MXPA00011596A - Hydrostatic containers - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention is directed to lightweight hydrostatic containers. The containers have thin walls and other surfaces that are maintained in tension by the liquid contained in the containers. The body portion is substantially circular and has a plurality of recesses. The recesses strengthen the container and provide points where the container can axially collapse. On the lower end the container has a base with an upwardly extending inner portion. This inner portion extends upwardly at least the vertical dimension of a spout of the container. A shoulder is on an upper end of the bodyportion, the shoulder supporting an axial spout. The hydrostatic containers preferably are packed in cartons in double squares. The cartons have sidewalls that do not extend above the body portion of the containers. The carton bottom wall has openings in alignment with the upwardly extending inner portion of each hydrostatic container. In this way the spouts of containers in a lower carton fit into the upwardly extending inner portions of the hydrostatic containers of an upper carton.

Description

HYDROSTATIC CONTAINERS Field of the Invention This invention relates to the structure of hydrostatic containers. This invention also relates to the stacking of hydrostatic containers and boxing and placing on pallets of hydrostatic containers. This invention also relates to the filling and capping of hydrostatic containers.

Background of the Invention There is a continued need for lightweight containers to reduce the amount of packaging materials. This is more the case in countries where there is a tax on the weight of the containers. However, in addition to being lightweight, the containers must be able to be transported using a minimum of cardboard materials and must be easily handled by the end user. In addition, after use, the container must be foldable to decrease the disposal cost. In some countries a right of disposal is imposed on the volume of material that is discarded in the garbage. The state of the art of thin-walled containers, and stacking and pallet transport of containers is generally set forth in the following patents.

In the United States Patent of Améric No. 5,746,339 a high plastic bottle is disclosed which, when emptied, can be folded by axial compression. The bottle is composed of a series of surrounding recesses which contain elongated double initiators. The doubles initiare in the recesses help to fold the bottle.

U.S. Patent No. 4,997,692 discloses thin-walled bottles which are blow molded and which have a stable base. The base has a part that extends upwards so that there is only u contact of the base circumferential edge with the supporting surface. This results in a stable platform for the base. Also the part that extends upwards is sufficiently strong so that in any overpressure the center part does not extend to the part extending upwards a low point of the circumferential base edge.

U.S. Patent No. 5,244,106 discloses a bottle that has been constructed in the base of a lid holder. The bottom of the bottle has a recess that extends upwards and a region to grip and hold the lid. In this way the lid can be removed and placed in the lid support on the base to prevent the lid from being lost.

U.S. Patent No. 3,485,955 describes a pallet of stacked bottles. The bottom of a bottle rests on the lid of another bottle. The bottles are shown as being stacked in six tall columns. This glass bottles are not lightweight bottles, and they are not hydrostatic bottles. The contents of these bottles are not distributed to the structural integrity of the bottles.

U.S. Patent No. 4,416,373 describes arrangements of two-piece bottles that are wrapped and stacked with shrinkage. These can be a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottle with a support base. The objective here is to establish a way to stack a two-piece bottle. It is described that there may be an axial contact of the closure of one bottle with the bottom of another bottle. This axial arrangement is achieved through the use of interlocking bands on each of the bottles and the shrink wrap of a series of bottles together. This ensures an axial arrangement of the layers of the bottles.

These patents evidence the state of present art. However, they do not describe a very useful hydrostatic container structure or how to fill, fix and stack hydrostatic containers. The hydrostatic containers present will have a side wall with a plurality of surrounding recesses for strength and folding. In addition, the base will have a symmetrical lowered well with the vertical axis of the container.

In addition, the containers should have a maximum of contact with one another when they are stacked and should be such that each filled container remains in tension. No container should be compressed, consequently, there should be an axial stacking of the containers with a contact of the walls of the recessed base of a container with the closure and the shoulder wall of a lower container. A contact or close contact of the base of the container with the shoulder of a lower container provides axial stacking of the containers and for maximum contact of one container with another container. A contact spacer between the containers may also be used for the purpose of providing a maximum surface contact of a stacked recipient over another container. All containers in a pil will remain in tension due to the axial arrangement and the hydrostatic loading of the containers.

