Hot-fillable Container Sidewall Pillars and Concave Panels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hot-fillable plastic containers face limitations in volume compensation during cooling, with deformable structures in the base, shoulder, or sidewall often compromising mechanical top load and aesthetics, and causing labeling issues.
Innovation Solution
A hot-fillable plastic container with a deformable cylindrical sidewall featuring vertically arranged pillars and concave panels, allowing inward deformation under vacuum, enhancing mechanical top load while maintaining aesthetic appeal and enabling label application.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a deformable portion is located in the base or shoulder part of the container, then the structure is simple, but the volume compensation is very limited
Solution Approach 1:
The container body is segmented into multiple vertical pillars connected by deformable sidewall panels. This segmentation allows the sidewall to deform inward in a controlled manner, providing significant volume compensation while maintaining structural integrity. The segmented design enables the container to collapse radially rather than axially, increasing compensation capacity compared to base or shoulder-only solutions.
Solution Approach 2:
The deformable structure transitions from axial deformation (base/shoulder collapse) to radial deformation (sidewall collapse). By utilizing the radial dimension for volume compensation, the container achieves much greater compensation capacity while maintaining a simple overall structure. The vertical pillars guide this radial collapse mechanism.
2Volume of stationary object
If deformable features are located in the sidewall of the container, then the volume compensation is increased, but the mechanical top load is compromised and aesthetics are impaired
Solution Approach 1:
Different parts of the container have different structural qualities: the vertical pillars provide localized strength and structural support, while the connecting sidewall panels provide deformability for volume compensation. This local differentiation allows the container to simultaneously achieve high mechanical top load capacity and significant volume compensation. The rigid pillars bear the compressive loads while the flexible panels allow radial collapse.
3Volume of stationary object
If deformable sidewall is used for volume compensation, then the volume reduction is compensated, but labeling problems occur due to deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The deformable sidewall is segmented into multiple panels between vertical pillars. This segmentation creates a controlled deformation pattern where the panels fold inward while the pillars remain relatively straight. The segmented design ensures that deformation occurs in predictable zones, leaving other areas of the container surface smooth and suitable for label application.
Solution Approach 2:
The container surface has different local qualities: the vertical pillars and their immediate surroundings maintain structural rigidity and surface smoothness for labeling, while the connecting panels are designed to be deformable. This local differentiation allows labeling to be applied on non-deforming surfaces while the deformable panels provide volume compensation elsewhere on the container.
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 deformable sidewall structure effectively compensates for volume reduction during cooling, improving mechanical top load and allowing for seamless labeling without compromising the container's appearance.
Implementation Method 1
the partial vacuum created inside the container by the cooling of the hot-filled product
Implementation Method 2
a deformable structure for at least partially compensating the volume reduction that occurs after capping and during cooling
Data Source
AI summary
A hot-fillable plastic container includes a base and a body extending upward from the base. The includes a deformable cylindrical sidewall portion defining a central vertical axis, wherein the deformable cylindrical sidewall portion comprises at least two vertical pillars arranged along the body circumference. Each vertical pillar is joined to the next vertical pillar by a generally concave deformable sidewall panel having a concave arc-shaped transverse cross section of curvature radius. The curvature radii of the vertical pillars are smaller than the curvature radii of the generally concave deformable panels, and each transition between a vertical pillar and a generally concave deformable panel is smooth without any convex portion. The large curvature radius of each generally concave deformable panel allows an inward deformation of each panel, and each pillar is slightly pushed outward and is slightly deformed with a small reduction of its curvature radius, under the vacuum created inside the container by the volume reduction of a hot-filled product during cooling.