US20120181246A1 - Panelless hot-fill plastic bottle - Google Patents
Panelless hot-fill plastic bottle Download PDFInfo
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- US20120181246A1 US20120181246A1 US13/324,384 US201113324384A US2012181246A1 US 20120181246 A1 US20120181246 A1 US 20120181246A1 US 201113324384 A US201113324384 A US 201113324384A US 2012181246 A1 US2012181246 A1 US 2012181246A1
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- Prior art keywords
- vertical
- plastic bottle
- sidewall
- segment
- bottle
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Classifications
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D1/00—Containers having bodies formed in one piece, e.g. by casting metallic material, by moulding plastics, by blowing vitreous material, by throwing ceramic material, by moulding pulped fibrous material, by deep-drawing operations performed on sheet material
- B65D1/02—Bottles or similar containers with necks or like restricted apertures, designed for pouring contents
- B65D1/0223—Bottles or similar containers with necks or like restricted apertures, designed for pouring contents characterised by shape
- B65D1/0261—Bottom construction
- B65D1/0276—Bottom construction having a continuous contact surface, e.g. Champagne-type bottom
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D1/00—Containers having bodies formed in one piece, e.g. by casting metallic material, by moulding plastics, by blowing vitreous material, by throwing ceramic material, by moulding pulped fibrous material, by deep-drawing operations performed on sheet material
- B65D1/02—Bottles or similar containers with necks or like restricted apertures, designed for pouring contents
- B65D1/0223—Bottles or similar containers with necks or like restricted apertures, designed for pouring contents characterised by shape
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D79/00—Kinds or details of packages, not otherwise provided for
- B65D79/005—Packages having deformable parts for indicating or neutralizing internal pressure-variations by other means than venting
- B65D79/008—Packages having deformable parts for indicating or neutralizing internal pressure-variations by other means than venting the deformable part being located in a rigid or semi-rigid container, e.g. in bottles or jars
- B65D79/0081—Packages having deformable parts for indicating or neutralizing internal pressure-variations by other means than venting the deformable part being located in a rigid or semi-rigid container, e.g. in bottles or jars in the bottom part thereof
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D2501/00—Containers having bodies formed in one piece
- B65D2501/0009—Bottles or similar containers with necks or like restricted apertures designed for pouring contents
- B65D2501/0018—Ribs
- B65D2501/0036—Hollow circonferential ribs
Definitions
- the present invention is directed to plastic bottles used to contain foods and beverages that are filled and capped at an elevated temperature of at least 160° F., and more typically about 185° F.
- the present invention is particularly directed to such plastic bottles that are devoid of any vacuum panels in the body and shoulder areas.
- PET polyethylene terephthalate
- PET polyethylene terephthalate
- chimes having additional material at the standing ring surface. The formation of such bottles requires either heavy material distribution to blow out the ring or some other non-standard forming process. Examples of such bottles are to be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,780,257; 4,889,752; and 4,927,679. At elevated temperatures, however, such a thickened chime will soften and roll out so such a base is unsuitable for hot-filling.
- Strong, transparent and substantially heat resistant containers may be produced by the biaxial-orientation blow-molding process in which a parison is oriented both laterally and longitudinally in a temperature range suitable for such orientation.
- Heat-set PET containers are particularly heat resistant.
- Biaxially-oriented blow-molded containers have greater stiffness and strength as well as improved gas barrier properties and transparency. Areas of thick accumulations of material, such as the thickened chimes discussed above, may not be sufficiently oriented to achieve the desired stiffness and strength to resist movement when subjected to hot-filling operations.
- the desirability of avoiding areas having accumulations of material for bottles intended for use in hot-filling operations is suggested generally by U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,585,065 and 5,735,420. However, both these patents resort to an extensive multi-blow heat-treating operation to achieve the desired product.
- Garver et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,067,622 discloses a bottle made of PET that is expressly configured for hot filled applications.
- the bottle's body sidewall is rigidized against radial and longitudinal vacuum distortion so that paper labels can be applied to the bottle.
- the rigidized sidewall is achieved by providing a plurality of radially inward, concave ring segments which are spaced apart from one another and separated from one another by cylindrically shaped flats or land segments.
- the amorphous threaded mouth of the bottle is rigidized by gussets molded into the bottle at the junction of the neck and shoulder portion of the bottle to resist deformation when the bottle is capped.
- a bulbous vacuum deformation area is provided in the shoulder adjacent the bottle neck, a plurality of vacuum deformation panels are provided in a frusto-conical portion of the shoulder, and a further vacuum deformation panel is provided in the base.
- any post capping vacuum is confined to the specifically designated areas of the bottle and the sidewall remains undistorted.
- the lack of post capping sidewall distortion is disclosed to be the result of a critical sizing of the ring segments relative to the land segments in combination, to some extent, with the crystallinity level, which is disclosed to be greater than 30%.
- Other bottles made of PET that have sidewall including spaced ring segments designed to rigidize the sidewall are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,929,139; 7,051,890 and 7,296,701.
- Other bottles made of PET that have vacuum responsive panels in the sidewall are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,704,503; 6,932,230; and 7,243,808.
- the land segments between the spaced indented ring segments are generally formed as right cylindrical or flat surfaces having a constant radius from a vertical axis of the bottle.
- Such flat surfaces generally perform satisfactorily when the indented ring segments are sufficiently close together.
- the sidewall can experience reduced satisfactory performance when the ring segments become increasingly spaced from each other so that the intervening lands can individually experience an inward deformation resulting in a concavity or crease.
- the vertical extent of each of the lands is generally minimized to diminish the area that might be subject to such a concave inward deformation, also known as localized paneling.
- special shapes and relationships have also been adopted for the indented ring segments to minimize the opportunity for such a concave inward deformation of a land portion, which can result in a rippled appearance for any covering label.
- a plastic bottle with a sidewall having a plurality of spaced indented ring segments separating lands that will resist any tendency toward ovalization It is a further object of the present invention to form a plastic bottle with a sidewall having a plurality of spaced indented ring segments that are sized in relation to the lands separated by the ring segments so that the lands will resist any tendency toward a concave inward deformation. It is a further object of the present invention to form a plastic bottle with a sidewall having lands with a preferred geometry and maximum size to further separate indented ring segments to maximize the vacuum resistance of the plastic bottle to ovalization and/or localized paneling.
- a molded plastic bottle in its pre-hot fill state can have a base surrounding a vertical axis that is responsive to changes in pressure and vacuum with the bottle.
- a sidewall can have a lower edge that is coupled to the base. The sidewall can extend upward from the base to a sidewall upper edge. The sidewall can be devoid of any vacuum responsive panels.
