US20260021927A1

US20260021927A1 - Containers having swirl ribs which resist lateral ovalization of the container, and methods of making and using such containers

Info

Publication number: US20260021927A1
Application number: US19/234,570
Authority: US
Inventors: Jonathan Mastny; Vicki Catalina; Peter Brian Clarke; Trond Erik Tollefsen
Original assignee: Societe des Produits Nestle SA
Current assignee: Societe des Produits Nestle SA
Priority date: 2024-07-18
Filing date: 2025-06-11
Publication date: 2026-01-22
Also published as: WO2026018083A1

Abstract

A container includes a body containing swirl ribs. Each of the swirl ribs is an indentation into an exterior surface of the body. Each of the swirl ribs extends from a top of the body to a bottom of the body at an angle not parallel to a vertical axis of the container and not perpendicular to the vertical axis of the container. The swirl ribs are substantially parallel to each other for at least a majority of a length of each of the swirl ribs from the top of the body to the bottom of the body. The swirl ribs are configured for the body, under top loading or vacuum pressure on the container, to resist ovalization and resist collapse, and thereby maintain horizontal cross-sections that are substantially circular throughout the body. Preferably the body is substantially cylindrical, and the swirl ribs are configured for the body to twist under the top loading or vacuum pressure on the container, such that the body remains substantially cylindrical.

Description

PRIORITY CLAIM

The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/672,854 filed Jul. 18, 2024, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure generally relates to containers. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to containers having improved top load compression resistance and resistance to vacuum deformations at lighter container weights, such that the container resists collapse and lateral ovalization by twisting and thereby maintains a horizontal cross-section that is substantially circular.
Currently, the market includes many different shapes and sizes of containers capable of housing fluids. Regardless of the specific size and shape, a container should be able to withstand different environmental factors encountered during, for example, manufacturing, shipping and retail shelf stocking or storage. One example of such an environmental factor includes oxygen absorption into the product housed in the container. In this regard, certain liquid consumers products are susceptible to absorption of oxygen that is present in the headspace of the container and/or oxygen that ingresses from the outside environment. This oxygen absorption may create a vacuum inside the container that may contribute to deformation of the bottle, resulting in poor overall aesthetics. In lightweight containers, the deformation of the bottle is increased due to a lower wall thickness relative to standard bottles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a non-limiting first embodiment of a container according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 shows a top view of the container of FIG. 1 , according to the non-limiting first embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 shows a bottom view of the container of FIG. 1 , according to the non-limiting first embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 shows a graph of filled top load performance of a prior art container.

FIG. 5 shows a graph of filled top load performance of an embodiment of the container disclosed herein.

FIG. 6 shows a graph of empty top load performance of a prior art container.

FIG. 7 shows a graph of empty top load performance of an embodiment of the container disclosed herein.

FIG. 8 shows a graph of vacuum performance of a prior art container.

