Contoured Sidewall (e.g., Curved, Corrugated, Ribbed, Variable Thickness, Etc.) Patents (Class 215/382)
  • Publication number: 20140326695
    Abstract: A bottle extends along a longitudinal axis and includes a base, a body extending from the base, a shoulder extending from the body, and a neck extending from the shoulder and having a neck finish. The body has lower and upper frustoconical portions axially opposed to one another and having straight external surfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Applicant: Owens-Brockway Glass Container Inc.
    Inventor: Owens-Brockway Glass Container Inc.
  • Patent number: 8870017
    Abstract: A bottle has a body intermediate a neck and a closed bottom of the bottle. The body has an exterior surface defining a circumference of the body. The body includes a plurality of panel segments. Each panel segment has an upper panel end, a lower panel end, a length extending from the upper panel end to the lower panel end, opposite longitudinal sides, and a panel centerline extending at a substantially constant acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the bottle. The panel segments are disposed generally side-by-side around the circumference of the body. The exterior surface of each panel segment may be substantially planar along the circumferential width of the panel segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Abbott Laboratories
    Inventors: Margaret Reeber, Mark Borger, Michael Stephan, Wayne Perring, David Heisner
  • Patent number: 8870005
    Abstract: The present invention includes a storing section that stores a chemical, an opening provided in an upper surface, a concave portion formed in a first side face, and an inclined face that is formed at a face on an upper surface side of the concave portion and that inclines towards the upper surface side. The center of the concave portion is positioned so as to deviate from the central axis at the first side face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Olympus Medical Systems Corp.
    Inventors: Takaaki Komiya, Hisashi Kuroshima, Eiri Suzuki, Hideto Onishi
  • Patent number: 8871092
    Abstract: A collapsible container consists of three parts: a rigid top rim, a flexible center band, and a rigid base. This combination of sections allows the container to easily collapse to about one-third of its original height. The container is also quite stable when expanded and is self-supporting. In various embodiments of the invention, for example, the upper rim may be expandable, the base may include holes or mesh to serve as a colander or strainer, or the base may be configured as a tube to function as a funnel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Progressive International Corporation
    Inventor: Heather Curtin
  • 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: 8863970
    Abstract: A plastic container includes a finish portion defining an opening and a main body portion having a shape that is substantially polygonal in transverse cross-section. The main body portion has a maximum lateral dimension. At least one of the side panels includes a substantially flat portion for receiving a label and a concave portion having an average radius. A ratio of the average radius to the maximum lateral dimension is substantially within a range of about 1.0 to about 2.0. The side panel having the concave portion further has an inwardmost portion and an outwardmost portion, with a first maximum lateral distance being defined between the inwardmost portion and the outwardmost portion. A second maximum lateral distance is defined between the inwardmost portion and one of the substantially flat portions. A ratio of the first distance to the second distance is substantially within a range of about 0.8 to about 1.2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Travis A. Hunter
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20140263162
    Abstract: A series of hot-fill, PET bottles, includes a first bottle with a first volume and a first front profile; and a second bottle with a second volume and a second front profile. The first volume and the second volume are different and the first front profile and the second front profile are substantially the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip Napoli, Richard Boiros, Toshimasa Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20140263487
    Abstract: The present invention is drawn to a device for concurrently holding, displaying and transporting a combination of complementary devices, including one or more portable electronic devices with a water-type beverage bottle or arm holder and the modification of bottles such that on-screen touch operations with the device are readily made even when the device is attached to the body. Another embodiment is a water-type beverage bottle modified to contain internal baffles and attachment mechanisms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventor: Scott A. Conwell
  • 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: 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
  • Publication number: 20140238951
    Abstract: Plastic container (1) being composed of a neck (3), a shoulder (5), a body (4) and a base section (2), where the base section (2) comprises at least two tie members (6a) extending from a central area (8) to the side wall of the base (2). According to the invention, the tie members (6b, 6c) and/or the function of the tie members (6b, 6c) of the base (2) at least in certain areas extend into the body section (4) or into the body (4) and the shoulder section (5) of the plastic container (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: Krones AG
    Inventors: Jochen Forsthövel, Alexander Schau, Gerald Hüttner, Andrew Dimitri Peykoff, Jay Clarke Hanan
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20140202976
