Pressure-responsive Structure Patents (Class 215/381)
  • Patent number: 11794398
    Abstract: A method for producing a blow molded plastic bottle starting from a preform comprises providing a preform with a specific wall thickness distribution and a blow mold are provided, the cavity of the mold having at least one channel at the locations of the plastic bottle that are to be strengthened. Subsequently, the preform is heated in such a way that the portion of the preform that correlates with the channel of the cavity is thinned to a lesser extent during the stretching and/or blow, and an accumulation of plastics material is brought about in the channel during the main blow molding operation. A plastic container produced by this process has strengthening elements formed as at least one outwardly protruding bead of material and have a wall thickness that is at least 30%, greater than the wall thickness of a portion of the wall adjacent to the bead of material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: ALPLA WERKE ALWIN LEHNER GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Robert Siegl
  • Patent number: 11708206
    Abstract: A beverage container includes a base, a sidewall extending from and integrally formed with the base, and an upper region extending from the sidewall and defining an upper opening. The beverage container includes a longitudinal axis extending in a direction from the base to the upper opening. The beverage container further includes a continuous channel formed in and extending continuously around a circumference of the sidewall, wherein the continuous channel includes peaks and troughs connected by diagonal regions. The continuous channel is configured to resist paneling and elongation of the beverage container. The beverage container further includes a central channel formed in and extending continuously around a circumference of the sidewall at a central portion of the sidewall, wherein the central channel is configured to resist paneling of the beverage container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: PepsiCo, Inc.
    Inventors: Advait Bhat, Bruno Telesca, Marc T. Wiescinski
  • Patent number: 11623781
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a container with a side wall of plastic encloses a container volume. Horizontally oriented grooves spaced vertically apart from one another are formed in the side wall, and the grooves include first grooves for stiffening the side wall. The first grooves have a first groove depth and are configured such that a projection protruding into the enclosed container volume is formed in the inner surface of the side wall. The grooves also include second grooves having a second groove depth. The first groove depth is greater than the second groove depth. The first and second grooves are arranged such that at least one second groove is in each case arranged in the vertical direction between two first grooves. The subvolumes enclosed by two horizontal planes, which are defined by two adjacent grooves, and the side wall are in each case identical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: BASF SE
    Inventors: Peter Lischetzki, Tom Reinhardt, Harald Kroeger, Robert Huber
  • Patent number: 11534952
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a container by stretch blow-molding from a preform made of plastic material in a forming unit, the forming unit comprising a mold, an elongation rod that is movable heightwise inside the mold, the method comprising, in succession, a pre-blow-molding step and a blow-molding step, the method also comprising a step of boxing of a handle, a rising phase of the elongation rod being initiated before the blow-molding step, the boxing step being initiated after the rising of the elongation rod, the handle being formed on the extension axis of the elongation rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: SIDEL PARTICIPATIONS
    Inventor: Camille Guiton
  • Patent number: 11390417
    Abstract: A synthetic resin container, the container including: a parting line; and a plurality of reduced pressure absorbing panels each formed as a groove extending in the vertical direction while twisting in the circumferential direction, the reduced pressure absorbing panels being disposed in the trunk, in which: when the parting line passes through an upper part of a first reduced pressure absorbing panel and through a lower part of a second reduced pressure absorbing panel, the first reduced pressure absorbing panel is shallower in depth at the upper part thereof than at a central part thereof in the vertical direction, and the second reduced pressure absorbing panel is shallower in depth at the lower part thereof than at a central part thereof in the vertical direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: YOSHINO KOGYOSHO CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tetsuro Usami
  • Patent number: 11338953
    Abstract: The present application provides a container for a beverage filled in a hot fill process. The container may include a finish, a body section, and a base. The body section may include a number of support columns and a number of body panels. Each of the support columns may include a first raised mid-section extending into a first body panel and a second raised mid-section extending into a second body panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: THE COCA-COLA COMPANY
    Inventors: Jeffrey Klok, Sterling Lane Steward, Venkat Govindarajan, Feng Shi
  • Patent number: 11261002
