Implosion resistant containers

Abstract

The present invention overcomes many of the shortcomings inherent in previous containers for packaging potato chips, corn based chips, cookies and the like. The improved implosion-resistant container of the present invention utilizes a collection of stress dissipating mechanisms that counteract the forces causing thermoplastic 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.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A thermo-plastic container for packaging a single stack of fragile articles, comprising: 
 a generally tubular body with a central longitudinal axis, said body having a sidewall, a closed end and an open end; wherein said sidewall includes a corrugated pattern formed therein.    
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the corrugated pattern is annular.  
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the pattern is non-annular.  
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the corrugated pattern traverses the central longitudinal axis.  
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the corrugated pattern traverses the central longitudinal axis at a perpendicular angle.  
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the corrugated pattern traverses the central longitudinal axis in a sinusoidal pattern.  
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the sidewall further includes a smooth section formed therein.  
     
     
         8 . A thermo-plastic container for packaging a single stack of fragile articles, comprising: 
 a generally tubular body with a central longitudinal axis, said body having a sidewall, a closed end and an open end; wherein said sidewall includes a plurality of three-dimensional shapes formed therein.    
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 8  wherein the sidewall further includes a corrugated pattern formed therein.  
     
     
         10 . A thermoplastic container for packaging a single stack of fragile articles, comprising: 
 a generally tubular body with a central longitudinal axis, said body having a sidewall, a closed end and an open end; wherein said sidewall includes a floating panel mechanism formed therein.    
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 10  wherein the floating panel mechanism comprises a stable panel area defined by an encompassing flexible corrugated suspension ring formed within the confines of a planar surface fashioned in the sidewall.  
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 10  wherein the sidewall further includes a corrugated pattern formed therein.  
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 10  wherein the sidewall further includes a plurality of three-dimensional shapes formed therein.  
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 12  wherein the sidewall further includes a plurality of three-dimensional shapes formed therein.  
     
     
         15 . A thermo-plastic container for packaging a single stack of fragile articles, comprising: 
 a generally tubular body with a central longitudinal axis, said body having a sidewall, a closed end and an open end; wherein said tubular body includes a morphing geometries mechanism formed therein.    
     
     
         16 . The container of  claim 15  wherein the morphing geometries mechanism comprises an annular bellows means.  
     
     
         17 . The container of  claim 15  wherein the sidewall further includes a corrugated pattern formed therein.  
     
     
         18 . The container of  claim 17  wherein the sidewall further includes a plurality of three-dimensional shapes formed therein.  
     
     
         19 . The container of  claim 17  wherein the sidewall further includes a floating panel mechanism formed therein.  
     
     
         20 . The container of  claim 19  wherein the sidewall further includes a plurality of three-dimensional shapes formed therein.  
     
     
         21 . The container of  claim 15  wherein the sidewall further includes a plurality of three-dimensional shapes formed therein.  
     
     
         22 . The container of  claim 21  wherein the sidewall further includes a floating panel mechanism formed therein.  
     
     
         23 . The container of  claim 15  wherein the sidewall further includes a floating panel mechanism formed therein.  
     
     
         24 . A thermoplastic container for packaging a single stack of fragile articles, comprising: 
 a generally tubular body with a central longitudinal axis, said body having a sidewall, a closed end and an open end; wherein said sidewall includes a flowing geometries mechanism formed therein.    
     
     
         25 . The container of  claim 24  wherein the flowing geometries mechanism comprises at least one lateral flexible hinged area defining a weakened panel area.  
     
     
         26 . The container of  claim 24  wherein the flowing geometries mechanism comprises at least two flowing geometries mechanisms evenly spaced around the annular periphery of the body.  
     
     
         27 . The container of  claim 24  wherein sidewall further includes a corrugated pattern formed therein.  
     
     
         28 . The container of  claim 27  wherein the sidewall further includes a plurality of three-dimensional shapes formed therein.  
     
     
         29 . The container of  claim 27  wherein the sidewall further includes a floating panel mechanism formed therein.  
     
     
         30 . The container of  claim 27  wherein said tubular body includes a morphing geometries mechanism formed therein.  
     
     
         31 . The container of  claim 24  wherein the sidewall further includes a plurality of three-dimensional shapes formed therein.  
     
     
         32 . The container of  claim 31  wherein the sidewall further includes a floating panel mechanism formed therein.  
     
     
         33 . The container of  claim 32  wherein sidewall further includes a corrugated pattern formed therein.  
     
     
         34 . The container of  claim 31  wherein said tubular body includes a morphing geometries mechanism formed therein.  
     
     
         35 . The container of  claim 34  wherein sidewall further includes a corrugated pattern formed therein.  
     
     
         36 . The container of  claim 24  wherein the sidewall further includes a floating panel mechanism formed therein.  
     
     
         37 . The container of  claim 36  wherein said tubular body includes a morphing geometries mechanism formed therein.  
     
     
         38 . The container of  claim 37  wherein the sidewall further includes a plurality of three-dimensional shapes formed therein.  
     
     
         39 . The container of  claim 38  wherein sidewall further includes a corrugated pattern formed therein.  
     
     
         40 . The container of  claim 24  wherein said tubular body includes a morphing geometries mechanism formed therein.