Patent Publication Number: US-8540095-B2

Title: Plastic container

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 11/271,469, filed Nov. 10, 2005, now pending, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10/786,265, filed Feb. 25, 2004, now abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of Design Application No. 29/196,399, filed Dec. 29, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. D527,645. 
    
    
     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. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will be more readily understandable from a consideration of the accompanying exemplificative drawings, wherein 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the container of the present invention showing the front and right side thereof; 
         FIG. 2  is a rear view of the container of  FIG. 1  showing the rear thereof; 
         FIG. 3  is a sectional side view of the container of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of the container of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of an alternate embodiment of the container of the present invention showing the front thereof; 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of the container of  FIG. 5  showing the right side thereof; 
         FIG. 7  is a partial sectional view through line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8  is a side view of a further embodiment of the container of the present invention showing the front thereof; 
         FIG. 9  is a side view of the container of  FIG. 8  showing the right side thereof; and 
         FIG. 10  is a bottom view of the container of  FIG. 8 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIGS. 1-2  show a typical container  10  of the present invention having a lower supporting base  12 , a sidewall  14  extending upwardly from the base  12 , and an upper neck portion  16  extending upwardly from the sidewall. A shoulder portion  18  is between the sidewall  14  and upper neck portion  16  and extends generally inwardly of the sidewall. The upper neck portion  16  includes an outwardly extending flange  20  and a removable closure  22  above the flange, which may be a threaded or snap-on closure. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the upper neck portion  16  has an opening  24  therein and may include threads  26  to accept a threaded closure. 
     The sidewall  14  includes opposed sidewall sections, with  FIG. 1  showing front sidewall section  28  and right sidewall section  30 , and  FIG. 2  showing rear sidewall section  32  and right sidewall section  30  and left sidewall section  34 . Opposed front  28  and rear  32  sidewall sections are essentially identical, and opposed right  30  and left  34  sidewall sections are also essentially identical. 
     The sidewall  14  includes at least one panel  36  extending substantially across a sidewall section and having a central region  38  and a channel-like outer boundary  40  circumscribing the central region, with the outer boundary  40  being depressed with respect to the central region. In the embodiment  FIGS. 1-4 , two of said panels  36  are provided, one on each of opposed front sidewall section  28  and rear sidewall section  32 . In the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-4 , panels  36  are of oval configuration and occupy the major portion of their respective sidewall section, each extending substantially across their corresponding sidewall section. 
     The depressed outer boundary  40  has a generally oval configuration and includes side boundary portions  42 ,  44 , a top boundary portion  46  and a bottom boundary portion  48 , with the outer boundary running continuously around the periphery of panel  36 . Desirably, at least part of the side portions  42 , 44  of the outer boundary  40  of panel  36  run adjacent the edges of the respective sidewall sections, as shown. 
     Advantageously, panel  36  can 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 panel  36  may vary depending on desired configuration. For example, the panels may, if desired, be oval as shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , or round, or square with rounded corners. Similarly, the outer boundary may be continuous or discontinuous. 
     Base  12  may have any desired configuration. Preferably, base  12  includes an inwardly depressed portion  50  and a peripheral supporting rim  52 , but the specific configuration may vary. For example, a heat set base may be used in a heat set container. 
     The container  10  in the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-4  is essentially rectangular; however, the container may have any desired configuration, as essentially round, oval or square. 
     The front sidewall section  28  and rear sidewall section  32  are larger than the right sidewall section  30  and left sidewall section  34  in the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-4 . Also, the right and left sidewall sections  30 ,  34  each include an oval depressed section  54 , which provides a convenient area for handling. 
     The embodiment of  FIGS. 5-7  show container  100  having a lower supporting base  112 , a sidewall  114  extending upwardly from the lower base, and an upper neck portion  116  extending upwardly from the sidewall. A shoulder portion  118  is provided between the sidewall  114  and upper neck  116 . The shoulder  118  extends generally inwardly and upwardly of the sidewall  114 . The upper neck portion  116  includes an outwardly extending flange  120 , an opening  124  to the interior of the container, and a threaded portion  126  to accommodate a threaded closure. 
     Similar to the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-4 , container  100  includes front sidewall section  128 , right sidewall section  130 , rear sidewall section  132 , and left sidewall section  134 . However, container  100  is essentially round. 
     In addition, sidewall  114  of container  100  includes an upper portion  160  and a lower portion  162 , with panels  136  on lower portion  162  on opposed right sidewall section  130  and left sidewall section  134 . 