FIG. 9 shows a graph of vacuum performance of an embodiment of the container disclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure relates to vacuum-resistant containers (e.g., plastic bottles) for providing consumable products and other fluids. Preferred embodiments of the containers are constructed and arranged to be vacuum resistant and not only have improved structural features, but also lighter bottle weights, as well as desirable aesthetic characteristics.
Many liquid consumable products are oxygen sensitive. This problem becomes increasingly relevant, for example, when the liquid consumable products are shelf-stable and may spend an amount of time sitting on a retail shelf. During the shelf-life of a product, oxygen may be absorbed by the product from the headspace in the container or from the outside environment that permeates through the container walls. Such oxygen absorption may induce a vacuum inside the bottle that causes the bottle to deform. Similarly, during packaging, distribution and retail stocking, bottles may be exposed to widely varying temperature and pressure changes (e.g., bottle contraction in the refrigerator), liquid losses, and external forces that jostle and shake the bottles. These types of environmental factors may contribute to internal pressures or vacuums that affect the overall quality of the product purchased by the consumer. For example, existing types of vacuum panels, or thin plastic labels, may occupy large areas of the exterior of the bottle to which they are added and tend to have great visual impacts. When an internal vacuum is created within the bottle, the shrink sleeve labels do not always follow the slightly inverted shape of the bottle created by the vacuum, thereby accounting for poor aesthetics of the bottle. This effect is observed in standard plastic bottle.
The above effect is far more important for a lightweight plastic bottle, where the thickness of the plastic walls of the bottle is lower than the one of the standard bottle. Existing containers use fully circumferential, horizontal ribs to provide top load and vacuum resistance. However, containers with fully circumferential, horizontal ribs typically increase the rib dimension to create a lightweight container. As such, the ribs are more visible to the consumer, which provides for less than optimal aesthetic properties.
Applicant surprisingly discovered how to provide a container that resists internal vacuums while maintaining a lightweight container. In this regard, containers of the present disclosure include features that help to provide strength for top load compression and features that dynamically resist vacuum deformation of the container. The proposed features are particularly effective when the container is a lightweight bottle.
Containers of the present disclosure may house liquids (e.g., non-carbonated liquids) and may be exposed to temperature and/or pressure changes during packaging, shipping, storage and/or retail display. Any of the above-described factors, such as temperature changes and pressure changes, may contribute to the presence of an internal vacuum within a sealed container when the container houses a liquid. This effect is problematic for aesthetic reasons because internal vacuums created within the sealed container may cause deformation of the container that may pull the walls of the container away from any exterior label (e.g., a sleeve), creating an undesirable aesthetic. Applicant surprisingly found, however, that certain structural features may improve a container's vacuum resistance to thereby avoid undesired container deformation.
An advantage of one or more embodiments in the present disclosure is an improved container.
Another advantage of one or more embodiments in the present disclosure is a lightweight container that resists vacuum deformation, for example up to 1.5 psi, by the lightweight container twisting, instead of collapsing or forming a horizontal cross-section that is oval.
Still another advantage of one or more embodiments in the present disclosure is a container having improved vacuum-resistance features for maintaining circularity, instead of ovalizing or collapsing.
Yet another advantage of one or more embodiments in the present disclosure is to provide a container having improved top loading performance.
Another advantage of one or more embodiments in the present disclosure is to provide a container that is constructed and arranged for easy handling by a consumer.
Additional features and advantages are described in, and will be apparent from, the following Detailed Description and the Figures. The features and advantages described herein are not all-inclusive and, in particular, many additional features and advantages will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art in view of the figures and description. Also, any particular embodiment does not have to have all of the advantages listed herein and it is expressly contemplated to claim individual advantageous embodiments separately. Moreover, any embodiment may be combined with any other embodiment unless explicitly stated otherwise.
As used herein, “about,” “approximately” and “substantially” are understood to refer to numbers in a range of numerals, for example the range of −10% to +10% of the referenced number, preferably −5% to +5% of the referenced number, more preferably −1% to +1% of the referenced number, most preferably −0.1% to +0.1% of the referenced number or property. For example, a surface that is “substantially circular” is at least 90% equidistant from the central vertical axis of the container in horizontal cross-section, preferably at least 95% equidistant from the central vertical axis of the container in horizontal cross-section, more preferably at least 99% equidistant from the central vertical axis of the container in horizontal cross-section, most preferably at least 99.9% equidistant from the central vertical axis of the container in horizontal cross-section. As another example, a surface that is “substantially cylindrical” is substantially circular in in horizontal cross-section throughout at least 90% of the height of the surface, substantially circular in in horizontal cross-section throughout at least 95% of the height of the surface, more preferably substantially circular in in horizontal cross-section throughout at least 99% of the height of the surface, most preferably substantially circular in in horizontal cross-section throughout at least 99.9% of the height of the surface.
All numerical ranges herein should be understood to include all integers, whole or fractions, within the range. Moreover, these numerical ranges should be construed as providing support for a claim directed to any number or subset of numbers in that range. For example, a disclosure of from 1 to 10 should be construed as supporting a range of from 1 to 8, from 3 to 7, from 1 to 9, from 3.6 to 4.6, from 3.5 to 9.9, and so forth.
As used in this disclosure and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “a rib” or “the rib” includes two or more ribs.
The words “comprise,” “comprises” and “comprising” are to be interpreted inclusively rather than exclusively. Likewise, the terms “include,” “including” and “or” should all be construed to be inclusive, unless such a construction is clearly prohibited from the context. Nevertheless, the compositions disclosed herein may lack any element that is not specifically disclosed herein. Thus, a disclosure of an embodiment using the term “comprising” includes a disclosure of embodiments “consisting essentially of” and “consisting of” the components identified.
The terms “at least one of” and “and/or” used respectively in the context of “at least one of X and Y” and “X and/or Y” should be interpreted as “X without Y,” or “Y without X,” or “both X and Y.” Where used herein, the terms “example” and “such as,” particularly when followed by a listing of terms, are merely exemplary and illustrative and should not be deemed to be exclusive or comprehensive.
