Container

Abstract

The present device is a spherical stackable beverage container with substantially flat top and bottom surfaces. The curved side walls of the container are thicker at the uppermost and bottommost edges to increase strength and durability. The round side walls provide high impact resistance, increased ratio of volume to height than standard cylindrical containers, and more volume to surface area to conserve plastic. The container base is also reinforced to increase stabilization under pressure such as during manufacturing, filling, carbonation, impact or extreme temperatures. The container lid may be a standard lid, including pop top or peel back, or a thread on lid and provide access to the contents of the container. The neck and the lip of the container, between the body walls and the lid, create additional head space so that the improved container will float when the headspace is a certain percentage of the container volume.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/762,934, for An Improved Container, filed on Apr. 19, 2010.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a container and more particularly to a spherical stackable container with improved functionality and construction.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Standard sized cans and bottles are commonly utilized for storing substances such as solids or liquids. Beverages, whether alcoholic or not, are also commonly stored in such containers. Cans are typically made of plastic or metal, while the bottles are typically made from glass, plastic or metal. From a manufacturing standpoint, metal containers are formed from cutting the metal and wrapping/folding the metal to a beverage container shape, which is usually cylindrical. Metal containers have limited shape options such that molding a metal container into something non-cylindrical is both time-consuming and expensive and therefore not affordable to make a uniquely styled beverage container. Plastic containers are easily molded into various shapes and lend themselves to have various designs in order to increase the attractiveness and usability of the container. Plastic containers currently available are not typically stackable upon each other due to the size or shape of the plastic cap closure or other limitations.

Spherical containers on the market today typically have an opening (or neck) that is significantly narrower than the body of the container, which is not conducive to stacking due to the cap closure and the differences between size and surface of the base and the top. Containers that are not stackable usually require specially constructed display merchandisers and may also use more shelf space. Unlike spherical containers, increasing the liquid volume contents for a cylindrical container equates to increased height and more raw materials to construct the cylindrical container. Most glass, metal and plastic containers also cannot endure extreme temperatures and may bulge, crack or even explode due to changes in temperature.

The present improved beverage container addresses and overcomes the previously mentioned issues. The curved side walls of the present container allow molding of resin into shapes typically unavailable with metal containers. The present curved side walls are reinforced at the thicker uppermost (proximate) and thicker bottommost (distal) portions of these curved walls providing additional container stability and crush strength. In addition, a thickened base ensures that the container base won't bulge or warp when holding carbonated contents. Standard containers with flat bases may bulge or warp due to temperature changes or excessive shaking when carbonated contents are sealed inside. By contrast, the present improved container also may utilize a curved or petaloid base to withstand pressure from carbonated beverages.

Despite its spherical shape, the present improved beverage container may be stacked upon other such containers due to the essentially flat top and bottom surfaces. A number of containers may be stacked upon each other by placing the bottom of a second container atop the lid of a first container, a bottom of a third container atop the lid of the second container, and so forth for each successive container, creating a stacked tower of rounded containers. Potential breakage is also reduced, as compared to containers with straight walls or edges, since the present container is made of plastic and its roundness disperses pressure from impacts more fully throughout its surface area. In addition, the present container maintains its spherical shape, without regard to the contents being liquid or solid, at extreme high and low temperatures. The present container may also float or remain buoyant when filled between zero (0) or empty and approximately ninety-six (96) percent, i.e. not completely filled, whether the contents are liquid, solid, frozen or room temperature.

Since there is a larger volume to height ratio in a sphere than in a cylinder, the present improved container may hold more liquid volume than a cylinder made of the same amount of materials. A spherical container has the lowest surface area per volume of any shape, allowing the present container to consume comparatively less material in order to hold additional volume than a standard cylindrical container. A similarly constructed cylindrical plastic container with a metal lid may only withstand 0.9 kg/cm² for two hours at extreme temperatures such as 68° Celsius. The present container withstands greater pressures with its unique and innovative shape. In addition, the present container may withstand up to 1.94 kg/cm² (or 27.6 psi) for two hours at 2.4 volumes of CO² at extreme temperatures such as 68° Celsius (or 154° Fahrenheit) or as low as 0° Celsius or 32° Fahrenheit without warping or bulging, largely due to its spherical shape.