     Panels  136 , similar to panels  36 , extend substantially across a sidewall section and have a central region  138  and a channel-like outer boundary  140  circumscribing the central region, with the outer boundary  140  being depressed with respect to the central region  138  as clearly shown in  FIG. 7 . In the embodiment of  FIGS. 5-7 , two of panels  136  are provided, one on each of opposed right sidewall section  130  and left sidewall section  134 , on the lower sidewall portion  162 . However, panels  136  have a square configuration with rounded corners. Also, panels  136  each extend substantially across their corresponding sidewall sections. 
     The depressed outer boundary  140  has a generally square configuration and includes side boundary portions  142 ,  144 , a top boundary portion  146  and a bottom boundary portion  148 , with curved corner portions  149  and with the outer boundary running continuously around the periphery of panel  136 . Desirably, at least part of the side portions  142 ,  144  of the outer boundary  140  of panels  136  run adjacent the edges of the respective sidewall section, as shown. 
     In the embodiment of  FIGS. 5-7 , upper sidewall portion  160  includes a plurality of brick-like panels  164  extending 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 sections  128 ,  132  may include a-logo or design. Logos or designs may also be placed on other regions as well as on the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-4 . The base  112  preferably includes an inwardly depressed portion  150  and a peripheral supporting rim  152 , with specific base configurations as desired. 
     Sidewall  114  of container  100  also includes central sidewall portion  166  between lower sidewall portion  162  and upper sidewall portion  160 . Central sidewall portion  166  is depressed with respect to the lower and upper sidewall sections and includes outwardly extending vertical columns  168  to aid in gripping. The central sidewall portion allows for increase in top load and provides a convenient site for gripping. 
     The embodiment of  FIGS. 5-7  obtains advantages as in the embodiment of  FIGS. 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 of  FIGS. 5-7 , the embodiment of  FIGS. 8-10  show container  200  having a lower supporting base  212 , a sidewall  214  extending upwardly from the lower base, and an upper neck portion  216  extending upwardly from the sidewall. A shoulder portion  218  is provided between the sidewall  214  and upper neck  216 . The shoulder  218  extends generally inwardly and upwardly of the sidewall  214 . The upper neck portion  216  includes an outwardly extending flange  220 , an opening  224  to the interior of the container, and a threaded portion  226  to accommodate a threaded closure. 
     Similar to previous embodiments, container  200  includes front sidewall section  228 , right sidewall section  230 , rear sidewall section  232 , and left sidewall section  234 . Container  200  is essentially round. 
     In addition, sidewall  214  of container  200  includes an upper portion  260  and a lower portion  262 , with panels  236  on lower portion  262  on opposed right sidewall section  230  and left sidewall section  234 . 
     Panels  236 , similar to panels  36  and  136 , extend substantially across a sidewall section and have a central region  238  and a channel-like outer boundary  240  circumscribing the central region, with the outer boundary being depressed with respect to the central region. However, outer boundary  240  includes two, parallel, closely adjacent central side outer boundary portions  268 ,  270  spaced from each other, with the parallel side outer boundary portions being centrally located on panel  236  to separate panel  236  into side by side panel portions  272  and  274 . 
     The side by side panel portions  272 ,  274  are separated by a vertical land  276 . The parallel outer boundary portions as well as the outer boundary  240  are depressed with respect-to the vertical land  276 . 
     Side by side panel portions  272 ,  274  are positioned on lower sidewall portion  262 . Upper sidewall portion  260  includes a plurality of upper panels  278  spaced from each other and circumscribing sidewall  214 . The upper panels  278  have a central region  280  and an outer boundary  282 . Central region  280  includes a raised central area  284  surrounded by a depressed peripheral region  286 , with the outer boundary  282  being depressed with respect to peripheral region  286 . The raised central region  280  provides support for a desired label, while the depressed peripheral region  286  and outer boundary  282  as configured helps top load and provides assistance under vacuum. The depressed peripheral region  286  would move inwardly under vacuum, but the raised central area  284  would still support a label. Also, the depressed peripheral region  286  would provide support for the base by minimizing upward movement of the base under vacuum. 
     Container  200  includes a recessed base  212 . The recessed base provides additional support under vacuum. Advantageously, central base portion  288  is recessed, and a plurality of outwardly extending struts  290  are disposed between central base portion  288  and peripheral base rim  292 . The peripheral base rim  292  provides 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 sidewall  214  includes a central sidewall portion  266  between the upper sidewall portion  260  and lower sidewall portion  262 . The central sidewall portion  266  is recessed with respect to the lower sidewall portion  262  and upper sidewall portion to provide a convenient site for gripping. Conveniently, central sidewall portion  266  includes outwardly extending vertical columns  268  which also aid in gripping, similar to the embodiment of  FIGS. 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 in  FIGS. 8-9 , such as on shoulder  218  or panels  236 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 8-9 , outer boundary  240  includes side boundary portions  242 ,  244 , parallel side boundary portions  268 ,  270 , top boundary portions  246 , and bottom boundary portions  248 . These boundary portions define the side by side panel portions  272 , 274  with the outer boundary being recessed with respect to central panel region  236 . 
     It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the illustrations described and shown herein, which are deemed to be merely illustrative of the best modes of carrying out the invention, and which are susceptible of modification of form, size, arrangement of parts and details of operation. The invention rather is intended to encompass all such modifications which are within its spirit and scope as defined by the claims.