TECHNICAL FIELD

[0101] The present application and the resultant patent relate generally to plastic bottles for beverages and the like and more particularly relate to plastic bottles with a ripple panel for increased rigidity and grip feel while maintaining an overall aesthetically appealing appearance.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0102] Generally described, thermoplastic PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottles are ubiquitous in the beverage industry and the like. Particularly in PET bottles that are used for non-carbonated beverages, there is a continuing effort to use less and less plastic therein. Reducing the amount of plastic, however, generally means reducing the wall thickness. A reduction in wall thickness may result in an overall reduction in bottle strength such that the bottle may not be reliable during distribution and may become uncomfortable for the consumer to hold. Moreover, beverages such as water, tea, and other types of non-carbonated beverages may develop a negative internal bottle pressure therein. Such a negative internal bottle pressure may further weaken bottle strength and may result in distorted bottle shapes. Overall bottle rigidity and strength traditionally has been improved by using different types of rib structures formed within the bottle wall. Such traditional rib structures, however, may not be visually appealing to the consumer.

[0103] There is thus a desire for an improved non-carbonated beverage bottle design. Preferably, such an improved bottle design may increase overall rigidity and grip feel while providing a unique visual aesthetic.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0104] The present application and the resultant patent thus may provide a bottle. The bottle may include a label panel in the form of a ripple panel having a number of undulating waves and a number of troughs therebetween and a ribbed panel having a number of ribs and a number of lands therebetween.

[0105] The present application and the resultant patent further may provide a polyethylene terephthalate bottle. The polyethylene terephthalate bottle may include a shoulder section, a body section with a label panel and a ribbed panel, and a base section. The label panel may include a ripple panel with a number of undulating waves and a number of troughs therebetween. The ribbed panel may include a number of ribs and a number of lands therebetween.

[0106] These and other features and advantages of the present application and the resultant patent will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art upon review of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the several drawings and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0107] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a bottle with a ripple panel as may be described herein.

[0108] Fig. 2 is a front plan view of the bottle of Fig. 1.

[0109] Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the bottle of Fig. 1.

[0110] Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the bottle of Fig. 1.

[0111] Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the bottle taken along lines A-A of Fig. 4.

[0112] Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of the ripple panel of the bottle of Fig. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0113] Referring now to the drawings, in which like numerals refer to like elements through the several views, Figs. 1-6 show an example of a bottle 100 as may be described herein. The bottle 100 may be made from an injection molded preform (not shown). The preform may be made from various types of polymer resins. Specifically, biaxially oriented polyethylene terephthalate (“PET”) may be used. The polymer resins also may include polylactide acid, polypropylene, polyesters, polyolefins, polycarbonates, nitrates, and copolymers thereof. Other types of thermoplastic materials may be used herein. The bottle 100 may be created by the use of blow molding techniques. Such techniques may include injection stretch blow molding (one or two steps or otherwise), extrusion blow molding, and similar types of forming techniques. The resultant bottle 100 may be clear or opaque. The material of the bottle 100 may be recyclable.

[0114] Generally described, the bottle 100 may include a mouth section 110, a shoulder section 120, a body section 130, and a base section 140 in any desired size, shape, or configuration. The mouth section 110 may be of conventional design. The mouth section 110 may have one or more threads 150 and a support ring 160 thereon. The threads 150 may be sized to accommodate a closure (not shown) thereon. The closure may be of conventional design. Other components and other configurations may be used herein.

[0115] The shoulder section 120 may extend outwardly and downwardly from the from the mouth section 110 to the body section 130. The shoulder section 120 may extend in a substantially smooth curved shape. One or more types of marketing indicia 170 or other shapes may be formed therein. In this example, the stylized “S” in the DASANI ^® trademark may be used. (DASANI ^® is a registered trademark of The Coca-Cola Company of Atlanta, Georgia.) Other shapes and other types of indicia may be used herein.

[0116] The base section 140 may be of conventional design. The base section 140 may have a number of petaloid feet 180 or other types of support structures formed therein such that the bottle 100 as a whole can stand upright. Other components and other configurations may be used herein.

[0117] The body section 130 may extend from the shoulder section 120 to the base section 140. The body section 130 may include a label panel 190, a waist 200, and a ribbed panel 210. The label panel 190 may extend from the shoulder section 120 to the waist 200. The label panel 190 may have a slightly reduced diameter as compared to the shoulder section 120 and the waist 200. The label panel 190 in this example may take the form of a ripple panel 220. The ripple panel 220 may include a series of undulating waves 230 formed therein. In the horizontal direction, the undulating waves 230 may be in the form of sine waves 240 generally and in the form of the stylized “S” 250 of the DASANI ^® trademark in particular. The horizontal length of the undulating waves 230 may vary. In the vertical direction, the undulating waves 230 may have a convex shape 260 with troughs 270 formed therebetween. The vertical height of the undulating waves 230 may vary. Other types of wavy shapes or other types of shapes may be used herein. Any number of the undulating waves 230 may be used herein. A label (not shown) may be attached to the label panel 190. Other components and other configurations may be used herein.

[0118] The waist 200 of the body section 130 extends from the label panel 190 to the ribbed panel 210. The waist 200 has a substantial ring-like shape 280. The waist 200 may have a similar diameter to that of the largest diameter of the shoulder section 120. The vertical length of the waist 200 may vary. [0119] The ribbed panel 210 of the body section extends from the waist 200 to the base section 140. The ribbed panel 210 includes a number of ribs 290 with a concave shape 300 formed therein defining ring-shaped lands 310 therebetween. The size and shape of the ribs 290 and the lands 310 may vary. The number of the ribs 290 and the lands 310 also may vary. The overall ribbed panel 210 may have a substantially concave shape 320 from the waist 200 to the base portion 140. Other components and other configurations may be used herein.

[0120] The bottle 100 described herein may contain about 500 milliliters of a fluid such as water. Other types of fluids may be used herein. The bottle 100 may be made from about 8.6 grams of a PET material. The bottle 100 described herein is for the purpose of example only. The bottle 100 and the dimensions thereof may be sized up or down as appropriate for the desired volume. Other components and other configurations may be used herein.

[0121] The bottle 100 described herein thus provides a package that is ultra-light weight while maintaining stability and technical performance required for, by way of example, a co-packer application. The ribs 290 and the waist 200 of the body section 130 displace top load forces while the ripple panel 220 increases rigidity and grip feel. Specifically, the alternating depth and spacing of the undulating waves 230 of the ripple panel 220 creates micro-ridges that build resistance around the bottle 100. Moreover, the ripple panel 220 not only resists collapsing under pressure but also provides a unique visual aesthetic.

[0122] It should be apparent that the foregoing relates only to certain embodiments of the present application and the resultant patent. Numerous changes and modifications may be made herein by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the general spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims and the equivalents thereof.