Patent Grant
7458478
1. Field of the Invention
This application relates to blow-molded containers, and more particularly to hot-fillable containers that are constructed to flexibly accommodate volumetric contraction that will occur in response to cooling of product within the container.
2. Description of the Related Technology
Perishable food and beverage products such as fruit juices are typically filled at elevated temperatures, such as 180 to 190 degrees Fahrenheit, under variable pressure conditions into specially designed plastic containers in what is conventionally referred to as the hot-fill process. Container designs that are intended for use with this process are referred to as hot fill type containers. After filling, the containers are sealed, preventing mass transfer into and out of the container. As the product within the containers cools, the volume that is occupied by the product decreases, thereby inducing a partial vacuum within the container that exerts an inward force upon the sidewall of the container. The design of hot fill type containers is heavily influenced by the necessity of managing this shrinkage during cooling. In the past, the shrinkage has most commonly been accommodated by molding one or more concave vacuum panel areas into the sidewall of the container that are designed to deflect inwardly as the product cools. By substantially limiting the deformation to the vacuum panel areas, unwanted distortion of other portions of the container is prevented. Such vacuum panel areas may serve the dual purpose helping consumers gain a better grip on the container during use after the container has been filled and distributed to the consumer.
While container designs relying upon vacuum panels have been effective in many ways, certain limitations and disadvantages are associated with their use, including limitations as to the possible variations in the exterior styling of the container, the need to provide enough plastic material to form the vacuum panels with the requisite thickness, and incompatibility with certain types of package labeling processes. For example, certain types of adhesive labels, especially clear labels, have a tendency to crimp in unsightly fashion due to flexure of the container during use with conventional hot fill container designs. Accordingly, a number of manufacturers find the presence of ribs and vacuum panels undesirable in their containers.
A need exists for an improved hot fillable container design without vacuum panels or ribs that obviates the various limitations and disadvantages of conventional hot fill container designs, such as the problem of label crimping.
It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide an improved hot fillable container design without vacuum panels or ribs that obviates the various limitations and disadvantages of conventional hot fill container designs, such as the problem of label crimping.
In order to achieve the above and other objects of the invention, a hot fillable container according to one aspect of the invention includes a bottom and a sidewall connected with the bottom so as to define an internal space. The sidewall is further shaped so as to define in transverse cross-section a first convex sidewall label area having a first convexly curved outer surface having a first curvature and a second convex sidewall area having a second convexly curved outer surface having a second curvature. The label area is of the type that has no horizontal reinforcing ribs. The sidewall is constructed and arranged so that deformation of the sidewall in response to a partial vacuum condition within the internal space after a hot fill process will result in a decrease of the first curvature and an increase of the second curvature. This deformation is effected without any denting of the sidewall.
A hot fillable container according to a second aspect of the invention includes a bottom; and a sidewall connected with the bottom so as to define an internal space, the sidewall being shaped so as to define in transverse cross-section: a first convex sidewall label area having a first convexly curved outer surface having a first radius, the label area having no reinforcing ribs, and a second convex sidewall area having a second convexly curved outer surface having a second radius, and wherein an axis along which the second radius is located intersects an axis along which the first radius is located at an angle which is preferably within a range of about 90 degrees to about 145 degrees; and a third convex sidewall area, the third convex sidewall area being constructed and arranged to substantially maintain its shape in response to a partial vacuum condition within said internal space.
According to a third aspect of the invention, a hot fillable container includes a bottom and a sidewall connected with said bottom so as to define an internal space, the sidewall being shaped so as to define in transverse cross-section: a first convex sidewall label area having a first convexly curved outer surface having a first radius R1, the label area having no reinforcing ribs, and a second convex sidewall area having a second convexly curved outer surface having a second radius R2 that increases in response to a partial vacuum condition within the internal space; and a third convex sidewall area having a third convexly curved outer surface having a third radius R3, and wherein a ratio R3/R1 is within a range of between about 0.5 to about 1.8
These and various other advantages and features of novelty that characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part hereof. However, for a better understanding of the invention, its advantages, and the objects obtained by its use, reference should be made to the drawings which form a further part hereof, and to the accompanying descriptive matter, in which there is illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention.
Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding structure throughout the views, and referring in particular to
Main body portion 14 includes a sidewall 20 that is connected with the bottom 12 and the neck portion 16 and that together with the bottom 12 and the neck portion 16 defines an internal space within the container 10. Sidewall 20 is constructed so that the label area has no vacuum panels and no reinforcing ribs such as horizontal reinforcing ribs that are commonly used to increase the hoop strength of such containers. Sidewall 20 has a thickness that is preferably although not necessarily uniform throughout the entire main body portion 14.
