Patent Application
20060076310
1. Field of the Invention
This application relates to blow-molded containers, and more particularly to round type 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.
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, it is difficult to use certain types of pressure sensitive labeling on conventional round type hot fillable containers that have prominent vacuum panels.
A need exists for an improved hot fillable container design that obviates the various limitations and disadvantages of conventional hot fill container designs that have concave vacuum panels.
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved hot fillable container design that obviates the various limitations and disadvantages of conventional hot fill container designs that have concave vacuum panels.
In order to achieve the above and other objects of the invention, a hot fillable container that is constructed according to a first aspect of the invention includes a bottom; and a sidewall connected with the bottom so as to define an internal space. The sidewall is shaped so as to define in transverse cross-section in at least one location a substantially circular outer circumference. The sidewall further includes at least one convex structural portion having a convexly curved outer surface. The sidewall is further constructed and arranged so that deformation of the sidewall in response to a partial vacuum condition within the internal space will occur primarily in the convex structural portion.
According to a second aspect of the invention, a hot fillable container includes a bottom; and a sidewall connected with the bottom so as to define an internal space. The sidewall is shaped so as to define in transverse cross-section in at least one location a substantially circular outer circumference. The sidewall further includes first and second convex label panel portions each having a convexly curved outer surface. The sidewall is constructed and arranged so that deformation of the sidewall in response to a partial vacuum condition within the internal space will occur primarily in the convex label panel portions.
A hot fillable container according to a third 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 substantially circular outer circumference. The sidewall further includes a convex structural portion that has a first area that is constructed and arranged to flex in a first manner in response to deformation of said sidewall caused by an a partial vacuum within said internal space, a second area that is constructed and arranged to flex in a second manner in response to such a partial vacuum and a hinge location at a boundary between the first and second areas.
According to a fourth aspect of the invention, a hot fillable container 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 in at least one location a substantially circular outer circumference. The sidewall is further constructed and arranged to flexibly deform in response to partial vacuum conditions within the internal space, and wherein the sidewall contains no concave vacuum panel portions that will substantially flex in response to the partial vacuum conditions.
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
Hot fillable container 10 is further configured to have a central label portion 24 that is positioned between the upper and lower round portions 20, 22. Central label portion 24 includes a pair of structural sidewall portions 26 that have a convexly curved outer surface. According to one important aspect of the invention, sidewall 14 is constructed so that deformation thereof in response to the partial vacuum condition that is created after the hot fill process will occur primarily in the structural sidewall portions 26. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, sidewall 14 further includes an opposing pair of recessed side portions 28 that are shaped so as to enhance grippability of the container 10. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the two structural sidewall portions 26 are substantially symmetrical with respect to each other, as are the pair of opposed recessed side portions 28. Preferably, the structural sidewall portions 26 subtend at least 120° of the circumference of the sidewall 14, and more preferably subtend at least 180° of their circumference of the sidewall 14. Structural sidewall portions 26 preferably have been outer surface that is substantially linear in at least one location in longitudinal cross-section.
As is best shown in
As the structural sidewall portions 26 undergo flexure, natural hinge lines 30 are defined that remain substantially stationary during this flexure. These natural hinge lines 30 are positioned as shown in
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.