As further evidence of its strength and durability, in this present embodiment described herein, the container may handle the following levels of pressure under controlled conditions. At freezing temperatures such as −20° C. (4° F.) and at 1.9 volumes of CO², the PSI level for the present container is 0.1 psi (or 0.01 kg/cm²). At −20° C. (4° F.) and 2.4 volumes of CO², the PSI level for the present container is PSI level is at least 2.1 psi (or 0.15 kg/cm²). At common refrigerator temperatures, such as 4° C. (39° F.) and 1.9 volumes of CO², the PSI level for the present container is 2.8 (or 0.2 kg/cm²). At 4° C. (39° F.) and 2.4 volumes of CO², the PSI level for the present container is at least 21.3 psi (or 1.50 kg/cm²). At a typical room temperature like 23° C. (71.6° F.) and at 1.9 volumes of CO², the PSI level for the present container is 24.1 psi (or 1.68 kg/cm²). At 23° C. (71.6° F.) and 2.4 volumes of CO², the PSI level for the present container is 33.9 psi (or 2.38 kg/cm²). At a high temperature such as 37° C. (99° F.) and at 1.9 volumes of CO², the PSI level for the present container is 24.2 psi (or 1.70 kg/cm²). At 37° C. (99° F.) and at 2.4 volumes of CO², the PSI level for the present container is 35.4 psi (or 2.49 kg/cm²). With temperatures that would be too high for skin touch, such as from at least 65-70° C. (158° F.) and at 1.9 max volumes of CO², the PSI level for the present container is at least 30.2 psi (2.12 kg cm²). The present container can handle as much as 2.30 kg/cm³ of pressure. It is to be understood that particulars such as thickness and construction materials of the present container may be altered or varied to produce different values while maintaining the stability and strength of the present container.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present container is an improved spherical container comprised of curved side walls which may be stacked for more efficient storage and display. The components of the present container are the lip, neck, side wall and base. The container side wall is thickened at its bottommost edge and thickened at its uppermost edge with a thinner, more pliable container body portion. An optional container lid is placed at the container neck/lip area to secure the contents inside the present container. In this embodiment, the container is made of plastic but may be understood to be made of other materials with similar properties as the plastic described herein.

In addition, the lid may be of the standard metal type commonly seen on various soda and beverage cans but also may be understood to be made of other similar materials. The surface of the lid may be scored or weakened to facilitate quick opening of the lid. The use of this standard and widely available lid enables stacking due to its relatively flat nature. A variety of opening mechanisms, such as the pivoting pop top arm, the pull tab, peel back tab, and ring-pull tab, may be used to access the container contents. Depending on which lid and opening mechanism are used, either a small opening or a large opening will be created to access the container contents. Use of certain opening mechanisms will result in removal of the entire lid creating a substantially large container opening to access the container contents.

In addition, the container neck includes additional headspace that allows the container to float due to increased buoyancy. Flotation occurs when the present container is seamed with a standard lid and filled with liquid between 0% and 96% of the container capacity. In this embodiment, the present container may be filled with any number of liquids such as fruit juice, alcohol, carbonated solutions, flavored syrups, or a variety of other liquid mixtures. The present container may also contain solids or a combination of solids and liquids. Such container contents are readily accessible to and removable by a user due to the width of the container opening.

The container body may be made of an appropriate plastic/synthetic resin, typically polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The bottom surface of the container may be curved like a traditional beverage container, petaloid, or any other shapes that maintain the stability of the container. However, the flat rim or edge surrounding the bottom surface of the container allows the present container to be stably stacked upon similar containers.

The container may also be made of polyamide resin, polycarbonate resin, polyacetal resin, polybuthylene terephthalate resin or other synthetic resin having a sufficient resistance to chemicals. The container may be formed by common molding processes such as biaxial orientation blow molding process, direct blow molding process, stretch blow molding, or injection blow molding. The container may be made of material that is transparent or opaque as well as plastic, vinyl, or synthetic resin such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) resin, silicon or other materials with similar characteristics.

