U.S. patent application number 16/061148 was filed with the patent office on 2018-12-20 for container having a petaloid base with rib feet.
The applicant listed for this patent is SIDEL PARTICIPATIONS. Invention is credited to Laurent NAVEAU, Ivan PIERRE.
Application Number | 20180362205 16/061148 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 55300668 |
Filed Date | 2018-12-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180362205 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
PIERRE; Ivan ; et
al. |
December 20, 2018 |
CONTAINER HAVING A PETALOID BASE WITH RIB FEET
Abstract
Disclosed is a plastics container obtained by blow moulding or
stretch blow moulding from a blank, this container including a
body, a neck which extends at an upper end of the body and a
petaloid base which extends at a lower end of the body, this
petaloid base being provided with protruding feet that are
separated by recessed valleys that extend radially from a central
region of the base, each foot having an external wall which extends
in continuation of the body and two side walls that each border a
valley and are each connected to the external wall by a fillet,
each foot being provided with at least one rib, a lateral portion
of which overlaps the fillet.
Inventors: |
PIERRE; Ivan;
(Octeville-sur-Mer, FR) ; NAVEAU; Laurent;
(Octeville-sur-Mer, FR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
SIDEL PARTICIPATIONS |
Octeville-sur-Mer |
|
FR |
|
|
Family ID: |
55300668 |
Appl. No.: |
16/061148 |
Filed: |
December 14, 2016 |
PCT Filed: |
December 14, 2016 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/FR2016/053414 |
371 Date: |
June 11, 2018 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 1/44 20130101; B65D
1/0284 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B65D 1/02 20060101
B65D001/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 16, 2015 |
FR |
1562521 |
Claims
1. Container (1) made of plastic material obtained by blow molding
or stretch blow molding from a blank, this container (1) comprising
a body (2), a neck (3) that extends at an upper end of the body (2)
and a petaloid bottom (4) that extends at a lower end of the body
(2), this petaloid bottom (4) being equipped with protruding feet
(5), separated by hollow valleys (6) that extend radially from a
central area (7) of the bottom (4), each foot (5) having an outer
wall (10) that extends in continuation of the body (2) and two
sides (11) each bordering a valley (6) and that each adjoin the
outer wall (10) by a fillet (12), wherein each foot (5) is provided
with at least one rib (14), a lateral portion (15) of which
straddles said fillet (12).
2. Container (1) according to claim 1, wherein at least one rib
(14) has an inner end portion (16) that extends at least partway
over one side (11), in continuation of the lateral portion
(15).
3. Container (1) according to claim 1, wherein at least one rib
(14) has an outer portion (17) that extends at least partway over
the outer wall (10) of the foot (5), in continuation of the lateral
portion (15).
4. Container (1) according to claim 3, wherein the rib (14) stops,
toward the exterior, on the outer wall (10) of the foot (5).
5. Container (1) according to claim 3, further comprising at least
one rib (14) having two lateral portions (15) that adjoin by the
outer portion (17).
6. Container (1) according to claim 3, wherein the outer portion
(17) is arched.
7. Container (1) according to claim 6, wherein the (or each)
lateral portion (15) is arched in the direction opposite the outer
portion (17).
8. Container (1) according to claim 1, wherein the rib (14) follows
the contour of an intersection of the foot (5) with a cylinder (C)
of revolution around a radial axis (A).
9. Container (1) according to claim 1, wherein the lateral portion
(15) is straight.
10. Container (1) according to claim 1, wherein the rib (14)
follows the contour of an intersection of the foot (5) with a plane
(P).
11. Container (1) according to claim 10, wherein, the feet (5)
having ends (8) that define for the container (1) a placement plane
(9), the intersection plane (P) is inclined in relation to the
placement plane (9).
12. Container (1) according to claim 10, wherein, the feet (5)
having ends (8) that define for the container (1) a placement plane
(9), the intersection plane (P) is parallel in relation to the
placement plane (9).
13. Container (1) according to claim 1, further comprising at least
two superposed ribs (14).
14. Container (1) according to claim 13, further comprising three
superposed ribs (14).
15. Container (1) according to claim 14, wherein the ribs (14) are
equidistant.
16. Container (1) according to claim 13, wherein, examined
ascending in the direction of the neck (3) from an end (8) of the
foot (5), the ribs (14) are of increasing lengths.
