Thin walled plastic container construction

Claim 2

A one-piece molded plastic container construction having: four upstanding sidewall portions symmetrically located about a common longitudinal axis, curved corner portions interconnecting adjacent side edge areas of respective sidewall portions, a bottom portion, curved base portions interconnecting adjacent bottom edge areas of respective said sidewall portions with adjacent edge areas of said bottom portion, a hollow handle formed generally in a region extending along a first of said curved corner portions and generally within the profile thereof, the portion of said handle intermediate the end portions being spaced by an aperture from a panel section which extends between the pair of sidewall portions adjoining said first curved corner portion, a top portion having a mouth region, which mouth region is coaxial with said longitudinal axis, said top portion being interconnected with adjacent top edge areas of respective sidewall portions, the upper end areas of said handle and said panel section being each interconnected with said top portion and the lower end area of said handle being interconnected with an upper portion of said first curved corner portion, and first and second ribbing structures, each one thereof being respectively defined longitudinally in opposed second and third said curved corner portions adjacent said first curved corner portion, each one of such ribbing structures including two matching ridge line members, each such ribbing structure extending in its respective associated curved corner portion approximately from a position in said top portion in spaced relationship to said mouth region at least to the top edge areas of said curved base portions, and each such ribbing structure having its respective two ridge line members spaced laterally from one another therealong, this lateral spacing is at a maximum in a location which is situated generally between said bottom edge areas of said top portion and said lower end area of said handle.

Claim 3

The container construction of claim 1 wherein, said top portion has a lesser radius of curvature where bottom edge areas of said top portion join respective top edge areas of said sidewall portions than where said bottom edge areas of said top portion join the top edge areas of said curved corner portions other than that of said first curved corner portion.

Claim 4

The container construction of claim 1 wherein there is incorporated further third and fourth ribbing structures, each one thereof being respectively defined as a closed loop that extends along a different outside edge of said handle and further extends about the perimeter of said panel section, each such ribbing structure including at least one ridge line member.

Claim 5

The container construction of claim 1 wherein there is incorporated further a trough defined in said bottom portion and extending diagonally thereacross between and including at least portions of the adjoining respective said curved base portions with opposed end portions of said trough adjoining respective bottom end portions of first and second ribbing structures.

Claim 6

A one-piece molded plastic container construction having: four upstanding sidewall portions symmetrically located about a common longitudinal axis, curved corner portions interconnecting adjacent side edge areas of respective said sidewall portions, a bottom portion, curved base portions interconnecting adjacent bottom edge areas of respective said sidewall portions with adjacent edge areas of said bottom portion, a hollow handle formed generally in a region extending along a first of said curved corner portions and generally within the profile thereof, said handle having lower and upper end areas and a mid-portion, the mid-portion of said handle being spaced by an aperture from a panel section which extends between the pair of sidewall portions adjoining said first curved corner portion, a top portion having bottom edge areas and a mouth region coaxial with said longitudinal axis, said top portion having a lesser radius of curvature where the bottom edge areas of said top portion join respective top edge areas of said sidewall portions than where said bottom edge areas of said top portion join top edge areas of said curved corner portions other than that of said first curved corner portion, the upper end areas of said handle and said panel section being each interconnected with said top portion and the lower end area of said handle being interconnected with an upper portion of said first curved corner portion, first and second ribbing structures, each one thereof being respectively defined longitudinally in opposed second and third said curved corner portions adjacent said first curved corner portion, each one of such ribbing structures including two matching ridge line members, each such ribbing structure extending in its respective associated curved corner position approximately from a position in said top portion in spaced relationship to said mouth region at least to the top edge areas of said curved base portions, and each such ribbing structure having each of its respective matching ridge line members spaced laterally from the other therealong, this lateral spacing reaching a maximum in a location which is situated generally between bottom edge areas of said top portion and said lower end area of said handle, a second pair of ribbing structures, each one thereof being defined as a closed loop that extends along a different outside edge of said handle, and further extends around the perimeter of one side of said aperture in a different one of said pair of sidewall portions and in said top portion, each such ribbing structure including at least one ridge line member, and a trough defined in said bottom portion and extending diagonally thereacross between and including at least portions of the adjoining respective said curved base portions with opposed end portions of said trough adjoining the respective bottom end portion of each one of said first ribbing structures.

