U.S. patent application number 12/301654 was filed with the patent office on 2009-07-23 for circumferential rib.
Invention is credited to Michael R. Mooney.
Application Number | 20090184127 12/301654 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38724085 |
Filed Date | 2009-07-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090184127 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Mooney; Michael R. |
July 23, 2009 |
CIRCUMFERENTIAL RIB
Abstract
A container has plural vacuum panels (21) located
circumferentially around the body, an upper label area (23) located
above the panels, and a lower label area (24) located below the
panels. Each one of the upper label area and the lower label area
have only one rib (25) that is circumferential but for only one
discontinuity (26). The discontinuities are vertically located
approximately between the outer boundaries of one of the panels.
The upper and lower discontinuities may be vertically aligned with
one another or offset from one another.
Inventors: |
Mooney; Michael R.;
(Frankfort, IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WOODCOCK WASHBURN LLP
CIRA CENTRE, 12TH FLOOR, 2929 ARCH STREET
PHILADELPHIA
PA
19104-2891
US
|
Family ID: |
38724085 |
Appl. No.: |
12/301654 |
Filed: |
May 22, 2007 |
PCT Filed: |
May 22, 2007 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US07/69449 |
371 Date: |
March 6, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60802736 |
May 22, 2006 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/669 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 79/005 20130101;
B65D 2501/0036 20130101; B65D 1/0223 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/669 |
International
Class: |
B65D 8/08 20060101
B65D008/08 |
Claims
1. A container capable of receiving a liquid at an elevated
temperature and withstanding internal vacuum pressure upon sealing
and cooling, the container comprising: an enclosed base; an upper
portion that extends upwardly to a neck and a finish; and a
generally cylindrical body located between the base and the upper
portion, the body including: plural panels located
circumferentially around the body, the panels being configured to
inwardly deflect upon internal vacuum conditions; an upper label
area generally located above the panels, the upper label area
having only one rib, the upper label area rib being circumferential
but for only one discontinuity, the discontinuity of the upper
label panel rib being circumferentially located above one of the
panels approximately between the outer boundaries of the panel; and
a lower label area generally located below the panels, the lower
label area having only one rib, the lower label panel rib being
circumferential but for only one discontinuity, the discontinuity
of the lower label panel rib being circumferentially located above
one of the panels approximately between the outer boundaries of the
panel.
2. The container of claim 1 wherein the discontinuity of the upper
label panel rib is approximately on a vertical centerline of one of
the panels.
3. The container of claim 1 wherein the discontinuity of the upper
label panel rib is within 10 degrees of the vertical centerline of
one of the panels and the discontinuity of the lower label panel
rib is within 10 degrees of the vertical centerline of one of the
panels.
4. The container of claim 1 wherein the discontinuity of the upper
label panel rib is within 5 degrees of the vertical centerline of
one of the panels and the discontinuity of the lower label panel
rib is within 5 degrees of the vertical centerline of one of the
panels.
5. The container of claim 1 wherein the discontinuity of the upper
label panel rib and the discontinuity of the lower label panel rib
are located approximately on the centerline of the same panel.
6. The container of claim 1 wherein the discontinuity of the upper
label panel rib and the discontinuity of the lower label panel rib
are located proximate the centerlines of different panels, such
that the upper discontinuity and lower discontinuity are
circumferentially spaced apart.
7. The container of claim 6 wherein, for containers having an even
number of panels, the discontinuity of the upper label panel rib is
circumferentially spaced apart from the discontinuity of the lower
label panel rib by approximately 180 degrees.
8. The container of claim 6 wherein, for containers having an odd
number of panels, the discontinuity of the upper label panel rib is
circumferentially spaced apart from the discontinuity of the lower
label panel rib by approximately (180 degrees+(360 degrees)/(2n))
or by approximately (180 degrees-(360 degrees)/(2n)), where n is
the number of panels.
9. The container of claim 1 wherein the discontinuity of the upper
label panel rib represents approximately between 1 and 15 degrees
of the container circumference at the upper label area and the
discontinuity of the lower label panel rib represents approximately
between 1 and 15 degrees of the container circumference at the
lower label area.
10. The container of claim 1 wherein the discontinuity of the upper
label panel rib represents approximately between 3 and 10 degrees
of the container circumference at the upper label area and the
discontinuity of the lower label panel rib represents approximately
between 3 and 10 degrees of the container circumference at the
lower label area.
11. The container of claim 1 wherein the discontinuity of the upper
label panel rib represents approximately between 5 and 8 degrees of
the container circumference at the upper label area and the
discontinuity of the lower label panel rib represents approximately
between 5 and 8 degrees of the container circumference at the lower
label area.
