Container made of resin

Abstract

To provide a container made of resin, in which portions to which loads are applied are formed dispersedly.SOLUTION: A container made of resin comprises a mouth part positioned at an upper side, a bottom part positioned at a lower side, and a cylindrical trunk part positioned between the mouth part and the bottom part. The trunk part has a recess region recessed inward, where an upper boundary part of the recess region includes a protruding portion having a downward convex shape.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a resin container having a cylindrical body portion located between a mouth portion and a bottom portion. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a synthetic resin container having a body formed in a rectangular cylindrical shape with side surfaces and chamfered corners. The chamfered corners are chamfered so that the cross section is arc-shaped. An annular groove is formed in the body so that the groove depth at the chamfered corners is deeper than that at the side surfaces. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2016-150746 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In recent years, there has been a demand for reducing the amount of packaging materials used, for reasons such as reducing environmental impact. Therefore, thinner and lighter resin containers have been developed. However, these thinner and lighter containers can impair the physical properties of the resin container, such as its strength against vertical compressive loads. Therefore, it is desirable to avoid concentrating the load on a specific area of ​​the resin container. Therefore, the resin container described in this specification aims to distribute the load application area. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] A resin container according to one embodiment is a resin container comprising a mouth portion located on an upper side, a bottom portion located on a lower side, and a cylindrical body portion located between the mouth portion and the bottom portion, the barrel portion has an inwardly recessed region; The upper boundary of the recessed area includes a protrusion having a downwardly convex shape. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0006] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a side view of the resin container according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a front view of a resin container according to a first embodiment. [Figure 3] 10 is an image showing distortion when a load is applied to a resin container according to an example. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a front view of a resin container according to a comparative example. [Figure 5] 10 is an image showing distortion when a load is applied to a resin container according to a comparative example. [Figure 6] Image A shows distortion of a resin container according to an example, and image B shows distortion of a resin container according to a comparative example. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a partially enlarged view of a resin container according to a second embodiment. [Figure 8] A is the VIIIA-VIIIA cross section of Figure 7, B is the VIIIB-VIIIB cross section of Figure 7, and C is the VIIIC-VIIIC cross section of Figure 7. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0007] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the dimensions, materials, shapes, and relative positions of components described in the following embodiments can be arbitrarily set and can be changed depending on the configuration or various conditions of the device or method to which the present invention is applied. Furthermore, unless otherwise specified, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments specifically described below.

[0008] For example, the contents stored in the resin container described below are beverages. Alternatively, liquids other than beverages, semi-solid gels, sols, powders, or various other substances may be stored in the resin container. However, the following description will mainly focus on resin containers filled with beverages.

[0009] For example, the resin container is made of a thermoplastic resin. One example of the thermoplastic resin is polyethylene terephthalate resin (PET). Alternatively, the thermoplastic resin may be polybutylene terephthalate resin, polyethylene naphthalate resin, polyethylene resin, polypropylene resin, cycloolefin copolymer resin, ionomer resin, poly-4-methylpentene-1 resin, polymethyl methacrylate resin, polystyrene resin, ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer resin, acrylonitrile resin, polyvinyl chloride resin, polyvinylidene chloride resin, polyamide resin, polyamideimide resin, polyacetal resin, polycarbonate resin, polysulfone resin, tetrafluoroethylene resin, acrylonitrile-styrene resin, or acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene resin.

[0010] For example, such a resin container is manufactured by a biaxial stretch blow molding method using a thermoplastic resin as a material. The capacity of the resin container, as an example, is set arbitrarily within the range of 280 mL or more and 2000 mL or less. The weight of the resin container, as an example, is set arbitrarily within the range of 14 g or more and 23 g or less. In the following description, the upward direction in the direction of gravity of the resin container in an upright position corresponds to the upper side of the resin container, and the downward direction corresponds to the lower side of the resin container.

[0011] [First embodiment] A resin container will be described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. Figure 1 is a side view of a bottle 10 in an upright position. That is, Figure 1 shows the bottle 10 with the bottom 16 located on the lower side and the mouth 12 located on the upper side. Figure 2 is a front view of the bottle 10. For ease of explanation, reference numerals for some components have been omitted in Figure 2.

[0012] As shown in Figure 1, a bottle 10, which is an example of a resin container, has a mouth 12 located at the top and a bottom 16 located at the bottom. Bottle 10 also has a cylindrical body 15 located between mouth 12 and bottom 16. Bottle 10 also has a neck 13 and a shoulder 14 located between mouth 12 and body 15.

[0013] The body 15 extends in the axial direction of the bottle 10. Here, the axial direction is the direction in which an axis AX (FIG. 2) passing through the center of the bottle 10 extends. The up-and-down direction of the bottle 10 corresponds to the axial direction, and the axial direction of the body 15 coincides with the axial direction of the bottle 10. The direction revolving around the axis AX extending in the axial direction of the bottle 10 corresponds to the circumferential direction of the bottle 10. The circumferential direction of the body 15 coincides with the circumferential direction of the bottle 10.

[0014] The mouth portion 12 has a relatively small diameter and a cylindrical shape extending in the axial direction. A male thread portion 12a is formed on the outer periphery of the mouth portion 12 for attaching a cap (not shown). The neck portion 13 extends continuously from the lower end of the neck ring 13a toward the shoulder portion 14. The shoulder portion 14 extends continuously from the lower end of the neck portion 13 toward the body portion 15, gradually increasing in diameter. The body portion 15 has a cylindrical shape and extends continuously from the lower end of the shoulder portion 14 downward in the axial direction toward the bottom portion 16.

[0015] As an example, the body 15 has a rectangular cylindrical shape in which the cross section horizontally orthogonal to the axis AX is generally rectangular. Alternatively, the body 15 may have a cylindrical shape in which the cross section is generally circular. Furthermore, the cross section of the body 15 may have a polygonal shape other than a rectangle, or may be non-circular, such as an ellipse or an oval.

