Retortable plastic container

Abstract

A retortable plastic container includes a finish portion and a main body portion that is unitary with the finish portion and that includes a sidewall having an inner surface that defines an interior space and an outer surface. The sidewall is preferably fabricated from a material comprising a plastic and is shaped so as to have at least one radially inwardly extending annular projection defined therein that provides reinforcement against radial expansion of the main body portion during the retort process. In addition, a transition portion between a main body of the container and the bottom of the container preferably includes at least one annular step that increases the rigidity of the bottom portion of the container.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A retortable plastic container, comprising: 
 a finish portion; and    a main body portion that is integral with said finish portion, said main body portion comprising a sidewall having an inner surface that defines an interior space and an outer surface, said sidewall being fabricated from a material comprising a plastic material, and wherein said sidewall is shaped so as to have at least one radially inwardly extending annular projection defined therein, said annular projection providing reinforcement against radial expansion of said main body portion during the retort process.    
     
     
         2 . A retortable plastic container according to  claim 1 , wherein said annular projection is shaped so as to have an inwardly extending corner that is shaped so as to have a radius of curvature that is no more than 0.015 inch.  
     
     
         3 . A retortable plastic container according to  claim 1 , wherein said annular projection has a depth that is at least 2% of a maximum outer radius of the container.  
     
     
         4 . A retortable plastic container according to  claim 1 , wherein said annular projection is positioned proximate to said finish portion.  
     
     
         5 . A retortable plastic container according to  claim 1 , wherein said annular projection is shaped as to have an inwardly extending corner, and wherein said corner is angled at an angle that is between 80 degrees and 100 degrees.  
     
     
         6 . A retortable plastic container according to  claim 5 , wherein said angle is between 85 degrees and 95 degrees.  
     
     
         7 . A retortable plastic container according to  claim 6 , wherein said angle is approximately 90 degrees.  
     
     
         8 . A retortable plastic container according to  claim 1 , further comprising a bottom portion and a bottom transition portion connecting said bottom portion to said main body portion, said bottom transition portion having at least one inwardly radiused annular step defined therein.  
     
     
         9 . A retortable plastic container according to  claim 8 , wherein said inwardly radiused annular step has a radius that is no more than ⅜ of an inch.  
     
     
         10 . A retortable plastic container according to  claim 9 , wherein said radius is within a range of between about {fraction (1/32)} of an inch and ⅛ of an inch.  
     
     
         11 . A retortable plastic container according to  claim 8 , wherein said bottom transition portion as a plurality of inwardly radiused annular steps defined therein.  
     
     
         12 . A retortable plastic container, comprising: 
 a finish portion;    a main body portion that is integral with said finish portion, said main body portion comprising a sidewall having an inner surface that defines an interior space and an outer surface, said sidewall being fabricated from a material comprising a plastic material;    a bottom portion; and    a bottom transition portion connecting said bottom portion to said main body portion, said bottom transition portion having at least one inwardly radiused annular step defined therein.    
     
     
         13 . A retortable plastic container according to  claim 12 , wherein said inwardly radiused annular step has a radius that is no more than ⅜ of an inch.  
     
     
         14 . A retortable plastic container according to  claim 13 , wherein said radius is within a range of between about {fraction (1/32)} of an inch and ⅛ of an inch.