Containers, such as single use plastic water bottles, can be manufactured (e.g., via a blow molding process) in such a way so as to limit the amount of plastic used. However, as the amount of plastic decreases, the thickness of the features of the containers (e.g., sidewalls, base, etc.) reduces. As the thickness continues to be decreased, the containers begin to exhibit poor performance specifications (e.g., significant elongation when pressurized, bending, deformation, etc.), which can prevent the containers from properly fitting along manufacturing lines, in traditional sized packaging (e.g., boxes, etc.), and/or within vending machines, as well as impact the end user's experience (e.g., the container crumpling too easily, the container being difficult to firmly grasp, etc.).
One embodiment relates to a container. The container includes a base, a neck defining an outlet, and a body positioned between the base and the neck. The body includes a plurality of ribs extending around a periphery of the body and along at least a portion of a height of the body, a plurality of channels extending around the periphery and positioned between the plurality of ribs, and a plurality of support columns spaced about the periphery and extending along at least a portion of the height of the body. Each of the plurality of support columns includes a plurality of protrusions that are vertically aligned. Each of the plurality of protrusions is disposed within a respective one of the plurality of channels. The plurality of protrusions include a first plurality of protrusions having a first size and a second plurality of protrusions having a second size different from the first size.
Another embodiment relates to a container. The container includes a base, a neck defining an outlet, and a body positioned between the base and the neck. The body includes an upper body portion, a lower body portion, and a support column including a plurality of protrusions that are vertically aligned. The upper body portion includes a first plurality of ribs extending around a first periphery of the upper body portion and along at least a portion of a first height of the upper body portion and a first plurality of channels extending around the first periphery and positioned between the first plurality of ribs. The lower body portion includes (a) a second plurality of ribs extending around a second periphery of the lower body portion and along at least a portion of a second height of the lower body portion where the second height of the lower body portion is less than the first height of the upper body portion and (b) a second plurality of channels extending around the second periphery and positioned between the second plurality of ribs.
Still another embodiment relates to a single use plastic water bottle. The single use plastic water bottle includes a base, an outlet, and a body positioned between the base and the outlet. The body includes a plurality of channels extending around a periphery of the body and along at least a portion of a height of the body, a plurality of ribs extending around the periphery and positioned between the plurality of channels, and a plurality of support columns spaced about the periphery, each of the plurality of support columns including a plurality of vertically aligned protrusions having different sizes.
This summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. Other aspects, inventive features, and advantages of the devices or processes described herein will become apparent in the detailed description set forth herein, taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements.
Before turning to the figures, which illustrate certain exemplary embodiments in detail, it should be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the details or methodology set forth in the description or illustrated in the figures. It should also be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description only and should not be regarded as limiting.
According to an exemplary embodiment, a container (e.g., a vessel, a receptacle, a bottle, a single use plastic water bottle, etc.) of the present disclosure includes a plurality of first gussets arranged in a plurality of columns spaced about the periphery of the container. The plurality of columns extend along at least a portion of a length of the container. The container also includes a plurality of second gussets positioned below the plurality of columns. The plurality of second gussets are spaced about the periphery in a ring arrangement. Each of the plurality of second gussets is offset from and positioned between adjacent columns of the plurality of columns. The various gussets and their positioning may provide enhanced structural rigidity and prevent bending, leaning, or stretching/elongation of the container.
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According to an exemplary embodiment, the lower taper 302 transitions the body 300 from a first outermost diameter of the lower body portion 310 to a different, second outermost diameter of the upper body portion 320. In some embodiments, the first outermost diameter is greater than the second outermost diameter. In some embodiments, the first outermost diameter is less than the second outermost diameter. In some embodiments, the body 300 does not include the lower taper 302 such that (i) the lower body portion 310 and the upper body portion 320 are in direct engagement and (ii) the body 300 has a uniform diameter across the lower body portion 310 and the upper body portion 320.
According to an exemplary embodiment, the upper taper 304 transitions the container 10 from the second outermost diameter of the upper body portion 320 to a larger, third outermost diameter of the shoulder 210 of the neck portion 200. In some embodiments, the third outermost diameter of the shoulder 210 is less than, or the same or substantially the same as, the first outermost diameter of the lower body portion 310. In some embodiments, the third outermost diameter of the shoulder 210 is the less than, or the same or substantially the same as, a fourth outermost diameter of the base rim 110 of the base 100. In some embodiments, the body 300 does not include the upper taper 304 such that (i) the upper body portion 320 and the shoulder 210 are in direct engagement and (ii) the container 10 has a uniform diameter across the upper body portion 320 and the shoulder 210.