17. Container (1) according to claim 13, wherein the ribs (14)
follow the contour of an intersection of the foot with coaxial
cylinders (C1, C2, C3) of revolution, with a radial axis (A) and
with different radii.
18. Container (1) according to claim 1, wherein at least one rib
(14) stops, toward the interior, on the adjoining fillet (12)
between the outer wall (10) and the side (11).
19. Container (1) according to claim 1, wherein the (or each) rib
(14) has a width (L) of between 0.4 mm and 1.5 mm.
20. Container (1) according to claim 2, wherein at least one rib
(14) has an outer portion (17) that extends at least partway over
the outer wall (10) of the foot (5), in continuation of the lateral
portion (15).
Description
[0001] The invention relates to the production of containers,
particularly bottles, by blow molding or stretch blow molding from
blanks (preforms or unfinished intermediate containers) from a
thermoplastic material such as PET (polyethylene
terephthalate).
[0002] A container generally comprises a body, which imparts to the
container its volume, an open neck, which extends protruding from
an upper end of the body and through which the container is filled
(generally by means of a liquid or a paste), and a bottom, which
closes the body opposite the neck and forms a base by which the
container must be able to rest in a stable manner on a plane
surface such as a table.
[0003] Generally, it is sought to impart to the bottom a good
mechanical rigidity because, besides the fact that the bottom must
form a stable seat for the container (not only during transporting
operations following its filling but also during its storage and
its everyday use by consumers), it must also withstand the
hydrostatic pressure exerted by the contents, with possible thermal
stresses caused by an elevated temperature of the contents when the
contents are introduced hot into the container, or else with a
possible pressure from gas dissolved in the liquid (classic case of
carbonated beverages).
[0004] If it were possible for the container to stay upright, the
ideal shape of the bottom would be a sphere, because it would
distribute uniformly the stresses that are applied to it. There was
a time when containers made of PET were produced with a spherical
bottom on which an added cup-shaped base was fitted, made from a
more flexible material (particularly from polypropylene, to make
possible its snap-fitting onto the bottom). However, this design
made recycling difficult, the two materials having to take
different tracks, forcing operators responsible for the selective
sorting to separate the base from the container themselves.
[0005] The development of the petaloid bottom made it possible to
get around these problems: such a bottom comprises alternating
protruding feet intended to ensure the vertical stand-up of the
container placed on a horizontal plane surface, and convex valleys
(generally in the shape of sphere portions) that absorb a portion
of the forces (thermal, mechanical) exerted by the contents.
[0006] It is in containers having petaloid bottoms that carbonated
beverages are ordinarily contained. The capacities of these
containers can vary: for example, 0.2 L, 0.5 L, 1 L, 1.5 L, 2 L, or
more.
[0007] Environmental standards (ever more restrictive) and the
unpredictable nature of the price of raw materials are forcing
manufacturers to reduce the amount of material used, which results
in a decrease in weight (and therefore in thickness) of the
containers.
[0008] On the lightweight petaloid bottoms, unwanted deformations
are observed. In particular, on the feet, the appearance of
wrinkles is noted. Apart from their unsightly nature, the wrinkles
can form incipient breaks, especially when the containers are
palletized: added to the stresses due to the internal pressure are
actually stresses of compression due to the weight of the
superposed containers.
[0009] Even the recent improvements made to the petaloid bottoms
(see in particular the European patent application EP 2 560 887 in
the name of the applicant) do not make it possible to get around
these wrinkles.
[0010] An object is consequently to propose a petaloid bottom that,
although lightweight, is, however, less subject to the uncontrolled
deformations than the known petaloid bottoms.
[0011] For this purpose, a container made of plastic material
obtained by blow molding or stretch blow molding from a blank is
proposed, this container comprising a body, a neck that extends at
an upper end of the body, and a petaloid bottom that extends at a
lower end of the body, this petaloid bottom being provided with
protruding feet, separated by hollow valleys that extend radially
from a central area of the bottom, each foot having an outer wall
that extends in continuation of the body and two sides each
bordering a valley and that each adjoin the outer wall by a fillet,
each foot being provided with at least one rib, a lateral portion
of which straddles said fillet.
[0012] By deploying under pressure the contents of the container,
this (or these) rib(s) absorb(s) a portion of the deformations
induced within the foot that are thus channeled, which prevents the
formation of unwanted wrinkles.