- a shoulder portion can be coupled to the sidewall upper edge. The shoulder portion can lead upward and radially inward to a neck portion. The shoulder portion can also be devoid of any vacuum responsive panels.
- a finish can be coupled to the neck portion adapted to receive a closure. The finish can surround an opening leading to the plastic bottle interior.
- the various portions of such a plastic bottle can be molded in a single integral unit by various processes, including two-step reheat stretch blow molding of a preform within a mold defining the outside surface of the various bottle portions.
- the base of the plastic bottle can have a continuous seating ring surrounding the vertical axis at a fixed radius.
- the base can also have at least a first inner surface coupled interiorly to the continuous seating ring that extends upwardly and inwardly from the continuous seating ring.
- the base can also have a diaphragm surface coupled exteriorly to the continuous seating ring.
- the diaphragm surface can include an inner edge extending upwardly and outwardly from the continuous seating ring.
- the diaphragm surface can also include an outer edge extending substantially horizontally outwardly.
- the base portion can also include a heel portion joining the diaphragm outer edge to the sidewall lower edge. The diaphragm surface can flex upward in response to any drop of pressure within the bottle. Given a sufficient drop in pressure, the diaphragm surface can flex upward at least until the continuous seating ring is situated above the heel portion.
- the sidewall of the plastic bottle can be molded to have an outer surface having at least one land segment bounded by vertically spaced indented ring segments.
- Each land segment can be defined by a vertical arc rotated around the vertical axis to form an outwardly curved surface or outwardly bowed barrel-shaped surface having an outermost surface defining a maximum label diameter D L of the bottle.
- Each land segment can be formed to resist any tendency toward a concave inward deformation in response to any drop of pressure within the bottle.
- the distance between the vertical axis and the closest point on the indented ring segments to the axis can be between about 0.8 and 0.9 times the maximum distance between the vertical axis and the outermost surface of the land segments.
- the vertical dimension of the land segments can be such that there are only two of the land segments and three of the indented ring segments between the sidewall lower edge and the sidewall upper edge.
- the vertical dimension of each land segment can be at least 0.49 D L .
- the vertical arc that forms the outwardly curved surface of each land segment can have a vertical radius R A of up to 2.45 D L .
- the indented ring depth can be a depth of at least 0.08 D L .
- the vertical radius R B of the inwardly curved surface of the indented ring segments can be up to 0.02 D L .
- the plastic bottles preferably molded in its pre-hot fill state to have a sidewall geometry with one or more of the aforementioned ratios, such that the plastic bottle can be a lighter weight and/or can have a reduced number of indented ring segments, while having a satisfactory vacuum resistance to localized paneling and/or ovalization.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exterior surface of a bottle molded in its pre-hot fill state.
- FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an exterior surface of another bottle molded in its pre-hot fill state.
- FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an exterior surface of yet another bottle molded in its pre-hot fill state.
- FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a base of the bottles shown in FIG. 1-FIG . 3 molded in its pre-hot fill state.
- FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a base of the bottles shown in FIG. 1-FIG . 3 when subjected to a vacuum induced by hot-filing and capping of the bottle.
- FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a portion of the sidewall of the bottles shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 3 .
- FIG. 7 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 6 of a portion of the sidewall of the bottle shown in FIG. 2 .
- FIG. 8 is a line graph comparing the vacuum failure pressure of a bottle with the vertical radius of a curved land segment of the bottle.
- a bottle 10 is shown in FIGS. 1-3 to include a base 12 , which is shown in its initial molded form prior to hot filling. The bottle can appear different in response to the post capping development of a partial vacuum within the bottle after hot filling to accommodate the change in volume and pressure.
- a sidewall 14 having a lower edge 16 is coupled to the base 12 . It will be understood that the word “coupled” is used in this disclosure to include structures that are simultaneously molded as a single unit, and is not used to suggest necessarily any assembly of parts subsequent to the formation of those parts.
- the sidewall 14 extends upward from the lower edge 16 to a sidewall upper edge 18 .
- the sidewall lower edge 16 is shown to include a step 20 defining a lower edge of a label panel 21 .
- the sidewall upper edge 18 is shown to include another step 22 defining an upper edge of the label panel 21 .
- a shoulder portion 24 is coupled to the sidewall upper edge 18 .
- the shoulder portion 24 can lead upward and radially inward as shown to a neck portion 26 .
- a finish 28 is generally coupled to the neck portion 26 .
- the finish 28 is adapted to receive a closure, not shown.
- the finish 28 can have a variety of surface features for engaging a suitable closure.
- the finish 28 generally surrounds an opening 30 leading to the interior of the bottle 10 .
- a base 12 shown in detail in FIG. 4 in the configuration that the bottles 10 are initially molded, can include a heel portion 34 that extends from the lower edge 16 of the sidewall 14 downward and inward to an inflection point 32 .
- the inflection point 32 can be an outer perimeter of a diaphragm portion 38 extending from the inflection point 32 to a continuous seating ring 36 . Consequently, the diameter D S of the seating ring 36 is generally smaller than the diameter D of the lower edge 16 of the sidewall 14 .
- the seating ring 36 is spaced uniformly outward from a vertical axis Y that is perpendicular to any underlying planar surface on which the bottle 10 might be situated prior to the bottle 10 being hot-filled and capped.
- the vertical axis Y extends upward through the approximate center of the opening 30 .
- the continuous seating ring 36 when initially molded preferably contacts any underlying planar surface on which the bottle 10 might be situated around the entire circumference of the seating ring 36 .
- the heel portion 34 is shown to have a uniform inside vertical radius so that the surface of the heel portion 34 is smooth as shown in FIGS. 1-3 , but the surface of the heel portion 34 could be undulating or grooved or include other surface features.
- the outer edge of the diaphragm portion 38 at the inflection point 32 is preferably horizontal and is spaced upward from the plane defined by the seating ring 36 .
- the base 12 can include an inner portion 40 that lies wholly within the seating ring 36 .
- the inner portion 40 of the base 12 can extend upward and inward toward a center bottom wall 42 surrounding the axis Y.
- the inner portion 40 can include a first conical surface section 44 joined to and extending inward from the seating ring 36 .
- the inner portion 40 can also include a second conical surface section 46 having an outer edge 48 joined to and extending upward and inward from an outer edge of the first conical surface section 44 .
- An inner edge 48 of the second conical surface section 46 can be joined to an outer edge 50 of an axial portion 52 surrounding the vertical axis Y.
- the axial portion 52 can included a central downward extension 54 .
- An axial ring portion 56 can separate the central downward extension 54 from the second conical surface section 46 .
- the inner portion 40 is designed to withstand the initial fluid force and temperature of the hot-fill process.
