GB2345480A

GB2345480A - Containers

Info

Publication number: GB2345480A
Application number: GB0000139A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Angelo Giro Grauso
Original assignee: Reckitt and Colman South Africa Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Reckitt and Colman South Africa Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1999-01-11
Filing date: 2000-01-06
Publication date: 2000-07-12
Also published as: GB0000139D0; ZA200000062B

Abstract

A container 10 comprises a hollow body defining a chamber and having opposite first and second ends, the first end comprising a closeable opening 12, between which ends are at least two reinforcing structures 20,26, the first such structure 20 comprising at least one formation to provide resistance against axial deformation and the second comprising at least one formation 26 to provide resistance against radial deformation, the first structure 20 comprising a pattern of indentations 22 in the body. The indentations 22 are preferably of inverted, concave pyramid form, while the second structure is defined by parallel grooves. A further axial reinforcement structure 34 may be provided adjacent a base 14.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO PACKAGING The invention relates to containers, more particularly containers having a generally bottle-like shape.

Bottle-like containers are widely used in the storage of various substances, including liquids. Plastics materials are a popular material of manufacture, but it has been found that such bottles are susceptible to deformation, either from axial compression, such as when being stored or transported in multiple unit containers, or radial deformation, resulting from close packing or from changes in atmospheric pressure or internal pressure under altered environmental conditions. For example, when transporting plastics bottles from a high altitude to a low altitude, the bottles may become concavely buckled, a condition referred to as"panelling". The dented appearance of such bottled reduces consumer acceptability.

According to the invention, a bottle-like container comprises a hollow body defining a chamber and having opposite first and second ends, the first end having a closeable opening, between which ends are at least two reinforcing structures, the first such structure comprising at least one formation to provide resistance against axial deformation and the second comprising at least one formation to provide resistance against radial deformation, the first structure comprising a pattern of indentations in the body.

In a preferred form of the invention, the container comprises a shoulder portion, the first structure being located on the shoulder.

The container may further include an additional reinforcing structure of the same type as the first.

Preferably such structure is located to adjoin the second end. The second end preferably is or comprises a base, on which the container may stand upright.

The first structure preferably comprises a pattern of faceted formations, providing indentations in the body, such as adjacent pyramid structures.

The second structure preferably comprises at least one circumferential groove formation.

In a further preferred form of the invention, the body additionally includes a waist portion wherein there is a narrowing of the diameter of the bottle. Preferably the shoulder is located on or to adjoin the waist portion.

The waist portion may further include a groove formation.

In a further preferred form of the invention, the container is made of a resilient plastics material. A preferred such material is polyethylene terephalate.

Figure 1 is a side view of a container according to the invention, showing front, top and bottom views.

The container of the invention has a bottle-like shape, with two opposite ends, an opening for charging and emptying the container at one end and a base at the other. The base may be of any purpose-determined shape, but is preferably shaped to allow the bottle to stand thereon. As such it may be flat or comprise a punt.

Preferably the container is of elongate and/or symmetrical proportions.

The container may be manufactured from any suitable material known in the art, including glasses and plastics. However, the invention has particular application to plastics containers that are resilient to be deformable under load, irrespective of whether they have axial or radial components. Plastics materials used should preferably be suitable for blow moulding. Further desirable properties are sufficient strength and rigidity to support a liquid having a specific gravity of up to 1. 4, relatively low density and a bright finish, attractive to consumers. It may be transparent or opaque. An example of a su-table plastics material is polyetheylene terephalate (or PET).

Although blow or injection stretch blow moulding are preferred processes of manufacture for the container, other processes known in the art may be applied. It will be apparent to the person skilled in the art that the material of manufacture should be selected according to the desired process, for satisfactory results.

To assist in resisting deformation, the container body comprises at least two reinforcing structures that are capable of providing resistance in use against axial compression and radial deformation respectively.

Axial compression may be experienced by the container when it is stacked for delivery in multi-unit containers, such are cartons. It has been found that deformation caused by such compression may be resisted and the effects reduced by including in the body a series of indentations located on a portion of the body having a radially disposed vector in its orientation-in other words, in a surface portion that has a slope lying from the axial to the radial.

Such surface is provided in this invention preferably in a shoulder portion. The shoulder portion may be part of a waist formation at which the diameter of the container narrows. Alternatively, or in addition, the shoulder may be located adjacent the opening of the container, sloping toward a vertical side.

The indentations are preferably defined by a pattern comprising adjoining planar facets, each sloping with respect to its neighbour. The facets may be any suitable shape but it has been found that triangular facets that provide a concave pyramidal structure provide good strength against axial deformation.

Resistance against radial deformation is provided by circumferential groove formations. Such formations should be construed to include rib formations that stand proud of the external surface of the body.

In a preferred embodiment, the container has a waist portion, at which the diameter narrows. This assists in providing a handgrip for a user. It may include at least one formation providing resistance against radial deformation, such as a circumferential rib or groove. In this embodiment, the shoulder portion is located to be adjacent the waist and contains faceted indentations of pyramidal configuration, as described above. The indentations provide additional gripping surfaces and assist a user who may have wet fingers in obtaining good purchase on the container.

The invention will now be described with reference to the drawings, in which the numeral 10 indicates a container bottle, made of a resilient plastics material.

The container is shown with the screw cap removed and thus has an opening 12 and base 14. Between these is a waist portion 16, where the diameter reaches its minimum and then widens to a shoulder 18. Axially reinforcing formations are arranged in a pattern 20 around the shoulder 18. Closer examination reveals that the pattern comprises adjacent inverted concave pyramids 22, each of which has four triangular sides 24.

As the container narrows to the waist above the patterned shoulder, there are a series of parallel grooves 26, an adjacent pair of such grooves being separated by a rib 28. Lower on the container, below the patterned shoulder, lies a further series of grooves 30 and ribs 32. Just above the base 14, there is located a further axial reinforcing structure 34 of patterned facets. These facets are located on a surface that tapers towards the base.

It will be apparent that further such structures may be provided on other surface portions having a shoulder-like orientation, such as adjoining the opening.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A container comprising a hollow body defining a chamber and having opposite first and second ends, the first end comprising a closeable opening, between which ends are at least two reinforcing structures, the first such structure comprising at least one formation to provide resistance against axial deformation and the second comprising at least one formation to provide resistance against radial deformation, the first structure comprising a pattern of indentations in the body.
2. A container according to claim 1 in which the body comprises a waist portion.
3. A container according to claim 1 or claim 2 which comprises a shoulder portion, the first structure being located on the shoulder.
4. A container accordir. to claim 3 wherein the shoulder portion is located adjacent the waist.
5. A container according to any one of the preceding claims further including an additional reinforcing structure to provide resistance against axial deformation comprising a pattern of indentations.
6. A container according to claim 5 wherein the additional reinforcing structure is located to adjoin the second end.
7. A container according to claim 6 wherein the additional reinforcing structure tapers toward the second end.
8. A container according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the second end comprises a base on which the container may stand upright.
9. A container according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the pattern of indentations is defined by facets.
10. A container according to claim 9 in which the facets comprise adjacent pyramid structures.
11. A container according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the second structure comprises at least one circumferential groove formation.
12. A container according to any one of claims 2 to 10 wherein the waist portion further includes a groove formation.
13. A container according to any one of the preceding claims made of a resilient plastics material.
14. A container according to claim 13 wherein the plastics material is polyethylene terephalate.
15. A container substantially as described herein with reference to the Figure.