Bottles and jars – Sidewall structure – Contoured sidewall
Patent
1998-11-04
2000-01-25
Castellano, Stephen
Bottles and jars
Sidewall structure
Contoured sidewall
215384, 220675, 220671, B65D 102
Patent
active
06016932&
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to thin walled containers for the storage of liquids. More particularly, this invention relates to blow molded, plastic containers capable of being filled with a liquid while the liquid is at a temperature elevated above the ambient temperature, configured to accommodate a partial vacuum formed within the container during cooling of the liquid after filling and capping, and configured to exhibit enhanced top load capabilities.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the past, plastic containers have been used to contain liquids that were initially filled while chilled or at ambient temperatures. However, in recent years, plastic containers have been developed which can be used to contain liquids, such as processed fruit juices and the like, which are pasteurized and must be filled into the container while still hot and near pasteurized. Containers of this type are generally known as "hot-fill" containers and have become well known. Examples are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,805,788 and 4,863,046.
Hot-fill conditions impose mechanical stresses on the container structure which differ from those stresses imposed during non-hot-fill applications. These additional mechanical stresses cause the material forming the container to be less resistant to deformation when hot-filling both during and after. When subjected to the stresses of hot filing, conventional containers deform or collapse.
Additional concerns during hot-filling include a decrease in container rigidity, which occurs immediately after hot-filling, and reduced internal pressures which develop as the volume of the liquid in the container shrinks during cooling. Obviously, containers intended for hot-fill applications must be able to withstand both the initial decrease in rigidity and the subsequent decrease in internal pressures, while maintaining a desirable aesthetic appearance.
Various structural configurations and process methodologies have been developed to alleviate the above concerns. Most often, the material forming the container is heat treated or "heat set" to produce a container having better thermal stability. Heat setting of the container generally increases the crystallinity of the container, without adversely affecting the container appearance, and increases the strength and durability of the container. Additionally, hot-fill containers are generally provided with structural panels in the container side wall in order to fully accommodate volumetric shrinkages as the liquid cools. The vacuum panels themselves collapse or flex inwardly to accommodate the liquid as it shrinks in response to cooling. This inwardly flexing of the vacuum panels, however, creates additional undesirable stress points, particularly in the comers of the panels.
Containers of the above type have exhibited a limited ability to withstand top loading during filling, capping and stacking for transporting of the containers. Overcoming these problems is important because it would decrease the likelihood of a container's top or shoulder being crushed, as well as inhibiting ovalization in this area. Obviously, it is important to be able to stack containers so as to maximize the use of shipping space. It also enhances the ability to lightweight the container.
One way to eliminate the concerns related to the above mentioned stress points is to increase the thickness of the container's side wall. Such an increase also increases the material cost for the container and the weight of the container, both of which are unacceptable. Instead of increasing the side wall thickness, other solutions have included providing ribs extending along the edges of the panels, providing horizontal ribs in the panels themselves, providing smaller panels in multiple rows around the container, and by providing circumferential reinforcement ribs at the upper and lower edges of the panels. While all of the above methods have worked satisfactorily to some extent, none of these methods significantly increased the top loading c
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Gaydosh Kevin D.
Lane Michael T.
Steih Richard J.
Castellano Stephen
Schmalbach-Lubeca AG
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