[0016] The body 15 shown in Fig. 1 has a shape that combines four outer peripheral surfaces 15a and four corners 15b located at the boundaries of the outer peripheral surfaces 15a. Therefore, the body 15 has a shape in which the four outer peripheral surfaces 15a extending along each side of an imaginary rectangle are connected to each other via the corners 15b. Each corner 15b has a so-called rounded shape with an appropriate curvature. Alternatively, each corner 15b may have a shape in which the boundaries between the outer peripheral surfaces 15a are connected by a plane with a certain inclination (a so-called chamfered shape).

[0017] The bottom 16 is continuous with the lower end of the body 15 and has a bottom lid-like shape that closes the lower end of the bottle 10. A plurality of groove-like bottom ribs are formed in the bottom 16 for the purpose of reinforcing the bottom 16. For example, the plurality of bottom ribs extend radially from a recess in the center of the bottom 16, or are formed concentrically from the center of the bottom 16. Alternatively, the bottom ribs may not be formed in the bottom 16.

[0018] 2, the mouth 12, neck 13, shoulder 14, body 15, and bottom 16 are positioned coaxially aligned on a common axis AX. Therefore, the axis AX corresponds to the overall axis of the bottle 10 and coincides with the axis of the body 15.

[0019] [Rib 50] As shown in FIG. 1 , multiple ribs 50 are formed on the body 15 for the purpose of reinforcing the bottle 10. As an example, three types of ribs 50 are formed on the body 15. Specifically, short ribs 51 and long ribs 52 extending in the axial direction, and curved partial ribs 53 are formed. However, the number of ribs 50 may be two or more, and at least one of the short ribs 51, long ribs 52, and partial ribs 53 may be omitted. Each rib 50 is a groove that protrudes inward of the bottle 10 and extends circumferentially. That is, each rib 50 bulges inward from the outer peripheral surface 15a that defines the contour of the body 15.

[0020] Alternatively, each rib 50 may be a convex portion or ridge that protrudes outward from the bottle 10 and extends circumferentially. This shape can also provide reinforcement for the body 15. Furthermore, compared to groove-shaped ribs 50 that protrude inward, this shape can prevent the internal volume of the bottle 10 from decreasing. However, if the ribs 50 are grooves, it is possible to prevent the outward-protruding ribs 50 from coming into contact with each other when multiple bottles 10 are stored or transported.

[0021] As an example, the protruding length of the ribs 50 is set arbitrarily within the range of 0.4 mm or more and 5 mm or less. The size, position, and number of the ribs 50 may be set appropriately depending on the specifications of the body portion 15, such as the axial length, diameter, and thickness. The widths of the short ribs 51 and the long ribs 52, i.e., the lengths in the circumferential direction, are constant. Alternatively, wide portions in which the short ribs 51 and the long ribs 52 are relatively wide may be formed as appropriate. The groove width of the partial rib 53 may be constant over the entire length of the partial rib 53, or may vary as appropriate.

[0022] As shown in Fig. 2, the partial rib 53 extends while curving via the top portion 53c. The partial rib 53 is formed only in a partial range around the entire circumference of the body portion 15 in the circumferential direction of the bottle 10. The end portion 53a of the partial rib 53 is spaced apart from the other partial ribs 53. In other words, the end portion 53a of each partial rib 53 is formed as an end that is not continuous with the other partial ribs 53.

[0023] The partial rib 53 has inclined portions 53b that extend obliquely with respect to both the axial direction and the circumferential direction. The inclined portions 53b extend on both sides of the apex 53c of the partial rib 53 in the circumferential direction. Alternatively, the partial rib 53 may be curved from the apex 53c to partway along the inclined portions 53b on both sides. In this case, the non-curved portions of the inclined portions 53b extend linearly at a predetermined inclination angle with respect to the axial direction and the circumferential direction.

[0024] Furthermore, the partial rib 53 forms an upwardly convex shape with the apex 53c facing upward in the axial direction. In the partial rib 53 forming an upwardly convex shape, the apex 53c is located at the uppermost position in the axial direction. Furthermore, the inclined portion 53b extends obliquely from the apex 53c toward the end portion 53a. Alternatively, the partial rib 53 may form a downwardly convex shape with the apex 53c facing downward in the axial direction. Furthermore, the inclined portions 53b on both sides extend line-symmetrically with respect to the apex 53c. Alternatively, the inclined portions 53b on both sides may extend asymmetrically with respect to the apex 53c.

[0025] The plurality of partial ribs 53 includes a first rib row in which three partial ribs 53 are aligned in the axial direction, and a second rib row in which two partial ribs 53 are aligned in the axial direction. The first rib row and the second rib row are alternately formed while being offset from each other in the circumferential direction. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the first rib row and the second rib row are both formed so that the peaks 53c are located at the corners 15b. As a result, four rib rows are formed throughout the body 15. In each rib row, the peaks 53c of the plurality of partial ribs 53 are aligned on an imaginary straight line parallel to the axial direction. Alternatively, in each rib row, the position of at least one partial rib 53 may be offset from the other partial ribs 53 in the circumferential direction.

[0026] In the first rib row and the second rib row that are adjacent in the circumferential direction, the end portions 53a of each partial rib 53 in the first rib row and the end portions 53a of each partial rib 53 in the second rib row are aligned in the axial direction. In other words, the end portions 53a of each partial rib 53 in the first rib row and the end portions 53a of each partial rib 53 in the second rib row are alternately formed. Furthermore, in each rib row, the axial spacing between the upper and lower partial ribs 53 aligned in the axial direction is equal to each other. Alternatively, the axial spacing between the upper and lower partial ribs 53 may be different at least in part.

[0027] The ribs 50 described above distribute the load across the entire bottle 10, allowing the load to be borne by the entire bottle 10. This improves the buckling strength of the bottle 10, preventing deformation of the bottle 10. Furthermore, the ribs 50 suppress deformation when gripped, making the bottle 10 easier to grip.

[0028] Furthermore, roll labels, which are thinner than shrink labels, can be attached to the body 15 of the bottle 10. For example, when attaching a roll label to the bottle 10, a hot-melt adhesive is applied to the body 15. This requires securing an area for applying the adhesive to the body 15. However, attempting to secure an area for application places restrictions on the shape of the bottle 10, making it difficult to distribute the load.

