Pressure-responsive Structure Patents (Class 215/381)
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Publication number: 20100155360Abstract: A blow molded container has a neck portion defining a mouth. The neck portion leads into a shoulder portion and a bottom portion forms a container base. A sidewall portion connects the shoulder portion and the bottom portion and employs a first pair of opposing convex vacuum panels and a second pair of opposing convex vacuum panels. The first pair of opposing convex vacuum panels is larger in surface area than the second pair of opposing convex vacuum panels. A vertical column at each corner of the container joins the first pair of opposing vacuum panels to the second pair of opposing vacuum panels. A structural convex arch resides above and below each convex vacuum panel. Each of the vertical columns are molded into the structural convex arches. Vacuum initiator grooves may be molded into the first and second pair of opposing vacuum panels to control vacuum panel movement.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2008Publication date: June 24, 2010Inventors: Luke A. Mast, Walter J. Strasser, David Downing, Frederick C. Beuerle
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Patent number: 7731044Abstract: A thermoplastic container (1) adapted to be filled with a hot liquid, comprising a body (2) having a plurality of recessed panels (3) parallel to the axis (4) of the body and separated by beams (5) parallel to the axis; the panels are arranged on a number of levels (A, B, . . . ), the panels of two consecutive levels being separated by a collar (6) in surface continuity with the beams; each beam is recessed to form a longitudinal central channel section (7), and the channel sections (7) of the beams (5) of the successive levels are connected to one another, in an angularly offset manner from a beam (5) of one level to the consecutive beam (5) of the adjacent level, by strongly inclined channel sections (8) extending in the collars (6), channel sections (7, 8) forming channels configured as parallel successive steps and distributed over the periphery of the body.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2006Date of Patent: June 8, 2010Assignee: Sidel ParticipationsInventor: Michel Boukobza
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Patent number: 7717282Abstract: A semi-rigid collapsible container has a side-wall with an upper portion, a central portion, a lower portion and a base. The central portion includes a vacuum panel portion having a control portion and an initiator portion. The control portion is inclined more steeply in a vertical direction, i.e. has a more acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the container, than the initiator portion. On low vacuum force being present within the container panel following the cooling of a hot liquid in the container, the initiator portion will flex inwardly to cause the control portion to invert and flex further inwardly into the container and the central portion to collapse. In the collapsed state upper and lower portions of the central portion may be in substantial contact so as to contain the top-loading capacity of the container. Raised ribs made an additional support for the container in its collapsed state.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2006Date of Patent: May 18, 2010Assignee: CO2 Pac LimitedInventor: David Melrose
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Publication number: 20100116777Abstract: A technical problem is to fully make up for a restricted upper limit to the preform body wall thickness. An object is to provide a bottle which is narrow-mouthed and yet has a substantially expanded body. The molding process comprises steps of: (1) injection molding a preform in the shape of a test tube taller than the bottle wherein the preform has a cylindrical mouth opening portion disposed in an upper part of the preform, and wherein the mouth opening portion of the preform serves also as a mouth opening portion of the bottle product; (2) thermally shrinking the preform from an initial height so that portions other than the mouth opening portion of the preform would have a height that is smaller than that of the bottle; and (3) setting this thermally shrunk preform in a blow mold and biaxially drawing and blow molding the preform into the bottle.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 30, 2008Publication date: May 13, 2010Applicant: YOSHINO KOGYOSHO CO., LTD.Inventors: Yusuke Ishii, Takashi Otsuka, Katsuyoshi Inagawa, Takao IIzuka
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Publication number: 20100116778Abstract: A plastic container (1) has a first set of flex panels (2) and a second set of flex panels (3) at least one set being adapted to react to pressure changes within the container to a different degree which can be achieved by different curvature and/or size and/or different distance from a central longitudinal axis of the container. At least one of the panels has at least two different extents of curvature. In some embodiments one or more of the panels may be flat.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 11, 2008Publication date: May 13, 2010Inventor: David Murray Melrose
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Patent number: 7699182Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 25, 2008Date of Patent: April 20, 2010Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.Inventor: Sheldon Yourist
