Molded Container Patents (Class 220/675)
  • Publication number: 20110227405
    Abstract: In a reservoir tank (5) of the present invention, a hydraulic fluid movement deterring wall (26) is disposed integrally with an upper half body (9) and extending toward a radial direction center of a cylindrical upper half body neck section (24) on a curved portion at a boundary between an inner peripheral surface (24a) of the cylindrical upper half body neck section (24) and an inner surface (25a1) of a ceiling portion (25a) of an upper half body trunk section (25) or on the inner peripheral surface (24a) of the upper half body neck section (24). The movement of the hydraulic fluid frontward (toward a hydraulic fluid inlet (10)) in a hydraulic fluid storage chamber 13 at a time when the reservoir tank (5) is tilted frontward is controlled by this hydraulic fluid movement deterring wall (26).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2009
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Inventor: Toshiyuki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8016162
    Abstract: A bottle formed of a food-grade plastic material, such as clear polyethylene terephthalate includes a frustoconical neck portion, a shoulder region, a base region, and a sidewall portion have opposed grip-enhancing surfaces, and elastically deformable pressure panels. A cap for the container may include a valve to control product leakage, and may be sized to allow inversion of the bottle. A generally trapezoidal tab of the cap moves between a closed position covering a cap orifice and an open position outside the plane of the cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: H.J. Heinz Company
    Inventors: Wayne C. Cleary, Michael D. McMahon
  • Patent number: 8002133
    Abstract: A plastic container used to hold a dispersion-based paint colorant and capable of dispensing the colorant into paint dispensing machines, comprising an open top capable of holding and securing a cap, and having a wide mouth with a diameter of at least 50 mm. The plastic container has a cylindrical body extending below the open top, and a plurality of vertical ribs spaced around the body to strengthen the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: BASF Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph M. Galownia, Dennis Futo, Dale Panascewicz
  • Patent number: 7988011
    Abstract: A gardener's waste can includes a frusto-conical container having a flexible sidewall, a closed bottom end and an open top end defining a circular rim. An arcuate hinge is formed in the sidewall of the container. The hinge has opposite ends respectively intersecting the rim of the container and is arranged such that, when the sidewall of the container is laid against the ground, a hinged portion of the sidewall connected to the hinge and disposed between the two ends thereof swings inwardly into the container and lies generally flat against the ground so that leaves, cuttings on the ground are easily swept over the flat portion of the container sidewall and into the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Inventor: Raul Guevara
  • Publication number: 20110139785
    Abstract: A container for holding goods comprises a basket having a base and a sidewall, a lid mateable with the basket, a first sawtooth structure formed within the sidewall and a second sawtooth structure formed within the lid and substantially mirroring the first sawtooth structure when the lid is mated with the basket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2010
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: PACKAGING PLUS LLC
    Inventors: Randall Glenn Strange, Richard Louis Bontrager
  • Publication number: 20110132916
    Abstract: A one-piece, unitary molded plastic container includes a neck portion; a base portion; and a sidewall extending upwardly from the base portion toward the neck portion. The sidewall includes an upper body portion and a lower body portion. The lower body portion is substantially cylindrical, extends from the base portion toward the upper body portion, and has a height that is from about 0.10 to about 0.60 of the total height of the container. The upper body portion is substantially non-cylindrical, extends upwardly from the lower body portion toward the neck portion, and has a height that is from about 0.30 to about 0.80 of the total height of the container; and includes a curved label-receiving portion. In embodiments, a label—e.g., a directly-applied ink label or separately applied composite label—is applied to the label-receiving portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2011
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Applicant: Plastipak Packaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald L. Uptergrove, Richard A. Lovelace, JR., William C. Young, James J. Miller, Edward V. Morgan
  • Publication number: 20110127279
    Abstract: Disclosed is a bottomed tubular bottle including an annular groove which is formed so as to be circumferentially and radially recessed inward along the outer peripheral surface of a body of the bottle with a bottle axis as a center and which contracts and deforms the body in the axial direction of the bottle when the internal pressure is reduced. The annular groove is recessed and formed by a first wall surface arranged on a mouth side of the bottle and a second wall surface arranged on a bottom side of the bottle. The body is formed so that the outer diameter on the bottom side is larger than the outer diameter on the mouth side with the annular groove interposed therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2009
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Applicant: YOSHINO KOGYOSHO CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tadayoshi Oshino
