PLASTIC CONTAINER
A plastic container including an outer container element (10) having a geometrical center and an inner container element (50) mounted within the outer container element, the outer container element and the inner container element, when mounted in the outer container element, together having a center of gravity which is lower than the said geometrical center of the outer container element.
Reference is made to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/811,785, filed Jun. 12, 2007 and entitled PLASTIC CONTAINER ELEMENTS, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference and priority of which is hereby claimed pursuant to 37 CFR 1.78(a) (1) and (2)(i).
Reference is made to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/003,858, filed Nov. 19, 2007 and entitled PLASTIC CONTAINER ELEMENTS, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference and priority of which is hereby claimed pursuant to 37 CFR 1.78(a) (4) and (5)(i).
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to containers and more particularly to plastic containers having a center of gravity which is lower than the geometrical center of the container.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe following publications are believed to represent the current state of the art:
U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,243,936; 4,830,251; 4,460,090; 5,219,005 and 5,894,914.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention seeks to provide improved containers having a center of gravity which is lower than the geometrical center of the container.
There is thus provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a plastic container including an outer container element having a geometrical center and an inner container element mounted within the outer container element, the outer container element and the inner container element, when mounted in the outer container element, together having a center of gravity which is lower than a geometrical center of the outer container element.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the outer container element includes an outer container element body and an outer container element neck portion, the outer container element neck portion being operative to engage the inner container element. Preferably, the outer container element body is integrally formed with the outer container element neck portion.
In accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention the outer container element neck portion includes an inner facing wall surface, and an inner facing flange defining a shoulder. Preferably, the outer container element body includes a base surface having a curved portion.
In accordance with yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention the inner container element includes an inner container element body having an outer facing surface and an inner container element stem portion, the inner container element body and the inner container element stem portion being integrally formed. Preferably, the inner container element body includes at least one resilient snap element formed on the outer facing surface of the inner container element body and being operative to engage the outer container element.
In accordance with still another preferred embodiment of the present invention the outer container element includes an inner facing wall surface and an inner facing flange defining a shoulder and the at least one resilient snap element is operative to engage the shoulder, thereby retaining the inner container element in a desired position inside the outer container element. Preferably, the at least one resilient snap element includes a plurality of resilient snap elements formed equidistantly about the outer facing surface of the inner container element body.
In accordance with a further preferred embodiment of the present invention the inner container element stem portion includes a generally cylindrical portion having a plurality of outwardly extending ribs extending therefrom, the ribs being equidistantly distributed about the cylindrical portion and a base portion having a convex base surface. Preferably, the outer container element body includes a base surface having a curved portion, and the convex base surface of the inner container element stem portion engages a curved portion of the base surface of the outer container element. Additionally or alternatively, the cylindrical portion has a bore formed therethrough.
In accordance with a yet further preferred embodiment of the present invention the inner container element body includes a plurality of notches distributed equidistantly about the outer facing surface and a plurality of longitudinal grooves. Preferably, the plurality of longitudinal grooves extend from the plurality of notches, the plurality of grooves being equidistantly distributed about the outer facing surface.
In accordance with a still further preferred embodiment of the present invention the inner container element stem portion includes a generally cylindrical portion having a bore defined therein and defining a base surface. Preferably, the outer container element body includes a base surface having a curved portion, and the base surface of the inner container element stem portion engages the curved portion of the base surface of the outer container element.
Preferably, the inner container element includes an inner container element neck portion and an inner container element body. Additionally, the inner container element body is integrally formed with the inner container element neck portion.
There is also provided in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention a plastic container including an outer container element including a neck portion including a flange and an inner container element including at least one resilient snap element and being mounted within the outer container element, the at least one resilient snap element engaging the flange when the inner container element is mounted in the outer container element, thereby ensuring that the inner container element is centered with respect to the outer container element.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the outer container element has a geometrical center and the outer container element and the inner container element, when mounted in the outer container element, together have a center of gravity which is lower than a geometrical center of the outer container element. Preferably, the outer container element includes a base surface having a curved portion. Additionally or alternatively, the inner container element includes an inner container element body having an outer facing surface and an inner container element stem portion, the inner container element body and the inner container element stem portion being integrally formed.
In accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention the at least one resilient snap element includes a plurality of resilient snap elements formed equidistantly about the outer facing surface of the inner container element body. Preferably, the inner container element stem portion includes a generally cylindrical portion having a plurality of outwardly extending ribs extending therefrom, the ribs being equidistantly distributed about the cylindrical portion and a base portion having a convex base surface. Additionally or alternatively, the outer container element body includes a base surface having a curved portion, and the convex base surface of the inner container element stem portion engages a curved portion of the base surface of the outer container element.
In accordance with yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention the cylindrical portion has a bore formed therethrough. Preferably, the inner container element body includes a plurality of notches distributed equidistantly about the outer facing surface and a plurality of longitudinal grooves. Additionally or alternatively, the plurality of longitudinal grooves extend from the plurality of notches, the plurality of grooves being equidistantly distributed about the outer facing surface.
In accordance with a further preferred embodiment of the present invention the inner container element stem portion includes a generally cylindrical portion having a bore defined therein and defining a base surface. Preferably, the outer container element body includes a base surface having a curved portion, and the base surface of the inner container element stem portion engages the curved portion of the base surface of the outer container element.
There is further provided in accordance with yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention a plastic container including an outer container element and an inner container element having an inner container element internal volume and an inner container element center of gravity location, the inner container element internal volume being linearly adjustable by changing a diameter of the inner container element at the inner container element center of gravity location, such that the changing the diameter does not change the inner container element center of gravity location.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the inner container element includes a moisture absorbent material.
The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:
Reference is now made to
As seen in
Formed on the outer facing wall surface 16 is an outer facing flange 22, operative to engage a sealing lid (not shown) which may be threaded onto threading protrusions 20. The outer container element neck portion 14 additionally includes, at a top part thereof, an inner facing flange 24, defining a top surface 25 and also defining, together with inner facing wall surface 18, a shoulder 26.
As seen in
Reference is now made to
As seen in
The inner container element body 52 has a generally cylindrical outer facing surface 56, a generally cylindrical inner facing surface 58, and terminates, at a bottom portion thereof, in a generally planar base surface 60. At a top portion thereof, the inner container element body terminates in an annular top surface 61.
As seen with particular clarity in
The container element stem portion 54 includes a generally cylindrical portion 68, having four outwardly extending ribs 70 distributed equidistantly therearound. The generally cylindrical portion 68 terminates in a generally circular base portion 72, having a generally planar top surface 74 and a slightly convex bottom surface 76.
Reference is now made to
As seen in
As seen with particular clarity in the enlarged portion of
It is appreciated that during assembly of the assembled container element 80, the resilient snap elements 62 are pushed inwardly toward outer cylindrical surface 56 of inner container element body 52 by flange 24 of outer container element neck portion 14. Once the resilient snap elements 62 are below the flange 24, they snap outwardly and engage inner facing wall surface 18 and shoulder 26, thereby preventing disengagement of the inner container element 50 from the outer container element 10 and ensuring that the inner container element 50 will be centered within the outer container element 10.
It is a particular feature of the present invention that the center of gravity of the assembled container 80, indicated by CI in
It is appreciated that the gaps between the snap elements 62 of inner container element 50 allow for release of air caught between the outer container element body 12 and the inner container element body 52 during assembly of assembled container 80.
Reference is now made to
As seen in
Formed on the outer facing wall surface 116 is an outer facing flange 122, operative to engage a sealing lid (not shown) which may be threaded onto threading protrusions 120. The outer container element neck portion 114 additionally includes, at a top part thereof, an inner facing flange 124, defining a top surface 125 and also defining, together with inner facing wall surface 118, a shoulder 126.