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Patent number: 7699183Abstract: Disclosed herein are bottle-shaped containers having a trunk portion approximating a square. The trunk portion comprises four tabular side walls arrayed about a center axis and four corner walls connected to adjacent side walls in a corner-cutting form. The width of the corner walls expands from the top end and the bottom end toward a position about midway between the top end and the bottom end. By making the widths of the side walls and the corner walls about equal at a location about midway between the top portion and the bottom portion, the distance between the corner walls in mutual opposition with respect to the center axis can be decreased, forming a waist portion.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2007Date of Patent: April 20, 2010Assignees: The Coca-Cola Company, Yoshino Kogyosho, K.K.Inventors: Kenshi Matsuoka, Ryoichi Tomishima, Satoshi Kuboi, Toshimasa Tanaka, Tadashi Hayakawa, Takao Iizuka
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Patent number: 7694842Abstract: A container, suitable as a hot-fill container, includes a controlled deflection flex panel which may invert and flex under pressure, such as hot-fill conditions, to avoid deformation and permanent buckling of the container. The flex panel includes an initiator portion which has a lesser projection than the remainder of the flex panel and initiates deflection of the flex panel.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2006Date of Patent: April 13, 2010Inventor: David Murray Melrose
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Patent number: 7673764Abstract: A substantially smooth container sidewall containing a narrow vertical rib, the rib having a width that is less than about 35% of the diameter of the sidewall, a container including the substantially smooth sidewall, and method of making both the sidewall and the container are the subject of the present invention.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2006Date of Patent: March 9, 2010Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.Inventor: Bret Sabold
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Patent number: 7673765Abstract: A hot fill container of the type that is used package fruit juices and other beverages includes a vacuum panel configuration that provides optimal volumetric efficiency, material usage and container strength and is particularly suited for use with smaller containers. The vacuum panel configuration includes a plurality of cageless vacuum panels that are separated by longitudinally extending outwardly projecting creases that are defined in a sidewall of the container. This arrangement maximizes the effective surface area of the vacuum panels relative to the external surface area of the container. Each of the longitudinally extending outwardly projecting creases has a curved outer surface that is convex when viewed in longitudinal cross-section. The cageless vacuum panels are constructed and arranged to be convexly curved when a pressure within the container is equal to an external pressure, but become concavely curved when a predetermined partial vacuum condition exists within said container.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2008Date of Patent: March 9, 2010Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.Inventor: Raymond A. Pritchett, Jr.
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Patent number: 7661548Abstract: A plastic container comprising a base that is attached to a body section which is connected to a dome section by a circumferential ring is provided. The dome section comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced hydrostatic pressure absorption panels each located between vertically extending, circumferentially spaced ribs that absorbs at least a substantial portion of the external downwardly directed vertical forces exerted on the container and restores the container to its original shape. In addition, a method of absorbing a downward, vertical top-load is provided.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2006Date of Patent: February 16, 2010Assignee: The Quaker Oats CompanyInventor: Dmitriy Shmagin
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Publication number: 20100006533Abstract: A hot-fill container may have a shoulder portion, body portion, bottom portion, and numerous strengthening grooves and a thin-walled, flexible, bag-like, collapsible portion in the body portion. The collapsible portion may be located between the strengthening ribs. The container structure may also employ one or more vacuum panels in the body portion that may lie between the collapsible portion and the bottom portion. The vacuum panels and the collapsible body portion may move toward a central vertical axis when the container is subjected to an internal vacuum pressure. Strengthening grooves may border the collapsible body portion, which may be circular in pre-vacuum cross-section but polygonal in post-vacuum cross-section. Part of the collapsible portion may be concave inward toward a central vertical axis of the container while part of the collapsible portion may move away from the central vertical axis. Vertical columns may support the collapsible portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 9, 2009Publication date: January 14, 2010Applicant: AMCOR LIMITEDInventors: John A. Nievierowski, Patricia M. Maslak, Walter J. Strasser, Luke A. Mast, Frederick C. Beuerle