12. The container of claim 1 wherein the discontinuity of the upper
label panel rib represents approximately 6.7 degrees of the
container circumference at the upper label area and the
discontinuity of the lower label panel rib represents approximately
between 6.7 degrees of the container circumference at the lower
label area.
13. The container of claim 1 wherein the discontinuity of the upper
label panel rib represents between approximately 3 percent and
approximately 40 percent of the panel width and the discontinuity
of the lower label panel rib represents between approximately 3
percent and approximately 40 percent of the panel width.
14. The container of claim 1 wherein the discontinuity of the upper
label panel rib represents approximately 16.5 percent of the panel
width and the discontinuity of the lower label panel rib represents
approximately 16.5 percent of the panel width.
15. The container of claim 1 wherein the discontinuity of the upper
label panel rib represents between approximately 10 percent and
approximately 25 percent of the panel width and the discontinuity
of the lower label panel rib represents between approximately 10
percent and approximately 25 percent of the panel width.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims benefit of U.S. application Ser. No.
60/802,736 filed May 22, 2006, the contents of which are
incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to containers and more particularly
to containers suitable for hot filling with perishable foods or
beverages.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] When a perishable product (for example, orange juice) is put
into plastic containers, a "hot-fill" process is used to eliminate
bacteria. The hot-fill process typically includes filling the
container at about 185.degree. F. under approximately atmospheric
pressure or temporary positive pressure of a few inches (water
gauge) and immediately sealing the container. After sealing, the
contents of the container contract upon cooling, which creates
negative internal pressure or vacuum inside the container.
[0004] A simple cylindrical container would likely deform or
collapse under the internal vacuum conditions of conventional
hot-filling processes without some structure to prevent it. In this
regard, some containers have panels (referred to as "vacuum
panels") located on the body of the container. The vacuum panels
are configured to inwardly and easily deflect in response to
internal vacuum such that the remainder of the container maintains
its shape. Often, the vacuum panels are located about the
circumference of the body of the container and then covered by a
label that wraps around the circumference. Land areas between the
panels provide surfaces on which the label may be applied. The
inward deflection of the vacuum panels in response to vacuum
pressure allows the container to maintain its shape for labeling
and commercial appeal.
[0005] It has been a goal of conventional hot-fill container design
to form approximately cylindrical portions (in transverse cross
section) that maintain an approximately cylindrical shape upon
cooling of the liquid and deflection of the vacuum panels.
SUMMARY
[0006] A container is capable of receiving a liquid at an elevated
temperature and withstand internal vacuum pressure upon sealing of
the container and cooling of the liquid. The container employs
circumferential ribs that increase hoop stiffness and eliminate
shape distortion while integral vacuum panels deflect inwardly. The
ribs have a discontinuity that may enhance the top load strength of
upper and lower label panels.
[0007] The container includes an enclosed base portion, a body
portion, and an open-ended upper portion. The body portion is
generally cylindrical and is disposed between the base portion and
upper portion.
[0008] The body portion comprises a plurality of vacuum panels, a
plurality of landing areas, an upper label area, a lower label
area, an upper rib, and a lower rib. The vacuum panels may have any
suitable shape designed to deflect inwardly upon internal vacuum
conditions. The vacuum panels are disposed around the circumference
of the body portion and are circumferentially spaced apart with
landing areas located between the vacuum panels. Preferably, the
upper label area has an upper rib extending circumferentially
around the body portion except for one upper discontinuity, and the
lower label area has a lower rib extending circumferentially around
the body portion except for one lower discontinuity.
[0009] Many variants of the design of the container are envisioned.
For example, in one embodiment, the upper discontinuity may be
aligned approximately with the vertical centerline of one of the
vacuum panels and the lower discontinuity may be aligned
approximately with the vertical centerline of one of the vacuum
panels.
[0010] Alternatively, the upper discontinuity may be aligned within
10 degrees of the vertical centerline of one of the panels and the
lower discontinuity may be aligned within 10 degrees of the
vertical centerline of one of the panels.
