초록 ▼

A plastic can body includes a bottom portion and a main body portion having a plastic sidewall that is connected to the bottom portion. The main body portion is shaped to define an upper rim that is adapted to be secured to a lid. The sidewall includes a plurality of first sidewall portions that hav

A plastic can body includes a bottom portion and a main body portion having a plastic sidewall that is connected to the bottom portion. The main body portion is shaped to define an upper rim that is adapted to be secured to a lid. The sidewall includes a plurality of first sidewall portions that have a substantially flat circumferentially extending outer surface and a plurality of second sidewall portions. Each of the second sidewall portions are interposed between two adjacent first sidewall portions. Each of the second sidewall portions are shaped to define a plurality of circumferentially spaced indentations. Each of the second sidewall portions includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced vertical columns. Adjacent ones of the second sidewall portions may be rotationally staggered with respect to each other so that the vertical columns on one second sidewall portion are not aligned with the vertical columns of an adjacent second sidewall portion.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A plastic can body, comprising a bottom portion; anda main body portion having a plastic sidewall that is connected to the bottom portion, the main body portion having a non-threaded mounting portion defining flanged upper rim that is adapted to be secured to a can lid, wherein the sidewall inclu

1. A plastic can body, comprising a bottom portion; anda main body portion having a plastic sidewall that is connected to the bottom portion, the main body portion having a non-threaded mounting portion defining flanged upper rim that is adapted to be secured to a can lid, wherein the sidewall includes a plurality of first sidewall portions that have a substantially flat circumferentially extending outer surface and a plurality of second sidewall portions, each of the second sidewall portions being interposed between two adjacent first sidewall portions, and wherein each of the second sidewall portions are shaped to define a plurality of circumferentially spaced indentations. 2. A plastic can body according to claim 1, wherein said substantially flat circumferentially extending outer surface extends about an entire circumference of the main body portion. 3. A plastic can body according to claim 1, wherein the main body portion has a vertical longitudinal axis, and the substantially flat circumferentially extending outer surface extends within a horizontal plane that is perpendicular to the vertical longitudinal axis. 4. A plastic can body according to claim 1, wherein the main body portion is substantially cylindrical in shape. 5. A plastic can body according to claim 1, wherein each of the second sidewall portions extend about an entire circumference of the main body portion. 6. A plastic can body according to claim 5, wherein the plurality of circumferentially spaced indentations are spaced substantially evenly about the entire circumference of the main body portion. 7. A plastic can body according to claim 1, wherein each of the second sidewall portions further comprises a plurality of substantially vertical columns, each of the vertical columns being interposed between two adjacent indentations. 8. A plastic can body according to claim 7, wherein each of the vertical columns has an outer surface that is convexly curved. 9. A plastic can body according to claim 8, wherein the main body portion has a maximum outer diameter and the convexly curved outer surface of the vertical columns has a radius, and wherein a ratio of the radius to the maximum outer diameter is substantially within a range of about 0.0195 to about 0.15. 10. A plastic can body according to claim 9, wherein the ratio of the radius to the maximum outer diameter is substantially within a range of about 0.03 to about 0.075. 11. A plastic can body according to claim 1, wherein the main body portion has a maximum outer diameter and each of the indentations has a concave curvature as viewed in a horizontal plane that has a radius, and wherein a ratio of the radius to the maximum outer diameter is substantially within a range of about 0.25 to about 1.5. 12. A plastic can body according to claim 11, wherein the ratio of the radius to the maximum outer diameter is substantially within a range of about 0.5 to about 1.0. 13. A plastic can body according to claim 7, wherein adjacent second sidewall portions are oriented so that the substantially vertical columns are not aligned with each other. 14. A plastic can body according to claim 13, wherein each of the substantially vertical columns on one of the second sidewall portions is substantially centered as viewed in side elevation with respect to an indentation on an adjacent one of the second sidewall portions. 15. A plastic can body according to claim 1, wherein each of the indentations has a horizontally oriented hourglass shape. 16. A plastic can body according to claim 1, wherein each of the indentations has a first side having a first vertical height, a second side having a second vertical height and a central portion having a minimum vertical height that is less than the first and second vertical heights. 17. A plastic can body according to claim 1, wherein further comprising a fillet defined in the sidewall between the indentation and an adjacent one of the first sidewall portions. 18. A plastic can body according to claim 17, wherein each of the second sidewall portions further comprises a plurality of substantially vertical columns, each of the vertical columns being interposed between two adjacent indentations, and wherein each of the vertical columns has a first end that is joined to the fillet. 