According to an exemplary embodiment, the container 10 has the following dimensional specifications: (a) the container 10 has a volume capacity of about 500 ml (e.g., 502.2 ml at fill point, 521.4 ml at brimful, etc.), (b) the container 10 has an overall height of about 196.45 mm, (c) the first outermost diameter of the lower body portion 310 is about 66.12 mm, (d) a first height of the lower body portion 310 (i.e., from the base rim 110 to the lower edge of upper body portion 320 (including the lower taper 302)) is about 47.72 mm, (e) the second outermost diameter of the upper body portion 320 is about 64.9 mm, (f) a second height of the upper body portion 320 (i.e., from the upper edge of the lower taper 302 to the lower edge of the upper taper 304) is about 69 mm, (g) the third outermost diameter of the shoulder 210 is about 65.92 mm, (h) a third height of the neck portion 200 (i.e., from the lower edge of the upper taper 304 to the upper rim of the finish 240) is about 59.73 mm, (i) the fourth outermost diameter of the base rim 110 is about 66.12 mm, and (j) a fourth height of the base 100 is about 20 mm. In other embodiments, the container 10 has different dimensions (e.g., has a different volume capacity, has a different overall height, has different diameters, etc.).
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According to an exemplary embodiment, the lower ribs 312 have the first outermost diameter of the lower body portion 310 and the upper ribs 322 have the second outermost diameter of the upper body portion 320 such that the lower ribs 312 and the upper ribs 322 have different diameters. In other embodiments, the lower ribs 312 and/or the upper ribs 322 have a different diameter than the lower body portion 310 and/or the upper body portion 320, respectively (e.g., the lower ribs 312 are slightly recessed relative to the cylindrical face 318 of the lower body portion 310, the lower ribs 312 protrude outward further than the cylindrical face 318 of the lower body portion 310, the upper ribs 322 are slightly recessed relative to the lower cylindrical face 326 and the upper cylindrical face 328 of the upper body portion 320, the upper ribs 322 protrude outward further than the lower cylindrical face 326 and the upper cylindrical face 328 of the upper body portion 320, etc.). Therefore, the lower ribs 312 and the upper ribs 322 may have the same diameters or still different diameters.
According to an exemplary embodiment, each of the lower ribs 312 have a first height and each of the upper ribs 322 have a second height that is different than the first height. Specifically, as shown in
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In some embodiments, the arrangement of the gusset columns 330, the small gussets 332, the large gussets 334, the gusset ring 340, and/or the bottom gussets 342 varies. In some embodiments, the gusset columns 330 do not include the small gussets 332. By way of example, the small gussets 332 may be replaced with the large gussets 334. By way of another example, the small gussets 332 are not replaced with the large gussets 334 such that spaces or gaps may be positioned between the large gussets 334. In some embodiments, the gusset columns 330 do not include the large gussets 334. By way of example, the large gussets 334 may be replaced with the small gussets 332. By way of another example, the large gussets 334 are not replaced with the small gussets 332 such that spaces or gaps may be positioned between the small gussets 332. In some embodiments, a first one of the gusset columns 330 includes all small gussets 332 and a second one of the gusset columns 330 includes all large gussets 334. In some embodiments, the body 300 does not include the gusset ring 340 such that the final channel 316 is empty or does not include gussets. In some embodiments, the bottom gussets 342 of the gusset ring 340 are aligned with the gusset columns 330 (i.e., no offset between the gusset ring 340 and the gusset columns 330). In some embodiments, the gusset columns 330 and/or the bottom gussets 342 are aligned with the foot valleys 130, rather than the feet 120. In some embodiments, (i) the body 300 includes additional gusset columns 330 such that the gusset columns 330 align with all of the feet 120, all of the foot valleys 130, or both and/or (ii) the gusset ring 340 includes additional bottom gussets 342 such that the bottom gussets 342 align with all of the feet 120, all of the foot valleys 130, or both. By way of example, the gusset columns 330 may align with all of the feet 120 and the bottom gussets 342 may align with all of the foot valleys 130. By way another of example, the gusset columns 330 may align with all of the foot valleys 130 and the bottom gussets 342 may align with all of the feet 120. In some embodiments, the body 300 includes a plurality of the gusset rings 340. By way of example, the body 300 may include a second gusset ring 340 positioned in the lowermost upper channel 324 of the upper body portion 320. By way of another example, a respective gusset ring 340 may be positioned at a repeating interval (e.g., small gusset 332, large gusset 334, and gusset ring 340 repeating along the height of the body 300, etc.).
