Beverage container
The beverage container's sidewall design with continuous channels addresses deformation and elongation issues by enhancing structural integrity, ensuring consistent shape and stacking stability during hot-fill operations.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2024178297
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2019-02-21
- Filing Date
- 2024-10-10
- Publication Date
- 2025-01-14
AI Technical Summary
Plastic beverage containers are susceptible to deformation and elongation due to thermal contraction and pressure differentials during hot-fill operations, leading to uneven stacking and storage issues.
The beverage container features a sidewall with continuous channels, including sinusoidal and diagonal patterns, which resist elongation and indentation by providing hoop strength and maintaining the cylindrical shape.
The channels effectively prevent deformation, ensuring consistent container height and stability during filling, storage, and transportation, facilitating efficient stacking and reducing material susceptibility to pressure differentials.
Smart Images
Figure 2025004213000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
[Technical field]
[0001] FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE The embodiments described herein relate generally to beverage containers. In particular, the embodiments described herein relate to beverage containers having a sidewall with a channel formed therein that is configured to limit or resist deformation of the beverage container. [Background technology]
[0002] Beverage containers constructed of polyethylene terephthalate and other plastics are used to store beverages such as sports drinks, juices, water, and other types of beverages. Instead of packaging beverages in glass or metal containers, it is cost-effective and convenient to form beverage containers from plastic materials because they are lightweight, transparent, and easy to produce. However, such plastic beverage containers may be prone to deformation when exposed to high temperatures or changes in pressure. Summary of the Invention
[0003] Some embodiments are directed to a beverage container including a base, a cylindrical sidewall extending from and integrally formed with the base, and a top region extending from the sidewall and defining a top opening. The beverage container may include a longitudinal axis extending in a direction from the base to the top opening. The continuous channel may be formed and extend around an outer periphery of the sidewall, and the continuous channel may be sinusoidal such that the continuous channel forms peaks and valleys. The height of the continuous channel as measured in the direction of the longitudinal axis from peak to valley may be about 30% to 80% of the height of the sidewall to resist elongation in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the beverage container.
[0004] Some embodiments are directed to a beverage container including a base, a cylindrical sidewall extending from the base and integrally formed therewith, and a top region extending from the cylindrical sidewall and defining a top opening. The diagonal channels may be formed in the sidewall and extend at an oblique angle relative to a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the beverage container. The diagonal channels may be spaced along a periphery of the sidewall to resist deformation of the beverage container in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the beverage container and to resist indentation of the shape of the sidewall. The beverage container may further include straight channel segments formed in the sidewall and extending along a periphery of the sidewall, the straight channel segments resisting indentation of the sidewall when an internal pressure of the beverage container is lower than an external pressure.
[0005] Some embodiments are directed to a beverage container including a cylindrical sidewall and a continuous channel formed in and extending around the sidewall, the continuous channel may have a sinusoidal pattern with three peaks and three valleys such that the continuous channel resists elongation of the beverage container in the direction of a longitudinal axis of the beverage container.
[0006] In any of the various embodiments discussed herein, the continuous channel may be configured to resist elongation in the direction of the longitudinal axis when the beverage container is suspended from the upper region and filled with a beverage having a temperature equal to or greater than the glass transition temperature of the beverage container.
[0007] In any of the various embodiments discussed herein, the beverage container may include a lower continuous channel and an upper continuous channel spaced apart from one another in the direction of a longitudinal axis of the beverage container. In some embodiments, the upper continuous channel and the lower continuous channel may each include an upper boundary defined as a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis in which the peaks are formed, and a lower boundary defined as a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis in which the valleys are formed, and the upper boundary of the lower continuous channel may be above the lower boundary of the upper continuous channel. In some embodiments, the lower continuous channel and the upper continuous channel may have the same dimensions. In some embodiments, the peaks of the lower continuous channel and the upper continuous channel may be aligned in the longitudinal direction of the beverage container.