Spherical or curved side walls extend around a periphery of the container body and comprise the body section of the container. The container body may be either a singular, continuous piece of molded plastic without seams or multiple sections of molded plastic which may be glued, welded or otherwise attached together to create the present container body. The side walls are thinner towards the midsection belly of the container yet thicker at the proximate/uppermost and distal/bottommost ends of the side walls. In the present embodiment, the neck is approximately 1.0 mm thick, the base is approximately 0.7 mm thick, and the middle belly section is approximately 0.6 mm thick. However, it is to be understood that the present container may be manufactured with alternative thickness specifications to achieve similar characteristics as the present container.

During the manufacturing/filling process for the present container, a mechanized cap presses onto the top portion of the present container. Due to the thickened portion of the uppermost edge of the container wall, the present container can withstand these high pressures rather than being crushed or collapsing during the pressure filling process. The container side wall radially extends outward and the base may be connected to the container side wall. The side walls are connected to the base to create the container space within the container body. The distal end of the container side wall may be connected to a base in order to permanently seal the lower end of the container while the proximate end of the container side wall may be connected to the container neck which may be temporarily sealed by the addition of a container lid. In addition, the added interior space created by the rounded side walls increases agitation space and ensures that the container contents are able to freely move about the container interior space and be more fully mixed after a period of agitation in comparison to a cylindrical container of similar volume. The thickened container base ensures that the container base holds its shape during agitation since a flat, unenforced bottom surface may become distorted, blow out or bulge if holding carbonated contents. The distinctive spherical shape of the present container ensures that there is ample room for thorough agitation of the container contents, even if it is carbonated.

Additional pressure exerted on the container may be absorbed by the thickened base and thickened distal end of the container wall. In this embodiment, the container base is thickened to absorb additional pressure applied to the present container during the filling process. The base of the container is composed of a base rim (a circular perimeter at the edge of the base), which is level and a base center (the area within the confines of the base rim), which may be flat, smooth and curved, or radial. The thickened base reduces the likelihood of containers bursting or exploding when the container is dropped or otherwise impacted. Additionally, the rounded shape of the present container absorbs pressure and disperses impact evenly to prevent distortions to the spherical container.

Base indentions or depressions, which may be referred to herein as “petals”, may be arranged in different shapes to enhance the decorative features of the container as well as contribute to the strength of the container, as long as the base remains thickened to enhance container stability and durability. With the petaloid base, there may be a center depression and a series of radial depressions spanning from the center depression toward the base rim such that the base resembles a flower petal. It may include a multitude of radially extending depressions which may increase in width as the radial distance from the center increases to strengthen the base of the container. The petaloid base may provide more strength to withstand blow-out from agitation pressure with carbonated beverages. A petaloid base can be made of many different shapes. Alternatively, the base may be flat or curved within the boundaries of the base rim. In any case, the container will be stackable due to the level base rim at the distal end of the present container and the substantially flat top or container lid at the proximate end. Additional containers may be stacked upon each other since the container accommodates a standard flat lid creating a stackable flat top surface. Since the present container is substantially flat on the top and the base/bottom surfaces, the present container base is capable of nesting against the top of another container lid, and is also amenable to standard transport methods and stackable display boxes. By contrast, round or spherical containers without substantially flat bottom and top surfaces may require additional packaging materials to transport, box or display.

In the present embodiment, the container body may include a slightly angled neck at the uppermost portion of the container so that a stacked container base may be accepted and nested to the container lid. The container lid may be formed from plastic or metal such as steel, aluminum or other types of metals. In use, the lid fits inside the container neck with portions of the lid rising slightly above the lip of the container in order to create a tight seal and secure the container contents when the lid is seamed onto the container through the manufacturing filling/seaming process. In this embodiment, the top of the container may be covered with a standard metal lid. Typically, the lid is secured to the container with a series of folding operations by a can seamer machine.