[0029] For example, if horizontal ribs with uniform protrusion lengths are formed horizontally in the circumferential direction, deformation may occur starting from the horizontal ribs when a load is applied from above the plastic container. Furthermore, when a shrink label is attached, it is attached to the plastic container by heat shrinking it. Therefore, if such horizontal ribs are formed, the shrink label will sink into the horizontal ribs, detracting from the aesthetic appeal.

[0030] Meanwhile, the ribs 50 are shaped to improve buckling strength, prevent deformation, and facilitate gripping, while maintaining a sufficient application area. Specifically, the inclined portions 53b of each partial rib 53 extend obliquely relative to both the axial and circumferential directions of the bottle 10. This provides reinforcement against loads from both the axial and circumferential directions of the bottle 10. In particular, the partial ribs 53 provide a stronger reinforcement effect against vertical compressive loads acting along the axis AX of the bottle 10 than horizontal ribs extending in the circumferential direction. This makes it possible to suppress deformation of the bottle 10 originating from the ribs 50, compared to horizontal ribs.

[0031] For example, when the bottle 10 is stored in a warehouse, the load can be distributed to prevent problems caused by deformation, and the contents of the bottle 10 can be prevented from boiling over. Furthermore, when a shrink label is used, the shrink label can be prevented from getting caught in the ribs 50. This prevents or avoids impairing the aesthetic appeal of the bottle 10. Furthermore, the rigidity of the bottle 10 is improved in the area where the ribs 50 are formed. This makes the bottle 10 less likely to be crushed when gripped, making it easier to hold. Furthermore, deformation when gripped can be prevented, reducing the occurrence of boiling over of the contents.

[0032] Furthermore, the vertical compressive load can be distributed to the outer peripheral surface 15a on both sides of each partial rib 53 from the top 53c through the diagonal portion 53b to the end 53a. This reduces deformation of the bottle 10 due to concentrated load. This improves the rigidity and strength of the bottle 10 against buckling deformation caused by the vertical compressive load. In particular, in the rectangular cylindrical body 15, the corners 15b tend to bear the vertical compressive load. In this regard, by positioning the top 53c at the corners 15b, the load received by the corners 15b can be distributed to the outer peripheral surface 15a on both sides of the partial rib 53.

[0033] Furthermore, partial ribs 53 are arranged in areas that are likely to be gripped with fingers when holding bottle 10. Therefore, when bottle 10 is gripped, the reinforcing effect of partial ribs 53 can suppress deformation of body 15. This reduces the possibility of the contents boiling over due to deformation of bottle 10 when gripped.

[0034] [Protrusion 40] As shown in Fig. 2, the body portion 15 has a recessed region 15s that is recessed inward. For example, the recessed region 15s is an area where a label such as a roll label or a shrink label, which will be described later, is attached. The recessed region 15s extends in the circumferential direction of the body portion 15 so as to go around the body portion 15. The upper boundary of the recessed region 15s is defined by a step formed by an upper boundary portion 41. The lower boundary of the recessed region 15s is defined by a step formed by a lower boundary portion 42.

[0035] The recessed area 15s is slightly recessed inward compared to the outline of the bottle 10 and protrudes inward by a predetermined protrusion length. For example, the recessed area 15s is recessed so as to protrude inward by 0.2 mm. This prevents the labels of two adjacent bottles 10 from coming into contact with each other when the bottles 10 with labels attached are transported or stored. This prevents the labels from becoming soiled or damaged.

[0036] The upper boundary 41 and the lower boundary 42 correspond to peripheral edges that protrude outward relative to the recess region 15s. The upper boundary 41 and the lower boundary 42 extend in the circumferential direction so as to go around the body portion 15. As an example, the lower boundary 42 extends horizontally in the circumferential direction. Alternatively, at least a portion of the lower boundary 42 may be curved or inclined in the axial and circumferential directions. As another example, the recess region 15s does not need to go around the body portion 15. In this case, the portion that protrudes outward relative to the recess region 15s extends in the axial direction of the body portion 15. Therefore, the upper boundary 41 and the lower boundary 42 are discontinued at the outward protruding portion.

[0037] The upper boundary 41 includes a protrusion 40 having a downward convex shape. The label is attached so as to cover the protrusion 40. In the example of FIG. 2, the protrusion 40 has an arc-like shape. As an example, the protrusion 40 has a shape that describes an arc having a predetermined radius of curvature. This prevents corners from forming on the edge of the protrusion 40, thereby preventing the protrusion 40 from having a portion to which a load is concentrated. Alternatively, the protrusion 40 may have a shape that describes a portion of an oval. As another example, the protrusion 40 may have a portion that extends linearly.

[0038] Additionally, the upper boundary 41 includes a horizontal portion that extends horizontally in the circumferential direction. Specifically, the remaining portion excluding the protruding portion 40 is a horizontal portion, and the horizontal portion extends horizontally in the circumferential direction. This prevents the label attached to the body 15 from shifting out of position. Alternatively, the remaining portion excluding the protruding portion 40 may be curved or inclined in the axial and circumferential directions. Note that the upper boundary 41 can be omitted if unnecessary.

[0039] The upper boundary 41 also includes multiple protrusions 40 formed at equal intervals. This allows the load to be distributed evenly across each outer peripheral surface 15a of the bottle 10. For example, the distance from the apex 40a of one protrusion 40 to the apex 40a of the adjacent protrusion 40 is equal across the multiple protrusions 40. The protrusions 40 are also located between the corners 15b of the body 15. This allows the load to be distributed across the outer peripheral surface 15a. As an example, each protrusion 40 is formed at the center of the outer peripheral surface 15a in the circumferential direction. In this case, the upper boundary 41 includes the same number of protrusions 40 as the number of protrusions 40 on each outer peripheral surface 15a. Alternatively, multiple protrusions 40 may be formed on each outer peripheral surface 15a. As another example, the multiple protrusions 40 may include a pair of adjacent protrusions 40 with a different spacing between them than the other two protrusions 40.

