can
result in undesirable deformation, or "paneling" of the side wall, where a
once-cylindrical
sidewall takes on flattened or otherwise deformed shapes in order to
accommodate the
internal vacuum created by the reduction in volume of the beverage due to
thermal
contraction during cooling.
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100501 To help the beverage container to maintain its cylindrical shape
throughout the
process of filling the beverage container with a liquid and subsequently
during storage
and transportation of the beverage container, one or more ribs may be formed
in the
beverage container. The ribs may be formed on the beverage container as
recessed
(indented) channels that extend toward an interior volume of the beverage
container and
extend completely around the circumference of the beverage container in a
plane
transverse to a longitudinal axis of the beverage container. The ribs help to
prevent the
beverage container from paneling or otherwise deforming when an internal
pressure of
the beverage container is less than an external pressure. Such paneling may
reduce the
structural stability of the beverage container. Also, beverage containers that
experience
deformation may be unappealing to consumers, which may negatively impact sales
of the
beverage containers. While the ribs extending around a circumference of the
beverage
container may help to avoid paneling, the ribs may make the beverage container
more
susceptible to elongation in a longitudinal direction during certain types of
filling
operations.
[0051] As the beverage container is composed of plastic, the plastic
may begin to deform
if heated to a sufficiently high temperature, such as a temperature at or
above the glass
transition temperature of the beverage container. As a result, when the
beverage container
is suspended from its upper end or neck and is filled with a high temperature
beverage,
the weight of the beverage within the container and the heat may cause the
beverage
container to elongate in a longitudinal direction. Specifically, elongation
may be most
significant at the ribs of the beverage container, as the ribs may stretch or
flatten,
resulting in elongation of the beverage container.
[0052] Elongation of the beverage container may be undesirable because
the elongation
may result in beverage containers having different heights. Beverage
containers having
various heights may make it difficult to stack and store the beverage
containers. For
example, a case of beverage containers having varying heights may not evenly
carry the
load of another case of beverage containers stacked atop the first. The taller
beverage
containers may carry more of the load than the shorter ones, and may apply
uneven
pressure to the second case. This may make the second case sit unevenly on the
first,
making stacking and storage more difficult. This problem may compound as
additional
cases of beverage containers are stacked on top of one another.
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[0053] In some embodiments described herein, a beverage container
includes a sidewall
with a channel formed in the sidewall having a sinusoidal shape that extends
around a
circumference of the beverage container. The channel helps to resist
elongation of the
beverage container, such as during hot-filling operations, while also
providing resistance
to paneling. The sidewall of the beverage container may further include linear
channel
segments that extend along a portion of a circumference of the sidewall. The
linear
channel segments may provide further resistance to paneling.
[0054] In some embodiments, as shown, for example, in FIG. 1, a
beverage container 100
includes a base 120, a sidewall 160 extending from and integrally formed with
base 120,
and an upper region 180 extending from and integrally formed with sidewall 160
and
defining an upper opening. Beverage container 100 may include a recessed
region 190
where sidewall 160 transitions to upper region 180. Beverage container 100
includes a
longitudinal axis Z extending centrally in a direction from base 120 to upper
region 180.
Sidewall 160 is generally cylindrical such that beverage container 100 has a
generally
circular transverse cross section (not accounting for channels formed in
sidewall 160).
[0055] In some embodiments, sidewall 160 of beverage container 100 may
include one or
more circumferential channels 150 extending continuously around a
circumference of
sidewall 160. In FIG. 2, one circumferential channel 150 is arranged at lower
end 162 of
sidewall 160 adjacent base 120. As discussed above, circumferential channel
150 may
help to provide sidewall 160 with hoop strength and resistance to paneling but
may be
susceptible to elongation.
[0056] As shown in FIG. 1, one or more channels 140 are formed in
sidewall 160 that
serve to prevent or limit elongation of beverage container 100 in a direction
of the
longitudinal axis Z Channels 140 are formed as recessed areas in sidewall 160
that
extend toward an interior volume of beverage container 100 Channels 140 also
serve to
resist paneling of sidewall 160 (e.g., when an internal pressure of beverage
container 100
is less than an external pressure) by contributing hoop strength to beverage
container 100.
Specifically, beverage container 100 is configured to resist elongation in a
direction of
longitudinal axis Z when beverage container 100 is suspended from upper region
180 and
is filled with a beverage having a temperature at or above a glass transition
temperature of
the material forming beverage container 100 (e.g., PET).
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100571 In some embodiments, a continuous channel 140 is formed in
sidewall 160 and
extends around a circumference C of sidewall 160. In some embodiments,
continuous
channel 140 has a sinusoidal shape such that continuous channel 140 includes a
series of
alternating peaks 146 and troughs 144 separated by diagonal regions 142.
Diagonal
regions 142 may be generally linear or may have a slight curvature so as to be
curvilinear.
It is understood that diagonal regions 142 may necessarily have a slight
curvature as
diagonal regions 142 extend around a portion of cylindrical sidewall 160.
Further, in
some embodiments, diagonal region 142 may have a slight curvature as a
diagonal region
142 approaches a peak 146 or a trough 144. In some embodiments, continuous
channel
140 may form three peaks 146 (and thus three troughs 144). Some embodiments
may
include additional or fewer peaks 146, however, due to approach and passage
through a
transverse plane relative to longitudinal axis Z, peaks 146 and troughs 144
may be more
susceptible to elongation than diagonal regions 142 of continuous channel 140.
As a
result, the susceptibility of beverage container 100 to elongation decreases
as the number
of peaks 146 (and troughs 144) is reduced.
[0058] Continuous channels 140 serve a dual purpose. to resist or
prevent elongation of
beverage container 100 in a direction of longitudinal axis Z during hot-
filling operations,
and to resist or prevent paneling of beverage container 100 when an internal
pressure of
beverage container 100 is less than an external pressure. As discussed, ribs
(or channels)
that extend circumferentially around the beverage container and that are
oriented in or
near a plane transverse to a longitudinal axis Z may be susceptible to
elongation in the
direction of longitudinal axis Z, because, for example, the weight of a high-
temperature
beverage will be directed in the direction of longitudinal axis Z, nearly
perpendicularly to
the ribs However, diagonal regions 142 of continuous channel 140 are less
susceptible to
elongation because diagonal regions 142 are oriented at an angle relative to a
transverse
plane. As a result, when beverage container 100 is filled with a high-
temperature
beverage, beverage container 100 is less able to stretch longitudinally in
diagonal region
142 of continuous channel 140. The weight of the high-temperature beverage (in
the
direction of longitudinal axis Z) will not be perpendicular to the direction
of diagonal
region 142 and will instead be at an angle thereto.
