Specified Gripping Structure Patents (Class 215/384)
  • Patent number: 7556164
    Abstract: The present invention provides synthetic resin thin-walled bottle container (10, 20, 30) including a mouth portion (11) for filling or discharging contents, a body portion (12, 22, 32) extending from the mouth portion (11) along the center axis (A) of the container, and a heel portion (H10, H20, H30) provided at the bottom part (13, 23, 33) of the body portion (12, 22, 32) for placing, thereon, the body portion (12, 22, 32) in a self-supporting manner. The heel portion (H10, H20, H30, H40) includes a sidewall (14, 24, 34) formed of a curved surface (R11, R21, R31) that is recessed toward the inside of the container (10). Thus, even with a reduced amount of the resin, the container (10, 20, 30) can be stably self-supported without causing inclination or buckling at the heel portion (H10, H20, H30), under a load applied in the center axis (A) direction thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Yoshino Kogyosho Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Noriyuki Tanaka, Takao Iizuka
  • Publication number: 20090166314
    Abstract: A plastic bottle is provided with a constricted portion and a non-constricted portion contiguous above and below with the constricted portion. One of the constricted portion or the non-constricted portion has a substantially polygonal cross-sectional shape, and the other one of the constricted portion or the non-constricted portion has a circular cross-sectional shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Inventor: Kenshi Matsuoka
  • Publication number: 20090159557
    Abstract: The bottle-shaped plastic container comprises a hollow body with an integrated hand-grip. The hand-grip is constituted by a palm-recess and two opposite finger-recesses; said palm-recess has preferably a depth of at least 5 mm; said two opposite finger-recesses are an extension of the bottom of said palm-recess, and the bottom of said palm-recess comprising ribs that extend in the finger-recesses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2007
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Applicant: AMCOR LIMITED
    Inventors: Matthias De Vel, An Boeckx
  • Publication number: 20090107999
    Abstract: A container assembly includes a container having an unthreaded finish portion and a closure having a downwardly depending sidewall and blocking structure provided at a lower end of the sidewall for securing the closure on to the unthreaded finish portion. The sidewall is provided with a predetermined area of weakness so that in the event that an attempt is made to remove the closure from the container the predetermined area of weakness will rupture, leaving the closure with insufficient structural integrity to be successfully reapplied to the container. The container assembly has particular utility for use in packaging brand-name comestibles such as ketchup for restaurant use. It will frustrate efforts by the restaurant to replenish the brand-name comestible with a cheaper replacement within a dispensing container that is still labeled with the brand of the original product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2007
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Applicant: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: CRAIG CALDWELL, JOSEPH B. LABADIE, LANCE J. NOVOTNY, RICHARD R. JOHNSTON
  • Publication number: 20090095701
    Abstract: A bottle that has at least one thinnest portion in which the wall thickness of the bottle is less than 0.1 mm and preferably less than 0.05 mm, and a method for producing such a bottle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2008
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Applicant: KRONES AG
    Inventor: Jochen Forsthovel
  • Patent number: 7481325
    Abstract: A container includes a hollow body having a finish extending from the body. The finish has an open end, at least one external thread for securement of a closure, and a pair of spaced external circumferential flanges on a side of the thread remote from the open end of the finish. A bale handle includes a ring having resilient internal tabs captured beneath the lower of the flanges remote from the open end of the finish, and a handle extending from the ring for carrying the container. The upper flange, which preferably has a greater outside diameter than the lower flange, has an undersurface that is free of obstruction from the bale handle and therefore is adapted to perform support functions for the container after attachment of the bale handle to the container finish.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Graham Packaging PET Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Charles P Simpson, Jr., Stephen R Guerin, David P Piccioli, Qiuchen Peter Zhang
  • Publication number: 20090020498
    Abstract: The invention relates to a plastic container having a neck, shoulder, base and body portion. There are longitudinal base panel portions with rounded, longitudinal base panel edges separating each of said flattened portions from each other at a waist. The waist has a circumferential dimension less than the base and is positioned between the body portion and the base. The body portion is positioned between the waist and the circular shoulder and has flexible, substantially flat longitudinal body panels and rounded, longitudinal body panel edges separating adjacent body panels from each other and merging with the longitudinal panel edges of said base. The longitudinal body edges increase in width as the body longitudinally merges with the circular shoulder portion, and the circular shoulder portion has a rounded portion transitioning into and merging with the body panels, and a sloping portion of reducing diameter merging with the neck.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2008
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Applicant: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventor: SHELDON YOURIST
  • Publication number: 20080308522
    Abstract: An easy open bottle having grooves for the fingers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2008
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Applicant: ALCAN GLOBAL PHARMACEUTICAL PACKAGING INC.