- the whole of the base 12 is intended to react to the post capping development of a partial vacuum within the bottle 10 by evolving from the initially molded form, its pre hot-fill state, shown in FIG. 4 to the post filled form shown in FIG. 5 to accommodate entirely the change in volume and pressure.
- the post capping vacuum which develops as the product-filled bottle cools from the filling temperature to an ambient or even refrigerated temperature, causes the inner portion 40 of the base 12 to move vertically upward along axis Y.
- the upward movement of the inner portion 40 causes the diaphragm portion 38 to flex from the position shown in FIG. 4 to the position shown in FIG. 5 to the point that the continuous seating ring 36 becomes positioned above the heel portion 34 .
- the bottle 10 when hot-filled and capped, has an even wider and more stable base than when empty.
- the continuous seating ring 36 is situated at a radius of between 0.75 R and 0.85 R, where R is the radius of the diaphragm outer edge 32 . If the continuous seating ring 36 is smaller than this specified range, the bottle 10 becomes increasing unstable and difficult to handle during the filling operation. If the continuous seating ring 36 is larger than this specified range, the radial dimension of the diaphragm portion 38 is insufficient to provide the necessary change in volume as the product-filled bottle cools from the filling temperature to an ambient or even refrigerated temperature. While this base structure 12 can perform in a satisfactory manner in bottles having a variety of sidewall configurations, it is particularly useful with the panelless sidewall configuration 14 shown in FIGS. 1-3 as well as FIGS. 6 and 7 .
- the sidewall 14 of the bottle, in its pre-hot fill state, between the sidewall lower edge 16 and the sidewall upper edge 18 can include an outer surface 60 having at least one land segment 62 bounded by vertically spaced indented ring segments 64 .
- Each land segment 62 can be defined by a vertical arc 66 , which can be of constant or varying radius R A , rotated around the vertical axis Y to form an outwardly bowed barrel-shaped or curved surface 68 .
- the label diameter D L is defined between the outermost surface 68 of the land segments 62 situated diametrically opposite from one another through the vertical axis.
- the curved surface 68 of each land segment 62 can be dimensioned to resist any tendency toward any concave inward deformation of the surface 68 or localized paneling in response to any drop of pressure within the bottle 10 .
- the vertical radius R A of the curved surface 68 of each land segment can be less than or equal to 2.45 D L .
- the indented ring segments 64 can have arcuate shoulder portions 70 and 72 with a vertical radius R BL separated by a concave ring portion 74 defined by a vertical radius R B .
- the vertical radii R B and R BL are generally much smaller in absolute value than the vertical radius R A .
- the absolute value of the vertical radius R B can be from 0.2% to 1.4% of the absolute value of the vertical radius R A
- the absolute value of the vertical radius R BL can be from 1% to 6.5% of the absolute value of the vertical radius R A and can be greater than R B .
- the vertical radius R B can be less than or equal to 0.02 D L .
- the transition 76 from the upper most or lower most indented ring to the respective sidewall upper or lower edges 18 , 16 can also be arcuate with a vertical radius R T typically greater than the vertical radius R BL , having an absolute value from 1.5% to 7% of the absolute value of the vertical radius R A .
- Angle a is the inflection angle of the indented ring segment measured from a horizontal axis that is perpendicular to the vertical axis Y.
- Angle ⁇ can be 0° to about 25° (preferably 20°), with a smaller angle providing more sideload resistance and ovalization resistance.
- the distance D R between the vertical axis Y and the closest point 77 on the indented ring segments 64 to the axis Y can be between about 0.8 and 0.9 times the maximum distance D S between the vertical axis Y and the outermost surface 68 of the land segments 62 .
- the difference between distances D R and D S is known as the ring depth 78 of the indented ring segment 64 relative to the outermost surface 68 .
- a greater ring depth 78 can provide more resistance to ovalization.
- the ring depth 78 can be equal to or greater than 0.08 D L .
- the effective ring depth 79 is the distance from the closest point 74 of the indented ring segments 64 to the axis Y to a point 80 that is defined as the outward tangent point of the vertical radius R BL .
- the vertical dimension H L is the label panel height measured from the top of the upper most indented ring segment to the bottom of the lower most ring segment, or alternatively, between the steps 20 , 22 that define the edges of the label panel 21 .
- the vertical dimension H S of the land segments 62 can be equal to or greater than 0.49 D L . In the illustrated embodiments, the vertical dimension H S of the land segments 62 can be such that there are only two of the land segments 62 and three of the indented ring segments 64 between the sidewall lower edge 16 and the sidewall upper edge 18 .
- Plastic bottles similar to the illustrated embodiments in FIG. 1 were analyzed using Finite Element Analysis (FEA).
- the bottles had an overall vertical distance of 7.663 inches from the top of the finish to the bottom of the base, and a maximum diameter at the outermost surface of the land segment of 2.862 inches, each being a constant dimension for all bottles.
- a ring depth of 0.223 inches, a vertical radius (R B ) of 0.056 inches, and an inflection angle of 20 degrees were also maintained constant for all bottles.
- the wall thickness of the bottles varied between 0.011 inches to 0.02 inches. All of the bottles analyzed had three indented ring segments surrounding the two land segments, or 3-2 design.
- Bottles with a 3-inch label height H L were analyzed at various vertical radii R A : 2.069 inches; 2.713 inches; 4.3 inches; 7 inches; and 1000 inches.
- Bottles with a 3.22-inch label height H L were analyzed at various vertical radii RA: 5.954 inches; 7 inches; 8.388 inches; and 10.812 inches.
- Bottles with a 3.44-inch label height H L were analyzed at various vertical radii RA: 5.954 inches; 7 inches; 8.388 inches; and 1000 inches.
- Bottles with a 3.67-inch label height H L were analyzed at various vertical radii R A : 4.3 inches; 5.954 inches; 7 inches; 8.388 inches; 10.812 inches; and 1000 inches.
- Bottles with a 4.5-inch label height H L were analyzed at various vertical radii R A : 4.3 inches; 5.954 inches; 7 inches; 8.388 inches; 11.899 inches; and 1000 inches.
- Bottles with a 5-inch label height H L were analyzed at various vertical radii R A : 4.3 inches; 5.954 inches; 7 inches; 8.388 inches; and 1000 inches.
- Bottles with a 1000-inch vertical radius R A represent substantially flat land segments.
- the bottles were held in a fixed location along the neck, while the internal vacuum pressure was increased from 0 psig to negative 20 psig.
- the temperature of the material was maintained at about 72 degrees F.
- the vacuum was increased until one of two failures occurred: localized paneling along the land segments, or ovalization along the indented ring segments. The vacuum pressure at the instance of failure was then recorded for each bottle.
- FIG. 8 depicts a graph 100 with plotted data from the analysis.
