Plastic container

The plastic container includes a hollow body of plastic material having a lower supporting base, a sidewall extending upwardly from the lower base and an upper neck portion extending upwardly from the sidewall with an opening therein. The sidewall includes at least one panel having a central region and an outer boundary, with the outer boundary being depressed with respect to the central region.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a blown plastic container that is suitable for the packaging of juice or other beverages, wherein the container is covered with a closure after the liquid has been introduced therein.

It is highly desirable to provide a plastic container wherein at least a portion of the sidewall can readily flex inwardly upon vacuum or physical depression. The flexing of the sidewall should permit the plastic container to maintain its structural integrity as a vacuum is applied when the container is filled with a hot product and then cooled. The sidewall flexing should also allow the container to displace internal volume and allow for the sidewall to return to the original form after depression. The flexing of the sidewall is also desirable to permit product to be easily and readily displaced from the container.

Accordingly, it is an objective of the present invention to provide an improved plastic container which permits inward flexing of the sidewall.

It is a further objective of the present invention to provide a plastic container with an improved sidewall configuration.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a container as aforesaid which has good product characteristics.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will appear hereinbelow.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention the foregoing objects and advantages are readily obtained.

The plastic container of the present invention comprises: a hollow body of plastic material having a lower supporting base, a sidewall extending upwardly from the lower base, and an upper neck portion with an opening therein, said neck portion extending upwardly from the sidewall; wherein the sidewall includes at least one panel having a central region and an outer boundary, with the outer boundary being depressed with respect to the central region, with the depressed outer boundary having side portions and top and bottom portions; and wherein said sidewall includes opposed sidewall sections with said at least one panel at least in part extending substantially across a sidewall section. Preferably, at least part of the side portions of the outer boundary of said at least one panel run adjacent the edges of a sidewall section.

In a preferred embodiment the depressed outer boundary comprises a substantially continuous, channel-like structure. In another preferred embodiment two opposed sidewall sections each include one of said panels. The panels can be oval, round or square with rounded corners.

In a further embodiment of the present invention the container sidewall has a lower portion and an upper portion, with said at least one panel on the lower portion. Preferably, two of the panels are on the lower portion, with each of said panels being positioned on opposed sidewall sections.

In a still further embodiment of the present invention the outer boundary includes two, parallel, outer boundary portions spaced from each other with the parallel outer boundary portions being generally centrally located on said panel to separate said panel into side by side panel portions.

Further features of the present invention will appear hereinbelow.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1–2show a typical container10of the present invention having a lower supporting base12, a sidewall14extending upwardly from the base12, and an upper neck portion16extending upwardly from the sidewall. A shoulder portion18is between the sidewall14and upper neck portion16and extends generally inwardly of the sidewall. The upper neck portion16includes an outwardly extending flange20and a removable closure22above the flange, which may be a threaded or snap-on closure. As shown inFIG. 3, the upper neck portion16has an opening24therein and may include threads26to accept a threaded closure.

The sidewall14includes at least one panel36extending substantially across a sidewall section and having a central region38and a channel-like outer boundary40circumscribing the central region, with the outer boundary40being depressed with respect to the central region. In the embodimentFIGS. 1–4, two of said panels36are provided, one on each of opposed front sidewall section28and rear sidewall section32. In the embodiment ofFIGS. 1–4, panels36are of oval configuration and occupy the major portion of their respective sidewall section, each extending substantially across their corresponding sidewall section.

The depressed outer boundary40has a generally oval configuration and includes side boundary portions42,44, a top boundary portion46and a bottom boundary portion48, with the outer boundary running continuously around the periphery of panel36. Desirably, at least part of the side portions42,44of the outer boundary40of panel36run adjacent the edges of the respective sidewall sections, as shown.

Advantageously, panel36can readily flex inwardly upon vacuum or physical depression. The flexing of the sidewall panel or panels permits the container to maintain its structural integrity as a vacuum is applied when the container is filled with a hot product and then cooled. The sidewall flexing also allows the container to displace internal volume and allow the sidewall to return to the original configuration after depressing. Further, and also advantageously, the sidewall flexing permits the product to be readily displaced from the container.

Naturally, the shape and configuration of the panel36may vary depending on desired configuration. For example, the panels may, if desired, be oval as shown inFIGS. 1–4, or round, or square with rounded corners. Similarly, the outer boundary may be continuous or discontinuous.

Base12may have any desired configuration. Preferably, base12includes an inwardly depressed portion50and a peripheral supporting rim52, but the specific configuration may vary. For example, a heat set base may be used in a heat set container.

The container10in the embodiment ofFIGS. 1–4is essentially rectangular; however, the container may have any desired configuration, as essentially round, oval or square.

The front sidewall section28and rear sidewall section32are larger than the right sidewall section30and left sidewall section34in the embodiment ofFIGS. 1–4. Also, the right and left sidewall sections30,34each include an oval depressed section54, which provides a convenient area for handling.

