CA2738931A1 - Container defining a spiral shaped panel - Google Patents

Abstract

A container (100) that may be used to contain a beverage or a food product includes a container body defining opposing ends (104, 106) and a shoulder portion (120) that extends away from one of the ends toward the other end. The container body may include one or more vacuum panels (150) that define a spiral shape and one or more spiral reinforcement ribs (152) positioned adjacent to the vacuum panels (150) which serve to improve the top load strength and hoop strength of the container body.

Description

CONTAINER DEFINING A SPIRAL SHAPED PANEL

[01] The present application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S.
Application No.
61/102,671, filed on October 3, 2008, which application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[02] The present invention relates generally to containers and, more particularly, to a beverage or food container defining a spiral shaped expansion panel and spiral shaped reinforcement rib that improves the top load and hoop strength of the container.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[03] It is known that beverages and food products are marketed, delivered and sold in a variety of different types of containers. The type of container utilized may depend on several factors, including, for example, the consumer to whom the container is being marketed, the distribution channel(s), and/or the quantity of beverage or food product being sold. In this regard, and by way of example, beverages, such as soft drinks and sports beverages, are marketed towards individual consumers and are often distributed in plastic bottle containers or aluminum cans.

[04] It is also known that containers must be structurally sound to withstand various forces encountered during the filling, storage and transportation of the container.
By way of illustration, for a plastic beverage container that may be filled through a hot-fill process, a product is first added to the plastic container at an elevated temperature.
The container is then capped and the contents are cooled. During the cooling process, the gaseous head space with the container contracts leading to a volumetric change within the container. This volumetric change creates a partial vacuum within the container.
Without adequate structural support, the wall of the container may deform, for example, it may ovalize, resulting in a defective, non-aesthetically pleasing container. A method of preventing container ovalization is to provide the container wall with an expansion panel. The expansion panel may be configured to flex outwardly during the hot-fill process and may flex inwardly to occupy the interior space created by the vacuum formed during the beverage cooling process. Various types of expansion panels are known that are useful in preventing the container from ovalizing during the filling process and during the shelf life of the product. Additionally, a horizontally extending reinforcing rib may be configured in the container wall to improve the hoop strength of the container wall and to provide added structural integrity to the container at that location. There is, however, room for improvement in the known container art to ensure the container's integrity during the filling process.

[05] As mentioned above, in addition to accommodating the internal pressure changes, containers must also be able to withstand top load forces that are exerted on the containers during storage and shipment of the containers. Typically, ribs are included in the container wall to improve the container's top load, or vertical, strength to prevent the container from buckling under loaded conditions. Again, there is still room for improvement in the art to increase the top load strength of the container without adding extra material which has the undesirable effect of increasing the complexity of the container construction and resulting costs to manufacture.

[06] Additionally, while it is desirable to include various structural elements to the container to improve the integrity of the container, without adding extra costs, it is also desirable for the containers to be aesthetically pleasing to the ultimate consumer to improve the merchandising of the product contained within the containers. Aesthetic designs that improve the appearance of the container without sacrificing the structural soundness and integrity of the container are very desirable. It is also desirable to provide a container that is easily handled by the consumer.

[07] The present invention is directed at overcoming these and other known drawbacks with existing containers that are used to contain food products or beverages.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[08] The following presents a general summary of aspects of the invention in order to provide a basic understanding of the invention and various features of it. This summary is not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way, but it simply provides a general overview and context for the more detailed description that follows.

[09] Aspects of the invention relate to containers. In one aspect, the container may be configured to contain a beverage or a food product. The container may include a container body that may define opposing ends. The container body may further define a shoulder portion that extends away from one of the ends and toward the other end. The container body may also include one or more vacuum panels that define a spiral shape.
A spiral reinforcement rib may be positioned adjacent to the one or more vacuum panels.
The spiral reinforcement rib serves to improve the top load strength and hoop strength of the container body.

[10] Additional aspects of the invention may include the spiral reinforcement rib extending continuously from the shoulder portion to the second end. The spiral reinforcement rib may spiral at an angle in the range of between 30 to 60 degrees and may spiral continuously at least one revolution around the periphery of the container body. The spiral-shaped vacuum panel may also define an outward curvature while the spiral reinforcement rib may define an elongated recess. The spiral reinforcement rib may also be shaped to resemble any type of desired object to create an aesthetically-pleasing, attention-getting container.

