WO1998009873A1

WO1998009873A1 - Non-rocking, webbed container for carbonated beverages

Info

Publication number: WO1998009873A1
Application number: PCT/US1997/015868
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kevin D. Gaydosh; David A. Deemer
Original assignee: Schmalbach-Lubeca Ag
Priority date: 1996-09-09
Filing date: 1997-09-09
Publication date: 1998-03-12
Also published as: CA2265546A1; BR9712811A; AU4336497A; EP0944529A1; AR008175A1

Abstract

A blow molded plastic container (10) including a neck finish (12), a shoulder portion (14), a sidewall (16), an interior, and a base (14) all integrally formed with one another. Two indentations (20) in the sidewall (16) create a handgrip and a web (26) extends generally across the interior of the blow molded container (10) between said two indentations (20). A plurality of generally downwardly extending support feet (30) include two short feet (30A, 30D) and four long feet (30B, 30C, 30E, 30F), the height being measured from a horizontal datum. Separating the support feet (30) are a plurality of first and second trap formations (32). The short feet, which are located at ninety-degrees relative to the web (26), and the long feet decrease in height as the container is cooled after molding. When placed under pressure, the feet (30) move in different manners but retain approximately the same height resulting in a container having a stable base.

Description

NON-ROCKING, WEBBED CONTAINER FOR CARBONATED BEVERAGES

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1 Field of the Invention The present invention relates to plastic containers for beverages More specifically, containers to which the present invention will have particular application include carbonated beverage containers having a support web extending across the interior of the container and having a footed base structure Such containers are often formed from polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyolefin, polyethylene napthalate (PEN) or other suitable materials 2 Description of the Prior Art

Generally, carbonated beverage containers are formed from an injection or extrusion molded preform which is blow molded within a blow mold into the desired configuration The container includes a neck finish (which also defines the opening into the container and which includes threads for retaining a closure cap on a container), a shoulder portion extending downward from the neck finish, a base which closes off the bottom of the container and a sidewall or body extending between the shoulder portion and the base The base can be provided in a variety of styles One style is a champagne base configuration This style has an inwardly directed, conical portion which also defines a support ring around the base Another style is a footed base configuration with two or more feet

While carbonated beverage containers come in a wide variety of sizes, one of the more popular sizes is the common two liter bottle This container is preferred by the public because of the convenience and the economy which it provides to the end consumer Because these containers have a relatively large diameter, they have proven awkward during handling and pouring, especially for individuals with small hands This problem is further compounded when the container has yet to be opened In that situation the internal pressure of the container causes an outward bulging in the container sidewall further increasing the container's diameter

In an attempt to alleviate the above problem, it has been proposed to form a carbonated beverage container having recesses or depressions in its sidewall to form a handgrip U S Patent No 5,398,828 discloses one such container and is herein incorporated by reference The container of that patent is formed with two generally opposed depressions in its sidewall and the depressions operate as a handgrip for the container To prevent the everting of the handgrips, an internal supporting structure was incorporated into the container This support is in the form of a web or wall extending across the diameter of the container between the handgrips

While the web works in allowing the container to be formed with handgrips, it has been found that the base of such a container, particularly when filled, capped and pressurized, causes the container to "rock" or "wobble" when the container is placed on a flat support surface While not completely and fully understood, it is believed that the incorporation of the web into the container has an effect on providing support to the feet located adjacent to the web As a result, when the container is pressurized, the outboard feet (those feet not adjacent to the web) in a manner different from those feet adjacent to the web causing the rocking problem The rocking problem is particularly noted when the container is provided with a footed base, as is currently standard practice in the industry

In view of the foregoing limitations and shortcomings of the prior art devices, as well as other disadvantages not specifically mentioned above, it should be apparent that there still exists a need in the art for an improved carbonated beverage container of the above variety It is therefore a primary object of this invention to fulfill that need by providing a footed, carbonated beverage container which resists rocking of the container before and after pressunzation

Another object of the present invention is to provide a carbonated beverage container having handgrips and which resists rocking of the container before and after pressunzation of the container

Additional benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present invention relates from the subsequent description of the preferred embodiment and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG 1 is a side elevational view of a container embodying the principles of the present invention and illustrating only two of the feet in the base of the container,