- the X-axis 102 of the graph represents the various vertical radii R A of bottles analyzed on a logarithmic scale, and the Y-axis 104 represents the vacuum pressure at the instance of failure.
- the bottles demonstrated a higher failure pressure or greater vacuum resistance when the vertical radius of the land segment (R A ) is about 7 inches for the bottles having label heights HL 3.44-inch, 3.67-inch, 4.5-inch, and 5-inch. If the vertical radius of the land segment is larger (making the land segments more flat), the bottles would have a tendency to fail at a lower pressure due to localized paneling. If the vertical radius of the land segment is smaller (making the land segments more bulbous), the bottles would have a tendency to fail at a lower pressure due to ovalization.
- the bottles, across most of label heights H L had superior vacuum resistance performance at approximately the same vertical radius R A of about 7 inches.
- the 3.22-inch bottles demonstrated a lower vacuum resistance, which was probably from failure caused by ovalization instead of localized paneling.
- a high aspect ratio e.g., 2.3 can make the effective ring depth very shallow, making the bottles more susceptible to ovalization and/or localized paneling.
- the container will have a tendency to fail at a lower pressure due to localized paneling.
- the aspect ratio is too low (making the land segments more bulbous), the container will have a tendency to fail at a lower pressure due to ovalization. Because the bottles across most of label heights H L had unexpected superior vacuum resistance performance at approximately the same vertical radius R A , the vertical radius R A seems less dependent on the vertical dimensions H S or H L , and more dependent on the label diameter D L .
- the graph 100 further reveals that the bottles having land segments with the curved surface had far superior vacuum resistance than the bottles having land segments with a flat surface (i.e., when the vertical radius R A is 1000 inches). Results show a vacuum resistance improvement in the range of about 20% to 55% (average of 38%) of the bottles having the curved land segments over the bottles having the flat land segments.
- the bottles described herein have a sidewall that includes land segments with a preferred curved geometry to increase the resistance to localized paneling, as well as including indented ring segment configurations sufficient to maintain the resistance to ovalization.
- the vertical radius R A of the curved surface of each land segment can be less than or equal to 2.45 D L because a larger ratio may cause the bottle to be more susceptible to localized paneling at a lower vacuum pressure.
- the vertical dimension H S of the land segments can be equal to or greater than 0.49 D L because a smaller ratio may result in land segments that are so short that that the bottles are more prone to failure at a lower vacuum pressure caused by ovalization than by localized paneling.
- the ring depth can be equal to or greater than 0.08 D L because a smaller ratio may cause the bottle to be more susceptible to ovalization at a lower vacuum pressure.
- a 20-ounce bottle plastic bottle (with a 3-2 design) having an overall vertical distance of 7.663 inches; a label diameter D L of 2.862 inches; a ring depth 78 of 0.223 inches; an indented ring segment vertical radius R B of 0.056 inches; an arcuate shoulder vertical radius R BL of 0.259 inches; an effective ring depth of 0.207 inches; an inflection angle of 20 degrees; a vertical radius R T of 0.283 inches; a land segment height H S of 1.516 inches; a label height H L of 3.670 inches; a land segment vertical radius R A of 7.000 inches; and a wall thickness between 0.011 inches to 0.02 inches.
- the plastic bottle with these dimensions has a relatively light weight of about 31 grams, yet still has a sufficiently high vacuum failure pressure between 6 to 8 psi.
- Comparable 20-ounce bottles having similar vacuum resistance performance are known to weigh at least 37 grams, primarily from the added material thickness along the sidewall to strengthen it for satisfactory vacuum failure resistance. Accordingly, the plastic bottles described herein having a sidewall geometry with one or more of the ratios above can permit the plastic bottle to have a lighter weight and/or a reduced number of indented ring segments, while having a satisfactory vacuum failure resistance.
- the lighter weight (about 16% lighter) of the plastic bottle further reduces the material cost per bottle.
Abstract
Description
- The present application is a continuation of PCT/US2010/033082 filed Apr. 30, 2010, which in turn claims benefit to U.S. provisional application 61/175,506 filed May 5, 2009.
- The present invention is directed to plastic bottles used to contain foods and beverages that are filled and capped at an elevated temperature of at least 160° F., and more typically about 185° F. The present invention is particularly directed to such plastic bottles that are devoid of any vacuum panels in the body and shoulder areas.
- Lightweight, thin-walled containers made of thermoplastic materials such as polyester resin are well known in the container industry. For example, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) has a wide range of applications in the field of containers for foodstuffs, flavoring materials, cosmetics, beverages, and so on. PET can be molded, by orientation-blowing, into transparent thin-walled containers having a high stiffness, impact strength and other improved qualities with a high molding accuracy. In the past, some cold-filled carbonated bottles have employed chimes having additional material at the standing ring surface. The formation of such bottles requires either heavy material distribution to blow out the ring or some other non-standard forming process. Examples of such bottles are to be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,780,257; 4,889,752; and 4,927,679. At elevated temperatures, however, such a thickened chime will soften and roll out so such a base is unsuitable for hot-filling.
- Strong, transparent and substantially heat resistant containers may be produced by the biaxial-orientation blow-molding process in which a parison is oriented both laterally and longitudinally in a temperature range suitable for such orientation. Heat-set PET containers are particularly heat resistant. Biaxially-oriented blow-molded containers have greater stiffness and strength as well as improved gas barrier properties and transparency. Areas of thick accumulations of material, such as the thickened chimes discussed above, may not be sufficiently oriented to achieve the desired stiffness and strength to resist movement when subjected to hot-filling operations. The desirability of avoiding areas having accumulations of material for bottles intended for use in hot-filling operations is suggested generally by U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,585,065 and 5,735,420. However, both these patents resort to an extensive multi-blow heat-treating operation to achieve the desired product.
- Garver et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,067,622, discloses a bottle made of PET that is expressly configured for hot filled applications. The bottle's body sidewall is rigidized against radial and longitudinal vacuum distortion so that paper labels can be applied to the bottle. The rigidized sidewall is achieved by providing a plurality of radially inward, concave ring segments which are spaced apart from one another and separated from one another by cylindrically shaped flats or land segments. In addition, the amorphous threaded mouth of the bottle is rigidized by gussets molded into the bottle at the junction of the neck and shoulder portion of the bottle to resist deformation when the bottle is capped. To accommodate the post capping vacuum, a bulbous vacuum deformation area is provided in the shoulder adjacent the bottle neck, a plurality of vacuum deformation panels are provided in a frusto-conical portion of the shoulder, and a further vacuum deformation panel is provided in the base. As a result, any post capping vacuum is confined to the specifically designated areas of the bottle and the sidewall remains undistorted. The lack of post capping sidewall distortion is disclosed to be the result of a critical sizing of the ring segments relative to the land segments in combination, to some extent, with the crystallinity level, which is disclosed to be greater than 30%. Other bottles made of PET that have sidewall including spaced ring segments designed to rigidize the sidewall are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,929,139; 7,051,890 and 7,296,701. Other bottles made of PET that have vacuum responsive panels in the sidewall are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,704,503; 6,932,230; and 7,243,808.