Brief Summary of the Invention The present invention is directed to lightweight hydrostatic containers. The containers when filled with a liquid are under tension and in cartons for shipping that can withstand several layers of such hydrostatic containers. The hydrostatic container has a body part having a plurality of surrounding recesses. These recesses reinforce the part of the body and when empty provide points for the folding of the body part with the application of a downward force. At the lower end d the leather part is a base and at the upper end part of the body part a shoulder which tapers a nozzle.

The base has an outer part with a plurality of reinforcing recesses and an inner part extending upwards. The inner part extending upwards has a depth of at least the length of the nozzle.

The mouthpiece is axially symmetrical with the body part with the shoulder being frusto-conical. The nozzle has a thread on an upper part for fastening the closure. Down the threads there may be a projecting edge surrounding to support the container during filling of the container and closure of the container with an appropriate closure.

Once filled and closed the containers are under tension, the voltage being applied by the container contents. The containers are filled to about 95% of their volume and preferably to at least about 99% of their volume.

In the stacking of the containers, the nozzle of a lower container fits within the inner part that extends upwards from the base of the upper container. Preferably there is a contact of the lower container lid with the uppermost point of the inner part that s extends upwards from the base of the upper container and shoulder of the lower container with the upper container base walls.

In the casing of the containers said containers are packed in double squares. A double square has containers of 2n2 where n is an integer of about d 1 to 10. The side walls of the box are of a height d up to that necessary to enclose the body part of the containers. The lower wall of the box has openings and alignment with the inner part extending upwards from the base of each container. These openings are sized to at least accept the nozzle of one of the containers. Preferably the openings are of a size to accept a substantial portion of the shoulder of the lower container. In this manner when the bottles are stacked, said bottles are supporting essentially the entire weight of the stacked boxes.

In addition, by boxing the containers in double squares, the boxes can be stacked so that one box completely supports another, or a box is supported by two lower boxes. This provides an option for the stacking of the boxes on a pallet of the interlock of the boxes so that they do not come out on the pallet during handling and transportation.

Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 is an elevated view of the hydrostatic container.

Figure IB is a lowered view of hydrostatic containers stacked one on top of the other.

Figure 2 is a bottom plane view of a hydrostatic container.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of a hydrostatic container.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the hydrostatic containers encased in a double square.

Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the box of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a bottom plan view of a box for hydrostatic containers.

Figure 7A is a first embodiment of stacking the boxes of Figure 4.

Figure 7B is a second embodiment of stacking the boxes of Figure 4.

Figure 7C is a third embodiment of stacking the boxes of Figure 4.

Figure 7D is a fourth embodiment of stacking the boxes of Figure 4.

Figure 8 is a view of the hydrostatic containers on a filling and closing line.

Detailed Description of Drawings As noted the invention is directed hydrostatic containers and the stacking and filling of these containers. A hydrostatic container is a thin-walled container that, when filled, has all the walls under tension. None of the walls are under compression. A plastic such as polyethylene terephthalate which has a high tensile strength, but a lower resistance to compression, and useful in the construction of hydrostatic vessels. As a result, it is a primary objective to have a recipient that when it is filled is under tension and when it is stacked in a packing arrangement on a pallet it is always in tension. These hydrostatic containers, and the stacking of these containers, are described in greater detail with reference to the drawings.

Figure IA is an elevated view of a hydrostatic container 10. The container is composed of a side wall 12 which has a plurality of surrounding recesses 14. The container is closed on one end by the base 16 which optionally has the recesses of reinforcement 18. The base has a peripheral wall 17 that holds the recipient on a flat surface. Extending upwards from the peripheral wall 17 is the transition wall 20 which ends at the support wall 22. These walls form a well located axially at the base of the container. In a stacking arrangement the support wall 22 will contact the lid of another container.

At the other end of bottle 10 is the shoulder 24 which ends in the nozzle 26. The nozzle 26 has the threads 28 for a cover, the opening 30 and a support ring 32. The wall 24 is at an angle A of about 5 degrees to 40 degrees and preferably around from 15 degrees to 30 degrees, normal to the vertical axis of the container. A wall at this angle will be of a frustoconical shape and will provide a high surface area for contact with the base of another bottle when it is in a stacking arrangement.

The ratio of the height of the container to the dimension in the cross section is about 0.5 to 10 and preferably about 1 to 4.

