U.S. patent application number 12/106389 was filed with the patent office on 2008-11-27 for colorant container.
This patent application is currently assigned to THE SHERWIN-WILLIAMS COMPANY. Invention is credited to Joseph N. Biber, Keith R. Gosse, Susan C. Jacob, James E. MacDonald, Robert E. West.
Application Number | 20080290099 12/106389 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39586998 |
Filed Date | 2008-11-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080290099 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
MacDonald; James E. ; et
al. |
November 27, 2008 |
Colorant Container
Abstract
A container suitable for holding a fluid includes a body
defining an interior volume and having a torso portion having a
substantially square-shaped cross section, a shoulder portion
joined above the torso portion and including a plurality of
shoulder walls that define a substantially square cross-section,
and a base portion, which may have a substantially square or
octagonal cross section. The container body may be formed with
indentations at each of its four bottom corners that are shaped to
give the container relief from detrimental piercing contact with
the lugs that are provided in the bottom of some square retention
buckets used on commercial paint shakers. The body may be made
substantially or entirely of polyethylene terephthalate. The
container is particularly suited for colorants and pigment
dispersions for tinting coatings and for shaking colorants and
pigment dispersions prior to dispensing into a tinting machine.
Inventors: |
MacDonald; James E.;
(Medina, OH) ; Jacob; Susan C.; (Solon, OH)
; Biber; Joseph N.; (Macedonia, OH) ; West; Robert
E.; (Wadsworth, OH) ; Gosse; Keith R.;
(Chicago, IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
THE SHERWIN-WILLIAMS COMPANY
101 PROSPECT AVENUE N.W., 1100 MIDLAND BLDG. - LEGAL DEPARTMENT
CLEVELAND
OH
44115-1075
US
|
Assignee: |
THE SHERWIN-WILLIAMS
COMPANY
Cleveland
OH
|
Family ID: |
39586998 |
Appl. No.: |
12/106389 |
Filed: |
April 21, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60912794 |
Apr 19, 2007 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/660 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 1/0261 20130101;
B65D 2501/0036 20130101; B65D 2501/0081 20130101; B65D 23/102
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/660 |
International
Class: |
B65D 6/00 20060101
B65D006/00 |
Claims
1. A container for holding a paint colorant comprising: a body
defining an interior volume, the body comprising: a torso portion
comprising a plurality of torso walls, each torso wall having at
least two side edges, a bottom edge, and a top edge, the torso
walls joined at side edges to provide the torso portion of the body
with a substantially square cross-section, a bottom panel joined to
a portion of the bottom edge of each of the plurality of torso
walls, wherein the body is formed so that each of the four corners
defined by the junction of the bottom panel and each pair of bottom
edges of adjacent torso walls is indented.
2. The container of claim 1, wherein the body further comprises a
shoulder portion joined to the top edges of the torso walls, the
shoulder portion comprising a plurality of shoulder walls, each
shoulder wall having first and second non-parallel side edges and
parallel top and bottom edges, the shoulder walls joined at side
edges to form a funnel.
3. The container of claim 2, wherein the body further comprises a
neck portion joined to the top edges of the shoulder walls, the
neck portion comprising a neck wall having a substantially circular
cross section.
4. The container of claim 3, wherein the neck wall has an inside
diameter of less than about 50 mm.
5. The container of claim 3, wherein the torso walls, shoulder
walls, neck wall, and bottom panel are made substantially of
polyethylene terephthalate.
6. The container of claim 1, further comprising at least one torso
rib circumferentially located about the torso walls.
7. The container of claim 1, wherein the maximum distance between
the two furthest points of the container body at an equivalent
horizontal plane is less than 6 5/8 inches.
8. A container for holding a paint colorant comprising: a body
defining an interior volume, the body comprising: a base portion
comprising a bottom panel having a plurality of edges and a
plurality of base walls extending substantially vertically upward
from the edges of the bottom panel to form a bowl having a
substantially octagonal cross-section, a torso portion comprising a
plurality of torso walls, each torso wall having at least two side
edges, a bottom edge, and a top edge, the torso walls joined at
side edges to provide the torso portion of the body with a
substantially square cross-section, wherein the base portion is
integrally joined to the torso portion.
9. The container of claim 8, wherein the base walls have a height
of between about 0.25 and about 1.0 inches.
