Patent Grant
8739994
The disclosed subject matter relates to containers, and in particular, a base for a container having a deflectable dome to withstand internal pressure differential in excess of at least 3.2 PSI.
Plastic containers are conveniently used to contain a wide variety of products. In the food industry, plastic containers are used to hold items in solid, granular or powder form, such as dry cereal, and in liquid form, such as juice and soda. During the process of filling such containers, the containers are sealed with a top closure such that a consumer can identify whether the container has been opened or tampered. When a container appears to be distorted in some manner, such as the top closure is opened or the container is bulging, the consumer generally refrains from purchasing or using such container. However, depending on an environment of the container, a sealed container can experience noticeable distortions even though the contents of the container remain untouched. For example, at elevations above or below sea level, the container may bulge and ultimately permanently deform due to variations in pressure. Additionally, if certain pressure differentials between the inside and the outside of the sealed container are exceeded, the base of the container can evert outwardly, resulting in unstable or unusable container and contents.
A number of functional improvements have been added to container designs to accommodate for the various thermal effects and pressures (positive and negative) in an effort to control, reduce or eliminate unwanted deformation. Ideally, such improvements are intended to make the package both visually appealing and functional for use. Functional improvements can include industry standard items such as vacuum panels to achieve the desired results. Generally, it is desirable that these functional improvements are minimal or hidden to achieve a specific shape, look or feel that is more appealing to the consumer. Additional requirements may also include the ability to make the container lighter in weight and more cost efficient by using less material. However, such lighter containers can make the container more susceptible to deformation.
Thus there is a need to develop an efficient and economic container and a base with specific characteristics to promote structural integrity of the container while experiencing different pressures or different environments. The presently disclosed subject matter satisfies these and other needs.
The purpose and advantages of the disclosed subject matter will be set forth in and are apparent from the description that follows, as well as will be learned by practice of the disclosed subject matter. Additional advantages of the disclosed subject matter will be realized and attained by the devices particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof, as well as from the appended drawings.
To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the disclosed subject matter, as embodied and broadly described, the disclosed subject matter includes a base for a container made of polymeric material. The base comprises a support surface having an outer perimeter defining a first dimension along a major axis and a second dimension along a minor axis disposed approximately 90° from the major axis. The base further includes an inner wall coupled to the support surface opposite the outer perimeter, and a dome projecting upwardly from the inner wall. The dome has an initial depth with respect to the support surface. The dome is defined by a major radius of curvature along the major axis and a minor radius of curvature along the minor axis, wherein the dome is deflectable in response to a differential pressure across the base of at least 3.2 PSI without permanent deformation of the base.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosed subject matter, a container is provided made of polymeric material, comprising a top portion defining a mouth; a sidewall portion coupled to the top portion opposite the mouth; and a base coupled to the sidewall portion opposite the top portion. The base includes a support surface having an outer perimeter defining a first dimension along a major axis of the base and a second dimension along a minor axis of the base, disposed approximately 90° from the major axis. The base further includes an inner wall coupled to the support surface opposite the outer perimeter, and a dome projecting upwardly from the inner wall. The dome has an initial depth with respect to the support surface. The dome is defined by a major radius of curvature along the major axis and a minor radius of curvature along the minor axis, wherein the dome is deflectable in response to a differential pressure across the base of at least 3.2 PSI without permanent deformation of the base.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description and drawings are examples and are provided for purpose of illustration and not intended to limit the scope of the disclosed subject matter in any manner.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute part of this specification, are included to illustrate and provide a further understanding of the devices of the disclosed subject matter. Together with the description, the drawings serve to explain the principles of the disclosed subject matter.
The subject matter of the application will be more readily understood from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the disclosed subject matter, an example of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The disclosed subject matter will be described in conjunction with the detailed description of the system.
In accordance with the disclosed subject matter, a base for a container made of polymeric material. The base comprises a support surface having an outer perimeter defining a first dimension along a major axis and a second dimension along a minor axis disposed approximately 90° from the major axis. The base further includes an inner wall coupled to the support surface opposite the outer perimeter, and a dome projecting upwardly from the inner wall. The dome has an initial depth with respect to the support surface. The dome is defined by a major radius of curvature along the major axis and a minor radius of curvature along the minor axis, wherein the dome is deflectable in response to a differential pressure across the base of at least 3.2 PSI without permanent deformation of the base.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosed subject matter, a container made of polymeric material is provided, wherein the container includes the base as summarized above. The container generally comprises a top portion defining a mouth; a sidewall portion coupled to the top portion opposite the mouth; and the base coupled to the sidewall portion opposite the top portion. As noted above, the base includes a support surface having an outer perimeter defining a first dimension along a major axis and a second dimension along a minor axis disposed approximately 90° from the major axis, and an inner wall coupled to the support surface opposite the outer perimeter. A dome projects upwardly from the inner wall and has an initial depth with respect to the support surface. The dome is defined by a major radius of curvature along the major axis and a minor radius of curvature along the minor axis, wherein the dome is deflectable in response to a differential pressure across the base of at least 3.2 PSI without permanent deformation of the base.
For purpose of explanation and illustration, and not limitation, exemplary embodiments of the base and container with the disclosed subject matter are shown in the accompanying
Depending on the purpose of the container, the container can be suitable sized to contain a plurality of different contents. For purpose of illustration only, reference is made to a container for food product in solid, granular, particle or powder form. The exemplary container has an initial height H of approximately 6 inches to 12 inches; a length L of approximately 3 to approximately 6 inches; and a width W of approximately 2 to approximately 4 inches. Such exemplary containers can be sized and shaped to contain a particular volume of, such as approximately 8 ounces or approximately 16 ounces of solid contents in particular form.