[0059] Further, as continuous channels 140 extend around a
circumference C of sidewall
160, continuous channels 140 inhibit sidewall 160 from deforming, such as
collapsing
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toward an interior of beverage container 100 when an internal pressure of
beverage
container 100 is greater than an external pressure. Thus, continuous channels
140 also
help sidewall 160 to maintain a cylindrical configuration.
[0060] As shown in FIG. 2, diagonal regions 142 of continuous channel
140 are formed
at an angle 01, relative to a plane that is transverse to longitudinal axis Z
of beverage
container 100. In some embodiments, angle 01, may be, for example, 40 to 50
degrees. In
some embodiments, the angle may be 45 degrees so as to balance resistance to
paneling
when beverage container 100 is subjected to a pressure differential and
resistance to
elongation during hot-filling operations. As angle et decreases, such that
continuous
channel 140 is flattened and the sinusoidal pattern has a lower amplitude, the
resistance to
elongation provided by continuous channel 140 decreases while resistance to
paneling
increases.
[0061] In some embodiments, channels 140 have a rounded indented
surface, as shown
for example at FIG. 3. Continuous channels 140 may take the form of a circular
arc (e.g.,
a semi-circle) in cross section. However, channels 140 may have other cross-
sectional
shapes, for example a U-shape or parabolic cross-sectional shape, among
others. In some
embodiments, continuous channels 140 may have a width w as measured in a
transverse
direction of a channel 140 from a first side 141 to an opposing second side
143 of channel
140. Width w may be, for example, 4 mm to 8 mm. In some embodiments,
continuous
channels 140 may have a depth d as measured from a plane of sidewall 160 to a
deepest
portion of channel 140. Depth d may be, for example, 0.5 mm to 4 mm (e.g., 0.8
mm).
[0062] In some embodiments, continuous channels 140 have a circular-arc
cross section
based on a circle of 4 mm to 8 mm (e.g., 6 mm) diameter, with a depth d of 0.5
mm to 4
mm (e g , 0.8 mm) As depth d of continuous channel 140 increases, the
resistance of
beverage container 100 to paneling increases. However, increasing depth d of
channel
140 may make beverage container 100 more susceptible to elongation in a
longitudinal
direction. In some embodiments, all continuous channels 140 have the same
cross-
sectional size and shape.
[0063] In some embodiments, sidewall 160 is formed with two or more
continuous
channels 140a, 140b, such as a lower continuous channel 140a and an upper
continuous
channel 140b, as shown in FIG. 2. Lower continuous channel 140a and upper
continuous
channel 140b are spaced from one another in a longitudinal direction. In some
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embodiments, sidewall 160 may include three or more continuous channels 140.
However, as the number of continuous channels 140 increases, the ability of
beverage
container 100 to resist elongation may decrease because peaks 146 and troughs
144 are
more susceptible to elongation than diagonal regions 142 as discussed above,
and thus
additional peaks 146 and troughs 144 formed in additional continuous channels
140 may
make beverage container 100 more susceptible to elongation.
[0064] In some embodiments, lower and upper continuous channels 140a,
140b may be
formed with the same shape and dimensions. Thus, each channel 140a, 140b may
be
sinusoidal. Each channel 140a, 140b may have the same height as measured in a
longitudinal direction from a trough 144 to a peak 146 of a continuous channel
140, and
each channel 140a, 140b may have the same number of peaks 146 and troughs 144.
The
lower and upper continuous channels 140a, 140b may be in-phase with one
another, such
that peaks 146a, 146b of the lower and upper continuous channels 140a, 140b
are aligned
in the longitudinal direction of beverage container 100.
[0065] In some embodiments, each continuous channel 140 includes a
lower bound L and
an upper bound U, as best shown in FIG. 2. Lower bound L is a plane transverse
to
longitudinal axis Z of beverage container 100, and similarly upper bound U is
a plane that
is parallel to lower bound L and transverse to longitudinal axis Z. Each
continuous
channel 140 oscillates between its lower bound L and upper bound U. In some
embodiments, each peak 146 of a continuous channel 140 is formed at upper
bound U and
each trough 144 is formed at lower bound L.
[0066] Each continuous channel 140 has a height measured in a direction
of longitudinal
axis Z from trough 144 to peak 146 (or lower bound L to upper bound U). Lower
continuous channel 140 has a height hi, and upper continuous channel 140b has
a height
h2 that may be the same as hi. In some embodiments, a height, hi or h2, of
each
continuous channel 140 may be about 30% to about 80% of a height of sidewall
160. In
some embodiments, each continuous channel 140 may be about 40% to about 70% of
the
height of sidewall 160. The height, H, of sidewall 160 is measured from a
lower end 162
of sidewall 160 adjacent base 120 in a direction of longitudinal axis Z to an
upper end
161 of sidewall 160 adjacent upper region 180.
[0067] In some embodiments, upper bound Ui of a lower continuous
channel 140a may
be above lower bound L2 of an upper continuous channel 140b. In this way,
continuous
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channels 140a, 140b are spaced closely together such that a plane transverse
to
longitudinal axis Z intersects at least a portion of a continuous channel 140.
In some
embodiments, upper bound Ui of lower continuous channel 140a may be at or
below
lower bound L2 of upper continuous channel 140b.
[0068] In some embodiments, sidewall 160 of beverage container 100
further includes
linear channel segments 170, as shown in FIG. 4. Linear channel segments 170
provide
additional resistance to paneling of sidewall 160 of beverage container 100
when an
internal pressure of beverage container 100 is less than an external pressure
by
contributing hoop strength to beverage container 100. Thus, linear channel
segments 170
help sidewall 160 of beverage container 100 to retain its cylindrical shape
throughout
filling, transportation, and storage of beverage container 100.
[0069] Linear channel segments 170 extend around a portion of a
circumference of
sidewall 160. Similarly to continuous channels 140, linear channel segments
170 may be
formed in sidewall 160 as recessed areas that extend towards an interior
volume of
beverage container 100. Linear channel segments 170 may be positioned in one
or more
planes, e.g., Xi, X2, X3 and X4, that are transverse to longitudinal axis Z of
beverage
container 100. Each transverse plane may have multiple linear channel segments
170 that
are spaced from one another around the circumference of sidewall 160. In some
embodiments, a plane extending transversely to longitudinal axis Z may include
four
linear channel segments 170 spaced around the circumference of sidewall 160.