10. The container of claim 9, wherein the maximum distance between
midpoints on opposing edges of the base portion is substantially
the same or less than the maximum width of the torso walls.
11. The container of claim 10, wherein the body further comprises a
shoulder portion joined to the top edges of the torso walls, the
shoulder portion comprising a plurality of shoulder walls, each
shoulder wall having first and second non-parallel side edges and
parallel top and bottom edges.
12. The container of claim 11, wherein the body further comprises a
neck portion joined to the top edges of the shoulder walls, the
neck portion comprising a neck wall having a substantially circular
cross section.
13. A container comprising: a body defining an interior volume, the
body comprising: a base portion comprising a bottom panel having a
plurality of edges and a plurality of base walls extending upwardly
from the edges of the bottom panel to provide the base portion of
the body with a substantially octagonal cross-section; a torso
portion integrally joined to the base portion, comprising a
plurality of torso walls, each torso wall having at least two side
edges, a bottom edge, and a top edge, the torso walls joined at
side edges to provide the torso portion of the body with a
substantially square cross-section; and a neck portion integrally
joined to the torso portion opposite the base portion, the neck
portion comprising a neck wall having a substantially circular
cross section.
14. The container of claim 13, wherein the maximum distance between
midpoints on opposing base-walls of the base portion is less than
about 6 5/8 inches.
15. The container of claim 13 having an interior volume of at least
one gallon.
16. The container of claim 13 having an interior volume of at least
one-half gallon.
17. An article comprising: a container comprising a body defining
an interior volume, the body comprising: a torso portion comprising
a plurality of torso walls, each torso wall having at least two
side edges, a bottom edge, and a top edge, the torso walls joined
at side edges to provide the torso portion of the body with a
substantially square cross-section; a base portion comprising a
bottom panel, the base portion integrally joined to the torso
portion; a shoulder portion integrally joined to the torso portion
opposite the base portion, the shoulder portion comprising a
plurality of shoulder walls, each shoulder wall having first and
second non-parallel side edges and parallel top and bottom edges,
the shoulder walls joined at side edges; a neck portion integrally
joined to the top edges of the shoulder walls, the neck portion
comprising a neck wall having a substantially circular cross
section; and colorant disposed in the container.
18. The article of claim 17, wherein the base portion comprises a
bottom panel having a plurality of edges and a plurality of base
walls extending upwardly from the edges of the bottom panel to
provide the base portion of the body with a substantially octagonal
cross-section.
19. The container of claim 17, wherein the body is made
substantially of polyethylene terephthalate.
Description
[0001] This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional
Application 60/912,794 filed Apr. 19, 2007, the entirety of which
is incorporated herein by reference.
I. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Pigment concentrates, referred to herein as "colorants,"
used in tinting architectural coatings, such as latex paints, have
traditionally been packaged in metal cans. Recently, there has been
a shift toward the use of plastic colorant containers made of
polypropylene ("PP") or high-density polyethylene ("HDPE"). PP and
HDPE containers are serviceable replacements for metal cans, having
the structural integrity necessary for storing the relatively heavy
colorants and facilitating the pouring of colorants into colorant
dispensers (paint tinting machines). F-style plastic colorant
containers have been in use for this purpose. More recently, PP and
HDPE colorant containers have been constructed with cylindrically
shaped bodies so as to be adapted for use in many standard
mechanical paint shakers. Some of the benefits of shaking a
colorant container prior to pouring the contents into a colorant
dispenser have been taught, for example, in U.S. Pat. No.
6,960,012.
[0003] PP and HDPE colorant containers are difficult and costly to
dispose of. In part containers of these materials tend to retain a
significant amount of colorant residue, it is believed due to the
hydrophobicity of the plastic driving water away from the container
walls. As a result of this process, the residue colorant caked onto
the container walls may be relatively more concentrated than the
colorant that was poured from the container. This can result in the
undesirable waste of expensive colorant solids and increase the
weight of the empty container, which is often a factor in disposal
costs. Further, the variation, and potential reduction in the
concentration of pigments in the dispensed colorant can increase
the risk of paint mistints. Additionally, while existing PP and
HDPE containers have, by virtue of their design and choice of
plastic, had good structural integrity, resulting in containers
that are sturdy in use, they are difficult to crush after use. This
limitation in crushability can result in increased disposal costs
because of the inability to effectively reduce the volume of used
containers prior to disposal.
