Specified Gripping Structure Patents (Class 215/384)
  • Patent number: 8651307
    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 container may further employ a plurality of compression ribs molded into the sidewall portion—a first of the plurality of compression ribs intersecting a second of the plurality of compression ribs to form a rib interface, at least the first and the second of the plurality of compression ribs changing from a first shape to a second shape in response to cooling of the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Amcor Limited
    Inventors: Carlos E. Londoño, Susan Deemer
  • Publication number: 20140042119
    Abstract: Container having a helical grip translating down the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Brian Lee FLOYD, Philip Edwin HAGUE, Jason Craig CAMPBELL
  • Patent number: 8640900
    Abstract: A plastic container includes a shoulder portion having an annular rib defined therein and a generally cylindrical main body portion having a longitudinal axis. At least one gripping recess is defined in the main body portion that has an oblong shape when viewed in front elevation and that is defined in part by a curved concave inner surface when viewed in side elevation. The gripping recess includes a plurality of horizontal indentations, each of which is sized to receive a finger of a consumer when the plastic container is being gripped by the consumer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.
    Inventors: David B. Heisner, Stephen R. Guerin
  • Publication number: 20140021159
    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: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Applicant: YOSHINO KOGYOSHO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaaki SASAKI, Takayuki KOBAYASHI, Tomoyuki OZAWA, Takao IIZUKA
  • Publication number: 20130313222
    Abstract: A bottle which may be placed on a shelf or suspended from a fixture comprising an open-ended hollow body, first and second opposite axial ends, where the first axial end forms a bottom of the bottle and the second axial end forms a top of the bottle. The top of the bottle includes a tapered pouring neck. Suspension means is formed with the hollow body for suspending the wine bottle in a fixture. The suspension means is integrated with at least contralateral sidewalls of the hollow body and disposed superjacent to the bottom of the bottle but generally proximate to the bottom of the bottle. The suspension means may include a pair of annular recesses, a recessed annular ring or a protruding annular ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2013
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Inventor: John A. Guido
  • Patent number: 8584856
    Abstract: Containers for containing a laundry product, having a helical grip translating down the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Brian Lee Floyd, Philip Edwin Hague, Jason Craig Campbell
  • Patent number: 8567622
    Abstract: A container has a domed shaped top portion that is located above the body portion. The body portion connects with the domed shaped top portion via a waist portion that has a variable distance from the longitudinal axis of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Sheldon E. Yourist, Raymond A. Pritchett, Jr., Matthew T. Gill
  • Patent number: 8567635
    Abstract: A wine glass constructed from molded plastic includes an upper body defining an upwardly narrowed flume for concentrating the wine bouquet, in combination with a contoured lower base defining an annular moat surrounding a central punt for enhanced visual inspection of the wine. In addition, the upper body further includes a notched indent at an outboard side thereof forming a shelf for facilitated fingertip grasping and manipulation of the assembled glass. In one form, the upper body and lower base of the wine glass are provided as separate modules adapted for assembly to form the wine glass, and disassembly for respective compact stacking. In another form, the wine glass has a one-piece construction adapted for compact stacking by nested reception of the upwardly narrowed flume partially into the underside of the lower base of an overlying glass in the stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: By The Glass, LLC
    Inventors: Boyd I. Willat, Joseph T. Perrulli, Paul H. Velick
  • Patent number: 8567623
    Abstract: A hot-fill container has a body portion that may utilize interchangeable dome-like top portion. A top portion is located above the body portion and has a bumper portion located thereon. A bottom portion is located below the body portion and has a bumper portion located thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Sunil S. Shah, Benton A. Lewis, Sheldon E. Yourist, April M. Peacock
  • Patent number: 8567624
    Abstract: A bottle includes a top portion and a bottom portion. The top portion includes a shoulder that extends away from a neck of the bottle, and a grip portion. The grip portion is recessed within the top portion of the bottle. The bottle may include a vacuum panel array and/or a rib array to help improve strength, reduce material and accommodate deformation forces tending to collapse the bottle upon filling with pasteurized contents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph T. Coley, Jr., Robert Kleinrath, Daniel L. Witham, Tracy Momany, David Ryan, Masaaki Sasaki, Takao Iizuka, Michael T. Lane
  • Patent number: 8567625
    Abstract: A synthetic resin container including a mouth part 2, a shoulder part 3, a trunk part 4 and a bottom part 5, wherein the trunk part 4 has rectangular cylindrical parts 41 and 42, and a round cylindrical part 43 which is formed by narrowing into a cylindrical shape a region between the upper rectangular cylindrical part 41 positioned near the shoulder part 3 and the lower rectangular cylindrical part 42 positioned near the bottom part 5 side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Toyo Seikan Kaisha, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshinori Nemoto