Figure IB shows two of the containers in a stacked array. Each one is a container of Figure IA. The lower container is the particular container of figure 1 with the upper container identical to the lower container. The upper container has the side wall 12 (a) with a plurality of recesses 14 (a). The base 16 (a) has a peripheral circumferential section 17 (a) with reinforcing recesses 18 (a). The transition wall 20 (a) terminates in the support wall 22 (a). At the other end there is a shoulder 24 (a) which ends in the lid 34 (a). The cover 34 closes the lower container.

Figure 2 is a bottom plane view of the container while Figure 3 is a top plan view. The various lower wall features are shown in greater detail in Figure 2 and the upper container has characteristics as shown in greater detail in Figure 3.

Figure 4 shows the containers in a box 40 having a front and rear wall 36 and the side walls 38. A side view of the box is shown in figure 5. The walls of the box enclose no more than the side walls of the box. the containers. This allows the interlock as in Figure IB. The containers are in an arrangement of square do, each square here having 16 containers. U squared can have any of two or more containers per usually will have four or more containers. The containers are in this arrangement so that they can be stacked on a pallet in one of the arrangements of Figure 7A through 7D. The boxes can be stacked with all levels of the same stack, preferably with a mixed stack. A mixed stack e wherein the lower layer can be that of Figure 7A, the next layer that of Figure 7B to 7D, the next any cap of the arrangements other than that of the second layer. The goal is to obtain a stacked pallet that stays together during handling and transportation. Mediant mixing the levels there is an interlock of the boxes from the layer to the layer.

Figure 6 shows the lower surface 42 of the box of Figure 4 and Figure 6. The openings 44 allow the neck of the lower container to make contact with the base of the upper container. These openings 44 are of a diameter to allow this contact. The perforations 41 are of a larger diameter to allow the nozzle and a substantial portion of the shoulder of a lower container to extend through the opening 41. The openings 43 have the perforated lines 45 which allow the surface 42 to bend and conform to the shoulder shape of the lower container. This openings 41 and 43 provide a larger contact of the man of a lower container with the base of an upper container.

Instead of using a box the containers can be wrapped with shrinkage. The shrink wrap material will surround the containers. However, the bottoms will be open so that the neck and shoulder of the lower container can make contact with the base of the upper container. This will allow an effective hydrostatic stacking.

Figure 8 illustrates a filling line for hydrostatic vessels. The containers move from right to left and are supported by the rail 50. The rail 50 contacts the support ring 32 of the container. The containers 10 are moved to the filler 54 which is fed with product through a conduit 56. The filled containers are then moved to the capper 52 which screws the caps 34 onto each container. The container then goes to the box and to the pallets. The cardboard can be of a type of tray board which uses a minimum of cardboard material or more than one type of box. One type of tray has a lower side wall while one type of box has an upper side wall.

The containers are constructed of a material of high tensile strength such as polyethylene terephthalate. The closures should be of a tight seal with the containers but still be easily movable. The containers are filled to a maximum of 95 to about 99% volume in order to have maximum hydrostatic properties.

The containers must be of an essentially circular shape.

However, there may be some ovality whenever the containers in the stack are in tension. As noted, the containers must be in tension every moment during handling and shipping.

The containers may conveniently be used in conjunction with the stacking arrangement described in U.S. Patent No. 5,746,260. This stacking arrangement allows the use of containers with very thin walls. Through the use of this stacking arrangement the spill potential of the contents of the thin-walled container during the transfer of the contained substance to the permanent container is significantly reduced. This arrangement of containers is incorporated herein by reference. Various modifications can be made to the present invention but still be within the present concepts. All such modifications are considered to be within the present description and the invention.

Claims (20)

R E I V I N D I C A C I O N S

1. A hydrostatic container comprising a body part having an essentially circular cross-section, said body part having a plurality of surrounding recesses, a shoulder portion extending upward from said body portion and tapered at an angle of about 5 degrees at about 40 degrees to the horizontal axis of container to a nozzle, said nozzle extends up to a height dimension and is symmetrical with the vertical ej of said container, an upper part of dich nozzle has thread on it, a base in the lower part of said body part, said base has an essentially flat outer part and an inner part extending upwards, said inner part extending upwards at least the height dimension of said nozzle, the part of body being axially folding.