[0013] Various additional characteristics can be provided, alone or
in combination: [0014] at least one rib has an inner end portion
that extends at least partway over one side, in continuation of the
lateral portion; [0015] at least one rib has an outer portion that
extends at least partway over the outer wall of the foot, in
continuation of the lateral portion; [0016] the rib stops, toward
the exterior, on the outer wall of the foot; [0017] the container
comprises at least one rib having two lateral portions that adjoin
by the outer portion; [0018] the outer portion is arched; [0019]
the (or each) lateral portion is arched in the direction opposite
to the outer portion; [0020] the rib follows the contour of an
intersection of the foot with a cylinder of revolution around a
radial axis; [0021] the lateral portion is straight; [0022] the rib
follows the contour of an intersection of the foot with a plane;
[0023] the feet having ends that, for the container, define a
placement plane, the above-mentioned intersection plane is parallel
(or, as a variant, inclined in relation) to the placement plane;
[0024] the container comprises at least two superposed ribs; [0025]
the container comprises three superposed ribs; [0026] the ribs are
equidistant; [0027] examined ascending in the direction of the neck
from an end of the foot, the ribs are of increasing lengths; [0028]
the ribs follow the contour of an intersection of the foot with
coaxial cylinders of revolution, with a radial axis and with
different radii; [0029] at least one rib stops, toward the
interior, on the adjoining fillet between the outer wall and the
side; [0030] the (or each) rib has a width of between 0.4 mm and
1.5 mm.
[0031] Other objects and advantages of the invention will be
brought out in the description of an embodiment, given below with
reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
[0032] FIG. 1 is a view in perspective, from below, of a container
having a petaloid bottom whose feet are ribbed;
[0033] FIG. 2 is a detail view, on an enlarged scale, of the bottom
of the container of FIG. 1;
[0034] FIG. 3 is a detail view from below, on an enlarged scale, of
a ribbed foot;
[0035] FIG. 4 is a side view of the bottom of the container;
[0036] FIG. 5 is a detail view, on an enlarged scale, of a foot of
the container of FIG. 4, according to box V;
[0037] FIG. 6 is a detail cutaway view of the bottom, on an
enlarged scale, along the cutting plane VI-VI of FIG. 5;
[0038] FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 4, illustrating a variant
embodiment;
[0039] FIG. 8 is a detail view, from the side, of a foot of the
bottom of FIG. 7;
[0040] FIG. 9 is a detail view from below, on an enlarged scale, of
a ribbed foot of the bottom illustrated in FIG. 7.
[0041] In FIG. 1, a container 1 is shown that is obtained by blow
molding or stretch blow molding from a blank (a term designating a
raw injection preform or an intermediate container intended to
undergo one or more finishing operations) made of plastic material,
for example of PET (polyethylene terephthalate).
[0042] The container 1 comprises a body 2, which extends along an
axis X that can constitute an axis of revolution of the body 2, a
neck 3 that extends at an upper end of the body 2, and a petaloid
bottom 4 that extends at a lower end of the body 2, opposite the
neck 3.
[0043] The bottom 4 is provided with protruding feet 5, separated
two by two by hollow valleys 6 that extend radially from a central
area 7 of the bottom 4.
[0044] Each foot 5 extends in axial projection up to an end 8. The
ends 8 of the feet 5 are coplanar and together define a placement
plane 9 by which the container 1 can rest in a stable manner on a
horizontal plane surface (typically a table).
[0045] Each foot 5 has an outer wall 10, which extends in
continuation of the body 2, and two sides 11 each bordering a
valley 6 and which each adjoin the outer wall 10 by a fillet
12.
[0046] According to an embodiment illustrated in the figures, and
particularly in FIGS. 3 and 4, each fillet 12 will continue to grow
from an upper end 13 of the valley 6 in the direction of the end 8
of the foot. In the same direction, the radius of the fillet 12 can
be constant, or keep increasing.
[0047] As is also seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, each side 11 has a
crescent shape (but this shape is not limiting). It will be noted
that the boundaries between the different areas of the foot 5 are
not sharp edges but are soft (otherwise, these boundaries would
accumulate the stresses and would form, under load, an equal number
of incipient breaks). For reasons of clarity, however, these
boundaries have been visualized in the drawings (in the form of
double dot-dash lines).
