PLASTIC CONTAINERS AND PACKAGING THEREOF

Abstract

Plastic containers and arrangements of reduced diameter plastic containers, including PET containers, are disclosed. In an embodiment, a plastic container arrangement is provided that includes a plurality of reduced diameter plastic (e.g., PET) containers arranged in a side-by-side configuration, wherein the ratio of a maximum outside diameter to container height is at least 0.30.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to plastic containers, and the packaging of plastic containers.

BACKGROUND

This background description is set forth below for the purpose of providing context only. Therefore, any aspect of this background description, to the extent that it does not otherwise qualify as prior art, is neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the instant disclosure.

Plastic containers are commonly packaged and shipped in groupings, which may include multipacks. A multipack may include a specific number or count of containers (e.g., 12, 24, 30, etc.). Groupings of containers are frequently transported on pallets or sheets. A plurality of multipacks may be assembled for transport on a pallet (including standard industry pallets having common sizing for transportation). However, in some cases, an arrangement of groups/multipacks of containers on a level of a pallet might have a footprint that provides for an amount of extension, or overhang, beyond the level and extent of a pallet. In some instances, an overhang can be inefficient for or incompatible with some palletizing and de-palletizing systems.

There is a desire for solutions/options that improve or optimize packaging of plastic containers and can, among other things, reduce or eliminate one or more challenges or shortcomings associated with conventional packaging systems. The foregoing discussion is intended only to illustrate examples of the present field and should not be taken as a disavowal of scope.

SUMMARY

Plastic containers and arrangements of reduced diameter plastic containers, including PET containers, are disclosed. In an embodiment, a plastic container arrangement is provided that includes a plurality of reduced diameter PET plastic containers arranged in a side-by-side configuration, wherein the ratio of a maximum outside diameter to container height is less than 0.333.

The foregoing and other aspects, features, details, utilities, and/or advantages of embodiments of the present disclosure will be apparent from reading the following description, and from reviewing the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is perspective view generally illustrating an embodiment of a plastic container according to aspects and/or teachings of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 are side elevation views of the embodiment of a plastic container as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the plastic container taken at A-A in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the plastic container shown in FIG. 1.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are top plan view graphical illustrations of arrangements of containers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the present disclosure, examples of which are described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. While the present disclosure will be described in conjunction with embodiments and/or examples, it will be understood that they are not intended to limit the present disclosure to these embodiments and/or examples. On the contrary, the present disclosure is intended to cover alternatives, modifications, and equivalents.

An embodiment of a plastic container 10 according to aspects and/or teachings of the present disclosure is generally illustrated in FIG. 1. Side elevation views of the embodiment of a plastic container shown in FIG. 1 are included in FIGS. 2-4. It is noted that the dimensions and/or tolerances included in FIGS. 2, 3, 3A, and 4 are for the purposes of illustrating an embodiment of the present disclosure, and the invention is not limited to the specific dimensions and/or tolerances provided.

Embodiments of a plastic container 10 may include, inter alia, a neck portion 20, a sidewall portion 30, and a base portion 40. The neck portion 20 may include one or more conventional features, including threads, a support ring, and/or a tamper-evident formation. The sidewall portion 30 may include a shoulder portion (provided below the neck portion), which may or may not include a plurality of panels; and/or various annular and/or undulating formations or ribs, including those generally illustrated. The base portion 40 may be closed and configured to support the container on a surface. Embodiments of containers according to the disclosure may comprise, without limitation, polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

With embodiments, the plastic container may have a comparatively reduced outside diameter (or “footprint”). The following is a table that generally illustrates certain dimensions and other comparisons associated with a plastic container associated with the present disclosure (e.g., FIG. 1 Embodiment) and other plastic containers (e.g., Containers A-D) that have similar sizing (e.g., all are 500 ml containers) and features.

	Container	FIG. 1	Container	Container	Con-
	A	Embodiment	B	C	tainer D
OD at base	64.95	62.65	65.83	65.83	65.83
(mm)
OD at base	2.557	2.467	2.592	2.592	2.592
(in)
OD at label	63.58	62.65	65.83	65.83	65.83
panel (mm)
OD at label	2.503	2.467	2.592	2.592	2.592
panel (in)
Height (in)	7.948	8.071	7.594	7.671	7.691
Volume	500	500	500	500	500
(mL)
Weight (g)	13.1	7.7	7.7	8.5	8.5

With respect to the table, it is noted that Containers B-D have the same overall features—including the same sidewall and base portion structures—and are generally similar in overall appearance. In slight contrast, Container A has a more “straight” sidewall portion provided below the shoulder, and includes a plurality of horizontal ribs that extend circumferentially around the sidewall portion and are spaced along the sidewall portion to a position proximate the base portion. Container A does not include undulating ribs, such as those illustrated in the lower half of the sidewall portion of the plastic container illustrated in FIG. 1.

