Pressure-responsive Structure Patents (Class 215/381)
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Publication number: 20080073316Abstract: A container exhibiting superior resistance to unwanted or uncontrolled sidewall deformation has plurality of vacuum responsive panels, generally uniformly spaced around the sidewall periphery, including a panel surface portion radially inset from the sidewall. A post or land is provided between each nearest neighbor pair of vacuum panels, the posts having upper and lower ends joined together upper and lower sidewall edge portions. A margin is located at least at the upper and lower edges of each vacuum panel and extending between the panel surface and the sidewall. At least one of the upper and lower margins of each vacuum responsive panel includes an axially offset portion, which in response to decreasing pressure focuses any initial deflection of the panel surface to that portion of the panel contiguous to the axial offset portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2006Publication date: March 27, 2008Inventor: Adam P.S. Stowitts
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Patent number: 7347339Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 28, 2005Date of Patent: March 25, 2008Assignee: Constar International, Inc.Inventors: Monis Bangi, Michael R. Mooney
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Publication number: 20080041811Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 15, 2006Publication date: February 21, 2008Inventor: Adam P.S. Stowitts
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Patent number: 7318533Abstract: An improved blow molded plastic non-round container having rectangular sidewalls is adapted for hot-fill applications. The hot-fill container has vacuum panel reinforcement panels with rib structures located in a label mounting area on the sidewalls. In each panel, the ribs extend across the panel and are parallel to each other where the edge of one rib faces in each array faces inward and the others in the array face outward. The inward rib resists the bulge of the panel and improves bumper denting, ease of manufacture and light weigh capability.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2003Date of Patent: January 15, 2008Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.Inventor: Paul V. Kelley
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Patent number: 7296703Abstract: A polymer container suitable for hot-filling featuring a pinch-grip vacuum panel combination having a flexible-field and a generally ridged pinch-grip that accommodates vacuum related forces.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2005Date of Patent: November 20, 2007Assignee: Amcor LimitedInventor: Michael T Lane
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Patent number: 7296701Abstract: A bottle-shaped synthetic resin container (1) includes a body portion (3), and a circumferential groove (10) extending along an outer surface of the body portion (3). The circumferential groove (10) is defined by a groove bottom wall (11) and groove side walls (12a, 12b) extending from the groove bottom (11) to the outer surface of the body portion (3). At least one of the groove side walls (12a, 12b) extends substantially linearly, as seen in a longitudinal-sectional plane including a center axis (A) of the body portion (3), and forms an angle (?, ?) of not more than 20° relative to a reference line (L) perpendicular to the center axis (A) of the body portion (3) in the longitudinal-sectional plane of the container (1).Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2004Date of Patent: November 20, 2007Assignee: Yoshino Kogyosho Co., Ltd.Inventors: Tomoyuki Ozawa, Takao Iizuka, Shoji Tanabe
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Patent number: 7296702Abstract: A synthetic resin bottle, protected from damage to the outer appearance under freezing conditions, and is effective in storage and transportation. The bottle is used by filling the bottle with contents have water as a main component and freezing such contents. The bottle comprises a body that has an out-of-round circular shape in the plane cross section over a certain height of the body, and the body wall has no hollowed portion caved inward. The body gradually narrows in the middle part except for the portions consisting of crests which are disposed at 3 or more points of the same central angle on the periphery of the plane cross section. In the middle part, the plane cross section is in the shape obtained by connecting the crests to one another with 3 or more arcs that curve outward. Pillars are formed vertically on the body by the crests.Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 2005Date of Patent: November 20, 2007Assignee: Yoshino Kogyosho Co., Ltd.Inventors: Toshimasa Tanaka, Takao Iizuka
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Patent number: 7258244Abstract: A hot-fill container of one-piece plastic construction includes a base, a neck finish and a cylindrical body connecting the base to the neck finish. The cylindrical body has an upper portion adjacent to the neck finish and a lower portion adjacent to the base. The upper portion of the cylindrical body includes a label panel for securing a label to the container. The lower portion of the container body includes a series of circumferentially spaced ribs, and a series of vacuum panels connected between the ribs. Each of the vacuum panels has an outwardly convex central portion and an outwardly concave intermediate portion that connects the central portion to the ribs. In differing embodiments of the invention, the ribs are either parallel to or at an angle to the central axis of the container.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2004Date of Patent: August 21, 2007Assignee: Graham Packaging Company L.P.Inventor: Eric B. Ungrady