As is best shown in
The first convex side wall area 22 is preferably shaped as a portion of a cylinder, meaning that it has a substantially constant radius R1 when viewed in transverse cross-section as is shown in
Referring again to
Sidewall 20 is preferably constructed and arranged so that a radius of curvature R2 Of the second curvature will increase in response to a partial vacuum condition within the internal space of the magnitude that would occur at the completion of the hot-fill process. Preferably, the shape change occurs to an extent that the convexity of the second convexly curved outer surface 28 inverts into a concave shape, as is shown diagrammatically in
Radius R2 is preferably larger in magnitude than radius R1 both as molded and in response to hot-fill induced underpressure within the container, although the vector direction of the radius R2 will transition from a positive to a negative value as measured along an axis parallel to the radius R2 when the second convexly curved outer surface 28 inverts into a concave shape. Specifically, a ratio R1/R2 will preferably remain within a range of about 0.7 to about −0.7 both as molded and during and after the hot fill process. More preferably the ratio R1/R2 will preferably remain within a range of about 0.5 to about −0.5 both as molded and during and after the hot fill process.
The axis along with radius R2 is located intersects the axis along which radius R1 is located at an angle α, which is preferably within a range of about 90 degrees to about 145 degrees and is more preferably within a range of about 90 degrees to about 130 degrees.
Sidewall 20 further in the preferred embodiment includes a third convex sidewall area 36 that is constructed and arranged to substantially maintain its original as molded shape in response to a partial vacuum condition within the internal space of the magnitude that would occur at the conclusion of the hot fill process after cooling. The third convex side wall area 36 is preferably substantially in the shape of a portion of a cylinder and is constructed and arranged to have a radius of curvature R3 when viewed in transverse cross-section as is shown in
A ratio R3/R1 as molded and during and after the hot-fill process is preferably within a range of between about 0.5 to about 1.8 and is more preferably within a range of about 0.8 to about 1.3. Preferably, however, R1 and R3 are substantially the same as molded. The third convex side wall area 36 is preferably symmetrically opposed to the first convex side wall area 22 and is preferably bisected by the axis of symmetry 34. Reinforcing ribs 38 are preferably provided in third area 36 to ensure that the shape of the third area does not substantially change in response to a partial vacuum condition within the internal space of the magnitude that would occur at the conclusion of the hot fill process after cooling. The first and second portions 30, 32 of the second sidewall area 26 respectively separate the first convex sidewall area 22 from the third convex sidewall area 36.
In use, a first front label is preferably applied to first convex sidewall area 22 and a second rear label is adhesively applied to the third convex side wall area 36.
Alternatively, the third convex side wall area 36 could be constructed without reinforcing ribs so as to permit flexure during the hot fill process. In this embodiment, the shape of the third convex side wall area 36 would change and radius R3 would decrease in response to hot-fill induced underpressure within the container 10.
As is best shown in
The first convex side wall area 22 is preferably shaped as a portion of a cylinder, meaning that it has a substantially constant radius R1 when viewed in transverse cross-section as is shown in
Referring again to
Sidewall 42 is preferably constructed and arranged so that a radius of curvature R2 Of the second curvature will increase in response to a partial vacuum condition within the internal space of the magnitude that would occur at the completion of the hot-fill process. The second concave side wall area 44 in the preferred embodiment includes a first portion 48 and a second portion 50, which preferably are located on opposite sides of the first sidewall area 22 and share a common axis of symmetry. This axis of symmetry 52 preferably bisects the first convex side wall area 22, as is shown in
Radius R2 is preferably larger in magnitude than radius R1 both as molded and in response to hot-fill induced underpressure within the container. Specifically, a ratio R1/R2 will preferably remain within a range of about 0.7 to about −0.7 both as molded and during and after the hot fill process. More preferably the ratio R1/R2 will preferably remain within a range of about 0.5 to about −0.5 both as molded and during and after the hot fill process.
The axis along with radius R2 is located intersects the axis along which radius R1 is located at an angle β, which is preferably within a range of about 90 degrees to about 145 degrees and is more preferably within a range of about 90 degrees to about 130 degrees.
Sidewall 42 further in this alternative embodiment includes a third convex sidewall area 36 that is constructed and arranged to substantially maintain its original as molded shape in response to a partial vacuum condition within the internal space of the magnitude that would occur at the conclusion of the hot fill process after cooling. The third convex side wall area 36 is preferably substantially in the shape of a portion of a cylinder and is constructed and arranged to have a radius of curvature R3 when viewed in transverse cross-section as is shown in
A ratio R3/R1 as molded and during and after the hot-fill process is preferably within a range of between about 0.5 to about 1.8 and is more preferably within a range of about 0.8 to about 1.3. Preferably, however, R1 and R3 are substantially the same as molded. The third convex side wall area 36 is preferably symmetrically opposed to the first convex side wall area 22 and is preferably bisected by the axis of symmetry 52. Reinforcing ribs 38 are preferably provided in third area 36 to ensure that the shape of the third area does not substantially change in response to a partial vacuum condition within the internal space of the magnitude that would occur at the conclusion of the hot fill process after cooling. The first and second portions 48, 50 of the second sidewall area 44 respectively separate the first convex sidewall area 22 from the third convex sidewall area 36.
It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.
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