WO1999022994A1

WO1999022994A1 - Milk jug

Info

Publication number: WO1999022994A1
Application number: PCT/US1998/023060
Authority: WO
Original assignee: Uniloy Milacron Inc.
Priority date: 1997-10-30
Filing date: 1998-10-30
Publication date: 1999-05-14

Abstract

An eight-sided or octagon shaped plastic container (10) having a bottom portion (11), sidewall portions (12), and a top wall portion (14). The sidewall portions include four face panels (16, 18, 20, 22) and four somewhat narrower in width connector panels (24, 26, 28, 30) all being connected at their vertical sides to one side of each of the face panels, respectively. An area (32) in each sidewall portion between the bottom portion and the top wall portion which is indented inwardly a slight amount and a plurality of concave horizontal ribs (40, 42, 44) extending at least part way around the sidewall portion. The top wall portion extends from the sidewall portions and merges to a neck (17) which defines an outlet for the container.

Description

MILK JUG

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to light weight, extrusion blow molded plastic containers particularly containers for use in the milk and related beverage industries.

One gallon and other size plastic containers are the containers of choice for milk and other liquids. One significant factor in the cost of such containers is the amount of resin required to produce the container or jug. Cost is most often reduced by manufacturers by attempting to reduce the amount of resin in each container. Because of the large volume of containers produced, even a small reduction in resin content results in significant savings. Unfortunately, when the amount of resin forming the container is reduced beyond a certain weight, it is difficult to structurally provide a container which will remain stable and retain an attractive appearance once filled. Typically, containers of inadequate strength will evidence a bulge or sag in its sidewalls or easy denting in its corners.

In an attempt to overcome these problems, various structural modifications have been proposed. In U.S. Patent No. 3,708,082, the walls are designed to minimize deformation during filing, storage and use. This reference also recognizes the value of concave ribs circumscribing the container. In proposing modifications to plastic containers, it is also necessary to bear in mind the space requirements needed to meet federal labeling requirements.

Despite efforts to provide stable lightweight plastic containers, there continues to be a need for even lighter and improved plastic containers.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to fulfill that need and provide an improved lightweight plastic container.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a container which, while using less resin, is formed so as to have sidewalls which do not excessively bulge when filled.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, a plastic container is provided having a bottom portion, sidewall portions, and a top wall portion. The sidewall portions include four face panels and four intermediate panels. The latter panels are narrower in width than the face panels and are connected on each vertical side to a face panel. This connection generally improves the container with a cross section therethrough in the shape of an octagon. Each sidewall portion, between the bottom portion and the top wall portion, is also slightly indented. The octagon body shape and the indention of the sidewall portions disperses internal pressures to reduce bulging and also provide a protected area for the container's label. Additional support for the sidewalls is provided by a plurality of concave horizontal ribs circumscribing at least part way around the sidewall portions. The horizontal ribs may extend in a continuous manner from one face panel through an intermediate panel and the adjacent face panel. Alternatively, the horizontal ribs may be discretely formed in each panel or only some of the panels.

When the horizontal ribs are not provided completely around the container, the face panels may be provided with indentions of preferably a circular configuration. The size and depth of the indentations may be varied to control fill level of a given volume of contents in the container in addition to further stabilizing the sidewalls.

The top wall portion of the container extends from the sidewall portions and merges with a neck that defines the mouth of the container. The container is provided with a handle that is also constructed to combat weakness during light weighting of the container. In another feature of the container, the bottom portion is provided a concave groove extending thereacross and the groove incorporates a rib perpendicular thereto.

Additional benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present invention relates from the subsequent description of the preferred embodiment and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the plastic container of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the container; FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of the container; FIG. 4 is a rear elevational view of the container;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the container; and FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. Where multiple embodiments are discussed, like numbers are used to refer to like elements.

Referring now to the drawings, a plastic container 10 according to the principles of the present invention and formed by conventional extrusion blow molding techniques is illustrated in FIG. 1. The containers 10 themselves may be made from any suitable plastic material, such as polyethylene resin. Conventional milk containers normally use 58-65 grams of blow molding grade, high density polyethylene resin to make a one gallon container. Using the design of the present invention, a stable one gallon container may be made using less than 58 grams of resin, preferably using only 52 grams of resin, more preferably only 50 grams of resin. The container 10 has a bottom portion 11 , sidewall portions (collectively designated as 12), and a top wall portion 14. The sidewall portions 12 include four face panels 16, 18, 20, 22, and four narrower intermediate panels 24, 26, 28, 30 all unitarily formed with one another. As best seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, the connection of the four face panels and the four intermediate panels forms an eight-sided shape, namely an octagon. The octagonal body shape has been found to allow for more even resin distribution during the blow molding process thereby providing for better stability during light weighting.

Between the bottom portion 11 and the top wall portion 14, each sidewall portion 12 is recessed slightly inward. The recessed area 32 is defined on its top and bottom by label bumpers 33 and is sufficiently wide to accommodate a label positioned around the circumference of the container. The recessing of this area is of a sufficient amount to provide increased stability to the container. As mentioned above, the overall octagon body shape combined with the recessed sidewall portions 12 disperses internal pressures and cooperates to reduce bulge in the sidewall portions 12 when filled.

