MX2011002571A

MX2011002571A - Plastic container having reinforced gripping structure.

Info

Publication number: MX2011002571A
Application number: MX2011002571A
Authority: MX
Inventors: David P Piccioli; David B Heisner; Tapan Y Patel; Stephen R Guerin
Original assignee: Graham Packaging Co
Priority date: 2008-09-10
Filing date: 2009-08-19
Publication date: 2011-04-07
Also published as: AU2009292109B2; CA2736447A1; NZ591325A; AU2009292109A1; WO2010030473A1; EP2321185A1; US20100059532A1; EP2321185B1; CA2736447C

Abstract

A plastic container (10) includes a generally cylindrical main body (16) portion having a longitudinal axis. At least one gripping recess (22) is defined in the main body portion that has an oblong shape when viewed in front elevation and that is defined in part by a curved concave inner surface (32) when viewed in side elevation. The gripping recess includes a plurality of horizontal indentations (26, 28, 30), each of which is sized to receive a finger of a consumer when the plastic container is being gripped by the consumer.

Description

PLASTIC CONTAINER THAT HAS SUCTION STRUCTURE REINFORCED FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates in general to the field of plastic containers and, more particularly, to plastic containers which are intended to be used for consumer use and which are manufactured using a blow molding process.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED TECHNIQUE Molded plastic containers for packaging beverages such as orange juice are widely used in the market all over the world. Such containers can be made using the process of blow molding extrusion which is typical of the containers being manufactured from a material such as polyolefin, or a process of blow molding by stretching, which is typical for the containers They manufacture from polyethylene terephthalate, which is commonly known as PET (for its acronym in English).

When filled with product, molded plastic containers can be quite heavy and difficult to handle by some consumers, particularly in large sizes. This problem is formed by any condensation in the form on the outer surface of the plastic container. Accordingly, it is typical for certain types of plastic containers to be designed with grip recesses and handles, so as to promote safety and ease of handling by the consumer.

The configuration of many containers incorporating said grip recesses and handles is such that a consumer will be induced to grasp the container using the index fingers and the thumb in a pinching action that can impart significant compressive force to the container. Although this could provide a convenient and effective way to grab the container from the point of view of the consumer, the resulting compressive forces, which tend to concentrate near portions hold the recess of the container, can produce a tilt and deformation inward of container. Said deformation can produce a reduction in the storage volume of the container, causing the product to be forced out of the container emptying opening undesirably when the container is full or near to being filled. In addition, said deformation can produce a change in the emptying characteristics of the container, either changing the shape of the dispensing opening itself or the shape of the surfaces immediately adjacent to the dispensing opening.

In addition, some plastic containers must be designed to withstand significant pressure differentials between the interior of the container and environmental conditions. Carbonated beverages or malt beverages can generate a significant internal pressure, on the order of 45-60 psi for malt beverages such as beer. The beer can be packaged using an aseptic process in cold or cold filtering, or it can be pasteurized after filling and covering the container to kill any remaining yeast and stop further fermentation of the product. The pasteurization process usually involves spraying the filled and capped containers with hot water until the internal temperatures reach between 60 and 61.11 degrees Celsius Plastic containers can also be designed for use in the hot filling process, which is generally used to package beverages such as fruit juices. For these containers, grip recesses must be designed to withstand subsequent pressurization and volumetric shrinkage that occurs during the hot fill process.

There is a need for an improved plastic container that offers a secure and convenient hold configuration for the consumer, but which presents a better resistance against deformation than that of conventional designs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, one purpose of the present invention is to provide an improved plastic container that provides a secure and convenient grasping configuration for the consumer, while at the same time presenting a better resistance against deformation than that of conventional designs.

To achieve the above purpose and other purposes of the invention, a plastic container in accordance with a first aspect of the invention includes a main body portion having a longitudinal axis, the main body portion having a defined grip recess. at that site, the grip recess being defined in part by a curved concave inner surface when viewed in the form of a side elevation, the grip recess further comprising a plurality of horizontal slits, each of the horizontal slits having a size that It allows to receive the finger of a consumer when the plastic container is grasped by the consumer.