    Inventor: Don F. Yeager
  • Patent number: 7455189
    Abstract: A rectangular plastic container having a shoulder region adapted for vacuum pressure absorption, a sidewall portion having a rigid support ledge and a tapered base structure having an octagonal shaped footprint. The shoulder region including vacuum panels being moveable to accommodate vacuum related forces generated within the container. The shoulder region, sidewall portion and base each having differing horizontal cross sectional shapes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Amcor Limited
    Inventors: Michael T. Lane, Dan Weissmann, John Nievierowski, Brad Caszatt
  • Publication number: 20080277374
    Abstract: In a bottle container, such as a pet bottle, provided with a mouth portion 2 that serves as a port extracting the content, a shoulder portion 3 extending downward from the lower end of the mouth portion 2, a rectangular body portion 4 extending downward from the lower end of the shoulder portion 3 and a bottom portion 5 extending inward from the lower end of the body portion 4, wherein a finger hanging concave portion 9 serving as a finger grip when lifting the bottle container 1 is formed on at least a pair of surfaces opposite to each other in the shoulder portion 3. This structure makes easy to take out the bottle container 1 from a casing or refrigerator while avoiding a remarkable reduction in capacity and cost up.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2006
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Applicant: TOYO SEIKAN KAISHA, LTD.
    Inventor: Masaki Miura
  • Publication number: 20080257858
    Abstract: The invention relates to a container (1) for liquid contents, comprising a closure means for reclosing the container. The container has a pouring spout portion (6) made of two opposite side walls (2) and provided with a removable end flap (8). The closure means comprises a squeezing means (7), which is permanently arranged on said pouring spout portion (6) and comprises a first and a second leg (9, 10), which are joined to each other by a joining means (11). The closure means also comprises a connecting portion (20, 21) which is permanently connected to the pouring spout portion (6), and a joint means (19) which is arranged between the joining means (11) and the connecting portion (20, 21). The joint means allows mutual relative turning of the first and the second leg to open and close the squeezing means. The invention also relates to such a closure means for reclosing of a container, and use of such a closure means for opening and reclosing a container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2006
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Applicant: ECO LEAN RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT A/S
    Inventors: Per Abrahamsson, Per Gustafsson
  • Patent number: 7438704
    Abstract: A bottomed conical hollow 6b is formed in a tip end of the container body A formed of a thermoplastic material with a liquid filled and sealed therein simultaneously during the molding process, the hollow having an inside diameter enlarging toward the tip end, and a small-diameter instilling hole 6c is penetrated through the bottom of the hollow 6b for controlling, at a set quantity, the liquid pushed out of the container body A.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Santen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoichi Kawashima, Yukio Kusu
  • Patent number: 7438196
    Abstract: The invention relates to a plastic container having a neck, shoulder, base and body portion. There are longitudinal base panel portions with rounded, longitudinal base panel edges separating each of said flattened portions from each other at a waist. The waist has a circumferential dimension less than the base and is positioned between the body portion and the base. The body portion is positioned between the waist and the circular shoulder and has flexible, substantially flat longitudinal body panels and rounded, longitudinal body panel edges separating adjacent body panels fern each other and merging with the longitudinal panel edges of said base The longitudinal body edges increase in width as the body longitudinally merges with the circular shoulder portion, and the circular shoulder portion has a rounded portion transitioning into and merging with the body panels, and a sloping portion of reducing diameter merging with the neck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Sheldon Yourist
  • Publication number: 20080251492
    Abstract: A blow molded container is blow molded with improved gripping areas. The gripping areas of the container contain a layer of an elastomer which has a greater coefficient of friction than the coefficient of friction of the container surface. The elastomer preferably is selectively on the gripping areas for that container with the surface of the remainder of the container being that of the container as formed. The container is formed from a preform that has an elastomer layer of a size and shape to produce the elastomer on the gripping area of the container, providing a blow mold with a negative of the container and gripping area on the inner surface of the mold, orienting the preform in the mold such that the elastomer layer on the preform is adjacent to the negative of the gripping area on the inner surface of the mold, and injecting a gas into the preform to blow mold the container with the gripping areas overmolded with a layer of the elastomer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2008