As depicted in
As noted above, and in accordance with the disclosed subject matter, a base is provided with a configuration to accommodate for a pressure differential across the base of at least 3.2 PSI without permanent deformation. That is, for purpose of understanding, the difference in pressure between the interior of the container and the exterior of the container can reach at least about 3.2 PSI without permanent deformation of the base. Such pressure differential can be due to a change in altitude and/or temperature, among other things. As illustrated in
As illustrated by
In certain embodiments of the disclosed subject matter, the support surface can be a continuous surface about the base of the container. In other embodiments, the support surface can be discontinuous. For example and as illustrated in the embodiment of
The width WS of the support surface can be selected to provide a corresponding performance. For example, a larger width WS can be provided to facilitate flexing of the base 200 in response to a pressure differential across the base, as generally depicted in the representative embodiment to
Further, in accordance with the disclosed subject matter and as illustrated in
As noted above, the base of the disclosed subject matter has a dome projecting upwardly from the inner wall so as to be deflatable in response to a pressure differential across the base of at least 3.2 PSI without permanent deformation. With reference to
As illustrated in
In accordance with the disclosed subject matter, however, the initial depth di of the dome has a selected dimensional relationship with at least one other feature of the base 200 or container 100. For example, and in accordance with another aspect of the disclosed subject matter, the initial depth di can have a dimensional relationship with at least one or both of the first dimension D1 and the second dimension D2 of the support surface 220. As embodied herein, the initial depth d1 can be between approximately 8 percent to approximately 15 percent of the first dimension D1 of the support surface 220. Additionally, the dome of the base embodied herein has the initial depth d1 of the dome 230 can be between approximately 12 percent to approximately 24 percent of the second dimension D2, and particularly the initial depth di of the dome 230 can be between approximately 15 percent to approximately 22 percent of the second dimension D2.
Additionally or alternatively, and in accordance with another aspect of the disclosed subject matter, the initial depth di can have dimensional relationships with the major and/or minor radii of curvature RC1, RC2 of the dome 230. For example, and as embodied herein, the initial depth di can be between approximately 5 percent to approximately 10 percent of the major radius of curvature RC1. Additionally, the initial depth di can be between approximately 14 percent to approximately 28 percent of the minor radius of curvature RC2, and in particular, the initial depth di can be between approximately 18 percent to approximately 24 percent of the minor radius of curvature RC2.
For purposes of illustration,
The structure of the container can accommodate for pressure variations to prevent deformation. For example, the container can include structural improvements such as but not limited to, ribs and vacuum panels to achieve the desired results as those structural improvements described in, U.S. Pat. No. 6,612,451, the contents of which are incorporated by reference in their entirety.
As previously noted, containers can experience a wide range of pressures internal and/or external to the container, depending on the environment in which the container is exposed and manner used. For example, the container will experience variations in pressure at different elevations above or below sea level. According to the disclosed subject matter, the dome is therefore deflectable in response to a differential pressure across the base of at least 3.2 PSI without permanent deformation of the base. In fact, and with reference to the exemplary container referenced above, the dome has been determined to be deflectable in response to a differential pressure across the base of at least 5.5 PSI or greater without permanent deformation of the base. As such and as illustrated in
With reference again to
The container can be manufactured by any of a number of suitable methods, as known in the art. In embodiments with a parting line present, the parting line is formed through the manufacturing of the container by way of conventional blow molding techniques such as with a split mold, but other suitable techniques are furthermore contemplated herein as known in the art. For example, and as embodied herein, the container and integral base can be manufactured by blow molding technique as known in the art, and also as described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,316,796, the contents of which are incorporated by reference in its entirety. In this manner, the container and base can be blow molded with a split mold to create a parting line along line 2-2 as shown in
The container and the base can comprise any suitable thickness and can comprise a plurality of suitable materials. In one embodiment, the container and base are formed of a polymeric material, such as for example but not limited to, high-density polyethylene (HDPE). In other embodiments, the container and base can be formed from materials including, but not limited to, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) and PEN-blends, polypropylene (PP), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), and can also include monolayer blended scavengers or other catalytic scavengers as well as multi-layer structures including discrete layers of a barrier material, such as nylon or ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) or other oxygen scavengers. The container can further include a lining on the interior and/or exterior of the container.
Furthermore, the container of the discussed subject matter, will have a suitable material of construction and thickness for the intended contents of the container. For example, and as embodied herein, the container can have a substantially similar thickness from the top portion of the container through the sidewall and a slightly greater thickness at the base of the container. With reference to the exemplary food containers above, the container can be made of HDPE, wherein the dome of the base has a thickness of approximately 0.030 inches to approximately 0.100 inches.
While the disclosed subject matter is described herein in terms of certain preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that various modifications and improvements can be made to the disclosed subject matter without departing from the scope thereof. Moreover, although individual features of one embodiment of the disclosed subject matter can be discussed herein or shown in the drawings of the one embodiment and not in other embodiments, it should be apparent that individual features of one embodiment can be combined with one or more features of another embodiment or features from a plurality of embodiments.
In addition to the various embodiments depicted and claimed, the disclosed subject matter is also directed to other embodiments having any other possible combination of the features disclosed and claimed herein. As such, the particular features presented herein can be combined with each other in other manners within the scope of the disclosed subject matter such that the disclosed subject matter includes any suitable combination of the features disclosed herein. Thus, the foregoing description of specific embodiments of the disclosed subject matter has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosed subject matter to those embodiments disclosed.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the disclosed subject matter without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosed subject matter. Thus, it is intended that the disclosed subject matter include modifications and variations that are within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6612451 | Tobias et al. | Sep 2003 | B2 |
| 7316796 | Krohn et al. | Jan 2008 | B2 |
| 8020717 | Patel | Sep 2011 | B2 |
