U.S. patent application number 11/282058 was filed with the patent office on 2007-03-29 for plastic container.
This patent application is currently assigned to PLASTIPAK PACKAGING, INC.. Invention is credited to Gary Ferguson, James J. Miller.
Application Number | 20070068897 11/282058 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37871986 |
Filed Date | 2007-03-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070068897 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Miller; James J. ; et
al. |
March 29, 2007 |
Plastic container
Abstract
A plastic container including a hollow body of plastic material
having a lower supporting base, a sidewall extending upwardly from
the lower base, and an upper neck portion with an opening therein,
said neck portion extending upwardly from the sidewall, a handle at
least in part adjacent the neck portion and preferably an integral
handle, and a webbed portion adjacent the neck portion.
Inventors: |
Miller; James J.;
(Barberton, OH) ; Ferguson; Gary; (Tallmadge,
OH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ROBERT H. BACHMAN
59 RICHARD SWEET DRIVE
WOODBRIDGE
CT
06525
US
|
Assignee: |
PLASTIPAK PACKAGING, INC.
|
Family ID: |
37871986 |
Appl. No.: |
11/282058 |
Filed: |
November 17, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
29237803 |
Sep 6, 2005 |
D521870 |
|
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11282058 |
Nov 17, 2005 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
215/398 ;
215/396 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 23/102 20130101;
B65D 23/10 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
215/398 ;
215/396 |
International
Class: |
B65D 23/10 20060101
B65D023/10 |
Claims
1. A plastic container which comprises: a hollow body of plastic
material having a lower supporting base, a sidewall extending
upwardly from the lower base, and an upper neck portion with an
opening therein, said neck portion extending upwardly from the
sidewall; a handle at least in part adjacent the neck portion; and
a webbed portion adjacent the neck portion.
2. A plastic container according to claim 1, wherein said handle is
an integral handle.
3. A plastic container according to claim 2, wherein the handle
extends from the sidewall to a position adjacent the neck
portion.
4. A plastic container according to claim 3, including a shoulder
portion between the sidewall and the neck portion, wherein the
handle has a lower portion extending to the sidewall and an upper
portion extending to the shoulder portion and adjacent the neck
portion.
5. A plastic container according to claim 4, wherein the webbed
portion is located on the upper portion of the handle.
6. A plastic container according to claim 5, wherein the webbed
portion includes at least two outwardly extending ribs.
7. A plastic container according to claim 6, wherein the webbed
portion includes at least one outwardly extending first rib
extending laterally along the handle, and at least one outwardly
extending second rib extending transversely across the first
rib.
8. A plastic container according to claim 7, wherein the webbed
portion includes a plurality of second ribs extending across the
first rib.
9. A plastic container according to claim 3, wherein the container
is from one-half gallon to three gallons.
10. A plastic container according to claim 3, including an open
space beneath the handle and above the sidewall.
11. A plastic container according to claim 10, wherein said
container is a blow molded plastic container.
12. A plastic container according to claim 11, including a recessed
base with a peripheral rim.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of copending U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 29/237,803 for PLASTIC CONTAINER, filed
Sep. 6, 2005.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a blow molded plastic
container having a strengthened upper area and improved top
load.
[0003] It is highly desirable to provide a plastic container having
a strengthened upper area under uniform top load as well as
off-center top load, for example, that which is applied to the
container finish under stacking during storage and transport.
Particularly, plastic containers having a neck portion extending
upwardly from the sidewall with an upper opening therein may be
subjected to considerable top load as during storage and transport
due for example to stacking. It is desirable to strengthen the
upper portion of the plastic container so as to minimize deflection
or bending under top load.
[0004] Altering the location, size or orientation of the neck
portion may provide some improvement, but it is still desirable to
address this problem, especially in a simple and expeditious
manner.
[0005] Accordingly, it is an objective of the present invention to
provide an improved plastic container that improves the upper
strength characteristics thereof in a simple and convenient
manner.
[0006] It is a further objective of the present invention to
provide a plastic container with improved top load
characteristics.
[0007] It is a still further object of the present invention to
provide a container as aforesaid which has good product
characteristics.
[0008] Further objects and advantages of the present invention will
appear hereinbelow.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] In accordance with the present invention the foregoing
objects and advantages are readily obtained.
[0010] The plastic container of the present invention comprises: a
hollow body of plastic material having a lower supporting base, a
sidewall extending upwardly from the lower base, and an upper neck
portion with an opening therein, said neck portion extending
upwardly from the sidewall; a handle, preferably an integral
handle, adjacent the neck portion, preferably extending from the
sidewall to a position adjacent the neck portion; and a webbed
portion adjacent the neck portion.
