Abstract:
A beverage container assembly includes a base, a beverage container, and a sealable cap. The beverage container includes an open end and a closed end opposite the open end. The open end of the beverage container includes an external thread. The sealable cap includes an internal thread and is disposed on the open end of the beverage container creating a sealed opening. The base is disposed on the closed end of the beverage container and the cap seals the open end of the beverage container.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/264,646 filed Dec. 8, 2015. The disclosure of the above application is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to blown plastic containers, and more specifically to plastic containers for packaging beverages. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may or may not constitute prior art. 
         [0004]    Plastic containers have been used to package liquids intended for various purposes including, for example, consumable beverages and cleaning detergents among other common applications. Beverage containers are used to store carbonated and non-carbonated consumable beverages in a variety of volume sizes and functional shapes. 
         [0005]    While current plastic beverage containers are useful for their intended purpose, there is room in the art for an improved plastic beverage container that provides a consumer with an improved experience, allows for improved efficiency in manufacturing and transport, and enhances environmental stewardship. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    A beverage container assembly is provided, the beverage container assembly comprising a base, a beverage container, and a sealable cap. The beverage container includes an open end and a closed end opposite the open end. The open end of the beverage container includes an external thread. The sealable cap includes an internal thread. The sealable cap is disposed on the open end of the beverage container creating a sealed opening. The base is disposed on the closed end of the beverage container. The base is detachable from the beverage container. The cap seals the open end of the beverage container. 
         [0007]    In another example of the present invention, the beverage container is manufactured of polyethylene terephthalate (PET). 
         [0008]    In yet another example of the present invention, the beverage container includes an oxygen O 2  ingress barrier and a carbon dioxide CO 2  retention barrier. 
         [0009]    In yet another example of the present invention, the beverage container comprises a volume from about 165 ml to about 220 ml. 
         [0010]    In yet another example of the present invention, the base includes a base portion, a stem, and a cup portion. The stem is disposed between the base portion and the cup portion. The closed end of the beverage container is disposed in the cup portion of the base. 
         [0011]    In yet another example of the present invention, the beverage container further includes a pin extending from the closed end. The base includes a bore extending from the cup portion of the base into the stem. The pin of the beverage container is disposed in the bore of the cup portion of the base. 
         [0012]    In yet another example of the present invention, the beverage container further includes a bottom diameter, a middle diameter, and a top diameter. The bottom diameter is the less than the middle diameter and the top diameter. The middle diameter is larger than the top diameter. 
         [0013]    In yet another example of the present invention, the middle diameter and top diameter of the beverage container range from 32.00 mm to about 50.00 mm. 
         [0014]    Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. It should be understood that the description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
     
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
         [0015]    The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way. 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary plastic beverage container according to the principles of the present disclosure; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an exemplary plastic beverage container according to the principles of the present disclosure; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a side view of a portion of an exemplary plastic beverage container according to the principles of the present disclosure; 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a side view of a portion of an exemplary plastic beverage container according to the principles of the present disclosure; 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is a plan view of a portion of an exemplary plastic beverage container according to the principles of the present disclosure; and 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is a flowchart of a method of manufacturing a plastic beverage container according to the principles of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0022]    The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. 
         [0023]    With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a plastic beverage container assembly  10  is illustrated and will now be described. The plastic beverage container assembly  10  includes a beverage container portion  12 , a base  14 , and a cap  16 . More specifically, the base  14  includes a circular base portion  18 , a stem  20  and a saddle or cup portion  22 . The stem  20  has a smaller cross sectional diameter than the base and cup portions  18 ,  22 , is disposed between the base portion  18  and the cup portion  22 , and thus conjoins the base portion  18  and the cup portion  22 . The cup portion  22 , disposed atop the stem  20 , provides a shallow radius bore  24  for receiving the beverage container portion  12 . 
