Hot-fill container having flat panels

US8727152B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Amcor Limited · AU

Inventors

• Walter J. Strasser · Manchester, US
• Bradley S. Philip · Tecumseh, US
• Richard J. Steih · Jackson, US
• Richard K. Rangler · Adrian, US
• Brad Caszatt · Manchester, US
• John B. Simon · Farmington Hills, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 20, 2010
• Grant date: May 20, 2014
• Expiry date: Mar 18, 2032

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B65D2501/0081
• WIPO field: Handling
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A container may employ an upper portion defining a mouth, a shoulder portion formed with the upper portion and extending away from the upper portion, a bottom portion forming a base, a sidewall extending between and joining the shoulder portion and the bottom portion, and a plurality of smooth surfaced vacuum panels formed in the sidewall, which may be separated by one or more strengthening grooves. The vacuum panels and/or the container in a profile view may form an hourglass shape. The container may also employ a sidewall utilizing three smooth, grooveless, vacuum panels, which may form a triangle in cross-section. The vacuum panels may be concave inward toward a central vertical axis of the container and have an hourglass shape when the container is viewed in a side view.