US 2010/0301003 A1Published application

Multi-Panel Plastic Container

AssigneeGraham Packaging Company, L.P.

InventorsBenton A. Lewis, Luis Carvallo, Justin A. Howell

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Abstract

A plastic container that particularly adapted for hot-fill applications includes a bottom portion; and a sidewall portion that is unitary with the bottom portion. The sidewall portion has a maximum outer diameter, and includes first and second pairs of opposing first and second vacuum panels, respectively. At least one of the second vacuum panels includes gripping structure. The first and second vacuum panels respectively have first and second substantially constant radii of curvature as measured in a horizontal plane that are substantially constant from upper to lower ends of the vacuum panels. A ratio of the first substantially constant radius of curvature to the maximum outer diameter is within a range of about 0.3 to about 2.5, and a ratio of the second substantially constant radius of curvature to the maximum outer diameter is within a range of about 0.2 to about 2. At least one of the second vacuum panels may be asymmetric about a central vertical axis as viewed in side elevation.

Claims25

Dependent claims

A plastic container, comprising:

a bottom portion;
and
a sidewall portion, said sidewall portion having a maximum outer diameter, and wherein said sidewall portion further comprises:
a first pair of opposing first vacuum panels, said first vacuum panels each having a first substantially constant radius of curvature as measured in a horizontal plane, said first substantially constant radius of curvature being substantially constant from an upper end of each of said respective first vacuum panels to a lower end, and wherein a ratio of said first substantially constant radius of curvature to said maximum outer diameter is within a range of about 0.3 to about 2.5;
and
a second pair of opposing second vacuum panels, at least one of said second vacuum panels including gripping structure, said second vacuum panels each having a second substantially constant radius of curvature as measured in a horizontal plane, said second substantially constant radius of curvature being substantially constant, excluding said gripping structure, from an upper end of each of said respective second vacuum panels to a lower end, and wherein a ratio of said second substantially constant radius of curvature to said maximum outer diameter is within a range of about 0.2 to about 2.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.