- In the bottles referenced above, the land segments between the spaced indented ring segments are generally formed as right cylindrical or flat surfaces having a constant radius from a vertical axis of the bottle. Such flat surfaces generally perform satisfactorily when the indented ring segments are sufficiently close together. However, the sidewall can experience reduced satisfactory performance when the ring segments become increasingly spaced from each other so that the intervening lands can individually experience an inward deformation resulting in a concavity or crease. As a result, the vertical extent of each of the lands is generally minimized to diminish the area that might be subject to such a concave inward deformation, also known as localized paneling. Additionally, special shapes and relationships have also been adopted for the indented ring segments to minimize the opportunity for such a concave inward deformation of a land portion, which can result in a rippled appearance for any covering label.
- Another problem with bottles having a series of indented ring segments with land segments therebetween is the tendency to fail by ovalization under vacuum pressures. Depending on the configuration of the indented ring and transition to each land segment, portions of the indented ring may tend to move radially outward, while other portions of the same indented ring may tend to move radially inward, resulting in a cross-section that appears to be more oval than circular. Ovalization of bottles not only increases the risk of failure, but also can lead to unaesthetic looking bottles. Other attempts have been made to increase the number of indented ring segments along the sidewall. While each indented ring added ridgidizes the sidewall to reduce the risks associated with ovalization and localized paneling, the bottle often experiences axial shortening or compression, like an accordion, for each additional indented ring. This is problematic because it can inhibit the vertical stacking of bottles on top of each other and possibly distort or even tear the label affixed to the sidewall due to such axial movement.
- Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to form a plastic bottle with a sidewall having a plurality of spaced indented ring segments separating lands that will resist any tendency toward ovalization. It is a further object of the present invention to form a plastic bottle with a sidewall having a plurality of spaced indented ring segments that are sized in relation to the lands separated by the ring segments so that the lands will resist any tendency toward a concave inward deformation. It is a further object of the present invention to form a plastic bottle with a sidewall having lands with a preferred geometry and maximum size to further separate indented ring segments to maximize the vacuum resistance of the plastic bottle to ovalization and/or localized paneling.
- A molded plastic bottle in its pre-hot fill state can have a base surrounding a vertical axis that is responsive to changes in pressure and vacuum with the bottle. A sidewall can have a lower edge that is coupled to the base. The sidewall can extend upward from the base to a sidewall upper edge. The sidewall can be devoid of any vacuum responsive panels. A shoulder portion can be coupled to the sidewall upper edge. The shoulder portion can lead upward and radially inward to a neck portion. The shoulder portion can also be devoid of any vacuum responsive panels. A finish can be coupled to the neck portion adapted to receive a closure. The finish can surround an opening leading to the plastic bottle interior. The various portions of such a plastic bottle can be molded in a single integral unit by various processes, including two-step reheat stretch blow molding of a preform within a mold defining the outside surface of the various bottle portions.
- In one aspect, the base of the plastic bottle can have a continuous seating ring surrounding the vertical axis at a fixed radius. The base can also have at least a first inner surface coupled interiorly to the continuous seating ring that extends upwardly and inwardly from the continuous seating ring. The base can also have a diaphragm surface coupled exteriorly to the continuous seating ring. The diaphragm surface can include an inner edge extending upwardly and outwardly from the continuous seating ring. The diaphragm surface can also include an outer edge extending substantially horizontally outwardly. The base portion can also include a heel portion joining the diaphragm outer edge to the sidewall lower edge. The diaphragm surface can flex upward in response to any drop of pressure within the bottle. Given a sufficient drop in pressure, the diaphragm surface can flex upward at least until the continuous seating ring is situated above the heel portion.
- In another aspect, the sidewall of the plastic bottle can be molded to have an outer surface having at least one land segment bounded by vertically spaced indented ring segments. Each land segment can be defined by a vertical arc rotated around the vertical axis to form an outwardly curved surface or outwardly bowed barrel-shaped surface having an outermost surface defining a maximum label diameter DL of the bottle. Each land segment can be formed to resist any tendency toward a concave inward deformation in response to any drop of pressure within the bottle. The distance between the vertical axis and the closest point on the indented ring segments to the axis can be between about 0.8 and 0.9 times the maximum distance between the vertical axis and the outermost surface of the land segments. The vertical dimension of the land segments can be such that there are only two of the land segments and three of the indented ring segments between the sidewall lower edge and the sidewall upper edge. The vertical dimension of each land segment can be at least 0.49 DL. The vertical arc that forms the outwardly curved surface of each land segment can have a vertical radius RA of up to 2.45 DL. The indented ring depth can be a depth of at least 0.08 DL. The vertical radius RB of the inwardly curved surface of the indented ring segments can be up to 0.02 DL. The plastic bottles preferably molded in its pre-hot fill state to have a sidewall geometry with one or more of the aforementioned ratios, such that the plastic bottle can be a lighter weight and/or can have a reduced number of indented ring segments, while having a satisfactory vacuum resistance to localized paneling and/or ovalization.
- Other features of the present invention and the corresponding advantages of those features will become apparent from the following discussion of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, exemplifying the best mode of practicing the present invention, which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. Moreover, in the figures, like referenced numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views.