Where used herein, the terms “example” and “such as,” particularly when followed by a listing of terms, are merely exemplary and illustrative and should not be deemed to be exclusive or comprehensive.
As used herein, a “container” is any device that can hold, store and dispense a liquid product. A “bottle” is a container having one single opening for the liquid product to enter and exit an interior volume of the container, preferably at an uppermost end of the container opposite from a surface on which it stands. A bottle preferably has a height both greater than its width (distance from side to side) and greater than its breadth (distance from front to back, which can be the same or different than the width). A “beverage” is an orally consumable liquid.
As used herein, “upward” refers to a direction toward the mouth of the container disclosed herein and “downward” refers to a direction toward the base of the container disclosed herein. Moreover, the “top” of a component refers to the portion of the component closest to the mouth of the container disclosed herein and the “bottom” of a component refers to the portion of the component closest to the base of the container disclosed herein. As used herein, “horizontal” means perpendicular to the central axis of the container (i.e., an axis extending between the center of the mouth and the center of the base) and “vertical” means parallel to this central axis.
As used herein, a “lightweight container” is a container having a maximum wall thickness throughout the container that is less than 0.45 mm maximum wall thickness throughout the container, in some embodiments less than 0.40 mm maximum wall thickness throughout the container, and even less than 0.38 mm maximum wall thickness throughout the container in some embodiments.
In preferred embodiments provided by the present disclosure, a container comprises a body comprising swirl ribs. Each of the swirl ribs is an indentation into an exterior surface of the body. Each of the swirl ribs extends from a top of the body to a bottom of the body at an angle not parallel to a vertical axis of the container and not perpendicular to the vertical axis of the container. The swirl ribs are substantially parallel to each other for at least a majority of a length of each of the swirl ribs from the top of the body to the bottom of the body. The swirl ribs are configured for the body, under top loading or vacuum pressure on the container, to resist ovalization and resist collapse, and thereby maintain horizontal cross-sections that are substantially circular throughout the body (i.e., throughout all of the body, along its height).
In some embodiments, a depth of each of the swirl ribs is a distance from the exterior surface of the body that the swirl rib extends inward into an inner volume of the container, and the depth is substantially constant for at least a majority of a length of each of the swirl ribs from the top of the body to the bottom of the body. In particularly preferred non-limiting embodiments, the depth is about 6.4 mm.
In some embodiments, each of the swirl ribs has a first lateral side and a second lateral side substantially parallel to each other for at least a majority of a length of each of the swirl ribs from the top of the body to the bottom of the body. The indentation of each swirl rib extends inward from the first and second lateral sides into an inner volume of the container. A width of each of the swirl ribs is a distance between the first lateral side and the second lateral side. The distance of the width is perpendicular to the angle of the corresponding swirl rib. The width is substantially constant for at least a majority of a length of each of the swirl ribs from the top of the body to the bottom of the body. In particularly preferred non-limiting embodiments, the width is about 7.5 mm.
In particularly preferred non-limiting embodiments, a ratio of the width to the depth for each of the swirl ribs is about 1.17.
In some embodiments, a pitch between one of the swirl ribs and an adjacent swirl rib is a vertical distance between a midline of the swirl rib and a midline of the adjacent swirl rib along a length of each of the swirl ribs from the top of the body to the bottom of the body. The vertical distance of the pitch is parallel to the vertical axis of the container. The pitch is substantially constant for at least a majority of the length of each of the swirl ribs from the top of the body to the bottom of the body. In particularly preferred non-limiting embodiments, the pitch is about 29 mm.
In some embodiments, the angle at which each of the swirl ribs extends along the exterior surface of the body is about 45 degrees relative to the vertical axis of the container.
Preferably, the container further comprises a base extending from a lower portion of the body, the base comprising a bottom panel that encloses an inner volume of the container. The base may comprise one or more first base ribs that each form a groove in the base and optionally further comprises one or more second base ribs that have a different length than the one of more first base ribs.
In some embodiments, the body is substantially cylindrical, and the swirl ribs are configured for the body to twist under the top loading or vacuum pressure on the container, such that the body remains substantially cylindrical.
Preferably, the container further comprises a shoulder extending from a neck comprising a mouth of the container to an upper portion of the body, the shoulder configured to transfer top load applied to the container to the body.
In some embodiments, the swirl ribs have substantially identical dimensions as each other. Another aspect of the present disclosure is a method of storing and/or transporting a liquid product, the method comprising filling the liquid product into any container disclosed herein. The method may further comprise sealing the container, which has the liquid product therein, with a cap. The liquid product is preferably a beverage.
Yet another aspect of the present disclosure is a method of manufacturing a container for a liquid product, the method comprising forming the body of any container disclosed herein. The method may comprise molding the container.
Still another aspect of the present disclosure is a method of using a liquid product, the method comprising pouring at least a portion of a liquid product housed by any container disclosed herein from the container. The liquid product is preferably a beverage.
For general illustration, FIGS. 1-3 show an embodiment of a container 100, such as a bottle, comprising a mouth 102, a neck 104, a shoulder 106, a body 108, and a base 110. The container 100 may be sized to hold any suitable volume of a liquid such as, for example, from about 50 to about 5000 mL, including about 100 mL, about 200 mL, about 300 mL, about 400 mL, about 500 mL, about 600 mL, about 700 mL, about 800 mL, about 900 mL, about 1000 mL, about 1500 mL, about 2000 mL, about 2500 mL, about 3000 mL, about 3500 mL, about 4000 mL, or about 4500 mL.
A height of the container 100 as used herein is defined as the maximum vertical distance from the mouth 102 (at the first end 103 of the container 100) to the bottom of the base 110 of the container 100 (at the second end 123 of the container 100). In an embodiment, the container 100 has a height from 125 mm to 250 mm.
As disclosed above, embodiments of the container 100 of the present disclosure may be lightweight containers. For example, embodiments of the container 100 may require from about 10% to about 25% less material to manufacture than similar containers not having the features described herein. In other examples, embodiments of the container 100 may provide opportunities for lightweighting. For example, the container 100 may have approximately the same weight but improved mechanical performance compared to similar containers not having the features described herein. Thus, the embodiments of the container 100 provide an opportunity to reduce the weight of the container 100 while maintaining the mechanical performance compared to similar containers not having the features described herein. Some embodiments of the container 100 of the present disclosure may have a weight ranging from about 15 g to about 40 g.
