Hot filled container

A hot-filled hermetically sealed gas barrier multi-layer plastic container with a side wall free of deformation comprising,

• an open-top plastic body of multilayer construction which includes a gas barrier layer substantially impervious to oxygen, said body having:
• (1) an annular sealing surface about the open top,
• (2) a bottom wall having a transverse cross-sectional configuration defining means which permits diaphragmatic flexing thereof inwardly of said body,
• (3) a side wall free of paneling or deformation notwithstanding said internal vacuum upon cooling of the hermetically sealed hot food product,
• (4) said bottom wall being disposed in an inwardly flexed position due to internal vacuum, and having gradually moved to said flexed position from a more outward unflexed substantially planar initial position located substantially within the axial length of said plastic body prior to hot filling and sealing while having cooperatively gradually and substantially reduced the substantial or high internal vacuum as it was developing while the hot food product was cooling,
• a gas barrier impervious flexible closure disc hermetically sealed to the sealing surface by adhesive means defining with said closure disc and body the hermetic seal, which withstands the high internal vacuum which gradually develops upon cooling of and consequent condensation of the moisture vapor of the product, withstands the subsequent substantially reduced internal vacuum, and yet allows easy peel removal of the disc from the sealing surface,
• said closure disc also being disposed in an inwardly flexed position due to internal vacuum, as allowed by the headspace, and having gradually moved to said flexed position from a more outward unflexed initial position of a substantially flat plane across said sealing surface while also having cooperatively gradually and substantially reduced the high internal vacuum as it was developing,
• a sterilized hot-fillable food product in the container, said food product having a measureable vapor pressure when hot-filled into the container at a temperature of up to about 190.degree. F. after the container is hermetically sealed, and,
• a headspace in said container between said food product and the said closure disc when hermetically sealed,
• said adhesive means, and said cooperative inwardly flexed positions of said closure disc and integral bottom wall together having cooperatively substantially reduced or dissipated the high internal vacuum, and together cooperatively maintaining the substantially reduced internal vacuum in the container, said side wall unpaneled, said hermetic seal unruptured, and said closure disc easily peelable.