MXPA00003996A - Hot-fillable plastic container with grippable body - Google Patents

Abstract

A hot-fillable plastic container having a panel section of a size suitable for gripping the container in one hand. The panel section includes two opposing vertically-elongated vacuum panels, and two opposing horizontally-disposed and radially-indented finger grips. Each vacuum panel preferably has an invertible central wall portion movable from a convex first position prior to hot-filling of the container, to a concave second position under vacuum pressure following hot-filling and sealing of the container.

Description

PLASTIC CONTAINER OF HOT FILLING WITH BODY ITS ETABLE Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a hot-fill plastic container having an appropriate panel section for holding the container with one hand BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The packaging of certain liquids requires that they be placed in a container even when hot to maintain adequate sterilization. Hot fill containers are designed for this purpose. During filling, the container is subjected to elevated temperatures in the order of 82 ° C (product temperature) or higher. The container is then capped and when the product is cooled, a negative internal pressure is formed in the sealed container. Biaxially oriented polyethylene terephthalate (PET) beverage bottles are designed to receive a hot fill product with minimal shrinkage and thermal distortion. A bottle is described in the North American Patent No.

REF. 119595 4,863,046 entitled "Hot Fill Container7 ', which was issued on September 5, 1989 to Collette and collaborators.Collette and collaborators container has six vacuum panels recessed in the middle section of the container panel.The panels reduce the magnitude of the vacuum generated in the filled and capped container to prevent any further distortion without form control As the product cools, the vacuum panels (all of them) deform and move inwardly in unison. covers the vacuum panels and is supported by the central wall portions raised in the vacuum panels, support areas between the vacuum panels, and the areas of horizontal rubber grooves above and below the vacuum panels. longitudinal (vertical) can be provided in the support areas and the wall portions raised in the vacuum panels increase the longitudinal firmness of the panel section. The design of the vacuum panels may vary; Other designs are illustrated in: 1) the North American Design Patent No. 315,869. "Container Body for Liquids Or The Like", of April 2, 1991 for Collette; 2) U.S. Patent 5,255,889, "Modular Mold", October 26, 1993 to Collette et al; 3) US Patent no. 5,178,289, "Panel Design For A Hot-Fillable Container," on January 12, 1993 for Krishnakumar et al; and 4) U.S. Patent 5,303,834, "Squeezable Container Resistant To Dentinf," April 19, 1994 for Krishnaakumar et al. Providing a container with a holding portion for easy handling has become fashionable in recent years. Generally, it is not enough simply to add a fastening portion to the container, rather, the design of the container and / or the thickness of the wall needs to be modified to strengthen the walls of the container and control the amount of deformation that occurs when the container is fastened . Increasing the thickness of the container wall is undesirable as this leads to a substantial increase in the amount of material and therefore also the cost of the container. These increased costs are unacceptable in the highly competitive container industry. Therefore, as the demand for fastening bottles has continued to grow, especially in the soft drink and sports beverage industries, new and improved designs are required that retain their shape when held firmly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a hot-fill plastic container having a panel section for fastening. In a first embodiment, the panel section includes a panel wall having two radially elongated, vertically elongated vacuum panels, and two sets of radially toothed horizontally disposed hand grip portions. Each vacuum panel has an invertible movable central wall portion from a first convex position prior to hot filling of the container, to a second concave position under vacuum pressure followed by hot filling and sealing of the container. Preferably a pair of vertically elongated and radially serrated ridges are provided in the panel wall, adjacent to either side of each vacuum panel, which act as hinge points to facilitate movement of the central wall portions. The reversal of the central wall portion from a convex configuration to a concave configuration increases the amount of movement of the vacuum panel and thus releases sufficient vacuum pressure to allow the use of only two vacuum panels in the container. The hinge points additionally increase the movement of the central wall portion to relieve the vacuum in a container having only two vacuum panels. The diameter of the panel wall is selected to allow one-hand hold. For example, a preferred range of the panel diameter is 60-120 mm (approximately 2.5-4.5 inches). The two opposite groups of manual fasteners, between the vacuum panels, allow the container to be held fast with one hand during use. Manual fasteners are a plurality of serrated channels, each channel being configured to receive a finger or a thumb of the user. Manual clamping channels also provide a resistance to bending the panel in the direction of the arch. The vertical flanges, adjacently arranged on either side of the vacuum panels, isolate the movements of the vacuum panel from the manual fasteners. The vertical flanges also resist longitudinal twisting of the panel section. By providing alternately vacuum panels and manual clamping portions on the circumference of the panel wall, two alternative mechanisms for securing the container will be effectively provided. The first is that of the two sets of manual fasteners. The second alternative is that of the two vacuum panels, which have a concave central wall portion that allows the. Holding between the fingers and the thumb of a hand. Providing both options for fastening is particularly desirable and convenient for the user. Concave vacuum panels generally provide a smaller space (width) than manual fasteners, thus providing ease of fastening for two different sized con- scious users. These and other features and benefits of the present invention will be more particularly understood with respect to the following drawings and detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a raised front view of a first embodiment of a hot fill container of this invention, showing one of two opposite vertically disposed vacuum panels and a pair of adjacent vertical flanges on either side of the Vacuum panel.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the container of Figure 1, showing one of the two opposite hand grip portions. Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the base of the container. Figure 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the panel section of the container of Figure 1, taken along the line of section 4-4, showing various positions of the vacuum panel, as elaborated (solid lines) and internal movement (followed by hot and closed filling) to relieve the negative pressure generated in the container (dotted lines). Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the container of Figure 1 taken along line 5-5 of Figure 4, showing a vertical ridge that is radially toothed from the panel diameter (dotted line). Figure 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the container of Figure 1 taken along line 6-6 of Figure 4, showing a molded vacuum panel that is radially toothed in diameter of the panel (dotted line exterior), but that has a convex central wall portion.