  • Publication number: 20110114653
    Abstract: A resin molding apparatus of a simplified structure is provided that offers high handling efficiency by a work robot, thereby improving a throughput. The resin molding apparatus (200) that retains a hollow molded body (10) including a closed-bottom cylindrical main body (12) and a cylindrical open neck portion (20), the open neck portion (20) including a helical ridge portion (22) formed on an outer circumferential surface thereof and divided into a plurality of helical segments by a slit (24) extending in an axial direction of the open neck portion (20), and that overmolds a resin sheathing body (30) on an outer surface of the main body (12), includes a first recess in which the open neck portion (20) is to be fitted, and a rib (216) formed on a circumferential surface of the recess so as to extend in a depthwise direction thereof, and to be engaged with the slit (24).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2009
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Applicant: DU PONT-MITSUI POLYCHEMICALS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Oogi, Sadaki Yamamoto, Masanobu Sato
  • Publication number: 20110095036
    Abstract: A method of injection moulding a plastics container 1 having wall(s) 2 of substantially uniform thickness using an injection mould 10 with an unsupported core 12 is disclosed. A small sliver 17 is removed from the free end of the core 12 of the mould 10 from that side of the wall which is thinnest. As a consequence on the next injection more plastic flows in that direction. Repeated optical inspection of the containers enables a balance to be achieved in which slightly asymmetric injection conditions are balanced by a slightly asymmetric container base with the result being a container with substantially uniform wall thickness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2010
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: ASP PLASTICS PTY LIMITED
    Inventors: Michael Patrick Leabeater, Peter Mandavy
  • Patent number: 7926687
    Abstract: A motorcycle saddlebag is formed of a plurality of panels. The saddlebag includes an outer panel, an inner panel, a lid, and a hinge. Some embodiments may also include a bottom panel. The lid is coupled to the outer panel by the hinge. The inner panel includes flanges extending around at least some of its perimeter edges. The outer panel is generally C-shaped shaped and receives the inner panel such that the flanges engage inner surfaces of the outer panel. The flanges are joined to the inner surfaces of the outer panel such that the outer and inner panel (and, in some embodiments, the bottom panel) cooperate to define a storage chamber. In some embodiments, portions of the outer panel extend beyond the inner panel and may be trimmed after bonding of the inner and outer panels to customize an inner contour of the saddlebag for different motorcycle applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Dowco, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Kaczkowski, Timothy J. LaFleur, Troy M. Zaskowski
  • Patent number: 7900796
    Abstract: A container that includes a hollow body having at least a first exterior wall and a recess defined in the first exterior wall A tab is formed integrally with the exterior wall and located in the recess. The tab does not extend substantially beyond the recess. Removal of the tab forms an opening in the first exterior wall of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Eric B. Ungrady, Larry Taylor
  • Publication number: 20110048999
    Abstract: A blank for being formed into a container. The blank has a marginal area that includes a plurality of score lines for facilitating forming of the blank into the container. The score lines are positioned to facilitate formation of denesting features of the container. A container formed from the blank has denesting features.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2010
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Inventor: Patrick H. Wnek
  • Publication number: 20110042400
    Abstract: A housing includes a molded part and an insert integrally formed with the molded part. The molded part includes a plurality of ribs positioned on two opposite edges thereof. The insert includes a plurality of tabs positioned on two opposite peripheral edges thereof; the tabs are disposed between each pair of adjacent ribs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2010
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Applicants: SHENZHEN FUTAIHONG PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD., FIH (HONG KONG) LIMITED
    Inventor: SHI-FENG WANG
  • Patent number: 7882971
    Abstract: A thin-walled, non-round plastic container having a body portion with generally rectangular sidewalls and a base. The body portion having a label mounting area extending between an upper label bumper and a lower label bumper on at least two of the adjacent sidewalls. The label mounting area includes a vacuum panel on a first sidewall, and a plurality of ribs, which may be on a second sidewall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Paul V. Kelley, Richard Ogg, David Melrose, Seungyeol Hong, Jonh Denner
  • Patent number: 7874442
    Abstract: A plastic container including an upper end having an aperture defining an opening of the container. A lower end defines a base of the container. A sidewall portion merges into a grip portion and extends between the upper end and the lower end. The sidewall portion and the grip portion each include a plurality of horizontal ribs. The horizontal ribs of the sidewall portion each include at least one chamfered rib that provides additional structural strength and support to the container during hot fill, packaging and shipping operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: AMCOR LImited