[0048] Each foot 5 has a plane symmetry relative to a radial plane
R (containing the axis X of the container 1) passing through its
end 8. Each foot 5 thus comprises a single outer wall 10,
symmetrical relative to this plane R, two fillets 12 that are the
mirror image of one another relative to this plane R, and two sides
11 that are also the mirror image of one another relative to this
plane R.
[0049] As is seen in the figures, each foot 5 is provided with at
least one rib 14. Seen in cross-section, this rib 14 protrudes
(i.e., it forms a relief) toward the interior of the container 1
(FIG. 6). As a variant, this rib 14 protrudes toward the exterior
of the container.
[0050] Regardless of its form (several of them are described
below), the rib 14 comprises a lateral portion 15 that straddles
the fillet 12, i.e., this lateral portion 15 extends over at least
one part of the width of the fillet 12.
[0051] The number of ribs 14 present on each foot 5 can be a
function of the volumetric capacity of the container 1. Thus, in a
large-capacity (1.5 L, 2 L or even 3 L) container 1, each foot 5
can be provided with three ribs 14 (or three pairs of ribs 14 that
are symmetrical relative to the radial plane of symmetry R of the
foot) that are superposed (see the first bottom 4 illustrated in
FIGS. 1 to 5, which comprises, for each foot 5, an upper rib 14.1,
an intermediate rib 14.2, and a lower rib 14.3). In a
medium-capacity (0.5 L or 1 L) container 1, each foot 5 can be
provided with two (or two pairs of) superposed ribs 14 (see the
second bottom 4 illustrated in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, which comprises,
for each foot 5, a pair of symmetrical upper ribs 14.4 and a pair
of symmetrical lower ribs 14.5). In a low-capacity (less than 0.5
L, for example 0.2 L) container 1, each foot 5 can be provided with
a single rib 14 (or with a single pair of ribs 14 that are
symmetrical relative to the plane R of symmetry of the foot 5).
[0052] At least one of the ribs 14 can have one or more of the
following characteristics: [0053] the lateral portion 15 extends
over the entire width of the fillet 12, thus joining the outer wall
10 to one of the sides 11 of the foot 5; this is the case with the
upper rib 14.1 of the first bottom 4 (FIGS. 3 and 4) and with the
ribs 14.4, 14.5 of the second bottom 4 (FIGS. 7, 8, 9); [0054] the
rib 14 extends over the side 11, beyond the fillet 12; the rib 14
then has an inner end portion 16, which extends at least partway
over the side 11, in continuation of the lateral portion 15; this
is the case with the upper rib 14.1 of the first bottom 4 (FIGS. 3
and 4) and with the two ribs 14.4, 14.5 of the second bottom 4
(FIGS. 7, 8, 9); [0055] the lateral portion 15 extends over one
part only of the fillet 12, extending from the outer wall 10 and
stopping in the vicinity of the boundary between the fillet 12 and
the side 11: this is the case with the intermediate rib 14.2 of the
first bottom 4 (FIGS. 3 and 4); [0056] the lateral portion 15
extends over one part only of the fillet 12, starting from the
outer wall 10 and stopping approximately halfway between the outer
wall 10 and the side 11: this is the case with the lower rib 14.3
of the first bottom 4 (FIGS. 3 and 4); [0057] the rib 14 has an
outer portion 17 that extends at least partway over the outer wall
10 of the foot 5, in continuation of the lateral portion 15: this
is the case with the upper rib 14.1 of the first bottom 4 (FIGS. 3
and 4) and with the two ribs 14.4, 14.5 of the second bottom 4
(FIGS. 7, 8, 9); [0058] the rib 14 stops, toward the exterior, on
the outer wall 10 of the foot 5: the rib 14 then has an outer end
portion 18, which extends partway over the outer wall 10: this is
the case with the ribs 14.4, 14.5 of the second bottom 4 of FIGS.
