Plastic Container Having Reinforced Gripping Structure

Abstract

A plastic container includes a generally cylindrical main body portion having a longitudinal axis. At least one gripping recess is defined in the main body portion that has an oblong shape when viewed in front elevation and that is defined in part by a curved concave inner surface when viewed in side elevation. The gripping recess includes a plurality of horizontal indentations, each of which is sized to receive a finger of a consumer when the plastic container is being gripped by the consumer.

1 . A plastic container, comprising:
 a main body portion having a longitudinal axis, said main body portion having a gripping recess defined therein, said gripping recess being defined in part by a curved concave inner surface when viewed in side elevation, said gripping recess further comprising a plurality of horizontal indentations, each of said horizontal indentations being sized to receive a finger of a consumer when the plastic container is being gripped by the consumer.   
   
   
       2 . A plastic container according to  claim 1 , wherein said plastic container further comprises a substantially smooth label portion. 
   
   
       3 . A plastic container according to  claim 1 , wherein said plastic container has a generally cylindrical shape and a maximum outer diameter, and wherein said curved concave inner surface has a radius that is within a range of about 30 percent to about 130 percent of said maximum outer diameter. 
   
   
       4 . A plastic container according to  claim 3 , wherein said curved concave inner surface has a radius that is within a range of about 50 percent to about 100 percent of said maximum outer diameter. 
   
   
       5 . A plastic container according to  claim 1 , wherein each of said horizontal indentations is concave as viewed in longitudinal cross-section. 
   
   
       6 . A plastic container according to  claim 1 , wherein each of said horizontal indentations is curved as viewed in horizontal cross-section. 
   
   
       7 . A plastic container according to  claim 6 , wherein each of said horizontal indentations is convexly curved as viewed in horizontal cross-section. 
   
   
       8 . A plastic container according to  claim 7 , wherein said plastic container has a maximum outer diameter and wherein each of said horizontal indentations is convexly curved as viewed in horizontal cross-section so as to have an external radius, said external radius being within a range of about 20 percent to about 70 percent of said maximum outer diameter. 
   
   
       9 . A plastic container according to  claim 1 , wherein said gripping recess comprises at least three of said horizontal indentations. 
   
   
       10 . A plastic container according to  claim 1 , wherein said container is made according to a blowmolding process. 
   
   
       11 . A plastic container according to  claim 1 , wherein said gripping recess has an oblong shape when viewed in front elevation. 
   
   
       12 . A plastic container, comprising:
 a main body portion having a longitudinal axis, said main body portion having a gripping recess defined therein, said gripping recess having an oblong shape when viewed in front elevation, said gripping recess further comprising a plurality of horizontal indentations, each of said horizontal indentations being sized to receive a finger of a consumer when the plastic container is being gripped by the consumer.   
   
   
       13 . A plastic container according to  claim 12 , wherein said plastic container further comprises a substantially smooth label portion. 
   
   
       14 . A plastic container according to  claim 12 , wherein said container is made according to a blowmolding process. 
   
   
       15 . A plastic container according to  claim 12 , wherein each of said horizontal indentations is concave as viewed in longitudinal cross-section. 
   
   
       16 . A plastic container according to  claim 12 , wherein each of said horizontal indentations is curved as viewed in horizontal cross-section. 
   
   
       17 . A plastic container according to  claim 16 , wherein each of said horizontal indentations is convexly curved as viewed in horizontal cross-section. 
   
   
       18 . A plastic container according to  claim 17 , wherein said plastic container has a maximum outer diameter and wherein each of said horizontal indentations is convexly curved as viewed in horizontal cross-section so as to have an external radius, said external radius being within a range of about 20 percent to about 70 percent of said maximum outer diameter. 
   
   
       19 . A plastic container according to  claim 12 , wherein said gripping recess comprises at least three of said horizontal indentations.