2. A container as claimed in clause 1 characterized in that said body part has at least two recesses.

3. A container as claimed in clause 1 characterized in that the ratio of the height of said container to the cross section of said container is around 0.5 to 10.

4. A container as claimed in clause 1 characterized in that the ratio of the height of said container to the cross section of said container is from about 1 to about 4.

5. A container as claimed in clause 1 characterized in that said shoulder tapers towards an angle of about 15 degrees to about 30 degrees to horizontal axis of the container.

6. A container as claimed in clause 1 characterized in that said nozzle has a support edge d projecting surrounding said thread below to support said container during the filling and application of a lid.

7. A set of containers comprising at least two containers as claimed in clause 1, each of said containers has a lid, the lid on the nozzle of a first container makes contact with the inner part of the base of the second container, a part of the base of said second container makes contact with the shoulder of said first container, each of said first container and said second container are filled to about 95% to more than about 99% with a liquid.

8. A set of containers as claimed in clause 7 characterized in that the body part of said first container and said second container has at least two recesses.

9. A set of containers as claimed in clause 7 characterized in that the proportion d the height of said first container and the second container the cross section of said first container and second container dich is about 0.5 to about 10.

10. A set of containers as claimed in clause 9 characterized in that the proportion d the height of said first container and said second The container to the cross section of said first container of said second container is about 1 to about 4.

11. A set of containers as shown : .0 claimed in clause 7 characterized in that the shoulder of said first container and the shoulder of said second container are tapered upwards at an angle of about 5 degrees to about 40 degrees to the horizontal axis of the container. 5

12. A method for filling and applying a lid to a lightweight container comprising said container having a body part, a closed lower end mediant and a base and an upper end having a nozzle connected to said body part for a shoulder, supporting said recipient by a projecting edge located on said nozzle, and filling said container to about 95% by volume of said container to more than about 99 of the volume of said container and applying a lid to said container. said containers.

13. A method as claimed in clause 12 characterized in that said containers are transported to the filling of said containers by a projecting edge and said containers are transported to the container of said containers by the projecting edge.

14. A plurality of hydrostatic containers as claimed in clause 1 characterized in that they are in a side-by-side relationship in a box, said containers in a double box relationship, said box having the lateral surfaces and a lower surface partially surrounding said containers, said box has the lateral surfaces extending upwardly to enclose the body part of said containers, with the shoulder and the mouthpiece of said containers extending upwardly of said box, said lower surface having an opening in alignment with the container. lower part of the base of each container, said opening of at least one dimension to accept the nozzle of a container.

15. A plurality of hydrostatic containers as claimed in clause 14 characterized in that each opening is the lower surface of said box is up to the diameter of said containers.

16. A plurality of hydrostatic containers as claimed in clause 14 characterized in that there is a first box of said containers and a second box of said containers, said first box of said containers covers a second box of said containers.

17. A plurality of hydrostatic containers as claimed in clause 14 characterized by there is a first box of said containers, a second box of said containers and a third box of said containers, said first box of said containers covers a part of said second. box of said containers and a third box of said containers.

18. A plurality of hydrostatic containers as claimed in clause 15 characterized in that said box contains about 2n2 containers where n is an integer of about 1 to 10.

19. A plurality of containers as claimed in clause 14 characterized in that each box contains about 18 containers having two squares d around 9 containers.

20. A plurality of containers as claimed in clause 14 characterized in that each box contains about 8 containers having 4 containers and each square. SUMMARY This invention is directed to lightweight hydrostatic containers. The containers have folded walls and surfaces that are held in tension by the liquid contained in the containers. The body part is essentially circular and has a plurality of recesses. The recesses reinforce the container and provide points where the container can be axially folded. On the lower end the container has a base with an inner part that extends upwards. This inner part extends upwards at least by the vertical dimension of a container nozzle. One shoulder is on the upper end of the body part, the shoulder supports an axial mouthpiece. The hydrostatic containers are preferably packed in double square boxes. The containers have side walls that do not extend above the body part of the containers. The bottom wall of the box has openings in alignment with the inner part extending upwards of each hydrostatic container. In this manner the nozzles of the containers in a lower box fit within the interior parts extending upwards of the hydrostatic containers of an upper box.