As generally demonstrated in the table, the “FIG. 1 Embodiment” of a plastic container has a slightly greater height than the other containers (i.e., Containers A-D), and a smaller outside diameter (OD) at the base and at the label panel. It is noted that it is not a simple or routine matter to form (e.g., blow mold) PET containers having dimensions, such as those associated with the FIG. 1 Embodiment, as it can be very difficult with conventional preforms to stretch the material down to the base portion without touching off on the stretch rod. Even with custom preforms, the dimensions associated with the FIG. 1 Embodiment can be challenging, as it can be challenging to blow mold a plastic container with such a comparatively thin diameter. As generally illustrated in the table, embodiments of plastic containers associated with the present disclosure may have maximum outside diameters (along any portion) that is one, or even several, millimeters less than comparative, similarly-sized (e.g., similar volume) plastic containers. With embodiments of the present disclosure, PET containers may have a ratio of a maximum outside diameter (OD) to container height that is at less than 0.333 (i.e., less than one-third). For some embodiments, the ratio of a maximum outside diameter (OD) to container height may be less than 0.330. For other embodiments, the ratio may be less than 0.320, or even less than 0.310. By way of example, and without limitation, the ratio of OD to container height associated with the FIG. 1 Embodiment may be about 0.3057.

Employing containers of the type disclosed with reduced outside diameters can provide, inter alia, reduced pallet overhang. As pallet overhang can be an issue in warehousing, reducing overhang can provide a number of benefits. Providing multipacks of containers that have the same number of containers, but have a tighter configuration and/or footprint, can provide advantages, including a saving of up to about 2 inches in a given direction (e.g., an x or y direction in a plan view, such as shown in FIG. 6 or 7) on a pallet level. The saving of such space may reduce or, in some cases, essentially eliminate overhang. Reducing or eliminating overhang—associated with a similar number or count of containers—may provide other advantages. For example, as upper levels are included on a pallet, a different downward force from the weight may be spread across a greater number of supported containers—which, in turn, may reduce the amount of downward force, pro rata, that is provided upon an individual lower container.

FIGS. 6 and 7 generally illustrate top plan view graphical illustrations of arrangements of containers—such as may be associated (e.g., in 24-count multipack form) with a conventional (standard-type) pallet. The associated multipack may comprise bottled water (or other beverage) multipacks, which may, for example, comprise filled and capped/closed bottles. The illustrations generally provide a grid image of the footprint associated with an arrangement of containers and an associated overhang with respect to a standard-type 40″×40″ pallet. FIG. 6 generally illustrates an arrangement (or “pallet fit”) with conventional-type 500 ml containers in multipack (24-count) form. In contrast, FIG. 7 generally illustrates an arrangement (or “pallet fit”) with containers such as associated with the present disclosure (e.g., FIG. 1 Embodiment containers assembled in multipack 24-count form). As generally illustrated in FIG. 7, the containers may be staggered (or slightly offset) by adjacent rows within their groupings. For example, with a set or grouping of 24 containers, the containers may be provided in six rows of four containers, with alternating rows being offset from one another. Moreover, as illustrated the orientation of the groupings/rows may differ, with some groupings/rows being perpendicular to others.

As generally illustrated, the pallet footprint associated with FIG. 7 demonstrates a reduction in length on both a “short length” (e.g., corresponding to the 40-inch length of a standard pallet) and a “long length” (e.g., corresponding to the 48-inch length of a standard pallet) of the arrangement. With respect to both the short and long lengths, an arrangement involving reduced diameter containers (e.g., FIG. 1 Embodiment containers) would reduce each of the short and the long lengths of the arrangements by more than two inches. In With a desire to minimize any “overhang” of containers with respect to a pallet, it was found that, in some instances, ⅛^th of an inch may be a sufficient reduction for pallet fit on a given pallet level.

Various embodiments are described herein for various apparatuses, systems, and/or methods. Numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the overall structure, function, manufacture, and use of the embodiments as described in the specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It will be understood by those skilled in the art, however, that the embodiments may be practiced without such specific details. In other instances, well-known operations, components, and elements have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the embodiments described in the specification. Those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the embodiments described and illustrated herein are non-limiting examples, and thus it can be appreciated that the specific structural and functional details disclosed herein may be representative and do not necessarily limit the scope of the embodiments.

Reference throughout the specification to “various embodiments,” “with embodiments,” “in embodiments,” or “an embodiment,” or the like, means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in various embodiments,” “with embodiments,” “in embodiments,” or “an embodiment,” or the like, in places throughout the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. Thus, the particular features, structures, or characteristics illustrated or described in connection with one embodiment/example may be combined, in whole or in part, with the features, structures, functions, and/or characteristics of one or more other embodiments/examples without limitation given that such combination is not illogical or non-functional. Moreover, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the present disclosure without departing from the scope thereof.