    Abstract: A resin made container includes a spout portion to/from which a cap can be attached/detached, a shoulder portion continuous with the spout portion, a body portion continuous with the shoulder portion and a bottom portion continuous with the body portion and disposed at a lowermost part. A decompression absorption portion provided in form of a recess in the body portion includes a bulging area protruding to the outer side of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: SUNTORY HOLDINGS LIMITED
    Inventors: Go Kira, Dai Sawada, Masatoshi Aihara, Shinya Ito, Takashi Akiyama
  • Patent number: 11123695
    Abstract: This invention relates to a container for storing an aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution, the container comprising: walls formed from a gas permeable, liquid impermeable polymeric material, the walls being capable of permitting gas to escape from the container through the walls to avoid build-up of pressure within the container while retaining liquid within the container, the polymeric material having a gas transmission rate in the range from about 0.05 to about 0.5 cubic centimeters of gas per square centimeter of polymeric material per 24 hours at 25° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: American Sterilizer Company
    Inventor: Jonathan Richard Bell
  • Patent number: 11059620
    Abstract: The invention is a bottle or container for a beverage, which is configured with an upper and lower compartment connected by a waist portion that defines a passage therebetween. Through the use of an appropriately configured freezing shelf, the beverage held in the lower compartment can be frozen at point of sale. The bottle is specifically configured to, upon activation, create a pinch point between the waist portion of the bottle and the punt of the lower compartment. This pinch point is achieved through controlled deformation of part of the lower compartment and/or waist portion of the bottle and effectively seals the lower compartment, and its contents, from the upper compartment, or at the very least significantly restricts the passage between the two compartments. Convection circulation between the two compartments is prevented or at least hindered. The isolation of the lower compartment from the upper compartment by virtue of the pinch point may leads to quicker crystallization and ice formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: SUB ZERO INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
    Inventor: Alexander Townshend Greer
  • Patent number: 10968022
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes a hot-fill container for use with a hot-filling process. The container includes vacuum absorption sections that resist partial collapse and uncontrolled deformation of the container's walls during the hot-filling process. The vacuum absorption sections are asymmetrically-formed and include respective edge portions and panel portions configured to deform and pivot about a linear part of the edge portions when a vacuum is created inside the container. The edge portions have a curvilinear part that is adapted to comfortably receive and engage a user's fingers during use of the container, making the container more user friendly. The vacuum absorption sections are arranged about the container's central longitudinal axis such that their respective panel portions substantially form the sides of a polygon when viewed in top plan view. The polygon appears to be inscribed within an otherwise circular container periphery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Inventors: Monis Bangi, Lesley Corker
  • Patent number: 10899493
    Abstract: Plastic container comprises a container body having a bottom portion, a sidewall portion and an upper portion, with a chamber defined therein. The bottom portion includes a support surface and a variable dynamic base portion. The sidewall portion includes a lower circumferential groove ring, an upper circumferential groove ring, and a pair of longitudinal grooves extending longitudinally therebetween to define a front sidewall segment and a rear sidewall segment. The rear sidewall segment comprises a waist groove extending circumferentially between the pair of longitudinal grooves to define an upper rear sidewall segment and a lower rear sidewall segment, wherein one of the upper rear sidewall segment or the lower rear sidewall segment includes two vacuum panels with a rigid longitudinal support therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Sheldon E. Yourist, Raymond A. Pritchett, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10850905
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes a hot-fill container for use with a hot-filling process. The container includes vacuum absorption sections that resist partial collapse and uncontrolled deformation of the container's walls during the hot-filling process. The vacuum absorption sections are asymmetrically-formed and include respective edge portions and panel portions configured to deform and pivot about a linear part of the edge portions when a vacuum is created inside the container. The edge portions have a curvilinear part that is adapted to comfortably receive and engage a user's fingers during use of the container, making the container more user friendly. The vacuum absorption sections are arranged about the container's central longitudinal axis such that their respective panel portions substantially form the sides of a polygon when viewed in top plan view. The polygon appears to be inscribed within an otherwise circular container periphery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Inventors: Monis Bangi, Lesley Corker