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Applicant: COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY
    Inventor: Yui Shi
  • Patent number: 7431169
    Abstract: To provide a synthetic resin bottle with a handle that can be manufactured at a low cost and can be used reliably, a synthetic resin bottle with a handle includes a bottle; and a handle comprising a grip disposed at the upper rear portion of said bottle, an upper arm extending forward from the upper end of the grip, and a pair of lower arms that extends to the right and the left from the lower end of the grip and pinch body of the bottle from both sides. The fore-end of the upper fitting arm is fitted to neck ring formed in the lower portion of neck of the bottle and is secured firmly by undercut engagement with the neck ring, and wherein fore-ends of the pair of the lower arms are fitted to bases of a pair of raised portions disposed on both sidewalls of the body of the bottle similarly by the undercut engagement with the raised portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Yoshino Kogyosho Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Ishikawa, Masaaki Sasaki, Takao Iizuka
  • Patent number: 7416090
    Abstract: An improved hot fillable container includes a bottom and a sidewall connected with the bottom so as to define an internal space. The sidewall is shaped so as to define in transverse cross-section in at least one location a substantially circular outer circumference. The sidewall further includes first and second convex label panel portions each having a convexly curved outer surface. Advantageously, the sidewall is constructed and arranged so that deformation of the sidewall in response to a partial vacuum condition within the internal space will occur primarily in the convex label panel portions. The structure permits the hot fillable container to be constructed without the use of concave vacuum panel portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: Constar International Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Mooney, Satya Kamineni
  • Publication number: 20080197102
    Abstract: A beverage container comprising a container body (3) including an opening and a plurality of recesses (80) in an exterior surface thereof, a cap (5) for closing the opening, and a collar (73) having a plurality of flaps (13) engagement with the recesses (80) to mount the collar (73) on the container body (3), the cap (5) and the collar (73) being connected to each other by a screw thread such that when secured together the collar (73) and hence the cap (5) is secured to the container body (3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2005
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Applicant: DUBOIS LIMITED
    Inventors: Peter Antony Farrar, John Hein, Anthony Henry Joseph Fraser, William George Dando
  • Publication number: 20080179277
    Abstract: A beverage container with a grip formed in side and bottom walls thereof. The grip includes a V-shaped groove on a side wall that receives a finger of a consumer (e.g., a thumb or set of fingers) and a recess formed in a bottom wall of the container to receive one or more other fingers of the consumer's hand. When gripped in this fashion a lower corner of the bottle may be located in the palm of the consumer's hand. The groove in the side wall is formed in the side wall sufficiently close to the bottom wall to allow the hands of most consumers to use the grip. The V shape points upward. Either side of the V can be used depending on whether the consumer wishes to grip with their right hand or their left hand.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Inventors: JOHN A. EATON, William R. Eaton, Erica S. Nozato
  • Publication number: 20080173614
    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: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2007
    Publication date: July 24, 2008
    Inventor: Kenshi Matsuoka
  • Publication number: 20080149588
    Abstract: In a bottle 1 having a waist groove 61 and a grasping recess 63 nearly in the center of the height direction of a body portion 4 for imparting the sloped surface of a waist portion with necessary strength and restoring capability so that the denting and deformation of the sloped surface of the waist portion are prevented and for forming an easily graspable container even if it is a thin-wall container of which the weight has been decreased, a finger receiving recess 62 having the form of a convex curved surface toward an inside of the container is formed in a region including a container bottom portion side connecting face 61c of the waist groove 61.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2006
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Applicant: TOYO SEIKAN KAISHA, LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Nemoto, Masaki Miura, Noriaki Ushio
  • Patent number: 7374055
    Abstract: A plastic container having a first portion, a second portion, and a waist between the first portion and the second portion. The waist includes a first angled portion coupled to the first portion, a second angled portion coupled to the second portion, and a curved portion connecting the first angled portion to the second angled portion for forming a deformable region for preventing a catastrophic failure of the waist when the plastic container is filled and capped and subjected to an external force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Willie Hatcher, Toshi Kojitani, David B. Heisner, Bret Sabold
