RU2578118C2 - Stackable container with upper notch - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: packaging industry.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to containers, in particular to beer kegs. The container comprises a container body and an upper notch formed with a peripheral skirt (24) and an integral continuous peripheral handle (20). The container body has a side wall (10), an upper wall (11) which is received in the notch, and a lower wall (13). The lower wall (13) of the container is formed with ridges (14) extending outwardly from the central area (16). The ridges have the shape for stable bearing of the container on the flat surface and for engagement of the recessed area (26, 28) of the upper notch, when one such container is mounted in a stack to another in use.

EFFECT: invention enables to reduce manufacturing costs while maintaining a low probability of damage to the container.

7 cl, 4 dwg

Description

FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY

The present invention relates to containers, in particular kegs, configured to store beverages, such as beer, or fruit juices, or other liquids.

BACKGROUND

Kegs for storing drinks such as beer are traditionally made of metal. After use, the keg is cleaned and refilled, so that the keg can be used many times during its service life. More and more often, kegs are used to transport their contents over long distances, sometimes between continents, and transportation costs make it unprofitable to return kegs for reuse. It is also necessary to take into account the costs associated with environmental protection when transporting heavy containers over long distances and when disposing of containers for the manufacture of which a large amount of energy is consumed. Therefore, it becomes more common to manufacture containers from lightweight, inexpensive materials, such as plastics, which are cheaper to manufacture and transport.

Kegs typically have upper and lower chunks attached to opposite ends of the container body. The upper chime provides handles for manipulating kegs, and the lower chime provides a stable base on which the keg can stand. The chants also provide protection for the container body, where it is easy to dent or damage it, in particular if the container is moved by rolling on its side.

In plastic kegs, chimes are usually made by injection molding, and the container body is made by blow molding. Injection molded chimes are durable and able to perform the same function as metal chimes. In addition, the upper and lower chimes can be configured to mesh with each other so that the kegs can be securely placed in a stack during storage and transportation. However, the manufacture of these chimes requires relatively expensive injection molding means and significantly increases the cost.

The aim of the present invention is to provide a new design of a keg or similar container, which can be manufactured with less cost and energy consumption, which allows easy handling with a low probability of damage and which can be installed in a stable position, either alone or in a stack with others like kegs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a container that comprises a container body and an upper chime formed with a peripheral skirt and an integral (integral) continuous peripheral handle, the container body having a side wall, an upper wall which is received in the chime, and a lower wall, the lower wall of the container is formed with ridges extending outward from the central region and configured to provide a stable support of the container on a flat surface and to engage the deep region top one when one such container is stacked on top of another in use.

To ensure proper positioning relative to the top one of another such container, the ridges preferably comprise at least one leg-like protrusion that engages in a recessed area. A recessed region may be formed on the outer periphery of the morning or inside relative to its outer periphery.

The deepest portions of the grooves formed between the ridges are preferably combined to form a domed region of the lower wall that extends into the side wall. This configuration allows the bottom wall of the container to withstand the internal gas pressure with little or no outward deformation.

Crests and protrusions can be formed by simple pressing or molding, requiring a minimum amount of additional material. The contents of the container create an internal pressure acting on the bottom wall, which in a preferred embodiment has a high resistance to deformation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following description and the annexed drawings are given by way of non-limiting example to illustrate a possible implementation of the invention in practice.

Figure 1 is a side view of two stacked kegs according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a partial view in axial section through the lower ridges on an enlarged scale installed in a stack of kegs.

Figure 3 is a view in axial section through the bottom of one of the kegs between the lower ridges.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of kegs of another construction according to the invention, stacked on top of each other.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The drawings show two identical containers in the form of kegs for storing a beverage under pressure, such as beer, which are stacked on top of each other. Kegs can be made of plastic or other recyclable materials. As shown in FIG. 1, each keg contains a keg body 1 and an upper chime 2, which comprises a valve device (not shown).

