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A hot-fill PET container or bottle (10) for filling with a liquid at an elevated temperature has a side wall (9) extending to a lower portion including a pressure panel (11) and a base (2) in its unfolded or pre fill position. The panel (11) is transversely oriented and has a decoupling or hinge str

A hot-fill PET container or bottle (10) for filling with a liquid at an elevated temperature has a side wall (9) extending to a lower portion including a pressure panel (11) and a base (2) in its unfolded or pre fill position. The panel (11) is transversely oriented and has a decoupling or hinge structure (13), an initiator portion (1) and control portion (5) of a steeply angled inverting conical section between 30 and 45 degrees. The control portion enables the inversion of the panel (11) into the container (10) to compensate for vacuum or reduced pressure induced within the container as the liquid cools down. The base (2) can also have a plurality of reinforcing ribs (3).

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1. A container having a longitudinal axis, an upper portion having an opening into the container, a body portion extending from the upper portion to a lower portion, the lower portion including a base, the base closing off an end of the container, the container having at least one substantially tran

1. A container having a longitudinal axis, an upper portion having an opening into the container, a body portion extending from the upper portion to a lower portion, the lower portion including a base, the base closing off an end of the container, the container having at least one substantially transversely oriented pressure panel located in the lower portion, the pressure panel comprising a portion being inclined at an angle of more than 10° relative to a plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis and the pressure panel portion being configured to be capable of folding from the inclined position to an inverted position to change an internal volume within the container, wherein the pressure panel is connected in the lower portion of the container by a decoupling or hinge structure and wherein the pressure panel is configured to invert longitudinally under an externally applied mechanical force. 2. A container according to claim 1, wherein said portion that is inclined is inclined at an angle of between approximately 30° and approximately 45°. 3. A container according to claim 1, wherein said inclined portion is inwardly inclined relative to an interior portion of the container and configured to be capable of folding from the inwardly inclined position to the inverted position to increase the internal volume within the container. 4. A container according to claim 1, wherein said inclined portion is outwardly inclined relative to an interior portion of the container and configured to be capable of folding from the outwardly inclined position to the inverted position to reduce the internal volume within the container. 5. A container according to claim 1, wherein the pressure panel comprises an initiator portion and a control portion, the initiator portion having less resistance to pressure folding forces and configured to provide for folding of the control portion. 6. A container according to claim 5, wherein said inclined portion is outwardly inclined relative to an interior portion of the container and the initiator portion is configured to cause the control portion to invert and flex further inwardly into the container. 7. A container according to claim 5, wherein the initiator portion is located adjacent to a widest periphery of the pressure panel. 8. A container according to claim 5, wherein said inclined portion is the control portion. 9. A container according to claim 5, wherein the initiator portion is inclined at an angle that is substantially the same as or less than that of the control portion. 10. A container according to claim 7, wherein said inclined portion is outwardly inclined relative to an interior portion of the container and the initiator portion is outwardly inclined relative to an interior portion of the container at an angle to said orthogonal plane that is at least 10° less than the control portion. 11. A container according to claim 10, wherein the control portion is outwardly inclined relative to an interior portion of the container at an angle of between approximately 30° and 45°. 12. A container according to claim 1, wherein the pressure panel is capable of folding from the inclined position to the inverted position to compensate for a change of pressure induced in the container. 13. A container according to claim 12, wherein the pressure panel provides compensation for reduced pressure induced within the container, in use, such that less force is exerted on walls of the container. 14. A container according to claim 13, wherein the reduced pressure is induced by the cooling of a heated liquid within the container. 15. A container according to or claim 14, wherein the compensation is such that there is substantially no reduced pressure within the container. 16. A container according to claim 12, wherein the pressure panel is configured to be capable of folding from the inverted position to the inclined position to compensate for an increase in pressure induced in the container. 17. A container according to claim 16, wherein the pressure panel is configured so that in use the pressure panel provides compensation for increased pressure induced within the container following heating of a liquid within the container. 18. A container according to claim 1, wherein the pressure panel is configured to resist being expanded from the inverted position. 19. A container according to claim 1, wherein the pressure panel is of varied width and inverts from a portion of the pressure panel furthest from the longitudinal axis to a portion of the pressure panel nearest the longitudinal axis. 20. A container according to claim 1, wherein the pressure panel is configured to cause the base to retract longitudinally further into the body portion. 