    Abstract: A blow moulded container has a body portion defining a chamber for storing liquid and a neck portion extending from the body portion. The body portion defines a central longitudinal axis and said neck portion is coaxial therewith. The body portion defines an upper shoulder region of curved profile and the neck portion defines a circular cylindrical portion having side walls concentric with and parallel to said central longitudinal axis. The lower end of the cylindrical portion defines a closed loop and has a non-planar intersection with the shoulder region of the body portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: Nampak Plastics Europe Limited
    Inventor: Andrew Glover
  • Patent number: 8783496
    Abstract: An improved beverage container of the type having a lid, a pour panel defined in the lid by a pour score and a vent panel defined in the lid by a vent score. A tab pivotally is mounted to the lid, wherein lifting the tab about a pivot in a lifting direction fractures the pour score and opens the pour panel. A secondary tab is carried by the tab, and is released into contact with the vent panel by lifting the tab to fracture the pour score, wherein pressing the tab in a direction generally opposite the lifting direction causes the secondary tab to fracture the vent score and open the vent panel. At least one anti-rotation member is disposed between the tab and the lid to prevent the tab from rotating about the rivet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Anheuser-Busch InBev, SA
    Inventors: Christopher G. Neiner, Ancil Louis Lackey, Robert Joseph Will, Richard Lynn Wise, Jason Davidson
  • Patent number: 8777029
    Abstract: A bottle includes a bridge forming a fluid channel, and extending radially outwardly on a bottle neck, from a location spaced axially from a bottle finish to a bottle shoulder. The bridge includes an outer wall offset radially outwardly with respect to walls of the neck and the shoulder and, in transverse cross section, the outer wall includes an incurvate inner surface. The bridge also includes side walls extending between the outer wall of the bridge and the walls of the neck and shoulder and, in transverse cross section, the side walls include straight inner surfaces disposed at chordal angles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Owens-Brockway Glass Container Inc.
    Inventors: Raul M. Paredes, Douglas Laib, Allan Henderson
  • Publication number: 20140183156
    Abstract: A container may have a base, a sidewall connected to the base, a bell connected to the sidewall, and a finish connected to the bell. The base may have strap ribs to resist deformation of the base. The sidewall may have recessed columns to resist bending, leaning, crumbling, and/or stretching. The strap ribs and recessed columns may vertically line up along a central axis of the container to communicate forces on the container vertically along the container to continuously resist deformation in the base and the sidewall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2014
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: Niagara Bottling, LLC
    Inventor: Jay Clarke Hanan
  • Patent number: 8746958
    Abstract: A beverage container for mixing a beverage is disclosed. The beverage container includes a cup having a stirring flap integral to an internal side wall of the cup. The stifling flap has a sine wave shape and comprises a top fin protruding near the top of the internal wall and a bottom fin protruding near the bottom of the internal wall of the cup. The top fin and the bottom fin are separated by a central portion. The cup is swirled in a circular motion by a person's hand to mix the liquid contained within. The central portion allows liquid to pass freely through the middle of the cup to gain momentum when the cup is swirled. The bottom fin has the shape of a lower case letter ‘h’, to allow solid material gathered in the bottom of the cup to pass underneath the bottom fin and mix with liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Inventor: Michael Spray
  • Patent number: 8746453
    Abstract: A plastic blow molded pourable product container is constructed to support the combined weight of additional like containers stacked on top of the container, and is also constructed to efficiently use a three dimensional space occupied by a stack of containers and to resist relative movement between adjacent containers assembled together in a three dimensionally arrayed stack of the containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Buddeez, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles E. Hall, William A. Hall
  • Patent number: 8739995
    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: August 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Yoshino Kogyosho Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaaki Sasaki, Takayuki Kobayashi, Tomoyuki Ozawa, Takao Iizuka
  • Publication number: 20140138343
    Abstract: A container has a finish, a sidewall portion, a shoulder portion extending between the finish and the sidewall portion, and a base portion extending from the sidewall portion and enclosing the sidewall portion to form a volume therein for retaining a commodity. The sidewall portion includes a label boundary panel and a vacuum panel. The label boundary panel is generally resistant to deflection in response to a vacuum force and defining a surface for receiving a pressure sensitive spot label. The vacuum panel is deflectable in response to the vacuum force. Moreover, the container includes one or more inwardly-directed ribs extending along the label boundary panel and bound thereby. The inwardly-directed rib(s) generally aid(s) the label boundary panel to resist the vacuum force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: AMCOR LIMITED
    Inventors: Rohit V. Joshi, Nathaniel Haller, James Stelzer
  • Patent number: 8727154