A variety of lids may be used to seal the opening at the proximate/upper end of the present container in order to prevent leakage or escape of the container contents. Container lids may be constructed of a variety of materials such as plastic or metal and may be attached via seamer, threaded or screwed to the container. The container lid may also include a weakened or perforated “scored area” which may be popped or punctured to provide access to the contents of the container. An alternative lid type may include a weakened area extending substantially across the majority of the lid to provide a larger opening and greater access to the interior of the container. Another lid option is a “pop top” tab mechanism with an opening that pops open along the scored area when the tab applies pressure to the scored area. As demonstrated, regardless of which variety of lids may be utilized with the present container, the container is stackable and sturdy.

The present spherical container may also support higher pressures than traditionally shaped containers, which may have cylindrical walls. For instance, the present container maintains its shape at 27.6 psi for up to 2 hours at 68° Celsius (154° Fahrenheit) at 2.4 volumes of CO² or as low as 00 Celsius or 32° Fahrenheit without distortion or breaking. The container also holds it shape and structure up to 35.4 psi at 35° Celsius (or 95° Fahrenheit) for approximately 72 hours without distortion or leaking. This degree of pressure at these somewhat extreme temperatures would likely cause damage to a traditional container such as leaks, bulges, or explosions. The present container maintains interior carbonation and is advantageous in environments with unsteady temperatures when gasses contract and decrease in volume at lower temperature and also endures extreme temperatures and does not collapse due to the thickness, shape and structure of the plastic used for the container. The present container also holds its shape without regard to the type of contents (frozen or solid), level or presence of carbonation, and/or the extreme temperatures to which said contents may be subjected.

Objectives

The primary objective of this invention to provide a spherical, stackable beverage container with a level top surface and bottom surface that maintains its shape and strength after exposure to extreme or potentially damaging factors.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a container that maintains its shape during filling and at extreme pressures or temperatures.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a container with increased interior space to allow for improved agitation and better mixing of container contents.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a container with partially thickened side walls to endure high crush pressure during the manufacturing filling process.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a spherical container that better absorbs force from any impacts and decreases the likelihood of a container damage.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide an economic advantage to users through an improved container that may be packaged and stored in readily available storage devices despite its uncommon spherical shape.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a container of increased volume without increasing the height of the container or amount of materials used as compared to a cylindrically shaped container.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide increased volume with comparatively less container surface materials when compared to standard cylindrical containers.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a buoyant, floating container within a certain range of headspace inside the container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of this disclosure and its features, reference is now made to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of the container with flat base;

Ref. 1 is the container lip;

Ref. 2 is the container neck;

Ref. 3 is the container side wall;

Ref. 4 is the container base rim;

Ref. 5 is the container base center;

Ref. 8 is the proximate end of the container side wall;

Ref. 9 is the distal end of the container side wall;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the container with curved base;

Ref. 1 is the container lip;

Ref. 2 is the container neck;

Ref. 3 is the container side wall;

Ref. 4 is the container base rim;

Ref. 5 is the container base center;

Ref. 8 is the proximate end of the container side wall;

Ref. 9 is the distal end of the container side wall;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the container with radial base;

Ref. 1 is the container lip;

Ref. 2 is the container neck;

Ref. 3 is the container side wall;

Ref. 4 is the container base rim;

Ref. 5 is the container base center;

Ref. 8 is the proximate end of the container side wall;

Ref. 9 is the distal end of the container side wall;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the container;

Ref. 1 is the container lip;

Ref. 3 is the container side wall;

Ref. 6 is the container lid;

Ref. 8 is the proximate end of the container side wall;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the container with radial base;

Ref. 1 is the container lip;

Ref. 2 is the container neck;

Ref. 3 is the container side wall;

Ref. 4 is the container base rim;

Ref. 5 is the container base center;

Ref. 6 is the container lid;

Ref. 7 is the radial base with depressions;

Ref. 8 is the proximate end of the container side wall;

Ref. 9 is the distal end of the container side wall;

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the container with petal base;

Ref. 4 is the container base rim;

Ref. 5 is the container base center;

Ref. 7 is the radial base with depressions;

Ref. 9 is the distal end of the container side wall.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

While the above description is of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it should be appreciated that the invention may be modified, altered or varied without deviating from the scope and fair meaning of the following claims.

