# US 2013/0153532 A1 · Plastic container having enhanced crush resistance and pouring stability > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0153532 A1 - Document ID: US20130153532A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/768,444 - Filed: 2013-02-15 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2008-03-13 - Assignees: Graham Packaging Company, L.P. - Inventors: Sheldon E. Yourist - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130153532A1 ## CPC - B65D 23/102: {Gripping means formed in the walls, e.g. roughening, cavities, projections} - B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES ## Abstract A molded plastic container is shaped so as to resist deformation as a result of compressive forces that may be applied by the consumer during use. The container includes a pair of recessed grip portions that are molded into forward and rearward sides of the container and an outer handle portion. Reinforcing ribs are integrally molded into the forward and rearward sidewalls of the container in areas that are substantially adjacent to the recessed grip portions in order to provide additional crush resistance as the container is squeezed. Additionally, a torsional reinforcement rib is integrated into an upper side portion of the container in order to resist deformation of the container and the pouring opening of the container during pouring. The torsional reinforcement rib is integral with the two reinforcing ribs, which provides additional strength and pouring stability to the container. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A plastic container, comprising: an upper portion having an opening defined therein; a bottom portion; a substantially rectangular container body having a side wall, said side wall being configured so as to define: a curved outer handle portion having an outer surface that is curved when viewed in front elevation so as to form part of a side surface and part of a top surface of the container body; a main body portion and a recessed grip portion having a side portion that is adapted to be pinched by a consumer during gripping positioned between said main body portion and said outer handle portion; said container body further comprising at least one grip reinforcement rib that is integrated into at least one of said outer handle portion and said main body portion, said at least one grip reinforcement rib providing additional strength against inward compression of said container body as a result of compressive forces that may be applied to said side portion by a consumer; and a torsional reinforcement rib that is integrated into an upper side portion of said container body, said torsional reinforcement rib being integral with said reinforcement rib so as to provide additional reinforcement against deflection as a result of pinching force applied by a consumer during gripping of the container. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A plastic container according to claim 1, wherein said at least one grip reinforcement rib comprises a reinforcement rib that is positioned substantially adjacent to said recessed grip portion. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A plastic container according to claim 2, wherein said reinforcement rib is contoured so as to substantially conform to a curved outer border of said recessed grip portion. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) A plastic container according to claim 2, wherein said reinforcement rib is integrated into said outer handle portion and extends into said main body portion of said container body. ### Claim 5 A plastic container, comprising: an upper portion having an opening defined therein; a bottom portion; a non-round container body having a side wall, said side wall being configured so as to define an outer handle portion, a main body portion and a recessed teardrop-shaped grip portion positioned between said main body portion and the outer handle portion, the recessed grip portion including a first, outer side portion adjacent to the outer handle portion, a second, inner side portion and a curved apex portion; and a reinforcement rib positioned adjacent to the curved apex portion for reinforcing the curved apex portion, the reinforcement rib including a convex outer surface when viewed in transverse cross-section, and wherein the convex outer surface has a radius that is within a range of about 0.125 inches to about 0.350 inches. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A plastic container according to claim 1, wherein said container body comprises a forward side and a rearward side, and wherein said forward and rearward sides are constructed and arranged to be substantially symmetrical, whereby at least one grip reinforcement rib is provided on both said forward side and said rearward side. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A plastic container according to claim 1, wherein said container is integrally molded and is fabricated from a material comprising polyolefin. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A plastic container according to claim 1, wherein said container is integrally molded and is fabricated from the material comprising polyethylene terephthalate. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A plastic container according to claim 1, wherein said reinforcing rib has an outer surface that is convex as viewed in transverse cross-section. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) A plastic container according to claim 9, wherein at least a portion of said outer surface of said reinforcing rib is curved at a radius that is within a range of about 0.125 inches to about 0.350 inches. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) A plastic container according to claim 9, wherein said reinforcing rib extends outwardly from an adjacent portion of said sidewall by a distance of at least about 0.175 inches. ### Claim 12 A substantially rectangular plastic container, comprising: an upper portion having an pouring opening defined therein; a bottom portion; and a non-round, substantially rectangular container body having a side wall, said side wall defining a forward surface, a rearward surface and first and second side surfaces, said forward and rearward surfaces having opposing grip portions defined therein, and wherein one of said side surfaces comprises an integral torsional reinforcement rib that is integrated into an upper portion of said side surface, said integral torsional reinforcement rib not extending about an entire perimeter of the container body and having an outer surface that is convexly curved when viewed in longitudinal cross-section; the integral torsional reinforcement rib further providing torsional reinforcement against inward deflection of said forward surface and said rearward surface as a result of compressive forces that may be applied to said forward and rearward surfaces by a consumer, whereby structural integrity of said container is improved during pouring. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A plastic container according to claim 12, wherein said integral torsional reinforcement rib is integral with reinforcing ribs that extend into said forward and rearward surfaces of said container. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) A plastic container according to claim 12, wherein at least a portion of said outer surface of said integral torsional reinforcement rib is curved at a substantially constant radius. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A plastic container according to claim 14, wherein said substantially constant radius is within a range of about 0.15 inches to about 0.5 inches. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) A plastic container according to claim 12, wherein said integral torsional reinforcement rib resides substantially within a plane that is substantially orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of said container. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) A plastic container according to claim 12, wherein said integral torsional reinforcement rib is viewed in longitudinal cross-section extends outwardly from an adjacent portion of said sidewall defining said one of said side surfaces by a distance of at least 0.20 inches. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) A plastic container according to claim 12, wherein said integral torsional reinforcement rib has an outer surface that is convexly curved when viewed in longitudinal cross-section. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) A plastic container according to claim 18, wherein said upper portion having a pouring opening defined therein comprises a threaded finish portion. ### Claim 20 A plastic container, comprising: an upper portion having an opening defined therein; a bottom portion; a non-round container body having a side wall, said side wall being configured so as to define an outer handle portion, a main body portion and a recessed teardrop-shaped grip portion positioned between said main body portion and the outer handle portion, the recessed grip portion including a side portion that is adapted to be pinched by a consumer during gripping, the side portion including a first, outer side portion adjacent to the outer handle portion, a second, inner side portion and a curved apex portion; a reinforcement rib positioned adjacent to the curved apex portion for reinforcing the curved apex portion; and further comprising a channel defined in the sidewall adjacent to the reinforcement rib. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) A plastic container according to claim 20, wherein the first, outer side portion is curved. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) A plastic container according to claim 20, wherein the second, inner side portion is curved. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) A plastic container according to claim 20, wherein the reinforcement rib includes a first portion positioned on the outer handle portion and a second portion that is positioned on the main body portion. ### Claim 24 (depends on 20) A plastic container according to claim 20, wherein the reinforcement rib includes a convex outer surface when viewed in transverse cross-section. ### Claim 25 (depends on 20) A plastic container according to claim 20, wherein the convex outer surface has a radius that is within a range of about 0.125 inches to about 0.350 inches. ### Claim 26 (depends on 20) A plastic container according to claim 20, wherein the reinforcement rib extends outwardly from an adjacent portion of the sidewall by a distance of at least 0.175 inches. ### Claim 27 (depends on 20) A plastic container according to claim 20, wherein said container body comprises a forward side and a rearward side, and wherein said forward and rearward sides are constructed and arranged to be substantially symmetrical. ### Claim 28 A plastic container, comprising: an upper portion having an opening defined therein; a bottom portion; a non-round container body having a side wall, said side wall being configured so as to define an outer handle portion, a main body portion and a recessed teardrop-shaped grip portion positioned between said main body portion and the outer handle portion, the recessed grip portion including a first, outer side portion adjacent to the outer handle portion, a second, inner side portion and a curved apex portion; and a reinforcement rib positioned adjacent to the curved apex portion for reinforcing the curved apex portion, the reinforcement rib including a convex outer surface when viewed in transverse cross-section, and wherein the convex outer surface has a radius that is within a range of about 0.125 inches to about 0.350 inches.