    Inventors: John A. Nievierowski, Michael T. Lane, Christopher LaBombarbe
  • Publication number: 20110011874
    Abstract: A thermal effect from a bottom cutoff portion of parison is dispersed and reduced by forming at least three pinch-off lines in an outer surface of a bottom and laying out these pinch-off lines radially from a center of the bottom of a bottle-like direct blow molded product made of a synthetic resin, which prevents a deeply dented portion from developing in an inner bottom surface. In the case of a square body, four pinch-off lines are disposed in the shape of a cross and are positioned along diagonal lines on the bottom surface and one of the diagonal lines is located on the parting line. Each outermost end of the pinch-off line is placed near bottom foot where parison walls are locally drawn and molded, which reduces the drawing rate at the foot to prevent the walls from getting extremely thin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Applicant: YOSHINO KOGYOSHO CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takao Kurosawa
  • Patent number: 7871683
    Abstract: A blow molded container (10) having a trimmed nonround opening (12) is blow molded from a preform (36) and then positioned by a positioner (50) of a nonround trimmer (16) that includes a rotary driven arm assembly (56) having a knife holder (60). A guide (66) guides the knife holder (60) in a nonround path to perform the trimming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Plastipak Packaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard L. Dunlap, Edward L. Sanford, Richard C. Darr
  • Patent number: 7861876
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Ball Corporation
    Inventor: Adam P. S. Stowitts
  • Publication number: 20100326994
    Abstract: [Problems] To provide a foamed plastic container in which the cell diameters are varying along a gradient so will not to decrease the content protection performance, quite differently from the foamed cells distributed in the conventional foamed containers. [Means for Solution] The foamed plastic container has a container wall 10 formed by using a plastic material and in which foamed cells 1 are distributed, the lengths of the foamed cells in the surface direction of the container wall 10 decreasing from the outer surface of the container toward the inner surface thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Applicant: TOYO SEIKAN KAISHA, LTD.
    Inventors: Kentarou Ichikawa, Nobuhisa Koiso, Norio Akuzawa
  • Patent number: 7857156
    Abstract: A plastic bottle that can easily be collapsed after used is provided. The plastic bottle has a body portion that is depressed internally by applying external force, and a depressible portion formed on a circumferential wall of the body portion to protrude externally. The depressible portion is depressed internally by applying external force. Plural depressible portions and plural depression-resistant portions may be formed alternately on the circumferential wall of the body portion in the circumferential direction of the body portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
    Inventor: Manabu Inomata
  • Patent number: 7857160
    Abstract: An optimized tray for case-ready meat products is disclosed. The tray comprises a base, a plurality of sidewalls connected at a plurality of corners, a flange extending from an upper edge of each sidewall, and a plurality of substantially vertical ribs extending from said sidewalls and spaced apart therealong. At least one of the sidewalls is bowed inwardly, and the flange along at least a partial length of the at least one bowed sidewall is varied in width. The ribs can also vary in thickness along at least a partial length of at least one of the sidewalls. The interaction of the at least one bowed sidewall, the varying flange width, and the varying rib thickness allows for optimization of tray resistance to vertical and horizontal stress without increasing the overall outer dimensions of the tray and without substantially decreasing the internal volume of the tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Sealed Air Corporation
    Inventor: Joseph E. Owensby
  • Publication number: 20100314439
    Abstract: A receptacle (10) of moulded paper pulp has a flat circular base wall (12) and a side wall (14) of an inverted frustoconical shape extending upwardly from the base wall to define a receiving volume. The upper edge of the side wall defines the periphery of an opening located above the base wall and has an outwardly projecting peripheral lip (22, 24) having at least two recessed portions (26, 28). The two recessed portions (26, 28) form first and second spaced-apart outwardly projecting lip portions (22, 24) which form convenient handles for the receptacle. In addition, the side wall (48) is provided with a stiffening or reinforcing shoulder (18) adjacent to its upper edge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2008
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Applicant: Vernacare Limited
    Inventors: Garry Partington, Wayne Nelson
  • Publication number: 20100301059
    Abstract: Disclosed are thermoformed articles composed of propylene homopolymer containing a substituted phenylene aromatic diester. The thermoformed articles have high stiffness, good compression strength, excellent processability, and excellent optics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2010
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Inventors: John Kaarto, Linfeng Chen, Tak W. Leung
