Abstract:
A monolithic blow molded container is configured to hold liquids. A majority portion of the container is opaque and the container has an upper opening configured and adapted to allow liquid to be dispensed from the cavity of the container. The container also has a vertically oriented viewing stripe that bulges outward from the majority portion of the container in a manner such that liquid in the container can be observed through the transparent viewing stripe from two opposite viewing angles.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Not Applicable. 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable. 
       APPENDIX 
       [0003]    Not Applicable. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0005]    The present invention pertains to blow molded containers. More particularly, the present invention pertains to blow molded containers of the type that comprise a view stripe. 
         [0006]    2. General Background 
         [0007]    Most plastic liquid containers of the type used for storing, shipping, and dispensing liquids are blow molded. For example, trigger sprayer containers, quart size lubricant containers, and shampoo and personal health care containers, just to name a few, are typically blow molded. In many circumstances, it is desirable for the plastic of the container to be colored. For example, it may be desirable to color such containers for marking purposes, for identification purposes, for compliance purposes, or even for purposes of shielding ultraviolet or other light rays from degrading liquid contained in such containers. In some cases it is acceptable for such coloring to be transparent such that the liquid in such containers can be observed from outside the containers. However, often it is preferable that such coloring be opaque. As can be appreciated, opaque liquids containers suffer from a disadvantage in that the level of liquid in such containers cannot easily be determined from a distance. 
         [0008]    In view of the foregoing, some blow molded containers are molded from both transparent plastic and opaque plastic in a manner such that the transparent plastic forms a vertical “view stripe” along one side of the container. Such view stripes allow the majority of such containers to be opaque while still allowing people to observe the levels of liquid in such containers by peering into the containers through the view stripes. However, in some circumstances such view stripes are difficult to use since often little light reflects back out of the containers through the view stripe. Additionally, such view stripes typically must be viewed perpendicularly to ascertain the level of liquids in such containers. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The present invention overcomes the disadvantages associated with view stripes on blow molded containers by forming a view stripe as a vertical transparent protrusion that protrudes from the adjacent opaque portions of the containers. The protrusion creates a liquid channel that is exterior to the volume bounded by the opaque portions of the container. Thus, the liquid level in the channel can be observed from multiple viewing angles, preferably even from opposite view angles, and light can pass through the protrusion and channel and be observed without having to be reflected back at the viewer. 
         [0010]    In one aspect of the invention, a monolithic blow molded container has a top, a bottom, a front, a rear, and opposite sides. The container comprises a cavity that is configured and adapted to hold liquid. The top has an opening configured and adapted to allow liquid to be dispensed from the cavity of the container. The container has a horizontal perimeter and comprises an opaque wall portion and transparent wall portion. The opaque wall portion extends a majority of the way around the perimeter and bounds a main portion of the cavity. The transparent wall portion is vertically elongate and has a convex outer surface and a concave inner surface. The concave inner surface defines a vertically extending channel portion of the cavity that is external to the main portion of the cavity. The transparent wall portion protrudes from adjacent portions of the opaque wall portion of the container in a manner such that liquid in the channel portion of the cavity can be observed through the transparent wall portion from two opposite viewing angles. 
         [0011]    In another aspect of the invention, a method comprises blow molding a container from a single parison in a manner such that the container is monolithic. The container has a top, a bottom, a front, a rear, and opposite sides. The container comprises a cavity that is configured and adapted to hold liquid. The top has an opening configured and adapted to allow liquid to be dispensed from the cavity of the container. The container has a horizontal perimeter and comprises an opaque wall portion and transparent wall portion. The opaque wall portion extends a majority of the way around the perimeter and bounds a main portion of the cavity. The transparent wall portion is vertically elongate and has a convex outer surface and a concave inner surface. The concave inner surface defines a vertically extending channel portion of the cavity that is external to the main portion of the cavity. The transparent wall portion protrudes from adjacent portions of the opaque wall portion of the container in a manner such that liquid in the channel portion of the cavity can be observed through the transparent wall portion from two opposite viewing angles. 
         [0012]    In yet another aspect of the invention, a monolithic blow molded container is configured to hold liquids. A majority portion of the container is opaque and the container has an upper opening configured and adapted to allow liquid to be dispensed from the cavity of the container. The container also has a vertically oriented viewing stripe that bulges outward from the majority portion of the container in a manner such that liquid in the container can be observed through the transparent viewing stripe from two opposite viewing angles. 
