Container With Multiple Surface Depressions for Enhancing Insulative Properties

Abstract

A container is provided with multiple surface depressions for enhancing the insulative properties of the container. The surface depressions are tightly grouped, and a label placed over the surface depressions results in a greater surface area of the label that is suspended over the depressions as compared to a surface area of the label that is in contact with the exterior surface of the container. The air gaps or chambers defining the space between the applied label and the surfaces of the depressions provides an insulating air barrier to better maintain the beverage in the container at a desired temperature. The surface depressions may also be used alone without a label to provide insulative benefits. The surface depressions may be spaced and sized such that, under normal grasping conditions, the consumer's hand does not penetrate the entire depth of the depressions, and an air barrier is still maintained between the consumer's hand and the exterior surface of the container.

1 . A container comprising:
 a neck;   a base;   a mid-section interconnecting said neck and said base;   a plurality of surface depressions formed on an outer surface of said container at said mid-section, said surface depressions being arranged in a plurality of lateral rows or longitudinal columns, said surface depressions being arranged to create a plurality of primary gaps between adjacent surface depressions, one primary gap defined as space between two laterally adjacent surface depressions and two longitudinally adjacent depressions, said gap having a height that is less than a height of said depressions, and said gap having a length that is less than a length of said depressions.   
     
     
         2 . A container, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 adjacent rows of said plurality of rows are longitudinally offset with respect to one another.   
     
     
         3 . A container, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 adjacent columns of said plurality of columns are laterally offset with respect to one another.   
     
     
         4 . A container, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said plurality of surface depressions are elliptical shaped.   
     
     
         5 . A container, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said plurality of depressions each have a same shape.   
     
     
         6 . A container, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 an area of said outer surface of said mid-section comprises a greater percentage of depressions as compared to spaces between said surface depressions.   
     
     
         7 . A container, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 a surface area of said mid-section occupied by said surface depressions exceeds a surface area occupied by said primary gaps.   
     
     
         8 . A container, as claimed in  claim 1 , further including:
 a label placed over said surface depressions, wherein an area of said label in contact with said outer surface of said mid-section is less than an area of said label not in contact with said outer surface.   
     
     
         9 . A container, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 each said surface depression of said plurality of surface depressions are symmetrical about a line drawn normal to said outer surface of said container.   
     
     
         10 . A container, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 at least one depression of said plurality of surface depressions has a vertical cross-sectional shape including a center defining a deepest part of said depression, and wherein said depression smoothly transitions in decreasing depth toward side edges of said depression.   
     
     
         11 . A container, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 at least one depression of said plurality of depressions has a horizontal cross-sectional shape including a center defining a deepest part of said depression, and wherein said depression smoothly transitions in decreasing depth toward side edges of said depression.   
     
     
         12 . A method of insulating a beverage within a container, said method comprising the steps of:
 providing a container having a neck, a base, and a mid-section interconnecting said neck and said base;   creating a plurality of surface depressions on an outer surface of said container at said mid-section, said surface depressions being arranged in a plurality of lateral rows or longitudinal columns, said surface depressions being arranged to create a plurality of primary gaps between adjacent surface depressions, one primary gap defined as space between two laterally adjacent surface depressions and two longitudinally adjacent depressions, said gap having a height that is less than a height of said depressions, and said gap having a length that is less than a length of said depressions.   
     
     
         13 . A method, as claimed in  claim 12 , further including:
 applying a label over said mid-section of said container, when gaps between said surface depressions and said label form an air barrier to insulate said beverage.   
     
     
         14 . A container comprising:
 a neck;   a base;   a mid-section interconnecting said neck and said base;   a plurality of surface depressions formed on an outer surface of said container at said midsection, said surface depressions being arranged to create a plurality of primary gaps between adjacent surface depressions, at least one primary gap of said plurality of primary gaps defined as space between two laterally adjacent surface depressions and two longitudinally adjacent surface depressions, a surface area of said midsection occupied by said surface depressions exceeding a surface area occupied by said plurality of primary gaps.   
     
     
         15 . A container, as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein:
 said plurality of surface depressions are elliptical shaped.   
     
     
         16 . A container, as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein:
 said plurality of depressions each have a same shape.   
     
     
         17 . A container, as claimed in  claim 14 , further including:
 a label placed over said surface depressions, wherein an area of said label in contact with said outer surface of said mid-section is less than an area of said label not in contact with said outer surface.   
     
     
         18 . A container, as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein:
 each said surface depression of said plurality of surface depressions are symmetrical about a line drawn normal to said outer surface of said container.   
     
     
         19 . a container, as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein:
 at least one depression of said plurality of surface depressions has a vertical cross-sectional shape including a center defining a deepest part of said depression, and wherein said depression smoothly transitions in decreasing depth toward side edges of said depression.   
     
     
         20 . A container, as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein:
 at least one depression of said plurality of depressions has a horizontal cross-sectional shape including a center defining a deepest part of said depression, and wherein said depression smoothly transitions in decreasing depth toward side edges of said depression.