Package feature
View Patent ↗Formation of an “organically”-shaped feature on an otherwise abstract-shaped package. In particular, an organic or human anatomical feature is provided on an otherwise inanimate shape. More particularly, a package, such as a bottle, having a non-representational form (in other words, a package not shaped to resemble any particular form existing in nature) is provided with a feature specifically designed to resemble a form in nature or “organic” form. In an exemplary embodiment, the form in nature (or “organic” feature) is a “baby fat crease.” In particular, a crease is provided on the package to mimic the look of a baby fat crease. The geometry of the crease as well as the geometry of the package are optimized to achieve the desired organic look or effect.
1. A bottle comprising:
a top end and a bottom end and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween;
a longitudinal wall section extending between said top end and said bottom end and curving convexly about said longitudinal axis; and
no more than two creases in said longitudinal wall section extending transverse to said longitudinal axis;
wherein:
said longitudinal wall section further comprises a first convexly-curved upper section curving convexly at least in part about a first transverse axis transverse to said longitudinal axis, and a second convexly-curved lower section curving convexly at least in part about a second transverse axis transverse to said longitudinal axis;
said first convexly-curved upper section is immediately above and joins and transitions into one of said no more than two creases;
said second convexly-curved upper section is immediately below and joins and transitions into said one of said no more than two creases,
said one of said no more than two creases curves convexly around said longitudinal axis and has a concavely-curved surface concavely curving generally at least in part about a third transverse axis transverse to said longitudinal axis; and
the difference in the curvature of said first convexly-curved upper section with respect to the curvature of said concavely-curved surface of said one of said no more than two creases, and the difference in the curvature of said second convexly-curved lower section with respect to the curvature of said concavely-curved surface of said one of said no more than two creases are sufficiently large enough that said one of said no more than two creases imparts the appearance of a continuous fold in said convexly-curved wall section rather than a wavy contour, whereby said one of said no more than two creases imparts the appearance of a baby fat crease in said bottle.
2. A bottle as in claim 1 , wherein said one of said no more than two creases extends substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said bottle.
3. A bottle as in claim 1 , wherein said one of said no more than two creases extends along a curve rather than a straight line so that said at least one crease does not extend in a direction entirely perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said bottle.
4. A bottle as in claim 1 , wherein:
said first convexly-curved upper section has a first radius of curvature;
said second convexly-curved lower section has a second radius of curvature;
said one of said no more than two creases has a third radius of curvature; and
said third radius of curvature is at least 60% smaller than either said first radius of curvature or said second radius of curvature.
5. A bottle as in claim 4 , wherein said third radius of curvature is at least 80% smaller than either said first radius of curvature or said second radius of curvature.
6. A bottle as in claim 1 , wherein said at least one of said no more than two creases is formed between an inflection in curvature of said first convexly-curved upper section and an inflection in curvature of said second convexly-curved lower section.
7. A bottle as in claim 1 , wherein:
said bottle has a height along said longitudinal axis; and
said one of said no more than two creases has a radius of curvature not more than approximately 3.5% of said bottle height.
8. A bottle as in claim 7 , wherein said radius of curvature of said one of said no more than two creases is not more than approximately 1.5% of said bottle height.
9. A bottle as in claim 8 , wherein said radius of curvature of said one of said no more than two creases is not more than approximately 0.5% of said bottle height.
10. A bottle as in claim 1 , further comprising at least one label area curving about a single axis and having a periphery, wherein said one of said no more than two creases terminates at a periphery of said label area.
11. A bottle as in claim 1 , wherein said one of said no more than two creases gradually decreases in depth and has a gradually increasing radius of curvature to form first and second ends that smoothly transition and fade into surrounding wall surfaces of said bottle immediately laterally adjacent said one of said no more than two creases such that a tangent to said first and second ends of said crease is also tangent to surrounding walls surfaces of said bottle.
12. A bottle as in claim 1 , wherein said longitudinal wall section does not have a constant radius of curvature about said longitudinal axis for more than 180 degrees about said longitudinal axis.
13. A bottle as in claim 1 , wherein said no more than two creases are the only forms in said longitudinal section deviating from a convexly curved form.
14. A bottle as in claim 1 , wherein said one of said no more than two creases is positioned in a middle 7/10 of the height of said bottle along said longitudinal axis.
