Container with structural ribs

Abstract

A container is formed of a shell having a top section, a bottom section and a central section connecting the top section and the bottom section. At least a majority region of the central section is provided with a plurality of structural ribs about its periphery. The ribs are discontinuous in a circumferential direction extending around the central section and have specific structures in their shape, their orientation with respect to each other and their longitudinal alignment to enable the container to withstand deformation due to internal or external pressures. Each rib has longitudinal angle of orientation is less than 90° relative to the vertical axis of the container.

1 . A container comprising: 
 a shell having an upper section, a lower section and a central section having a ribbed portion, the central section connecting said upper section and said lower section, wherein at least a majority of said central section is provided with the ribbed portion, the ribbed portion being defined by a plurality of structural ribs distributed about its periphery, said ribs being discontinuous in a circumferential direction extending around said ribbed portion and said ribs reinforcing said central section against at least one of internal and external pressures,    wherein said ribs are elongated and of the same shape,    wherein all of said ribs have substantially the same longitudinal angle of orientation relative to a vertical axis of said shell, said longitudinal angle of orientation being less than 90°, with the longitudinal angle of orientation being linear relative to the vertical axis,    wherein the ribs are aligned in a plurality of rows that are disposed at a same longitudinal angle of orientation relative to the vertical axis, the ribs in one row are not aligned vertically with ribs in an adjacent row, and    wherein each of said ribs has a depth that smoothly increases from each longitudinal end to a maximum depth in its longitudinal middle.    
   
   
       2 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein ribs in each of said plurality of rows are aligned vertically with ribs in each alternate row of said plurality of rows.  
   
   
       3 . A container according to  claim 2 , wherein each of said rows comprises 5 to 16 ribs.  
   
   
       4 . A container according to  claim 2 , further comprising 13 to 25 of said rows.  
   
   
       5 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein said ribs comprise elongated indentations in said central section.  
   
   
       6 . A container according to  claim 5 , wherein at least one of said ribs projects towards a central axis of said container with varying depth.  
   
   
       7 . A container according to  claim 6 , wherein the central section has a cross-sectional diameter that is lesser than the cross-sectional diameter of the lower section.  
   
   
       8 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein said shell is formed of PET.  
   
   
       9 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein said shell has a thickness of less than 0.010 in.  
   
   
       10 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein said shell has a capacity of about 0.5 liter.  
   
   
       11 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein said shell is blow-molded.  
   
   
       12 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein the majority region of said central section comprises the entirety of said central section.  
   
   
       13 . A container comprising: 
 a shell having an upper section, a lower section and a central section having a ribbed portion, said central portion connecting said upper section and said lower section, wherein at least a majority of said central section is provided with the ribbed portion, the ribbed portion being defined by a plurality of structural ribs distributed about its periphery, said ribs being discontinuous in a direction extending around said ribbed portion and said ribs reinforcing said central section against at least one of internal and external pressures,    wherein said ribs are elongated and of the same shape, and have a depth that smoothly increases from each longitudinal end to a maximum depth in its longitudinal middle, and    wherein all of said ribs have substantially the same longitudinal angle of orientation relative to a vertical axis of said shell, and    wherein said ribs are aligned in a plurality of rows that are disposed at a same longitudinal angle of orientation relative to the vertical axis of said shell, and    wherein said longitudinal angle of orientation is less than 90° relative to the vertical axis, and the ribs in one row are not aligned vertically with ribs in an adjacent row, and    wherein said central section is of a smooth surface in all areas other than areas outside said ribbed area.    
   
   
       14 . A container according to  claim 13 , wherein said ribs are oriented 30° relative to the vertical axis.  
   
   
       15 . A container according to  claim 13 , wherein said ribs are oriented 45° relative to the vertical axis.  
   
   
       16 . A container according to  claim 13 , wherein said ribs are oriented 60° relative to the vertical axis.  
   
   
       17 . A container according to  claim 16 , wherein ribs in each of said rows are aligned vertically with ribs in each alternate row of said ribs.  
   
   
       18 . A container according to  claim 13 , wherein said ribs comprise elongated indentations in said central section.  
   
   
       19 . A container according to  claim 13 , wherein said shell is formed of PET.  
   
   
       20 . A container according to  claim 13  wherein said shell has a thickness of less than 0.010 in.  
   
   
       21 . A container according to  claim 13 , wherein said shell has a capacity of about 0.5 liter.  
   
   
       22 . A container according to  claim 13 , wherein said shell is blow-molded.  
   
   
       23 . A container according to  claim 13 , wherein said ribbed portion of said central section comprises the entirety of said central section.  
   
   
       24 . A container comprising: 
 a shell having an upper section, a lower section and a central section connecting said top section and said bottom section;    and means disposed within said central section for reinforcing said shell against external pressure and internal pressure.    
   
   
       25 . A container according to  claim 24 , further comprising means for reinforcing said shell against axial stress.  
   
   
       26 . A container according to  claim 13 , wherein the diameter of the cross-section of the central section is lesser than the diameter of a cross-section of the lower section.