Embodiments of the container 100 of the present disclosure, as a standard container or as a lightweight container, may be configured to house any type of liquid therein. In an embodiment, the container 100 is configured to house a consumable liquid such as, for example, water, an energy drink, a carbonated drink, tea, coffee, or juice. In an embodiment, the container 100 is sized and configured to house a predetermined number of servings of a consumable liquid, such as one or more servings of a consumable liquid.
Suitable non-limiting materials for manufacturing embodiments of the container 100 of the present disclosure, as standard container or as lightweight container, may include, for example, polymeric materials. Specifically, materials for manufacturing embodiments of the container 100 may include, but are not limited to, polyethylene (“PE”), low density polyethylene (“LDPE”), high density polyethylene (“HDPE”), polypropylene (“PP”) or polyethylene terephthalate (“PET”). Further, embodiments of the container 100 of the present disclosure may be manufactured using any suitable manufacturing process such as, for example, conventional extrusion blow molding, stretch blow molding, or injection stretch blow molding.
In some embodiments, the container 100 is made of one integral piece of material, such as one integral piece of any of the plastics disclosed herein. For example, in a preferred embodiment, the mouth 102, the neck 104, the shoulder 106, the body 108, and the base 110 are all formed from one integral piece of material.
As seen in FIG. 1 , the mouth 102 of the container 100 is preferably located substantially on a plane at a first end 103 of the container 100. The mouth 102 is an opening through which liquid may be filled into the container 100 (e.g., by a manufacturer) and from which the liquid may be poured from the container 100 (e.g., by a consumer). The mouth 102 may be any size and shape such that liquid may be introduced into the container 100 through the mouth 102 and may be poured or otherwise removed from the container 100 through the mouth 102.
As shown in FIGS. 1-3 , preferably the mouth 102 is the only opening to the inner volume 200 of the container 100 and the only exit from the inner volume 200 of the container 100. In some embodiments. the container 100 may further comprise a cap connected over the mouth 102, as discussed in greater detail later herein.
In an embodiment, the mouth 102 may be substantially circular in shape and have an outer diameter ranging, for example, from about 25 mm to about 40 mm. The center of the mouth 102 defines one end of a vertical axis 105 of the container 100, while a center of the base 110 (e.g., a central divot 302) defines the other end of the vertical axis 105 of the container 100. In a particularly preferred non-limiting embodiment, the container 100 is substantially symmetrical around the vertical axis 105.
As seen in FIG. 1 , the neck 104 may begin at the first end 103 of the container 100 and may extend from the mouth 102 downward to terminate at the top of the shoulder 106. The neck 104 may be configured for the liquid entering the mouth 102 to thereby enter the inner volume 200 of the container 100 and for the liquid being poured from the inner volume 200 of the container 100 to exit through the mouth 102. The neck 104 may also have any size and shape so long as the neck 104 defines a conduit for the liquid, from the mouth 102 into the inner volume 200 of the container 100.
In an embodiment, the neck 104 is substantially cylindrical in shape, having a diameter that substantially corresponds to a diameter of the mouth 102. Additionally or alternatively, the neck 104 may have a tapered geometry, for example the neck 104 may be substantially conical in shape and taper up to or down from the mouth 102. The skilled artisan will appreciate that the shape and the size of the neck 104 are not limited to being identical to the shape and the size of the mouth 102. In embodiments where the neck 104 is tapered, preferably the angle of the taper of the neck 104 relative to the vertical axis 105 of the container 100 is a different angle than that of the shoulder 106 relative to the vertical axis 105 of the container 100.
The neck 104 may have a height (e.g., a vertical distance from the mouth 102 to the top of the shoulder 106) from about 15 mm to about 30 mm. The neck 104 may have an outer diameter ranging, for example, from about 10 mm to about 50 mm, or about 15 mm, about 20 mm, about 25 mm, about 30 mm, about 35 mm, about 40 mm, or about 45 mm. In a non-limiting particularly preferred embodiment, the neck 104 has a height of about 22 mm and a diameter of about 42 mm.
The container 100 may further include an air tight cap (not illustrated) attached to the neck 104. During manufacturing, the cap may be attached to the neck 104 after the container 100 is filled with liquid, thus sealing the liquid in the container 100. The air tight cap may be any type of cap known in the art for use with containers similar to those described herein. The air tight cap may be manufactured from the same material or a different material as the container 100, such as different polymeric materials, and may be attached to the container 100 by re-closeable threads (e.g., external threads 112), and/or may be snap-fit or friction-fit. Accordingly, in an embodiment, the cap includes internal threads that are constructed and arranged to mate with the external threads 112 of the neck 104.
The neck 104 may further include a retaining ring 114. The retaining ring 114 may retain the cap or a portion of the cap (e.g., a breakaway band at a lower portion of the cap) on the container 100. For example, a bottom of the cap may abut the retaining ring 114 when the cap is connected to the neck 104.
The shoulder 106 of the embodiment of the container 100 in FIG. 1 may extend from the bottom of the neck 104 downward to a top portion of the body 108. The shoulder 106 may comprise a first portion 116 having a shape that tapers outward from the diameter of the bottom of the neck 104. The shoulder 106 may comprise a second portion 118 having a shape that tapers in from the bottom of the first portion 116 to the top of the body 108.
For example, the first portion 116 of the shoulder 106 may have a size of its horizontal cross-section that increases from the horizontal cross-section of the neck 104 (which may be defined by the diameter of the neck 100) to a larger horizontal cross-section where the first portion 116 terminates at the second portion 118. In a particularly preferred non-limiting embodiment, the first portion 116 of the shoulder 106 has a continuously increasing size of its horizontal cross-section as the first portion 116 extends toward the second portion 118 of the shoulder 106. Then the second portion 118 of the shoulder 106 may have a size of its horizontal cross-section that decreases from the horizontal cross-section where the first portion 116 terminates at the second portion 118 to a smaller horizontal cross-section where the second portion 118 terminates at the body 108. In a particularly preferred non-limiting embodiment, the second portion 118 of the shoulder 106 has a continuously decreasing size of its horizontal cross-section as the second portion 118 extends toward the body 108.
In some embodiments, the shoulder 106 may have other shapes. For example, both the first portion 116 and the second portion 118 may taper outward, either at the same slope or at different slopes. In some embodiments, one or both of the first portion 116 or the second portion 118 may be substantially vertical (i.e., non-tapered). In another embodiment, the first portion 116 taper inward while the second portion 118 tapers outward.
