Patent ID: 6044997
Filing Date: 2000-04-04
Classification: B65D

Abstract:
A readily grippable, hot-fillable, container having facile handling characteristics, comprising:a body portion having a plurality of vacuum collapse panels for accommodating a predetermined amount of vacuum-induced volumetric shrinkage of the container,a dome portion with a finish overlying said body portion,said dome portion having an elliptical transverse cross-section and an inwardly concave longitudinal cross section providing a bulbous configuration,said elliptical transverse cross section having side portions each with a grip surface formed therein to afford engagement by a user's thumb and finger when the user's hand is engaged transversely with the dome,said grip surfaces being moveable inwardly toward one another to accommodate vacuum-induced volumetric shrinkage resulting from hot filling, capping and cooling of the container when filled with liquid, andsaid body-portion having a substantially cylindrical sidewall, and said dome portion lying within a cylindrical plane extending axially upward tangent to said sidewall,whereby at least some of the vacuum-induced volumetric shrinkage of the container is accommodated by the dome portion while the grip surfaces afford facile lifting and pouring of the container contents by the user.