  • Patent number: 7837037
    Abstract: A two stacking position square container is provided having an upper stacking position and a lower stacking position. The upper stacking position is provided by inserting a bottom of an identical body into a square opening to provide lateral stability and engaging supports on a bottom exterior profile with supports on a top interior profile. A lower stacking position is provided by inserting the bottom of the identical body into the square opening to provide lateral stability and engaging the supports on the bottom exterior profile with recesses on the top interior profile and the supports on the upper interior profile with recesses on the bottom interior profile. The body is symmetrical about both an x axis and a y axis. A 90 degree relative rotation about a z axis being used to change between the upper stacking position and the lower stacking position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Drader Manufacturing Industries Ltd.
    Inventors: Gordon McTavish, Cory Koski, Hongqiao Li
  • Patent number: 7832583
    Abstract: A hot-fillable container that has an aesthetically pleasing shaped after the hot-fill process. The side walls of the container have structural aspects that permit the side walls to retain a substantially similar shape after the hot-fill process. This allows for an aesthetically pleasing design that compensates for the deformation that can occur during the hot-fill process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Eric B. Ungrady, Sheldon E. Yourist
  • Patent number: 7832582
    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: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Edward Roubal, Larry Taylor, Jana Lamberson
  • Patent number: 7823737
    Abstract: The plastic container has a heel portion having an enclosed base; a body portion transitioning into the heel portion; a bell portion transitioning into the body portion; and a finish attached to the bell portion and defining an opening. The body portion is formed into a generally tubular structure by a plurality generally flat panels. Each of the panels is connected to an adjacent panel with a chamfered post, and the body portion includes at least one vertically oriented rib at each of the chamfered posts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Angie Noll, Scott Bysick, Sheldon Yourist, David B. Heisner
  • Publication number: 20100264137
    Abstract: A smart polymer molded hybrid shipping container generally refers to large intermodal shipping container and their manufacture, and more particularly to a recyclable rotationally-molded RF (radio frequency) transparent thermoplastic polymer shell with a removable outer structural fabricated steel load bearing support frame capable of being integrated with an internally mounted geo-location detection system, date transmission communication devices, inner environmental sensors, data storage system, and power storage system. The smart polymer molded hybrid shipping container is designed to be 100% recyclable after useful life with a mechanically fastened exoskeleton steel frame that can be reused in the post manufacturing process. The smart polymer molded hybrid shipping container has a one piece molded shell with load bearing molded in floor system and outer polymer skin that is entirely weather resistant and non-corrosive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2009
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Inventor: Frederick G. Lampe
  • Publication number: 20100264140
    Abstract: A beer keg includes a container having a base and a wall extending upward from a periphery of the base. A liner within the container includes a base, sidewalls and a mouth. The base of the liner interlocks with the base of the container to prevent relative rotation therebetween. A valve is disposed over the mouth of the liner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2010
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Inventor: William P. Apps
  • Patent number: 7810664
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a plastic container comprising two substantially smooth opposing squeezable panels, separated by a vacuum panel and having at least one arcuate indentation adapted to allow flexure of the respective panel without permanent distortion or creasing when a force is applied to the panel toward the container interior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Gregory Trude
  • Patent number: 7798350
    Abstract: The invention relates to a container (1?) made of a thermoplastic material, especially PET, having a body (2?) which, for at least a part of its height, is substantially prismatic in shape with a substantially triangular cross section and with three faces (6) joined by three edges (7), each of which is shaped in the form of a groove (8) which opens outwards and which has a rear wall (9) having a reversed curvature with its convexity being directed outwards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Sidel Participations
    Inventors: Wilfried Hermel, Damien Bourne, Laurent Lepoitevin, Michel Boukobza
  • Patent number: 7798349
    Abstract: A base including an inwardly and upwardly projecting flexible surface within a continuous seating ring supports a generally cylindrical wall extending upward from the base. A plurality of annular inwardly projecting, and vertically flexible rings interrupting the cylindrical wall. At least one of rings projects inwardly more than some others of the rings to achieve an improved sidewall crush resistance A shoulder portion, includes a plurality of vertical ribs separating a plurality of vacuum responsive panels. The vertical flexibility of the bottle sidewall reduces the amount of flexing required in the shoulder panels and base to accommodate the same vacuum development, and enhances the total amount of post capping vacuum development that can be accommodated by the bottle as a whole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Ball Corporation