According to an exemplary embodiment, the configuration (e.g., arrangement, positioning, size, shape, etc.) of the gusset columns 330, the small gussets 332, the large gussets 334, the gusset ring 340, and the bottom gussets 342 provides enhanced structural rigidity to the container 10 (e.g., which prevents bending, leaning, stretching/elongation, crumpling, etc. of the container 10 during manufacturing and/or use) relative to a similar container, shown as base container 10′, that does not include such features. Specifically, as shown in
Applicant performed various tests on the container 10 and the base container 10′ to quantify the performance characteristics of the container 10 relative to the base container 10′ (which does not include the gusset columns 330 and the gusset ring 340). The base container 10′, after being pressurized at 0.75 bar above atmospheric pressure for one hour while at a temperature of 22° C., exhibited, on average, greater than an 8% expansion of the overall height thereof. Such significant elongation can prevent the base container 10′ from properly fitting along manufacturing lines, in traditional sized packaging (e.g., boxes, etc.), and/or within vending machines. Advantageously, the container 10 exhibited significantly less height expansion AH during testing. Specifically, the container 10, after being pressurized at 0.75 bar above atmospheric pressure for one hour while at a temperature of 22° C., exhibited, on average, a 3.16% expansion of the overall height thereof. Also, the container 10, after being pressurized at 0.50 bar above atmospheric pressure for one hour while at a temperature of 22° C., exhibited, on average, a 2.66% expansion of the overall height thereof.
As utilized herein, the terms “approximately,” “about,” “substantially”, and similar terms are intended to have a broad meaning in harmony with the common and accepted usage by those of ordinary skill in the art to which the subject matter of this disclosure pertains. It should be understood by those of skill in the art who review this disclosure that these terms are intended to allow a description of certain features described and claimed without restricting the scope of these features to the precise numerical ranges provided. Accordingly, these terms should be interpreted as indicating that insubstantial or inconsequential modifications or alterations of the subject matter described and claimed are considered to be within the scope of the disclosure as recited in the appended claims.
It should be noted that the term “exemplary” and variations thereof, as used herein to describe various embodiments, are intended to indicate that such embodiments are possible examples, representations, or illustrations of possible embodiments (and such terms are not intended to connote that such embodiments are necessarily extraordinary or superlative examples).
The term “coupled” and variations thereof, as used herein, means the joining of two members directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary (e.g., permanent or fixed) or moveable (e.g., removable or releasable). Such joining may be achieved with the two members coupled directly to each other, with the two members coupled to each other using a separate intervening member and any additional intermediate members coupled with one another, or with the two members coupled to each other using an intervening member that is integrally formed as a single unitary body with one of the two members. If “coupled” or variations thereof are modified by an additional term (e.g., directly coupled), the generic definition of “coupled” provided above is modified by the plain language meaning of the additional term (e.g., “directly coupled” means the joining of two members without any separate intervening member), resulting in a narrower definition than the generic definition of “coupled” provided above. Such coupling may be mechanical, electrical, or fluidic.
The term “or,” as used herein, is used in its inclusive sense (and not in its exclusive sense) so that when used to connect a list of elements, the term “or” means one, some, or all of the elements in the list. Language such as the phrases “at least one of X, Y, and Z” and “at least one of X, Y, or Z,” unless specifically stated otherwise, are understood to convey that an element may be either X; Y; Z; X and Y; X and Z; Y and Z; or X, Y, and Z (i.e., any combination of X, Y, and Z). Thus, such language is not generally intended to imply that certain embodiments require at least one of X, at least one of Y, and at least one of Z to each be present, unless otherwise indicated.
References herein to the positions of elements (e.g., “top,” “bottom,” “above,” “below”) are merely used to describe the orientation of various elements in the FIGURES. It should be noted that the orientation of various elements may differ according to other exemplary embodiments, and that such variations are intended to be encompassed by the present disclosure.
It is important to note that the construction and arrangement of the container 10 as shown in the various exemplary embodiments is illustrative only. Additionally, any element disclosed in one embodiment may be incorporated or utilized with any other embodiment disclosed herein.
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/862,035, filed Jul. 11, 2022, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 17862035 | Jul 2022 | US |
Child | 18891424 | US |