Figure 2 shows an axial sectional view of the lower part of the upper keg, which rests on the upper part of the lower keg. The body 1 of each keg is made in one piece, for example, by blow molding and contains a cylindrical side wall 10, a domed upper wall 11 including a central neck 12, and a lower wall 13. A valve device 4 having an outlet tube 5 is installed in the neck 12 , which extends to the bottom of the keg, providing the ability to withdraw fluid under pressure from the bottom of the keg. When the corresponding fitting is not connected to the valve device, it is closed due to the action of the spring in a known manner in order to tightly hold the liquid under pressure inside the container. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, six ribs 14 are formed on the lower wall 13 by molding and extend radially outward from the central region 16, thereby making the lower wall a petal-shaped configuration (similar to flower petals). As shown in FIG. 3, the deepest portions of the grooves formed between the ridges 14 converge in the central region 16 in such a way that they are combined to form a continuous domed region 15, which smoothly passes into the cylindrical side wall 10. This configuration provides the bottom wall of the keg the ability to withstand internal gas pressures with a slight deformation to the outside or without it. The outer end of each ridge 14 comprises an integral downward projection 17, forming six integral legs, which are configured to support the keg stably on a flat surface.

The upper chime 3 is made in one piece by injection molding and contains an annular handle 20 connected to the central hub 21 by means of radial spokes 22. The handle 20 also has axially extending gutter-shaped elements 23 that connect the handle to the peripheral skirt 24, which tightly mounted on the upper end of the body 1 keg. The handle 20 is made in the form of a continuous open upward double trough containing the lower wall 25, two vertical middle and inner walls 26 and 27, and a shorter vertical outer wall 28 forming an external stepped recess between the outer wall 28 and the adjacent inner wall 26. Upper chime 3 can be attached to the keg body via a peripheral skirt 24 and can also be held in place by a valve device 4.

When the keg is full, its contents apply outward pressure to the petal-shaped bottom wall 13, which is opposed by the domed region 15. Internal pressure is also applied to the inner ridges 14 and leg-like protrusions 17 to ensure that the ridges and protrusions will remain stiff and provide a stable, solid support. for a filled keg. When one keg is stacked on top of the other, the middle and inner walls 26 and 27 of the handle 20 provide strong support for the radial ribs 14, and the protrusions 17 are located inside the outer recess formed by the walls 26 and 28, determining the position in the radial direction of the upper keg relative to the middle wall 26.

Obviously, although it is preferable to have six ribs and leg-like protrusions, since this number provides the greatest strength and stability, it is also possible to use more or less of them.

The configuration of the base wall, shown in Fig.1-3, provides a maximum distance between the protrusions 17 and provides a high level of stability of the keg with contents under pressure when it is on a flat surface. Figure 4 shows an alternative construction in which the leg-like protrusions 30 are formed on a part of the length of the lower ribs 14, so that they are located inside the central recessed region of the upper chime 2, which is limited by the inner wall 27 of the handle 20. Although this keg may be slightly less stable, when it is standing on a flat surface, when protrusions are formed, the plastic will stretch less during blow molding, and thereby the risk of weakened areas in the container body wall can be reduced.

Although the above description focuses on areas that are new and relate to specific identified problems, it is understood that the features disclosed herein may be used in any combination, provided that novelty and useful progress in this technical field are ensured.

Claims (7)

1. A container comprising a container body (1) and an upper chime (2) formed with a peripheral skirt (24) and an integral continuous peripheral handle (20), the container body having a side wall (10), an upper wall (11), which taken inside the morning, and the bottom wall (13),
characterized in that the bottom wall (13) of the container is formed with ridges (14) extending outward from the central region (16), the ridges having a shape for stably supporting the container on a flat surface and for engaging a recessed region (26, 28) of the upper chime, when one such container is stacked on top of another in use. 2. The container according to claim 1, in which the ridges (14) contain leg-like protrusions (17, 30), which mesh inside the recessed region (26, 28, 27). 3. The container according to claim 2, in which the protrusions (17) are located inside the recessed region, which is formed on the outer periphery (20) of the morning. 4. The container according to claim 3, in which the recessed region (17) is limited by the handle (20) of the morning. 5. The container according to claim 2, in which the leg-like protrusions (30) are located inside the recessed region (27), which is located inward from the outer periphery of the morning. 6. The container according to claim 5, in which the recessed region (30) is limited by the handle (20) of the morning. 7. The container according to claim 1, in which grooves are formed between the ridges (14), which combine to form an outwardly domed region (15) of the lower wall, which passes into the side wall (10).

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