AU3897501A - Beverage container - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 Ball Corporation

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD DIVISIONAL PETTY PATENT Invention Title: Beverage container The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to us:- Title Beverage container Technical Field The present invention is directed generally to blow moulded thermoplastic containers and particularly to biaxially-oriented polyethylene terephthalate beverage bottles adapted to receive a hot-fill product at a temperature at least on the order of Background Art Blow moulded polyester containers adapted to be hot filled by foods and beverages have become well known in the industry. Such containers often include a generally cylindrical body portion which receives a separate label. The label covers a plurality of circumferentially spaced pressure responsive panels designed to compensate for variations in container volume due to the cooling of the liquid and head space gas subsequent to filling and 15 capping of the container. Examples of containers of this general form are to be found in US Patents Nos. 4,381,061, 4,542,029, 4,805,788, 4,863,046, 4,877,144, 5,054,632, 5,092,475, 5,178,289, 5,279,433, 5,337,909, 5,341,946 and 5,407,086.

In most of the containers of this general class, there is a so-called "shoulder portion" existing above the cylindrical portion and leading to a mouth defined by a finish adapted to receive a cap or closure. The shoulder portion is subject to certain variations in design which can be appreciated by reviewing the aforementioned patents as well as other patents depicting containers of this general class.

Nevertheless, little attempt has been made to utilise the shoulder portion to enhance the marketability of the product contained within the container albeit from time-to-time the shoulder portion has included a relief moulding of a trademark of material contained within the container, ie.,

GATORADE®.

Disclosure of Invention In accordance with the present invention, a blow moulded container of thermoplastic material comprising a base, a generally cylindrical lower body portion including a label receiving area, a mouth defined by a finish portion at an upper extremity adapted to receive a closure, and a substantially spherical portion intermediate of the finish portion and the lower body portion, the substantially spherical portion including thereon a surface feature pattern depicting a widely recognised object.

The use of widely recognised objects may enhance customer affinity to the product. Examples of such objects include a sports ball such as basketball, baseball, soccer ball, volley ball, etc. The surface feature pattern may depict a seam structure of a sports ball. A further example includes a sports helmet including a team identifying logo, a globe of the earth including an outline of major geological and/or geo-political features. Another example is a caricature of a personality such as a living sports person, a movie or record star, a comic character of the like.

In the preferred embodiment, the substantially spherical portion having the surface feature pattern may be separated from the cylindrical portion by a waist portion. The diameter of the generally spherical portion would approximate the diameter of the generally cylindrical lower body portion. Furthermore, the label receiving area of the generally cylindrical lower body portion may further include a series of circumferentially spaced S 20 pressure responsive panels formed therein, to accommodate for hot filling of the container.

o The generally spherical portion of the container would generally contribute less than half of the volume of the container. The base may include an upwardly raised central portion defining an outer continuous seating ring.

The container may be a biaxially oriented polyethylene terephthalate beverage bottle adapted to receive a hot-fill product at a temperature of at least 800 C and a positive internal pressure of about 4 psi. The container may **include a base having an upwardly raised central portion including a 30 plurality of radially extending triangular ribs.

Details of the structure of an example of a preferred embodiment is to be shown in the accompanying figures which depict the best mode of carrying out the invention as presently perceived.

An advantage of the invention is to provide containers having enhanced market acceptance by utilising the shoulder portion of the container to enhance customer affinity.

Brief Description of Drawings Examples of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation view of a container in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a container in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 3 is a side elevation view of a container in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 4 is a side elevation view of a container in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 5 is a side elevation view of a container in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 6 is a side elevation view of an alternative representation of the embodiment depicted in Figure 1.