[0011] The upper discontinuity and lower discontinuity may be
aligned approximately with the vertical centerline of the same
vacuum panel, or the upper discontinuity may be aligned
approximately with the vertical centerline of one vacuum panel and
the lower discontinuity may be aligned approximately with the
vertical centerline of another vacuum panel, such that the upper
discontinuity and the lower discontinuity are spaced apart around
the circumference of the body portion. The present invention also
encompasses discontinuities that are offset from the panel
centerlines.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 shows a view of an exemplary container;
[0013] FIG. 2A shows a partial cross sectional view of container of
FIG. 1 taken along cross-sectional line II-II showing the upper
rib;
[0014] FIG. 2B shows a partial cross sectional view of a portion of
another embodiment of the container;
[0015] FIG. 2C shows a partial cross sectional view of a portion of
another embodiment of the container;
[0016] FIG. 3A shows a partial cross sectional view of the
container of FIG. 1 taken along cross-sectional line III-III;
[0017] FIG. 3B shows a partial cross sectional view of a portion of
another embodiment of the container;
[0018] FIG. 3C shows a partial cross sectional view of a portion of
another embodiment of the container;
[0019] FIG. 4A shows a cross sectional view of another container;
and
[0020] FIG. 4B shows a cross sectional view of another
container.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS
[0021] FIG. 1 shows a view of a container 1 according to an
embodiment of the invention. As shown, a container 1 includes a
base portion 10, a body portion 20, and an upper portion 30. The
base portion 10 is generally cylindrical and forms the bottom
enclosure of the container 1. The body portion 20 is generally
cylindrical and is integrally formed above the base portion 10. The
upper portion 30 is integrally formed above the body portion 20 and
has an finish that defines a pour opening its the top.
[0022] The body portion 20 includes a plurality of vacuum panels
21, a plurality of landing areas 22, an upper label area 23, a
lower label area 24, an upper rib 25, and a lower rib 26. The
vacuum panels 21 are integrally formed around the circumference of
the body portion 20 and are designed to deflect inwardly upon
internal vacuum conditions in the container 1. The vacuum panels 21
may have any suitable shape, such as, for example, elliptical,
circular, square, or rectangular as shown if FIG. 1. Preferably,
vacuum panels 21 have a conventional structure and function, and
are evenly spaced apart in a single circumferential row. And the
present invention encompasses any spacing, quantity of panels
around the circumference, quantity or configuration of
circumferential rows, and other configurations.
[0023] The outer boundaries of the vacuum panels 21 define an arc
width (A.sub.panel) along the circumference of the body portion 20
of the container 1, as shown schematically in FIGS. 2A and 3A. The
vacuum panels 21 are circumferentially spaced apart with landing
areas 22 located between the outer boundaries of adjacent vacuum
panels 21. The landing areas 22 provide surfaces for the
application of labels around the body portion 20 of the container
1.
[0024] The upper label 23 area is located around the top of the
body portion 20 and the lower label area 24 is located around the
bottom of the body portion 20. The vacuum panels 21 and landing
areas 22 are located between the upper label area 23 and lower
label area 24. The upper label area 23 and lower label 24 also
provide surfaces for the application of labels around the body
portion 20 of the container 1.
[0025] As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2A, upper label area 23 above
vacuum panels 21 includes one upper rib 25. Upper rib 25 extends
circumferentially around upper label area 23 of body portion 20,
except for one upper discontinuity 26. As shown in FIG. 2A, the
upper rib 25 forms a recess having a radial depth (D.sub.rib) from
the surface of the upper label area 23. The recess formed by the
upper rib 25 is interrupted by the upper discontinuity 26.
[0026] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, upper discontinuity 26 is
located above a vacuum panel 21 and is vertically aligned between
the outer boundaries of the vacuum panel 21 such that upper
discontinuity 26 is vertically aligned approximately with a
vertical centerline C of the vacuum panel 21. In another embodiment
shown schematically in FIG. 2B, an upper discontinuity 26' may be
circumferentially spaced apart or offset from a vertical centerline
of a panel 21' by an arc width A.sub.offset. Preferably,
A.sub.offset is within approximately 5.degree. or approximately
10.degree. of a vertical centerline C of the vacuum panel 21'.
[0027] The surface of upper discontinuity 26 (and 26') preferably
is flush with the surface of the upper label area 23. In another
embodiment, an upper discontinuity 26'' has a depth (D.sub.upper)
that is less than the depth (D.sub.rib) of the upper rib 25, which
configuration is shown schematically in FIG. 2C. The following
description of the ribs employs reference numeral 26 for
convenience, and description applies also to rib embodiments 26'
and 26''.
[0028] Upper discontinuity 26 has an arc width (A.sub.upper) along
the circumference of upper label area 23 of body portion 20 that
may measure between approximately 1.degree. and approximately
15.degree. and more preferably between approximately 3.degree. and
approximately 10.degree. of the circumference of the upper label
area 23 of the body portion 20. More preferably, the arc width
(A.sub.upper) of the upper discontinuity 26 measures between
approximately 5.degree. and approximately 8.degree., and preferably
about 6.7.degree.. Because the present invention encompasses vacuum
panels of any configuration, the arc width of upper discontinuity
26 is provided based on a percentage of the arc width of the panel.