  • Publication number: 20080110854
    Abstract: A container is provided with integral gripping features. The gripping features are preferably provided in two opposing groups located on opposite sides of the mid-section of the container. The gripping features include a plurality of finger grips that are adapted to conform to the placement of the thumb and fingers when grasping the container. The finger grips are elliptical shaped cavities, and ridges extend between each of the adjacent finger grips.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2006
    Publication date: May 15, 2008
    Applicant: COORS BREWING COMPANY
    Inventor: Jason M. Kelly
  • Publication number: 20080093332
    Abstract: A blow molded, hollow plastic container including two opposed, relatively longer sidewall and shoulder portions which alternate with two opposed, relatively shorter sidewall and shoulder portions. A first of the relatively shorter sidewall portions includes a grip area in the upper portion of the first relatively shorter sidewall portion, and the opposed second relatively shorter sidewall and shoulder portions includes a pour area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Inventors: J. Steven Little, James J. Miller
  • Publication number: 20080087628
    Abstract: A flexible hot fill container includes a body having a label portion and a flex portion. The flex portion includes flex panels and support structure fields. Both the support structure fields and flex panels deform inwardly upon vacuum conditions. Recess sidewalls in the flex panels provide support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2005
    Publication date: April 17, 2008
    Applicant: CONSTAR INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Monis Bangi, Michael R. Mooney
  • Publication number: 20080083695
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a one-piece plastic container having a body defining a generally rectangular horizontal cross section. The container includes a first pair of opposing sidewalls and a second pair of opposing sidewalls. The body includes an upper portion, a sidewall portion and a base. The sidewall portion is integrally formed with and extends from the upper portion to the base. The base closes off an end of the container. The sidewall portion defines a grip portion having a pair of first walls that converge with a pair of second walls. The pair of first walls extend inboard from the first pair of opposing sidewalls. The pair of second walls extend inboard from the second pair of opposing sidewalls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2006
    Publication date: April 10, 2008
    Inventor: John A. Nievierowski
  • Publication number: 20080083696
    Abstract: A plastic container including an upper end having an aperture defining an opening of the container. A lower end defines a base of the container. A sidewall portion merges into a grip portion and extends between the upper end and the lower end. The sidewall portion and the grip portion each include a plurality of horizontal ribs. The horizontal ribs of the sidewall portion each include at least one chamfered rib that provides additional structural strength and support to the container during hot fill, packaging and shipping operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2006
    Publication date: April 10, 2008
    Inventors: John A. Nievierowski, Michael T. Lane, Christopher LaBombarbe
  • Patent number: 7350657
    Abstract: A beverage container with a grip formed in side and bottom walls thereof. The grip includes a V-shaped groove on a side wall that receives a finger of a consumer (e.g., a thumb or set of fingers) and a recess formed in a bottom wall of the container to receive one or more other fingers of the consumer's hand. When gripped in this fashion a lower corner of the bottle may be located in the palm of the consumer's hand. The groove in the side wall is formed in the side wall sufficiently close to the bottom wall to allow the hands of most consumers to use the grip. The V shape points upward. Either side of the V can be used depending on whether the consumer wishes to grip with their right hand or their left hand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Mott's LLP
    Inventors: John A. Eaton, William R. Eaton, Erica S. Nozato
  • Patent number: 7350658
    Abstract: A container includes a top portion and a bottom portion. The top portion includes a shoulder that extends away from a neck of the container, and a grip portion. The grip portion defines an integral logo portion and is recessed within the top portion of the container. A waist or groove is provided on adjacent lateral sides of the grip portion and may include a lateral stiffening rib. The bottom portion of the container includes a plurality of vacuum panels that accommodate for internal forces tending to cause collapse of the vacuum panels during a hot-fill process. Any portion of the internal forces not accommodated by the vacuum panels in the bottom portion of the container is accommodated by an auxiliary vacuum panel, which is provided in the grip portion of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc.
