Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A bottle-type plastic container includes a body and an opening at one end of the container that allows liquid content to be filled into the container and emptied therefrom. The body has a middle height region with front and rear surface portions, and both sides of the rear surface portion are recessed inwards and juxtaposed to each other defining a grip region therebetween. The rear surface portion of the body has a radius of curvature (R2) that is larger that a radius of curvature (R1) of the front surface portion.

Abstract: A bottle for storing and dispensing contents comprises at least one grip portion for improving a user's grip on the bottle. The grip portion is situated on the side of the bottle and extends at least partially along the height of the bottle and comprises a recessed grip panel formed in the side of the bottle adapted to receive the user's fingers and the grip panel is tapered at an angle with respect to the vertical direction. Preferably, the back of the bottle is thinner than the front so that a user can grip the bottle from the back. Preferably, there are a plurality of ribs inclined at a first angle with respect to the horizontal direction and a plurality of cross-hatch ribs inclined at a second angle, the second angle differing from the first at approximately ninety degrees and the ribs forming a lattice arrangement. Preferably, the bottle further comprises a plurality of ridges, situated on the side wall of the bottle for providing strength and rigidity to the bottle.

Abstract: A hot-fillable wide-mouth jar having an opposed pair of collapse panels that move inwardly to accommodate vacuum-induced volumetric shrinkage of the jar. The jar includes a sidewall having front and rear label panels each of a predetermined radius of curvature and each of a predetermined arcuate extent. A pair of arcuate collapse panels are located between the front and rear label panels, and each has a predetermined arcuate extent and an inset grip region affording facile handling of the jar. Desirable structural parameters are disclosed.

Abstract: A hot-fillable wide-mouth jar having an opposed pair of collapse panels that move inwardly to accommodate vacuum-induced volumetric shrinkage of the jar. The jar includes a sidewall having front and rear label panels each of a predetermined radius of curvature and each of a predetermined arcuate extent. A pair of arcuate collapse panels are located between the front and rear label panels, and each has a predetermined arcuate extent and an inset grip region affording facile handling of the jar. Desirable structural parameters are disclosed.

Abstract: A hot-fillable container having an opposed pair of collapse panels that move inwardly to accommodate vacuum-induced volumetric shrinkage of the container. The container includes a sidewall having front and rear label panels each of a predetermined radius of curvature and each of a predetermined arcuate extent. A pair of arcuate collapse panels are located between said front and rear label panels, and each has a predetermined arcuate extent and an inset grip region affording facile handling of the container. Desirable structural parameters are disclosed.

Abstract: Nursing bottle providing improved ease of gripping during use has a first depression in its front surface for receiving an infant's fingers and a second depression on its back surface for receiving an infant's thumbs. Preferably, the first and second depressions are displaced longitudinally with respect to one another.

Abstract: A hot-fillable wide-mouth jar having an opposed pair of collapse panels that move inwardly to accommodate vacuum-induced volumetric shrinkage of the jar. The jar includes a sidewall having front and rear label panels each of a predetermined radius of curvature and each of a predetermined arcuate extent. A pair of arcuate collapse panels are located between the front and rear label panels, and each has a predetermined arcuate extent and an inset grip region affording facile handling of the jar. Desirable structural parameters are disclosed.

Abstract: A heat-resistant hollow cylindrical container comprising a neck, a shoulder, an upper body, a middle body provided with pressure reduction absorbing panels, and a lower body including a bottom wall, wherein said pressure reduction absorbing panels are arranged symmetrically relative to a central axis of the container, each of said pressure reduction absorbing panels is located inside an imaginary outer periphery of the cylindrical shape of the container, and each of said pressure reduction absorbing panels is provided with at least a pair of protuberances to be hooked by a finger. The middle body is provided with two pressure reduction absorbing panels arranged symmetrically respective to the central axis of the container. Said protuberances form a gap therebetween, and have a width and a height so sized as to allow a finger tip to be placed into the gap.

