MXPA98007704A - Molded blower container that has support regions for label separated by costillasseparadas perifericame - Google Patents

Abstract

A blow molded plastic container, intended for use in a hot fill processing, the container has a series of short, upper and lower ribs that are spaced apart from each other on the ends and extending peripherally around the side wall of the container. container up and down the supports between the vertically elongated contraction panels and the adjacent corners of the contraction panels to reinforce the container at selected locations while providing additional areas to receive the adhesive for label fixing

Description

MOLDED BLOWER CONTAINER THAT HAS REGIONS OF SUPPORT FOR LABEL SEPARATED BY SEPARATE RIBS PERIPHERALLY The present invention relates to plastic hot-fill beverage containers. blow molded, and more particularly to a container having a series of short ribs. peripherally separated. in the side wall of the container to be rigid the side wall adjacent to the contraction panel corners while enhancing the fixing of the label.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Hot-filled, blow-molded containers having vacuum contraction panels and reinforcing ribs are known. For example, the patent of E.U.A. 4.BS3.046 by Collette et al. Discloses ribs arranged vertically in the support area between the adjacent panels. The patent of E.U.A. No. 5,054.S32 of Al erghini et al. Discloses a continuous peripheral rib in the middle of the label panel area between the upper and lower provisions of the shrink panels. The patent of E.U.A. 5.064, OBI of Hayashi and others discloses, in the Figures? and 9, a container of square cross section having ribs of reinforcement located directly above and below the contraction panels vertically elongated. The patent of E.U.A. 5.17B.2B9 by Krishna Kumar et al. Discloses interrupted ribs in a container structure similar to that described in the aforementioned 04S patent of Collette et al. The patent of E.U.A. No. 5,337,909 to Vai 11 iencourt discloses a hot fill container having continuous peripheral ribs in a support region for labeling above and below the panels in vacuum. In the '909 patent of Va 1 lencourt. the continuous reinforcement rings, which are located in the container's label support area, limit the area available for the application of label adhesives. Although the Hayashi and others patent incorporates discontinuous reinforcement ribs, these are located directly above and below the vacuum panels at locations that do not provide significant reinforcement. A commercially convenient hot-melt, blow molded, vacuum panel container is one that provides convenient reinforcement in connection with a maximum area for the application of the label adhesive.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION With the foregoing, a fundamental object of the present invention is to provide a container molded by blown. hot fill »that has contraction panels that are reinforced in such a way that also maximizes the areas available for the application of the adhesive for the label.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION More specifically. The present invention provides a blow molded plastic container. can be filled in calmly. improved. to contain a liquid initially filled and in a hot state and subsequently sealed, so that the cooling of the liquid creates a small volume in the container. The container has a base »a shoulder on top of the base, a neck that can be closed on the shoulder that allows the filling and discharging of the liquid, and a body that connects the base and the shoulder and defines a support section for the label. The label carrying section has a multitude of contraction panels separated from each other. identical, with a support located between the adjacent contraction panels. Each contraction panel is vertically elongated and has a predetermined width, and each support is vertically elongated and has a predetermined width. The improvement comprises an upper and a lower series of peripherally spaced ribs, separated at their ends by the support areas for labeling.

