U.S. patent application number 11/034882 was filed with the patent office on 2006-07-20 for three panel grippable container.
This patent application is currently assigned to GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.. Invention is credited to Justin Howell.
Application Number | 20060157439 11/034882 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36169805 |
Filed Date | 2006-07-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060157439 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Howell; Justin |
July 20, 2006 |
Three panel grippable container
Abstract
A plastic, hot-fillable, blow-molded, singleserve container
having a four-sided body. Three sides of the container include
vacuum relief panels that can flex inwards when fluid in the
container cools and contracts. In an embodiment of the invention,
the rear panel is a vacuum relief panel that includes a raised
island structure on which a label may be applied and supported. The
left and right sides of the container also include vacuum relief
panels. These left and right side panels can include, for example,
ergonomic D-shaped depressions that allow a person to grip the
container with one hand.
Inventors: |
Howell; Justin; (New
Cumberland, PA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
VENABLE LLP
P.O. BOX 34385
WASHINGTON
DC
20045-9998
US
|
Assignee: |
GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY,
L.P.
York
PA
|
Family ID: |
36169805 |
Appl. No.: |
11/034882 |
Filed: |
January 14, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
215/384 ;
215/381 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 1/0223 20130101;
B65D 79/005 20130101; B65D 2501/0081 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
215/384 ;
215/381 |
International
Class: |
B65D 90/02 20060101
B65D090/02 |
Claims
1. A plastic, hot-fillable, blow-molded container having a body
comprising: four sides, of which three sides comprise three
respective vacuum relief panels that can flex inwards when fluid in
the container contracts.
2. The container of claim 1, wherein said three sides having vacuum
relief panels comprise a rear side having a rear vacuum relief
panel.
3. The container of claim 2, wherein said rear vacuum relief panel
can support a label.
4. The container of claim 2, wherein said rear vacuum relief panel
comprises a raised island portion and a recessed area surrounding
said island portion.
5. The container of claim 4, wherein, when fluid in the container
contracts, said rear vacuum relief panel flexes and is drawn
inward.
6. The container of claim 1, wherein said three sides having vacuum
relief panels comprise two side panels having two respective side
vacuum relief panels.
7. The container of claim 6, wherein said two side vacuum relief
panels are ergonomically shaped to allow a person to grip the
container with one hand.
8. The container of claim 7, wherein at least one of said two side
vacuum relief panels comprise an ergonomically shaped recess.
9. The container of claim 8, wherein said recess is D-shaped.
10. The container of claim 9, wherein said at least one side vacuum
relief panel further comprises a portion that surrounds said
D-shaped recess.
11. The container of claim 10, wherein said D-shaped recess and
said surrounding portion flex inward independently of each other
when fluid in the container contracts.
12. The container of claim 1, wherein the plastic material
comprises polyethylene terephthelate.
13. The container of claim 1, further comprising: a neck having a
finish at one end; a shoulder having a top end and a lower end,
such that the top end of the shoulder is adjacent to the neck at an
end of the neck opposite the finish, and the lower end of the
shoulder is adjacent to the body; and a base adjacent to the body
and located at an end of the body opposite the shoulder.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The invention described herein relates to plastic
containers, and relates in particular to the shape and structure of
such containers.
[0003] 2. Related Art
[0004] As is widely known, it is common for beverages to be sold in
plastic containers. Such containers can be single-serving or
multi-serving containers. Moreover, certain beverages are commonly
placed into the containers when the beverage is still hot. Some
manufacturers of fruit juices and teas fill their product when the
beverage is approximately 185.degree. F., for example. The bottles
are then immediately capped and cooled. The cooling beverage
contracts, which creates an internal vacuum. The container design
needs to withstand or allow for this internal vacuum `take-up`
while maintaining the desired look of the design. Containers that
can accommodate a hot liquid product in this manner are known as
hot-fillable.
[0005] The problem of cooling and contraction is present for any
container used in such a hot filled process. Relatively large
containers (e.g., 42 ounces or greater) generally pose fewer design
concerns than smaller containers when dealing with the contraction
problem. For larger containers, the sides are necessarily larger. A
larger side panel can flex inward more easily than a smaller panel
during cooling. Smaller containers are more problematic. A smaller
container (e.g., 16 ounces) necessarily has smaller side panels.
Panels for such a container are stiffer and flex less readily than
a larger panel.
[0006] What is needed, therefore, is a design for a relatively
small plastic hot-fillable container, such that the sides of the
container can flex inward during the cooling and contraction of the
fluid contents.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The invention described herein is a plastic, hot-fillable,
blow-molded, singleserve container having a four-sided body. Three
sides of the container include vacuum relief panels that can flex
inwards when fluid in the container cools and contracts. In an
embodiment of the invention, the rear panel is a vacuum relief
panel that includes a raised island structure on which a label may
be applied. The left and right sides of the container also include
vacuum relief panels. These left and right side panels can include
ergonomic structure that allow a person to grip the container with
one hand.