15. A bottle as in claim 1 , wherein:
said longitudinal wall section of said bottle is positioned between a first lateral longitudinally-extending wall section and a second longitudinally-extending wall section;
said longitudinal wall section has a first radius of curvature about said longitudinal axis;
said first lateral longitudinally-extending wall section has a radius of curvature about said longitudinal axis different from said first radius of curvature;
said second lateral longitudinally-extending wall section has a radius of curvature about said longitudinal axis different from said first radius of curvature; and
said one of said no more than two creases has a first end at a transition between said longitudinal wall section and said first lateral longitudinally-extending wall section, and a second end at a transition between said longitudinal wall section and said second lateral longitudinally-extending wall section.
16. A bottle as in claim 1 , wherein:
said first convexly-curved upper section transitions to said one of said no more than two creases at a first point of inflection; and
said second convexly-curved lower section transitions to said one of said no more than two creases at a second point of inflection.
17. A bottle comprising:
a top end and a bottom end and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween;
a longitudinal wall section extending between said top end and said bottom end and curving convexly about said longitudinal axis; and
no more than two creases in said longitudinal wall section extending transverse to said longitudinal axis;
wherein:
said longitudinal wall section further comprises a first convexly-curved upper section curving convexly at least in part about a first transverse axis generally transverse to said longitudinal axis, and a second convexly-curved lower section curving convexly at least in part about a second transverse axis generally transverse to said longitudinal axis;
at least one of said no more than two creases curves convexly around said longitudinal axis and has a concavely-curved surface concavely curving at least in part about a third transverse axis generally transverse to said longitudinal axis; and
said at least one crease extends along a curve rather than a straight line so that said at least one crease does not extend in a direction entirely perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said bottle.
18. A bottle comprising:
a top end and a bottom end and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween;
a longitudinal wall section extending between said top end and said bottom end and curving convexly about said longitudinal axis; and
no more than two creases in said longitudinal wall section extending transverse to said longitudinal axis;
wherein:
said longitudinal wall section further comprises a first convexly-curved upper section curving convexly at least in part about a first transverse axis transverse to said longitudinal axis and having a first radius of curvature;
said longitudinal wall section further comprises a second convexly-curved lower section curving convexly at least in part about a second transverse axis transverse to said longitudinal axis and having a second radius of curvature;
at least one of said no more than two creases curves convexly around said longitudinal axis and has a concavely-curved surface concavely curving at least in part about a third transverse axis transverse to said longitudinal axis and having a third radius of curvature; and
said third radius of curvature is at least 60% smaller than either said first radius of curvature or said second radius of curvature so that said at least one of said no more than two creases imparts the appearance of a continuous fold in said convexly-curved wall section rather than a wavy contour, whereby said at least one of said no more than two creases imparts the appearance of a baby fat crease in said bottle.
19. A bottle as in claim 18 , wherein said third radius of curvature is at least 80% smaller than either said first radius of curvature or said second radius of curvature.
20. A bottle comprising:
a top end and a bottom end and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween;
a longitudinal wall section extending between said top end and said bottom end and curving convexly about said longitudinal axis; and
no more than two creases in said longitudinal wall section extending transverse to said longitudinal axis;
wherein:
said longitudinal wall section further comprises a first convexly-curved upper section curving convexly at least in part about a first transverse axis generally transverse to said longitudinal axis and immediately above and joining and transitioning into one of said no more than two creases, and a second convexly-curved lower section curving convexly at least in part about a second transverse axis generally transverse to said longitudinal axis and immediately below and joining and transitioning into one of said no more than two creases;
said one of said no more than two creases curves convexly around said longitudinal axis and has a concavely-curved surface concavely curving at least in part about a third transverse axis generally transverse to said longitudinal axis;
the difference in the curvature of said first convexly-curved upper section with respect to the curvature of said concavely-curved surface of said one of said no more than two creases, and the difference in the curvature of said second convexly-curved lower section with respect to the curvature of said concavely-curved surface of said one of said no more than two creases are sufficiently large enough that said one of said no more than two creases imparts the appearance of a continuous fold in said convexly-curved wall section rather than a wavy contour, whereby said one of said no more than two creases imparts the appearance of a baby fat crease in said bottle; and
said no more than two creases are the only forms in said longitudinal section deviating from a convexly curved form.