Plastic container having improved rigidity

A plastic container that is designed for optimal stability against tipping and strength in the area that is immediately above the support feet, comprising:

• a finish portion;
• a bottom portion including a plurality of support feet and a corresponding number of grooves defined between said support feet;
• and
• a main body portion having an upper end that is connected to said finish portion;
• and a lower end that is connected to said bottom portion, said lower end being configured so as to have a number of generally axially extending channels that extend toward said bottom portion, and wherein some of said channels merge into said grooves, and others terminate before reaching said bottom portion, and wherein said channels have a structural reinforcement effect, whereby enhanced structural reinforcement of said lower end is achieved without increasing the number of support feet and grooves.

A plastic container that is designed for optimal strength and lightweighting characteristics, comprising:

• a finish portion;
• a bottom portion;
• and
• a main body portion having an upper end that is connected to said finish portion and a lower end that is connected to said bottom portion, said upper end including a tapered neck portion, wherein said tapered neck portion has a plurality of undulating grooves defined therein to provide structural reinforcement to said tapered neck portion, said undulating grooves being oriented generally axially and being generally sinusoidal.

A plastic container that is designed for optimal strength and lightweighting characteristics, comprising:

• a finish portion;
• a base portion including a plurality of support feet and a corresponding number of grooves defined between said support feet;
• and
• a main body portion, said main body portion having a label portion positioned between said finish portion and said base portion, said label portion having a top, bottom, and generally smooth outer surface;
• and at least one groove formed in said label portion outer surface, said groove being oriented so as to have an axial component and extending below said bottom of said label portion for permitting condensate that may form on said label portion smooth outer surface to drain from said label portion in order to reduce the potential for condensation-induced label delamination to occur;
• said main body portion further having an upper end that is connected to said finish portion and a lower end that is connected to said base portion, said upper end including a tapered neck portion;
• and wherein said tapered neck portion has a first set of a plurality of undulating grooves defined therein to provide structural reinforcement to said tapered neck portion;
• said lower end of said main body portion being configured so as to have a number of generally axially extending channels that extend toward said base portion, and wherein some of said channels merge into said grooves, and others terminate before reaching said base portion, and wherein said channels have a structural reinforcement effect, whereby enhanced structural reinforcement of said lower end is achieved without increasing the number of support feet and grooves.