The height of the shoulder 106 (e.g., a vertical distance from the bottom of the neck 104 to the top of the body 108) may range from, for example, about 20 mm to about 60 mm, or about 20 mm, about 25 mm, about 30 mm, about 35 mm, about 40 mm, about 45 mm, about 50 mm, or about 55 mm. In an embodiment, the shoulder 106 has a height of about 45 mm. In an embodiment, the shoulder 106 has a height of about 45 mm. Where the second portion 118 terminates at the body 108, the shoulder 106 may have a diameter ranging from about 40 mm to about 80 mm, or about 45 mm, 50 mm, 55 mm, 60 mm, 65 mm, 70 mm, or 75 mm. In an embodiment, the diameter of the shoulder 106 where the second portion 118 terminates at the body 108 is about 65 mm.
In the example of FIG. 1 , the body 108 of the container 100 extends from the bottom of the shoulder 106 to the top of the base 110. The body 108 of the embodiment of the container 100 of FIG. 1 may be the main containing portion of the container 100, having a maximum horizontal cross-section and a vertical height larger relative to those of the neck 104 and/or the shoulder 108.
A height of the body 108 is the maximum vertical distance from the bottom of the shoulder 106 to the top of the base 110 of the container 100. In the embodiment of FIG. 1 , the body 108 is substantially cylindrical. The body 108 may be any size and any shape, for example to accommodate a desired volume of the container 100, and is not limited to the substantially cylindrical shape as shown in FIG. 1 . For example, the body 108 may have a shape selected from the group consisting of round, cylindrical, square, rectangular, and ovoid.
In some embodiments, the body 108 may have a maximum diameter ranging from, for example, about 20 mm to about 100 mm, or about 30 mm, about 40 mm, about 50 mm, about 60 mm, about 70 mm, about 80 mm, or about 90 mm. The body 108 may have a height ranging from about 50 mm to about 200 mm, or about 75 mm, about 100 mm, about 125 mm, about 150 mm, or about 175 mm. In a particularly preferred non-limiting embodiment, the body 108 may have a maximum diameter of about 88 mm and a height of about 140 mm. In some embodiments, as the height of the container 100 increases or decreases, the breadth and/or the width of the body 108 may change as well. The height of the body 108 may also change with respect to the diameter of the body 108.
In the embodiment of FIG. 1 , the diameter of the body 108 may taper outward in a first portion 120 of the body 108, which extends from the bottom of the shoulder 106. At a second portion 122 of the body 108, the diameter of the body 108 may remain substantially constant from the bottom of the first portion 120 to the top of the base 110. The first portion 120 of the body 108 may taper outward at any suitable outward-directed slope, for example, from about 2° to about 45°, or about 10°, about 15°, about 20°, about 25°, about 30°, or about 35°. In other examples, the diameter of the body 108 may remain constant throughout both the first portion 120 and the second portion 122.
The body 108 of the container 100 of FIG. 1 may include a plurality of swirl ribs, for example swirl ribs 124 a-g, and the swirl ribs 124-124 g are spaced apart from each other in the body 108. As shown in FIG. 1 , preferably each of the swirl ribs 124 a-g extends from the top of the body 108 to the bottom of the body 108 (e.g., the entire height of the body 108). In other embodiments, one or more of the swirl ribs 124 a-g may extend along only a portion of the height of the body 108.
In some embodiments, one or more the swirl ribs 124 a-g (for example, all of the swirl ribs 124 a-124 g) may extend above the top of the body 108 into the shoulder 106 of the container 100. Additionally or alternatively, one or more the swirl ribs 124 a-g (for example, all of the swirl ribs 124 a-124 g) may extend below the bottom of the body 108 into the base 110 of the container 100.
In FIG. 1 , the container 100 includes seven of the swirl ribs 124 a-g. In other examples, the container 100 may include more than seven (e.g., eight, nine, ten, eleven, or twelve) or less than seven (e.g., six, five, four, three or two) of the swirl ribs 124. In some examples, as the height and/or the diameter of the container 100 increases or decreases, the number of the swirl ribs 124 may increase or decrease. For example, if the height and the diameter of the container 100 increases, the number of swirl ribs 124 may be increased from seven (i.e., to eight or more swirl ribs). In another example, if the height and the diameter of the container 100 decreases, the number of swirl ribs 124 may be decreased from seven (i.e., to six or less swirl ribs).
Each of the swirl ribs 124 a-g comprises an indentation in the exterior surface of the container 100, and the indentation has a width 126 and a depth 128. As used herein, a width 126 of the swirl rib 124 refers to the width of the indentation of the swirl rib 124 in a direction perpendicular to the local direction of the swirl rib 124. As used herein, a depth 128 of the swirl rib 124 refers to the distance the swirl rib 124 is indented inward toward the inner volume 200 of the container, relative to the exterior surface of the container 100 abutting the swirl rib 124.
Preferably the swirl ribs 124 a-124 g have substantially the same width 126 as each other and/or substantially the same depth 128 as each other. In a particularly preferred non-limiting embodiment, all the dimensions of each the swirl ribs 124 a-124 g are substantially the same as the other swirl ribs 124 a-124 g. In other examples, the width and the depth of each of the swirl ribs 124 a-124 g may vary between the swirl ribs 124 a-124 g.
The width 126 of each of the swirl ribs 124 may be any width, for example, from about 3 mm to about 10 mm, or about 3.5 mm, about 4.0 mm, about 4.5 mm, about 5.0 mm, about 5.5 mm, about 6.0 mm, about 6.5 mm, about 7.0 mm, about 7.5 mm, about 8.0 mm, about 9.0 mm or about 9.5 mm. In a particularly preferred non-limiting embodiment, the width 126 of each of the swirl ribs 124 is about 7.5 mm.
The depth 128 of the swirl ribs 124 may be any depth, for example, from about 3 mm to about 10 mm, or about 3.5 mm, about 4.0 mm, about 4.5 mm, about 5.0 mm, about 5.5 mm, about 6.0 mm, about 6.5 mm, about 7.0 mm, about 7.5 mm, about 8.0 mm, about 9.0 mm or about 9.5 mm. In a particularly preferred non-limiting embodiment, the depth 128 of each of the swirl ribs 124 is about 6.4 mm.
The inventors surprisingly found that a ratio of the width 126 to the depth 128 of the swirl ribs 124 improved vacuum performance of the container 100 and prevented premature panel deformation. For the container 100 of FIG. 1 , a ratio of the width 126 to the depth 128 that is about 0.5 to about 2.0, most preferably about 1.17, was found to be surprisingly effective for this bottle and also improved label indentation while applying a sleeve, for example, as sleeve of thin plastic film that may include indicia thereon and may be used in the marketplace for product identification and for displaying product information.
Each of the swirl ribs 124 a-g may extend from the top of the body 108 (e.g., begin at the top of the body 108, or begin in the shoulder 106 and enter the top of the body 108). Each of the swirl ribs 124 a-g may extend downward through the body 108 clockwise or counter-clockwise at an angle along the exterior surface of the container 100, for example, an angle of approximately 45 degrees relative to the vertical axis 105 of the container 100. Each of the swirl ribs 124 may continue along the exterior surface of the container 100 at a substantially constant angle until meeting the bottom of the body 108 (e.g., terminating at the bottom of the body 108, or extending from the bottom of the body 108 to enter the base 110).
In some embodiments, the swirl ribs 124 may extend downward at an angle from about 40° to about 50°, or about 45°.
The swirl ribs 124 a-124 g of FIG. 1 may be positioned such that a pitch 130 between each of the swirl ribs 124 a-124 g is from about 10 mm to about 50 mm, or about 15 mm, 20 mm, 25 mm, 30 mm, 35 mm, 40 mm, or 45 mm. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the pitch 130 between each of the swirl ribs 124 a-124 g is approximately 29 mm. As used herein, the pitch 130 between the swirl ribs 124-124 g is the vertical distance (parallel to the vertical axis 105) from the midline of one swirl rib 124 to the midline of an adjacent swirl rib 124, wherein the midline is a virtual line extending along a middle of the swirl rib 124 from the top of the swirl rib 124 (e.g., at the top of the body 108) to the bottom of the swirl rib 124 (e.g., at the bottom of the body 108).
