Plastic container elements

Abstract

A plastic container including an outer container element having a geometrical center and an inner container element mounted within the outer container element, the outer container element and the inner container element, when mounted in the outer container element, together having a center of gravity which is lower than a geometrical center of the outer container element.

1 . A plastic container comprising:
 an outer container element having a geometrical center; and   an inner container element mounted within said outer container element,   said outer container element and said inner container element, when mounted in said outer container element, together having a center of gravity which is lower than a geometrical center of said outer container element.   
   
   
       2 . A plastic container according to  claim 1  and wherein said outer container element comprises an outer container element body and an outer container element neck portion, said outer container element neck portion being operative to engage said inner container element. 
   
   
       3 . A plastic container according to  claim 2  and wherein said outer container element body is integrally formed with said outer container element neck portion. 
   
   
       4 . A plastic container according to  claim 2  and wherein said outer container element neck portion comprises an inner facing wall surface, and an inner facing flange defining a shoulder. 
   
   
       5 . A plastic container according to  claim 2  and wherein said outer container element body includes a base surface having a curved portion. 
   
   
       6 . A plastic container according to  claim 1  and wherein said inner container element comprises an inner container element body having an outer facing surface and an inner container element stem portion, said inner container element body and said inner container element stem portion being integrally formed. 
   
   
       7 . A plastic container element according to  claim 6  and wherein said inner container element body comprises at least one resilient snap element formed on said outer facing surface of said inner container element body and being operative to engage said outer container element. 
   
   
       8 . A plastic container according to  claim 7  and wherein said outer container element comprises an inner facing wall surface and an inner facing flange defining a shoulder and said at least one resilient snap element is operative to engage said shoulder, thereby retaining said inner container element in a desired position inside said outer container element. 
   
   
       9 . A plastic container according to  claim 7  and wherein said at least one resilient snap element comprises a plurality of resilient snap elements formed equidistantly about said outer facing surface of said inner container element body. 
   
   
       10 . A plastic container according to  claim 6  and wherein said inner container element stem portion comprises:
 a generally cylindrical portion having a plurality of outwardly extending ribs extending therefrom, said ribs being equidistantly distributed about said cylindrical portion; and   a base portion having a convex base surface.   
   
   
       11 . A plastic container according to  claim 10  and wherein said outer container element body includes a base surface having a curved portion, and said convex base surface of said inner container element stem portion engages a curved portion of said base surface of said outer container element. 
   
   
       12 . A plastic container according to  claim 10  and wherein said cylindrical portion has a bore formed therethrough. 
   
   
       13 . A plastic container according to  claim 6  and wherein said inner container element body comprises a plurality of notches distributed equidistantly about said outer facing surface and a plurality of longitudinal grooves. 
   
   
       14 . A plastic container according to  claim 13  and wherein said plurality of longitudinal grooves extend from said plurality of notches, said plurality of grooves being equidistantly distributed about said outer facing surface. 
   
   
       15 . A plastic container according to  claim 6  and wherein said inner container element stem portion comprises a generally cylindrical portion having a bore defined therein and defining a base surface. 
   
   
       16 . A plastic container according to  claim 15  and wherein said outer container element body includes a base surface having a curved portion, and said base surface of said inner container element stem portion engages said curved portion of said base surface of said outer container element. 
   
   
       17 . A plastic container comprising:
 an outer container element including a neck portion comprising a flange; and   an inner container element including at least one resilient snap element and being mounted within said outer container element,   said at least one resilient snap element engaging said flange when said inner container element is mounted in said outer container element, thereby ensuring that said inner container element is centered with respect to said outer container element.   
   
   
       18 . A plastic container according to  claim 17  and wherein said outer container element has a geometrical center and said outer container element and said inner container element, when mounted in said outer container element, together have a center of gravity which is lower than a geometrical center of said outer container element. 
   
   
       19 . A plastic container according to  claim 17  and wherein said outer container element includes a base surface having a curved portion. 
   
   
       20 . A plastic container according to  claim 17  and wherein said inner container element comprises an inner container element body having an outer facing surface and an inner container element stem portion, said inner container element body and said inner container element stem portion being integrally formed. 
   
   
       21 . A plastic container according to  claim 17  and wherein said at least one resilient snap element comprises a plurality of resilient snap elements formed equidistantly about said outer facing surface of said inner container element body. 
   
   
       22 . A plastic container according to  claim 20  and wherein said inner container element stem portion comprises:
 a generally cylindrical portion having a plurality of outwardly extending ribs extending therefrom, said ribs being equidistantly distributed about said cylindrical portion; and   a base portion having a convex base surface.   
   
   
       23 . A plastic container according to  claim 22  and wherein said outer container element body includes a base surface having a curved portion, and said convex base surface of said inner container element stem portion engages a curved portion of said base surface of said outer container element. 
   
   
       24 . A plastic container according to  claim 22  and wherein said cylindrical portion has a bore formed therethrough. 
   
   
       25 . A plastic container according to  claim 20  and wherein said inner container element body comprises a plurality of notches distributed equidistantly about said outer facing surface and a plurality of longitudinal grooves. 
   
   
       26 . A plastic container according to  claim 25  and wherein said plurality of longitudinal grooves extend from said plurality of notches, said plurality of grooves being equidistantly distributed about said outer facing surface. 
   
   
       27 . A plastic container according to  claim 20  and wherein said inner container element stem portion comprises a generally cylindrical portion having a bore defined therein and defining a base surface. 
   
   
       28 . A plastic container according to  claim 27  and wherein said outer container element body includes a base surface having a curved portion, and said base surface of said inner container element stem portion engages said curved portion of said base surface of said outer container element.