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8556098
    Abstract: A bottle may have varying depth ribs to achieve a balance of strength and rigidity while maintaining hoop strength. The varying depth ribs may smoothly transition around the circumference of the bottle from a flattened and/or shallow depth rib portion to a deep rib portion. A collection of flattened and/or shallow depth ribs act as recessed columns in the body of the bottle to resist bending, leaning, crumbling, and/or stretching. The deep rib portions provide hoop strength and make the bottle body more rigid and/or stiffer when gripped by a user. A balance may be achieved between of flattened and/or shallow depth ribs and deep ribs to attain a desired resistance to bending, leaning, and/or stretching while maintaining stiffness in a lightweight bottle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Niagara Bottling, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Dimitri Peykoff, Jay Clarke Hanan
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20130256258
    Abstract: Provided is a plastic container for receiving liquids, comprising a base area, a main body adjoining to said base area in a longitudinal direction of the container, a shoulder area adjoining to said main body in the longitudinal direction of said container, and a mouth area adjoining to said shoulder area in the longitudinal direction of said container, said mouth area having a container mouth. The container has a gripping area provided between said main body and said container mouth in the longitudinal direction of said container. The external cross section of said gripping area is smaller than an average external cross section of said shoulder area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: Krones AG
    Inventors: Alexander Schau, Jochen Forsthoevel
  • Patent number: 8544674
    Abstract: A shaker has a container body, lid and sieve, with the lid and sieve detachably securable to one another, separate and apart from the lid and container body being detachably securable together. A substantially U-shaped track is situated around an internal surface of the lid to receive a mating projection of the sieve so that the sieve and lid can be snapped together in complementary fashion and detachably secured together by a snap fit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Inventor: Mikael Nilsson
  • Patent number: 8544668
    Abstract: This bottle with a handle in which the body portion is formed with a concave portion, the bottle includes a support projection portion projected outward in the radial direction on a bottom surface of the concave portion, and protrusion portions which are provided at both side portions of the support projection portion with a gap between the bottom surface and the protrusion portions laterally projecting, the handle includes a pair of mounting beams, a handle plate, and an engagement projection piece, and the pair of mounting beams are integrally provided in a bridged beam configured to connect each of the mounting beams in a state of being separated inward from the handle plate in the radial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Yoshino Kogyosho Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tadayori Nakayama
  • Patent number: 8540096
    Abstract: A container has a bottle enclosing a prescribed volume having a sidewall including a pair of recesses situated on opposite sides of a vertical midline, with at least one passage extending between the pair of recesses. A handle has first and second portions adapted to be received wholly within the pair of recesses in the sidewall. Connecting portions extend through the passage in a portion of the sidewall to connect the first and second handle portions to each other. The connecting portions include a hinge permitting the first and second portions to be displaced from within the sidewall recesses to a position projecting outward from the sidewall sufficiently to permit the first and second portions to be grasped in one hand by a user of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Inventor: Edward S. Robbins, III
  • Patent number: 8540097
    Abstract: A container enclosing a prescribed volume having a sidewall including at least one of recess, each recess including at least one socket portion. A handle element adapted to be received in each recess, each of the handle element including at least one ball portion received in the socket portion of the recess, the ball portion being pivotable within the socket portion so as to permit the handle element to be displaced from within the sidewall recesses to a position projecting outward from the sidewall sufficiently to permit the a middle portion of the handle element to be grasped in one hand by a user of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Inventors: Edward S. Robbins, III, Brian T. William
  • 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: 8528760
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a one-piece plastic container having a body defining a generally rectangular horizontal cross-section, and including a first pair of opposing sidewalls and a second pair of opposing sidewalls. The body has an upper portion, a shoulder region, a sidewall portion and a base. The shoulder region is integrally formed with and extends from the upper portion to the sidewall portion. The base closes off an end of the container. The shoulder region defines a pair of grip portions defined in part by a respective pair of pillars. Each pillar defines oppositely facing walls that are offset inboard relative to the respective second pair of opposing sidewalls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Amcor Limited
    Inventors: Michael T. Lane, Ivan Harris