Linear
channel segments 170 in a particular plane may each be the same shape and
dimensions.
In some embodiments, linear channel segments 170 in a first plane Xi may
extend around
a circumference to a greater extent than linear channel segments 170 arranged
in a second
plane X2, such that the linear channel segments 170 in each plane differ in
length In some
embodiments, linear segments 170 in different planes, e.g., plane Xi and X2,
may be
aligned on sidewall 160 along longitudinal axis Z.
[0070] Linear channel segments 170 may be formed in sidewall 160 in an
area between a
lower bound L and an upper bound U of a continuous channel 140, as shown in
FIG. 2.
Linear channel segments 170 are spaced from continuous channel 140 such that
linear
channel segments 170 do not intersect or overlap with continuous channel 140.
Thus,
linear channel segments 170 provide additional resistance to paneling in areas
of sidewall
160 not occupied by continuous channels 140. As linear channel segments 170 do
not
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extend continuously around circumference C of beverage container 100, linear
channel
segments 170 do not have a significant tendency to deform in the direction of
longitudinal
axis Z. The sidewall material that interrupts them constrains such
deformation.
[0071] Linear channel segments 170 may have a rounded indented surface.
Similar to
continuous channels 140, linear channel segments 170 may take the form of a
circular arc
(e.g., a semi-circle) in cross-section. However, linear channel segments 170
may have
other cross-sectional shapes, for example, a U-shape or parabolic cross-
sectional shape,
among others. Similar to the representation of continuous channel 140 shown in
FIG. 3,
in some embodiments, linear channel segments 170 have a width as measured in a
transverse direction of a channel segment 170 from a first side to an opposing
second side
of channel segment 170. The width may be, for example, 4 mm to 8 mm (e.g., 5
mm to 7
mm). In some embodiments, linear channel segments 170 may have a depth as
measured
from a plane of sidewall 160 to a deepest portion of channel segment 140. The
depth may
be, for example, 2 mm to 4 mm (e.g., 3 mm).
[0072] In some embodiments, linear channel segments 170 have a semi-
circular cross
section with a diameter of 4 mm. In some embodiments, all linear channel
segments 170
have the same cross-sectional size and shape. In some embodiments, each linear
channel
segment 170 may be formed with a deeper depth than depth d of continuous
channel 140.
In some embodiments, at least some linear channel segments 170 may have the
same
cross-sectional size and shape as at least some continuous channels 140.
[0073] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 5, a beverage container
200 includes a
base 220, a sidewall 260 extending from and integrally formed with base 220,
and an
upper region 280 extending from and integrally formed with sidewall 260 and
defining an
upper opening. Beverage container 200 includes a longitudinal axis extending
in a
direction from base 220 to upper region 280. Sidewall 260 is generally
cylindrical such
that beverage container 200 has a generally circular transverse cross section.
Thus,
beverage container 200 is formed in the same manner as beverage container 100
and
differs in that beverage container 200 includes a plurality of diagonal
channels 240
formed in sidewall 260 and that are spaced around a circumference of sidewall
260. Each
diagonal channel 240 may have the same shape and dimensions. In some
embodiments,
six diagonal channels 240 extend around a circumference of sidewall 260. In
other
embodiments, fewer or additional diagonal channels 240 may be formed in
sidewall 260.
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[0074] Similar to diagonal regions 142 of continuous channels 140 of
beverage container
100 as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, diagonal channels 240 of beverage container
200 serve
to resist or limit elongation of beverage container 200 in a longitudinal
direction, such as
during hot-filling operations. As discussed with respect to continuous
channels 140 of
beverage container 100, diagonal channels 240 also help to prevent paneling of
sidewall
260 when an internal pressure of beverage container 200 is less than an
external pressure,
as diagonal channels 240 extend around the circumference of sidewall 260.
[0075] Diagonal channels 240 are oriented at an angle 02 relative to a
plane Y that is
transverse to longitudinal axis Z. The angle may be, for example, 40 to 50
degrees. In
some embodiments, the angle is 45 degrees. Further, each diagonal channel 240
may
extend between a lower bound L defined as a plane transverse to a longitudinal
axis of
beverage container 200 and an upper bound U defined as a plane transverse to
longitudinal axis that is parallel to lower bound L. A first diagonal channel
240 may have
a first end 241 at an upper bound U and extends along sidewall 260 in a
counter-
clockwise direction to a second end 242 at a lower bound L, and an adjacent
diagonal
channel 240 may have a first end 241 at lower bound L and extends along
sidewall 260 in
a counter-clockwise direction to a second end 242 at upper bound U. In this
way,
diagonal channels 240 may form a discontinuous, wave-like pattern. In some
embodiments, however, diagonal channels 240 may be connected, e.g., by
connecting a
second end 242 of a first diagonal channel 240 to a first end 241 of a second
diagonal
channel 240 so as to form peaks and troughs, and forming a continuous channel
comprising diagonal channels 240 that extends around a circumference of
sidewall 260.
[0076] Each diagonal channel 240 has a height h3, measured in a
direction of longitudinal
axis Z from first end 241 to second end 242 (or from lower bound L to upper
bound U)
In some embodiments height h3 of each diagonal channel 240 may be about 30% to
about
80% of a height of sidewall 260. In some embodiments, each diagonal channel
240 may
be about 40% to about 70% of the height of sidewall 260. The height of
sidewall 260 is
measured from a lower end 262 of sidewall 260 adjacent base 220 in a direction
of the
longitudinal axis to an upper end 261 of sidewall 260 adjacent upper region
280.
[0077] In some embodiments, diagonal channels 240 may have a cross
sectional shape,
width and depth as discussed above with respect to continuous channels 140.
Thus,
diagonal channels 240 may be radiused so as to have a rounded surface.
Diagonal
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channels 240 may be generally semi-circular in cross section. However,
diagonal
channels 240 may have alternate cross-sectional shapes and may have a U-shape
or
parabolic cross-sectional shape, among others. In some embodiments, diagonal
channels
240 may have a diameter or width of 4 mm to 8 mm. In some embodiments,
diagonal
channels 240 may have a depth of 0.5 mm to 4 mm, and in an embodiment the
depth may
be 0.8 mm. As the depth of diagonal channels 240 increases, the resistance of
beverage
container 200 to paneling increases. However, increasing depth of diagonal
channel 240
makes beverage container 200 more susceptible to elongation in a longitudinal
direction.