Figure 7 is a side elevational view of a vacuum panel, showing the invertible central wall portion. Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the container showing a user holding the container in the opposite manual attachment portions. Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of the container showing a user holding the container in the opposite vacuum panels.

Detailed Description Figure 1 shows a particular embodiment of the present invention - a hot fill beverage bottle of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) of 1.2 liters (40 oz). The bottle 10 has an overall height A of approximately 206 mm, a height B of the panel section of approximately 125 mm, and an overall diameter C of approximately 92 mm. The thickness of the container in the panel section B is in the order of 0.4 m. The bottle is blow molding a molded injection preform (not shown), which has an upper threaded neck shaped end and a lower tube portion. During blowing, the preform expands and assumes the shape of an interior molding surface (not shown) to form a biaxially oriented substantially transparent bottle. The neck-shaped finish does not extend and remains as the neck-shaped finish 12 of the bottle with an open nozzle 14 to receive a screw cap (not shown). The lower preformed tube portion extends to form (a) a projecting section 16 that generally increases in diameter from the neck-shaped termination 12 to a substantially cylindrical panel section 18; (b) the panel section 18 includes a pair of vertically elongated front and opposite vacuum panels 20, 22, and the right and left sets of the horizontally disposed manual fasteners 24, 26; and (c) a base 28. A lower projection portion includes a radially recessed arc flange 30 between the elongated diameter portions 29, 31. The arc flange 30 helps prevent ovalization of the container. (asymmetric radial deformation caused by negative pressure generated in the container during cooling of the hot fill product). The extended portion 31 forms an upper cushion, only on the panel section 18. The base 28 includes a lower cushion of lower extended diameter 33, and a central recessed dome portion 34 surrounded by a straight ring or bell 36. As is well known in the basic design of hot fill containers, the dome includes biaxially oriented elements 38 such that the dome moves internally to reduce the negative pressure generated during cooling of the product. The height panel section B extends between the upper and lower dampers, 31, 33 respectively. The upper and lower dampers are larger in diameter than the panel wall 19. The substantially cylindrical panel wall 19 has a diameter D of 88 mm, and includes the radially upper and lower serrated arc flanges, 40, 42 arranged on and under the vacuum panels and manual fasteners. These arc flanges are desired in the panel section to prevent securing of the panel section, when the vacuum panels are moved to relieve the negative pressure. As shown in the horizontal cross-section in Figure 4, the substantially cylindrical panel wall 19 includes the two opposite radially de-empted vacuum panels 20, 22 arranged symmetrically with respect to a first vertical plane 44 and a second transverse vertical plane 46. This is desired to provide the symmetrical movement of the vacuum panel, and is particularly useful for vessels of smaller diameter, that is, in the order of 120 mm (4.5 inches) and smaller in diameter. Each vacuum panel is disposed between the left and right sets of the fastening portions 24, 26. The fastening portions each include four parallel channels, vertically arranged, and radially toothed 50, each channel is arranged horizontally and of an amplitude adapted to receive a finger or thumb of the user. In this example, the channel width is 18 mm, the length L of the channel is 48 mm, and the depth D 'of the channel is 4 mm. The vertical distance between the channels is 23 mm. As shown in Figure 4, a pair of vertical flanges are disposed adjacent the vertical side edges of each vacuum panel. These four vertical flanges 52 are symmetrically disposed on the circumference of the panel section. Each flange has a radial extension R of approximately 60 °, and a depth D "of approximately 3.8 mm Each vacuum panel 20, 22 includes a radially recessed protruding portion 54, forming a continuous boundary with the panel section 18. Within the projecting portion is a central invertible wall portion 56. The molded wall portion 56 is convex (as seen from the outside of the container); this position is shown in the solid lines of Figure 4. Once the container is hot filled and covered, the product begins to cool and generates a negative pressure inside the container. This causes the convex central wall portion to move internally radially, and adopt a first concave position 56 '(as seen from the outside of the container), shown in dotted lines in Figure 4. To further release the negative pressure , the entire vacuum panel 20, 22 and the portions 58 of the panel wall 19 adjacent to the vacuum panels, move radially inwardly (56", 58 ') as shown in the dashed lines in Figure 4 The vertical flanges 52 act as hinges that allow this additional movement of the panel wall and the vacuum panels, without undue distortion of the container As described later and shown in Figure 9, this position 56"concave end of the panel vacuum provides an alternative means to hold the container. The rectangular vacuum panel in the mode of Figure 4 is 105mm in height and 47.7mm in amplitude. A majority of this area (see Figure 7) is available for investment, instead of the stepped outgoing. In this embodiment, the vertical flanges 52 are arranged at a circumferential distance of approximately 10 mm from the side edges