         [0013]    Further features and advantages of the present invention, as well as the operation of the invention, are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention having liquid therein. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a front view of the embodiment of the invention shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the embodiment of the invention shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
       
    
    
       [0017]    Reference numerals in the written specification and in the drawing figures indicate corresponding items. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0018]    A blow molded container in accordance with the invention is shown in  FIGS. 1-3 . The container  10  has a top  12 , a bottom  14 , a front  16 , a rear  18 , and opposite sides  20  and comprises a cavity  21  that is configured and adapted to hold and dispense liquid. An opening  22  is formed in the top  12  of the container  10  for dispensing liquid from the cavity  21  of the container. Threads  24  are preferably formed around the opening  22  for receiving a cap or trigger sprayer (not shown). Alternatively, the container  10  could be provided with a bayonet style attachment portion or may be devoid of any type of cap or trigger sprayer attachment portion. 
         [0019]    The container consists of an opaque wall portion  26  and a plastic transparent wall portion  28  that are integrally blow molded from a single plastic parison. The plastic may be any type of plastic, such as polyethelene. The opaque portion  12  forms a majority of the container  10  and bounds and defines a main portion  30  of the container&#39;s cavity  21 . The transparent wall portion  28  is vertically elongate and has a convex outer surface  32  and a concave inner surface  34  as shown in the horizontal cross-section of the container of  FIG. 3 , which is a horizontal cross-section taken mid way up the height of the container  10 . The concave inner surface  34  defines a vertically extending channel portion  36  of the cavity  21  that is external to the main portion  30  of the cavity but is fluidly connected thereto. The transparent wall portion  28  protrudes from adjacent portions of the opaque wall portion  26  of the container  10  in a manner such that liquid  38  in the channel portion  36  of the cavity  21  can be observed through the transparent wall portion from two opposite viewing angles (preferably from either the front  16  or rear  18  of the container  10 ). As such, the transparent wall portion  28  of the container  10  forms a protruding view stripe. 
         [0020]    As shown in the figures, the front  16  and rear  18  of the container  10  may be symmetric. As is also shown in the figures, side-to-side  20 , the container  10  may be non-symmetric. To the extent the container  10  is non-symmetric side-to-side  20 , the top  12  and opening  22  of the container may be skewed to one side  20  of the container. If that is the case, transparent wall portion  28  of the container  10  is preferably formed on the side  20  of the container that is nearest the top  12  and opening  22  of the container. The transparent wall portion  28  of the container  10  also preferably extends up a majority of the height of the container. Preferably, transparent wall portion  28  of the container  10  begins slightly above the bottom  14  of the container and extends up toward the top  12  of the container, but stops short thereof. 
         [0021]    It should be appreciated that the transparent wall portion  28  of the container  10  protrudes from adjacent portions of opaque wall portion  26  to a degree such that the channel portion  36  formed by the transparent wall portion also protrudes outwardly from the opaque wall portion  26  of the container. As such, the level of liquid  38  in the container  10  can be viewed from opposite viewing angles (e.g., from the front  16  and from the rear  18  of the container). It should also be appreciated that the transparent wall portion  28  of the container  10  may be translucent rather than totally clear. The transparent wall portion  28  of the container  10  may also be tinted any color. Preferably, the transparent wall portion  28  of the container  10  has a thickness that is the same or close to that of the opaque wall portion  26 . For example, the thickness of the thinner of the transparent wall portion  28  and the opaque wall portion  26  of the container  10  is preferably within eighty percent or more of the thicker of the two. Preferably, the transparent wall portion  28  of the container abruptly protrudes from opaque wall portion  26  and the transitions between the opaque wall portion  26  of the container  10  and the transparent wall portion  28  are positioned at or close to where the abruptness occurs. 
         [0022]    In view of the foregoing, it should be appreciated that the invention has several advantages over the prior art. 
         [0023]    As various modifications could be made in the constructions and methods herein described and illustrated without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative rather than limiting. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims appended hereto and their equivalents. 
         [0024]    It should also be understood that when introducing elements of the present invention in the claims or in the above description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, the terms “comprising,” “including,” and “having” are intended to be open-ended and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. Additionally, the term “portion” should be construed as meaning some or all of the item or element that it qualifies. Moreover, use of identifiers such as first, second, and third should not be construed in a manner imposing any relative position or time sequence between limitations. Still further, the order in which the steps of any method claim that follows are presented should not be construed in a manner limiting the order in which such steps must be performed, unless such and order is inherent.