Plastics container

Abstract

A blow moulded container has a body portion defining a chamber for storing liquid and a neck portion extending from the body portion. The body portion defines a central longitudinal axis and said neck portion is coaxial therewith. The body portion defines an upper shoulder region of curved profile and the neck portion defines a circular cylindrical portion having side walls concentric with and parallel to said central longitudinal axis. The lower end of the cylindrical portion defines a closed loop and has a non-planar intersection with the shoulder region of the body portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A plastics container for storing liquid, the container comprising
 a body with an integral handle defining an aperture with a central axis extending in a first direction through the body,   wherein the body defines a chamber for storing liquid,   wherein the body has a footprint with a longitudinal axis extending in a second direction which is perpendicular to the first direction,   wherein the footprint has a width which varies along the longitudinal axis and is greater in a middle region of the footprint than at either longitudinal end thereof, and   wherein the footprint defines a truncated diamond shape having two generally opposing longitudinal end surfaces and angled side surfaces arranged between said longitudinal end surfaces.   
     
     
         2 . A container according to  claim 1  wherein each longitudinal end surface is connected to a pair of angled side surfaces. 
     
     
         3 . A container according to  claim 2  wherein the longitudinal end surfaces are generally parallel to one another. 
     
     
         4 . A container according to  claim 1  wherein the longitudinal axis terminates at said longitudinal end surfaces extending in a plane generally orthogonal to said longitudinal axis, and wherein a pair of angled surfaces extend from each longitudinal end surface to a maximum width of the footprint. 
     
     
         5 . A container according to  claim 1  wherein the middle region of the footprint defines opposing transverse ends, one on either side of the longitudinal axis of the footprint. 
     
     
         6 . A container according to  claim 5  wherein the transverse ends are generally parallel to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         7 . A container according to  claim 1  wherein the container is of blow-molded construction, having a part line aligned with the longitudinal axis of the footprint, and said integral handle is bisected by the part line. 
     
     
         8 . A container according to  claim 1  wherein the container has a neck extending from the body, the neck having an open passageway therethrough for passage of liquid to/from the chamber, wherein body has a central vertical axis and said open passageway is concentric with the central vertical axis. 
     
     
         9 . A container according to  claim 8  wherein the neck intersects the body in a closed loop with a non-planar profile. 
     
     
         10 . A container according to  claim 9  wherein the neck defines a cylindrical portion, and the closed loop is located at the transition between the cylindrical portion and an upper part of the body. 
     
     
         11 . A container according to  claim 10  wherein the closed loop lies on a surface at a fixed distance from the central vertical axis, and has a pair of maxima and a pair of minima disposed equidistantly around the circumference of the cylindrical portion. 
     
     
         12 . A container according to  claim 11  wherein the closed loop has a circular footprint. 
     
     
         13 . A container according to  claim 10  wherein the cylindrical portion defines a cylindrical wall having a height in a direction parallel to the central vertical axis which varies in a circumferential direction. 
     
     
         14 . A container according to  claim 8  wherein the neck includes a cylindrical portion at the transition with an upper part of the body, wherein cylindrical portion defines a cylindrical wall, the lower end of which defines a non-planar intersection with the body. 
     
     
         15 . A plastics container for storing liquid, the container comprising
 a body defining a chamber for storing liquid,   a neck defining an open passageway for passage of liquid to/from the chamber   wherein the body has an integral handle defining an aperture through the body,   wherein body has a vertical axis and said open passageway is concentric with the vertical axis,   wherein the body is of blow moulded construction and defines a part line which bisects the integral handle, and   wherein the body has a cross section below the integral handle having a width which varies along a plane parallel with the part line, so as to be greater in a middle region of the cross section than at either end thereof, and defines a truncated diamond shape.   
     
     
         16 . A container according to  claim 15  wherein the cross section includes four surfaces extending at an angle to the part line. 
     
     
         17 . A container according to  claim 16  a pair of angled surfaces extend from each longitudinal end surface to a maximum width of the cross section. 
     
     
         18 . A plastics container according to  claim 15  wherein the cross section defines longitudinal end surfaces extending in a plane generally orthogonal to the part line. 
     
     
         19 . A container according to  claim 18  wherein the cross section defines a longitudinal axis and a cross axis, and said longitudinal axis that is longer than the cross axis. 
     
     
         20 . A container according to  claim 18  wherein the middle region of the cross section defines opposing transverse ends, one on either side of the part line. 
     
     
         21 . A container according to  claim 15  wherein the neck intersects the body in a closed loop with a non-planar profile. 
     
     
         22 . A container according to  claim 21  wherein the neck defines a cylindrical portion, and the closed loop is located at the transition between the cylindrical portion and an upper part of the body. 
     
     
         23 . A container according to  claim 20  wherein the closed loop lies on a surface at a fixed distance from the vertical axis, and has a pair of maxima and a pair of minima disposed equidistantly around the circumference of the cylindrical portion. 
     
     
         24 . A container according to  claim 20  wherein the closed loop has a circular footprint. 
     
     
         25 . A container according to  claim 21  wherein the cylindrical portion defines a cylindrical wall having a height in a direction parallel to the vertical axis which varies in a circumferential direction. 
     
     
         26 . A container according to  claim 20  wherein the neck includes a cylindrical portion at the transition with an upper part of the body, wherein cylindrical portion defines a cylindrical wall, the lower end of which defines the non-planar intersection with the body. 
     
     
         27 . A container plastics container for storing liquid, the container comprising
 a body defining a chamber for storing liquid,   a neck defining an open passageway for passage of liquid to/from the chamber   wherein the body has an integral handle defining an aperture through the body,   wherein body has a vertical axis and said open passageway is concentric with the vertical axis,   wherein the body is of blow moulded construction and defines a part line or longitudinal axis which bisects the integral handle, and   wherein the body has a cross section defining a truncated diamond shape, such that there is a longitudinal axis and a cross axis, wherein the longitudinal axis is longer than the cross axis, wherein the longitudinal axis terminates at longitudinal end surfaces extending in a plane generally parallel to said cross axis, and wherein a pair of angled surfaces extend from each longitudinal end surface to a maximum width of the cross section.