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A rectangular plastic container having a shoulder region adapted for vacuum pressure absorption, a sidewall portion having a rigid support ledge and a tapered base structure having an octagonal shaped footprint. The shoulder region including vacuum panels being moveable to accommodate vacuum related

A rectangular plastic container having a shoulder region adapted for vacuum pressure absorption, a sidewall portion having a rigid support ledge and a tapered base structure having an octagonal shaped footprint. The shoulder region including vacuum panels being moveable to accommodate vacuum related forces generated within the container. The shoulder region, sidewall portion and base each having differing horizontal cross sectional shapes.

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What is claimed is: 1. A plastic container comprising: an upper portion having a mouth defining an opening into said container, a shoulder region extending from said upper portion, a sidewall portion extending from said shoulder region to a base, said base closing off an end of said container; said

What is claimed is: 1. A plastic container comprising: an upper portion having a mouth defining an opening into said container, a shoulder region extending from said upper portion, a sidewall portion extending from said shoulder region to a base, said base closing off an end of said container; said upper portion, said shoulder region, said sidewall portion and said base cooperating to define a receptacle chamber within the container into which product can be filled; said shoulder region defined in part by at least two vacuum panels formed therein, said vacuum panel being movable to accommodate vacuum forces generated within the container resulting from heating and cooling of its contents, wherein a projected surface area of said vacuum panels is at least approximately 20% of a total projected surface area of said shoulder region; said sidewall portion having a generally rectangular body including opposing longer sidewalls and opposing shorter sidewalls, defining a continuous container sidewall portion having a generally rectangular horizontal cross section and defined in part by a support ledge, said support ledge including a rigid support ledge formed in an upper portion of each of said opposing longer sidewalls of said sidewall portion, said rigid support ledge including a peripheral ridge having an underlying radius; and said base defined in part by tapered walls. 2. The container of claim 1 wherein said shoulder region comprises a generally rectangular horizontal cross section including two opposing longer sidewalls and two opposing shorter sidewalls. 3. The container of claim 2 wherein said shoulder region includes two generally polygonal shaped vacuum panels, one formed in each of said opposing longer sidewalls of said shoulder region and two support panels, one formed in each of said opposing shorter sidewalls of said shoulder region. 4. The container of claim 3 wherein each of said generally polygonal shaped vacuum panels includes a series of ribs formed therein. 5. The container of claim 3 wherein said shoulder region further includes a pair of modulating vertical ribs formed therein, said pair of modulating vertical ribs located between said generally polygonal shaped vacuum panels and said support panels. 6. The container of claim 5 wherein said base includes a generally octagonal shaped contact surface upon which the container is supported, a circular pushup located on a longitudinal axis of the container and a pair of modulating vertical ribs formed therein, said pair of modulating vertical ribs is collinear with said pair of modulating vertical ribs formed in said shoulder region. 7. The container of claim 1 wherein said sidewall portion further comprises a series of uninterrupted horizontal ribs, said horizontal ribs circumscribing a perimeter of said sidewall portion and extending in a longitudinal direction from said shoulder region to said base. 8. The container of claim 1 wherein a height of said shoulder region is generally about 32% to about 38% of an overall height of the container, a height of said sidewall portion is generally about 42% to about 48% of said overall height of the container, and a height of said base is generally about 15% to about 21% of said overall height of the container. 9. The container of claim 1 wherein said projected surface area of said vacuum panels is at least approximately 30% of said total projected surface area of said shoulder region. 10. The container of claim 1 wherein a contour of said vacuum panels substantially mimics a contour of said shoulder region. 11. The container of claim 1 wherein a height of said vacuum panels is approximately 60% to approximately 80% of a total height of said shoulder portion. 12. A plastic container filled with a liquid at an elevated temperature, sealed with a closure, and cooled thereby establishing a vacuum within said container, said container comprising: an upper portion having a mouth defining an opening into the container and a finish for attaching the closure, a shoulder region extending from said upper portion, a sidewall portion extending from said shoulder region to a base, said base closing off an end of the container; said upper portion, said shoulder region, said sidewall portion and said base cooperating to define a receptacle chamber within the container into which the liquid can be filled at the elevated temperature between approximately 155�� F. to 205�� F. (approximately 68�� C. to 96�� C.); said shoulder region adapted for vacuum absorption, having a first shape in horizontal cross section, comprising a generally rectangular horizontal cross section having four sides, wherein opposing sides are equal in length, a first length of a first pair of opposing sides being greater than a second length of a second pair of opposing