    Inventors: Raymond A. Bourque, Ralph T. Coley, Jr., Takao Iizuka, Masaaki Sasaki
  • Patent number: 7347337
    Abstract: A feeding bottle including an upper and lower circular-shaped cylindrical body portion having a first radius, a generally triangular-shaped cylindrical body portion intermediate the cylindrical upper and lower body portions, wherein said generally triangular body portion includes a first and a second planar wall and an arched third wall defined by a third radius perpendicular to said central longitudinal axis to provide a “V-shaped” section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Bristol-Myers Squibb Company - Mead Johnson & Company
    Inventors: Joseph E. Schultheis, Thomas C. Horton
  • Publication number: 20080041812
    Abstract: A blow-molded container has a base with a polygonal perimeter. A lower margin joins the base to a side wall extending upward to an upper margin. A shoulder extends upward and axially inward above the upper margin to a finish defining an opening for a closure. The upper and lower margins of the side wall having a plurality of horizontal linear segments joined together by corner portions. An even number of horizontally adjacent planar segments are joined together to define a polygonal waist located between the upper and lower margins. A vacuum responsive panel is situated between each of the linear segments of the upper and lower margins and an aligned waist planar segment. Lateral edges of each vacuum responsive panel are joined by generally vertical, axially converging surfaces extending between each margin corner portion and an aligned planar segment of the waist.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2006
    Publication date: February 21, 2008
    Inventor: Adam P.S. Stowitts
  • Patent number: 7318533
    Abstract: An improved blow molded plastic non-round container having rectangular sidewalls is adapted for hot-fill applications. The hot-fill container has vacuum panel reinforcement panels with rib structures located in a label mounting area on the sidewalls. In each panel, the ribs extend across the panel and are parallel to each other where the edge of one rib faces in each array faces inward and the others in the array face outward. The inward rib resists the bulge of the panel and improves bumper denting, ease of manufacture and light weigh capability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Paul V. Kelley
  • Patent number: 7296703
    Abstract: A polymer container suitable for hot-filling featuring a pinch-grip vacuum panel combination having a flexible-field and a generally ridged pinch-grip that accommodates vacuum related forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Amcor Limited
    Inventor: Michael T Lane
  • Patent number: 7287658
    Abstract: A polymeric container for holding a fluid and a gas includes a specially designed base. The base includes an annular outer ridge connected to a convex dome by a flexible annular joint. During a hot fill operation, the structure of the base resists outward deformation. The top is then sealed. During the subsequent cooling of the container, the interior volume decreases forcing the dome upward toward the top of the container thereby reducing the tendency of the sidewall to inwardly collapse. In an embodiment of the invention, the sidewall of the container has a plurality of internally protruding diagonal ridges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Berry Plastics Corporation
    Inventors: Steven M. Johnson, Joseph J. Bruchman
  • Patent number: 7228981
    Abstract: A plastic container includes a body of one-piece integrally blow-molded construction. The body has an hourglass shape in side elevation with a waist, a base and a shoulder, and at least one helical external rib extending at least one full turn around the waist. The hourglass shape provides as a result of the blow molding operation minimum hoop stretch and extra thickness and strength at the waist, and maximum hoop stretch and minimum thickness at the shoulder and base. The helical rib at the waist of the container gives mechanical stiffness and resiliency for gripping and squeezing the container at the waist, yet allows angular movement of the shoulder with respect to the base to enhance flexibility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, LP
    Inventor: Brian J. Chisholm
  • Patent number: 7198164
    Abstract: A hot-fillable blow molded plastic container having a finish with an opening; a base; a lower bumper transition; an upper bumper transition and a tubular dome. The upper bumper transition and lower bumper transition defines a label mounting region. The label mounting region includes a circumferential ring adjacent to the upper bumper transition a vacuum panel. The tubular dome can be between the upper bumper transition and the finish and can has a cross sectional shape that is substantially the same throughout. The tubular dome includes an upper bell and a lower bell separated by a peripheral waist that has a diameter less than that of the upper and lower bell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Sheldon Yourist, Angie Noll, Richard K. Ogg
  • Patent number: 7191910
    Abstract: A hot fill, blow molded plastic container adapted for vacuum pressure absorption having a pair of flex panels and a pair of columns. The flex panels being defined in at least part by a central portion and a perimeter wall portion adjacent to and generally surrounding the central portion. The flex panels being movable to accommodate internal thermally induced volumetric and pressure variations in the container resulting from heating and cooling of its contents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Amcor Limited