Each upper rib is located within the label support section and is centered above one of the supports. Each lower rib is located within the label support area and is centered below one of the supports. Each upper and lower rib has a length at least as large as the width of one of the supports, but does not extend completely above or below the narrow ends of the contraction panels. This arrangement provides support areas for labeling between the adjacent ribs at the ends.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a vertical view of a container having reinforcement ribs according to the present invention; and Figure 2 is a vertical view of the container shown in Figure 1 rotated at 30 ° about a central vertical axis.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITY Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a blow molded plastic container 10 useful for containing beverages such as juice. The empty container 10 can be filled by processing equipment for hot filling, high speed, automated, known in the art. Processing for hot filling creates stress and strain on the structure of the container. For example, internal pressure is exerted on the container when the beverage is introduced into the container at high volumetric flow rates and the external pressure of cooling of the capped container results, filled with the product at a high temperature. The container 10 has many features in common with the known containers of shrink panels. For example, the container 10 has a base 12 and a shoulder 14 above the base 12. The shoulder 14 has a lockable neck 16 to allow the filling and unloading of a beverage. The container 10 has a body IB of generally circular cross-section connecting the shoulder 14 and the base 12. A label (not shown) can be applied to the container 10 for identification of the product and the source as well as for information purposes, promotion and advertising. For this purpose, the container 10 has an upper stop for label 22 and a lower stop for label 24 defining between them a support section for label 26. When applied, the label extends around the entire periphery of the container 10. and it is fixed with adhesives to the support section for label 26. To withstand the forces resulting from the hot filling processing. the body IB is provided with means for preventing undesired distortion of the container 10. For this purpose, a multitude of contraction panels 28 is located on the body IB to provide a controlled response to the pressures causing the container to deform towards in. As shown in the drawings, the container 10 has six identical shrink panels 2B uniformly spaced from each other around a periphery of the body 18. Each shrink panel 28 has an upper end 40 terminating at the upper corners 42 a lower end 44 ending in the lower corners 46. A series of vertically elongated supports 30 are located between the adjacent contraction panels 2B and separate them. Each support 30 has an "L" width. The contraction panels 2B and the supports 30 are located within the label support section 26 and are thus hidden from view after a label is applied to the container 10. Although the contraction panels 2B are intended to respond at the various pressures exerted on the container 10. the remaining structure of the container 10 must remain rigid and resist distortion. For this purpose, a series of short horizontal upper ribs 22 is provided to be rigid for the container 10 adjacent to the upper corners 42 or the contraction panels 2B. and a series of short horizontal short ribs 34 is provided to be rigid the adjacent lower corners of the container 10 of the contraction panels 2B. As shown in the drawings, the upper and lower ribs 32 and 34 are convex inwardly and aligned at their ends around the periphery of the container body IB to form a chain-like configuration. All the upper ribs 32 are located at the same elevation of the container and are separated at their ends, ie they do not touch or overlap. Simularly. all lower ribs 34 are located at the same elevation of the container and do not touch or overlap. The ends 32a and 32b of the ribs 32 adjacent at their ends are also up or inward at the upper corners 42 of the contraction panel 2Ba. As shown, each upper rib 32 and each lower rib 34 is centered above or below one of the supports 30 and within the 'support section for label 26. Since there are six contraction panels 28 there are six supports 30' six upper ribs 32, and six lower ribs 34. Each lower and upper rib 32 and 34 extends a distance at least as large as the width "L" of one of the supports 30. However, in order to ensure convenient separation between ends of the adjacent ribs. such as the ends 32a and 32b. each upper and lower rib 32 and 34 extends only above, or below. of the top corners 42 »or corners upper 46, of the contraction panels 28 and not especially the length of the upper ends 40. or the lower ends 44. of the contraction panels 2B. Preferably, all the ribs 32 and 34 are of the same length and, as a whole, occupy approximately half of the periphery of the container body. The short lengths of the upper and lower ribs 32 and 34 aid in the effective fixation of the label. This is because the areas 36 between the ends 32a and 32b of the adjacent upper ribs 32 provide separate, supplementary, soft areas for the application of adhesives in order to fix the labels. Likewise, the areas 38 between the ends of the adjacent lower ribs 34 provide soft areas for the application of adhesives. In view of the foregoing, it should be evident that the present invention now provides a hot-filled, blow-molded plastic container that is not only resistant to distortion, but also enhances the fixation of the label by providing areas for adhesive. tag conveniently located. Although a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail, various modifications, alterations and changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the appended indication.

Claims (2)

NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION CLAIMS

1. - In a hot meltable, blow molded plastic container (10) for containing a liquid initially filled in a hot state and subsequently sealed, so that liquid cooling creates a small volume in the container (10). having container (10) a base (12). a shoulder (14) above the base (12). a clamped neck (16) on the shoulder (14) allowing the filling and discharging of a liquid, a body (18) connecting the base 12 and the shoulder (14) and defining a support section for the label (26) ), the label support section (26) having a plurality of vertically elongated contraction panels (28) spaced apart from each other. identical, with an upper end (40) ending at the upper corners (42) and a lower end (44) ending at the lower corners (46). the adjacent contraction panels (28) being separated by a vertically elongated support (30) located between them, each support (30) having an "L" width, the improvement comprising: an upper and a lower series of peripherally separated short ribs (32, 34), each of said ribs (32) being located within the label support section (26) and centered above one of the supports (30), and each of said lower ribs (34) being located within the support area for label (26) and centered from under one of the supports (30); each of said upper ribs (32) being aligned on the ends »a length extending at least as large as the width tL" of one of the supports (3) and ending at a predetermined distance from the adjacent upper ribs (32). ), each one being aligned with said lower ribs (34) on the end, a length extending at least as large as the width "L" of one of the supports (30), and ending at a predetermined distance from the costs. adjacent bottoms (34), and said ribs (32, 34) being located in relation to said supports (30) and contraction panel corners (4

2. 46) to provide convenient reinforcement adjacent said contraction panels (28) and to provide supplementary smooth areas for receiving the label fixing adhesive above and below said contraction panels (28).