    Abstract: The technical problem to be solved by this invention is to design bottle walls having such a shape as to inhibit cave-in deformation into a dented wall shape caused by recessed areas for fingerhold. The object of this invention is to provide a synthetic resin square bottle which is usable without anxiety, is excellent at firm hold, and has a high vacuum-absorbing function. In a synthetic resin square bottle comprising a body formed by multiple panel walls disposed on the body in a circumferential direction, and a waist portion made of a peripheral groove dented at a roughly middle height position of the body so as to divide each panel wall into an upper panel and a lower panel, recessed areas for fingerhold use are formed in at least a pair of opposing panel walls in a certain area ranging from the waist portion to an upper end portion of the lower panel of each panel wall, and a pair of side ribs is formed on right and left sides of, and in the vicinity of, each recessed area in the lower panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Yoshino Kogyosho Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroki Oguchi, Shigeru Tomiyama, Takao Iizuka
  • Patent number: 8727153
    Abstract: An improved bottle, retaining device and associated elements for carrying items is disclosed. The retaining device is adapted for holding a container (or containers) or other items; the retaining device being adapted to affix the container by way of the retaining device to a person or a personal item so ready access is provided for the held container/item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Amphipod, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith S. Willows, June A. Angus, Antonio Del Rosario
  • Patent number: 8714385
    Abstract: Disclosed is a bottle for containing liquid content including a body portion, at least part or the entire portion of an upper portion of which is provided with a plurality of guides which protrudes inward from an inside surface thereof and is in a spiral pattern so that the liquid content can be guided towards an opening of a neck portion of the bottle while spirally revolving inside the bottle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Inventors: Kyung Il Jung, Youngtack Shim
  • Publication number: 20140116978
    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: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Inventor: Farhan Khan
  • Patent number: 8678215
    Abstract: A container for containing a flowable substance includes a container body, a substantially elliptical opening in the container body, and a resealable closure affixed over the opening. The container body defines an internal cavity that is adapted to contain the flowable substance therein. The opening is adapted to allow the flowable substance to flow therethrough. The resealable closure is adjustable between an open position, where the flowable substance can flow through the opening, and a closed position, where the closure obstructs the opening to prevent the flowable substance from flowing through the opening. When the closure is in the open position and the container is substantially filled with the flowable substance, the flowable substance can flow through the opening without interrupting airflow through the opening when the container is tilted over a range of tilt angles of approximately 35 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Tropicana Products, Inc.
    Inventors: John Steiger, Machelle D. Stockwell
  • Patent number: 8668101
    Abstract: An improved lightweight container incorporates a thinner wall structure in an essentially octagonal container having a bottom member, a plurality of sidewalls, a spout, an upwardly converging neck member coupling the sidewalls of the spout, a handle molded into the container and a radiused transiting section between the sidewalls and the spout which eliminates weakened corner sections and improves overall strength to weight ratios.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Mid-America Machining, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Lobbestael, Al Vanover, Kevin D Gaydosh, Gregory T Hall
  • Patent number: 8668100
    Abstract: This disclosure is generally directed toward bottles with improved top loading resistance and does so by, among other things, utilizing walls, shoulder, and/or other structural features of a particular size, taper, angle, and/or material. The bottle includes a mouth, a barrel connected to a base, and a shoulder extending between the mouth and barrel. The shoulder may include upper, intermediate, and lower sections, in which the intermediate section may be relatively thicker than the upper section. The barrel may also include upper, intermediate, and lower sections, in which the intermediate section may be relatively thicker than the lower section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
    Inventor: Jose de Jesus Castillo Higareda
  • Patent number: 8662332
    Abstract: A blow molded plastic container for hot fill and pasteurization uses includes a main body portion that is shaped so as to be substantially round in horizontal cross-section and a base portion. The base portion is shaped to define a generally circular standing ring and an elevated push-up portion that is positioned radially inward of the standing ring. The push-up portion includes a central region, an annular, substantially straight and substantially vertical rise portion that is positioned immediately radially inward of the standing ring and a plurality of radially oriented waves. Each of the waves extends radially outwardly from the central region to the vertical rise portion and is preferably shaped so as to subtend a substantially constant angle along its length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Michael P. Wurster, Justin A. Howell, Michael T. Kelly, Robert Waltemyer, Benton A. Lewis
  • Patent number: 8646636
