Container with grip

Abstract

A plastic container characterized by indented grip regions and method of manufacture are claim. An inner panel is present in the indented grip region, the inner panel surrounded by a transition wall upper portion on one side, a panel edge on a side opposite to said upper portion, a ceiling above said inner panel, and a transition wall lower portion below the inner panel. The transition wall lower portion gently slopes from the grip region towards the base, providing a transition from the indented grip region to the container sidewall.

1 . A plastic container comprising: 
 a base;    a sidewall;    a body having a grip region, the grip region comprising an inner panel surrounded by: 
 a joining wall on one side,  
 a panel edge on a side opposite to said joining wall,  
 a ceiling above the inner panel  
 a transition panel below the inner panel,  
   wherein the transition panel gently slopes from the inner panel towards the base, providing a transition to the sidewall.    
   
   
       2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the container comprises two opposing grip regions and the inner panels of each opposing grip region are substantially parallel.  
   
   
       3 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the ceiling is in a plane approximately parallel to the plane of the base.  
   
   
       4 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the ceiling joins the inner panel at an inner ceiling edge, the ceiling joins the sidewall at an outer ceiling edge, and the ceiling joins the joining wall at a chamfered corner.  
   
   
       5 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the inner panel meets the joining wall at an inner joining edge and the joining wall meets the container sidewall at an outer joining edge.  
   
   
       6 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the grip region further comprises a dart.  
   
   
       7 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the grip region further comprises ribs.  
   
   
       8 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the container is stretch blow molded.  
   
   
       10 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the grip region allows for easy handling of the container.  
   
   
       11 . A plastic container comprising 
 a base;    a sidewall; and    a body having a pair of opposing grip regions, each grip region comprising an inner panel in a plane substantially perpendicular to a plane of the base and the inner panel is surrounded by: 
 a joining wall on one side;  
 a panel edge on a side opposite to the joining wall;  
 a ceiling above the inner panel; and  
 a transition panel below the inner panel;  
   the ceiling and the panel edge each adjoin the container sidewall;    a portion of the joining wall is in a substantially vertical plane, the joining wall partially surrounds the inner panel, and the joining wall meets with the sidewall at an outer joining edge; and    the transitional panel gently slopes from the inner panel towards the base, providing a transition to the sidewall, and the transition panel ends at the sidewall proximal to the base.    
   
   
       12 . The container of  claim 11  wherein the transition panel narrows as it approaches the base.  
   
   
       13 . The container of  claim 11  wherein the base comprises a concave annular wall between a standing surface of the base and the sidewall.  
   
   
       14 . The container of  claim 11 , wherein the transition panel merges with the annular wall.  
   
   
       15 . The container of  claim 11  wherein the grip region facilitates handling of the container.  
   
   
       16 . A grip region for a container, the grip region comprising an inner panel, the inner panel surrounded by: 
 a joining wall on one side;    a panel edge on a side opposite to the joining wall;    a ceiling above the inner panel; and    a transition panel below the inner panel    wherein the transition panel gently slopes from the inner panel towards a base of the container, the transition panel providing a transition to the sidewall.    
   
   
       17 . The grip region of  claim 16 , wherein the ceiling joins the inner panel at an inner ceiling edge, the ceiling joins the sidewall at an outer ceiling edge, and the ceiling joins the joining wall at a chamfered corner.  
   
   
       18 . The grip region of  claim 16 , wherein the inner panel meets the joining wall at an inner joining edge and the joining wall meets the container sidewall at an outer joining edge.  
   
   
       19 . The grip region of  claim 16 , wherein the slope of the transition panel facilitates fluidic motion of plastic through the grip region.  
   
   
       20 . A method for forming a container, comprising 
 receiving a parison;    enclosing the parison with a mold that includes a cavity;    inflating the parison in the mold to form a blow molded container having a grip region, the grip region comprising an inner panel surrounded by: 
 a joining wall on one side;  
 a panel edge on a side opposite to the joining wall;  
 a ceiling above the inner panel; and  
 a transition panel below the inner panel  
 wherein the transition panel gently slopes from the inner panel towards a base of the container, the transition panel providing a transition to the sidewall.