  • Patent number: 8505757
    Abstract: A container comprising a finish, a sidewall portion having a vacuum panel, a shoulder portion extending between the finish and the sidewall portion, a base portion extending from the sidewall portion and enclosing the sidewall portion to form a volume therein for retaining a commodity, and first inwardly-directed rib extending circumferentially and continuously about the container at an interface between the sidewall portion and the shoulder portion. The first inwardly-directed rib directing top loading forces exerted generally on the finish down the sidewall portion along opposing sides of the vacuum panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Amcor Limited
    Inventors: Bradley S. Philip, Luke A. Mast
  • Publication number: 20130186848
    Abstract: A blow-molded container includes an opening section that can be closed, a side wall, and a closed bottom. The material in the region of the side wall is shaped by blow forming an injection-molded preform. At least three recessed grips are arranged along an outer perimeter of the container. At least two longitudinal ribs oriented in a longitudinal direction of the container are arranged between each pair of recessed grips. The longitudinal ribs are separated from each other by a recess, which also extends in a longitudinal direction. At least one circumferential rib, which extends in a circumferential direction of the container, is arranged inside each of the recessed grips.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2011
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Applicant: KHS CORPOPLAST GMBH
    Inventors: Pisarn Pasutanon, Matthias Gernhuber, Stefan Amariglio, Arne Wiese
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20130153532
    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: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventor: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20130140264
    Abstract: A bottle may have varying depth ribs to achieve a balance of strength and rigidity while maintaining hoop strength. The varying depth ribs may smoothly transition around the circumference of the bottle from a flattened and/or shallow depth rib portion to a deep rib portion. A collection of flattened and/or shallow depth ribs act as recessed columns in the body of the bottle to resist bending, leaning, crumbling, and/or stretching. The deep rib portions provide hoop strength and make the bottle body more rigid and/or stiffer when gripped by a user. A balance may be achieved between of flattened and/or shallow depth ribs and deep ribs to attain a desired resistance to bending, leaning, and/or stretching while maintaining stiffness in a lightweight bottle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: NIAGARA BOTTLING, LLC
    Inventor: NIAGARA BOTTLING, LLC
  • Patent number: 8381940
    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: April 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Co2 Pac Limited
    Inventors: David Melrose, Paul Kelley, John Denner
  • Publication number: 20120318767
    Abstract: A bottle with improved strength is provided. The bottle can have a liquid holding capacity of at least 2.5 gallons and can exhibit a drop impact resistance of at least 3 feet as measured by ASTMD 2463-95. The bottle can be formed from a substantially BPA-free material. The bottle can be used in liquid dispensers, such as water coolers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: EASTMAN CHEMICAL COMPANY
    Inventors: William Joseph Burgess, Thomas Joseph Pecorini, Cedric Perben, Calvin James Becker
  • Patent number: 8328033
    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 container may further have a plurality of compression ribs molded into the sidewall portion in vertical and horizontal directions—at least the vertical compression ribs being operable to change from a first shape to a second shape in response to cooling of the liquid and further extending inwardly within the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Amcor Limited
    Inventor: Luke A. Mast
  • Patent number: 8313005
    Abstract: A plastic container for a particulate product includes a base and a surrounding wall member upstanding therefrom which generally define a container main interior volume. A top connects to the surrounding wall member and includes a large opening sufficient to receive about a 5 inch cylinder therethrough. The surrounding wall member includes a pair of pinch pockets having a lateral opening separation W which is not greater than about 2.5 inches and/or a lateral minimum separation C of not greater than about 2.0. In some embodiment, a thumb receiving cavity is provided above the pinch pockets. The pinch pockets are configured and sized for easy grasping and holding of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Kraft Foods Global Brands, LLC
    Inventor: Leonard S. Scarola
  • Patent number: 8286815
    Abstract: A package includes a container having a closed bottom, an open top having an outwardly extending flange, and a body having an enclosed generally cylindrical perimeter surrounding a longitudinal axis between the bottom and the top. The body can include an opposed pair of longitudinally extending inward protrusions forming a graspable handle dividing the body into a front label surface occupying at least 180° of the body and a back label surface smaller than the front label surface. Each inward protrusion can include a plurality of longitudinal ridges on a forwardly facing surface to facilitate single handed grasping of the package. A plurality of circumferential ribs can be situated between an upper end of the inward protrusions and the outwardly extending flange to preserve the package shape during storage on commercial food storage racks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Amcor Rigid Plastic USA, Inc.
