Contoured Sidewall (e.g., Curved, Corrugated, Ribbed, Variable Thickness, Etc.) Patents (Class 215/382)
  • Patent number: 7364046
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Amcor Limited
    Inventors: Rohit V Joshi, Michael T Lane, Richard J Steih
  • Publication number: 20080093330
    Abstract: One embodiment of the invention relates to a container having a longitudinal axis and with a finish, shoulder, finish base, and a step. The shoulder has a wall thickness and is inclined away from the finish at a first angle with respect to a plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the container. The a finish base extends from the bottom of the finish towards the shoulder and has a wall thickness. The finish base is inclined away from the finish at a second angle with respect to a plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the container. The step extends from the finish base to the shoulder and is inclined away from the finish at a third angle with respect to a plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the container. The step also has longitudinal height that is approximately the same as the wall thickness of the finish base; and.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2006
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Applicant: Graham Packaging Company, LP
    Inventors: Richard Johnston, Joseph Labadie, Lance Novotny
  • Publication number: 20080093331
    Abstract: A plastic container includes a neck with an opening, a bell portion surrounding the neck, a body portion including at least one “m”-shaped horizontal rib, and a base where the body portion is located between the bell portion and the base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2006
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Applicant: Graham Packaging Company L.P.
    Inventors: Edward Roubal, Larry Taylor, Jana Lamberson
  • Publication number: 20080087628
    Abstract: A flexible hot fill container includes a body having a label portion and a flex portion. The flex portion includes flex panels and support structure fields. Both the support structure fields and flex panels deform inwardly upon vacuum conditions. Recess sidewalls in the flex panels provide support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2005
    Publication date: April 17, 2008
    Applicant: CONSTAR INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Monis Bangi, Michael R. Mooney
  • Patent number: 7357267
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Yoshino Kogyosho Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Shimada, Kazuaki Nose, Atsushi Ota, Keisuke Miyairi
  • Patent number: 7347339
    Abstract: A flexible hot fill container includes a body having a label portion and a flex portion. The flex portion includes flex panels and support structure fields. Both the support structure fields and flex panels deform inwardly upon vacuum conditions. Recess sidewalls in the flex panels provide support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Constar International, Inc.
    Inventors: Monis Bangi, Michael R. Mooney
  • Publication number: 20080061024
    Abstract: 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 one arcuately formed rib having a body portion and opposite ends. The body portion curves from a central portion toward the base portion at each of the opposite ends.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2006
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Inventors: Chad Keilen, Hassan Mourad, David Deemer
  • Patent number: 7334696
    Abstract: A square-sectioned synthetic resin container includes a body having a square cross-section defined by four cornered pillar portions and four flat walls joining the adjacent pillars, wherein the body is provided with a waist for dividing the body at least into upper and lower sections. According to the present invention, the waist is formed by a circumferential groove having a profile that protrudes convexly inwards of the container. The groove has an arcuate groove wall with a constant radius of curvature, at least at the pillar portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Yoshino Kogyosho Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshimasa Tanaka, Takao Iizuka
  • Patent number: 7318533
    Abstract: An improved blow molded plastic non-round container having rectangular sidewalls is adapted for hot-fill applications. The hot-fill container has vacuum panel reinforcement panels with rib structures located in a label mounting area on the sidewalls. In each panel, the ribs extend across the panel and are parallel to each other where the edge of one rib faces in each array faces inward and the others in the array face outward. The inward rib resists the bulge of the panel and improves bumper denting, ease of manufacture and light weigh capability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Paul V. Kelley
  • Publication number: 20080000867
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2006
    Publication date: January 3, 2008
    Inventors: Michael T. Lane, Dan Weissmann
  • Patent number: 7296701
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Yoshino Kogyosho Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Ozawa, Takao Iizuka, Shoji Tanabe
  • Publication number: 20070257003