-
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exterior surface of a bottle molded in its pre-hot fill state. -
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an exterior surface of another bottle molded in its pre-hot fill state. -
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an exterior surface of yet another bottle molded in its pre-hot fill state. -
FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a base of the bottles shown inFIG. 1-FIG . 3 molded in its pre-hot fill state. -
FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a base of the bottles shown inFIG. 1-FIG . 3 when subjected to a vacuum induced by hot-filing and capping of the bottle. -
FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a portion of the sidewall of the bottles shown inFIG. 1 orFIG. 3 . -
FIG. 7 is a sectional view similar toFIG. 6 of a portion of the sidewall of the bottle shown inFIG. 2 . -
FIG. 8 is a line graph comparing the vacuum failure pressure of a bottle with the vertical radius of a curved land segment of the bottle. - A
bottle 10 is shown inFIGS. 1-3 to include abase 12, which is shown in its initial molded form prior to hot filling. The bottle can appear different in response to the post capping development of a partial vacuum within the bottle after hot filling to accommodate the change in volume and pressure. Asidewall 14 having alower edge 16 is coupled to thebase 12. It will be understood that the word “coupled” is used in this disclosure to include structures that are simultaneously molded as a single unit, and is not used to suggest necessarily any assembly of parts subsequent to the formation of those parts. Thesidewall 14 extends upward from thelower edge 16 to a sidewallupper edge 18. The sidewalllower edge 16 is shown to include astep 20 defining a lower edge of alabel panel 21. The sidewallupper edge 18 is shown to include anotherstep 22 defining an upper edge of thelabel panel 21. Ashoulder portion 24 is coupled to the sidewallupper edge 18. Theshoulder portion 24 can lead upward and radially inward as shown to aneck portion 26. Afinish 28 is generally coupled to theneck portion 26. Thefinish 28 is adapted to receive a closure, not shown. Thefinish 28 can have a variety of surface features for engaging a suitable closure. Thefinish 28 generally surrounds anopening 30 leading to the interior of thebottle 10. It is to be noted from the figures that neither thesidewall 14 nor theshoulder portion 24 contains any vacuum responsive panels of the type often found in prior art containers, although vacuum responsive panels can be found in at least one those areas, in combination with the bottle embodiments described herein, as appreciated by those skilled in the art. As can be seen from the variations presented byFIGS. 1-3 , abottle 10 having the desired operative features can take a variety of forms that will allow for a number of design variations. - A
base 12, shown in detail inFIG. 4 in the configuration that thebottles 10 are initially molded, can include aheel portion 34 that extends from thelower edge 16 of thesidewall 14 downward and inward to aninflection point 32. Theinflection point 32 can be an outer perimeter of adiaphragm portion 38 extending from theinflection point 32 to acontinuous seating ring 36. Consequently, the diameter DS of theseating ring 36 is generally smaller than the diameter D of thelower edge 16 of thesidewall 14. Theseating ring 36 is spaced uniformly outward from a vertical axis Y that is perpendicular to any underlying planar surface on which thebottle 10 might be situated prior to thebottle 10 being hot-filled and capped. As a general rule, the vertical axis Y extends upward through the approximate center of theopening 30. Thecontinuous seating ring 36 when initially molded preferably contacts any underlying planar surface on which thebottle 10 might be situated around the entire circumference of theseating ring 36. Theheel portion 34 is shown to have a uniform inside vertical radius so that the surface of theheel portion 34 is smooth as shown inFIGS. 1-3 , but the surface of theheel portion 34 could be undulating or grooved or include other surface features. As initially molded, the outer edge of thediaphragm portion 38 at theinflection point 32 is preferably horizontal and is spaced upward from the plane defined by theseating ring 36. - The
base 12, as shown in detail inFIG. 4 , can include aninner portion 40 that lies wholly within theseating ring 36. Theinner portion 40 of the base 12 can extend upward and inward toward a centerbottom wall 42 surrounding the axis Y. Theinner portion 40 can include a firstconical surface section 44 joined to and extending inward from theseating ring 36. Theinner portion 40 can also include a secondconical surface section 46 having anouter edge 48 joined to and extending upward and inward from an outer edge of the firstconical surface section 44. Aninner edge 48 of the secondconical surface section 46 can be joined to anouter edge 50 of anaxial portion 52 surrounding the vertical axis Y. Theaxial portion 52 can included a centraldownward extension 54. Anaxial ring portion 56 can separate the centraldownward extension 54 from the secondconical surface section 46. Theinner portion 40 is designed to withstand the initial fluid force and temperature of the hot-fill process. The whole of thebase 12 is intended to react to the post capping development of a partial vacuum within thebottle 10 by evolving from the initially molded form, its pre hot-fill state, shown inFIG. 4 to the post filled form shown inFIG. 5 to accommodate entirely the change in volume and pressure. - The post capping vacuum, which develops as the product-filled bottle cools from the filling temperature to an ambient or even refrigerated temperature, causes the
inner portion 40 of the base 12 to move vertically upward along axis Y. The upward movement of theinner portion 40 causes thediaphragm portion 38 to flex from the position shown inFIG. 4 to the position shown inFIG. 5 to the point that thecontinuous seating ring 36 becomes positioned above theheel portion 34. As a consequence, thebottle 10, when hot-filled and capped, has an even wider and more stable base than when empty. In order for thebottle 10 to have a satisfactory stability before and after the hot filling operation, it is desirable that thecontinuous seating ring 36 is situated at a radius of between 0.75 R and 0.85 R, where R is the radius of the diaphragmouter edge 32. If thecontinuous seating ring 36 is smaller than this specified range, thebottle 10 becomes increasing unstable and difficult to handle during the filling operation. If thecontinuous seating ring 36 is larger than this specified range, the radial dimension of thediaphragm portion 38 is insufficient to provide the necessary change in volume as the product-filled bottle cools from the filling temperature to an ambient or even refrigerated temperature. While thisbase structure 12 can perform in a satisfactory manner in bottles having a variety of sidewall configurations, it is particularly useful with thepanelless sidewall configuration 14 shown inFIGS. 1-3 as well asFIGS. 6 and 7 . - With reference to
FIGS. 6 and 7 , thesidewall 14 of the bottle, in its pre-hot fill state, between the sidewalllower edge 16 and the sidewallupper edge 18 can include anouter surface 60 having at least oneland segment 62 bounded by vertically spacedindented ring segments 64. Eachland segment 62 can be defined by a vertical arc 66, which can be of constant or varying radius RA, rotated around the vertical axis Y to form an outwardly bowed barrel-shaped orcurved surface 68. The label diameter DL is defined between theoutermost surface 68 of theland segments 62 situated diametrically opposite from one another through the vertical axis. Thecurved surface 68 of eachland segment 62 can be dimensioned to resist any tendency toward any concave inward deformation of thesurface 68 or localized paneling in response to any drop of pressure within thebottle 10. The vertical radius RA of thecurved surface 68 of each land segment can be less than or equal to 2.45 DL. - The
indented ring segments 64 can havearcuate shoulder portions concave ring portion 74 defined by a vertical radius RB. The vertical radii RB and RBL are generally much smaller in absolute value than the vertical radius RA. In one embodiment, the absolute value of the vertical radius RB can be from 0.2% to 1.4% of the absolute value of the vertical radius RA, and the absolute value of the vertical radius RBL can be from 1% to 6.5% of the absolute value of the vertical radius RA and can be greater than RB. The vertical radius RB can be less than or equal to 0.02 DL. Thetransition 76 from the upper most or lower most indented ring to the respective sidewall upper orlower edges - In another embodiment, the distance DR between the vertical axis Y and the