[0008] Further objectives and advantages of the invention as well
as preferred embodiments, will become apparent from consideration
of the description, drawings, and examples provided herewith.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0009] The foregoing and other features and advantages of the
invention will be apparent from the following, more particular
description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, as
illustrated in the accompanying figures. In the drawings, like
reference numbers generally indicate identical,
functionally-similar, and/or structurally similar elements.
[0010] FIG. 1 is an illustration of a plastic container showing the
front and one side panel, according to an embodiment of the
invention.
[0011] FIG. 2 illustrates the container of FIG. 1, from a
perspective that shows a side panel and the rear panel of the
container.
[0012] FIG. 3 illustrates the container of FIG. 1, as viewed from
the front.
[0013] FIG. 4 illustrates the container of FIG. 1, as viewed from
the side.
[0014] FIG. 5 illustrates the container of FIG. 1, as viewed from
the back.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0015] Embodiments of the invention are discussed in detail below.
In describing embodiments, specific terminology is employed for the
sake of clarity. The invention is not intended to be limited to the
specific terminology so-selected. While specific exemplary
embodiments are discussed, it should be understood that this is
done for illustration purposes only. A person skilled in the
relevant art will recognize that other components and
configurations can be used without departing from the spirit and
scope of the invention.
[0016] The invention described herein is a plastic, hot-fillable,
blow-molded, singleserve container having a four-sided body. Such a
container can have a capacity of 16 or 32 ounces, for example,
though the invention is not limited to containers having these
volumes. Three sides of the container include vacuum relief panels
that can flex inwards when fluid in the container cools and
contracts. In an embodiment of the invention, the rear panel is a
vacuum relief panel that includes a raised island structure on
which a label may be applied and supported. The left and right
sides of the container also include vacuum relief panels. These
left and right side panels can include ergonomic structure that
allows a person to grip the container with one hand. In an
embodiment of the invention, the ergonomic structure comprises a
D-shaped depression on each side panel.
[0017] One embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 1.
Such a container can be fabricated using polyethylene terephthalate
(PET), or a similar compound. The illustrated container 100
includes a neck 120. In an embodiment of the invention, neck 120 is
essentially cylindrical. At one end of the neck 120 is a finish
110. At the opposite end of the neck 120 is a shoulder 130.
Shoulder 130 has a top end 127 and a lower end 133. Adjacent to the
lower end 133 of shoulder 130 is a body 140. The front of container
100 is shown as front area 160. The back of container 100 is not
visible. Also shown is a base 150, adjacent to the body 140.
[0018] FIG. 2 illustrates the container of FIG. 1 from a
perspective that shows the side and rear panels. The side panel 210
is configured to serve as a vacuum relief panel. In the illustrated
embodiment, the side panel 210 includes a depressed region, or
recess, 215. Recess 215 is drawn inwards during the contraction
process as the container's liquid cools. In this embodiment, recess
215 is D-shaped. In alternative embodiments of the invention, side
panel 210 can have different ergonomic structure. Returning to the
illustrated embodiment, a surrounding portion 212 surrounds the
recess 215. Surrounding portion 212 is also drawn inward during
cooling and contraction. Moreover, surrounding portion 212 flexes
inward independently of recess 215.
[0019] The corresponding side panel on the opposite side (not
shown) is contoured similarly. These recesses on the sides allow a
person to grip the bottle easily with one hand.
[0020] FIG. 2 also shows a rear vacuum relief panel 218. Rear panel
218 includes a raised island 230, surrounded by a depressed portion
220. The surrounding depressed region 220 flexes inward during
cooling and contraction of the liquid.
[0021] FIG. 3 illustrates the container of FIG. 1, as viewed from
the front. Front panel 160 is relatively rigid and flexes
minimally, if at all, during contraction. While horizontal grooves
are shown in front panel 160, illustration of such a configuration
is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Other
embodiments of the invention may not have such grooves. In an
embodiment of the invention, front panel 160 can be used to attach
a label.
[0022] FIG. 4 illustrates the container of FIG. 1 as viewed from
the side. This view shows side vacuum relief panel 210, along with
D-shaped recess 215 and surrounding portion 212. This figure also
provides a side view of depressed portion 220 and island 230 of
rear vacuum relief panel 218.
[0023] FIG. 5 illustrates the container of FIG. 1, as viewed from
the back. In addition to limited views of side panels 210, FIG. 5
illustrates rear vacuum relief panel 218, along with island 230 and
depressed portion 220.
[0024] The embodiments illustrated and discussed in this
specification are intended only to teach those skilled in the art
the best way known to the inventors to make and use the invention.
Nothing in this specification should be considered as limiting the
scope of the present invention. All examples presented are
representative and not limiting. The above-described embodiments of
the invention maybe modified or varied, without departing from the
invention, as appreciated by those skilled in the art in light of
the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that, within
the scope of the claims and their equivalents, the invention may be
practiced otherwise than as specifically described.
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