As used herein, an “adjacent” swirl rib is the closest swirl rib without any other swirl rib between, and the term “adjacent” does not imply any specific quantitative distance. For example, the adjacent swirl ribs 124 of the second swirl rib 124 b are the first swirl rib 124 a and the third swirl rib 124 c, the adjacent swirl ribs 124 of the third swirl rib 124 c are the second swirl rib 124 c and the fourth swirl rib 124 d, and so on.
As shown in FIG. 1 , the pitch 130 may be substantially the same for each of the adjacent swirl ribs. For example, the pitch 130 from the second swirl rib 124 b to the first swirl rib 124 a may be substantially the same as the pitch from the second swirl rib 124 b to the third swirl rib 124 c. The pitch 130 between swirl ribs 124 may remain substantially constant throughout the length of each the swirl ribs 124 a-124 g from the top of the body 108 to the bottom of the body 108 (i.e., along the entire height of the body 108). In other embodiments, some pairs of adjacent swirl ribs (e.g., second swirl rib 124 b and third swirl rib 124 c) may have a different pitch 130 than another pair of adjacent swirl ribs (e.g., third swirl rib 124 c and fourth swirl rib 124 d). In other examples, the pitch 130 of the swirl ribs 124 a-124 g may increase or decrease as the swirl ribs 124 a-124 g extend from the top of the body 108 to the bottom of the body 108.
In a particularly preferred non-limiting embodiment, the pitch 130 between one of the swirl ribs 124 and one of its two adjacent swirl ribs 124 may be substantially constant throughout the entire length of the swirl ribs 124 a-124 g (i.e., from the top of the body 108 to the bottom of the body 108). In this particularly preferred non-limiting embodiment, the pitch 130 between the swirl rib 124 and its other adjacent swirl rib 124 may also be substantially constant throughout the entire length of the swirl ribs 124 a-124 g (i.e., from the top of the body 108 to the bottom of the body 108), and may be substantially the same as the pitch to the adjacent swirl rib 124 on the other side.
During top loading, the swirl ribs 124 a-g may provide ability of the container 100 to flexibly move (e.g., spring and/or deform) in a substantially vertical direction. For example, as a load is applied to the top of the container (e.g., at the mouth 102 in a direction toward the base 110), the container 100 may compress in the vertical direction via the swirl ribs 124 a-124 g. This property may allow the container 100, e.g., when filled with a liquid, to build an internal pressure without buckling. This increase in internal pressure under load may reinforce the structure of the container 100 and may prevent the container 100 from buckling to thereby yield better top load performance. The top load performance when the container 100 is filled is typically dependent on the internal pressure, and thus the top load performance when the container 100 is empty may be lower than the top load performance of the container 100 when filled with liquid. In some embodiments, the top load performance of the container 100 may be dependent on the pitch 130 of the swirl ribs 124 a-124 g. For example, the pitch 130 may be tuned (e.g., increased or decreased by the manufacturer) to thereby balance the top load performance of the container 100 when filled and the top load performance of the container 100 when empty.
When the container 100 is subjected to a pressure differential, the swirl ribs 124 a-124 g may provide the container 100 with the ability to flex in the vertical direction. For example, as the container 100 is subjected to an increased external pressure, the container 100 may contract by deformation of the swirl ribs 124 and thereby reduce the inner volume 200 of the container 100. In particularly preferred embodiments, the swirl ribs 124 a-124 g may allow the height of the body 108 to decrease when the container 100 is subjected to a pressure differential.
As a result of contraction of the container 100, the interior of the container 100 may experience a lower internal pressure relative to the external pressure. In some embodiments, the pitch 130 of the swirl ribs 124 a-124 g is a significant factor in how the swirl ribs 124 a-124 g facilitate contraction of the container 100 when the container 100 is subjected to pressure differences.
Preferably the swirl ribs 124 a-g are configured for the body 108, under top loading or vacuum pressure on the container 100, to resist ovalization and resist collapse, and thereby maintain horizontal cross-sections that are substantially circular throughout the body 108 (i.e., throughout all of the body, along its height). For example, in particularly preferred embodiments a majority of the body 108 (e.g., substantially all of the body 108) has horizontal cross-sections that are substantially circular, which are maintained despite any top loading or vacuum pressure on the container 100 (e.g., up to 1.5 psi). In some embodiments, the body 108 is substantially cylindrical, and the swirl ribs 124 a-g are configured for the body 108 to twist under the top loading or vacuum pressure on the container 100, such that the body 108 remains substantially cylindrical.
In the example of FIG. 1 , the base 110 may extend from the bottom of the body 108 of the container 100 to the second end 123 of the container 100. As discussed below for FIG. 3 , the base 110 may define a lower, terminal portion of the container 100 including a bottom panel which encloses the inner volume of the container 100. As seen in FIG. 1 , the lateral sides of the base 110 may taper inward from the bottom of the second portion 122 of the body 108. As non-limiting examples, the base 110 may taper inward at an inward-directed slope from about 2° to about 45°, or about 10°, about 15°, about 20°, about 25°, about 30°, or about 35° relative to the vertical axis 105 of the container 100. In other examples, the base 110 is not tapered inward (e.g., a diameter of the base 110 is constant).
The base 110 of FIG. 1 may optionally further include one or more first base ribs 132, for example first base ribs 132 a-132 e, and/or one or more second base ribs 134, for example second base ribs 134 a-134 e. The one or more first base ribs 132 and/or the one or more second base ribs 134 may improve the structural strength of the base 110. For example, the one or more first base ribs 132 and/or the one or more second base ribs 134 may delay failure (e.g., buckling) of the container 100 and/or increase a maximum load at failure (e.g., buckling) in the area of the base 110 during top loading.
FIG. 2 shows a top view of the container 100 of FIG. 1 . In FIG. 2 , each of the swirl ribs 124 a-124 g are illustrated in a non-limiting embodiment having seven of the swirl ribs 124. From the top view, the mouth 102 is seen opening to the inner volume 200 of the container 100. The threads 112 surrounding the neck 104 of the container 100 and the retaining ring 114 are also visible in top view.
FIG. 3 shows a bottom view of the container 100 of FIG. 1 . The container 100 may include a bottom panel 300 which encloses the inner volume 200 of the container 100. Preferably, the second ribs 134 a-134 e meet at a central divot 302, for example at a center point of the bottom panel 300. The bottom panel 300 may include a round dimple 304 which may extend inward toward the inner volume 200 of the container and may comprise the central divot 302 as its apex. The one or more first base ribs 132 a-132 e may extend inward through the round dimple 304 but preferably terminate before the central divot 302.
The foregoing may be better understood by reference to the following examples, which are presented for purposes of illustration and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

