Abstract: Disclosed herein are hot-fill containers that can be packaged as a multiple-container package. The hot-fill container comprises at least three sidewalls, where at least one of the sidewalls contains a deformable vacuum panel, and at least one of the sidewalls is free of the vacuum panel. When two or more hot-fill containers are packaged together in a multi-pack, the sidewall containing the vacuum panel of one container contacts that of at least one other container so as to conceal each vacuum panel.

Abstract: A plastic container includes a plastic body having a polygonal sidewall contour with rounded corners on a cylinder of revolution and flat panels extending between the corners chordally of the cylinder of revolution. In the preferred embodiments of the invention, a label is disposed on an exterior surface of at least one of the flat panels, and most preferably extends circumferentially around the exterior surface of the container sidewall. Upon filling the container with hot liquid and capping the container, the flat panels bow radially inwardly as the liquid cools. However, any labeling placed on the container, either before or after cooling, is secured to the panels as well as the rounded corners, and does not wrinkle or crinkle during storage or use.