4-sided container with smooth front and back panels that can receive labels in a variety of ways

• US 20050067369A1
• Filed: 09/25/2003
• Published: 03/31/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Graham Packaging Company LP (Graeme Richard Hart, MBA)
• Original Assignee: Graham Packaging Company LP (Graeme Richard Hart, MBA)
• Inventors: Trude, Gregory
• Granted Patent: US 7,014,056 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 215/381
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 1/0223 characterised by shape
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2501/0045 Solid ribs
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2501/0081 Bottles of non-circular cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 79/0084 in the sidewall or shoulder part thereof

Abstract

A container includes a neck section with a finish, a relatively smooth tapering shoulder section that extends outwardly from a base of the neck section, a body section having four substantially vertical sides including two opposing, relatively smooth vertical sides and two opposing vertical sides with two vacuum panels formed thereon, one vacuum panel on top of the other vacuum panel and separated by substantially horizontal bridge, and a bottom portion adjacent the body section, the bottom section having a standing ring surrounding a recessed area on a bottom surface of the bottom section and relatively smooth walls inclining upwardly from the standing ring toward the body section. The shoulder section is disposed between the body section and the neck section.

Claims

1. A container comprising:

a neck section with a finish;

a relatively smooth tapering shoulder section extending outwardly from a base of the neck section;

a body section having four substantially vertical sides including two opposing, relatively smooth vertical sides and two opposing vertical sides with two vacuum panels formed thereon, one vacuum panel on top of the other vacuum panel and separated by a substantially horizontal bridge, said shoulder section being disposed between the neck section and said body section; and

a bottom section adjacent said body section, said bottom section having a standing ring surrounding a recessed area on a bottom surface of said bottom section and relatively smooth walls inclining upwardly from the standing ring toward said body section.

2. The container according to claim 1, wherein adjacent vertical sides are separated by a vertical post that runs the length of an adjacent vertical side of the vertical sides forming the body section.

3. The container according to claim 2, wherein the vacuum panels are provided with a surface etching.

4. The container according to claim 1, wherein the vertical post running the length of an adjacent vertical side has a number of spaced recessed areas.

5. The container according to claim 1, wherein the vertical post running the length of an adjacent vertical side is recessed between the adjacent vertical sides.

6. The container according to claim 1, further comprising a circumscribing groove between said shoulder section and said body section.

7. The container according to claim 1, further comprising a circumscribing groove between said bottom section and said body section.

8. The container according to claim 1, wherein the container is made from a thermoplastic material.

9. The container according to claim 2, wherein the two opposing, relatively smooth vertical sides are curved outwards from one vertical post to a mid-section of an adjacent relatively smooth vertical side.

10. The container according to claim 2, wherein the two opposing, relatively smooth vertical sides are curved outwards from one vertical post to a mid-section of an adjacent relatively smooth vertical side and the two opposing vertical sides with a vacuum panel are curved outwardly slightly compared to the curve of the two opposing, relatively smooth vertical sides.

11. A container for providing smooth surfaces adapted to receive labels in a variety of ways, said container comprising:

a neck section with a finish;

a bell portion curving outwardly and downwardly from the neck section to an upper circumscribing area;

a body section formed of four separate side panels including two opposing, relatively smooth vertical sides and two opposing vertical sides with two vacuum panels formed thereon, one vacuum panel on top of the other vacuum panel and separated by substantially horizontal ribbed bridge where the two relatively smooth, opposing side panels are adapted to receive a label, said body portion extending from the upper circumscribing area to a lower circumscribing area; and

a bottom section adjacent said lower circumscribing area and having a standing ring and a recessed area on a bottom surface of the bottom section.

12. The container according to claim 11, wherein the upper and lower circumscribing areas are grooves.

13. The container according to claim 11, wherein said bottom portion has relatively smooth walls inclining upwardly from the standing ring toward said body section.

14. The container according to claim 11, wherein adjacent sides of the four separate sides are separated by a vertical post and wherein the two vacuum panels are provided with a surface etching.

15. The container according to claim 14, wherein each vertical post runs the length of an adjacent vertical side and is recessed between adjacent sides of said body section.

16. The container according to claim 14, wherein the two opposing, relatively smooth, substantially vertical side panels are curved outwards from one vertical post to a mid-section of an adjacent relatively smooth, substantially vertical side.

17. The container according to claim 16, wherein the two opposing vertical sides with a vacuum panel are curved outwardly slightly compared to the curve of the two opposing, relatively smooth vertical sides.

18. The container according to claim 11, wherein the container withstands the pressures associated with at least one of a hot-filled, retort and pasteurization process.