    Inventors: George A. Thierjung, James C. Gratke
  • Publication number: 20120228258
    Abstract: A plastic container includes a shoulder portion having an annular rib defined therein and a generally cylindrical main body portion having a longitudinal axis. At least one gripping recess is defined in the main body portion that has an oblong shape when viewed in front elevation and that is defined in part by a curved concave inner surface when viewed in side elevation. The gripping recess includes a plurality of horizontal indentations, each of which is sized to receive a finger of a consumer when the plastic container is being gripped by the consumer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2011
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: DAVID B. HEISNER, STEPHEN R. GUERIN
  • Publication number: 20120193321
    Abstract: The present invention is a liquid container having an internal storage cavity with a substantially cylindrical sidewall, a neck area and a base area. The neck area contains an opening at its apex to permit entry and egress of liquids. The neck area also contains a handle that runs across a concave indentation, which is also part of the neck area. Furthermore, the handle's first point and second point are contained completely within the neck area. The handle's curvature is substantially the same as the curvature of the neck and it outer arc having the same radian value as the outer arc of the neck area. Equal radian values camouflage the presence of the claimed handle, reducing its potential jarring appearance, while also retaining the same overall shape of the exterior arc, thus largely alleviating the need to retool or reconfigure existing bottle making equipment or storage equipment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2012
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Inventor: Robert Priessnitz
  • Patent number: 8186529
    Abstract: A pressure resistant thermoplastic container. The container may include a sidewall and a number of indentations formed in the sidewall. One or more of the indentations may include one or more reinforcements formed therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
    Inventors: Malcolm Kinmont, Tracey M. Momany, Robert J. Groll
  • Patent number: 8186528
    Abstract: An improved blow molded plastic container having generally rounded sidewalls that are adapted for hot-fill applications has two adjacent sides and two pairs of controlled deflection panels, each pair reacting to vacuum pressure at differing rates of movement, whereby one pair inverts under vacuum pressure and the other pair remains available for increased squeezability or extreme vacuum extraction. The opposing sidewalls are symmetric relative to vacuum panel and rib shape and placement. The ribs and controlled deflection panels cooperate to retain container shape upon filling and cooling and also improves bumper denting resistance, decreases vacuum pressure within the container, and increases light weight capability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignees: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.
    Inventors: David Melrose, Paul Kelley, Scott Bysick, Justin Howell
  • Patent number: 8162162
    Abstract: The object of this invention is to provide a container having a reduced area of vacuum-absorbing panels and thus acquiring improved appearance and having strength against a pressure drop, i.e., the strength enough to retain the shape of the container even when there is a pressure drop inside the container. A shoulder portion or a bottom portion of a resin-made storage container is molded by aligning one or two groups of three corners and one or two groups of three pillars vertically and in parallel to the central axis of the container. Each group of three corners is a part of the corners forming a cross-section of a regular enneagon and being connected to either the shoulder portion or the bottom portion, and the lines connecting these three corners form a regular triangle. Each group of three pillars is a part of the pillars belonging to the body and forming a cross-section of a hexagon, and the lines connecting these three pillars form a regular triangle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignees: Suntory Holdings Limited, Yoshino Kogyosho Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Hata, Naokazu Fujita, Toshimasa Tanaka, Masaaki Sasaki, Takao Iizuka
  • Patent number: 8152011
    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: November 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Amphipod, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith S. Willows, June A. Angus, Antonio Del Rosario
  • Patent number: 8141732
    Abstract: A bottle. The bottle may include a cup with a number of first conical sections, a lid with a number of second conical sections, and a closure positioned on the lid. The upper conical sections mate with the lower conical sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
    Inventors: Jeremie F. Bohen, Donna B. Baida, Paul McLaughlin
  • Patent number: 8141733
    Abstract: A plastic beverage container that can withstand deformation by positive pressure and that can be stably stored lying on its side is provided. The beverage container for storing a product under positive pressure includes a body portion having an outer wall made of plastic, and the body portion has a symmetrical cross-sectional shape formed by a plurality of circular arcs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
    Inventor: Kenshi Matsuoka
  • Patent number: 8127970
    Abstract: A bottle formed of a food-grade plastic material, such as clear polyethylene terephthalate, may include a frustoconical neck portion, a shoulder region, a base region, and a sidewall portion have opposed grip-enhancing surfaces, and elastically deformable pressure panels. A cap for the container may include a valve to control product leakage, and may be sized to allow inversion of the bottle. A generally trapezoidal tab of the cap may be moveable between a closed position covering a cap orifice and an open position outside the plane of the cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: H.J. Heinz Company
    Inventors: Wayne C. Cleary, Michael D. McMahon
  • Patent number: 8123059