  • Patent number: 10773940
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing and filling a container. The method includes blow molding the container from a preform. The container is then hot filled and cooled. After cooling, the container is labeled. A top load force is applied to the container at least one of: before cooling the container; during cooling of the container; after cooling the container and before labeling the container; during labeling of the container; and after labeling the container in order to reverse any dents in the container formed during the method of manufacturing and filling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: AMCOR RIGID PACKAGING USA, LLC
    Inventor: Michael T. Lane
  • Patent number: 10493684
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a composite container. The method includes providing a paper label, and a preform; providing a molding die equipped with a closed, cylindrical lower mold and an upper mold composed of a plurality of split-mold segments; arranging the paper label in the lower mold; arranging the preform between opened split-mold segments; moving one or both of the lower mold with the paper label and the upper mold with the preform in a direction towards each other to close the molding die; implementing blow-molding on the preform in the molding die; and opening the molding die to release the composite container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: DISCMA AG
    Inventors: Yuichi Okuyama, Nobuyuki Tamura, Toshimasa Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10427853
    Abstract: A container comprising a body portion is provided. The body portion includes a flat upper vacuum panel, a flat lower vacuum panel, and a recess between the flat upper vacuum panel and the flat lower vacuum panel. In response to a change in the internal container pressure, the body portion flexes at the recess towards an interior of the container and the flat upper vacuum panel and the flat lower vacuum panel form a progressively smaller angle at the recess in response to an increasing pressure change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: PepsiCo, Inc.
    Inventors: Jorge Manuel Maquita Nakano, Lori Evans Bartman
  • Patent number: 10414570
    Abstract: A container including at least one sidewall. The sidewall includes first and second vacuum panels, and a plurality of first and second ribs. The first and second vacuum panels are recessed beneath an outer surface of the sidewall. The second vacuum panel is spaced apart from, and vertically aligned with, the first vacuum panel. The plurality of first ribs protrude outward from the first vacuum panel. The plurality of second ribs protrude outward from the second vacuum panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: AMCOR RIGID PLASTICS USA, LLC
    Inventors: James Stelzer, Rohit V. Joshi, Guizhang Zheng, Dwayne Gannon
  • Patent number: 10407231
    Abstract: In a synthetic resin blow molded bottle, reduced pressure absorbing panel portions and column portions are formed alternately in the circumferential direction. Each column portion has a diameter that gradually increases downward and that remains substantially constant vertically. Each reduced pressure absorbing panel portion includes a pair of panel side edge portions, which is bent to the inner side from the adjacent column portions, a panel surface portion, which connects the pair of panel side edge portions, and a panel lower edge portion, which is bent to the outer side from a lower end edge of the panel surface portion. The panel surface portion of each reduced pressure absorbing panel portion includes a panel upper-side surface portion, whose diameter gradually increases downward, and a panel lower-side surface portion, which connects the panel upper-side surface portion and the panel lower edge portion and which has a substantially constant diameter vertically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: YOSHINO KOGYOSHO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takumi Sugizaki, Akihito Wakai
  • Patent number: 10343832
    Abstract: Disclosed is a container, made of plastic material, and provided with a base including a standing ring forming a support flange, an inner wall, a diaphragm and a central portion, the diaphragm being capable of standing in an outwardly-inclined position. The diaphragm connects to the standing ring at an outer junction, and connects to the central portion at an inner junction. The diaphragm is invertible with respect to the standing ring from the outwardly-inclined position to an inwardly-inclined position. In the outwardly-inclined position, the whole diaphragm is curved in radial section, with a concavity turned inwards with respect to the container. The diaphragm has a depth strictly greater than 1 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: SIDEL PARTICIPATIONS
    Inventor: Florian Godet
  • Patent number: 10336524
    Abstract: A container is provided with a body portion. The body portion includes a first vacuum panel, a second vacuum panel, a third vacuum panel, a first diagonal column between the first vacuum panel and the second vacuum panel, and a second diagonal column between the second vacuum panel and the third vacuum panel. The second vacuum panel and the third vacuum panel are oriented in opposite directions. In response to a change in an internal container pressure, the body portion flexes at the first vacuum panel such that a surface of the first vacuum panel increases in concavity in response to an increasing pressure change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: PepsiCo, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Andrew Lohmeier, Toby Richard David Wingfield, Lori Evans Bartman, Robert Jon Groll