    Abstract: A novel synthetic resin container includes an entirely or partly dome-like shoulder portion interconnecting a mouth portion and an upper end of a body portion, and provides high strength at the shoulder portion and excellent aesthetic appearance. The shoulder portion has a dome-like region with a plurality of rhombic and triangular bulging portions arranged in the circumferential direction, each protruding outward from its rhombic or triangular outer edge toward its inner edge. The plurality of triangular bulging portions are arranged between the rhombic portions. The rhombic inner edge defines a region protruding inward of the container and thereby forming a rhombic depression, which is provided with a rib having a vertical contour line that protrudes outward. The triangular inner edge defines a region protruding inward of the container so as to form a triangular depression, which is provided with a rib having a vertical contour line that protrudes outward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Yoshino Kogyosho Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaaki Sasaki, Keiji Shimamoto
  • Patent number: 8636159
    Abstract: A laminated bottle with a gas barrier resin layer arranged between polyester resins layers is provided. The gas barrier resin layer includes a plurality of quadrangular segments with two sides extending along the bottle axis and two sides extending around the bottle axis, wherein the segments are arranged at a distance to each other via connecting layers which connect the inner layer and the outer layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Yoshino Kogyosho Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tamotsu Toyoda, Tomoyuki Ozawa, Hiroshi Hosokoshiyama, Hideaki Soyama
  • Patent number: 8631963
    Abstract: A container comprising a finish, a sidewall portion extending from the finish, a base portion extending from the sidewall portion and enclosing the sidewall portion to form a volume therein for retaining a commodity, and an outwardly directed rib member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Amcor Limited
    Inventors: Michael T. Lane, Brad Wilson
  • Patent number: 8596479
    Abstract: A one-piece plastic hot-fill container may employ a shoulder portion, a base portion and a sidewall portion, which may be integrally formed with and extend from the shoulder portion to the base portion. The sidewall portion may generally be in an hourglass shape and employ a plurality of arched contour ribs and a plurality of arched contour lands that may alternate along a longitudinal length of the sidewall portion. An outside diameter of an upper body portion is greater than an outside diameter of a lower body portion, which may form a hand grip area. The arched contour ribs may further employ an upper flat wall, a lower flat wall, and an inner curved wall joining the upper and lower walls, which together may form an angle of about 60 degrees, and move in response to hot-fill product contraction within the container or top load forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Amcor Limited
    Inventors: John B. Simon, Walter J. Strasser, Anna C. Wilcox
  • Patent number: 8561821
    Abstract: A heat set container including a base portion, a shoulder portion, and a sidewall portion extending from the shoulder portion to the base portion. The shoulder portion, the sidewall portion and the base portion cooperate to define a receptacle chamber within the container into which product can be filled. A plurality of vacuum panels are equidistantly disposed about the sidewall portion. A plurality of transition lands are disposed between adjacent ones of the plurality of vacuum panels and spaced outwardly relative thereto. The plurality of vacuum panels and the plurality of transition lands cooperate to be inwardly collapsible from a first outside diameter to a second outside diameter in response to at least internal vacuum forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Amcor Limited
    Inventors: Ivan Harris, Ricardo Sandoval, Luke A. Mast
  • Patent number: 8561822
    Abstract: A multi-gallon capacity container comprising which comprises a substantially rectangular bottom portion having a chime and a plurality of base channels; a shoulder portion with a neck section for facilitating filling and discharging of liquid from the container and a plurality vertically extending shoulder channels; a body portion which seamlessly connects the bottom portion with the shoulder portion and having a plurality of spaced apart horizontal ribs and rib channels for increasing a lateral wall strength of the container. The container includes a first and second primary columns for increasing a top load strength of the container. Each primary column commences in the shoulder portion, extends substantially continuously along the shoulder portion, across the plurality of horizontal ribs, and terminates at the bottom portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Devtec Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Beck, Dennis Connor, Kim Lufkin, James Kowalczyk
  • Publication number: 20130270215
    Abstract: A blow-molded container includes a bottom member, a plurality of sidewalls, a spout for receiving a closure cap, a handle section proximate to the spout, and an upwardly converging neck member. The plurality of sidewalls includes a first pair of opposing parallel sidewalls that are spaced apart by a first dimension, a second pair of opposing parallel sidewalls are spaced apart by the first dimension, and a third pair of sidewalls that are spaced apart by a second dimension that is different than the first dimension. The upwardly converging neck member couples the sidewalls to the spout and has a convex transition section defining a continuous curvature that extends from the sidewalls to the spout.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2013
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Inventors: PETER LOBBESTAEL, AL VANOVER, KEVIN D GAYDOSH, GREGORY T HALL