    Abstract: A bottle made of plastic material having a body extending along a central axis which comprises: a lower portion having a cross section with an essentially constant profile, followed by a gripping portion, and ending in an upper portion having a section with an essentially constant profile arranged in alignment with the profile of the section of the lower portion. The gripping portion comprises two globally plane gripping panels arranged parallel to one another and in relation to the central axis at a distance which is adapted for a hand taking. These panels have at least one reinforcing relief which extends in a transverse plane and are interconnected by connecting panels extending in continuation of the lower and upper portions by means of rounded corners located at the circumferential ends of the panels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2007
    Publication date: November 8, 2007
    Applicant: SA DES EAUX MINERALES D'EVIAN SAEME
    Inventor: Alain Colloud
  • Publication number: 20070221606
    Abstract: According to one embodiment of the disclosure, a container includes a base portion, a spout, an annular sidewall portion, an upwardly converging portion, and a handle portion that are integrally formed together. The spout has an associated closure cap that has a first height from the base portion when disposed on the spout. The handle portion has an upper support surface that has a second height from the base portion that is approximately equal to the first height. The handle portion has a generally vertically extending member and a generally horizontally extending member. The generally vertically extending member extends from the annular sidewall to the generally horizontally extending member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2007
    Publication date: September 27, 2007
    Inventors: Carl T. Eiten, Matthew J. Simpson
  • Patent number: 7267242
    Abstract: A bottle-shaped container according to the present invention includes a mouth portion (1) for discharging contents, a shoulder portion (2), a main body portion (3), and a bottom portion (4), wherein these portions are integrally molded and successively arranged with each other. An annular projection (5) surrounds the main body portion (3) and protrudes from a surface thereof, along a boundary between the shoulder portion (2) and the main body portion (3). Further, narrow grooves (6a, 6b) are provided on both sides of the annular projection (5) to extend along the same, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Yoshino Kogyosho Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshimasa Tanaka, Naoki Tsutsui
  • Patent number: 7258244
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Graham Packaging Company L.P.
    Inventor: Eric B. Ungrady
  • Patent number: 7247471
    Abstract: A roller bottle is provided with a bottom wall, a top wall and a cylindrical side wall extending between the bottom and top walls. The top wall includes an opening to provide access to the interior of the roller bottle. The cylindrical side wall of the roller bottle is formed with at least one spiral pleat extending substantially from the bottom to the top for increasing cell growth surface area and for facilitating the flow of liquid to all interior surface areas of the bottle as the bottle is rolled about its longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: Anne M. Kadar, Kenneth W. Whitley
  • Patent number: 7243808
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Ball Corporation
    Inventors: John J. Livingston, Erik E. Gatewood, Brian D. Tyree
  • Patent number: 7228981
    Abstract: A plastic container includes a body of one-piece integrally blow-molded construction. The body has an hourglass shape in side elevation with a waist, a base and a shoulder, and at least one helical external rib extending at least one full turn around the waist. The hourglass shape provides as a result of the blow molding operation minimum hoop stretch and extra thickness and strength at the waist, and maximum hoop stretch and minimum thickness at the shoulder and base. The helical rib at the waist of the container gives mechanical stiffness and resiliency for gripping and squeezing the container at the waist, yet allows angular movement of the shoulder with respect to the base to enhance flexibility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, LP
    Inventor: Brian J. Chisholm
  • Patent number: 7213719
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: Plastipak Packaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Marc A. Pedmo, James C. Dorn, James J. Miller
  • Patent number: 7198165
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Graham Packaging PET Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Qiuchen Peter Zhang
  • Patent number: 7182214
    Abstract: The container includes a hollow body of plastic material having a lower supporting base, a sidewall extending upwardly from the lower base, and an upper portion extending upwardly from the sidewall. The upper portion includes at least one opening therein. An integral handle is also provided at least in part on the sidewall. A grip portion, as a finger grip, is provided on the upper portion of the container spaced from the handle to provide stability when handling or when dispensing contents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: Plastipak Packaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard C. Darr, James C. Dorn, Richard A. Lovelace, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7178687