As seen in
Reference is now made to
As seen in
The inner container element body 152 has a generally cylindrical outer facing surface 156, a generally cylindrical inner facing surface 158, and terminates, at a bottom portion thereof, in a generally planar base surface 160. At a top portion thereof, the inner container element body terminates in an annular top surface 161.
As seen with particular clarity in
The container element stem portion 154 includes a generally cylindrical portion 168, having a bore 169 formed therein, and four outwardly extending ribs 170 distributed equidistantly therearound. The generally cylindrical portion 168 terminates in a generally circular base portion 172, having a generally planar top surface 174 and a slightly convex bottom surface 176.
Reference is now made to
As seen in
As seen with particular clarity in the enlarged portion of
It is appreciated that during assembly of the assembled container 180, the resilient snap element 162 is pushed inwardly toward outer cylindrical surface 156 of inner container element body 152 by flange 124 of outer container element neck portion 114. Once the resilient snap element 162 is below the flange 124, it snaps outwardly and engages inner facing wall surface 118 and shoulder 126, thereby preventing disengagement of the inner container element 150 from the outer container element 110 and ensuring that the inner container element 150 will be centered within the outer container element 110.
It is a particular feature of the present invention that the center of gravity of the assembled container 180, indicated by C11 in
It is appreciated that the bore 169 of stem portion 154 allows for release of air from the outer container element 110 during insertion of the inner container element 150 thereinto.
Reference is now made to
As seen in
Formed on the outer facing wall surface 216 is an outer facing flange 222, operative to engage a sealing lid (not shown) which may be threaded onto threading protrusions 220. The outer container element neck portion 214 additionally includes, at a top part thereof, an inner facing flange 224, defining a top surface 225 and also defining, together with inner facing wall surface 218, a shoulder 226.
As seen in
Reference is now made to
As seen in
The inner container element body 252 has a generally cylindrical outer facing surface 256, a generally cylindrical inner facing surface 258, and terminates, at a bottom portion thereof, in a generally planar base surface 260. At a top portion thereof, the inner container element body 252 terminates in an annular top surface 261.
As seen in
The container element stem portion 254 has a generally cylindrical outer facing surface 266, a generally cylindrical inner facing surface 268, and terminates, at a top portion thereof, in the generally planar base surface 260, thereby defining a bore 270 therein. At a bottom portion thereof, the container element stem portion 254 terminates in an annular surface 272.
Reference is now made to
As seen in
As seen with particular clarity in the enlarged portion of
It is appreciated that during assembly of the assembled container element 280, the inner container element body 252 is pushed inwardly by flange 224 of outer container element neck portion 214, resulting in shrinking of the size of longitudinal notches 262. Once the top surface 261 of inner container element body 252 is below the flange 224, the notches 262 return to their original size, thereby causing engagement between outer facing wall surface 256 of the inner container element body 252 and inner facing wall surface 218 and shoulder 226, thereby preventing disengagement of the inner container element 250 from the outer container element 210, and ensuring that the inner container element 250 will be centered within the outer container element 210.
It is a particular feature of the present invention that the center of gravity of the assembled container 280, indicated by C21 in
It is appreciated that the grooves 264 and notches 262 of inner container element body 252 allow for release of air from the outer container element 210 during insertion of the inner container element 250 thereinto.
Reference is now made to
As seen in
Formed on the outer facing wall surface 316 is an outer facing flange 322, operative to engage a sealing lid (not shown) which may be threaded onto threading protrusions 320. The outer container element neck portion 314 additionally includes, at a top part thereof, an inner facing flange 324, defining a top surface 325 and also defining, together with inner facing wall'surface 318, a shoulder 326.