Description of the Preferred Embodiments A container 10 in accordance with the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, Figures 1 and 2. Container 10 is generally S 20 symmetric about a vertical axis passing through the centre of mouth 12, :which provides access to the interior of container 10. Mouth 12 is defined by any upper perimeter of a finish portion 14, which includes a threaded portion 16 adapted to receive a closure, not shown. Finish portion 14 also includes a pilfer indicating engagement ring 18 intended to engage a lower skirt of the closure and to cooperate therewith to irreversibly indicate opening of the closure. A support ring 20 is provided at the lower end of finish portion 14 to **facilitate manufacture and handling of container 10. Below support ring 20 is a neck portion 22 which flares outwardly to merge with substantially spherical portion 24, discussed below.

At its lower end, container 10 includes base 26 having at its lower-most extremity a continuous seating ring 28, which defines an outer perimeter of an upwardly raised central portion 30 shown in Figure 2. The upwardly raised central portion 30 includes an apex 32 immediately adjacent to a lower end of the vertical axis which is joined to seating ring 28 by a plurality of radially extending triangular ribs 34.

An upper edge of base 26 defines a lower margin 36 of a substantially cylindrical lower portion 38 having an upper margin 40. The lower and upper margins 36 and 40 define the boundaries of a label portion adapted to receive a film or paper label having product identifying indicia thereon (not shown). The label portion includes a series of circumferentially spaced pressure responsive panels 42. Pressure responsive panels 42 are subject to some variation in design as shown in the prior art, but generally include a central land 44 surrounded by a channel 46 which allows central land 44 to move radially inward and outward in response to changes in pressure in the container.

Above the upper margin 40 of the label is a waist portion 48, which smoothly integrates with substantially spherical portion 24. Substantially spherical portion 24 includes a surface feature pattern depicting a widely recognised object intended to enhance the customer affinity for the container and the product contained therein. In Figures 1 and 2, the surface feature pattern comprises a plurality of grooves or ridges 50 which, taken together, depict the widely recognised seam structure of a basketball. It will be .*appreciated that the seam structure of other sports balls could be substituted for the illustrated seams 50 to depict a baseball, soccer ball as shown in 20 Figure 6, a tennis ball, a volley ball, etc. The surface feature pattern could ":*"also depict, as shown in Figure 3, a sports helmet and face mask which together would be substantially spherical and include a team identifying logo on a portion thereof. The surface feature pattern could also depict a globe of the earth, as depicted in Figure 4, including an outline of major geological features, major geo-political features, or other elements of interest to the purchase of the container. The surface feature pattern on the substantially spherical portion could also depict a caricature of a personality, as shown in Figure 5, such as a movie star, a cartoon character, a famous person of history, or the like. In each instance, the depiction is intended to enhance the 30 general public's affinity to the container thereby enhancing brand and/or product loyalty.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the grooves or ridges or ridges 50 depicted in Figures 1-2 can be formed in the container at the time of blow moulding by providing the reverse feature in the blow mould in which the container 10 is formed. Line 52 shown in Figure 1 is a mould parting line separating a left and right side of the blow mould. In the 6 finished product, of course, it is desirable that the old parting line be minimised and/or eliminated so it does not detract from the overall appearance of the container.

Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to the illustrated preferred embodiment, variations and modification exist within the scope and spirit of the invention as described and as defined in the following claims.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

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Claims (3)

1. A blow moulded container of thermoplastic material comprising a base, a generally cylindrical lower body portion including a label receiving area, a mouth defined by a finish portion at an upper extremity adapted to receive a closure, and a substantially spherical portion intermediate of the finish portion and the lower body portion, the substantially spherical portion including thereon a surface feature pattern depicting a widely recognised object.

2. The blow moulded container according to claim 1 further comprising a waist portion coupling the generally spherical portion to the generally cylindrical lower body portion, wherein a diameter of the generally spherical portion is approximately equal to a diameter of the generally cylindrical lower body portion.

3. The blow moulded container according to claims 1 or 2 wherein the label receiving area of the generally cylindrical lower body portion comprises *m a series of circumferentially spaced pressure responsive panels formed 20 therein. Dated this thirtieth day of April 2001 "Ball Corporation Patent Attorneys for the Applicant: 9% B F B RICE CO *ee°*