Claim 7

A one-piece molded plastic container construction having: four upstanding sidewall portions symmetrically located about a common longitudinal axis, curved corner portions interconnecting adjacent side edge areas of respective said sidewall portions, a bottom portion, curved base portions interconnecting adjacent bottom edge areas of respective said sidewall portions with adjacent edge areas of said bottom portion, a hollow handle formed generally in a region extending along a first of said curved corner portions and generally within the profile thereof, said handle having lower and upper end areas and a mid-portion, the mid-portion of said handle being spaced by an aperture from a panel section which extends between the pair of sidewall portions adjoining said first curved corner portion, a top portion having bottom edge areas and a mouth region coaxial with said longitudinal axis, said top portion having a lesser radius of curvature where the bottom edge areas of said top portion join respective top edge areas of said sidewall portions than where said bottom edge areas of said top portion join top edge areas of said curved corner portions other than that of said first curved corner portion, the upper end areas of said handle and said panel section being each interconnected with said top portion and the lower end area of said handle being interconnected with an upper portion of said first curved corner portion, first and second ribbing structures, each one thereof being respectively defined longitudinally in opposed second and third said curved corner portions adjacent said first curved corner portion, each one of such ribbing structures including two matching ridge line members, each such ribbing structure extending in its respective associated curved corner position approximately from a position in said top portion in spaced relationship to said mouth region at least to the top edge areas of said curved base portions, and each such ribbing structure having each of its respective matching ridge line members spaced laterally from the other therealong, this lateral spacing reaching a maximum in a location which is situated generally between bottom edge areas of said top portion and said lower end area of said handle, a second pair of ribbing structures, each one thereof being defined as a closed loop that extends along a different outside edge of said handle, and further extends around the perimeter of one side of said aperture in a different one of said pair of sidewall portions and in said top portion, each such ribbing structure including at least one ridge line member, and a trough defined in said bottom portion and extending diagonally thereacross between and including at least portions of the adjoining respective said curved base portions with opposed end portions of said trough adjoining the respective bottom end portion of each one of said first ribbing structures.

Claim 8

A lightweight one-piece molded plastic container comprising four sidewall portions defining centrally thereof a longitudinal axis, curved corner portions interconnecting adjacent sidewall portions, a bottom portion interconnected with lower edge areas of said sidewall and corner portions, a top portion interconnected with upper edge areas of said sidewall and corner portions, a handle extending along a first corner portion, and a ribbing structure formed respectively in opposed second and third corner portions adjacent said first corner portion, each one ribbing structure including two matching ridge line members spaced laterally from one another and both running longitudinally along the respective corner portion substantially parallel with one another beneath said handle and diverging away from one another upwardly adjacent said handle.

Claim 9

A lightweight one-piece molded plastic container comprising four sidewall portions defining centrally thereof a longitudinal axis, curved corner portions interconnecting adjacent sidewall portions, a bottom portion interconnected with lower edge areas of said sidewall and corner portions, a top portion interconnected with upper edge areas of said sidewall and corner portions, a handle extending along a first corner portion, and a ribbing structure formed respectively in opposed second and third corner portions adjacent said first corner portion, each one ribbing structure including two matching ridge line members spaced laterally from one another and both running longitudinally along the respective corner portion substantially parallel with one another beneath said handle and diverging away from one another upwardly adjacent said handle.

Claim 10

The lightweight plastic container of claim 6, wherein the lateral spacing between said matching ridge line members is nonuniform and reaches a maximum at a location laterally adjacent said handle.

Claim 11

The lightweight plastic container of claim 6, wherein the lateral spacing between said matching ridge line members is in the form of a generally smooth recessed wall surface.

Claim 12

The lightweight plastic container of claim 6, wherein said container is a gallon size bottle having a total empty weight in the range of about 50 grams.

Claim 13

The lightweight plastic container of claim 6, wherein said container is a half-gallon size bottle having a total empty weight substantially less than 45 grams.

Claim 14

The lightweight plastic container of claim 6, wherein each said ridge line member comprises a longitudinally extending groove bounded on opposed lateral sides by raised lip regions.

Claim 15

The lightweight plastic container of claim 11, wherein the lateral spacing between matching ridge line members generally conforms with the respective contour configuration of the respective curved corner portion.

Claim 16

The lightweight plastic container of claim 6, wherein said top portion being formed with a mouth opening coaxial with said longitudinal axis, the upper ends of said ribbing structures terminating beneath said mouth opening.

Claim 17

The lightweight plastic container of claim 13, wherein said container is a gallon size bottle.