Referring generally to FIGS. 1-6, the present container system is a rounded, spherical container for liquid or solid storage which endures rough handling as well as extreme temperatures and pressures. The spherical shape of the present container also provides more space for agitation and thorough mixing of the container contents. In addition, the thickened base and side walls provide additional stability to the container during the filling and agitation.

With regard to FIG. 1, a side view of the container with flat base is shown. The container lid 6 is positioned inside the inner boundaries of the container lip 1, positioned above the container neck 2 and at the container opening. The container neck 2, positioned beneath the lip 1 and optional lid and the container side wall 3, may be angled or vertical. In practice, the container lid 6 is attached to the container with a can seamer. The neck 2 provides additional headspace that contributes to increased buoyancy. The container side walls 3 are curved in order to increase the interior container space and provide extra space for agitation of the container contents. The midsection of the container sidewall is of the largest diameter while the distal end 9 and proximate end 8 are smaller in diameter in this embodiment, which creates the curved appearance of the present container. In this embodiment, the container side walls 3 are seamless but it is to be understood that the container side wall may be comprised of multiple sections seamed together such that the container securely stored liquids and/or solids. The proximate end 8 and the distal end 9 of the container side walls are thicker than the midsection of the container to increase the stability of the container during filling and agitation. The container base is connected to the distal ends of the container side walls and is thickened so that the container shape is maintained during filling and molding. The container base is comprised of a container base rim 4, surrounding the container base center, and the container base center 5. The container base rim 4 is level to facilitate stacking between similar containers. The container base center 5 is flat in this view but may be flat and curved inward or may container depressions.

With regard to FIG. 2, a side view of the container with curved base is shown. The container lid 6 is positioned inside the inner boundaries of the container lip 1, positioned above the container neck 2 and at the container opening. The container neck 2, positioned beneath the lip 1 and optional lid 6 and the container side wall 3, may be angled or vertical. The neck 2 provides additional headspace that contributes to increased buoyancy. The container side walls 3 are curved in order to increase the interior container space and provide extra space for agitation of the container contents. The proximate end 8 and the distal end 9 of the container side walls are thicker than the midsection of the container to increase the stability of the container during filling and agitation. The midsection of the container sidewall 3 is of the largest diameter and creates the curved appearance of the present container. The container bottom is thick and molded so that the container shape is maintained during filling and molding. The proximate end 8 and the distal end 9 of the container side walls are thicker than the midsection of the container to increase the stability of the container during filling and agitation. The container base is connected to the distal ends of the container side walls and is thickened. The container base rim 4 is level to facilitate stacking between similar containers. The container base center 5 is curved, similar to a typical soda can.

With regard to FIG. 3, a side view of the container with radial base is shown. The present container system consists of a lip 1 and neck 2 at the top of the container, which surrounds the opening. The neck 2, positioned immediately beneath the lip 1, connects the lip 1 to the side wall 3. The side wall 3 of the container is curved and spans from the top to the base of the container. The side wall 3 may be a single blow molded plastic piece or the wall may be constructed from sections of plastic secured together to create the container. The proximate end 8 and the distal end 9 of the container side walls are thicker than the midsection of the container to increase the stability of the container during filling and agitation. In this embodiment, the widest diameter of the container is at a midsection or belly of the side wall 3. The portions of the container above and below the midsection of the side walls are of a smaller diameter than the midsection but also constructed of thicker materials to increase stability. The base of the container is also thickened or reinforced. In this embodiment, the base and side walls are constructed of a plastic that is thick enough to withstand the filling and agitation process and still maintain its shape. The container base rim 4 is level and located at the outer bounds of the container base. In this embodiment, a series of depressions create a radial base center 5 within the periphery of the base rim 4. The molded thicker plastic at the base of the container ensures that the present container maintains its shape while exposed to extreme temperatures during the filling process which results in pressure from agitation with carbonated contents and also resists breakage after impacts.

