CONTAINER SHOULDER RIB

Abstract

A polymeric container including a finish defining an opening of the container. A shoulder of the container is between the finish and a body of the container. Abase of the container is at an end of the body opposite to the shoulder. The base is configured to support the container upright. A plurality of body ribs are at the body. A shoulder rib is between the shoulder and the body. The shoulder rib has a maximum height that is about 5 times greater than a maximum depth of the shoulder rib.

Claims

1. A polymeric container comprising: a finish defining an opening of the container; a shoulder between the finish and a body of the container; a base at an end of the body opposite to the shoulder, the base configured to support the container upright; a plurality of body ribs at the body; and a shoulder rib between the shoulder and the body, the shoulder rib has a maximum height that is about 5 times greater than a maximum depth of the shoulder rib.

2. The polymeric container of claim 1, wherein the shoulder rib is defined by a sidewall of the container.

3. The polymeric container of claim 1, wherein the maximum height is 9.5 mm and the maximum depth is 2 mm.

4. The polymeric container of claim 1, wherein the shoulder rib has a radius of about 4.44 mm.

5. The polymeric container of claim 1, wherein the shoulder rib includes an upper radius, a lower radius, and a center radius between the upper radius and the lower radius.

6. The polymeric container of claim 5, wherein the shoulder rib is continuously curved.

7. The polymeric container of claim 5, wherein the upper radius extends to the shoulder and the lower radius extends to the body.

8. The polymeric container of claim 7, wherein the upper radius is about 2.0 mm-2.5 mm and the lower radius is about 2.0 mm-2.5 mm.

9. The polymeric container of claim 1, wherein the shoulder rib is located above a center of gravity of the container.

10. The polymeric container of claim 1, wherein the shoulder rib is located at a top half of the container.

11. The polymeric container of claim 1, wherein the shoulder rib is about 133 mm from the base of the container.

12. The polymeric container of claim 1, wherein a maximum upper diameter of the container above the shoulder rib is less than a maximum lower diameter of the container below the shoulder rib.

13. The polymeric container of claim 12, wherein an upper depth of the shoulder rib is less than a lower depth of the shoulder rib.

14. The polymeric container of claim 13, wherein the upper depth of the shoulder rib is about 70%-80% less than the lower depth of the shoulder rib.

15. The polymeric container of claim 13, wherein the upper depth of the shoulder rib is about 0.5 mm and the lower depth is about 2 mm.

16. The polymeric container of claim 1, wherein the shoulder defines at least one indentation at the shoulder rib; wherein an upper depth of the shoulder rib at the at least one indentation is less than a lower depth of the shoulder rib.

17. The polymeric container of claim 16, wherein the at least one indentation includes a plurality of indentations spaced apart about the shoulder.

18. A polymeric container comprising: a finish defining an opening of the container; a shoulder between the finish and a body of the container, the body is tapered to give the body an hourglass shape; a base at an end of the body opposite to the shoulder, the base configured to support the container upright; a plurality of flexible body ribs at the body; and a shoulder rib between the shoulder and the body, the shoulder rib has a maximum height that is about 5 times greater than a maximum depth of the shoulder rib; wherein the shoulder rib is defined by a sidewall of the container that continuously curves along a length of the shoulder rib, the shoulder rib includes an upper radius extending to the shoulder, a lower radius extending to the body, and a center radius between the upper radius and the lower radius.

19. The polymeric container of claim 18, wherein the shoulder defines at least one indentation at the shoulder rib; wherein an upper depth of the shoulder rib at the at least one indentation is less than a lower depth of the shoulder rib.

20. The polymeric container of claim 19, wherein the upper depth is about 70%-80% less than the lower depth of the shoulder rib.