[0078] In some embodiments, sidewall 260 may include diagonal channels
240 extending
around a circumference of sidewall 260 that are centered along two or more
planes that
are transverse to a longitudinal axis of beverage container 200. Thus,
diagonals channels
240 may be arranged on sidewall 260 in two or more rows. Diagonal channels 240
in
each row may be aligned in a longitudinal direction of beverage container 200.
[0079] In some embodiments, beverage container 200 may further include
a plurality of
linear channel segments 270 formed in sidewall 260 of beverage container 200.
Linear
channel segments 270 may have the same shape, arrangement, and function as
described
above with respect to linear channel segments 170 of beverage container 100.
[0080] In some embodiments, a beverage container 300 may include a
sidewall 360
having a one or more central channels 350, as shown in FIG. 6. Beverage
container 300
may be formed as discussed above with respect to beverage containers 100, 200,
and thus
may have a base 320, a sidewall 360 extending from an integrally formed with
base 320,
and an upper region 380 extending from and integrally formed with sidewall 360
and
defining an upper opening. Further, beverage container 300 may include a
recessed region
390 where sidewall 360 transitions to upper region 380, and sidewall 360 may
be
cylindrical such that beverage container 300 has a generally circular
transverse cross
section.
[0081] Beverage container 300 differs from beverage container 100
primarily in having
one or more central channels 350 arranged at a central portion 365 of sidewall
360 rather
than having a circumferential channel 150 at lower end 162 of sidewall 160 as
in
beverage container 100 shown for example in FIG. 2. Beverage container 300 may
include one or more continuous channels 340 having the shape, arrangement, and
functions as described above with respect to continuous channels 140 unless
specifically
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noted otherwise. Further, beverage container 300 may include linear channel
segments
370 having the same shape, arrangement, and functions as described above with
respect
to linear channel segments 170 unless specifically noted otherwise.
[0082] A central portion of a sidewall of a beverage container may be
more prone to
paneling than portions of the sidewall that are closer to the upper region or
the base of the
beverage container, which have relatively high hoop strength. Arranging one or
more
central channels 350 at a central portion 365 of sidewall 360 was found to
reinforce
central portion 365 of sidewall 360 and provide additional hoop strength,
i.e., greater
resistance to paneling, and arranging one or more continuous channels 340
above, below,
or above and below central channel(s) 350 provides sidewall 360 with
resistance to
elongation. Thus, central channel(s) 350 can be positioned at a location on
container 300
of relatively higher susceptibility to paneling, while channels 340 above and
below
central channel(s) 350 can still provide resistance to elongation in the
manner discussed
above.
[0083] In some embodiments, a central channel 350 is arranged on a
central portion 365
of sidewall 360 of beverage container 300 in a longitudinal direction between
base 320
and upper region 380. In some embodiments, a single central channel 350 may be
arranged at a midpoint of sidewall 360. Central channels 350 may be formed in
and may
extend continuously around a circumference of sidewall 360 of beverage
container 300.
Central channel 350 may be arranged in a plane X5 transverse to a longitudinal
axis of
beverage container 300.
[0084] Central channel 350 may have a width in a range of about 3 mm to
about 12 mm
in a transverse direction across channel 350 (i.e., in a vertical direction as
shown in FIG.
6) from a first side to an opposing second side of channel 350 Central channel
350 may
have a depth of about 0.5 mm to about 8 mm as measured from a plane of
sidewall 360 to
a deepest portion of central channel 350. Central channel 350 may be wider
than it is
deep. By forming a wide and shallow central channel 350, the susceptibility of
central
channel 350 to elongation is minimized. Generally, the greater the depth of a
continuous
circumferential channel, the greater the susceptibility of the channel to
elongation.
[0085] In some embodiments, sidewall 360 of beverage container 300 may
include two
continuous channels 340 (340A and 340B), as shown for example in FIG. 6.
Central
channel 350 may be arranged between the two continuous channels 340, such that
an
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upper continuous channel 340A is arranged above central channel 350 (i.e.,
closer to
upper region 380) and a lower continuous channel 340B is arranged below
central
channel 350 (i.e., closer to base 320). Upper and lower continuous channels
340A, 340B
may be spaced from one another in the direction of the longitudinal axis of
the beverage
container 300.
[0086] Upper and lower continuous channels 340A, 340B may be formed as
discussed
above with respect to continuous channels 140. However, as sidewall 360 of
beverage
container 300 includes a central channel 350 that occupies a portion of
sidewall 360, a
height of each continuous channels 340A, 340B as measured in a longitudinal
direction
from a peak to a trough of the continuous channel may be reduced relative to
continuous
channels 140 of beverage container 100. As discussed with respect to diagonal
regions
142, the angle of diagonal regions 342 of continuous channels 340A, 340B
extending
between a peak and a trough of continuous channel 340A, 340B may form an angle
of 40
to 50 degrees relative to a plane transverse to a longitudinal axis of the
beverage container
300, and in some embodiments the angle may be 45 degrees. Further, a lower
bound Li of
upper continuous channel 340A may be arranged above an upper bound U2 of lower
continuous channel 340B in the longitudinal direction of the beverage
container 300.
Lower bound Li of upper continuous channel 340A may be spaced from upper bound
U2
of lower continuous channel 340B, and central channel 350 may be arranged in a
plane
X5 between lower bound Li of upper continuous channel 340A and upper bound U2
of
lower continuous channel 340B.
[0087] In some embodiments, beverage container 300 may further include
linear channel
segments 370. Linear channel segments 370 may have the same shape,
arrangement, and
functions as described above with respect to linear channel segments 170
Linear channel
segments 370 may be arranged above upper continuous channel 340A and may be
arranged below lower continuous channel 340B. In some embodiments, as shown in
FIG.
6, no linear channel segments 370 are arranged between upper continuous
channel 340A
and central channel 350 and between lower continuous channel 340B and central
channel
350.