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Patent number: 7243808Abstract: A molded polymeric container generally symmetric about a vertical axis includes at least two rows of panels disposed circumferentially around the body, the panels having central portions that are sufficiently flexible to be dimensionally responsive to changes in pressure within the container. At least one row of the panels has a margin having a horizontal width exceeding the vertical height, thus being laterally elongate with a height/width aspect ratio of less than one. The pressure responsive central portion of each laterally elongate panel is a smooth outwardly projecting dome from a peripheral root of a generally radially projecting wall defining the margins of circumferential rings and posts separating the panels. The outwardly projection domes of the laterally elongate panels can have a variety of shapes.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2005Date of Patent: July 17, 2007Assignee: Ball CorporationInventors: John J. Livingston, Erik E. Gatewood, Brian D. Tyree
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Patent number: 7213719Abstract: The plastic container includes a hollow body of plastic material having a lower supporting base, a sidewall extending upwardly from the lower base and an upper neck portion extending upwardly from the sidewall with an opening therein. The sidewall includes at least one panel having a central region and an outer boundary, with the outer boundary being depressed with respect to the central region.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2005Date of Patent: May 8, 2007Assignee: Plastipak Packaging, Inc.Inventors: Marc A. Pedmo, James C. Dorn, James J. Miller
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Patent number: 7201291Abstract: The present invention relates to a container for a flowable product, particularly for a beverage and, in particular, for still or sparkling mineral water. The container according to the invention includes a body having in a greater section a dimension d1 and of at least one neck with an internal diameter d2 which can be closed by a member for closing off and/or of distributing the flowable product from the container. The wall or walls forming the body of the container are preferably made of a flexible plastic which can deform for constant surface area, particularly under the weight of the flowable product from the container when the wall or walls encounter a point or bearing surface, so as to form, at least locally, a non-planar wall portion and wherein the ratio d2 to d1 is between 1:3 and 1:10.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2004Date of Patent: April 10, 2007Assignee: Nestle Waters Management & TechnologyInventors: Murielle Vigny, Alain Contal, Jean-Paul Cerveny, Gérard Denis
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Patent number: 7198164Abstract: A hot-fillable blow molded plastic container having a finish with an opening; a base; a lower bumper transition; an upper bumper transition and a tubular dome. The upper bumper transition and lower bumper transition defines a label mounting region. The label mounting region includes a circumferential ring adjacent to the upper bumper transition a vacuum panel. The tubular dome can be between the upper bumper transition and the finish and can has a cross sectional shape that is substantially the same throughout. The tubular dome includes an upper bell and a lower bell separated by a peripheral waist that has a diameter less than that of the upper and lower bell.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2004Date of Patent: April 3, 2007Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.Inventors: Sheldon Yourist, Angie Noll, Richard K. Ogg
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Patent number: 7198165Abstract: A blow molded plastic hot-fill container includes at least one vacuum panel for inward flexure under vacuum after the container is hot-filled and capped. The vacuum panel is externally concave as viewed in cross section from a first direction and externally convex as viewed in cross section from a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The at least one vacuum panel preferably is disposed in a sidewall of the container, which preferably is of generally uniform wall thickness, and preferably includes an array of vacuum panels angularly spaced around an axis of the container.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2004Date of Patent: April 3, 2007Assignee: Graham Packaging PET Technologies Inc.Inventor: Qiuchen Peter Zhang
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Patent number: 7191910Abstract: A hot fill, blow molded plastic container adapted for vacuum pressure absorption having a pair of flex panels and a pair of columns. The flex panels being defined in at least part by a central portion and a perimeter wall portion adjacent to and generally surrounding the central portion. The flex panels being movable to accommodate internal thermally induced volumetric and pressure variations in the container resulting from heating and cooling of its contents.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2003Date of Patent: March 20, 2007Assignee: Amcor LimitedInventors: David A. Deemer, Hassan Mourad