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Publication number: 20100000962Abstract: The invention relates to a vessel (1), mainly a bottle, of a thermoplastic material made by blowing or stretching-blowing a heated perform, the vessel comprising a bottom (2) and a neck (3) connected to a body (4), characterised in that the body (4) includes an axially central portion (5) surrounded by an axially lower portion (6) and an axially upper portion (7) defining a connection area respectively with the bottom (2) and the neck (3), the axially central portion (5) being essentially rigid while the axially upper and lower potions (6, 7) can be essentially deformed and a have shape-memory characteristics so that they can recover their initial shape under the hydrostatic pressure of the liquid content.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 26, 2007Publication date: January 7, 2010Applicant: SIDEL PARTICIPATIONSInventors: Laurent Lepoitevin, Damien Bourne, Christophe Bunel
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Patent number: 7631775Abstract: A plastic container comprises a sidewall including an upper end and a lower end, a base connected to the lower end of the sidewall, a dome connected to the upper end of the sidewall, the dome including a finish portion adapted to receive a closure, first and second primary grip panels recessed into the dome, first and second secondary grip panels recessed into the dome, and a plurality of support columns located on the dome, with a support column located between each adjacent pair of primary and secondary grip panels.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2006Date of Patent: December 15, 2009Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.Inventors: David B. Heisner, Jamie Degroff, Philip Sheets
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Publication number: 20090294399Abstract: A hot fill container of the type that is used package fruit juices and other beverages includes a vacuum panel configuration that provides optimal volumetric efficiency, material usage and container strength and is particularly suited for use with smaller containers. The vacuum panel configuration includes a plurality of cageless vacuum panels that are separated by longitudinally extending outwardly projecting creases that are defined in a sidewall of the container. This arrangement maximizes the effective surface area of the vacuum panels relative to the external surface area of the container. Each of the longitudinally extending outwardly projecting creases has a curved outer surface that is convex when viewed in longitudinal cross-section. The cageless vacuum panels are constructed and arranged to be convexly curved when a pressure within the container is equal to an external pressure, but become concavely curved when a predetermined partial vacuum condition exists within said container.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 28, 2008Publication date: December 3, 2009Applicant: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.Inventor: Raymond A. Pritchett, JR.
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Publication number: 20090266786Abstract: A large container made of synthetic resin, and comprising a neck and a body; the body having a substantially rectangular cross section, and including an upper body and a lower body; the upper body containing a center of gravity of the container when filled with liquid; the upper body having a waist section containing the center of gravity; the waist section having a grip, the grip being not adapted to absorb a negative pressure in the container; and at least one surface of the lower body including a vacuum panel.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 18, 2009Publication date: October 29, 2009Applicant: Yoshino Kogyosho Co., Ltd.Inventor: Masaaki Sasaki
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Publication number: 20090261059Abstract: A volumetrically efficient plastic hot fill container at least one vacuum panel defined by a vacuum panel area of a sidewall that is constructed and arranged to flex inwardly in order to accommodate volumetric shrinkage that may occur within the container as a result of the conventionally known hot fill process. Advantageously, at least a portion of the vacuum panel area of the sidewall is formed as a plurality of undulations. The undulations preferably have a horizontal component and provide an increased surface area to the vacuum panel area relative to what a flat surface would provide. As a result, the amount of volumetric shrinkage that may be accommodated through inward deflection of said vacuum panel area of said sidewall is increased relative to a flat surface would provide.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 17, 2008Publication date: October 22, 2009Applicant: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.Inventor: Raymond A. Pritchett, JR.
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Publication number: 20090261058Abstract: A volumetrically efficient plastic hot fill container at least one vacuum panel defined by a vacuum panel area of a sidewall that is constructed and arranged to flex inwardly in order to accommodate volumetric shrinkage that may occur within the container as a result of the conventionally known hot fill process. Advantageously, at least a portion of the vacuum panel area of the sidewall is formed as a plurality of undulations. The undulations preferably have a vertical component and provide an increased surface area to the vacuum panel area relative to what a flat surface would provide. As a result, the amount of volumetric shrinkage that may be accommodated through inward deflection of said vacuum panel area of said sidewall is increased relative to a flat surface would provide.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 17, 2008Publication date: October 22, 2009Applicant: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.Inventor: Raymond A. Pritchett, JR.