7, 8, 9; the foot 5 illustrated in these figures comprises two
superposed pairs of ribs 14 that are symmetrical relative to the
plane R of symmetry of the foot 5. The ribs 14.4, 14.5 of each pair
are separated from one another, their outer end portions 18
stopping at a distance from one another of several millimeters;
[0059] the outer portion 17 extends over the entire width of the
outer wall 10: the rib 14 then comprises two lateral portions 15
that adjoin by the outer portion 17: this is the case with the ribs
14.1, 14.2, 14.3 of the first bottom 4 of FIGS. 3 and 4; [0060] the
outer portion 17 is arched: this is the case with the ribs 14.1,
14.2, 14.3 of the first bottom 4 of FIGS. 3 and 4, the outer
portions 17 of which extend along an arch with its concavity turned
toward the placement plane 9; [0061] the (or each) lateral portion
15 is further arched in the opposite direction of the outer portion
17: this is the case with the ribs 14.1, 14.2, 14.3 of the first
bottom of FIGS. 3 and 4, whose lateral portions 15 extend along an
arch with its concavity turned toward the neck 3; [0062] the rib 14
follows the contour of an intersection of the foot 5 with a
cylinder C of revolution around a radial axis: this is the case
with the ribs of the first bottom 4 of FIGS. 3, 4 and 5; in this
first bottom 4, and as is clearly visible in FIG. 5, the ribs 14.1,
14.2, 14.3 follow the contour of an intersection of the foot 5 with
the respective cylinders C1, C2, C3 of revolution, with the same
radial axis A and with different radii; [0063] in a variant, the
rib 14 follows the contour of an intersection of the foot 5 with a
plane P that is inclined relative to the placement plane 9: this is
the case with the ribs 14.4, 14.5 of the second bottom 4 of FIGS.
7, 8, 9; in a variant, the plane P could be parallel to the
placement plane; in both cases, the (or each) lateral portion 15
appears straight instead of being arched; [0064] the rib 14 has a
width L of between 0.4 mm and 1.5 mm.
[0065] It is conceivable to combine certain of the above-mentioned
characteristics. At least one (or each) rib 14 could thus have an
arched outer portion 17 and one (or each) straight lateral portion
15.
[0066] Taking into account the rather intricate relief of the foot
5, the general shape of each rib 14 depends on the angle along
which the bottom 4 is observed.
[0067] Thus, when the first bottom 4 of FIGS. 1 to 5 is observed
from below (FIG. 3), each rib 14.1, 14.2, 14.3 has an open U shape.
When a foot 5 of this same bottom 4 is observed radially from the
outside (see the foot 5 located in the center of FIG. 4), each rib
14.1, 14.2, 14.3 has a circular shape. When a foot 5 of this first
bottom 4 is observed from the side (see the feet 5 located on the
sides of FIG. 4), each rib 14.1, 14.2, 14.3 has a Gaussian
shape.
[0068] When a foot 5 of the second bottom 4 of FIGS. 7 to 9 is
observed from below (FIG. 9), each rib 14.4, 14.5 also has an open
U shape. When a foot of this same bottom is observed from the side
(FIG. 8), each rib 14.4, 14.5 extends along a straight line.
[0069] When each foot 5 comprises several superposed ribs 14, the
ribs 14 can, when examined ascending in the direction of the neck
from the end 8 of the foot 5, be of different lengths (for example,
increasing, see the first bottom 4 illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4)
or of the same length (see the second bottom 4 illustrated in FIGS.
7, 8 and 9).
[0070] When each foot 5 comprises a number of ribs 14 that is
greater than or equal to three, they can be equidistant, as in the
first bottom 4 illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5.
[0071] The container 1 is designed to be filled with contents under
pressure, typically a carbonated beverage, which produces in the
container 1 a pressure that can reach 6 bars.
[0072] Its petaloid shape makes it possible for the bottom 4 to
maintain its shape overall without collapsing, the valleys 6
ensuring, as a result of their spherical shape, a relatively
homogeneous distribution of the stresses that they undergo because
of the pressure of the contents. The feet 5, for their part, are
subject to significant variations of stresses because of their
intricate shape. It has been found that the stresses accumulate in
the fillets 12, between the outer wall 10 and the sides 11. Each
rib 14 contributes, by being deployed toward the exterior of the
container 1 (as illustrated in dashed lines in FIG. 6), to
channeling the deformations caused by these stresses. In other
words, the deformations are localized on the rib(s) 14.
Consequently, the uncontrolled (unwanted) deformations of the feet
5 are minimized, indeed eliminated, even when the container 1 is
lightweight. The appearance of the container 1 is preserved, as
well as its behavior under increased load (particularly when
palletizing), with an equal or lower weight.
* * * * *