Claim 18

The lightweight plastic container of claim 13, wherein said container is a half-gallon size bottle.

Claim 19

The lightweight plastic container of claim 6, further comprising a trough defined in said bottom portion and extending diagonally thereacross between said second and third curved corner portions and having opposed end portions respectively adjoining with the lower ends of each of said ribbing structures adjacent the lower edge areas of said second and third curved corner portions.

Claim 20

The lightweight plastic container of claim 16, wherein said container has a generally square-shaped plan profile.

Claim 21

The lightweight plastic container of claim 6, wherein said container has a generally square-shaped plan profile.

Claim 22

A lightweight one-piece molded plastic container comprising four sidewall portions defining centrally thereof a longitudinal axis, a plurality of corner portions interconnecting adjacent sidewall portions, a bottom portion interconnected with lower edge areas of said sidewall and corner portions, a top portion interconnected with upper edge areas of said sidewall and corner portions, a handle extending along a first corner portion, a ribbing structure formed respectively in opposed second and third corner portions adjacent said first corner portion, each one ribbing structure including at least one ridge line member, and the plan profile for a fourth corner portion, opposed from said first corner portion, being wider than that of the corresponding plan profile of said remaining three corner portions.

Claim 23

A lightweight one-piece molded plastic container comprising four sidewall portions defining centrally thereof a longitudinal axis, a plurality of corner portions interconnecting adjacent sidewall portions, a bottom portion interconnected with lower edge areas of said sidewall and corner portions, a top portion interconnected with upper edge areas of said sidewall and corner portions, a handle extending along a first corner portion, a ribbing structure formed respectively in opposed second and third corner portions adjacent said first corner portion, each one ribbing structure including at least one ridge line member, and the plan profile for a fourth corner portion, opposed from said first corner portion, being wider than that of the corresponding plan profile of said remaining three corner portions.

Claim 24

The lightweight plastic container of claim 19, wherein said corner portions have curved plan profiles, said fourth corner portion having a radius of curvature larger than that of said remaining corner portions.

Claim 25

The lightweight plastic container of claim 20, wherein the radius of curvature for each of said corner portions, other than the fourth corner portion, being generally equal.

Claim 26

The lightweight plastic container of claim 19, wherein said top portion being formed with a mouth opening coaxial with said longitudinal axis, the upper ends of said ribbing structures terminating beneath said mouth opening.

Claim 27

The lightweight plastic container of claim 22, wherein said container has a generally square-shaped plan profile.

Claim 28

The lightweight plastic container of claim 19, wherein each said ribbing structure comprises two ridge line members laterally spaced from one another and having matching configurations.

Claim 29

The lightweight plastic container of claim 24, wherein the lateral spacing between each two ridge line members is nonuniform and reaches a maximum at a location laterally adjacent said handle.

Claim 30

The lightweight plastic container of claim 25, further comprising a trough defined in said bottom portion and extending diagonally thereacross between said second and third curved corner portions and having opposed end portions respectively adjoining with the lower ends of each of said ribbing structures adjacent the lower edge areas of said second and third curved corner portions.

Claim 31

The lightweight plastic container of claim 25, further comprising a panel section which extends between the pair of sidewall portions adjoining said first curved corner portion, said handle being spaced along a portion thereof by an aperture from said panel section, and a symmetrical pair of circular ribbing structures, each one extending around a perimeter of said panel section and along an outside edge of said handle, said circular ribbing structures each including at least one annular ridge line member.

Claim 32

The lightweight plastic container of claim 27, further comprising first and second bead members located respectively along opposed outside edges of said panel section and each extending in a semi-circular arc having opposed free ends terminating adjacent the upper and lower end regions of said handle and positioned interiorly adjacent a corresponding one of said pair of circular ribbing structures.

Claim 33

The lightweight plastic container of claim 28, wherein said container is a gallon size bottle and has a generally square-shaped plan profile.

Claim 34

The lightweight plastic container of claim 24, wherein the lateral spacing between each two ribbing structure ridge line members is in the form of a generally smooth recessed wall surface.

Claim 35

The lightweight plastic container of claim 19 further comprising a trough defined in said bottom portion and extending diagonally thereacross between said second and third curved corner portions and having opposed end portions respectively adjoining with the lower ends of each of said ribbing structures adjacent the lower edge areas of said second and third curved corner portions.