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Patent number: 7604140Abstract: A multi-sided spiraled plastic container for liquid, flowable, and squeezable products may be suitable for use with food or beverage products packaged by traditional hot-fill processes. The container includes an open top through which the container is adapted to be filled, and a body portion having a shoulder section, which extends downwardly from the open top towards a closed base portion. The body portion has a plurality of vacuum panel pairs which are disposed in a spiral fashion about the body portion and configured for contributing to a superior top load strength of the container.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2005Date of Patent: October 20, 2009Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.Inventors: Raymond A. Pritchett, Jr., Angie Noll, Scott Bysick
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Publication number: 20090242504Abstract: Disclosed herein is a plastic bottle suitable for vending from vending machines and for storing food or beverage products having comparatively high viscosities. A bottle is provided with a mouth, a flexible main unit having a tubular body section in fluid communication with the mouth, a base forming a bottom of the main unit and configured to support the bottle to stand upright, and a rigid portion located above the main unit and having greater traverse strength than said main unit. The mouth, main unit, and base define a retention space with a central axis. The rigid portion includes regions facing each other across from the central axis at the most distant position from the central axis. Moreover, the tubular body section of the main unit deforms into a substantially flat shape when an external force is applied in a transverse direction without the rigid portion undergoing plastic deformation.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2008Publication date: October 1, 2009Inventors: Satoshi Kuboi, Hideki Takeuchi
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Patent number: 7581654Abstract: A blow-molded container has a body portion extending upward from a base. A shoulder portion extends upward and axially inward above an upper margin of the side wall to a finish defining an opening adapted to accept a closure. Horizontal linear segments are joined end to end to define a waist of polygonal cross-section. Each linear segment joins a pair of vertically diverging surfaces, the surfaces having lateral edges. A protruding panel is situated between the lateral edges of each horizontally adjacent pair of diverging surfaces. The panel includes a dimple that can act as a deflection initiation point, with any vacuum induced deflection progressively expanding laterally and axially in response to increasing vacuum within the container.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2006Date of Patent: September 1, 2009Assignee: Ball CorporationInventor: Adam P. S. Stowitts
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Patent number: 7571827Abstract: A plastic container for use in a sterilization process includes a neck having a finish, an upper transition portion extending from the neck, a generally polygonal structure having a plurality of relatively flat panels separated by columns, and a base portion where the generally polygonal structure is disposed between the upper transition portion and the base portion. Adjacent relatively flat panels together with the separating column form an angle so that the relatively flat panels of the generally polygonal structure move together after the sterilization process thereby maintaining the aesthetics of the plastic container.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2005Date of Patent: August 11, 2009Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.Inventors: Tim Haley, Justin Howell, Ed Roubal
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Patent number: 7568588Abstract: The present invention relates to a plastic container with a substantially circular base, a lower body portion, a mid body portion, and an upper body portion, each having a respective width. The lower body portion is connected to the base and the mid body portion, the mid body portion lies between the lower and upper body portion, and the upper body portion is between the mid body portion and container neck. The mid body portion contains a substantially flat portion, with the flat portion merging into the upper and lower body portions. The container also has a waist located at approximately the center of the mid body portion, the waist having a width.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2005Date of Patent: August 4, 2009Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.Inventor: Sheldon Yourist
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Patent number: 7552834Abstract: A slender synthetic resin heat-resistant bottle type container having a circumferential draw ratio of 2.8 or less, for example, comprises at least one pressure reduction absorbing panel (5) provided at a container body part, wherein the pressure reduction absorbing panel is provided with at least one convex portion (6) having a width larger at a lower side than at an upper side as viewed in a circumferential direction of the container. Alternatively, each pressure reduction absorbing panel has a border line bulged toward a container bottom part. This causes a resin to be smoothly stretched even at mold surface portions corresponding to concave and convex portions of a container body part surface upon blow molding. These avoid a defective appearance of the container and do not adversely affect heat resistance thereof.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2004Date of Patent: June 30, 2009Assignee: Yoshino Kogyosho Co., Ltd.Inventors: Toshimasa Tanaka, Tadayori Nakayama, Shinichi Tabata, Takao Iizuka
