# US 8,540,095 B2 · Plastic container > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,540,095 B2 - Document ID: US8540095B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/099,822 - Filed: 2011-05-03 - Published: 2011-08-25 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2003-12-29 - Assignees: Plastipak Packaging, Inc. - Applicants: Marc A. Pedmo; James C. Dorn; James J. Miller - Inventors: Marc A. Pedmo; James C. Dorn; James J. Miller - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8540095B2 ## CPC - B65D 79/0084: {in the sidewall or shoulder part thereof} - B65D 1/0223: {characterised by shape} - B65D 2501/0027: Hollow longitudinal ribs - B65D 2501/0081: Bottles of non-circular cross-section - B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES ## Abstract The plastic container includes a hollow body of plastic material having a lower supporting base, a sidewall extending upwardly from the lower base and an upper neck portion extending upwardly from the sidewall with an opening therein. The sidewall includes at least one panel having a central region and an outer boundary, with the outer boundary being depressed with respect to the central region. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A plastic container which comprises: a hollow body of plastic material having a lower supporting base, a sidewall extending upwardly from the lower base, and an upper neck portion with an opening therein, said neck portion extending upwardly from the sidewall, and said sidewall having a lower portion and an upper portion; a sidewall portion essentially centrally located between the neck portion and base on said sidewall and between the lower and upper sidewall portions which is depressed with respect to the lower and upper sidewall portions and which extends circumferentially around the sidewall; wherein the lower sidewall portion includes opposed sidewall sections, with two opposed sidewall sections each including at least one lower panel having a central region and an outer boundary, with the outer boundary being depressed with respect to the central region, with the depressed outer boundary having side portions and top and bottom portions, and with said lower panels each at least in part extending substantially across a sidewall section; and wherein the upper sidewall portion is round and includes at least six spaced upper panels extending in adjacent rounded succession around the circumference of the upper sidewall portion of the container, each of the spaced upper panels having a central region and an outer boundary, with the central region of the upper panels including a raised central area surrounded by a depressed peripheral region, with the outer boundary being depressed with respect to the depressed peripheral region; wherein the number of upper panels is greater than the number of lower panels. ### Claim 2 A container according to claim l, wherein the depressed outer boundary of the lower sidewall panels comprises a substantially continuous, channel-like structure which substantially circumscribes the central region thereof. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A container according to claim 2, wherein two opposed lower sidewall sections each include two of said lower panels. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A container according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the upper panel raised central areas is circular. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A container according to claim 1, wherein the essentially centrally located sidewall portion further comprises at least one vertical column. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A container according to claim 1, including a recessed base. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) A container according to claim 6, wherein the recessed base comprises a plurality of outwardly extending struts disposed between a central base portion and a peripheral base rim. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A container according to claim 1, wherein the essentially centrally located sidewall portion is a gripping site. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A container according to claim 1, wherein a shape of a first horizontal cross section of the container through at least one upper panel is different than a shape second horizontal cross section of the container through at least one lower panel. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A container according to claim 1, wherein the shape of the first horizontal cross section is generally circular and the shape of the second horizontal cross section includes two opposed sections. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A container according to claim 1, wherein at least one upper panel has at least two substantially straight vertical sides and at least two curved substantially horizontal sides. ### Claim 12 A plastic container which comprises: a hollow body of plastic material having a lower supporting base, a sidewall extending upwardly from the lower base, and an upper neck portion with an opening therein, said neck portion extending upwardly from the sidewall, and said sidewall having a lower portion and an upper portion; a sidewall portion essentially centrally located between the neck portion and base on said sidewall and between the lower and upper sidewall portions which is depressed with respect to the lower and upper sidewall portions, which has a plurality of vertical gripping columns, and which extends circumferentially around the sidewall; wherein the lower sidewall portion includes opposed sidewall sections, with at least two opposed sidewall sections each including at least one lower panel having a central region and an outer boundary, with the outer boundary being depressed with respect to the central region, with the depressed outer boundary having side portions of differing lengths and top and bottom portions, and with said lower panels each at least in part extending substantially across a sidewall section; and wherein upper sidewall portion includes at least six spaced upper panels extending in adjacent rounded succession around the circumference of the upper sidewall portion of the container, each of the spaced upper panels having a central region and an outer boundary, with the central region of the upper panels including a circular raised central area surrounded by a depressed peripheral region, with the outer boundary being depressed with respect to the depressed peripheral region. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A container according to claim 12, wherein at least one upper panel has at least two substantially straight vertical sides and at least two curved substantially horizontal sides. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) A container according to claim 12, wherein at least one of the upper panel depressed peripheral regions is non-circular. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) A container according to claim 12, wherein the upper sidewall portion includes a number of upper panels, the lower sidewall portion includes a number of lower panels, and the number of upper panels is greater than the number of lower panels.