closest point 77 on theindented ring segments 64 to the axis Y can be between about 0.8 and 0.9 times the maximum distance DS between the vertical axis Y and theoutermost surface 68 of theland segments 62. The difference between distances DR and DS is known as thering depth 78 of theindented ring segment 64 relative to theoutermost surface 68. Agreater ring depth 78 can provide more resistance to ovalization. Thering depth 78 can be equal to or greater than 0.08 DL. Theeffective ring depth 79 is the distance from theclosest point 74 of theindented ring segments 64 to the axis Y to apoint 80 that is defined as the outward tangent point of the vertical radius RBL. - The vertical dimension HL is the label panel height measured from the top of the upper most indented ring segment to the bottom of the lower most ring segment, or alternatively, between the
steps label panel 21. The vertical dimension HS of theland segments 62 can be equal to or greater than 0.49 DL. In the illustrated embodiments, the vertical dimension HS of theland segments 62 can be such that there are only two of theland segments 62 and three of theindented ring segments 64 between the sidewalllower edge 16 and the sidewallupper edge 18. It will be appreciated, however that a fewadditional land segments 62 andindented ring segments 64 could be included having the same described character without departing from the central concept of having only a small number, no more than five, ofsuch land segments 62 separated by the requisite number ofindented ring segments 64 to define thesidewall 14. However, in some instances it is preferred to at least minimize the number of indented ring segments and maximize the size of the land segments. For every indented ring segment included in the sidewall, the bottle can undesirably become axially shorter after cooling, and the bottle may have an increase axial springiness, like an accordion. This is problematic because it can inhibit the vertical stacking of bottles on top of each other and possibly distort or even tear the label affixed to the sidewall due to such axial movement. Maximizing the size of the land segments can increase the surface area contact for the label to affix to and may even be more aesthetically pleasing. - Plastic bottles similar to the illustrated embodiments in
FIG. 1 were analyzed using Finite Element Analysis (FEA). The bottles had an overall vertical distance of 7.663 inches from the top of the finish to the bottom of the base, and a maximum diameter at the outermost surface of the land segment of 2.862 inches, each being a constant dimension for all bottles. A ring depth of 0.223 inches, a vertical radius (RB) of 0.056 inches, and an inflection angle of 20 degrees were also maintained constant for all bottles. The wall thickness of the bottles varied between 0.011 inches to 0.02 inches. All of the bottles analyzed had three indented ring segments surrounding the two land segments, or 3-2 design. - Bottles with a 3-inch label height HL were analyzed at various vertical radii RA: 2.069 inches; 2.713 inches; 4.3 inches; 7 inches; and 1000 inches. Bottles with a 3.22-inch label height HL were analyzed at various vertical radii RA: 5.954 inches; 7 inches; 8.388 inches; and 10.812 inches. Bottles with a 3.44-inch label height HL were analyzed at various vertical radii RA: 5.954 inches; 7 inches; 8.388 inches; and 1000 inches. Bottles with a 3.67-inch label height HL were analyzed at various vertical radii RA: 4.3 inches; 5.954 inches; 7 inches; 8.388 inches; 10.812 inches; and 1000 inches. Bottles with a 4.5-inch label height HL were analyzed at various vertical radii RA: 4.3 inches; 5.954 inches; 7 inches; 8.388 inches; 11.899 inches; and 1000 inches. Bottles with a 5-inch label height HL were analyzed at various vertical radii RA: 4.3 inches; 5.954 inches; 7 inches; 8.388 inches; and 1000 inches. Bottles with a 1000-inch vertical radius RA represent substantially flat land segments. The bottles were held in a fixed location along the neck, while the internal vacuum pressure was increased from 0 psig to negative 20 psig. During the analysis, the temperature of the material was maintained at about 72 degrees F. The vacuum was increased until one of two failures occurred: localized paneling along the land segments, or ovalization along the indented ring segments. The vacuum pressure at the instance of failure was then recorded for each bottle.
-
FIG. 8 depicts agraph 100 with plotted data from the analysis. TheX-axis 102 of the graph represents the various vertical radii RA of bottles analyzed on a logarithmic scale, and the Y-axis 104 represents the vacuum pressure at the instance of failure. There are six trend lines representing the respective bottles with the six different label heights HL: 3-inch (110), 3.22-inch (120), 3.44-inch (130), 3.67-inch (140), 4.5-inch (150), and 5-inch (160). According to thegraph 100, the bottles demonstrated a higher failure pressure or greater vacuum resistance when the vertical radius of the land segment (RA) is about 7 inches for the bottles having label heights HL 3.44-inch, 3.67-inch, 4.5-inch, and 5-inch. If the vertical radius of the land segment is larger (making the land segments more flat), the bottles would have a tendency to fail at a lower pressure due to localized paneling. If the vertical radius of the land segment is smaller (making the land segments more bulbous), the bottles would have a tendency to fail at a lower pressure due to ovalization. - It was surprising that the bottles, across most of label heights HL, had superior vacuum resistance performance at approximately the same vertical radius RA of about 7 inches. According to the
graph 100, there may also be a more preferred aspect ratio (label height HL to label diameter DL), as the vacuum resistance noticeably changes between the 3.22-inch bottles (aspect ratio of 1.13) and the 3.44-inch bottles (aspect ratio of 1.20). The 3.22-inch bottles demonstrated a lower vacuum resistance, which was probably from failure caused by ovalization instead of localized paneling. On the other hand, a high aspect ratio (e.g., 2.3) can make the effective ring depth very shallow, making the bottles more susceptible to ovalization and/or localized paneling. Thus, if the aspect ratio is too high (making the land segments more flat), the container will have a tendency to fail at a lower pressure due to localized paneling. On the other hand, if the aspect ratio is too low (making the land segments more bulbous), the container will have a tendency to fail at a lower pressure due to ovalization. Because the bottles across most of label heights HL had unexpected superior vacuum resistance performance at approximately the same vertical radius RA, the vertical radius RA seems less dependent on the vertical dimensions HS or HL, and more dependent on the label diameter DL. - The
graph 100 further reveals that the bottles having land segments with the curved surface had far superior vacuum resistance than the bottles having land segments with a flat surface (i.e., when the vertical radius RA is 1000 inches). Results show a vacuum resistance improvement in the range of about 20% to 55% (average of 38%) of the bottles having the curved land segments over the bottles having the flat land segments. - Accordingly, the bottles described herein have a sidewall that includes land segments with a preferred curved geometry to increase the resistance to localized paneling, as well as including indented ring segment configurations sufficient to maintain the resistance to ovalization. Within a more desirable aspect ratio range, the vertical radius RA of the curved surface of each land segment can be less than or equal to 2.45 DL because a larger ratio may cause the bottle to be more susceptible to localized paneling at a lower vacuum pressure. The vertical dimension HS of the land segments can be equal to or greater than 0.49 DL because a smaller ratio may result in land segments that are so short that that the bottles are more prone to failure at a lower vacuum pressure caused by ovalization than by localized paneling. The ring depth can be equal to or greater than 0.08 DL because a smaller ratio may cause the bottle to be more susceptible to ovalization at a lower vacuum pressure.
