Bottles and jars – Sidewall structure – Contoured sidewall
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-11
2001-07-24
Weaver, Sue A. (Department: 3727)
Bottles and jars
Sidewall structure
Contoured sidewall
C215S382000, C215S383000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06264053
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to a plastic blow molded bottle that can be easily handled and also can be hot filled.
BACKGROUND ART
Plastic blow molded bottles conventionally include a body portion that extends between a lower base and an upper dispensing end. In order to facilitate manual handling, such bottles have previously included inwardly extending hand grips and have also had these grips constructed to include ribs that provide strengthening. Examples of such bottles are disclosed by United States Patents Des. 196,389, Mason et al.; Des.277,551, Kerr; Des. 278,978, Franchi et al.; Des. 279,167, Haney et al.; Des. 282,349, Larson et al.; Des. 319,584, Biesecker; Des. 332,051, Kinslow, Jr. et al.; Des. 352,248, Krishnakumar et al.; Des. 370,634, Mero et al.; Des. 376,319, Miller; Des. 383,067, Gower et al.; Des. 386,418, Edstrom et al.; Des. 387,672, U.S. Pat. Nos: Biesecker; 1,636,174, Dolan et al.; 4,890,752, Ota et al.; 4,993,565, Ota et al.; 5,141,120, Brown et al.; 5,141,121, Brown et al.; 5,148,930, Ota et al.; 5,156,557, Okafuji et al.; 5,199,587 Ota et al.; 5,472,105, Krishnakumar et al.; 5,579,937, Valyi; 5,598,941, Semersky et al.; 5,732,838, Young; and 5,758,790, Ewing, Jr.
Plastic blow molded bottles have also previously included panels that flex inwardly and outwardly to accommodate for volume changes such as disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 5,690,244, Darr. Such flexing allows the bottle to be hot filled and sealed without changing its overall appearance upon the contraction that accompanies cooling.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide an improved plastic blow molded bottle that can be easily handled and also has the capability of flexing to accommodate the contraction that follows hot filling and sealing of the bottle as its contents are cooled.
In carrying out the above object, a plastic blow molded bottle constructed in accordance with the invention includes a lower base for supporting the bottle in an upstanding manner on a horizontal support surface. An upper dispensing end of the bottle includes a shoulder and a dispensing opening from which the shoulder extends outwardly from a vertically extending central axis of the bottle. A body portion of the bottle extends vertically between the lower base and the upper dispensing end. This body portion includes a pair of inwardly extending hand grips that are spaced from each other circumferentially around the central axis. Each hand grip extends vertically and has a lower end located adjacent the lower base and an upper open end located adjacent the upper dispensing end. Each hand grip includes a plurality of vertical ribs that extend vertically the entire height thereof between the lower end thereof adjacent the lower base and the upper open end thereof adjacent the shoulder of the upper dispensing end. The vertical ribs of each hand grip are contiguous with each other to allow flexing that accommodates for different internal volumes of the bottle.
The manner in which the hand grips have upper open ends adjacent the upper dispensing end and the contiguous vertical ribs that extend the entire height of the hand grips allows the flexing that accommodates for different internal volumes of the bottle and thereby permits it to flex for contraction upon cooling that follows hot filling as well as providing a convenient hand grip for grasping of the bottle.
In the preferred construction of the plastic blow molded bottle, the body portion has a generally round shape extending about the central axis with the pair of hand grips extending inwardly from its generally round shape.
One embodiment of the bottle has the hand grips provided with lower closed ends.
In another embodiment, the hand grips have lower closed ends and the lower base includes lower rib extensions that extend downwardly from the ribs of the pair of hand grips. In addition, the shoulder of the upper dispensing end of this embodiment includes upper rib extensions that extend upwardly from the ribs of the pair of hand grips. This embodiment also has the body portion provided with additional vertically extending ribs that are contiguous with each other between the hand grips. Furthermore, the lower base of this embodiment includes lower rib extensions that extend downwardly from the additional vertically extending ribs of the body portion. Also, the shoulder of the upper dispensing end of this embodiment includes upper rib extensions that extend upwardly from the additional vertically extending ribs of the body portion.
A further embodiment of the bottle has the hand grips provided with lower open ends adjacent the lower base.
The objects, features and advantages of the present invention are readily apparent from the following detailed description of the best mode for carrying out the invention when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: D. 196389 (1963-09-01), Mason et al.
patent: D. 218018 (1970-07-01), Lattraye
patent: D. 277551 (1985-02-01), Kerr
patent: D. 278978 (1985-05-01), Franchi et al.
patent: D. 279167 (1985-06-01), Haney et al.
patent: D. 282349 (1986-01-01), Larson et al.
patent: D. 319584 (1991-09-01), Biesecker
patent: D. 332051 (1992-12-01), Kinslow, Jr. et al.
patent: D. 352245 (1994-11-01), Krishnakumar et al.
patent: D. 370634 (1996-06-01), Mero et al.
patent: D. 376319 (1996-12-01), Miller
patent: D. 383067 (1997-09-01), Gower et al.
patent: D. 386418 (1997-11-01), Edstrom et al.
patent: D. 387672 (1997-12-01), Biesecker
patent: D. 393210 (1998-04-01), Ewing, Jr.
patent: 1636174 (1927-07-01), Dolan et al.
patent: 4890752 (1990-01-01), Ota et al.
patent: 4993565 (1991-02-01), Ota et al.
patent: 5141120 (1992-08-01), Brown et al.
patent: 5141121 (1992-08-01), Brown et al.
patent: 5148930 (1992-09-01), Ota et al.
patent: 5156557 (1992-10-01), Okafuji et al.
patent: 5199587 (1993-04-01), Ota et al.
patent: 5472105 (1995-12-01), Krishnakumar et al.
patent: 5579937 (1996-12-01), Valyi
patent: 5598941 (1997-02-01), Semersky et al.
patent: 5690244 (1997-11-01), Darr
patent: 5732838 (1998-03-01), Young
patent: 5758790 (1998-06-01), Ewing, Jr.
patent: 6029837 (2000-02-01), Slat et al.
Brooks & Kushman P.C.
Plastipak Packaging, Inc.
Weaver Sue A.
LandOfFree
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