[0040] Alternatively, the protrusion 40 may be located at a corner 15b of the body 15. This allows the load to be distributed at the corner 15b. As another example, the upper boundary 41 of at least one of the multiple outer peripheral surfaces 15a may not include the protrusion 40. For example, of the four outer peripheral surfaces 15a, only the upper boundary 41 of two outer peripheral surfaces 15a may include the protrusion 40.

[0041] If the upper boundary 41 of the recessed region 15s extends horizontally in the circumferential direction, the bottle 10 tends to deform easily when subjected to a vertical compressive load. In particular, if the outer peripheral surface 15a and the corners 15b extend perpendicular to the ground surface, the load tends to concentrate around the upper boundary 41 when subjected to a vertical compressive load. In contrast, if the upper boundary 41 includes the protrusion 40, a bulge corresponding to the protrusion 40 is formed. For example, an arc-shaped bulge corresponding to the protrusion 40 is formed. This allows the positions above and below the upper boundary 41 to be different from each other, where the load is likely to be applied. As a result, the load can be dispersed around the protrusion 40, thereby preventing the load from concentrating around the upper boundary 41 located on the outer peripheral surface 15a or the corners 15b.

[0042] [Example] 3 to 6, a bottle 10 according to an example corresponding to the first embodiment is compared with a bottle 100 according to a comparative example. FIG. 3 is an image showing the distortion of the bottle 10 when a compressive load is applied from above. In this example image, a compressive load is applied to a bottle 10 placed upright with liquid inside. Specifically, a cap is attached to the mouth 12, and a compressive load is applied vertically downward from the top surface of the cap. Furthermore, an image of the bottle 10 to which the compressive load has been applied is taken, and the distortion of the bottle 10 is visualized by image analysis.

[0043] As shown in Fig. 4, the bottle 100 according to the comparative example has a body 115. The body 115 is formed with a plurality of short ribs 151, a plurality of long ribs 152, and a plurality of partial ribs 153. In addition, the upper boundary 141 and the lower boundary 142 of the bottle 100 extend horizontally in the circumferential direction. In other words, the bottle 100 according to the comparative example differs from the bottle 10 according to the example in that the bottle 100 does not have a protrusion 40.

[0044] Fig. 5 is an image showing the distortion of the bottle 100 according to the comparative example when a compressive load is applied from above. Note that the conditions and method for visualizing the distortion are the same as those in Fig. 4, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted. Furthermore, Fig. 6 is an image showing the distortion of the corner 15b connected to the two outer peripheral surfaces 15a when viewed from above for the bottle 10 according to the example and the bottle 100 according to the comparative example. Note that Fig. 6A shows the bottle 10 according to the example, and Fig. 6B shows the bottle 100 according to the comparative example.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 3, in the bottle 10, the area of ​​the additional portion LD, where the load is applied and distortion is large, is small. In other words, the areas of the additional portions LD1 and LD2 are small, and it can be seen that the area to which the load is applied is dispersed. For this reason, the area to which the load is applied is adjusted so that the load is not concentrated around the upper boundary portion 41 located on the outer peripheral surface 15a or the corner portion 15b. The position, shape, and size of the protrusion 40 are set for the purpose of such adjustment. Specifically, the formation position of the protrusion 40 is set so that the load is easily applied to the upper and lower sides of the protrusion 40.

[0046] This prevents deformation of the outer peripheral surface 15a or the corners 15b. In other words, the bottle 10 including the protrusions 40 can withstand relatively strong loads. In particular, the protrusions 40 provide a stronger reinforcing effect against a vertical compressive load acting along the axis AX of the bottle 10. This reduces the possibility of deformation, such as inward bending of the outer peripheral surface 15a or the corners 15b, due to concentrated load. This significantly improves the strength and resistance of the bottle 10 to buckling deformation caused by a vertical compressive load.

[0047] [Comparative Example] On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, in the bottle 100 according to the comparative example, the additional portions LD, which are subject to large strain when a load is applied, are concentrated in specific locations, specifically around the corners. It can also be seen that the areas of the additional portions LD3 to LD10 are large, and the areas to which the load is applied are concentrated. Therefore, deformation is likely to occur in the specific locations where the load is concentrated. In other words, the bottle 100 without the protrusion 40 will buckle even when a relatively small load is applied.

[0048] 6A and 6B, in the bottle 100 according to the comparative example shown in FIG. 6B, the areas of the additional portions LD3 to LD6, which are subject to large distortion due to the application of a load, are large. In contrast, in the bottle 10 according to the example shown in FIG. 6A, the areas of the additional portions LD1 and LD1, which are subject to large distortion due to the application of a load, are small. In other words, the load is more dispersed in the bottle 10 according to the example than in the comparative example. This prevents deformation from occurring at the corner 15b.

[0049] [Label attachment] The attachment of a label will be described with reference to Figure 2. In the following, as an example of a label, a roll label that is attached to the body 15 using an adhesive will be mainly described. One end of this roll label is fixed by adhesive applied to the body 15 of the bottle 10. Then, with the roll label wrapped around the body 15, both ends of the roll label are adhered to each other. In this way, the roll label is attached to the bottle 10. As an example, the adhesive is a hot-melt adhesive that melts when heated.

[0050] The body 15 has a recessed area 15s formed around the entire body 15 as an example of an area where a label is attached. In this recessed area 15s, adhesive is applied to an application area that is not uneven due to the ribs 50. In other words, the application area is the area between the ribs 50. For example, a label that covers the recessed area 15s is attached to a limited area in the axial direction of the body 15.

[0051] In the recessed region 15s, the application area is a continuous, smooth surface without any irregularities caused by the ribs 50. For example, the area between the short rib 51 and the long rib 52 can be used as the application area. Also, the area between the upper partial rib 53 and the apex 53c of the lower partial rib 53 can be used as the application area. This ensures a smooth surface with a certain extent, allowing the roll label to be adhered to a wide application area. Furthermore, the multiple application areas are set to be aligned linearly in the axial direction. Alternatively, the multiple application areas may be set at different positions in the circumferential direction.