Abstract: A container adapted for use by an infant or a child is provided. The container has handles with first and second side walls that diverge away from each other, in the direction away from the outer circumference of the body of the container toward the center line of the container. The container can also have a base with at least one base recess formed therein and an inwardly tapered bottom surface, providing improved strength.

Abstract: An aerosol container (10) with an ergonomic beaded cylindrical body (18) is disclosed. The cylindrical body (18) has larger beads (21-23) toward the top of the container, and smaller beads (24, 25) positioned under the larger beads, creating an easy to hold and use container.

Abstract: The title of the invention is the structure of reinforcing ribs around bottle waist. The purpose of the invention is to achieve enhanced buckling strength in a bottle of a reinforcing rib structure comprising a horizontal concave rib in the waist portion of the bottle body and the reinforcing ribs disposed vertically at regular intervals along the circumference of this horizontal concave rib.

Abstract: A blow-moldable container, having a centrally located, generally tubular handle spanning a central recess has improved balance and ergonomics over existing blow-molded containers. Such a balanced container has great utility as a handheld freeweight, or as a container for pourable substances. An integrally molded base allows our container to be stood upright on end like a regular bottle. Products may be marketed in such containers under the premise that the consumer automatically acquires a freeweight by purchasing the product. The inclusion of fitably engageable contours on its top and bottom surfaces makes such a container stackable with others of its kind, for ease of packaging, shipping, and storage. A graduated set of handheld fillable freeweights may thus be compactly stored without a special rack. Since blow-molding offers great economy of production for sufficiently large numbers of containers, the average person will now be able to afford an entire graduated set of freeweights.

Abstract: Nursing bottle providing improved ease of gripping during use has a first depression in its front surface for receiving an infant's fingers and a second depression on its back surface for receiving an infant's thumbs. Preferably, the first and second depressions are displaced longitudinally with respect to one another.

Abstract: A hot-fillable grip container having a sidewall with a front label panel on which a label can be adhesively secured and prominently displayed. The label panel includes horizontally disposed stiffening grooves and transversely disposed channels connecting between adjacent pairs of grooves. The channels are preferably vertically disposed such that they are perpendicular to said grooves and provide anti-barreling and anti-buckling functions. In addition, the channels enable ready drainage of cooling liquid applied to a hot-filled and capped container so that proper label adhesion can be achieved.

Abstract: A plastic blow molded bottle (10) includes a body portion (16) that extends vertically between a lower base (12) and an upper dispensing end (14) and includes a pair of inwardly extending hand grips (28) with contiguous vertical ribs (34) that extend between a lower end (30) of each hand grip and an upper open end (32) of the hand grip. The vertically ribbed construction of the hand grips (28) with the lower end (30) and the open upper end (32) facilitates manual handling of the bottle, as well as permitting flexing that accommodates for different internal volumes of the bottle in order to permit hot filling.

Abstract: An ergonomically friendly container (10, 30) having hot-fill capabilities is disclosed. The container (10, 30) has a pre-ovalized dome (14, 34) with grip surfaces (20, 21, 40, 42) that undergo controlled deformation for accommodating a portion of the volumetric shrinkage due to hot-filling, capping, and cooling. Preferably, anti-racking ribs (32a, 32b) extend laterally between the grip surfaces (20, 21, 40, 42) to prevent unwanted racking or twisting of the dome (14, 34) during vacuum absorption.

Abstract: A bottle is disclosed having a handle integral with a back wall and spaced from the plane of the bottom of the bottle, such separation being sufficient to allow a user's fingers to grip the bottle while the bottle is against a flat surface.

Abstract: A vacuum-pinch grip panel structure of a hot-fillable container. The panel structure includes an upper rib, a lower rib, an intermediate panel and a grip portion. The upper and lower ribs extending laterally across the structure while the intermediate panel and the grip portion extend between the upper and lower ribs. The upper rib, lower rib, intermediate panel and grip portion are connected together for relative movement therebetween. The movement being pivoting movement of the upper rib, lower rib, intermediate panel and grip portion generally toward a center area of the structure upon reduced internal container pressures.

