Plastic container with varying depth ribs

Abstract

A bottle may have varying depth ribs to achieve a balance of strength and rigidity while maintaining hoop strength. The varying depth ribs may smoothly transition around the circumference of the bottle from a flattened and/or shallow depth rib portion to a deep rib portion. A collection of flattened and/or shallow depth ribs act as recessed columns in the body of the bottle to resist bending, leaning, crumbling, and/or stretching. The deep rib portions provide hoop strength and make the bottle body more rigid and/or stiffer when gripped by a user. A balance may be achieved between of flattened and/or shallow depth ribs and deep ribs to attain a desired resistance to bending, leaning, and/or stretching while maintaining stiffness in a lightweight bottle.

1 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A container comprising:
 a base;   a sidewall connected to the base, the sidewall extending over a length in the direction of a central axis to define at least part of a container interior, the sidewall including a label portion and a grip portion;   a bell connected to the sidewall and leading to a finish; and   a plurality of varying depth ribs positioned along the sidewall, wherein each varying depth rib of the plurality includes at least a shallow section and a deep section, and wherein at least some of the shallow sections of different varying depth ribs align parallel to the central axis.   
     
     
         15 . The container of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of varying depth ribs is positioned within the grip portion of the sidewall. 
     
     
         16 . The container of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of varying depth ribs is positioned within the label portion of the sidewall. 
     
     
         17 . The container of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of varying depth ribs positioned along the sidewall is a plurality of varying depth ribs positioned within the grip portion and a plurality of varying depth ribs positioned within the label portion. 
     
     
         18 . The container of  claim 17 , wherein at least some of the shallow sections of different varying depth ribs positioned within the grip portion align parallel to the central axis and at least some of the shallow sections of different varying depth ribs positioned within the label portion align parallel to the central axis. 
     
     
         19 . The container of  claim 18 , wherein the at least some of the shallow sections positioned within the grip portion are misaligned with the at least some of the shallow sections positioned within the label portion. 
     
     
         20 . The container of  claim 14 , wherein the varying depth ribs are positioned within the grip portion and within the label portion such that the varying depth ribs of the grip portion form a grip recessed column and the varying depth ribs of the label portion form a label recessed column. 
     
     
         21 . The container of  claim 14 , wherein at least some varying depth ribs of the plurality of varying depth ribs abruptly transition from shallow sections to deep sections. 
     
     
         22 . The container of  claim 14 , wherein each depth rib of the plurality of varying depth ribs has a trapezoidal cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         23 . The container of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of varying depth ribs is a plurality of angulating and varying depth ribs. 
     
     
         24 . A container comprising:
 a base;   a sidewall connected to the base, the sidewall extending over a length in the direction of a central axis, the sidewall including a label portion and a grip portion;   a bell connected to the sidewall and leading to a finish, the finish adapted to receive a closure;   a plurality of constant depth ribs positioned along the sidewall; and   a plurality of varying depth ribs positioned along the sidewall, wherein each varying depth rib includes at least a shallow section and a deep section.   
     
     
         25 . The container of  claim 24 , wherein a portion of the plurality of constant depth ribs and a portion of the plurality of varying depth ribs are positioned along the sidewall in an alternating relationship. 
     
     
         26 . The container of  claim 25 , wherein the alternating relationship is that of a constant depth rib alternating with a varying depth rib. 
     
     
         27 . The container of  claim 25 , wherein the alternating relationship is in only one of the grip portion or the label portion. 
     
     
         28 . The container of  claim 24 , wherein the at least a shallow section of each varying depth rib has a rib depth of between 0 and 2.5 millimeters. 
     
     
         29 . The container of  claim 24 , wherein the at least a shallow section of each varying depth rib has a triangular cross-sectional shape.