The embodiment ofFIGS. 5–7show container100having a lower supporting base112, a sidewall114extending upwardly from the lower base, and an upper neck portion116extending upwardly from the sidewall. A shoulder portion118is provided between the sidewall114and upper neck116. The shoulder118extends generally inwardly and upwardly of the sidewall114. The upper neck portion116includes an outwardly extending flange120, an opening124to the interior of the container, and a threaded portion126to accommodate a threaded closure.

In addition, sidewall114of container100includes an upper portion160and a lower portion162, with panels136on lower portion162on opposed right sidewall section130and left sidewall section134.

Panels136, similar to panels36, extend substantially across a sidewall section and have a central region138and a channel-like outer boundary140circumscribing the central region, with the outer boundary140being depressed with respect to the central region138as clearly shown inFIG. 7. In the embodiment ofFIGS. 5–7, two of panels136are provided, one on each of opposed right sidewall section130and left sidewall section134, on the lower sidewall portion162. However, panels136have a square configuration with rounded corners. Also, panels136each extend substantially across their corresponding sidewall sections.

The depressed outer boundary140has a generally square configuration and includes side boundary portions142,144, a top boundary portion146and a bottom boundary portion148, with curved corner portions149and with the outer boundary running continuously around the periphery of panel136. Desirably, at least part of the side portions142,144of the outer boundary140of panels136run adjacent the edges of the respective sidewall section, as shown.

In the embodiment ofFIGS. 5–7, upper sidewall portion160includes a plurality of brick-like panels164extending around the circumference of the container. Naturally, other features may if desired be provided around the upper sidewall portion. The front and/or rear sidewall sections128,132may include a logo or design. Logos or designs may also be placed on other regions as well as on the embodiment ofFIGS. 1–4. The base112preferably includes an inwardly depressed portion150and a peripheral supporting rim152, with specific base configurations as desired.

Sidewall114of container100also includes central sidewall portion166between lower sidewall portion162and upper sidewall portion160. Central sidewall portion166is depressed with respect to the lower and upper sidewall sections and includes outwardly extending vertical columns168to aid in gripping. The central sidewall portion allows for increase in top load and provides a convenient site for gripping.

The embodiment ofFIGS. 5–7obtains advantages as in the embodiment ofFIGS. 1–4. However, variations in both embodiments may readily be made depending on particularly desired results, as, for example, the location and size of the panels.

Similar to the embodiment ofFIGS. 5–7, the embodiment ofFIGS. 8–10show container200having a lower supporting base212, a sidewall214extending upwardly from the lower base, and an upper neck portion216extending upwardly from the sidewall. A shoulder portion218is provided between the sidewall214and upper neck216. The shoulder218extends generally inwardly and upwardly of the sidewall214. The upper neck portion216includes an outwardly extending flange220, an opening224to the interior of the container, and a threaded portion226to accommodate a threaded closure.

In addition, sidewall214of container200includes an upper portion260and a lower portion262, with panels236on lower portion262on opposed right sidewall section230and left sidewall section234.

Panels236, similar to panels36and136, extend substantially across a sidewall section and have a central region238and a channel-like outer boundary240circumscribing the central region, with the outer boundary being depressed with respect to the central region. However, outer boundary240includes two, parallel, closely adjacent central side outer boundary portions268,270spaced from each other, with the parallel side outer boundary portions being centrally located on panel236to separate panel236into side by side panel portions272and274.

The side by side panel portions272,274are separated by a vertical land276. The parallel outer boundary portions as well as the outer boundary240are depressed with respect to the vertical land276.

Side by side panel portions272,274are positioned on lower sidewall portion262. Upper sidewall portion260includes a plurality of upper panels278spaced from each other and circumscribing sidewall214. The upper panels278have a central region280and an outer boundary282. Central region280includes a raised central area284surrounded by a depressed peripheral region286, with the outer boundary282being depressed with respect to peripheral region286. The raised central region280provides support for a desired label, while the depressed peripheral region286and outer boundary282as configured helps top load and provides assistance under vacuum. The depressed peripheral region286would move inwardly under vacuum, but the raised central area284would still support a label. Also, the depressed peripheral region286would provide support for the base by minimizing upward movement of the base under vacuum.

Container200includes a recessed base212. The recessed base provides additional support under vacuum. Advantageously, central base portion288is recessed, and a plurality of outwardly extending struts290are disposed between central base portion288and peripheral base rim292. The peripheral base rim292provides stability for the container. Naturally, other base features can be provided to give the base vacuum support, and these can be used on other embodiments as well.

Container sidewall214includes a central sidewall portion266between the upper sidewall portion260and lower sidewall portion262. The central sidewall portion266is recessed with respect to the lower sidewall portion262and upper sidewall portion to provide a convenient site for gripping. Conveniently, central sidewall portion266includes outwardly extending vertical columns268which also aid in gripping, similar to the embodiment ofFIGS. 5–7. The recessed central sidewall portion also allows for increase in top load.

If desired, additional logos, designs or designations can be provided on other areas of the container as shown inFIGS. 8–9, such as on shoulder218or panels236.

As shown inFIGS. 8–9, outer boundary240includes side boundary portions242,244, parallel side boundary portions268,270, top boundary portions246, and bottom boundary portions248. These boundary portions define the side by side panel portions272,274, with the outer boundary being recessed with respect to central panel region236.