  • Patent number: 8557151
    Abstract: A multicolored drinking cup is formed by blow molding a multicolored parison. The parison is formed by feeding the outputs of a plurality of controllable rate extruders into an extruding head and varying the flow rates of the extruders in a controlled manner under computer control to produce a parison in which the colors vary in width along the height. The parison is then blow molded to form the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Inventor: Erik Lipson
  • Patent number: 8556097
    Abstract: A container having a finish, a sidewall portion extending from the finish, a base portion extending from the sidewall portion and enclosing the sidewall portion to form a volume therein for retaining a commodity, and a panel area disposed in the sidewall portion. The panel area includes a belt land portion and a pair of inset portions in mirrored arrangement relative to the belt land portion, and a generally oval boundary area surrounding and containing the belt land portion and inset portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Amcor Limited
    Inventors: Luke A. Mast, Bradley S. Philip, Pankaj Kumar, David Downing
  • Patent number: 8550272
    Abstract: An extrusion blowmolded PET container having superior top load strength characteristics includes a sidewall having an outer surface, and an inner surface that defines an interior space. The sidewall is fabricated from a material that includes extrudable PET. The sidewall is shaped to define a bottom portion, a finish portion and a main body portion. The finish portion has an opening defined therein that is in communication with the interior space. The main body portion has a neck surface, a shoulder surface and a fillet that is defined between the neck surface and the shoulder surface. The neck surface forms a first angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the container that is substantially within a range of about 2° to about 20°, and the fillet has an average radius of curvature that is substantially within a range of about 15 mm to about 55 mm. The container is preferably fabricated using an extrusion blowmolding process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, LP
    Inventor: Sheldon E. Yourist
  • Patent number: 8544667
    Abstract: A round bottle that gives an overall impression of a slim body, while maintaining a basic shape of the round bottle and a vacuum absorbing function. An object is to provide a round synthetic resin bottle having a differentiated shape not found in conventional art. This involves narrowing down a diameter of the body in a tapered manner toward a middle height position of the body to form a tapered portion at either one of an upper end or a lower end of the basically cylindrical body and thus to form a waist portion in a narrowest part of this tapered portion, and forming a plurality of dented vacuum absorbing panels in a height range lying next to the waist portion of the body and in a configuration that each of the panels is disposed in parallel in a circumferential direction and dented by a stepped portion surrounding each panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Yoshino Kogyosho Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Ozawa, Takao Iizuka
  • Patent number: 8540095
    Abstract: The plastic container includes a hollow body of plastic material having a lower supporting base, a sidewall extending upwardly from the lower base and an upper neck portion extending upwardly from the sidewall with an opening therein. The sidewall includes at least one panel having a central region and an outer boundary, with the outer boundary being depressed with respect to the central region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Plastipak Packaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Marc A. Pedmo, James C. Dorn, James J. Miller
  • Patent number: 8534478
    Abstract: A collapsible container and a method of using the collapsible container are provided. In one embodiment of the container, the container comprises a collapsible fold area associating a base portion with a nestable portion, the collapsible fold area being structured such that a collapsing of collapsible fold area results in disposal of at least a portion of the nestable portion within the base volume. In one embodiment of the method, the method comprises the steps of nestling the collapsed containers with one another for efficient space storage when said collapsed containers are not in use, and releasing a vacuum or applying a force to return a collapsed container to its full or expanded position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Dr Pepper/Seven Up, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Ishmael Mays, III, Gregory M. Hogle, Byron Lee Sharp, Donald Harold Ankney, Brady Glen Gutekunst
  • Patent number: 8528761
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are beverage bottles that incorporate one or more of: fins that are molded in, attached individually or in a finned section; a base section adapting a finned bottle for transport in a track or conveyor of bottling machinery; aerodynamic noses and nosecones, attachable to the neck or bottom of a bottle, optionally holding an object, prize or additive, also optionally acting as a stand for the bottle; a production sleeve permitting transport through a track or conveyor; noses, fins and finned sections that are reversible; a crush zone for absorbing impact energy; a pump for providing thrust or structural pressure, some incorporated into the bottle product and others provided externally, and for launchable products, nozzles and mechanisms for containing thrust pressure. Detailed information on various example embodiments of the inventions are provided in the Detailed Description below, and the inventions are defined by the appended claims.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: ThinkAtomic, Inc.
