Bottles and jars – Sidewall structure – Contoured sidewall
Reexamination Certificate
1998-05-19
2001-05-01
Weaver, Sue A. (Department: 3727)
Bottles and jars
Sidewall structure
Contoured sidewall
C215S381000, C215S383000, C220S669000, C220S675000, C220S771000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06223920
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a hot-fillable, blow molded plastic container. More particularly, the invention relates to containers of the above variety having a panel section resisting undesirable deformation and operating as both a vacuum panel, to accommodate reductions in product volume during cooling of the hot filled product, and a pinch-grip, for ease of handling.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Hot-fillable plastic containers have become commonplace for the package of products (e.g., juices) which must be filled into the container while hot to provide for adequate sterilization. During filing, the product is typically dispensed into the container while at a temperature of 180° F. and above. Such a container is known as a “hot-fill”. After filling, the container is sealed or capped and, as the product cools, a negative internal pressure forms within the sealed container. If not properly designed, the negative internal pressure will cause the container to deform in unacceptable ways, both from an aesthetic and a performance perspective.
Biaxially-oriented polyethylene terephthalate (PET) containers have long been used to receive the hot-filled product with a resulting minimal amount of distortion in the container after cooling. To accommodate the shrinkage and negative internal pressure, the most often employed method is the incorporation of a plurality of recessed vacuum panels into the body portion of the container. The vacuum panels are designed so that as the product cools, they will deform and move inwardly. In one style of container having vacuum panels, the vacuum panels are equidistantly spaced around the body of the container and separated by land portions. A wrap around label is then used to cover all of the vacuum panels and provide the container with an aesthetically pleasing look.
A major problem with containers of the above mentioned vacuum panel design is that they are not easily handled by the end consumer, particularly in 48 oz., 64 oz. and larger varieties.
Plastic containers having specifically designed gripping areas, hereinafter referred to as pinch-grips, were originally seen in containers for “cold-fill” applications. Not being specifically designed for receiving a hot-fill product, those containers, which did not include vacuum panels, could not accommodate the hot-filling procedure or the decrease in internal pressure which occurs in a hot-fill application.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,141,120 and 5,141,121, both to Brown et al., are believed to be the first patents which disclose vacuum panels and pinch-grips in combination in a hot-fill container. More particularly, these patents illustrate and describe the incorporation of the vacuum panels and the pinch-grips together into a common vacuum/pinch-grip (VPG) panel of the container.
Since the Brown patents issued, other containers have also adopted the VPG panel construction. Examples of such patents include U.S. Design Pat. No. 334,457 and U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,392,937; 5,472,105 and 5,598,941.
By providing a container with pinch-grips, the use of wrap around labels (as described above) yielded to the use of spot labels in the front and rear of the container. The use of spot labels, however, decreases the overall labeling area of the container. From a bottler's perspective this is undesirable. By combining the pinch-grips and vacuum panels into a common panel as done in the above referenced patents, the front and rear label areas can be provided in such a manner that eliminates the need for vacuum panels beneath the label. Instead of vacuum panels, horizontal stiffening ribs are often provided in these label panels for reinforcement and to ensure that distortion will not occur as a result of the decrease in internal pressure during cooling of the product.
When properly designed, the VPG panels will move inwardly as the container's internal pressure decreases and the product cools. The VPG panels have been seen to generally eliminate significant deformation in the container outside of the VPG panel area as a result of the internal pressures acting upon the container. However, the internal pressure acting on the VPG panels themselves have been seen to cause creases, distortions and other deformations. This is unintended and aesthetically undesirable.
In view of the above and other limitations, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a VPG panel structure which resists deformation and distortion during filing, cooling and subsequent handling of the container.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a hot-fillable, blow molded plastic container having a VPG panel structure which resists deformation and distortion during filing, cooling and subsequent handling of the container.
A further object of this invention is to provide a container with improved top load characteristics in its shoulder region.
Still another object of this invention is to provide a container with increased labeling capabilities relative to other containers with spot labels.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In achieving the above and other objects, the present invention provides a hot-fillable, blow molded plastic container suited for receiving a product which is initially filled in a hot state, the container subsequently being sealed so that cooling of the product creates a reduced volume of product and a reduced pressure within the container. This is achieved through implementation of a novel VPG panel structure in the sidewall of the container. Another aspect of the invention is that the container has increased top load capabilities and also provides for increased labeling on the container. This is achieved through the geometry of the shoulder of the container.
The shoulder portion of the present container includes a first conical section, which, at its greatest diameter, merges with a shoulder label section. The shoulder label section defines a substantially vertical wall portion around the shoulder portion of the container. Between the shoulder label section and the body of the container is a second conical section. This second conical section increases the diameter of the container out to its maximum diameter. A recessed groove connects the shoulder label section with the second conical section. The recessed groove is distinctively identified on the container as defining a diameter which is less than the diameter defined by the shoulder label section and the maximum diameter defined by the second conical section.
A VPG panels according to the present invention includes four primary components in its construction. Provided across both the top and bottom of the VPG panel are vacuum ribs. The ribs extend across the width of the VPG panel and when viewed in horizontal cross-section the ribs are seen to be coaxial or concentric with the container and set inward relative to the maximum diameter of the container. Extending between the vacuum ribs of each VPG panel is a grip portion and an intermediate panel. The grip portion and the intermediate panel are join by an axial transition wall. The grip portion defines a region which is recessed to the interior of the container greater than that of the intermediate panel and the vacuum ribs.
The three tiered relative heights of the VPG panel structures provide the VPG panel with three components that operate independently, but in conjunction with one another, to accommodate the reduced internal pressure of the container. Each of these structures generally pivots inwardly of the container, about an adjacent hinge portion located generally around the perimeter of the VPG panel, to eliminate unwanted distortion across the VPG panel and other portions of the container.
The front and rear label panels are separated by the VPG panels.
Additional objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to a person skilled in the art after consideration of the following description, taken in conjunction with the appended claims and figures.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4749092 (1988-06-01), Sugi
Blystone Mark O.
Brown Christopher A.
Lane Michael T.
Harness & Dickey & Pierce P.L.C.
Sclimalbach-Lubeca, AG
Weaver Sue A.
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