It should be understood that references to a single element are not necessarily so limited and may include one or more of such element. Any directional references (e.g., plus, minus, upper, lower, upward, downward, left, right, leftward, rightward, top, bottom, above, below, vertical, horizontal, clockwise, and counterclockwise) are only used for identification purposes to aid the reader's understanding of the present disclosure, and do not create limitations, particularly as to the position, orientation, or use of embodiments.

Joinder references (e.g., attached, coupled, connected, and the like) are to be construed broadly and may include intermediate members between a connection of elements and relative movement between elements. As such, joinder references do not necessarily imply that two elements are directly connected/coupled and in fixed relation to each other. The use of “e.g.” in the specification is to be construed broadly and is used to provide non-limiting examples of embodiments of the disclosure, and the disclosure is not limited to such examples. Uses of “and” and “or” are to be construed broadly (e.g., to be treated as “and/or”). For example and without limitation, uses of “and” do not necessarily require all elements or features listed, and uses of “or” are intended to be inclusive unless such a construction would be illogical.

While examples of dimensions of certain components may be described herein, such dimensions are provided as non-limiting examples and the components may have other dimensions.

While processes, systems, and methods may be described herein in connection with one or more steps in a particular sequence, it should be understood that such methods may be practiced with the steps in a different order, with certain steps performed simultaneously, with additional steps, and/or with certain described steps omitted.

It is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not limiting. Changes in detail or structure may be made without departing from the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A plastic container arrangement, the arrangement comprising: a plurality of reduced diameter plastic containers arranged in a side-by-side configuration;wherein a ratio of a maximum outside diameter of each of the plurality of reduced diameter containers to an overall container height of each of the plurality of reduced diameter containers is less than 0.333.

2. The plastic container arrangement of claim 1, wherein the plurality of reduced diameter PET plastic containers are arranged in a plurality of cases, and each case has a plurality of rows, and each adjacent row in a case is offset from at least one adjacent row.

3. The plastic container arrangement of claim 1, wherein the plurality of reduced diameter plastic containers are comprised of PET.

4. The plastic container arrangement of claim 1, wherein the plurality of reduced diameter plastic containers individually have an overall height of about 8.0 inches (203.2 mm).

5. The plastic container arrangement of claim 1, wherein the plurality of reduced diameter plastic containers individually have an overall height of at least 8.0 inches (203.2 mm).

6. The plastic container arrangement of claim 1, wherein the plurality of reduced diameter plastic containers individually have a maximum outside diameter of about 2.46 inches (62.484 mm).

7. The plastic container arrangement of claim 1, wherein the plurality of reduced diameter plastic containers individually have a maximum outside diameter of less than 2.50 inches (63.5 mm).

8. The plastic container arrangement of claim 1, wherein the plurality of reduced diameter plastic containers individually have an overall height of at least 8.0 inches (203.2 mm) and a maximum outside diameter of less than 2.50 inches (63.5 mm).

9. The plastic container arrangement of claim 1, wherein the ratio of the maximum outside diameter of an individual container of the plurality of reduced diameter containers to the overall container height of the individual container is less than about 0.320.

10. The plastic container arrangement of claim 1, wherein the ratio of the maximum outside diameter of an individual container of the plurality of reduced diameter containers to the overall container height of the individual container is less than about 0.310.

11. The plastic container arrangement of claim 1, wherein the plurality of reduced diameter plastic containers have an individual container internal volume of about 500 ml.

12. The plastic container arrangement of claim 1, wherein the plurality of reduced diameter plastic containers individually have a container weight of about 7.7 g.

13. The plastic container arrangement of claim 1, wherein the plurality of reduced diameter plastic containers individually have a container weight of between about 7.1 g and about 8.1 g.

14. The plastic container arrangement of claim 1, wherein the plurality of reduced diameter plastic containers individually have a container weight of about 7.7 g.

15. The plastic container arrangement of claim 1, wherein the plurality of reduced diameter plastic containers individually include one or more undulating ribs in a sidewall portion.

16. The plastic container arrangement of claim 1, wherein the plurality of reduced diameter plastic containers individually include one or more horizontal ribs in a sidewall portion.

17. The plastic container arrangement of claim 1, wherein the plurality of reduced diameter plastic containers individually include one or more undulating ribs and one or more horizontal ribs in a sidewall portion.

18. The plastic container arrangement of claim 1, wherein the plurality of reduced diameter plastic containers individually include sidewall portion with an outer diameter that varies along a vertical length of the sidewall portion.

19. A plastic container assembly, including: a pallet;a plurality of reduced diameter plastic containers arranged in a side-by-side configuration on or upon the pallet;wherein a ratio of a maximum outside diameter of each of the plurality of reduced diameter containers to an overall container height of each of the plurality of reduced diameter containers is less than 0.333.

20. The plastic container assembly of claim 19, wherein, for a pallet having a top plan stacking surface area of about 40 inches by about 48 inches, the side-by-side configuration of the plurality of reduced diameter containers overhangs only one side of the pallet and by less than 1.25 inches.