Moldable plastic container with hourglass profile
View Patent ↗A molded plastic container with a sidewall having a general hourglass configuration. The container structure includes an upper rim, a bottom and a sidewall that extends between the upper rim and the bottom. The sidewall includes a lower frustum section, a narrow mid-section and an upper frustum section. The lower frustum section connects the bottom to the narrow mid-section and decreases in width as it extends from the bottom to the narrow mid-section. The upper frustum section extends from the upper rim to the narrow mid-section and decreases in width as it extends from the upper rim to the mid-section. A method of making such a container, a method of hot-filling such a container and a method of retorting material enclosed in such a container are also disclosed.
1. A plastic molded container, comprising:
a bowl comprising an upper rim, a bottom and a sidewall extending between the upper rim and the bottom,
the sidewall comprising a lower frustum section, a narrow mid-section, and an upper frustum section, the sidewall having curvilinear transitions from the upper frustum section to the narrow mid-section and from the narrow mid-section to the lower frustum section,
the lower frustum section connecting the bottom to the mid-section, the lower frustum section decreasing in width as the lower frustum section extends from the bottom to mid-section, the lower frustum section having a volume larger than a volume of the upper frustum section,
the upper frustum section connecting the upper rim to the mid-section, the upper frustum section decreasing in width as the upper frustum section extends from the upper rim to mid-section,
the upper rim defining a maximum width of the container, and
the container being constructed such that it is capable of resisting permanent deformation when used in a hot fill or retort process.
2. The plastic molded container of claim 1 further comprising a lid securable to the upper rim.
3. The plastic molded container of claim 2 further comprising a recess disposed between the upper frustum section and the upper rim,
the lid further comprising a lower lip,
the recess for receiving the lower lip of the lid.
4. The plastic molded container of claim 1 wherein the lid is rotatably securable to the rim.
5. The plastic molded container of claim 1 wherein the container is molded from a plastic selected from the group consisting of polyvinylchloride, polyethyleneterephthalate, high density polyethylene, polycarbonate, polystyrene and polypropylene.
6. The plastic molded container of claim 1 wherein the container is blow-molded from a single layer plastic.
7. The plastic molded container of claim 1 wherein the container is blow-molded from a multi-layer plastic.
8. The plastic molded container of claim 7 wherein said multi-layer plastic further comprises at least one gas barrier layer selected from the group consisting of polyvinylidienechloride, nylon, and ethylenevinylalcohol copolymer.
9. The plastic molded container of claim 1 wherein the container has a diameter and a height, the diameter being greater than the height.
10. The plastic molded container of claim 1 wherein the bottom comprises a downwardly extending circular standing ridge.
11. The plastic molded container of claim 1 , wherein the container is a blow-molded container and includes an oxygen barrier layer.
12. The plastic molded container of claim 1 , wherein the container is capable of withstanding retort conditions without significant residual distortion.
13. The plastic molded container of claim 1 , wherein said sidewalls comprise a plurality of layers, one of which is an oxygen barrier layer.
14. A plastic molded container comprising:
a bowl comprising an upper rim, a bottom and sidewall extending between the upper rim and the bottom,
the sidewall comprising a lower frustum section, a narrow mid-section, and an upper frustum section, the sidewall having curvilinear transitions from the upper frustum section to the narrow mid-section and from the narrow mid-section to the lower frustum section,
the lower frustum section connecting the bottom to the mid-section, the lower frustum section decreasing in width as the lower frustum section extends from the bottom to mid-section, the lower frustum section having a volume larger than a volume of the upper frustum section,
the upper frustum section connecting the upper rim to the mid-section, the upper frustum section decreasing in width as the upper frustum section extends from the upper rim to mid-section,
the container being constructed such that it is capable of resisting permanent deformation when used in a hot fill or retort process,
the upper rim defining a maximum width of the container,
the sidewall being made of blow-molded materials, and the container having at least one oxygen barrier layer.
15. A plastic molded container comprising:
a bowl comprising an upper rim, a bottom and sidewall extending between the upper rim and the bottom,
the sidewall comprising a lower frustum section, a narrow mid-section, and an upper frustum section, the sidewall having curvilinear transitions from the upper frustum section to the narrow mid-section and from the narrow mid-section to the lower frustum section,
the lower frustum section connecting the bottom to the mid-section, the lower frustum section decreasing in width as the lower frustum section extends from the bottom to mid-section, the lower frustum section having a volume larger than a volume of the upper frustum section,
the upper frustum section connecting the upper rim to the mid-section, the upper frustum section decreasing in width as the upper frustum section extends from the upper rim to mid-section,
the container having a widest diameter and a height, the widest diameter being greater than the height,
the upper rim defining a maximum width of the container,
the container being constructed such that it is capable of resisting permanent deformation when used in a hot fill or retort process, and
the sidewall having a plurality of layers, at least one of which is an oxygen barrier layer.