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Patent number: 7185777Abstract: A synthetic resin bottle has a grip assembled and fixed in an upright orientation to the center part of a concave region at the ear portion of a substantially cylindrical trunk portion of the bottle main body. A shoulder portion in the bottle main body has a lower circumferential wall with a truncated pyramid shape defined by a plurality of panels. A right/left center axis of a rear surface panel is placed at substantially at the center of the rear surface of the bottle main body. A center portion of each of the panels is formed as a protrusion having a convex shape gradually bulging outwards of the bottle main body.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2003Date of Patent: March 6, 2007Assignee: Yoshino Kogyosho Co., Ltd.Inventors: Junichi Itokawa, Yoshinori Matsuo, Takao Iizuka
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Patent number: 7178684Abstract: A hot-fill container is of one-piece plastic construction that includes a base, a sidewall extending from the base, a dome connected to the sidewall and a neck finish extending from the dome. The sidewall has an hourglass shape as viewed in side elevation with ends connected to the base and the dome. The sidewall includes a circumferential series of vacuum panels that are flexible inwardly with respect to the remainder of the sidewall. The vacuum panels preferably are rectangular as viewed in side elevation and concave as viewed tangentially of the container.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2004Date of Patent: February 20, 2007Assignee: Graham Packaging PET Technologies Inc.Inventors: Todd M. Budden, Charles P. Simpson, Jr., Dennis A. Rogers
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Patent number: 7172087Abstract: A plastic container includes a finish, a shoulder extending from the finish, a closed base, and a sidewall connecting the shoulder to the base. The sidewall is of blow molded construction and generally uniform wall thickness. The sidewall has an array of circumferentially spaced longitudinally extending radially recessed channels, and an array of axially spaced circumferentially extending radially recessed channels intersecting the longitudinally extending channels. The longitudinally extending channels have radially inner portions that lie on an hourglass-shaped common surface of revolution around the axis of the container sidewall. In the preferred embodiments of the invention, a plurality of axially and circumferentially spaced land areas are disposed in spaces between the intersecting longitudinally and circumferentially extending channels, with the land areas lying on a common surface of revolution, preferably a cylindrical surface of revolution, around the axis of the container sidewall.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2003Date of Patent: February 6, 2007Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, LPInventors: Timothy P. Axe, Qiuchen Peter Zhang, Charles P. Simpson, Jr.
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Patent number: 7165693Abstract: A synthetic resin bottle-type container includes a shoulder portion continuous with a mouth portion through which contents can be poured out, and a body portion forms a space for accommodating the contents over an area extending to its bottom wall from the shoulder portion. The body portion includes pressure-reduction absorbing panels defined by at least one groove that projects inwards of the container. For preventing the shoulder portion from deformation due to the absorption of the pressure-reduction, the groove for the pressure-reduction absorbing panel immediately below the shoulder portion is provided with a recess extending along the groove and having a depth larger than that of the groove.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2003Date of Patent: January 23, 2007Assignee: Yoshino Kogyosho Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hiroki Oguchi, Takao Iizuka, Koichi Haraguchi, Tadashi Hayakawa
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Patent number: 7137520Abstract: 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: October 12, 2000Date of Patent: November 21, 2006Inventor: David Murray Melrose
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Patent number: 7118002Abstract: A pinch grip type bottle-shaped container (10) has opposed finger-receiving recesses (11) at sidewall regions of a container main body part, respectively, to thereby form a grip part (G) of the container (10), by the entire region including the recesses and a back surface region of the body part between the recesses. The container according to the invention is provided, at bottom surfaces of the recesses that can be touched and held (11), with multiple projections (14) projecting inwardly or outwardly of the container, thereby improving mold-releasability after the molding process.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 2002Date of Patent: October 10, 2006Assignee: Yoshino Kogyosho Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hiromichi Saito, Takao Iizuka
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Patent number: 7108151Abstract: To extremely reduce the capacity of a container body when juice or mineral water in a container body is drunk up and the container body is discarded. The container body includes: a top tap; a small width in a height direction at a bottom; and a horizontal bellows formed on the whole or part in a longitudinal direction of the container body, except the top tap, and the width in the height direction.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2003Date of Patent: September 19, 2006Assignee: Gohsho Company, LimitedInventor: Mitsuo Higuchi
