Container with integrated grip portions

A container comprising:

• a body portion having a top portion and a bottom portion integral with the top portion, the body portion having a generally rectangular shape along substantially an entire axial extent thereof and defining two shorter sides and two longer sides,
• a grip portion provided in each of the longer sides of the top portion,
• a waist portion provided laterally adjacent the grip portion and along the two shorter sides of the top portion, and
• at least one laterally extending stiffening rib provided within the waist portion and laterally adjacent the grip portion.

A hot-fillable plastic container comprising:

• a top portion including a shoulder, an inwardly depressed grip portion and a waist portion that extends into the top portion where the grip portion is positioned;
• and
• a bottom portion integrally formed with the top portion, the bottom portion including a plurality of vacuum panels that accommodate internal forces tending to collapse the vacuum panels inwardly due to filling of the container with a liquid at an elevated temperature and subsequent cooling of the liquid,
• wherein the grip portion in the top portion defines an auxiliary vacuum panel that accommodates for any portion of the internal forces not accommodated by the vacuum panels in the bottom portion, and
• wherein a cross-sectional shape of the top and bottom portions of the container is substantially rectangular along substantially an entire axial extent thereof, and the container defines at least a first side and a second side, the first side having said auxiliary vacuum panel, and at least the second side including the waist.

A hot-fillable PET plastic container, comprising:

• a body portion having a top portion and a bottom portion each defining a pair of opposed relatively longer walls and a pair of opposed relatively shorter walls, the body portion including rounded corner portions connecting the relatively longer and shorter walls,
• the top portion including a shoulder, a pair of opposed grip portions below the shoulder and inwardly recessed with respect to the relatively longer walls of the top portion, each said grip portion having a ledge provided along a perimeter of each grip portion due to inward recessing of the grip portions, wherein:
• each said ledge forms a transition between each said recessed grip portion and non-recessed wall portions of the top portion surrounding the grip portions,
• each of the grip portions includes a central portion with at least one raised portion, and
• each said grip portion has a height that is about one quarter to about one-half of a height of the top portion,
• the bottom portion including a plurality of vacuum panels and a base portion below the plurality of vacuum panels, the base portion including a pair of opposed relatively shorter walls and a pair of opposed relatively longer wall corresponding, respectively, to the relatively shorter and longer walls of the body portion, each of the vacuum panels being structured to accommodate internal forces tending to collapse the vacuum panels inwardly due to filling of the container with a liquid at an elevated temperature and subsequent cooling of the liquid, wherein:
• each of the relatively shorter walls in the bottom portion includes at least one said vacuum panel,
• each said relatively longer wall of the bottom portion includes at least four lateral ribs and a label portion covering the at least four lateral ribs, and
• each of the two relatively shorter walls in the top portion includes a concave portion laterally adjacent to the relatively longer walls each said concave portion defining a waist portion that extends into the top portion.

A hot-fillable PET plastic container, comprising:

• a body portion having a top portion and a bottom portion each defining a pair of opposed relatively longer walls and a pair of opposed relatively shorter walls, the body portion including rounded corner portions connecting the relatively longer and shorter walls,
• the top portion including a shoulder, a pair of opposed grip portions below the shoulder and inwardly recessed up to about 2-10 mm with respect to the relatively longer walls of the top portion, wherein each said grip portion has a height that is about one quarter to about one-half of a height of the top portion,
• the bottom portion including a plurality of vacuum panels and a base portion below the plurality of vacuum panels, the base portion including a pair of opposed relatively shorter sides and a pair of opposed relatively longer walls corresponding, respectively, to the relatively shorter and longer walls of the body portion, each of the vacuum panels being structured to accommodate internal forces tending to collapse the vacuum panels inwardly due to filling of the container with a liquid at an elevated temperature and subsequent cooling of the liquid, wherein:
• each of the relatively shorter sides in the bottom portion includes at least one said vacuum panel,
• each said relatively longer wall of the bottom portion includes at least four lateral ribs and a label portion covering the at least four lateral ribs, and
• each of the two relatively shorter walls in the top portion includes a concave portion laterally adjacent to the relatively longer sides.