Hot-fill container providing vertical, vacuum compensation

摘要

Provided is a hot-fill container adapted to provide vertical vacuum compensation in response to negative pressure inside the container. The container comprises one or more horizontal ribs that are configured to diminish in height in response to vacuum conditions inside the container. Each rib comprises an upper wall connected to a lower wall. The upper and lower walls are inclined from a horizontal reference line and adapted to hinge with respect to each other to provide vertical vacuum compensation.

主权项

1. A pressure-responsive container comprising:
a lower portion including an enclosed base; an upper portion including a dome and a finish; and a generally cylindrical body portion extending vertically along a longitudinal axis between the lower portion and the upper portion, the body portion including an upper sidewall and a lower sidewall, the body portion further comprising:
at least one circumferential rib disposed between the upper and lower sidewalls, the rib comprising:
a single, substantially straight upper wall, wherein an entire length of said upper wall defines a first angle less than 35 degrees with respect to a horizontal reference line that is transverse to the longitudinal axis;a curved upper transition extending from said upper wall to said upper sidewall, said curved upper transition having a single radius of curvature between said upper wall and said upper sidewall;a single, substantially straight lower wall, wherein an entire length of said lower wall defines a second angle less than 35 degrees from the horizontal reference line;a curved lower transition extending from the lower wall to the lower sidewall, said curved lower transition having a single radius of curvature between said lower wall and said lower sidewall; anda curved central portion extending between the upper wall and the lower wall;wherein the substantially straight upper wall and the substantially straight lower wall are adapted to hinge with respect to each other in response to a vacuum created inside the container such that a height of the container is reduced while the body portion retains a substantially cylindrical shape.