[0052] One circumferential end of the roll label is adhered to the body 15 in the application area. The other end of the roll label wound around the body 15 is then overlapped and adhered to the one end adhered to the body 15. For example, when applying adhesive, the bottle 10 is rotated around the axis AX relative to an application roller. This brings the body 15 into contact with the roller, allowing the adhesive to be applied to the application area on any one of the multiple outer circumferential surfaces 15a.

[0053] 2, the recessed region 15s is provided over the entire body portion 15 in the axial direction, from the shoulder portion 14 to the bottom portion 16. However, the recessed region 15s may be provided only in a part of the body portion 15 in the axial direction. For example, the recessed region 15s may be provided in an upper region of the body portion 15, a central region of the body portion 15, or a region of the body portion 15 excluding the lower portion.

[0054] As another example, a shrink label made of a shrink film that is attached using heat shrinkage may be attached to the body portion 15. Here, the diagonal portion 53b extends diagonally in the recessed region 15s. Therefore, compared to a horizontal rib that extends horizontally, the shrink label is less likely to slip inside the rib 50 after shrinking. This can prevent or avoid impairing the aesthetic appeal of the shrink label.

[0055] As described above, the bottle 10 according to the first embodiment allows for distributed application of loads. Therefore, the bottle 10 and the protrusion 40 can be designed to prevent the load from concentrating on a specific location. This improves the resistance and strength of the bottle 10 to vertical compressive loads. As a result, the buckling strength of the bottle 10 is improved, preventing deformation of the bottle 10.

[0056] Furthermore, the ribs 50 suppress deformation when gripped, making the bottle 10 easier to grip. When a roll label is attached, an application area can be secured on the body 15. Additionally, when a shrink label is used, the ribs 50 make it difficult for the shrink label to get caught in the ribs. This prevents the aesthetic appeal of the bottle 10 from being impaired.

[0057] [Second embodiment] Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 7 and 8. A bottle 210 according to the second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that it includes a pair of ribs 20 including an upper rib 21 and a lower rib 22, and a peripheral rib 30. Figure 7 is an enlarged view of the lower part of the bottle 210 as viewed from the front. The upper part of the bottle 210 is configured similarly to the bottle 10 according to the first embodiment. Therefore, for ease of explanation, the upper part of the bottle 210 is not shown in Figure 7.

[0058] Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of bottle 210. Figure 8A shows a cross section taken along line VIIIA-VIIIA in Figure 7. Figure 8B shows a cross section taken along line VIIIB-VIIIB in Figure 7. Figure 8C shows a cross section taken along line VIIIC-VIIIC in Figure 7. In the description of the second embodiment, differences from the first embodiment will be described, and components that have already been described will be given the same reference numerals, and their description may be omitted. Unless otherwise specified, components given the same reference numerals perform substantially the same operations and functions, and their effects are also substantially the same.

[0059] Bottle 210, an example of a resin container, has a mouth 12 (not shown) located at the top and a bottom 16 located at the bottom. Bottle 210 also has a cylindrical body 15 located between mouth 12 and bottom 16. Bottle 210 also has a neck 13 and a shoulder 14 (not shown) located between mouth 12 and body 15. The capacity of bottle 210 shown in FIG. 7 is 500 mL. However, the capacity of bottle 210 is not limited to 500 mL. Bottle 210 is made of polyethylene terephthalate resin. However, the material of bottle 210 is not limited to polyethylene terephthalate resin.

[0060] The body portion 15 has a shape that combines four outer peripheral surfaces 15a (FIG. 8) and four corners 15b (FIG. 8) located at the boundaries of the outer peripheral surfaces 15a. The body portion 15 has a rectangular cylindrical shape with a generally rectangular cross section. Alternatively, the body portion 15 may have a cylindrical shape with a generally circular cross section. Furthermore, the cross section of the body portion 15 may have a polygonal shape other than a square, or may be non-circular, such as an ellipse or an oval.

[0061] The body 15 extends in the axial direction of the bottle 210. Here, the axial direction is the direction in which an axis AX passing through the center of the bottle 210 shown in FIG. 7 extends. The up-and-down direction of the bottle 210 corresponds to the axial direction, and the axial direction of the body 15 coincides with the axial direction of the bottle 210. Furthermore, the direction revolving around the axis AX extending in the axial direction of the bottle 210 corresponds to the circumferential direction of the bottle 210. The circumferential direction of the body 15 coincides with the circumferential direction of the bottle 210. An upper boundary 41 including a protrusion 40 having a downwardly convex shape is formed on the shoulder 14 (not shown).

[0062] [Pair of ribs 20] As shown in FIG. 7, the body 15 has a pair of ribs 20 including an upper rib 21 and a lower rib 22 that extend circumferentially around the body 15. The upper rib 21 has a first upper portion 21a and a second upper portion 21b that have an upwardly convex shape. The lower rib 22 has a first lower portion 22a and a second lower portion 22b that have a downwardly convex shape. The first upper portion 21a and the first lower portion 22a are aligned along the axial direction of the body 15. The second upper portion 21b and the second lower portion 22b are aligned along the axial direction.

[0063] The upper rib 21 also has a third upper portion 21c having a downwardly convex shape. This third upper portion 21c is continuous with the first upper portion 21a and the second upper portion 21b. The lower rib 22 also has a third lower portion 22c having an upwardly convex shape. This third lower portion 22c is continuous with the first lower portion 22a and the second lower portion 22b. The upper rib 21 also has a fourth upper portion 21d that is continuous with each of the adjacent first upper portions 21a and has a downwardly convex shape. The lower rib 22 also has a fourth lower portion 22d that is continuous with each of the adjacent first lower portions 22a and has an upwardly convex shape.

