Bottle

Abstract

A bottle includes a neck portion having an opening configured to permit filling and emptying of the bottle, a shoulder portion connected to a lower end of the neck portion, a sidewall connected to a lower end of the shoulder portion and extending vertically downward from the shoulder portion, and a base connected to a lower end of the sidewall and forming a bottom surface of the bottle. The sidewall has a plurality of annular ribs extending around a periphery of the sidewall. Each of the annular ribs includes a plurality of sequential enlarged portions interconnected by bridges, with each of the enlarged portions having a vertical width that is greater than a vertical width of each of the bridges.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bottle comprising:
 a neck portion having an opening configured to permit filling and emptying of the bottle;   a shoulder portion connected to a lower end of the neck portion;   a sidewall connected to a lower end of the shoulder portion and extending vertically downward from the shoulder portion; and   a base connected to a lower end of the sidewall and forming a bottom surface of the bottle,   wherein the sidewall comprises a plurality of annular ribs extending around a periphery of the sidewall, each of the annular ribs comprising a plurality of sequential enlarged portions interconnected by bridges, each of the enlarged portions having a vertical width that is greater than a vertical width of each of the bridges.   
     
     
         2 . The bottle of  claim 1 , wherein the sidewall further comprises recessed lands located between the annular ribs. 
     
     
         3 . The bottle of  claim 1 , wherein a first rib of the plurality of ribs is staggered in relation to at least one adjacent second rib of the plurality of ribs, such that the enlarged portions of the first rib are vertically offset from the enlarged portions of the second rib, and the bridges of the first rib are vertically offset from the bridges of the second rib. 
     
     
         4 . The bottle of  claim 1 , wherein all of the plurality of ribs are arranged in an alternating, staggered arrangement, such that the enlarged portions and the bridges of each rib are vertically offset from the enlarged portions and the bridges of each adjacent rib. 
     
     
         5 . The bottle of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of ribs form a brick-like pattern. 
     
     
         6 . The bottle of  claim 1 , wherein the enlarged portions of the ribs are generally rectangular in shape. 
     
     
         7 . The bottle of  claim 1 , wherein the sidewall of the bottle has a generally square cross-section and is formed by four generally flat panels connected by four rounded corners. 
     
     
         8 . The bottle of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of ribs are staggered, such that each rib of a first group of the ribs has one of the enlarged portions vertically aligned with each of the four corners, and each rib of a second group of the ribs has one of the bridges vertically aligned with each of the four corners, and wherein the first group of ribs and the second group of ribs are arranged in an alternating arrangement. 
     
     
         9 . The bottle of  claim 7 , wherein all of the plurality of ribs are arranged in an alternating, staggered arrangement, such that the plurality of ribs form an alternating pattern at each of the four corners where the enlarged portions and the bridges of alternating ribs are vertically aligned with each respective corner. 
     
     
         10 . The bottle of  claim 1 , wherein a first rib of the plurality of ribs is staggered in relation to at least one adjacent second rib of the plurality of ribs, such that the enlarged portions of the first rib are vertically centered in relation to the bridges of the second rib and the enlarged portions of the second rib are vertically centered in relation to the bridges of the first rib. 
     
     
         11 . The bottle of  claim 10 , wherein all of the plurality of ribs are arranged in an alternating, staggered arrangement, such that the enlarged portions and the bridges of each rib are vertically centered in relation to the bridges and the enlarged portions, respectively, of each adjacent rib. 
     
     
         12 . The bottle of  claim 1 , wherein the bottle is manufactured using a blow molding process, from a material that includes at least some recycled PET, and is capable of exhibiting a dimensional stability of less than 1% dimensional change during a WAB steam sterilization process that reaches temperatures in the range of 75-85° C. 
     
     
         13 . A bottle comprising:
 a base comprising a lowermost surface of the bottle;   an opening proximate a top of the bottle, spaced vertically from the base, configured to permit filling and emptying of the bottle; and   a sidewall extending vertically upward at least a portion of a vertical distance from the base to the opening, the sidewall comprising four generally flat panel sections connected by four rounded corners;   wherein the sidewall comprises a plurality of annular ribs extending around a periphery of the sidewall, each of the annular ribs comprising a plurality of sequential enlarged portions interconnected by bridges, each of the enlarged portions having a vertical width that is greater than a vertical width of each of the bridges, and   wherein a first rib of the plurality of ribs is staggered in relation to at least one adjacent second rib of the plurality of ribs, such that the enlarged portions of the first rib are vertically centered in relation to the bridges of the second rib and the enlarged portions of the second rib are vertically centered in relation to the bridges of the first rib, and such that first rib has one of the enlarged portions vertically aligned with each of the four corners and the second rib has one of the bridges vertically aligned with each of the four corners.   
     
     
         14 . The bottle of  claim 13 , wherein the sidewall further comprises recessed lands located between the annular ribs. 
     
     
         15 . The bottle of  claim 13 , wherein all of the plurality of ribs are arranged in an alternating, staggered arrangement, such that the enlarged portions and the bridges of each rib are vertically offset from the enlarged portions and the bridges of each adjacent rib to form a brick-like pattern. 
     
     
         16 . The bottle of  claim 13 , wherein the enlarged portions of the ribs are generally rectangular in shape. 
     
     
         17 . The bottle of  claim 13 , wherein all of the plurality of ribs are arranged in an alternating, staggered arrangement, such that the enlarged portions and the bridges of each rib are vertically centered in relation to the bridges and the enlarged portions, respectively, of each adjacent rib, and such that the plurality of ribs form an alternating pattern at each of the four corners where the enlarged portions and the bridges of alternating ribs are vertically aligned with each respective corner. 
     
     
         18 . The bottle of  claim 13 , wherein the bottle is manufactured using a blow molding process, from a material that includes at least some recycled PET, and is capable of exhibiting a dimensional stability of less than 1% dimensional change during a WAB steam sterilization process that reaches temperatures in the range of 75-85° C. 
     
     
         19 . A bottle comprising:
 a neck portion having an opening configured to permit filling and emptying of the bottle;   a shoulder portion connected to a lower end of the neck portion, the shoulder portion having a tapered configuration that tapers from a narrower top end with a generally circular cross-sectional shape to a wider bottom end with a generally square cross-sectional shape;   a sidewall connected to the lower end of the shoulder portion and extending vertically downward from the shoulder portion, the sidewall having a generally square cross-sectional shape comprising four generally flat panel sections connected by four rounded corners; and   a base connected to a lower end of the sidewall and forming a bottom surface of the bottle,   wherein the sidewall comprises a plurality of raised, annular ribs extending around a periphery of the sidewall, each of the annular ribs comprising a plurality of sequential, generally rectangular enlarged portions interconnected by bridges, each of the enlarged portions having a vertical width that is greater than a vertical width of each of the bridges, the ribs being separated by recessed lands located between the ribs, and   wherein all of the plurality of ribs are arranged in an alternating, staggered arrangement, such that the enlarged portions and the bridges of each rib are vertically centered in relation to the bridges and the enlarged portions, respectively, of each adjacent rib, and such that the plurality of ribs form an alternating pattern at each of the four corners where the enlarged portions and the bridges of alternating ribs are vertically aligned with each respective corner.   
     
     
         20 . The bottle of  claim 19 , wherein the bottle is manufactured using a blow molding process, from a material that includes at least some recycled PET, and is capable of exhibiting a dimensional stability of less than 1% dimensional change during a WAB steam sterilization process that reaches temperatures in the range of 75-85° C.