Bottles and jars – Sidewall structure – Contoured sidewall
Reexamination Certificate
2002-08-08
2004-12-07
Weaver, Sue A. (Department: 3727)
Bottles and jars
Sidewall structure
Contoured sidewall
C215S379000, C215S382000, C220S669000, C220S675000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06827228
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to decorative features (recessed bubbles) for carbonated beverage containers (e.g. bottles) made of a plastic and to methods and apparatus for producing such containers.
DEFINITIONS
“Plastic” is a polymerizable material that can be bi-axially oriented, e.g. polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP) and acrylonitrile (AN) suitable for use in containers for liquid under pressure e.g., carbonated beverages.
“PET” as used herein shall be construed as including all materials defined hereinbefore as “Plastic”.
“Bubble” as used herein is a circular, decorative feature formed by a deformation of the wall, which includes a shoulder, of a plastic container which does not extend outwardly (relative to the axis of the container) from the exterior surface of the container even when the container contains a liquid under pressure e.g. a carbonated beverage and is exposed to industry defined test procedures for such containers including exposure to stresses resulting from pressure and elevated temperatures during filling, packaging, distribution, sale and the end user actions.
“Circular” as used herein with respect to bubbles shall be construed to include ovals, ellipses, teardrops and other rounded shapes as well as circular shapes.
“Container” as used herein shall be construed to include plastic bottles.
“Frustum” as used herein shall be construed as a truncated hollow right circular cone in which the apex is replaced by a plane section parallel to the cone base and which has parallel inner and outer surfaces and shall be construed to include a hollow cylinder which has parallel inner and outer surfaces.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
PET for carbonated beverage containers has been used for many years. Many different shapes have been and are used to establish distinction between various brands of products. Some of these are decorative features formed in the surface of the container including ribs and swirls. Such decorative features may project inwardly and/or outwardly from the exterior surface of the container.
Generally CO
2
is used for carbonated soft drinks but other gases such as N
2
are also used to pressurize a plastic container. When the filled containers are exposed to typical service conditions especially higher than room temperature conditions, the pressure within the container increases while the plastic softens. This leads to creep (the plastic flows and distorts the container shape). One of the disadvantages of prior art decorative designs is that the PET will creep when exposed to excessive pressures and temperatures and many of the features will become distorted or even obliterated due to this creep. The desired distinctive features, particularly recessed features are then lost.
One attempt at producing a circular decorative feature is illustrated by the dimple
1
, shown in
FIG. 1
in an unpressurized state. In
FIG. 1
a container
2
defines a longitudinal axis
3
and a wall radius
4
. This dimple tends to invert and/or distort upon pressurization to a form such as that shown dashed in FIG.
1
. This invention can be avoided by providing a thickened wall in the region of the dimple. This is, however, an undesirable solution due to the significant increase in material costs resulting from the additional material used, particularly when there is a substantial plurality of such dimples forming a distinctive pattern on the bottle. Inversions of the dimple is particularly undesirable because of resulting handling problems, labeling problems and questions of aesthetic appearance.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a plastic container having at least one stable bubble, in a wall thereof, which does not extend outwardly from that wall especially when the container is pressurized e.g., by a carbonated beverage.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a blow mold design for producing a blow molded plastic container having at least one stable bubble, in a wall thereof, which does not extend outwardly from that wall.
Another object of the present invention to provide a method of producing a plastic container having at least one stable bubble, in a wall thereof, which does not extend outwardly from that wall.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention there is provided a bubble
6
formed in a wall
7
of a plastic container, the wall
7
defining an interior
14
of the container and having an interior surface
8
, an exterior surface
9
and a wall thickness
29
, the container being suitable for containing a liquid under pressure and the bubble comprising an integral structure having a central dome
10
defining a convex outer surface
11
facing toward an adjacent portion of the exterior surface
9
, an annular trough
18
connected with the central dome
10
, an outer ring
22
of curved cross-section and a first frustum
16
or
20
interconnected with the trough
18
and one of the central dome
10
and the outer ring
22
, the annular trough
18
having an annular concave surface facing the adjacent portion of the exterior surface
9
and the outer ring having an annular concave surface facing toward the interior
14
of the container, to join, integrally, the bubble to the container wall
7
surrounding the bubble, the bubble having a thickness about equal to the wall thickness
29
.
Preferably, the other of the central dome
10
and the outer ring
22
is connected to the trough
18
by way of a second frustum
16
.
Also according to the invention there is provided a plastic container suitable for containing a liquid under pressure, comprising at least one bubble
6
, formed in a wall
7
of the plastic container, the wall
7
defining an interior
14
of the container and having an interior surface
8
, an exterior surface
9
and a wall thickness
29
, the bubble comprising an integral structure having a central dome
10
defining a convex outer surface
11
facing toward an adjacent portion of the exterior surface
9
, an annular trough
18
connected with the central dome
10
, an outer ring
22
of curved cross-section and a first frustum
16
or
20
interconnected with the trough
18
and one of the central dome
10
and the outer ring
22
, the annular trough
18
having an annular concave surface facing the adjacent portion of the exterior surface
9
and the outer ring having an annular concave surface facing toward the interior
14
of the container, to join, integrally, the bubble to the container wall
7
surrounding the bubble, the bubble having a thickness about equal to the wall thickness
29
.
Preferably, the other of the central dome
10
and the outer ring
22
is connected to the trough
18
by way of a second frustum
16
.
In addition, the invention provides a blow mold for blow molding a plastic container for containing a liquid under pressure, comprising at least one bubble
6
formed in a wall
7
of the plastic container, the wall
7
defining an interior
14
of the container and having an interior surface
8
, an exterior surface
9
and a wall thickness
29
, the bubble comprising an integral structure having a central dome
10
defining a convex outer surface
11
facing toward an adjacent portion of the exterior surface
9
, an annular trough
18
connected with the central dome
10
, an outer ring
22
of curved cross-section and a first frustum
16
or
20
interconnected with the trough
18
and one of the central dome
10
and the outer ring
22
, the annular trough
18
having an annular concave surface facing the adjacent portion of the exterior surface
9
and the outer ring having an annular concave surface facing toward the interior
14
of the container, to join, integrally, the bubble to the container wall
7
surrounding the bubble, the bubble having a thickness about equal to the wall thickness
29
.
Preferably the other of the central dome
10
and the outer ring
22
is connected to the trough
18
by way of a second frustum
16
. Also preferably the blow mold comprises a first annular projection
48
having
Beck Martin H.
Connor Dennis
Curtiss Charles A.
Headen Cynthia Ann
Leslie Stuart
Davis & Bujold P.L.L.C.
PepsiCo. Inc.
Weaver Sue A.
LandOfFree
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