Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D1/00—Containers having bodies formed in one piece, e.g. by casting metallic material, by moulding plastics, by blowing vitreous material, by throwing ceramic material, by moulding pulped fibrous material, by deep-drawing operations performed on sheet material
  • B65D1/02—Bottles or similar containers with necks or like restricted apertures, designed for pouring contents
  • B65D1/0223—Bottles or similar containers with necks or like restricted apertures, designed for pouring contents characterised by shape
  • B65D1/0261—Bottom construction
  • B65D1/0276—Bottom construction having a continuous contact surface, e.g. Champagne-type bottom
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D21/00—Nestable, stackable or joinable containers; Containers of variable capacity
  • B65D21/02—Containers specially shaped, or provided with fittings or attachments, to facilitate nesting, stacking, or joining together
  • B65D21/0209—Containers specially shaped, or provided with fittings or attachments, to facilitate nesting, stacking, or joining together stackable or joined together one-upon-the-other in the upright or upside-down position
  • B65D21/0217—Containers with a closure presenting stacking elements
  • B65D21/0222—Containers with a closure presenting stacking elements the closure and the bottom presenting co-operating peripheral ribs and grooves
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D21/00—Nestable, stackable or joinable containers; Containers of variable capacity
  • B65D21/02—Containers specially shaped, or provided with fittings or attachments, to facilitate nesting, stacking, or joining together
  • B65D21/0209—Containers specially shaped, or provided with fittings or attachments, to facilitate nesting, stacking, or joining together stackable or joined together one-upon-the-other in the upright or upside-down position
  • B65D21/023—Closed containers provided with local cooperating elements in the top and bottom surfaces, e.g. projection and recess
  • B65D21/0231—Bottles, canisters or jars whereby the neck or handle project into a cooperating cavity in the bottom
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D79/00—Kinds or details of packages, not otherwise provided for
  • B65D79/005—Packages having deformable parts for indicating or neutralizing internal pressure-variations by other means than venting
  • B65D79/008—Packages having deformable parts for indicating or neutralizing internal pressure-variations by other means than venting the deformable part being located in a rigid or semi-rigid container, e.g. in bottles or jars
  • B65D79/0084—Packages having deformable parts for indicating or neutralizing internal pressure-variations by other means than venting the deformable part being located in a rigid or semi-rigid container, e.g. in bottles or jars in the sidewall or shoulder part thereof