EXAMPLES

Applicant performed several tests on the container 100 disclosed herein, as well as existing containers having round cross-sections and horizontal ribs in order to compare their performance.

Example 1

Filled Top Load Performance

FIG. 4 shows a graph 400 of experimental results for filled top load performance of a prior art container. The x-axis of the graph 400 represents displacement in millimeters (mm) while the y-axis of the graph 400 represents force in Newtons (N). In the example of FIG. 4 , the prior art container includes a container with a round body cross section and horizontal ribs. In the loading scenario, a computer model of the prior art container was generated including liquid filling the inner volume of the prior art container. A computer simulation was executed on the computer model of the filled prior art container where a load is applied to the top (e.g., the mouth) of the container in a direction toward the bottom (e.g., the base) of the container. The graph 400 represents the load response of the filled prior art container as a function of displacement. As can be seen in FIG. 4 , the maximum load the filled prior art container withstands is 279 N at a displacement of approximately 2.7 mm. Upon further loading, the filled prior art container buckles and the load drops for additional displacement values.
FIG. 5 shows a graph 500 of filled top load performance of the container 100 of FIG. 1 . The x-axis of the graph 500 represents displacement in millimeters (mm) while the y-axis of the graph 500 represents force in Newtons (N). The container 100 represents a 10% weight reduction compared to the prior art container while maintaining the same inner volume capacity. In the loading scenario, a computer model of the container 100 was generated including liquid filling the inner volume 200 of the container 100. A computer simulation was executed on the computer model of the filled container where a load is applied to the top (e.g., the mouth 102) of the container 100 in a direction toward the bottom (e.g., the base 110) of the container 100. The graph 500 represents the load response of the filled container as a function of displacement. As can be seen in FIG. 5 , the maximum load the filled container withstands is 671 N at a displacement of approximately 2.7 mm. Upon further loading, the filled container buckles and the load drops for additional displacement values.

Example 2

Empty Top Load Performance

FIG. 6 shows a graph 600 of empty top load performance of a prior art container. The x-axis of the graph 600 represents displacement in millimeters (mm) while the y-axis of the graph 600 represents force in Newtons (N). In the example of FIG. 6 , the prior art container includes the same container as evaluated in FIG. 5 of a container with a round body cross section and horizontal ribs. In the loading scenario, a computer model of the prior art container was generated, omitting any liquid filling the inner volume. A computer simulation was executed on the computer model of the empty prior art container where a load is applied to the top (e.g., the mouth) of the container in a direction toward the bottom (e.g., the base) of the container. The graph 600 represents the load response of the filled prior art container as a function of displacement. As can be seen in FIG. 6 , the maximum load the empty prior art container withstands is 196 N at a displacement of approximately 3.0 mm. Upon further loading, the empty prior art container buckles and the load drops for additional displacement values.
FIG. 7 shows a graph 700 of empty top load performance of the container 100 of FIG. 1 . The x-axis of the graph 700 represents displacement in millimeters (mm) while the y-axis of the graph 700 represents force in Newtons (N). The container 100 represents a 10% weight reduction compared to the prior art container while maintaining the same inner volume capacity. In the loading scenario, a computer model of the container 100 was generated, omitting any liquid filling the inner volume 200. A computer simulation was executed on the computer model of the empty container where a load is applied to the top (e.g., the mouth 102) of the container 100 in a direction toward the bottom (e.g., the base 110) of the container 100. The graph 700 represents the load response of the filled container as a function of displacement. As can be seen in FIG. 7 , the maximum load the empty container withstands is 270 N at a displacement of approximately 3.7 mm. Upon further loading, the empty container buckles and the load drops for additional displacement values.
The results of Examples 1 and 2 show that the container having the swirl ribs as disclosed herein has an improved load capacity for top loading scenarios for both filled and empty containers compared to prior art containers. This improved load capacity is observed even with a container having a 10% weight reduction compared to the prior art container. Therefore, the container disclosed herein presents an opportunity for even additional light-weighting while maintaining existing top loading performance of the container.