of the vacuum panel 20, 22. Figure 5 illustrates a longitudinal sectional view of the container half, showing the profile of the container in cross section with one of the four vertical flanges 52. The flange 52 is recessed from the diameter of the panel D, by a depth D ", as previously described.Figure 6 shows another view in longitudinal section through one of the panels Vacuum 20. The original convex profile of the central wall portion 56, and the profile 56"concave end in the dotted lines after filling and cooling are illustrated in the solid lines. As previously described, this ability to invert the central wall portion of the vacuum panels increases the amount of negative pressure that can be relieved in the container, while using only two vacuum panels. In addition, the inversion is reversible and once the container is opened per client, the wall portion of the vacuum panel 56 will revert to a convex profile. This can serve as a safety feature to notify the consumer that the container has not been opened since it was hot filled and sealed by the beverage supplier. Figure 7 shows a front view of the invertible central wall portion 56 of the vacuum panel container 20 of Figure 6. In this example, a large percentage (ie 60%) of the central portion has been inverted. Figure 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing one of two mechanisms for securing the container. In Figure 8, a human hand 2 is shown with a thumb 3 which engages a fastening channel 50 on a first side of the container, and the four fingers 4 are placed in each of the four channels 50 on the opposite side of the container . These channels have not deformed despite the temperature / pressure conditions generated by the hot-fill and cooling process. Figure 9 shows an alternative mechanism for holding the container in one hand. In Figure 9, the user's thumb 3 is placed on a convex vacuum panel portion 56", while the opposing fingers 4 are located on the other convex vacuum panel portion 56". This provides an alternative mechanism to hold the container with one hand, and a smaller holder is examined (for example, for a smaller hand). The container can be made of any of the known polymer resins that provide greater strength at high filling temperatures, such as polyesters, polyolefins, polycarbonates, nitriles, and copolymers of the above, as well as other polymers at high temperature. Phthalic acid polyesters based on terephthalic or isophthalic acid are commercially available and are suitable. The hydroxy-compounds are usually ethylene glycol and 1,4-di- (hydroxymethyl) -cciohexane. The intrinsic viscosity for the phthalate polyesters is usually in the range of from 0 6 to 1.2, and more particularly from 0.7 to 1.0 (for the O-chloro-phenol solvent). 0.6 corresponds approximately to an average molecular weight viscosity of 59,000 and 1.2 at an average molecular weight viscosity of 112,000. In general, the phthalate polyester can include polymer bonds, side chains, and end groups unrelated to the precursors form 1 is a simple phthalate polyester. Conveniently, at least 90 percent mol will be terephthalic acid and at least 45 percent mol is an aliphatic glycol or glycols, especially ethylene glycol. Another useful polymer with similar physical properties for PET is polyethylene naphthalate (PEN). PEN provides a high thermal resistance and a 3-5X is improved in the oxygen barrier property (over PET), at some additional expense. The container can either be a single layer or multi-layer construction, including layers of oxygen barrier material such as ethylene vinyl alcohol or polyvinyldene chloride, and can include a layer of reprocessed waste material, such as a Subsequent consumer or recycled PET. The container may have a closure instead of a screw cap, such as a slidable nozzle as used in sports bottles. In this embodiment, a partial label or around the envelope may be applied to the projecting portion 16; alternatively a shrink wrap label may be applied around the panel section (which takes the form of the manual fasteners and vacuum panels). Preferably the angular extent of each of the two vacuum panels is 50 to 90 °, and each manual holder 50-90 °. The angular extent between the vacuum panel and the manual holder is preferably 18 to 30 °. The height of each vacuum panel is preferably at least 1.5 times the amplitude of the vacuum panel. The two vacuum panels are preferably arranged symmetrically on the circumference of the panel, ie, their vertical center lines are separately at 180 °. However, there may be applications, where they compensate a little, for example, 150-180 °, The container of the present invention can alternatively be described as a plastic hot-fill container, having alternating panel sections and sections of reinforcement, wherein the panel sections have an invertible central wall portion, movable from a first convex position prior to the hot filling of the container, for a position of the concave section under vacuum pressure is followed by hot filling and sealing the container. The reinforcement sections have two or more radially toothed horizontal channels. The channels provide a resistance to the bend of the panel in the arc direction. Preferably, the radially toothed channels are of a sufficient size and are formed to also act as manual fasteners. Although certain preferred embodiments of the invention have been specifically illustrated and described herein, it will be understood that variations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. For example, the shapes and sizes of the container can be varied as well as the design of the vacuum panel. Thus, all variations will be considered as part of the invention as defined by the following claims.