[0008] In any of the various embodiments discussed herein, the continuous channel may include a diagonal region extending between the peaks and valleys of the continuous channel that forms an angle of 40 to 50 degrees with a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the beverage container. In some embodiments, the angle may be 45 degrees.
[0009] In any of the various embodiments discussed herein, the beverage container may further include a straight channel segment formed in the sidewall and extending around a portion of the periphery of the sidewall. In some embodiments, the straight channel segment may be disposed in one or more planes perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the beverage container. In some embodiments, the straight channel segment may be spaced apart from the continuous channel. In some embodiments, the continuous channel may include an upper boundary that is a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and that is formed with a peak, and a lower boundary that is a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and that is formed with a valley, and the straight channel segment may be positioned between the upper boundary and the lower boundary.
[0010] In any of the various embodiments discussed herein having diagonal channels, the diagonal channels may be disposed at an angle that is 40-50 degrees relative to a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the beverage container. In some embodiments, the diagonal channels may each have the same shape and dimensions. In some embodiments, each of the diagonal channels may have a first end opposite a second end, and the height of each of the diagonal channels measured in the direction of the longitudinal axis from the first end to the second end may be about 30%-80% of the height of the sidewall of the beverage container. In some embodiments, the diagonal channels may be connected by peaks and valleys to form a continuous channel. [Brief description of the drawings]
[0011] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of this specification, illustrate the present disclosure and, together with the description, further explain the principles of the disclosure and enable a person skilled in the art to make and use the disclosure.
[0012] [Figure 1]1 shows a perspective view of a beverage container according to one embodiment.
[0013] [Diagram 2] 2 shows a side view of a portion of the side wall of the beverage container of FIG. 1.
[0014] [Diagram 3] 2 shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of a channel in the side wall of the beverage container of FIG. 1.
[0015] [Figure 4] 2 shows a side view of a portion of the side wall of the beverage container of FIG. 1.
[0016] [Diagram 5] 1 illustrates a side view of a beverage container according to one embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0017] In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments of the present disclosure. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the embodiments, including structures, systems, and methods, may be practiced without these specific details. The descriptions and representations herein are the usual means used by those skilled in the art to most effectively convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components, and circuits have not been described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring aspects of the present disclosure.
[0018] References herein to "one embodiment," "an embodiment," "an example embodiment," and the like indicate that the embodiment being described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but all embodiments may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. Furthermore, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, the effect of such feature, structure, or characteristic on other embodiments, whether or not expressly described, is intended to be within the knowledge of one of ordinary skill in the art.
[0019] The following examples are illustrative, but not limiting, of the present disclosure. Other suitable modifications and adaptations of the variety of conditions and parameters normally encountered in this art which will be obvious to those skilled in the art are within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.
[0020] Beverage containers for storing various types of beverages may be constructed of plastic materials, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), among others. Such plastic beverage containers often have a generally cylindrical structure. The plastic beverage containers may be filled with the beverage via a hot-fill operation. In a hot-fill operation, the beverage to be stored in the beverage container is heated to an elevated temperature, such as a temperature of about 170° F. or higher, and placed into the beverage container. The beverage container may be supported on a support surface during filling, or the beverage container may be suspended by the top end or neck of the beverage container during filling. Once filled and capped, the beverage container and the beverage therein are rapidly cooled. This cooling of the beverage may result in thermal contraction, which reduces the interior volume of the beverage container. To accommodate the resulting pressure differential, the side walls of the beverage container may be pulled inward. Depending on the structure of the beverage container including its sidewall, this may result in undesirable deformation or "denting" of the sidewall, with the once cylindrical sidewall assuming a flat or other shape to accommodate the internal vacuum created by the reduction in volume of the beverage due to thermal contraction during cooling.