Abstract: A container having a grip ring. The grip ring is located between a dome portion and a body portion of the container and has an inset grip surface for receiving a thumb and fingers. The grip ring is located and sized relative to the dome and body portions, such that, when the container is grasped about the grip ring, the container contents can be poured in a balanced and facile manner. In addition, the location and configuration of the grip ring provides the container with circumferential hoop strength which resists unwanted ovalization distortion of the dome and body portion of the container.

Abstract: An ergonomic baby bottle construction 10 including a baby bottle member 20 having a lower generally cylindrical base portion 21 and an upper bent neck portion 30 which is disposed at an acute angle relative to the base portion 21. The rear surface of both the upper end of the base portion 21 and the bent neck portion 30 are provided with a plurality of finger grooves 40 which extend towards the front surface of the bent neck portion 30 such that the base portion 21 of the bottle member 20 will be disposed in a vertical orientation when the bottle member 20 is disposed in the feeding orientation.

Abstract: A bottle for storing and dispensing contents comprises at least one grip portion for improving a user's grip on the bottle. The grip portion is situated on the side of the bottle and extends at least partially along the height of the bottle and comprises a recessed grip panel formed in the side of the bottle adapted to receive the user's fingers and the grip panel is tapered at an angle with respect to the vertical direction. Preferably, the back of the bottle is thinner than the front so that a user can grip the bottle from the back. Preferably, there are a plurality of ribs inclined at a first angle with respect to the horizontal direction and a plurality of cross-hatch ribs inclined at a second angle, the second angle differing from the first at approximately ninety degrees and the ribs forming a lattice arrangement. Preferably, the bottle further comprises a plurality of ridges, situated on the side wall of the bottle for providing strength and rigidity to the bottle.

Abstract: A bottle for storing and dispensing contents comprises a grip portion for improving a user's grip on the bottle. The grip portion is situated on a side of the bottle and extends at least partially along the height of the bottle. The grip portion comprises a recessed panel having a concave shape, formed in the first side of the bottle and adapted to receive the user's fingers. In addition, the grip portion further comprises a grip panel situated on the recessed panel and comprising a plurality of ribs projecting radially outward from the recessed panel. The ribs are oriented substantially vertically to improve the vertical strength of the bottle in the area of the grip portion and spaced-apart so as to form depressions therebetween to receive the user's fingers.

Abstract: A bottle providing an eased grip and comprising a hollow elongated body provided with an annular groove in an intermediate position to allow the grip of the bottle itself, said annular groove having a plurality of ribs passing through the surface of the annular groove from side to side, uniformly placed along the side surface thereof.

Abstract: A container of the type which can be lifted and carried by a person, the container comprising a bottom wall, a top wall, a back wall, which faces the person's body when the container is carried, a front wall opposite to the back wall, two opposed side walls extending between the back and front walls, a first hand-grippable portion positioned at the juncture between the bottom wall and one of the side walls, and a second hand-grippable portion positioned adjacent the juncture between the front wall and the other of the side walls.

Abstract: An ergonomically friendly container having hot-fill capabilities is disclosed. The container has a pre-ovalized dome with grip surfaces that undergo controlled deformation for accommodating a portion of the volumetric shrinkage due to hot filling, capping and cooling.

Abstract: A plastic blow molded bottle (10) includes a pair of vertically extending hand grips (32) depressed inwardly at a rib reinforced shoulder (22) and at a body portion (16) of the bottle. Each hand grip (32) has a plurality of horizontally extending reinforcing ribs (34) that have curved shapes and are spaced vertically from each other.

