IP Library Granted Patent US 8,567,622
Granted Patent B2
US 8,567,622 · App. 12/549,016 · Granted Oct 29, 2013

Dome shaped hot-fill container

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,567,622
App. No.
12/549,016
Granted
Oct 29, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A container has a domed shaped top portion that is located above the body portion. The body portion connects with the domed shaped top portion via a waist portion that has a variable distance from the longitudinal axis of the container.

Claims (38)

1. A hot-fillable container comprising:

a domed shaped top portion having a longitudinal axis;

a waist portion located below the top portion;

a body portion located below the waist portion, the waist portion having a substantially constant vertical width and being recessed with respect to adjacent outer surfaces of both the top portion and the body portion;

the body portion having a flexible panel having an upper end and a lower end, and wherein a first distance from a surface of the flexible panel near the upper end to the longitudinal axis is less than a second distance from the surface of the flexible panel near the lower end to the longitudinal axis;

a base portion located below the body portion; and

wherein a distance from the waist portion to the longitudinal axis is non-constant and a distance from the waist portion to the base portion is non-constant.

2. The hot-fillable container of claim 1 , wherein the waist portion comprises four corner portions, wherein the distance from each of the four corner portions to the longitudinal axis is equal.

3. The hot-fillable container of claim 1 , wherein the waist portion comprises four corner portions, and four mid-point waist portions, wherein two of the four mid-point waist portions are located a first distance from a bottom of the body portion and two of the four mid-point waist portions are located a second distance from the bottom of the body portion, wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance.

4. The hot-fillable container of claim 1 , wherein the domed shaped top portion further comprises a continuous circumferential rib.

5. The hot-fillable container of claim 1 , wherein the body portion comprises four interconnected sides.

6. The hot-fillable container of claim 5 , wherein the body portion further comprises a groove located above the base portion.

7. The hot-fillable container of claim 5 , wherein a groove is located above the base portion on two of the sides.

8. The hot-fillable container of claim 5 , wherein two of the sides are vacuum flex panels and further wherein the distance from the outer surface of the vacuum flex panels to the longitudinal axis increases from the waist portion to a bottom of the body portion.

9. The hot-fillable container of claim 5 , wherein the base portion has two circumferential ribs.

10. A hot-fillable container comprising:

a domed shaped top portion;

a waist portion located below the top portion, wherein the waist portion comprises four corner portions;

a body portion located below the waist portion, wherein the body portion comprises four sides, the waist portion having a substantially constant vertical width and being recessed with respect to adjacent outer surfaces of both the top portion and the body portion;

the body portion further having a flexible panel having an upper end and a lower end, and wherein a first distance from a surface of the flexible panel near the upper end to the longitudinal axis is less than a second distance from the surface of the flexible panel near the lower end to the longitudinal axis;

a base portion located below the body portion; and

wherein a distance from the corner portions of the waist portion to a bottom of the body portion is greater than the distance from any other location on the waist portion to the bottom of the body portion.

11. The hot-fillable container of claim 10 , wherein the distances from each of the four corner portions to the base portion are equal.

12. The hot-fillable container of claim 10 , wherein the waist portion further comprises four mid-point waist portions, wherein two of the four mid-point waist portions are located a first distance from a bottom of the body portion and two of the four mid-point waist portions are located a second distance from the bottom of the body portion,

wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance.

13. The hot-fillable container of claim 10 , wherein the domed shaped top portion further comprises a continuous circumferential rib.

14. The hot-fillable container of claim 10 , wherein the body portion further comprises a groove located above the base portion.

15. The hot-fillable container of claim 10 , wherein a groove is located above the base portion on two sides.

16. The hot-fillable container of claim 10 , wherein two of the sides are vacuum flex panels and further wherein the distance from the outer surface of the vacuum flex panels to the longitudinal axis increases from the waist portion to a bottom of the body portion.

17. The hot-fillable container of claim 10 , wherein the base portion has two circumferential ribs.

18. A hot-fillable container comprising:

a domed shaped top portion;

a waist portion located below the top portion, wherein the waist portion forms a plurality of arcs;

a body portion located below the waist portion, wherein the body portion is adapted to accommodate a hot-fill process, the waist portion having a substantially constant vertical width and being recessed with respect to adjacent outer surfaces of both the top portion and the body portion;

the body portion further having a flexible panel having an upper end and a lower end, and wherein a first distance from a surface of the flexible panel near the upper end to the longitudinal axis is less than a second distance from the surface of the flexible panel near the lower end to the longitudinal axis;

a circular base located below the body portion.

19. The hot-fillable container of claim 18 , wherein four arcs are formed.

20. The hot-fillable container of claim 19 , wherein the four arcs are continuously connected.

Assignments (7)
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 Aug 28, 2009
From: YOURIST, SHELDON E.; PRITCHETT, RAYMOND A., JR.; GILL, MATTHEW T.
To: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.
Reel/Frame 023161/0553 →