US2007012650A1PendingUtilityA1

Container with Improved Crush Resistance

55
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Jul 12, 2005Filed: Jul 12, 2006Published: Jan 18, 2007
Est. expiryJul 12, 2025(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Raymond C. Eble
B65D 1/44B65D 1/0223
55
PatentIndex Score
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Cited by
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References
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Claims

Abstract

A plastic container having improved crush resistance through the inclusion of a window and column design which is principally intended to increase its load bearing ability and/or a series of circumferential ribs intended to improve the container's circumferential strength to inhibit deformation during vacuum filling. The plastic container can be used in place of glass containers of similar volume.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A container comprising: 
 a main body comprised of plastic, said main body including a top section, a middle section, and a bottom section arranged vertically and enclosing an internal volume;    a rim through which material can be placed in said internal volume, said top section interconnecting said rim and said middle section; and    a base, said bottom section interconnecting said base and said middle section;    wherein said middle section is generally cylindrical about a center axis; and    wherein, at least one of said top section and said bottom section include a window and column structure comprising; 
 at least two windows arranged circularly symmetrically about said center axis, each of said windows being a portion of said main body recessed into said internal volume; and  
 at least two columns, a column being arranged between any two adjacent windows, each of said columns having an outer surface and two transition surfaces;  
 wherein each of said transition surfaces is rounded.  
   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1  wherein both said top section and said bottom section include said window and column structure.  
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 2  wherein said top section has the same number of windows and columns as said bottom section.  
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 3  wherein each of said transition surfaces on said top section is vertically aligned with a transition section on said bottom section.  
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 1  wherein said at least two windows comprises between five and eleven windows.  
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 5  wherein said at least two windows comprises between seven and nine windows.  
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 6  wherein said at least two windows comprises exactly eight windows.  
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 1  wherein said middle section further comprises at least three ribs arranged circumferentially about said center axis, each of said ribs comprising a groove recessed into the structure of the middle section.  
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 8  wherein said groove comprises a flat bottom surface and two rounded side surfaces.  
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 9  wherein said ribs comprise at least four ribs.  
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 10  wherein said ribs are arranged to form a middle rib arrangement and a flanking rib arrangement.  
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 11  wherein said middle rib arrangement is symmetrical about a predetermined point.  
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 12  wherein said flanking rib arrangement is symmetrical about a different predetermined point.  
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 11  wherein said middle rib arrangement comprises four ribs and said flanking rib arrangement comprises two ribs.  
     
     
         15 . The container of  claim 1  further comprising a cylinder connected to said rim and including at least one protrusion positioned so as to allow a lid to be screwed onto said cylinder.  
     
     
         16 . The container of  claim 1  wherein said container is generally barrel-shaped.  
     
     
         17 . A container comprising 
 a main body comprised of plastic, said main body including a top section, a middle section, and a bottom section arranged vertically and enclosing an internal volume;    a rim through which material can be placed in said internal volume, said top section interconnecting said rim and said middle section; and    a base, said bottom section interconnecting said base and said middle section;    wherein said middle section is generally cylindrical about a center axis; and    wherein, said middle section comprises at least three ribs arranged circumferentially about said center axis,    wherein each of said ribs comprising a groove recessed into the structure of the middle section; and    wherein said groove comprises a flat bottom surface and two rounded side surfaces.    
     
     
         18 . The container of  claim 17  wherein said ribs comprise at least four ribs.  
     
     
         19 . The container of  claim 18  wherein said ribs are arranged to form a middle rib arrangement and a flanking rib arrangement.  
     
     
         20 . The container of  claim 19  wherein said middle rib arrangement is symmetrical about a predetermined point.  
     
     
         21 . The container of  claim 20  wherein said flanking rib arrangement is symmetrical about a different predetermined point.  
     
     
         22 . The container of  claim 19  wherein said middle rib arrangement comprises four ribs and said flanking rib arrangement comprises two ribs.  
     
     
         23 . The container of  claim 17  wherein, at least one of said top section and said bottom section include a window and column structure comprising; 
 at least two windows arranged circularly symmetrically about said center axis, each of said windows being a portion of said main body recessed into said internal volume; and    at least two columns, a column being arranged between any two adjacent windows, each of said columns having an outer surface and two transition surfaces;    
     
     
         24 . The container of  claim 23  wherein each of said transition surfaces is rounded.  
     
     
         25 . The container of  claim 23  wherein both said top section and said bottom section include said window and column structure.  
     
     
         26 . The container of  claim 25  wherein said top section has the same number of windows and columns as said bottom section.  
     
     
         27 . The container of  claim 26  wherein each of said transition surfaces on said top section is vertically aligned with a transition section on said bottom section.  
     
     
         28 . The container of  claim 27  wherein said at least two windows comprises between five and eleven windows.  
     
     
         29 . The container of  claim 28  wherein said at least two windows comprises between seven and nine windows.  
     
     
         30 . The container of  claim 29  wherein said at least two windows comprises exactly eight windows.  
     
     
         31 . The container of  claim 17  further comprising a cylinder connected to said rim and including at least one protrusion positioned so as to allow a lid to be screwed onto said cylinder.  
     
     
         32 . The container of  claim 17  wherein said container is generally barrel-shaped.

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