[11] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the following detailed description, claims and drawings in which like numerals are used to designate like features.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[12] FIG. 1 depicts a front view of an exemplary container according to embodiments of the present invention.

[13] FIG. 2 depicts a front view of an alternative embodiment of the invention.

[14] FIG. 3 depicts a front view of another alternative embodiment of the invention.

[15] FIG. 4 depicts a front view of yet another alternative embodiment of the invention.

[16] FIG. 5 depicts a front view of still another alternative embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[17] The present invention may be embodied in many forms. Referring to FIG. I
there is depicted an exemplary container 100 according to aspects of the invention. The container 100 may be used to contain a wide variety of liquid or solid products including, for example, soft drinks, juices, sports and energy drinks and other beverages, and many food products. The container 100 may define a one-piece construction and may be prepared from a plastic material, such as a polyamide, for example, nylon, or a polyolefin such as polyethylene, or from a polyester such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), or any other suitable material which may also include additives to vary the physical or chemical properties of the material. For example, some plastic resins may be modified to improve the oxygen permeability. Alternatively, the container 100 may be prepared from a multilayer plastic material that may include any plastic material, including recycled material, and may include plastics or other materials with additives to improve physical properties of the container. Additionally, a coating may be applied over the monolayer or multilayer material, for example to introduce oxygen barrier properties. In an exemplary embodiment, the container 100 is prepared from PET.

[18] The exemplary container 100 can withstand the rigors of hot-fill processing. In a hot-fill process, a product is added to the container at an elevated temperature and the container is capped. As the container and its contents cool, the contents tend to contract and this volumetric change creates a partial vacuum within the container. In the absence of some means for accommodating these internal volumetric changes, such as the techniques described herein, containers tend to deform and/or collapse. For example, a round container may undergo ovalization, or tend to distort and become out of round.
Containers of other shapes may become similarly distorted. In addition to these changes that may adversely affect the appearance of container 100, distortion or deformation may cause the container to lean or become unstable. The exemplary container 100 may also withstand the rigors of other filling and/or packaging processes, including aseptic, cold-fill and pasteurization processes, to name a few.

[19] The container 100 may be made by conventional molding processes such as blow molding, stretch blow molding and injection blow molding. In the exemplary embodiment, the container 100 may define a container body 102 defining a first end 104 and a second end 106. The first end may define an opening 108 and typically includes a threaded end portion 110 on which may be threaded or snap-fitted a closure or cap. The second end 106 may be a closed end and may be configured to define a container base 112 that serves to support the container in an upright position. The base 112 may define one or more reinforcing legs formed by one or more valleys defined in the base. The reinforcing legs provide additional support to the base to allow the base to support the contents of the container, while permitting the container to stand in an upright position.

[20] The container body may further include container wall 114 that may be substantially tubular or may have any cross-sectional shape. Exemplary cross-sectional shapes may include, for example, a generally circular transverse cross section, an oval transverse cross section, a substantially square transverse cross-section, or other substantially polygonal transverse cross-sectional shapes such as triangular, pentagonal, and the like.
As will be understood, when the container 100 has a substantially polygonal transverse cross-sectional shape, the corners of the polygon may be rounded or chamfered.

[21] The container body may include a shoulder 120 configured near the first end 104 of the container body. In an exemplary embodiment, the shoulder 120 may be positioned adjacent to the threaded end portion 110. The shoulder may define numerous configurations including, for example, the bell-shaped configuration depicted in FIG. 1.
As understood by those skilled in the art, the shoulder 120 provides support for the threaded end portion 110 and provides a certain amount of top load and hoop strength.

[22] Positioned near the shoulder 120 may be one or more reinforcing ribs 122 that may extend around the periphery of the container body. The reinforcing rib 122 is formed into the wall of the container body and defines a recess extending around the periphery of the container body. Alternatively, the reinforcing rib may define an outwardly extending lip or ring. The reinforcing rib 122 provides hoop strength to the container wall at the location of the rib 122. The reinforcing rib 122 may be a continuous rib or a discontinuous rib, such as one or more rib segments spaced apart around the periphery of the container body. In one exemplary embodiment, shown in FIG. 1, the reinforcing rib 122 extends horizontally around the periphery of the container body and forms a continuous rib. In another exemplary embodiment, shown in FIG. 5, the reinforcing rib 123 spirals around the periphery of the container body.