  • Patent number: 10315796
    Abstract: A plastic container comprises an upper portion including a finish adapted to receive a closure, a lower portion including a base, and a sidewall extending between the upper portion and the lower portion. The upper portion, the lower portion, and the sidewall define an interior volume for storing liquid contents. The plastic container further comprises a pressure panel located on the container and moveable between an initial position and an activated position. The pressure panel is located in the initial position prior to filling the container, and is moved to the activated position after filling and sealing the container. Moving the pressure panel from the initial position to the activated position reduces the internal volume of the container and creates a positive pressure inside the container. The positive pressure reinforces the sidewall. A method of processing a container is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: CO2 PAC LIMITED
    Inventors: David Murray Melrose, Paul Kelley, John Denner
  • Patent number: 10315826
    Abstract: The invention relates to a container (100) for drinks suitable for hot filling and compressible so as to be able to draw the drink out by means of a pressure exerted on the side walls. The container comprises a central body (3) with vacuum compensation function which is created following the cooling of the fluid after the hot filling. Said central body comprises four trapezoidal-shaped panels (1) and is limited on the top and on the bottom by a set of ribs (6,7) and rings (8,9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: S.I.P.A. SOCIETA' INDUSTRIALIZZAZIONE PROGETTAZIONE E AUTOMAZIONE S.P.A.
    Inventors: Martino Caboni, Michele Pollini, Dino Enrico Zanette, Matteo Zoppas
  • Patent number: 10273071
    Abstract: A hot-fillable plastic container includes a base and a body extending upward from the base. The includes a deformable cylindrical sidewall portion defining a central vertical axis, wherein the deformable cylindrical sidewall portion comprises at least two vertical pillars arranged along the body circumference. Each vertical pillar is joined to the next vertical pillar by a generally concave deformable sidewall panel having a concave arc-shaped transverse cross section of curvature radius. The curvature radii of the vertical pillars are smaller than the curvature radii of the generally concave deformable panels, and each transition between a vertical pillar and a generally concave deformable panel is smooth without any convex portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Plastipak BAWT S.á.r.l.
    Inventors: Steve Windelinckx, Alain Dessaint
  • Patent number: 10086970
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a package including a floor and a side wall extending upwardly from the floor. The package is configured to receive a high-temperature fluid during a container-filling activity at a container-filling factory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Berry Plastics Corporation
    Inventors: Brady Gutekunst, Donald H Ankney, Joseph J Bruchman, Jerry Gordon
  • Patent number: 10081476
    Abstract: A bottle includes a cylindrical body portion in which a plurality of panel portions, which is recessed toward an inside in a radial direction of the body portion, are provided at intervals in a circumferential direction and pillar portions are each provided between the panel portions adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction. The panel portions each have a panel bottom wall portion located at an inside of the body in the radial direction and have a lateral wall portion extending from an outer circumferential edge of the panel bottom wall portion to an outside in the radial direction. A rib which protrudes toward the outside in the radial direction while having a gap with respect to the panel bottom wall portion is provided at the panel bottom wall portion, and a longitudinal lateral wall portion is at least directed in the circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: YOSHINO KOGYOSHO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroki Oguchi, Goro Kurihara
  • Patent number: 10023347
    Abstract: Disclosed is a synthetic resin container provided with an inverting, foldback bottom wall that can maintain a stable, self-supporting position while being able to minimize the amount of residual contents, and that can be formed by blow-molding, etc., and maintain the favorable producibility or low cost of the past. The synthetic resin container is provided with a bottom wall that forms the bottom of the container, and a drum section that is united to the perimeter of the bottom wall and forms a filling space M for contents on the inside, and is a synthetic resin container wherein a raised bottom is formed by inverting and folding back said bottom wall toward said drum section. Said drum section has a lower peripheral wall that touches or approaches the outer wall part of said bottom wall and forms a self-supporting base by the inversion and folding back of said bottom wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: YOSHINO KOGYOSHO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shigeru Hayakawa, Yoshiharu Kitamura, Kazuo Suzuki
  • Patent number: 10017312
