Abstract:
A container for dispensing liquids has a sidewall with circular ribs and is compression-resistant. The container side surface has a bottom section with sinusoidal convex and concave ribs that are substantially mirror images of each other and have an absence of sharp angles. The container can also have a bottom surface with sinusoidal ribs.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Disclosure 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to the structure of containers for liquids. More particularly, the present invention relates to the structure of containers for liquids having a handle and a dispensing opening. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    Containers for liquids are well known in the art. Current packaging containers are widely available in different sizes, shapes, and designs, including those having handles and a dispensing opening, especially an offset dispensing opening. As these containers are light-weighted to save resin cost, they tend to collapse under axial forces, for example in shipping. 
         [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,927,499 to Vesborg describes containers of PET, having high tensile strength and lower compression strength, for containers having no walls under compression. The bottles have a plurality of encircling recesses. These recesses strengthen the body portion and when empty provide points for collapse of the body portion upon the application of a downward force. U.S. Pat. No. 5,240,130 to Osbakk describes a container having a compressible body with corrugations or foldings with sharp edges corresponding to a bellow. U.S. Pat. No. 5,584,413 to Jung describes a pleated plastic container having the ability to lock in a compressed state. U.S. Pat. No. 5,573,129 to Nagata et al. describes a collapsible container having a bellows formed from a plurality of annular convex portions and band-shaped annular connecting portions with the thickness of the connecting portions nearest to the central axis is greater than the thickness of the portions which are furthest from the central axis. U.S. Pat. App. 2007/0145000 to Musalek describes a collapsible bottle with accordion-like arranged bellows ridges with stamped or embossed stiffenings on the bellows ridge. 
         [0006]    Accordingly, there is a need for a container having light-weighted walls that maintains lateral hoop strength and axial compressive strength and is resistant to collapse. 
       SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0007]    To answer this need, the present invention provides in one embodiment a container comprising a cylindrical container base with a side surface having a top section with a handle, an offset opening for dispensing liquid, and a cap for covering the opening, wherein the container side surface has a bottom section with sinusoidal convex and concave super imposable ribs, and wherein the ribs contain smooth curves with an absence of sharp angles. 
         [0008]    According to another embodiment of the present invention, the invention comprises a container comprising a cylindrical container base with a side surface having a top section without a handle and having an opening for dispensing liquid, wherein the container side surface has a bottom section with sinusoidal convex and concave super imposable ribs, and wherein the ribs contain smooth curves with an absence of sharp angles. 
         [0009]    According to another embodiment of the present invention, the invention comprises a container comprising a cylindrical container base with a side surface having a top section having an opening for dispensing liquid, wherein the container side surface has a bottom section with sinusoidal convex and concave ribs, wherein the profile of the convex ribs and the concave ribs are substantially mirror images of one another, all ribs having smooth curves with an absence of sharp angles. 
         [0010]    According to another embodiment of the present invention, the invention comprises a container comprising a cylindrical container base with a bottom surface having sinusoidal convex and concave ribs, wherein the convex ribs and the concave ribs are substantially mirror images of one another, all ribs having smooth curves with an absence of sharp angles. 
         [0011]    It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention claimed. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute part of this specification, are included to illustrate and provide a further understanding of the invention. Together with the description, the drawings serve to explain various aspects of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    For a more complete understanding of the present invention, the objects and advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in connection with the accompanying drawings: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a side view of an upright and open container, according to one embodiment of the present invention, 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a side view of an upright and open container, according to another embodiment of the present invention, 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of a wall section of the container of  FIG. 2 , and 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a bottom view of a container, according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0017]    Representative embodiments of the present invention and their advantages may be understood by referring to  FIGS. 1-4 , wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements. 
         [0018]    According to one embodiment, the present invention provides a container for dispensing a liquid. And, although the containers may generally be made of plastic material, e.g. polyethylene, polypropylene, or polylactic acid, it will be understood that the container may be made of any suitable plastic material. PET is not preferred because of its lower compressive strength. Suitable materials may include rigid materials or flexible materials or both. The containers shown in the figures and described the embodiments are not limited to any particular size or shape. 
         [0019]    One embodiment of the invention is shown in  FIG. 1 , where the container  10  has a cylindrical container base  11  with a side surface  12 . The container side surface  12  has a top section  13  with a handle  14  and an offset from center opening  15  for dispensing liquid. The container side surface  12  has a bottom section  16  with sinusoidal ribs  17 . The sinusoidal ribs contain outward, convex ribs  18   a,  directed toward the exterior of the container and inward, concave ribs  18   b,  directed toward the interior of the container, wherein all the ribs have an absence of sharp angles. The rib profiles are substantially smooth and contain no discontinuous derivatives. The concave ribs  18   a  and convex ribs  18   b  are super imposable and substantially mirror images of one another. For maximum light-weighting and compression resistance, the container has at least three outward ribs. The container additionally has a cap  19  for covering the opening  15 . 
         [0020]    Another embodiment of the invention is shown in  FIG. 2 , where the container  20  has a cylindrical container base  21  with a side surface  22 . The container side surface  22  has a top section  23  with a center opening  24  for dispensing liquid. The container side surface  22  has a bottom section  25  with sinusoidal ribs  26 . The sinusoidal ribs  26  contain outward convex ribs  27  and inward concave ribs  28 , wherein all the ribs have an absence of sharp angles. This embodiment can have an absence of a handle. 
         [0021]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , the alternating convex and concave sinusoidal ribs of the side surface walls  30  give a constant wall thickness  31  which results in less stress cracking during use and more resistance to collapse. The wall thickness of the ribs can be the same wall thickness as the adjacent side surface  32 . Because of the alternating convex and concave sinusoidal ribs, the bottles are compression-resistant. The novel rib structure withstands top-loading compression even after light-weighting where calculations show that there is no greater vertical displacement under load with the ribbed design that is 9.9% lighter than the un-ribbed design. This is contrary to the prior art which shows that ribs with sharp angles and uneven thicknesses lead to collapse under compression. 
         [0022]    Another embodiment of the invention is shown in  FIG. 4 , where the container  50  has a cylindrical container base  51  with a bottom surface  52 . The bottom surface  52  has sinusoidal ribs  53  containing convex ribs  54  and concave ribs  55 , all ribs having an absence of sharp angles. 
         [0023]    All such variations are within the scope of the appended claims. It should be understood that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present subject matter and without diminishing its intended advantages. It is therefore intended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appended claims.