21. A container according to claim 20, wherein the pressure panel is configured to cause a lowest portion of the base to be replaced as the structure providing a standing support for the container. 22. A container according to claim 1, wherein the container includes a standing support connected with the base, the standing support providing a substantially flat rigid surface, and wherein the container structure is configured such that in use a top load applied to the container is transferred from the base to the standing support. 23. A container according to claim 1, wherein the inclined portion of the pressure panel includes outwardly projecting portions. 24. A container according to claim 1, wherein the inclined portion of the pressure panel includes inwardly projecting portions. 25. A container according to claim 1, wherein the base further includes a substantially centrally located inwardly projecting portion joined adjacent to an inside border of the pressure panel and closing off a bottom of the container. 26. A container according to claim 25, wherein the inwardly projecting portion is configured to move upwardly when the pressure panel inverts. 27. A container according to claim 1, wherein the pressure panel is in the base. 28. A container according to claim 1, wherein the inclined portion of the pressure panel includes a plurality of flutes forming a conical area in the base. 29. A container according to claim 1, further including a standing ring surrounding the pressure panel for providing container stability when the pressure panel is in the inverted position. 30. A container according to claim 29 and further including a recessed instep adjacent to an inside border of the standing ring, the instep surrounding the pressure panel portion and positioning the pressure panel further within the container. 31. A container according to claim 30, wherein the decoupling or hinge structure connects the pressure panel portion with the instep. 32. A container according to claim 31 wherein the decoupling structure is relatively flat when compared to a side wall of the container. 33. A container according to claim 31 wherein the decoupling structure is relatively non-ribbed, and separates the pressure panel from the recessed instep. 34. A container according to claim 1, wherein the pressure panel has no strengthening ribs to restrain substantial longitudinal movement and inversion. 35. A container according to claim 1, wherein: the container includes a standing ring which defines a support surface upon which the container is supported,the base includes a central portion,the pressure panel circumscribes the central portion and defines an inwardly inclined shaped portion when the container is filled and sealed, the inwardly inclined shaped portion defined by a surface which is sloped toward the longitudinal axis of the container at an angle of more than about 10° relative to the support surface, andthe central portion and the pressure panel portion are configured to be moveable to accommodate vacuum forces generated within the container. 36. A container having a longitudinal axis, an upper portion having an opening into the container, a body portion extending from the upper portion to a lower portion, the lower portion including a base, the base closing off an end of the container, the container having at least one substantially transversely oriented pressure panel located in the lower portion, the pressure panel comprising a portion being inclined at an angle of more than 10° relative to a plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis and the pressure panel portion being configured to be capable of folding from the inclined position to an inverted position to change an internal volume within the container, wherein the pressure panel comprises an initiator portion and a control portion, the initiator portion having less resistance to pressure folding forces and configured to provide for folding of the control portion,wherein the initiator portion is located adjacent to a widest periphery of the pressure panel,wherein said inclined portion is outwardly inclined relative to an interior portion of the container and the initiator portion is outwardly inclined relative to an interior portion of the container at an angle to said orthogonal plane that is at least 10° less than the control portion. 37. A container according to claim 36, the control portion is outwardly inclined relative to an interior portion of the container at an angle of between approximately 30° and 45°. 38. A container having a longitudinal axis, an upper portion having an opening into the container, a body portion extending from the upper portion to a lower portion, the lower portion including a base, the base closing off an end of the container, the container having at least one substantially transversely oriented pressure panel located in the lower portion, the pressure panel comprising a portion being inclined at an angle of more than 10° relative to a plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis and the pressure panel portion being configured to be capable of folding from the inclined position to an inverted position to change an internal volume within the container, wherein the pressure panel is connected in the lower portion of the container by a decoupling or hinge structure and wherein said portion that is inclined is inclined at an angle of between approximately 30° and approximately 45°. 39. A container according to claim 38, wherein said inclined portion is inwardly inclined relative to an interior portion of the container and configured to be capable of folding from the inwardly inclined position to the inverted position to increase the internal volume within the container. 40. A container according to claim 38, wherein said inclined portion is outwardly inclined relative to an interior portion of the container and configured to be capable of folding from the outwardly inclined position to the inverted position to reduce the internal volume within the container. 