Abstract: A blow molded, thin walled plastic container for filling with a liquid whose temperature is elevated above ambient. The container includes a first portion of a first diameter, a second portion of a second diameter, and reduced diameter region between the first and second portions. The reduced diameter portion extends circumferentially around the container and a plurality of ribs which are located to extend between the first and second portions. The ribs form reinforcing members in the reduced diameter portion and increase the top load capabilities of the container. The first and second portions can both be formed in the shoulder portion of the container or one in the shoulder portion and one in the sidewall of the container.

Abstract: A hot-fillable plastic container having a panel section of a size suitable for gripping the container in one hand. The panel section includes two opposing vertically-elongated and radially-indented vacuum panels, and two opposing horizontally-disposed and radially-indented finger grips. Each vacuum panel preferably has an invertible central wall portion movable from a convex first position prior to hot-filling of the container, to a concave second position under vacuum pressure following hot-filling and sealing of the container.

Abstract: A water cooler water bottle has a recessed handle angled to provide a natural lifting angle for a user, without bending the user's wrist. The handle is positioned adjacent the center of gravity of the bottle so that the center of gravity is substantially or directly under the handle when the user is carrying the bottle, and so that inversion of the bottle for insertion into a water cooler is easier. The side wall tapers smoothly into the handle and the recess so that during cleaning, cleaning liquid does not pool at the handle or the recess and remain in the bottle.

Abstract: A sealed container includes a base jar for containing a substance and a removable lid for closing and sealing the base jar. The base jar includes a bottom wall, a side enclosure extending upwardly from the bottom wall having an upper portion with a screw thread, and an upper wall extending inwardly and upwardly from the upper portion of the side enclosure having a circular brim which defines a wide mouth opening for the base jar. The removable lid includes a top wall and an encircling member extending downwardly therefrom with a screw thread which matingly engages with the screw thread of the upper wall of the base jar. For sealing with the base jar, the removable lid also includes a circular projection extending downwardly from the lid which engages and seals with the circular brim.

Abstract: A thermoplastic bottle has a generally cylindrical body, in turn having an upper portion, a lower portion, and opposite sides joining at a diametric plane. A plurality of adjacent finger recesses extend about one of the opposite sides in the lower portion of the body, and a thumb depression is provided in the lower portion on the other of the opposite sides. A continuous circumferential indentation is formed in the cylindrical body between the upper portion and the lower portion to decouple pressure response of the upper and lower portions and minimize lean transfer to the upper portion resulting from expansion of the lower portion on the one of the opposite sides. The bottle is also formed with at least one vertical reinforcing indentation, preferably at least one set of three such vertical reinforcing indentations in each of the finger grooves, and at least one, preferably three spaced vertical reinforcing indentations in the thumb depression.

Abstract: The present invention is an exercise fluid bottle which contains a liquid nourishment and which is used by a user during a strenuous physical activity. The exercise fluid bottle includes an integral container formed out of a plastic material and a dispensing cap for retaining and dispensing the liquid nourishment. The integral container has a first portion which is a hollow cylinder with an enclosed end and a partially enclosed end and a second portion which is a hollow cylinder with an enclosed end and a partially enclosed end. The integral container also has a handle portion which is a hollow cylinder which has corrugated ribbing axially aligned therewith so that the user can more comfortably grip the exercise fluid bottle and which is disposed adjacent to the partially enclosed ends of the first and second portions. The dispensing cap is fluidly and mechanically coupled to the enclosed end of the first portion.

Abstract: A container of the type which can be lifted and carried by a person, the container comprising a bottom wall, a top wall, a back wall, which faces the person's body when the container is carried, a front wall opposite to the back wall, two opposed side walls extending between the back and front walls, a first hand-grippable portion positioned at the juncture between the bottom wall and one of the side walls, and a second hand-grippable portion positioned adjacent the juncture between the front wall and the other of the side walls.

Abstract: There is provided a bottle having a handle formed by stretch blow molding comprising an improved structure which facilitates carrying even a relatively large bottle in which a bendable handle having a flat shape extending in a transverse direction is integrally formed below a threaded portion of a neck of the bottle, and a connecting portion of said handle includes a narrow portion which is transversally provided by reducing the thickness at an intermediate portion of the connecting portion, whereby making the finger engaging tab bendable at the narrow portion in upper and lower directions, and molecular orientation of the resin material is performed by the narrow portion.