    Abstract: A bottle includes a cylindrical body portion in which a plurality of panel portions, which is recessed toward an inside in a radial direction of the body portion, are provided at intervals in a circumferential direction and pillar portions are each provided between the panel portions adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction. The panel portions each have a panel bottom wall portion located at an inside of the body in the radial direction and have a lateral wall portion extending from an outer circumferential edge of the panel bottom wall portion to an outside in the radial direction. A rib which protrudes toward the outside in the radial direction while having a gap with respect to the panel bottom wall portion is provided at the panel bottom wall portion, and a longitudinal lateral wall portion is at least directed in the circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: YOSHINO KOGYOSHO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroki Oguchi, Goro Kurihara
  • Patent number: 10005583
    Abstract: A plastic container (1) has a first set of flex panels (2) and a second set of flex panels (3) one set being adapted to react to pressure changes within the container to a different degree than the other set. This can be achieved by different curvature and/or size and/or different distance from a central longitudinal axis of the container. At least one of the panels has at least two different extents of curvature. In some embodiments one or more of the panels may be flat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Inventor: David Murray Melrose
  • Patent number: 9987790
    Abstract: A pressure is accumulated in advance in a cylinder (35), which is used for conversion to air for the outside of a mouth, with an opening-closing valve (V3) of the cylinder (35) being closed, and when a pressurized liquid (L) is supplied into a preform (PF) through a blow nozzle (13) by actuating a plunger pump (31) and by opening a sealing body (15), the opening-closing valve (V3) of the cylinder (35) is opened to thereby apply the pressure accumulated in the cylinder (35) to the liquid (L) supplied into the preform (PF).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: DISCMA AG
    Inventors: Kenichi Suyama, Mitsuru Shiokawa, Shinichi Tabata
  • Patent number: 9969520
    Abstract: A hot-fillable container that is cylindrical in shape. The container may have two ribs. A top rib is located in the top bumper and a bottom rib is located in the bottom bumper. Both the top and the bottom ribs have depth that is deep enough so that the container may withstand the hot-fill process and increase its top load ability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Matthew T. Gill, Raymond A. Pritchett, Jr., Travis A. Hunter
  • Patent number: 9896254
    Abstract: A round, hot fillable plastic container includes an upper portion defining an opening; a bottom portion; and a main body portion having a plastic sidewall that has a plurality of vacuum panels defined therein. The main body portion has a generally hourglass shape with a central portion that is narrower than upper and lower portions thereof. The hourglass shape optimizes grippability of the container. Grippability is optimized further by the presence of indentations that are formed between columns that define the hourglass shape and pillow portions that are provided for finger support. The indentations permit a consumer to gain finger traction and purchase with respect to the container body, even when a label is positioned between the container body and the user's fingers. The main body portion further has a first groove defined in the upper portion thereof, a second groove defined in the lower portion thereof and a third groove that is defined in the central portion thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Sheldon E. Yourist, Raymond A. Pritchett, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9789642
    Abstract: An invention including a bottle container of a pinch-grip type of synthetic resin blow-molded product and which includes a body of a bottle container, and a grip including a pair of right and left deep-recessed grip portions, formed by concaving both side wall portions of the body of the bottle container, a rear wall portion of the body disposed at a position rearward from the deep-recessed grip portions in a front-back direction, wherein each grip portion includes a caved in recessed wall, vertical side walls positioned facing each other across the wall, and lateral walls disposed at upper and lower ends of the wall, so that surrounding walls as a whole is formed by vertical walls and lateral walls that surround the recessed wall, and wherein the vertical side walls have an angle of gradient which is set at a right angle relative to a transverse center line extending horizontally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: YOSHINO KOGYOSHO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Matsuo, Teturou Usami, Daisuke Uesugi
  • Patent number: 9340314
    Abstract: A plastic bottle includes any type of body and hoop supports that encircle the dome. The hoop supports may include continuous wave-like ribs; discontinuous ribs that are overlapping; plural, discrete segments that are inclined and overlapping; plural block-like segments formed of mutually perpendicular rectangles; indicia; horizontal segments in rows that overlap; and series of segments that are mutually interfering and overlaid. The hoop supports provide greater top load performance than conventional deep waist configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: PLASTIPAK PACKAGING, INC.
