Rectangular container having inset label panels and concave heel geometry

Abstract

A rectangular plastic container formed by blow molding includes an upper portion, an upper label bumper, a base portion having a heel that curves inward to meet a standing edge at a bottom of the container, and a lower label bumper. The container further includes a body portion disposed between the upper portion and the base portion. The body portion includes front, back, and side label panel areas meeting at rounded corner regions of the body portion. The label panels each having a plurality of horizontal ribs, each horizontal rib having four portions separated by gaps, such that each of the four portions extends into the corner regions of the body portion. The front and the back label panel areas are inset from the upper bumper by a distance which is greater than an inset distance of the side label panel areas with respect to the upper bumper.

Description

BACKGROUND[0001]1. Technical Field[0002]This invention generally relates to containers for holding beverages or other liquids or food products. More specifically, this invention relates to rectangular containers having inset label panels and concave heel geometry.[0003]2. Related Art[0004]Plastic containers, such as those made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), are widely used for packaging liquid and food products. Such containers may be formed using a blow molding process, in which a preform is filled with gas until it fills the interior of a mold having the desired shape of the container. During a stretch blow molding process, for example, the preform is first stretched mechanically with a stretch rod, and as the rod is extended, low-pressure air is introduced to blow an air bubble in the preform. Once the stretch rod is fully extended, high-pressure air is used to blow the expanded preform into the shape of the mold.[0005]Perishable foods, such as juices and soup, are often fi...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012]In another aspect, the present invention provides a rectangular plastic container formed by blow molding that includes an upper portion having a finish at the top for receiving a closure, an upper label bumper extending around a periphery of the container at a bottom of the upper portion, a base portion having a heel that curves inward to meet a standing edge at a bottom of the container, and a lower label bumper extending around the periphery

Problems solved by technology

While container designs relying on vacuum panels have been effective, certain limitations and disadvantages are associated with their use, including limitations as to the possible variations in the exterior styling of the container, the need to provide enough plastic material to form the vacuum panels with the requisite thickness, and incompatibility with certain types of package labeling processes.

For example, it is difficult to use certain types of pressure sensitive labeling on hot-fill containers that have prominent vacuum panels.

Such a kink might remain even after the container encounters internal vacuum, or the kink may disappear but leave a wrinkle in the wall of the container.

Kinks and wrinkles make a container unappealing and are considered to be commercially undesirable.

This is commercially undesirable, because the product label tends to have better visibility when it is located in the middle or upper portion of the container elevation.

In rectangular blow-molded containers (including square containers), the corners of the heel portion tend to be more susceptible to damage, because they project from the bottom surface of the container and are likely to receive an impact force if the container is dropped.

Thus, the corners may have the thinnest wall thickness of any portion of the container, which makes deformation of or damage to these portions more likely.

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