[0004] As noted, to facilitate using mechanical paint shakers to
shake colorant containers before dispensing the contents into paint
tinting equipment, many current containers, particularly having
volumes of about one-gallon or less, incorporate a cylindrical
shape, similar to a conventional metal paint can. Notwithstanding
that these container may fit snugly in the shaker's retention
bucket, and that the action of the shaker may facilitate some
mixing of the colorant, the cylindrical sides of the colorant
container are not optimized for assisting in the mixing of the
colorant, to disperse the pigments. Further improvement in
facilitating the mixing of the colorant by incorporating design
modifications in the container, would shorten the time necessary to
optimally mix the colorant.
[0005] Given the increasing costs that are associated with the
transport and disposal of used colorant containers and the
undesirable waste of colorant that remains in colorant containers
according to existing designs, it is desirable to provide a
container that retains sufficient structural integrity to serve as
a colorant container, including having the integrity to withstand
shaking in a mechanical paint shaker, but which is lighter and more
crushable than existing PP and HDPE containers--leading to less
weight and volume for disposal, and which has improved
characteristics for limiting the amount of colorant residue. It is
also desirable that the container be easily and readily formed,
preferably at less expense than existing PP or HDPE plastic
containers. Moreover, it would desirable to provide a container
having a structure that would facilitate the mixing of the contents
when shaken and be adaptable for use in at least some conventional
paint shakers.
II. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a
container for holding a fluid, such as a colorant, comprises a body
defining an interior volume, the body comprising a torso portion
comprising a plurality of side walls, each side wall having at
least two side edges, a bottom edge, and a top edge, the side walls
joined at side edges to provide the torso portion of the body with
a substantially square cross-section; and a bottom panel joined to
a portion of the bottom edge of each of the plurality of side
walls, wherein the body is formed so that each of the four corners
defined by the junction of the bottom panel and each pair of bottom
edges of adjacent torso walls is indented.
[0007] According to another embodiment of the invention, a
container for holding a fluid comprises a body defining an interior
volume, the body comprising a base portion comprising a bottom
panel having a plurality of edges and a plurality of base walls
extending substantially vertically upward from the edges of the
bottom panel to form a bowl having a substantially octagonal
cross-section; and a torso portion comprising a plurality of side
walls, each side wall having at least two side edges, a bottom
edge, and a top edge, the side walls joined at side edges to
provide the torso portion of the body with a substantially square
cross-section, wherein the base portion is integrally joined to the
torso portion.
[0008] According to still another embodiment of the invention, a
container comprises a body defining an interior volume, the body
comprising a base portion comprising a bottom panel having a
plurality of edges and a plurality of base walls extending upwardly
from the edges of the bottom panel to provide the base portion of
the body with a substantially octagonal cross-section, wherein the
maximum distance between midpoints on opposing base-walls of the
base portion is less than about 6 5/8 inches; a torso portion
integrally joined to the base portion, comprising a plurality of
side walls, each side wall having at least two side edges, a bottom
edge, and a top edge, the side walls joined at side edges to
provide the torso portion of the body with a substantially square
cross-section; and a neck portion integrally joined to the torso
portion opposite the base portion, the neck portion comprising a
neck wall having a substantially circular cross section.
[0009] According to still another embodiment of the invention, an
article comprises a container comprising a body defining an
interior volume, the body comprising a torso portion comprising a
plurality of side walls, each side wall having at least two side
edges, a bottom edge, and a top edge, the side walls joined at side
edges to provide the torso portion of the body with a substantially
square cross-section, a base portion comprising a bottom panel, the
base portion integrally joined to the torso portion, a
funnel-shaped shoulder portion integrally joined to the torso
portion opposite the base portion, the shoulder portion comprising
a plurality of shoulder walls, each shoulder wall having first and
second non-parallel side edges and parallel top and bottom edges,
the shoulder walls joined at side edges; and a neck portion
integrally joined to the top edges of the shoulder walls, the neck
portion comprising a neck wall having a substantially circular
cross section; and colorant disposed in the container.
[0010] According to one aspect of the invention, the side walls,
shoulder walls, neck wall, and bottom panel of the containers are
made substantially of polyethylene terephthalate.
[0011] According to another aspect of the invention, the containers
may have an interior volume of at least one gallon.
[0012] According to another aspect of the invention, the body of
the container is formed without a handle.
[0013] Still other benefits and advantages of the invention will
become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains
upon a reading and understanding of the following detailed
specification.
III. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] The invention may take physical form in certain parts and
arrangement of parts, a preferred embodiment of which will be
described in detail in this specification and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings which form a part hereof and wherein:
[0015] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a container for
holding a fluid.
[0016] FIG. 2 is a corner perspective view of the container of FIG.
1.
[0017] FIG. 3 is a top down perspective view of a container
according to the embodiments of the present invention.
[0018] FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of an alternative
embodiment of a container for holding a fluid.
[0019] FIG. 5 is a corner perspective view of the container
embodiment of FIG. 4.
[0020] FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the container embodiment of FIG.
4.
IV. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0021] Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for
purposes of illustrating embodiments of the invention only and not
for purposes of limiting the same, FIGS. 1 and 2 depict one
embodiment of a container for a fluid storage and dispensing
according to the present invention and FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 depict
another embodiment of a container for fluid storage and dispensing
according to the present invention. FIG. 3 depicts a top view of a
container according to multiple embodiments described herein.
[0022] With respect to the embodiments depicted in the Figures, a
plastic container, generally shown as 1, is adapted for primary use
as a liquid colorant container; namely, a container for the
storage, transport, and dispensing of colorant. The term "colorant"
refers generally to the fluid pigment concentrates and dispersions
conventionally used in tinting architectural paints and comprising
highly concentrated levels of color pigment ground into a grinding
vehicle. The most common grinding vehicle used in tinting
concentrates is a blend of ethylene glycol and water in conjunction
with various surfactants. Color pigments typically used include
ferrite yellow oxide, red iron oxides, ferric iron oxide brown
(which is a blend of red, yellow, and black iron oxides), tan oxide
(which is a similar blend), raw sienna and burnt sienna, raw and
burnt umber, copper phthalo cyanine green and blue, DNA orange
(dinitroaniline orange #5), carbon black, lampblack, toluidine red,
parachlor red, (burnt red and maroon red) hansa yellows which are
azo coupling of metapara nitrotoluidiene and quinacridone red,
magenta and violet. The amount of color pigment used in a colorant
is typically from about 5 weight percent to about 70 weight
percent, depending on the type of color pigment. Container 1 may be
used for other pigmented fluids, such as printing inks, and, in
another embodiment, it is contemplated that the container 1 could
be employed for use as a container for architectural coatings, such
as latex paints, and marine coatings. Without intending to narrow
the scope of the invention, the container will be described
hereafter as a colorant container.
[0023] The container 1 generally comprises a body 2 and a closing
means 4 and, optionally, a handle 3. The body 2 defines an interior
volume, which, in one embodiment, may be at least one gallon;
however, in another embodiment, the container body 2 may be formed
to hold at least one half-gallon, but less than one gallon of
liquid, or in still another embodiment, at least one quart, but
less than one-half gallon. Containers having volumes greater than
about 1 gallon may be formed in accordance with the design(s) of
the present invention. It is additionally desirable that the body 2
of the container 1 allow for an additional volume of head-space
(namely, empty space located above the level of the fluid within
the container).
[0024] To form the body 2 having the elements and features
described herein below, the body 2 may be blow molded out of a
suitable material. For purposes of the present invention the
preferred material is a plastic material, with the most preferred
material being polyethylene terephthalate (PET). PET has apparent
advantages over other plastic materials, such as high-density
polyethylene (HDPE) and polypropylene (PP), in relation to the
colorant container described herein. Namely, as compared to HDPE
and PP, PET imparts greater strength to the container body 2 at a
given wall thickness, which allows for the manufacture of suitable
containers having thinner walls (as described in greater detail
below). Moreover, PET is lighter than HDPE and PP. As a result,
less material needs to be used in forming a suitable body 2 for the
container, resulting in a container having less weight.
Additionally, it is believed that there is less adsorption of color
pigments to PET than to HDPE and PP plastics due to PET's lower
hydrophobicity.
[0025] In one embodiment, the body 2 may be blow-molded in a
conventional one step process; wherein PET plastic is blown into a
form having the shape of the containers body 2 however, in another
embodiment, the body 2 of the container may be blow molded in a
two-step process, wherein the first step comprises molding a PET
preform and the second step comprises molding the body 2 of the
container from the preform. The processes for blow molding
containers are well known in the art. Though blow molding is a
useful method of forming the body 2 of the container 1, any other
method of forming the body 2 as selected with sound engineering
judgment may be used.