[0064] [Peripheral rib 30] The body 15 is formed with a peripheral rib 30 that extends circumferentially around the body 15 to reinforce the bottle 210. As an example, five peripheral ribs 30 are formed on the body 15. However, the size, position, and number of the peripheral ribs 30 can be set appropriately depending on the specifications of the body 15, such as the axial length, diameter, and thickness. For example, the number of peripheral ribs 30 may be one or more.

[0065] Furthermore, the distance between the center lines CL of the peripheral ribs 30 is at least partially different between the upper set of two peripheral ribs 30 and the lower set of three peripheral ribs 30. Alternatively, the multiple peripheral ribs 30 may be formed evenly spaced apart in the axial direction. That is, the distance between the center lines CL of the peripheral ribs 30 may all be the same. Furthermore, each peripheral rib 30 extends horizontally in the circumferential direction. However, each peripheral rib 30 may be inclined in both the axial and circumferential directions.

[0066] Each peripheral rib 30 is a groove that protrudes inward from the bottle 210 and extends circumferentially. That is, each peripheral rib 30 bulges inward from the outer peripheral surface 15a that defines the contour of the body 15. Alternatively, each peripheral rib 30 may be a convex or ridge that protrudes outward from the bottle 210 and extends circumferentially. This shape can also reinforce the body 15. Furthermore, compared to a groove-shaped peripheral rib 30 that protrudes inward, this shape can prevent the content volume of the bottle 210 from decreasing. However, if the peripheral rib 30 is a groove, it can prevent the outward-protruding peripheral ribs 30 from coming into contact with each other when storing or transporting multiple bottles 210.

[0067] As shown in Figure 8, the rib contour 30c defined by the center line CL of the peripheral rib 30 is similar in shape to the body contour 15c defined by the outer peripheral surface 15a on which the peripheral rib 30 is formed. In addition, when viewed from below the bottle 210, the orientation of the rib contour 30c is offset from the orientation of the body contour 15c. That is, when viewed from below in a direction perpendicular to a cross section of the bottle 210 passing through the center line CL of the peripheral rib 30, the orientation of the rib contour 30c in the cross section is tilted. Here, the body contour 15c is a surface located outside the edge of the peripheral rib 30 and coincides with the contour of a surface that is flush with the outer peripheral surface 15a.

[0068] 8, the bottom side of the drawing corresponds to the front. The center line CL is a line that traces the bottom of the groove-shaped peripheral rib 30. Here, the center line CL is defined as a line that connects points located in the middle of the edges extending in the circumferential direction of the peripheral rib 30. In other words, the center line CL is located equidistant from both edges of the peripheral rib 30.

[0069] In Figure 8, the rib contour 30c is located inside the body contour 15c, i.e., at a position offset inward of the bottle 210 relative to the outer circumferential surface 15a. Furthermore, the rib contour 30c is similar in shape to the body contour 15c, and in the example of Figure 8, the rib contour 30c and the body contour 15c are both rectangular. Alternatively, the center line CL may be a line tracing the apex of the convex outer circumferential rib 30 that protrudes inward of the bottle 210. In this case, the rib contour 30c is located outside the body contour 15c, i.e., at a position offset outward of the bottle 210 relative to the outer circumferential surface 15a.

[0070] The orientation of the rib contour 30c is also offset from the orientation of the trunk contour 15c so that the rib contour 30c is inclined relative to the trunk contour 15c. In the examples of Figs. 8A and 8C, the rib contour 30c is inclined clockwise by θ1 around the axis AX. In the example of Fig. 8B, the rib contour 30c is inclined counterclockwise by θ2 around the axis AX. As an example, the magnitudes of θ1 and θ2 are set arbitrarily within a range of 1 degree or more and 5 degrees or less.

[0071] Because the orientation of the rib contours 30c is offset, the protruding length of the peripheral rib 30 varies along the center line CL of the peripheral rib 30. Specifically, the protruding length of the peripheral rib 30 continuously varies from a maximum portion 31 having the maximum protruding length to a minimum portion 32 having the minimum protruding length. This prevents steps from occurring within the peripheral rib 30, thereby preventing the peripheral rib 30 from being subjected to concentrated loads. When the peripheral rib 30 is a groove, the maximum portion 31 is the deepest and the minimum portion 32 is the shallowest. For example, the maximum protruding length is set arbitrarily within the range of 0.4 mm to 5 mm. The minimum protruding length is calculated by multiplying the maximum protruding length by a factor arbitrarily set within the range of 0.8 to 0.4. Alternatively, when the peripheral rib 30 is a convex portion, the maximum portion 31 is the highest and the minimum portion 32 is the lowest.

[0072] At the maximum portion 31, the distance from the rib contour 30c to the body contour 15c is the longest. That is, the distance from the rib contour 30c to the outer peripheral surface 15a or the edge of the outer peripheral rib 30 is the longest. At the minimum portion 32, the distance from the rib contour 30c to the body contour 15c is the shortest. That is, the distance from the rib contour 30c to the outer peripheral surface 15a or the edge of the outer peripheral rib 30 is the shortest. Here, the rib contour 30c is similar in shape to the body contour 15c, but the orientation of the rib contour 30c is shifted. As a result, the outer peripheral rib 30 has a shape that repeats a pattern of change in protrusion length from the maximum portion 31 to the minimum portion 32. This allows the position of the portion to which a load is applied to be shifted circumferentially throughout the entire outer circumference of the bottle 10, thereby dispersing the load.

[0073] That is, in the example shown in Fig. 8A, in the clockwise direction, the rib contour 30c gradually moves away from the body contour 15c starting from the minimum portion 32. Conversely, in the counterclockwise direction, the rib contour 30c gradually moves closer to the body contour 15c starting from the maximum portion 31. Also, in the example shown in Fig. 8B, in the clockwise direction, the rib contour 30c gradually moves closer to the body contour 15c starting from the maximum portion 31. Conversely, in the counterclockwise direction, the rib contour 30c gradually moves away from the body contour 15c starting from the minimum portion 32. In this way, the circumferential rib 30 repeats a periodic pattern of change in protrusion length from the maximum portion 31 to the minimum portion 32.