    Abstract: A synthetic resin bottle including a body having a bottom, wherein the body is divided by a waist into an upper body portion and a lower body portion. The bottle is easily portable and operable without requiring an additional handle, etc. and has high buckling strength. The bottle has a dome-shaped upper body portion connected, with the waist in between, to the lower body portion having the bottom, a shoulder surrounding the upper end of the upper body portion, and a tubular neck part connected to the shoulder. Two depressions facing each other are arranged on the rear side of the upper body portion along its circumferential direction. The portion formed between the depressions functions as a grip, and vertical ribs are each provided on a step surface formed on the front side of each depression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Yoshino Kogyosho Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Keiji Shimamoto, Masaaki Sasaki, Tadayori Nakayama
  • Patent number: 8113370
    Abstract: A container structure for a hot fill liquid may employ an upper portion defining a mouth, a shoulder portion integrally formed with and extending downward from the upper portion, a bottom portion defining a base, and a body and sidewall extending between and joining the shoulder and bottom portions. The sidewall may employ a pair of opposing columns oriented diagonally relative to the base and concave inward relative to a container central vertical axis before the container is filled. The columns become concave inward to a lesser extent when the bottle is under an interior vacuum. The sidewall may also employ a pair of opposing, compound angle vacuum panels oriented diagonally relative to the base. A vacuum initiator groove is formed in each of the vacuum panels to initiate panel movement during liquid content cooling. The vacuum initiator groove is generally coincident with a vacuum panel longitudinal centerline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Amcor Limited
    Inventors: Liye Zhang, Anna Wilcox, Rohit V. Joshi, Juan Sancho, Richard J. Steih
  • Patent number: 8113369
    Abstract: A blow molded container has a neck portion defining a mouth. The neck portion leads into a shoulder portion and a bottom portion forms a container base. A sidewall portion connects the shoulder portion and the bottom portion and employs a first pair of opposing convex vacuum panels and a second pair of opposing convex vacuum panels. The first pair of opposing convex vacuum panels is larger in surface area than the second pair of opposing convex vacuum panels. A vertical column at each corner of the container joins the first pair of opposing vacuum panels to the second pair of opposing vacuum panels. A structural convex arch resides above and below each convex vacuum panel. Each of the vertical columns are molded into the structural convex arches. Vacuum initiator grooves may be molded into the first and second pair of opposing vacuum panels to control vacuum panel movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Amcor Limited
    Inventors: Luke A. Mast, Walter J. Strasser, David Downing, Frederick C. Beuerle
  • Patent number: 8109398
    Abstract: A plastic container that particularly adapted for hot-fill applications includes a bottom portion; and a sidewall portion that is unitary with the bottom portion. The sidewall portion has a maximum outer diameter, and includes first and second pairs of opposing first and second vacuum panels, respectively. At least one of the second vacuum panels includes gripping structure. The first and second vacuum panels respectively have first and second substantially constant radii of curvature as measured in a horizontal plane that are substantially constant from upper to lower ends of the vacuum panels. At least one of the second vacuum panels may be asymmetric about a central vertical axis as viewed in side elevation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Benton A. Lewis, Luis Carvallo, Justin A. Howell
  • Patent number: 8104632
    Abstract: There is provided a synthetic resin bottle having high commercial value, which prevents plastic deformation accompanied with buckling. The invention provides a PET bottle comprising a body portion connected to a mouth portion via a shoulder portion, and a constricted portion provided on the body portion and looping along the circumferential direction. The body portion comprises a front wall and a back wall which face to each other, a left sidewall and a right sidewall which face to each other, and connecting portion which respectively join the walls. The cross section of the body portion along the circumferential direction a generally polygonal outer profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Yoshino Kogyosho Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaaki Sasaki, Takao Iizuka
  • Patent number: 8091720
    Abstract: Plastic bottle including a body (9) extending along a central axis (Z) that includes a lower portion (3) with a substantially constant cross section; followed by a gripping portion (4); and terminated by an upper portion (5) with a substantially constant section and arranged to correspond with the cross section of the lower portion. The gripping portion (4) includes two globally plane gripping panels (41) arranged to be parallel to each other and to the central axis (Z) at a distance convenient for gripping with the hands. These panels have at least one reinforcing relief (44; 45) extending in a transverse plane, and are connected to each other by connecting panels (42) extending along the lower portion (3) and the upper portion (5), through rounded angles located at the circumferential ends of the panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: SA des Eaux Minerales d'Evian SAEME
    Inventor: Alain Colloud
  • Patent number: 8087525
    Abstract: A container adapted to increase volume contraction and reduce pressure having four panels that are adapted to contract inwardly from vacuum forces created by contraction of container contents. The container has a sidewall including four panels. The four panels are vacuum panels, including vertical transitional walls disposed between and joining the panels and the body is adapted to increase volume contraction and reduce pressure. The panels are adapted to contract inwardly in response to internal negative pressure created during hot-fill processing and subsequent cooling of a hot liquid in the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Paul Kelley, Scott Bysick, Justin Howell