FIG 2 is a side elevational view of the container seen in FIG 1 with the container rotated 90° to the left and illustrating two of the feet in the base of the container,

FIG 3 is a bottom view of the footed base of the container seen in FIG 1 , FIG 4 is a diagrammatic sectional view of the lower portion of the container seen in FIG 1 , and FIG 5 is a diagrammatic sectional view of the lower portion of the container seen in FIG 2

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Briefly described, the above and other objects are accomplished according to the present invention by providing a carbonated beverage container 10 which is formed into the configuration generally seen in FIGS 1 and 2 Located at the top of the container 10 is a neck finish 12 which defines the opening 13 into the interior of the container 10 The finish 12 is threaded and permits the engagement of a closure cap (not shown) with the container 10 Integrally formed with the neck finish 12 and extending downward therefrom is a shoulder portion 14 which merges into the sidewall or body 16 of the container 10 At the lower end of the sidewall 16 is an integrally formed base 18 that closes off the bottom of the container 10 The sidewall 16 of the container 10 is formed with a pair of generally opposed indentations or recesses 20 The recesses 20 are designed to form handgrip areas 28 in the sidewall 16 of the container 10 and they also divide the sidewall 16 of the container 10 into front lobe 22 and rear lobe 24 In order to structurally support the handgrips 28, a web 26 extends generally across the interior of the container 10, between the recesses 20 The web 26 also extends from the base 18 of the container 10 up to approximately the upper portion of the recesses 20 The web 26 is perhaps best seen in FIGS 2, 3 and 4

As a result of the incorporation of the web 26 into the container 10, the base 18 of the container 10 operates, both during and after molding, in a manner which differs from non-webbed containers As a result, it has been found that when a webbed container is filled with a product, capped and pressurized, the resulting base of the container is uneven and the container rocks on the base

To alleviate the rocking problem, the present invention incorporates two different strategies First, the feet 30 on the base 18 are not all initially molded with the same height. Second, the profile of the straps 32, those portions which extend between adjacent feet 30, is not the same for all the straps 32 in the container 10 Each of these are further discussed below

As seen in FIG 3, the preferred embodiment of the present container 10 incorporates a six footed base design with three feet being located on the opposing sides of a plane 34 defined axially through the container 10 by the web 26. The feet are designated as foot 30A through foot 30F, with foot 30A and foot 30D being located at 90° relative to the web 26 Also for reference, it is noted that foot 30A, foot 30B, and foot 30F are located on one side of the web 26, while foot 30C, foot 30D, and foot 30E are located on the opposing side of the web 26 Located between each adjacent foot 30 are the straps 32 mentioned above The straps 32 are designated as straps 32A through 32F with straps 32B and 32E corresponding with the web 26 In order to solve the rocking problem discussed above, the blow mold in which the container 10 was formed was tooled so that the container cavity defines feet of differing lengths In the specifically illustrated embodiment, the feet located at 90° relative to the web 26, foot 30A and foot 30D, are formed to be shorter than the remaining feet, feet 30B, 30C, 30E, and 30F Accordingly, foot 30A and foot 30D can be referred to as the short feet while feet 30B, 30C, 30E, and 30F can be referred to as the long feet As illustrated in the figures, the particular container illustrated therein is a 2 liter container weighing approximately 58 grams The height X of the short feet relative to a horizontal datum 36 drawn through the container is 3844 mm The height Y of the tall feet relative to the datum is 38 68 mm Accordingly, it can be seen that the short feet have a length which is approximately 0 24 mm less than the tall feet It should be noted that while specific dimensions are being recited herein, these dimensions may necessarily vary and be greater or less than the above dimension depending on the specific design and size of the container However, the general principles discussed herein will apply equally as well to those other containers Accordingly, a greater or lesser height difference and overall height for the feet 30 could be used in containers of the same size, in containers of differing sizes and containers of differing designs

