Abstract: A round, hot fillable plastic container includes an upper portion defining an opening; a bottom portion; and a main body portion having a plastic sidewall that has a plurality of vacuum panels defined therein. The main body portion has a generally hourglass shape with a central portion that is narrower than upper and lower portions thereof. The hourglass shape optimizes grippability of the container. Grippability is optimized further by the presence of indentations that are formed between columns that define the hourglass shape and pillow portions that are provided for finger support. The indentations permit a consumer to gain finger traction and purchase with respect to the container body, even when a label is positioned between the container body and the user's fingers. The main body portion further has a first groove defined in the upper portion thereof, a second groove defined in the lower portion thereof and a third groove that is defined in the central portion thereof.

Abstract: Container includes a top portion, a body portion and a bottom portion. The body portion includes a front wall, a rear wall and first and second side walls, the first side wall disposed opposite the second side wall, opposing grip areas formed in the first and second side walls, a first circumferential rib disposed above the opposing grip areas and extending horizontally about an entire outer circumferential perimeter of the body portion, a second circumferential rib disposed below the opposing grip areas and extending horizontally about the entire outer circumferential perimeter of the body portion, at least one horizontal body rib disposed between and spaced circumferentially from the opposing grip areas, a first vertical strut formed in the first side wall and a second vertical strut formed in the second side wall, each strut disposed between the first and second circumferential ribs and spaced a distance from each grip area.

Abstract: An extrusion blow molded plastic container includes a main body portion, a finish portion, and a continuous ledge. The finish portion defines an opening, and includes an upper surface and an outer surface that defines a substantially rectangular shape with rounded corners when viewed in transverse cross-section. The shape of the finish portion when viewed in transverse cross-section is smaller than the shape of the main body portion. The continuous ledge is defined between the outer surface of the main body portion and the outer surface of the finish portion. The ledge has a first width, adjacent to one of the rounded corners of the finish portion, that is greater than a second width that is not adjacent to one of the rounded corners of the finish portion.

Abstract: A bottle includes a neck portion having an opening configured to permit filling and emptying of the bottle, a shoulder portion connected to a lower end of the neck portion, a sidewall connected to a lower end of the shoulder portion and extending vertically downward from the shoulder portion, and a base connected to a lower end of the sidewall and forming a bottom surface of the bottle. The sidewall has a plurality of annular ribs extending around a periphery of the sidewall. Each of the annular ribs includes a plurality of sequential enlarged portions interconnected by bridges, with each of the enlarged portions having a vertical width that is greater than a vertical width of each of the bridges.

Abstract: Plastic container has a container body having an outer surface and defining a longitudinal axis, at least one recessed panel defined in the container body having an outer perimeter and recessed relative to the outer surface of the container body, the perimeter including opposing longitudinal sides and transverse ends, a transition region defined along the perimeter of the recessed panel, the transition region extending between the recessed panel and the outer surface, and at least one indentation formed in the transition region proximate at least one transverse end of the outer perimeter, the indentation having a height, a width, and a depth, the height of the indentation extending beyond the transition region. The indentation can prevent or reduce container failure due to external forces, such as side loading during a hot-fill process.

Abstract: A volumetrically efficient plastic hot fill container at least one vacuum panel defined by a vacuum panel area of a sidewall that is constructed and arranged to flex inwardly in order to accommodate volumetric shrinkage that may occur within the container as a result of the conventionally known hot fill process. Advantageously, at least a portion of the vacuum panel area of the sidewall is formed as a plurality of undulations. The undulations preferably have a horizontal component and provide an increased surface area to the vacuum panel area relative to what a flat surface would provide. As a result, the amount of volumetric shrinkage that may be accommodated through inward deflection of said vacuum panel area of said sidewall is increased relative to a flat surface would provide.

Abstract: A hot fill type plastic container includes a finish, a bottom and a main body that is generally rectangular in transverse cross-section. The main body has an upper dome portion, a lower label portion and a waist groove defined between the upper dome portion and the lower label portion. Both the upper dome portion and the lower label portion have front and rear surfaces as well as opposing side surfaces that are narrower than the front and rear surfaces. The opposing side surfaces of the upper dome portion have a substantially vertically oriented reinforcing element defined therein that is recessed with respect to the surrounding sidewall of the upper dome portion. The reinforcing element extends into the waist groove, which increases the flexibility of the dome portion above the waist groove and protects the dome portion against damage as a result of contact with other containers during the filling and packaging processes.

Abstract: A plastic container having improved structural stability characteristics when gripped includes a finish and a main body having a sidewall. The main body has a lower portion and an upper dome that is separated from the lower portion by a waist. The upper dome includes an upper brow portion having a first maximum width and that has a concave recess defined therein. A gripping recess may be defined in the sidewall beneath the upper brow portion, which has a second minimum width that is less than the first maximum width. A portion of the sidewall that defines the gripping recess may have a substantially vertically oriented reinforcing element defined therein. In addition, a portion of the sidewall that defines the gripping recess may have U-shaped groove defined therein.

