HOT-FILLABLE CONTAINER AND METHOD OF MAKING

• US 20090095702A1
• Filed: 10/16/2007
• Published: 04/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Graham Packaging Company LP (Graeme Richard Hart, MBA)
• Original Assignee: Graham Packaging Company LP (Graeme Richard Hart, MBA)
• Inventors: UNGRADY, ERIC B., YOURIST, SHELDON E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,832,583 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 215/383
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/0715 the preform having one end closed
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/04 Extrusion blow-moulding
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/06 Injection blow-moulding
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/08 Biaxial stretching during blow-moulding
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2067/00 Use of polyesters or derivatives thereof, as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 1/0284 having a discontinuous contact surface, e.g. discrete feet
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 1/44 Corrugations
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2501/0027 Hollow longitudinal 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 hot-fillable container that has an aesthetically pleasing shaped after the hot-fill process. The side walls of the container have structural aspects that permit the side walls to retain a substantially similar shape after the hot-fill process. This allows for an aesthetically pleasing design that compensates for the deformation that can occur during the hot-fill process.

Claims

1. A hot-fillable container for use with liquids comprising:

a top portion integrally formed with a body portion;

the body portion comprising a first substantially planar wall and a second substantially planar wall, wherein the body portion is integrally formed with a bottom portion;

wherein the first substantially planar wall comprises at least a first rib extending from a position proximate to the top portion to a position proximate to the bottom portion, the first substantially planar wall further comprising a plurality of second ribs formed therein; and

wherein the second substantially planar wall comprises at least a third rib extending from a position proximate to the top portion to a position proximate to the bottom portion, the second substantially planar wall further comprising an arcuate recessed portion formed therein.

2. The hot-fillable container of claim 1, wherein the recessed portion has a top edge and a bottom edge, wherein the top edge and the bottom edge are angled.

3. The hot-fillable container of claim 1, wherein the top edge of the recessed portion is v-shaped.

4. The hot-fillable container of claim 3, wherein both the top edge and the bottom edge of the recessed portion are angled towards the center of the recessed portion.

5. The hot-fillable container of claim 1, wherein the container is made of a PET material.

6. The hot-fillable container of claim 1, wherein the second substantially planar wall has a first thickness and the recessed portion has a second thickness that is different than said first thickness.

7. The hot-fillable container of claim 1, wherein the recessed portion further comprises a plurality of fourth ribs, wherein the plurality of fourth ribs extend in a lengthwise direction that is perpendicular to the second rib.

8. A method of forming a hot-fill container filled with a liquid comprising:

providing a plastic pre-form;

processing the plastic pre-form to form a container having a top portion, a bottom portion and a body portion, wherein said body portion has a first substantially planar wall and a second substantially planar wall and said second substantially planar wall is adapted to be substantially isolated from deformation from hot-filling;

hot-filling the container with a liquid, wherein hot-filling the container deforms said first substantially planar wall and said second substantially planar wall remains substantially non-deformed.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising integrally forming the body portion with the top portion and the bottom portion.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the first substantially planar wall of the body portion comprises at least a first rib extending from a position proximate to the top portion to a position proximate to the bottom portion, the first substantially planar wall further comprising a plurality of second ribs formed therein.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the second substantially planar wall of the body portion comprises at least a third rib extending from a position proximate to the top portion to a position proximate to the bottom portion.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the second substantially planar wall has an arcuate recessed portion formed therein.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the recessed portion has a top edge and a bottom edge formed therein and further wherein the top edge and the bottom edge are angled.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the top edge of the recessed portion is v-shaped.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein both the top edge and the bottom edge of the recessed portion are angled towards the center of the recessed portion.

16. The method of claim 8, wherein the plastic container is made of a PET material.

17. The method of claim 8, wherein the second substantially planar wall is formed having a first thickness and a recessed portion having a second thickness, wherein the second thickness is different than a first thickness.

18. The method of claim 8, wherein the second substantially planar wall of the body portion comprises at least a first rib extending from a position proximate to the top portion to a position proximate to the bottom portion, wherein the second substantially planar wall is further formed having a recessed portion comprising a plurality of second ribs, wherein the plurality of second ribs extend in a lengthwise direction that is perpendicular to the first rib.