Containers having swirl ribs which resist lateral ovalization of the container, and methods of making and using such containers

Abstract

A container includes a body containing swirl ribs. Each of the swirl ribs is an indentation into an exterior surface of the body. Each of the swirl ribs extends from a top of the body to a bottom of the body at an angle not parallel to a vertical axis of the container and not perpendicular to the vertical axis of the container. The swirl ribs are substantially parallel to each other for at least a majority of a length of each of the swirl ribs from the top of the body to the bottom of the body. The swirl ribs are configured for the body, under top loading or vacuum pressure on the container, to resist ovalization and resist collapse, and thereby maintain horizontal cross-sections that are substantially circular throughout the body. Preferably the body is substantially cylindrical, and the swirl ribs are configured for the body to twist under the top loading or vacuum pressure on the container, such that the body remains substantially cylindrical.

1 . A container comprising:
 a body comprising swirl ribs, each of the swirl ribs is an indentation into an exterior surface of the body, wherein each of the swirl ribs extends from a top of the body to a bottom of the body at an angle not parallel to a vertical axis of the container and not perpendicular to the vertical axis of the container, and the swirl ribs are substantially parallel to each other for at least a majority of a length of each of the swirl ribs from the top of the body to the bottom of the body,   wherein the swirl ribs are configured for the body, under top loading or vacuum pressure on the container, to resist ovalization and resist collapse, and thereby maintain horizontal cross-sections that are substantially circular throughout the body.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein a depth of each of the swirl ribs is a distance from the exterior surface of the body that the swirl rib extends inward into an inner volume of the container, and the depth is substantially constant for at least a majority of a length of each of the swirl ribs from the top of the body to the bottom of the body. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein each of the swirl ribs has a first lateral side and a second lateral side substantially parallel to each other for at least a majority of a length of each of the swirl ribs from the top of the body to the bottom of the body,
 wherein the indentation of each swirl rib extends inward from the first and second lateral sides into an inner volume of the container,   wherein a width of each of the swirl ribs is a distance between the first lateral side and the second lateral side, and the distance of the width is perpendicular to the angle of the corresponding swirl rib, and the width is substantially constant for at least a majority of a length of each of the swirl ribs from the top of the body to the bottom of the body.   
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein a ratio of the width to the depth for each of the swirl ribs is about 1.17. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein a pitch between one of the swirl ribs and an adjacent swirl rib is a vertical distance between a midline of the swirl rib and a midline of the adjacent swirl rib along a length of each of the swirl ribs from the top of the body to the bottom of the body, Wherein the vertical distance of the pitch is parallel to the vertical axis of the container, the pitch is substantially constant for at least a majority of the length of each of the swirl ribs from the top of the body to the bottom of the body. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the angle at which each of the swirl ribs extends along the exterior surface of the body is about 45 degrees relative to the vertical axis of the container. 
     
     
         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 one or more first base ribs that each form a groove in the base and optionally further comprises one or more second base ribs that have a different length than the one of more first base ribs. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the body is substantially cylindrical, and the swirl ribs are configured for the body to twist under the top loading or vacuum pressure on the container, such that the body remains substantially cylindrical. 
     
     
         10 . 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 body. 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the swirl ribs have substantially identical dimensions as each other. 
     
     
         12 . A method of storing and/or transporting a liquid product, the method comprising filling the liquid product into the container of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising sealing the container, which has the liquid product therein, with a cap. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the liquid product is a beverage. 
     
     
         15 . A method of manufacturing a container for a liquid product, the method comprising forming a body of the container, the body comprising swirl ribs, each of the swirl ribs is an indentation into an exterior surface of the body,
 wherein each of the swirl ribs extends from a top of the body to a bottom of the body at an angle not parallel to a vertical axis of the container and not perpendicular to the vertical axis of the container, and the swirl ribs are substantially parallel to each other for at least a majority of a length of each of the swirl ribs from the top of the body to the bottom of the body,   wherein the swirl ribs are configured for the body, under top loading or vacuum pressure on the container, to resist ovalization and resist collapse, and thereby maintain horizontal cross-sections that are substantially circular throughout the body.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , comprising molding the container. 
     
     
         17 . 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 swirl ribs, each of the swirl ribs is an indentation into an exterior surface of the body,
 wherein each of the swirl ribs extends from a top of the body to a bottom of the body at an angle not parallel to a vertical axis of the container and not perpendicular to the vertical axis of the container, and the swirl ribs are substantially parallel to each other for at least a majority of a length of each of the swirl ribs from the top of the body to the bottom of the body,   wherein the swirl ribs are configured for the body, under top loading or vacuum pressure on the container, to resist ovalization and resist collapse, and thereby maintain horizontal cross-sections that are substantially circular throughout the body.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the liquid product is a beverage. 
     
     
         19 . The container of  claim 2 , wherein the depth is about 6.4 mm. 
     
     
         20 . The container of  claim 3 , wherein the width is about 7.5 mm.