[23] Referring to FIGS. 2-4, the shoulder 120 and portions of the container wall on one or both sides of the reinforcing rib may define a wall structure having surface features 130.
The surface features 130 may take the likeness of an animal's scales, such as a lizard's scales, or the surface features may define other shapes, configurations or likenesses. The surface features may be located across the entirety of the shoulder or wall, or only across a portion of the shoulder or wall. The surface features provide localized reinforcement of the container body and also an aesthetically pleasing design on the container that will assist in merchandising the product contained within the container. The surface features 130 and the spiral reinforcement rib that may have the likeness of an animal's tail, as described below, provide a unique, aesthetically pleasing container design that also serves to add structural integrity to the container.

[24] Referring to FIG. 1, positioned between the first and second ends of the container is a vacuum panel 150 that defines a spiral configuration on the container body.
Positioned adjacent the vacuum panel 150 is a reinforcement rib 152 that also defines a spiral configuration. The vacuum panel 150 and reinforcement rib 152 spiral or twist about the longitudinal axis of the container body in order to provide an aesthetically pleasing container structure that resembles a number of likenesses. For example, the reinforcement rib 152 of FIG. 1 resembles an animal's tail, such as a lizard's tail. Other likenesses can be observed in the reinforcement rib 152 and vacuum panel 150.
This unique design creates a strongly branded appearance and will catch the consumer's attention when the product is merchandised. The vacuum panel 150 and reinforcement rib 152 may start near the longitudinal midpoint of the container body, or from the shoulder, and may transition smoothly from the container wall at location 154 to the respective vacuum panel and reinforcement rib configurations depicted in FIG.
1.
Similarly, the vacuum panel 150 and reinforcement rib 152 may transition smoothly back to the container wall at location 156 (FIG. 2) and therefore blend into the shape of the container wall. The vacuum panel 150 and reinforcement rib 152 may spiral, twist or extend across the container body to form numerous other potential design configurations, images or likenesses that still provide the desired structural strength to the container.

[25] In an exemplary embodiment, the vacuum panel and reinforcement rib spiral at least one revolution about the container body and more preferably at least two revolutions. It should be understood that the vacuum panel and reinforcement rib may extend more than two revolutions or less than one revolution depending on the desired design.

[26] As shown in FIG. 1, the vacuum panel defines an outward curve 160, as further described below, and the reinforcement rib defines an elongated recess 162.
The recess 162 forms into the container wall and define a channel that is sufficiently wide so as to provide a gripping surface for the consumer. That is, the recess 162 is sufficiently sized to permit a consumer's fingers to easily wrap along the recess 162 allowing the consumer to more easily grip and handle the container.

[27] The vacuum panel and reinforcement rib may spiral at numerous potential angles as measured from a plane extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the container.
Exemplary spiral angles may be within the range of one degree up to eight-nine degrees.
More preferably, the vacuum panel and reinforcement rib may extend at an angle between approximately ten and eighty degrees, and even more preferably between an angle between approximately thirty and sixty degrees. It should be understood that the exemplary spiral angle of the vacuum panel and reinforcement rib is simply representative of the numerous possible spiral angles.

[28] The reinforcement rib 152 is configured to provide additional top load strength to the container. Additionally, the reinforcement rib 152 provides hoop strength to the container wall at the location of the rib. Consequently, the reinforcement rib 152 not only provides an aesthetically pleasing design to the container, it further provides added structural integrity to the container wall.

[29] The vacuum panel 150 is configured to expand and contract during a hot-fill process, for example. In other words, as the container containing a hot liquid cools, the vacuum panel contracts to occupy the space or vacuum formed within the container. In the exemplary embodiment, the vacuum panel is a single panel that extends continuously around the periphery of the container body. In an alternative embodiment, the vacuum panel may be multiple panels that extend around the periphery of the container body.
The multiple vacuum panels may spiral or twist at the same angle or at different angles.

[30] As stated above, and unlike conventional vacuum panels, the spiral shaped vacuum panel 150 may be curved radially outwardly with respect to the longitudinal axis.
The radius of curvature of the vacuum panel may be generally uniform as the vacuum panel progresses toward the second end 106 of the container body. Alternatively, the radius of curvature of the vacuum panel may increase or decrease as the vacuum panel progresses toward the second end 106. As the vacuum panel transitions into the container wall at the locations 154, 156, the radius of curvature of the vacuum panel transitions into a substantially infinite radius of curvature.