In addition to the different foot heights of the present container 10, the container 10 is also constructed with straps 32 of varying configurations and profiles More specifically, the straps (Straps 32 B and 32E) between the adjacent tall feet (30B and 30C, 30E and 30F) differ in their configuration from the configuration of the straps( Straps 32F, 32A, 32C, and 32D) located between the tall and short feet (30F and 30A, 30A and 30B, 30C and 30D, 30D and 30E) Referring to the strap designations, straps 32B and 32E are configured with the same profile as generally seen in FIG 5 Straps 32A, 32C, 32D, and 32F are configured with the same profile as seen in FIG 4 It is noted that in both FIGS 4 and 5, the cross section through the container 10 shows both the straps 32 and the feet 30 For a reduction in the number of drawings, these cross sections are accordingly illustrated as composites in these figures

The configuration of all of the straps 32 is similar to the extent that an upper portion 38 of the straps 32, that portion closest to the sidewall 16 of the container 10, is generally planar while a lower portion 40 of the straps 32 is defined by a radius of curvature In the illustrated embodiment, the upper portion of straps 32A, 32 F, 32C and 32D is provided with an angularity that, when measured from a generally vertical line 42, is inclined at approximately 45° The upper portions of straps 32B and 32E can be seen to have an angularity of approximately 31 ° Accordingly, the straps 32A, 32F, 32C, and 32D are closer to horizontal than straps 32B and 32E Furthermore, the radius of curvature for straps 32A, 32F, 32C, and 32D is less than the radius of curvature for straps 32B and 32E These are respectfully illustrated as being 58 9 mm and 84 14 mm A difference of about 2524 mm From this it is seen that the straps 32B and 32E, which correspond with the web 26 are generally flatter in their lower portions 40 and generally steeper in their upper portions 38 than straps 32A, 32F, 32C and 32D

As with the prior discussion regarding the height of the feet 30, the specifically recited dimensions of the strap 32 profiles are those for the particular container 10 illustrated in the figures Variations in container size and shape are anticipated to result in necessary changes in these dimensions Such changes, however, are well within the purview of this invention After molding as described above, during cooling and prior to filling, the web 26 shrinks and pulls the adjacent four feet 30B, 30C, 30E and 30F upward so that they exhibit a length generally corresponding to feet 30A and 30D After filling, capping and pressurizing, it has been found that the short feet 30A and 30D and the long feet 30B, 30C, 30E and 30F effectively undergo different movement as a result of pressunzation and non-symmetrical bulging in the sidewall 16 caused by the presence of the web 26 When provided with strap profiles of the same configuration, the result is feet having differing heights for the feet 30 and a rocking container By configuring the feet 30 and straps 32 as described above, the bulging of the sidewall 16 and movement of the feet 30 is controlled so as to produce a pressurized container 10 whose feet 30 all exhibit substantially the same height even though undergoing different movements, enabling the container 10 to resist rocking Since rocking is resisted both before and after filling, the benefits of the present construction are seen by not only during the sue by the end consumer, but also during the transporting, labeling, filling and manufacturing of the container

While six feet 30 are illustrated in the preferred embodiment, it should be understood that a lesser number or a greater number of feet could also be utilized While it is believed that an even number of feet is preferred, in the appropriate context an odd number of feet might also be employed At a minimum, however, a container 10 embodying the principles of the present invention would incorporate at least two feet, one located on each side of the web 26 In such a two footed design, the height of each foot would vary over its width

While the above description constitutes the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible to modification, variation and change without departing from the proper scope and fair meaning of the accompanying claims

Claims

CLAIMS We claim

1 A blow molded plastic container comprising a neck finish, a shoulder portion, a sidewall, and a base all integrally formed with one another, a plurality of generally downwardly extending support feet formed at spaced apart locations circumferentially around said base, at least one of said support feet having a first height and a plurality of said support feet having a second height, said first and second heights being measured from a horizontal datum through said container and said first height being less than said second height

2 The container of claim 1 wherein said support feet having said second height decrease in height when said container is cooled after molding

3 The container of claim 1 wherein said support feet having said second height decrease in height to approximately said first height when said container is cooled after molding

4 The container of claim 1 wherein said container includes at least two support feet having said first height

5 The container of claim 4 wherein said two support feet are located on said base generally opposed from one another

6 The container of claim 1 wherein said container includes at least four support feet having said second height and at least two support feet having said first height