[0088] In some embodiments, however, linear channel segments 470 may
additionally be
arranged between upper continuous channel 440A and central channel 450 and
also
between lower continuous channel 440B and central channel 450, as shown for
example
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in FIG. 7. Beverage container 400 may be the same as beverage container 300
but
additionally includes linear channel segments 470 arranged between upper
continuous
channel 440A and central channel 450 and between lower continuous channel 440B
and
central channel 450. However, in some embodiments, beverage container may
include
linear channel segments 470 between upper continuous channel 440 and central
channel
450 with no linear channel segments 470 between lower continuous channel 440B
and
central channel 450, or vice versa. The additional linear channel segments 470
may help
to further resist or prevent paneling of sidewall 460.
[0089] Linear channel segments 470 may be arranged in one or more
planes transverse to
a longitudinal axis of beverage container 400. In some embodiments, linear
channel
segments 470 that are arranged above and below each continuous channel 440 may
not be
in the same plane and may instead be staggered. For example, as shown in FIG.
7, linear
channel segments 470A are arranged above upper continuous channel 440A and are
arranged in a common plane X6. However, linear channel segments 470B arranged
below
upper continuous channel 440A are not arranged in the same plane X6 as linear
channel
segments 470A and are instead staggered relative to linear channel segments
470A. By
staggering linear channel segments 470, different zones of strength may be
created on
sidewall 460.
[0090] Further, linear channel segments 470 arranged above a continuous
channel 440
may be spaced from one another at a different distance in a longitudinal
direction than
linear channel segments arranged below continuous channel 440. For example, as
shown
in FIG. 7, linear channel segments 470A, 470C arranged above continuous
channel 440A
may be spaced from one another at a first distance Di in a longitudinal
direction of
beverage container 400, whereas linear channel segments 470B, 470D arranged
below
upper continuous channel 440A may be spaced from one another at a second
distance D2
in the longitudinal direction of beverage container 400. The first distance Di
may be
different from the second distance Dz. Channel segments 470B, 470D are spaced
more
closely together in embodiments where a portion of sidewall 460 between upper
continuous channel 440A and central channel 450 may be smaller than a portion
of
sidewall 460 above upper continuous channel 440A. Accordingly, the spacing of
the
linear channel segments 470 may be smaller to accommodate the smaller space.
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[0091] In some embodiments, a beverage container 100, 200, 300, 400 as
described
herein may be configured to resist elongation during a hot-filling operation
such that the
elongation of the beverage container is 1.5 % or less, 1.25% or less, or 1.0 %
or less of
the original height of the bottle.
[0092] In order to determine resistance of a beverage container to
paneling, the beverage
container can be filled with a liquid and sealed, and then some amount of the
liquid can
be extracted from the beverage container under a vacuum (e.g., via a syringe
that pierces
the bottle). In order to resist paneling of the beverage container due to
pressure changes
normally experienced during filling and storage of a beverage container, such
as due to
contraction resulting from cooling of the hot-filled liquid and evaporative
losses of the
beverage over time, the sidewall of the beverage container may be intended to
withstand
removal of a volume of liquid that is 0 % to 7%, 1.5 % to 6.5 %, or 3 % to 6
A. of the
total volume of the beverage container which will correspond to the % volume
reduction
due to thermal contraction of the beverage in a production scenario.
[0093] Some embodiments described herein are directed to a beverage
container 500 that
includes a sidewall 560 having a continuous channel 540 and one or more vacuum
panels
530, as shown for example in FIG. 8. Beverage container 500 may be formed as
discussed
above with respect to beverage containers 100, 200, 300, 400 and thus may have
a base
520, a sidewall 560 extending from an integrally formed with base 520, and an
upper
region 580 extending from and integrally formed with sidewall 560 and defining
an upper
opening. Beverage container 500 may include a recessed region 590 where
sidewall 560
transitions to upper region 580, and sidewall 560 may be cylindrical such that
beverage
container 500 has a generally circular transverse cross section.
[0094] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG 8, sidewall 560 may include
one or more
continuous channels 540 formed in sidewall 560 and extending around a
circumference of
sidewall 560. In some embodiments, continuous channel 540 may have a series of
alternating peaks 546 and troughs 544 separated by diagonal portions 542, such
that
continuous channel 540 has a sinusoidal shape. Diagonal portions 542 may be
generally
linear or may have a slight curvature so as to be curvilinear.
[0095] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 8, beverage container 500
may include a
sidewall 560 having an upper continuous channel 540A and a lower continuous
channel
540B. In some embodiments, upper and lower continuous channels 540A, 540B may
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have the same configuration and dimensions. Upper continuous channel 540A and
lower
continuous channel 540B may be separated by a space 562. Space 562 may be
measured
from a transverse plane at a lower bound of upper continuous channel 540A to
an upper
bound of the lower continuous channel 540B in a direction parallel to a
longitudinal axis
of beverage container 500.
[0096] When applying a label to beverage container 500, label may be
affixed to portions
of sidewall 560 adjacent continuous channels 540A, 540B. Continuous channels
540A,
540B help to maintain a cylindrical sidewall 560 which facilitates application
of the label
to sidewall 560. To help provide area to support a label on beverage container
500, each
continuous channel 540A, 540B may have a height h4 of 15 mm to 25 mm, 16 mm to
24
mm or 18 mm to 22 mm, wherein the height h4 is measured from a trough 544 to a
peak
546 of the continuous channel 540 in a longitudinal direction of beverage
container 500.
In some embodiments, the height h4 may be in a range of about 15 mm to about
25 mm.
This may help to facilitate application of a label to sidewall 560 by
providing a sufficient
area for attaching the label to sidewall 560. In some embodiments, the total
combined
height h4 of continuous channels 540A, 540B may be in a range of 30% to 80% of
a total
height of sidewall 560 of beverage container 500.
[0097] In some embodiments, diagonal portions 542 of continuous
channels 540 may be
oriented at an angle relative to a plane that is transverse to a longitudinal
axis of the
beverage container of 40 to 50 degrees. In some embodiments, the angle may be
45
degrees so as to balance resistance to paneling when beverage container 500 is
subjected
to a pressure differential and resistance to elongation during hot-filling
operations. As the
angle decreases, such that continuous channel 540 is flattened and the
sinusoidal pattern
has a lower height h4, the resistance to elongation provided by continuous
channel 540
decreases while the resistance to paneling increases.