As seen in
Reference is now made to
As seen in
The inner container element body 352 has a generally cylindrical outer facing surface 356, a generally cylindrical inner facing surface 358, and terminates, at a bottom portion thereof, in a generally planar base surface 360. At a top portion thereof, the inner container element includes an outer facing flange 362, including a top surface 364, a bottom surface 366 and an outer facing surface 368.
The container element stem portion 354 includes a generally cylindrical portion 369, having four outwardly extending ribs 370 distributed equidistantly therearound. The generally cylindrical portion 369 terminates in a generally circular base portion 372, having a generally planar top surface 374 and a slightly convex bottom surface 376.
Reference is now made to
As seen in
As seen with particular clarity in the enlarged portion of
It is a particular feature of the present invention that the center of gravity of the assembled container 380, indicated by C31 in
Reference is now made to
As seen in
As seen in
Reference is now made to
As seen in
Formed on the outer facing wall surface 456 is an outer facing flange 462, operative to engage a sealing lid (not shown) which may be threaded onto threading protrusions 460.
The inner container element body 452 includes a generally cylindrical upper portion 464 having an upper portion diameter, and a generally cylindrical intermediate portion 466 having an intermediate portion diameter which is slightly less than the upper portion diameter. Formed on an outward facing surface of intermediate portion 466, preferably at a top portion thereof, is a circumferential outward facing flange 468. The upper portion 464 and the intermediate portion 466 are connected by a shoulder 470.
The inner container element body 452 further includes a generally cylindrical inwardly tapered portion 472 which connects the intermediate portion 466 to a generally cylindrical main portion 474, having a main portion diameter which is less than the intermediate portion diameter. A generally cylindrical outwardly tapered portion 476 connects the main portion 474 to a generally cylindrical base portion 477, having a diameter slightly greater than the main portion diameter. As seen in
Reference is now made to
As seen in
As seen with particular clarity in the enlarged portion of
It is a particular feature of the present invention that the center of gravity of the assembled container 480, indicated by C41 in
It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited by what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. Rather the scope of the present invention includes both combinations and sub-combinations of various features described and shown herein and modifications and variations thereof which are not known in the prior art.
Claims
1. A plastic container comprising:
- an outer container element having a geometrical center; and
- an inner container element mounted within said outer container element,
- said outer container element and said inner container element, when mounted in said outer container element, together having a center of gravity which is lower than a geometrical center of said outer container element.
2-16. (canceled)
17. A plastic container according to claim 1 and wherein said inner container element comprises an inner container element neck portion and an inner container element body.
18. A plastic container according to claim 17 and wherein said inner container element body is integrally formed with said inner container element neck portion.
19. A plastic container according to claim 1 and wherein said inner container element comprises a moisture absorbent material.
20. A plastic container comprising:
- an outer container element including a neck portion comprising a flange; and
- an inner container element including at least one resilient snap element and being mounted within said outer container element,
- said at least one resilient snap element engaging said flange when said inner container element is mounted in said outer container element, thereby ensuring that said inner container element is centered with respect to said outer container element.
21-31. (canceled)
32. A plastic container according to claim 20 and wherein said inner container element comprises a moisture absorbent material.
33. A plastic container comprising:
- an outer container element; and
- an inner container element having an inner container element internal volume and an inner container element center of gravity location,
- said inner container element internal volume being linearly adjustable by changing a diameter of said inner container element at said inner container element center of gravity location, such that said changing said diameter does not change said inner container element center of gravity location.
34. A plastic container according to claim 33 and wherein said inner container element comprises a moisture absorbent material.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 11, 2008
Publication Date: Oct 14, 2010
Applicant: LOG-PLASTIC PRODUCTS COMPANY LTD. (Jordan Valley)
Inventors: Amit Shay (Gan Ner), Jonathan Schanin (Haifa), Yari Barkai ( Jordan Valley), Dan Peleg (Kiryat Tivon)
Application Number: 12/664,244
International Classification: B65D 81/26 (20060101); B65D 25/04 (20060101);