[0011] A shoulder portion is preferably provided between the
sidewall and the neck portion, wherein the handle has a lower
portion extending to the sidewall and an upper portion extending to
the shoulder portion adjacent the neck portion. The webbed portion
is preferably located on the upper portion of the handle adjacent
the neck portion and desirably extending to the shoulder
portion.
[0012] The webbed portion preferably includes at least one
outwardly extending first rib extending along the upper portion of
the handle and at least one outwardly extending second rib
extending across the first rib. Desirably, a plurality of second
ribs extend across the first rib.
[0013] The construction of the present invention achieves
significant advantages. Thus, the webbing, which may be termed
spider webbing, is desirably located at the top of the handle
directly below the finish area. This serves to strengthen this area
under uniform top load as well as under off-center top load, as
that applied to the finish area under stacking during transport and
storage. This is highly desirable. The webbing will minimize or
prevent the finish area from bending backward towards the handle,
for example. In addition, the webbing provides a convenient and
helpful thumb-grip feature during pour, handling or transportation
of the package.
[0014] Further features of the present invention will appear
hereinbelow.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] The present invention will be more readily understandable
from a consideration of the accompanying exemplificative drawings,
wherein:
[0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the plastic container of the
present invention showing the rear, top and right side thereof;
[0017] FIG. 2 is a perspective view thereof showing the front, top
and right side;
[0018] FIG. 3 is a side elevation view thereof showing the rear
side;
[0019] FIG. 4 is a side elevation view thereof showing the front
side;
[0020] FIG. 5 is a top plan view thereof;
[0021] FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view thereof;
[0022] FIG. 7 is a side elevation view thereof showing the right
side; and
[0023] FIG. 8 is a side elevation view thereof showing the left
side.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0024] Referring to the drawings, plastic container 10 is a hollow
body of plastic material, preferably a blow molded plastic
container. The container may be produced from any desired plastic
material, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a high density
polyethylene (HDPE), polyethylene naphthalate, polyvinyl chloride,
and others.
[0025] Container 10 has a lower supporting base 12, a sidewall 14
extending upwardly from the base, and an upper neck portion 16 with
an opening 18 therein, said neck portion extending upwardly from
the sidewall. Opening 18 is desirably closed by a closure (not
shown) and threads may be present on the neck portion for a
threaded closure. Shoulder portion 20 is preferably provided
between the sidewall 14 and neck portion 16, desirably tapering
inwardly towards the neck portion. The sidewall may, if desired,
include a flat label panel 22 thereon for inclusion of a product
identification label, as by an adhesive.
[0026] A handle 24, preferably an integral handle, is provided at
least in part adjacent the neck portion and desirably extending
from the sidewall 14 to a position adjacent the shoulder portion
and the neck portion 16 and adjacent opening 18. Preferably the
handle is an arm-like structure which at least in part is spaced
from the sidewall to create open space 26 beneath the handle and
above the sidewall for convenient grasping. In the preferred
embodiment handle 24 includes a lower portion 28 extending to the
sidewall and an upper portion 30 extending to the shoulder
portion.
[0027] Webbed portion 32 is provided on the handle upper portion 30
adjacent to neck portion 16 and desirably extending to the shoulder
portion 20. The webbed portion includes at least two ribs, which
are desirably outwardly extending for ease of holding. In a
preferred embodiment the ribs include at least one first rib 34
extending laterally along the handle and at least one second rib 36
extending transversely across the first rib. In a preferred
embodiment a single first rib 34 is provided and a plurality of
second ribs 36 are provided, with four shown in the drawings.
[0028] The supporting base 12 includes a peripheral rim 38 and a
recessed central portion 40 suitable for supporting an upper
portion of a second container in a stacked arrangement. A secondary
peripheral rim 42 may be provided if desired for additional
support.
[0029] The webbed portion represents a highly advantageous feature.
Naturally, the exact number and orientation of the ribs may vary,
if desired. Thus, the ribbed portion improves top load and provides
greater strength to the upper container portion, as when one pushes
down on the container in stacking. Particularly, if the finish is
somewhat off-center, the webbed portion aids in supporting the neck
portion. In addition, the webbed portion aids in gripping the
container particularly when one is pouring out contents, as
providing a convenient thumb-grip feature.
[0030] The container size is preferably from one-half to three
gallons.
[0031] It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to
the illustrations described and shown herein, which are deemed to
be merely illustrative of the best modes of carrying out the
invention, and which are susceptible of modification of form, size,
arrangement of parts and details of operation. The invention rather
is intended to encompass all such modifications which are within
its spirit and scope as defined by the claims.
* * * * *