Abstract: A plastic container for retaining a commodity during a high temperature pasteurization or retort process. The container includes a finish defining an aperture for receiving the commodity, a body portion generally extending downward from the finish portion, and a base portion generally extending inward from the body portion and closing off the bottom of the container. The body portion itself includes a sidewall having a crystallinity of greater than 30% and a shoulder portion flaring outward, from a generally transverse plane defined by the mouth of the container, at an angle of about 15° or less.

Abstract: A plastic container for retaining a commodity during a high temperature pasteurization or retort process. The container includes a finish defining an aperture for receiving the commodity, a body portion generally extending downward from the finish portion, and a base portion generally extending inward from the body portion and closing off the bottom of the container. The body portion itself includes a sidewall having a crystallinity of greater than 30% and a shoulder portion flaring outward, from a generally transverse plane defined by the mouth of the container, at an angle of about 15° or less.

Abstract: A plastic container having a base portion adapted for vacuum absorption. The base portion including a ring upon which the container is supported, an upstanding wall and a recessed portion. The upstanding wall being adjacent to and generally circumscribing the contact ring. The recessed portion being defined in at least part by a flat base region and a central base region. The flat base region extending from the upstanding wall toward a longitudinal axis of the container. The flat base region defining a projected surface area of at least 45% of a total projected surface area of the container. The flat base region being moveable to accommodate vacuum forces within said container.

Abstract: A method for producing a biaxially oriented, heat set plastic container, including the steps of providing a plastic preform within a mold cavity; expanding and stretching the plastic preform into conformity with the surfaces defining the mold cavity to form a biaxially oriented plastic container; inducing crystallinity in the plastic container by using convection heat transfer to heat a surface of the plastic container to a temperature of at least 120° C.; and removing the plastic container from the mold cavity. The PET containers produced by the method have an average sidewall crystallinity greater than about 30%, which allows the PET container to maintain its material integrity during any subsequent pasteurization or retort process of the contents in the PET container, and during shipment of the PET container.

Abstract: A method for providing a thermally processed commodity in a plastic container. The container is exposed to elevated temperatures to form an—intermediate finish section. A commodity is dispensed within the plastic container. A closure engages the intermediate finish section. The container and the commodity are thermally processed. The finish section being within a predetermined range whereby the finish section and the closure result in retaining a hermetic seal.

Abstract: A wide-mouth, hot-fill plastic container having pinch-grips and a high push-up base and method for forming the same. According to the method, a preform is positioned in a mold cavity defined in part by surfaces which deviate substantially inward to form pinch-grips in the resulting container. Initially, a mold base is located so that it defines an initial mold cavity whose length is greater than the final length of the container. The preform is axially stretched in the cavity to a length greater than the containers final length. After stretching the preform, the preform is generally expanded radially outward under low pressure. The mold bottom is then moved to a position where the length of the cavity is about the same as the final length of the container. The preform is further expanded under high pressure such that it contacts the molding halves thereby forming the finished container.