A plastic container according to a second aspect of the invention includes a main body portion having a longitudinal axis, the main body portion having a hold recess defined therein, the grip recess having an oblong shape when viewed in the form of a front elevation, the grip recess further comprising a plurality of slits horizontal, each of the horizontal slots having a size that allows you to receive the finger of a consumer when the plastic container is grasped by the consumer.

These and other advantages and various features of the novelty characterizing the invention are pointed out in a particular way in the appended claims to the present and form part thereof. However, in order to achieve a better understanding of the invention, its advantages and the purposes obtained through its use, reference should be made to the drawings forming part of it, as well as to the descriptive object annexed, where a modality is illustrated and described. preferred of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a perspective view describing a container that is designed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a front elevated view describing the container shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along lines 3-3 in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a side elevated view describing the container shown in Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 5-5 in Figure 4; Y Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 6-6 in Figure 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF LAIS) PREFERRED MODALITY (S) c Referring now to the drawings, wherein the like reference numbers designate a structure corresponding to the entire length of the views, and referring in particular to Figure 1, a plastic container 10 that is designed in accordance with a preferred embodiment from The invention includes a conventional threaded terminated portion 12, a neck portion 14, a main body portion 16 and a conventional lower portion 18.

The containers 10 can be manufactured using the extrusion blow molding process, which is typical of containers that are made from a material such as polyolefin, or a stretch blow molding process, which is typical of containers that They are manufactured from polyethylene terephthalate, which is commonly known as PET.

The plastic container 10 has a shape that makes it generally cylindrical and additionally includes a sm label panel 20 to which the label can be conveniently applied using conventional processes.

The plastic container 10 further includes an opposite pair of grip recesses 22 that are constructed to facilitate holding the container 10 by a consumer when the container 10 is filled with liquid. Each of the grip recesses 22 is constructed to be capable of withstanding the volumetric pressurization and contraction that could occur within the container 10 as a result of carbonation, pasteurization, the hot-fill process, or that could occur during the transportation or use of the container 10.

Briefly with respect to Figure 2, it will be noted that each of the grip recesses 22 has an external border 24 when viewed in the form of a front elevation having an oblong shape, with a main axis that is basically vertical or parallel to the longitudinal axis of the plastic container 10. The oblong shape of the grip recesses 22 is preferably substantially symmetric in relation to both the main vertical axis and the horizontal minor axis. As can best be seen in Figure 4, each of the grip recesses 22 is also defined in part by a curved concave inner surface 32 when viewed in the form of a side elevation.

Each of the grip recesses 22 includes a plurality of horizontal slits, each of which has a size that allows it to receive a finger from the consumer when the plastic container is grasped by the consumer. In the preferred embodiment, three horizontal recesses or slits 26, 28 and 30 are provided. As seen in the longitudinal cross section, a first edge or projection 36 is defined between the recesses 26, 28 and a second edge or projection 38 is defined between the recesses 28, 30.

Referring again to Figure 4, the plastic container 10 has a maximum external diameter DMAX- Preferably, each of the curved concave inner surfaces 32 of the grasping recesses 22, has a radius Ris that lies within a scale of about 30 percent to about 130 percent of the maximum external diameter DMAX of the container 10 and that, most preferably, is within a range of about 50 percent to about 100 percent of the maximum external diameter DMAX of container 10.

In the preferred embodiment, each of the horizontal slits 26, 28, 30 has an outer surface 34 that is convexly curved, as seen in the horizontal cross section, as best shown in Figure 5. The outer surface 34 in the preferred embodiment has a radius of curvature RGH which is within the range of about 20 percent to about 70 percent of the maximum external diameter DMAX of the container 10 and which is preferably within a range from about 30 percent to about 60 percent of the maximum external diameter DMAX of container 10.

