Bottle with ribbed neck

Abstract

A plastic bottle including a body portion, a neck portion extending from the body portion, and a plurality of equally sized and spaced ribs disposed around a circumference of the neck portion. The body portion can be configured to contain liquid. The neck portion can define an opening for dispensing liquid from the bottle and have a central axis. Each of the plurality of ribs can extend across an interface region between the neck portion and the body portion. Each of the plurality of ribs can extend across the interface region at an angle relative to the central axis of the neck. Each of the plurality of ribs can have a length of 1 mm to 10 mm.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A plastic bottle comprising:
 a body portion configured to contain liquid;   a neck portion extending from the body portion, the neck portion defining an opening for dispensing liquid from the bottle and having a central axis; and   a plurality of equally sized and spaced ribs disposed around a circumference of the neck portion, each of the plurality of ribs extending across an interface region between the neck portion and the body portion,   wherein each of the plurality of ribs extends across the interface region at an angle relative to the central axis of the neck, and   wherein each of the plurality of ribs has a length of 1 mm to 10 mm.   
     
     
         2 . The plastic bottle of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of ribs extends across the entire interface region. 
     
     
         3 . The plastic bottle of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of ribs extends across the interface region at an angle of 30 to 60 degrees relative to the central axis of the neck. 
     
     
         4 . The plastic bottle of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of ribs has a length of 2 mm to 5 mm. 
     
     
         5 . The plastic bottle of  claim 1 , wherein a width of each of the plurality of ribs is 1 to 10 times greater than a separation width between adjacent ribs of the plurality of ribs. 
     
     
         6 . The plastic bottle of  claim 1 , wherein a thickness of each of the plurality of ribs is approximately equal to a separation width between adjacent ribs of the plurality of ribs. 
     
     
         7 . The plastic bottle of  claim 1 , wherein 50 to 80 ribs are disposed around the circumference of the neck portion. 
     
     
         8 . The plastic bottle of  claim 1 , wherein the bottle is blow-molded. 
     
     
         9 . The plastic bottle of  claim 1 , wherein the neck portion extends vertically from the body portion. 
     
     
         10 . The plastic bottle of  claim 1 , further comprising a spout that directs liquid through the opening. 
     
     
         11 . A plastic bottle comprising:
 a body portion configured to contain liquid;   a neck portion extending from the body portion, the neck portion defining an opening for dispensing liquid from the bottle and having a central axis; and   a plurality of ribs disposed around a circumference of the neck portion and extending from the neck portion to the body portion,   wherein an upper end of each of the plurality of ribs smoothly transitions into the neck portion, and   wherein a lower end of each of the plurality of ribs smoothly transitions into the body portion.   
     
     
         12 . The plastic bottle of  claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of ribs has a rounded outer profile. 
     
     
         13 . The plastic bottle of  claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of ribs extends linearly from the neck portion to the body portion. 
     
     
         14 . The plastic bottle of  claim 11 , wherein at least half the circumference of the neck portion is covered by the plurality of ribs. 
     
     
         15 . The plastic bottle of  claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of ribs extends across the interface region at the same angle relative to the central axis. 
     
     
         16 . The plastic bottle of  claim 11 , wherein ribs of a first pair of adjacent ribs of the plurality of ribs are separated by a first separation width,
 wherein ribs of a second pair of adjacent ribs of the plurality of ribs are separated by a second separation width, and   wherein the first separation width is equal to the second separation width.   
     
     
         17 . The plastic bottle of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of ribs are equally sized and spaced. 
     
     
         18 . A container comprising:
 a plastic bottle comprising:
 a body portion configured to contain liquid; 
 a neck portion extending from the body portion, the neck portion defining an opening for dispensing liquid from the bottle; and 
 a plurality of ribs disposed around a circumference of the neck portion, each of the plurality of ribs extending across an interface region between the neck portion and the body portion; and 
   a cap removably attachable to the neck portion to close the opening,   wherein a lower edge of the cap is horizontally spaced apart from the plurality of ribs when the cap is attached to the neck portion.   
     
     
         19 . The container of  claim 18 , wherein a portion of each of the plurality of ribs extends below the cap when the cap is attached to the neck portion. 
     
     
         20 . The container of  claim 18 , wherein the interface region is angled 30 to 60 degrees relative to the neck portion.