[0021] One or more ribs may be formed on the beverage container to help it maintain its cylindrical shape throughout the process of filling the beverage container with liquid and during subsequent storage and transportation of the beverage container. The ribs may be formed as recessed (concave) channels in the beverage container that extend toward the interior volume of the beverage container and extend entirely around the beverage container's periphery in a plane perpendicular to the beverage container's longitudinal axis. The ribs help prevent the beverage container from denting or otherwise deforming when the beverage container's internal pressure is lower than its external pressure. Such denting may reduce the structural stability of the beverage container. Also, a deformed beverage container may not be appealing to consumers, which may negatively affect sales of the beverage container. Although ribs extending around the beverage container's periphery may help avoid denting, the ribs may make the beverage container more susceptible to longitudinal stretching during certain types of filling operations.
[0022] Because beverage containers are constructed of plastic, the plastic may begin to deform when heated to a high enough temperature, such as a temperature above the glass transition temperature of the beverage container. As a result, when a beverage container is suspended from its top end or neck and filled with a hot beverage, the weight and heat of the beverage within the container may cause the beverage container to stretch longitudinally. Specifically, the stretching may be greatest in the ribs of the beverage container, which may stretch or flatten, resulting in the stretching of the beverage container.
[0023] Stretching of beverage containers may be undesirable because the stretching may result in beverage containers having different heights. Beverage containers having various heights may make it difficult to stack and store the beverage containers. For example, cases of beverage containers having different heights may not uniformly carry the load of another case of beverage containers stacked on top of the first case. A taller beverage container may carry more load than a shorter beverage container and apply uneven pressure to the second case. This may cause the second case to seat unevenly on the first, making stacking and storage more difficult. This problem may be exacerbated when additional cases of beverage containers are stacked on top of each other.
[0024] In some embodiments described herein, the beverage container includes a sidewall having a channel formed in the sidewall having a sinusoidal shape extending around the circumference of the beverage container. The channel helps resist stretching of the beverage container, such as during a hot-fill operation, while also providing resistance to denting. The sidewall of the beverage container may further include a straight channel segment extending along a portion of the circumference of the sidewall. The straight channel segment may provide further resistance to denting.
[0025] 1, beverage container 100 includes a base 120, a sidewall 160 extending from and integrally formed with the base 120, and a top region 180 extending from and integrally formed with the sidewall 160 and defining an upper opening. Beverage container 100 includes a longitudinal axis Z extending centrally in a direction from base 120 to top region 180. Sidewall 160 is generally cylindrical such that beverage container 100 has a generally circular cross-section (not taking into account channels formed in sidewall 160).
[0026] One or more channels 140 are formed in the sidewall 160, which serve to prevent or limit elongation of the beverage container 100 in the direction of the longitudinal axis Z. The channels 140 are formed as recessed areas of the sidewall 160 that extend toward the interior volume of the beverage container 100. The channels 140 also serve to resist indentation of the sidewall 160 (e.g., when the beverage container 100 has a lower internal pressure than an external pressure) by contributing hoop strength to the beverage container 100. Specifically, the beverage container 100 is configured to resist elongation in the direction of the longitudinal axis Z when the beverage container 100 is suspended from the top region 180 and filled with a beverage having a temperature equal to or greater than the glass transition temperature of the material (e.g., PET) from which the beverage container 100 is formed.
[0027] In some embodiments, the continuous channel 140 is formed in the sidewall 160 and extends around the circumference C of the sidewall 160. In some embodiments, the continuous channel 140 has a sinusoidal shape such that the continuous channel 140 includes a series of alternating peaks 146 and valleys 144 separated by diagonal regions 142. The diagonal regions 142 may be generally straight or may have a slight curvature such that they are curved. It is understood that the diagonal regions 142 may necessarily have a slight curvature since the diagonal regions 142 extend around a portion of the cylindrical sidewall 160. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the diagonal regions 142 may have a slight curvature as the diagonal regions 142 approach the peaks 146 or valleys 144. In some embodiments, the continuous channel 140 may form three peaks 146 (and thus three valleys 144). Some embodiments may include additional or fewer peaks 146, but due to the inlets and passages through planes perpendicular to the longitudinal axis Z, the peaks 146 and valleys 144 may be more susceptible to elongation than the diagonal regions 142 of the continuous channel 140. As a result, as the number of peaks 146 (and valleys 144) is reduced, the beverage container 100 becomes less susceptible to elongation.