[0098] In some embodiments, each continuous channel 540 of beverage
container 500
having vacuum panels 530 may have seven to ten peaks. The number of peaks may
be
selected in order for the continuous channel 540 to extend continuously around
the
circumference of sidewall 560 while maintaining continuous channel 540 in the
desired
height h4 and with an angle of the diagonal portions 542 of continuous channel
540 in the
desired range. Generally, as the number of peaks decreases, with the angle of
the diagonal
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portion of the continuous channel and the dimensions of the sidewall 560
remaining
constant, the height of the continuous channel increases.
[0099] Sidewall 560 of beverage container 500 further includes one or
more vacuum
panels 530 to help absorb the change in pressure exerted on beverage container
500
during cooling of a beverage after hot-filling the beverage into beverage
container 500.
Vacuum panels 530 may deform in order to prevent paneling of a remainder of
sidewall
560. In embodiments having vacuum panels 530 on sidewall 560, base 520 of
beverage
container 500 may not need to be designed to accommodate change in pressure.
However,
in some embodiments, base 520 may include features that can flex or deform in
order to
help to absorb the change in pressure.
[0100] In some embodiments, one or more vacuum panels 530 are formed in
sidewall 560
and are arranged between upper and lower continuous channels 540A, 540B.
Vacuum
panels 530 may have a recessed configuration and may extend inwardly toward an
interior of beverage container 500. In some embodiments, vacuum panels 530 may
have a
perimeter in the shape of a square, rectangle, circle, or oval, among other
shapes. Vacuum
panels 530 may be arranged around a circumference of sidewall 560. Vacuum
panels 530
may be evenly spaced around the circumference to evenly distribute the forces
exerted on
beverage container 500.
[0101] In some embodiments, vacuum panels 530 may be arranged between
an upper
continuous channel 540A and a lower continuous channel 540B. In some
embodiments,
upper continuous channel 540A may be arranged in-phase with respect to lower
continuous channel 540B such that a peak 546 of an upper continuous channel
540A is
aligned with a peak 546 of lower continuous channel 540B along an axis
parallel to a
longitudinal axis X of beverage container 500 However, in some embodiments,
upper
continuous channel 540A may be arranged out-of-phase with respect to lower
continuous
channel 540B such that a peak 546 of an upper continuous channel 540A is
aligned with a
trough 544 of lower continuous channel 540B along an axis parallel to a
longitudinal axis
X of beverage container 500. When upper and lower continuous channels 540A,
540B are
arranged out of phase, more space is provided on sidewall 560 between channels
540A,
540B in which vacuum panel 530 may be arranged. Each vacuum panel 530 may be
centered along an axis extending between a peak 546 of upper continuous
channel 540A
and a trough 544 of lower continuous channel 540B. In embodiments in which
vacuum
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panels 530 are arranged in between a peak 546 of upper continuous channel 540A
and a
trough 544 of lower continuous channel 540B, vacuum panels 530 may extend
above a
lower bound of upper continuous channel 540A and may extend below an upper
bound of
lower continuous channel 540B. Further, each vacuum panel 530 may have a width
that is
less than a circumferential distance from a first peak 546 to an adjacent
second peak 546
of lower continuous channel 540B. In this way, each vacuum panel 530 may be
arranged
in a space between adjacent peaks 546 without contacting or overlapping with
an adjacent
vacuum panel 530. In some embodiments, a number of vacuum panels 530 may
correspond to a number of peaks 546 of a continuous channel 540A, 540B.
[0102] In some embodiments, vacuum panels 630 may have a configuration
as shown, for
example, in FIG. 9. Sidewall 660 of a beverage container 600 may include one
or more
vacuum panels 630 formed in sidewall 660. In embodiments having multiple
vacuum
panels 630, vacuum panels 630 may be formed in sidewall 660 and arranged
around a
circumference of sidewall 660. In some embodiments, vacuum panels 630 may be
spaced
evenly around circumference.
[0103] Vacuum panels 630 may have an oval or elliptical shape. In some
embodiments,
vacuum panel 630 may have an oval shape with shortened and rounded ends, as
discussed
with respect to vacuum panel 830 as shown in FIG. 14. Vacuum panels 630 having
an
oval shape may include a long dimension extending parallel to a longitudinal
axis X of
beverage container 600 and a short dimension extending circumferentially of
beverage
container 600. The long dimension may be greater than the short dimension,
such that
each vacuum panels 630 has a greater height than width. In embodiments having
multiple
vacuum panels 630, vacuum panels 630 may each have the same shape and
configuration.
[0104] In some embodiments, vacuum panels 630 may be arranged between
an upper
continuous channel 640A and a lower continuous channel 640B. Upper continuous
channel 640A may be arranged with respect to lower continuous channel 640B
such that a
peak 646 of an upper continuous channel 640A is aligned with a trough 644 of
lower
continuous channel 640B along an axis parallel to a longitudinal axis X of
beverage
container 600. In this way, more space is provided on sidewall 660 in which
vacuum
panel 630 may be arranged. In some embodiments, the long dimension of vacuum
panel
630 may be arranged along the longitudinal axis X. As vacuum panels 630 are
arranged in
between a peak 646 of upper continuous channel 640A and a trough 644 of lower
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continuous channel 640B, vacuum panels 630 may extend above a lower bound of
upper
continuous channel 640A and may extend below an upper bound of lower
continuous
channel 640B. Further, each vacuum panel 630 may have a width that is less
than a
circumferential distanced from a first peak 646 to an adjacent second peak 646
of the
lower continuous channel 640B, as shown in FIG. 9. In this way, each vacuum
panel 630
may be arranged in a space between adjacent peaks 646 without contacting or
overlapping with an adjacent vacuum panel 630. In some embodiments, a number
of
vacuum panels 630 may correspond to a number of peaks 646 of upper continuous
channel 640A (or lower continuous channel 640B). Each vacuum panel 630 may be
centered along an axis extending between a peak 646 of upper continuous
channel 640A
and a trough 644 of lower continuous channel 640B.
[0105] As shown in FIG. 10, each vacuum panel 630 may include a
recessed
configuration and may include one or more projections 638 extending from a
bottom 636
of vacuum panel 630. Projection 638 may have an upper end 639 that is
generally flat. In
this way, when a label is affixed to beverage container 600, label may be
supported by
sidewall 660 and by projections 638 of vacuum panels 630. In some embodiments,
upper
end 639 of projection 638 may be arranged at an elevation that is lower than a
plane P of
sidewall 660 of beverage container 600. In this way, sidewall 660 may contact
guide
surfaces during conveying of beverage container 600 and limit or prevent
contact of guide
surfaces with projections 638. Projection 638 may be arranged centrally on
vacuum panel
630, such that vacuum panel 630 forms a gutter 631 surrounding projection 638
and
between perimeter 632 and projection 638. Projection 638 may have a shape
corresponding to a shape of perimeter 632 of vacuum panel 630. For example, if
perimeter 632 has an oval shape, then projection 638 may similarly have an
oval shape
(see, e.g., FIG. 9).