[0026] Referring to the Figures, in all embodiments of the
container 1, the body 2 of container 1 may have a substantially
cylindrical neck portion 5. The neck portion 5 may include a neck
wall 7 having inner and outer surfaces. The neck wall 7 may define
a substantially cylindrical opening having an inner diameter of
less than about 50 mm and a height of about 2 to about 20 mm.
Variations in the diameter and height of the neck wall 7 may be
anticipated. In one particularly useful embodiment, the opening
defined by the neck wall 7 may have an inner diameter of between
about 40 mm and about 48 mm. Neck walls 7 defining openings of
larger diameters may be selected. However, diameters of between
about 40 and about 50 mm are adequately large to facilitate pouring
the fluid from the container body 2.
[0027] Neck portion 5 may be adapted to communicate with a closing
means 4, such as a seal or a cap, to provide for the selective
opening and closure of the container 1 and for effectively sealing
the container 1 so as to prevent the leakage of its contents. In
one embodiment, shown, for example, in FIGS. 1 and 4, the outer
face of the neck wall 7 may be formed with threads that are adapted
to mate with matching threads located on the interior of a
conventional screw-on cap 4, which may be molded separately of
plastic or metal or other appropriate material. Other forms of
closures and tops may be used in accordance with sound engineering
judgment, including snap closures.
[0028] As previously indicated, container 1, may include a handle
4. The handle 4 may be formed integrally with the container body 2,
such as, during the molding process of the body 2, however, in a
particularly useful embodiment, the handle 4 may be removably
attached to the body 2. It is particularly desirable that the
handle 4 not be in fluid communication with the body 2; namely, not
be formed or attached in such a manner that fluid from can flow
into the handle. The handle may be removably secured about the neck
wall 7. The handle 4 may be rotatably attached about the neck wall
7. One such handle 4 suitable for removable and rotatable
attachment about the neck wall 7 of the body 2 is shown in FIGS. 1
and 4 and comprises a bail member 10 and a circular, washer-like
portion 12 having a plurality of inwardly directed tabs 14 and an
inner diameter that is between the minimum and maximum outer
diameters of the neck wall 7. Washer-like portion 12 of the handle
4 may be pushed onto the neck wall 7 of the container body 2.
[0029] With reference now to FIGS. 1-5, the body 2 may include a
shoulder portion 25, which may extend from the neck portion 5 and
may be integrally formed with the neck portion 5. The shoulder
portion 25 will preferably transition the body 2 of the container 1
from the substantially circular cross-section of the neck portion 5
to the substantially square cross section of the torso portion 45
(discussed in further detail below) of the body 2 of container 1
and may be funnel shaped to funnel the fluid contents of the
container 1 toward the opening of the container when the container
is in a tilted dispensing position. For purposes of this
disclosure, the term "cross section" refers to the cross section
defined by a horizontal plane through the vertically oriented,
standing container, unless otherwise stated. The shoulder portion
25 may also define all or a portion of a volume allocated to head
space within the container 1.
[0030] The vertical height of the shoulder portion 25, namely, the
vertical distance between the bottom of the neck portion 5 and the
top of the torso portion 45, may be from about 0.5 to about 4
inches, and in some embodiments, from about 0.75 to about 3.75
inches, and in still other embodiments, from about 1.0 to about 3.5
inches, and in still further embodiments, from about 2.5 to about
3.5 inches.
[0031] As shown in the Figures, the shoulder portion 25 may be
substantially pyramidal, having a plurality of, and in one
embodiment, four generally planer or slightly arcuate shoulder
walls 26, 27, 28, 29 (as shown in FIG. 3) each shoulder wall 26,
27, 28, 29 may generally be in the form of an isosceles trapezoid
extending simultaneously downwardly and radially outwardly from the
neck portion 5. Each shoulder wall 26, 27, 28, 29 may have top 30
and bottom 31 parallel edges and first and second non-parallel side
edges 32, 33. Each shoulder wall 26, 27, 28, 29 of the shoulder
portion 25 may be joined to two adjacent shoulder walls. The top
edge 30 of each shoulder wall may be joined to the neck portion 5
and the bottom edge 31 of each shoulder wall may be joined to a
side wall 47, 48 of the torso portion 45. As shown in the Figures,
the transitions between adjacent shoulder walls 27, 28 may be
rounded, as may be the transitions between the bottom edges 31 of
the shoulder walls and the respective top edges of the side walls
47, 48 of the torso portion 45. To facilitate a funneling effect
toward the opening of the container body 2, and provide suitable
head space, the shoulder walls 26, 27, 28, 29 may extend downwardly
and outwardly from the neck portion 5 at an angle. Though a
four-sided pyramidal shoulder portion 25 is contemplated in the
embodiments shown in the Figures, other funnel shapes, having one
or more sides may be used.
