Patent Publication Number: US-11034484-B2

Title: Stackable container with spout

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/300,379, filed Feb. 26, 2016, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to improved containers including, without limitation, stackable plastic containers having a spout. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Various “stackable” molded containers are known. Examples of stackable plastic containers include U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,069,986 and 6,932,228. Such containers can be used to store a variety of goods, including water, cooking oils, and various other products and contents. 
     Among other things, it can be desirable to provide a plastic container that can be stacked effectively and efficiently, for storage and/or transportation. It can further be desirable to provide a stackable container that includes a spout that is at least partially retractable, i.e., movable in an up-down direction. It can yet further be desirable to provide a container that is aesthetically pleasing and/or is made from a desired polymer material, such as, without limitation, polyethylene terephthalate (PET). 
     SUMMARY 
     A stackable plastic container includes a base with a receiving portion; a sidewall portion; a shoulder; and a spout configured to dispense contents. The shoulder and spout may be configured to move downwardly in a vertical direction toward the base, and the receiving portion may be configured to receive a spout of an identical container. In embodiments, one or more containers in a retracted configuration may be stacked. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Embodiments of the disclosure will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1A  is a front elevational view of an embodiment of a stackable plastic container that incorporates features/teachings of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 1B  is a front elevational view of an embodiment of the plastic container illustrated in  FIG. 1A , shown with the spout in a retracted configuration; 
         FIG. 2A  is a side elevational view of an embodiment of a plastic container as generally illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 2B  is a side elevational view of the embodiment of the plastic container illustrated in  FIG. 2A , shown with the spout in a retracted configuration; 
         FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the embodiment of a plastic container as generally illustrated in  FIG. 1A ; 
         FIG. 4  is a bottom view of the embodiment of a plastic container as generally illustrated in  FIG. 1A ; 
         FIG. 5  is front-side-top isometric view of a plastic container of the type generally illustrated in  FIG. 1A , depicting the spout in an extended position; 
         FIG. 6  is front-side-top isometric view of a plastic container, of the type generally illustrated in  FIG. 5 , which generally depicts the spout in a retracted or non-extended position; 
         FIG. 7  is a front-side-bottom isometric view of an embodiment of a plastic container, of the type generally illustrated in  FIG. 1A ; and 
         FIG. 8  is a front elevational view that generally illustrates embodiments of plastic containers that are shown in a stacked configuration. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the present disclosure, examples of which are described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. While the invention will be described in conjunction with embodiments, it will be understood that they are not intended to limit the invention to these embodiments. On the contrary, the invention is intended to cover alternatives, modifications and equivalents, which may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as described herein and in any appended claims. 
     With reference to  FIG. 1A , a front elevational view of an embodiment of a plastic container  10  that incorporates features/teachings of the present disclosure is generally illustrated. The container  10  includes an opening  12  that can serve to fill and/or dispense container contents, a neck portion (which may also be referred to as a “spout”)  14 , a shoulder  16 , sidewall portion  18 , and a base  20 . 
     In embodiments, the plastic container  10  may comprise polyethylene terephthalate (PET). However, the present teachings are not limited to a specific plastic or polymer material and, with other embodiments, the container may be comprised of various other polymers known in the field of container manufacture including, for example and without limitation, polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and combinations and blends of two or more polymers. 
     The base  20  of the container  10  may include a recessed portion  22  that extends upwardly into the body of the container. As generally illustrated in  FIG. 1A , the recessed portion  22  may extend a distance, L 1 , upwardly from a support surface, and the recessed portion  22  may be configured, e.g. sized and/or shaped, to receive or cover a spout  14  of a similar container, as well as potentially also receiving or covering a portion of a shoulder  16  of a similar container. 
     In embodiments, the neck or spout  14  may additionally include a support flange  24  and/or threads  26 . Also, a fill line FL is generally designated. The fill line FL may represent an intended vertical fill line associated with intended contents. The intended contents may, for example, comprise a liquid. For example, and without limitation, in the illustrated embodiment the fill line FL may represent a fill line associated with 500±10 mL of liquid contents. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1A and 2A , an embodiment of a container with aspects of the present disclosure may include the following dimensions:
         L 2 —distance from the bottom of the base (or the support surface) to the top (or apex) of the sidewall portion;   L 3 —distance from the bottom of the base (or the support surface) to the support flange;   L 4(EXT) —distance from the bottom of the base (or the support surface) to the top of the neck or spout (the neck or spout shown extended);   L 5 —distance between the support flange and the top of the neck or spout;   L 6 —distance between the support flange and the top of the shoulder;   L 7 —may generally represent a distance from the top of the neck or spout to a fill line;   L 8 —width of the container viewed across the front;   L 9 —width of the container viewed across the side view;   D 1 —a diameter of a portion of the neck or spout at or just above the shoulder; and   ⊖—angle between a horizontal line extending from the top of the neck or spout and a line taken along the shoulder.       

