Plastic container having enhanced crush resistance and pouring stability
View Patent ↗A molded plastic container is shaped so as to resist deformation as a result of compressive forces that may be applied by the consumer during use. The container includes a pair of recessed grip portions that are molded into forward and rearward sides of the container and an outer handle portion. Reinforcing ribs are integrally molded into the forward and rearward sidewalls of the container in areas that are substantially adjacent to the recessed grip portions in order to provide additional crush resistance as the container is squeezed. Additionally, a torsional reinforcement rib is integrated into an upper side portion of the container in order to resist deformation of the container and the pouring opening of the container during pouring. The torsional reinforcement rib is integral with the two reinforcing ribs, which provides additional strength and pouring stability to the container.
1. A plastic container, comprising:
an upper portion having an opening defined therein;
a bottom portion;
a substantially rectangular container body having a side wall, said side wall being configured so as to define:
a curved outer handle portion having an outer surface that is curved when viewed in front elevation so as to form part of a side surface and part of a top surface of the container body;
a main body portion and a recessed grip portion having a side portion that is adapted to be pinched by a consumer during gripping positioned between said main body portion and said outer handle portion;
said container body further comprising at least one grip reinforcement rib that is integrated into at least one of said outer handle portion and said main body portion, said at least one grip reinforcement rib providing additional strength against inward compression of said container body as a result of compressive forces that may be applied to said side portion by a consumer and comprising a reinforcement rib that is positioned substantially adjacent to said recessed grip portion and integrated into the handle portion, and wherein a curved channel is defined between said reinforcement rib and said curved outer surface of said handle portion; and
a torsional reinforcement rib that is integrated into an upper side portion of said container body, said torsional reinforcement rib being integral with said reinforcement rib so as to form a single continuous rib, thereby providing additional reinforcement against deflection as a result of pinching force applied by a consumer during gripping of the container.
2. A plastic container according to claim 1 , wherein said reinforcement rib is contoured so as to substantially conform to a curved outer border of said recessed grip portion.
3. A plastic container according to claim 1 , wherein said reinforcement rib further extends into said main body portion of said container body.
4. A plastic container according to claim 1 , wherein said container body comprises a forward side and a rearward side, and wherein said forward and rearward sides are constructed and arranged to be substantially symmetrical, whereby at least one grip reinforcement rib is provided on both said forward side and said rearward side.
5. A plastic container according to claim 1 , wherein said container is integrally molded and is fabricated from a material comprising polyolefin.
6. A plastic container according to claim 1 , wherein said container is integrally molded and is fabricated from the material comprising polyethylene terephthalate.
7. A plastic container according to claim 1 , wherein said reinforcing rib has an outer surface that is convex as viewed in transverse cross-section.
8. A plastic container according to claim 7 , wherein at least a portion of said outer surface of said reinforcing rib is curved at a radius that is within a range of about 0.125 inches to about 0.350 inches.
9. A plastic container according to claim 7 , wherein said reinforcing rib extends outwardly from an adjacent portion of said sidewall by a distance of at least about 0.175 inches.
10. A plastic container, comprising:
an upper portion having an opening defined therein;
a bottom portion;
a non-round container body having a side wall, said side wall being configured so as to define a main body portion having a curved outer handle portion forming part of a side surface and part of a top surface of the main body portion, and a recessed grip portion positioned between said main body portion and said curved outer handle portion, said container body further comprising at least one curved grip reinforcement rib that is integrated into the outer handle portion, the at least one grip reinforcement rib providing additional strength against inward compression of said container body as a result of compressive forces that may be applied to said recessed grip portion by a consumer; and
a curved channel defined in the outer handle portion, the curved channel being substantially congruent with the curved grip reinforcement rib.
11. A plastic container according to claim 10 , wherein the recessed grip portion includes a first, outer side portion adjacent to the outer handle portion, a second, inner side portion and a curved apex portion, and wherein the grip reinforcement rib is positioned adjacent to the curved apex portion for reinforcing the curved apex portion.
12. A plastic container according to claim 11 , wherein the first, outer side portion is curved.
13. A plastic container according to claim 11 , wherein the second, inner side portion is curved.
14. A plastic container, comprising:
an upper portion having an opening defined therein;
a bottom portion;
a non-round container body having a side wall, said side wall being configured so as to define an outer handle portion, a main body portion and a recessed teardrop-shaped grip portion positioned between said main body portion and the outer handle portion, the recessed grip portion including a side portion that is adapted to be pinched by a consumer during gripping, the side portion including a first, outer side portion adjacent to the outer handle portion, a second, inner side portion and a curved apex portion;
a reinforcement rib positioned adjacent to the curved apex portion for reinforcing the curved apex portion; and
further comprising a channel defined in the sidewall adjacent to the reinforcement rib.
15. A plastic container according to claim 14 , wherein the first, outer side portion is curved.
16. A plastic container according to claim 14 , wherein the second, inner side portion is curved.
17. A plastic container according to claim 14 , wherein the reinforcement rib includes a first portion positioned on the outer handle portion and a second portion that is positioned on the main body portion.
18. A plastic container according to claim 14 , wherein the reinforcement rib includes a convex outer surface when viewed in transverse cross-section.
19. A plastic container according to claim 18 , wherein the convex outer surface has a radius that is within a range of about 0.125 inches to about 0.350 inches.
20. A plastic container according to claim 14 , wherein the reinforcing rib 32 extends outwardly from an adjacent portion of the sidewall by a distance of at least 0.175 inches.
21. A plastic container according to claim 3 , wherein said container body comprises a forward side and a rearward side, and wherein said forward and rearward sides are constructed and arranged to be substantially symmetrical.
22. A plastic container, comprising:
an upper portion having an opening defined therein;
a bottom portion; and
a substantially rectangular container body having a side wall, said side wall being configured so as to define a curved outer handle portion having an outer surface that is curved when viewed in front elevation so as to form part of a side surface and part of a top surface of the container body, a main body portion and a recessed grip portion positioned between said main body portion and said outer handle portion, said container body further comprising at least one grip reinforcement rib that is integrated into the outer handle portion and is positioned substantially adjacent to said recessed grip portion, said at least one grip reinforcement rib providing additional strength against inward compression of said container body as a result of compressive forces that may be applied to said recessed grip portion by a consumer, and wherein a curved channel is defined between said reinforcement rib and said curved outer surface of said handle portion.