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Patent number: 7097061Abstract: A container includes a hollow body having a finish extending from the body. The finish has an open end, at least one external thread for securement of a closure, and a pair of spaced external circumferential flanges on a side of the thread remote from the open end of the finish. A bale handle includes a ring having resilient internal tabs captured beneath the lower of the flanges remote from the open end of the finish, and a handle extending from the ring for carrying the container. The upper flange, which preferably has a greater outside diameter than the lower flange, has an undersurface that is free of obstruction from the bale handle and therefore is adapted to perform support functions for the container after attachment of the bale handle to the container finish.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2003Date of Patent: August 29, 2006Assignee: Graham Packaging PET Technologies Inc.Inventors: Charles P. Simpson, Jr., Stephen R. Guerin, David P. Piccioli, Qiuchen Peter Zhang
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Patent number: 7080748Abstract: A container made of thermoplastic synthetic resin having a central axis extending longitudinally, and having a body, wherein the body has a left and a right symmetrically relating to the central axis, each of the left and right is formed with a distortion-absorbing portion in response to a pressure change in the container, each of the distortion-absorbing portions is formed with a grip portion, and each of the grip portions includes a central portion of the left and the right, has an area an area smaller than an area of the distortion-absorbing portion, and has a depth larger than a depth of the distortion-absorbing portion.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2001Date of Patent: July 25, 2006Assignee: Yoshino Kogyosho Co., Ltd.Inventors: Masaaki Sasaki, Takao Iizuka
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Patent number: 7080747Abstract: A hot fill, blow molded plastic container adapted for vacuum pressure absorption and top load force enhancement having a waist region, and generally rectangular shaped vacuum panels and columns equidistantly spaced about the container. The waist region being movable to accommodate top load forces. The vacuum panels being movable to accommodate internal thermally induced volumetric and pressure variations in the container resulting from heating and cooling of its contents.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2004Date of Patent: July 25, 2006Assignee: Amcor LimitedInventors: Michael T. Lane, Daniel W. Gamber
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Patent number: 7080746Abstract: A bottle-shaped container according to the present invention is of pinch grip type and includes a container body having opposed recesses formed at sidewall regions of a main body portion of the container body, respectively, to thereby form a grip part of the container by an entire region of the main body portion between the recesses, including the back surface region. The bottle-shaped container further includes a pressure-reduction absorbing panel at the back surface region, having an upper end arranged at a height substantially coincident with that of an upper end of the grip part, and steps provided along the edges of the recesses forming the grip part, respectively.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2002Date of Patent: July 25, 2006Assignee: Yoshino Kogyosho Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hiromichi Saito, Takao Iizuka
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Patent number: 7077279Abstract: A semi-rigid collapsible container (10) has a side-wall with an upper portion (5), a central portion (6), a lower portion (7) and a base (8). The central protion (6) includes a vacuum panel portion having a control portion (2) and an initiator portion (1). The control portion (2) is inclined more steeply in a vertical direction, i.e. has a more acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the container (10), than the initiator portion (1). On low vacuum force being present within the container panel following the cooling of a hot liquid in the container (10), the initiator portion (1) will flex inwardly to cause the control protion (2) to invert and flex further inwardly into the container (10) and the central portion (6) to collapse. In the collapsed state upper and lower portions of the central portion (6) may be in substantial contact so as to contain the top-loading capacity of the container (10). Raised ribs (3) made an aditional support for the container in its collapsed state.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2001Date of Patent: July 18, 2006Assignee: CO2 Pac LimitedInventor: David Murray Melrose
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Patent number: 7073675Abstract: A container includes an enclosed base portion. A body portion extends upwardly from the base portion. The body portion includes a central longitudinal axis and at least six deflectable panels. The deflectable panels have side edges extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis. A top portion with a finish extending upwardly from the body portion is provided. A first indentation is disposed between the body portion and the top portion and extends for 360 degrees around the container. The first indentation is offset towards the central longitudinal axis with respect to the deflectable panels. A second indentation is disposed between the body portion and the base portion and extends for 360 degrees around the container. The indentations are offset towards the central longitudinal axis with respect to the deflectable panels.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2003Date of Patent: July 11, 2006Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, B.B.Inventor: Greg Trude
