Compression-Resistant Container

Abstract

A container for dispensing liquids has a sidewall with circular ribs and is compression-resistant. The container side surface has a bottom section with sinusoidal convex and concave ribs that are substantially mirror images of each other and have an absence of sharp angles. The container can also have a bottom surface with sinusoidal ribs.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

1. Field of the Disclosure

The present invention relates to the structure of containers for liquids. More particularly, the present invention relates to the structure of containers for liquids having a handle and a dispensing opening.

2. Description of Related Art

Containers for liquids are well known in the art. Current packaging containers are widely available in different sizes, shapes, and designs, including those having handles and a dispensing opening, especially an offset dispensing opening. As these containers are light-weighted to save resin cost, they tend to collapse under axial forces, for example in shipping.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,927,499 to Vesborg describes containers of PET, having high tensile strength and lower compression strength, for containers having no walls under compression. The bottles have a plurality of encircling recesses. These recesses strengthen the body portion and when empty provide points for collapse of the body portion upon the application of a downward force. U.S. Pat. No. 5,240,130 to Osbakk describes a container having a compressible body with corrugations or foldings with sharp edges corresponding to a bellow. U.S. Pat. No. 5,584,413 to Jung describes a pleated plastic container having the ability to lock in a compressed state. U.S. Pat. No. 5,573,129 to Nagata et al. describes a collapsible container having a bellows formed from a plurality of annular convex portions and band-shaped annular connecting portions with the thickness of the connecting portions nearest to the central axis is greater than the thickness of the portions which are furthest from the central axis. U.S. Pat. App. 2007/0145000 to Musalek describes a collapsible bottle with accordion-like arranged bellows ridges with stamped or embossed stiffenings on the bellows ridge.

Accordingly, there is a need for a container having light-weighted walls that maintains lateral hoop strength and axial compressive strength and is resistant to collapse.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

To answer this need, the present invention provides in one embodiment a container comprising a cylindrical container base with a side surface having a top section with a handle, an offset opening for dispensing liquid, and a cap for covering the opening, wherein the container side surface has a bottom section with sinusoidal convex and concave super imposable ribs, and wherein the ribs contain smooth curves with an absence of sharp angles.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the invention comprises a container comprising a cylindrical container base with a side surface having a top section without a handle and having an opening for dispensing liquid, wherein the container side surface has a bottom section with sinusoidal convex and concave super imposable ribs, and wherein the ribs contain smooth curves with an absence of sharp angles.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the invention comprises a container comprising a cylindrical container base with a side surface having a top section having an opening for dispensing liquid, wherein the container side surface has a bottom section with sinusoidal convex and concave ribs, wherein the profile of the convex ribs and the concave ribs are substantially mirror images of one another, all ribs having smooth curves with an absence of sharp angles.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the invention comprises a container comprising a cylindrical container base with a bottom surface having sinusoidal convex and concave ribs, wherein the convex ribs and the concave ribs are substantially mirror images of one another, all ribs having smooth curves with an absence of sharp angles.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention claimed. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute part of this specification, are included to illustrate and provide a further understanding of the invention. Together with the description, the drawings serve to explain various aspects of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present invention, the objects and advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in connection with the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side view of an upright and open container, according to one embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a side view of an upright and open container, according to another embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a wall section of the container of FIG. 2, and

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of a container, according to another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Representative embodiments of the present invention and their advantages may be understood by referring to FIGS. 1-4, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements.

According to one embodiment, the present invention provides a container for dispensing a liquid. And, although the containers may generally be made of plastic material, e.g. polyethylene, polypropylene, or polylactic acid, it will be understood that the container may be made of any suitable plastic material. PET is not preferred because of its lower compressive strength. Suitable materials may include rigid materials or flexible materials or both. The containers shown in the figures and described the embodiments are not limited to any particular size or shape.

One embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 1, where the container 10 has a cylindrical container base 11 with a side surface 12. The container side surface 12 has a top section 13 with a handle 14 and an offset from center opening 15 for dispensing liquid. The container side surface 12 has a bottom section 16 with sinusoidal ribs 17. The sinusoidal ribs contain outward, convex ribs 18a, directed toward the exterior of the container and inward, concave ribs 18b, directed toward the interior of the container, wherein all the ribs have an absence of sharp angles. The rib profiles are substantially smooth and contain no discontinuous derivatives. The concave ribs 18a and convex ribs 18b are super imposable and substantially mirror images of one another. For maximum light-weighting and compression resistance, the container has at least three outward ribs. The container additionally has a cap 19 for covering the opening 15.

Another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 2, where the container 20 has a cylindrical container base 21 with a side surface 22. The container side surface 22 has a top section 23 with a center opening 24 for dispensing liquid. The container side surface 22 has a bottom section 25 with sinusoidal ribs 26. The sinusoidal ribs 26 contain outward convex ribs 27 and inward concave ribs 28, wherein all the ribs have an absence of sharp angles. This embodiment can have an absence of a handle.

As shown in FIG. 3, the alternating convex and concave sinusoidal ribs of the side surface walls 30 give a constant wall thickness 31 which results in less stress cracking during use and more resistance to collapse. The wall thickness of the ribs can be the same wall thickness as the adjacent side surface 32. Because of the alternating convex and concave sinusoidal ribs, the bottles are compression-resistant. The novel rib structure withstands top-loading compression even after light-weighting where calculations show that there is no greater vertical displacement under load with the ribbed design that is 9.9% lighter than the un-ribbed design. This is contrary to the prior art which shows that ribs with sharp angles and uneven thicknesses lead to collapse under compression.

Another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 4, where the container 50 has a cylindrical container base 51 with a bottom surface 52. The bottom surface 52 has sinusoidal ribs 53 containing convex ribs 54 and concave ribs 55, all ribs having an absence of sharp angles.

All such variations are within the scope of the appended claims. It should be understood that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present subject matter and without diminishing its intended advantages. It is therefore intended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A container comprising a cylindrical container base with a side surface having a top section with a handle, an offset opening for dispensing liquid, and a cap for covering the opening, wherein the container side surface has a bottom section with sinusoidal convex and concave super imposable ribs, and wherein the ribs contain smooth curves with an absence of sharp angles.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein the ribbed area has constant wall thickness.

3. The container of claim 2, wherein the ribbed area has the same wall thickness as the adjacent side surface.

4. The container of claim 1, wherein the container has at least three convex ribs.

5. The container of claim 1, wherein the container is not made from PET.

6. The container of claim 1, wherein the container comprises a plastic material selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, or combinations thereof.

7. The container of claim 1, wherein the container comprises polylactic acid.

8. A container comprising a cylindrical container base with a side surface having a top section without a handle and having an opening for dispensing liquid, wherein the container side surface has a bottom section with sinusoidal convex and concave super imposable ribs, and wherein the ribs contain smooth curves with an absence of sharp angles.

9. The container of claim 8, wherein the ribbed area has constant wall thickness.

10. The container of claim 9, wherein the ribbed area has the same wall thickness as the adjacent side surface.

11. The container of claim 8, wherein the container has at least three convex ribs.

12. The container of claim 8, wherein the container is not made from PET.

13. The container of claim 8, wherein the container comprises a plastic material selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, or combinations thereof.

14. The container of claim 8, wherein the container comprises polylactic acid.

15. A container comprising a cylindrical container base with a side surface having a top section having an opening for dispensing liquid, wherein the container side surface has a bottom section with sinusoidal convex and concave ribs, wherein the profile of the convex ribs and the concave ribs are substantially mirror images of one another, all ribs having smooth curves with an absence of sharp angles.

16. The container of claim 15, wherein the ribbed area has constant wall thickness.

17. The container of claim 16, wherein the ribbed area has the same wall thickness as the adjacent side surface.

18. The container of claim 15, wherein the rib profiles contain no discontinuous derivatives.

19. The container of claim 15, wherein the container is not made from PET.

20. The container of claim 15, wherein the container comprises a plastic material selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, or combinations thereof.

21. The container of claim 15, wherein the container comprises polylactic acid.

22. A container comprising a cylindrical container base with a bottom surface having sinusoidal convex and concave ribs, wherein the convex ribs and the concave ribs are substantially mirror images of one another, all ribs having smooth curves with an absence of sharp angles.