    Inventors: David A. Deemer, Hassan Mourad
  • Patent number: 7178684
    Abstract: A hot-fill container is of one-piece plastic construction that includes a base, a sidewall extending from the base, a dome connected to the sidewall and a neck finish extending from the dome. The sidewall has an hourglass shape as viewed in side elevation with ends connected to the base and the dome. The sidewall includes a circumferential series of vacuum panels that are flexible inwardly with respect to the remainder of the sidewall. The vacuum panels preferably are rectangular as viewed in side elevation and concave as viewed tangentially of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Graham Packaging PET Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Todd M. Budden, Charles P. Simpson, Jr., Dennis A. Rogers
  • Patent number: 7178687
    Abstract: A molded plastic container with a sidewall having a general hourglass configuration. The container structure includes an upper rim, a bottom and a sidewall that extends between the upper rim and the bottom. The sidewall includes a lower frustum section, a narrow mid-section and an upper frustum section. The lower frustum section connects the bottom to the narrow mid-section and decreases in width as it extends from the bottom to the narrow mid-section. The upper frustum section extends from the upper rim to the narrow mid-section and decreases in width as it extends from the upper rim to the mid-section. A method of making such a container, a method of hot-filling such a container and a method of retorting material enclosed in such a container are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Consolidated Container Company LP
    Inventors: Grover John Manderfield, Jr., Ted L. Beaver
  • Patent number: 7172087
    Abstract: A plastic container includes a finish, a shoulder extending from the finish, a closed base, and a sidewall connecting the shoulder to the base. The sidewall is of blow molded construction and generally uniform wall thickness. The sidewall has an array of circumferentially spaced longitudinally extending radially recessed channels, and an array of axially spaced circumferentially extending radially recessed channels intersecting the longitudinally extending channels. The longitudinally extending channels have radially inner portions that lie on an hourglass-shaped common surface of revolution around the axis of the container sidewall. In the preferred embodiments of the invention, a plurality of axially and circumferentially spaced land areas are disposed in spaces between the intersecting longitudinally and circumferentially extending channels, with the land areas lying on a common surface of revolution, preferably a cylindrical surface of revolution, around the axis of the container sidewall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, LP
    Inventors: Timothy P. Axe, Qiuchen Peter Zhang, Charles P. Simpson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7168582
    Abstract: The container includes a hollow body of plastic material having a lower supporting base, a sidewall extending upwardly from the lower base, and an upper portion extending upwardly from the sidewall. The upper portion includes at least one opening therein. Two label panels are provided on the container spaced from each other, one on the upper portion and one on the sidewall. An integral handle is also provided positioned at least in part on the sidewall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Plastipak Packaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard C. Darr, James C. Dorn, Richard A. Lovelace, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7159729
    Abstract: A container is disclosed. The container may be a hot-fill container having an improved geometry. The container may comprise a base, a body portion attached to the base and a concave waist attached to the body portion and having a surface. The surface including a plurality of axial apexes and troughs alternately arranged around the waist. A dome may be attached to the waist. A finish may be attached to the dome, the finish having an opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Bret Sabold, Angie Noll, Paul Kelley
  • Patent number: 7118002
    Abstract: A pinch grip type bottle-shaped container (10) has opposed finger-receiving recesses (11) at sidewall regions of a container main body part, respectively, to thereby form a grip part (G) of the container (10), by the entire region including the recesses and a back surface region of the body part between the recesses. The container according to the invention is provided, at bottom surfaces of the recesses that can be touched and held (11), with multiple projections (14) projecting inwardly or outwardly of the container, thereby improving mold-releasability after the molding process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Yoshino Kogyosho Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiromichi Saito, Takao Iizuka
  • Patent number: 7097060
    Abstract: Blow-molded containers such as the 1.75-liter size for liquor beverages have an everting grip problem. Using inwardly facing grip geometry, consisting of two convex surfaces that come together at an inward ridge, eliminates the problem. The combination of the two convex surface sidewalls further eliminates the need for lateral reinforcing ribs in both cold-fill and hot-fill containers. The curved sidewalls come together at an edge offset the central axis of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Amcor Limited
    Inventors: Michael E. Penny, John A. Nievierowski, Jonathan P. Jarman
  • Patent number: 7097061