Abstract: Base for a container, the base being made of polymeric material, including a support surface having an outer perimeter defining a first dimension along a major axis and a second dimension along a minor axis disposed at an angle to the major axis. An inner wall is coupled to the support surface opposite the outer perimeter. A dome projects upwardly from the inner wall and has an initial depth with respect to the support surface, the initial depth of the dome is between approximately 8 percent to approximately 15 percent of the first dimension. The dome includes a major radius of curvature along the major axis and a minor radius of curvature along the minor axis. The dome is deflectable in response to a differential pressure across the base without permanent deformation of the base.

Abstract: A plastic container, sidewall portions, and method of same are described. The sidewall portion can accommodate a vacuum in a filled and sealed container and includes a plurality of columns extending between upper and lower ends of the sidewall portion, and a plurality of vacuum panels oriented vertically between respective adjacent ones of the columns, each vacuum panel including an upper section, a middle section, and a lower section, a first hinge connecting the upper and middle sections, and a second hinge connecting the middle and lower sections. The vacuum panels can move radially inward toward a container central axis such that the container vacuum is accommodated. As the vacuum panel moves radially inward, the middle section can maintain a substantially parallel orientation with respect to the central axis, and the upper and lower sections rotate about first and second hinges, respectively, and incline away from the central axis.

Abstract: Base for a container, the base being made of polymeric material, including a support surface having an outer perimeter defining a first dimension along a major axis and a second dimension along a minor axis disposed at an angle to the major axis. An inner wall is coupled to the support surface opposite the outer perimeter. A dome projects upwardly from the inner wall and has an initial depth with respect to the support surface, the initial depth of the dome is between approximately 8 percent to approximately 15 percent of the first dimension. The dome includes a major radius of curvature along the major axis and a minor radius of curvature along the minor axis. The dome is deflectable in response to a differential pressure across the base without permanent deformation of the base.

Abstract: Base for a container, the base being made of polymeric material, including a support surface having an outer perimeter defining a first dimension along a major axis and a second dimension along a minor axis disposed approximately 90° from the major axis. An inner wall is coupled to the support surface opposite the outer perimeter. A dome projects upwardly from the inner wall and has an initial depth with respect to the support surface. The dome includes a major radius of curvature along the major axis and a minor radius of curvature along the minor axis. The dome is deflectable in response to a differential pressure across the base of at least 3.2 PSI without permanent deformation of the base.

Abstract: A container has a domed shaped top portion that is located above the body portion. The body portion connects with the domed shaped top portion via a waist portion that has a variable distance from the longitudinal axis of the container.

Abstract: A bottle includes a neck portion having an opening configured to permit filling and emptying of the bottle, a shoulder portion connected to a lower end of the neck portion, a sidewall connected to a lower end of the shoulder portion and extending vertically downward from the shoulder portion, and a base connected to a lower end of the sidewall and forming a bottom surface of the bottle. The sidewall has a plurality of annular ribs extending around a periphery of the sidewall. Each of the annular ribs includes a plurality of sequential enlarged portions interconnected by bridges, with each of the enlarged portions having a vertical width that is greater than a vertical width of each of the bridges.

Abstract: A hot fill type plastic container includes a bottom portion and a main body having a vacuum uptake portion that is bounded by upper and lower horizontal grooves. The vacuum uptake portion has four side panel portions, and each of the side panel portions has at least one vertical groove defined therein. The vertical grooves are substantially centered with respect to the side panel portions. No surface features other than the vertical grooves are included on the side panel portions. The main body further includes upper and lower round portions that are respectively positioned above and below the vacuum uptake portion.

Abstract: A plastic container, sidewall portions, and method of same are described. The sidewall portion can accommodate a vacuum in a filled and sealed container and includes a plurality of columns extending between upper and lower ends of the sidewall portion, and a plurality of vacuum panels oriented vertically between respective adjacent ones of the columns, each vacuum panel including an upper section, a middle section, and a lower section, a first hinge connecting the upper and middle sections, and a second hinge connecting the middle and lower sections. The vacuum panels can move radially inward toward a container central axis such that the container vacuum is accommodated. As the vacuum panel moves radially inward, the middle section can maintain a substantially parallel orientation with respect to the central axis, and the upper and lower sections rotate about first and second hinges, respectively, and incline away from the central axis.

Abstract: A blow molded plastic container includes a main body portion that has a substantially rectangular shape when viewed in transverse cross-section. A plurality of side panels are defined on the main body portion. At least one of the side panels has a longitudinally oriented concave scoop that extends continuously from an upper portion of the side panel to a lower portion of the side panel. The side panel further includes a first pair of longitudinally oriented concave ribs that are positioned adjacent to an upper portion of the scoop and a second pair of longitudinally oriented concave ribs that are positioned adjacent to a lower portion of the scoop.