41. A container according to claim 38, wherein the pressure panel comprises an initiator portion and a control portion, the initiator portion having less resistance to pressure folding forces and configured to provide for folding of the control portion. 42. A container according to claim 41, wherein said inclined portion is outwardly inclined relative to an interior portion of the container and the initiator portion is configured to cause the control portion to invert and flex further inwardly into the container. 43. A container according to claim 41, wherein the initiator portion is located adjacent to a widest periphery of the pressure panel. 44. A container according to claim 41, wherein said inclined portion is the control portion. 45. A container according to claim 41, wherein the initiator portion is inclined at an angle that is substantially the same as or less than that of the control portion. 46. A container according to claim 43, wherein said inclined portion is outwardly inclined relative to an interior portion of the container and the initiator portion is outwardly inclined relative to an interior portion of the container at an angle to said orthogonal plane that is at least 10° less than the control portion. 47. A container according to claim 38, wherein the pressure panel is capable of folding from the inclined position to the inverted position to compensate for a change of pressure induced in the container. 48. A container according to claim 47, wherein the pressure panel provides compensation for reduced pressure induced within the container, in use, such that less force is exerted on walls of the container. 49. A container according to claim 48, wherein the reduced pressure is induced by the cooling of a heated liquid within the container. 50. A container according to or claim 49, wherein the compensation is such that there is substantially no reduced pressure within the container. 51. A container according to claim 47, wherein the pressure panel is configured to be capable of folding from the inverted position to the inclined position to compensate for an increase in pressure induced in the container. 52. A container according to claim 51, wherein the pressure panel is configured so that in use the pressure panel provides compensation for increased pressure induced within the container following heating of a liquid within the container. 53. A container according to claim 38, wherein the pressure panel is configured to resist being expanded from the inverted position. 54. A container according to claim 38, wherein the pressure panel is of varied width and inverts from a portion of the pressure panel furthest from the longitudinal axis to a portion of the pressure panel nearest the longitudinal axis. 55. A container according to claim 38, wherein the pressure panel is configured to cause the base to retract longitudinally further into the body portion. 56. A container according to claim 55, wherein the pressure panel is configured to cause a lowest portion of the base to be replaced as the structure providing a standing support for the container. 57. A container according to claim 38, wherein the container includes a standing support connected with the base, the standing support providing a substantially flat rigid surface, and wherein the container structure is configured such that in use a top load applied to the container is transferred from the base to the standing support. 58. A container according to claim 38, wherein the inclined portion of the pressure panel includes outwardly projecting portions. 59. A container according to claim 38, wherein the inclined portion of the pressure panel includes inwardly projecting portions. 60. A container according to claim 38, wherein the base further includes a substantially centrally located inwardly projecting portion joined adjacent to an inside border of the pressure panel and closing off a bottom of the container. 61. A container according to claim 60, wherein the inwardly projecting portion is configured to move upwardly when the pressure panel inverts. 62. A container according to claim 38, wherein the pressure panel is in the base. 63. A container according to claim 38, wherein the inclined portion of the pressure panel includes a plurality of flutes forming a conical area in the base. 64. A container according to claim 38, further including a standing ring surrounding the pressure panel for providing container stability when the pressure panel is in the inverted position. 65. A container according to claim 64 and further including a recessed instep adjacent to an inside border of the standing ring, the instep surrounding the pressure panel portion and positioning the pressure panel further within the container. 66. A container according to claim 65, wherein the decoupling or hinge structure connects the pressure panel portion with the instep. 67. A container according to claim 66 wherein the decoupling structure is relatively flat when compared to a side wall of the container. 68. A container according to claim 66, wherein the decoupling structure is relatively non-ribbed, and separates the pressure panel from the recessed instep. 69. A container according to claim 38, wherein the pressure panel has no strengthening ribs to restrain substantial longitudinal movement and inversion. 70. A container according to claim 38, wherein: the container includes a standing ring which defines a support surface upon which the container is supported,the base includes a central portion,the pressure panel circumscribes the central portion and defines an inwardly inclined shaped portion when the container is filled and sealed, the inwardly inclined shaped portion defined by a surface which is sloped toward the longitudinal axis of the container at an angle of more than about 10° relative to the support surface, and the central portion and the pressure panel portion are configured to be moveable to accommodate vacuum forces generated within the container.