Hot fill container having superior crush resistance
AssigneeGraham Packaging Company, L.P.
InventorsScott E. Bysick, Paul V. Kelley
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hot fill plastic container has a dome portion with a convex outer surface that defines a maximum outer diameter of the container so as to extend outwardly beyond a main body portion of the container. The generally egg-shaped dome portion enhances the crush resistance of the dome and provides a point of contact between containers when they are placed adjacent to one another. A circumferential stiffening groove may be provided near a lower end of the dome portion.
Claims20
A method of forming a plastic container comprising:
- providing a material suitable for a blow molding process;
- disposing the material within a mold cavity configured to form a container having
- a finish portion defining an opening,
- a substantially cylindrical main body portion having a first maximum diameter in plan view, and
- a dome portion between the finish portion and main body portion further defining a second maximum diameter in plan view that is greater than the first maximum diameter, and
- a bottom portion opposite the finish portion,
- wherein the dome portion in longitudinal section has a convex outer surface comprising a compound curved shape defined by a first convex portion having a first radius of curvature R1, a second convex portion having a second radius of curvature R2, and a transition region connecting the first convex portion and the second convex portion;
- and
- inflating the material within the mold cavity to form the container.
The method of forming a plastic container according to claim I, wherein the first convex portion defines a first vertical height and the second convex portion defines a second vertical height, and wherein a ratio of the first vertical height to the second vertical height is within a range of 1.0 to 7.0
A method of forming a plastic container comprising:
- providing a material suitable for a blow molding process;
- disposing the material within a mold cavity configured to form a container having
- a finish portion defining an opening,
- a substantially cylindrical main body portion having a first maximum diameter, and
- a dome portion between the finish portion and the main body portion further defining a second maximum diameter in plan view that is greater than the first maximum diameter,
- a bottom portion opposite the finish portion, and
- a circumferential groove defined proximate to a lowermost end of the dome portion, the circumferential groove extending around an entire circumference of the lowermost end of the dome portion,
- wherein the dome portion has a convex outer surface in longitudinal section comprising a compound curved shape defined by a first convex portion having a first radius of curvature R1, a second convex portion having a second radius of curvature R2, and a transition region connecting the first convex portion and the second convex portion, and
- wherein the second maximum diameter is defined by the second convex portion;
- and
- inflating the material within the mold cavity to form the container.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.