Definitions

• This invention relates to a container having a stackable base and a complementary closure. More particularly, the invention is a base for a heat processable plastic container having a stacking ring to engage a complementary protrusion on a closure of a second container. Description ofthe Related Art
• Closures for such containers include screw caps and press-fit lids, and may be one structural piece or made of a plurality of structural component pieces, exclusive of sealing rings and/or liners. Such closures may include a raised peripheral ring around the top to provide improved strength. Ribbed closures are known and have a raised peripheral ring with vertical striations on the skirt to facilitate gripping by a user. Ribbed closures may be made as one piece structures or structures having a plurality of pieces. Closures may include protective liners and sealing means including but not limited to gaskets and liners.
• One piece closure structures include screw caps and press-fit lids, and may be employed to close bottles, jars, tubs, and pails filled with foodstuffs and other consumer products.
• Two piece closure structures include screw caps and lids, and have an outer ring and an inner portion such as a disc. The outer ring may be threaded and generally has an upper flange in which the inner portion is seated.
• Examples of two piece closure structures include the well-known canning jar lid and vacuum sealable lids seated in ribbed rings.
• Complex closure structures include caps and lids and may additionally include valves and measuring means.
• An example of a complex closure is a laundry liquid container provided with a screw cap fitted with a press valve.
• a stackable, heat processable, blow molded, plastic container having a body that has top and bottom ends and a tubular sidewalk
• the container also has a dome with a finish having an opening.
• the dome is connected to the top end ofthe body and the finish is adapted to engage a first closure.
• the container has a base connected to the bottom end ofthe body. The base is contoured to engage a portion of a protrusion on a second closure.
• a stack of heat processable, blow molded, plastic containers includes a first container having a body with top and bottom ends and a tubular sidewalk
• the first container has a dome with a finish having an opening.
• the dome ofthe first container can be connected to the top end ofthe body.
• the first container also has a base connected to the bottom end ofthe body. The base is contoured to engage a portion of the protrusion of a second closure on the second container.
• the stack further includes the second container having a body having top and bottom ends and a tubular sidewalk
• the second container also has a dome connected to the top end ofthe body with a finish having an opening.
• the second container has a closure having a protrusion and being adapted to engage a finish ofthe second container, and a base connected to the bottom end ofthe body.
• the base ofthe first container has a stacking ring contoured to engage a portion ofthe protrusion ofthe closure ofthe second container.
• the stacking ring ofthe first container is adapted to engage the protrusion on the closure ofthe second container.
• a stackable, blow molded plastic container has a body, dome and base.
• One ofthe body, dome and base has a distortion resistant structural element that is capable of resisting distortion caused by subsequent hot-fill, retort, or pasteurization processes.
• Yet another embodiment provides a method for manufacturing a plastic container adapted for use with filling processes which are conducted at elevated temperatures such as hot-fill processing, retort processing, pasteurization, and the like.
• the method includes the steps of providing a body, dome and base ofthe container.
• the base includes a stacking ring that is contoured to engage a closure of a second container.
• Figure 1 shows .an exemplary embodiment of a stackable, heat processable, blow molded, plastic container according to the present invention
• Figure 2 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a base of a plastic container according to the present invention
• Figure 3 is a detailed view of an exemplary embodiment of a base of a plastic container according to the present invention.
• Figure 4 is a detailed viewof an exemplary embodiment of a base of a plastic container according to the present invention.
• Figure 5 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a stacking arrangement according to the present invention
• Figures 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D, and 6E are partial cross-sectional views showing alternative embodiments of container bottoms having bases with the stackable contoured structure ofthe invention mated with protrusions of a closure of a second container having contour variations in which: the base shown in Figure 6A has an indented angled cross-section mated with a protrusion shown as an angled protrusion; the base shown in Figure 6B has an indented rectangular cross-section mated with a protrusion shown as a rectilinear protrusion; and the base shown in Figure 6C has an indented frustoconical cross-section mated with a protrusion shown as a rectilinear protrusion; the base shown in Figure 6D has an indented triangular cross-section mated with a protrusion shown as a triangular protrusion; the base shown in Figure 6E has an indented semi-circular cross-section mated with a protrusion
• Figure 7 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a stacking arrangement according to the present invention
• Figure 8A shows an exemplary embodiment of a closure according to the present invention
• Figure 8B shows an exemplary embodiment of a closure according to the present invention
• Figure 9 shows a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a plastic container according to the present invention.
• Heat processable, blow molded containers are designed to withstand the rigors of filling processes including without limitation: hot-fill processing, retort processing and pasteurization.
• plastic particularly blow molded polyethylene terephthalate (PET)
• PET blow molded polyethylene terephthalate