    Abstract: A molded plastic container with a sidewall having a general hourglass configuration. The container structure includes an upper rim, a bottom and a sidewall that extends between the upper rim and the bottom. The sidewall includes a lower frustum section, a narrow mid-section and an upper frustum section. The lower frustum section connects the bottom to the narrow mid-section and decreases in width as it extends from the bottom to the narrow mid-section. The upper frustum section extends from the upper rim to the narrow mid-section and decreases in width as it extends from the upper rim to the mid-section. A method of making such a container, a method of hot-filling such a container and a method of retorting material enclosed in such a container are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Consolidated Container Company LP
    Inventors: Grover John Manderfield, Jr., Ted L. Beaver
  • Patent number: 7172087
    Abstract: A plastic container includes a finish, a shoulder extending from the finish, a closed base, and a sidewall connecting the shoulder to the base. The sidewall is of blow molded construction and generally uniform wall thickness. The sidewall has an array of circumferentially spaced longitudinally extending radially recessed channels, and an array of axially spaced circumferentially extending radially recessed channels intersecting the longitudinally extending channels. The longitudinally extending channels have radially inner portions that lie on an hourglass-shaped common surface of revolution around the axis of the container sidewall. In the preferred embodiments of the invention, a plurality of axially and circumferentially spaced land areas are disposed in spaces between the intersecting longitudinally and circumferentially extending channels, with the land areas lying on a common surface of revolution, preferably a cylindrical surface of revolution, around the axis of the container sidewall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, LP
    Inventors: Timothy P. Axe, Qiuchen Peter Zhang, Charles P. Simpson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7159729
    Abstract: A container is disclosed. The container may be a hot-fill container having an improved geometry. The container may comprise a base, a body portion attached to the base and a concave waist attached to the body portion and having a surface. The surface including a plurality of axial apexes and troughs alternately arranged around the waist. A dome may be attached to the waist. A finish may be attached to the dome, the finish having an opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Bret Sabold, Angie Noll, Paul Kelley
  • Patent number: 7137520
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Inventor: David Murray Melrose
  • Patent number: 7114626
    Abstract: In a bottle-shaped synthetic resin container having a body part of substantially rectangular tubular shape, groove ribs, having a comparatively wide vertical groove form, are depressingly provided at the centers in the width direction of flat wall portions of shoulder lower end parts, which are portions of a shoulder part that connect with the body part, to make these portions higher in rigidity and difficult to deform and, even when a deformation occurs, prevent the deformation from becoming a permanent deformation. Safe handling of the container is thus promoted, especially for the stacked storage of containers in a sideways-laid orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Yoshino Kogyosho Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshimasa Tanaka, Shigeru Tomiyama, Tomoyuki Ozawa, Takao Iizuka, Naoki Tsutsui
  • Patent number: 7100600
    Abstract: A fluid filled ampoule comprises an ampoule body having a top end, a bottom end and a sealed interior containing a liquid. A top tab is coupled to the top end and is removable to create a drain vent in the top end. A bottom tab is coupled to the bottom end and is removable to create a drain opening in the bottom end. A movable shroud is coupled to the top end and is disposed about the top tab. The shroud is movable to permit access to the top tab.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Aerogen, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph P. Loeffler, Richard Q. Poynter, David Rapp, Michael Klimowicz
  • Patent number: 7097059
    Abstract: A blow-molded bottle includes a shoulder and a body that includes an upper body section, a lower body section, and a transversal recessed rib disposed between the upper body section and the lower body section. The upper body section has four lateral walls and four corner walls, each being arranged between two adjacent lateral walls. The lower body section also has four lateral walls and four corner walls, each being arranged between two adjacent lateral walls. The corner wall is formed with an axially extending recess that includes tapered walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Yoshino Kogyosho Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiromichi Saito, Takao Iizuka
  • Patent number: 7090116
    Abstract: A cup for dispensing liquid and solid medication. The cup has a bottom 12, two sides 14, 16, extending upwardly from the bottom to form a rim 26 at a top of the cup, and a ramp 18 extending outwardly from the bottom 12 at least part way to the rim. The two sides and the ramp 19 join to form a mouthpiece of the cup. An upper vertical portion 24 extends downward from the rim 26. The ramp 19 extends outwardly from the bottom 12 to the upper vertical portion 24 such that the two sides 14, 16, the ramp 19, and the upper vertical portion 24 join to form a mouth piece of the cup. The cup allows an individual to consume the entire contents within the cup without moving the head or neck backwards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Inventors: Carol Sale Cutler, David W. Cutler, Glenys Wilbur