    Abstract: A container includes a hollow body having a finish extending from the body. The finish has an open end, at least one external thread for securement of a closure, and a pair of spaced external circumferential flanges on a side of the thread remote from the open end of the finish. A bale handle includes a ring having resilient internal tabs captured beneath the lower of the flanges remote from the open end of the finish, and a handle extending from the ring for carrying the container. The upper flange, which preferably has a greater outside diameter than the lower flange, has an undersurface that is free of obstruction from the bale handle and therefore is adapted to perform support functions for the container after attachment of the bale handle to the container finish.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Graham Packaging PET Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Charles P. Simpson, Jr., Stephen R. Guerin, David P. Piccioli, Qiuchen Peter Zhang
  • Patent number: 7080747
    Abstract: A hot fill, blow molded plastic container adapted for vacuum pressure absorption and top load force enhancement having a waist region, and generally rectangular shaped vacuum panels and columns equidistantly spaced about the container. The waist region being movable to accommodate top load forces. The vacuum panels being movable to accommodate internal thermally induced volumetric and pressure variations in the container resulting from heating and cooling of its contents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: Amcor Limited
    Inventors: Michael T. Lane, Daniel W. Gamber
  • Patent number: 7080746
    Abstract: A bottle-shaped container according to the present invention is of pinch grip type and includes a container body having opposed recesses formed at sidewall regions of a main body portion of the container body, respectively, to thereby form a grip part of the container by an entire region of the main body portion between the recesses, including the back surface region. The bottle-shaped container further includes a pressure-reduction absorbing panel at the back surface region, having an upper end arranged at a height substantially coincident with that of an upper end of the grip part, and steps provided along the edges of the recesses forming the grip part, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: Yoshino Kogyosho Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiromichi Saito, Takao Iizuka
  • Patent number: 7080748
    Abstract: A container made of thermoplastic synthetic resin having a central axis extending longitudinally, and having a body, wherein the body has a left and a right symmetrically relating to the central axis, each of the left and right is formed with a distortion-absorbing portion in response to a pressure change in the container, each of the distortion-absorbing portions is formed with a grip portion, and each of the grip portions includes a central portion of the left and the right, has an area an area smaller than an area of the distortion-absorbing portion, and has a depth larger than a depth of the distortion-absorbing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: Yoshino Kogyosho Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaaki Sasaki, Takao Iizuka
  • Patent number: 7073675
    Abstract: A container includes an enclosed base portion. A body portion extends upwardly from the base portion. The body portion includes a central longitudinal axis and at least six deflectable panels. The deflectable panels have side edges extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis. A top portion with a finish extending upwardly from the body portion is provided. A first indentation is disposed between the body portion and the top portion and extends for 360 degrees around the container. The first indentation is offset towards the central longitudinal axis with respect to the deflectable panels. A second indentation is disposed between the body portion and the base portion and extends for 360 degrees around the container. The indentations are offset towards the central longitudinal axis with respect to the deflectable panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, B.B.
    Inventor: Greg Trude
  • Patent number: 7063222
    Abstract: In a plastic container manufactured by melting blow molding a heated and molten parison extruded from an extruder, a mouth 3 and/or a specified part of a body 2 has a thicker thickness than the body proper. One or more thick parts of the body 2 are continuously or discontinuously formed over part or all a peripheral, height or helical direction of the body of the container. The container enjoys enhanced rigidity, appearance and functionality even when the thickness of its body is considerably reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Toyo Seikan Kaisha, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiki Sakaguchi, Yuzuru Maruyama, Kenjiro Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7055706
    Abstract: A drink bottle has a side wall and a floor together forming an interior drink space, an array of tubes extending away from the floor, defining an downwardly open compartment and a plurality of windows, having upper ends in fluid communication with the drink space at the floor, and having lower ends remote from the floor. A hollow base ring spaced from the floor is attached to the lower ends and in fluid communication through the tubes with the drink space. A container adapted to hold ice is fitted inside the compartment and removable from the compartment through the base ring. This container is visible from outside through the windows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Eisvogel Nutzeis GmbH
    Inventor: Ingo Kurs