With regard to FIG. 4, a top view of the container is shown. The lid 6 is optional but is required should one decide to store liquids or solids within the container without leakage. In this embodiment, a metal lid 6 with pop top arm is shown, but it is to be understood that a variety of standard lids may be used to secure the container contents. The container lid 6 fits within the inner bounds of the container lip 1. The container lid 6 is positioned inside the inner boundaries of the container lip 1, positioned above the container neck 2 and at the container opening. The container side walls 3 are curved in order to increase the interior container space and provide extra space for agitation of the container contents. The proximate end 8 of the container sidewall is thicker than the container midsection so that the container remains sturdy and intact during filling and agitation. The diameter of the container lip may be smaller than the widest point of the curved container side wall. The flat lid and level base allow multiple containers to be securely stacked upon one another. In addition, the present containers may be stored in standard display cases and do not require specially constructed display or storage containers.

With regard to FIG. 5, a perspective view of the container with radial base is shown. The container lid 6 is positioned inside the inner boundaries of the container lip 1, positioned above the container neck 2 and at the container opening. The proximate end 8 and the distal end 9 of the container side walls are thicker than the midsection of the container to increase the stability of the container during filling and agitation. The container side walls 3 are curved in order to increase the interior container space and provide extra space for agitation of the container contents. The container bottom is thick and molded so that the container shape is maintained during filling and molding. In this embodiment, a radial or petaloid base is shown with a smooth base center 5 and a series of radial depression from the base center 5 to the base rim 1. The base center 5 may be raised, as in this view, or level.

With regard to FIG. 6, a bottom view of the container with radial base is shown. In this embodiment, the midpoint of the container side wall 3 is the widest diameter of the container. The distal end 9 of the container sidewall is thicker than the container midsection so that the container remains sturdy and intact during filling and agitation. The container is made of thick, durable plastic that withstands extreme temperatures and levels of pressure. In addition, the reinforced base of the container ensures that the bottom of the container won't be deformed during the blow mold process. The base as well as the proximate end 8 and distal end 9 of the side walls are also reinforced or thicker to increase stability of the container. The container base rim 4 is level and surrounds the container base center. The rim 4, positioned at the exterior edge of the base, is adjacent to the container side wall 3. The rim may be a slightly smaller diameter than diameter of the bottom edge of the container side wall. The container base shown may be described as radial or petaloid since the center depression run from the base center 5 to the base rim 4 as the depressions gradually increase in size.

While this disclosure has described certain embodiments and generally associated methods, alterations and permutations of these embodiments and methods will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the above description of example embodiments does not define or constrain this disclosure. Other changes, substitutions, and alterations are also possible without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure and the following claims.

Claims

1. A spherical container for storage of liquids or solids comprising:

a container top positioned at an upper portion of said container;

a container base positioned at a lower portion of said container; and

a curved container side wall extending from said container top to a said container base and forming a middle container portion.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein said container side wall is further comprised of a proximate edge, an equator, and a distal edge.

3. The container of claim 2, wherein said proximate edge is of a greater thickness than said midsection, wherein said distal edge is of a greater thickness than said midsection.

4. The container of claim 3, wherein said container top is comprised of a neck, a lip, and a lid.

5. The container of claim 4, wherein said neck is adjacent to said proximate edge, wherein said lip is adjacent to said neck, wherein said lid is located within the interior boundary of said lip.

6. The container of claim 1, wherein said container base is comprised of a level base rim and a base center within the periphery of said base rim.

7. The container of claim 6, wherein said base center contains at least one center depression.

8. The container of claim 7, wherein said depression is selected from the group consisting of: curved center depression; curved center depression with at least one radial depression extending from said center depression; substantially flat center depression.

9. The container of claim 6, wherein a first container may be securely stacked upon a second container when said lid is secured to a lip of said second container and said base of said first container is nested upon said lid of said second container, and wherein said second container may be securely stacked upon a third container when said lid is secured to a lip of said third container and said base of said second container is nested upon said lid of said third container, and so forth thereafter for each successive container.

10. The container of claim 5, wherein a container opening mechanism for said lid is selected from the group consisting of: pop top arm, pull tab, peel back, and ring-pull tab.

11. The container of claim 10, wherein said lid includes a scored section to facilitate opening of said lid through use of said container opening mechanism.