    Inventors: Justin C. Yarro, Ralph J. Yarro, Matt Redding, Daniel Child
  • Patent number: 8529975
    Abstract: A container can have a body with an integrally formed base attached to the body. The base includes a concave annular wall extending from the container sidewall to a standing surface, and an inner wall extending from the standing surface to a substantially flat inner annular wall. The inner annular wall is recessed in the base and is substantially perpendicular to the container sidewall. The inner annular wall includes a centrally located dimple. The dimple includes a plurality of spaced apart and radially extending indented ribs. One or more of the ribs extend radially into a brace that tapers to meet the inner annular wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Greg Trude, John W. Tobias, Richard K. Ogg
  • Publication number: 20130228546
    Abstract: A plastic container is disclosed comprising a base portion for supporting the container on a surface, an upper portion, and a body portion. The upper portion includes a neck and a dispensing opening. The body portion extends between the base portion and the neck, the body portion including a shoulder portion below the neck portion and a sidewall portion between the shoulder portion and the base portion. The body portion includes at least one elongated vertical formation that substantially extends along the sidewall portion from the base portion toward the shoulder portion, the elongated vertical portion being continuous along at least 0.60 the total height of the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2013
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Applicant: Plastipak Packaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard C. Darr, Richard A. Lovelace, Christopher E. Kaminski, Edward V. Morgan
  • Patent number: 8505758
    Abstract: Disclosed is a bottomed tubular bottle including an annular groove which is formed so as to be circumferentially and radially recessed inward along the outer peripheral surface of a body of the bottle with a bottle axis as a center and which contracts and deforms the body in the axial direction of the bottle when the internal pressure is reduced. The annular groove is recessed and formed by a first wall surface arranged on a mouth side of the bottle and a second wall surface arranged on a bottom side of the bottle. The body is formed so that the outer diameter on the bottom side is larger than the outer diameter on the mouth side with the annular groove interposed therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Yoshino Kogyosho Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tadayoshi Oshino
  • Publication number: 20130200037
    Abstract: A hot fill type plastic container includes a finish, a bottom and a main body that is generally rectangular in transverse cross-section. The main body has an upper dome portion, a lower label portion and a waist groove defined between the upper dome portion and the lower label portion. Both the upper dome portion and the lower label portion have front and rear surfaces as well as opposing side surfaces that are narrower than the front and rear surfaces. The opposing side surfaces of the upper dome portion have a substantially vertically oriented reinforcing element defined therein that is recessed with respect to the surrounding sidewall of the upper dome portion. The reinforcing element extends into the waist groove, which increases the flexibility of the dome portion above the waist groove and protects the dome portion against damage as a result of contact with other containers during the filling and packaging processes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicant: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventor: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.
  • Publication number: 20130196044
    Abstract: A slush beverage formulation and method for preparing same that, once reaching a steady-state temperature in a freezer, results in a pourable slush. The pourable slush is obtained by formulating to a specific range of ingredient content, dependent on the alcohol content of the end product. In a preferred form, an ice-nucleating agent and/or an ice-particle-shape-controlling ingredient are added.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2010
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: Diageo Great Britain Limited
    Inventors: Scott Winston, Harry Levine, Louise Slade, Dennis Brooks
  • Patent number: 8474638
    Abstract: The plastic container includes a hollow body of plastic material having a lower supporting base, a sidewall extending upwardly from the lower base and an upper neck portion extending upwardly from the sidewall with an opening therein. The sidewall includes at least one panel having a central region and an outer boundary, with the outer boundary being depressed with respect to the central region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Plastipak Packaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Marc A. Pedmo, James C. Dorn, James J. Miller
  • Patent number: 8459479
    Abstract: A molded plastic container is shaped so as to resist deformation as a result of compressive forces that may be applied by the consumer during use. The container includes a pair of recessed grip portions that are molded into forward and rearward sides of the container and an outer handle portion. Reinforcing ribs are integrally molded into the forward and rearward sidewalls of the container in areas that are substantially adjacent to the recessed grip portions in order to provide additional crush resistance as the container is squeezed. Additionally, a torsional reinforcement rib is integrated into an upper side portion of the container in order to resist deformation of the container and the pouring opening of the container during pouring. The torsional reinforcement rib is integral with the two reinforcing ribs, which provides additional strength and pouring stability to the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Sheldon E. Yourist