[0028] The continuous channel 140 serves two purposes: to resist or prevent stretching of the beverage container 100 in the direction of the longitudinal axis Z during a hot-fill operation, and to resist or prevent denting of the beverage container 100 when the beverage container 100 has a lower internal pressure than the external pressure. As discussed, a rib (or channel) that extends circumferentially around the beverage container and is oriented in or near a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis Z may be susceptible to stretching in the direction of the longitudinal axis Z, for example, because the weight of the hot beverage is oriented in the direction of the longitudinal axis Z, approximately perpendicular to the rib. However, the diagonal region 142 of the continuous channel 140 is less susceptible to stretching because the diagonal region 142 is oriented at an angle to the perpendicular plane. As a result, the beverage container 100 is less susceptible to stretching longitudinally in the diagonal region 142 of the continuous channel 140 when the beverage container 100 is filled with a hot beverage. The weight of the hot beverage (in the direction of the longitudinal axis Z) is no longer perpendicular to the direction of the diagonal region 142, but instead at an angle.
[0029] Furthermore, because the continuous channel 140 extends around the perimeter C of the sidewall 160, the continuous channel 140 prevents the sidewall 160 from deforming, such as collapsing towards the interior of the beverage container 100, when the internal pressure of the beverage container 100 is greater than the external pressure. Thus, the continuous channel 140 also assists the sidewall 160 in maintaining a cylindrical configuration.
[0030] As shown in FIG. 2, the diagonal regions 142 of the continuous channel 140 are formed at an angle θ1 relative to a plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis Z of the beverage container 100. In some embodiments, the angle θ1 may be, for example, 40-50 degrees. In some embodiments, the angle may be 45 degrees to balance resistance to denting when the beverage container 100 is subjected to a pressure differential and resistance to elongation during a hot-fill operation. As the angle θ1 is reduced so that the continuous channel 140 flattens out and the sinusoidal pattern has less amplitude, the resistance to elongation provided by the continuous channel 140 decreases while the resistance to denting increases.
[0031] In some embodiments, the channel 140 has a rounded concave surface, as shown, for example, in FIG. 3. The continuous channel 140 may have a cross-section in the form of a circular arc (e.g., a semicircle). However, the channel 140 may have other cross-sectional shapes, such as a U-shape or a parabolic cross-sectional shape, among others. In some embodiments, the continuous channel 140 may have a width w, as measured transversely of the channel 140 from a first side 141 to an opposite second side 143 of the channel 140. The width w may be, for example, between 4 mm and 8 mm. In some embodiments, the continuous channel 140 may have a depth d, as measured from the plane of the sidewall 160 to the deepest portion of the channel 140. The depth d may be, for example, between 0.5 mm and 4 mm (e.g., 0.8 mm).
[0032] In some embodiments, the continuous channels 140 have an arcuate cross-section based on a circle with a diameter of 4 mm to 8 mm (e.g., 6 mm) and a depth d of 0.5 mm to 4 mm (e.g., 0.8 mm). As the depth d of the continuous channels 140 increases, the beverage container 100 becomes more resistant to denting. However, increasing the depth d of the channels 140 may make the beverage container 100 more susceptible to longitudinal stretching. In some embodiments, all of the continuous channels 140 have the same cross-sectional size and shape.