• the hot-fill process is the procedure by which containers are filled with a beverage or some other liquid at a high temperature and capped soon thereafter. As the beverage or liquid cools within the container, stresses and strains develop in the container due to changes in the volume ofthe contents.
• a container In retort processing, a container is filled at ambient temperature and capped, heated to high temperatures, for example, 260° F at super-baric pressures (i.e., up to 45 psi) and then cooled back to ambient temperatures.
• Pasteurization involves filling a container with a liquid or other substance that has an elevated temperature, for example, 140° F, and then raising the temperature to high temperatures, such as, 220° F to 240° F and then allowing the container and its contents to cool to ambient temperature.
• Heat processable containers are subjected to varying internal pressures and volumetric changes (depending on the heat process used) due to higher processing temperatures, and therefore, expansion ofthe contained products and associated vapors.
• Improved base construction can prevent the base of a plastic container from undergoing excessive outward deflection, i.e., deflection below the container standing ring.
• These improved bases typically include, at least, a standing ring and a central concavity, known as a push-up, to prevent distortion.
• the presence of a standing ring and a push-up in the heat processable container may reduce the container's stackability because there is not a large surface area in the base ofthe container to make contact with another container.
• Stackability may be further reduced if the container has an upper end or closure or the like that also fails to provide a large surface area to mate with the base of another container. In that situation, the surface areas ofthe base and the upper portion of another container must align for the containers to stack.
• the containers are stackable, they are not likely to be capable of being tilted.
• the base of the container more particularly, the portion of the standing ring that mates with closure of another container can be contoured so as to straddle a closure of another container.
• the phrase straddle is intended to include essentially any straddling engagement, i.e., surface area engagement, since an engagement of even about 1% ofthe protrusion by the base is somewhat effective to improve stackability of such containers.
• the engagement is greater than about 50% ofthe protrusion and can be near 100%.
• the percent of straddling engagement i.e., surface area engagement
• the base ofthe tubular jar has the contour of an indented annular ring in a bottom view having inner and outer diameters and having the radial cross-section of a rectangle of 2 mm by 4 mm which is open on one ofthe 4 mm sides so as to straddle the peripheral rim ofthe screw cap.
• the protrusion ofthe screw cap has inner and outer diameters which are approximately equivalent to those ofthe indented annular ring contour ofthe base, has about a 4 mm difference between its outer and inner diameters, and is raised about 2 mm from a central flat portion of the screw cap.
• the percent of straddling engagement, i.e., surface area engagement, ofthe indented annular ring of such a base on such a protrusion would be approximately 100%, that is, a substantial mating engagement.
• the indented annular ring in the container base and protrusion on the closure may have dimensions of about 2 mm x 6 mm.
• Variations from substantial mating engagement may be due to (a) differences in the radial cross-sectional shapes ofthe base and the peripheral rim, (b) differences in respective diameters, (c) differences in the completeness with which the base covers the periphery ofthe protrusion; and (d) varying tolerances during the manufacturing process .
• Figure 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a stackable, heat processable, blow molded container 10 that can include a base 16 (and complementary closure) for improving the stackability and tiltability of a stack of containers.
• Container 10 can have a body 11 formed by sidewall 12.
• Body 11 can have a width W measured by the width of sidewall 12 at its widest point.
• Sidewall 12 can be tubular.
• tubular means non-tapered and can include cross sections which may be substantially cylindrical, square, or other shapes.
• sidewall 12 is substantially cylindrical.
• sidewall 12 can be substantially square.
• Sidewall 12 can include a pair of flex panels 73 a and 73b (as shown in Figure 7) that can be opposite one another in body 11 and each flex panel 73a and 73b can be planar. Sidewall 12 can also include a plurality of sidewall ribs 74 (as shown in Figure 7). Sidewall ribs 74 can be horizontal or vertical (not shown). Particular embodiments of body 11 that include flex panels 73a, 73b and sidewall ribs 74 are shown in U.S. Patent No. 6,439,413, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety and is owned by the assignee ofthe present invention.
• Container 10 can also have a dome 13 that can merge with sidewall 12.
• Dome 13 can have a finish 14 that can define an opening 15 for filling and pouring the contents of container 10.
• Dome 13 can be a conventional dome, meaning dome 13 narrows sidewall 12 to finish 14.
• Finish 14 can be adapted to receive closure 50 (shown in Figure 5) as discussed in detail below.
• Container 10 can also have a base 16 that can be contoured so as to straddle closure 50 of another container as shown in Figures 5 and 7.
• base 16 can have standing ring 20 for contact with a horizontal surface (not shown) on which the container can rest.
• Base 16 can also have bottom wall 26 that defines a central concavity 26a known as a push-up.
• Stacking ring 23 can be interposed between standing ring 20 and bottom wall 26.
• Stacking ring 23 can be a continuous ring, but in another exemplary embodiment, stacking ring 23 need not be complete and may have gaps. In yet another embodiment, stacking ring 23 can have an incomplete radial cross-section because stacking ring 23 can adjoin flat portion 28 of labeling lug 29.
• stacking ring 23 can have a diameter D 2 that extends across stacking ring 23 on center. In an exemplary embodiment, sidewall width W greater than stacking ring diameter D 2 .
