Deformation-Resistant Plastic Aerosol Container

Abstract

A plastic aerosol container includes a plastic base portion and a plastic main body portion that is unitary with the plastic base portion and defines a longitudinal axis. The base portion and the main body portion together define an internal space within the container that is pressurized with an aerosol mixture at a pressure that is substantially within a range of about 50 psi to about 300 psi at room temperature. The main body portion has an upper portion that has a first maximum transverse diameter, a lower portion that has a second maximum transverse diameter and an intermediate portion that has a third maximum transverse diameter. The third minimum transverse diameter is less than both the first and second maximum transverse diameters, whereby the main body portion has a narrowed waist portion that provides reinforcement against deformation as a result of pressurization within the internal space of the container. The narrowed waist portion preferably has a substantially constant radius of curvature.

1 . A plastic aerosol container, comprising:
 a plastic base portion; and   a plastic main body portion that is unitary with the plastic base portion and that defines a longitudinal axis, the base portion and the main body portion together defining an internal space within the container, and wherein the main body portion has an upper portion that has a first maximum transverse diameter, a lower portion that has a second maximum transverse diameter and an intermediate portion that has a third maximum transverse diameter, and wherein the third minimum transverse diameter is less than both the first and second maximum transverse diameters, whereby the main body portion has a narrowed waist portion that provides reinforcement against deformation as a result of pressurization within the internal space of the container.   
     
     
         2 . A plastic aerosol container according to  claim 1 , wherein the internal space of the container is pressurized with an aerosol mixture to a pressure that is substantially within a range of about 50 psi to about 300 psi. 
     
     
         3 . A plastic aerosol container according to  claim 1 , wherein the second maximum transverse diameter is substantially the same as the first maximum transverse diameter. 
     
     
         4 . A plastic aerosol container according to  claim 1 , wherein one of said first and second maximum transverse diameters represents a maximum transverse diameter of the container. 
     
     
         5 . A plastic aerosol container according to  claim 4 , wherein a ratio of the third minimum transverse diameter to the maximum transverse diameter of the container is substantially within a range of about 0.50 to about 0.95. 
     
     
         6 . A plastic aerosol container according to  claim 5 , wherein the ratio of the third minimum transverse diameter to the maximum transverse diameter of the container is substantially within a range of about 0.65 to about 0.95. 
     
     
         7 . A plastic aerosol container according to  claim 6 , wherein the ratio of the third minimum transverse diameter to the maximum transverse diameter of the container is substantially within a range of about 0.80 to about 0.95. 
     
     
         8 . A plastic aerosol container according to  claim 1 , wherein the narrowed waist portion is substantially symmetrical about the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         9 . A plastic aerosol container according to  claim 1 , wherein the narrowed waist portion has an outer surface that is concavely curved when viewed in a longitudinal cross-section. 
     
     
         10 . A plastic aerosol container according to  claim 9 , wherein said concavely curved outer surface of the narrowed waist portion has a substantially constant radius of curvature. 
     
     
         11 . A plastic aerosol container according to  claim 10 , wherein a ratio of the substantially constant radius of curvature to the third minimum transverse diameter is substantially within a range of about 2.0 to about 7.0. 
     
     
         12 . A plastic aerosol container according to  claim 11 , wherein the ratio of the substantially constant radius of curvature to the third minimum transverse diameter is substantially within a range of about 3.0 to about 6.0. 
     
     
         13 . A plastic aerosol container according to  claim 12 , wherein the ratio of the substantially constant radius of curvature to the third minimum transverse diameter is substantially within a range of about 3.75 to about 5.0. 
     
     
         14 . A plastic aerosol container according to  claim 1 , wherein said base portion and said main body portion are fabricated from polyethylene terephthalate using a blow molding process. 
     
     
         15 . A plastic aerosol container according to  claim 1 , wherein said main body portion is substantially symmetrical about the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         16 . A plastic aerosol container according to  claim 1 , wherein said base portion and said main body portion are fabricated from a high intrinsic viscosity polyethylene terephthalate material. 
     
     
         17 . A plastic aerosol container according to  claim 16 , wherein said high intrinsic viscosity polyethylene terephthalate material has an intrinsic viscosity that is substantially within a range of about 0.80 to about 0.95. 
     
     
         18 . A plastic aerosol container, comprising:
 a plastic base portion; and   a plastic main body portion that is unitary with the plastic base portion and that defines a longitudinal axis, the base portion and the main body portion together defining an internal space within the container; and wherein   the main body portion has an upper portion that has a first maximum transverse diameter, a lower portion that has a second maximum transverse diameter and an intermediate portion that has a third maximum transverse diameter, and wherein the third minimum transverse diameter is less than both the first and second maximum transverse diameters, whereby the main body portion has a narrowed waist portion that provides reinforcement against deformation as a result of pressurization within the internal space of the container, said narrowed waist portion having a substantially constant radius of curvature; and   the internal space of the container is pressurized with an aerosol mixture to a pressure that is substantially within a range of about 50 psi to about 300 psi.   
     
     
         19 . A plastic aerosol container according to  claim 18 , wherein a ratio of the third minimum transverse diameter to the maximum transverse diameter of the container is substantially within a range of about 0.50 to about 0.95. 
     
     
         20 . A plastic aerosol container according to  claim 18 , wherein a ratio of the substantially constant radius of curvature to the third minimum transverse diameter is substantially within a range of about 2.0 to about 7.0.