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Patent number: 7059487Abstract: A collapsible, semi-rigid container includes neck and bottom wall portions and a peripheral side wall extending between the neck and bottom wall. The side wall includes a rigid upper portion and a flexible lower portion. The lower portion of the side wall collapses into the upper portion reducing the internal volume of the container.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2003Date of Patent: June 13, 2006Assignee: Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance, SAInventor: Per Ohlsson
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Patent number: 7048132Abstract: A blow-molded synthetic resin bottle that can be fully flattened and easily restored to an original shape. The bottle includes at least a line of turn is formed on the shoulder, the body, and the bottom along the entire vertical circumference. Among the sections divided by this line of turn, at least a section is used as a shell section in which at least a nearly entire body portion of this section has relatively high rigidity. The other section is a reversible section in which at least a nearly entire body portion has relatively low rigidity and is capable of being deformed by resilient reversion. The neck is disposed on the shoulder, and the reversible section can be deformed and easily concaved into the shell section for volume reduction and then can be restored to the original shape.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2002Date of Patent: May 23, 2006Assignee: Yoshino Kogyosho Co., Ltd.Inventors: Nobuo Yamanaka, Yoshio Akiyama, Shinji Shimada, Takao Kurosawa, Shigeru Hayakawa, Koji Sasagawa
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Patent number: 7025219Abstract: A dome for a plastic container having a longitudinal axis, including an upper portion with a flanged finish adapted to receive a cap where the upper portion extends substantially annular about the axis from the flanged finish to a first horizontal rib, an intermediate portion extending outwardly from under the first horizontal rib of the upper portion to a second horizontal rib, a lower portion extending outwardly from under the second horizontal rib to a third horizontal rib where the third horizontal rib being substantially annular; and a grip panel formed in opposite side surfaces from under the first horizontal rib to above the third horizontal rib, where the opposing grip panels enable a thumb and forefingers of an hand size to grip the container while opposing surfaces of the intermediate and lower portions without the grip panel enable a thumb and forefingers of another hand size to grip the container.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2003Date of Patent: April 11, 2006Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.Inventors: David B. Heisner, Justin Howell
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Patent number: 7021479Abstract: The hollow plastic container includes a side wall with at least three inwardly depressed channels spaced from each other and extending around the side wall, with an upper channel, a central channel and a lower channel. At least two spaced apart vacuum panels are positioned between the upper and central channel, and at least two spaced apart vacuum panels are positioned between the central channel and lower channel.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2004Date of Patent: April 4, 2006Assignee: Plastipak Packaging, Inc.Inventors: Marc A. Pedmo, James J. Miller
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Patent number: 7017763Abstract: A non-round base structure for a hot-fill plastic container provides the container with enhanced structural integrity. The base structure is roughly rectangular and is composed of a flexible vacuum absorbing area and a bearing edge which support the container in an upright position. The flexible vacuum absorbing area abates with a central ellipse shaped push-up, which is a concave surface. A series of ribs with an outward facing rounded edges are fashioned on the concave surface. The ribs extend outwardly from the center of the ellipse. The disclosed base structure enables the container to withstand the various forces encountered in filling, cooling and handling.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2003Date of Patent: March 28, 2006Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.Inventor: Paul V. Kelley
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Patent number: 7014056Abstract: A container includes a neck section with a finish, a relatively smooth tapering shoulder section that extends outwardly from a base of the neck section, a body section having four substantially vertical sides including two opposing, relatively smooth vertical sides and two opposing vertical sides with two vacuum panels formed thereon, one vacuum panel on top of the other vacuum panel and separated by substantially horizontal bridge, and a bottom portion adjacent the body section, the bottom section having a standing ring surrounding a recessed area on a bottom surface of the bottom section and relatively smooth walls inclining upwardly from the standing ring toward the body section. The shoulder section is disposed between the body section and the neck section.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2003Date of Patent: March 21, 2006Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.Inventor: Gregory Trude
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Patent number: 7004342Abstract: 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: March 30, 2004Date of Patent: February 28, 2006Assignee: Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc.Inventors: Raymond A. Bourque, Ralph T. Coley, Jr., Takao Iizuka, Masaaki Sasaki