sides and defined in part by at least two generally polygonal shaped vacuum panels formed therein, one formed in each of said first pair of opposing sides, said vacuum panels being movable to accommodate vacuum forces generated within the container, wherein a projected surface area of said vacuum panels is at least approximately 20% of a total projected surface area of said shoulder region and two support panels, one formed in each of said second pair of opposing sides; said sidewall portion having a second shape in horizontal cross section, comprising a generally rectangular body including opposing longer sidewalls and opposing shorter sidewalls, defining a continuous container sidewall portion having a generally rectangular horizontal cross section and defined in part by a rigid support ledge, said rigid support ledge being formed in an upper portion of each of said opposing longer sidewalls of said sidewall portion, said rigid support ledge including a peripheral ridge having an underlying radius and extending radially outward from said sidewall portion between approximately 0.039 inch (1 mm) to approximately 0.472 inch (12 mm); and said base having a third shape in horizontal cross section and defined in part by tapered walls; wherein said first shape, said second shape and said third shape are each different from one another. 13. The container of claim 12 wherein said shoulder region further includes a pair of modulating vertical ribs formed therein, said pair of modulating vertical ribs located between said generally polygonal shaped vacuum panels and said support panels. 14. The container of claim 13 wherein said base includes a generally octagonal shaped contact surface upon which the container is supported, a circular pushup located on a longitudinal axis of the container and a pair of modulating vertical ribs formed therein, said pair of modulating vertical ribs is collinear with said pair of modulating vertical ribs formed in said shoulder region. 15. The container of claim 12 wherein a height of said shoulder region is generally about 32% to about 38% of an overall height of the container, a height of said sidewall portion is generally about 42% to about 48% of said overall height of the container, and a height of said base is generally about 15% to about 21% of said overall height of the container. 16. A label panel area of a plastic container adapted for vacuum absorption, the container having an upper portion including a mouth defining an opening into the container and a shoulder region, a lower portion forming a base, and the label panel area connected with and extending between said upper portion and said lower portion; the upper portion, the lower portion and the label panel area cooperating to define a receptacle chamber within the container into which product can be filled; said label panel area comprising sidewall portions that are generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the container, said sidewall portions comprise a generally rectangular body including opposing longer sidewalls and opposing shorter sidewalls, defining a continuous container sidewall portion having a generally rectangular horizontal cross section; a rigid support ledge formed in said sidewall portions; and a series of horizontal ribs formed in said sidewall portions, wherein said rigid support ledge is defined in part by an angle of divergence from a horizontal plane perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of approximately 35�� to approximately 55��, said rigid support ledge being formed in an upper portion of each of said opposing longer sidewalls of said sidewall portion, and including a peripheral ridge having an underlying radius and extending radially outward from said sidewall portion between approximately 0.039 inch (1 mm) to approximately 0.472 inch (12 mm). 17. The label panel area of claim 16 wherein a width of said rigid support ledge formed in said upper portion of each of said opposing longer sidewalls of said sidewall portion is approximately less than 3% greater than a width of said opposing longer sidewalls of said sidewall portion, and wherein a width of an upper portion of each opposing shorter sidewalls of said sidewall portion is approximately more than 6% greater than a width of said opposing shorter sidewalls of said sidewall portion. 18. The label panel area of claim 16 wherein said series of horizontal ribs are separated by lands, uninterruptedly circumscribe a perimeter of said label panel area and extend in a longitudinal direction from the upper portion to the lower portion. 19. A label panel area of a plastic container adapted for vacuum absorption, the container having an upper portion including a mouth defining an opening into the container and a shoulder region, a lower portion forming a base, and the label panel area connected with and extending between said upper portion and said lower portion; the upper portion, the lower portion and the label panel area cooperating to define a receptacle chamber within the container into which product can be filled; said label panel area comprising sidewall portions that are generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the container; a series of horizontal ribs formed in said sidewall portions; and a rigid grip area formed in said sidewall portions, wherein said rigid grip area comprises a first pair of indents, a second pair of indents and lands defined between each of said first pair of indents and each of said second pair of indents; said first pair of indents including a first arcuate ridge, vertical ridges, a second arcuate ridge and a grip surface; said second pair of indents being generally oval in shape. 20. The label panel area of claim 19 wherein said series of horizontal ribs are separated by lands, uninterruptedly circumscribe a perimeter of said label panel area and extend in a longitudinal direction from the upper portion to the lower portion.