[0106] Each vacuum panel 630 may include an inner wall 634 that slopes
from sidewall
660 of beverage container 600 at perimeter 632 of vacuum panel 630 to bottom
636 of
vacuum panel 630. Bottom 636 of vacuum panel 630 is recessed from a plane of
sidewall
660 of beverage container 600, and thus vacuum panel 630 extends inwardly from
sidewall 660 toward interior volume of beverage container 600. In some
embodiments,
inner wall 634 may be generally linear, and inner wall 634 may be sloped at an
angle 03
of about 1 degree to about 50 degrees relative to a longitudinal axis Z of
vacuum panel
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630, as shown in FIG. 10. In some embodiments, inner wall 634 may have a
shallow
slope, e.g., 50 . In some embodiments, inner wall 634 may be steeply sloped,
e.g., 10. As
the angle decreases, i.e., as the angle becomes steeper, the amount of flexion
provided by
the vacuum panel 630 increases.
[0107] When beverage container 600 is subjected to a change in
pressure, such as a
change in pressure along direction P, vacuum panel 630 may deform to help
absorb the
change in pressure such that the remainder of sidewall 660 retains its
configuration. A
shape of vacuum panel 630 in a deformed state is shown for example in dotted
lines 630'.
In the deformed state, vacuum panel 630 may flex inwardly such that an angle
of inner
wall 634 decreases and projection 638 may flatten.
[0108] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. ii, inner wall 634 may be
non-linear and
may further include a step 633. Step 633 may include a region that extends
outwardly
from inner wall 634 such that inner wall is non-linear. Step 633 may have a
different
slope than a remainder of inner wall 634. Step 633 may allow for additional
deformation
of vacuum panel 630 when beverage container is subjected to a change in
pressure upon
cooling of the hot-filled beverage in the beverage container. Inner wall 634
may slope
from perimeter 632 at sidewall 660 to step 633, and step 633 may in turn slope
to bottom
636. Step 633 is configured to provide increased flexion of vacuum panel 630
when
beverage container 600 is subjected to a change in pressure. In some
embodiments, step
633 may be arranged at a distance of 25% to 50% of the distance from plane P
to bottom
636 of vacuum panel 630 in the longitudinal direction Z. When beverage
container 600 is
subjected to a change in pressure, step 633 may flatten. As discussed above,
inner wall
634 may be arranged at an angle of about 10 to about 50 relative to a
longitudinal axis of
vacuum panel 630.
[0109] When beverage container 600 is subjected to a change in
pressure, such as a
change in pressure along direction P, vacuum panel 630 may deform to help
absorb the
change in pressure such that a remainder of the sidewall 660 retains its
configuration. A
shape of vacuum panel 630 in a deformed state is shown for example by dotted
line 630'.
In the deformed state, vacuum panel 630 may flex inwardly such that angle of
inner wall
634 decreases and step 633 flattens. Further, projection 638 may also flatten.
[0110] In some embodiments, a beverage container 700 may include a
vacuum panel 730
as shown in FIG. 12. Vacuum panel 730 may have the same construction and
features as
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described with respect to vacuum panel 630 except where noted. Vacuum panel
730
includes a trench 737 that extends along bottom 736 of vacuum panel 730. In
some
embodiments, trench 737 may extend along the short dimension of vacuum panel
730,
i.e., along a circumferential direction of sidewall 760. Trench 737 may serve
as a hinge to
allow vacuum panel 730 to deform in two directions. Trench 737 may be arranged
centrally on vacuum panel 730 so as to bisect vacuum panel 730 into upper and
lower
halves. Thus, vacuum panel 730 may include a first projection 738 on a first
side of
trench 737, and a second projection 738 on an opposing second side of trench
737. In this
way, trench 737 essentially bisects projection 638 of vacuum panel 630 of
beverage
container 600 shown in FIG. 9.
[0111] In some embodiments, trench 737 may extend along bottom 736 of
vacuum panel
730 along the long dimension of vacuum panel 730, i.e., along a longitudinal
direction of
sidewall 760. Trench 737 may be arranged centrally on vacuum panel 730 so as
to bisect
vacuum panel 730 into left and right halves. In such embodiments, vacuum panel
730
may include a first projection 738 on a first side of trench 737 and a second
projection
738 on an opposing second side of trench 737. Further, in some embodiments,
vacuum
panel 730 may include a trench 737 extending along both the short dimension
and the
long dimension (see, e.g., FIG. 14), such that the vacuum panel is divided
into quarters.
[0112] In some embodiments, vacuum panel 730 may further include one or
more
recesses 790, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13. Recesses 790 may be arranged on
bottom 736
of vacuum panel 730. Recess 790 may be a depression or cavity in bottom 736
that
extends inwardly toward interior volume of beverage container 700. Recesses
790 are
configured to allow for further deformation of vacuum panel 730. In some
embodiments,
a first recess 790 may be arranged at upper end of vacuum panel 730 and a
second recess
790 may be arranged at an opposing lower end of vacuum panel 730 in a
direction of a
longitudinal axis of beverage container 700. In some embodiments, additional
or fewer
recesses 790 may be present.
[0113] Similar to vacuum panel 630, vacuum panel 730 may include an
inner wall 734
that slopes from perimeter 732 at sidewall 760 to bottom 736 of vacuum panel
730, as
best shown in FIG. 13. Inner wall 734 may have the same arrangement and
features as
described with respect to inner wall 634 of vacuum panel 630, and thus may be
arranged
at an angle of about 10 to about 50 relative to a longitudinal axis of vacuum
panel, and in
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some embodiments may further include a step (see, e.g., step 633 in FIG. 11).
Projections
738 may extend from bottom 736 and may have an upper end 739 that is generally
flat.
Upper end 739 may be arranged at an elevation below a plane of sidewall 760 of
beverage
container 700. Vacuum panel 730 may include a recess 790 in bottom 736 that
extends
inwardly toward interior volume of beverage container 700.