    Inventor: Michael R. Mooney
  • Patent number: 9327872
    Abstract: A product container includes a top portion defining an opening, a bottom portion defining a base, and a central portion including a plurality of sidewalls extending between the top and bottom portions. Three of the sidewalls include discrete planar facets that collectively define a narrowed waist portion, at which the product container has smaller dimensions or a smaller cross sectional area compared to the top portion and the bottom portion. The narrowed waist portion is configured to be gripped by a user for lifting the product container (even when wearing gloves), and a flat product label may also be placed on the product container at the narrowed waist portion. The narrowed waist portion provides a natural gripping location as well as clearance between abutting product containers when multiple abutting product containers are located on a shelf.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Fisher Scientific Company, L.L.C.
    Inventors: John T. Glaser, Jack A. Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 9211993
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an integrated liner-based system having an overpack and a liner provided within the overpack, the liner comprising a mouth and a liner wall forming an interior cavity of the liner and having a thickness such that the liner is substantially self-supporting in an expanded state, but is collapsible at a pressure of less than about 20 psi. The liner and overpack may be made by blow molding the liner and the overpack at the same time using nested preforms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Advanced Technology Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Glenn Tom, Greg Nelson, Wei Liu, Amy Koland, Don Ware, Daniel J. Durham, Tracy M. Momany, Chantel Roush
  • Patent number: 9102434
    Abstract: A plastic container that is adapted for adjustment to internal volumetric changes such as those that occur as a result of internal pressure and temperature changes during the hot-fill process includes a container body defining an internal space. The container body has at least one flexible panel defined therein, which includes an outer flexible panel portion and an inner flexible panel portion. The outer flexible panel portion has a shape when a pressure equilibrium exists between the internal space and ambient external pressure, and is further constructed and arranged to assume a shape of increased concavity when a sufficient underpressure exists in the internal space. The inner flexible panel portion is constructed and arranged to flex relative to the outer flexible panel portion in order to accommodate internal pressure changes within the container body. The inner and outer flexible panel portions accordingly work in tandem to permit efficient vacuum uptake in a hot-fill type container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Justin A. Howell, Benton A. Lewis, Eric B. Ungrady, Sunil S. Shah
  • Patent number: 9073244
    Abstract: A container or other article is integrally molded to a labeling assembly. The labeling assembly includes a release surface for releasably supporting an adhesive label for identifying a feature of the container. A method of making a container having an in-mold labeling assembly is also disclosed. A labeling assembly is provided in a mold cavity so that the top face of the labeling assembly faces away from the hollow mold cavity. Moldable material is introduced into the mold cavity to form the container and the formed container is integrally molded to the labeling assembly. A method for tracking the contents of a container using such an assembly is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: MPT, INC.