[0032] At least one or two, and in still further embodiments all
four shoulder walls 26, 27, 28, 29 may be provided with at least
one vertically oriented shoulder rib 35. The length of the shoulder
rib 35 may be oriented substantially perpendicularly to the top and
bottom edges 30, 31 of the shoulder wall and the length is
preferably greater than the width of the shoulder rib 35. A
shoulder rib 35 may extend from the top edge 30 of the shoulder
wall to the bottom edge 31 of the shoulder wall.
[0033] With reference to FIG. 3, the shoulder ribs 35 may
facilitate the crushing of the container in the region of the
shoulder portion 25 by providing relief "joints" at which the
shoulder walls 27, 29 are inclined to fold when an inwardly
directed crushing force is applied to the shoulder portion 25. In
one embodiment, the shoulder 35 ribs may protrude outwardly from
the surface of the respective shoulder walls 27, 29, though it is
contemplated in another embodiment that the shoulder ribs 35 could
protruded inwardly from the respective shoulder walls 27, 29. The
shoulder ribs 35 may be substantially centrally positioned between
the side edges 32, 33 of the shoulder wall 35.
[0034] With continued reference to the Figures, the body 2 of the
container 1 may comprise a torso portion 45, which may extending
below the shoulder portion 25 and may be integrally joined to the
shoulder portion 25. The torso portion 45 of the container 1 may
have a substantially non-circular cross section defined by a
plurality, and in some embodiments, four generally quadrilateral
torso side walls 47, 48 (which may be referred herein as torso
walls or side-walls). Two torso side-walls 47, 48 are shown in the
Figures, but it will be recognized that two additional side walls
are not shown but present. Adjacent side-walls may be joined at
rounded corners. One or more side-walls 47, 48 may be divided into
a plurality of sections by means of one or more torso ribs 50, 52,
54. In one embodiment, a side-wall 47 may include upper, middle,
and lower sections 47 a-c separated by at least two and in another
embodiment, three, and in still further embodiments, four or more,
generally horizontally oriented (circumferential) torso ribs 50,
52. Although not shown, label(s) may be fixedly secured to one or
more of the middle portions. In another embodiment, the label may
be slideably jacketed about the torso portion 45.
[0035] The torso ribs 50, 52 are preferably arranged in a generally
horizontal and circumferential orientation around the torso portion
45. Each torso rib 50, 52 may be a protrusion into the interior of
the body of the container, though in another embodiment, the torso
ribs 50, 52 may be outward protrusions. In still another
embodiment, the side wall 47, 48 may have both outwardly and
inwardly protruding torso ribs 50, 52. Outwardly protruding torso
ribs 50, 52, if used, should not extend so far from the surface of
the torso side-walls 47, 48 to prevent the container from fitting
into the square retainer bucket of an associated paint shaker.
[0036] In accordance with one embodiment, the torso ribs 50, 52 may
be positioned on the torso portion 45 to divide one or more
side-walls into generally equal sections. Two torso ribs 50, 52 may
divide a side-wall 47, 48 into three sections 47 a-c. As shown in
FIG. 4, three torso ribs may divide a side-wall into four sections.
These "sections" may provide surface area to affix or support a
label. Moreover, these sections may bulge outwardly when the bottle
is filled with fluid thereby increasing the area of contact between
the body 2 of the container 1 and the inner walls of the associated
shaker bucket.
[0037] The torso ribs 50, 52 may provide strength to the container
body 2 and, like the shoulder ribs 35, may facilitate crushing of
the container by acting as relief joints when direct or indirect
crushing force is applied to the torso portion 45 of the body 2 of
the container. While it is generally desirable to distribute the
torso ribs 50, 52 equally on the torso portion 45, effective
properties can be imparted to the container 1, both in structural
strength and crushability, if the torso ribs 50, 52 are other than
equally distributed on the torso portion 45.