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Patent number: 6997336Abstract: A plastic carafe includes a body portion having an enclosed base defined by a plurality of upstanding posts and a plurality of panels separating the posts from one another. The carafe further includes a neck portion having a blown finish at the top of the carafe that defines a wide-mouth. A shoulder portion transitions the posts and panels to the neck portion.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2003Date of Patent: February 14, 2006Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.Inventors: Sheldon Yourist, John Denner, Angie Noll, Roger Prevot
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Patent number: 6983858Abstract: 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 30, 2003Date of Patent: January 10, 2006Assignee: Plastipak Packaging, Inc.Inventors: William A. Slat, Richard C. Darr
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Patent number: 6981604Abstract: A bottle-shaped container made of synthetic resin including a body that has a left side and a right side which are symmetric to each other to a central axis line of the container, wherein each of the left and right sides is formed in a region including a center of the body, with a concaved portion for absorbing distortion due to changes of an internal pressure of the container, the concaved portions in the right and left sides are conformable in shape each other, and have same dimensions, and wherein the container can be held surely with safeness by holding the approximately central portion of the body of the container with fingers and a palm of a single hand from either the front side or the rear side even if the container has a large content and a heavy weight.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2000Date of Patent: January 3, 2006Assignee: Yoshino Kogyosho Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takao Iizuka, Masaaki Sasaki
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Patent number: 6974047Abstract: The present invention provides an improved blow molded plastic non-round container having generally rectangular sidewalls that are adapted for hot-fill applications. The hot-fill container has two adjacent sides one with a vacuum panel and the other with a series of ribs in the label mounting area on the sidewalls. The opposing sidewalls are symmetric relative to the vacuum panel and rib shape and placement. The ribs and vacuum panel cooperate to resist container upon filling and cooling and also improves bumper denting resistance, ease of manufacture and light weight capability.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2003Date of Patent: December 13, 2005Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.Inventors: Paul V. Kelley, Richard Ogg, David Melrose, Seungyeol Hong, John Denner
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Patent number: 6938788Abstract: A squeezable bottle is provided that has a hollow body with an intermediate panel section that is bounded by upper and lower recessed reinforcing rings. The intermediate panel comprises a plurality of recessed gripper rings, each of which is bounded by a pair a raised reinforcing rings. A plurality of recessed vertical ribs extends between the upper and lower recessed reinforcing rings and through the raised reinforcing rings. The vertical ribs are spaced asymmetrically about the vertical axis of the bottle.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2003Date of Patent: September 6, 2005Assignee: Stokley-Van Camp, Inc.Inventor: Jeremy W. White
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Patent number: 6935525Abstract: A container having a central longitudinal axis, the container including at least one deflectable flexible panel, the flexible panel projecting from the longitudinal axis to pass through at least three curves including a first curve having a first constant radius, a second curve having a second varying radius, and a third curve having a third constant radius that is lesser than the first radius.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2003Date of Patent: August 30, 2005Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.Inventor: Greg Trude
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Patent number: 6932230Abstract: The hollow plastic bottle includes a side wall with a plurality of spaced apart vacuum panels and top and bottom recessed cylindrical bands above and below the vacuum panels. The bottom band extends continuously around the circumference of the bottle, and the top band includes at least two spaced apart discontinuities comprising raised portions interrupting the continuity of the top band.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2003Date of Patent: August 23, 2005Assignee: Plastipak Packaging, Inc.Inventors: Marc A. Pedmo, Richard C. Darr
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Patent number: 6929138Abstract: A plastic blow molded bottle or wide mouth jar useful in containing hot-filled beverages or food products. The container has a multi-sided sidewall which is capable of accommodating vacuum associated with hot filling, capping and cooling of the container, which is reinforced to resist unwanted deformation, and which enables a label to be aesthetically displayed on the container sidewall. To this end, the sidewall comprises a plurality of panels which include outwardly bowed arcuate sections, as-formed, which flatten to accommodate induced vacuum. Thus, a label can be supported on the sidewall with very few voids, or like sunken areas, behind the label to ensure that the label is prominently displayed on the aesthetically appealing novel container configuration.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2003Date of Patent: August 16, 2005Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.Inventors: David M. Melrose, Paul Kelley, Scott Moersdorf
