초록

A polymer container suitable for hot-filling featuring a pinch-grip vacuum panel combination having a flexible-field and a generally ridged pinch-grip that accommodates vacuum related forces.

대표청구항 ▼

I claim: 1. A container made of polymer materials comprising: a neck finish portion suitable for receiving a closure; a shoulder portion adjacent said neck finish portion; a body portion adjacent said shoulder portion; and a bottom portion adjacent said body portion; said body portion including a s

I claim: 1. A container made of polymer materials comprising: a neck finish portion suitable for receiving a closure; a shoulder portion adjacent said neck finish portion; a body portion adjacent said shoulder portion; and a bottom portion adjacent said body portion; said body portion including a sidewall having at least one pair of substantially diametrically apposed vacuum panels, each of said at least one pair of diametrically apposed vacuum panels having a pinch-grip portion formed therein and a flexible-field adjacent to said pinch-grip portion formed therein, said flexible-field having a plurality of indented dimples formed therein; said pinch-grip portion having a bridge with a tongue portion extending into said flexible-field. 2. The container according to claim 1, wherein said vacuum panels with said pinch-grip portion have an edge. 3. The container according to claim 2, wherein said edge has an adjacent zone that generally pivots in a hinge-like action in response to an external force. 4. The container according to claim 2, wherein said bridge has an end adjacent said edge. 5. The container according to claim 1, wherein said flexible-field has an overall generally convex shaped surface appearance in cross section. 6. The container according to claim 5, wherein said convex shaped surface becomes a generally overall concave shaped surface in cross section in response to an external force. 7. The container according to claim 1, wherein said indented dimples are arranged in uniformly spaced positions forming a series of horizontal, vertical, and diagonal rows. 8. The container according to claim 7, wherein said uniformly spaced positions of said plurality of indented dimples form a series of substantially horizontal, vertical, and diagonal flex-lines extending between said dimples. 9. The container according to claim 1, wherein said polymer materials are substantially one of a polyester, a polypropylene, and a polyethylene. 10. The container according to claim 9, wherein said polyester is substantially one of a polyethylene terephthalate and a polyethylene naphthalate. 11. A hot-filled polymer container filled with a liquid at an elevated temperature, sealed with a closure, and cooled thereby establishing a slight vacuum within said container, said container comprising: a neck finish portion suitable for receiving the closure; a shoulder portion adjacent said neck finish portion; a body portion adjacent said shoulder portion; and a bottom portion adjacent said body portion; said body portion including a sidewall having at least one pair of substantially diametrically apposed vacuum panels, each of said at least one pair of diametrically apposed vacuum panels having a pinch-grip portion formed therein and a flexible-field adjacent to said pinch-grip portion formed therein, said flexible-field having a plurality of indented dimples formed therein; said pinch-grip portion having a bridge with a tongue portion extending into said flexible field. 12. The container according to claim 11, wherein said temperature of the liquid is between 180째 F. to 205째 F. (82째 C. to 96째 C.). 13. The container according to claim 11, wherein said polymer is substantially one of a polyester, a polypropylene, and a polyethylene. 14. The container according to claim 13, wherein said polyester is substantially one of a polyethylene terephthalate and a polyethylene naphthalate. 15. A stretch-molded heat-set polyester container formed within a mold cavity having a temperature of approximately 250째 F. to 350째 F. (121째 C. to 176째 C.), said container comprising: a neck finish portion suitable for receiving a closure; a shoulder portion adjacent said neck finish portion; a body portion adjacent said shoulder portion; a bottom portion adjacent said body portion; said body portion including a sidewall having at least one pair of substantially diametrically apposed vacuum panels, each of said at least one pair of diametrically apposed vacuum panels having a pinch-grip portion formed therein and a flexible-field adjacent to said pinch-grip portion formed therein, said flexible-field having a plurality of indented dimples formed therein; said pinch-grip portion having a bridge with a tongue portion extending into said flexible field; and a generally biaxially oriented molecular structure. 16. The container according to claim 15, wherein said polyester is substantially a polyethylene terephthalate. 17. The container according to claim 15, wherein said indented dimples are arranged in uniformly spaced positions forming a series of horizontal, vertical, and diagonal rows.