Abstract: A thin-walled plastic beverage container is provided with a gripping support that eliminates many of the problems associated with pouring and drinking from such containers.

Abstract: A developer replenishing device for replenishing a developing device with a developer, and a developer container for use therewith. The developer container, or toner bottle, has a mouth portion at one end thereof which is smaller in diameter than a hollow cylindrical main body. At the end of the bottle provided with the mouth, a shoulder has the inner periphery thereof partly raised to the edge of the mouth portion to form a raised portion for scooping up a toner. In addition, a part of the inner periphery of the circumferential wall of the bottle which is contiguous with the raised portion is also raised toward the axis of the bottle about which the bottle is rotatable, thereby forming another raised portion. When the bottle is mounted to a bottle holder, which is included in the replenishing device, substantially horizontally with the mouth portion oriented sideways, the bottle is rotated to raise the toner from the bottom of the main body to the mouth portion.

Abstract: A biaxially oriented plastic blow molded bottle (10) has a domed upper dispensing end (12), a lower freestanding base (14) about whose central hub (24) legs (26) and ribs (28) alternate, and a round body portion (16) with an inwardly extending annular grip (32) constructed to facilitate manual grasping of the bottle. The body portion (16)has the same diameter D above and below the annular grip (32). The annular grip (32) includes upper and lower ends (34,36) that extend outwardly with curved shapes with the upper end having a more abrupt curvature than the lower end. An intermediate portion (38) of the annular grip extends between the upper and lower ends with an inwardly curved shape that is less abrupt than the upper end (34) but more abrupt than the lower end (38). In one embodiment, the bottle (10.sub.tag) has its annular grip (32.sub.tag) provided with a textured outer surface (33) that facilitates gripping of the bottle.

Abstract: A plastic bottle-shaped container comprises a top portion and a bottom portion. The top portion includes a neck area having a neck wall extending toward and then away from the center of the container when proceeding along its length to form a neck grip to allow a user to grasp the container. The bottom portion, which extends from the top portion, has a front wall, a back wall and side walls. Each side wall of the bottom portion has a recess. The recesses of the side walls together define a side grip to allow the user to grasp the container at the side walls.

Abstract: A plastic blow molded container (10) having an upper dispensing end (16), a lower base (18) and a body portion (20) extending therebetween is constructed with the body portion having a round upper drum section (36) and an inwardly extending lower annular grip section (38) having depressions (42) spaced about a central axis A of the container. Each depression (42) has a lower blunt end (44), an upper generally pointed end (46) and an intermediate portion (48) having sides (50) that taper toward each other in an upward direction. The lower location of the annular grip section (38) facilitates manual grasping of the bottle when initially grasped from a horizonal support surface while the tapering configuration of the depressions (42) facilitates manual fingertip gripping of the container by varying hand sizes. One embodiment has a lower base (18) with an annular support surface (62).

Abstract: A reusable, collapsible urine container includes a bottom wall and a relatively flexible, peripheral side wall extending upwardly from the bottom wall. The peripheral side wall includes upper, intermediate and lower concentric portions and an uppermost inclined or non-concentric portion extending upwardly and angularly from the upper concentric portion. The intermediate concentric portion has a wall thickness less than the upper and lower concentric portions, such that the peripheral side wall movable between axially extended and collapsed positions, wherein, in the collapsed position, the lower concentric side wall portion is partially telescoped within the upper concentric side wall portion with the intermediate concentric portion reverse folded therebetween. The uppermost or non-concentric portion is formed with an annular rim defining an upper open end of the container, the rim adapted to receive a removable cap. A handle is integrally formed in the peripheral side wall.