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Patent number: 7552833Abstract: The synthetic resin container according to the present invention has a waist dividing a container main body portion into upper and lower parts, wherein the waist is formed on an annular groove surrounding the main body portion to as to be convex toward the interior of the container. The annular groove has reinforcing ribs with a level higher than a groove bottom of the annular groove and lower than the surface of the main body portion. The container main body portion includes reinforcing lateral ribs each having a concave portion which is positioned at the same level as a surface of the container, which or forms a slight step relative to the surface of the container. The main body portion has a plurality of ridges converging toward the associated central convergent point, respectively, thereby defining multi-faceted concave walls inclined toward the associated convergent points, respectively.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2002Date of Patent: June 30, 2009Assignee: Yoshino Kogyosha Co., Ltd.Inventors: Naoki Tsutsui, Shoji Tanabe, Hiromichi Saito
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Patent number: 7520399Abstract: A plastic container includes an upper portion having a mouth defining an opening into the container. A shoulder region extends from the upper portion. A sidewall portion extends from the shoulder region to a base portion. The base portion closes off an end of the container. The sidewall portion is defined in part by at least two vacuum panels formed therein. The vacuum panels are movable to accommodate vacuum forces generated within the container resulting from heating and cooling of its contents. The shoulder region and the base portion each define an interlocking structure suitable to achieve a nesting relationship with complementary mating surfaces of an adjacent container.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2006Date of Patent: April 21, 2009Assignee: Amcor LimitedInventors: Michael T. Lane, Dan Weissmann
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Patent number: 7513378Abstract: An extendable container including a container body and a sheet, the container body having a bottom part, a bellows barrel part extendable in a height direction, and a top part having an openable cover, the sheet being wrapped around the outer circumference of the container body to secure the container body, wherein the bellows barrel part includes ring portions, each having a predetermined width and trough portions, the ring portions including projections arranged thereon, and wherein the sheet includes locking holes at positions in alignment with the projections of the ring portion such that the locking holes receive the respective projections when the sheet is wrapped around the bellows barrel part.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2003Date of Patent: April 7, 2009Inventors: Akihide Mori, Shin Sakai
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Publication number: 20090057263Abstract: The plastic container according to the present disclosure is an aesthetically pleasing plastic container suitable for premium hot fill beverages, such as teas and fruit juices. The plastic container defines a body and includes an upper portion having a finish. Integrally formed with the finish and extending downward therefrom is a shoulder region. The shoulder region merges into and provides a transition between the finish and a first vacuum absorbing region. The first vacuum absorbing region merges into a waist region. The waist region merges into a second vacuum absorbing region. The second vacuum absorbing region transitions into a base portion having a base.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2008Publication date: March 5, 2009Inventors: Steven P. Barker, Bradley W. Caszatt
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Publication number: 20090020498Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 25, 2008Publication date: January 22, 2009Applicant: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.Inventor: SHELDON YOURIST
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Publication number: 20090014407Abstract: A plastic container includes an upper portion having a mouth defining an opening into the container. A shoulder region extends from the upper portion. A sidewall portion extends between the shoulder region and a base portion. The base portion closes off an end of the container. A vacuum panel region defined in part by at least two vacuum panels. Each of the vacuum panels are movable to accommodate vacuum forces generated within the container resulting from heating and cooling of its contents. The vacuum panel region occupies an area outboard of the sidewall portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 13, 2007Publication date: January 15, 2009Inventors: Walter J. Strasser, Steve P. Barker
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Publication number: 20090008360Abstract: Plastic containers subjected to pasteurization processes with a closure having an annular finish support ring that supports an inner surface of the neck finish of the container from inward deformation during pasteurization. The finish support ring can be integral with the closure or can extend from a closure liner. Also disclosed are closures for products that require pasteurization, as well as modified finish threads to provide a surface contact between the finish and closure threads.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2007Publication date: January 8, 2009Applicant: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.Inventors: David P. Piccioli, Amit S. Agrawal, Wayne N. Collette
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Patent number: 7472798Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 15, 2006Date of Patent: January 6, 2009Assignee: Ball CorporationInventor: Adam P. S. Stowitts