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Patent number: 6923334Abstract: A blow-molded plastic bottle body for use in containing hot-filled beverages. The bottle body has a dome with various interactive functional zones. For example, some of the zones are primarily responsible for accommodating vacuum absorption, while other zones are primarily intended to rigidify the container such as by providing column strength to improve container top loading capability. Although each zone may have a primary function, each zone also aids adjacent zones in providing their functions. Thus, the entire dome, and not merely selected locations, reacts in a progressive manner to the forces generated by the hot-fill process on the bottle body. Preferably, the bottle body is slender and capable of readily being gripped by a single hand, and preferably the flex panels in the dome accommodate at least 90% of the total vacuum absorption required by the bottle.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2003Date of Patent: August 2, 2005Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.Inventors: David M. Melrose, Seungyeol Hong, Richard K. Ogg, George Harrell, John Vlah
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Patent number: 6920992Abstract: 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 being defined in at least part by an upper portion, a central portion and a lower portion formed in a compound curve shape. The vacuum panels being moveable to accommodate vacuum forces generated within the container thereby decreasing the volume of the container.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2003Date of Patent: July 26, 2005Assignee: Amcor LimitedInventors: Michael T. Lane, Richard J. Steih, Daniel W. Gamber, Randall S. Brown
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Patent number: 6875201Abstract: In an eye drops container, a barrel portion 2 in the form of a flexible hollow cylinder defines a dent portion 7 which can be gripped with two fingers.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2000Date of Patent: April 5, 2005Assignee: Santen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yoichi Kawashima, Yukio Kusu, Hiroshi Yamada
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Patent number: 6857531Abstract: A plastic container with a self-supporting base, a body portion extending above the base and a neck portion above the body portion. The neck portion includes a dispensing opening. The body portion includes a substantially rigid sidewall portion with structural reinforcement thereon.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2003Date of Patent: February 22, 2005Assignee: Plastipak Packaging, Inc.Inventors: William A. Slat, Richard C. Darr
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Patent number: 6837390Abstract: A plastic container having a sidewall extending between a shoulder portion and a bottom portion. The sidewall has a substantially oval shape in cross-section and includes a pair of opposing columns and a pair of opposing panels. The columns are located at opposing ends of the oval shape and the panels are located at opposing sides of the oval shape. This configuration allows for reduced as-packaged vacuum pressures when the container is used in hot-fill applications.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2001Date of Patent: January 4, 2005Assignee: Amcor LimitedInventors: Michael T. Lane, Mark A. Chapman
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Patent number: 6830158Abstract: A blow molded container is provided. The container has a base, a body portion attached to the base, a concave waist attached to the body portion, a dome attached to the waist, and a finish. The dome has a plurality of indented panels arranged around a perimeter of the dome, and the finish has an opening. A portion of the dome is located between the indented panels and the waist.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2002Date of Patent: December 14, 2004Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.Inventor: Sheldon Yourist
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Publication number: 20040217084Abstract: A collapsible, semi-rigid container includes neck and bottom wall portions and a peripheral side wall extending between the neck and bottom wall. The side wall includes a rigid upper portion and a flexible lower portion. The lower portion of the side wall collapses into the upper portion reducing the internal volume of the container.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 29, 2003Publication date: November 4, 2004Applicant: Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance, S.A.Inventor: Per Ohlsson
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Publication number: 20040200799Abstract: A hot-fillable blow molded plastic container having a finish with an opening; a base; a lower bumper transition; an upper bumper transition and a tubular dome. The upper bumper transition and lower bumper transition defines a label mounting region. The label mounting region includes a circumferential ring adjacent to the upper bumper transition a vacuum panel. The tubular dome can be between the upper bumper transition and the finish and can has a cross sectional shape that is substantially the same throughout. The tubular dome includes an upper bell and a lower bell separated by a peripheral waist that has a diameter less than that of the upper and lower bell.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2004Publication date: October 14, 2004Applicant: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.Inventors: Sheldon Yourist, Angie Noll, Richard K. Ogg