• Standing ring 20 can have outer portion 21 that can merge base 16 with sidewall 12.
• Standing ring 20 can also have inner portion 22 that can merge with outer wall 24 of stacking ring 23.
• Stacking ring 23 can include inner wall 25 that can merge with bottom wall 26.
• at least a portion of outer wall 24 and inner wall 25 can be vertical, i.e., substantially parallel to sidewall 12.
• Push-up 26a can have a plurality of support ribs 27 extending radically from the central concavity. Support ribs 27 can have a base disposed upwardly into the central concavity and an apex disposed downwardly towards stacking ring 23.
• support ribs 27 can have a trapezoidal shape. In an alternative support ribs 27 can have a pyramidal shape. In yet an alternative exemplary embodiment, push-up 26a does not include support ribs 27.
• This and other exemplary embodiments of base 16 are shown in U.S. Patent Application No. 10/366,574, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety and is owned by the assignee ofthe present invention.
• Figure 4 shows a detailed cross-section of stacking ring 23.
• stacking ring 23 can be angled downward at an angle ⁇ from outer wall 25 to inner wall 24. Angle ⁇ can be between 1° and 15° from horizontal. More particularly, angle ⁇ can be approximately 7° from horizontal.
• stacking ring 23 can mate with protrusion 51 of closure 50 to provide the desired stackability and tiltability.
• Closure 50 can mate with stacking ring 23 by aligning protrusion 51 with stacking ring 23. In such a mating engagement, the stacking ring 23 of container 10 can straddle the protrusion 51 of closure 50.
• standing ring 20 can surround peripheral wall 52 of closure 50.
• Closure 50 can have a diameter D 3 that is measured across the center of protrusion 51. In an exemplary embodiment, closure diameter D 3 is approximately equal to stacking ring diameter D 2 .
• closure 50 can be one contiguous piece (as shown in figure 5), such as a press-fit or screw-on lid or the like, and protrusion 51 can form a peripheral ring around closure 50.
• closure 50 can be a two-part closure.
• Closure 50 can have inner disc portion 82 and a ring 81.
• protrusion 51 can be formed on ring 81.
• protrusion 51 can be formed on inner disc portion 82.
• ring 81 can have a substantially vertical skirt 84 with internal threads (not shown) to threadedly engage a finish of another container.
• FIGS 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D and 6E are partial cross-sectional views showing alternative embodiments of container 10 having bases 16 with the stackable contoured structure ofthe invention mated with protrusions 51 of closure 50 having contour variations.
• Stacking ring 23 of base 16 shown in Figure 6A has an intended angled cross-section mated with protrusion 51 shown as an angled protrusion.
• Stacking ring 23 of base 16 shown in Figure 6B has an intended rectangular cross-section mated with protrusion 51 shown as a rectangular protrusion.
• Stacking ring 23 of base 16 shown in Figure 6C has an indented frustoconical cross-section mated with protrusion 51 shown as a rectilinear protrusion.
• Stacking ring 23 of base 16 shown in Figure 6D has an indented triangular cross-section mated with a protrusion 51 shown as a triangular protrusion.
• Stacking ring 23 of base 16 shown in Figure 6E has an indented semicircular cross-section mated with protrusion 51 shown as a semi-circular protrusion.
• the configurations illustrated in Figures 6A-6E are non-limiting and other configurations can be used.
• FIG. 7 shows an exemplary embodiment of a stack 70 of containers 71, 72 according to the present invention.
• Stack 70 can include top container 71 and bottom container 72.
• Top container 71 can include base 16 that is contoured, thus forming a stacking ring as described in Figures 2-6, to straddle a protrusion on closure 50 of bottom container 72, as described in any of Figures 5, 6 and 8.
• a two-piece 63 mm ribbed closure was employed which included a plastic ring having a peripheral rim with a raised annular section with a 65.9 mm outer diameter and a 54 mm inner diameter, and a metal disk positioned within and retained by the ring.
• the raised annular section had a radial cross-sectional shape, which was generally rectangular and extended vertically above the plane of the metal disk by about 2 mm.
• the width ofthe longer leg ofthe rectangle was about 6 mm.
• Containers according to the invention which were provided with a base had a complementary radial cross-sectional shape and not only engaged and straddled the peripheral rim ofthe container below it in a stack but featured a mating engagement because ofthe complimentary shapes, dimensions, and diameters.
• a plastic jar weighing 50 grams ⁇ 1 gram and having an overflow volume of 705 cc ⁇ 20 cc was modified to have a stackable base according to the invention, i.e., "stackable container”. Unmodified jars provided the "control containers”. Water weighing 686 grams at ambient temperature was filled into both types of containers.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Ceramic Engineering (AREA)
• Stackable Containers (AREA)
• Containers Having Bodies Formed In One Piece (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=28454672

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (7)

Families Citing this family (34)

Citations (3)

Family Cites Families (47)

• 2003
  • 2003-03-20 AU AU2003220416A patent/AU2003220416A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2003-03-20 BR BR0308573-2A patent/BR0308573A/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2003-03-20 US US10/391,758 patent/US20030221987A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2003-03-20 MX MXPA04009099A patent/MXPA04009099A/es not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2003-03-20 EP EP03716720A patent/EP1485301A4/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2003-03-20 WO PCT/US2003/008545 patent/WO2003080460A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2003-03-20 CA CA002482323A patent/CA2482323A1/en not_active Abandoned

Patent Citations (3)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events