[0038] The torso ribs 50, 52, as with the shoulder ribs 35, may be
rounded to facilitate the molding process and add strength of the
container body 2.
[0039] Below the torso portion 45 of the body 2 of the container 1
is a base portion 65. The base portion 65 may include a plurality,
and in some embodiments four base walls 66, 67, 68, 69 and a bottom
panel 72 joined together to form, in one embodiment, a
cross-sectionally, substantially square base for the container 1 as
shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In another embodiment, the base portion 65
may comprise the bottom panel 72 having a plurality, and in some
embodiment, four edges, which may be integrally joined at rounded
corners to the torso walls of the torso portion 45. In still
another embodiment, the edges of the bottom panel 72 may turn
upward to form a bowl-like shape that may be integrally joined to
the torso portion 45.
[0040] The joints between adjacent base walls 67, 69 and the joints
between the base walls 67, 69 and bottom panel 72 (or the bottom
panel 72 and the torso walls 47, 48) may be rounded. The bottom
panel 72 may include a recess 80 centered therein as shown in FIG.
5. The recess may be substantially circular (dome-shaped) or star
shaped. Other shapes and forms of recesses 80 may be selected with
sound engineering judgment and may provide improved strength to the
container body 2.
[0041] In one embodiment, shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, at least one of
the base walls 67, 69 or one of the torso walls 47, 48, may be
provided with a finger engageable indentation 75 of a suitable
shape. When the container 2 is in a dispensing position, this
finger engageable indentation 75 may serve as a stabilizing point
of contact near the bottom of the container body 2 for an
associated user's fingers.
[0042] FIGS. 1 and 2 depict one embodiment of the base portion 65
in which the bottom panel 72 is substantially square and has four
edges, which are integrally joined to the bottom edges 31 of the
torso walls 47, 48 in rounded corners. In this embodiment, the
footprint of the base portion 65 may be is substantially the same
size and orientation as the footprint of the torso portion 45.
[0043] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, the lower
corners 100 of the body 2 of the container 1 are indented. These
indented lower corners 100 are adapted to alleviate certain
detrimental contacts which can occur between the bottom panel 72 of
the container and upwardly oriented retainer lugs that are provided
in the bottom of some types of associated retention buckets that
have been adapted so as to be useful for holding and shaking both
round and square paint cans. Exemplary commercially available paint
shakers having such universal retention buckets for square and
round paint cans are available from Red Devil Equipment Company
(Red Devil 5300) and also include Harbil GQF paint shakers.
Specifically, these paint shakers have been adapted with square
retention buckets suitable shaking existing square PP and HDPE
paint cans. A plurality of upward oriented lugs are provided on the
floor of the bucket to define the footprint of a conventional round
paint can, thereby allowing the shaker bucket to hold both round
paint cans and square paint cans. When a container of the
embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is placed in a retention bucket having
such lugs, the shaking action may cause the lugs to rub the bottom
panel 72 of the container and potentially puncture the container.
When a container of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4-6 is placed in
such a retention bucket, this risk of puncture is substantially
reduced as the indentations 100 are adapted to provide room for the
lugs, while allowing contact between a portion of the bottom panel
72 of the container 1 and the bottom of the retention bucket.
[0044] Preferably the indentations 100 in the corners of the body 2
of a container of the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 4-6 have
sufficient vertical and horizontal clearance to provide relief from
the lugs, while still allowing for contact between a portion of the
bottom panel 72 and the bottom of the retention bucket. As shown in
FIGS. 4-6, each indentation 100 may be formed in the region of a
junction of two adjacent torso walls 47, 48 and the bottom panel 72
and may have at least two segments, one segment providing
horizontal displacement of the body to facilitate the location of
lugs and the second segment providing vertical displacement of the
body to facilitate the height of the lugs. It will be noted that
some contact between the body and the lugs may occur during shaking
as a result of the container body 2 flexing outward from the weight
of the fluid or during shaking.
[0045] The upper, horizontal displacement segment of the
indentation may be defined by the substantially radially inward
"push" of the corner junction of the torso walls 47, 48 toward the
center axis of the container body 2. The lower, vertical
displacement segment of the indentation may be defined by the
subsequent vertically downward travel of the corner junction of the
torso walls 47, 48 toward the bottom panel 72. The vertical
distance traveled in the second segment of the indentation 100 is
usefully at least the same as the height of the lugs in the
associated retention bucket. The distance of the radially inward
travel represented in the first segment of the indentation 100 is
usefully at least the same as the distance from the inner wall of
the retention bucket to the interior facing side of the lugs.