[0114] When beverage container 700 is subjected to a change in
pressure, such as a
change in pressure along direction P, vacuum panel 730 may deform to help
absorb the
change in pressure such that a remainder of the sidewall 760 retains its
configuration and
dimensions. A shape of vacuum panel 730 in a deformed state is shown for
example by
dotted line 730'. In the deformed state, vacuum panel 730 may flex inwardly
and
projections 738 may move toward one another pivoting about trench 737. As
projections
738 move toward one another, recesses 790 may flatten to facilitate movement
of
projections 738.
[0115] In some embodiments, beverage container 800 may include vacuum
panels 830,
as shown in FIG. 14. Vacuum panel 830 may include a recessed configuration and
may
include an inner wall 834 that slopes from a perimeter 832 at sidewall 860 to
a bottom
836, and may include projections 838 extending from bottom 836. Vacuum panels
830
may have the same arrangement, construction and features as described above
with
respect to vacuum panels 630, 730 except as noted.
[0116] Similar to vacuum panel 730, vacuum panel 830 may include a
trench 837
extending along a short dimension of vacuum panel 830, i.e., along a
circumferential
direction. Trench 837 may bisect vacuum panel 730 into upper and lower halves.
Vacuum
panel 830 may further include a second trench 835 extending along a long
dimension of
vacuum panel 830, i e , in a longitudinal direction of sidewall 860 Trenches
835, 837
may divide vacuum panel 830 into quarters, and a projection 838 may be
arranged in each
quarter. Trenches 835, 837 may be perpendicular to one another. Trenches 835,
837 may
allow for flexing of vacuum panel 830 in multiple directions. In some
embodiments,
vacuum panel 830 may further include one or more recesses 890 to facilitate
deformation
of vacuum panel 830. In some embodiments, a recess 890 may be formed at an
intersection of trenches 835, 837 as shown in FIG. 14.
[0117] Vacuum panel 830 may have a perimeter 832 that is shaped
generally as an oval
with shortened and rounded ends. As shown in FIG. 14, vacuum panel 830 may
include a
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perimeter 832 with a first side 832A opposite a second side 832B, and with an
upper end
832C opposite a lower end 832D. First and second sides 832A, 832B of vacuum
panel
830 may correspond to an oval shape. However, upper and lower ends 832C, 832D
may
correspond to a circular shape. In this way, upper and lower ends 832C, 832D
of vacuum
panel 830 are shortened and are more rounded relative to a vacuum panel haying
an oval
shape. In operation, as an vacuum panel having an oval shape deforms, vacuum
panel
may direct forces toward portions 865 (circled in dotted lines for
illustration) of the
sidewall 860 adjacent the upper and lower ends 832C, 832D of vacuum panel 830
which
may make these portions 865 more susceptible to paneling. Upper and lower ends
832C,
832D following a circular shape rather than an oval shape may help to better
distribute
the forces to sidewall 860 and avoid directing the forces toward portions 865
of sidewall
860 adjacent upper and lower ends 832C, 832D of vacuum panel 830. However, in
some
embodiments, vacuum panel 830 may have an oval shape.
[0118] In some embodiments, beverage container 800 may include vacuum
panels 830
and may further include one or more linear channel segments 870 as described
herein.
Linear channel segments 870 may be arranged along a portion of a circumference
of
sidewall 860 of beverage container 800. In some embodiments, multiple linear
channel
segments 870 may be arranged along a circumference of sidewall 860 in the same
plane.
In some embodiments, linear channel segments 870 may be arranged below upper
continuous channel 840A and above lower continuous channel 840B. Linear
channel
segments 870 may be arranged at portions 865 of sidewall 860 adjacent upper
and lower
ends 832C, 832D of vacuum panel 830 in order to reinforce the sidewall 860 and
help to
prevent paneling. However, in some embodiments, linear channel segments 870
may
alternately or additionally be arranged above upper continuous channel 840A
and below
lower continuous channel 840B.
[0119] As shown in FIG. 15, vacuum panel 830 includes an inner wall 834
that slopes
from a perimeter 832 at sidewall 860 to a bottom 836. Projections 838 may
extend from
bottom 836 and may have an upper end 839 that is generally flat. Upper end 839
may be
arranged at an elevation below a plane of sidewall 860 of beverage container
800. A
trench 837 is formed in bottom 836 and between projections 838. A linear
channel
segment 870 may be formed in sidewall 860 adjacent vacuum panel 830.
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[0120] When beverage container 800 is subjected to a change in
pressure, such as a
change in pressure along direction P, vacuum panel 830 may deform to help
absorb the
change in pressure such that a remainder of the sidewall 860 retains its
configuration and
dimensions. A shape of vacuum panel 830 in a deformed state is shown for
example in
dotted lines 830'. In the deformed state, vacuum panel 830 may flex inwardly
and
projections 838 may move toward one another pivoting about trenches 835, 837.
As
projections 838 move toward one another, recess 890 may deform to facilitate
movement
of projections 838. Sidewall 860 may include linear channel segments 870
adjacent
vacuum panel 830 that help to provide sidewall 860 with hoop strength to
further prevent
paneling of sidewall 860 as vacuum panel 830 deforms.
[0121] It is to be appreciated that the Detailed Description section,
and not the Summary
and Abstract sections, is intended to be used to interpret the claims. The
Summary and
Abstract sections may set forth one or more but not all exemplary embodiments
of the
present invention(s) as contemplated by the inventors, and thus, are not
intended to limit
the present invention(s) and the appended claims in any way.
[0122] The present invention(s) have been described above with the aid
of functional
building blocks illustrating the implementation of specified functions and
relationships
thereof. The boundaries of these functional building blocks have been
arbitrarily defined
herein for the convenience of the description. Alternate boundaries can be
defined so long
as the specified functions and relationships thereof are appropriately
performed.
[0123] The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so
fully reveal the
general nature of the invention(s) that others can, by applying knowledge
within the skill
of the art, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific
embodiments, without undue experimentation, and without departing from the
general
concept of the present invention(s). Therefore, such adaptations and
modifications are
intended to be within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed
embodiments,
based on the teaching and guidance presented herein. It is to be understood
that the
phraseology or terminology herein is for the purpose of description and not of
limitation,
such that the terminology or phraseology of the present specification is to be
interpreted
by the skilled artisan in light of the teachings and guidance herein.
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101241 The breadth and scope of the present invention(s) should not be
limited by any of
the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in
accordance
with the claims and their equivalents.
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