The external surface 34 of each of the horizontal slits 26, 28, 30 is also preferably concave, as it observes in the longitudinal cross-section, as best shown in Figures 3 and 4. Each of the horizontal slits 26, 28, 30 preferably has a longitudinal radius of curvature RQL which, preferably, lies within a scale of about 0.508 centimeters to about 2.54 centimeters and that, more preferably, is within a scale of about 1.143 centimeters to about 2.159 centimeters. Preferably, the longitudinal radius of curvature RGL is on a scale of about 15% to about 35% of the maximum external diameter DMAX of the container 10.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal cross-sectional view describing a cross-section of the container 10 taken at an elevation intersecting the second edge or projection 38. Both the edges and the projections 36, 38 have an outer surface that is curved so that convex in a radius of curvature RLH which, preferably, lies within a range of about 20 percent to about 50 percent of the maximum external diameter DMAX of the container. Preferably, the radius of curvature RLH lies within the range of about 1.524 centimeters to about 2794 centimeters.

However, it should be understood that, although numerous features and advantages of the present invention have been established in the foregoing description, together with the details of the structure and function of the invention, the description is of an illustrative nature only and changes of details can be made, especially in matters of shape, size and arrangement of the parts within the principles of the invention to the maximum extent indicated by the broad general sense of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.

Claims

NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION CLAIMS

1. - A plastic container, which comprises: a main body portion having a longitudinal axis, said main body portion having a grip recess defined at that site, said grip recess being defined in part by an internal surface curved concave when viewed in the form of a lateral elevation, said grip recess further comprising a plurality of horizontal slits, each of said horizontal slots having a size that allows it to receive the finger of a consumer when the plastic container is grasped by the consumer.

2. - The plastic container according to claim 1, further characterized in that said plastic container further comprises a basically smooth label portion.

3. - The plastic container according to claim 1, further characterized in that said plastic container has a generally cylindrical shape and a maximum external diameter, as well as because said curved concave inner surface has a radius that is within a scale of about from 30 percent to about 130 percent of said maximum external diameter.

4 - . 4 - The plastic container in accordance with the claim 3, further characterized in that said curved concave inner surface has a radius that is within a range of about 50 percent to about 100 percent of said maximum outer diameter.

5. - The plastic container according to claim 1, further characterized in that each of said horizontal slits is concave when viewed in a longitudinal cross section.

6. - The plastic container according to claim 1, further characterized in that each of said horizontal slits is curved when viewed in a horizontal cross section.

7. - The plastic container according to claim 6, further characterized in that each of said horizontal slits is convexly curved when viewed in a horizontal cross section.

8. - The plastic container according to claim 7, further characterized in that said plastic container has a maximum external diameter and because each of said horizontal slits is convexly curved when viewed in a horizontal cross section, so that has an external radio, said external radio being within a scale of about 20 percent to about 70 percent of said maximum external diameter.

9. - The plastic container according to claim 1, further characterized in that said gripping recess comprises at least three of said horizontal slits.

10. - The plastic container according to claim 1, further characterized in that said container is manufactured in accordance with a blow molding process.

11. - The plastic container according to claim 1, further characterized in that said grip recess has an oblong shape when viewed in the form of a front elevation.

12. - A plastic container, which comprises: a main body portion having a longitudinal axis, said main body portion having a grip recess defined in that site, said grip recess having an oblong shape when viewed in front elevation form, said grip recess further comprising a plurality of horizontal slits, each of said horizontal slots having a size that allows it to receive the finger of a consumer when the plastic container is grasped by the consumer.

13. - The plastic container according to claim 12, further characterized in that said plastic container further comprises a basically smooth label portion.

14. - The plastic container in accordance with the claim 12, further characterized in that said container is manufactured in accordance with a blow molding process.

15. - The plastic container according to claim 12, further characterized in that each of said horizontal slits is concave when viewed in a longitudinal cross section.

16. - The plastic container according to claim 12, further characterized in that each of said horizontal slits is curved when viewed in a horizontal cross section.

17. - The plastic container according to claim 16, further characterized in that each of said horizontal slits is convexly curved when viewed in a horizontal cross section.

18. - The plastic container according to claim 17, further characterized in that said plastic container has a maximum external diameter and because each of said horizontal slits is convexly curved when viewed in a horizontal cross section, so that has an external radio, said external radio being within a scale of about 20 percent to about 70 percent of said maximum external diameter.

19. - The plastic container in accordance with the claim 12, further characterized in that said grip recess comprises at least three of said horizontal slits.