7 The container of claim 6 wherein two of said four support feet having said second height are on opposing sides of a vertical plane defined by said two support feet having said first height

8 The container of claim 1 further comprising a web located within said container extending between opposing portions of said sidewall

9 The container of claim 8 wherein said support feet having said first height are located generally 90° from a plane defined by said web

10 A blow molded plastic container comprising a neck finish, a shoulder portion, a sidewall and a base all integrally formed with one another and generally defining an interior cavity of said container, a plurality of downwardly extending support feet located at spaced apart locations circumferentially about said base, a web extending generally across said interior cavity between opposing portions of said sidewall, anti-rocking means for preventing rocking of said container on said support feet when said container is cooled and when said container is pressurized

11 The container of claim 10 further comprising at least two indentations protruding inward into said cavity from said sidewall forming handgrips whereby said container can be easily grasped

12 The container of claim 11 wherein said web extends up from said base to approximately upper portions of said indentations

13 The container of claim 10 wherein said anti-rocking means includes two support feet having said first height, said two support feet being located at ninety-degrees relative to said web

14 The container of claim 10 wherein said support feet having said second height are located adjacent to said web

15 The container of claim 10 wherein said support feet having said second height decrease in height when said container is cooled after molding

16 The container of claim 10 wherein said support feet having said second height decrease in height to approximately said first height when said container is cooled after molding

17 The container of claim 10 wherein adjacent ones of said support feet are separated by strap formations, said strap formations defining profiles in vertical cross section, at least one of said strap formations defining a first profile and others of said strap formations defining a second profile, said first profile being different from said second profile

18 The container of claim 17 wherein two of said strap formation have said first profile and are generally vertically aligned with said web

19 The container of claim 17 wherein said profiles include a generally planar upper portion and a generally semi-circular lower portion

20 The container of claim 19 wherein said upper portion of said strap formation having said first profile defines an angle A with respect to vertical and said upper portion of said strap formations having said second profile defines an angle B with respect to vertical, said angle A being less than said angle B

21 The container of claim 20 wherein said angle A is less than 45° 22 The container of claim 20 wherein said angle A is less than 35°

23 The container of claim 20 wherein said angle A is about 31 °

24 The container of claim 20 wherein said angle B is greater than 31 °

25 The container of claim 20 wherein said angle B is greater than 40°

26 The container of claim 20 wherein said angle B is about 45°

27 The container of claim 19 wherein said semi-circular lower portion of said first profile defines a radius of curvature being greater than a radius of curvature defining said semi-circular lower portion of said second profiles

28 A blow molded plastic container comprising a neck finish, a shoulder portion, a sidewall, and a base all integrally formed with one another and generally defining an interior cavity of said container, said base including a plurality of generally downwardly extending support feet positioned circumferentially about said base, a strap formation defined between adjacent ones of said support feet, at least one of said strap formations defining a first profile and a plurality of said strap formations defining a second profile, said profiles being defined along a vertical plane and a second profile being different from said first profile

29 The container of claim 28 wherein said profiles defined by said strap formations have a generally planar upper portion and a semi-circular lower portion defined by a radius of curvature

30 The container of claim 29 wherein said upper portion of said strap formation having a first profile defines an angle A with respect to vertical and said upper portions of said strap formations having said second profile define an angle B with respect to vertical, said angle A being less than said angle B

31 The container of claim 30 wherein said angle A is less than 45°

32 The container of claim 30 wherein said angle A is less than 35°

33 The container of claim 30 wherein said angle A is about 31 °

34 The container of claim 30 wherein said angle B is greater than 31 °

35 The container of claim 30 wherein said angle B is greater than 40° 36 The container of claim 30 wherein said angle B is about 45°

37 The container of claim 29 wherein said semi-circular lower portion of said first profile defines a radius of curvature being greater than said semi-circular lower portion of said second profiles

38 The container of claim 28 further comprising a vertical web extending between opposing portions of said sidewall

39 The container of claim 28 wherein said opposing portions of said sidewall include indentations defined therein, said indentations defining a handgrip for grasping said container

40 The container of claim 28 wherein said strap formations having said first profile are aligned