- In one example, a 20-ounce bottle plastic bottle (with a 3-2 design) having an overall vertical distance of 7.663 inches; a label diameter DL of 2.862 inches; a
ring depth 78 of 0.223 inches; an indented ring segment vertical radius RB of 0.056 inches; an arcuate shoulder vertical radius RBL of 0.259 inches; an effective ring depth of 0.207 inches; an inflection angle of 20 degrees; a vertical radius RT of 0.283 inches; a land segment height HS of 1.516 inches; a label height HL of 3.670 inches; a land segment vertical radius RA of 7.000 inches; and a wall thickness between 0.011 inches to 0.02 inches. The plastic bottle with these dimensions has a relatively light weight of about 31 grams, yet still has a sufficiently high vacuum failure pressure between 6 to 8 psi. Comparable 20-ounce bottles having similar vacuum resistance performance are known to weigh at least 37 grams, primarily from the added material thickness along the sidewall to strengthen it for satisfactory vacuum failure resistance. Accordingly, the plastic bottles described herein having a sidewall geometry with one or more of the ratios above can permit the plastic bottle to have a lighter weight and/or a reduced number of indented ring segments, while having a satisfactory vacuum failure resistance. The lighter weight (about 16% lighter) of the plastic bottle further reduces the material cost per bottle. - While these features have been disclosed in connection with the illustrated preferred embodiment, other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art that come within the spirit of the invention as defined in the following claims.
Claims (20)
Priority Applications (1)
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US13/324,384 US20120181246A1 (en) | 2009-05-05 | 2011-12-13 | Panelless hot-fill plastic bottle |
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US17550609P | 2009-05-05 | 2009-05-05 | |
PCT/US2010/033082 WO2010129402A1 (en) | 2009-05-05 | 2010-04-30 | Panelless hot-fill plasic bottle |
US13/324,384 US20120181246A1 (en) | 2009-05-05 | 2011-12-13 | Panelless hot-fill plastic bottle |
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EP (1) | EP2427381A1 (en) |
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US20130020276A1 (en) * | 2011-07-22 | 2013-01-24 | Craig Allen Madaus | Segmented Collapsible Container |
US20130153529A1 (en) * | 2010-09-30 | 2013-06-20 | Yoshino Kogyosho Co., Ltd. | Bottle |
WO2015166619A1 (en) * | 2014-04-30 | 2015-11-05 | 株式会社吉野工業所 | Synthetic resin bottle |
WO2016029016A1 (en) * | 2014-08-21 | 2016-02-25 | Amcor Limited | Two-stage container base |
USD750976S1 (en) | 2014-02-27 | 2016-03-08 | Kraft Foods Group Brands Llc | Package for food product |
USD769132S1 (en) | 2014-02-27 | 2016-10-18 | Kraft Foods Group Brands Llc | Snack package with stacking features |
USD773940S1 (en) | 2014-02-27 | 2016-12-13 | Kraft Foods Group Brands Llc | Snack package |
US9994351B2 (en) | 2014-08-21 | 2018-06-12 | Amcor Group Gmbh | Container with folded sidewall |
USD862248S1 (en) | 2017-03-29 | 2019-10-08 | Kraft Foods Group Brands Llc | Package |
USD910448S1 (en) | 2019-09-24 | 2021-02-16 | Abbott Laboratories | Bottle |
US11230419B2 (en) | 2012-12-26 | 2022-01-25 | Kraft Foods Group Brands Llc | Packaged food product |
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CN104097822B (en) * | 2013-04-10 | 2018-05-01 | 克朗斯机械(太仓)有限公司 | Plastic bottle with flexible base section |
EP2957522B1 (en) * | 2014-06-17 | 2017-05-03 | Sidel Participations | Container provided with a curved invertible diaphragm |
DE102016202908A1 (en) | 2016-02-25 | 2017-08-31 | Krones Ag | Method for bottom shaping of hot-filled containers |
JP2018104047A (en) * | 2016-12-27 | 2018-07-05 | サントリーホールディングス株式会社 | Resin container |
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- 2010-04-30 WO PCT/US2010/033082 patent/WO2010129402A1/en active Application Filing
- 2010-04-30 EP EP10772611A patent/EP2427381A1/en not_active Withdrawn
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US20130153529A1 (en) * | 2010-09-30 | 2013-06-20 | Yoshino Kogyosho Co., Ltd. | Bottle |
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USD773940S1 (en) | 2014-02-27 | 2016-12-13 | Kraft Foods Group Brands Llc | Snack package |
USD822506S1 (en) | 2014-02-27 | 2018-07-10 | Kraft Foods Group Brands Llc | Snack package |
WO2015166619A1 (en) * | 2014-04-30 | 2015-11-05 | 株式会社吉野工業所 | Synthetic resin bottle |
JPWO2015166619A1 (en) * | 2014-04-30 | 2017-04-20 | 株式会社吉野工業所 | Plastic bottle |
US10472155B2 (en) | 2014-04-30 | 2019-11-12 | Yoshino Kogyosho Co., Ltd. | Synthetic resin bottle |
US9994351B2 (en) | 2014-08-21 | 2018-06-12 | Amcor Group Gmbh | Container with folded sidewall |
US10518924B2 (en) | 2014-08-21 | 2019-12-31 | Amcor Rigid Plastics Usa, Llc | Container base including hemispherical actuating diaphragm |
US10968006B2 (en) | 2014-08-21 | 2021-04-06 | Amcor Rigid Packaging Usa, Llc | Container base including hemispherical actuating diaphragm |
US10059482B2 (en) | 2014-08-21 | 2018-08-28 | Amcor Limited | Two-stage container base |
WO2016029016A1 (en) * | 2014-08-21 | 2016-02-25 | Amcor Limited | Two-stage container base |
USD862248S1 (en) | 2017-03-29 | 2019-10-08 | Kraft Foods Group Brands Llc | Package |
USD910448S1 (en) | 2019-09-24 | 2021-02-16 | Abbott Laboratories | Bottle |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
WO2010129402A1 (en) | 2010-11-11 |
EP2427381A1 (en) | 2012-03-14 |
CA2766426A1 (en) | 2010-11-11 |
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Owner name: AMCOR RIGID PLASTICS USA, LLC, DELAWARE Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:AMCOR GROUP GMBH;REEL/FRAME:047215/0173 Effective date: 20180621 |