[31] Referring to FIGS. 2-5, there are depicted alternative containers of the invention. Like elements among these embodiments have been identified with like numerals. As can be appreciated from these figures, various aspects of the invention may be combined to create multiple configurations. Referring to FIG. 2, the container 200 may be configured to contain a beverage or a food product. The container may include a container body 102 that may define opposing ends 104, 106, with end 104 further defining a threaded opening 110. The container body may further define a shoulder portion 120 that extends away from end 104 and toward end 106. The container body may also include a base 112 for supporting the container and permitting the container to stand in an upright position. Positioned adjacent the shoulder 120 may be a horizontally extending reinforcement rib 122 that may define a continuous recess or recess segments.
Configured on the container body at the location of the shoulder 120 may be a plurality of surface features 130, such as an animal's scales, or any other desired design feature.
The surface features are configured to provide aesthetics to the container body as well as additional strength to the container at the location of the surface features.
As shown in FIG. 2, the container body also may include one or more vacuum panels 150 and one or more reinforcement ribs 152 both of which define a spiral shape. The spiral reinforcement rib serves to improve the top load strength and hoop strength of the container body. The reinforcement rib also serves as finger grips for the consumer to more easily handle and hold the container. Consequently, the surface features, spiral shaped vacuum panels and reinforcement ribs not only provide additional strength and integrity to the container, they create a strongly branded container giving a visually aesthetic and eye-catching impression.

[32] Referring to FIG. 3, the container 300 may be configured similar to the container 200.
That is, the container may include a container body 102 defining opposing ends 104, 106, and a threaded opening 110. The container body may also define a shoulder portion 120 and a base 112 which supports the container and permits the container to stand in an upright position. Unlike the container 200, container 300 does not require a horizontally extending reinforcement rib. Rather, the container 300 includes a plurality of surface features 130 or any other desired design. The surface features provide aesthetics to the container body as well as added strength to the container at the location of the surface features. Similar to the container 200, the container body may also include one or more vacuum panels 150 and one or more reinforcement ribs 152 both of which define a spiral shape, such as the shape of an animal's tail. As stated above, the spiral reinforcement rib improves the top load and hoop strength of the container body. Again, like with container 200, container 300 forms a container that is easy to handle, provides added strength and integrity to the container, and creates a strongly branded container giving a visually aesthetic and eye-catching impression.

[33] Referring to FIG. 4, the container 400 may also be configured similar to the container 200. That is, the container may include a container body 102 defining opposing ends 104, 106, and a threaded opening 110. The container body may also define a shoulder portion 120 and a base 112 which supports the container and permits the container to stand in an upright position. Similar to the container 200, container 400 includes multiple horizontally extending reinforcement ribs 122. Additionally, the container 400 includes a plurality of surface features 130 to provide the container body with added strength at the location of the surface features. Similar to the container 200, the container 400 also may include one or more vacuum panels 150 and one or more reinforcement ribs 152 both of which define a spiral shape, such as the shape of an animal's tail. Again, like with container 200, container 400 forms a container that is easy to handle, provides added strength and integrity to the container, and creates a strongly branded container giving a visually aesthetic and eye-catching impression.

[34] Referring to FIG. 5, the container 500 may also be configured similar to the container 100. That is, the container 500 may include a container body 102 defining opposing ends 104, 106, and a threaded opening 110. The container body may also define a shoulder portion 120 and a base 112 which supports the container and permits the container to stand in an upright position. In contrast to the container 200, container 500 includes a spiral-shaped reinforcement rib 123 that spirals around the periphery of the container body. This rib configuration provides added top load and hoop strength at the location of the rib 123. The rib 123 may spiral at any desired angle between approximately one degree and eighty-nine degrees. It should be understood that other rib shapes are possible and that the rib 123 may define one or more spiral ribs or rib segments. Additionally, and similar to the container 100, the container 500 may also include one or more vacuum panels 150 and one or more reinforcement ribs 152 both of which define a spiral shape, such as the shape of an animal's tail. Again, like with container 100, container 500 forms a container that is easy to handle, provides added strength and integrity to the container, and provides a strongly branded container creating a visually aesthetic impression that will improve the merchandising of the product contained within the container.

[35] As can be appreciated by the various embodiments depicted in the figures, multiple combinations of the features of the container are possible. Consequently, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the combinations depicted in the figures are merely exemplary of the numerous possible combinations, all of which are within the scope of the invention.

[36] Additionally, the container, according to the teachings of invention and as depicted in the numerous exemplary embodiments, resists deformation and collapse.
Additionally, the container 100 does not undergo any substantial ovalization, nor does it distort and become out of round. The container 100 has improved top load strength and added hoop strength at the location of the reinforcement rib, while providing an aesthetically pleasing container body that creates a strongly branded container which improves the merchandising of the contents within the container.