    Inventor: Patrick R. Kennedy
  • Publication number: 20150076105
    Abstract: Provided is a method for manufacturing a container containing a content fluid, including: a molding step of stretching a bottomed tubular preform that is heated to a temperature at which the preform is stretchable so as to form the container by means of pressure of the content fluid injected into the preform through a mouth portion; a sealing step of sealing the content fluid by fitting a cap body to the mouth portion; and a pressurizing step of increasing an inner pressure of the container, wherein the container includes an invertible deforming portion that is freely invertible and deformable toward an inside of the container, and in the pressurizing step, the inner pressure of the container is increased by reducing a volume of the container by inverting and deforming the invertible deforming portion toward the inside of the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: Sumito Sato, Nobuyuki Tamura, Takeshi Nagashima, Yuichi Okuyama, Kazuhiko Shimizu, Toshimasa Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8978910
    Abstract: A technical problem of this invention especially in the case of large-size bottles is to form a grip, without changing the bottle shape to a large extent, so that the body can be firmly held. The object of this invention is to provide a synthetic resin square bottle that can be used reliably because the bottle can be held firmly with a hand. A major means of solving the problem is a synthetic resin square bottle comprising a body having a rectangular shape in a plane cross-section and a groove-like waist portion disposed at a middle height of the bottle, wherein a pair of recessed portions for use as finger stops are formed in respective long side walls of said rectangular body over a predetermined area ranging from said waist portion downward to ensure that a plural number of fingers can be placed in at least one recessed portion for a finger stop purpose, and wherein a grip for holding the bottle is formed from both the pair of recessed portions and the waist portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Yoshino Kogyosho Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaaki Sasaki, Takayuki Kobayashi, Tomoyuki Ozawa, Takao Iizuka
  • Patent number: 8960503
    Abstract: A plastic aerosol container comprises a neck, a support ring, a shoulder, a cylindrical body, a base, a dispensing valve and a cap. The neck further includes a lip and a lip cavity. The support ring protrudes below the lip cavity and above the shoulder. The shoulder supports the neck and aides in preventing deformation of the container. The base further includes legs. The dispensing valve is placed atop the neck and sealed thereto. The cap is placed atop the valve and functions as an actuator to release the contents of the can.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Inventor: Atef Gabr Soliman
  • Patent number: 8919587
    Abstract: A plastic container, sidewall portions, and method of same are described. The sidewall portion can accommodate a vacuum in a filled and sealed container and includes a plurality of columns extending between upper and lower ends of the sidewall portion, and a plurality of vacuum panels oriented vertically between respective adjacent ones of the columns, each vacuum panel including an upper section, a middle section, and a lower section, a first hinge connecting the upper and middle sections, and a second hinge connecting the middle and lower sections. The vacuum panels can move radially inward toward a container central axis such that the container vacuum is accommodated. As the vacuum panel moves radially inward, the middle section can maintain a substantially parallel orientation with respect to the central axis, and the upper and lower sections rotate about first and second hinges, respectively, and incline away from the central axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Justin A. Howell, Mark O. Borger, Raymond A. Pritchett, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8905261
    Abstract: The present invention overcomes many of the shortcomings inherent in previous containers for packaging potato chips and/or crisps, corn based chips and/or crisps, cookies and the like. The improved implosion-resistant container of the present invention utilizes flowing geometries mechanisms which allow a hermetically sealed container to smoothly change its geometric shape thereby adjusting its internal volume in response to changes in environmental conditions. These volumetric adjustments compensate for changes in environmental conditions thereby avoiding the random buckling and deformation inherent in current packaging techniques which detracts from the commercial presentation of the container. The improved container of the present invention may also include a variety of other stress dissipating mechanisms that counteract the forces causing thermo-plastic container deformation, implosion and loss of seal integrity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Frito-Lay North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Edward Anthony Bezek
  • Patent number: 8905253
    Abstract: A lightweight container includes an enclosed base, an upper portion that extends upwardly to a finish; and a body located between the base and the upper portion. The sidewall includes vacuum compensation elements that have an open end and an opposing closed end, and that form a V-shape. Each element has nested fields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Plastipak Packaging, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael R. Mooney
  • Publication number: 20140346135
    Abstract: A plastic container (1) has a first set of flex panels (2) and a second set of flex panels (3) one set being adapted to react to pressure changes within the container to a different degree than the other set. This can be achieved by different curvature and/or size and/or different distance from a central longitudinal axis of the container. At least one of the panels has at least two different extents of curvature. In some embodiments one or more of the panels may be flat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Inventor: David Murray Melrose