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Patent number: 7467725Abstract: A synthetic resin bottle includes a body having an upper end and a lower end and a plane cross-sectional shape of a circle, the circle being out-of-round over substantially an entire height of the body. The body includes crests disposed at three or more points on a circumference of the circle at substantially a same interval, wherein a central angle (?) position of each crest fluctuates similarly vertically along the height of the body. The body also includes support ridges formed by the crests in sigmoid curves and disposed at least in three substantially parallel rows at a same interval and panels disposed between adjacent support ridges and provided with slightly swelled panel walls that are reversibly deformable into a dented shape, as seen in cross-sectional plan views.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2005Date of Patent: December 23, 2008Assignee: Yoshino Kogyosho Co., Ltd.Inventors: Toshimasa Tanaka, Takao Iizuka
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Patent number: 7458478Abstract: A hot fillable container includes a bottom and a sidewall connected with the bottom so as to define an internal space. The sidewall is further shaped so as to define in transverse cross-section a first convex sidewall label area having a first convexly curved outer surface having a first curvature and a second convex sidewall area having a second convexly curved outer surface having a second curvature. The label area is of the type that has no horizontal reinforcing ribs. The sidewall is constructed and arranged so that deformation of the sidewall in response to a partial vacuum condition within the internal space after a hot fill process will result in a decrease of the first curvature and an increase of the second curvature. This deformation is effected without any denting of the sidewall.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2007Date of Patent: December 2, 2008Assignee: Constar International Inc.Inventor: Satya Kamineni
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Patent number: 7455189Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 22, 2005Date of Patent: November 25, 2008Assignee: Amcor LimitedInventors: Michael T. Lane, Dan Weissmann, John Nievierowski, Brad Caszatt
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Publication number: 20080257856Abstract: An improved blow molded plastic container having generally rounded sidewalls that are adapted for hot-fill applications has two adjacent sides and two pairs of controlled deflection panels, each pair reacting to vacuum pressure at differing rates of movement, whereby one pair inverts under vacuum pressure and the other pair remains available for increased squeezability or extreme vacuum extraction. The opposing sidewalls are symmetric relative to vacuum panel and rib shape and placement. The ribs and controlled deflection panels cooperate to retain container shape upon filling and cooling and also improves bumper denting resistance, decreases vacuum pressure within the container, and increases light weight capability.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2005Publication date: October 23, 2008Applicants: Granham Packaging Company, LtInventors: David Melrose, Paul Kelley, Scott Bysick, Justin Howell
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Publication number: 20080257857Abstract: An anti-tampering beverage container (1) made of plastic material such as PE, PET, PVC or the like intended to contain liquids and composed of a thin casing stretched and provided with a watertight closure cap (3), wherein it is made such to be with a containment volume that changes depending on the pressure difference between inner pressure (Pr) and external pressure (Pa), particularly the atmospheric one and it has a reference (Lo) for measuring the liquid level, so that with pressure changing inside the container changes of the liquid level are indicated due to the change of the containment volume so tampering actions being shown causing the container to be opened and so causing the inner pressure to change with respect to the original one under sealed condition.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2006Publication date: October 23, 2008Inventor: Guido Ribi
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Patent number: 7438196Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 20, 2004Date of Patent: October 21, 2008Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.Inventor: Sheldon Yourist
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Patent number: 7438704Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 14, 2000Date of Patent: October 21, 2008Assignee: Santen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yoichi Kawashima, Yukio Kusu
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Publication number: 20080245761Abstract: Containers for pressurized filling and pasteurization and methods of reducing creep in a pressurized pasteurizable container. The container is a blow-molded plastic container having a biaxially oriented wall of a structural polymer with a moisture content of no greater than a predetermined value at the start of a pressurized filling, capping, and pasteurization process. Also disclosed are pasteurizable containers having a desired shelf life.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 5, 2007Publication date: October 9, 2008Applicant: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.Inventors: David Piccioli, Amit Agrawal, Ralph Armstrong
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Patent number: 7416090Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 8, 2004Date of Patent: August 26, 2008Assignee: Constar International Inc.Inventors: Michael Mooney, Satya Kamineni