    Inventors: Elizabeth D. Maczek, Kirk Firestone
  • Patent number: 7757874
    Abstract: A blow-molded bottle has a flexible concave perimeter surface extending between an upper peripheral margin projecting outward from the bottle neck and an outwardly protruding ring located above the sidewall upper margin. The flexible concave perimeter surface is specially dimensioned to respond to the presence of a vacuum within the bottle by forming linear segments between the upper peripheral margin and the outwardly protruding ring. The average radius of the vertical mid-point of the concave perimeter surface is generally greater than (3/?) (sin ?/3) (R1+R2), and less than (6/?) (sin ?/6) (R1+R2), where R1 is the outermost radius of the upper peripheral margin, and R2 is the radius of the outwardly protruding ring. The vertical midpoint radius of the flexible concave perimeter surface measured from the vertical axis can be made to vary by between one and five percent at between three and five positions around the perimeter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Ball Corporation
    Inventor: John R Ross
  • Patent number: 7748551
    Abstract: A thin walled, plastic hot-fill container has a finish to receive a closure, a neck supporting the finish, a shoulder situated below the neck, a base, and a body between the shoulder and base. The body includes upper and lower margins defining a label mount area that includes a plurality of inwardly recessed vacuum panels separated by vertical posts. At least one indented reinforcing ring separates the upper and lower edges of the vacuum panels from the adjacent margins of the label mount area by a distance D. Each vacuum panel includes an inclined upper and lower margin of height H that is greater than distance D, and has corners defined by radius R, which is less than or equal to D. Lateral margins of each vacuum panel extend vertically between the corners and connect the adjacent posts to a central depressed region, each lateral margin being essentially perpendicular to the adjacent surface of the vacuum panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Ball Corporation
    Inventors: Erik E. Gatewood, Brian D. Tyree, John J. Livingston
  • Patent number: 7748552
    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. Panels in another row can have an ovate step connecting the perimeter of the panel to the central portion of the panel. Outward protrusions can be provided within the central portion to provide support for a surrounding label.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Ball Corporation
    Inventors: John J. Livingston, Erik E. Gatewood, Brian D. Tyree, Adam P. S. Stowitts
  • Patent number: 7744127
    Abstract: A fuel tank assembly includes a fuel tank, a bracket carried by the fuel tank and having a portion accessible from the outside of the fuel tank to permit the assembly to be mounted to a vehicle, and an outer layer disposed around at least part of the fuel tank and a portion of the bracket to connect the bracket to the fuel tank. In one implementation, the fuel tank includes layers of composite material that have fibers embedded in resin or the like. The bracket is carried or trapped between adjacent layers of the composite material so that the bracket is fixed to the tank. The bracket preferably is connected to the tank at one end and is flexible in at least one direction to accommodate changes in the shape or dimensions of the fuel tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Reiner Essinger, Thomas Guelll, Thorsten Schuetz, Mirko Schwan
  • Publication number: 20100155359
    Abstract: A one-piece plastic hot-fill container may employ a shoulder portion, a base portion and a sidewall portion, which may be integrally formed with and extend from the shoulder portion to the base portion. The sidewall portion may generally be in an hourglass shape and employ a plurality of arched contour ribs and a plurality of arched contour lands that may alternate along a longitudinal length of the sidewall portion. An outside diameter of an upper body portion is greater than an outside diameter of a lower body portion, which may form a hand grip area. The arched contour ribs may further employ an upper flat wall, a lower flat wall, and an inner curved wall joining the upper and lower walls, which together may form an angle of about 60 degrees, and move in response to hot-fill product contraction within the container or top load forces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Inventors: John B. Simon, Walter J. Strasser, Anna C. Wilcox
  • Patent number: 7740149
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods relate to containers having a sidewall portion with at least one generally vertical corrugation therein. The containers can be of a variety of shapes, sizes, cross-sections, and materials. The corrugation improves the container sidewall strength and resistance to buckling under compressive loads such as stacking of multiple containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Ropak Corporation
    Inventor: Frano Luburic
  • Publication number: 20100140280