[0033] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 2, the sidewall 160 is formed with two or more continuous channels 140a, 140b, such as the lower continuous channel 140a and the upper continuous channel 140b. The lower continuous channel 140a and the upper continuous channel 140b are spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction. In some embodiments, the sidewall 160 may include three or more continuous channels 140. However, as discussed above, the ability of the beverage container 100 to resist elongation may decrease as the number of continuous channels 140 increases, since the peaks 146 and valleys 144 are more susceptible to elongation than the diagonal regions 142, and therefore the additional peaks 146 and valleys 144 formed in the additional continuous channels 140 may make the beverage container 100 more susceptible to longitudinal elongation.
[0034] In some embodiments, the lower continuous channel 140a and the upper continuous channel 140b may be formed with the same shape and dimensions. Thus, each channel 140a, 140b may be sinusoidal. Each channel 140a, 140b may have the same height as measured in the longitudinal direction from the valley 144 to the peak 146 of the continuous channel 140, and each channel 140a, 140b may have the same number of peaks 146 and valleys 144. The lower continuous channel 140a and the upper continuous channel 140b may be in phase with each other such that the peaks 146a, 146b of the lower continuous channel 140a and the upper continuous channel 140b are aligned in the longitudinal direction of the beverage container 100.
[0035] 2, each continuous channel 140 includes a lower boundary L and an upper boundary U. The lower boundary L is a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis Z of the beverage container 100, and similarly, the upper boundary U is a plane parallel to the lower boundary L and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis Z. Each continuous channel 140 shuttles between its lower boundary L and upper boundary U. In some embodiments, each peak 146 of the continuous channel 140 is formed at the upper boundary U and each valley 144 is formed at the lower boundary L.
[0036] Each continuous channel 140 has a height measured in the direction of the longitudinal axis Z from the valley 144 to the peak 146 (or from the lower boundary L to the upper boundary U). The lower continuous channel 140 has a height h1 and the upper continuous channel 140b has a height h2 that may be the same as h1. In some embodiments, the height h1 or h2 of each continuous channel 140 may be about 30% to about 80% of the height of the sidewall 160. In some embodiments, each continuous channel 140 may be about 40% to about 70% of the height of the sidewall 160. The height H of the sidewall 160 is measured in the direction of the longitudinal axis Z from the lower end 162 of the sidewall 160 adjacent the base 120 to the upper end 161 of the sidewall 160 adjacent the upper region 180.
[0037] In some embodiments, the upper boundary U1 of the lower continuous channel 140a can be above the lower boundary L2 of the upper continuous channel 140b. In this manner, the continuous channels 140a, 140b are closely spaced together such that a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis Z intersects at least a portion of the continuous channel 140. In some embodiments, the upper boundary U1 of the lower continuous channel 140a can be at or below the lower boundary L2 of the upper continuous channel 140b.
[0038] 4, the sidewall 160 of the beverage container 100 further includes a straight channel segment 170. The straight channel segment 170 provides additional resistance to denting of the sidewall 160 of the beverage container 100 when the internal pressure of the beverage container 100 is lower than the external pressure by contributing hoop strength to the beverage container 100. Thus, the straight channel segment 170 helps the sidewall 160 of the beverage container 100 retain its cylindrical shape throughout filling, shipping, and storage of the beverage container 100.
[0039] The straight channel segments 170 extend around a portion of the periphery of the sidewall 160. Similar to the continuous channel 140, the straight channel segments 170 may be formed in the sidewall 160 as recessed areas extending toward the interior volume of the beverage container 100. The straight channel segments 170 may be positioned in one or more planes, e.g., X1, X2, X3, and X4, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis Z of the beverage container 100. Each perpendicular plane may have multiple straight channel segments 170 spaced apart from one another around the periphery of the sidewall 160. In some embodiments, a plane extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis Z may include four straight channel segments 170 spaced apart around the periphery of the sidewall 160. The straight channel segments 170 in a particular plane may each be of the same shape and size. In some embodiments, the straight channel segments 170 in the first plane X1 may extend around the periphery to a greater extent than the straight channel segments 170 disposed in the second plane X2 such that the lengths of the straight channel segments 170 in each plane are different. In some embodiments, the straight channel segments 170 in different planes, e.g., planes X1 and X2, may be aligned on the sidewall 160 along the longitudinal axis Z.