[0046] The provision of indentations 100 at the lower corners of
the container body 2 allows the container 1 to fit within a broad
array of shakers having square retention buckets including those
having and those not having lugs. Moreover, the indentations 100
add strength to the corners of the container.
[0047] With particular reference to FIG. 6, one approach to
providing suitable indentations 100 in the lower corners of the
container body 2 is to provide the container body 2 with a base
portion 65 comprising a bottom panel 72 having a plurality, and in
one embodiment, eight edges (74a-h) that turn substantially
vertically upward to form a bowl having a substantially octagonal
cross-section. Alternatively, but equivalently, what are viewed as
curved edges (74a-h) of the bottom panel 72 may otherwise
constitute eight base walls connected to an eight-sided bottom
panel 72. The height of the base walls or curved edges of the
bottom panel in this embodiment may be approximately or slightly
greater than the height of the lugs in an associated retention
bucket which is adapted to receive square containers. In one
embodiment, this height may be from about 0.25 inches to about 1.0
inches. The bottom panel 72 will preferably be sized so as to fit
substantially inside the lugs of the associated shaker bucket. In
one embodiment, the maximum distance between horizontally
equivalent midpoints on opposing base walls of the base portion 65
may be less than about 6 5/8 inches. With reference to FIGS. 5 and
6, the transition from the substantially octagonal cross section of
the base portion 65 to the substantially square cross section of
the torso portion 45 may provide an indentation 100 in each lower
corner of the container body 2 having suitable horizontal and
vertical displacement to substantially avoid the lugs of an
associated retention bucket.
[0048] Having generally described the physical features of the form
of various embodiments of the container of the present invention,
details concerning the dimensions of the containers will now be
provided. An empty container 1 suitable for holding a volume of
colorant may have a maximum width of approximately 6 5/8 inches.
Given the generally square cross section of the torso portion 45 of
the container body 2, the maximum width will be approximately the
same for each side of the container. The maximum width of the torso
walls 47, 48 may be somewhat less than the maximum width of the
base walls 67, 69 and/or the shoulder walls 27, 28 so as to provide
a slight inset for the label. Suitable head space may be provided
in the shoulder portion 25, which may be from about 1 to about 20
ounces, with about 5 to 15 ounces of headspace preferred. The walls
forming the walls of the shoulder portion 25, torso portion 45 and
base portion 65 may have a thickness of between about 0.20 and
about 0.70 mm. Variations in the thickness of the walls at
different points will be expected as a result of the blow molding
processes used in forming the container body 2. The thickness of
the neck wall 7 and bottom panel 72 may be greater than 0.70 mm.
The containers of the present invention may be formed from a 75
gram PET preform blown into a suitable mold.
[0049] The width of the container 1 should be selected so that the
container body 2, when filled with colorant, may be snugly received
inside conventional one-gallon retention buckets associated with
paint shakers adapted for use with commercially available one
gallon square HDPE or PP paint cans, preferably without the need
for an insert or other apparatus. In this respect, the outside
distance between opposing corners of the container in at least the
base portion 65 and torso portion 45 should not exceed the inner
diameter of the retention bucket, and will, preferably be 0.01 to
about 0.2 mm less than the inner diameter of the retention bucket
to allow for easy removal of the container from the retention
bucket.
[0050] As indicated above, except for the circular neck portion
and, in one embodiment, an octagonal base portion, the containers
of the present invention have a generally square cross section, and
are adapted and sized to snugly fit inside a square retention
bucket in a paint shaking machine. Shaking the colorant container
prior to dispensing its contents into the tinting machine is
believed to improve the distribution of pigments in the colorant.
It is believed that the angular design reflected in the square
cross section of the described containers speeds the pigment
distribution during shaking over traditional round plastic or metal
colorant containers. This may be as a result of the paddle effect
achieved as the generally planar walls of the base, torso and/or
shoulder portions and the angular corners between walls move
relative to the colorant during the shaking process.
[0051] The embodiments have been described, hereinabove. It will be
apparent to those skilled in the art that the above methods and
apparatuses may incorporate changes and modifications without
departing from the general scope of this invention. It is intended
to include all such modifications and alterations in so far as they
come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents
thereof.
* * * * *