  • Patent number: 8881922
    Abstract: A hot fill type plastic container includes a finish portion that defines an opening and a main body portion having a sidewall that defines a plurality of vacuum panels and a plurality of creased wall portions. Each of the creased wall portions is positioned between two adjacent vacuum panels. At least one of the creased wall portions has an axis of longitudinal orientation when viewed in side elevation that has a vertical component and a circumferential component. The creased wall portions further preferably are substantially non-curved when viewed in side elevation and also preferably have a compound curvature to increase stiffness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Anthony J. Schlies, Justin A. Howell
  • Patent number: 8870006
    Abstract: Provided is a hot-fill container adapted to provide vertical vacuum compensation in response to negative pressure inside the container. The container comprises one or more horizontal ribs that are configured to diminish in height in response to vacuum conditions inside the container. Each rib comprises an upper wall connected to a lower wall. The upper and lower walls are inclined from a horizontal reference line and adapted to hinge with respect to each other to provide vertical vacuum compensation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Plastipak Packaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Satya Kamineni, Michael R. Mooney, Timothy Boyd
  • Patent number: 8844743
    Abstract: A compressible container (200) has a cap (100) configured to engage therewith. The cap (100) includes a first valve (150), preferably in the form of first and second disks (112,120), one above another, each disk having at least one hole (113,122) therethrough. The disks are rotatable with respect to one another The holes (113,122) of the first and second disks (112,120) align in a first position to create channel therethrough and misalign in the second position to close the channel. The cap (100) may also include a second valve (130) connected to the channel. The second valve (130) may comprise a ball (134) inside a conic section tube (132). The ball (134) is designed to float on the liquid (300) so that any liquid (300) attempting to exit the container cap (100) will be prevented from doing so as the second valve (130) will be closed when the liquid forces the ball (134) into engagement with the conic section tube (132).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Inventor: Giuseppe Costa
  • Patent number: 8820555
    Abstract: A synthetic resin round bottle having a shape of the peripheral groove ribs that can increase the plane rigidity of the peripheral sidewall, without lowering the buckling strength in the vertical directions and the moldability of the bottle, including a round bottle having a neck, a tapered cylindrical shoulder, a cylindrical body, a bottom, a pair of peripheral groove ribs disposed at certain height positions of the body and formed in groove shapes, with one groove over the other groove in proximity to each other, where bases of these peripheral groove ribs are inclined relative to the direction of central axis of the bottle in a vertical sectional view, and the incline of a rib base for the upper peripheral groove rib has a direction opposite that of the incline of the rib base for the lower peripheral groove rib.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Yoshino Kogyosho Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshimasa Tanaka, Hiroaki Imai
  • Patent number: 8820556
    Abstract: A molded bottle for liquids is disclosed. In a particular embodiment, the bottle includes a hollow body portion adapted to store liquids therein, with an opening on a top of the body portion to access an interior of the bottle. In addition, the bottle includes a sidewall that extends outward around a bottom periphery of the body portion, where the bottle is supported by an edge of the sidewall when the bottle is placed on a planar surface. The sidewall is configured to flex when the bottle is pressed down onto the planar surface to form a vacuum between the body portion and the planar surface to prevent the bottle from moving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Inventor: Farhan Khan
  • Patent number: 8813996
    Abstract: A heat set container having a shoulder portion and a sidewall portion extending from the shoulder portion to a base. The base closes off an end of the container. The shoulder portion, the sidewall portion, and the base cooperate to define a receptacle chamber within the container into which product can be filled. The sidewall portion defines a major container diameter of the container. The sidewall portion includes an upper vacuum absorbing region joined to a lower vacuum absorbing region at a reduced waist section. The reduced waist section forms a minor container diameter which is less than the major container diameter. In some embodiments, such configuration forms an hourglass, heat-set container, wherein the upper vacuum absorbing region and the lower vacuum absorbing region are collectively shaped to provide flexible absorption of an internal vacuum within the receptacle chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Amcor Limited
    Inventors: Richard J. Steih, Brian L. Pieszchala, Chris Labombarbe, Chad Keilen
  • Patent number: 8794459
    Abstract: A fluid container (10) comprises a body (12), a neck (16), and a mouth (14) The neck is deformable from a first stable condition to a second stable condition, allowing the relative angle of the mouth to be changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventors: Suzanne Mary Dover, Peter Booth, Corinne Elstow, William Maskell, Alan Whiting