In this regard, the arc width (A.sub.upper) of the upper
discontinuity 26 may measure between approximately 3% and
approximately 40%, and preferably between approximately 10% and
approximately 25%, of the arc width (A.sub.panel) of the vacuum
panel 21 over which it is aligned. In one embodiment, the arc width
(A.sub.upper) of the upper discontinuity 26 measures about 16.5% of
the arc width (A.sub.panel) of the vacuum panel 21 over which it is
aligned.
[0029] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3A, the lower label area 24 below
the vacuum panels 21 includes one lower rib 27. Lower rib 27
extends circumferentially around lower label area 24 of body
portion 20, except for a lower discontinuity 28. As shown in FIG.
3A, the lower rib 27 forms a recess having a radial depth
(D.sub.rib) from the surface of lower label area 24. The recess
formed by lower rib 27 is interrupted by a lower discontinuity
28.
[0030] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 3A, lower
discontinuity 28 is located below a vacuum panel 21 and is
vertically aligned between the outer boundaries of the vacuum panel
21 such that lower discontinuity 28 is vertically aligned
approximately with a vertical centerline C of the vacuum panel 21.
In another embodiment shown schematically in FIG. 3B, a lower
discontinuity 28' may be circumferentially offset or spaced apart
from a vertical centerline C of a panel 21' by an arc width
A.sub.offset. Preferably, A.sub.offset is within approximately
5.degree. or approximately 10.degree. of a vertical centerline (C)
of the vacuum panel 21'. The surface of lower discontinuity 28 (and
28') preferably is flush with the surface of the lower label area
24. In another embodiment, a lower discontinuity 28'' has a depth
(D.sub.lower) that is less than the depth (D.sub.rib) of the lower
rib 27, which configuration is shown in FIG. 3C. The following
description of the ribs employs reference numeral 28 for
convenience, and description applies also to rib embodiments 28'
and 28''.
[0031] Lower discontinuity 28 has an arc width (A.sub.lower) along
the circumference of lower label area 24 of body portion 20 that
may measure between approximately 1.degree. and approximately
15.degree. and more preferably between approximately 3.degree. and
approximately 10.degree. of the circumference of the lower label
area 24 of the body portion 20. More preferably, the arc width
(A.sub.lower) of the lower discontinuity 28 measures between
approximately 5.degree. and approximately 8.degree., and preferably
about 6.7.degree.. Because the present invention encompasses vacuum
panels of any configuration, the arc width of upper discontinuity
26 is provided based on a percentage of the arc width of the panel.
In this regard, the arc width (A.sub.lower) of the lower
discontinuity 28 may measure between approximately 3% and
approximately 40%, and preferably between approximately 10% and
25%, of the arc width (A.sub.panel) of the vacuum panel 21 under
which it is aligned. In one embodiment, the arc width (A.sub.lower)
of the lower discontinuity 28 measures about 16.5% of the arc width
(A.sub.panel) of the vacuum panel 21 under which it is aligned.
[0032] Preferably, as shown, upper discontinuity 26 is aligned
between the outer boundaries of a vacuum panel 21 and lower
discontinuity 28 is aligned between the outer boundaries of a
different vacuum panel 21. For example, FIG. 1 shows upper
discontinuity 26 at the top dead center of a panel and lower
discontinuity 28 at the bottom dead center of an adjacent panel.
Preferably, for containers having an even number of vacuum panels
21, such as container 1 shown in FIG. 1, the upper discontinuity 26
is preferably circumferentially spaced apart from the lower
discontinuity 28 by approximately 180.degree., which is indicated
schematically by the location of lower discontinuity 28'''.
Discontinuity 28''' is shown in dashed lines to indicate that it is
located on the backside of container 1 as oriented in FIG. 1. The
approximate circumferential spacing of the upper discontinuity 26
and the lower discontinuity 28 in containers having an even number
of panels is also shown by FIG. 4A. Referring to FIG. 4B, for
containers 1 having an odd number of vacuum panels 21, the upper
discontinuity 26 is preferably circumferentially spaced apart from
the lower discontinuity 26 by approximately (180 degrees+(360
degrees)/(2n)) or by approximately (180 degrees-(360
degrees)/(2n)), where n is the number of panels.
[0033] The present invention is not limited to any location of
discontinuities 26 or 28 relative to the adjacent vacuum panels
unless the particular claim recites a location. The best mode is
for the discontinuities to be spaced apart from the outer
boundaries of the vacuum panels, or from corners of the vacuum
panels in embodiments where comers exist, to keep the
discontinuities from the high stresses associated with those
locations.
* * * * *