[0074] Alternatively, the pattern of change in the protrusion length of at least one circumferential rib 30 from the maximum portion 31 to the minimum portion 32 may be different from that of the other circumferential ribs 30. For example, the protrusion length of at least one of the maximum portion 31 and the minimum portion 32 of at least one circumferential rib 30 may be different from that of the other circumferential ribs 30. Alternatively, the change in the protrusion length of at least one circumferential rib 30 from the maximum portion 31 to the minimum portion 32 may be more gradual or more abrupt than that of the other circumferential ribs 30.

[0075] Additionally, the body portion 15 has two peripheral ribs 30 adjacent to each other in the axial direction of the body portion 15. That is, one of the multiple peripheral ribs 30 has another peripheral rib 30 formed at least either above or below it. The orientation of the rib contour 30c of one of the two adjacent peripheral ribs 30 is shifted relative to the orientation of the rib contour 30c of the other adjacent peripheral rib 30. This allows the position of the portion to which a load is applied to be shifted in the circumferential direction, thereby dispersing the load.

[0076] For example, with reference to the lower set of three circumferential ribs 30, the topmost rib profile 30c shown in FIG. 8A is inclined clockwise by θ1. The second-highest rib profile 30c shown in FIG. 8B is inclined counterclockwise by θ2. Thus, the orientation of one of the rib profiles 30c of two adjacent circumferential ribs 30 is offset from the orientation of the other rib profile 30c of the adjacent circumferential rib 30. The second-highest rib profile 30c shown in FIG. 8B is inclined counterclockwise by θ2. The third-highest rib profile 30c shown in FIG. 8C is inclined clockwise by θ1. Alternatively, all of the rib profiles 30c may be oriented in the same direction.

[0077] Due to this misalignment, the protruding lengths of adjacent portions of the multiple axially adjacent peripheral ribs 30 differ from each other. Therefore, the minimum portions 32 of the axially adjacent peripheral ribs 30 are not aligned in the axial direction. Also, the maximum portions 31 of the axially adjacent peripheral ribs 30 are not aligned in the axial direction. This allows the load to be dispersed and not concentrated.

[0078] The body 15 also has at least three circumferential ribs 30 aligned in the axial direction. Among the at least three circumferential ribs 30, the orientation of the rib contours 30c of the upper and lower circumferential ribs 30 sandwiching one of the circumferential ribs 30 may be the same. For example, comparing FIGS. 8A and 8C, all rib contours 30c are oriented in the same direction and inclined by the same amount relative to the body contour 15c. That is, the orientation of the rib contour 30c shown in FIG. 8A is the same as the orientation of the rib contour 30c shown in FIG. 8C. Here, the rib contour 30c shown in FIG. 8A corresponds to the upper circumferential rib 30 relative to the circumferential rib 30 shown in FIG. 8B. The rib contour 30c shown in FIG. 8C corresponds to the lower circumferential rib 30 relative to the circumferential rib 30 shown in FIG. 8B.

[0079] In this way, the orientation of the rib contours 30c is shifted so that the same orientation appears alternately. In other words, the orientation of the rib contours 30c is shifted so that every other rib contour 30c has the same orientation. This allows the load to be distributed so that it is not concentrated in a specific location. However, the orientation of all rib contours 30c may be different. Furthermore, the orientation of the rib contours 30c may be randomly changed.

[0080] Furthermore, when focusing on the peripheral ribs 30 at the corners 15b, portions with relatively long protrusion lengths (e.g., deep grooves) and portions with relatively short protrusion lengths (e.g., shallow grooves) appear alternately in the axial direction. Note that, in at least some of the multiple peripheral ribs 30, it is sufficient that the protrusion lengths of at least two peripheral ribs 30 adjacent in the axial direction differ in the axial direction. For example, there may be a region in which the protrusion lengths of two adjacent peripheral ribs 30 in the axial direction are the same.

[0081] The peripheral rib 30 has a wide portion with a relatively large width (i.e., a length in the axial direction) and a narrow portion with a relatively small width. Specifically, the maximum width portion 31 corresponds to the wide portion, and the minimum width portion 32 corresponds to the narrow portion. The width of the peripheral rib 30 changes continuously from the wide portion to the narrow portion. Alternatively, the axial length of the peripheral rib 30 may be constant around the entire circumference of the body portion 15. For example, the widths of the maximum width portion 31 and the minimum width portion 32 may be the same, and only the protruding length may differ.

[0082] Furthermore, in the body portion 15, the maximum portion 31 of one of the axially adjacent peripheral ribs 30 is located at a different circumferential position from the maximum portion 31 of the other adjacent peripheral rib 30. In other words, the maximum portions 31 of the adjacent peripheral ribs 30 are not aligned in the axial direction. This allows the positions of the portions to which the load is applied to be shifted in the circumferential direction, thereby dispersing the load.

[0083] For example, Figure 7 shows the outer peripheral ribs 30a and 30b that are adjacent to each other in the axial direction. Here, the maximum portion 31a of the outer peripheral rib 30a and the maximum portion 31b of the outer peripheral rib 30b are located at different positions in the circumferential direction and are not aligned in the axial direction. This allows the load to be dispersed without being concentrated. Similarly, the minimum portion 32a of the outer peripheral rib 30a and the minimum portion 32b of the outer peripheral rib 30b are located at different positions in the circumferential direction and are not aligned in the axial direction.

[0084] The peripheral rib 30 described above allows for distributed application of loads. Therefore, the bottle 210 and the peripheral rib 30 can be designed to prevent the load from concentrating on a specific location. This improves the resistance and strength of the bottle 210 to vertical compressive loads. As a result, the buckling strength of the bottle 210 is improved, preventing deformation of the bottle 210. Furthermore, the peripheral rib 30 reduces deformation during gripping, making the bottle 210 easier to grip. Furthermore, when attaching a roll label, an application area can be secured on the body 15.

[0085] The number of peripheral ribs 30 may be one. Even in this case, the position of the portion to which the load is applied can be shifted by adjusting the inclination of the rib contour 30c of the peripheral rib 30. This allows the bottle 210 and peripheral rib 30 to be designed to prevent the load from concentrating on a specific location.

