EP1753676A1 - Conteneur plastique - Google Patents

Conteneur plastique

Info

Publication number
EP1753676A1
EP1753676A1 EP04794189A EP04794189A EP1753676A1 EP 1753676 A1 EP1753676 A1 EP 1753676A1 EP 04794189 A EP04794189 A EP 04794189A EP 04794189 A EP04794189 A EP 04794189A EP 1753676 A1 EP1753676 A1 EP 1753676A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
channels
container
container according
vacuum panels
channel
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP04794189A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP1753676A4 (fr
Inventor
Marc A. Pedmo
James J. Miller
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Plastipak Packaging Inc
Original Assignee
Plastipak Packaging Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US10/937,666 external-priority patent/US7021479B2/en
Application filed by Plastipak Packaging Inc filed Critical Plastipak Packaging Inc
Publication of EP1753676A1 publication Critical patent/EP1753676A1/fr
Publication of EP1753676A4 publication Critical patent/EP1753676A4/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

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
    • 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
    • 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
    • B65D2501/00—Containers having bodies formed in one piece
    • B65D2501/0009—Bottles or similar containers with necks or like restricted apertures designed for pouring contents
    • B65D2501/0018—Ribs
    • B65D2501/0036—Hollow circonferential ribs

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an improved hot fillable plastic container.
  • the packaging of certain liquids requires that they be packaged while hot. During filling the container is subjected to elevated temperatures, the container is capped and as the product cools a negative internal pressure or hot fill vacuum is formed within the container.
  • the container construction for a plastic container must be able to withstand such internal pressure changes while maintaining the container configuration.
  • Various constructions have been proposed for plastic containers in an effort to maintain the integrity of the container during hot fill operations.
  • the hot fill containers have been produced with a generally cylindrical main body which is provided with a plurality of elongated vertically oriented panels.
  • These panels which are commonly referred to as pressure or vacuum panels, are designed to collapse inwardly after the container has been filled with a hot liquid so as to accommodate the inevitable volume shrinkage of the liquid in the container as the liquid cools.
  • the inward flexing of the panels caused by the hot fill vacuum creates high stress points at the top and bottom edges of the pressure panels, and especially at the upper and lower corners of the panels. These stress points weaken the portions of the side wall near the edges of the panels, allowing the side wall to collapse inwardly during handling of the container or when containers are stacked together.
  • Numerous design changes have been proposed to overcome this problem, including but not limited to design variations in the vacuum panels, axially extending posts between the vacuum panels and circumferential ridges above and below the vacuum panels.
  • the plastic container of the present invention comprises: a hollow body of plastic material having a lower supporting base, a side wall extending upwardly from the lower base, and an upper portion extending upwardly from the side wall, said upper portion including at least one opening therein; at least three inwardly depressed channels spaced from each other extending around the side wall, with a first of said channels being an upper channel, a second of said channels being a central channel, and a third of said channels being a lower channel; at least two spaced apart vacuum panels between the first and second channels, and at least two spaced apart vacuum panels between the second and third channels.
  • the container is desirably a hot fill container.
  • a plurality of the vacuum panels are provided between the first and second channels spaced from each other, and a plurality of the vacuum panels are provided between the second and third channels spaced from each other.
  • FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the container of the present invention showing the front and sides thereof;
  • FIGURE 2 is a rear view of the container of FIGURE 1 showing the rear thereof;
  • FIGURE 3 is a top view of the container of FIGURE 1 ;
  • FIGURE 4 is a bottom view of the container of FIGURE 1 ;
  • FIGURE 5 is a partial sectional view of the container of FIGURE 1 showing the spaced apart upper, central and lower channels;
  • FIGURE 6 is a rear view of an alternate embodiment of the container of the present invention.
  • the container 10 of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 includes a side wall portion 12, an upper end 14 with a dispensing opening 16 therein, which may be threaded as shown, suitable for receiving a closure (not shown), and a base portion 18.
  • a generally dome shaped portion 20 is located between the side wall portion 12 and the upper end 14.
  • Container 10 is a hot-fill, blow molded plastic container which is particularly suited to be filled with a liquid at an elevated temperature and subsequently sealed. As the liquid cools its volume decreases in the sealed container.
  • the container is produced from a thermoplastic material, as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), high density polyethylene (HDPE), polyethylene naphthalate, polyvinyl chloride, and others.
  • the dome shaped portion 20 may if desired include a logo or trademark or the like thereon, and may also if desired include one or more pressure relief formations in addition or instead of a logo or trademark.
  • the container side wall 12 includes a first or upper inwardly depressed channel 22, a second or central inwardly depressed channel 24, and a third or lower inwardly depressed channel 26.
  • the inwardly depressed channels extend around the circumference of the container and preferably continuously circumscribe the side wall 12.
  • Upper channel 22, central channel 24 and lower channel 26 are spaced from each other as clearly shown in the drawings. Depending on the size and configuration of the container one may include greater than three inwardly depressed channels.
  • the side wall 12 also includes a plurality spaced apart vacuum panels, with at least two upper vacuum panels 28 disposed between the first channel 22 and second channel 24 and at least two spaced apart lower vacuum panels 30 disposed between the second channel 24 and third channel 26.
  • six of the spaced apart vacuum panels are disposed between the first and second channels and six of the spaced apart vacuum panels are disposed between the second and third channels as shown.
  • the vacuum panels are vertically elongated and are spaced apart from each other by smooth, vertically elongated land areas 32.
  • each panel preferably includes a radially inwardly offset peripheral portion 34 and a central portion 36.
  • the vacuum panels are curved and the peripheral portion 34 includes a curved surface that is depressed further than the central portion 36.
  • Base 18 desirably includes an inwardly extending central portion 40, a peripheral rim 42 to support the container when standing, and radially extending, outwardly disposed spokes or struts 44 extending between the central portion and peripheral rim.
  • This base construction is particularly advantageous, although different base configurations can be used.
  • 6 to 10 of the spokes or struts are provided, and they are preferably uniformly spaced around the central portion of the base.
  • the inwardly depressed channels or ribs in combination with the vacuum panels located therebetween provide structural stability.
  • the panel construction allows the central panel portion 36 to flex inwardly as the bottle cools from the initial hot fill of the container.
  • the channels or ribs provide the structural stability to maintain the desired shape of the container, whether the container be round as shown in the drawings, or square, rectangular or oval, under heat set conditions and to support the vacuum panels 28, 30 while they flex inwardly.
  • the combination of channels or ribs plus vacuum panels as described provides a considerable advantage.
  • the shape of the channels or ribs may vary, it is preferred that the central channel 24 have a semi-cylindrical cross-section as shown in FIG. 5, while the upper channel 22 and lower channel 26 have a semi-hexagonal cross-section as also shown in FIG. 5.
  • the diameter of the channels may vary, but in the preferred embodiment the diameter of the central channel is larger than the diameter of the upper and lower channels. This is preferred to allow the central channel to hold more plastic during the blow molding process and thus increase the hoop strength of the central channel.
  • the container of the present invention is preferably a blow molded container, and a round container is preferred although other shapes can be, used.
  • the channels for ribs are preferably continuous as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. However, if desired the ribs may be provided with at least two spaced apart discontinuities as shown in FIG. 6.
  • Central channel 124 in container 100 is continuous, while upper channel 122 and lower channel 126 each have discontinuities 150.
  • the discontinuities are raised portions which inte ⁇ upt the continuity of the upper and lower ribs and separate them into two separate, discontinuous bands.
  • the discontinuities are desirably located over the central portion of a vacuum band as clearly shown in FIG. 6.
  • each of the upper and lower channels may be used separating these channels into more than two separate discontinuous bands, as for example, four or six discontinuities. If greater than two discontinuities are provided each should preferably be located over the central portion of a vacuum panel. Also, discontinuities may if desired by used in the central channel.
  • the construction provides greater support and makes containers desirably rigid in a hot- fill situation, particularly when the container includes a parting line. Moreover, the construction of the present invention advantageously provides more uniform flexing in the vacuum panels in a hot fill situation.