Abstract: A flexible neck baby bottle (10) comprises a nursing container (12) having a neck (14) at an open end, to hold a liquid therein. A nipple assembly (16) is adapted to be received in a mouth (18) of a baby (20). A structure (22) is for mounting in a watertight sealed manner the nipple assembly (16) to the neck (14) of the nursing container (12). A facility (24) in the nursing container (12) directly below the neck (14), is for allowing bending of the neck (14) with the mounting structure (22) and the nipple assembly (16) freely in any direction without inhibiting a flow of the liquid from the nursing container (12) out through the nipple assembly (16) and into the mouth (18) of the baby (20), so that the baby can easily maneuver and orient the nipple assembly (16) at any angle when nursing.

Abstract: An inventive orientation apparatus is provided in the present invention preferably for use with blow molding operations. The apparatus includes an object having a body portion and a neck portion. The neck portion has an outer peripheral surface and an alignment lug which extends outwardly from the peripheral surface and past the same. Additionally, a rotating support is included for supporting the object and causing the same to rotate, wherein the rotating support is movable with a moving carrier pallet. The apparatus also includes an orientating element located adjacent the carrier which engages the alignment lug on the object and stops the rotation of the object at a desired orientation. The invention may also include an orientation check device which is positioned upstream from the orientation element, adjacent the carrier, which is used for checking the orientation of the alignment lug for preventing a system jam.

Abstract: A cuvette, to be used for measuring the properties of liquid contained therein by applying a measuring beam of light from a direction intersecting the vertical axis of the cuvette, includes a rectangular or square-outlined portion on the top thereof as viewed in a horizontal cross section, a cylindrical portion below the top portion, and a lower rectangular or square portion provided vertically below the cylindrical portion and having four sides parallel to these of the top rectangular portion, respectively. Thus, the cuvette does not unfavorably rotate when measuring the absorption of light transmitted therethrough. Further, an apparatus for transporting the aforementioned transparent cuvette, accurately controls the position of the cuvette during transportation so that a flat surface thereof can be irradiated with a measuring beam of light.

Abstract: A hot-fillable, blow-molded container has a grip panel structure which resists inverting when the container is filled with a hot liquid and after the container has been capped. The container and grip panel structure retain their aesthetic appearance and their structural integrity through use by the consumer.

Abstract: A blow molded plastic container including a supporting member in the hollow space of the container extending completely across the hollow space and integral with the inside wall face of the body portion of the container at two spaced locations thereof to support the inside wall face. The body portion defines regions that comprise at least two adjoining lobes which form a handgrip. The method injection molds a preform containing an inner wall, blow molds the preform into the shape of a precursor having adjoining lobes separated by depressions, removes the precursor from the blow mold, and applies internal pressure into the precursor to form the precursor into its final shape including lobes.

Abstract: A sealed container includes a base jar for containing a substance and a removable lid therefor. The base jar includes an upper portion with a screw thread and an upper wall extending inwardly and upwardly therefrom having a circular brim which defines a wide mouth opening, a brim portion with at least a 10% reduction, and an inside edge. The removable lid includes an encircling member extending downwardly from a top wall with a mating screw thread for the screw thread of the base jar. For sealing with the base jar, the removable lid also includes a circular projection extending downwardly from the lid which engages and seals with the circular brim. For additional sealing, the removable lid further includes a circular flexible flange extending downwardly from the lid having a tip which is radially flexed relative to a remainder of the flange upon engagement with an upper wall of the jar to seal therewith.

Abstract: A hot-fillable plastic container having a panel section with vacuum panels and an end grip, which panel section resists ovalization and other deformation during filling, product cooling, and handling. The container has a substantially-cylindrical panel section, with a pair of vertically-elongated vacuum panels disposed on opposing sides of a vertical plane passing through a vertical centerline of the container. Front and rear label attachment areas are provided between the vacuum panels. A pair of vertical ribs are disposed on either side of each vacuum panel which act as hinge points to maximize movement of a concave recess in the vacuum panel; the vertical ribs also resist longitudinal bending.