Claim 36

The lightweight plastic container of claim 19, further comprising a panel section which extends between the pair of sidewall portions adjoining said first curved corner portion, said handle being spaced along a portion thereof by an aperture from said panel section, and a symmetrical pair of circular ribbing structures, each one extending around a perimeter of said panel section and along an outside edge of said handle, said circular ribbing structures each including at least one annular ridge line member.

Claim 37

The lightweight plastic container of claim 32, further comprising first and second bead members located respectively along opposed outside edges of said panel section and each extending in a semicircular arc having opposed free ends terminating adjacent the upper and lower end regions of said handle and positioned interiorly adjacent a corresponding one of said pair of circular ribbing structures.

Claim 38

The lightweight plastic container of claim 32, wherein said container has a generally square-shaped plan profile.

Claim 39

The lightweight plastic container of claim 19, wherein said top portion has lesser radii of curvature where said top portion joins with upper edge areas of said sidewall portions than where said top portion joins with upper edge areas of said curved corner portions.

Claim 40

The lightweight plastic container of claim 19, further comprising a panel section which extends between the pair of sidewall portions adjoining said first curved corner portion, said handle extending coaxially along said first curved corner portion and being spaced over along a portion thereof by an aperture from said panel section, and wherein each said ribbing structure comprises two ridge line members laterally spaced from one another and having matching configurations.

Claim 41

The lightweight plastic container of claim 36, wherein the lateral spacing between each two ridge line members is nonuniform and reaches a maximum at a location laterally adjacent said handle.

Claim 42

The lightweight plastic container of claim 37, wherein each said lateral spacing reaches a maximum at a location laterally across from said aperture.

Claim 43

A lightweight one-piece molded plastic container comprising four sidewall portions defining centrally thereof a longitudinal axis, curved corner portions interconnecting adjacent sidewall portions, a bottom portion interconnected with lower edge areas of said sidewall and corner portions, a top portion interconnected with upper edge areas of said sidewall and corner portions and being formed with a mouth opening, a handle extending along a first corner portion, a raised, substantially planar, panel section extending between the pair of sidewall portions adjoining said first corner portion, said handle being spaced along a portion thereof by an aperture from said panel section, and first and second bead-shaped discontinuities located on said panel section respectively over and along laterally opposed outer edges thereof.

Claim 44

A lightweight one-piece molded plastic container comprising four sidewall portions defining centrally thereof a longitudinal axis, curved corner portions interconnecting adjacent sidewall portions, a bottom portion interconnected with lower edge areas of said sidewall and corner portions, a top portion interconnected with upper edge areas of said sidewall and corner portions and being formed with a mouth opening, a handle extending along a first corner portion, a raised, substantially planar, panel section extending between the pair of sidewall portions adjoining said first corner portion, said handle being spaced along a portion thereof by an aperture from said panel section, and first and second bead-shaped discontinuities located on said panel section respectively over and along laterally opposed outer edges thereof.

Claim 45

The lightweight plastic container of claim 39, further comprising a ribbing structure formed respectively in opposed second and third corner portions adjacent said first corner portion.

Claim 46

The lightweight plastic container of claim 40, wherein the radius of curvature for a fourth curved corner portion, opposed from said first curved corner portion, is larger than that of the corresponding curvatures of said remaining three curved corner portions.

Claim 47

The lightweight plastic container of claim 41, wherein the radius of curvature for each of said curved corner portions, other than the fourth curved corner portion, being generally equal.

Claim 48

The lightweight plastic container of claim 40, wherein each one ribbing structure includes two matching ridge line members spaced laterally from one another and both running longitudinally along the respective corner portion.

Claim 49

The lightweight plastic container of claim 43, wherein the lateral spacing between each two ridge line members is nonuniform and reaches a maximum at a location laterally adjacent said handle.

Claim 50

The lightweight plastic container of claim 44, wherein each said lateral spacing reaches a maximum at a location laterally across from said aperture.

Claim 51

The lightweight plastic container of claim 43, further comprising a trough defined in said bottom portion and extending diagonally thereacross between said second and third curved corner portions and having opposed end portions respectively adjoining with the lower ends of each of said ribbing structures adjacent the lower edge areas of said second and third curved corner portions.

Claim 52

The lightweight plastic container of claim 39, wherein each bead-shaped discontinuity extends in a semi-circular arc having opposed free ends terminating adjacent upper and lower end regions of said handle.

Claim 53

The lightweight plastic container of claim 39, wherein said container has a generally square-shaped plan profile.

