Hot fill container with vertical twist

Abstract

A hot fill type plastic container includes a bottom, a finish portion and a main body portion. The main body portion has a maximum outer diameter and a sidewall having an outer surface. A sidewall has a plurality of helical vacuum panels defined therein. Each of the helical vacuum panels has a depth that is substantially within a range of about 1.7% to about 4.5% of the maximum outer diameter of the main body portion. In addition, each of the helical vacuum panels has an upper portion having a first maximum width and a lower portion having a second maximum width, with the second maximum width being greater than the first maximum width. The upper portion of each of the vacuum panels further has a first helical pitch that is greater than a second helical pitch of the lower portion.

1 . A hot fill type plastic container, comprising:
 a bottom;   a finish portion; and   a main body portion having a maximum outer diameter and a side wall having an outer surface, the side wall having a plurality of helical vacuum panels defined therein, and wherein each of the vacuum panels have a depth that is substantially within a range of about 1.7% to about 4.5% of the maximum outer diameter of the main body portion.   
     
     
         2 . A hot fill type plastic container according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the vacuum panels have a depth that is substantially within a range of about 2% to about 4% of the maximum outer diameter of the main body portion. 
     
     
         3 . A hot fill type plastic container according to  claim 2 , wherein each of the vacuum panels have a depth that is substantially within a range of about 2.2% to about 3.8% of the maximum outer diameter of the main body portion. 
     
     
         4 . A hot fill type plastic container according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the vacuum panels have an upper portion and a lower portion, and wherein the upper portion has a first helical pitch that is greater than a second helical pitch of the lower portion. 
     
     
         5 . A hot fill type plastic container according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the vacuum panels have an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion having a first maximum width and a lower portion having a second maximum width, and wherein the second maximum width is greater than the first maximum width. 
     
     
         6 . A hot fill type plastic container according to  claim 5 , wherein a ratio of the first maximum width to the second maximum width is substantially within a range of about 0.4 to about 0.7. 
     
     
         7 . A hot fill type plastic container according to  claim 6 , wherein the ratio of the first maximum width to the second maximum width is substantially within a range of about 0.45 to about 0.65. 
     
     
         8 . A hot fill type plastic container according to  claim 7 , wherein the ratio of the first maximum width to the second maximum width is substantially within a range of about 0.5 to about 0.6. 
     
     
         9 . A hot fill type plastic container according to  claim 1 , wherein the main body portion is bounded by a first upper circumferential groove and a second, lower circumferential groove. 
     
     
         10 . A hot fill type plastic container according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the vacuum panels have an upper portion and a lower portion, and wherein the lower portion is shaped so as to be blended into an outer most portion of the side wall of the main body portion. 
     
     
         11 . A hot fill type plastic container according to  claim 1 , wherein the main body portion is generally hourglass shaped. 
     
     
         12 . A hot fill type plastic container according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the vacuum panels has a maximum longitudinal dimension and subtends a first angle from an upper portion to a lower portion thereof, and wherein a ratio of the first angle to the maximum longitudinal dimension is substantially within a range of about 0.29 to about 0.56°/mm. 
     
     
         13 . A hot fill type plastic container according to  claim 12 , wherein the ratio of the first angle to the maximum longitudinal dimension is substantially within a range of about 0.34 to about 0.51°/mm. 
     
     
         14 . A hot fill type plastic container according to  claim 13 , wherein the ratio of the first angle to the maximum longitudinal dimension is substantially within a range of about 0.39 to about 0.46°/mm. 
     
     
         15 . A hot fill type plastic container, comprising:
 a bottom;   a finish portion; and   a main body portion having a maximum outer diameter and a side wall having an outer surface, the side wall having a plurality of helical vacuum panels defined therein, wherein each of the vacuum panels have an upper portion and a lower portion, and wherein the upper portion has a first helical pitch that is greater than a second helical pitch of the lower portion.   
     
     
         16 . A hot fill type plastic container according to  claim 15 , wherein each of the vacuum panels has a maximum longitudinal dimension and subtends a first angle from an upper portion to a lower portion thereof, and wherein a ratio of the first angle to the maximum longitudinal dimension is substantially within a range of about 0.29 to about 0.56°/mm. 
     
     
         17 . A hot fill type plastic container according to  claim 16 , wherein the ratio of the first angle to the maximum longitudinal dimension is substantially within a range of about 0.34 to about 0.51°/mm. 
     
     
         18 . A hot fill type plastic container, comprising:
 a bottom;   a finish portion; and   a main body portion having a maximum outer diameter and a side wall having an outer surface, the side wall having a plurality of helical vacuum panels defined therein, and wherein each of the vacuum panels have an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion having a first maximum width and a lower portion having a second maximum width, and wherein the second maximum width is greater than the first maximum width.   
     
     
         19 . A hot fill type plastic container according to  claim 18 , wherein a ratio of the first maximum width to the second maximum width is substantially within a range of about 0.4 to about 0.7. 
     
     
         20 . A hot fill type plastic container according to  claim 19 , wherein the ratio of the first maximum width to the second maximum width is substantially within a range of about 0.45 to about 0.65. 
     
     
         21 . A hot fill type plastic container according to  claim 20 , wherein the ratio of the first maximum width to the second maximum width is substantially within a range of about 0.5 to about 0.6.