[0086] As described above, the bottle 210 according to the second embodiment allows for distributed application of loads. Therefore, the bottle 210 and the protruding portion 40 can be designed to prevent the load from concentrating on a specific location. This improves the resistance and strength of the bottle 210 to vertical compressive loads. As a result, the buckling strength of the bottle 210 is improved, preventing deformation of the bottle 210.

[0087] Furthermore, with the bottle 210 according to the second embodiment, it is possible to distribute the load application area. Therefore, the bottle 210, the rib 20, and the peripheral rib 30 can be designed to prevent the load from concentrating on a specific area. This improves the resistance and strength of the bottle 210 to vertical compressive loads. As a result, the buckling strength of the bottle 210 is improved, preventing deformation of the bottle 210.

[0088] Furthermore, the ribs 20 and the peripheral rib 30 suppress deformation when gripped, making the bottle 210 easier to grip. Also, when a roll label is attached, an application area can be secured on the body 15. Additionally, when a shrink label is used, the shrink label is less likely to get caught in the ribs 20. This prevents the aesthetic appeal of the bottle 210 from being impaired.

[0089] Although the present invention has been described above with reference to each embodiment, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. Inventions modified without violating the present invention, and inventions equivalent to the present invention, are also included in the present invention. Furthermore, each embodiment and each modified form, and technical means included in each embodiment or each modified form, can be combined as appropriate without violating the present invention.

[0090] For example, shoulder 14, body 15, and bottom 16 do not have to be coaxial with mouth 12 and neck 13. As an example, body 15 and bottom 16 may be eccentric with respect to axis AX.

[0091] A part or all of the above-described embodiments can be described as, but not limited to, the following supplementary notes.

[0092] (Appendix 1) A resin container having a mouth portion located on the upper side, a bottom portion located on the lower side, and a cylindrical body portion located between the mouth portion and the bottom portion, the barrel portion has an inwardly recessed region; A resin container, wherein an upper boundary of the recessed area includes a protrusion having a downwardly convex shape.

[0093] (Appendix 2) 2. The resin container according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion has an arcuate shape.

[0094] (Appendix 3) the recessed region extends in a circumferential direction of the body portion so as to go around the body portion, 3. A resin container according to claim 1, wherein the upper boundary portion includes a plurality of the protrusions formed at equal intervals.

[0095] (Appendix 4) A resin container as described in Appendix 3, wherein the upper boundary portion includes a horizontal portion extending horizontally in the circumferential direction.

[0096] (Appendix 5) The body portion has a rectangular cylindrical shape, A resin container according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the protrusion is located between the corners of the body.

[0097] (Appendix 6) a peripheral rib extending in a circumferential direction of the body portion is formed on the body portion so as to go around the body portion, A resin container described in any one of Appendices 1 to 5, wherein the rib contour defined by the center line of the peripheral rib is similar in shape to the body contour defined by the outer peripheral surface on which the peripheral rib is formed, and when viewed from below, the orientation of the rib contour is shifted relative to the orientation of the body contour.

[0098] According to the bottle 10 of Supplementary Note 1, the load can be distributed over a wide area. Therefore, the bottle 10 and the protrusion 40 can be designed to prevent the load from concentrating on a specific area. This improves the resistance and strength of the bottle 10 to vertical compressive loads. As a result, the buckling strength of the bottle 10 is improved, preventing deformation of the bottle 10.

[0099] Furthermore, with the bottle 10 according to Supplementary Note 2, the edges of the protruding portion 40 are free of corners, preventing the protruding portion 40 from being subjected to concentrated loads. With the bottle 10 according to Supplementary Note 3, the load can be evenly distributed across the outer peripheral surface 15a of the bottle 10. With the bottle 10 according to Supplementary Note 4, the positional deviation of the label attached to the body 15 can be prevented. With the bottle 10 according to Supplementary Note 5, the load can be distributed across the outer peripheral surface 15a.

[0100] Furthermore, the peripheral rib 30 of the bottle 210 according to Supplementary Note 7 allows for distributed application of loads. Therefore, the bottle 210 and the peripheral rib 30 can be designed to prevent the load from concentrating on a specific location. This improves the resistance and strength of the bottle 210 to vertical compressive loads. As a result, the buckling strength of the bottle 210 is improved, preventing deformation of the bottle 210. Furthermore, the peripheral rib 30 prevents deformation during gripping, making the bottle 210 easier to grip. Furthermore, when attaching a roll label, an application area can be secured on the body 15. [Explanation of symbols]

[0101] 10: Bottle (plastic container) 12: Mouth 15: Torso 15a: Outer surface 15b: Corner 15c: Body outline 15s: Recess area 16: Bottom 30: Peripheral rib 30c: Rib contour 40:Protrusion 41: Upper border 210: Bottles (plastic containers) CL: Center line

Claims

1. A resin container having a mouth portion located on the upper side, a bottom portion located on the lower side, and a cylindrical body portion located between the mouth portion and the bottom portion, the barrel portion has an inwardly recessed region; A resin container, wherein an upper boundary of the recessed area includes a protrusion having a downwardly convex shape.

2. The resin container according to claim 1 , wherein the protrusion has an arcuate shape.

3. the recessed region extends in a circumferential direction of the body portion so as to go around the body portion, The resin container according to claim 1 , wherein the upper boundary portion includes a plurality of the protrusions formed at equal intervals.

4. The resin container according to claim 3 , wherein the upper boundary portion includes a horizontal portion extending horizontally in the circumferential direction.

5. The body portion has a rectangular cylindrical shape, The resin container according to claim 1 , wherein the protrusion is located between corners of the body portion.

6. a peripheral rib extending in a circumferential direction of the body portion is formed on the body portion so as to go around the body portion, A resin container according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the rib contour defined by the center line of the outer peripheral rib is similar in shape to the body contour defined by the outer peripheral surface on which the outer peripheral rib is formed, and when viewed from below, the orientation of the rib contour is shifted relative to the orientation of the body contour.

Images