Containers having corner pillars and dynamic panels between the pillars, and methods of making and using such containers

Abstract

A container includes a body, the body has pillars, and the body also has dynamic panels. The pillars include first, second, third and fourth pillars, and each of the first, second, third and fourth pillars is substantially rounded outward relative to a vertical axis of the container. The dynamic panels include first, second, third and fourth dynamic panels. The first dynamic panel extends between the first pillar and the second pillar, is substantially parallel to the third dynamic panel, and is substantially perpendicular to each of the second and fourth dynamic panels, such that the pillars are positioned at corners of the container. Each of the first, second, third and fourth pillars has greater stiffness than each of the first, second, third and fourth dynamic panels and thereby provide a controlled deformation of the container under vacuum pressure or top loading.

1 . A container comprising a body, the body comprising a plurality of pillars, the body further comprising a plurality of dynamic panels,
 the plurality of pillars comprises first, second, third and fourth pillars, wherein each of the first, second, third and fourth pillars is substantially rounded outward relative to a vertical axis of the container; and   the plurality of dynamic panels comprises first, second, third and fourth dynamic panels, wherein the first dynamic panel extends between the first pillar and the second pillar, is substantially parallel to the third dynamic panel, and is substantially perpendicular to each of the second and fourth dynamic panels, such that the plurality of pillars are positioned at corners of the container,   wherein each of the first, second, third and fourth pillars has greater stiffness than each of the first, second, third and fourth dynamic panels, such that the container is configured for controlled deformation in which one or more of the first, second, third and fourth dynamic panels deform under top loading or vacuum pressure, to thereby reduce a pressure differential between an inner volume of the container and a space external to the container, without any deformation of the first, second, third and fourth pillars.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the body is one integral piece of material, and each of the first, second, third and fourth pillars has a greater wall thickness than each of the first, second, third and fourth dynamic panels, to thereby provide at least part of the greater stiffness of each of the first, second, third and fourth pillars relative to each of the first, second, third and fourth dynamic panels. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first, second, third and fourth dynamic panels comprises a dynamic structural feature, to thereby provide at least part of the greater stiffness of each of the first, second, third and fourth pillars relative to each of the first, second, third and fourth dynamic panels. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 3 , wherein the dynamic structural feature is selected from the group consisting of vertical ribs, horizontal ribs, square divots, orthogonal embosses, a single indent, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of dynamic panels is recessed from an outer periphery of the container relative to each of the plurality of pillars. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of pillars comprises a column rib that forms a groove in a corresponding one of the plurality of pillars. 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising a base extending from a lower portion of the body, the base comprising a bottom panel that encloses an inner volume of the container. 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 7 , wherein the base comprises a plurality of base ribs that each form a groove in the base and are each aligned with a corresponding one of the plurality of pillars. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 8 , wherein each of the plurality of base ribs is continuous with the column rib of the corresponding one of the plurality of pillars. 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 7 , wherein the base tapers with an inward slope as the base extends from the lower portion of the body to the bottom panel, such that the bottom panel has a smaller horizontal cross-section than that of the lower portion of the body. 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising a shoulder extending from a neck comprising a mouth of the container to an upper portion of the body, the shoulder configured to transfer top load applied to the container to the plurality of pillars. 
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 11 , wherein the shoulder has an outward slope from about 15 degrees to about 35 degrees relative to the vertical axis of the container as the shoulder extends from the neck to the upper portion of the body. 
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the body has a configuration selected from the group consisting of (a) a breath and a width of the body are substantially constant throughout an entire height of the body, from the shoulder to the base, and (b) at least a portion of the body is tapered inward, with a continuously decreasing breadth and/or a continuously decreasing width as the portion of the body extends toward the base. 
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of pillars have identical dimensions to each other, and the plurality of dynamic panels have an identical height to each other, wherein the plurality of dynamic panels has a configuration selected from the group consisting of (i) the plurality of dynamic panels have the same width as each other, such that the body has a substantially square horizontal cross-section aside from the plurality of pillars which are substantially curved outward, and (ii) the first and third dynamic panels have the same width as each other, the second and fourth dynamic panels have the same width as each other, and the width of each of the first and third dynamic panels is different than the width of each of the second and fourth dynamic panels, such that the body has a substantially rectangular horizontal cross-section aside from the plurality of pillars which are substantially curved outward. 
     
     
         15 . A method of storing and/or transporting a liquid product, the method comprising filling the liquid product into the container of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising sealing the container, which has the liquid product therein, with a cap. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the liquid product is a beverage. 
     
     
         18 . A method of manufacturing a container for a liquid product, the method comprising forming a body of the container, the body comprising a plurality of pillars and further comprising a plurality of dynamic panels,
 the plurality of pillars comprises first, second, third and fourth pillars, wherein each of the first, second, third and fourth pillars is substantially rounded outward relative to a vertical axis of the container; and   the plurality of dynamic panels comprises first, second, third and fourth dynamic panels, wherein the first dynamic panel extends between the first pillar and the second pillar, is substantially parallel to the third dynamic panel, and is substantially perpendicular to each of the second and fourth dynamic panels,   wherein each of the first, second, third and fourth pillars has greater stiffness than each of the first, second, third and fourth dynamic panels. the plurality of pillars comprises first, second, third and fourth pillars, wherein each of the first, second, third and fourth pillars is substantially rounded outward relative to a vertical axis of the container; and   the plurality of dynamic panels comprises first, second, third and fourth dynamic panels, wherein the first dynamic panel extends between the first pillar and the second pillar, is substantially parallel to the third dynamic panel, and is substantially perpendicular to each of the second and fourth dynamic panels, such that the plurality of pillars are positioned at corners of the container,   wherein each of the first, second, third and fourth pillars has greater stiffness than each of the first, second, third and fourth dynamic panels, such that the container is configured for controlled deformation in which one or more of the first, second, third and fourth dynamic panels deform under top loading or vacuum pressure, to thereby reduce a pressure differential between an inner volume of the container and a space external to the container, without any deformation of the first, second, third and fourth pillars.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , comprising molding the container. 
     
     
         20 . A method of using a liquid product, the method comprising pouring at least a portion of a liquid product housed by a container from the container,
 the container comprising a body, the body comprising a plurality of pillars and further comprising a plurality of dynamic panels,   the plurality of pillars comprises first, second, third and fourth pillars, wherein each of the first, second, third and fourth pillars is substantially rounded outward relative to a vertical axis of the container; and   the plurality of dynamic panels comprises first, second, third and fourth dynamic panels, wherein the first dynamic panel extends between the first pillar and the second pillar, is substantially parallel to the third dynamic panel, and is substantially perpendicular to each of the second and fourth dynamic panels, such that the plurality of pillars are positioned at corners of the container,   wherein each of the first, second, third and fourth pillars has greater stiffness than each of the first, second, third and fourth dynamic panels, such that the container is configured for controlled deformation in which one or more of the first, second, third and fourth dynamic panels deform under top loading or vacuum pressure, to thereby reduce a pressure differential between an inner volume of the container and a space external to the container, without any deformation of the first, second, third and fourth pillars.