         [0024]    The beverage container portion  12  includes a first end  26 , a second end  28 , and a hollow interior  30 . The first end  26  of the beverage container portion  12  is closed and has an outer radius  32  that mimics the radius bore  24  of the base  18 . The beverage container portion  12  and the base portion  18  are capable of being detached and reassembled from each other without damage to either the beverage container portion  12  or the base portion  18 . The second end  28  of the beverage container portion  12  is open to allow communication between the hollow interior  30  and the exterior of the beverage container portion  12 . Furthermore, the second end  28  includes a threaded fastening feature  34  on the exterior surface  36  of the beverage portion  12 . The cap  16  has a complementing threaded interior surface  38  that secures and seals the cap  16  to the second end  28  of the beverage portion  12 . 
         [0025]    Turning now to  FIG. 3 , an example of the beverage container portion  112  of a plastic beverage container  110  is illustrated and will now be described. The beverage container portion  112  includes a first end  126 , a second end  128  and a hollow interior  130 . The first end  126  is closed and has an outer radius  132  terminating to a frusto conical location pin  138 . The second end  128  is open to allow communication between the hollow interior  130  and the exterior of the beverage container portion  112 . Furthermore, the second end  128  includes a threaded fastening feature  134  on the exterior  136  of the beverage container portion  112 . The beverage container portion  112  also includes a profile  140  having at least a first, second, and third cross-sectional diameter D 1 , D 2 , D 3 . The first cross-sectional diameter D 1  is the smallest of the three diameters and is disposed proximate the first end  126  of the beverage container portion  112 . The second cross-sectional diameter D 2  is the next largest of the cross-sectional diameters D 1 , D 2 , D 3  and disposed proximate the second end  128  of the beverage container portion  112 . The third cross-sectional diameter D 3  is the largest of the cross-sectional diameters D 1 , D 2 , D 3  and disposed between the first and second cross-sectional diameters D 1 , D 2 . In some embodiments, the second cross-sectional diameter D 2  ranges from about 32.00 mm to about 38.00 mm, the third cross-sectional diameter D 3  ranges from about 40.00 mm to about 50.00 mm, and the volume of the beverage container portion  112  is approximately 165 ml to about 220 ml. Additionally, the beverage container portion  112  of the beverage container assembly  110  may be made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET). PET provides the beverage container portion  112  with an O 2  ingress barrier and a CO 2  retention barrier. However, other materials may be used to form the beverage container portion  112  without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
         [0026]    Referring now to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , an example of a base  114  of a beverage container assembly  110  is illustrated and will now be described. The base  114  includes a circular base portion  118 , a stem  120  and a saddle or cup portion  122 . The stem  120  has a smaller diameter than the base and cup portions  118 ,  122 , is disposed between the base portion  118  and the cup portion  122 , and thus joins the base portion  118  and the cup portion  122 . The cup portion  122 , disposed atop the stem  120 , provides a shallow radius bore  124  for receiving the beverage portion  112  and includes a frusto conical bore  142  extending from the base or bottom of the cup portion  122  into the stem  120 . The bore  142  is designed to mirror the shape of the frusto conical location pin  138  of the first end  126  or base of the beverage portion  112 . The insertion of the frusto conical location pin  138  of the beverage container  112  into the frusto conical bore  142  of the base  114  prevents the beverage container  112  from rotating out of the base  114 . 
         [0027]    Turning now to  FIG. 6 , a flowchart depicting a method of manufacturing  200  a beverage container assembly  10  is illustrated and will now be described. For example, a first step  210  of manufacturing the beverage container assembly  10  includes one of injection molding and compression molding a base  14  of the beverage container  10 . A second step  212  includes stretch blow molding a beverage container portion  12  of the beverage container assembly  10 . A third step  214  includes filling the beverage container portion  12  with a beverage. A fourth step  216  includes sealing the beverage container portion  12  with a cap  16 . A fifth step includes assembling the beverage container portion  12  with the base  14 . 
         [0028]    The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.