    Abstract: A method of making a bottle whereby a polylactic acid preform is stretch blow molded into a biodegradable bioresin bottle. An injection molded polylactic acid or polylactide preform having a finish, a transition portion, a body portion, and a closed end cap portion for making a blow molded biodegradable bioresin bottle having a substantially circular cross-section and a substantially elliptical cross-section. A biodegradable bioresin bottle having both substantially circular and substantially elliptical cross-sectional shapes. Hoop stiffness and bottle geometry are utilized to control the bottle shape resulting from deformation caused by vacuum creation as water vapor permeates outwardly through the bottle walls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2008
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: Primo To Go, LLC
    Inventors: David G. Burke, Scott W. Steele, Lana Grinberg, David Ryan, Lorinda Yoder
  • Patent number: 7731044
    Abstract: A thermoplastic container (1) adapted to be filled with a hot liquid, comprising a body (2) having a plurality of recessed panels (3) parallel to the axis (4) of the body and separated by beams (5) parallel to the axis; the panels are arranged on a number of levels (A, B, . . . ), the panels of two consecutive levels being separated by a collar (6) in surface continuity with the beams; each beam is recessed to form a longitudinal central channel section (7), and the channel sections (7) of the beams (5) of the successive levels are connected to one another, in an angularly offset manner from a beam (5) of one level to the consecutive beam (5) of the adjacent level, by strongly inclined channel sections (8) extending in the collars (6), channel sections (7, 8) forming channels configured as parallel successive steps and distributed over the periphery of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Sidel Participations
    Inventor: Michel Boukobza
  • Publication number: 20100116777
    Abstract: A technical problem is to fully make up for a restricted upper limit to the preform body wall thickness. An object is to provide a bottle which is narrow-mouthed and yet has a substantially expanded body. The molding process comprises steps of: (1) injection molding a preform in the shape of a test tube taller than the bottle wherein the preform has a cylindrical mouth opening portion disposed in an upper part of the preform, and wherein the mouth opening portion of the preform serves also as a mouth opening portion of the bottle product; (2) thermally shrinking the preform from an initial height so that portions other than the mouth opening portion of the preform would have a height that is smaller than that of the bottle; and (3) setting this thermally shrunk preform in a blow mold and biaxially drawing and blow molding the preform into the bottle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Applicant: YOSHINO KOGYOSHO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yusuke Ishii, Takashi Otsuka, Katsuyoshi Inagawa, Takao IIzuka
  • Patent number: 7712624
    Abstract: A rigid container for a particulate product with enhanced top load support includes an interior volume formed by a base, a surrounding wall member upstanding from the base, and an opening formed in a top. A particulate product, such as coffee, is provided in the interior volume, and is provided in sufficient quantity to fill the interior volume up to a predetermined minimum headspace. The predetermined minimum headspace is that headspace which produces a top load ratio of at least 3:1; where the top load ratio is defined as a ratio of the top load force sufficient to cause a 0.30? deflection in the container when filled to the top load force sufficient to cause a 0.30? deflection in the container when empty. In a preferred embodiment, the container is made of plastic and includes a flexible closure attached to the top and spanning the top opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Kraft Foods Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Leonard S. Scarola, George Thomas Albright
  • Patent number: 7699182
    Abstract: The invention relates to a plastic container having a neck, shoulder, base and body portion. There are longitudinal base panel portions with rounded, longitudinal base panel edges separating each of said flattened portions from each other at a waist. The waist has a circumferential dimension less than the base and is positioned between the body portion and the base. The body portion is positioned between the waist and the circular shoulder and has flexible, substantially flat longitudinal body panels and rounded, longitudinal body panel edges separating adjacent body panels from each other and merging with the longitudinal panel edges of said base. The longitudinal body edges increase in width as the body longitudinally merges with the circular shoulder portion, and the circular shoulder portion has a rounded portion transitioning into and merging with the body panels, and a sloping portion of reducing diameter merging with the neck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Sheldon Yourist
  • Patent number: 7699183
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are bottle-shaped containers having a trunk portion approximating a square. The trunk portion comprises four tabular side walls arrayed about a center axis and four corner walls connected to adjacent side walls in a corner-cutting form. The width of the corner walls expands from the top end and the bottom end toward a position about midway between the top end and the bottom end. By making the widths of the side walls and the corner walls about equal at a location about midway between the top portion and the bottom portion, the distance between the corner walls in mutual opposition with respect to the center axis can be decreased, forming a waist portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignees: The Coca-Cola Company, Yoshino Kogyosho, K.K.