Landscapes

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

Abstract

Le conteneur plastique creux comprend une paroi latérale avec au moins trois canaux déprimés vers l'intérieur espacés les uns des autres et s'étendant autour de la paroi latérale avec un canal supérieur, un canal central et un canal inférieur. Au moins deux panneaux sous vide séparés sont positionnés entre le canaux supérieur et le canal central et au moins deux panneaux sous vide séparés sont positionnés entre le canal central et le canal inférieur.
EP04794189A 2004-06-04 2004-10-05 Conteneur plastique Withdrawn EP1753676A4 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US20690404A 2004-06-04 2004-06-04
US10/937,666 US7021479B2 (en) 2004-06-04 2004-09-09 Plastic container with sidewall vacuum panels
PCT/US2004/032748 WO2005120991A1 (fr) 2004-06-04 2004-10-05 Conteneur plastique

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1753676A1 true EP1753676A1 (fr) 2007-02-21
EP1753676A4 EP1753676A4 (fr) 2007-06-20

Family

ID=37648418

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP04794189A Withdrawn EP1753676A4 (fr) 2004-06-04 2004-10-05 Conteneur plastique

Country Status (1)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1753676A4 (fr)

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5690244A (en) * 1995-12-20 1997-11-25 Plastipak Packaging, Inc. Blow molded container having paneled side wall
US6036037A (en) * 1998-06-04 2000-03-14 Twinpak Inc. Hot fill bottle with reinforced hoops
US6065624A (en) * 1998-10-29 2000-05-23 Plastipak Packaging, Inc. Plastic blow molded water bottle
US20030168425A1 (en) * 2002-03-07 2003-09-11 Sheldon Yourist Plastic container having depressed grip sections

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5690244A (en) * 1995-12-20 1997-11-25 Plastipak Packaging, Inc. Blow molded container having paneled side wall
US6036037A (en) * 1998-06-04 2000-03-14 Twinpak Inc. Hot fill bottle with reinforced hoops
US6065624A (en) * 1998-10-29 2000-05-23 Plastipak Packaging, Inc. Plastic blow molded water bottle
US20030168425A1 (en) * 2002-03-07 2003-09-11 Sheldon Yourist Plastic container having depressed grip sections

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See also references of WO2005120991A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP1753676A4 (fr) 2007-06-20

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