Abstract: An improved blow molded plastic container having generally rounded sidewalls that are adapted for hot-fill applications has two adjacent sides and two pairs of controlled deflection panels, each pair reacting to vacuum pressure at differing rates of movement, whereby one pair inverts under vacuum pressure and the other pair remains available for increased squeezability or extreme vacuum extraction. The opposing sidewalls are symmetric relative to vacuum panel and rib shape and placement. The ribs and controlled deflection panels cooperate to retain container shape upon filling and cooling and also improves bumper denting resistance, decreases vacuum pressure within the container, and increases light weight capability.

Abstract: A container has a longitudinal axis, and comprises an upper portion including an opening into the container, a sidewall portion extending from the upper portion to a lower portion, the lower portion including a base, and a pressure panel located in the lower portion substantially transversely to the longitudinal axis, the pressure panel being movable substantially along the longitudinal axis between an initial position and an inverted position to compensate for a change of pressure induced within the container. The pressure panel comprises an initiator portion and a control portion, the initiator portion adapted to move in response to the change of pressure prior to the control portion.

Abstract: A plastic container comprises an upper portion including a finish adapted to receive a closure, a lower portion including a base, and a sidewall extending between the upper portion and the lower portion. The upper portion, the lower portion, and the sidewall define an interior volume for storing liquid contents. The plastic container further comprises a pressure panel located on the container and moveable between an initial position and an activated position. The pressure panel is located in the initial position prior to filling the container, and is moved to the activated position after filling and sealing the container. Moving the pressure panel from the initial position to the activated position reduces the internal volume of the container and creates a positive pressure inside the container. The positive pressure reinforces the sidewall. A method of processing a container is also disclosed.

Abstract: A thin-walled, non-round plastic container having a body portion with generally rectangular sidewalls and a base. The body portion having a label mounting area extending between an upper label bumper and a lower label bumper on at least two of the adjacent sidewalls. The label mounting area includes a vacuum panel on a first sidewall, and a plurality of ribs, which may be on a second sidewall.

Abstract: A semi-rigid collapsible container has a side-wall with an upper portion, a central portion, a lower portion and a base. The central portion includes a vacuum panel portion having a control portion and an initiator portion. The control portion is inclined more steeply in a vertical direction, i.e. has a more acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the container, than the initiator portion. On low vacuum force being present within the container panel following the cooling of a hot liquid in the container, the initiator portion will flex inwardly to cause the control portion to invert and flex further inwardly into the container and the central portion to collapse. In the collapsed state upper and lower portions of the central portion may be in substantial contact so as to contain the top-loading capacity of the container. Raised ribs made an additional support for the container in its collapsed state.

Abstract: An improved blow molded plastic container having generally rounded sidewalls that are adapted for hot-fill applications has two adjacent sides and two pairs of controlled deflection panels, each pair reacting to vacuum pressure at differing rates of movement, whereby one pair inverts under vacuum pressure and the other pair remains available for increased squeezability or extreme vacuum extraction. The opposing sidewalls are symmetric relative to vacuum panel and rib shape and placement. The ribs and controlled deflection panels cooperate to retain container shape upon filling and cooling and also improves bumper denting resistance, decreases vacuum pressure within the container, and increases light weight capability.

Abstract: A plastic container comprises an upper portion including a finish defining an opening into the container, a lower portion including a base defining a standing surface, a sidewall extending between the upper portion and the lower portion, the sidewall defining a longitudinal axis, and at least one substantially transversely-oriented pressure panel located in the lower portion. The pressure panel is movable between an outwardly-inclined position and an inwardly-inclined position to compensate for a change of pressure inside the container. The standing surface defines a standing plane, and the entire pressure panel is located between the standing plane and the upper portion of the container when the pressure panel is in the outwardly-inclined position.