    Inventors: Kenshi Matsuoka, Ryoichi Tomishima, Satoshi Kuboi, Toshimasa Tanaka, Tadashi Hayakawa, Takao Iizuka
  • Patent number: 7699184
    Abstract: A bottle carrier includes a plurality of walls. At least one of the walls includes a recess on an exterior surface for retaining a bottle thereon, when the carrier is in a horizontal orientation and the bottle is in a horizontal orientation partially disposed in the recess. The carrier may be stackable and connectable to similar carriers to form display or storage racks. At least one of the walls includes a plurality of feet extending therefrom. The feet are interlockable with feet on a similar carrier. When similar carriers are stacked, the feet interlock to improve the stability of the stacked carriers. Adjacent carriers may be connected via corks or other connectors inserted into adjacent walls of the carriers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Rehrig Pacific Company
    Inventor: Cynthia R. Meissen
  • Patent number: 7694842
    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: September 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Inventor: David Murray Melrose
  • Patent number: 7686178
    Abstract: A beverage bottle. The bottle may include a flattened upper lobe, a flattened lower lobe, and a substantially circular transitional section. The bottle may be made out of a plastic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
    Inventors: Robert P. Grant, Malcolm Kinmont, Tracy M. Momany, Daniel L. Witham, Jonathan A. McGurk, Frank E. Semersky, Barbara A. Balyeat, Sumit Mukherjee, David M. Ryan, Robert J. Groll, Martin T. Geithmann
  • Publication number: 20100065461
    Abstract: A food container including a container cover, a container body, and an interlocking arrangement which includes a stacking seat continuously indent at a top surface of the container cover along a peripheral edge thereof and an engaging rim continuously protruded at a bottom surface of the container body along a peripheral edge of the bottom wall, wherein the engaging rim has a size and shape geometrically matching with the stacking seat in such a manner that when the container is arranged in stack formation above another the identical container, the engaging rim is complementarily coupled with the stacking seat to engage the bottom surface of the container cover with the top surface of the identical container so as to substantially retain said two containers in position and avoid a lateral relative movement between the two containers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2008
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Inventor: Khim Seang Chhay
  • Patent number: 7673764
    Abstract: A substantially smooth container sidewall containing a narrow vertical rib, the rib having a width that is less than about 35% of the diameter of the sidewall, a container including the substantially smooth sidewall, and method of making both the sidewall and the container are the subject of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Bret Sabold
  • Patent number: 7673765
    Abstract: A hot fill container of the type that is used package fruit juices and other beverages includes a vacuum panel configuration that provides optimal volumetric efficiency, material usage and container strength and is particularly suited for use with smaller containers. The vacuum panel configuration includes a plurality of cageless vacuum panels that are separated by longitudinally extending outwardly projecting creases that are defined in a sidewall of the container. This arrangement maximizes the effective surface area of the vacuum panels relative to the external surface area of the container. Each of the longitudinally extending outwardly projecting creases has a curved outer surface that is convex when viewed in longitudinal cross-section. The cageless vacuum panels are constructed and arranged to be convexly curved when a pressure within the container is equal to an external pressure, but become concavely curved when a predetermined partial vacuum condition exists within said container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Raymond A. Pritchett, Jr.