Example 3

Vacuum Performance

FIG. 8 shows a graph 800 of vacuum performance of a prior art container. The x-axis of the graph 800 represents time in seconds(s) while the y-axis of the graph 800 represents pressure in pounds per square inch (psi). In the example of FIG. 8 , the prior art container includes the same container as evaluated in FIGS. 4 and 6 of a container with a round body cross section and horizontal ribs. For the vacuum performance evaluation, a computer model of the prior art container was generated. A computer simulation was executed on the computer model of the prior art container where the pressure external to the container is increased according to the line 802 of the graph 800.
During a first portion of the evaluation, the external pressure is increased from approximately 11.9 psi to approximately 14.7 psi. During a second portion of the evaluation, the external pressure is held steady at approximately 14.7 psi. The first portion of the evaluation represents conditions a container may undergo when filled and sealed at a high elevation (e.g., a mountainous elevation) and later shipped to a lower elevation (e.g., approximately at sea level). Thus, the external pressure of about 11.9 psi represents an approximate atmospheric pressure at a mountainous elevation while the external pressure of about 14.7 psi represents an approximate atmospheric pressure at sea level. The second portion of the evaluation represents 1.5% volume loss over a 12-month period, as may be experienced by a container during the shelf life of the container.
The line 804 represents the internal pressure of the prior art container as a function of time. As can be seen in FIG. 8 , at the end of the first portion of the evaluation the internal pressure of the prior art container experiences a 0.658 psi vacuum relative to the external pressure. At the end of the second portion of the evaluation, the internal pressure of the prior art container experiences a 1.553 psi vacuum relative to the external pressure.
FIG. 9 shows a graph 900 of vacuum performance of the container 100 of FIG. 1 . The x-axis of the graph 900 represents time in seconds(s) while the y-axis of the graph 900 represents pressure in pounds per square inch (psi). In the example of FIG. 9 , a computer model of the container 100 was subjected to the external pressure conditions described above for FIG. 8 and represented by the line 902 in the graph 900. The line 904 represents the internal pressure of the container 100 as a function of time. As can be seen in FIG. 9 , at the end of the first portion of the evaluation, the internal pressure of the container 100 experiences only a 0.467 psi vacuum relative to the external pressure. At the end of the second portion of the evaluation, the internal pressure of the container 100 experiences a 1.458 psi vacuum relative to the external pressure. The results show that the container 100 of FIG. 1 having the swirl ribs 124 accommodates vacuum better than existing round bottles with horizontal ribs.
Conclusion
It should be understood that various changes and modifications to the example embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present subject matter and without diminishing its intended advantages. It is therefore intended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appended claims.
It should be appreciated that 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C 112, paragraph 6 is not intended to be invoked unless the terms “means” or “step” are explicitly recited in the claims. Accordingly, the claims are not meant to be limited to the corresponding structure, material, or actions described in the specification or equivalents thereof.

Claims

1. A container comprising:

a body comprising swirl ribs, each of the swirl ribs is an indentation into an exterior surface of the body, wherein each of the swirl ribs extends from a top of the body to a bottom of the body at an angle not parallel to a vertical axis of the container and not perpendicular to the vertical axis of the container, and the swirl ribs are substantially parallel to each other for at least a majority of a length of each of the swirl ribs from the top of the body to the bottom of the body,

wherein the swirl ribs are configured for the body, under top loading or vacuum pressure on the container, to resist ovalization and resist collapse, and thereby maintain horizontal cross-sections that are substantially circular throughout the body.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein a depth of each of the swirl ribs is a distance from the exterior surface of the body that the swirl rib extends inward into an inner volume of the container, and the depth is substantially constant for at least a majority of a length of each of the swirl ribs from the top of the body to the bottom of the body.

3. The container of claim 1, wherein each of the swirl ribs has a first lateral side and a second lateral side substantially parallel to each other for at least a majority of a length of each of the swirl ribs from the top of the body to the bottom of the body,

wherein the indentation of each swirl rib extends inward from the first and second lateral sides into an inner volume of the container,

wherein a width of each of the swirl ribs is a distance between the first lateral side and the second lateral side, and the distance of the width is perpendicular to the angle of the corresponding swirl rib, and the width is substantially constant for at least a majority of a length of each of the swirl ribs from the top of the body to the bottom of the body.

4. The container of claim 1, wherein a ratio of the width to the depth for each of the swirl ribs is about 1.17.

5. The container of claim 1, wherein a pitch between one of the swirl ribs and an adjacent swirl rib is a vertical distance between a midline of the swirl rib and a midline of the adjacent swirl rib along a length of each of the swirl ribs from the top of the body to the bottom of the body, Wherein the vertical distance of the pitch is parallel to the vertical axis of the container, the pitch is substantially constant for at least a majority of the length of each of the swirl ribs from the top of the body to the bottom of the body.

6. The container of claim 1, wherein the angle at which each of the swirl ribs extends along the exterior surface of the body is about 45 degrees relative to the vertical axis of the container.

7. The container of claim 1, further comprising a base extending from a lower portion of the body, the base comprising a bottom panel that encloses an inner volume of the container.

8. The container of claim 7, wherein the base comprises one or more first base ribs that each form a groove in the base and optionally further comprises one or more second base ribs that have a different length than the one of more first base ribs.

9. The container of claim 1, wherein the body is substantially cylindrical, and the swirl ribs are configured for the body to twist under the top loading or vacuum pressure on the container, such that the body remains substantially cylindrical.

10. The container of claim 1, further comprising a shoulder extending from a neck comprising a mouth of the container to an upper portion of the body, the shoulder configured to transfer top load applied to the container to the body.

11. The container of claim 1, wherein the swirl ribs have substantially identical dimensions as each other.

12. A method of storing and/or transporting a liquid product, the method comprising filling the liquid product into the container of claim 1.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising sealing the container, which has the liquid product therein, with a cap.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the liquid product is a beverage.

15. A method of manufacturing a container for a liquid product, the method comprising forming a body of the container, the body comprising swirl ribs, each of the swirl ribs is an indentation into an exterior surface of the body,

wherein each of the swirl ribs extends from a top of the body to a bottom of the body at an angle not parallel to a vertical axis of the container and not perpendicular to the vertical axis of the container, and the swirl ribs are substantially parallel to each other for at least a majority of a length of each of the swirl ribs from the top of the body to the bottom of the body,

16. The method of claim 15, comprising molding the container.

17. A method of using a liquid product, the method comprising pouring at least a portion of a liquid product housed by a container from the container, the container comprising a body, the body comprising swirl ribs, each of the swirl ribs is an indentation into an exterior surface of the body,

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the liquid product is a beverage.

19. The container of claim 2, wherein the depth is about 6.4 mm.

20. The container of claim 3, wherein the width is about 7.5 mm.