19. A plastic can body according to claim 17, wherein the main body portion has a maximum outer diameter and the fillet is concave as viewed in side elevation and has a radius, and wherein a ratio of the radius to the maximum outer diameter is substantially within a range of about 0.01 to about 0.05. 20. A plastic can body according to claim 19, wherein the ratio of the radius to the maximum outer diameter is substantially within a range of about 0.02 to about 0.04. 21. A plastic can body according to claim 1, wherein the main body portion is constructed and arranged to withstand a heat sterilization process, and wherein the sidewall has a thickness that is substantially within a range of about 0.040 inch to about 0.065 inch. 22. A plastic can body according to claim 21, wherein the sidewall has a thickness that is substantially within a range of about 0.045 inch to about 0.055 inch. 23. A plastic can body according to claim 1, wherein the sidewall has a thickness that is substantially within a range of about 0.015 inch to about 0.065 inch. 24. A plastic can body according to claim 23, wherein the sidewall has a thickness that is substantially within a range of about 0.020 inch to about 0.055 inch. 25. A plastic can body, comprising a bottom portion; anda main body portion having a plastic sidewall that is connected to the bottom portion, the main body portion having a non-threaded mounting portion defining a flanged upper rim that is adapted to be secured to a can lid, wherein the sidewall includes a plurality of horizontally circumferentially extending first sidewall portions and a plurality of horizontally circumferentially extending second sidewall portions, each of the second sidewall portions being interposed between two adjacent first sidewall portions, and whereineach of the second sidewall portions includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced vertical columns, and wherein adjacent second sidewall portions are rotationally staggered with respect to each other so that the vertical columns on one second sidewall portion are not aligned with the vertical columns of an adjacent second sidewall portion. 26. A plastic can body according to claim 25, wherein the horizontally circumferentially extending first sidewall portions comprise a substantially flat outer surface. 27. A plastic can body according to claim 25, wherein the main body portion is substantially cylindrical in shape. 28. A plastic can body according to claim 25, wherein each of the second sidewall portions further comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced indentations. 29. A plastic can body according to claim 28, wherein the circumferentially spaced indentations are spaced substantially evenly about the entire circumference of the main body portion. 30. A plastic can body according to claim 25, wherein each of the vertical columns has an outer surface that is convexly curved. 31. A plastic can body according to claim 30, wherein the main body portion has a maximum outer diameter and the convexly curved outer surface of the vertical columns has a radius, and wherein a ratio of the radius to the maximum outer diameter is substantially within a range of about 0.0195 to about 0.15. 32. A plastic can body according to claim 31, wherein the ratio of the radius to the maximum outer diameter is substantially within a range of about 0.03 to about 0.075. 33. A plastic can body according to claim 28, wherein the main body portion has a maximum outer diameter and each of the indentations has a concave curvature as viewed in a horizontal plane that has a radius, and wherein a ratio of the radius to the maximum outer diameter is substantially within a range of about 0.25 to about 1.5. 34. A plastic can body according to claim 33, wherein the ratio of the radius to the maximum outer diameter is substantially within a range of about 0.5 to about 1.0. 35. A plastic can body according to claim 25, wherein each of the substantially vertical columns on one of the second sidewall portions is substantially centered as viewed in side elevation with respect to a space between two adjacent substantially vertical columns on an adjacent one of the second sidewall portions. 36. A plastic can body according to claim 25, wherein further comprising a fillet defined in the sidewall within the second sidewall portion adjacent to an interface with an adjacent one of the first sidewall portions. 37. A plastic can body according to claim 36, wherein each of the vertical columns has a first end that is joined to the fillet. 38. A plastic can body according to claim 36, wherein the main body portion has a maximum outer diameter and the fillet is concave as viewed in side elevation and has a radius, and wherein a ratio of the radius to the maximum outer diameter is substantially within a range of about 0.01 to about 0.05. 39. A plastic can body according to claim 38, wherein the ratio of the radius to the maximum outer diameter is substantially within a range of about 0.02 to about 0.04. 40. A plastic can body according to claim 25, wherein the main body portion is constructed and arranged to withstand a heat sterilization process, and wherein the sidewall has a thickness that is substantially within a range of about 0.040 inch to about 0.065 inch. 41. A plastic can body according to claim 40, wherein the sidewall has a thickness that is substantially within a range of about 0.045 inch to about 0.055 inch. 42. A plastic can body according to claim 25, wherein the sidewall has a thickness that is substantially within a range of about 0.015 inch to about 0.065 inch. 43. A plastic can body according to claim 42, wherein the sidewall has a thickness that is substantially within a range of about 0.020 inch to about 0.055 inch.