Hot-fill Container Compression Ribs Vacuum Absorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hot-fill PET containers face limitations in maintaining shape and providing a contoured hand grip area due to internal vacuum forces generated during cooling, as traditional vacuum panels and support grooves restrict the incorporation of contours and vacuum absorption.
Innovation Solution
A one-piece plastic hot-fill container with integrally formed compression ribs that change angle or radius in response to cooling, allowing for vacuum absorption and structural reinforcement while maintaining container shape and providing ergonomic grip areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If traditional vacuum panels and support grooves are used to maintain container shape, then the container can withstand internal vacuum forces, but the ability to incorporate contoured hand grip areas is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the vacuum absorption function and the hand grip contour function into a single integrated rib structure. The rib is configured to collapse inwardly to absorb vacuum forces while simultaneously providing an outwardly extending contoured surface for hand gripping, eliminating the need for separate vacuum panels and support grooves.
Solution Approach 2:
The rib structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a structural support element, a vacuum absorption mechanism, and a hand grip contour. This multi-functional design allows the container wall to provide both strength and ergonomic features without requiring additional specialized components.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the container wall is made rigid to maintain shape, then the container can resist vacuum forces, but the ability to absorb internal vacuum is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The rib is designed with dynamic collapse characteristics, allowing it to flex inwardly in response to internal vacuum forces. The rib transitions from an extended rigid-like state during filling to a collapsed state during cooling, absorbing vacuum forces while maintaining overall container shape stability through the coordinated movement of multiple ribs.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The container effectively absorbs internal vacuum forces, reducing residual vacuum and increasing top-load strength, leading to a lightweight, strong, and easily gripped design with reduced material thickness and cost, while maintaining shape and ergonomic features.
Implementation Method 1
each of the plurality of compression ribs operable to change from a first angle or radius to a second angle or radius in response to cooling of the liquid
Implementation Method 2
the container effectively absorbs internal vacuum forces, reducing residual vacuum
Data Source
AI summary
A one-piece plastic hot-fill container may employ a shoulder portion, a base portion and a sidewall portion, which may be integrally formed with and extend from the shoulder portion to the base portion. The container may further employ a plurality of contour ribs molded into the sidewall portion—each of the plurality of contour ribs operable to change from a first shape to a second shape in response to cooling of the liquid and further extending outwardly from the container.