Claim 54

The lightweight plastic container of claim 39, wherein each said bead-shaped discontinuity is in the form of a raised wire-shaped projection.

Claim 55

The lightweight plastic container of claim 39, wherein each said bead-shaped discontinuity is in the form of a groove.

Claim 56

The lightweight plastic container of claim 39, wherein said container is a gallon size bottle.

Claim 57

A lightweight one-piece blow-molded plastic bottle, having a volume of substantially one gallon and weighing 55 grams or less, comprising four sidewall portions defining centrally thereof a longitudinal axis, curved corner portions interconnecting adjacent sidewall portions, a bottom portion interconnected with lower edge areas of said sidewall and corner portions, a top portion interconnected with upper edge areas of said sidewall and corner portions, a handle extending along a first corner portion, a ribbing structure formed respectively in opposed second and third corner portions adjacent said first corner portion, each one ribbing structure including two matching ridge line members spaced from one another.

Claim 58

A lightweight one-piece blow-molded plastic bottle, having a volume of substantially one gallon and weighing 55 grams or less, comprising four sidewall portions defining centrally thereof a longitudinal axis, curved corner portions interconnecting adjacent sidewall portions, a bottom portion interconnected with lower edge areas of said sidewall and corner portions, a top portion interconnected with upper edge areas of said sidewall and corner portions, a handle extending along a first corner portion, a ribbing structure formed respectively in opposed second and third corner portions adjacent said first corner portion, each one ribbing structure including two matching ridge line members spaced from one another.

Claim 59

The lightweight plastic bottle of claim 52, wherein said ridge line members of each ribbing structure run longitudinally of the corresponding corner portion and are spaced laterally from one another.

Claim 60

The lightweight plastic bottle of claim 53, wherein the lateral spacing between each two ridge line members is nonuniform and reaches a maximum at a location laterally adjacent said handle.

Claim 61

The lightweight plastic bottle of claim 53, wherein said bottle weighs about 45 grams.

Claim 62

The lightweight plastic bottle of claim 52, further comprising a trough defined in said bottom portion and extending diagonally thereacross between said second and third corner portions and having opposed end portions respectively adjoining with the lower ends of each of said ribbing structures adjacent the lower edge areas of said second and third corner portions.

Claim 63

The lightweight plastic bottle of claim 52, wherein the radius of curvature for a fourth corner portion, opposed from said first corner portion, is larger than that of the corresponding curvatures of said remaining three corner portions.

Claim 64

A lightweight one-piece blow-molded plastic bottle, having a volume of substantially one half gallon and weighing substantially less than 45 grams, comprising four sidewall portions defining centrally thereof a longitudinal axis, curved corner portions interconnecting adjacent sidewall portions, a bottom portion interconnected with lower edge areas of said sidewall and corner portions, a top portion interconnected with upper edge areas of said sidewall and corner portions, a handle extending along a first corner portion, a ribbing structure formed respectively in opposed second and third corner portions adjacent said first corner portion, each one ribbing structure including two matching ridge line members spaced from one another.

Claim 65

A lightweight one-piece blow-molded plastic bottle, having a volume of substantially one half gallon and weighing substantially less than 45 grams, comprising four sidewall portions defining centrally thereof a longitudinal axis, curved corner portions interconnecting adjacent sidewall portions, a bottom portion interconnected with lower edge areas of said sidewall and corner portions, a top portion interconnected with upper edge areas of said sidewall and corner portions, a handle extending along a first corner portion, a ribbing structure formed respectively in opposed second and third corner portions adjacent said first corner portion, each one ribbing structure including two matching ridge line members spaced from one another.

Claim 66

The lightweight plastic bottle of claim 58, wherein said ridge line members of each ribbing structure run longitudinally of the corresponding corner portion and are spaced laterally from one another.

Claim 67

The lightweight plastic bottle of claim 59, wherein the lateral spacing between each two ridge line members is nonuniform and reaches a maximum at a location laterally adjacent said handle.

Claim 68

The lightweight plastic bottle of claim 58, further comprising a trough defined in said bottom portion and extending diagonally thereacross between said second and third corner portions and having opposed end portions respectively adjoining with the lower ends of each of said ribbing structures adjacent the lower edge areas of said second and third corner portions.

Claim 69

The lightweight plastic bottle of claim 58, wherein the radius of curvature for a fourth corner portion, opposed from said first corner portion, is larger than that of the corresponding curvatures of said remaining three corner portions.