[37] Variations and modifications of the foregoing are within the scope of the present invention. It should be understood that the invention disclosed and defined herein extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text and/or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the present invention. The embodiments described herein explain the best modes known for practicing the invention and will enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention.

Claims (31)

1. A container comprising:
a container body defining a first and second end, the container body further defining a shoulder portion that extends away from the first end and toward the second end, and at least one vacuum panel that defines a spiral shape, the container body also defining a spiral reinforcement rib positioned adjacent to the at least one spiral shaped panel, the spiral reinforcement rib configured to improve the top load strength of the container body.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein the spiral reinforcement rib extends continuously from the shoulder portion to the second end.

3. The container of claim 2, wherein the spiral reinforcement rib spirals at an angle in the range of between 30 to 60 degrees.

4. The container of claim 1, wherein the container body defines an upper body portion and a lower body portion both positioned between the shoulder portion and the second end, the at least one vacuum panel configured in the lower body portion.

5. The container of claim 1, wherein the at least one spiral shaped vacuum panel further defines an outward curve.

6. The container of claim 1, wherein the spiral reinforcement rib further defines an elongated recess.

7. The container of claim 2, wherein the spiral reinforcement rib extends continuously at least two revolutions around the periphery of the container body.

8. The container of claim 1, wherein the spiral reinforcement rib is shaped to resemble a known likeness.

9. The container of claim 1, wherein the container is a hot-fill container.

10. The container of claim 4, wherein the upper body includes a surface that is configured to define surface features.

11. The container of claim 1, wherein the spiral reinforcement rib is configured to improve the hoop strength of the container body.

12. A beverage container comprising:
a container body defining an open top and a closed bottom, the container body further defining a shoulder portion that extends downwardly from the open top, and at least one vacuum panel that defines a spiral shape, the container body also defining a spiral reinforcement rib positioned adjacent to the at least one spiral shaped panel, the spiral reinforcement rib configured to improve the top load strength of the container body.

13. The beverage container of claim 12, wherein the spiral reinforcement rib extends continuously from the shoulder portion to the closed bottom.

14. The beverage container of claim 13, wherein the spiral reinforcement rib spirals at an angle in the range of between 30 to 60 degrees.

15. The beverage container of claim 12, wherein the container body defines an upper body portion and a lower body portion both positioned between the shoulder portion and the closed bottom, the at least one vacuum panel configured in the lower body portion.

16. The beverage container of claim 12, wherein the at least one spiral shaped vacuum panel further defines an outward curve.

17. The beverage container of claim 12, wherein the spiral reinforcement rib extends continuously at least two revolutions around the periphery of the container body and defines an elongated recess.

18. The beverage container of claim 12, wherein the spiral reinforcement rib is shaped to resemble a known likeness.

19. The beverage container of claim 18, wherein the known likeness is an animal's tail.

20. The beverage container of claim 18, wherein the spiral reinforcement rib is configured to improve the hoop strength of the container body.

21. The beverage container of claim 12, wherein the beverage container is a hot-fill container.

22. A container comprising:
a container body defining a first and second end, the container body further defining a shoulder portion that extends downwardly from the first end, a vacuum panel that defines a spiral shape, and a spiral reinforcement rib positioned adjacent to the vacuum panel and configured to resemble a known likeness to improve the top load strength of the container body.

23. The container of claim 22, wherein the container body contains a food product or a beverage.

24. The container of claim 22, wherein the spiral reinforcement rib extends continuously from the shoulder portion to the second end.

25. The container of claim 22, wherein the spiral reinforcement rib spirals at an angle in the range of between 30 to 60 degrees.

26. The container of claim 25, wherein the container body defines an upper body portion and a lower body portion both positioned between the shoulder portion and the second end, the vacuum panel configured in the lower body portion.

27. The container of claim 22, wherein the vacuum panel further defines an outward curve and the spiral reinforcement rib defines an elongated recess.

28. The container of claim 22, wherein the spiral reinforcement rib extends continuously at least two revolutions around the periphery of the container body.

29. The container of claim 22, wherein the known likeness is an animal's tail.

30. The container of claim 29, wherein the spiral reinforcement rib is configured to improve the hoop strength of the container body.

31. The container of claim 22, further comprising a spiral shaped support rib configured in the upper body portion and extending around the periphery of the container body.