Plastic Container Possessing Improved Top Load Strength and Grippability

Abstract

A plastic container includes a sidewall having an outer surface and an inner surface that defines an interior space. The sidewall is shaped so as to define a container neck, a main body portion and a dome that may be substantially rectangular in transverse cross-section. The dome has a lower and that is integral with the main body portion and a shoulder at an upper end that is integral with the container neck. The dome preferably includes at least one longitudinally extending buttress column defined in the sidewall that when viewed in transverse cross-section protrudes laterally outwardly from adjacent portions of the sidewall in order to enhance the strength of the container. The longitudinally extending buttress column may extend along an entire length of the dome from the main body portion to the container neck in order to further enhance the strength of the container.

1 . A plastic container, comprising:
 a sidewall having an outer surface and an inner surface, said sidewall being shaped to define a container neck; a main body portion; and a dome that is substantially rectangular in transverse cross-section, said dome having a lower end that is integral with said main body portion and a shoulder at an upper end that is integral with said container neck, and wherein   said dome includes at least one longitudinally extending buttress column defined in said sidewall that when viewed in transverse cross-section protrudes laterally outwardly from adjacent portions of said sidewall, whereby the strength of said container is enhanced.   
   
   
       2 . A plastic container according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one longitudinally extending buttress column extends along an entire length of said shoulder portion. 
   
   
       3 . A plastic container according to  claim 2 , wherein said at least one longitudinally extending buttress column further extends along a part of said dome that does not define said shoulder portion. 
   
   
       4 . A plastic container according to  claim 2 , wherein said at least one longitudinally extending buttress column extends for an entire length of said dome from said main body portion to said container neck. 
   
   
       5 . A plastic container according to  claim 2 , wherein at least a portion of said longitudinally extending buttress column is tapered in width so as to be narrower at an upper end that it is at a lower end. 
   
   
       6 . A plastic container according to  claim 1 , wherein said dome comprises two of said longitudinally extending buttress columns, and wherein said longitudinally extending buttress columns are positioned on opposite sides of said dome and are symmetrically opposed to each other. 
   
   
       7 . A plastic container according to  claim 6 , wherein said dome comprises front and rear surfaces and first and second side surfaces that are narrower than said front and rear surfaces, and wherein said two longitudinally extending buttress columns are respectively positioned on said side surfaces. 
   
   
       8 . A plastic container according to  claim 1 , wherein said longitudinally extending buttress column is generally C-shaped as viewed in transverse cross-section. 
   
   
       9 . A plastic container according to  claim 1 , wherein said longitudinally extending buttress column has an outer surface that is substantially flat. 
   
   
       10 . A plastic container according to  claim 1 , wherein said longitudinally extending buttress column includes a first tapered portion located at a lowermost end of said dome, said first tapered portion having a relatively broad base at a lower end that is adjacent to said main body portion of said container and being tapered so as to narrow as it extends upwardly. 
   
   
       11 . A plastic container according to  claim 10 , wherein said longitudinally extending buttress column further includes a second tapered portion that is located on said shoulder portion of said dome, said second tapered portion being tapered so as to narrow as it extends upwardly to an upper end that is adjacent to said neck portion of said container. 
   
   
       12 . A plastic container according to  claim 11 , wherein said longitudinally extending buttress column further includes a central portion that is integral and continuous with an upper end of said first tapered portion and a lower end of said second tapered portion. 
   
   
       13 . A plastic container, comprising:
 a sidewall having an outer surface and an inner surface, said sidewall being shaped to define a container neck; a main body portion; and a dome having a lower end that is integral with said main body portion and a shoulder at an upper end that is integral with said container neck, and wherein   said dome includes at least one longitudinally extending buttress column defined in said sidewall that when viewed in transverse cross-section protrudes laterally outwardly from adjacent portions of said sidewall, said at least one longitudinally extending buttress column extending along an entire length of said dome from said main body portion to said container neck whereby the strength of said container is enhanced.   
   
   
       14 . A plastic container according to  claim 13 , wherein at least a portion of said longitudinally extending buttress column is tapered in width so as to be narrower at an upper end that it is at a lower end. 
   
   
       15 . A plastic container according to  claim 13 , wherein said dome comprises two of said longitudinally extending buttress columns, and wherein said longitudinally extending buttress columns are positioned on opposite sides of said dome and are symmetrically opposed to each other. 
   
   
       16 . A plastic container according to  claim 13 , wherein said longitudinally extending buttress column is generally C-shaped as viewed in transverse cross-section. 
   
   
       17 . A plastic container according to  claim 13 , wherein said longitudinally extending buttress column has an outer surface that is substantially flat. 
   
   
       18 . A plastic container according to  claim 13 , wherein said longitudinally extending buttress column includes a first tapered portion located at a lowermost end of said dome, said first tapered portion having a relatively broad base at a lower end that is adjacent to said main body portion of said container and being tapered so as to narrow as it extends upwardly. 
   
   
       19 . A plastic container according to  claim 18 , wherein said longitudinally extending buttress column further includes a second tapered portion that is located on said shoulder portion of said dome, said second tapered portion being tapered so as to narrow as it extends upwardly to an upper end that is adjacent to said neck portion of said container. 
   
   
       20 . A plastic container according to  claim 19 , wherein said longitudinally extending buttress column further includes a central portion that is integral and continuous with an upper end of said first tapered portion and a lower end of said second tapered portion.