It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known to the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is the conventional one for the manufacture of the objects or products to which it refers.

Claims (12)

1. Having described the invention as above, the content of the following claims is claimed as property: 1. A hot-fill plastic container, having a panel section with alternative vacuum panel sections and reinforcement sections, characterized in that each section vacuum panel has a radially recessed projecting portion forming a continuous boundary with the panel section and the interior of the projecting portion is an invertible central wall portion, the central wall portion being movable from a first convex position before filling hot from the container, for a second concave position under vacuum pressure during cooling followed by hot filling and sealing of the container, and wherein the reinforcing sections have manual fasteners comprising two or more radially toothed horizontal channels of an adapted amplitude to receive a finger or the thumb and the sections of r The flange has vertical ridges between the vacuum panels and the manual fasteners where the vertical flanges form hinges on each side of the vacuum panel to facilitate movement of the central wall portion and the portions of the panel section are between the hinges while isolates the movements of the vacuum panel from the manual fasteners.
2. 2. The container according to claim 1, characterized in that the vacuum panels are symmetrically arranged in the panel section.
3. 3. The container according to claim 2, characterized in that the panel section has a diameter not greater than 11.13 cm (4.5 inches).
4. 4. The container according to claim 3, characterized in that the panel section has a diameter in the range of 6.35 to 11.43 cm (2.5 to 4.5 inches)
5. 5. The container according to claim 1, characterized in that the opposite manual fasteners include two sets of four manual fasteners in each set.
6. 6. The container according to claim 1, characterized in that the manual fasteners have an angular extension of 50-90 °.
7. 7. The container according to claim 6, characterized in that the vacuum panels have an angular extension of 50-90 °.
8. 8. The container according to claim 1, characterized in that the vacuum panels are symmetrically arranged in the panel section, and the panel section has a diameter in the range of 6.35 to 11.43 cm (2.5 to 4.5 inches), each panel vacuum has an angular extension of 50-90 °, each set of manual fasteners has an angular extension of 50-90 °, and the angular extension between each vacuum panel and set of manual fasteners is 18-30 °.
9. 9. The container according to claim 1, characterized in that the central wall of each vacuum panel has an absence of flanges.
10. 10. The container according to any of claims 1-9, characterized in that there are a total of two vacuum panel sections.
11. 11. The container according to any of claims 1-10, characterized in that the panel section of the container is configured to be held with one hand.
12. 12. The container according to any of claims 1-11, characterized in that the panel section of the container is substantially cylindrical. PLASTIC CONTAINER FOR HOT FILLING WITH BODY YOUR E ABLE SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A hot-fill plastic container having a panel section of an appropriate size to hold the container with one hand. The panel section includes two opposite vertically elongated vacuum panels, and two radially toothed and horizontally disposed hand holders. Each vacuum panel preferably has an invertible central wall portion that is movable from a first convex position prior to hot filling of the container, for a second concave position under vacuum pressure followed by hot filling and sealing the container.