Description

DRAWINGS

[0021] The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of select embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

[0022] FIG. 1A illustrates a first prior art container;

[0023] FIG. 1B illustrates area 1B of FIG. 1A;

[0024] FIG. 2A illustrates a second prior art container;

[0025] FIG. 2B illustrates area 2B of FIG. 2A;

[0026] FIG. 3A illustrates a first container in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0027] FIG. 3B illustrates a first portion of a sidewall of the first container of FIG. 3A;

[0028] FIG. 3C illustrates a second portion of the sidewall of the first container of FIG. 3A;

[0029] FIG. 3D illustrates a shoulder rib of the first container of FIG. 3A;

[0030] FIG. 4A illustrates a second container in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0031] FIG. 4B illustrates area 4B of FIG. 4A;

[0032] FIG. 5A illustrates a third container in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0033] FIG. 5B illustrates area 5B of FIG. 5A;

[0034] FIG. 6A illustrates filled, capped, top load performance of the containers of FIGS. 1-5; and

[0035] FIG. 6B illustrates the detail at area 6B of FIG. 6A.

[0036] Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0038] With reference to FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C, and 3D, a first container in accordance with the present disclosure is illustrated at reference numeral 10C. The container 10C may be made of any suitable material, such as any suitable polymeric material including polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The container 10C is configured to store any suitable material therein, such as any suitable hot-fill commodity. The container 10C (as well as container 10D of FIGS. 4A and 4B, and container 10E of FIGS. 5A and 5B) has some features that are similar to the prior art containers 10A and 10B. Features of the containers 10C, 10D, and 10E that are similar to features of the containers 10A and 10B are illustrated with the same reference numbers, but with the suffixes “C,” “D,” and “E” respectively instead of “A” or “B.” With respect to such similar features, the description set forth above with respect to containers 10A and 10B also applies to the similar features of containers 10C, 10D, and 10E. Differences between the containers 10C, 10D, and 10E and prior art containers, such as containers 10A and 10B, are explained below.

[0039] The container 10C may be of any suitable size, such as 32 oz. When empty, the container 10C may have a weight of about 39 grams, which is advantageously less than many prior containers, such as the containers 10A and 10B. The specific configuration of the shoulder 30C and the shoulder rib 60C described herein advantageously allows the thickness of the sidewall 88C of the container 10C to be reduced, which decreases the overall weight of the container 10C. For example, the thickness of the sidewall 88C may be about 0.014″. The configuration of the shoulder 30C and shoulder 60C of the container 10C also prevents the container 10C from ovalizing when a top force is applied to the container 10C after it has been filled and capped.

[0040] The shoulder rib 60C is an uppermost rib of the container 10C, and is located adjacent to, and between, the shoulder 30C and the body 40C. The shoulder rib 60C is located above a center of gravity of the container 10C, such as about 133 mm. from the base 50C. More generally, the shoulder rib 60C is located at a top half of the container 10C. The center body rib 80C, the upper body ribs 82C, and the lower body ribs 86C may be any suitable active hinge ribs, such as set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 8,496,130, which is incorporated herein by reference. The base 50C may be any suitable base, such as any one of the bases disclosed at U.S. Pat. No. 9,394,072, which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0041] Unlike the containers 10A and 10B, shoulder rib 60C of the container 10C has a height H.sub.C that is about 5 times greater than the lower depth LD.sub.C and the upper depth UD.sub.C (see FIG. 3D, for example). The height H.sub.C is measured from where the lower radius 62C meets the body 40C, to where the upper radius 64C meets the shoulder 30C. The lower depth LD.sub.C is measured from the outermost portion of the body 40C proximate to where the lower radius 62C meets the body 40C, and the center portion of the center radius 66C, as illustrated in FIG. 3D. The upper depth UD.sub.C is measured from the maximum diameter of the shoulder 30C proximate to where the upper radius 64C meets the shoulder 30C, and the center of the radius 66C. The upper depth UD.sub.C′ is measured from where the upper radius 64C meets the maximum diameter of the shoulder 30C at any one of the indents 32C, and the center portion of the center radius 66C, as illustrated in FIG. 3D.

[0042] The shoulder rib 60C is continuously curved overall across the lower radius 62C, the upper radius 64C, and the center radius 66C. The center radius 66C has a radius of curvature of about 4.44 mm. The lower radius 62C and the upper radius 64C may be any suitable radii, such as a radii of about 2-2.5 mm.