[0040] As shown in FIG. 2, the straight channel segments 170 may be formed in the sidewall 160 in the region between the lower boundary L and the upper boundary U of the continuous channel 140. The straight channel segments 170 are spaced from the continuous channel 140 such that the straight channel segments 170 do not cross or overlap the continuous channel 140. Thus, the straight channel segments 170 provide additional resistance to indentation in the region of the sidewall 160 not occupied by the continuous channel 140. Because the straight channel segments 170 do not extend continuously around the perimeter C of the beverage container 100, the straight channel segments 170 do not have a significant tendency to deform in the direction of the longitudinal axis Z. The sidewall material interrupting them inhibits such deformation.
[0041] The straight channel segment 170 may have a rounded concave surface. As with the continuous channel 140, the straight channel segment 170 may take the form of a cross-section of a circular arc (e.g., a semicircle). However, the straight channel segment 170 may have other cross-sectional shapes, such as a U-shape or a parabolic cross-sectional shape, among others. As with the representation of the continuous channel 140 shown in FIG. 3, in some embodiments, the straight channel segment 170 has a width as measured perpendicular to the channel segment 170 from a first side of the channel segment 170 to an opposite second side. The width may be, for example, 4 mm to 8 mm (e.g., 5 mm to 7 mm). In some embodiments, the straight channel segment 170 may have a depth as measured from the plane of the sidewall 160 of the channel segment 140 to its deepest point. The depth may be, for example, 2 mm to 4 mm (e.g., 3 mm).
[0042] In some embodiments, the straight channel segments 170 have a semicircular cross-section with a diameter of 4 mm. In some embodiments, all of the straight channel segments 170 have the same cross-sectional size and shape. In some embodiments, each straight channel segment 170 can be formed at a depth greater than the depth d of the continuous channel 140. In some embodiments, at least some of the straight channel segments 170 can have the same cross-sectional size and shape as at least some of the continuous channels 140.
[0043] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 5, the beverage container 200 includes a base 220, a sidewall 260 extending from the base 220 and integrally formed with the base, and a top region 280 extending from the sidewall 260 and integrally formed with the base, defining a top opening. The beverage container 200 includes a longitudinal axis extending in a direction from the base 220 to the top region 280. The sidewall 260 is generally cylindrical such that the beverage container 200 has a generally circular cross section. Thus, the beverage container 200 is formed in the same manner as the beverage container 100, except that the beverage container 200 includes a plurality of diagonal channels 240 formed in the sidewall 260 and spaced around the periphery of the sidewall 260. Each diagonal channel 240 may have the same shape and dimensions. In some embodiments, six diagonal channels 240 extend around the periphery of the sidewall 260. In other embodiments, fewer or additional diagonal channels 240 may be formed in the sidewall 260 .
[0044] 1, 2 and 4, the diagonal regions 142 of the continuous channel 140 of the beverage container 100 serve to resist or limit longitudinal extension of the beverage container 200, such as during a hot-fill operation. As discussed with respect to the continuous channel 140 of the beverage container 100, because the diagonal channels 240 extend around the periphery of the sidewall 260, the diagonal channels 240 also help prevent collapse of the sidewall 260 when the internal pressure of the beverage container 200 is less than the external pressure.
[0045] The diagonal channels 240 are oriented with respect to the plane Y at an angle θ2 perpendicular to the longitudinal axis Z. The angle may be, for example, 40-50 degrees. In some embodiments, the angle is 45 degrees. Furthermore, each diagonal channel 240 may extend between a lower boundary L defined as a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the beverage container 200 and an upper boundary U defined as a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis that is parallel to the lower boundary L. A first diagonal channel 240 may have a first end 241 at the upper boundary U and extend in a counterclockwise direction along the sidewall 260 at the lower boundary L to a second end 242, and an adjacent diagonal channel 240 may have a first end 241 at the lower boundary L and extend in a counterclockwise direction along the sidewall 260 at the upper boundary U to a second end 242. In this manner, the diagonal channels 240 may form a discontinuous, wavy pattern. However, in some embodiments, the diagonal channels 240 may be connected, for example by connecting the second end 242 of a first diagonal channel 240 to the first end 241 of a second diagonal channel to form peaks and valleys, to form a continuous channel with the diagonal channels 240 extending around the circumference of the sidewall 260.