In a preferred embodiment, three concave ribs 40, 42, 44, each of equal depth, circumscribe at least a portion of the container 10 and are positioned in the face panels 16, 18, 20, 22. The ribs serve to reinforce and provide strength to the container 10. It should be understood that while three ribs are preferred, a lesser or greater number of ribs could be employed. Further, the ribs may completely circumscribe the container or be discretely provided in the intermediate panels 24, 26, 28, 30. In an alternative embodiment, seen in the split embodiment of FIG. 3 (as well as in

FIGS. 1 and 2), one or more of the face panels, face panel 16 in the FIGS., include a circular indentation 46. The size and dept of the indentations 46 may be varied further and are used to control the fill level of the container 10 as well as to further stabilize the container sidewall 12. As mentioned above, the container 10 is formed using conventional extrusion blow molding techniques. In forming a container according to the present invention, it is preferable that the wall thickness be maintained substantially the same throughout the container 10. It will be understood, however, that there will inevitably be some small variations in wall thickness. The top wall portion 14 extends from the sidewall portions 12 and merges to a neck

17 which defines a mouth for the container 10. As can best be seen in FIGS. 1 , 2 and 4, the container is also provided with a handle 50. The handle area itself is provided with a compression rib 52 extending in the top portion from the upper end of the handle 50 to the lower end of the handle 50. This rib 52 provides firmness during lifting and reduce the chance of splitting the container 10. As shown in FIG. 6, the bottom portion 11 is provided with a concave groove 13 extending thereacross. The cross-bottom groove 13 is intersected by a perpendicular rib 15 and a slight recessed groove 19 that runs all the way axially with the rib 15 across the bottom portion 11. The groove 13 and the rib 15 serve to eliminate the traditional push-up style base and allows for further light weighting and while providing increased stability to the bottom portion.

Among the benefits of the container design of the present invention are the ability to use a sleeve label which encircles the entire container and which is placed in a protected area. This provides for greater labeling options. The use of less high density polyethylene provides cost savings and the use of a reinforced eight-sided structure provides for increased stability.

While the above description constitutes the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible to modification, variation and change without departing from the proper scope and fair meaning of the accompanying claims.

Claims

THAT WHICH IS CLAIMED IS: We Claim:

1. A plastic container comprising: a bottom portion; a sidewall portion joined to said bottom portion, said sidewall portion comprising four face panels and four intermediate panels alternately arranged therearound, said intermediate panels being narrower in width than said face panels and being respectively connection at the vertical sides to said face panels, said four face panels and said four intermediate panels forming an octagon; a recessed area extending circumferentially about said container in said sidewall portion, an upper label bumper and a lower label bumper respectively defining an upper and lower extents of said recess area; a label positioned in said recess area and completely circumscribing said container; and a top wall portion extending from said sidewall portion and merging to a neck defining an outlet for said container, a handle being formed in said top wall portion.

2. A plastic container comprising: a bottom portion; a sidewall portion joined to said bottom portion and comprising four face panels and four somewhat narrower in width connector panels connected at their vertical sides to one of each face panel, the connection of said four face panels and said four connector panels forming an octagon, said sidewall portion having a recessed area which from the top of said recess to the bottom of said recess is sufficiently wide to accommodate a label surrounding said container circumscribing at least a portion of said container wherein at least two of said sidewall portions includes a plurality of horizontal ribs within said recessed area that circumscribe at least a portion of said container; and a top wall portion, said top wall portion extending from said sidewall portions and merging to a neck which defines an outlet for the container.

3. The plastic container according to Claim 2 wherein said plurality of ribs comprises three concave ribs which circumscribe only a portion of said container.

4. The plastic container according to Claim 2 wherein at least one of said face panels has a circular indentation.

5. The plastic container according to Claim 2 wherein said bottom portion has a groove extending across the bottom and has a reinforcing rib extending transversely across the groove.

6. The plastic container according to Claim 2 wherein a hollow round handle is formed in said side portion and top wall portion, said handle being located so that it is an extension of one of said connector panels, the upper end of the handle terminating adjacent to said neck.

7. The plastic container according to Claim 6 wherein said handle has a parting line rib which provides firmness in said handle during lifting.

8. The plastic container according to Claim 2 wherein said container is a one gallon container and uses less than 58 grams of high density polyethylene resin.

9. A plastic container comprising: a bottom portion, said bottom portion has a groove extending across the bottom and has a reinforcing rib extending transversely across the groove; a sidewall portion joined to said bottom portion and comprising four face panels and four somewhat smaller in width connector panels connected at their vertical sides to one side of one of said face panels, the connection of said four face panels and said four connector panels forming an octagon, said sidewall portion having a recessed area which from the top of said recess to the bottom of said recess is sufficiently wide to accommodate a label surrounding said container circumscribing at least a portion of said container wherein at least two of said sidewall portions includes a plurality of horizontal ribs within said recessed area that circumscribe at least a portion of said container; a top wall portion, said top wall portion extending from said sidewall portion and merging to a neck which defines an outlet for the container; a hollow round handle is formed in said side portion and top wall portion, said handle being located so that it is an extension of one of said connector panels, the upper end of the handle terminating adjacent to said neck; and at least two of said wall panels define a series of ribs that circumscribe the container horizontally below the hollow handle within said recessed area to rigidify said sidewall panel.

10. The plastic container according to Claim 9 wherein at least one of said face panels has a circular insert.