Implosion resistant container

• US 7,163,123 B2
• Filed: 07/07/2003
• Issued: 01/16/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Frito-Lay North America Incorporated (PepsiCo Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Frito-Lay North America Incorporated (PepsiCo Incorporated)
• Inventors: Bezek, Edward Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): CASTELLANO, STEPHEN J
• Application Number:
  US10/614,323
• Publication Number:
  US 20050098566A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,289 Days
• Field of Search: 220669-673, 220/675, 220/DIG.12, 220/DIG.13, 215/381, 215/382, 206/445, 206/499, D95/37, D95/40
• US Class Current: 220/675
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 1/10 Jars, e.g. for preserving foodstuffs B65D81/3837 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 1/165 Cylindrical cans
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 1/40 Details of walls other container details B65D23/00, B65D25/00
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 1/44 Corrugations
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 1/46 Local reinforcements, e.g. adjacent closures
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 11/02 of curved cross-section thermally insulated B65D81/3813
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 11/22 Reinforcing for strengthening parts of members
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 79/0084 in the sidewall or shoulder part thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1352 Polymer or resin containing [i.e., natural or synthetic]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/139 Open-ended, self-supporting conduit, cylinder, or tube-type article

Abstract

The present invention overcomes many of the shortcomings inherent in previous containers for packaging potato chips and/or crisps, corn based chips and/or crisps, cookies and the like. The improved implosion-resistant container of the present invention utilizes flowing geometries mechanisms which allow a hermetically sealed container to smoothly change its geometric shape thereby adjusting its internal volume in response to changes in environmental conditions. These volumetric adjustments compensate for changes in environmental conditions thereby avoiding the random buckling and deformation inherent in current packaging techniques which detracts from the commercial presentation of the container. The improved container of the present invention may also include a variety of other stress dissipating mechanisms that counteract the forces causing thermo-plastic container deformation, implosion and loss of seal integrity. This collection of stress dissipating mechanisms, employed collectively or separately, allows a container for storing fragile food products to be fashioned as a relatively lightweight, thin-walled, blow molded thermo-plastic container that is capable of adapting to changing environmental conditions while maintaining its visual aesthetic appearance.

Claims

1. A thermo-plastic container for hermetically sealing a single stack of fragile articles, comprising:

a tubular body having a central longitudinal axis, said body comprised of a sidewall having a flowing geometries mechanism formed therein, which is positioned between a closed end and an open end having a hermetically sealable opening;

wherein said hermetically sealable opening of said open end and portions of said sidewall at said closed end have circular lateral cross-sections of substantially equivalent diameters, and said sidewall has an oval lateral cross-section where said flowing geometries mechanism is formed therein.

2. The container of claim 1 wherein the flowing geometries mechanism comprises at least one lateral flexible hinged area defining a weakened panel area.

3. The container of claim 2 wherein the panel area has a lateral cross section that is curved.

4. The container of claim 2 wherein the panel area comprises a plurality of aligned, non-annular, evenly spaced parallel grooves oriented perpendicular to said central longitudinal axis.

5. The container of claim 1 wherein the flowing geometries mechanism comprises at least two flowing geometries mechanisms evenly spaced around the annular periphery of the body.

6. The container of claim 1 wherein portions of said sidewall at said open and closed ends further comprise a structural rigidity mechanism formed therein.

7. The container of claim 6 wherein said structural rigidity mechanism comprises an annular corrugated pattern formed therein.

8. The container of claim 7 wherein said annular corrugated pattern traverses about the longitudinal axis of the container in a sinusoidal pattern.

9. A blow-molded, thermo-plastic container for packaging a single stack of fragile articles, which when hermetically sealed is responsive to forces induced by changes in environmental conditions without detracting from the commercial presentation of the container, said container comprising:

a tubular body having a central longitudinal axis, said body comprising a sidewall having a plurality of flowing geometries mechanisms formed therein, wherein said sidewall further comprises a permanently closed lower base section, a middle section and an upper section having a hermetically sealable opening, said lower base section and said hermetically sealable opening of said upper section having circular lateral cross-sections of substantially equivalent diameters.

10. The container of claim 9 wherein the middle section has an oval lateral cross-section where said flowing geometries mechanism is formed therein.

11. The container of claim 9 wherein each of said flowing geometries mechanisms comprises at least one lateral flexible hinged area and a weakened panel area.

12. The container of claim 11 wherein the panel area has a lateral cross section that is curved.

13. The container of claim 11 wherein said weakened panel area comprises a plurality of aligned, non-annular, evenly spaced parallel grooves oriented perpendicular to said central longitudinal axis formed therein.

14. The container of claim 11 wherein said middle section has an oval lateral cross section.

15. The container of claim 13 wherein said at least one flexible hinge area comprises a flexible transitional area formed in the lower base section and the upper section whereby the circular lateral cross section of said lower base and upper sections transitions to the oval lateral cross section of said middle section.

16. The container of claim 14 wherein said flowing geometries mechanism comprises two flowing geometries mechanisms evenly spaced around the annular periphery of the body.

17. The container of claim 9 wherein said lower base and upper sections include a structural rigidity mechanism formed therein.

18. The container of claim 17 wherein said structural rigidity mechanism comprises an annular corrugated pattern formed therein.

19. The container of claim 17 wherein said annular corrugated pattern is oriented perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis.

20. The container of claim 17 wherein said annular corrugated pattern traverses about the central longitudinal axis in a sinusoidal pattern.

26. The container of claim 14 wherein said flowing geometries mechanism comprises two flowing geometries mechanisms evenly spaced around the annular periphery of the body.

21. A blow-molded, thermo-plastic container for packaging a single stack of fragile articles, comprising:

a tubular body having a central longitudinal axis, said body comprising a sidewall having a permanently closed lower base section, a middle section and an upper section having a hermetically sealable opening;

said middle section having a flowing geometries mechanism formed therein which is responsive to forces induced by changes in environmental conditions when said upper section is hermetically sealed;

wherein said lower base section and said hermetically sealable opening of said upper section have circular lateral cross-sections of substantially equivalent diameters, and said middle section has an oval lateral cross-section.

22. The container of claim 21 wherein the flowing geometries mechanism comprises a plurality of flowing geometries mechanisms evenly spaced around the annular periphery of said middle section.

23. The container of claim 21 wherein said flowing geometries mechanism comprises at least one lateral flexible hinged area and a weakened panel area.

24. The container of claim 23 wherein said weakened panel area comprises a plurality of aligned, non-annular, evenly spaced parallel grooves oriented perpendicular to said central longitudinal axis formed therein.

25. The container of claim 23 wherein said at least one flexible hinge area comprises a flexible transitional area formed in the lower base section and the upper section, whereby the circular lateral cross section of said lower base and upper sections transitions to the oval lateral cross section of said middle section.

27. The container of claim 21 wherein said lower base and upper sections include a structural rigidity mechanism formed therein.

28. The container of claim 27 wherein said structural rigidity mechanism comprises an annular corrugated pattern formed therein.

29. The container of claim 27 wherein said annular corrugated pattern is oriented perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis.

30. The container of claim 27 wherein said annular corrugated pattern traverses about the central longitudinal axis in a sinusoidal pattern.