IP Library Granted Patent US 9,896,233
Granted Patent B2
US 9,896,233 · App. 11/476,001 · Granted Feb 20, 2018

Rectangular container having a vertically extending groove

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,896,233
App. No.
11/476,001
Granted
Feb 20, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

A blow molded plastic container is provided. The container has a body section having a substantially non-circular cross-sectional shape, the body section having an enclosed bottom portion that forms a bottom end of the container and substantially flat side portions extending upwardly from the bottom end; a finish defining an opening; and a dome extending from the body section to the finish. The dome includes at least one stiffening structure formed by an inwardly indented, vertically extending groove.

Claims (21)

1. A container, comprising:

a body section having a non-circular cross-sectional shape in plan view, the body section having a bottom end and sidewall portions extending upwardly from the bottom end;

a dome extending upwardly from the body section opposite the bottom end; and

a finish extending from the dome and defining an opening;

wherein the dome includes a plurality of dome face portions defining corners in plan view, each dome face portion including a concave region in side view proximate the body section and a convex region in side view between the concave region and the finish, each dome face portion further including a panel proximate the body section;

the dome further including at least one stiffening structure formed by an inwardly-indented, vertically-extending groove at each corner of the dome.

2. The container of claim 1 , wherein each inwardly-indented vertically-extending groove is concave in cross section.

3. The container of claim 2 , wherein each inwardly-indented, vertically-extending groove is V-shaped when viewed from a top view orientation of the container.

4. The container of claim 1 , wherein each inwardly-indented, vertically-extending groove extends across at least a portion of the convex region and at least a portion of the concave region.

5. The container of claim 1 , wherein the at least one stiffening structure increases top loading strength of the dome.

6. The container of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of dome face portions comprise at least one oppositely facing pair of dome face portions and at least one oppositely facing pair of dome end portions.

7. The container of claim 6 , wherein the dome is substantially rectangular in cross-sectional plan view.

8. The container of claim 1 , wherein at least one panel has an indented formation defined therein.

9. The container of claim 8 , wherein at least one of the panel or indented formation defines a grip.

10. The container of claim 8 , wherein the indented formation includes a stiffening rib.

11. The container of claim 1 , wherein the body section is substantially rectangular in cross-section.

12. The container of claim 1 , wherein the body section includes at least one horizontally-oriented, inwardly-indented stiffening rib.

13. The container of claim 1 , wherein the bottom end includes a push-up base.

14. The container of claim 1 , wherein the dome further includes at least one vertically aligned area relative the bottom end.

15. The container of claim 14 , wherein the at least one vertically aligned area is indented.

16. The container of claim 14 , wherein the at least one vertically aligned area is raised.

Assignments (8)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 26, 2026
From: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.; GRAHAM PACKAGING PET TECHNOLOGIES INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 074479/0809 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 26, 2026
From: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.; GRAHAM PACKAGING PET TECHNOLOGIES INC.; GRAHAM PACKAGING PLASTIC PRODUCTS LLC
Reel/Frame 074480/0105 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN CERTAIN PATENT COLLATERAL Recorded Aug 4, 2020
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, AS THE COLLATERAL AGENT AND TRUSTEE
To: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.
Reel/Frame 053396/0531 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 4, 2020
From: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.; GRAHAM PACKAGING PET TECHNOLOGIES INC.; GRAHAM PACKAGING PLASTIC PRODUCTS LLC
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 053398/0381 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 22, 2012
From: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON
Reel/Frame 027910/0609 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Mar 20, 2012
From: REYNOLDS GROUP HOLDINGS INC.
To: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.
Reel/Frame 027895/0738 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 26, 2011
From: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.
To: REYNOLDS GROUP HOLDINGS INC.
Reel/Frame 026970/0699 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 25, 2006
From: DENNER, JOHN; TRUDE, GREGORY; KELLEY, PAUL; OGG, RICHARD K.; HONG, SEUNGYEOL; MELROSE, DAVID
To: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.
Reel/Frame 018449/0659 →