[0046] Each diagonal channel 240 has a height h3 measured from a first end 241 to a second end 242 (or from a lower boundary L to an upper boundary U) in the direction of the longitudinal axis Z. In some embodiments, the height h3 of each diagonal channel 240 can be about 30% to about 80% of the height of the sidewall 260. In some embodiments, each diagonal channel 240 can be about 40% to about 70% of the height of the sidewall 260. The height of the sidewall 260 is measured from the lower end 262 of the adjacent sidewall 260 at the base 220 in the direction of the longitudinal axis to the upper end 261 of the sidewall 260 adjacent the upper region 280.
[0047] In some embodiments, the diagonal channel 240 may have a cross-sectional shape, width, and depth as discussed above with respect to the continuous channel 140. Thus, the diagonal channel 240 may be semicircular with a rounded surface. The diagonal channel 240 may be of a generally semicircular cross-section. However, the diagonal channel 240 may have alternative cross-sectional shapes, including U-shaped or parabolic cross-sectional shapes, among others. In some embodiments, the diagonal channel 240 may have a diameter or width between 4 mm and 8 mm. In some embodiments, the diagonal channel 240 may have a depth between 0.5 mm and 4 mm, and in one embodiment, the depth may be 0.8 mm. As the depth of the diagonal channel 240 increases, the beverage container 200 becomes more dent-resistant. However, increasing the depth of the diagonal channel 240 makes the beverage container 200 more susceptible to longitudinal stretching.
[0048] In some embodiments, the sidewall 260 may include diagonal channels 240 extending around the periphery of the sidewall 260 centered along two or more planes perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the beverage container 200. Thus, the diagonal channels 240 may be disposed in the sidewall 260 in two or more rows. The diagonal channels 240 in each row may be aligned in the longitudinal direction of the beverage container 200.
[0049] In some embodiments, the beverage container 200 may further include a plurality of straight channel segments 270 formed in the sidewall 260 of the beverage container 200. The straight channel segments 270 may have the same shape, arrangement, and function as described above with respect to the straight channel segments 170 of the beverage container 100.
[0050] It is understood that the Detailed Description section, and not the Summary and Abstract sections, are intended to be used to interpret the claims. The Summary and Abstract sections may set forth one or more, but not all, exemplary embodiments of the invention as contemplated by the inventor(s), but are not intended to limit the scope of the invention and the appended claims in any way.
[0051] The present invention has been described above using functional building blocks that illustrate the implementation of certain functions and relationships thereof. The boundaries of these functional building blocks have been arbitrarily defined herein for the convenience of the description. Alternative boundaries can be defined so long as the specified functions and relationships thereof are appropriately performed.
[0052] The foregoing description of the specific embodiments makes the general nature of the present invention fully apparent, and others may, by applying the knowledge of those skilled in the art, easily modify and / or adapt such specific embodiments to various applications without undue trial and error and without departing from the general concept of the present invention. Such adaptations and modifications are therefore intended to be within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments, based on the teaching and guidance presented herein. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology used herein is for the purpose of explanation and not of limitation, and therefore, the phraseology or terminology used herein should be interpreted by those skilled in the art in light of the teaching and guidance of the present specification.
[0053] The breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.