[0043] In one example, the height H.sub.C is about 9.5 mm., and each one of the lower depth LD.sub.C and the upper depth UD.sub.C is about 2 mm. At any one of the indents 32C, the effective upper depth UD.sub.C′ is less than the upper depth UD.sub.C. Thus, the upper depth UD.sub.C′ at the indent 32C can be about 70-80% less than the lower depth LD.sub.C and the height H.sub.C is about 19 times greater than the upper depth UD.sub.C. For example, the upper depth UD.sub.C′ at the indent 32C can be about 0.5 mm., and the lower depth LD.sub.C can be about 2 mm. Thus at the upper radius 64C′ the shoulder rib 60C has a maximum diameter that is less than a maximum diameter of the lower radius 62C. The variable depth of the shoulder rib 60C is the result of different container diameters above and below the shoulder rib 60C.

[0044] With reference to FIGS. 4A and 4B, the present disclosure further includes the container 10D with a shoulder rib 60D. Like the shoulder ribs 60C and 60E, the shoulder rib 60D has a height H.sub.D that is about 5 times greater than lower depth LD.sub.D and upper depth UD.sub.D. Unlike the shoulder ribs 60C and 60E, the reduced upper diameter UD.sub.D′ is present about an entire circumference of the shoulder 30A.

[0045] With reference to FIGS. 5A and 5B, the present disclosure further includes the container 10E with a shoulder rib 60E. Like the shoulder ribs 60C and 60D, the shoulder rib 60E has a height H.sub.E that is about 5 times greater than lower depth LD.sub.E and upper depth UD.sub.E. Unlike the shoulder ribs 60C and 60D, however, the upper depth UD.sub.E of the shoulder rib 60E is the same as the lower depth LD.sub.E about the entire circumference of the shoulder rib 60E.

[0046] With reference to FIGS. 6A and 6B, filled capped top load performance for each one of the containers 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D, and 10E is illustrated. With particular reference to FIG. 6B, testing shows that containers 10C, 10D, and 10E exhibit superior top load performance as compared to prior art containers 10A and 10B. Specifically, prior art containers 10A and 10B experience ovalization failure at a lower top load as compared to containers 10C, 10D, and 10E.

[0047] With particular reference to FIG. 6B, container 10D is able to withstand the greatest amount of top load force before experiencing an ovalization failure. Although container 10C is not able to withstand as much top load force as container 10D, container 10C exhibits less displacement than all of the other containers. Container 10E, which has a shoulder rib 60E without a variable depth, still exhibits superior top load performance as compared to prior art containers 10A and 10B, such as due to the shoulder rib 60E having a height H.sub.E that is about five times greater than the lower depth LD.sub.E and the upper depth UD.sub.E. Advantageously, the top load strength of the containers 10C, 10D, and 10E increases as the perimeter length of the variable rib depth portion increases. With additional reference to FIG. 6A, top load is typically measured at a standard vertical displacement of 0.25″, and all containers must meet a minimum top load requirement at that distance. Higher performance at 0.25″ indicates a more rigid and robust container design.

[0048] The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.

[0049] Example embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough, and will fully convey the scope to those who are skilled in the art. Numerous specific details are set forth such as examples of specific components, devices, and methods, to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that specific details need not be employed, that example embodiments may be embodied in many different forms and that neither should be construed to limit the scope of the disclosure. In some example embodiments, well-known processes, well-known device structures, and well-known technologies are not described in detail.

[0050] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular example embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “including,” and “having,” are inclusive and therefore specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. The method steps, processes, and operations described herein are not to be construed as necessarily requiring their performance in the particular order discussed or illustrated, unless specifically identified as an order of performance. It is also to be understood that additional or alternative steps may be employed.

[0051] When an element or layer is referred to as being “on,” “engaged to,” “connected to,” or “coupled to” another element or layer, it may be directly on, engaged, connected or coupled to the other element or layer, or intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly engaged to,” “directly connected to,” or “directly coupled to” another element or layer, there may be no intervening elements or layers present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between” versus “directly between,” “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.). As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0052] Although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. Terms such as “first,” “second,” and other numerical terms when used herein do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the example embodiments.

[0053] Spatially relative terms, such as “inner,” “outer,” “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper,” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. Spatially relative terms may be intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the example term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.