Container With Rib Elements Patterned in a Brick Pattern

Abstract

A container for beverages has a plurality of side panels having rib elements. The container preferably has the rib elements arranged in a brick pattern. The container reduces the deformation of the side panels that occurs when gripped.

1 . A plastic container comprising:
 a top portion;   a body comprising a plurality of side panels located below the top portion;   a base located below the body portion; and   wherein at least one of the plurality of side panels has a plurality of rib elements arranged in a brick pattern.   
     
     
         2 . The plastic container of  claim 1 , wherein the rib elements extend further from the longitudinal axis of the container than the surface of the container. 
     
     
         3 . The plastic container of  claim 1 , wherein the surface of the container extends further from the longitudinal axis of the container than the rib elements. 
     
     
         4 . The plastic container of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of rib elements are arranged in a plurality of rows. 
     
     
         5 . The plastic container of  claim 4 , wherein at least one of the plurality of rows is continuous. 
     
     
         6 . The plastic container of  claim 1 , wherein two of the plurality of rib elements have a joint element connecting the two of the plurality of rib elements. 
     
     
         7 . The plastic container of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of rib elements is discrete from each other of the plurality of rib elements. 
     
     
         8 . The plastic container of  claim 1 , wherein a thickness of one of the plurality of side panels is between 0.01 and 0.02 inches, and further wherein when a force less than 1.65 lbf is applied to the at least one of the plurality of side panels then the surface is not displaced at least ¼ of an inch in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the container. 
     
     
         9 . The plastic container of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of side panels has a plurality of rib elements arranged in a brick pattern. 
     
     
         10 . A plastic container comprising:
 a top portion;   a body comprising a plurality of side panels located below the top portion;   a base located below the body portion; and   wherein a thickness of each of the plurality of side panels is between 0.01 and 0.02 inches, and further wherein when a force less than 1.65 lbf is applied to a center of the at least one of the plurality of side panels then the surface is not displaced at least ¼ of an inch in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the container.   
     
     
         11 . The plastic container of  claim 10 , wherein each of the plurality of side panels further comprises rib elements which extend further from the longitudinal axis of the container than the surface of the container. 
     
     
         12 . The plastic container of  claim 10 , wherein each of the plurality of side panels further comprises rib elements and further wherein the surface of the container extends further from the longitudinal axis of the container than the rib elements. 
     
     
         13 . The plastic container of  claim 10 , wherein each of the plurality of side panels further comprises rib elements and further wherein the rib elements are arranged in a plurality of rows. 
     
     
         14 . The plastic container of  claim 13 , wherein at least one of the plurality of rows is continuous. 
     
     
         15 . The plastic container of  claim 10 , wherein each of the plurality of side panels further comprises a first rib element, a second rib element, and a joint element, wherein the joint element connects the first and second rib element. 
     
     
         16 . The plastic container of  claim 10 , wherein each of the plurality of side panels comprises rib elements, wherein each of the rib elements is discrete from each other. 
     
     
         17 . The plastic container of  claim 10 , wherein each of the plurality of side panels has a plurality of rib elements arranged in a brick pattern. 
     
     
         18 . The plastic container of  claim 10 , wherein each of the plurality of side panels further comprises a first rib element, a second rib element and a third rib element, and further wherein a first end of the first rib element and a second end of the second rib element are located proximate to each other and a center portion of a side panel of the third rib element is located proximate to the first end of the first rib element and the second end of the second rib element. 
     
     
         19 . A plastic container comprising;
 a top portion;   a body comprising a plurality of side panels located below the top portion;   a base located below the body portion; and   wherein at least one of the plurality of side panels further comprises a first rib element, a second rib element and a third rib element, and further wherein a first end of the first rib element and a second end of the second rib element are located proximate to each other and a center portion of a side panel of the third rib element is located proximate to the first end of the first rib element and the second end of the second rib element.   
     
     
         20 . The container of  claim 19 , wherein each of the plurality of side panels comprises rib elements.