Abstract: A container for containing a heated liquid and having a longitudinal axis. The container comprises at least one substantially vertically folding vacuum panel portion disposed substantially transversely relative to the longitudinal axis, the vacuum panel portion adapted to compensate for vacuum pressure changes within the container caused by heating or cooling of a liquid contained within the container. The vacuum panel portion comprises an initiator portion and a control portion, with at least a portion of the control portion being more steeply inclined relative to the longitudinal axis than at least a portion of the initiator portion. The initiator portion causes the control portion to flex inwardly into the container. The pressure panel inverts vertically in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A container has a longitudinal axis, and comprises an upper portion including an opening into the container, a sidewall portion extending from the upper portion to a lower portion, the lower portion including a base, and a pressure panel located in the lower portion substantially transversely to the longitudinal axis, the pressure panel being movable substantially along the longitudinal axis between an initial position and an inverted position to compensate for a change of pressure induced within the container. The pressure panel comprises an initiator portion and a control portion, the initiator portion adapted to move in response to the change of pressure prior to the control portion.

Abstract: A container (1) is intended for filling with a hot liquid (21). The container (1) has a neck finish (2) with an opening closed off by a primary seal (4) which has an expandable side wall (4a). As the liquid (21) cools, the side wall (4a) is drawn into the container (1) to remove vacuum pressure created within the container (1). A permanent cap (25) can provide a secondary seal for the container and define a secondary headspace (24b) between the primary and secondary seals (4) (25). In other embodiments the seal (4) can be replaced by a mechanically movable seal which may be locked in its downward position. Also the secondary seal can be provided with a port or aperture to provide access into the secondary headspace for a commodity.

Abstract: A blow molded plastic container is provided. The container has a body section having a substantially non-circular cross-sectional shape, the body section having an enclosed bottom portion that forms a bottom end of the container and substantially flat side portions extending upwardly from the bottom end; a finish defining an opening; and a dome extending from the body section to the finish. The dome includes at least one stiffening structure formed by an inwardly indented, vertically extending groove.

Abstract: A container, suitable as a hot-fill container, includes a controlled deflection flex panel which may invert and flex under pressure, such as hot-fill conditions, to avoid deformation and permanent buckling of the container. The flex panel includes an initiator portion which has a lesser projection than the remainder of the flex panel and initiates deflection of the flex panel.

Abstract: A semi-rigid collapsible container has a side-wall with an upper portion, a central portion, a lower portion and a base. The central portion includes a vacuum panel portion having a control portion and an initiator portion. The control portion is inclined more steeply in a vertical direction, i.e. has a more acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the container, than the initiator portion. On low vacuum force being present within the container panel following the cooling of a hot liquid in the container, the initiator portion will flex inwardly to cause the control portion to invert and flex further inwardly into the container and the central portion to collapse. In the collapsed state upper and lower portions of the central portion may be in substantial contact so as to contain the top-loading capacity of the container. Raised ribs made an additional support for the container in its collapsed state.

Abstract: A plastic container comprises an upper portion including a finish adapted to receive a closure, a lower portion including a base, and a sidewall extending between the upper portion and the lower portion. The upper portion, the lower portion, and the sidewall define an interior volume for storing liquid contents. The plastic container further comprises a pressure panel located on the container and moveable between an initial position and an activated position. The pressure panel is located in the initial position prior to filling the container, and is moved to the activated position after filling and sealing the container. Moving the pressure panel from the initial position to the activated position reduces the internal volume of the container and creates a positive pressure inside the container. The positive pressure reinforces the sidewall. A method of processing a container is also disclosed.

Abstract: A semi-rigid collapsible container (10) has a side-wall with an upper portion (5), a central portion (6), a lower portion (7) and a base (8). The central portion (6) includes a vacuum panel portion having a control portion (2) and an initiator portion 1. The control portion (2) is inclined more steeply in a vertical direction, i.e. has a more acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the container (10), than the initiator portion 1. On low vacuum force being present within the container panel following the cooling of a hot liquid in the container 10 the initiator portion (1) will flex inwardly to cause the control portion (2) to invert and flex further inwardly into the container (10) and the central portion (6) to collapse. In the collapsed state upper and lower portions of the central portion (6) may be in substantial contact so as to contain the top-loading capacity of the container (10). Raised ribs (3) made an additional support for the container in its collapsed state.

Abstract: A thin-walled, non-round plastic container having a body portion with generally rectangular sidewalls and a base. The body portion having a label mounting area extending between an upper label bumper and a lower label bumper on at least two of the adjacent sidewalls. The label mounting area includes a vacuum panel on a first sidewall, and a plurality of ribs, which may be on a second sidewall.