  • Patent number: 7063222
    Abstract: In a plastic container manufactured by melting blow molding a heated and molten parison extruded from an extruder, a mouth 3 and/or a specified part of a body 2 has a thicker thickness than the body proper. One or more thick parts of the body 2 are continuously or discontinuously formed over part or all a peripheral, height or helical direction of the body of the container. The container enjoys enhanced rigidity, appearance and functionality even when the thickness of its body is considerably reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Toyo Seikan Kaisha, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiki Sakaguchi, Yuzuru Maruyama, Kenjiro Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7055706
    Abstract: A drink bottle has a side wall and a floor together forming an interior drink space, an array of tubes extending away from the floor, defining an downwardly open compartment and a plurality of windows, having upper ends in fluid communication with the drink space at the floor, and having lower ends remote from the floor. A hollow base ring spaced from the floor is attached to the lower ends and in fluid communication through the tubes with the drink space. A container adapted to hold ice is fitted inside the compartment and removable from the compartment through the base ring. This container is visible from outside through the windows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Eisvogel Nutzeis GmbH
    Inventor: Ingo Kurs
  • Patent number: 7051892
    Abstract: A plastic, blow-molded, disposable water bottle adapted for use with a dispenser, said bottle having a basically spherical or elliptical shape, a footed base portion, and a unique neck geometry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Inventor: William R. O'Day, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7051890
    Abstract: The technical problem of this invention is to eliminate the need to use deformable panel walls and to find the body of a shape that no false deformation, such as dented deformation, takes place in a portion of the body due to the hot filling of the contents or the reduced pressure created by the treatment of retort-packed foods. The object of this invention is to obtain a bottle that can inhibit the deformation caused by reduced pressure, has a high buckling strength, and is good in outer appearance. As the solution, there is provided a biaxially drawn, blow-molded bottle made of a synthetic resin, in which the surface rigidity of the wall of body is set in such a manner that a part of the body wall cannot become dented inward under a reduced inner pressure of at least 350 mmHg (46.7 kPa).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Yoshino Kogyosho Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuko Onoda, Tomoyuki Ozawa, Takao Iizuka, Shigeru Tomiyama, Tadayori Nakayama, Fuminori Tanaka, Tsutomu Asari
  • Patent number: 7028866
    Abstract: A pressure resistant plastic bottle for containing and dispensing an aerosol composition. The plastic bottle is comprised of a hollow elongate body having a central portion, a top portion and an opposite bottom portion with the central portion having an inwardly concave configuration extending along its longitudinal direction. The bottom portion of the elongate body is integral with the central portion and defines an outwardly projecting convexly shaped configuration. The top portion of the bottle is integral with the central portion and has an outwardly convex configuration extending along its longitudinal direction and defines a neck having an opening for receiving and dispensing the aerosol composition. A closure covers the opening and is sealingly attached to the neck to contain the aerosol within the plastic bottle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward J. Kunesh, Allen D. Miller, David P. Mather, Michael J. Skalitzky, James C. Boda, Douglas J. Birkholz
  • Patent number: 7021486
    Abstract: A drinking flask cap is a convenient, three-position, push-pull lid. The top of the lid forms a drinking basis, and the drinking basin can be sealed with a hygienic cap. The cap can be removed and placed on the bottom of the flask for convenient storage and provides a stable base for the flask. A bottle portion of the flask is preferably made from a molded plastic material and can be provided with a finger hold such that the flask can be drunk from in a manner similar to a coffee cup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Pacific Market, Inc
    Inventor: Gary A. Hurlbut
  • Patent number: 7021479
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Plastipak Packaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Marc A. Pedmo, James J. Miller
  • Patent number: 7000794
    Abstract: A container for storing a fluid incorporates an overflow region. The overflow region is located above the desired fill line of the container and preferably terminates in the same plane as the opening of the fill spout. In this manner, the amount of fluid filled in the container can be maximized while still providing the desired air space for shipping purposes. Incorporating structural features into the body of the blow-molded container eliminate the use of external cases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: Creative Edge Design Group, Ltd.