Claims
1. 1. A beverage container comprising: A base and a cylindrical sidewall extending from and integrally formed with the base; a top region extending from the sidewall and defining a top opening, the beverage container having a longitudinal axis extending from the base to the top opening; a continuous channel formed and extending around an outer periphery of the sidewall, the continuous channel being sinusoidal such that the continuous channel forms peaks and valleys, and a height of the continuous channel as measured in the direction of the longitudinal axis from peak to valley is about 30% to 80% of a height of the sidewall so as to resist elongation of the beverage container in the direction of the longitudinal axis.
2. 2. The beverage container of claim 1, wherein the continuous channel is configured to resist elongation in the direction of the longitudinal axis when the beverage container is suspended from the upper region and filled with a beverage having a temperature at or above the glass transition temperature of the beverage container.
3. 2. The beverage container of claim 1, comprising a lower continuous channel and an upper continuous channel spaced apart from one another in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the beverage container.
4. 4. The beverage container of claim 3, wherein the upper continuous channel and the lower continuous channel each include an upper boundary defined as a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis in which the peaks are formed and a lower boundary defined as a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis in which the valleys are formed, the upper boundary of the lower continuous channel being above the lower boundary of the upper continuous channel.
5. The beverage container of claim 3 , wherein the lower continuous channel and the upper continuous channel have the same dimensions.
6. 4. The beverage container of claim 3, wherein the peaks of the lower continuous channel and the upper continuous channel are aligned longitudinally of the beverage container.
7. 2. The beverage container of claim 1, wherein the continuous channel comprises a diagonal region extending between a peak and a valley of the continuous channel that forms an angle of 40 to 50 degrees with respect to a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the beverage container.
8. 8. The beverage container of claim 7, wherein the angle is 45 degrees.
9. 10. The beverage container of claim 1, further comprising a straight channel segment formed in the side wall and extending around a portion of the perimeter of the side wall.
10. 10. The beverage container of claim 9, wherein the linear channel segments are disposed in one or more planes perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the beverage container.
11. The beverage container of claim 9 , wherein the straight channel segments are spaced apart from the continuous channel.
12. 10. The beverage container of claim 9, wherein the continuous channel includes an upper boundary that is a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and that defines a peak, and a lower boundary that is a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and that defines a valley, and the straight channel segments are positioned between the upper and lower boundaries.
13. 1. A beverage container comprising: A base and a cylindrical sidewall extending from and integrally formed with the base; an upper region extending from the cylindrical sidewall and defining an upper opening; diagonal channels formed in the side wall and extending at an inclined angle relative to a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the beverage container, the diagonal channels being spaced apart along the periphery of the side wall to resist deformation of the beverage container in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the beverage container and to resist indentation deformation of the shape of the side wall; a straight channel segment formed in and extending around a periphery of the side wall, the straight channel segment resisting indentation of the side wall when an internal pressure of the beverage container is lower than an external pressure.
14. 14. The beverage container of claim 13, wherein the diagonal channels are disposed at an angle of 40 to 50 degrees relative to a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the beverage container.
15. 14. The beverage container of claim 13, wherein each of the diagonal channels has the same shape and dimensions.
16. 14. The beverage container of claim 13, wherein each of the diagonal channels comprises a first end opposite a second end, and a height of each of the diagonal channels as measured in the direction of the longitudinal axis from the first end to the second end is about 30% to 80% of a height of the side wall of the beverage container.
17. 14. The beverage container of claim 13, wherein the diagonal channels are connected by peaks and valleys to form a continuous channel.
18. 1. A beverage container comprising: A cylindrical side wall; a continuous channel formed in and extending around the side wall, the continuous channel having a sinusoidal pattern with three peaks and three valleys such that the continuous channel resists elongation of the beverage container in the direction of a longitudinal axis of the beverage container.
19. 20. The beverage container of claim 18, further comprising a straight channel segment formed in the side wall and extending around a portion of a periphery of the side wall.
20. 20. The beverage container of claim 18, wherein the continuous channel further comprises diagonal regions between peaks and valleys, the diagonal regions being disposed at an angle of 40 to 50 degrees relative to a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the beverage container.