     By way of example only, and without limitation, an embodiment of a container may have the following dimensions:
         L 1 —0.650 in. (16.51 mm)   L 2 —4.376 in. (111.15 mm)   L 3 —5.053 in. (128.35 mm)   L 4(EXT) —5.400±0.50 in. (137.16±1.27 mm)   L 5 —0.347 in. (8.81 mm)   L 6 —0.200 in. (5.08 mm)   L 7 —1.215 in. (30.86 mm)   L 8 —3.650±0.060 in. (92.71±1.52 mm);   L 9 —2.300±0.060 in. (58.41±1.52 mm); and   D 1 —0.965 in. (24.50 mm)   ⊖—23.2±5 degrees   ⊖ 2 —45.9±5 degrees       

     While some of the dimensions associated with the exemplary embodiment depicted in  FIGS. 1A and 2A  include plus-minus (tolerance-type) ranges, it is understood that even the noted dimensions with no stated plus-minus ranges or tolerances, may have ranges or tolerances similar to those noted with other dimensions (e.g., L 4(EXT)  or L 8 ). 
       FIGS. 1A, 2A and 5  generally illustrate embodiments of a container  10  with a spout  14  shown in an extended configuration.  FIGS. 3 and 4  generally illustrate top plan and bottom views of a container as shown in  FIGS. 1A and 2A . 
       FIGS. 1B, 2B and 6  generally illustrate similar embodiments to those shown in connection with  FIGS. 1A, 2A and 5 , respectively; however, the spout  14  is instead shown in a retracted or non-extended configuration. A center line CL, which runs centrally through the opening  12  and spout  14 , is illustrated in  FIGS. 2A and 2B . 
     Turning specifically to  FIGS. 1B and 2B , several dimensions differ from  FIGS. 1A and 2A . For instance, length L 4(RT) —i.e., the distance from the bottom of the base (or the support surface) to the top of the neck or spout (the neck or spout shown retracted) is less than the prior related length L 4(EXT) . Also, angles ⊖ 3  and ⊖ 4  (which are respectively related to angles ⊖ and ⊖ 2  shown in  FIGS. 1A and 2A ) extend downwardly from a horizontal line extending from the top of the neck or spout and a line taken along the shoulder in the respective views. Among other things, the angles shown in  FIGS. 1B and 2B  help illustrate how the shoulder  16  has inverted and the spout  14  has retracted. That retraction, among other things, decreases the overall vertical height of the container  10 —which can be generally accounted for in the reduced height (ΔH) calculated from the decrease from L 4(EXT)  to L 4(RT) . For reference to the prior noted example, and without limitation, L 4(RT)  may comparatively be 4.508±0.050 in. (114.51±1.27 mm), ⊖ 3  may be 18.4±5 degrees, and ⊖ 4  may be 37.6±5 degrees. So, for the illustrated non-limiting example, ΔH (or L 4(EXT)  minus L 4(RT) ) would be approximately 0.892 in. (22.65 mm)—e.g., a reduction of more than 16 percent of overall container height. For example, and without limitation, a 500 mL container with a spout in an extended configuration (e.g.,  FIGS. 1A and 2A ) might weigh 28±0.6 grams and might have an overflow of 555±13 mL (18.8±0.44 fl oz), and a similar container with a spout in a retracted configuration (e.g.,  FIGS. 1B and 2B ) might have an overflow of 510±13 mL (17.2±0.44 fl oz). 
     As generally illustrated in  FIGS. 1A, 1B, 2A, and 2B , at the upper vertical end, the sidewall portion  18  may include a ridge  28 . The ridge  28 , which may be rounded or curved, may include a declining portion  30  which extends downwardly from an uppermost portion, or apex, of the ridge  28  to a where the declining portion  30  meets the shoulder  16 . 
     Also, as generally illustrated in  FIG. 1B , the recessed portion  22 , which extends upwardly into the body of the container, may include a shallow recess portion  32  and a comparatively deeper recess portion  34 . As additionally generally illustrated in  FIGS. 1B, 4 and 7 , a shallow recess portion may have a generally oblong or oval shape (from a bottom plan perspective) and my taper upwardly to a more central portion of the recessed portion  22 , where a deeper recess portion  34  is provided. In embodiments, such as generally illustrated, the deeper recess portion  34  may be more circular (from a bottom plan perspective) and may extend further vertically—for example, to a level such as identified in connection with L 1  in  FIG. 1A . The deeper recess portion may also be configured to receive or accommodate at least an upper portion of a spout  14  associated with a similar container. 
       FIG. 8  generally illustrates how a plurality of containers, which incorporate features of the present disclosure, may be provided in a stacked configuration. As generally shown, a container  10  may be provided or manipulated into a retracted configuration (for example, as generally shown in  FIGS. 1B, 2B , or  6 ). With an upper container resting on a lower container, a spout  14  of a lower container may extend upwardly into the recessed portion  22  of the upper container. As generally illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the height associated with the lower container may be reduced in the “stacked” configuration to a dimension that is at or about dimension L 2 —i.e., the distance from the bottom of the base (or the support surface) to the top (or apex) of the sidewall portion. So, for example and without limitation, a 500 mL container  10  which may have an extended overall vertical height L 4(EXT)  of about 5.400 in. (137.16 mm) may have a “stacked” height of approximately 4.376 in. (111.15 mm)—less than one inch or less than 19 percent the extended height. Based on the material/polymer properties and unique configuration/dimensions disclosed, when the container is separated from the stacked configuration, the spout may again be extended as desired to improve dispensing of contents. Moreover, the spout may be extended and retracted multiple times as desired. 
     While various specific dimensions, tolerances, and notations are included with reference to embodiments of containers disclosed in the drawings included with this disclosure, such dimensions, tolerances, and notations are intended to be exemplary only, i.e., to assist in the understanding of the features and teachings of the present disclosure, and such dimensions, tolerances, and notations set forth in the drawings are not intended to limit the disclosure. 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and various modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims and their equivalents.