    Inventors: Daniel P. Soehnlen, Gregory M. Soehnlen
  • Patent number: 6997337
    Abstract: A dual convex flask is of one-piece integrally molded plastic construction. The flask has opposed front and back walls each with a convex label panel area at a first radius of curvature and axially spaced bumpers that extend outwardly from opposite ends of the panel area. Opposed substantially flat sidewalls connect adjacent side edges of the front and back walls. The bumpers on each of the front and back walls have a second radius of curvature that is greater than the first radius of curvature, such that the bumpers have a radial depth perpendicular to the label panel area which is greatest at the ends of the bumpers adjacent to the sidewalls and least at the center of the panel area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Graham Packaging PET Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Michael P. Wurster
  • Patent number: 6971530
    Abstract: The improved plastic container and preform is light weight and includes a base, a cylindrical sidewall projecting upwardly from the base, and a neck finish projecting upwardly from the sidewall and having an opening to the inside of the container. The neck finish includes an inwardly oriented stepped area adjacent the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: Plastipak Packaging, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard C. Darr
  • Patent number: 6971540
    Abstract: A barrel body with a cross-section surface that approaches the shape of a square with slightly embossed side surfaces and rounded corner areas. The barrel body can be equipped with stiffening elements that run vertically and/or horizontally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: Mauser-Werke GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Dietmar Przytulla, Wilhelm Peter Meuleman
  • Patent number: 6935525
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Greg Trude
  • Patent number: 6932230
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Plastipak Packaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Marc A. Pedmo, Richard C. Darr
  • Patent number: 6929138
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.
    Inventors: David M. Melrose, Paul Kelley, Scott Moersdorf
  • Patent number: 6929139
    Abstract: A blow molded plastic container having a circular base, a cylindrical sidewall extending upwardly from the base and a neck finish projecting upwardly from the sidewall. The sidewall includes a plurality of spaced apart, continuous, circumferential grooves extending around the sidewall. The grooves are separated by raised areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: Plastipak Packaging, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard C. Darr
  • Patent number: 6889858
    Abstract: A container including a plurality of side walls, a top, a handle, a bumper, and a substantially planar label surface. The top has a neck and is joined to a top portion of the side walls. The handle is formed in a region adjacent the top and extends between two adjacent side walls within the profile of the container. The bumper extends around the periphery of the container across each of the side walls. The bumper projects outward from each of the side walls a distance. The substantially planar label surface is located on one of the side walls proximal the bumper and extends upwardly higher than a lower end portion of the handle. The distance is sufficient to prevent contact of the label surface against a flat surface abutting against the container. The bumper may be offset downwardly to extend around the label surface thereby enlarge the label surface. The container may include a plurality of corner portions interconnecting adjacent side walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: Portola Packaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew S. McCollum, Patrick Taylor, Shawn R. LaRock
  • Patent number: 6857531
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignee: Plastipak Packaging, Inc.
    Inventors: William A. Slat, Richard C. Darr
  • Patent number: 6841262
    Abstract: A preform having an annular wall region of increased wall thickness to produce a blow molded container having an annular concavity in a wall portion thereof to provide a hand grip feature, such a container when blow molded from such a preform and a carbonated beverage container having intaglio hand grip wall hand grip features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: DTL Technology Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Martin H. Beck, Robert J. Caldicott
  • Patent number: 6830158
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Sheldon Yourist
  • Patent number: 6827228
    Abstract: A bubble 6 formed in the wall 7 of a plastic container having, an interior surface 8, an exterior surface 9 and a wall thickness 29 and being suitable for containing a liquid under pressure e.g., a carbonated beverage, including an integral structure formed of a central dome 10 having a convex outer surface 11 facing toward the adjacent exterior surface 9 and connected with an annular trough 18 having an annular concave surface facing the adjacent the exterior surface 9, a frustum 20 interconnecting the trough 18 with the dome or an outer ring of curved cross-section, the outer ring having an annular concave surface facing toward the interior 14, integrally formed with the container wall 7 surrounding the bubble, the bubble having a thickness approximately equal to the wall thickness. An associated container, blow mold and method are also included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: PepsiCo., Inc.
    Inventors: Cynthia Ann Headen, Martin H. Beck, Dennis Connor, Lydia Reed, John Boyet Stevens, Charles A. Curtiss, Stuart Leslie
  • Patent number: RE38770
    Abstract: A collapsible container is disclosed having a top portion and a base portion joined by a generally cylindrical side wall structure, the generally cylindrical side wall structure has a central axis and a collapsible helical portion and the collapsible helical portion has a generally uniform radius and a generally flat side cross sectional shape with respect to the central axis. A cup section is also disclosed which can cause deformation of the collapsible container's side wall. The container is particularly suitable to store carbonated beverages and other consumer products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: Marshall Packaging Company, LLC
    Inventor: Neil Y. Gilbert