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Publication number: 20080197105Abstract: A thermoplastic container (1) having a body (2) provided with at least one groove (6) that forms a closed loop and that extends perpendicularly to the axis of the body; the groove having a depth (p) that lies in the range 3 mm to 6 mm; in right section, the groove comprises: an bottom (8) that is rounded, having a small radius of curvature (R1) in the range 0.2 mm to 1.5 mm; two faces (9) that are plane and that flare apart from each other on either side of the bottom (8) at an angle (?) in the range 50° to 90°; and two faces (10) that are curvilinear, and that extend away from the respective plane faces (9) at an angle (?) that is less than 180°, and that are connected thereto by respective rounded walls (11) of small radius of curvature (R2) that does not exceed 1.5 mm, and that are connected tangentially to the wall (12) of the body (2). Such a groove (6) is deformable with a capacity to pinch axially in the presence of an axial force applied to the container.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2006Publication date: August 21, 2008Applicant: SIDEL PARTICIPATIONSInventor: Michel Boukobza
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Publication number: 20080190884Abstract: A bottle having a base including an inwardly and upwardly projecting flexible surface within a generally continuous seating ring has a generally cylindrical wall extending upward from the base. A plurality of annular inwardly projecting, and vertically flexible rings extend about the cylindrical wall perimeter interrupting the cylindrical wall. At least one of rings projects inwardly more than some others of the rings to achieve a sidewall crush resistance that is at least as great as comparable bottles with thicker sidewalls. A shoulder portion, including a plurality of vertical ribs separating a plurality of vacuum responsive panels, extends upward from the cylindrical wall to a neck leading to a cappable opening. The vertical flexibility of the bottle sidewall reduces the amount of flexing required in the shoulder panels and base to accommodate the same vacuum development, and enhances the total amount of post capping vacuum development that can be accommodated by the bottle as a whole.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 8, 2007Publication date: August 14, 2008Applicant: Ball CorporationInventors: Elizabeth D. Maczek, Kirk Firestone
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Patent number: 7377399Abstract: A sidewall portion of a plastic container adapted for vacuum pressure absorption. The sidewall portion including generally rectangular shaped vacuum panels equidistantly spaced about the container. The vacuum panels having, at least in part, a convex shaped surface and a series of equidistantly spaced indents disposed therein. The vacuum panels being moveable to accommodate vacuum forces generated within the container thereby decreasing the volume of the container.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2005Date of Patent: May 27, 2008Assignee: AMCOR LimitedInventors: Michael T. Lane, Richard J. Steih, Daniel W. Gamber, Randall S. Brown, Rohit V. Joshi
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Patent number: 7374055Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 22, 2004Date of Patent: May 20, 2008Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.Inventors: Willie Hatcher, Toshi Kojitani, David B. Heisner, Bret Sabold
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Patent number: 7367365Abstract: A plastic container comprised of a closed base, a body portion, and a neck portion with a dispensing opening. The closed base includes a substantially rigid support portion and a flexible portion. The body portion preferably includes a shoulder portion and a substantially rigid wall portion that includes a plurality of reinforcement formations. The container is configured so that the flexible portion of the base contracts upwardly about the support portion in response to vacuum pressures generated within the container, while the substantially rigid support portion of the sidewall remains substantially firm, for example, to accept or receive a label. If desired, the shoulder portion may include a logo and/or one or more pressure relief formations. A method for producing hot-filled, labeled containers is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2006Date of Patent: May 6, 2008Assignee: Plastipak Packaging, Inc.Inventors: William A. Slat, Richard C. Darr
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Patent number: 7364046Abstract: A polymer container suitable for hot-filling featuring at least one circumferential rib having a plurality of varying width regions transitioning from a smaller dimension area, to a larger dimension area, to the smaller dimension area. The larger dimension area is adjacent a land area between any two adjacent vacuum panels.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2005Date of Patent: April 29, 2008Assignee: Amcor LimitedInventors: Rohit V Joshi, Michael T Lane, Richard J Steih
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Publication number: 20080087628Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2005Publication date: April 17, 2008Applicant: CONSTAR INTERNATIONAL INC.Inventors: Monis Bangi, Michael R. Mooney
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Patent number: 7357267Abstract: A squeezable plastic bottle with a handle which is bendable by forming a bending deformation portion in the handle. The bending deformation portion of the handle can be a bending portion formed in the middle portion of the longitudinal direction of the handle. Further a bending rib can be formed between the handle and the body wall surface. The body may be squeezable and deformable by forming a bending rib in the bottle body.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 1999Date of Patent: April 15, 2008Assignee: Yoshino Kogyosho Co., Ltd.Inventors: Shinji Shimada, Kazuaki Nose, Atsushi Ota, Keisuke Miyairi
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Patent number: 7350658Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 15, 2005Date of Patent: April 1, 2008Assignee: Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc.Inventors: Raymond A. Bourque, Ralph T. Coley, Jr., Takao Iizuka, Masaaki Sasaki